Despite an apparent low volume of visitors passing through its exhibition, organisers of the Association of British Dispensing Opticians' annual conference in Brighton hailed the event as a 'huge success', while ABDO members voted against a change of name for the Association.
Held at Brighton's Hilton Metropole hotel and conference centre from October 4-6, the event's gala dinner was attended by 400 optical professionals, while the previous evening's cocktail party attracted 335 guests. Full attendance figures were not available as Optician went to press.
ABDO general secretary Sir Anthony Garrett commented: 'This year's ABDO conference in Brighton was a huge success and even surpassed our experience in Manchester last year. On Saturday we had a very well attended Association AGM followed by a packed cocktail party hosted by Essilor. The exhibition looked superb, our main plenary sessions were very well supported and the gala dinner, sponsored by Transitions, on Sunday was the largest ABDO event for very many years.'
However, the volume of visitors passing through the exhibition halls was low, partly due to delegates attending CET lectures and workshops, some of which overran and cut into time allotted in the scheduling for visiting the exhibition.
Observing that its conference had taken place against the backdrop of very difficult economic conditions, Sir Anthony added: 'The experience will stand us in good stead for next year and our team has already started to formulate ideas of where further improvements and new developments can be made.'
The Association's members voted against a proposed name change to the Association of British Registered Opticians at ABDO's AGM (News 11.09.09). Approximately 275 of the 750 members who voted were in favour of the change.
ABDO president Barry Duncan said ABDO's board would continue to look at the issue and take into account members' views.
Duncan was also among the panel of optical professionals fielding questions from ABDO's membership during Optical Question Time along with GOC deputy registrar Jon Levett, Local Optical Committee Support Unit chairman Alan Tinger, Geoff Roberson, professional adviser for the Association of Optometrists, and John Fried, master of The Worshipful Company of Spectacle Makers.