SITE GB secures 15% more members by injecting extra value at events

International association for incentive travel professionals SITE’s GB Chapter says delivery of a more professional education programme, on the back of member feedback, has led to significant growth in the association’s membership. Security and crisis management were two topics dealt with in Chapter events at the beginning of this year, as Chapter membership moved ahead 15%. “2016 is a year of change for SITE GB,” says Chapter president, Fiona McGrory of InterContinental London Park Lane. “To grow the Chapter we must think beyond networking events to the delivery of cutting edge professional development content that engages our attendees and ensures they leave better educated and better able to conduct the business of incentive management. “Our opening event, just two weeks ago, focused on the delivery of our new message, plans and members benefits as well as our desire to work more closely with the industry and deliver more of what members asked for. The second allowed us to immediately demonstrate that commitment through relevant and focused content.” SITE GB’s second event of the year, took place at The Langham, London, and drew 59 guests from organisations such as Grass Roots Meetings & Events, BCD Meetings & Events, Banks Sadler, HRG, Rosewood Hotels, London & Partners, Virgin Atlantic and the Barbican. Content, which was conducted as a debate, included Chetan Shah of MICEBOOK (formerly of Black Tomato), who used a case study from the recent Paris attacks as a tool to explore event security and how operations teams can and should react to crisis situations in real time. The panel of industry leaders also included comment and input from Rob Bentley, senior development underwriter with Hiscox Event Insurance and Peter Cooper, regional security manager UK & Ireland with International SOS and Control Risk. “Security has never been more important for our industry, it has become a tangible part of the planning and sales process and a high priority for many organisations,” says McGrory. A second Chapter event on security is promised for early summer and will look at the integration of security into the preparation and planning of an event. Rebecca Duncan of Virgin Atlantic says: “SITE represents a significant force for good in the industry but it needed to inject some extra value and learning opportunities into its events. They have clearly listened to the members and done so in a truly impressive way in just the first few weeks of the year.” Founded in 1973, SITE is comprised of 2,000 members in 90 countries including the SITE GB Chapter.