Category Archive: Channels

Jul 26 2013

Recent Changes in UAE Laws Expand Association Business Opportunity

Categories:

Channel Mgmt: Partners - Sponsors - Sales, Channels, MARCOM, Market & Bus Planning, Risk Mgmt

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Dubai Assn Centre.All comes together

“Non Profit” Status Now Recognized Eases Rules to Open Independently

Until recently, if you wanted to open your own commercial operation as an association in the Middle East you were treated like any for-profit corporation. You either had to let locals own 51% of your activities and they got a permanent seat on your Board (among other things) or operate through a free zone, which would give you 100% ownership but categorized as a for profit corporation.

For several years, various government organizations including Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry, the Dubai World Trade Centre, Dubai Tourism & Commerce Marketing, and MCI Middle East (the MENA region’s leading global association management & consulting company) have been working to gain more favorable recognition of associations by reclassifying their business as “nonprofit” as well as remove the requirement of local ownership in their organizations. The rationale for this treatment presented to local officials were fivefold:

  1. Associations were established in their home markets as nonprofits meaning that any net revenues are reinvested in new programs and services that benefit the members who join their organization;
  2. Associations exist to promote and grow an industry or a profession and offer programs and services that uniquely benefit not only the industry or profession it serves but also society as a whole;
  3. Associations as nonprofit entities do not have owners nor do they offer/sell shares;
  4. Associations have elected volunteer leadership at the global, regional and local levels of management who are not compensated for their efforts to develop new knowledge, programs or services;
  5. Associations are often mission-driven in their desire to serve the public beyond the members.

Local UAE officials began to see they could achieve a stronger position among the world’s association community by lowering barriers to establishing regional HQ nonprofit operations in Dubai to serve the UAE, GCC and MENA.  Such a strategy could position the UAE as a leading business destination for foreign associations in the GCC and MENA.

Toward an Exciting New Reality

Thanks to these efforts the Dubai government has approved laws that would confer nonprofit status for foreign associations as well as remove local ownership requirements so long as they establish their nonprofit business presence in a new facility called the Dubai Association Centre (DAC) located in the heart of Dubai at the Dubai World Trade Centre.

US associations will be able to open their own independent office featuring:

  • A business license operating from the Dubai Association Centre as well as office space
  • Visas for staff
  • Ability to open a bank account
  • A legal framework to offer products and services in the local market
  • An opportunity to be part of the Dubai association and corporate community
  • A gateway to key Dubai Government Stakeholders
  • Usage of World Trade Club facilities – Dubai’s oldest Private Club
  • Monthly Association Networking Events
  • Easy access to the market development business services of MCI if required

Dubai as a Business Hub

A leading global and regional business centre, Dubai has over 140,000 companies located in the local market.  Businesses enjoy

  • Tax free business environment
  • A thriving cosmopolitan centre for business, trade, industry and tourism
  • The commercial capital of the UAE
  • One of the world’s most popular destinations for both business and leisure
  • Modern and growing infrastructure
  • A relaxed and pleasant lifestyle
  • Wide choices of spacious, modern accommodation
  • Low crime, multicultural city where freedom of movement is safe and easy for everyone
  • Unique accessibility with direct flights to over 140 destinations
  • Excellent public transport system

[important]

Attending ASAE in Atlanta?  Stop by MCI’s booth 1216 to Learn More

Register to Attend A Fall Business Tour to Dubai

Interested association executives will have the chance to travel to Dubai this Fall courtesy of the Dubai Association Centre partners.  Complimentary hotel accommodation and airfare provided by Emirates Airlines will provide executives with an opportunity to experience how the Dubai Association Centre can improve market access for you.

This tour will include:

  1. Meetings with government officials
  2. Private business meetings
  3. Tour of the Dubai Association Centre
  4. Detailed briefing on legislation and regulations governing associations

To learn more about DAC

Contact:  Peter Turner 571.275.1516 or [email protected]

[/important]

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May 24 2013

Deep Dive Emerging Markets Session Video Recap & Announcement of ASAE/MCI 5 Year Global Research Initiative

Categories:

Channels, Market & Bus Planning, MegaTrends & Research, Member Services, Membership

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deep dive panel

ASAE Panel from Deep Dive Emerging Market session held last week at ASAE’s International Conference in Washington DC:  (left to right)

  • James Ott, SVP, International Programs, American College of Physicians, Philadelphia, PA
  • Tarnbir Kaur, Director, Association Management and Consulting, MCI Group- MENA and India
  • Eryn Carter, Director, Global Markets, Million Dollar Round Table, Park Ridge, IL
  • Nikki Walker, Global Vice President, Association Management and Consulting, MCI Group
  • Brantlee Underhill, Director, Membership and Communities, Project Management Institute, Newtown Square, PA
  • Gina Van Dijk, Deputy Director, MCI Brasil, Rio de Janeiro
  • Greg Dummer, CEO, Society of Laboratory Automation & Screening
  • Florence Chua, Director, Association Management and Consulting, MCI China, Beijing

[important] Part 1 Interview – Deep Dive Session – Click Here  [/important]

Nikki Walker shares insights into the popular 3 hour session on China, India, MENA, and Brazil at ASAE International Conference 2013.

[important] Part 2 Interview – Announcement of New ASAE/MCI Multi-Year Research Effort – Click Here  [/important]

In Part 2, Nikki announces MCI’s new partnership with ASAE Foundation on a multi-year collaboration to support the study of associations’ global strategy and operations.  The Establishing and Maintaining Global Markets:  Global Management Series research initiative is designed to describe association globalization best practices, and to identify effective strategies associations employ to develop and sustain global growth outside their US market.

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Feb 09 2012

Revenue Streams Building Profitable Enterprises – AAO

Categories:

Channels, Education, MARCOM, Meetings, Member Services

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The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) has developed a product series that has been credited with sustaining retention and increasing new membership while delivering new revenue streams through the digital capture, marketing, and dissemination of its meeting programs.

Over the past four years, this AAO program has delivered new forms of revenue by leveraging and repurposing existing program content.  Together with their partner Blue Sky Broadcast, AAO has a turnkey system that permits them the flexibility to change how they are using the captured content as members’ needs change.

  • AAO has found unique new ways for its members to use the archived convention content by encouraging AAO members to run their own luncheon training sessions for their staff using the content archive from the convenience of their office.
  • Another method found to add value is by bundling a free subscription to the content archive with membership.
  • AAO can offer various delivery channel options to members.  They can access online streaming content on demand or order DVD’s by mail for those who prefer the flexibility of accessing content without an Internet connection.

The convenience these products have further extended their value through increased CEU attainment with the anytime, anyplace accessibility of portfolio of content available to members and their staff each year.

It is important to note that AAO’s operations model doesn’t stop at content capture and archiving on their website but also focuses on marketing and sales to better ensure customer awareness and product sales from their live webinars and online access and/or DVDs of their annual and winter meetings.

Beyond improvements in membership growth, results so far offer real bottom line results:  distance learning revenue from webinars has been profitable and a sales program for DVD-ROM sales has realized growth from 2010 to 2011.   ROI has steadily increased over the past three years.

In the future, as AAO seeks to pursue global content dissemination they will be able to use this foundation to expand sales to regions outside the US market.  Specific member programs can be designed for international members who seek the kind of education that AAO offers.  To drive such growth in regional markets, a local partner to drive local sales and promotion as well as arrange for translation will be important.  Often new corporate on institutional clients are willing to cover such costs so long as the content is locally relevant and “generally accepted” in the profession.

 

 

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