I am Anna - Eventfaqs

LEAD FEATURE
P R E S I D E N T ’ S D E S K
Brian Tellis, President, EEMA
and Chairman, Fountainhead
Promotions and Events
For membership and general enquiries on
EEMA, please contact:
Brig. S.K. Rattan (Retd.) on:
eventsassociation@gmail.com
admin@eemaindia.com
Mobile : +91 9560712555
There’s a spring in my step these days, and it all has to do with the annual
EEMA convention that played out over three days last month. This fourth edition
of the event took us back to where it all started – Goa. But it isn’t geography
that is giving me the high, as much as chemistry. For me the biggest success
of the convention was the sense of camaraderie and belonging that happened
amongst all our members. It was palpable really – and very important as we
take forward several initiatives that will benefit the industry as a whole.
Of course, Goa wasn’t all about sentiment alone, but substance as well. The
content was superb and the awards ceremony outstanding. We also reviewed
the year gone by and formulated tangible strategy for the year ahead.
In introspection we discovered that it was indeed a very satisfying year gone
by – lots of activity and action, from opening the new Gujarat Chapter, tying
up with academic institutions (to catalyse a better quality of talent output), and
launching EEMAg, to fund raising, bringing the industry together through sport,
and organising a slew of workshops.
On a critical plane, an industry delegation opened a vital channel of
representation with no less a decision maker than the Finance Minister, Mr.
Pranab Mukherjee, himself. The focussed issue that was raised was Service
Tax, and our team will follow it up at that highest level.
Much of what we did during the year is an ongoing phenomenon. Which brings
me to the second part of this foreword: From introspection to looking ahead...
The Goa convention encapsulated the sentiment succinctly. The mantra for
this year is: Scale Up! We aren’t looking to re-invent the wheel; rather, build on
the starts we have made last year, over the various areas mentioned.
But specifically, this will mean increasing our interaction with Government,
opening more state chapters and initiating dialogue with our supply chain.
Expect increased learning, through more workshops – the one already on
the cards will delve into Standard Operating Practices. We are also keen to
expand our educational tie-ups. So while EMDI and IIMCM were good starts,
the focus will be on both breadth and depth. That is to say, not just reaching
the program to more institutions, but further enriching the curriculum at those
we have already linked with.
Importantly and uniquely, we intend to bring out a white paper on the
entertainment industry. I think, at the inflection point that the industry finds
itself at, this is an initiative of decisive importance. Just think how priceless all
the research, statistics and fact file will be for all of us.
But above all, or should I say in everything we do, the focus will be on bringing
the fraternity together in a spirit of bonding that was in evidence at the annual
convention. It’s beautiful this realisation that we are not competitors but partners
batting for each other. The pie is expanding and there’s enough business for
everyone. Beyond MICE and Activations, there’s peripheral business like
weddings and sport that is clearly trending towards the mainline. A mature and
collaborative approach will benefit all of us – singularly and collectively.
An exciting year confronts us. Together we can take things to the next level.