In the commercial world in the 1980s, business organizations often operate on a global basis. Even in Great Britain, companies are no longer as insular as in the past. Many are subsidiaries of foreign giants; for instance, ford in Great Britain is a subsidiary of the American parent company. Others, which are solely British, now regard Europe as part of the home market since the time when Great Britain joined the European common market.
The tendency towards globalization in the business world means that there is a requirement for companies and their personnel to be outward looking and aware of market conditions in every continent. This presents managements with a communication challenge which is almost as big as the organizations themselves.
The most effective way to provide that communication is to bring important personnel and clients together at one time and in one location. Besides providing managements with the opportunity to disseminate information formally, it also makes informal meeting between company personnel possible which can only be beneficial to the organization as a whole. In addition, there is the likelihood that the meeting together of people from different backgrounds will generate its own “group dynamic” as the American often call it, in the long term. This too is likely to be of value to the company when the delegates at a meeting pass on to their dealers their enthusiasm for the company’s products. Even in the electronic age with modern communications networks such as telex, telephone and, in the not too distant future, computer controlled electronic mail; there is still no substitute for personal contact.
Increasingly, companies are turning to the conference as a fast and effective way of briefing their personnel and clients. International conferences are also held for political purposes and the exchange of information by professionals.
The planning of international conferences presents the organizers with a mammoth task but nowadays travel agents and hoteliers are aware of the requirements and do their best to facilitate conference arrangements.