| Pharma events serve a primarily educational purpose. | | | | invaluable. |
| They provide an environment in which pharmaceutical | | | | The location of the venue, in addition to the choice |
| companies can share and convey information about | | | | of venue itself, is important under the code, as |
| such issues as clinical development, medical education | | | | neither venues nor locations should be seen to be |
| and scientific research. Before pharma events get | | | | the main attractions of pharma events. With an |
| under way, however, there are many matters for | | | | extensive knowledge of venues, an agency that |
| their organisers to keep in mind, from locating and | | | | specialises in pharma events will be able to source a |
| booking the venue and accommodation to arranging | | | | range of suitable options in appropriate locations to |
| for the supply of necessary equipment and materials. | | | | match your requirements. Pharma events organisers |
| In addition to looking after these details, organisers | | | | whose guests require overnight accommodation will |
| must also take care that pharma events adhere to | | | | also benefit from handing over arrangements to a |
| the code of practice of the Association of the British | | | | venue finding agency. As well as sourcing |
| Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) in achieving the right | | | | accommodation that is acceptable to the |
| balance between educational content and hospitality. | | | | requirements of the ABPI code of practice, an |
| According to the requirements of the code, any | | | | agency can negotiate the best possible rates for |
| hospitality offered as part of pharma events should | | | | pharma events guests, manage room allocation, take |
| be appropriate and secondary to the main, | | | | booking enquiries, send out confirmations and handle |
| educational purpose of the meeting. Venue, | | | | any other matters associated with accommodation. |
| accommodation and meals should not be more costly | | | | Like the many services offered by a venue finding |
| or elaborate than is justified by the level of the | | | | agency in connection with pharma events, this |
| event itself. Programme arrangements at pharma | | | | assistance with accommodation is provided free of |
| events also need to demonstrate compliance with | | | | charge to the organisers. Venue finding agencies can |
| the ABPI code, and advertising should be seen to | | | | give this service because they are funded by hotels |
| promote the educational content rather than the | | | | and conference venues. |
| venue or the food. Any sponsorship must be | | | | As well as sourcing an acceptable venue in an |
| indicated clearly on all relevant items at pharma | | | | appropriate location, an agency that specialises in |
| events, while the items themselves should also | | | | pharma events can also give advice about the |
| comply with the code. Activities may be offered only | | | | planned programme, equipment and activities. |
| if they relate to the main educational purpose of the | | | | Organisers can even hand over the arrangements for |
| event. | | | | leisure activities at pharma events to a venue finding |
| Every company holding pharma events must have a | | | | agency, secure in the knowledge that the agency's |
| specific policy relating to meetings, under which any | | | | familiarity with the code will ensure that these |
| hospitality provided at those meetings has to be | | | | activities are acceptable to ABPI requirements. |
| secondary to educational content. Failure to adhere | | | | Without this expertise, the task of organising |
| to the policy may result in heavy sanctions against an | | | | activities can be difficult, because they also must |
| offending company. The need to ensure that pharma | | | | relate to the main educational purpose of pharma |
| events comply with the code in every way thus | | | | events. A venue finding agency that specialises in |
| poses a difficult and complex task for their | | | | pharma events can advise organisers as to whether |
| organisers. For this reasons, some companies are | | | | its planned activities will be regarded as professional |
| seeking the help of venue finding agencies to | | | | and, therefore, acceptable under the code. In the |
| organise pharma events. | | | | same way, a venue finding agency can also provide |
| Certified by an industry consultant and possessing an | | | | expert help with the selection of equipment suppliers |
| in-depth knowledge of the ABPI code's requirements, | | | | for pharma events and can advise on other aspects |
| these agencies can facilitate the work of organising | | | | of the planning, such as advertising, so that the right |
| pharma events while ensuring they comply with the | | | | balance between education and hospitality is |
| code in every way. A venue finding agency can save | | | | maintained. |
| time for pharma events organisers as well as easing | | | | When planning pharma events, therefore, it is |
| the worry of establishing the correct balance | | | | important to know they are acceptable to the |
| between education and hospitality, and thereby | | | | requirements of the ABPI. The help of venue finding |
| complying with the code of practice. While | | | | agencies can give you this reassurance. With the help |
| pharmaceutical companies still carry the ultimate | | | | of specialist knowledge and advice, you can be sure |
| responsibility for presenting pharma events that | | | | that your pharma events will be successful and will |
| conform to the code, the knowledge and support | | | | comply with the code of practice of the ABPI. |
| provided by a venue finding agency can prove | | | | |