The challenge for any event organiser is to produce creative, memorable events while delivering event outcomes that are aligned with the broader objectives.  This month we look at a conference produced by MSF Events for Macquarie Telecom, which illustrates how you can achieve both these goals.

Annual Staff Conference
9 – 11 February 2007
Cypress Lakes Resort

Brief:
To design and produce a more effective conference.

Outcome:
Why would you choose to hold a conference?  Research suggests that in terms of event outcomes, managers consider conferences to be most successful in conveying a clear sense of organisational priorities.  When combined with a team building approach, conferences are the ideal vehicle for strengthening organisational culture.  This was the focus of the Macquarie Telecom Annual Staff Conference.

How can we make conferences more effective you may ask?  Source informative and inspiring speakers, provide quality meals, secure a bigger budget…  Have you considered sourcing a unique venue, creative use of technology and making the conference an unforgettable experience?

Cypress Lakes Resort was selected for the three day conference.  This unique resort is nestled amongst the vineyards in the heart of the Hunter Valley.  It provided the ideal ‘world away’ setting for Macquarie Telecom.

Delivering key messages in a fresh, new way is always a challenge.  And since most adults have grown up as members of the TV generation, MSF Events used this as an innovative approach to designing and producing the conference.

The conference design featured four massive projection screens, customised high action vision, heart racing Dolby surround sound and dramatic lighting effects.  The conference opener was a highly entertaining piece.  It utilised cleverly designed motion graphics to communicate the journey attendees had embarked on to arrive at the conference. 

Integrated into the vision was Macquarie Telecom’s corporate branding.  MSF Events created a positive brand experience by bringing the Macquarie Telecom branding to life.  Attendees physically experienced the brand firsthand, being engaged in a sensory experience as the branding took on different forms right before their very eyes.  The audio and visual components combined, helped in creating a more powerful and entertaining learning experience.

For the past three years the conference has been designed and produced by MSF Events.  Each year MSF Events has been able to deliver the conference whilst exceeding Macquarie Telecom’s expectations, by leveraging their wealth of industry experience and long-standing supplier relationships.  This year’s conference was highly successful in increasing employee morale as well as communicating Macquarie Telecom’s future direction.

The client’s verdict for the event…

"Thanks so much for the organisation and production of the conference.  In everyone’s words, this was the best conference that we have had.  Slick, high impact and problem free."  Macquarie Telecom

Conference tips:
1) Don’t let a lack of lighting for note taking become a problem at your next conference.  Ensure your technicians refrain from dimming the lights excessively to allow for projection of electronic presentations.  If it is too dark to make notes, how effective is the presentation?

2) Attendees are typically working much longer hours at a conference than average.  Hence is advisable to schedule multiple breaks into your conference.  Attendees will definitely absorb more if they rest occasionally.

3) Provide time for attendees to review their notes, talk over issues, and so on.  People need time to make connections for learning to happen.

Call us now on +61 2 9698 3718 or write to us at
info@msfevents.com for a free event consultation today.