The Convention Bureau at Glasgow City Marketing Bureau (GCMB) scored what is believed to be a world first this week when it broadcast proceedings from a conference live on its website.

Fittingly, the Convention Bureau chose a gathering of some of the world’s leading information technology experts at the Scottish Exhibition + Conference Centre (SECC) on Monday (June 25) for the live webcast.

The opening forum of the five day IEEE International Conference on Communications (ICC2007) featured Microsoft Chief Executive Officer Steve Balmer, Chief Executive of the Vodafone Group, Arun Sarin, Chief Executive of BT, Ben Verwaayen, Alcatel Lucent CEO, Pat Russo, President of EMEA operations at Google, Nikesh Arora, and Sir David Brown, the chairman of Motorola, outlining their vision for the future of convergence in the fast-moving communications industry.

More than 400 technology enthusiasts from around the world – from countries such as Australia, Japan, Taiwan, Kuwait, China, Mexico, Singapore, the United States, Canada, Sweden, Israel,  France, Slovenia and Germany -  were able to follow the forum live through the Convention Bureau website.

Molly Doheny, head of the Convention Bureau at GCMB, said: “To be leading edge, you have to have cutting edge technology. We believe the Convention Bureau in Glasgow is the first in the world to broadcast conference proceedings live on its own website.”

“The leading edge technological support we offer helps professional conference organisers to enhance their meeting by maximising its global reach.”

“The convention industry has been going through a highly significant period of change in the past five years, and we believe that what Glasgow is pioneering today will become the industry standard in years to come.”

Alexandra Redmond, the head of Information and Communications Technology at GCMB, said: “This was a leading edge technology conference and GCMB has been able to hold its head up in this community and demonstrate that we can do this.”

“Part of my remit at GCMB is to be creative in our use of technology and this is an excellent example of how we can add value to what other people are doing in the meetings industry. The feedback has been very positive, and the feeling is that this is something that could be done for other conferences as well.”

Those logging on were able to access the live video and audio broadcast by either clicking on http://www.seeglasgow.com/icc2007 or by logging onto the ICC2007 web page www.ieee-icc.org and clicking through on a link to the specially created page on the GCMB website.

The audio visual equipment was provided by Cameron Presentations. GCMB took the feed from the camera, coded it for internet distribution, and put it out through its own servers.

Conference organisers have previously broadcast live proceedings of their conferences on their own websites. But GCMB thinks it is the first convention bureau to offer this value-added service.

Katy Hill, senior event manager of In Conference Ltd, the organiser of ICC2007, said: “This was great because it allowed people unable to attend the conference to see the keynote speakers and it brings the conference to a wider market. This adds value to us as a conference organising company.”

The local chair of ICC2007 was Professor Tariq Duranni, senior advisor to the principal at the University of Strathclyde. He said: "Glasgow City Marketing Bureau has always been extremely innovative in the support it has offered the conference industry in the city.

“It is fitting, therefore, that they have chosen a conference looking at the future of the communications industry to maximise the use of technology with this broadcast. We are extremely grateful for their help and enthusiasm."

Prof Durrani is a member of the Glasgow Conference Ambassador Programme operated by GCMB which offers free support to academics, medics, scientists and business people thinking of bringing a conference to the city.

Ben Goedegebuure, director of conferences at the SECC, said: “I’m sure this news will be welcomed by professional conference organisers and delegates the world over. We are a world-class destination and we want every conference that comes to the city to be a great success. I’m positive that broadcasting proceedings live will add to the whole conference experience. We are proud to host conferences and it is excellent that GCMB is pioneering an initiative that demonstrates Glasgow’s support for conferences whilst giving speakers the chance to reach a world-wide audience.”

Glasgow has always been a trailblazer when it comes to using new technology for conferences. In 2000, the Convention Bureau at the Greater Glasgow and Clyde Valley Tourism Board – the forerunner to GCMB – became the first in the world to bid online for a conference. The bid for the International Crustacean Congress was successful, and in 2001 www.seeglasgow.com  was named best website by the European Federation of Conference Towns.