UGS meets in Sanya

THE BRIEF
UGS PLN Software wanted to conduct a technical and sales training conference for both internal and external customers – mainly distributors – from across Asia Pacific. UGS wanted the attendees, including management from the European and US offices, to treat the event as a sales update as well as a networking opportunity for the staff and customers.

CHALLENGES
“Communication was a challenge because a lot of frontline hotel staff,land operators and third-party vendors speak very little English,” says Cynthia Khoo, Singapore country manager for EventClicks.
“Mandarin is the main language there so it pays to have a translator on hand.”
Khoo says that because Sanya is an island, preparation was also all-important. “If you
forget something, then it has to be flown in from Beijing or Guangzhou, so everything
had to be ready and double-checked.”

EXECUTION
A four-day programme was arranged, starting with the opening conference and then
subsequent days in respective breakout sessions, with a gala dinner to thank the
distributors for their achievements.
The highlight of the event was the gala dinner where the customers and staff were all awarded for their achievements.
Another highlight was the opening of the conference where a group of female drummers kick-started the event with a bang and the VIPs joined the performance along with the troupe.

VERDICT
“The client was happy. They considered this a huge success due to overwhelming response
and attendance,” says Khoo. “The original invite list of 400 had to be extended to 700, until eventually we had to turn down new registrations.
Khoo says UGS was also very happy with Sanya as a destination. “The weather was perfect for the group,” she says. “It was a very relaxed mood so they were able to achieve their objectives.
“When we did the post-event survey, everyone indicated they would gladly return to Sanya. We are now arranging the 2008 event there, which will be for 1,000 people.”