The Russian MICE services industry: Expert's view
On Russian conference services market today
Today, most hotels have the facilities and premises for holding conferences, symposiums, training sessions, seminars and other public events. This trend is dictated, first and foremost, by the current market requirements, rising competition and expansion and diversification of the spectrum of services that are offered by hotels today. Indeed, hotels are ideal venues for organizing and conducting business events as they can offer a full spectrum of required services that include not only accommodations, but also catering services, transfers and lease of special equipment to organizers of business events.
On the size of the Russian conference services market
According to the ratings compiled by the International Association of Congresses and Conventions, the St. Petersburg business and congress tourism services market is at the formative stage, and therefore, lags far behind most competing European cities in many aspects. Therefore, St. Petersburg needs to develop specialized centers with adequate business infrastructures for rendering top quality modern services such as convention and congress centers that will offer other related and complementary services such conference halls of different sizes, catering facilities and services, as well as parking places, convenient transportation to and from such facilities, etc. The presence of all these facilities will help stimulate the development congress services and activities to both national and international levels in the city.
On level of demand for conference services
A steady pool of consumers of conference and related business event services has developed in Russia over the past several years. Specifically, these include training companies, large firms, public organizations and funds. These prevailing trends indicate that conference halls in hotels are not only additional service to accommodation services, but are also a solid source of revenues. Currently, over 250 exhibitions and 600 congresses of various sizes and covering different spheres of activities are held annually in St. Petersburg alone.
On your company’s position in this industry
I can say that our company occupies a very stable position on the MICE services market. This is because we have occupied our niche in this industry; have a large pool of constant clients, who, even in crisis times, have remained loyal consumers to our brands and services.
On your company’s future plans
Our company’s future development strategy envisages actively attracting new clients, preparation and presentation of interesting and attractive offers, namely, the combination of several business services with entertainment events and health-improvement programs. Our company’s variety of different hotel brands — both on different cities’ hospitality markets and the resort hotels market segment — will enable us to offer diversified hospitality services to our clients.
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