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Importance of standards and procedures in the MICE industry

This is a story about the things you didn’t know you wanted to care about. The important stuff small businesses usually avoid. Standards, procedures, SOP, documentation… MICE is very dynamic industry and something new and interesting is always around the corner. And all these words sound so, well, boring. Similar to when you buy a new home appliance you wanted for some time. And you skip reading the manual because it is too long and boring. And how hard can it be unpacking and setting up something which is designed to make your life easier? These stories usually end with you digging up the manual from the trash and reading it in detail. Some things are not as simple as they seem. Do you want a similar scenario with your event? We guess not. Standards and procedures might sound boring, but they are important. And if you are new to this business, this is something which (in our humble opinion) you should go through on your first day of work. Let’s get to it. Standards are set of definitions, the guidelines, the “how to” instructions for all aspects of business: development, implementation, production, delivery, use of products and services. Good products and services don’t become great if they are not held up to the highest standards. Standards are implemented through certifications and licenses. As in every industry, MICE has several of them. Here are some examples: HAACP – Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points ISO 20121 Event Sustainability Management Systems ISO 22301 Business Continuity Management Systems ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems ISO 22000 Food Safety Management Systems ISO 50001 Energy Management Systems TISI 22300 MICE Security Management Systems But why should you care about this? You do your job and all is well at the moment, right? But, apart from playing it safe, there should always be room for improvement and scaling your business. Application of standards can: Improve your services Improve your performance Prove your commitment to quality in every phase of the project Ensure consistency Obtain new and keep your existing customers Ensure regulatory compliance (they must be checked and, if needed,...