(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