If I use the services of a Professional Conference Organiser will it cost me more money than if I go directly to suppliers?
Essentially PCOs all price differently but there are 3 elements: a) No up front costs for initial bid, proposal and if possible site inspection b) Fees for specific services, e.g. registration – can vary from €40 to €60 per delegate, depending on number of delegates, size of conference, dates etc. This is just an indication, as fees can also be lower. These fees include development of URL link to website, conference management software, dedicated personnel behind the scenes, processing of forms, payments, financial reports etc. c) Logistics and administration fees – usually a % on top of all costs but given that the DMCs and PCOs buy in volumn throughout the year, there should not be an increase in actual costs to client, as the PCO or DMC can negotiate better overall conditions. The % varies from 10 – 15%. Some PCOs operate by charging a one off project management fee which is a fixed amount. The benefits to the client are to have a full time team working on their behalf for anything
