British companies are increasingly holding their annual meetings in venues all over the world, according to a Birmingham technical services events company.
PSP, which provides the rig, PA, lighting, music and design for conferences, has noticed more and more firms go abroad for their get-togethers.
Based in Kings Norton, PSP has set up conferences for clients such as Cadbury Schweppes, o2, Provident Personal Credit and Royal Sun Alliance in Paris, Monaco, Holland, Spain, CzechRepublic, Portugal, USA, Dubai, Pakistan and India.
"The increase in destinations available from regional airports and the advent of low budget airlines means companies can find it as cost effective to take conferences to foreign locations as arranging them here at home," says Ian Will-cox, director of PSP.
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"More competitive hotel and delegate rates are a major attraction to event organisers and the added value of a foreign venue to delegates is of course a perceived bonus. Delegates get better weather, a more varied experience and opportunities to visit new places."
Most event organisers prefer to use a company they know to provide their technical services wherever in the world they are held, even when it means transporting truck loads of gear from Birmingham.
"It means all of the planning can be put in place in the UK before an event and rehearsals can take place prior to leaving for the venue," says Ian.
Recently, through its client Parallel Blue who produced the event, PSP provided full technical services for a two day conference of 1,400 delegates, held at the New York New York Hotel in Disneyland Paris on behalf of the business and technology giant EDS.
PSP arranged for a 25 foot by 80 foot set, including three giant screens for live camera relay, lighting rig, graphics and PA system, to be trucked from Birmingham to Paris and provided all the set and stage design and a technical crew of 30.
