MMCS Events Forum Events: Unique Approach and Tremendous Growth

Article Information

  • Posted By : Marina Vatav
  • Posted On : Aug 06, 2015
  • Views : 2149
  • Category : Planning
  • Description : With 26 events a year and a tremendous growth in the US, Forum Events is positioning itself as the go-to company for appointment-based business events.

Overview

  • Yasmin ParsloeYasmin Parsloe, Director of Communications, Forum Events

    With 26 events a year and a tremendous growth in the US, Forum Events is positioning itself as the go-to company for appointment-based business events.

    Launched in 1996 in the United Kingdom, Forum Events has brought a successful model from Europe into the US in 2006. They organize highly productive appointment-based events across 10 different industries where senior executives can meet preferred service providers.

    A unique approach

    Forum Events organizes small business events with a minimum of 70 participants, who are senior level executives in a specific industry on one side and vendors that serve that industry on the other.

    Six months before the event, the organizers discuss with the participating executives their goals and projects, as well as the kinds of vendors they would want to meet.

    Then follows a diligent research of companies that would match their needs.

    And finally, two weeks before the event, the executives receive the list and description of attending solution providers and they can choose who they want to meet during the two-day event.

    Vendors make their choice as well, and based on both parties' preferences, the meetings get scheduled through a matching software.

    "The perfect match would be if the delegate picks that vendor and the vendor also picks that delegate. On both sides they are picking who they want to meet with. Nobody is asked to meet with somebody that they are not interested in. It really is productive," says Yasmin Parsloe, Director of Communications at Forum Events.

    At the event each participant receives their personal itinerary and schedule. The meetings take place in the ballroom of a luxury venue at round tables where delegate attendees are seated for their 30 minute meetings. They then get a short break before another scheduled appointment with a solution provider takes place.

    The one-on-one meetings are not the only valuable component. The event organizers also set up seminars, workshops, and other networking events.

    "We want to develop mutually beneficial relationships so people aren't wasting their time. The beauty of our events is that it's very concentrated and productive," said Parsloe.

    Forum Events has shared what they consider to be their keys to success.

    Scheduling

    "The scheduling is key for our events. It puts us against all of the other event planning companies that do what we do. The schedule is productive. However, it allows the executives time to keep an eye on what's going on at their office. They get a little break so they are still able to check on their email and make phone calls and things like that," shared Yasmin Parsloe.

    Building relationships

    "All of our team has such a strong relationship with everybody who attends. We work six months in advance with these people to find out what they are interested in, and all of the details about their company and their upcoming projects. So, the relationship side of things is one of our biggest focus," noted Parsloe.

    The Educational and Networking Components

    "Aside from the meetings we also have the seminar program. We add a lot to the event outside of the meetings. We also focus on the networking activities, after hours. There's  a lot of networking that goes on between the peers, between the executives outside of the meetings. There's a lot of shared knowledge going on, and seminars are key to getting the people there and getting them working together to share what they already know about the industry," pointed out Parsloe.

    Forum Events is adding new events every year, and they are expanding in the US, Europe and even Asia. Moving forward, they are looking at more growth and developing new technology products to support their events.