Liaising with organisations on a regular basis especially before and following COVID-19 provides The MICE Academy an insight into the 
various events undertaken on a regular basis to the tune of around R45m per organisation annually.
2020 for the majority of organisations has been a watershed year of coming to grips with many differing personnel & client scenarios – at various levels – not experienced prior to 2020.
A new chapter has been written which most sectors within organisations were not geared 
for. It has been a question of time in learning new ways with no benchmarks.
| ‘….Start with the customer / clients changing behaviour….’ Sisa Ntshona – CEO – SA Tourism |
Putting aside virus apprehension factors on a number of levels – suppliers of venues in particular should look to their potential clients needs and sell-on accordingly.
Below in bullet-points is a day in the life of the average corporate management in 2020
1. With lockdown came the need for the vast majority of personnel undertaking their tasks from a home base. This resulted in discovering that a high percentage could operate from a home base with variations of interruptions.
For the minority that could not operate from a home base – alternate arrangements had to be considered and applied.
2. Checklists needed to be drafted for all personnel to understand the requirements in operating from a home base. This includes the connectivity factors which vary between geographical areas as well as the manner in which each employee is to be
re-imbursed for data usage. Certain equipment had to be purchased and legal agreements drawn-up in relation to usage by each member of home-based personnel.
3. Interestingly it was discovered that the productivity levels increased from a home base although it is necessary to have a physical, collective meeting once every 10 days to 2 weeks.
| ‘….Concentrate on capacities of 50 and less….’ Tshifhiwa Tshivhengwa CEO TBCSA |
NOTE
Suppliers & services should consider how to lure the potential client to the convening of home-based personnel to the required physical meeting via a set package deal offer with a 
special discounted rate for multiple standard bookings over (say) a 3 to 6 month period.
Effectively brand the package and market accordingly.
Covid-19 protocol compliance are non-negotiable yet simple, unobtrusive with exact step-by-step procedures. Compliance requirements should not over-shadow the purpose of the group’s gathering.
Next Persuasion Point No 2: Awards & Client Incentives
Check The MICE Academy’s website www.miceacademy.co.za for What We Do.