HEN Oct 2022

Master Chef Monica Galetti

Cyber Check

CHS Birmingham

Informed Decisions

Amadeus F&B

Better Connections

A Warm Welcome

OCT / NOV 2022

Like every other sector, this difficult period will impact the events industry.

Organisers need to navigate staff shortages, rising logistics costs, and more to keep events viable and affordable for companies and attendees.

Softening the blow, we’ve been busy prepping a bumper crop of exciting features for our latest edition. Our area focus has been the Midlands as we embark on the 2nd edition of CHS Birmingham, plus we

look at the NEC’s carbon labelling trial. Of course, sustainability is the key word, challenging in a cost-saving world with insights from venues and the supply chain, while medical, welfare, and hygiene are just some of the topics heading up our suppliers’ section.

Cyber security is often overlooked, so we tell you why it shouldn’t be. As always, we have the North’s newly opened and reborn venues, plus The Heart of England Conference and Events Centre offers one lucky reader the chance to win a HD TV!

Follow us for daily updates on our socials.

North in Brief

AEO Chair Elected

The Association of Event Organisers (AEO) Council has elected Hyve Group plc senior member, Julie Driscoll, as the organisation’s next chair during this year’s AEO Council Meeting. Driscoll is set to take over the role from IMEX Group Chief Executive, Carina Bauer, who will assume the role of past chair for 2023.

“I am honoured to be stepping into the role of AEO chair following the exceptional leadership of Carina Bauer,” said Driscoll. “It is an extraordinary time to be part of some big changes coming down the line as we continue to build on the progress made by the AEO and the accomplishments of my predecessors.

“We will work closely with the AEV and ESSA to improve the industry’s profile with the government, so they’re clear on the enormous economic value the exhibitions industry brings as the cost of living bites.”

Royal Armouries Leeds joins AEV

The Royal Armouries Leeds has become one of the latest venues to join the AEV after becoming a network member in September.

“We have selected our Leeds venue to champion the AEV and to become closer to the network of diverse venues that the membership clearly provides,” said Venue Director, Ben Campbell. “We want to share expertise and knowledge, and participate in the improvement of the event industry in the UK.”

"I'm delighted that Royal Armouries Leeds has taken this decision,” said AEV Project Manager, Alden Arnold. “Every one of our members brings its own unique expertise and insight, and the Royal Armouries Leeds is no exception."

Sustainability Experts Call for Renewable Energy

Panellists at Hire Space’s latest Venue Talk event have agreed that venues must switch to 100% renewable energy as soon as possible and measure carbon emissions.

Speakers included Mark Bannister of Toucan Agency, Carina Jandt of Event Cycle, and Duncan Reid of Reset Connect, who tackled the issues around sustainability during the panel and gave advice to venue holders on how they can enhance the sustainability of their events.

The discussed strategies for venue holders to reduce energy usage included separating venue hire pricing from electricity pricing to encourage organisers to take greater responsibility when planning events. The panel also recommended organisers to identify charities or organisations in the local community that could use surplus event materials, including food waste.

“By literally placing sustainability at the top of every meeting agenda during the organisation of COP26, positive change happened,” said Bannister. “Hire Space, together with the venues represented in the room, are clearly keen to do the same and help our industry steer a course towards Net Zero."

EDGE Venues Expands Team

EDGE Venues has made five new appointments alongside changes to its leadership team to support its business model and growth. The team expansion follows the Lincolnshire event planner’s acquisition of Trinity Event Solutions earlier this year, bringing venue procurement and EDGE technology under one portfolio.

The new appointments include Radisson East Midlands Airport Sales Director, Deena Squires, as the group’s new Business Development Director. Commenting on Squires’ addition to the team, EDGE Venues CEO, Jacqui Kavanagh, said: "In the short time with us, Deena has already set her mark on what she wants to achieve.

“Her extensive experience in meetings and events means she grasps the benefits of EDGE Venues for both corporates and venues and can articulate this well when talking to existing clients, prospects and venues."

Annual Report Reveals Trends

The latest trends in delivering impactful webinars and virtual events have been revealed in the Benchmark Report for Webinars and Virtual Events from global event company, Intrado. Analysing data gathered from webinars taking place

between June 2021 and June 2022, the report provides ideas from industry experts to help planners exceed delegate expectations.

“As we analysed this year’s data, the two core themes that stood out are agility and optimization,” said Notified Chief Revenue Officer, Dan Lotzof. “As marketers and event planners continue to evaluate their strategies and budgets for 2022 and beyond, they’re seeking ways to keep audiences highly engaged through meaningful experiences and formats.”

Report insights included the increased number of speakers per event, which has gone up to 20 compared to just six in 2019. The benefits of gamification to increase delegate engagement was also highlighted in the survey, with approximately 112 million minutes spent during the study period playing in-event games.

GDPR Replaced with New Data Protection System

The government has announced it will replace GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) with a new British data protection system.

Introduced by the EU in 2018, the current GDPR law engages with how companies collect, process, and protect the personal information of EU citizens.

Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Michelle Donelan, declared during the Conservative party conference at ICC Birmingham that the change is being made as the current EU GDPR limits the potential of businesses.

“Our plan will protect consumer privacy and keep their data safe while retaining our data adequacy so that businesses can of course trade freely,” said Donelan. “I can promise that it will be simpler and clearer for businesses to navigate.

“No longer will our businesses be shackled by lots of unnecessary red tape. It is time we seize this post-Brexit opportunity fully and unleash the full growth potential of British business.”

Tackling Staff Shortages

Skern Training & Skills is tackling the industry’s recruitment crisis head-on by building a skilled workforce of experienced workers.

The hospitality sectors had 173,000 vacancies between May to July this year, up 34% on the previous year, according to data from the Office of National Statistics (ONS). This decline is due to several factors, including the impact of COVID and the departure of many overseas workers. To address this recruitment crisis, an increased recognition of career development opportunities across the hospitality sector will be crucial to ensure the longerterm viability of the hospitality sector – and apprenticeships have a key role to play in this.

Skern Training & Skills (STS), an independent training provider owned by leading education provider Inspiring Learning, offers apprenticeship training in hospitality, and many other sectors, helping to build a long-term workforce with skills, expertise, and commitment to excellence. STS delivers apprenticeship training for Levels 2, 3 and 4 on-site while employees are in full time work. These tailor-made apprenticeship programmes ensure that individuals develop the relevant skill sets that will enable their employers to guarantee best practice across all their operations.

Alex Coyle, Head of Skern Training & Skills, said: “Skern Training & Skills apprenticeships offer fantastic solutions for businesses looking to hire right from entry level to the development of team capabilities long-term. Apprenticeships are a great way to help employers ‘grow’ their way out of current staff shortages and we

have seen the hospitality sector benefit from the government drive to engage 16 to 24-year-olds in apprenticeships.”

STS can also support partnerships between employers and local schools or colleges, showcasing the benefits of apprenticeships for young people as a credible option early in their careers.

Using a company like STS can form a meaningful part of any organisations recruitment strategy, making a real difference in developing a consistent talent pipeline and solving long term recruitment shortages.

Abigail Watt, Recruitment and Training Manager at Chester Racecourse, which uses STS to deliver apprenticeship training, said: “We are strongly committed to investing in the development of our colleagues. Chester Racecourse has a long-standing reputation for excellent service, achieved through our innovative approaches to the development of our business and our people. We are proud to be working with Skern Training & Skills to nurture future talent, equipping our teams to deliver quality services and enjoy fulfilling working lives.”

If you would like to know more about working with STS, please visit Skerntrainingandskills.com

Business News

Variety is the Spice of Life at Newark Showground!

Newark Showground has had a strong year hosting a wide range of pursuit, hobbyist, and special interest events.

The East Midlands venue’s 2022 calendar included five music festivals attracting large audiences, while a small collective of remote-control model truck enthusiasts quietly built a scale model town over 2,750sq. metres to indulge their passion. Weeks later, thousands flocked to see hundreds of full-sized lorries at Truckfest.

Boxing matches, the Great British Rabbit Show, Cactus World Live, and equestrian events also confirmed the venue’s central location’s appeal for local, regional, and national event organisers. The 130-acre Nottinghamshire site is situated at the junction of the A1, A46, and A17 roads.

Conferences, meetings, dinners, and balls have returned, regular club and society nights are squeezing back into the busy calendar, and even Christmas parties are selling out early.

Newarkshowground.com

Center parcs away days

Forest Space gets £2.5 million Investment Center Parcs has reawakened its conference and events space, The Venue, at two of its most accessible destinations, Woburn Forest in Bedfordshire and Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire.

Now taking bookings from this autumn, the reopening of both locations comes after a period of closure due to the pandemic, with an extensive £2.5 million investment upgrading the facilities at Woburn Forest.

News of the relaunch has already grown interest reaching pre-pandemic levels, with booking enquiries from agents up 10% since 2019 and a large proportion of confirmed bookings being from past clients eager to return.

“Following an in-depth study of the current trends within the industry, we’ve reviewed our product offering and made changes in response to client demand,” said newly appointed Sales and Commercial Manager, Julia Green. “We’ve repositioned an already fantastic product to make it more enticing and rewarding than ever before.”

Center Parcs offers nature-rich escapes to suit the needs of all types of corporate events, including conferences, team building and away days, product launches, and gala dinners. events.centerparcs.co.uk

Park Regis Birmingham Launches Indus Restaurant

The award-winning Park Regis Birmingham located on Five Ways island has officially launched its new Indian restaurant, Indus, offering traditional dishes exploring panAsian flavours synonymous with the subcontinent.

Head Chef Manish Patel brings his experience of working in five-star hotels in India to create a special bespoke menu offering vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes, using a special arsenal of family spices and years of traditions handed down from generations to rouse the more sophisticated palate.

Hotel Manager, Levi Bailey, said: “Our restaurant celebrates the traditions, life,

and culture of India and its bounty of beautiful flavours, aromas, and spices through our specially curated menus of magnificent dishes.”

For more information and to book the Park Regis Hotel visit Parkregisbirmingham. co.uk

MICE representation company reduces Carbon Footprint

Manchester based consultancy, Catch the MICE, marks a return to sales representation, but with a significantly reduced carbon footprint.

During the pandemic the group became the official strategic partner of two award-winning virtual event-solutions. Now, not only do they offer these solutions to event organisers, but they also use them to help hotels, venues, and suppliers reconnect with event planners.

“We estimate to cut down our traveling by over 90%, make better use of our time, reduce our carbon footprint, while providing powerful analytics to our clients,” said Managing Director,

Stuart Mitchell. “This approach effectively helps us direct event organisers towards relevant venues. It’s a win-win for everyone.

“Our recently launched #MICEClub combines both virtual with in-person networking, offering educational content and member benefits coupled with lots of fun. This approach also cuts down much of the overheads which can only be a good thing as we enter a period of economic uncertainly.”

Catch the MICE are offering free membership to the #MICEClub for H&E North readers. Scan the QR code to apply. Venues and event suppliers can also receive a 50% reduction on membership by contacting stuart@CatchtheMICE.com and quoting “HEN22.”

CatchtheMICE.com

OLYMPIA LONDON

BONUS ARENA HULL

UTILITA ARENA NEWCASTLE

This month marks a very exciting landmark in our history as a trade association.

beam is celebrating 25 years and we marked our silver anniversary in style with a glamourous black-tie gala dinner at the Radisson RED London Heathrow hotel. Guests enjoyed an exciting evening of entertainment, innovative dining, unmissable networking, and a party to remember – our first for almost three years.

The event not only reflected upon the

Looking Ahead

As beam celebrates its 25th anniversary, Events Director Beckie Towle looks forward to the future.

development and growth of HBAA, as we were formerly known, but, most importantly, looked to the future of beam, our current evolution and the future of the UK business events, accommodation, and meetings industry that we represent.

It gathered past Chairs, existing members – many of whom have supported the association since its conception – and those who have taken an active role in driving progress. Non-members, partners, and suppliers joined us, too.

The evening was also part of a series of fundraising activities for beam’s chosen charity, Meeting Needs, which was

founded by leading figures in the sector to raise funds for worthy causes relevant to the events industry.

October is an important month for another reason. It also marks one year since we announced that HBAA was to become beam. Alongside the new name, we launched a new identity and focus to ensure we are future-fit and going from strength to strength throughout the next 25 years. Collaboration across the industry is crucial to our future to gain a bigger, louder, stronger voice, which is why we have expanded our membership.

Beam-org.uk

Making a Home for a Conference

Harrogate Convention Centre discusses preparing to host the AEV’s annual conference.

Here at the Harrogate Convention Centre, we’re looking forward to hosting the Association of Event Venues’ annual conference this year and will be opening its doors to delegates arriving from member venues across the UK and beyond, on 30th November 2022.

The centre first opened in 1982 to host the Eurovision Song Contest and is one of the top conference venues in the North, featuring a 2,000-seat auditorium, 13,700 sq. metres of flexible event spaces, and the breath-taking Royal Hall theatre.

Delegates have a lot to look forward to, not least enjoying a conference in this historic venue that continues a tradition of hospitality and events that stretches back to the 16th century with Harrogate’s origins as a spa town and visitor destination.

Visitors to the Harrogate Convention Centre will find everything they need in one place. There’s an eclectic range of restaurants and bars, plenty of independent shops, and beautiful countryside within a stone’s throw of the venue. The centre is connected to two hotels and is a mere 8-minute walk from the train station, making it both easy and convenient from a transport perspective.

We’re strong supporters of the AEV, and as one of the top conference venues in the North, it’s a pleasure and a privilege to welcome the AEV to the centre. Our Director, Paula Lorimer sits on the AEV board, and many of our colleagues sit on AEV working groups, helping us stay on top of event-relevant issues and establish protocols for handling them collectively as an industry.

So when we throw open the doors to our fellow member venues this month, it’s with the understanding that the event sector is looking at serious challenges ahead, and the knowledge that together — as an association — we have the people, and the power, to create positive change for the industry.

Aev.org.uk

| VERSATILE | CONNECTED

Located just five minutes’ walk from Darlington’s east coast mainline train station, Darlington Hippodrome is perfectly situated to host your next business event - from a one-to-one meeting to a 1000 delegate conference. Put your company centre stage with Darlington Hippodrome. hires.hippodrome@darlington.gov.uk www.darlingtonhippodrome.co.uk

Fresh Faces

We look at some of the latest venue openings and refurbishments enticing meetings and events across the North.

Glenapp Castle

Situated in Glenapp Castle’s adjoined Victorian glasshouse and original bothy, the new Azalea restaurant can be used exclusively for cocktail parties of up to 100 or formal dining experiences for 70 delegates with views of the picturesque surrounding gardens. Flexible spaces within the castle itself are also fit for different sized events, including intimate gatherings in the library for 10 delegates featuring panoramic views over to Ailsa Craig, and the McDowell and Invergordon Rooms for 36 delegates with a bespoke catering menu provided for each event. Glenappcastle.com

Kenwood Hall

Recently refurbished outdoor dining facilities, event spaces, and a conference café area are the latest offerings at the Mercure Sheffield Kenwood Hall Hotel & Spa. Various function rooms can now accommodate up to 150 delegates for dinner, while the Lakeview suite can fit up to 180 for an evening reception. Within 12 acres of parkland, Kenwood Hall’s dedicated wellness area featuring comfortable seating, complimentary health drinks, and picturesque views also allows delegates to relax between meetings. Luxury tipi tents provided by event partner, Katachiefs, are also available to meet the demand for upcoming outdoor Christmas parties. Kenwoodhall.co.uk

The Crowne Plaza Birmingham NEC Hotel

A £650,000 refurbishment has unveiled a new reception, lounge, and bar area at The Crowne Plaza Birmingham NEC Hotel featuring locally inspired artworks depicting elements of iconic Birmingham landmarks. The new public spaces let delegates meet, work, and socialise together within a new modern interior design, with an E-bar including power points for devices and a wireless printer. Up to 200 delegates can make use of the hotel’s extensive meeting facilities across 10 versatile rooms. lghhm.com

Center Parcs Sherwood Forest

Nottinghamshire’s nature-rich attraction is back after a long period of pandemicclosure to re-introduce its conference and events space, The Venue. Nestled in 400 acres of forest, The Venue’s five flexible suites are surrounded by walkways offering delegates views overlooking the greenery. Able to be used as one large and flexible space, the suites can accommodate up to 600 delegates theatre style and 500 in gala, with smaller rooms offering capacity for between 16 to 280 delegates each. Outdoor team building activities designed to develop trust and communication skills are also available, including treetop adventures and lake water sports.

Events.centerparcs.co.uk

Radisson Blue Hotel Perth

Occupying one of the first original British railway hotels, Radisson Blu Hotel Perth is now the brand’s seventh property to join its Scottish portfolio alongside properties in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, and Inverness. The hotel’s five fully equipped meeting spaces include the largest ballrooms outside Edinburgh, which can accommodate up to 350 delegates for expansive events while

smaller boardrooms can fit a maximum of 40 delegates for training sessions or international conference calls.

Radissonhotels.com

Virgin Hotels Edinburgh

A series of soft launch events has slowly introduced Virgin Hotels Edinburgh to the city’s UNESCO World Heritage Old Town, with October marking the launch of the hotel’s dining and meetings venues. The latest phase includes the opening of the restored and repurposed 19th century church, Greyfriar’s Hall, now holding up to 150 delegates for special events with a rooftop sanctuary offering unobstructed views of Edinburgh Castle. At ground floor level, restaurant and bar Eve can cater for 160 delegates in a designed playful atmosphere with diverse evening entertainment showcasing the best of both Scottish and international culture.

Virginhotels.com/edinburgh/meetingsand-events

The Longlands Inn

An extensive ground floor refurbishment of The Longlands Inn in Lancashire has included the addition of a new function suite named after the area’s most familiar birds. The Lapwing Bar & Dining Room can comfortably sit up to 30 delegates, with floor to ceiling black panelled glass and direct access to the hotels main bar and outdoor patio area. Two more intimate breakout spaces can host for smaller groups of up to 10 delegates, while a second phase development will add an extra two bedrooms to take the number up to 13 in the main building.

Longlandshotel.co.uk

Leicester Racecourse

Hosting up to 30 race meetings throughout the year, the East Midlands-based Leicester Racecourse offers 200 acres of land available to work with for team building days or evening marquee events. Reopening after closure during the pandemic, the Kube event centre is back for large scale exhibitions, conferences, and meetings suitable for up to 1,000 delegates, while benefitting from free parking for up to 2,000 vehicles with good transport links to Leicester city centre. A variety of rooms accommodating numbers from six delegates upwards are also available for smaller conferences or more intimate events. With Wi-Fi throughout the venue and complimentary parking, the venue’s prices remain competitive within the market, with an events team priding themselves on providing extremely high service.

Leicester-racecourse.com

CREDIT: RADISSON HOTEL GROUP

RADISSON BLUE PERTH

THE CROWNE PLAZA BIRMINGHAM

KENWOOD HALL

THE LONGLANDS INN

In light of beam’s recent Instant Book summit, we explore whether it really is the future of venue finding.

IN A FLASH

Finding a hotel on one of the many directories available, searching for the best deal that suits your requirements, and booking it instantly. Commonplace for holidays where finding the right stay can take minutes, but can we make booking space for a meeting or event so simple? The answer seems to be: yes, for smaller events perhaps. More complex requirements will need more work, and challenges lay as venues start to get in gear, with not all venues on board just yet.

Michael Begley, Managing Director of Venuedirectory.com, comments: “Venuedirectory.com data shows that meetings for up to 30 delegates cover 82% of bookings. These meetings may be small, but they are mighty in terms of their impact – it’s these types of meetings that crop up the most frequently. Looking at RFP numbers from 2019 onwards, meetings for between 11 and 20 people make up nearly half (47%) of the total of RFPs.

“These stats all indicate that a high proportion of meetings organised are small meetings – so why not make this process easier? Instant Book has been around in the travel industry for a long time. We’re working with industry partners including beam to be part of a movement championing the introduction of Instant Book for small meetings and events.”

Instant booking offers event organisers the ability to secure a space without having to go through the trouble of searching out further information or having to contact someone in order to book the venue and complete endless paperwork: “The benefits are numerous: Digitally integrated solutions are now available which deliver significant benefits for both planner and venue. Planners – whether they are working for agencies, corporates, or independents – can now easily can search for venues, enquire, book, track, invoice, report, and make commission claims – all in one place. Access to real-time availability ensures the process is easy and efficient and gives real transparency to the whole process.”

The process also has advantages for venues, allowing for easy tracking of availability and wider distribution:

“Likewise, many venues, from worldwide hotel groups to dedicated venues, can benefit from the digital integration on offer. They can easily track and manage enquiries, benefit from the wider distribution platform, and – ultimately – convert more business. Venues can process enquiries without duplicating the information across multiple systems. This frees up a large amount of time and allows venues to dedicate resources in a much more meaningful way.”

That’s not to say that instant booking is without its downsides. By not contacting the venues directly, event organisers lose out on the chance to negotiate a better price and find themselves restricted to the price listed, and right now there are some major differences. It’s also worth noting that while being able to check live availability is an incredible advantage when searching a meeting room, on many directories some venues are not updated and bookable live, instead featuring an “enquire” or “request to book” feature which is more or less the same as contacting the venue directly independently. On some platforms, specific details like parking rates, room layouts, and accessibility are unavailable.

So while instant booking is making headway in the events world and in line with technology will eventually flourish, there is some way to go. However, right now for smaller and simpler meetings it provides a promising, time-saving service that allows event organisers to find, book, and pay for a simple meeting need in minutes.

STARS

With the next Eurovision Song Contest set to be held in the UK, all eight venues originally in the running were from the North, with Liverpool pipping Glasgow in final two. H&E North reports on the amazing venues that were shortlisted.

In an exciting turn of events for northernbased event professionals, the host of next year’s Eurovision Song Contest will be Liverpool, having just beat out Glasgow for hosting rights. All eight shortlisted cities sit in the North, showcasing our region’s amazing events offering.

We look at the winning venue, (as well as those that were in the running) and what they offer event organisers.

THE WINNER

Liverpool | M&S Bank Arena

Liverpool has much to recommend it as the host city for the Eurovision Song Contest next year. Not least the vibrant music scene which produced the Beatles. In terms of event capacity, the M&S Bank Arena which would hold the contest attracted more than 618,000 visitors to 269 events across the event campus in its first year, generating an economic

impact of £207 million to the city region. Since opening, the campus has attracted more than 8 million visitors to around 4,500 events across its entire site and generated £2 billion in economic benefit for the local economy.

The aptly named Space is a new addition to the M&S Bank Arena, which combines with its sister venue Exhibition Centre Liverpool. The venue has 8,100 sq. metres of versatile and flexible entertainment space that is sub-divisible into three interlinked halls, each 2,700 sq. metres in size which can be used separately or in combination for up to 7,000 delegates. Mandsbankarena.com

THE RUNNER UP

Glasgow | OVO Hydro Arena

As the only venue outside of England which was considered, the OVO Hydro arena has a lot riding on Glasgow’s bid. Despite coming in second, this 14,300

venue has a lot to offer. In fact, the exterior of the arena was actually used in Will Ferrell’s 2020 Netflix movie Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga. Attracting an audience of more than a million visitors each year, the venue is ranked by Pollstar in the top 10 arenas globally, alongside renowned venues such as Madison Square Garden and The O2.

With flexible draping systems meaning that the space can easily hold 5,000, 7,000, or 9,000 without having the space seem empty, this venue is adaptable to whatever is asked of it. Top of the line rigging, lighting, AV, and digital screening is available throughout the venue, making this the space to go to if you want to make a spectacle. Of course, the arena also sits opposite the Scottish Event Campus, offering even more flexible event space into the mix. OVO Hydro augments the SEC’s existing facilities and stages 140+ events annually.

Ovohydro.com

Leeds | First Direct Arena

Previously in contention was the First Direct Arena in Leeds, which offers a massive amount of space for organisers to play with. With a total floor area of 2,200 sq. metres available for hire as well as 400 sq. meters of ancillary exhibition space and an outdoor plaza. For conferences, the venue holds flexible spaces that can accommodate from 10 to 2,000 delegates, including a tiered auditorium perfect for 500 delegates, breakout rooms for 10 to 200 people, and lounge spaces for up to 200 delegates.

Firstdirectarena.com

Sheffield | Utilita Arena

This arena is a purpose-built indoor entertainment centre and its space can be scaled to suit the needs of any event up to a 13,600 capacity. The Steel Hall is a venue housed within the arena’s main hall, which can bring up to 4,500 delegates together without drowning them in the full arena space. A series of drapes dress the venue to give an intimate feel so any customer attending a Steel Hall event will not feel they are attending an event in a cut down arena.

Utilitaarenasheffield.co.uk

Manchester | AO Arena

Arenas don’t often come up in discussion as venues for smaller events, but Manchester’s AO arena has the perfect backstage space for an event for up to 250 people. With 250 sq. metres of space, Plus 1 is a unique space with its own selfcontained private bar, cloakroom, and

washroom facilities. The arena can also offer a range of catering options to wow your delegates with, including buffets and formal dining.

Ao-arena.com

Birmingham | Utilita Arena

As Birmingham put in its bid to hold Eurovision in 2023, the Utilita Arena came into the spotlight. Having already welcomed more than 17 million visitors and held world-class events of all shapes and sizes, this venue can handle anything, with capacities from 2,400 up to 15,800

Utilitaarenabham.co.uk

Newcastle | Utilita Arena

With the largest exhibition space in the North East of England, it’s no wonder that Newcastle’s Utilita arena was in the running for Eurovision host. This 36,000 sq. metre complex boasts an uninterrupted roof span and a total floor area of 3,960 sq. metres plus an external exhibition area. The venue also contains a theatre style space catering up to 9,000 delegates as well as a private lounge which can provide a breakout space.

Utilitaarena.co.uk

GLASGOW | OVO HYDRO ARENA

PHOTO: GRAHAM HOGG

BIRMINGHAM ARENA

Transport Concerns

Garcia Newell, ESSA board member and Business Development Director, Europe, at transport and logistics company DSV Solutions, discusses why the global supply chain crisis is causing multiple challenges for the events sector.

International events and exhibitions rely heavily on logistics, with many of our ESSA member logistics companies helping customers to transport their stands, fittings, marketing materials, and more from point to point (and back again), using road, sea, and air shipping methods and experienced manpower once it arrives on site.

Initially fuelled by the COVID pandemic, event logistics are being further disrupted by the Russia-Ukraine war, an extended lockdown in China, and Brexit, creating “a perfect storm” of factors that are resulting in lengthy delays with shipments by sea, and increased costs across all modes of transport.

For UK clients, new documentation requirements and customs clearance rules, as a direct result of Brexit, means shipping to and from the EU takes longer. On top of that, labour shortages caused by the pandemic, which unfortunately led to many skilled professionals leaving the industry in search of more secure nine to five jobs, are making the process of moving event supplies from A to B even more difficult.

This is by no means isolated to just the UK and Europe. The impact of supply chain issues is being felt on a global scale and is expected to continue into 2023, creating yet another source of unpredictability for event organisers to deal with.

In the short term, event logistics companies are adapting to these challenges by proactively looking for the best possible costs for shipping, scheduling shipments earlier, continuing to recruit and retain good labour, and in the case of Brexit, helping to guide and educate our customers on the relevant documents and procedures that are now required.

Our advice to event organisers, exhibitors and contractors is to allow extra time for shipping and customs clearance and where possible some contingency budget to cover any additional costs. By being proactive and planning well in advance, we can work together to lessen the impact of potential supply chain disruptions on future events.

Essa.uk.com

Connecting the Strategy

Claire Fennelow, Executive Director of EVCOM,

discusses how sustainability must be a consideration in every part of business.

Sustainability has been a hot topic for event agencies and professionals across the UK for some years now. And it’s easy to see why when we look at the impact of the climate crisis globally. This October we ran a free training session for our members to help them consider how they can embed sustainability and triple bottom line thinking into their business models. Syntiro Associates, whose speciality is working with creative agencies to deliver an integrated approach to sustainability, led the session, highlighting the three key pillars of people, planet, and profit and how they interconnect.

Our impact on the world around us is something many of our members are

thinking about. Midlands-based creative agency DRPG were the first global agency to earn the international standard ISO14001 and ISO20121 and continue to place sustainability at the forefront of their agenda. Responsible film agency Verity London have recently achieved B-Corp status. Live events and communications Broadsword, who have offices around the world, achieved their goal of carbon neutrality this September. Each of these companies are represented on our board, and these are just a handful of our members who are prioritising sustainability when it comes to the work they produce, but also their wider thinking as a business. Because that’s where the initiatives need to begin. We are beyond the

days of cutting plastic out of an event or encouraging attendees not to print their tickets. While these things are still vital (and not happening as often as we might hope), to be successful, sustainability needs to be part of a strategy that connects with every part of your business. It needs to be something your team can engage with, that is non-negotiable when speaking to clients, that becomes a selling point for your business.

Evcom.org.uk

With challenging times ahead due to the rising costs of doing business and consumers becoming more cautious with their spending, it is easy to fall into the trap of thinking that we need to pare our prices to the bone to survive. But by looking back in recent history you might think again.

Firstly, price is not everything. We live in a world where convenience drives much of what we do and many of us are happy to pay more for it. Indeed, it can be argued that prices are less important to many than perceived value for money and that this

Quality Control

Jim Winship, Secretary of The Events Industry Forum, explains why raising quality and convenience, not cutting prices, is the way through the cost-of-living crisis.

unlikely to change for many in the months ahead, particularly the young who have grown up in a convenience driven world.

You only have to go back to the early 1990s to find an example of an industry that has suffered badly from making the mistake of thinking recession means cutting prices to the bone. At that time, pizza was enormously popular with dedicated restaurants and delivery operations growing year-on-year. Then the recession hit and the knee jerk reaction of many was to slash prices and offer two for one deals.

As a result, consumer expectations changed. They came to expect deals and

EVENTS THAT GO DOWN IN HISTORY

that tag has stuck with the industry ever since.

The sandwich industry bears witness to this, in that whenever recession has hit, sales of premium products tend to rise significantly as consumers trade down from eating out to buying a sandwich at lunch time but are prepared to pay more for a good experience.

Once you start cutting prices, it is difficult to get them back – so think before you leap as there may be better ways of keeping consumer loyalty through adding value rather than taking it away.

Eventsindustryforum.co.uk

Clicking On

Search engine optimization (SEO) refers to the process of making your website more easily searchable through search engines such as Google. This often involves making small changes to your brand’s website in order to make it easier for the search engine to index and display your site in search results. Such small changes can often seem like they’re not worth the effort, but they can help your site move higher up on a search engine’s search results. Think about it: when was the last time you looked past the first page of results on Google?

Increasing the amount of visitors to your brand’s website is one of the ways to increase your business, especially in today’s digitally-oriented environment, where potential clients may use a Google search to find anything from a venue to an AV supplier.

However, while SEO is a great method for drawing organic clicks to your

We explore search engine optimisation versus paid Google ads to find out how best to generate more traffic on your brand’s website.

website, paid Google advertising isn’t to be ignored, as digital marketing expert Stephane Ganach, Founder of AdsVentures, explains: “My recommendation is that, when possible, business owners do both SEO and paid Google ads. When you pay someone to do SEO on your website, it’s a long-term process to bring you traffic for free. You do not pay for those clicks, but that it can take time. But with paid ads, any new business can immediately put itself at the top of Google’s results page, above its competitors, and get leads from day one.”

The value of paid ads is that while the initial cost is higher, the results are instantaneous, whereas SEO take time to show results: “With SEO, it might take time and the Google ad results always show at the top of the page, so even if you are number one in the organic results, you will still have adverts above you. You could have been doing SEO for 10 years, but the paid ads will still be above you.”

Many business owners see the value of digital marketing but can be overwhelmed with exactly how to star. Luckily, the very basics of SEO can be done without hiring an expert and are even laid out in a handy guide provided by Google itself (aptly called SEO Starter Guide). Even something as simple as

making sure your website uses clear page titles can increase your clicks. While these tips might not get you straight to the top of the results page, they will certainly put you at an advantage over those businesses which haven’t bothered with SEO at all.

When it comes to producing immediate results, however, it might be best to go to an expert: “We do get enquiries from people who have tried to do it themselves and haven’t gotten as good result as we can achieve, because it’s not their job,” Stephane explained. “It’s like me trying to fix a broken tap in my bathroom. I’m just going to make a mess. We can definitely help businesses save money by generating better results in a shorter amount of time, and let them get on with what they are good at!”

Travelling Back

After years of disruption by the COVID-19 pandemic, we find out if the international business travel sector has returned to its 2019 levels.

Before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, a report by VisitBritain found that in 2019 the UK received 8.7 million business tourism visits, which contributed a total of £4.8 billion in spend to the UK economy. International meetings and events pre-pandemic were a significant part of an already thriving industry. The same report revealed that at the time 3.5 million visits were made to attend small and medium sized meetings (classed as up to 20 people), while 1.8 million business tourism visits were made to attend large meetings (over 20 people), including conferences, conventions, incentive or team building events, exhibitions, or trade shows.

After the onset of the pandemic, business tourism industry ground to a halt, seeing only slight resurgences in the times when restrictions were lightened. Most large events were cancelled or moved online, and businesses were still hesitant to plan ahead for businesses trips, especially as restrictions and entry requirements changed frequently and varied greatly across the globe. A survey by the UK government found that during the pandemic only 28% of business staff were travelling for meetings from the usual 40%.

The same report also found that nearly half of companies expected to make fewer business trips than before the pandemic. So, more than two and a

half years on from the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, has international business travel recovered from its impact? The answer seems to be unequivocally no. While the amount of people traveling internationally is increasing, it has not yet returned to 2019 levels, currently sitting at only 36% of that amount.

It’s not difficult to understand why. Between a still reduced amount of events being held, increased expenses, long airport wait times and organisational chaos, and the logistically simpler virtual and hybrid alternatives still hanging around from the pandemic – particularly for smaller meetings – it may take a while yet for international business travel to reach anywhere near its previous peak.

That’s not to say that all hope is lost. Events are on the up, and a survey earlier this year also by VisitBritain found that revenue is strong from global delegates, with those from outside the EU spending more on visits (£1,748) than those from within the EU (£990) and UK (£329).

The report looks at more than just revenue, and highlights other key areas why UK will always be a popular events destination as the industry rebuilds.

VisitBritain/VisitEngland Head of Business Events, Kerrin MacPhie, said: “Britain’s business events sector is going from strength to strength, and this research provides real insight into delegate booking behaviour when attending an event.

It also highlights key areas where British destinations can support organisers in the early stages of event promotion, including ease of travel and reasons to stay preand post-event.

“Britain is an attractive destination for planners and delegates alike, from our infrastructure and accessibility, to our ease of access and diverse destination offer, Britain is a great place to hold global events.”

SAFE AND SOUND

Sanitation

Ensuring the safety of event staff and delegates is both a moral and legal duty for event organisers and venues, with a range of considerations across all aspects of an event such as medical cover, welfare, and hygiene.

The COVID-19 pandemic has made us more conscious than ever of the necessity to keep surroundings clean and properly sanitised. Proper sanitisation is one of the best ways to prevent the spread of diseases and look after your delegates’ health. Dr. Lisa Ackerley, Chartered Environmental Health Practitioner and Director of Medical and Scientific Engagement and Hygiene at Reckitt, helped devise bespoke hygiene programmes for COP26, the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, and the Platinum Jubilee Pageant.

“Simply cleaning at the start and end of events may miss the point that spaces could continue to become contaminated throughout the day,” Dr. Ackerley states. “When it comes to large-scale events where viruses and bacteria can spread more quickly, it’s important to focus on hygiene practices that are effective, but also time and cost-efficient.”

The key areas to focus on are those frequently come into contact with: “Areas

to consider include cafeterias, food stalls, restrooms (door handles, taps, toilet flush handles, cubicle locks), locker rooms (door handles), grab handles and, seat arms – all need to be cleaned and disinfected at key times to assist in breaking the chain of germ transmission. It is important that cleaning protocols are supported by prominent signage in strategic locations with messaging that nudges people to wash their hands regularly. For example, placing a ‘wash your hands’ message on the interior of a bathroom door so an individual is reminded of good hygiene practices even before they leave the cubical.

“Adopting targeted hygiene practices at large events supports the delivery of timesaving and labour-efficient solutions. As part of this approach, organisers need to ensure their teams receive hygiene training to explain the science behind the hygiene protocols they are working to deliver and to stress the importance of hand hygiene in helping to reduce the spread of bacteria and viruses.”

Continued on page 39

DR LISA ACKERLEY

Empower ing

Events

For

getting the best out

of

your event content and connecting with delegates, the Accelevents all-in-one platform is an essential tool supporting all formats.

In an ever-changing event industry landscape, the new all-in-one Accelevents platform is adapted to facilitate meaningful and authentic experiences for both planners and delegates across in-person, hybrid, and virtual events consistently.

Through the platform’s desktop hub and mobile app, a user-friendly and robust set of interactive features gives planners all the right tools to create a seamless attendee experience and keep delegates engaged. With custom registration pages, multiple ticket types, networking, live chats, and gamification options all working together to deliver a cohesive brand experience, delegates are fully encouraged to participate in real time discussions across the entire event.

The app’s sophisticated and simple design allows planners to quickly overcome the challenges of setting up an event in a physical space. Custom registration forms, email automated ticketing, and a seamless checking in feature can all be used in conjunction to welcome delegates with ease, while a kiosk mode also edits and prints badges for delegates on-site in real time for larger conferences.

With a range of pre-set theme designs to get started with, planners can customise their event landing pages to extend their brand identity across the app interface, uploading their own imagery, labels, and colours to keep individual events consistent with a unique look. Browsable event areas such as the lobby, side navigation labels, and session areas can also be individually customised to further enhance the experience for delegates as they explore the event hub, with a tailored registration process able to segment participants based on specific demographics or psychographic information.

including live chat rooms, Q&A, and realtime polls drive further engagement for global audiences.

Placing the power of networking into the heart of the platform, the split-screen functions can be used to encourage maximum engagement for hybrid events, allowing in-person delegates to participate in chats with virtual attendees while online audiences can submit questions to on-stage speakers. Curated session tracking and tag functions also allow virtual delegates to browse thematic breakout sessions and add them to their personal agenda during larger events, while interactive features

Injecting some fun competition into the event and further enticing delegates to participate more broadly, the platform’s gamification feature can also be seamlessly integrated using a built-in challenge builder to reward delegates across the event programme, from time spent in a session, downloading virtual pamphlets, or joining live stream networking.

Comprehensive and actionable insights can also be gained for event professionals to inform their growth strategies, with indepth delegate and exhibitor analytics offering valuable data and insights into the event audience. All data gathered instantly from registration performance, ticket sales, and session reports can be accessed directly from the event dashboard to gauge the event’s overall engagement and help strategise the next meeting.

“We are in an environment where event organisers and brand marketers are strategically moving towards a combination of virtual and in-person events,” said Accelevents Founder, Jonathan Kazarian. “We fundamentally believe attendees should have the power to choose how to best engage and interact with an event ecosystem without compromising experience.”

Learn more about the Accelevents mobile event app at Accelevents.com

Enhance collaboration among hybrid teams with the latest AI-powered video conference solution from Owl Labs.

Purpose-built for event planners to keep their meetings more inclusive, Owl Labs is dedicated to empowering hybrid and remote teams by utilising the full capabilities of 360° video capture and levelling the playing field between remote and in-person delegates. Now into the third generation of its Meeting Owl line, the new flagship device guarantees a seamless hybrid event set up with nuanced software keeping remote delegates engaged no matter the meeting format.

A panoramic 360° camera and trispeaker built into the Meeting Owl 3 can catch audio and visuals from all angles of the meeting space, while an optional expansion mic extends the audio pick-up range by another 2.5 metres for rooms with longer tables. When positioned in the centre of the meeting space, the unique camera can separate its view of each in-person delegate across a flexible panel interface for remote participants to view on-screen. Automatically zooming in on whoever is talking, the camera also allows remote delegates to fully focus on the speaker with limited chance of distractions.

Behind all the dynamic features in the new Owl Labs device, an AI-driven software is also built in to make team collaboration even more inclusive for participants at hybrid events, with wireless syncing in place for multiple Meeting Owls to connect and support meeting rooms of all sizes. Automatically detecting main speakers during meetings and team discussions, the active devices will pan their cameras across the event floor to keep the content deliverer in focus while modulating the speaker volume appropriately for optimum

Meeting Owl 3 Specifications:

Camera Output Resolution: 1080p HD Video Pickup Radius: 3m Field of View: 360° Microphone: 8 omni-directional

mm H Weight: 1.2 kg

Placement: 1 metre from in-room monitors and within 5.5 metres of inroom delegates

Setup Options: Centre of the table, tripod-mounted, or ceiling-mounted listening, keeping remote delegates engaged throughout the longest keynote conference or briefest breakout discussion.

A plug-in-and-play design means it takes just six minutes for planners to unbox the Meeting Owl 3 and launch their first meeting, making the device a fast and convenient option for organising a spontaneous event and for delegates who may have to suddenly cancel their in-person attendance and join the meeting remotely. Fully compatible with popular video conferencing platforms including Zoom, Google Hangouts, Slack, BlueJeans, GoToMeeting, and Microsoft Teams, the device also runs closely alongside the Meeting Owl app for iOS and Android devices to invite and check delegates into the event. By connecting the Meeting Owl 3 to a venue’s Wi-Fi network, planners can also receive the latest software updates and collect meeting analytics reports to keep better track of delegate numbers and event feedback.

“Hybrid is now the way that teams expect to work, and flexible policies are here to stay,” said Owl Labs CEO, Frank Weishaupt. “We’ve seen that smaller and medium-sized businesses have been faster to support a hybrid

format, while larger companies are also choosing similar, flexible models and seeking more immersive technology to power the transition. As a team that has been hybrid since before COVID, we’re proud to launch our third generation Meeting Owl to connect organisations of all sizes even more seamlessly.”

Owllabs.co.uk

Jackie Basden,

Director of Events & Venues

and 3D Virtual Solutions, explains how a virtual map of your venue is

vital to sell your space to an event organiser.

Bookers, do you ever fall into a website wormhole looking for basic information –where one room is in relation to another, is there daylight, how big is the lobby space and is it private?

With a digital twin of your event spaces on your website, bookers can virtually visit seven days a week, 24 hours a day. If you book a Zoom call and share your screen you can even add your commentary as if they were standing next to you!

After starting my career as a Conference Manager on property I set up an agency – Events & Venues – 30 years ago and am continually frustrated by the lack of information provided by venues when we are trying to “sell” their spaces to our clients – no floor plans, unclear capacities, a single image of a meeting space – and don’t get me started on lobby spaces which are often an integral part of an event.

All that changed five years ago after stumbling across Matterport, the technology behind 3D virtual tours that creates a complete digital twin of a venue and unlike a real venue, it’s available to visit 24/7 and it’s always looking it’s best.

3D VIEW

Using 3D scanners, the unique software captures every square metre of an event space, creating a comprehensive floorplan along the way, and providing users with the most immersive virtual tour on the market.

Drop into a room from the unique dollhouse view or click anywhere and view it from multiple angles – there is even a tool to accurately measure any door, ceiling height or access point. You can check sockets, built in equipment, steps for wheelchair users and lobby spaces at a glance.

I now bring my event experience to the table to create digital twins of venues with my team of technicians and photographers. 3D Virtual Solutions has produced and continues to manage over 300 tours, with some tours being downloaded over 1,000 times every month.

We are working with Meetcardiff.com Meet in Cardiff and Cardiff’s MICE venues to demonstrate the importance of including a 3D virtual tour on venues’ website to facilitate the booking of business events. See an example of a 3D tour of Cardiff Castle by scanning the QR code.

For more information on 3D Virtual Solutions and creating a tour of your venue, visit 3dvirtualsolutions.com or email jackie@3dvirtualsolutions.com

As an academic venue with over 100 varied spaces across campus, the 3D virtual tours have become an integral asset in our marketing toolkit. Not only do they bring our spaces to life on our digital platforms, they allow clients to see the array of spaces we offer at any time and from any location.

We have commissioned four complex tours across two London campuses and have always been impressed with the quality of work from Jackie and the team, they are a joy to work with.”

In Translation

Tech Entrepeneur, Danny Manu, reveals how AI translation technology is opening a whole new world of international events.

While bringing business leaders and employees closer together, the rapid growth of translation technology is also encouraging the heightened number of delegates who are unable or unwilling to travel as global events continue down a virtual path.

Founded in 2014, tech provider Mymanu has been busy creating a streamlined solution to meet the postpandemic demand for instant translation with the launch of the Mymanu CLIK S earbuds. Currently compatible in over 37 languages, the device provides speech and text translation in real time, saving planners funds and resources to facilitate international events along the way.

“Delegates can select the language they want to see and hear the information in when registering for an event,” explained Mymanu Brand Founder, Danny Manu. “Using the MyJuno app, they will then be able to read what the event speakers say on their phone screen and listen to it through their earphones. The translation system is currently done instantly through Wi-Fi and phone signal. But MyJuno will be incorporated into our upcoming e-SIM powered earbuds which will make the translation process even faster and more secure.

“By breaking down language barriers, AI translation enables organisers to reach out to a wider community right from the start.”

During more informal settings at virtual events where networking sessions and team discussions are becoming more commonplace, Danny also explained how the current translation technology can certainly adapt to keep up with fast paced meetings between multiple speakers: “It is very important for organisers to define from the start what they are looking to achieve from the AI translation tools.

“In some cases, they can be designed to translate the main presenters’ speech as a priority and cancel any background noise to capture the speech in a noisy environment. Much like on Zoom, a function for remote delegates to ‘raise their hands’ also enables Q&A sessions to be conducted in an orderly fashion and maintain a free-flowing conversation.”

“There are over 7,000 languages worldwide, but research indicates that nearly 50% of the global population cannot speak a second language. By enabling an event’s delivery and marketing to be done in a range of languages, AI translation tools can give event organisers the power to appeal to a wider audience, increasing their reach and ultimately their turnover.”

The Mymanu CLIK S has gathered a strong interest from the hospitality industry since launching, with Mymanu recently running a test pilot with The Marriott Hotels Group to support the communication needs of international delegates when conducting business abroad.

“Over 700 users downloaded our app technology during the pilot, with 100% of our surveyed event organisers saying they would expect a significant increase in networking opportunities by using the tools,” said Danny. “The session proved that translation devices can indeed help

the venue and events teams make their delegates feel more at home and improve the communication with staff to increase their customers’ satisfaction, retention ratio, and sales.”

Beyond the numbers, Danny also touched upon how translation technology can be an important creative solution towards fostering global communities in the events landscape, where sharing a common language is a challenge: “Between everyone involved, speaking the same specific language is vital to promote and deliver the event to its audience.

“By breaking down language barriers, AI translation enables event organisers to reach out to a wider community right from the start. From teaching new skills to deprived communities, sharing best practices with international colleagues to develop skills faster, and discovering new cultures to understand people better, this can have such a positive impact on communities globally. We are always here to help businesses and planners can always contact us with their own requirements.

“By overcoming language barriers, translation technology will enable millions to live and work together as one global community and build a better world.”

Mymanu.com

When you think of first impressions in your business, you probably think of how somewhere looks, something tastes or the service someone has received. However, the first impression that is most important above all, is the first impression of your branding.

Although anyone can create a ‘nice logo’; creating a logo that actually works is a whole di erent thing. Your branding is what encourages your ideal clients to make that call or send that email. It has the power to convey the right brand message, show o your brand values and help you stand out from the competition.

A consistent, functioning brand identity is invaluable to a business owner and it plays an incredibly important part in growing your business.

Pen & Ink Designs is a leading brand and graphic design agency working with hospitality businesses worldwide.

If you think your branding isn’t working how it should be, scan the QR code to book in for a free consultation call.

REEL TO REEL

Lux Films shares how video testimonials can help you get the most out of your event and prepare for your next one.

As a business, asking your event delegates for video testimonials is a simple yet effective way to market your past and future events, as well as your business.

The behaviour of the general public is to look at reviews and seek out recommendations before they commit to anything. Save them the work by putting the opinions of delegates right in front of them.

According to one study, it was found that:

• Regular use of customer testimonials can generate 62% more revenue than without.

• 92% of people read testimonials when considering a purchase (imagine the impact of video when people prefer to watch than read nowadays).

• 88% of consumers said they trusted these reviews just as much as personal recommendations.

With these stats in mind, you might be thinking: “I want to tap into this easy marketing strategy, but can I fit it in?”

As an event planner, you’re on your feet throughout the entire event to ensure everything runs smoothly. There’s only so much time you have to collect testimonials and interviews. And pulling out your phone to capture a testimonial isn’t going to cut it. Your branding, style, and quality is higher than that, so any content you make needs to be of the highest quality too.

How can you get them without adding more work for you and your team?

Allow Lux Films to help.

Not only will we help capture high-quality video footage for your event to create a highlights reel, but we will also do interviews and testimonials. We would then edit them either as part of the highlight reel or as separate marketing videos for you to use long into the future. You’ll never be short of social media content ever again.

When you partner with us, you won’t need to worry about video production — you

tell us what or who to capture and we will handle it all, from delegate wrangling to interviewing and getting the best out of them to editing it into a slick video. We pride ourselves on having a superfriendly team who can put attendees at ease so that being filmed is part of the event experience. You can then focus on producing the best events and have satisfied attendees who want to rave about their experience.

Want to know more about what Lux Films can do to help with your video production at your next event?

Visit our website or give us a call and let’s have a quick chat. Luxfilms.uk 020 8090 7188

Casting Experience

Elevate

your event marketing while gaining access to the expertise of fellow event professionals with the latest podcasts shaping up the industry.

Convenient, accessible, and not restricted by time or location, podcasts are greatly expanding the conversations between industry professionals on a range of topics and broadening the knowledge and scope of expertise for planners, suppliers, and venue holders alike.

For organisers striving to find new ways to engage delegates, the competitive edge which podcasts offer over the saturated traditional marketing channels also makes the medium a highly effective promotional tool to build event anticipation. Pre-event experiences such as content previews, informal interviews with keynote speakers, and Q&A sessions are just a few ways to invite closer engagement with delegates.

“Podcasting is a powerful and often overlooked online media channel for events,” said Podcast Power Marketing host, Simon Dunant. “When planning a conference of any size, there are huge opportunities for you to run interviews with speakers and other subject matter experts around the topic of the event.

“Running a multi-day conference in particular presents effective strategies, such as producing a daily update from the floor which delegates can download to their phone both during and after the event. These episodes can then be used as promotional tools the following year to remind attendees what an incredible time they had previously and drive repeat signups.”

The number of UK-based podcasts is now booming across all business sectors, with an estimated nationwide listenership of 28 million by 2026 according to database company Statista. With the market rapidly expanding, the latest industry podcasts continue to share practical knowledge of the new marketing tool while keeping listeners tuned to the latest trends in the events industry. Here are just a few of the many well worth a listen.

Anything is Possible

The Manchester based agency, Make Events, is one of the latest Northern faces to launch a new podcast series with the sole aim to follow the title’s mantra in motivating event profs of all backgrounds and experiences in facing new challenges facing the industry today.

“I am excited to finally share this special project with listeners in the UK and hopefully across the world,” commented CEO Holly Moore. “We have an incredible line up of guests for the podcast’s first season with inspiring stories to tell of their route to the top of the industry.”

Listen via Makeevents.co.uk

Central Chat

While delivering a successful streak of trade events drawing in delegates worldwide, the team at Manchester Central are also now into the third season of the equally popular Central Chat podcast. Shedding a spotlight on colleagues across the city, each episode makes a strong case study of creative advice and insider tips for planners to shape their next event.

“Our discussions explore lots of topics which we hope will be informative and supportive for both aspiring and current events professionals across the country,” said Presenter, Samantha Pike-Devlin. “It also serves as a way of highlighting the positives of a long-term career in this exciting industry, as well as reframing our perceptions following the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Listen via Manchestercentral.co.uk/ central-chat

The Events Insight Podcast

Launched in 2020, The Events Insight Podcast has quickly evolved over nine successful seasons to shine a spotlight on all parts of the sector. Co-hosted by enthusiastic events specialists Jack Saward and Karen Edwards, the duo’s choice of guests often come from overlooked areas of the industry, but leading inspiring initiatives from across the globe.

“You never know where a good oldfashioned conversation might take you,” said Jack. “Introductions with guests on the podcasts have quickly led to working closely with them as colleagues on shared projects and gaining new business. That’s the beauty of our industry; we are innovators and fixers, and within our phonebooks we have a whole industry to call upon.”

Listen via Theeventsinsightspodcast. com

See Events organises creative, bespoke event solutions.

We o er seamless, stress free event management of team building events, group incentives, conference energisers, evening entertainment, wellbeing workshops and wellbeing days. Whether it’s to develop relationships, improve performance, establish key messages, or to provide a rewarding experience, See Events can assist to create the perfect event for you!

Corporate and private events with a range of affordable options Working lunch buffets delivery daily to your workplace

Formal dinners and canapés, hog roasts, bbq’s, fish and chips, chocolate fountains and more

Bespoke catering packages with our highly experienced team offering consultation on all aspects of your event

Connect your teams through voice

VoCoVo is the one piece of instant voice communication tech that your team needs. The smart yet simple headset communication system is tried and tested by Tier I retail and restaurant giants like Asda, TK Maxx, Wickes, Primark and TGI Fridays, built for businesses like yours

VoCoVo systems come with all the hardware you need, out of the box, making them great for small teams who need to stay connected over wide areas. They are also scalable, allowing you to easily expand your communication capabilities in line with your business.

Contact DCRS today on 0800 043 2688 or sales@dcrs.co.uk to arrange your no-obligation trial!

FREE demonstrations available.

Future Proof

We sit down with Monica Galetti, former MasterChef: The Professionals Judge and Chef Ambassador for the 2023 Hotel, Restaurant, and Catering Show to discuss her career, event catering tips and her favourite dish.

Hi Monica! You’ve had quite a career. Tell us how you got here...

I started my career in New Zealand. I did my training there and then started taking part in competitions while I was working, representing New Zealand in competitions in Australia and Oceania before coming to Europe. I fell in love with it here, particularly London. I sent my CV off to loads of Michelin star restaurants and Michel Roux Jr. at Le Gavroche was the first to reply so I took up a position as a commis there.

In 2004, I moved to open Le Gavroche in Mauritius, and later I opened my own restaurant, Mere, which is named after my late mother. In 2008, I became involved in filming MasterChef, initially a short 15-minute stint on television but my role continued to grow, and it’s something that I still love being a part of, seeing the new talent of the future.

So what started your interest in cooking?

In Samoan culture food is very much about family. I took the fresh ingredients for granted as a child, everything grown or caught fishing. I’ve always loved being a part of the excitement in the kitchen, so it was natural that I became a chef.

What will your role at the show involve?

I’ll be there during the salon that they have, just to talk and hopefully inspire young chefs to get involved in the industry.

There’s been a huge shortage of new talent coming through and the pandemic had a massive effect, so I want to show that it’s still an exciting and rewarding industry to be in.

The cook-off is always the best part. I mean it’s great to meet new producers as well and have people showing off their wares, but it’s when the adrenaline gets pumping and the chefs are really going for it, especially in that last half an hour.

Is it very different running a kitchen in a restaurant and catering for an event?

It’s a massive difference when you’re dealing with hundreds and thousands of covers. It’s been awe-inspiring when I’ve done large events, how smoothly it can be run, even with the sheer amount of work.

You have to try not to lose your cool, especially if you’re the one heading the team. If you lose it, you lose control of the service. It’s part of managing and learning this is very different to just cooking.

Finally, what’s your comfort food after a long day of cooking?

Well, I’m going home tonight, and my husband is doing a nice roast, which will be lovely. Home cooking is so nice, although I don’t think any chefs go home and do six courses for themselves. I love a roast chicken, to the point that my daughter went off it for a while because we were having it so often!

Critical Info

Find out how you can get informative and focused feedback on your event or venue with VEBack.

Feedback is vital, giving organisers and venues the ability to improve, but actually getting it and ensuring its relevant is always the challenge.

VEBack is an innovative feedback software which allows venues and event organisers to easily engage with delegates to gain insight on their experience and act on their feedback. The software was created by Liz Carnell and Jo Dadd when the pair spotted a gap in the market for an all-encompassing feedback software: “My background is in sales and marketing, and Jo’s is in operations and catering,” Liz explained. “So we understand venues beginning to end. To understand their customer service and operations, we would often ask them what their customers thought of them. And they rarely had current data.

more balanced. In the end we came up with three motive questions, which cover meeting expectations, whether the delegate would recommend the experience to someone else, and value for money. We’ve weighed it so that if

“Jo and I – after a lot of red wine –decided that we could create a specific meetings and events industry feedback system. What we wanted was a system that would ask questions to all different types of customers, covering what we thought were seven key operational elements.”

VEBack takes what works from current feedback systems and improves upon what doesn’t: “We went through lots of research at the time, looking at net promoter scores and how current systems operated. TripAdvisor, for example, has a system where if you score at one in any area then your overall score is taken down. We wanted something

someone complained that their coffee was cold but at the end they would recommend the venue in the future, then we wanted that to have a strong impact.”

One of the highlights of VEBack is its adaptability, with the phrasing of the questions changing depending on the position the answerer has identified themselves as: “The system has 10 key questions which could be posed to a delegate, a trainer, an event organiser, or even a wedding guest. The key headings on each question will change dependant on that. For example, when answering the question about catering, if you indicated that you are an event organiser, then the question’s wording would be around whether there was enough choice of menu and pricing, but for delegates then your question would still be around catering, but it would be worded to asking if there was enough food and what it hot/ cold enough. This way your venue can receive specific and relevant feedback.” Each questionnaire also contains customisable questions which can be set by the user to gain feedback on areas specific to your event.

The main aim of VEBack is to provide simple and easy to understand data and feedback that venues or organisers can use quickly to improve their operations. It provides this data within it’s easy to use online dashboard which lays out not the overall average answers of each question but also each individual piece of feedback in an easy to understand and colour-coded format, all in one location.

Veback.com

Cost-effective

Face

Mini

Support

STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD

All In One

The team at Sparq explains how adapting with event technology can transform AV suppliers into all-in-one event providers adding value to the proposition.

From the planned logistics to the specialist technology put in place, the organisation and management of live events has rapidly influenced the industry’s transformation over the past five years. Experiencing its own renaissance, technical production has also been swiftly changing the way professionals conduct business with suppliers.

Full service

Technical production at events has understandably been simply recognised as “the equipment with a plug” for many years. But shifting organiser needs, reducing lead times, and revising procurement has opened a gap in the market for production companies. Specialists have now found they can utilise the experience as a production provider to offer a full suite of services while keeping technical production at its core.

Since launching its 360 service, Sparq has taken one big step closer towards bringing technology and creativity closer together. From an event’s inception to its delivery, the team can now provide their established technical expertise and extra assistance with all elements of a

production, from venue recommendations and audience management and engagement, through to creative concepting and content creation. Combined with dedicated in-house teams in print, digital, scenic, and video production, an AV supplier with widened capabilities can best support planners in the entire event journey.

Streamlining management

While the “all under one roof” ethos has become a commonality across many outside industries, the phrase still represents a relatively new concept for the events sector. Typical productions count on multiple suppliers for different areas of the event, from those who supply the kit and technical aspects, to those who manage the registration and check-in process. At the centre of it all, an organiser will often be responsible for the myriad of complex details found across all elements of the event planning, including the venue searching, caterer sourcing, and marketing strategy development.

The heavy processes involved with delivering the technical production make it no surprise that more planners are seeking a production partner that can provide a wider service offering, with searches now conducted through industry wide partnerships or a more comprehensive inhouse range. Removing a lot of headaches from the main event organiser, using one AV supplier to coordinate multiple tech production lines from various in-house departments or externally is an effective business move to streamline the event management process.

Personal collaboration

The various ways in which event managers decide to operate has large impact on how the industry has changed over recent years. There is now a much stronger emphasis on relationship-based partnerships where clients are looking for much more than just an AV supplier that can deliver. Instead, they also want to know the people that they are working with really understand the needs of their business, their brand, and what these represent.

“There is now a stronger emphasis on relationship-based partnerships where clients are looking for much more than just an AV supplier that can deliver.”

Working closely with a client right from the beginning of your event journey still cannot be underestimated. Making sure your AV supplier understands the objectives and the expectation of an event will guarantee a collaborative approach which can add real value to your next project.

Sparq.live

Continued from page 20

Welfare units

For events where restroom or accommodation facilities aren’t available, event organisers will have to find a supplier to provide these necessities. Benjamin Rothwell, Business Development Manager of Bunkabin, details why it isn’t only the delegates’ welfare that organisers must consider when planning an event, but that of the staff, speakers, and other providers as well.

“Portable accommodation is essential for workers who do not have access to good welfare facilities onsite, or those located away from urban areas with amenities,” Benjamin tells us. “These portable units allow easy access to the facilities they need. It is a myth that portable cabins do not compare to alternatives such as hotel stays; with vast improvements within the portable building sector and modern technology, portable solutions offer many of the benefits of permanent alternatives, without the need to travel. Bunkabin is able to supply modern welfare and ensuite sleeper units which can be located nearly anywhere, from cities to the countryside. “

It is against the law in the UK to operate without providing suitable facilities so operating from a location or venue without access to toilets is not an option: “These facilities are essential for meeting welfare and health and safety requirements mandated by the UK government and can save events staff and organisers time and money when travelling to meet these needs. Whether your needs are short or long-term, portable accommodation providers can offer a better experience for everyone.”

Medical care

Accidents happen, and it’s important to have the proper emergency aid resources on hand to take care of any illnesses or

injuries should they occur. Point To Point Services is an Independent Ambulance Service & Event Medical Care Provider, Managing Director is Simon Jenkins.

“First aid providers don’t currently require registration,” Simon explains. “However, should a participant need to be transported off-site, then registration would be required. The requirements for medical cover at events are set out in the purple guide (Thepurpleguide.co.uk).”

Using first aid providers with thorough training and proper registration is vital. “The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the governing body for all health care providers in England. From hospitals to care homes, ambulance services to dentists, and everything in between. This is to ensure these services are operating to the highest levels of patient care.”

Given the unprecedented pressure the NHS ambulance service is currently facing, hiring a private ambulance service for

your event could be a good idea, both to reduce pressure on the NHS and to avoid long wait times for your delegates. However, only registered medical care providers are able to provide this service: “A change took place in 2016, which means it is now a requirement to be CQC registered in order to have the ability to transfer to the hospital without relying on the NHS at all. However, even with the smallest, low-risk events, and with the pressures growing on the local ambulance services, event providers need to work with their medical providers to plan dealing with injuries and illness.”

BENJAMIN ROTHWELL

Badge of Honour

Celebrate some of the stand-out talent of the events industry with our guide to the upcoming awards ceremonies and accreditation available.

Love them or, well maybe not love them as much, award ceremonies are a huge part of our industry. Glamour and pizzazz aplenty, an excuse to don the outfits and meet up with peers and old friends, and nominees can proudly enhance their website or LinkedIn profile with their nomination.

Some would argue there are many venues, suppliers, and individuals who are never nominated, but find out which awards are on the roster, the categories up for grabs, and celebrate those who have demonstrated going above and beyond to create fantastic experiences for delegates.

And if you’re not involved this time, there’s always next year…

NOEA Awards

The National Outdoor Events Association (NOEA) awards are soon to be upon us again, taking place on 23rd November 2022. The awards ceremony will be taking place at the Guildhall and Pump Rooms in Bath. The ceremony will comprise of 15 awards total, with top billings being Best Up and Coming Event Organiser, Best Diversity & Inclusion Initiative, and Unsung Hero/ Heroine.

ABPCO Awards

The ninth ABPCO Excellence Awards will be heading to the ICC Birmingham this year on 9th December. The leading categories are Best Event by an In-house PCO, Best Event by an Agency PCO, and Industry Supplier of the Year. This year, for the first time ever, the ceremony will also feature categories open to nonABPCO members, such as Guiding Star and Rising Star.

The

miaList

Awards

Designed to honour teams working in the business meetings and events industry who have collectively made a significant impact on their organisations, the Meetings Industry Association’s (mia) miaList awards are set to take place at the Birmingham Metropole Hotel on 17th November. Top categories include the Individual Award as well as Best Events and Operations Team, and Supplier of the Year.

Event Technology Awards

Taking place at ExCel on 16th November, the Event Technology Awards will form part of Event Tech Live, and will be held after the first day of the exhibition. This edition will be the award’s 10th anniversary and will recognise the achievements of companies delivering digital solutions to the events industry. Awards worth looking out for include Best Event Management Platform, Event Tech’s Rising Star, and Best Use of Technology for Audience Interaction.

Famtastic Rocks #EventProf Awards

Taking over from the annual CHS awards, the Famtastic Rocks #EventProf Awards are set to kick off in June next year with a whole host of categories to be won. Awards categories to look out for include Conference Centre of the Year, Green Initiative of the Year, Independent Venue of the Year, and Refurbishment of the Year.

Get Accredited

While most award ceremonies are impartial, any speculation that nominees are based on spending habits with awarding organisations can be easily quashed. The not-for-profit Awards Trust Mark accreditation offers a quantifiable and trackable seal of approval from an independent organisation. The scheme is based around a voluntary code of conduct that awards organisers commit to. All levels of the Trust Mark require a director to sign up to this code of conduct. Awardstrustmark.org

North in Brief

Safety Under the Spotlight at Mia Event

Protecting the safety and security of delegates attending business meetings and events will be the focus at the Meetings Industry Association’s (mia) latest event.

Taking place in October at Warwick Conferences, the mia’s Safety and Security Summit will explore the current and potential threats being faced by the sector and how technology and innovation can help create safer environments for all.

Ahead of the introduction of the Protect Duty in early 2023, ICC Wales’ Danielle Bounds will discuss the legislative obligations that have been designed to improve the safety and security of both staff and visitors in meeting and event spaces.

Representatives from ACC Liverpool, NEC Group, and Caffeine&Machine will share their inspiring venue safety strategies while innovative grant-funded Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) technologies emerging from the likes of Iconal and Metrasens to support safety across the sector, will be revealed.

Kerrin MacPhie, Chief Executive of the mia, said: “As the capabilities and tactics of terrorists and criminals continue to evolve and the Protect Duty is being introduced next year, there is a need to discuss the current and potential threats being faced by the business meetings and events sector.”

Sustainability Initiative Exceeds Targets

Thousands of eco-conscious guests staying at Wyboston Lakes Resort have chosen to have a tree planted instead of having their room cleaned under Room2Grow, the new initiative offered to those staying more than one night. As a result, the Resorts Green Team is already nearing its tree-planting target for 2022.

The project, which aims to reduce energy usage and ultimately the carbon footprint of the resort, launched only four months ago with an ambitious target to plant 5,000 trees on the Resort’s 380 acres in 2022. With more than three months to go until the end of the year, the Resort will by far exceed its target as the total number of trees to be planted already stands at 4,681, and is now on track for the Room2Grow total to reach around 8,000 trees this year.

Louisa Watson, Director of Marketing at Wyboston Lakes Resort, says: “We are delighted and a little overwhelmed with the success of our Room2Grow initiative. It’s a wonderful testament to the support we have received from our conference and training venue guests and really shows that consumers want businesses to do the right thing. We have many more plans for our sustainability journey, so watch this space!”

AEV Partners With CHC Global

The Association of Event Venues (AEV) has announced a partnership with independent malicious risk advisors, CHC Global. CHC will be primarily supporting the AEV Security

Working Group, advising members on how to better understand and prepare for malicious incidents such as terrorist attacks, political violence, active assailant outbreaks, and cyber-attacks.

AEV Director, Rachel Parker, commented: “CHC Global has been a presence on our security working group throughout the year and we are pleased to be able to formalise the strong relationship we have developed. It has a wealth of knowledge and expertise that will be a valuable resource in helping our members, for example, navigating the complexities of how Protect Duty might land in the UK.”

Center Parcs’ Team Grows

Center Parcs has announced the growth of its Conference & Events division, with the promotion of Cat Bird, National Sales Manager, who leads the three-strong team comprising the newly appointed Regional Sales Manager, Natasha Stone, and returning Regional Sales Manager, Hermione Gingell.

Describing her promotion, Cat shared: “I was really ready to manage a team; I had worked as an Account Manager for seven years, where you’re naturally a bit of a lone ranger, always chasing the sales and out on the road. The promotion was the next clear step, a chance to guide a team, and impart some wisdom and experience with others.”

With Center Parcs’ conference and events facilities having just reopened for bookings, following a period of closure due to the pandemic and a £2.5 million refurbishment of Woburn Forest, Cat and the team have had a busy few months in the run up to launch: “It’s been amazing to see a resurgence in enquiries since we started taking bookings in June. I’m so excited by what the future holds, not just for us but the industry too, as technology and sustainability take on a new level of importance, which we’re pleased to be able to fulfil for our clients.”

Huddleston Leaves DCMS

Nigel Huddleston, Evesham’s MP, has announced via Twitter that he is leaving his ministerial post as tourism minister, a position he has held since February 2020, and is moving to the Whips Office. Huddleston was previously the parliamentary under-secretary of state at the Department of Culture, Media, and Sport – which involved him overseeing the recent 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Event Tech Live Announces Agenda

The Event Tech Live (ETL) London 2022 agenda has been announced, covering the future of tech in the events industry. With speakers already confirmed from Slack, ITV, NHS Confederation, Easyfairs, Google Research and The Ops Nest there is a broad variety of content for all attendees.

The agenda kicks off virtually at 10am on 15th November and transitions to in-person at ExCeL London on 16th and 17th.

One of the agenda highlights is a roundtable discussion taking place at 14:00 on 16th November entitles “Tech in Ops: Reimagining the Future” led by The Ops Nest.

Lou Kiwanuka, Founder at The Ops Nest, says: “Ops is a part of the events industry for which tech solutions – beyond Microsoft Excel – rarely exist, certainly not those that solve industry-wide challenges. Whether due to the complexities required to harness all stakeholders, a lack of cross-industry collaboration or the fact that ops teams always simply manage so efficiently, it just hasn’t had the same priority as sales or marketing-led solutions!

“I’m really looking forward to bringing together brilliant minds to explore just what tech could do when we apply the right focus, partnerships and drive, and Event Tech Live is the perfect place to do it!”

Type the word sustainability into Google and it will pull up almost two million search results. With the planet’s resources being continually drawn upon, it’s no wonder that sustainability – which in its simplest terms is working to co-exist with Earth – is one of the most talked about concepts of the moment, and not just in the events arena.

But despite the above, successive research has shown that many people are left feeling in the dark when it comes to understanding sustainability principles.

A recent YouGov survey showed that 68% of UK adults have never heard of the circular economy as a concept while one study by US researchers revealed that people struggled to get to grips with terms regularly used in the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report such as mitigation and carbon neutral.

At isla we recognise that sustainability is

Add Your Voice

The sustainability body for the events industry, isla, explores how everyone has a place in the sustainability discussion.

a spectrum, and whether you start from a baseline of zero knowledge or are fully clued up on Net Zero, you have the right to add your voice to sustainability conversations.

It’s very likely that you’re already “doing” sustainability in your own life without even realising it. In fact, a survey by universities in the North of England featuring participants from Leeds, York, Newcastle, and Manchester showed that many were already taking actions to become more sustainable. This included: walking and cycling (82%), improving home energy efficiency (70%), shopping locally (66%), and cutting down on meat and dairy (55%).

The above shows that collectively we have started the sustainability journey. Often, it’s the small changes we make that can springboard us into bigger actions both in our personal and professional lives. So now it’s time to speak up as individuals

Finding Solutions

Chief Executive of the Meetings Industry Association, Kerrin MacPhie, discusses the latest interventions as the recovery of the meetings and events sector faces further setbacks.

For almost all operators within the business events sector, strategies, objectives, and subsequent plans have all centred around one goal in the last 12 months – recovery.

The sector’s economy has been recovering at an anticipated pace, with operators accepting the long-term trajectory to return to pre-COVID business levels. Today however, the once daily concerns of an event professional that have become so consistent in recent years are rife once more.

We know from the results of our recent survey of 129 industry organisations that the rising energy costs are of huge concern, with costs on average having increased by almost a third (32%) and over three quarters (76%) increasing their prices to compensate.

and share what we’ve learnt. Whether that’s with other event profs, suppliers, local community groups, and more.

And with COP27 – the world’s foremost hybrid event on climate change – just over a month away, isla’s position as the event industry sustainability body could help you set the wheels in motion sooner rather than later.

Find out more at Weareisla.co.uk

As cost increases get passed on to customers in the form of DDR or room rates, catering, or AV provisions, remaining competitive in a price-sensitive sector has led to reduced profits that reflect a further setback to recovery plans.

Amid these concerns, the package of support offered by government in September will have provided muchneeded reassurance to operators, however for a limited time only. With energy prices fixed for six months, operators can at least now begin to forecast costs and subsequent pricing more effectively, while also being protected from soaring and simply unsustainable cost increases.

In the absence of a long-term solution, it is vital that these support packages are

evaluated by government on an ongoing basis, and that government recognise sectors outside of the Standard Industrial Classification when determining sectorspecific levels of support.

Despite internal movements within government, we continue to strengthen our strong relationship with the Department for Digital, Media, Culture and Sport, and remain in close communication to address the need for solutions that will ease the concerns of the sector.

To keep up-to-date on any developments, please follow the Meetings Industry Associations on LinkedIn and Twitter.

A Palace of Business

With a history steeped in outstanding Yorkshire hospitality, The Grand, York continues to deliver luxurious business meetings and events every day.

First built as a “Palace of Business” in 1906, The Grand, York retains many of its original Edwardian features, including sweeping stone staircases, marble flooring, and oak panelling, which serve as a reminder of the Grade II listed building’s part in the history of British industry.

Originally the headquarters for one of the most powerful railway companies in England, the hotel was built during the Golden Age of travel where no expense was spared. Today, the grandeur of the building is elevated even further by the hotel’s friendly concierge waiting to welcome you.

Offering 207 spacious bedrooms, York's only five-star hotel also boasts some of Yorkshire’s finest meeting rooms and event spaces only a short walk from York train station and many of the city’s historic gems. Whether it be for a half day meeting, multiple day residential conference, a hybrid event, or even an

exclusive hire of the whole venue, the hotel’s event spaces provide the perfect backdrop for a truly Grand work event.

Our dedicated events team will be on hand to assist with planning to ensure everything is just right. Planners can choose to include breakfast, lunch, and snacks across their event or to indulge in one of the hotel’s exquisite food outlets including The Grand’s new fine dining restaurant, Legacy, or the AA rosette award winning gourmet restaurant, The Rise.

With several partnerships across Yorkshire, the team can assist in organising every part of your event, with a range of team building activities for you and your colleagues to enjoy. Off-site activities set among beautiful surroundings include archery, quad biking, and cryptic chases, while an immersive on-site cookery class invites delegates to get their chef’s hats at the ready and take part in a competitive Grand British Bake Off or Ready Steady Cook challenge.

After a busy day attending a conference or getting stuck into a team building session, relax in the 1906 Lounge Bar and enjoy your favourite tipple expertly made by our in-house mixologists or unwind in the seclusion of our serene spa and indulge in a treatment. Nestled in the building’s former vaults, a 14-metre swimming pool, Nordic dry sauna, and spa whirlpool can be found alongside the fully equipped gym and relaxation lounge.

Whatever the event, the team at The Grand also hold great Yorkshire hospitality at the hotel’s core. With a dedication to attentive service and delivering excellence, your delegates will depart having had a visit to remember.

Thegrandyork.co.uk

Striding Ahead

Find out how Pan Pacific London hotel won two prestigious awards within its first year of operation.

When it opened at the beginning of September 2021, Pan Pacific London centred itself around gracious hospitality with a touch of Asian resourcefulness. The hotel’s 237 guestrooms, including 43 suites, are emblematic of 21st century luxury London living, the several destination restaurants and bars offer both classic and contemporary South-East Asian influences, while the event spaces’ names nod to the area’s remarkable history and provide unique settings for events of all kinds.

The hotel’s top-tier operations have led to it achieving recognition with two exemplary awards within its first year of opening: a Forbes Travel Guide “FiveStar Award” and the AA Hospitality Hotel “Hotel of the Year London, 2022-23”.

Forbes’ five-star rating is hard to come by, with rigorously fair judging criteria and processes put in place to protect the integrity of the rating system. According to Forbes Travel Guide’s website: “Our highly trained inspectors visit every property we rate, evaluating based on up to 900 objective criteria. Our global team of

inspectors are anonymous, so they have the same experience as a typical guest. While we inspect both service and facility, our Star Rating system emphasises service because your experience at a hotel, restaurant, or spa goes beyond looks — how it makes you feel is what you will remember most.”

This is the criteria that Pan Pacific London proved itself against to achieve its rating. Anne Golden, General Manager at Pan Pacific London, commented:

“Receiving this prestigious recognition is an absolute honour and a true testament to our hard-working and dedicated team. We strive to offer our guests a haven with unparalleled service and experience levels so for this to be recognised is our ultimate achievement. I am delighted, honoured and incredibly proud of the team whose passion and support for the hotel and for each other is nothing short of outstanding, and every single member of the team has contributed to the hotel winning this award.”

aspects which led to winning, announcing:

“We offer outstanding meeting and event spaces, including the Pacific Ballroom, to host events as diverse as the Christmas Show, to awards shows, to a live interview with an astronaut on the International Space Station.”

The AA Hotel of the Year award recognises and rewards the best hospitality establishments in the UK and is a much sought-after accolade. Naturally, exceptional meetings and events facilities are key to achieving this award, and Pan Pacific London believes this is one of the

The hotel also suggests that its food and beverage offering significantly contributed to its achievement of the award: “Our food and beverage offerings include Afternoon Tea in The Orchid Lounge by Cherish Finden, our Executive Pastry Chef and judge on Bake Off: The Professionals; three bars (Ginger Lily, Straits Bar, and Silverleaf) each with a distinct style and menu; beautiful private dining rooms; Straits Kitchen signature restaurant with its South East Asian flavours and unique take on Asian roasts; and the recently launched SHIOK! patisserie.” Panpacificlondon.com

Redesigning event experiences with advanced technology

Located in the heart of the City of London, moments from Liverpool Street Station, Pan Pacific London features 1,213 square metres of dedicated meeting space with a choice of 9 innovative and fl exible venue options across two fl oors and a triple-height, pillar-free ballroom.

+44 (0) 20 7118 6888

@panpacificlondon

80 Houndsditch, London, EC3A 7AB events.pplon@panpacific.com

Cyber Secure

With cybercrime in the industry on the up, IT security provider, Melanie Oldham OBE, outlines the latest threats event professionals should look out for.

The events industry might not appear to be an obvious target for cybercrime at first glance, but the vast amount of information which passes between events organisations and delegates makes the sector an appealing target for cybercriminals.

One of the largest event cyber-attacks ever recorded was the 2017 Coachella Valley Music Festival, where information on 950,000 delegates was stolen from the event marketer’s database and sold onto the dark web. This incident was the result of one of the most common attacks employed by cybercriminals: compromising an event employee’s password to access the entire network.

“The high number of delegates and the amount of devices used makes the risk for malware infiltrated devices far greater.”

Compromised passwords are still commonplace today. The number of passwords event professionals must remember makes them either reuse a single password across several accounts or use information from their personal lives which is often visible online via social media. A simple solution to this problem is to use memorable passwords which are not associated with any personal information. But utilising multi-factor authentication is an even stronger mode of defence, where a second randomly generated code sent to a separate device is required to log into an account, making that account inaccessible without the second code even if the password is compromised.

The first-time communication with a third-party supplier can also open a wave of potential opportunity for cybercriminals. Conversation hijacking has risen by 270% last year alone, whereby intercepting emails and changing key information, hackers can cause all kinds of damage including redirecting money into their own bank accounts when payments are being made.

The returned high number of delegates passing through event spaces and the amount of devices used within one venue makes the risk for data collection or malware-infiltrated devices

far greater. Newer threats which break away from conventional cyber-attacks, including phishing or ransomware, are also perfectly suited to infiltrating event spaces.

One such method is the spreading of viruses through the likes of BlueBorne Malware, which is self-replicating and can spread to any other Bluetooth-enabled devices within range. Another attack vector on the rise pertains specifically to a flaw in the Airdrop function in Apple devices which allows the user to share files via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. It has been discovered that the Apple encryption designed to protect an account’s information during sharing can actually be decrypted with surprising ease.

As events venues have gone paperless with food menus and ticketing, QR codes can now be manipulated to direct delegates to malicious websites. Known as Qishing, the attack has risen in popularity to become commonplace specifically in bar and restaurant areas, where attackers can quickly replace existing QR codes with fake ones.

The events industry holds a unique issue when it comes to cybersecurity: not only must it protect daily operations and permanent employees, but also manage physical security during events. The potential for unregistered delegates to enter without proper validation or for badges to be left unattended plus the number of temporary event staff creates an issue. Most probably don’t know each other well and may not fully understand all event procedures, meaning anybody wearing a hi-vis jacket with the right excuse could gain access to restricted areas. Stressing the importance of event procedures in place is vital for planners.

The nature of the event industry makes it more susceptible than most. As event technology continues to grow, it is more important than ever that venue holders, planners, and suppliers are aware and dealing with the threat landscape we are still facing.

North in Brief

ESSA Announces Programme

The Event Supplier and Services Association (ESSA) has announced details of its next annual conference programme set to include motivational talks, sales stream workshops, and the ESSA Awards Dinner.

Launching on 8th December at The Forest of Arden Hotel & Country Club in Birmingham, the conference’s tone aims to bolster resilience for delegates to navigate the latest industry challenges with increased confidence.

“Global resource challenges, travel and recruitment challenges, mental health challenges, and a once in a generation cost of living crisis feels a little like jumping from the frying pan and into the fire,” said ESSA Director Andrew Harrison. “This year's conference will rise to the challenge of offering key takeaways that will bolster resilience, identify opportunities, and increase confidence and leadership to navigate the changing winds.”

Full details and application forms can be found at Essa.uk.com/ essa-awards-2022

The Business of Events Launches Global Destination Survey

The Business of Events has launched its second Global Destination Survey to reveal the benefits of a strong and supported business events sector to governments and policy makers.

Conducted by global destination and venue research agency, SFA Connect, the data will be used to create its latest Global Destination Report aimed at leading business events destinations, including national tourist organisations (NTOs) and convention and visitors’ bureaus (CVBs).

“Quality research can be the base for positive change,” said Marketing Director at communications agency, davies tanner.

“This report will be used to exert influence while ensuring the significant benefits the business events industry delivers are recognised and our sector is fully supported.”

The report will be published mid-November and be available for free download.

Hinds Appointed New AEV Chair

Manchester Central Managing Director, Shaun Hinds, has been elected the new AEV chair at the association’s ASM in September.

Hinds takes over the position from BDC Sales Director, Max Bull, who was re-elected as an ordinary board member. The board also elected NEC Managing Director, Ian Taylor, as the new Vice-Chair and Catering Director at The Honourable Artillery Company, Rowan Kitching, as board member.

“It’s a real privilege to be able to work alongside esteemed colleagues from across the events industry as chair of the AEV,” said Hinds. “Together we aim to support the industry and help to raise awareness of the sector’s fantastic achievements and tremendous contribution to the UK’s economy.

“Alongside this, we will be lobbying on crucial topics to alleviate pressures as much as possible on behalf of member organisations.”

AVS and VoE Launch Midlands Showcase

Leading venue directors Academic Venue Solutions (AVS) and Venues of Excellence (VoE) are collaborating to launch the first

venues showcase event this October. Taking place at Unique Venues Birmingham, The Midlands Showcase brings together over 40 venue holders based in the city to network with planners, marking the latest shared project between the two groups since 2020.

Commenting on the event collaboration, AVS Membership Director Rachael Bartlett said: “The opportunity to collaborate with VoE is unique and one of many good consequences to come out of the pandemic, which taught us that we are often better together.

“This event will provide customers and members the opportunity to network, educate, and excite customers all at the same time.”

“We recognise that time is more precious than ever, so the collaboration with AVS is the ideal solution to revive and refresh both organisations’ showcase events,” said VoE CEO, Mandy Jennings. “We are really excited to bring high quality, independent, academic, and unique venues together all in one day.”

Business Events Gain Momentum in 2022 Q2

The recovery of UK event activity has increased significantly in 2022 Q2, according to research gathered by the Events Industry Council (EIC).

The findings show that Request for Proposal (RFP) activity and hotel group room nights have risen to over 80% of the prepandemic level.

Published in the 2022 Q2 Global Business Events Barometer, the report was created in collaboration by Amadeus Hospitality, Cvent, the Global Business Travel Association, and STR Global. “It is incredibly heartening to witness the significant momentum in the second quarter of the year,” commented EIC CEO, Amy Calvert. “However, with rising inflation rates, the impact of the energy crisis, and ongoing socio-political events, we must remain confident in our capacity and yet prepared for all possibilities, continuing to build upon the momentum and celebrating what we have achieved thus far.”

Christmas Party Trends Revealed

The industry holiday season is in high demand according to organisations including HeadBox, Hire Space, and AOK Events who have seen a record-breaking demand for Christmas parties this year.

HeadBox has received four times more Christmas party enquires than 2021, which the event tech scale-up says is partly due to the World Cup where organisers are mindful that games may clash with scheduled events.

Hire Space staff also commented on the shorter time scales in 2022 for planners to book events compared to previous years alongside a significant increase in Christmas event budgets by 50%.

"Corporates are taking the opportunity to engage both internally and externally through live events, but as far as Christmas is concerned, everyone seems to be doing something slightly different,” said AOK Events CEO Alex Hewitt. “Some clients are not ready for a live event and have asked us to help fulfil either virtual events or company-wide rewards that get sent out to employees to the same value as what a party would have cost.

“Clients are taking the opportunity to say thank you, but they are doing what is right for their culture and we are delivering accordingly.”

Greener Pastures

Save both money and the environment with our look into creating a sustainable venue with one of the best in the business.

Sustainability is becoming increasingly more integrated into the day-to-day operations of the events industry, with delegates now expecting that every aspect of an event considers the impact it will have on the environment. This includes the venue that the event is held in. Sustainable practices are not only good for the environment, but also can help reduce operation costs. We consulted with Louisa Watson, Director of Marketing at Wyboston Lakes Resort, one of the UK’s leading sustainable conference venues, to find out how to make your venue sustainable.

Minimal environmental impact is fast becoming something that is not just nice to have, but genuinely necessary, both for the environment and for your business: “I think all businesses have to consider the environment and sustainable practices if they want to stay relevant, innovative, creative and competitive,” Louisa explains. “If we want to be around in the years ahead and we want to attract dynamic, successful people to our venues, we have to be looking at ways to be

sustainable. We have to look at the effect our venues are having on the environment and limit the impact on natural resources. We also have to consider rising costs and look at ways we can reduce the impact of consumption and generate less waste and be kinder to the environment overall. There is some great best practice out there in hospitality and some people doing some impressive things.”

Even small changes to your current practices can reduce your venue’s environmental impact without causing upset to the venue’s usual operations: “Tech offers an opportunity to be more sustainable and in most cases to take out the necessity for paper. In our Business Venues we re-examined the way we do things. We replaced traditional flip charts with squiggle boards and Smart KappDigital Flip Charts which help you create, capture, and share content remotely with colleagues anywhere in the world. All delegate paper and name cards were changed to be recyclable and also available on request. And we launched our Room2Grow scheme in June which so far will plant 5000 trees on the resort before the end of the year.

Implementing sustainable practices is not one-size-fits-all. The best way to approach it is to find out what is achievable for your venue and focus on that: “Being sustainable doesn’t mean doing just one thing, it’s a combination of lots of things that make up the sum total and sometimes that is why it’s so daunting. We look at how we do business and challenge ourselves to see if there is a better way. We are very clear that we want to try and limit the impact our business has on natural capital, we want to ensure that we use less energy and where we do, that it is from renewable resources. We want to generate less waste and where we do generate waste that we are putting it back into the circular economy.”

Focusing on sustainability is not only necessary from a moral standpoint, it is

also good business practice and could end up reducing operating costs and saving you money: “Bringing sustainability into the business model and making better decisions around tech, waste, and energy can reduce cost. But more importantly it will increase revenue as you will get likeminded customers wanting to do business with you and you will find new opportunities. Bringing in sustainable practices also offer us the opportunity to make some great, impactful investments, such as our Green Energy Plan. This is a £5 million investment over four years, which will ensure we are producing all our energy onsite using a combination of solar, wind turbine, and water source heat pumps, eradicating gas and LPG, and replacing all plant equipment. This will also allow us to produce excess capacity to help businesses nearby switch to locally produced renewable energy.”

Wyboston’s Sustainable Facts

• We’re proud to maintain a nature reserve supported by the Wildlife Trust.

• From 2015 we have been zero to landfill 100% of the time.

• The only type of paper we encourage the use of is Toilet paper.

• We are aiming to have zero food waste leave site by 2023.

• Our lighting systems have been upgraded across the site to save energy.

• Room2Grow campaign launched in June 2022 and is at a total of 6200 trees to be planted and counting!

Find out more about our sustainable certifications.

Wyboston Lakes Resort has award winning sustainability initiatives and an ongoing drive towards carbon neutral, you can be assured that your event is always in safe and sustainable hands.

We’d love to help you do the right thing with your next event. Get in touch and tell us what you’re thinking.

Better Together sales@wybostonlakes.co.uk wybostonlakes.co.uk

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A Global Stage

West Midlands Growth Company uncovers the attractions drawing event organisers to Birmingham & the West Midlands, not least the recent Commonwealth Games.

It is fair to say that the past 18 months have propelled the West Midlands firmly into the global spotlight. Not only has Coventry successfully hosted the UK City of Culture, but the region also welcomed visitors from across the world for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

The Games delivered, bringing with it 1.5 million ticket sales across 15 different event spaces, all in the space of two weeks. Across the Games fortnight, hotel occupancy reached an average of around 90%, an all-time August high for the city. Birmingham 2022 was an opportunity, not just for Birmingham, but the wider region to showcase itself across the UK and the world. More than five million people visited Birmingham city centre during the two weeks from 25 July, and many travelled to events hosted all over the region, including Wolverhampton, Leamington Spa, Coventry, and Warwick. Hosting the Commonwealth Games was a real boost for the West Midlands

to highlight its event hosting credentials. Not only is the region located in the heart of the country, but has access to an international airport, and boasts over 20,000 hotel rooms within the Birmingham area alone.

The region’s conference hosting credentials are already well-known, with Birmingham’s flagship venue, the International Convention Centre (ICC) recognised as one of Europe’s finest hosts of meetings, events, and incentives of all sizes. The venue welcomed this year’s Conservative Party Conference in October, joining major meetings on the ICC’s recent events calendar including the International Society of Paediatric Neurosurgery and World Congress on Rail Research.

Continued on page 59

VICTORIA SQUARE FESTIVAL SITE, BIRMINGHAM COMMONWEALTH GAMES

Attracting a total of over eight million delegates to spectate 11 days of world sporting competition, the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games has left an impactful legacy for sport in the West Midlands and beyond.

With the collaborative work of several event organisers, suppliers, and venue holders to maintain the smooth running of the Games, managing the prestigious international sporting event was already set under difficult circumstances since Birmingham took over hosting duties from Durban after the South African city withdrew its bid due to financial issues.

With two years less than usual to deliver the event, the shorter time frame was also met with greater pressure from the COVID outbreak, which cancelled original plans to build an athlete’s village in the Birmingham suburb of Perry Barr. Head of Villages and Venues for Commonwealth Games England, Caroline Rogers, was tasked to identify an alternative solution:

“We took on a different approach and resorted to using various halls of residence and hotels across the West Midlands, providing performance and recovery spaces where our talented athletes could train receive treatment from our team of physiotherapists and doctors.

“Moving from a single village to a multivillage site this way introduced a fresh challenge in ensuring there were not only consistent standards across the

different venues but making sure all athletes received the same level of service regardless of where they were based. Overall, it was a huge logistical movement to transport the athletes to competition venues from a complex matrix of locations.”

“Planning one of the largest multi-sport events during an unprecedented period taught everyone involved about the importance of adaptability, resilience, and teamwork.”

As a Major Events Specialist and Sports Director heavily involved with delivering several Commonwealth Games alongside the Commonwealth Youth Games, Rugby League, and Cricket World Cup, Caroline is well used to the unique challenges of outdoor sporting events which are often outside the venue holder’s control.

“Up to 283 medals were contested across the competition’s 15 venues alongside a fully integrated para-sport programme,” explained Caroline when outlining the heavy expectations to fulfil. “This naturally presented the greatest challenge when dealing with the significant amount of planning around training and competition venues, transport, logistics, spectator services, and broadcasting.

“Planning one of the largest multi-sport events during an unprecedented period of uncertainty also taught everyone involved about the importance of adaptability, patience, resilience, and teamwork. Since we were operating in circumstances incomparable to those experienced before, we were all forced

to rethink our expectations in terms of timeframes and key milestones.

“We re-evaluated our previously implemented processes and instead prioritised activity which met our primary objectives at Commonwealth Games England. This was always to be performance lead and athlete focused.”

With another successful Commonwealth Games delivered, Caroline’s experience in the field has also inspired some valuable lessons for event planners tasked with facing their own major sporting event for the first time: “Be fully prepared to minimise risk and pressures at event time and understand that unplanned or unforeseen things will happen. Having contingency plans in place and role clarity on the responsibilities of your team will help respond effectively and calmly to any challenges.”

Caroline also emphasised how building a strong and supportive events team is also key in creating a shared vision of what to deliver: “An expression which we commonly used to encapsulate our team culture was to ensure that we were all ‘bringing our wider team on our journey with us.’

“This showed our genuine commitment to make everyone involved feel truly valued, including stakeholders, partners, governing bodies, and volunteers. It helped us to become the most successful England team in Commonwealth Games history.”

Delivered in a record of 4.5 years rather under extraordinary circumstances due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Over 1.5 million ticketed delegates and a digital audience of 9 million using the event app and website.

Top of the Game

Key personnel behind the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games outline the logistics and challenges of delivering the event and leaving a lasting legacy on the West Midlands region.

Official promotional event provider, DRPG, was tasked with driving community engagement and support for the Games with the help of other key businesses in the region. Launching in July 2021, the group’s first largescale event managed to attract 5,000 local delegates to engage with sporting activities in Birmingham’s Centenary Square.

“We worked with the National Governing Bodies of the Commonwealth Games, local sports clubs, and Team England athletes to bring the day together and create interactive experiences for the public,” explained DRPG CEO, Dale Parmenter. “It was a fantastic opportunity for us to fully flex our creative muscles and get the public excited about the Games, encourage ticket sales, create some media moments, and inspire younger generations to get involved in local sports.”

experience, the strong virtual event model behind DRPG also enabled the team to organise other pre-Games events when pandemic regulations prohibited live event space: “Our Mascot Summit event was the first virtual event of its kind where children across the West Midlands got involved from their own homes to share what they felt the mascot should look like and represent for the Commonwealth Games.

15 venues including The NEC, Coventry Stadium, and Utilita Arena Birmingham.

“Promotional events delivered in-person were also aligned to our sustainability goals using the latest carbontracking tools. Our in-house sustainability app allowed project managers to adjust certain aspects of the event planning to achieve the best possible carbon footprint and provide a figure to offset if needed.”

“The one-hour-long children’s TV show provided the media content we needed to promote the activities to a host of different broadcasters and was the first chance to promote the games since the pandemic began.”

19 different sporting events spread across 11 days.

Building on 25 years of broadcasting

Shifting between a live and virtual event model in response to pandemic restrictions also supported DRPG’s pledge to help deliver a carbon-neutral Commonwealth Games: “The benefit of forcing the industry into a virtual space helped us leverage the most effective way to host lead-up events sustainably as possible. “Back in April, we delivered the orientation event for the Commonwealth Collective virtually which enabled over 13,000 volunteers to enjoy the broadcast from the comfort of their own homes without the need to travel.

DRPG continues to create more local events to build on the Games’ legacy as it lives on in Birmingham and the West Midlands region: “The opportunities a large international event brings to a city are vast and varied for central organisers, sponsors, partners, and suppliers involved,” explained Dale. “Getting thoroughly involved in this project was the key for us.

“My advice for other event planners aiming to bring local communities together would be to maximise the connections and conversations that stem from the network built around the event itself. The results of the collaboration across businesses and community groups in Birmingham have created an amazing legacy both socially and economically.”

Birmingham2022.com

COMMONWEALTH GAMES MASCOT

Location, Location, Location

Find out why the Midlands is attracting groups from across the UK to explore its team building opportunities.

Post-pandemic changes to workplace set up and reduced traveling to see clients has seen team building become ever more popular among employers looking to improve their team’s morale and efficiency or build better relationship with clients. Now an expected part of company culture, a recent UK survey revealed that 82% of UK workers want their workplace to provide more frequent team building events.

With a myriad of team building ideas, the Midlands is a unique place to build closer ties with clients and colleagues and work more cohesively together. Julia Green, Forest Meetings Expert at Center Parcs UK, provides insights on the area’s success as a team building location.

“For a successful team building away day, delegates need an abundance of space. This explains the high volume of enquiries and bookings we’re experiencing at Sherwood Forest, one of our most accessible

team building venues in the UK. What’s also drawing bookings to the area is the variety of team building activities on offer – they are diverse and inclusive and can therefore be tailored to individual needs and requirements.”

Indeed, from water sports at Rutland Water and uninterrupted wilderness in the Peak District to hospitality at Edgbaston or the many premier stadia, there are a range of options to bring your team together, no matter their interests.

Commercial hubs such as Birmingham, Nottingham, and Leicester offer escape rooms and a thriving nightlife, while across the county are hordes of opportunities for more adventurous teams.

“Team building activities are also no longer an afterthought, or a nice ‘bolt on’ to a conference or event; since we relaunched and began taking autumn bookings back in June, 90% of confirmed events at Sherwood Forest have factored in some form of leisure activity while with us,” Julia explained. “More than ever, events bookers and businesses are striving to deliver meaningful conferences and events which give colleagues the chance to reconnect and recharge with fun and engaging activities – which is another reason why team away days at dedicated facilities are so sought after.

“In terms of the location in central England, it’s another big draw for agents and corporate bookers alike, as it benefits from access to major network routes, including the A1 and M1, while those travelling from London can be in the area in under two hours.”

Many venues offer in-house expertise or links to local companies offering creative ideas. Keiron Bowen, Sales Director at Eventurous, explains what type of activities are popular at the moment: “Enquiries for team building events have grown by nearly 500% for 2022 compared to 2019, pre pandemic. With many employees now working from home, businesses are using away days and conferences with a fun team building activity as a way for everyone to reconnect.

The Midlands offers a plethora of indoor and outdoor solutions, particularly useful and central for those with employees based all over the UK. Home to stunning countryside venues and vibrant cities, you can take part in exciting countryside pursuits to GPS treasure hunts around Birmingham or Stratford, even activity days at venues such as Go Ape, Drayton Manor, or Alton Towers.”

JULIA GREEN

We can't wait to welcome you to the UK's second city for a jam-packed day featuring the very best destinations, venues, hotels and event suppliers offering you all the inspiration you need for your next event!

Behind the Scenes

Birmingham Pride is an event I created of equality, diversity, inclusion, and disability; literally everybody who attends is made welcome and shown respect. Returning to host the event always fills me with glee, but after losing out on a year due to the pandemic, preparing for this much anticipated 25th festival was particularly exciting.

In the earlier days I would have been more heavily involved with the entirety of entertainment, such as running nightclubs and outdoor bars, alongside planning the main schedule of artists and performers. But as the event has grown over the years and is now privately owned, my role now is to simply turn up and host.

A good presenter and host can make or break your event. But for a public crowd of over 20,000 delegates, it does take a lot to instil a mutual feeling of confidence, passion, and energy into the audience. The job requires excellent clarity and communication skills that can only be gained gradually through decades of experience. Of course, personal image is also as important as ever, so I always take a few outfits with me to change things up during the day!

Organisation is also a key factor to deliver such an event on this scale, where delegate expectations are high and timings can change at any point. Throughout the day I make sure to keep informed on any last-minute changes to

Presenter and Event Strategist, Phil Oldershaw, gives us frontline access to his role at the 25th Birmingham Pride festival.

the event schedule by reviewing the latest updates to the artist roster, sponsors lists, scripts, and shout-outs which inform the event content across the two days.

Some of my scheduled slots during the event can be up to five hours long, where the amount of activity going on requires me to stay dynamic and be ready for anything on stage and behind the scenes. Upon arrival I always check in with key members of the event team, such as the stage manager, artist liaison manager, and tech crew, to see that everyone is aware of their responsibilities and can coordinate tasks smoothly for the day. It’s important that everyone in the team knows who you are and what you look like to feel comfortable about your presence. It's all part of the role to help instil confidence to the team backstage as well as entertaining the crowd up front.

There was a huge line up of performing artists at this year’s festival, including Becky Hill, Ella Henderson, Mel C, and STEPS. It was lovely to catch up with them all as they arrived but equally important to ensure I spent as much time with them as I could as the event progressed. Greeting an artist before introducing them to the stage helps to maintain my own strong presence but also to establish a strong connection with personnel from the start. During such a fast-paced event, you need to allow the key entertainers to relax with the team and allow them the opportunity to request anything at all to make them

more comfortable.

As a presenter, one of the most simple but important qualities is to be confident when working with any event no matter how large or small, but it’s always inspiring to be able to stand on stage and present to delegates as far as the eye can see. Holding that audience in the palm of your hand over the course of a major outdoor event generates a great buzz which really helps the adrenalin flow and keeps me motivated and proud of my role in the industry. I love it!

Philoldershaw.com

Phil Oldershaw has hosted major corporate awards ceremonies, dinners, and charity fundraisers for over 30 years. Co-founding Birmingham Pride in 1997, Phil delivered the festival’s 25th edition this year, alongside presenting at the Birmingham Platinum Jubilee Celebrations and Commonwealth Games.

Back to Birmingham

The latest CHS Birmingham show is ready to inspire personal and professional growth from the heart of the West Midlands.

CHS Birmingham is back for its second edition this autumn to celebrate Birmingham’s dynamic business events scene with a refined focus on personal and professional growth for event professionals, event suppliers, and venue holders.

Returning to the ICC Birmingham on 1st November, the event launches hot under the legacy of the 2022 Commonwealth Games which has attracted global attention to the city since its successful delivery earlier this year. Combined with the continued support of the Birmingham and West Midlands Convention Bureau (BWMCB), the presence of Founding Partner and host, ICC Birmingham, and the restoration of pre-pandemic activity levels in the events industry, the show’s return couldn’t be timed better.

The show’s educational programme aims to inspire participants with key takeaways and practical knowledge to adapt to new industry challenges and move forward personally and professionally into 2023. Led by events and PR veteran Ken Kelling, who became an executive life coach eight years ago, the motivational speaker holds a special interest in positive psychology and works with many coaching clients from the events industry.

The programme will also include advice on managing your own personal brand with Max Fellows from allpoints group, and a session discussing ‘Qualifications or Attitude’ when it comes to recruitment. Led by Sian Sayward from Inntel, the session will also feature Nicola Underhill from Hilton Birmingham Metropole and Joanne Barrett of The Venues Collection. Event planner and social media specialist, Nyomi Rose, will finally be sharing her thoughts on how to build a modern-day career in 2023.

“We’re putting together an educational programme which is tailor made to the individual,” explained CHS Birmingham Founder, Emma Cartmell. “Our research shows that the biggest demand from delegates is either to look at ways to enhance their own careers or look at developing themselves as people. There has been a lot of talk around how the industry is performing right now. For us, it’s now about supporting individual event professionals.”

Crucial data from the Annual Salary Survey results will also be shared to provide further industry insight to the show. Gathered by EventHub.jobs in association with Mash Media, the survey results will be analysed live in front of spectators to investigate how salaries, benefits, and ways of working have changed across the industry and how this can influence planner’s future growth plans.

“The educational programme is packed with inspiring speakers presenting a

great developmental opportunity for us to discuss key topics, share ideas, and learn from each other as we bounce back from the pandemic,” said NEC Group Conventions Sales Director, Donna Cunningham. “CHS returning to Birmingham is also an exciting opportunity for the attending hosted buyers to meet with teams from a range of destinations and venues at the ICC to do business.”

“It is fantastic to welcome back CHS Birmingham to the city’s event calendar after an unforgettable first show last autumn,” commented BWMCB Tourism Manager, Steve Knight. “The West Midlands is buzzing after hosting the most successful UK-based Commonwealth Games ever this summer, with our hospitality and event venues providing a brilliant backdrop for 1.5 million ticket holders and more than five million people who visited Birmingham city centre during the Games.

“We look forward to joining forces with partners across our business events sector to once again show delegates why Birmingham and the wider region should be top of their list when hosting their next event.”

Registration is now open at CHS Birmingham for event professionals, venue finders, agents, PAs/EAs and exhibitors. To find out more visit CHSbirmingham.com

Continued from page 51

Sporting glory

It has been confirmed that the focal point of the Games, the world class athletics venue Alexander Stadium, which received a £72 million renovation, will now house modern conference, meeting and event spaces when the stadium reopens before the end of the year.

Beyond the Games, the region boasts some amazing sporting facilities, from which event organisers can choose. Sporting venues offer some great spaces with a unique twist for visitors to enjoy.

The Belfry, which has hosted the Ryder Cup a record four times, recently invested £30 million into its facilities, with further developments planned. Located in Warwickshire, eight miles from Birmingham city centre, the Belfry has some of the finest event spaces in the region, an onsite hotel and three golf courses. While just outside the city centre, Edgbaston Stadium has excellent, multi-use facilities.

The historic stadium hosted the ICC Cricket World Cup in 2019, as well as dramatic Ashes matches, with both men’s and women’s England-Australia fixtures set to take place at the Birmingham venue next summer. The facilities include the Exhibition Hall for up to 800 people, as well as a banqueting suite, which can hold 700. More recently, Edgbaston has introduced ‘The Edgbaston Plaza’, an outdoor space which can host up to 5,000 people.

Villa Park, home of Aston Villa FC, has six event spaces for guests, including the 700 capacity Holte Suite situated within the famous Holte End stand. Molineux, home of Wolverhampton Wanderers FC, also offers unique events spaces, with extensive views of the stadium and pitch for up to 500 people. It is also in the centre of the city, making it easily accessible for delegates.

To the east of the region, the Coventry Building Society Stadium and Arena, home to London Wasps and Coventry City FC, offers numerous options for events, meetings and conferences, from small meeting rooms to exhibition spaces, with capacities of up to 7,000 people. The venue hosts the National Painting

and Decorating Show and the National Wedding Fayre in the coming months.

Hanging your hat

The West Midlands’ accommodation sector has never had a busier summer. Birmingham’s record occupancy and demand rates extended into the wider region, showcasing more of what the region offers in terms of accommodation. Many of the region’s hotels feature meeting and event spaces.

The Grand Hotel is one of the West Midlands’ oldest, opening in 1879. The hotel closed in 2002, before being refurbished and reopening in 2020. It offers 185 rooms and 10 meeting and event spaces for up to 500 within the historic building.

Birmingham’s Jurys Inn, with 445 bedrooms, will be rebranded as Leonardo Royal. The hotel is situated five minutes from the Utilita Arena, the ICC and the Symphony Hall, which has recently had a £13.5 million refurbishment. The Clayton Hotel is also set to expand. It offers 218 rooms and suites, as well as 11 meeting rooms for up to 140 delegates in a prime location, situated next to Birmingham city centre’s future

HS2 hub, Curzon Street station. Also within reach of Birmingham’s other train stations, it makes for an ideal location for event attendees using public transport.

Located in Solihull, the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) and Resorts World Arena host numerous events including Crufts, The Photography Show and Grand Designs Live. The campus offers several hotels, including the Hilton Metropole which has recently refurbished its facilities, including more than 600 rooms and 6,000 sq. metres of event space and has three restaurants and bars on-site.

Many events can be made by a host or MC, and experienced hosts can be hard to come by. Birmingham’s own Phil Oldershaw is a well-known face in the region and no matter the event, Phil can bring fun, passion, and high energy to the room from the get-go.

Event expertise

This year, Birmingham and the West Midlands Convention Bureau celebrates its 40th birthday. Working alongside event organisers, the Bureau offers expert advice, guidance, and insight with invaluable support to ensure that both organisers and delegates receive the best experience and welcome.

The Bureau, part of the West Midlands Growth Company, provides industry professionals with a range of free services to deliver successful events in the region. These include accommodation booking, venue location and social programme planning.

To learn more about the West Midlands Convention Bureau, call 0121 202 5100, email bcb.conferencesales@wmgrowth. com or visit Meetbirmingham.com

RESORTS WORLD ARENA

INTERIOR OF THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE CENTRE

BOARD ROOM, THE GRAND HOTEL BIRMINGHAM

MEETING ROOM, EDGBASTON STADIUM

Amazing Space

Event organisers more than ever need something to really wow delegates. Unique Venues Birmingham (UVB) brings together the conference and events offering of two spaces, Birmingham Repertory Theatre (the REP) and the Library of Birmingham in the most incredible settings.

UVB brings together the existing operations in each venue to provide one unique venue offering to event organisers, comprising of a range of flexible event spaces with options to suit every occassion.

Three flexible, high specification suites overlook the central Centenary Square and provide a bright and conducive environment for meetings. The suites can be hired individually or combined to make a single spacious room for those who require particularly large spaces.

Within the footprint of The REP’s original building, sits three self-contained meeting rooms for hire. These individual rooms are ideal for use as break out spaces in support of a larger event in other rooms. Capable of accommodating between 48 and 75 delegates each, these selfcontained rooms are fully equipped with Wi-Fi, office furniture, comfortable lounge seating, and views over Centenary Square through the REP’s famed arched windows.

If you’re looking for a truly stunning event space, then look no further than the Book Rotunda. A bibliophile’s dream, this space allows up to 300 delegates to meet, dine, or be entertained in an expansive and airy space, entirely surrounded by books.

Planning an event which requires something truly dramatic? Take advantage of one of The REP’s theatre auditoria. Each presents a very different scale, mood, and opportunity. For a grand occasion you could have access to the theatre’s most epically proportioned space, The House, seating 820 delegates. The adaptable 292 seat The Studio offers state-of-the-art facilities, while the intimate theatre space The Door accommodates 140.

A good talking point is a great way to break the ice at events and gives your delegates a conversation starter for any networking, which is why UVB offers drinks receptions within the library’s Highlight space. The space is adjacent to the exhibition gallery impressing up to 100 delegates. To really make an impact you can even include an exclusive viewing of the latest exhibition with your event, allowing your delegates to see some of

the treasures from the library’s world-class archive, heritage, and photography collections.

All of these spaces are contained within a multi-award winning venue, which has won such categories as Best Hospitality Venue, West Midlands in the LUXlife Magazine Global Hospitality Awards, Excellence in Customer Service at the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce Awards, and was shortlisted for Hospitality Venue of the Year at the Birmingham Downtown in Business Awards. A flexible venue full of amazing spaces and operated by a friendly and dedicated team.

TRANSFORM YOUR EVENTS FROM THE MUNDANE TO THE MAGNIFICENT

Flexible conference and events spaces at the Library of Birmingham and the Birmingham Repertory Theatre.

BOOK ROTUNDA & BASKERVILLE

• Iconic setting for gala dinners and drinks receptions.

• Amazing backdrop for dinners up to 500.

• Access to roof terrace that offers stunning panoramic views across the city.

STUDIO THEATRE

• The Studio offers seating for 292 delegates or reduced seating for 229.

• Versatility is key with The Studio seating retracing to provide a blank canvas for creating events.

HOUSE THEATRE

• 800 seater auditorium with a dividing gouze, creating a more intimate space for 475 delegates.

• Dine on the stage up to 240 guests.

• Host events on top of theatrical sets.

0121 245 2066 enquiries@uniquevenuesbirmingham.com uniquevenuesbirmingham.com

Informed Decisions

In a first for sustainability at events, leading live events caterer Amadeus has begun a trial which will see its food options at NEC Group venues labelled with the amount of carbon used to produce them. The trial is assessing the carbon impacts of 1,800 recipes sold at the NEC and ICC, labelling dishes as low carbon footprint on its menus.

Marc Frankl, Food and Beverage Director for Amadeus, explains why this trial is being implemented: “We take sustainability very seriously at the NEC group, not just within Amadeus. It’s a legacy from the 2012 Olympics, where we were looking at buying local and seasonal produce. Everything is from within a 30 mile radius and the majority of what we buy is from small and medium sized enterprises. We then looked at our disposables and made sure they were compostable or biodegradable. Then we hit a bit of a wall looking at what else we could do that wasn’t just greenwashing but was genuinely beneficial.”

Marc hit upon carbon labelling as the next step in Amadeus’ sustainability journey, but implementing it came with challenges

Take a look inside the NEC Group’s new catering trial which provides lowcarbon labels for sustainable food choices.

that required outside help: “There are companies out there whose systems are not as robust as I would like. If someone said to me: ‘prove that this is low-carbon’ I couldn’t have looked anyone in the eye and said: ‘It definitely is because I checked it.’ That was one issue with implementing labelling. The second was the actual information that is required to make the system work. You have put your recipes in and be totally transparent, which is fine, but we have a busy culinary team. I didn’t want them to have to duplicate what they do on our system into a whole other system. That’s where Foodsteps comes in. I understood the rationale and how they track the food items and attributed the carbon label to that.”

“We take sustainability very seriously at the NEC group, not just within Amadeus. It’s a legacy from the 2012 Olympics, where we were looking at buying local and seasonal produce.”

Foodsteps offers a cloud-based platform, as well as labelling capability and QR codes. On the platform, food providers can upload recipes and view the sustainability impact of each ingredient. It can be used to monitor targets, develop new recipes, and improve a menu or

product's sustainability. The NEC venue is using its digital screens to direct customers towards this information, allowing event goers the capability to easily check the impact of each dish. The new labels will feature in the Edge restaurants at the NEC.

The trial provides the information that event delegates need to make an informed choice, without making that choice for them: “I hope that this will lead people making more sustainable food choices. As the environmental agenda gets louder and louder, people will start making the choice to move away from less sustainable food choices like red meat.”

This current trial comes to a close in March of 2023, and should it be a success, it is possible that we will see labelling carbon on foods spread throughout the events industry: “In terms of the industry, I think that there are people that will want to innovate and be first, and there will be people that want to follow,” Mark states. “Sustainability is not cheap to any business and there is a cost crisis going on within the events industry. I think this is more of a medium-term solution for everybody. It’s easier for businesses that have stock management systems to pick up as the recipe work is already there and available. But I do think there will be a rise in customer demand for this kind of information to be provided.”

Better Connections

While live events are on the up and online events have a definite place, engaging your virtual event audience and keeping delegates absorbed remains a challenge.

In the competitive world of virtual events, it is far easier for delegates to disengage or multitask than it is for inperson meetings, making retaining audiences in a virtual environment a challenge for organisers.

Getting a grasp of how the industry has adapted to virtual events, a recent poll conducted by software provider EventsX discovered that delegate distraction levels are at a steadily tall margin, with 57% of event delegates admitting to muting their microphone to speak to others in the household and 24% even falling asleep during an online event.

According to EventsX Founder, Shoaib Aslam, the survey results emphasise why creating an interesting and interactive virtual event is so important: “Whether someone is highly involved or just a background participant, an engaging online event allows attendees to take away key information and knowledge. Hosting a virtual meeting is not necessarily an easy task, but utilising the correct technology and available features will help professionals capitalise on the benefits that online events offer.”

As the demand for virtual events remains at a considerable high post-pandemic, some practical takeaways on curating a virtual programme can help delegates absorb themselves in a fulfilling experience - without falling asleep.

Teach the tech

Delegates can often spend too much time navigating a software which organisers assume will be simple enough to use. Encouraging the event host or key speaker to spend a few minutes introducing the functionality before each session can be a quick way to help delegates get familiar with the platform and get the event off to a great start. A fun test poll encouraging users to practise interacting with the event is also advantageous when planning to launch any serious polls during the main session.

Present clearly

Presenting to an audience who are physically separated can be a challenge for speakers of all experience levels, especially when presenting from confined spaces at home. “Preparation for a presentation is key to ensure you are

communicating your ideas with ease and clarity,” explained RADA Business Tutor, Christine Adam. “Set up the camera to capture your full space, face, and body. When possible, making eye contact is also a simple and effective way to maintain a connection with an audience, helping the right messages to land with impact.”

Mix up the content

Even for smaller virtual meetings and discussions, a wide variety of subtopics planned throughout different stages of the day will likely hit the interest points of all delegates involved. Alternatively, adding highly specialized talks to the event programme which present fresh ideas or talking points to one subject area can also pique interest. Try utilising on-demand services so that delegates can catch up on anything they happen to miss out on.

Encourage participation

Audience participation and discussion is a must for keeping minds focused as delegate attention spans shorten. Fortunately, a basic Q&A function running alongside a session also provides an instant effective strategy in turning delegates from mere spectators into avid participants, along with physical hand raising or using a ‘raise hand’ button during the session.

“Virtual event attendees have been craving a new way to network and love having dedicated spaces to watch content together and discuss specific topics,” said CrowdComms Client Support Manager, Pete Mancktelow. “Naturally, it doesn’t replace in-person networking, but it does create a shared experience which is a big missing piece of the puzzle when delivering virtual events.”

Streamline the session

While in-person events can cope better with longer sessions, a successful virtual environment is often characterised by sessions which are shorter, punchier, and aimed at the right audience. A shorter day of streaming, avoiding the full nineto-five, will also make it less likely for participants to drop off the attendance radar, opening opportunities for delegates to catch up on their work within typical working hours before and after the event.

For an inspiring destination to host your next conference or event, look no further than Leicestershire. With easy access for both national and international delegates, a diverse range of venues from which to choose and an array of leisure options, there are many reasons to bring your conference to this incredible destination.

The choice of city and county venues include large-scale conference centres, contemporary boutique hotels, awardwinning visitor attractions and top flight sports stadia, all centrally located in the heart of the East Midlands.

Sporting cluster

Leicester is renowned for its sporting expertise with both Leicester Tigers rugby and Leicester Riders basketball winning their respective league titles this year. The city is also home to former Premier League and FA Cup winners, Leicester City, and Leicestershire County Cricket Club. All of these stadiums and grounds have an outstanding range of flexible conference facilities.

Adjacent to the Tigers’ Mattioli Woods Welford Road Stadium is the new 191room Hotel Brooklyn which opened in July 2022, offering spaces for sophisticated and fun corporate hospitality. A new

Winning Ground

Find out why Leicestershire might be the perfect location for your next event.

event room concept is available with a versatile space that can be divided into three multifunctional rooms (Guys, Dolls, and Curveballs), capable of accommodating all manner of events from meetings, celebrations, weddings, and even screenings, with its state-of-the-art audiovisual equipment and lighting.

Sporting venues also include Leicester Racecourse and on Loughborough University campus, the Elite Athletes Centre and Hotel is one of four hotels and conference spaces which form Imago Venues including Burleigh Court Conference Centre and Holywell Park on the site. These spaces are ideal for corporate hospitality events, meetings, and conferences because they offer easily accessible, purpose-built space, along with on-site accommodation, car parking, unique locations, tailored programmes and top-class service with high-tech conference facilities.

New city hotels

In addition to Hotel Brooklyn, there are a number of new centrally located spaces with meeting facilities, including The Gresham Aparthotel. The £17 million development has seen this Grade II listed

Victorian building transformed from a department store (formerly occupied by retailer, Fenwick) into a high-end, 121-room aparthotel. Completing the extensive development is 12,000 square feet of conference facilities and state-ofthe-art co-working spaces.

Another one of the newest hotel arrivals is the Novotel and Adagio hotel complex. The complex comprises a 154-room hotel with executive, junior suites, a presidential suite and a 98-room aparthotel. There is a meeting and conference space with breakout rooms for up to 200 delegates. The Athena and the Curve theatre are located in the heart of the city’s cultural quarter, offering large flexible spaces. The Athena, with its stunning and unique art deco architectural building can host a variety of events from shows, exhibitions, sporting events, dinners, and large corporate Christmas parties catering for

Continued on page 67

NATIONAL SPACE CENTRE

GREAT CENTRAL RAILWAY

Welcome to The Kube!!

Newly refurbished with white linen drapes and chiavari chairs.

Boasting a 700sqm space, that can accommodate up to 550 cabaret style, in excess of 1000 theatre style and unlimited for exhibitions.

Arrange a viewing or check availability

Email Rahima at weddings@leicester-racecourse.com or call 0116 2716515 (option 3)

With ample complimentary parking, free Wi-Fi and a blank canvas to create your own special day.

Every year NOEA brings both members and non-members together for a day of learning, followed by our annual awards ceremony.

It’s a tremendous day and evening and acts as a barometer of where the industry is at that point in time. Assessing the challenges we face, the changing nature of events, and then celebrating best in class performance.

This year we return to The Guildhall and The Pump Room in Bath, for the day conference and evening awards respectively. Members come from across the country to network, learn, interact with speakers and opinions and, later in the evening relax with like-minded people. It’s a good thing and the feedback is always terrific.

NOEA continues its theming of the event as #BuildBackBetter, as

Changing Shape

The National Outdoor Events Association discussed how its annual meeting allows it to assess and celebrate the industry.

we look to provide educational speakers and experts who will focus on the changing shape of the industry, what new legislation and consumer trends will affect it, and how event professionals can prepare themselves for 2023 and beyond. Equally, this year is all about growth, how businesses can grow, how events can commercialise, and how this can be done in increasingly tough economic conditions.

This is an industry full of smart people and exceptional businesses and only when they are bought together can we share learning and experience for the betterment of all. That is what the NOEA Convention and Awards is all about. We hope you can make it and look forward to seeing you all in Bath, 23rd November 2022.

To book tickets please visit Noea.org.uk and follow the links to our annual convention and awards.

State of the Art

As the trend for unique venues and memorable experiences skyrockets post-pandemic, the Art Deco Athena – a landmark building in Leicester – is wellplaced to deliver. JD Sports, Next, Virgin Media O2, and Krispy Kreme are just a few of the many global corporate brands choosing the historical yet state-of-theart venue for their awards, meetings, conferences, and exhibitions. Athena is also the venue of choice for a huge range of associations, universities, charities, and regional business organisations, including the NHBC (National House Building Council), Rics (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors), and Visit England.

Originally designed in 1936 by Robert Arthur Bullivant as an Odeon Cinema, Athena’s highly experienced management and event teams have won an array of awards

in the meetings industry for stand-out service levels. The events team prides itself in offering a flexible and seamless onestop shop for event planners with a single point of contact from booking to delivery. The venue also has an on-site production crew, and an in-house chef and catering team that can prepare fresh, creative, and award-winning food.

The Grade II listed building has five event rooms with capacity levels ranging from 120 delegates to 900. The spaces include a stunning reception area with original Art Deco features and a spectacular chandelier; the high-tech tiered Cinema Suite, and The City View Lounge, which

offers ample natural daylight and is ideal for smaller events and breakout sessions.

Centrally located in the city’s vibrant cultural quarter, adjacent to The Curve Theatre, Athena is within reach of all major road, rail, and air networks. It is a few minutes' stroll from Leicester Railway Station, which boasts regular train services to London’s St Pancras International in just 66 minutes. The venue also lies close to the M1 motorway with easy access to East Midlands and Birmingham Airports.

To find out more visit Athenacb.co.uk, email Contact@athenacb.co.uk, or call 0116 262 6556

Continued from page 64

1,000 in banquet style with superb state of the art technology available.

Curve is a spectacular, state-of-the-art theatre boasting a range of distinctive, unconventional and dynamic event and conference spaces. It can host meetings, show-stopping awards ceremonies, product launches, conferences, or exhibitions in 10 flexible spaces for up to 1,600.

Get social

For a truly unique experience for social programmes, corporate hospitality conference organisers can opt for the award-winning National Space Centre, the UK’s only venue dedicated to the excitement, history, and exploration of space. This wow factor venue can offer teambuilding facilities that delegates and guests can have exclusive use of and draw inspiration from, including the stunning Rocket Tower, dinner in its spacethemed galleries, and the UK’s largest planetarium.

Leicestershire’s strong tourism offering enriches the experience for any conference delegate, from Twycross Zoo, an award-winning conservation charity and renowned as a World Primate Centre, to the King Richard III Visitor Centre where you can discover the most incredible archaeological detective story ever told after the remains of the lost King of England were found buried beneath a Leicester car park. As well as hosting leisure visits for your delegates, both Twycross Zoo and the King Richard III Visitor Centre also offer their own excellent conference facilities.

Or for something a little different, how about taking your delegates to Great Central Railway, the UK’s only main line heritage railway, offering exclusive use of its beautifully restored carriages for meeting and evening dinner hire, while

Belvoir Castle, used in the filming of the Netflix series The Crown, provides a stunning backdrop to any meeting or event, using the staterooms will impress any potential clients or provide inspiration for any boardroom gathering.

Dream team

If you’re looking for a unique team building activity for your team to get reacquainted, there’s plenty to choose from, such as National Forest Corporate Experiences, signposted cycle routes around Everards Meadows with Rutland Cycling, and the Canal & River Trust canoe team days.

Sector expertise

One of the UK’s fastest growing business locations, its diverse economy includes particular strengths in a range of sectors including advanced logistics, aerospace and satellite technology, professional and financial services, agri-food and drink, textiles and fashion, life sciences, creative and digital, advanced manufacturing and engineering, and sport and physical activity.

Centrally located

The city and county have excellent air, rail, and road links. Leicester is easily accessible

from every corner of the UK and beyond. Direct bus services from Luton and Heathrow airports are also available, with train journeys from central London taking just over an hour to reach the city. Leicester is located close to three major motorways (M1, M69, and M6), less than 20 miles from East Midlands Airport (just over 30 minutes by car) and under an hour away from Birmingham Airport, making it a great destination for both domestic and international delegates.

Expert help

Your conference planning can take an extra dimension with the support of Meet Leicester, which offers a diverse portfolio of over 60 high quality venues in the city and county to suit all event types for conference and meeting organisers.

Meet Leicester’s free and impartial venue finding service will help you find the right location for your event. From organising familiarisation visits and site inspections, and helping to connect you to local suppliers, to providing itinerary ideas and offering expert local advice, Meet Leicester is dedicated to making the planning and delivery of your next event as easy and hassle free as possible.

For more information on Meet Leicester & Leicestershire’s services and to see the full portfolio, visit Meetleicester.co.uk

BELVOIR CASTLE

LEICESTER RACECOURSE

THE GRESHAM APARTHOTEL

Your Cup of Tea

Located strategically in the heart of England, Staffordshire remains one of best-connected regions in the North for delivering events, flanked either side by the main motorways and just one hour’s drive from Manchester, Birmingham, and East Midlands Airports. Home to a range of eclectic venues dotted across the diverse county, Staffordshire’s meeting spaces are interspersed between rolling countryside, charming historic market towns, and vibrant cities.

A rich industrial heritage steeped in the world of pottery rightly earns Stoke-onTrent the title of World Capital of Ceramics, where keen-eyed delegates can find UK leading lifestyle brands of Wedgwood, Emma Bridgewater, Burleigh, and Moorcroft. Celebrating the city’s unique history, the World of Wedgwood offers a variety of meaningful team building experiences, including creative sessions where delegates can try their hand at the potter’s wheel in the clay studio or create a piece of Wedgwood bone china in the decorating studio. Coupled with a guided tour of the famous V&A Wedgwood Collection and networking sessions in the elegant Wedgwood Tea Room, a visit to this contemporary museum guarantees a memorable experience.

To the East, the National Memorial Arboretum is a year-round centre of remembrance, welcoming over 320,000 visitors each year to explore the 150-acre site. A reflective yet uplifting space, The Arboretum generates an environment perfect to train and motivate teams, conducive to deep thinking, perspective gaining, and celebrating achievement.

Opening in 2018 and boasting awardwinning facilities, the site’s dedicated conference and events centre, Aspects, also offers flexible spaces for up to 300 delegates, from a large central suite with

Centrally located and home to unique venues and tourist attractions, the pottery region of Staffordshire is brimming with events opportunities.

views across the Armed Forces Memorial to smaller meeting rooms and a stylish lounge outfitted for drinks receptions. Large scale residential conferences can also be planned ahead at the quaint academic venues of Keele University and Yarnfield Park Training & Conference Centre both open for a diverse range of sectors to achieve their training and development goals while keeping education at the forefront of business.

Elsewhere across Staffordshire, an abundance of high-quality venues provides a home to those events requiring a touch of class. North of the county, the former family home of famous potter Josiah Wedgwood adjoins the DoubleTree by Hilton Stoke-on-Trent, tailored for large meetings and events for up to 650 delegates theatre style. For somewhere to relax and unwind, Gradbach Mill nestles itself amongst the Peak District’s most beautiful scenery hugging the banks of the River Dane. Rich in history and heritage, the venue is available to hire on a fullycatered basis for organised groups, team building, and corporate away days.

Quirky and unusual company away days are also on offer at Trentham Estate’s Monkey Forest, home to 140 free roaming Barbary macaques in beautiful natural

surroundings. Up to 60 delegates can make use of the park’s meeting facilities, VIP tours, and high rope adventure courses to share an exciting and physical challenge together in a warm and friendly environment. On Championship match days, sporting delegates are also covered with a visit to Stoke City FC’s home ground at Bet365 Stadium. With a wide variety of conference rooms on offer, the venue can adapt to events of all sizes with flexible conferencing suites and executive boxes overlooking the pitch.

With a combined offering of large conference facilities and plentiful outdoor space, Staffordshire’s paired theme parks, Alton Towers, featured on p71, and Drayton Manor Park, also offer endless events options. With an awardwinning conference centre featuring the impressive Stateroom, the Alton Towers Resort can hold over 500 delegates with 516 hotel bedrooms available for overnight stays and one of Europe’s top indoor waterparks to hire for corporate events of a unique nature. From a 4D cinema complex to a 15-acre zoo, Drayton Manor Theme Park meanwhile opens up ample opportunity for creative minds to organise dynamic meetings, with a 148-bedroom hotel on-site readily available for full corporate takeovers.

Between factory shopping, china pot making, and white-knuckle roller-coaster rides, the abundance of tourist attractions within arm’s reach of the county’s diverse venues eases the process of organising post-meeting activities for delegates. With something guaranteed to appeal to everyone, an event in Staffordshire will give you the edge.

Conferencestaffordshire.co.uk

ALTON TOWERS RESORT

WORLD OF WEDGEWOOD

ASPECTS AT THE NATIONAL MEMORIAL ARBORETUM

Exciting New Spaces at the bet365 Stadium

Stoke City Football Club is currently undergoing a £20 million five-year development programme at the bet365 Stadium and Clayton Wood training ground. Following the first phase of the programme, the Stanley Matthews Lounge and the Players’ Lounge have been newly refurbished, and we have created a brand-new, exclusive space – the Boardroom.

Able to accommodate up to 150 delegates, the new Stanley Matthews

Stoke City FC opens several newly refurbished lounges and suites at the bet365 Stadium.

Lounge not only features a display of memorabilia and imagery documenting the career of the city’s most celebrated player, but also includes cutting edge AV technology including an in-room drop-down screen with projector complemented by a sophisticated sound system. The room itself boasts a larger private bar, with space for serving stations both ends of the room. This contemporary space includes natural daylight, ambient lighting, and air conditioning.

The Players’ Lounge has undergone a complete regeneration, now a first-class facility for use on matchdays by the first-team squad and their families and available for corporate or private hire on non-matchdays. With a sophisticated lounge feel, stylish bar, and variety

of ambient lighting options, this is the place to be for any gathering: meeting, presentation, or drinks reception.

The Boardroom is a brand-new space borne from merging the Chairman’s Suite and Boardroom which were previously two smaller, separate spaces. This single suite can accommodate 60 delegates and will bear all the hallmarks of the most prestigious venue in the stadium.

On the development programme, Richard Smith, Vice Chairman of Stoke City FC, commented: “The refurbishment programme represents a significant investment by the owners and underlines their continuing commitment to the Club.” Stokecityfc.com/conference-events

Players Lounge

Boardroom

Stanley Matthews Lounge

Host your next conference, meeting or event in Aspects; a dedicated conference and events building set amongst the stunning backdrop of the National Memorial Arboretum.

• Home to 150-acres of natural woodland, filled with inspirational stories, exciting exhibitions, and thought-provoking delegate activities.

• A memorable and unique location in the heart of the country.

• Centrally located 30 minutes from Derby and Birmingham.

• Seven meeting rooms.

• Facilities for 10 – 300 guests.

• Generous car parking.

For more information, enquiries or bookings call 01283 245 117 or email functions@thenma.org.uk

thenma.org.uk

T: 01283 245 117

E: functions@thenma.org.uk Charity No. 1043992

Memorial Arboretum

Nestled in acres of beautiful Staffordshire countryside, Alton Towers Resort is the perfect setting to add a little magic to your corporate events.

Business with a Twist

While widely known as the UK’s most loved theme park, the Alton Towers Resort is home to a fantastic array of unique and creative event spaces purposely built for event professionals to mix business with heaps of fun alongside its world class rides and attractions.

As the centrepiece of the resort’s offerings, the Alton Towers Conference Centre sits within easy access of all the attractions that the resort has to offer, combining flexible spaces with outstanding facilities. Situated on the building’s first floor, Sir Algenon’s Lounge is a naturally ideal welcome area to greet delegates upon arrival and serve refreshments before moving to the meeting room.

The resort’s largest available space, the Stateroom, can provide larger conferences and presentations for up to 500 delegates, with easy access for suppliers. Not only does the room have ample floorspace and facilities, it also includes an outdoor patio where delegates can grab a breath of fresh air during breaks and also includes a bar for use during private dinners. The Stateroom can be split into three sections for smaller events.

Also located in the Conference Centre are eight syndicate rooms, ideal for splitting off into smaller groups or for standalone smaller meetings or private dining. Located on the ground floor of the Alton

Towers Hotel is the Emperor Suite with a capacity of up to 200 for a meeting and 130 for a dinner. Adjacent to the suite is the Dragon Bar, ideal for refreshment breaks or pre-dinner drinks. Just like the Stateroom, the room also divides into three smaller rooms.

The Resort has its own catering team who provide a wide range of menus including bespoke options if required. Dinner can be taken in one of the meeting rooms privately or alternatively in one of the Resort’s restaurants. In the Alton Towers Hotel, the Secret Garden Restaurant seats in excess of 300 people and is an ideal venue for conference lunches and dinner. You’ll also have access to the nearby Dragon Bar and is situated very close to the Emperor’s Suite.

At the Splash Landings Hotel, Flambo’s Jambo’s is a 300-seat buffet-style restaurant with a variety of dishes from around the world. In the same hotel, there is Ma Garrita’s Bar where delegates can drink cocktails as they look out over the Waterpark. The UK’s first Rollercoaster Restaurant situated a short walk away from the hotel provides a more unique dining experience for planners seeking more informality, where delegates can watch their meals spiral down towards their table on rollercoaster tracks.

With over 50 world class rides and attractions dotted across the resort, any event taking place at the resort needing a fun twist can easily be catered for. Alton Towers Resort has several generic packages to structure your day around. But don’t worry if there’s something missing, there is also a range of optional add-ons to ensure that you hold a fantabulous corporate event.

With access to the entire resort, planners can also work closely with innovative team building professionals on hand to help groups design their own activities

across the theme park or in the hotels. Fast paced and designed to optimise motivation initiatives, the popular Alton Quest is a mainstay addition to the team building programme, elevating the traditional treasure hunt with high tech tablets for delegates to share team selfies and take on video challenges together.

For a little more friendly competition, the Extraordinary Golf course lets groups test their skills across imaginative obstacle courses based on the famous venue rides and attractions, while the luxurious Alton Towers Spa allows groups to relax and unwind with exclusive use of the Aqua Relaxation Room available to hire for up to 40 delegates.

After all the work and play, Alton Towers Resort still has plenty of space for delegates to rest their heads. A total of 516 bedrooms available across three themed hotels make up the resort’s quirky accommodation, with the Enchanted Village providing a unique outdoor setting to escape to woodland lodges and luxury treehouses.

Sitting conveniently between the M1 and M6 motorways with Uttoxeter and Stokeon-Trent train stations under 30 minutes’ drive away, Alton Towers Resort is a well-connected venue with a range of packages enabling delegates to enjoy a truly unique venue.

Altontowers.com/conferences

Distinctly Derbyshire

The Peak District and Derbyshire is a pioneering place, packed full of visionaries, creators, and go-getters. It was the birthplace of the modern factory system and is home to Britain’s original National Park, the Peak District, surrounded by breath-taking landscapes and spectacular countryside.

This inspirational region of “makers” has a legacy of invention, innovation, and industry. It is a dynamic and vibrant place; the perfect environment for inspirational team building breaks, bespoke conferences, corporate meetings, product launches, and incentives.

Located at the heart of England, Derbyshire is easily accessible from all corners of the country. It has excellent transport links to the airports at East Midlands, Manchester, and Birmingham, and strong rail links from Chesterfield and Derby to most major UK cities. Sheffield, Manchester, and Nottingham can all be reached in less than an hour, while London is less than two hours away by rail.

If inspiring your guests is a top priority, the Peak District and Derbyshire is an unrivalled destination. From writers such

as Charlotte Bronte and Jane Austen, to innovators like George Stephenson, Richard Arkwright and Henry Royce, the area has been sparking brilliance for centuries…

Wellness at work

Get back to nature and enjoy enriching health and wellbeing experiences in the heart of the Peak District National Park, which celebrated its 70th anniversary in 2021.

Discover a world of contrasts where you can let your imagination run free. Explore the expansive spaces, rolling hills, and gentle dales of the White Peak, and soak up the dramatic moorland, rocky gritstone edges and breath-taking views of the Dark Peak.

Inspire your team on a rural retreat at a large property from Peak Venues, relax on a yoga workshop at Wildhive Callow Hall, recharge at the peaceful Losehill House Hotel & Spa or the Grade I listed Buxton Crescent Hotel & Thermal Spa, or reset on a guided walking or climbing experience with local experts such as MyGuidedWalks and Acclimbatize.

Find out more at Visitpeakdistrict.com/ meet Find space to

There has never been a better time to promote employee wellness and in the Peak District and Derbyshire, you can enjoy everything from gentle countryside pursuits to adrenaline-fuelled activities.

Unique venues

A memorable event begins with a memorable location and Derbyshire offers flexible meeting and conference spaces for events of all sizes.

Fire up your imagination in the sleek surroundings of a luxury hotel at Casa in Chesterfield

or the Grade I listed Buxton Crescent; discover Cromford Mills at the start of the UNESCO Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site; or choose from stately homes such as magnificent Chatsworth, home to the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, and the historic Renishaw, and Thornbridge Halls.

Unmissable experiences

There’s no end of hands-on activities for you to enjoy. The area is world-famous for its spectacular walking and cycling routes, but you can also have a go at horse riding, climbing, abseiling, and water sports.

Learn something new on a wine-tasting experience in a rural Derbyshire vineyard with Amber Valley Wines, learn about enterprising local businesses on a behind-thescenes brewery tour at Thornbridge Brewery, enjoy tours and tastings at the region’s first whisky distillery, White Peak Distillery, or have a go at making your own Bakewell tart!

Whatever you choose and wherever you stay, events in the Peak District and Derbyshire combine the best of both worlds, offering inspirational settings for corporate events, experiences, and team building days, with all of the delights of Britain's original National Park on your doorstep.

Lace it Up

With a proud past and vibrant future, Nottingham has all the hallmarks of a great destination to host your next event.

The industry wide appetite for face-toface interaction remains insatiable as more events are making their anticipated return. Steeped in legend and history, Nottingham’s colourful past provides a rich background to set the scene for in-person events, while combining charm and personality for a truly memorable meeting.

Every good planner knows that great venues are at the heart of the MICE industry, which Nottingham has in abundance. Home to versatile floor spaces and excellent relationships with AV suppliers, the Motorpoint Arena Nottingham can expertly handle gala dinners, award ceremonies, and large conferences of up to 10,000 delegates. Further away at the University of Nottingham campus, the Nottingham Venues collection of independent spaces specialises in unique meetings with a recently transformed state-of-the-art conferencing space utilising the latest technology to support innovative hybrid conferences and events.

Fresh off the back of their own refurbishments, both Eastwood Hall and the Hilton Nottingham can manage highend events both big and small with acres of space facilitating outdoor opportunities.

Nottingham’s new flagship city centre development, the Island Quarter, entices planners with another outstanding new venue option featuring flexible co-working spaces inspiring a new and modern hub for businesses.

Good location is also key – after all, no one wants to take two trains, three buses, and a taxi to get to where they’re going. Fortunately, Nottingham is perfectly located within a stone’s throw of the M1 and A1 with ample car parking making for a simple and straightforward arrival to the city by road. Outstanding rail links alongside an award-winning clean and green tram network also await delegates to whisk them around the city with ease.

“Close connections to innovative sectors means industry specific events have a deluge of venues, companies, and professionals to work with in Nottingham.”

From large high-end hotels to smaller and intimate boutique options, accommodation options in Nottingham are plentiful, with affordable prices providing a commercial advantage compared to other core cities in the UK. Delegates are also spoilt for choice for drinking and dining, with two Michelin starred restaurants providing a food experience from all four corners of the globe. Fine ales can be found within the stone walls of the oldest inn in England, Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem, while delegates can also encounter secret cocktail gardens and underground wine bars dotted across the city.

Underpinned by great research and innovation at its two universities, Nottingham is a hub of technological innovation with industry-leading knowledge in the key sectors of life sciences, carbon-neutrality, and digital technology. The close connections to these three innovative sectors means that planners in charge of industry specific events have a deluge of venues, companies, and professionals to work with when planning their events in the city.

In a world where value for money is increasingly important, Nottingham’s affordable prices give it a commercial edge. Combined with its excellent venues, location, practicality, accommodation, and specialised industries, taking an event here is a no-brainer. With a range of terrific familiarisation itinerary options available to get a flavour of the city, Nottingham’s official convention and events bureau, Meet in Nottingham, is ready to assist finding the perfect venue and facilities for your next event.

Get in touch with the team at Conferences@visit-nottinghamshire.co.uk or visit Meetinnottingham.co.uk to find out more.

Cultured Events

Since earning the City of Culture title of 2021, Coventry welcomed the beginning of 2022 with a £170 million direct investment to host major showpiece events from the likes of the Commonwealth Games and International Children’s Games.

Further investments have since been made to meet the needs of national and international event organisers, including a £500 million regeneration of the city centre. As one of the best-connected regions in the country, 75% of the country’s population can reach Coventry and Warwickshire within three-hours while Birmingham lies a mere 20-minute train journey away. The accessibility and event success combined has made the region’s flourish.

Welcoming 7,000 delegates into its exhibition hall, the Coventry Building Society Arena is the largest venue in the city, while several other unique venues provide all the smaller meeting rooms needed for more intimate gatherings. But planners shouldn’t limit themselves to just the city of Coventry either. High quality, modern, and well-connected venues are dotted across the county from North Warwickshire to Leamington Spa, and down to the quaint and idyllic Stratfordupon-Avon.

Nestled in 160 acres of natural countryside, the Heart of England Conference Centre

holds one of the largest collections of team building activities and equipment in the UK, tailored to fit individual company targets, while 650 delegates can be catered for within the building’s largest of flexible meeting spaces. At the southern reaches of the county, the British Motor Museum in Gaydon gives planners the opportunity to hold their next conference set among the world’s largest collection of British classic cars, with 9,700 sq. metres of outdoor space ideal for product demonstrations, large kit exhibitions, and driver-based team building exercises.

“A vibrant destination rich in history, heritage, and culture, with huge diversity from the city of Coventry to the surrounding rural towns.”

Other unique venues can be found across the region, with St Mary’s Guildhall, Abbey Hotel, and Drapers Hall among a growing roster of historic properties to reemerge as a versatile venue fit adding a regal touch to formal meetings. Up to 12 Michelin starwinning restaurants within Warwickshire also further entices delegates to explore the region’s renowned food and drink scene while in the area.

“We’ve always been a vibrant destination rich in history, heritage, and culture, with

Riding the wave of several major international events, Coventry and Warwickshire is underlining its reputation as an established corporate events destination.

huge diversity from the city of Coventry to the surrounding rural towns,” explained Conference Coventry and Warwickshire Managing Director, Paul Jones. “Despite the challenges facing the sector, we are continuing to see investment in business events across the region.

“We’re proud to be home to many large sectors including automotive, advanced manufacturing, and engineering, while also providing a launch pad in the UK for sectors such as autonomous vehicles and game design, with Leamington Spa becoming known as ‘Silicon Spa’ with the gaming industry booming in the town.

“It's been an incredibly exciting past year for our region and we are confident that the benefits brought by recent major events has further strengthened our offering for event organisers.”

Destinationcoventry.co.uk

Green Team

Sustainable tourism and events were key focus areas at Destination Coventry’s first annual tourism conference, helping to kickstart ideas towards cultivating a positive future for Coventry and Warwickshire’s visitor economy.

Hosted at Coventry’s Manufacturing Technology Centre back in September, the event drew an audience of over 100 leaders across Coventry and Warwickshire’s hospitality and tourism sectors to take part in the conversation led by Chief Executive of the Global Destination Sustainability Movement (GDSM), Guy Bigwood.

Delivering award-winning consulting services focused on helping the events industry scale up their sustainability programmes and operational practices, Guy has now worked with over 90 DMOs and NTOs to help them implement and communicate their regenerative tourism and events strategies: “Climate change is and will increasingly affect our personal and professional lives. The business case for sustainability is now clear: to become a successful company, organisation, or destination, you must have a sustainability strategy and effective operational plan.

“The conversation has now moved on for tourism decision-makers to the practicalities of how to make sustainable tourism work, and how we can speed-up the transition to a more sustainable visitor economy.”

With the help of leaders from Conference Care, Warwick Conferences, and Coventry City Council, the key panel discussion of the conference opened the conversation for possible steps that destinations and suppliers could take to make tourism environmentally and economically sustainable.

“To mainstream better environmental and social practices, we need to make sustainability simpler and more

Managing Director of the GDS Movement, Guy Bigwood, shares insights on the discussion of sustainable tourism and events from Destination Coventry’s first annual conference.

collaborative,” said Guy. “A focus on sustainability as a competitive edge often works to kick start an organisation's journey. But ultimately, if we are going to achieve net zero carbon emissions and waste, we have to work together as an industry to get there. A partnership across destinations can produce a collaborative advantage and deliver a far greater positive impact to the businesses.

“DMOs such as Destination Coventry are well placed to align to the city's agenda and can potentially catalyse dynamic change across the tourism and events industry. By working with the council to facilitate the development of a destination’s sustainability strategy, DMOs can promote the proper sustainability credentials and ensure that tourism is governed properly to leave a positive impact on the area.”

The question of how much funding is required for DMOs to supplement the scaling up of sustainable actions in the events industry was also addressed at the panel, with discussions centred on the business case for sustainability from a supplier side and how market changes can be properly monitored.

Touching on the topic, Guy explained that while practical action can be taken

without major outlays, a war for talent and a scarcity of human resources in the industry may instead be a heightened cause of pressure for event professionals to help cement a sustainable future for tourism sectors: “Events agencies are increasingly making sustainability mandatory as part of their procurement process and increasingly including performance clauses in their supplier contracts. But while this is a much needed and important step, it has also created problems for the supply chain.

“Many clients now demand additional work to implement the sustainability actions and there is a growing discussion about whether these works need to be paid. Likewise, all the stats are telling us that delegates do care about a sustainable future, and they want to see that organisers are doing the right thing at the events they attend.

“The ultimate goal of the conference is to ensure delegates will leave the session armed with some new ideas and eager to see how these can be implemented in their businesses. But perhaps most importantly, we are looking to catalyse thinking about how local stakeholders can collaborate to make Coventry one of the UK's leading sustainable destinations.”

“A focus on competitive sustainability often works to kick start an organisation's journey. But if we are going to achieve net zero carbon emissions and waste, we have to work together as an industry to get there.”

& close to major road and rail networks.

CONFERENCES & EVENTS

At The Summit

Combining high altitude adventure with first rate hospitality, the abundance of ski resorts across Europe offers an alternative winter location for conferences, meetings and team events.

Val Gardena | Italy

The impressive Northern Italian Unesco World Heritage site makes up part of the extensive Dolomiti Superski area, with the principal ski resort town of Selva di Val Gardena spreading across the valley and intersected by ski trails exiting the famous 42 km Sella Ronda ski circuit. A good range of après ski bars across the resort provide a good base for clients to spectate the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup which runs until March 2023, with La Stua generating a lively atmosphere with team games and entertainment on its outdoor terraces. Numerous high-end hotels dotted around Selva Gardena also offer onsite accommodation with fully equipped facilities to host large events, including the Alpenroyal Grand Hotel containing six meeting rooms for up to 360 delegates each.

Alpenroyal.com

Morzine | France

At an altitude of over 1,000 metres, Morzine is one of the most northerly of the French Alpine resorts with near perfect ski conditions. Centrally located but tucked away in a quiet spot, The Farmhouse is the resort’s more exclusive and discreet

venue capable of hosting client events, workshops, and personnel incentive trips for up to 120 delegates. Stylish and atmospheric spaces provide the setting for board meetings, including banquet style tables and bar areas featuring open fires, while all lift passes, restaurant bookings, ski hire, mountain guides, and airport transfers are handled in house by the knowledgeable venue directors.

Thefarmhouse.fr

PHOTO:

THE FARMHOUSE, MORZINE

VERBIER MARRIOTT

Verbier | Switzerland

A Swiss classic offering lively après ski in luxurious surroundings, Verbier and the Four Vallees is the biggest ski area in Switzerland with highly renowned ski instructors taking care of delegates of all experience levels. Featuring underground parking facilities and 295 sq. meters of event space, the innovative Verbier hotel remains the area’s most flexible and convenient hub for business partners to meet. Three fully equipped studios can be used separately or combined to host up to 300 delegates, while 80 delegates can use the contemporary Monumental Staircase for cocktail receptions, with direct access to the terrace boasting views of the mountain peaks and valley.

Marriott.com

Ischgl | Austria (Tirol)

Giving skiers and snowboarders the chance to cross the border into Switzerland, Ischgl lives up to its reputation as an international hub for meetings within the Paznautal Valley. Planners basing themselves at the Sporthotel Silvretta can take advantage of the venue’s 240 groomed kilometres of slopes and untouched off-piste runs for freeriders across all terrain. Team building activities both take place inside and outdoors, including a crash course cookery class with the hotels head chef and guided cycling tour up to Larein Alpe where motivational seminars can be conducted in mountain huts.

Sporthotel-silvretta.at/en

Grandvalira| Andorra

Nestled between France and Spain, the tiny principality of Andorra is an easy destination for planners to bounce their business trip across a few of the best-rated beginner slopes in Europe, while aside from the skiing, the region’s popular winter team building options also include guided snowshoe tours, Husky-pulled sled rides, and snowmobile sports lessons available day or night. The Grandvalira resort in the heart of the region makes a convenient base to gather delegates, with unique venues such as The Iglú Hotel and The

Refugio del Llac de Pessons Restaurant showcasing the best of Andorra’s quirky gastronomy. Up to 300 delegates can fit into the auditorium of The Palau de Gel Business Area where participants can also use an Olympic sized ice rink postconference. Andorraconventionbureau.com/en

Les Menuires | France

Awarded the Flocon Vert label for sustainable tourism earlier this year, Les Menuires continues to promote eco friendly principles for competing resorts,

recently incorporating hydro-electric ski lifts and green corridors across the ski area for wildlife species to move freely. Offering peace and quiet and height for unobstructed views of the peaks, Ours Blanc Hotel situated in the resort’s Reberty district grants quick access to the ski slopes away from the crowds. A flexible seminar room can cater for up to 55 delegates in the hotel, while the nearby ski school offers more alternative options for winter team building activities including ice diving under the remote Lac Du Lou.

Hotel-ours-blanc.com

GRANDVALIRA ISCHGL

HOTEL OURS BLANC, LES MENUIRES

ALPEN ROYAL, VAL GARDENA

Derbyshire Country Cricket Club

A unique venue, with great spaces, superb views, and complete versatility. A venue for all occasions, come and find out more at stand D5. www.events.derbyshireccc.com

Email: events@derbyshireccc.com | Tel: 01332 388105

Eddie Young Magic

Nobody wants unexpected emergencies at their event - that’s where I come in. As a master of ceremonies, I ensure that your event runs smoothly. With spectacular, live, and close up magical entertainment in your guest hands. Taking your event to the NEXT LEVEL. Special code HEN10 for 10% off for HEN readers 07 97 07 45 926 | Eddie@EddieYoungMagic.co.uk www.eddieyoungmagic.co.uk

Klear Events

Klear Events are a corporate event planner and UK venue finder who help our clients save valuable time with meetings, conferences and events.

Tel: +44 (0) 7834 914461 | Email: sales@klearevents.co.uk www.klearevents.co.uk

NAEC Stoneleigh

NAEC Stoneleigh is a versatile and flexible events venue and home to a diverse range of exhibitions, trade fairs, conferences and outdoor events.

Email: Talk-to-us@stoneleighevents.com Tel: 02476 696969