Despite our emphasis on building virtual communities and shrinking the world with collaboration technology, there is no substitute for the personal interaction that only face-to-face meetings provide.

Unlike many management companies that cater to small and mid-size associations, we are and have always been globally focused. Frequently, more than half of a client association's members are located outside of North America. So it is imperative that we are able to stage polished meetings and events beyond our own borders. Of the dozens of meetings and events we orchestrate each year, many are in Asia and Europe in cities such as Tokyo, Seoul, London, Rome, Helsinki and Barcelona.

Of course, we stage many events in North America, too, ranging from participation in major trade shows and conferences to gala dinner events that include speakers who are world renowned in business, politics and the arts.

Technology still plays a major role in bringing our client's members together. We host many more Web and audio conference meetings than face-to-face events - at least a dozen in a typical week. And our in-person sessions are facilitated by efficient technology solutions, from easy-to-use meeting and hotel online registration systems to wireless Internet access for all of our meeting facilities.