Copenhagen has the IT facilities meeting buyers seeks

PRESS INFORMATION

APRIL 2007

Copenhagen has the IT facilities meeting buyers seek

According to an analysis by The Economist Intelligence Unit, Denmark is a world leader when it comes to IT skills and facilities.

For its Future Watch 2007 research, the global meetings industry organisation, Meeting Professionals International (MPI), asked 1,500 meetings buyers about their expectations for 2007. The research shows that the standard of IT facilities and expertise has a decisive influence when meetings planners come to decide where to hold international meetings.

The majority of those questioned were sceptical that they could fulfil their expectations concerning, for instance, high-speed Internet connection in hotels and meeting venues, or the technology to enable the planning of meetings online. But all these facilities are found in Denmark and Copenhagen.

The IT branch has already acknowledged the fact that Copenhagen is the leader of the IT field. Microsoft has held three major international conferences within the last five years in Bella Center in Copenhagen, which is known throughout the IT branch for its state-of-the-art IT facilities. Bella Center has yet again been chosen to host a Microsoft conference this autumn, with over 3,000 decision makers from around the world expected to attend. As well as this, other players in the IT field, such as CISCO, Oracle and Eurostar, have held numerous major international events in the city during the last couple of years.

Denmark and Copenhagen's special status in this area is underlined by further international research, in which the country is invariably ranked first. The Economist Intelligence Unit's E-readiness analysis for 2004, 2005, and 2006, together with the World Economic Forum 2007, all named Denmark as the world's best country when it came to technological capability. Ole Andersen, sales and marketing director for Wonderful Copenhagen CVB, comments:

"Year after year we have been a popular destination for industry events for the IT sector, so we are well aware that we have a great deal to offer. As MPI's research reveals, many believe that their expectations are unrealistic but, in reality, they can easily be realised here in Copenhagen, something which among others The Economist's E-readiness research underlines."

The world's best for IT
Denmark has been the runaway leader in the last three editions of The Economist Intelligence Unit's global e-readiness analysis, which, among other things, tells of a country, which, already in 2000, employed over 100,000 people within the IT branch. And with 12,000 IT businesses, the total turnover the same year was around Euro 22.5bn. The analysis is built upon almost 100 criteria, among them the number of computer servers; broadband; innovation; locals' ability to use technologies; training; and IT security.

The Economist had this to say about Denmark:
"Denmark is still the best place in the world to do e-business', reports the Economist Intelligence Unit. It has ranked the e-readiness of the world's 65 largest economies to find the countries most amenable to internet-based business. The factors considered include broadband and mobile-phone penetration, as well as government regulation."

Results from Future Watch 2007

The research emphasises the need for technological aids to make it easier to plan, carry out and evaluate meetings and conferences. Below are the research results concerning IT facilities listed in order of priority:

· Better logistical planning technology.
· Possibility of attendee feedback technology.
· Technology to improve identification and tracking.
· Better access to high-speed Internet at venues and hotels.
· Technology to facilitate the RFP process.



Øresund Region Meetings & Conventions Hotels Cruise Town areas Fashion, Design & Shopping Gastronomy & Night life Sights & Events Copenhagen specialities Gay Press > Press information > Meetings & Conventions > Copenhagen has the IT facilities meeting buyers se Copenhagen has the IT facilities meeting buyers seeks PRESS INFORMATION APRIL 2007 Copenhagen has the IT facilities meeting buyers seek According to an analysis by The Economist Intelligence Unit, Denmark is a world leader when it comes to IT skills and facilities. For its Future Watch 2007 research, the global meetings industry organisation, Meeting Professionals International (MPI), asked 1,500 meetings buyers about their expectations for 2007. The research shows that the standard of IT facilities and expertise has a decisive influence when meetings planners come to decide where to hold international meetings. The majority of those questioned were sceptical that they could fulfil their expectations concerning, for instance, high-speed Internet connection in hotels and meeting venues, or the technology to enable the planning of meetings online. But all these facilities are found in Denmark and Copenhagen. The IT branch has already acknowledged the fact that Copenhagen is the leader of the IT field. Microsoft has held three major international conferences within the last five years in Bella Center in Copenhagen, which is known throughout the IT branch for its state-of-the-art IT facilities. Bella Center has yet again been chosen to host a Microsoft conference this autumn, with over 3,000 decision makers from around the world expected to attend. As well as this, other players in the IT field, such as CISCO, Oracle and Eurostar, have held numerous major international events in the city during the last couple of years. Denmark and Copenhagen's special status in this area is underlined by further international research, in which the country is invariably ranked first. The Economist Intelligence Unit's E-readiness analysis for 2004, 2005, and 2006, together with the World Economic Forum 2007, all named Denmark as the world's best country when it came to technological capability. Ole Andersen, sales and marketing director for Wonderful Copenhagen CVB, comments: "Year after year we have been a popular destination for industry events for the IT sector, so we are well aware that we have a great deal to offer. As MPI's research reveals, many believe that their expectations are unrealistic but, in reality, they can easily be realised here in Copenhagen, something which among others The Economist's E-readiness research underlines." The world's best for IT Denmark has been the runaway leader in the last three editions of The Economist Intelligence Unit's global e-readiness analysis, which, among other things, tells of a country, which, already in 2000, employed over 100,000 people within the IT branch. And with 12,000 IT businesses, the total turnover the same year was around Euro 22.5bn. The analysis is built upon almost 100 criteria, among them the number of computer servers; broadband; innovation; locals' ability to use technologies; training; and IT security. The Economist had this to say about Denmark: "Denmark is still the best place in the world to do e-business', reports the Economist Intelligence Unit. It has ranked the e-readiness of the world's 65 largest economies to find the countries most amenable to internet-based business. The factors considered include broadband and mobile-phone penetration, as well as government regulation." Results from Future Watch 2007 The research emphasises the need for technological aids to make it easier to plan, carry out and evaluate meetings and conferences. Below are the research results concerning IT facilities listed in order of priority: · Better logistical planning technology. · Possibility of attendee feedback technology. · Technology to improve identification and tracking. · Better access to high-speed Internet at venues and hotels. · Technology to facilitate the RFP process.