The client, the European arm of a multi-national graphics manufacturer, was due to hold its sales conference in Munich. The location and timing was already determined to coincide with a four-yearly exhibition specific to the graphics and printing industry. The client had decided that its Sales and Marketing team should all visit the exhibition and whilst already in the city, should hold their annual Sales Conference in Munich.

LVS Events had worked with this client on previous Conferences and were asked to lend their expertise to overcome the concerns of the client.

(a)   whilst all delegates would visit the exhibition, the client wanted a more structured and targeted approach than each person wandering around 

(b)   the client wanted specific information from its competitors and other companies operating in the industry, some of whom may have strategic alliances with the client's competitors 

(c)   the conference should have a serious objective but should also be fun and develop team-working amongst the delegates who are located throughout Europe and therefore only meet each other occasionally

To really sharpen our wits, LVS Events was informed that we had eight weeks in which to pull it all together!

An introductory video had been professionally produced starring the Sales and Marketing directors as Bond and "M" with the Technical Manager as "Q". This was the opening salvo for the unsuspecting delegates and successfully positioned the conference as a mixture of hard work and fun. After a further briefing the group was then split into teams and given their individual assignments to prepare for their day around the exhibition.

Preparations done, the group was whisked away to hone their shooting skills at the Munich Police shooting range deep beneath the hills of Munich. The evening was then spent infiltrating suspicious foreign parties at the famous Hofbräuhaus brewery. Video clips had again been prepared to introduce both these activities and link them to the theme.

The following day was designated as the mass assault on the exhibition halls. It was fascinating to see how groups had used their respective team members in order to acquire information where others would have been instantly recognised. It was left up to the individual teams when they should complete their tasks. The brief was simply that they should be ready to present their finding to the main group by 10.00am the following day.

And of course, the teams had fully entered into the spirit of the conference by sparing no effort to present their finding in true James Bond style, to such an extent that an additional prize for creativity had to be arranged at short notice.

As a reward for all their hard efforts, the group was introduced to the activities for the remainder of the final day. The gala dinner was due to be held on board "Moonraker" (actually a spaceship set at the Bavarian Film Studios) but the teams had to find their own way there. They were therefore split into twos, given a route map and a list of items to collect en route, and the keys to a BMW Z3 (what else in the home of BMW?). By instructions on driver changes and a relay swap over deep in the foothills of the Bavarian Alps, all delegates managed to get behind the wheel with only 15 cars having to be hired for the afternoon - a huge help when operating on a limited budget.

On arrival at the film studios the guests were treated to Bond style cocktails whilst watching a thrilling stunt show personalised for their company. The subsequent gala dinner was a sumptuous affair complete with Bond girl waitresses and the most attractive troupe of female saxophone players ever witnessed. Of course, recognising the one-sided nature of the attractions, the boys amongst the delegates soon treated their ladies to an impromptu Full Monty (partial) during the disco which rounded off the evening.

And the client's reaction? Simply the most successful conference ever held, with the right balance between serious work and team building.

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