Upon accession Prague and Budapest quickly became regular destinations for British event planners looking for somewhere new and exiting (or, to be more accurate, old and exciting) to hold meetings whilst still offering clients the reassurance of "staying in Europe". Add to this the fact that an international standard hotel in the centre of Warsaw or Bucharest could save you a large percentage off your accommodation budget, there is a real incentive to take a closer look.

We recently ran an event in Warsaw for a client, where its delegates enjoyed a unique hotel, great service, excellent food and the chance to set off multiple rounds with a Kalashnikov - all for the cost of a weekend in Blackpool.

The worry of course is that while the prices are tempting, the infrastructure may not be up to expectations. And this is an issue we come across time and time again when pitching, or running, events outside of "the west".

But, to a degree, clients, organisers and delegates have got to accept that one of the reasons that these destinations are interesting and exciting is because they can be quirky, idiosyncratic and a bit frayed around the edges. You may get the unexpected, but once the dust has settled the odds are it’s no more than a great story for your next dinner party.

With the emergence of new commercial opportunities, in previous markets that were virtually impossible to trade in, such as the former Eastern Block and its position in the new enlarged European Union; the odds are that more and more meetings, events and hotel nights will venture beyond the established basket of western favourites.

However, the one thing I would say to any clients reading this and considering visiting an emerging market is to call on the services of an experienced agency that can get you out of most sticky situations. Which, incidentally, is why we took the Kalashnikovs…oh, how the service improved… but please check your Corporate Manslaughter responsibilities and Insurance Policies first!!

The other major issue is, of course, security. Pre 9/11 it’s fair to say that the most enticing prospect for the more adventurous organiser were the emerging destinations in the Middle East and North Africa.

New cultural experiences were on offer, familiar and trusted brands were investing heavily and the political climate was becoming more settled.

Sadly we now have to proceed with extreme caution and prepare for possible change at short notice. Recently we managed to relocate a 1000+ person conference from Marrakech with only six weeks notice. We managed, but were lucky that we had the staff, experience and systems to pull it off.

I believe that the Middle East and North Africa offer great value for money and a chance to offer delegates a new experience. But for many it’s just a risk too far. And despite the bombings in Madrid and London proving that nowhere is truly safe, it’s likely that the less volatile areas of the former eastern block will be where the best deals are for the foreseeable future. Just pick, and pack, wisely.

David Campbell
Chairman