In these challenging times, Kongres Magazine is trying its best to provide meeting planners with the most relevant and useful information regarding the spread of COVID-19. We also want to share opinions from key members of the meetings industry.
We asked key opinion makers from the meetings industry for their thoughts on the situation and how they are coping with COVID-19.
DANI POLAJNAR, CEO and Senior Training Consultant at TBA d.o.o.
ADAPTING AND HELPING CLIENTS
Q: How do you feel about the restrictions that European governments have implemented to contain the spread of COVID-19?
Our revenues dropped significantly, and we expect this to continue without any real end date. The teambuilding industry is currently in a great recession.
Q: What would you compare this situation to?
Nothing really. It is a unique situation.
Q: Economic consequences for the meetings industry have already started to show, what do you expect government institutions to do?
We do expect some government support, but we’re not counting on it. Our plan is to get through this on our own, with the cooperation of our global partners. If we will get anything from the state, it will definitely help us on our way, and we would be glad if it happens. But our black scenario future plans are made without expecting support.
Q: What is your opinion on virtual meetings, as an alternative to live events?
In the teambuilding industry, virtual meetings are not a true alternative. They are just a quick fix of the problem, but they will definitely have a big influence on our work in the future. Our main goal is to build trust among the attendants of our teambuilding programs, which is hard to do online. Exchanging information – yes. Building trust – no. Management – yes. Leadership – no.
Q: What precautions/measures are you taking in your company?
Cutting costs, reorganizing the team, optimizing our work processes.
Q: What are your expectations regarding the duration of the crisis and when will the situation go back to normal?
We’re expecting all the events to be on strict hold until July. Then we have an off-season until September. And then we expect that most of our corporate clients will be cautious and will postpone as many events as they can to later dates. So basically, we’re expecting no real revenue from events until the end of 2020.
Q: How are you tackling the event prohibition? What will the next few months look like for you?
Working from home, moving most of our activities online. More or less we’re reinventing our business model.
Q: What can we do to help our industry get back to its feet as soon as possible?
We think it’ll take a lot of time for our industry to get back on track. Until then, we can support our clients as much as we can – online.
THE INDUSTRY WILL NEVER BE THE SAME
Q: Are you foreseeing any problems for the meetings industry once the prohibition is lifted?
I guess that the industry will never be the same as it was before. Companies are moving to the virtual world and even after the prohibition is over, they will keep some things that have proven best for them during the time of crisis. And on-line meetings will be one of those things. Of course, nothing can fully replace face-to-face meetings, but we see the industry’s future as a sort of combination of the two.
Q: Is marketing (digital marketing) in the duration of the pandemic sensible (and appropriate)?
It is if it helps our clients in any way. Now it’s not the time in which revenue is the only goal – it’s the time to help our clients get through the crisis with the knowledge and experiences that we have.
Q: What will happen after we’ve beaten the virus? How will you (re)start your marketing activities?
We’re not planning to stop our marketing activities. We’re just changing the contents. And after this is over, we’ll change them once again.
Q: Are you in contact with colleagues from around the world? Have you talked about any potential solutions?
Yes, we are in close contact with more than 50 top-end companies in the global teambuilding industry. They are all experiencing the same thing as we do and we are all working hard and helping each other to get through this.
