TECHNOLOGY threatens to change everything -- even the traditional corporate conference.

All that bonding in the bar at 2am is not necessarily seen as a good thing in the pared-down, cost-conscious business world of today.

The Meetings Industry Association, however, takes comfort in a recent Conference Market Survey which showed that the need for face to face meetings is still strongly-felt.

But the findings revealed that several forms of communication are increasingly being used as well -- particularly intranet, e-mail and video-conferencing systems.

Fourteen per cent of corporate respondees believed videoconferencing would reduce the need for face to face meetings.

MIA President Sally Greenhill said: "Technology certainly has an increasing part to play in the meetings and conferences of the future. A number of our respondents did feel that video-conferencing would reduce the need for face to face meetings in the future.

"It is up to the industry to ensure that face-to-face conferences and meetings continue to demonstrate a clear benefit to businesses."

She went on: "It is essential that we keep ahead of technology in other ways too.

"Conference organisers are beginning to turn to the Internet for venue selection and even booking on line.

"Increasing numbers are also taking registrations for their conferences via the web site. It is a slow shift in our industry, but it is growing and none of us can afford to be left behind."

Meanwhile, Manchester's new International Convention Centre is due to be opened early next year.

The multi-million pound project is expected to bring thousands of extra business tourists to the city and put Manchester firmly on the global map as a top destination for foreign conventions.

Facilities include an 800-seater auditorium and a 2,000 square metre hall for exhibitions, sporting events, conferences, seminars and banquets.

The centre is the final piece of the jigsaw for the area now known as Manchester's Convention Quarter.

This is already home to the G-Mex centre and the Bridgewater Concert Hall.

Business tourism brings more than seven million visitors to the UK each year, generating almost £4 billion a year for the UK tourism industry.

The Manchester centre is funded by Manchester City council, the European Development Fund and English Partnerships.