The EVVC - European Association of Event Centres e.V. (registered society) represents over 650 event and conference centres, arenas and special event locations of all sizes in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy and other bordering European countries. The - of its kind - unique award distinguishes event centres, which have been given best marks by their customers and during the course of Mystery Shopping.
In the category „EVVC Award - Best Center 2011“ the AG I (centres with a capacity of up to 1.200 participants seated in rows in the largest hall) the Congress Centrum Alpbach was right up front in customer surveys and in Mystery Shopping.
Prof. Helmut Schwägermann, scientific head: „The Congress Centrum Alpbach achieved in total 143,1 of 150 possible points and was the best centre according to customer surveys (96,6) and second best according to Mystery Shopping (46,5 points). In 17 of the 20 customer survey categories and thus in nearly all aspects of the whole process chain, Alpbach - with „excellent“ - obtained first class results.
The location Alpbach and the necessary infrastructure were appraised as better than “good” by customers. Support during the preparatory phase, flexibility, affability and obligingness from the project manager, the cooperation of the centres team were awarded full marks. Total customer satisfaction of the CCAs' services reached 4,9 of 5,0 points! The Mystery Shoppers were impressed by the friendliness and competence of the contact persons in Alpbach. The written offer was convincing in all core areas.“
For Georg Hechenblaikner, the Congress Centrum Alpbach director, winning the EVVC Best Center Award is a great confirmation of the exceptional capacity of the conference and meeting offers and of the outstanding commitment of the whole team. „Analysis of customer surveys is an important means to ensure the quality of our business operations. In every aspect we take our customers wishes and suggestions very seriously. It pleases us all the more, that our customers’ enthusiasm has lead to this overwhelming result for Alpbach“, says Hechenblaikner.
Over the past years the Congress Centrum Alpbach has recorded a definite rise in demand and revenue, the general dynamic was merely slowed down due to the international economic and financial crisis. In the first half year of 2011 the company recorded a definite increase on the growth curve. At the same time Alpbach can pride itself of the national and international interest it attracts as a model location for the realisation of Green Meetings, meetings, held according to the principals of sustainability.
The Congress Centrum Alpbach is the only centre in Austria, which has both the international Green Globe and the Austrian Ecolabel for Green Meetings to show confirming the taken path as a sustainable meeting destination. In 2011 with the European Forum and the BMUKK (Federal Ministry for Education, Arts and Culture) Leadership Academy more than half the participants will benefit from universal meeting management held according to the Austrian Ecolabel Green Meeting criteria.
For further information and editorial enquiries:
EVVC - European Association of Event Centres e.V. (registered society)
Ludwigstraße 3, D-61348 Bad Homburg v.d.H.
Frau Antje Münsterberg
Tel. +49 6734 914801
E-Mail: presse@evvc.org, http://www.evvc.org
Congress Centrum Alpbach, A-6236 Alpbach
Georg Hechenblaikner, Geschäftsführer
Tel. +43 5336 600 100,
E-Mail: info@alpbach.at, http://www.congressalpbach.com
EVVC Award - Best Center: design and realisation
The evaluation of event centres for the EVVC-Best-Center-Award 2011 is based upon customer surveys and Mystery-Shopping.
The customer surveys were conducted by appraising online questionnaires, which had been completed by event organiser in the Autumn of 2010. The questionnaire included 20 questions regarding individual aspects of customer satisfaction for the respective centre along the whole process chain: from the first contact to the final invoice. 100 points could be achieved.
In addition a Mystery Shopping Project, which is a covert customer inquiry, was conducted by a group of students from the Hochschule (University College) Osnabrück under the direction of Professor Helmut Schwägermann. This resulted in a subjective (customer survey) and objective (Mystery Shopper) means of assessment.
The Mystery Shopping subject matter was the phase of an initial contact made by a potential customer and the ensuing advisory conversation by phone. The enquiry was based on an accurately defined, fictitious event and on predetermined check lists and scoring rubrics.
A total of 50 points – that is a third of the total possible points -could be achieved through Mystery.
As defined by quality management all the EVVC-Award particpating centres receive a 40-page report from the Hochschule Osnabrück listing the results of all the subareas incl. the documented average results of all the AG-participants so that possible weaknesses can be targeted for improvement.
EVVC Award 2011
all the winners and nominees at a glance
EVVC Award Best Center 2011 – AG I
(centres with a capacity of up to 1.200 seated in rows in the largest hall)
Winner: Congress Centrum Alpbach
Nominees: Medio Rhein Erft Bergheim | Max-Reger-Halle, Weiden
EVVC Award Best Center 2011 – AG II
(centres with a capacity of up to 4.000 seated in rows in the largest hall)
Winner: Bregenzer Festspiel- und Kongresshaus GmbH
Nominees: KuKo Rosenheim | Congress Centrum Mainz
More on this topic:
http://www.evvc.org/de/aktivitaeten/evvc-award/evvc-best-center-awards-2011-1.html
Scientific Head for the EVVC Awards:
Prof. Helmut Schwägermann, FH Osnabrück
http://www.wiso.fh-osnabrueck.de/schwaegermann.html
