(GANG) Overview What is GANG? Development of GANG Success stories - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Great Ambassador Networking Group (GANG)

Overview • What is GANG? • Development of GANG • Success stories of GANG • Future of GANG • Upcoming meeting

What is GANG? • A network of people who share best practice in working with local ambassadors in bidding for conferences. • Set up in July 2009 at the ICCA RSMP in Malaga, a need for more time to focus on ambassador programmes and make sense to meet in the UK and Ireland. • LinkedIn group

• One day annual meeting – 2010 NewcastleGateshead – 2010 Liverpool – 2011 Manchester – 2012 Belfast – 2013 Edinburgh – 2014 Cambridge • Expansion to include Universities and venues

Development of GANG • UK and Ireland a leader in Ambassador Programmes so need a forum to develop. • Steering Committee formed in October 2013 • Meeting format – round table format now moved to a more formal event. • Mentoring destinations – breakout sessions – advanced and new Programmes. • Highlight importance of AP’s in generating business. “A clear route to winning international association events is through a robust ambassador programme” • International destinations- Aarhus and Calgary

Case study • Conference Cambridge – launched Ambassador Programme in June 2012 • Direct result of GANG in Liverpool – presented a proposal to board for creation of Cambridge Ambassador Programme • Soft launch initially mainly supporting academics who had won bids already • Additional ideas after attending Manchester meeting – creation of video and literature ahead of official launch in June 2012. • January 2013 – joined ICCA which allows a more proactive approach • Fist AP event February – mix of existing and prospective ambassadors • Future plans – grow the programme, word of mouth a gradual process. • Ask Anita for more details!

North America • Ambassador Programs a relatively new concept • PCMA - ‘Selecting a Destination Based on Strategic Business Intelligence ’ • MCC Calgary, June 2013 • Toronto Metro Convention Centre • Closer to home - London Ambassador Programme

Future plans • Registration • Membership expansion • Accreditation • Code of conduct • Roles of committee • Closer ties with ICCA

Taste of previous topics • Manchester – Recruiting corporate ambassadors – Inspiring existing ambassadors, legacy and sustainability. – Making use of networks • Belfast – Ambassadors from a University perspective, what’s in it for us? – Ambassador Challenges and how to overcome them – Working with a PCO for joint success – Best practice for sectoral research – Recruiting new Ambassadors – Lead generation and sales • Edinburgh – Generation Y and Ambassador Programmes – The importance of conferences to the academic world – How to use LinkedIn to attract and maintain dialogue with ambassadors – Breakouts sessions – new & established

Next Meeting! • Engaging and Working with a PCO – Nicola McGrane, Conference Partners • Big Data – Marco Van Itterzon, ICCA • Conference Ambassador Programme Survey results – Tony Rogers and Sue Beverley • VisitScotland and Visit England – Kerry Watson and Simon Gidman • Breakout sessions • Register - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/gang2014- registration-9767347399

• For more information: • Andrew.pratt@visitaberdeen.com • 01224 900493 • Or join our LinkedIn Group • http://www.linkedin.com/groups/Great-Ambassador-Networking-Group- 2664866/about