Businesses Advised to Use Conference Calls During Olympics

LEEDS, ENGLAND, August 03, 2012 (Press-News.org) The UK government has advised businesses based in and around London and the Stratford area where the Olympic park is situated to use conference calls to communicate with colleagues, customers and clients wherever possible for the duration of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Due to the large influx of visitors expected to London during the games period, officials have advised that face-to-face meetings should be cancelled, delayed or curtailed to avoid any travel disruption for visitors, athletes and officials.

It is estimated that there are around 10,490 athletes and officials, as well as 21,000 accredited media and broadcasters and 10,000 non-accredited media in and around London for the games. This is in addition to the huge numbers of spectators expected, from the 8.8 million London 2012 tickets in circulation.

Norman Baker, MP for Lewes and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport, advised civil servants in his department to make the best use of their time, save energy and reduce travel costs by increasing their use of conference calls as a main communications method.

The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games has published a "how-to" guide for employers: Planning Information for Employers: Preparing Your Business for the Games (published April 2012).

It includes information on opportunities and challenges, as well as an impact analysis, covering areas such as staffing, Internet and remote working, and telecoms.

The guide states that teleconferencing is "beneficial to consider in depth" for large and small office-based, professional, retail, personal service, tourism, leisure, food and entertainment businesses.

Setting up a teleconferencing facility is very quick and easy, as well as being extremely cost effective. For those who have not yet made teleconference arrangements for the games, there are many teleconferencing options available.

Some teleconferencing suppliers provide accounts that require no monthly service or set up fees: you only pay for the calls you make. It is also possible to make one-off conference calls that can be set up immediately online.

The 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games run from 27th July to 9th September in London this year.

Diva Conferencing is a teleconferencing services supplier. For more information about Diva Conferencing, or to find out how you can set up a one-off conference call right now online, visit the Diva Conferencing website or call 0808 129 3232.

Website: www.divaconferencing.co.uk