Too many conferences prove to be nothing more than a succession of irrelevant Powerpoint presentations.

Content is hi-jacked by the sponsors.

Networking opportunities are reduced to a few shouted words at so-called 'Awards' ceremonies.

If that sums up your experience of industry conferences then the Routes to Market Association is for you.

Founded in 1998, the Routes to Market Association is a forum where routes to market professionals can meet in a quiet, un-pressurised environment to discuss the issues and strategies they face. Sessions are always interactive with plenty of discussion, break-out sessions and workshops. Membership is for senior sales and marketing management charged with developing and implementing their organisation's routes to market strategy, usually on a Pan-European basis. The Routes to Market Association has several hundred members from industries as diverse as IT, telecoms, pharmaceuticals, insurance and petrochemicals.

The Routes to Market Association acts as a bridge. The organisation goes across all industries so it is a unique opportunity to learn how others handle the issues you are grappling with. It is also a bridge to academia.

A not-for-profits organisation, the Routes to Market Association aims to:

• Promote and facilitate interaction and ideas exchange
• Provide thought leadership
• Provide a resource library
• Offer members unrivalled networking opportunities

What Routes to Market Association members say:

'It's a great opportunity to meet representatives from other industries with similar challenges in the area of routes to market, to benefit from their experience and
learning and then apply this to my own business environment.'
Dr Mark Brown, Marketing Manager
Zeneca Crop Protection UK

'The Routes to Market Association has given Siemens an opportunity to gain from the experiences and best in class approaches of both recognised experts and channel owners dealer with these issues on a day to day basis.'
Tony Oliver, Strategy and Business Development Manager, Siemens/GEC Telecommunications

Meetings have discussed topics such as:
Managing channel conflict, delivering customer satisfaction through the channel, integrating ebusiness into the market mix, measuring, managing and compensating channels inn complex markets, market funding and partner relationship management systems.

To find out more contact the Routes to Market Association at VIA on +44 020 7585 3399 or look through the rest of our web site.