LONDON/LEICESTER: The BMF board has been working hard to resolve the impasse between the industry's preferred 'all-inclusive' Conference in 2012 and NMBS's decision to announce an independent-members-only event with virtually identical dates.

The BMF board met on June 8, and considered in depth the results of its discussions with NMBS.

These resulted last week in the NMBS board's announcement that NMBS would now open its previously members-only event to the entire industry.

"As a result, the BMF board agreed unanimously that the industry's needs would be best served by the BMF canceling its proposed Conference in Portugal, and engaging fully with NMBS to ensure the very best conference experience for all delegates," said BMF chairman Terry Parker.

"We are delighted NMBS has responded so positively to the BMF's – and the industry's – concerns that we should get as many people as possible to talk as broadly as possible about our industry's needs and strategic direction," said Mr Parker.

"I don't think it was ever the intention of either organisation to split the industry over this issue," he added.

"We both saw the need for an industry conference of some kind in 2012, and we both approached the market accordingly – albeit with very different models of what that event should look like and how it should be funded and delivered.

"The BMF has always believed the industry needs one event, open to all. NMBS now clearly believes the same. Our concern, now, is to work together with NMBS to ensure it gets one.

"This is a two-fold opportunity for our industry. The whole debate has raised huge interest across the trade about the whole value of industry get-togethers. That means more people than ever before are seriously considering attending next year.

"Both organisations have already committed resources to organising a top-class conference in 2012. By pooling those resources, we can ensure that when delegates get there, they will enjoy the very highest quality experience to justify the investment of their time in attending."

Make a date for the all-industry merchant Conference 2012 on June 21-24 at the Hotel Don Carlos, Marbella, Spain.