INTERVIEW WITH DENNIS MILLS, FOUNDER & CEO OF MAJOR EVENTS INTERNATIONAL (MEI)

The only consultancy operating exclusively in major events planning, delivery and legacy, Major Events International (MEI) – organiser of the Hosts and Federations Summit and the Football Host Summit – has been involved in every summer Olympic Games since Athens 2004 through to Rio 2016, the FIFA World Cup in Qatar 2022, multiple Commonwealth Games and single sport World Cups – and has relationships with the Olympic Games in Paris 2024.

Asia Sponsorship News (ASN) had the opportunity recently to catch up with MEI’s founder and CEO, Dennis Mills, in advance of the 7th edition of Hosts and Federations Summit, to be held from 17^th to the 20^th of June 2024.

ASN: What is the Hosts and Federations Summit (HFS)?

DENNIS MILLS: HFS is the annual ‘gathering’ of the ‘major sports’ community, representing International Federations, current and new host cities and expert multi-sector delivery companies. The aim of the Summit is to provide an environment to nurture the symbiotic relationship between major sports rights holders and cities that host them.

We focus on sharing knowledge from the bidding stage, through event delivery and wrestling with delivery of a true legacy from hosting. This is a complex landscape where experience matters. HFS is the annual catch up for this high-profile and demanding delivery community.

ASN: How does the Football Host Summit (FHS) fit in?

DENNIS MILLS: It offers a tighter focus on football within the framework of the overall Summit. The inaugural FHS will take place from 19^th to the 21^st June 2024. Concentrating exclusively on football, FHS will focus on opportunities and challenges for local organizing committees, city support agencies, and others responsible for mobilization and legacy. The main themes are planning, mobilization, and legacy, with potential areas of exploration including sustainability, inclusion, visitor experience, safety, and security. Delegates may choose to join either HFS or FHS – or both.

ASN: Why are you hosting them in Switzerland? 

DENNIS MILLS: This is a great question. Switzerland is the home of many of the 150 International Sports Federations and, of course, the International Olympic Committee. Delivering the Summit in the Olympic Capital, Lausanne, makes it much easier for the key staff from many federations to attend, and for the non-Swiss based federations to align their visit plans around the Summit. The same logic applies equally to FHS, with the home of football, and FIFA, both based in Zurich. But we are always open to expressions of interest in hosting Summits in other international destinations.

ASN: What makes the MEI Summits unique? 

DENNIS MILLS: Our Summits are about connectivity, sustaining relationships, growing new ones and therefore leading to enhanced collaboration. Three streams run concurrently. The main Auditorium offers opportunities to provide insights and therefore gain market profile as sessions are recorded and distributed by our international media partners Associated Press and Icarus. Secondly, workshops deep dive into subjects in focus and, finally – and key – are the pre-planned, pre-agreed 1-2-1 meetings, which are the engine room of our support model.

ASN: What are some of the key highlights for 2024? 

DENNIS MILLS: Once again, we are exceeding 60 International Federations with an average of each being responsible for over 300 events. The major focus will be the big debate about return on investment from events that want host cities to see the value from what they deliver, balanced by the often disconnect with host/city expectations. This is a red hot issue and is central to future events. 

Associated Press and Icarus are supporting the programme, in addition to pushing the main programme content, by interviewing experts as they come off the stage to continue the debate and get into more detail.

ASN: Why should we attend?

DENNIS MILLS: This is the global gathering of delegates meeting their high priority customers. The approach means everybody is committed to engage. So, if an organisation is working in, or aspiring to be involved in, the sports event market, this is the single time and place to deliver on their objectives. Market profile, relationships – and an understanding of what each delegate is seeking to achieve – matters to make the Summit work. It is the place to be!

ASN: How can we sign up? 

DENNIS MILLS: If you have questions, send an email to enquiries@majoreventsint.com or to register go to: https://www.hostsandfederationsSummit.com/registration

Asia Sponsorship News (ASN) is pleased to join Hosts and Federations Summit on 17 – 20 June 2024 and Football Host Summit on 19 – 21 June 2024 at the Olympic Museum, Lausanne, Switzerland as an Official Media Partner.

ASN is pleased to extend to all HFS and FHS 2024 delegates a 15% discount off ASN premium subscriptions https://asiasponsorshipnews.com/pricing, using promo code HFS15 and FHS15.