Currently the Bureau has around 40 members who pay a fee to support the venture and in return receive promotional support.
In the past the membership scheme has been available in two categories; partners, and support partners.
his year there will be three options available: principal partner, for firms focused on conference and incentives as their core business; partner, for suppliers who benefit from conferences and incentives but for whom that is not their core business; and support partners, mainly suppliers such as car hire companies, attractions and smaller accommodation providers.
he membership price will start from £3,500 for principal partner, £2,200 for partner and £500 for support partner.
Funds raised this year from private membership amounted to £65,000, with Jersey Tourism contributing £240,000 plus office space within the Tourism Department.
The Bureau’s commercial development manager, Jennie Kosztan, explained that members had requested more flexibility.
‘Some wanted the opportunity to upgrade, but it was too much of a jump.
They wanted an intermediate level.
Compared to 2002, which saw five per cent growth in Jersey’s conference business, this year had been ‘more challenging’, she said, partly because of the fire at the Hotel de France, Jersey’s main conference venue.
However, a number of bookings have already been made for 2004, including a Watchtower Convention in June which should bring in around 1,900 delegates.
‘It will be held at Fort Regent, use all the accommodation stock, and that all filters down to restaurants, shops and other tourism businesses,’ said Ms Kosztan.
ther smaller conferences in the pipeline include the Federation of Small Businesses in September – the fourth year it has come to the Island – and the British Ports Authority in October.
feasibility study was carried out earlier this year on plans to turn Fort Regent into a full-size conference centre.
Ms Kosztan said the results had been positive but the verdict on the report was currently awaited from the Education, Sport and Culture Committee.
he Jersey Conference Bureau, which also has a London office, was set up in 1996.
Members include hotels, ground handlers, destination management companies, airlines, ferry operators, audio visual suppliers, restaurants and other services.
ervices offered by the Bureau include listings in the brochure and on the website and on-line booking system, support towards advertising, mailing campaigns and trade shows, access to the mailing database, to visiting journalists and PR activities and a membership plaque.
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