ST LOUIS, MO— The International Association of Conference Centers has added a homepage link to is website that enables meeting planners to quickly find conference centers that offer on-site teleconferencing capabilities (www.iacconline.org). The move was made to accommodate the boom in the use of videoconferencing that evolved after the Sept. 11 attacks. A member survey by the IACC showed that while more than 80% experienced meeting cancellations or postponements following the Sept. 11 attacks, many saw an immediate increase in the use of videoconferencing facilities. “The increased interest in videoconferencing at this time is completely understandable as certain organizations impose travel restrictions over the near term,” said IACC President Joe Sebestyen. The association has also reported that some members are seeing an increase in local and regional business through the remainder of 2001. Overall, members across the board reported that they either waived contracted cancellation fees or extended special considerations to clients who were forced to cancel or alter their scheduled meetings in September and October, but many also said they have obtained commitments to reschedule canceled business. Following the attacks, IACC said that it established an Emergency Procedures Task Force (EPTF) to research members’ existing emergency procedures and to cull the best practices to be organized into an industry white paper. The document is slated for publication by the end of the year, said the association. The following critical areas of study will be examined: health emergencies; natural disasters; facility emergencies and deliberate disruption/act.
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