The Value of Meetings Industry Associations – Site at 40

by Padraic Gilligan, Vice President, MCI and Vice President, Ovation Global DMC I have always believed in “giving back”. One of the easiest ways to do this is to participate in industry associations. The meetings industry space is well populated with associations seeking your membership so it’s sometimes difficult to decide where to spend your… Read more »

In a New York minute: chance encounters in the Big Apple – The Roger, The Breslin

by Padraic Gilligan, Vice President, MCI and Vice President, Ovation Global DMC The “embarrassment” of choice “So where are you staying? they asked. “The Roger”, I replied They didn’t even try to stifle their laughter. “The Roger?” they repeated to each other, in a tone somewhere between incredulity and hilarity. I had genuinely missed the… Read more »

London Calling: M&IT Awards, CONFEX and the Irish back at ExCel

by Padraic Gilligan, Vice President MCI and Vice President, Ovation Global DMC Ole, Ole, Ole London’s Convention and Exhibition Centre, ExCeL, is etched in the hearts of most Irish people. For a period last summer it often appeared that the entire facility had been colonised by the Irish such were the ubiquity of tri-colours and… Read more »

Associations and PCOs – Final Thoughts from IAPCO13

by Padraic Gilligan, Vice President, Industry Relations, MCI The Three Musketeers That’s how the executive host committee of the hugely successful IAPCO Conference which took place in Dublin last week described themselves. It’s worth dissecting the image as, I believe, there are crucial lessons here for success in business and in destination marketing in particular…. Read more »