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Insights Conducted by Exclusive Collection

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Events have been a lifeblood to Exclusive’s business for what will be four decades in 2021. And while this year started with commercial toxicity, the team’s shock sharp eyes and perspective has enabled the business to continue to perform and to reinvigorate our offering in line with new ways of collaborating.

Our agency relationships are a mainstay of our business and it’s important for us to give you the best tools to fulfill your obligations to your clients. We’ve innovated our meeting and event offerings and in accordance with our research have ensured we are in line with your new considerations when sourcing an off site event space for your clients.

‘Location, location, location’ was one of the most famous mantras of the business world and certainly one of the most pressing criteria for venue finders. With your help we’ve delved into a new set of requisites for meetings and events.

The market is tough, and the news is rarely good for the events sector at the moment. However, after months apart, and for many a new way of life that’s no longer governed by showing face in the office; there’s a demonstrable demand from agents and corporates to regroup, reassess and reboot the company values.

Some content may well be more suited to online learning but our basic instinct to get together, collaborate and converse will never abate.

We all look forward to seeing you at one of our properties or online soon and thank you for your continued commitment to the collection.

- Danny Pecorelli, Managing Director of Exclusive Collection

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E V E NT S H AV E B E E N A L I F E B LO O D TO E XC LU S I V E ’S B U S I N E S S F O R W H AT W I L L B E F O U R D E C A D E S .

K E Y C R I T E R I O N ( 5 B E I N G M O ST I M P O RTA N T ) PRE-COVID

POST-COVID

4.6 Location

4.9 Sanitisation

4.1 Price

4.4 Location

3.6 Commission

4.3 Price

3.3 Sustainability

3.9 Commission

3.0 Sanitisation

3.9 Sustainability

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Change in primary consideration due to Covid-19

Our insights highlight a new narrative

underlines with 96% of respondents

when choosing meeting and event

marking the importance of a venue’s

spaces.

location 4.6 out of 5.

•

Whereas location was once the

The research was conducted amongst

primary criteria, its importance has

the collection’s MICE agency partners

decreased by 9%. An increase in demand

in September 2020 and was designed

for outdoor space as part of the meeting

to identify current agency benchmarks

format

when recommending meeting and event

Whereas links to the underground and rail

venues to corporate clients. More than

meant delegates could arrive easily in the

100 agency partners provided their

past, businesses are reticent to use public

input, of those who responded 20% held

transport and are turning to less urban

preferred supplier status having been

locations.

mandated by their corporate clients.

•

has

Price

potentially

placed

swayed

an

this.

important

consideration prior to Covid-19 and The research looked at the key criterion

understandably has become increasingly

of choice prior and post pandemic and

prevalent in the new era of meetings

highlights a marked shift in requirements:

and events as corporates focus on their

•

bottom lines and ROI.

Location has long been a key

deciding factor for events as the research

•

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The reassurance of sanitation

measures had not featured significantly

considerations, however, the need for

for agents prior to the pandemic but, as

sanitisation is far more prolific.

is to be expected, has seen a significant

•

hike in importance. The need for a Covid

fees remain the backbone of the third-

secure venue is underlined with an incisive

party model and in trying times show an

1400% increase in demand by agents.

increasing importance when reviewed in

•

Whilst corporates have pushed the

isolation. However, when compared with

sustainable agenda and need for venues

the other criteria, commission is less

to have demonstrable CSR policies,

essential than securing the best price for

sustainability before did not change in

the client and securing an environment

terms of criteria of choice. Sustainability

that the client will have Covid confidence

and social responsibility remain key

in.

Commission

or

management

Overall improtance of criterion prior to and following Covid-19

Looking to the future, the research indicates that events are being planned to bring organisations and teams back together again: 1.

To re-boot and instill company culture

2.

To reward and recognise clients and employees

3.

For mandatory / statutory product knowledge

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“Organisations value people who make their teams better and motivate their colleagues to contribute more. In remote work and virtual teams, these skills are even more critical�

- Adam Grant, Organizational Psychologist at Wharton

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Our meeting norms were to get together to educate, to recognise achievement and to strengthen relationships, however, prolonged screen time has put paid to close social interactions as they moved online.

Enforced disruptive innovation of meetings and events has jettisoned the sector forward at an unparalleled pace as organisations transgressed online with webinars, hybrid and virtual events; drawing a new realisation that some forms of content are as well received online as they would be in a conference room.

The post-lockdown return to being allowed out again and being side by side has underlined our instinct to team up, collaborate and to come together as interest groups or business associates to educate, recognise achievement and strengthen relationships.

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David Taylor, Non-Executive Director, BCD M&E

The Agency Perspective:

Without doubt we are heading into a new chapter for business events governed by a whole new set of standards from corporates including: •

Can the content of the event be achieved

as effectively online?

•

Can we be seen to be spending money in

the current climate?

•

Can we reasonably ask our people to

travel offsite?

•

Are we Covid confident in the venue and

supply chain?

Humans are instinctively social and while the benefits of WFH are proven, given the chance we all want to get together at some point. Events may currently be limited to groups of 30, but there is demand from corporates to bring their leadership teams back together again. We’ve all got very used to the WFH two-way personality split with a shirt up top and shorts below - and while it seems productivity hasn’t been affected, it’s time to rebuild the interpersonal trust that six months online have eroded.

Looking at the market in its entirety, it’s the countryside venues that are reaping the benefits as delegates can drive to them and aren’t reliant on public transport, plus there’s a nationwide appreciation for the great outdoors.

As the research highlights, location and price is important, commission a requisite, but it’s safety, security and confidence that’s the paramount consideration for now.

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Exclusive

Wellbeing

Virtual

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Our Agency Commitment

S A N I T I S AT I O N All our meeting venues are available for

Food service for conferences and events

exclusive use to include meeting rooms,

will become a highly personalised affair:

bedrooms, dining areas and extensive

individually

grounds as a dedicated venue ensuring

packed.

wrapped

or

individually

privacy and controlled access.

Pads and pencils in meeting rooms will be For residential conferences requiring

removed, and mugs and glasses at each

overnight accommodation our teams

place setting upside down.

activate a ‘10 High Touch’ cleaning programme with a disinfectant fogging

There are stringent protocols in place for

machine for optimum cleanliness in the

any external suppliers who may be part of

rooms.

your event set up.

Hand sanitising products appear in every

We have the AA Covid Confidence

area of our properties for use at coffee

accreditation to provide that added layer

and afternoon breaks, a pre-lunch or

of comfort for your client events.

dinner cleanse, as well as back of house

LO C AT I O N

areas.

Six countryside locations with ample car All guests and team members will be

parking and acres of open space.

asked to carry out a non-invasive retinal Our venues are easily accessible from

temperature check on arrival.

key arterial routes and are in low footfall PPE will be prevalent in all departments

locations.

and our entire team will be in face masks.

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PRICE

By 2022 we want to have removed all single

Our properties and service are 5 star, but

use plastic and are currently working

that doesn’t mean you need to be afraid

towards a zero waste direct to landfill

to ask the price! We’ll try our hardest to be

policy with a target of 95% waste to be

flexible and to help you and your clients.

recycled. Our wider initiatives include the use of Rocket Composters to capture

The situation is evolving and therefore we

food waste and convert into compost for

have put in place more lenient policies in

the kitchen gardens, the use of biomass

case of postponement or cancellation.

boilers

These are available at the time of

on fossil fuels and reduce our carbon

your enquiry and will reflect current

footprint, and a waste water reed bed at

government advice.

South Lodge spa.

S U STA I N A B I L I T Y

Equally, we challenge all our suppliers

We believe sustainable is a non-negotiable

to reduce unnecessary packaging both

service to society. And as a forward-

cardboard and plastic and put forward

thinking sustainable business, we are

sustainable products wherever possible.

taking a progressive stance to be a part of that movement.

Our initiatives span our eleven unique hospitality businesses, their estates, our people and our supply chain.

Sustainability is a core value that is embedded into our organisation and it is the consideration taken in every purchase, refurbishment, new build, our people procedures and how we interact with our supply chain and local community.

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to

reduce

our

dependency

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