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All Inclusive Best Men Event Tech ISSUE 113 • JULY 2026

Raising The Bar AI – Friend or Foe? Special Agent

On Location: North Wales HOSPITALITYANDEVENTSNORTH.COM

Redefining the chauffeur experience Discreet. Professional. Exceptional. Parkers Chauffeurs is a premium UK chauffeur company providing discreet, professional transport for corporate clients, VIPs and high profile events. We specialise in executive travel, airport, rail and private jet transfers, convoy coordination and complex event transport management, working seamlessly behind the scenes as a trusted partner for anyone responsible for moving people smoothly and on time. Female drivers and electric vehicle options are available, and our luxury fleet ranges from 2 to 7 seat vehicles, with additional luxury coaches for larger groups, offering a private, comfortable space to work or relax on the move. 0333 666 1777 www.parkerschauffeurs.com

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CONTENTS: JULY 2026 Friend or Foe? – AI Debate Green Team

Top Team

All Inclusive

Ask the Agent

More Versatile

Old Flame

Can AI be used safely in events and work alongside humans, rather than replace them? Three industry experts from different sectors weigh in on the technology. Page 9. Successful Events’ MD James Manford gives us the lowdown. Page 12.

Leading Ladies

Event Architect Tamsin Broster helps women run successful events powerfully and confidently. Page 16.

Raising the Bar

Mobile bar services have gone from novelty to mainstream and for event planners willing to break from the traditional, they’re more than just a drinks solution. Page 30.

Win,Win,

Win!

Sustainability is now expected as standard, but closing the gap between ambition and delivery takes more than good intentions at outdoor events. Page 32.

This summer is filled with major sporting events so get your team going with one of these sport-based team building activities. Page 39.

Legal Eagles

Andy Williamson, Founder of Welcome Brain, discusses how the events industry can lead the way with neuroinclusive events. Page 52.

Multi-purpose venues that can seamlessly shift between meetings, conferences, and hospitality are increasingly in demand. Page 40.

Take a look at the changes in employment law and what they mean for an industry built on flexible staffing and tight margins. Page 34.

Lap of Luxury

Venue choice matters more than ever so, choose one filled with luxury wow delegates. Page 46.

On Location: North Wales Rolling North Wales is a region that’s rapidly growing as a destination for all types of events. Page 36.

Better Together

eventkind is a brand-new community platform designed to help create the best events possible. Page 50.

The Milner York is giving one lucky reader the chance to win a luxury overnight stay for two with dinner included. Page 49.

Fire safety regulations mean we need an increased focus on requirements. Joshua Marshall, Product Manager at CheckFire, tells us more. Page 55.

Best Men

We talk to founders of the Meeting & Event Network (MEN), a new confidential support initiative for men working in the industry. Page 56.

And the

Winner is…

Congratulations to

Elizabeth Pert

who won a B&B stay for two at Sandman Signature Sheffield Quays Hotel!

Copyright JLife Ltd. All contents are copyright, all rights are reserved. No part of the contents can be reproduced without permission from the publisher. No responsibility can be accepted for inaccurate information supplied, & content supplied does not necessarily represent the opinion of the publisher. Editorial policies & magazine layouts are purely at the publisher’s discretion & no debate will be entered in to.

The Meetings Show is upon us; we love to be at these prolific industry events seeing our partners and readers, come and say hello at stand B55! Time goes on, and this edition is packed with great ideas, interviews, features, and support for you lovely event planners. Accessibility is always on the agenda, we hear from Welcome Brain on neuroinclusive events, and we debate the use of AI in the industry.

North Wales’ incredible landscape takes the floor and check out how a cool mobile bar can make a difference! We focus multi-purpose and luxury venues, plus there’s a chance to stayover at the lovely Milner York. See you at the show!

Publisher

Writer

Elliot Landy

Brendan Campbell

Editor

Design

Ellie Tyson

Craig Shaw / Richard Shawcross

Senior Account Manager Adam Freedman

Contributors

Al Turner ARC Andrew Harrison Andy Williamson Camilla Woods Celia Gaze Christine Gomez Dani Wallace David Tremmil Debbie Jones Emma Wellstead Glenn Corby Hugh Boyd

Technical Support for Exhibitions and Conferences

Photographers

Gaetan Flamme / Graham Brown Ian Hooper James Hitchen James Manford Johnny Martinez Joshua Marshall Rachel Parker Richard Morris Robert Kenward Rory McGoldrick Sarita Hale Simon Hainsworth Sylviane Kokoeundo Tamsin Broster

AV, SOUND, VIDEO AND LIGHTING HIRE for Exhibitions, Conferences and Events

NATIONWIDE & INTERNATIONAL SERVICE

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July 2026

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Something New

NEW VENUES

THE LOOM, OLDHAM

Make sure to check out one of these new and improved venues for your next event! The Loom | Oldham | Open now Oldham has been undergoing a £450 million regeneration project, and its latest addition is The Loom – named in honour of the town’s cotton-spinning industry. The venue has six flexible layouts that can be divided into smaller spaces or kept as one large space with a capacity for up to 1,000 standing, 700 seated, and 500 dining. The venue is home to a professional lighting rig, three stylish bar areas, flexible staging and configurable setups, a dedicated conference room, reception area, and accessible lifts across all floors. There are also catering options, DJ and entertainment packages, and event staffing and support available to ensure your event runs as smoothly as possible. Thespindles.co.uk/the-loom NORTH LAKES HOTEL & SPA, PENRITH

North Lakes Hotel & Spa | Penrith Open now The Lake District venue North Lakes Hotel & Spa has recently completed a £760,000 upgrade of 22 bedrooms and the Hartside meeting room following a six-week renovation. It comes after the other conference spaces at the hotel were upgraded in 2024. The hotel is home to 11 meeting and conference rooms which vary in size and function. There are rooms for a formal setup, bean bags for more relaxed moments, and spaces covering boardrooms with a capacity of 12 to a ballroom space for up to 200. Delegates can relax and enjoy a stay in one of the refurbished rooms which were designed to feel calming and Cumbrian with a little added luxury. Northlakeshotel.co.uk

Carden Park | Cheshire | Open now As the final phase of a grand £6.5 million revamp, Carden Park has unveiled four new luxury suites, each offering open-plan living, separate sleeping areas, dedicated dressing spaces, and large, elegant en suite bathrooms. Delegates can make the most of these brand-new suites if you host an event at the venue in one of the many meeting rooms and event spaces which can cater to all capacities ranging from two to 400 delegates. It also offers indoor and outdoor team building opportunities set among the 100-acre estate – get your team fired up with a high-wire course, explore the grounds on a Segway safari, and so much more! Cardenpark.co.uk

Murrayshall Country Estate Perthshire | Open now This recent expansion includes the launch of new luxury two-bedroom self-catering pods, forming part of the venue’s ongoing multi-million-pound investment programme. Further developments are also planned, including new spa and leisure facilities. The venue offers five meeting and conference spaces, with the ability to host anything from small board meetings and private dinners to larger conferences, away days, and exclusive-use events, with the Lynedoch Suite accommodating up to 200 delegates theatre-style. The estate also supports residential retreats and team building, with AV-equipped meeting rooms, breakout spaces, award-winning dining, 27 holes of golf, and activities including archery, quad biking, kayaking, and 4x4 experiences. Murrayshall.co.uk

MURRAYSHALL COUNTRY ESTATE, PERTHSHIRE

Beyond its events offering, Fairmont Cheshire, The Mere will feature a championship 18-hole golf course, spa, and stunning lakeside surroundings, creating an exceptional backdrop for gala dinners, networking receptions, and private celebrations in one of the region’s most scenic and sought-after destinations. Fairmont.com/en/hotels/mere/ fairmont-cheshire-the-mere

FAIRMONT CHESHIRE, KNUTSFORD

Wildhive Eshott Hall Northumberland | Summer 2026 Surrounded by rolling Northumberland countryside, Wildhive Eshott Hall is an elegant Georgian country house hotel layered in history with an abundance of natural beauty on its doorstep. Set within 37 acres of gardens and ancient woodland, planners will have the option to take exclusive use of the entire property, host an inspiring meeting, or get involved with one of the regular events held throughout the year with local creative partners. Much like Wildhive’s Derbyshire venue, Callow Hall, it’s also expected that there’ll be plenty of opportunities for workshops, specialist retreats, and indulgent dining experiences to get involved with at Eshott Hall. Wildhive.uk/eshott-hall

Medlock Square | Manchester Opening 2026 Manchester’s newest entertainment destination will offer year-round entertainment, experiences, and events. It will boast a 3,000-capacity covered event space, a stylish new hotel with 401 rooms, and an immersive museum experience complete with a roof walk attraction with zip-wire and abseil. The new hotel – The Medlock – will also have multiple meeting rooms on offer for a range of capacities. Alongside this, there’ll be a three-storey office development and a wide variety of bars and restaurants on-site that can be hired individually. Neighbouring the Etihad Stadium and Co-op Live area, the city’s newest development is sure to have something suited for any and all events!

Fairmont Cheshire, The Mere Knutsford | 10th July The reimagined Fairmont Cheshire, The Mere is opening soon following a landmark £125 million refurbishment. The resort will bring a new era of luxury hospitality to the North West. Set within 157 acres of Cheshire countryside overlooking The Mere lake, the destination will combine contemporary elegance with a picturesque natural setting. Designed to cater for everything from executive meetings to large-scale celebrations, the resort will offer more than 10 flexible event spaces. Its impressive Grand Ballroom will accommodate up to 1,000 delegates, while a collection of modern meeting suites will provide natural daylight, advanced technology, and adaptable layouts for conferences, private events, and corporate gatherings.

July 2026

Medlocksquare.com MEDLOCK SQUARE, MANCHESTER

A WINNING VENUE For Hospitality and Events

Renowned racing venue set in magnificent countryside First-class corporate hospitality suites & restaurants Competitive conference Day Delegate rates & packages Ideal location - close to A1(M) with links to M1 and M62 Flexible conference, exhibition and events space Acres of outdoor event areas and FREE on-site parking

Take a 3D Tour!

01937 582035 www.wetherbyracing.co.uk

At Cask we don’t just help create great events through delivery but have many assets available for hire from Container Bars to Refrigerated Trailers. Whatever the event we likely have the solution. Experienced in delivering innovative bar services at major events all over the UK. We have a range of bar services for every type of event large or intimate.

THE CUTLERS HALL

We have operated at some of the world’s most prestigious venues and events such as Silverstone, Epsom Derby, Grand Prix, Twickenham Stadium, Trent Bridge and many more.

The Cutlers Hall is without question a magnificent venue steeped in history and grandeur. This impressive Grade II listed building in the heart of Sheffield has excellent transport links, complimentary robust Wi-Fi and the flexibility to suit all types of events. The Main Hall is perfect for events up to 550 guests, whilst smaller rooms are able to provide the ideal backgrop of a more itimate affair. With our winning combination of a specacular environment, flexible room space and outstanding service along with exceptional food and drink, we look forward to welcoming you and your guests to The Cutlers Hall.

7-15 CHURCH STREET, SHEFFIELD, S1 1HG www.cutlershall.co.uk

info@casklondon.com | 0208 064 2909 www.casklondon.com 6

www.hospitalityandeventsnorth.com

INDUSTRY OPINION

Real Talk David Tremmil, Chair of beam, on what can be achieved when collaboration turns ideas into actual progress. The events industry has always been good at talking. The challenge now is ensuring those conversations lead to meaningful action.

the wider economic contribution of business events and the unintended consequences additional taxation could create for destinations, organisers, and venues alike.

Across the sector, there is a growing recognition that collaboration can no longer sit at surface level. Faced with economic pressure, changing legislation, skills challenges, and increasing scrutiny from government, the industry needs stronger alignment, clearer messaging, and a more unified voice if it wants to influence real change. That shift is already starting to happen.

At the same time, collaboration is also taking shape behind the scenes in ways that could have long-term impact for the sector. The joint response to the Office for National Statistics consultation reviewing Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) codes brought together organisations including beam, MIA, AEME, The Business of Events, and UKEvents. The submission focused on ensuring the modern events workforce is properly recognised within official classifications, reflecting the increasing professionalism, complexity, and strategic value of event management roles.

Recent discussions around accommodation levies and tourist taxes demonstrated the importance of collective advocacy, with industry bodies coming together to highlight

Individually, these initiatives are important. Collectively, they signal something bigger – an industry moving beyond fragmented agendas towards a more coordinated approach to advocacy and representation. This isn’t about one organisation leading the conversation or competing for visibility. It is about recognising that the industry is stronger when expertise, insight, and influence are shared. The future of the meetings and events sector will not be shaped by polite discussion alone. It will be shaped by industries, associations, and businesses willing to work together, challenge constructively, and turn collaboration into action. Beam-org.uk

Human Touch Christine Gomez, Revenue Director at Wyboston Lakes Resort, discusses technological advancement and the increased need for personal connection. The events world has changed beyond recognition in the last few years. AI, automation, smart venues, data dashboards that practically read your mind… the pace is dizzying. But the more advanced our tech gets, the more we need real, human support alongside it. Progress with a side of complexity Every new platform and clever integration adds more moving parts. What used to be a simple booking is now a connected journey – registration platforms talking to badge printers, talking to event apps, talking to CRMs. When it works, delegates float through the day without a hitch. When it doesn’t? You know what happens. The queue at registration backs up. The app crashes mid-keynote. The QR code won’t scan. And suddenly the experience you spent months building is being judged

July 2026

on a five-minute glitch. That’s the moment support stops being a ‘nice-to-have’ and becomes the whole game. The human safety net No matter how impressive AI gets, it can’t replicate reassurance. It can’t read the room when a sponsor is panicking about their stand or calm a speaker whose slides won’t load three minutes before they’re on. Delegates and clients don’t just want efficiency, they want confidence. They want to know that if something goes sideways, someone will sort it. The more we automate, the more glaringly obvious it becomes when support is missing. Support as your competitive edge Most of us in events now have access to broadly similar tech. So, what sets one event

apart from another? It’s about how you support people through it. The organisations getting this right understand both the people and the systems. They’re making support easy to find, not buried three menus deep. They’re balancing automation with a human face and spotting issues before delegates notice them. Tech should make events better, not more complicated. The organisations that win the next few years won’t be the ones with the flashiest toolkit. They’ll be the ones who’ve figured out the balance between innovation and proper human support. Wybostonlakes.co.uk

INDUSTRY OPINION

The Accidental Counsellor Camilla Woods, Service Director at Hospitality Action, explores a growing issue within the industry.

It’s often not one conversation that creates an accidental counsellor, but many. The colleague who opens up after a shift or the message sent after hours because ‘you’re the one who listens.’ It becomes a discussion about anxiety, burnout, financial pressures, or problems at home. The manager listens, offers reassurance, and checks in again the next day. But when it comes to mental health, one conversation alone isn’t the solution. Without proper external support and guidance, managers can become an accidental counsellor. Recent analysis suggests more than six million UK managers have no mental health training; a gap also reflected in our most recent Taking the Temperature survey, which found that 55% thought that more management

training to better support employees was the most important thing an employer could do to improve wellbeing. Our compassion for others isn’t the problem. The issue is when that support becomes informal, ongoing, and emotionally unbounded. Over time, managers can find themselves carrying conversations and responsibility for their colleagues long after the working day has ended. Most people were never trained for this part of leadership. Active listening, empathy, and trust-building matter, but so does recognising where the role stops. Without clear boundaries, even the most capable leaders can drift into feeling personally responsible for fixing issues they’re not equipped to solve.

Preventing this starts with structure. Signposting clear routes to support, such as Hospitality Action’s Employee Assistance Programme, and visible wellbeing policies reduce the pressure on individuals. Training in active listening, boundary-setting, and stress management helps managers respond with care without absorbing emotional overload. Crucially, organisations need to normalise escalation and external support rather than reliance on an individual. Managers should be a bridge to support, not expected to become the support system itself. It’s this distinction that will keep boundaries intact and leadership sustainable. Hospitalityaction.org.uk

In Good Health Rachel Parker, CEO of the Association of Event Venues (AEV) and Director of the Events Industry Alliance (EIA), discusses the UK exhibitions sector’s strongest growth since 2015. As busy as we all are, it’s important to remember the impact we have on the UK economy. Our industry is remarkably resilient, and the data confirms that. Last month, the EIA published the latest Size and Scale Index for Exhibitions (SASIE) report – providing the authoritative market intelligence for the UK exhibitions and wider business events sector. The research suggests the UK exhibitions industry is now in its healthiest position for more than a decade.

As UK event professionals, we hosted an estimated total 1,154 exhibitions and conferences with exhibition elements across major venues in 2025, attracting around 6.8 million visitors. The total number of UK exhibitions increased significantly compared with 2024, reaching the highest level recorded since 2015. This recovery is particularly notable given the continued economic pressures, including inflation, global uncertainty, and the longer-term effects of Brexit.

According to the latest SASIE analysis, the sector is now worth an estimated £68.7 billion to the UK economy, reinforcing its position as a major driver of trade, innovation, and tourism. One of the most encouraging findings is the sharp rise in exhibition activity during 2025.

As an industry, we must continue to champion the vital role exhibitions play in supporting local economies and innovative industries and we’re grateful for the commitment of organisers, suppliers, and venues alike.

UK exhibitions and business events should be viewed as strategic infrastructure for economic growth, helping drive investment, create jobs, and strengthen the UK’s international competitiveness in the years ahead. We’re asking government to commission a UK business events strategy, formally recognising the sector’s economic role and aligning it with the government’s industrial and trade priorities. We encourage you to read, use, and share the report widely. It’s available at Eventsindustryalliance.com

www.hospitalityandeventsnorth.com

INDUSTRY DEBATE

Friend ...or Foe?

Can AI be used safely in events and work alongside humans, rather than replace them? Three industry experts from different sectors weigh in on the technology. EVENT PLANNING Dani Wallace | Organiser of The BIG Festoon When it comes to event planning, we make strategic and procedural use of AI for things like sense-checking a run of show across 20 speakers over two days, looking at whether we have enough buffer time between sessions, whether breaks land where they need to land, and so on. The maths of energetic flow across a two-day programme is the kind of work AI saves us hours on. We use it for structural decision-making rather than creative decision-making.

Debbie Jones | COO of PRPR

The value of AI assistants depends on how they are used and what they are used for. They are very effective for speeding up admin-heavy tasks such as drafting agendas, summarising meeting notes, creating firstpass event briefs, or helping to personalise communications at scale. If used properly they will free up (human) event teams to work on the areas where people make the biggest difference.

AI is not a good replacement for experienceinformed judgement. Events are live environments with moving parts and AI can suggest options, but it cannot fully understand nuance, instinctively read the room, reassure a nervous speaker, or make the right decisions when something changes last minute. All of this needs experienced professionals. I believe the strongest way to work is hybrid, where work is human-led and supported by AI. There always needs to be a person in charge who uses AI as a tool, not a decision maker. Let it support repetitive tasks, research, and data processing, while experienced event planners stay in control of decisions, supplier relationships, budgets, risk management, and the overall attendee experience.

July 2026

AI is already beginning to influence how security is planned and delivered across the industry. It can be a useful tool for various elements of security planning and safety management and used well, it can enhance situational awareness and support more informed decision making. But there are important limitations that shouldn’t be overlooked, particularly when it comes to risk assessment and risk mitigation measures. AI outputs are only as good as the data and criteria behind them, so an AI-based risk assessment that uses potentially outof-date Google Maps data alone instead of a detailed site visit, or one that is based on generic parameters, is likely to result in an inaccurate understanding of threat, vulnerability, and risk which can result in gaps in physical and operational protective security measures.

The line between operational efficiency and creative output is deliberate. From a logistics and process standpoint, AI can save hours, days, even months of brain capacity and bandwidth, but from a creation perspective, we will always rely on humans. Image creation, copywriting, marketing, and talk construction all sit with human creatives – a deliberate choice, especially as we are finding, rather disappointingly, a real flattening of language, content, and imagery across the industry.

There is one area where AI will play a more active role: community platforms built to connect delegates ahead of the event. We’re working with an AI platform to build the community in the run-up, which will help attendees connect and network, but it’s consumer- and community-led. That gives us feedback, market research, engagement signals, FAQs, stronger networking matches, and the insight needed to deliver a better experience. Humans drive it, AI just makes sure we’re hearing what they need.

EVENT SECURITY Rory McGoldrick | Co-MD of SAFECROWDS GROUP

Trust is essential when running events, and if AIgenerated communications are inaccurate, too generic, or poorly judged, confidence can be damaged quickly. If attendee data is handled carelessly, privacy concerns follow. AI assistants absolutely have a place in the events world, but they deliver most value when they enhance human expertise rather than replacing it.

There’s also clear concern around data security where information is entered into publicly accessible AI platforms, as this may expose sensitive detail to being stored or reused in ways that are not secure. This creates a potential vulnerability, particularly where venue layouts, procedures, or threat considerations are involved. AI is also being used as a tool for cyber-attacks, creating code to hack into organisations and making strategic decisions about what data to steal. AI can lead to overconfidence too, with people trusting outputs that overlook important considerations or context. Security planning requires judgement, experience, and an understanding of evolving threat landscapes; technology alone cannot replicate that specialist expertise. So, organisations should adopt AI cautiously when planning and implementing security strategies because protecting people requires human understanding. Thebigfestoon.co.uk | Prpr.co.uk Safecrowdsgroup.co.uk

SPONSORSHIP

Perfect Partners “As an industry, we haven’t changed how we sell sponsorship packages. That isn’t just in the almost 30 years that I’ve been involved; it hasn’t changed in the previous 60 or 90 either!” says Richard Morris. Having been in the industry since 1998, starting as an operations assistant on the Ideal Home Show and working his way through multiple companies until he founded Active Media Events, he hasn’t seen much change in sponsorship. “Sponsors’ behaviour has always been led by what we the organiser put in front of them and we’re not very good at that as we don’t give much creativity to help a sponsor achieve what they truly want. The organisers who are willing to have a more in-depth conversation to understand what the sponsor genuinely wants and viceversa are the ones who build longer-lasting partnerships and ultimately deliver greater value for everyone involved.”

Event Strategy Consultant Richard Morris believes that industry sponsorship needs a major shake-up.

The traditional packages of bronze, silver, and gold create a hierarchical system that doesn’t actually address the needs of a sponsor, says Richard: “Just describing what these standardised packages include isn’t enough. There are a lot of benefits listed that probably won’t mean a lot to someone who’s in one of their first marketing jobs and that’s who the deck will normally land with. Typical gold benefits list things such as ‘satellite symposium’ which can be better described as amplifying your voice – that’s what it does for the sponsor. There are also things like soapbox sessions which shift the conversation and sponsorship of an evening section which can be classed as a networking package.” “Simply getting rid of the hierarchy system and selling packages that sponsors actually want will make things easier for everyone involved,” explains Richard. “Sponsors don’t know what bronze, silver, and gold means but if you label packages as ‘engagement’ and ‘leadership’ for example, these focus on the actual benefits and outcomes rather than just listing components.”

Richard believes the industry often overlooks the true value a lead can represent to a sponsor: “When a sponsor meets the right customer, that conversation could lead to anything from a £500 sale to a £50,000 deal,” he says. “For example, in sectors like infrastructure, where companies delivering major projects are meeting government ministers and decision-makers at events, those introductions carry enormous value. We’re bringing the right people into the same room, and the outcome could be a multi-million-pound deal. That’s something the industry should be recognising far more in our sponsorship pricing mechanism.” “When an event is done, people just disappear,” Richard comments on the issues often faced post-event. “Sponsors and exhibitors will go off and chase the leads they’ve picked up and six months later, when we ask them to rebook, they’ve got no concrete ROI because those leads haven’t turned into deals due to the long sales cycle. Where we miss a trick is not providing a document summarising some of the intangible metrics that can be difficult to measure straight away. This way, in six months’ time when someone asks what they got out of the sponsorship and there’s been no direct sales made, they have data to demonstrate the positive outcomes. This will put the organiser in a better position straight away for the next selling cycle.” Looking ahead, Richard believes change will happen gradually: “Real progress will come when we’re able to use data in a far more sophisticated way and properly understand why delegates are attending and what challenges they’re trying to solve. AI has huge potential to improve our understanding of attendees’ needs and motivations.” Catch Richard’s talk ‘Stop selling space, start selling outcomes: re-engineering sponsorship for 2026’ on Stage Two at The Meetings Show on 25th June! Linkedin.com/in/associations

www.hospitalityandeventsnorth.com

MEETINGS IN THE FOREST A truly unique alternative for corporate events and team building, offering everything you need to create memorable experiences at Center Parcs Sherwood Forest and Woburn Forest. Set within stunning forest surroundings, it’s the perfect escape from the everyday, inspiring connection, creativity and collaboration.

MEET

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CONNECT

CONNECT WITH US centerparcs_events | Center Parcs Conferences and Events ENQUIRE ABOUT YOUR NEXT CORPORATE EVENT www.centerparcsevents.co.uk |

03448 267715 |

centerparcs.events@centerparcs.co.uk

THE AGENT

James Manford, Managing Director of Successful Events, lifts the lid on what it really takes to keep the industry running, and gives his take on the challenges facing agencies. James Manford is used to dispelling myths about life working in the events industry: “Friends and family often imagine it as rather glamorous – travelling around the world, staying in luxury hotels, and attending corporate parties. However, the reality is very different. It’s a high-stakes operation that requires meticulous attention to detail, constant organisation, and the ability to perform under immense pressure.” That perception gap runs deep says James, who founded Successful Events in 2014 after more than a decade working across hotel groups and associations, where he gained an understanding of the client relationship from every angle. Today, Successful Events is comprised of James and two in-house consultants: “Venue finding, accommodation management, and inquiry handling are the three core things we deal with day to day. They handle the more operational side: managing inquiries, putting quotations together for clients. I look after account management, business development, marketing, sales, and finance – all the stuff that’s not quite as fun and exciting.” The agent role demands what James describes as a chameleon quality – constantly adapting to different personalities and situations and managing a cast of clients, venues, hotels, and suppliers who all require different approaches: “Event

Special Agent planners are often compared to swans, appearing calm, composed, and effortless on the surface, while beneath it all they are working frantically, managing chaos, solving problems, and often battling stress or anxiety behind the scenes.”

But I don’t believe we’ll ever become fully reliant on AI, or that it will replace event agency planners entirely. Human nature will always value personal connections, trusted recommendations, and the reassurance that comes from real human interaction.”

Burnout is a very real challenge within the industry. Long days, constant problemsolving, endless logistical planning, and the pressure of keeping both the body and mind permanently switched on can take a significant toll: “In many ways, event planners work in the shadows and people don’t see all the work happening behind the scenes. When events are successful,

The more pressing challenges are economic and political, with many industry professionals scrambling to cope with unpredictable global events. James cites the example of a client unable to run any of their events in Abu Dhabi this year: “Budgets are being squeezed and things going on in the world impact the supply chain of event companies. And it’s not just about cost, it’s about safety, too. People want to make the best choices they can when planning events and choosing destinations, and that means doing what’s right for their staff, employees, and delegates.” When geopolitical shifts affect international travel costs and destination availability, agencies like Successful Events help clients avert disaster by pivoting to hybrid formats, sourcing alternative venues, and keeping things moving: “Agility is everything. You just have to be able to adapt.”

Agility is everything. You just have to be able to adapt. everything runs smoothly and agents and planners are only noticed or thought of when something goes wrong.” The dayto-day work of an agent requires a wide range of skillsets, including professional crisis management and the ability to resolve unexpected problems quickly and calmly. Recently, a hotel mix-up had James sorting things out over the phone at 11pm.

For James, the buzz the life of an agent offers isn’t about exotic travel or lavish drinks receptions: “The enjoyment and satisfaction I get comes from executing a huge vision flawlessly, solving seemingly impossible problems in real time, and watching countless moving parts come together successfully throughout the day and night.” Successful-events.co.uk

From his vantage point, how does James regard the state of the industry? “PostCOVID working patterns – hybrid schedules, online meetings, and the creeping influence of AI – have all reshaped the landscape.

www.hospitalityandeventsnorth.com

NorthinBrief HCC’s New Appointment

The Belfry and beam Strengthen Links

AI Research Findings

Harrogate Convention Centre (HCC) has announced the appointment of Jamila Bray as Head of Venue Sales and Marketing during a phase of significant growth and development.

The Belfry Hotel & Resort has deepened its ties with industry association beam, reinforcing the resort’s role as an active leader within the business events sector.

AI is increasing the need for human meetings, not reducing it, according to new research commissioned by The Meetings Show.

With over 10 years of experience in the events industry across major venues in Manchester and Harrogate, Jamila will lead the venue’s sales and marketing functions, developing strategies and driving continued growth, especially in conference business. The appointment comes as HCC prepares for its 45th anniversary next year, with major site development including a £9.4 million investment in additional conference breakout facilities to be completed in early 2027, bringing the venue’s total breakout capacity to 2,600 – one of the largest in the UK. Jamila said: “I’m proud to be stepping into the role of head of venue sales and marketing. I’m excited for this next chapter, working with a fantastic team to continue championing Harrogate Convention Centre and North Yorkshire as a leading events destination.”

On-Demand Sustainability Courses Northstar UK’s sustainable event courses are designed to equip meeting and events professionals with the knowledge, tools, and confidence to embed sustainability into event delivery. With the move to a fully on-demand format, all six modules for each course are now available immediately, allowing learners to study at their own pace and fit professional development around demanding schedules. More than 400 professionals have completed the courses over the past five years, building a strong framework for sustainable event planning across organisations worldwide. The introductory course covers goal setting, supplier engagement, travel and food impacts, circular economy principles, and measuring outcomes, with practical exercises participants can apply directly to their own events from day one. The Advanced Sustainable Events Course is designed for professionals with existing knowledge who want to deepen their expertise and influence. Both courses are presented by isla Founder Anna Abdelnoor, with industry insights on the introductory course from Andy King, Co-Founder of Inward Point. Enrolment for the 2026 courses is now open at Thecompletesustainableeventscourse.com

July 2026

Katie Niland, Commercial Director at The Belfry, will join beam’s Board of Directors, while Debbie Collins, Account Director at The Belfry, will join its newly created Action Group as Buddying Lead, helping to strengthen the association’s strategic pillars of resilience, innovation, ethics, and quality. Action Group leads will work in partnership with board directors to drive activity and support the delivery of agreed initiatives. Katie said: “beam is known for championing education, sharing best practice, and encouraging collaboration and connection across the industry. I’m delighted that The Belfry is playing an active role within the organisation. We’re pleased to support beam’s important work within the sector.” David Tremmil, Chair of beam, said: “Both Katie and Deb bring real depth of experience from across our sector. Katie brings valuable insight into industry exhibitions, and our Action Groups are fundamental to how we deliver value for members. The introduction of Action Group leads like Deb will make them even more effective. I look forward to working with them both.”

Industry First at CHS CHS Manchester is inviting event professionals to contribute to the creation of an industry-specific AI tool, live at the event in September. It’s part of a partnership between CHS Manchester and Zoby, a specialist agency which supports meaningful AI adoption by event professionals. Zoby Founder Ed Dench will present as part of the show’s educational programme, with sessions seeing new software built in real time on the show floor by the people who will actually use it. Ed said: “What excites me is how open this is. We’re not walking in with a finished product; we’re building it with the audience, bringing event professionals into the process to share what’s not working for them, and then start turning that into something useful, there and then.” Emma King, Founder and CEO of CHS Manchester, added: “We talk a lot about AI, but not always in a way that feels practical. This is different. This is us experimenting and creating something with our audience that has real value.” The ‘CHS Innovation Hub – Powered by Zoby’ aims to develop a growing library of practical AI tools for the events community. Registration is now live and visitors are encouraged to secure their place early.

Challenging assumptions about the role of technology in improving efficiency, almost two-thirds of business leaders (62%) say AI is increasing the need for human discussion and alignment. The findings come from the UK Productivity Gap Index, a new study based on a survey of 1,000 UK business leaders. Conducted in partnership with The Business of Events, it reveals how everyday collaboration challenges are slowing organisations down. More than a third (36%) report AI has already had a major or significant operational impact, with a further 30% experiencing moderate disruption. Faceto-face interaction remains central to how organisations navigate that complexity. Almost two-thirds (65%) of leaders say complex or sensitive decisions are made more quickly in person, rising to 82% for important decisions. While hybrid continues to evolve, the picture is mixed. Half of leaders believe it is slowing early-career development, yet 59% say knowledge-sharing has improved since the pandemic. Together, the findings suggest organisations are still working out how to balance flexibility with effective collaboration. Jack Marczewski, Portfolio Event Director of The Meetings Show, said: “We wanted this research to reflect how work actually happens inside organisations today. Productivity isn’t just about tools or effort – it’s about how well teams align, make decisions, and move forward. As AI becomes more embedded, the need for clear, confident decision-making becomes even more important, and bringing people together in the right environment is a big part of that.”

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CHRISTMAS PARTIES

‘Tis the Season

Arena Racing Company (ARC)

Expectations are shifting – rather than structured, formal three-course dinners, planners are increasingly responding to demand for informal and interactive environments that allow guests to shape their own experience. The shift towards what some are calling ‘the anti-ordinary’ is being driven in part by younger audiences, as well as changes across modern workforces. Attendees are prioritising experiences that feel social, inclusive, and less rigid, with a clear appetite for shared experience and varied entertainment that allow for movement and choice.

We’re also seeing growth in wellbeing-led socials and combined strategy-andcelebration events where businesses use the day for reflection or team development before transitioning into an evening party. Guests expect far more personalisation and inclusivity compared to a few years ago. People want experiences that cater for different personalities, dietary needs, neurodiversity, and drinking preferences. The old assumption that everyone wants a loud, alcohol-heavy party simply doesn’t fit workplace culture anymore.

Work-life balance is another influencing factor, with increased interest in daytime Christmas parties as an alternative to late-night events. At the same time, tighter budgets and more considered booking patterns are driving smaller group celebrations, earlier decision-making, and a greater focus on value.

The growth in alcohol-free options has transformed events and Christmas parties. Guests now expect sophisticated nonalcoholic cocktails and drinks that feel celebratory rather than simply offering soft drink alternatives. Food is evolving too, and companies are becoming more conscious of energy levels, dietary diversity, and demand for fresh, locally sourced menus including more nutritious and plant-forward dishes that leave guests feeling more energised.

“Across our venues, we’re seeing a clear shift in what people want from Christmas parties,” said Clare Marsden, Regional Event Sales Manager at ARC. “They are no longer about a one-size-fits-all format and there’s much more demand for experiences that feel relaxed, social, and easy to organise. The focus has moved towards flexibility and creating immersive environments where people can connect in a more organic way.”

The most forward-thinking companies no longer see luxury and sustainability as opposites. Luxury today is increasingly about authenticity, quality, exclusivity, and meaningful experiences rather than excess and waste. Clients want renewable energy, lower waste operations, and sustainable choices integrated naturally without compromising atmosphere or enjoyment. In many ways, sustainability is becoming part of the luxury experience itself.

Arenaracingcompany.co.uk

Interactive entertainment is also becoming huge, with a growing interest in experiential elements that create conversation and shareable moments. Guests want to feel part of something rather than simply watching from the sidelines. And honestly, animals still bring enormous joy and energy to events; at The Wellbeing Farm, our bow tie-wearing llamas continue to become unexpected networking facilitators and memory-makers.

Celia Gaze | Owner of The Wellbeing Farm We’re seeing a real shift away from generic ‘sit down, eat turkey, disco, go home’ style Christmas parties. Companies are increasingly looking for experiences that feel memorable and genuinely enjoyable for teams who have worked incredibly hard all year. Interestingly, companies are becoming more intentional about why they’re gathering. It’s less about ticking a box and more about culture, retention, appreciation, and creating moments people genuinely remember. Immersive experiences are definitely on the up. Businesses want interactive food stations, live music, themed entertainment, creative activities, and spaces where people can properly connect rather than just sit around tables all evening. There’s still a place for glamour and dressing up, but teams are craving connection and energy after years of Zoom fatigue and workplace pressure. July 2026

My advice? Create an experience with warmth, personality, and moments of surprise rather than simply spending money for the sake of it. Great food, thoughtful entertainment, inclusive design, sustainability, and authentic hospitality all matter far more than flashy excess. Most importantly, create opportunities for people to properly connect; meaningful human connection has become one of the most valuable experiences that any event can offer. Thewellbeingfarm.co.uk

It’s time to start thinking about this year’s Christmas party plans (we can’t believe it either!). Find out what’s trending for 2026’s festive celebrations from our experts.

INTERVIEW

Leading Ladies

Event Architect Tamsin Broster helps women in the industry to run successful events powerfully and confidently. When a difficult period hit Tamsin Broster after the birth of her second child, she quit a 20-year career that culminated in senior leadership at the Ministry of Defence (MoD) in search of something more rewarding. Having spent two decades in an extremely male-dominated industry, Tamsin applies a lot of her experience from the MoD into the work she does today: “I kept seeing women diminishing their experience and themselves so they wouldn’t push themselves forwards for promotions even when they were clearly good enough. It wasn’t part of my job, but I used to run interview sessions so they could build their confidence in front of me. “I started running events for women in business in 2023 and I suddenly realised this is what I love! I was hosting events for another company, but their values didn’t align with me and who I wanted to support, so I stepped away and started focusing on helping other people run events. I loved leading women again because I used to do a lot of that in the MoD, supporting them with their CVs and career progression. It’s always been ingrained in me to help women and pull them up. A lot of what I’ve done over the last few years when I’ve been figuring out where I sit in the industry has been about confidence and societal pressures we feel as women – I see that in every bit of work I’ve ever done.” Tamsin coaches women in the industry to take up space and design events to make profit: “Whether it be a big conference or a small workshop, a lot of women don’t feel like they’re good enough and deserve to get paid. I hear things like ‘I’ve set up my event so it covers costs’ and ‘I only want to do it for visibility to get my name out there’ a lot – we’re literally talking about paying bills and

yourself as a bare minimum! We’ve got to stop apologising and playing down the idea that us earning money is somehow greedy.” Unapologetic visibility is a key concept in Tamsin’s coaching: “For me, this means

We’ve got to stop apologising and playing down the idea that us earning money is somehow greedy. owning your expertise and brilliance. We often hope our speakers will be popular with our audience, but we forget that people still come for us as the main host and we have to own that title. We’re leaders in our field and should be positioning ourselves as such.” “Every woman at every level will struggle with their confidence at some point,” expresses Tamsin on her reasoning for coaching even the most experienced professionals. “Somebody who’s been running an event with a winning formula for years can still fall into self-doubt, especially now as people’s attention spans and what they want are changing. I don’t have a magic formula to give people, it’s just about clearing the chaos

in your head, allowing you to step away from it, and understanding that events work when they’re based on a really solid architecture – which is the framework I use.” Many event profs often base the success of their event entirely on ticket sales, but Tamsin believes there are other metrics that can do this: “It’s not just about what happens in the room on the day, it’s also what happens before. Everything leading up to it is like the customer experience. How excited are people about going? Are people sharing it? Are they tagging other people? Are they telling their friends, and if they’re not, why not? People often think you need hundreds of people to make an event a success, but I’ve run some of my best with seven to 10 people because the conversations are richer and there’s much more of a focus. “There’s also everything that happens after the event. Are people buying for next year? Have you given them that opportunity? How can they work with you? Was it obvious what their next step could be? One of the things I really help people focus on is the outcome for the delegates, sponsors, speakers, and anyone else involved – it can’t just be visibility!” “If someone’s planning an event and they need support, I can help – from anything as small as running an idea past me to unpicking the conditioning that’s been keeping you smaller than you need to be.” Tamsinbroster.co.uk

www.hospitalityandeventsnorth.com

DAY IN THE LIFE

Risky Business Hugh Boyd has over 30 years of operational experience resulting in an accomplished career specialising in the hospitality and events sector. Hugh offers advice and guidance on all aspects of compliance services. Risk assessment may be one of the less glamorous aspects of the events industry, but it’s absolutely essential for ensuring the safety of staff and delegates and protecting organisers from potential legal liabilities. When conducting risk assessments for events, no two days are ever the same. One day we’re overseeing a corporate conference for 300 delegates, the next we’re staging a helicopter landing on-site, firebreathers at a gala dinner, or a celebrity appearance that requires enhanced security. Every element must be assessed individually because every event carries its own unique risks. Good planning starts long before the event itself. For larger events, planning can begin six months or even a year in advance. The first step is always understanding the event itself. How many people are expected? Are there children involved? Is it indoors or outdoors? A corporate conference inside a historic venue presents very different challenges to an outdoor team building day with external contractors, vehicles, and temporary structures. For an indoor corporate event, we’ll typically assess fire safety, emergency evacuation routes, crowd density, staging, AV equipment, catering arrangements, and accessibility. Outdoor events introduce additional considerations like weather contingencies, vehicle movement, ground conditions, and temporary power supplies. Even something as simple as strong wind can completely change an event plan. If weather conditions become unsafe, we need a clear plan B ready to implement immediately. Once hazards are identified, we gauge the likelihood and severity of each risk and put control measures in place. That could

July 2026

People often think of risk assessments as a box-ticking exercise but, as Hugh Boyd of No Ordinary Hospitality explains, they’re the foundation of every successful event.

mean fencing off exclusion zones around entertainment acts, limiting venue capacity, or positioning trained first aiders on-site. For live events, cables from AV equipment are secured to prevent trips, electrical equipment must be PAT tested annually, and duty managers monitor areas throughout the day to ensure procedures are being followed. Food safety is another major area of focus. Allergens are something we take extremely seriously because mistakes can be fatal. Whether food is prepared in-house or by external caterers, we ensure allergen information is clearly displayed, and suppliers meet strict hygiene and insurance standards before serving guests.

Risk assessments evolve constantly based on experience and changing legislation. A large part of my role also involves gathering documentation from third-party suppliers. DJs, caterers, photo booth operators, AV companies, security teams, and entertainers all need to provide valid public liability insurance and risk assessment and method statements (RAMS) before we allow them on-site. Legislation is constantly evolving, and upcoming measures such as Martyn’s Law are placing greater emphasis on venue safety, emergency preparedness, and protecting the public.

Due to the nature of the hospitality business, one of the most important aspects of compliance is preparation for the unexpected. Events change constantly. Attendee numbers increase, schedules overrun, and surprises happen. We’ve had situations where additional people arrived without warning or performers requested last-minute changes to setups. It’s impossible to eliminate all risk entirely, but risk assessments ensure there are systems and trained people in place to respond safely when things change. Communication is critical throughout the process. Staff briefings and contractor inductions ensure everyone understands the procedures, restricted areas, and emergency plans before an event begins. Senior management teams also monitor compliance throughout the day because a risk assessment only works if it’s actively followed. After the event, the work still isn’t over. Every incident, near miss, or complaint is reviewed. If there’s a noise complaint, an accident, or even a minor issue during evacuation procedures, we assess what happened and update our controls for future events. Risk assessments evolve constantly based on experience and changing legislation. Ultimately, everything comes back to one core objective: keeping people safe. A good event should feel seamless for attendees, but behind the scenes there’s an enormous amount of planning, monitoring, and expertise making that possible. Quality risk assessments ensure events happen safely and successfully every single time. Noordinaryhospitality.com

Suppliers Added Value CEO of the Event Supplier and Services Association (ESSA) Andrew Harrison asks: what is the UK events industry’s ‘Five Guys’ offer?

The UK exhibition industry is facing a pivotal moment. Like many sectors navigating economic pressure, rising costs, and changing customer expectations, exhibitions are being challenged not only on the value they create, but on the value that’s recognised by exhibitors and clients. The sector creates enormous economic and commercial value, contributing £11.5 billion to the economy and supporting more than 126,000 jobs. Yet despite this impact, many of the industry’s most important contributions remain largely invisible to exhibitors and clients. An example from outside the industry offers an unexpected but powerful lesson. Five Guys famously encountered inconsistency with its fresh-cut chips. Rather than disguise

the issue, the brand leaned into abundance with overflowing portions that transformed a potential operational flaw into a memorable signature of value. The ‘extra chips in the bag’ became part of the experience customers remembered and talked about. The exhibition industry may now need to find its own equivalent. The sector’s own ‘Five Guys chips’ won’t be gimmicks or marketing slogans, they’ll be the distinctive, repeatable, and recognisable behaviours that exhibitors consistently associate with exhibitions: professionalism, safety, seamless delivery, technical expertise, and operational excellence. These elements already exist across the industry every day. The challenge now is ensuring they are impossible to miss.

As the trade association representing the event supplier and services sector, ESSA is committed to helping the industry shift from invisible value to visible excellence. This includes championing best practice, strengthening professional standards, improving operational collaboration, and elevating the role of the supply chain within the wider exhibition ecosystem. When businesses say: ‘this is why we exhibit in the UK’, they’re also talking about the quality, expertise, and professionalism delivered by the people behind the scenes. And that value deserves to be recognised. Essa.uk.com

www.hospitalityandeventsnorth.com

DELIVERING YOUR EVENT, EVERY TIME

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MEET THE CHEF

Yes

Chef!

Meet Executive Head Chef at Wyboston Lakes Resort, Glenn Corby. Hi Glenn! Tell us about your career background.

I’ve been a chef for 32 years and honestly, I fell in love with the industry from my very first work experience placement at 14. Walking into a busy kitchen was a little intimidating at first, but I quickly found my feet among all the colourful characters working there and I’ve never looked back. I’m classically trained and spent three years at culinary school while working in a variety of restaurants, bistro pubs, and Cambridge colleges. I joined Wyboston Lakes Resort in 1999 and I’m now in my 27th year here. During that time, I’ve worked across all our venues and held a range of roles, from fine dining chef de partie and site pastry chef through to head chef at The Willows Training Centre. In 2022, I was delighted to step into the role of resort executive chef.

What have been the biggest changes you’ve seen in corporate event catering in recent years?

One of the biggest changes has been the move away from traditional fine dining. We still deliver plenty of gala dinners, but we’re seeing far greater demand for experiential dining. It’s a trend that’s incredibly exciting for our chefs because it allows us to be more creative and interactive with the food we serve. Festival dining has become particularly popular, bringing together street-food-inspired dishes, live cooking stations, and informal seating that encourages guests to mingle and explore different flavours throughout the evening. We’ve also seen strong demand for outdoor cooking concepts, from fire cage cooking and barbecue feasts to globally inspired food stations where chefs can interact directly with guests. These formats create energy and theatre around the food, turning dining into part of the event rather than simply a scheduled meal break.

July 2026

What do you think has driven these trends?

I think there are two main reasons. Firstly, after spending six hours in a conference room or syndicate session, the last thing most delegates want is to sit down for another three hours at a formal dinner. An exciting dining experience in a vibrant outdoor setting is much more appealing. Secondly, people want to get the most value from their event experience. If your venue offers interactive spaces, social gaming, and engaging outdoor areas, why spend the evening sitting in a dining room? Delegates increasingly want to network, socialise, and enjoy themselves while they eat. We’ve developed a wide range of dining concepts that support this shift.

Chef’s Favourites Ingredient to cook with...

A really good, flavoursome olive oil. It’s a kitchen staple and incredibly versatile. Even a simple drizzle over vegetables with a pinch of sea salt can completely elevate the flavour. Dish to cook at home... A family barbeque. There’s just something about cooking over hot coals that I love. In keeping with my thoughts on vegetables, charred asparagus, glazed corn on the cob, roasted tomatoes, and roasted peppers are always favourites and often more exciting than a standard sausage. Comfort food... That’s an easy one – my wife’s Sunday roast chicken!

We’ve seen a rise of plant-based menus. How do you ensure these feel as appealing as meat dishes?

My view is that when vegetarian and vegan dishes are full of flavour and carefully considered, they become just as popular as traditional protein-led dishes and encourage guests to make healthier lifestyle choices. Around five years ago, there was a lot of discussion within the industry about plant-based dining becoming the dominant choice and faux meats driving menu development. At Wyboston Lakes Resort, that wasn’t really what we saw. Instead, we’ve focused on creating genuinely exciting dishes that allow vegetables to shine in their own right. What we’ve found is that guests often choose these dishes over meat options simply because they enjoy them. Our roasted squash risotto is a firm favourite, while our celeriac shawarma is always popular. We’ve also put a lot of thought into side dishes, with options such as tenderstem broccoli with pomegranate and vegan yoghurt dressing, and chermoula-roasted carrots.

What’s the process of putting together a menu for a client? We have a wide range of menus available as standard, but we also pride ourselves on being flexible and responsive to our clients’ preferences. I’m always happy to meet with clients, understand their vision, and explore how we can bring it to life.

When developing menus, we consider a number of factors, including dietary requirements, allergens, carbon calculations, ingredient balance, texture, flavour variety, and how the menu works as a complete dining experience. For clients staying with us over several days, we create what we call a ‘menu pack’ which maps out every meal during their stay and allows us to ensure balance, variety, and consistency across the entire event. Wybostonlakes.co.uk

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CASE STUDY

Safeguarding Standards A partnership between X2Consult and Reporti Pro brings enhanced incident reporting opportunities to the industry. Specialists in event safeguarding and child protection, X2Consult Ltd, has spent the last several years supporting some of the UK’s largest sporting events, festivals, exhibitions, conventions, and public gatherings. While many events had safeguarding procedures in place, the recording, escalation, and management of disclosures and concerns often relied on inconsistent or outdated systems. This challenge led to a strategic partnership between X2Consult and Reporti Pro, an incident management platform developed by safeguarding specialist Gracie Broom. Together, they have been working to modernise how safeguarding concerns are reported, managed, and reviewed within live event environments.

recording standards, difficulty tracking actions and outcomes, limited visibility for senior management, and challenges when producing post-event reports and evidence for stakeholders.

The Solution

In response, X2Consult began working alongside the Reporti Pro team to integrate the platform into event safeguarding operations. Reporti Pro provides a secure digital reporting environment that enables safeguarding officers, welfare teams, and event staff to view and record concerns from members of the public in real time using mobile devices or desktop systems. This means incidents can be logged immediately, categorised appropriately, and escalated to designated decision-makers without delay. Rather than relying on handwritten notes or multiple communication channels, safeguarding teams can access a centralised system that provides accurate records, clear timelines, and accountability throughout the incident management process.

The Challenge

Safeguarding concerns can range from lost children and vulnerable adults requiring support through to welfare concerns, allegations of abuse, inappropriate behaviour, exploitation risks, or disclosures requiring immediate intervention.

July 2026

The system also supports post-event analysis, allowing organisers to identify trends, evaluate safeguarding performance, and demonstrate compliance to stakeholders, governing bodies, local authorities, and venue operators.

Looking Ahead

As safeguarding expectations continue to increase across the events sector, organisations must ensure that their systems evolve alongside their responsibilities. Attendees, families, regulators, sponsors, and partners rightly expect event organisers to have professional mechanisms in place for identifying, recording, and responding to concerns. The collaboration between X2Consult and Reporti Pro demonstrates what can be achieved when safeguarding expertise and innovative technology work together. By improving reporting processes, enhancing visibility, and supporting informed decision-making, the partnership is helping to raise safeguarding standards across the events industry.

Event environments are unique. Unlike schools, healthcare settings, or corporate workplaces, incidents can occur across large geographical footprints, involve multiple agencies, and require rapid decision-making.

Traditionally, many events have relied upon paper forms, radio communications, spreadsheets, emails, or fragmented reporting systems. These methods can create significant operational challenges including delayed escalation of critical incidents, inconsistent

One of the most significant advantages has been the ability to provide real-time oversight to safeguarding leadership teams. Senior safeguarding managers can review incidents as they occur, monitor emerging themes, allocate actions, and ensure that appropriate interventions are taking place. This level of visibility is particularly important during multi-day events where safeguarding risks can evolve quickly and where multiple agencies may be involved in responding to concerns.

Real-world Application

During major large-scale public gatherings, safeguarding teams have utilised Reporti Pro to manage welfare concerns and disclosures while maintaining a comprehensive audit trail.

Ultimately, safeguarding is about protecting people. Every concern recorded accurately, every disclosure managed appropriately, and every intervention delivered effectively contributes to creating safer experiences for everyone involved. X2consult.co.uk | Reporti.pro

PROMOTION

Redefining the Chauffeur Experience Parkers Chauffeurs is a premium, UK-based chauffeur business built around discretion, professionalism, and a consistently high standard of service.

Trusted by corporate clients, VIPs, and organisers of high-profile events, Parkers Chauffeurs specialises in executive travel that runs smoothly from start to finish. Whether the requirement is an airport transfer, rail connection, private jet transfer, convoy coordination, or complex event transport management, the business is designed to support those who need people moved efficiently, securely, and on time. In the world of corporate travel and live events, success often depends on detail that goes unnoticed by guests but is carefully managed by the operations team. Parkers Chauffeurs understands this better than most. Every journey begins with proactive planning, clear communication, and a flexible approach that allows the team to anticipate challenges before they arise. From tight schedules and multiple movements to last-minute changes and high-pressure environments, the company is structured to keep everything running effortlessly. At the heart of the service is a dedicated operations team responsible for scheduling, routing, and contingency planning. This level of coordination is essential when timing matters and expectations are high. The business does not simply provide transport; it provides a reliable extension of the client’s own team. That means taking ownership of the logistics, maintaining communication throughout the journey, and ensuring every movement is handled with precision. For event planners, executive assistants, venues, and production teams, that kind of support is invaluable. The chauffeurs themselves are a major part of the Parkers difference. Many come from ex-police backgrounds, bringing a calm, observant, and highly professional presence to every journey. Their experience helps create confidence in demanding situations, while their discreet approach ensures clients can travel in comfort and privacy. With strict NDAs in place, the business places the highest importance on

confidentiality, making it a trusted choice for clients who value both service and security. The company also recognises that no two journeys are the same, which is why it offers a range of options to suit different needs. Female drivers are available, and electric vehicle options provide a more sustainable choice for clients who prioritise environmental responsibility. The luxury fleet spans two- to seven-seat vehicles, with additional luxury coaches available for larger groups. Each vehicle offers a private, comfortable space where passengers can work or simply relax and enjoy the journey in peace. This combination of flexibility and professionalism makes Parkers Chauffeurs particularly well suited to major live events and high-profile clients nationwide. From the MOBOs to Dior, the company has built a reputation for calm delivery on highpressure days. When there are multiple movements, strict timings, and a lot at stake, Parkers provides the reassurance of a team that understands what is required to deliver it. For clients, the value lies not only in the quality of the vehicles or the skill of the chauffeurs, but in the confidence that comes from knowing every detail is being managed. The business brings together luxury, reliability, and operational expertise to create a dependable service for the passenger and the organiser. Now with the backing of Pneuma Group, that offering is stronger than ever, combining personal service with enhanced capability and longterm vision. When timing, discretion, and presentation matter, Parkers Chauffeurs offers a service that is calm, capable, and consistently polished. It is more than transport, it is a professional partnership built on precision, trust, and the ability to perform when it matters most. Parkerschauffeurs.com

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HOW TO

The Big Exhibiting Questions they thinking long-term? Do they understand your overall On the eve of The Meetings Are A supplier’s portfolio does a great job of goals, not just your brand guidelines? showing you what they can build. But what A stand should be designed around how your Show, BE Exhibitions happens to those builds after the main event? team captures leads, what conversations A stand designed with longevity in mind – you want to have, and what a successful day Founder Ellen Stokes using modular systems, reconfigurable layouts, looks like for your business. Worthwhile partners materials chosen for durability – is different want to know what conversions look like for offers guidance on what and to one designed for a single show. you, which KPIs matter to your marketing and you should be asking your sales teams, and how you want visitors to feel The best suppliers think about longevity exhibition stand suppliers. before agreeing the design – how often you when they step onto your stand. Most exhibitors are still briefing their stand builder the same way they always have – dimensions, logo colours, deadline. Job done. The challenge isn’t the brief; it’s the questions that never get asked. After nine years building stands for brands across the UK, we know which ones take your stand from a backdrop to a tool that keeps working long after the event. Here are some key questions you should put to any potential supplier.

exhibit, which sizes and layouts you typically book, whether the stand needs to travel, and whether new products or campaigns are on the horizon.

Have they got contingency plans if something goes wrong on-site?

Are they an ESSA member – and what does that mean?

The Event Supplier and Services Association (ESSA) is the industry’s professional body and accredited suppliers are strictly assessed against standards covering health and safety, structural integrity, and professional conduct. This is one of the clearest signals that the company you’re trusting with your brand has been independently vetted and is accountable to a code of practice that goes beyond the minimum legal requirement. If your current supplier isn’t accredited, it’s worth asking why. And if they are, ask them what it means in practice.

Ask to see examples of stands that have been refreshed, adapted, or reused across multiple events. A stand that evolved over several years or was reconfigured without a complete rebuild is proof that the supplier builds for ROI.

What are the total costs – including any potential hidden extras?

Naturally, cost will be one of your key questions, and most exhibitors focus on the sum of the build. However, it rarely tells the whole story. Storage, transport, refurbishment, replacement graphics – these are the costs that impact your exhibition ROI over time, but they rarely appear in the original quote. A good supplier will proactively outline what can be reused, what typical maintenance cycles look like, and where the transport efficiencies are. This is where many suppliers can be vague and where exhibitors lose money year after year. If your stand builder only discusses what it costs to build, they may not be thinking beyond delivery day. A genuine long-term partner will want to talk about years two and three before you’ve signed off year one.

July 2026

If the briefing process never ventures beyond aesthetics, you’re just getting a backdrop. The best suppliers ask about your sales funnel before they open a design file. They’ll push back if your brief risks compromising results, because they’re invested in outcomes, not upsells.

In live environments things occasionally go wrong, so your supplier needs to be able to tell you exactly what their plan is. Who is your point of contact from briefing through to build? Will someone be on-site or on call during the show? What if a component arrives damaged or a structural issue emerges during installation? Is there an off-site build check before anything goes to the venue? Clear project timelines, proactive communication, and logistics handled end-to-end are the baseline for a partner who takes your event as seriously as you do. These are the conversations we find ourselves having with clients time and time again. The most successful exhibition stands aren’t necessarily the biggest or the most expensive. They’re the ones built around clear objectives, long-term thinking, and a supplier relationship based on trust. Beexhibitions.co.uk

You can hear teamwork • Rock Choir · Rock Band · Recording Studio - Corporate team experiences through music • From a one-hour conference energiser to a full-day event - For groups of 10 to 300 • No musical experience needed - Every session led personally by founder Ian Hooper • Trusted by - Google, Cisco, HSBC, British Gas, Jewson and more • Buckingham Palace 2025 - Recognised for services to music and education UPBEAT EXPERIENCES takes your team - marketers, engineers, managers, everyone - and turns them into a performing group. Whether it’s a one-hour conference energiser, a half-day session, or a full-day event, founder and musician Ian Hooper guides complete beginners through a carefully structured experience that ends in a genuine, spine-tingling performance.

• Hybrid Meetings • Conference Microphones • PTZ Camera Integration • Simultaneous Interpretation shure.com • Silent Conferences © 2021 Shure Incorporated. See shure.com/trademarks. • Serviced and Dry Hire available

IAN HOOPER, FOUNDER

07730 943939 | ian@upbeatrock.co.uk

upbeatexperiences.co.uk

01383 825709 | info@avdept.co.uk | www.avdept.co.uk

www.hospitalityandeventsnorth.com

TEAM BUILDING

Ian Hooper of Upbeat Experiences explains how music can create powerful and memorable team experiences that genuinely make an impact.

Sounds Amazing! Having spent 35 years as a professional musician, Ian Hooper now brings the principles that make great bands work into team building events and the results tend to stay with people far longer than a PowerPoint deck. Companies across the UK invest serious thought and resource into away days and team development, and the best of them do genuinely valuable work in bringing people together and reinforcing shared purpose. What interests Ian is the question of what happens when you add something unexpected into that mix – something that comes from a completely different direction and lands in a way that nobody in the room anticipates. Throughout his career as a musician, Ian has found that the principles which make a great band work together are the same ones that underpin any effective team: “In a good band, everyone is paying attention to everyone else,” he explains. “They listen carefully, they respond to what they hear, and they trust each other enough to play their part without overthinking it. These are transferable skills that most people never get the chance to experience directly.” That observation led Ian – who was invited to Buckingham Palace by King Charles in recognition of his services to music and education in 2025 – to found Upbeat Experiences, a company that brings music into corporate team events in a way that sits alongside and strengthens the development work organisations are already doing. The format is straightforward: a group of colleagues, none of whom need any musical background, learn and perform a song together under Ian’s guidance. The experiences come in three forms: a rock choir, a rock band day where people pick up real instruments, and a recording studio session where the team records a track together professionally. July 2026

Using music as a team building tool gives teams a shared creative achievement that reinforces the values most organisations are already working hard to build such as listening, trust, collaboration, and the confidence to contribute. Rather than replacing what companies do well, it adds a dimension that conventional formats find hard to reach. If you want your entire team to be enthusiastic and engaged, Ian believes that music is the answer: “Music is a real feel-good factor and confidence builder

The whole process is designed so that people who consider themselves completely unmusical tend to get the most out of it: “You see a look of dread on people’s faces when you first explain what they’re going to be doing but by the end, they’re genuinely elated and have built a real bond with their colleagues.”

You don’t need to explain teamwork. You can hear it.

that sends endorphins and dopamine around your brain, consequently making you connect with people around you in a different way than you might normally do sat in an office. There really are no barriers – everyone has a voice they can use, regardless of musical ability.”

The moment when the full group comes together and hears itself for the first time is something Ian never tires of: “People look around the room with genuine surprise, and they cannot believe they’re the ones making it sound that good. There’s a wave of energy and connection that’s very difficult to create any other way, and it tends to stay with people long after the event itself.”

Sessions begin with rhythm exercises and vocal warm-ups that get people relaxed and laughing within the first few minutes. From there, the group splits into parts and Ian builds the arrangement layer by layer, each section learning by ear. There is no sheet music and no pressure to perform individually.

Sessions run from a one-hour conference energiser through to a full-day event and can cater to groups from 10 to several hundreds. For those looking for something that brings a fresh creative dimension to their programme, Ian puts it simply: “You don’t need to explain teamwork. You can hear it.” Upbeatexperiences.co.uk | 07730 943 939

MOBILE BARS

Raising the Bar Mobile bar services have gone from novelty to mainstream and for event planners willing to break from the traditional, they’re more than just a drinks solution. No longer restricted to festival fields and outdoor weddings, mobile bars have evolved considerably over the past few years and confidently crossed over into the corporate events space. What was once an operation defined by converted vintage vehicles and handwritten chalk menus now encompasses everything from sleek branded cocktail carts and espresso bikes to modular pop-up bars capable of serving several hundred guests across multiple stations.

Or you can book a company like Nickynoo that can offer all of those in one unit and stock the bar specifically to suit your event.” The trend reflects a shift in what clients have come to expect from beverage service. A static bar at the back of a room is now becoming seen as a missed opportunity whereas a well-positioned mobile bar can become a focal point which draws delegates in, generating interaction and giving an event an exciting visual identity. With a practical element too, units can be deployed in spaces where a fixed bar would be impossible or prohibited. Many can operate without requiring mains power or a dedicated water supply – two of the most common venue constraints – and setup and breakdown can be done quickly, which is crucial when managing tight turnarounds.

Nicola Robinson operates Nickynoo Mobile Bars and has first-hand insight into the appeal: “For organisers booking mobile bars, the main benefit is the flexibility it allows. There are lots of different styles of mobile bar so you can book one that suits your event, be it traditional, quirky, or a more classic look. A mobile bar in a vehicle or trailer can be easily moved should you need to change its location if, for example, you’re affected by adverse weather conditions. If the ground becomes flooded, you can move it to another area.” This flexibility extends to product ranges. Independent mobile bars are often not tied in with a brewery or drinks company which allows them to stock the bars with a wide variety of drinks: “At larger events, you can have a selection of independent mobile providers specialising in different areas such as cocktails, spirits, and craft beer.

For corporate clients, bars have become a branding opportunity rather than just a service point. Logo-wrapped fascias, branded cups, and QR codes linking to campaign content are now commonly seen. A product launch or client reception with a signature cocktail carrying the brand’s name is a simple and effective piece of crossover marketing. Some operators offer full custom builds aligned to specific brand guidelines, including LED backbars and digital screens. Vehicle conversions like Airstream trailers, vintage vans, and customised carts remain popular and are well suited to outdoor and semi-permanent settings with modular systems offering more flexibility for indoor use.

Nicola advises caution when engaging the services of a mobile bar: “If you’re bringing in a mobile bar you need to consider the financial agreement you’ve made. Some larger events can charge operators such a high premium that they then have to pass this on to the consumer, which can result in poor quality products being sold at a high cost, so the mobile bar operator is still able to make a profit.” Providing a choice of low-alcohol or alcohol-free drinks has gone from an afterthought to an expectation and those who fail to offer a considered mocktail list alongside their cocktail menu are behind the curve. Delegates increasingly want an equally premium-level experience regardless of whether they’re drinking alcohol and mocktails with quality garnishing and thoughtful flavour combinations help to meet that expectation. With sustainability credentials now non-negotiable for many clients, reusable glassware, compostable alternatives, locally sourced spirits and ingredients, and minimal-waste preparation methods are all features you can expect from good suppliers. Check out our partners and we’ll see you at the bar!

Make your next corporate event the one everyone remembers. Our branded bar solutions don’t just serve drinks – they serve up serious impact. Whether you’re hosting client entertainment, team celebrations, or product launches, our vintage vehicles become instant conversation starters.

07974 333789 / mark@vintagebusbar.com

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www.hospitalityandeventsnorth.com

BEST SERVED

ANYWHERE • Mobile Cocktail Bars • Branded Bars • Brand Activations

nickynoo

• Masterclasses & Cocktail Experiences

have a wide selection of bar choices!

• Flair Bartenders • Themed Bars & Drinks

We offer a bespoke, high quality service suitable for all budgets.

We specialise in mobile bar hire for weddings and events across the North East, and can provide fully stocked bars for corporate days or festivals.

jonnycocktail.com

07799 535187 / nicola@nickynoo.co.uk

07890 266438

www.nickynoo.co.uk

Corporate Events | Private Parties | Weddings

Our mission is to provide a premium mobile cocktail bar experience with entertaining bartenders for the perfect corporate event, focusing on our clients and their guests having a fun and stress-free experience. Exceptional drinks & extraordinary experiences that bring your people together.

0113 831 3149 | info@mixandtwist.co.uk | www.mixandtwist.co.uk

Mobile Bar Hire and Masterclasses Available Nationwide

We provide a full bar and mixology service for any function, however large or small. Our highly-trained and friendly team of professional mixologists promises incredible drinks mixed to perfection before your guests’ very eyes. Our bars provide a great focal point for your event, reflecting your brand.

BOOKINGS@CURIOUSEVENTS.CO.UK 07815555735

whaleysmixology.co.uk | 07885 453667

July 2026

SUSTAINABILITY

PHOTO: GAETAN FLAMME

The events industry has made considerable progress on sustainability, but there is often still a disparity between what clients want to achieve and what happens on the ground. Simon Hainsworth, Managing Director of CSE, which specialises in event logistics, recognises the gap: “Because there are often multiple organisations involved in the planning and delivery of an event, there can be a challenge around ensuring participants and event staff are fully communicated with beforehand, and that their expectations are managed.” That communication gap has practical consequences. Transport is one of the most common pressure points, particularly for larger outdoor events where public transport links are limited and private car use is the default. Best practice involves securing accommodation within walking distance of the venue or arranging shared electric transport. But the plan only holds if everyone involved knows about it in advance: “If people aren’t told that and they arrive expecting to travel in a private car, then sometimes plans have to be changed last minute.” Transport often accounts for the largest share of an event’s carbon footprint. Publicising public transport options proactively, providing park-and-ride coaches from accessible central points, and creating forums for car-sharing are all effective tools. Some events have gone further, with incentives for the most creative or sustainable journey. Outdoor events carry a specific set of environmental responsibilities that indoor venues don’t. Sensitive landscapes such as moorland, coastal paths, and parkland require active management to prevent damage. That means waymarking and stewarding to keep participants on designated routes, consultation with land managers on appropriate access, and clear communication with delegates about Leave No Trace principles. In these

Green Team

Sustainability is now expected as standard, but closing the gap between ambition and delivery takes more than good intentions, particularly at outdoor events. environments, seemingly small details can really matter, like equipment washing stations to prevent the spread of invasive species, no-dog policies to protect wildlife, and requests that nothing is taken from or left at the site. Providing adequate infrastructure empowers delegates to act responsibly. This means ample provision of bins and wastesorting stations along with trained personnel. Equally, resource use should be audited from the planning stage: water bottle filling points rather than pre-packaged plastic, minimal wasteful items in goody bags, and renewable or efficient energy sources where available. For logistics specialists like CSE, sustainability runs through the supply chain as much as the event itself. Simon emphasises the importance of how partners and clients coordinate: “It comes down to communication and each partner being very clear from the outset on their aims and what provision they want to offer so there aren’t surprises down the line. We always carefully assess the sustainability policies of all partners.” While sustainability claims have become more common in marketing, many remain unsure about what genuine progress looks like. For Simon, the answer lies not in what organisers say, but in what delegates experience: “It’s about what the people at the event say about it that matters. Companies can claim to be environmentally friendly, but unless the delegates, venue staff, and other key personnel see that in action then it’s

meaningless. If those people come away impressed by your sustainability efforts, they can be your biggest cheerleaders going forward.” Looking ahead, Simon sees technology and industry-wide behavioural change reshaping what is achievable: “AI is of course a key factor which will shape sustainable event logistics in the future with its ability to manage routes, create solutions which rely less on private transport, and work out the most sustainable options.” He also expects greater scrutiny of airlines’ use of sustainable fuel, hotel sustainability practices, and food waste. Simon returns to the connective thread that runs through his approach: “It all comes back to communication. Everyone involved in the event – from the organisers to the delegates, the media to those managing the accommodation – all need to be on the same page. It’s only by working together towards a collective aim that we can truly move in a positive direction.” Cseplc.com

INDUSTRY OPINION

Uncertain Times Al Turner, Marketing Counsel at the National Outdoor Event Association (NOEA), talks concern, confidence, and the character of an industry.

Recent findings from the NOEA’s Confidence Monitor in both April and May painted a clear picture: concern among event professionals increased and has remained high. Rising costs, economic uncertainty, and wider market pressures continue to shape the environment our industry operates within. But what’s interesting about the findings isn’t the concern itself, it’s the speed with which our industry accepts challenges, adjusts, and starts seeking solutions. It’s not that event professionals have become comfortable with uncertainty, but rather that uncertainty itself increasingly forms part of everyday planning. The expectation of perfectly stable conditions has largely disappeared and the industry has adapted. Event professionals instinctively assess situations

quickly, identify next steps, and move forward with little fuss. They don’t ignore problems, and they certainly don’t wait around for ideal conditions to arrive. They find solutions. Perhaps one of the clearest examples of this can be seen in the industry’s commitment to learning and development. We continue to see enthusiasm for training, professional development, CPD, and skills-building. Not because people are panicking, but because they are preparing. Not because circumstances are unusual, but because responsible event professionals continually look for ways to improve. At NOEA, we see that commitment as a sign of a mature and forward-looking sector. A community willing to invest and recognise

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July 2026

that learning is part of remaining resilient, relevant, and ready for whatever comes next. This is why we’re excited to launch the NOEA Training Day initiative. A day of education from some of the best, most experienced, and contemporary thinkers in the industry across a host of different subjects. Check in with NOEA over the coming weeks for more information on how we’re supporting the next chapter of our industry’s journey. Noea.org.uk

EMPLOYMENT LAW

Laying Down the Law We look at changes in employment law and what they mean for an industry built on flexible staffing and tight margins. The UK is entering a period of significant employment law reform, with changes being introduced in phases across 2026 and 2027. For businesses that rely on casual labour, variable rotas, and last-minute staffing, the reforms will require careful planning and earlier action than many employers are currently taking. Already introduced are changes to statutory sick pay, family leave, collective redundancy protections, Fair Work Agency enforcement, holiday pay records, and action plans among others, with more changes set to take place over the next 18 months. Sylviane Kokouendo, Associate Partner at Slater Heelis, points out the industry’s dependence on zero-hours and casual workers: “The reforms are likely to limit the long-term use of zero-hours contracts where workers in practice work regular patterns over time, so event companies may need to move away from relying solely on zerohours contracts and start offering more guaranteed hours. Many businesses will likely have to restructure their workforce with a mix of permanent staff, fixed-term workers, and genuinely casual staff.” Lead HR Business Partner at Clover HR, Sarita Hale, acknowledges the reforms could be workable but warns the detail will matter: “Hospitality is not like a standard office environment, because demand can change quickly and businesses often need staff at short notice. If the rules are too rigid, there is a risk of unintended consequences – fewer entry-level shifts, reduced flexibility for students and parents, or increased reliance on agency labour.” Operators that already manage rotas properly and communicate clearly are likely to be better placed than those relying on informal practices. The much-discussed ‘day-one’ unfair dismissal rights have evolved as the reforms have developed. Sylviane clarifies the current position: “From 1st January 2027, staff who have completed six months’ service will gain protection from unfair dismissal. Staff hired for very short-term events may not be covered unless their employment continues beyond six months.” The practical implication is clear – contract documentation needs to be accurate, up to date, and actively monitored.

Sarita says the reforms will increase scrutiny around probation periods and recruitment decisions: “Businesses may move towards clearer three-month probation periods with the option to extend so they can properly assess whether someone is the right fit while still acting fairly and consistently.” Beyond the most attention-grabbing changes, there are areas of the new rules and regulations that employers risk overlooking. Sylviane points to the cumulative impact of smaller procedural shifts – strengthened parental leave rights, enhanced statutory sick pay entitlements, and expanded liability for preventing workplace sexual harassment: “Small changes can have big impacts, especially for cost and compliance. Staying informed means you’ll be ready for more than just the headline legislation.” Sarita flags the SSP reforms as one of the most immediate pressures. A legislation change in April of this year means statutory sick pay applies from the first day of sickness, with the lower earnings limit also removed: “For businesses with large hourly-paid teams, this could have a real cost impact and may require tighter absence management processes.” For smaller operators without HR support, the combination of sick pay from day one and reduced cashflow flexibility could have considerable impact. The importance of employers taking action before the reforms arrive is highlighted. Sylviane recommends auditing current casual working arrangements and getting contracts checked by a professional. Sarita advises reviewing contracts, handbooks, sickness policies, probation clauses, and rota practices against both current and upcoming legislation – and training managers to apply them consistently.

SARITA HALE

The businesses that prepare early will be in a far better position when the reforms come into force.

Record-keeping will become increasingly important as the Fair Work Agency takes on an enforcement role. Businesses should be able to demonstrate that staff are paid correctly, tips are handled in line with the Tipping Act, working time rules are followed, and employment documents are accurate. As Sarita says: “The businesses that prepare early will be in a far better position when the reforms come into force.” Slaterheelis.co.uk Cloverhr.co.uk

SYLVIANE KOKOUENDO

www.hospitalityandeventsnorth.com

HOME TECH

Remote Control For those admin-filled days when you’re not on-site, it’s time to upgrade your home office setup! Krafted Connex | £29.99 | Kraftedtech.com With most home workers now using several devices each day – laptops, smartphones, tablets, earbuds, cameras, and power banks – charging and connectivity have become increasingly fragmented. Krafted Connex is a compact cable adaptor hub designed to simplify daily connections. Instead of carrying multiple charging cables with different connectors, Connex brings them together into a single, portable solution. It supports a range of connection types while offering standard charging, PD charging, and data transfer. Connect USB-A, USB-C, micro-USB, and switch effortlessly between each on one handy device.

uErgoh ergonomic chair | £1,180 | Osim.co.uk Choosing the best office chair for your work from home setup is more important than you might think; the right one is vital for your long-term health when it comes to posture and reducing strain on your back. OSIM’s uErgoh is pricier than other models but it might just be worth the splurge! It comes equipped with battery-powered, cordless massage tech that mimics the precise grip of a professional masseuse to deliver targeted relief where tension builds most. It also uses wellness tech to measure, monitor, and manage your stress levels. It uses Photoplethysmography (PPG) technology combined with the OSIM wellbeing app to calculate a body tension score that reflects the stress level in the body and provides personalised programmes to help de-stress.

RED5 wireless charging desk lamp and tidy | £15.99 | Menkind.co.uk Gadgets that have more than one purpose are ideal for home offices where size might not always be on your side. The lamp not only illuminates your desk with three brightness settings but also features a nifty wireless charging pad to keep your devices powered up. It also includes a handy built-in organiser that holds all your necessary essentials. It really is true what they say – tidy space, tidy mind!

Google Nest Hub | £89.99 | Store.google.com Marrying Google’s ever-helpful voice assistant to a seven-inch touchscreen, the Nest Hub smart display is much more than a device to control your music playlist or play ambient white noise (though both can make working from home more pleasant). You can also get it to run fact-checks, get direct spellings of words that elude spellcheck, verify the dates of important events, set alarms and reminders for important tasks, and search Google hands-free, receiving both audio and video results on a separate, independent display.

Plaud Note | £149 | Uk.plaud.ai No more missed moments in meetings or calls; with one press, Plaud Note instantly records in crystal-clear audio. It offers seamless AI transcription in 112 languages, complete with speaker labels and custom vocabulary to ensure your meeting notes are accurate. Whether you're recording a Zoom call via the desktop app or switching to phone call mode for mobile calls, the dual-mode recording captures everything with crystal clarity. It also has multidimensional summarising capability, with over 10,000 templates and mind-mapping tools to transform audio into role-specific insights.

July 2026

ON LOCATION: NORTH WALES

North Wales is a region that’s rapidly growing as a destination for conferences and business events. North Wales is a destination for business events that combines an innovative approach to sustainability, rich historical significance, unique cultural traits, and a genuinely warm welcome. The region offers versatile venues and accommodation for conferences and meetings, with rugged landscapes and breathtaking coastline as backdrops. Adrenaline-fuelled activities also offer unforgettable experiences for team building and incentives. It’s home to the Snowdonia National Park, the Clwydian Range (an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty), 250 miles of coastline, natural lakes, around 50 islands, three World Heritage Sites, and not forgetting its fair share of the country’s 600 castles including Caernarfon, where the Prince of Wales (now king) was invested in 1969. For incentive programmes, the region delivers the perfect blend of leisure and excitement, offering delegates both moments to unwind and thrilling experiences. If it’s zip-lining or surfing, water sports or mountain walks, your team have a choice of world-class activities to try. For more leisurely team building, walking the mountains and beaches or a visit to a historic Italian village set within the

Where Mountains Meet the Sea

Snowdonia landscape are just some of the amazing offerings in the adventure capital of the UK. And, with an excellent selection of venues, accommodation, and experiences, the region will truly inspire your delegates. The rich natural landscape provides the most tranquil yet exceptional setting for its venues and activities. These natural features stand alongside ancient World Heritage Sites that are truly inspirational. The myths and legends that enrich the culture can be seen everywhere from the service to the food and even the greetings at many of its hotels, making it a destination like no other.

universities renowned for research in environmental sciences, engineering, and human sciences, venues and accommodation in city or beautiful natural surroundings, and innovative food and drink suppliers. The team at Meet North Wales provides expert knowledge and works closely with you to understand your requirements and source the ideal location, accommodation, and experience for your next business event, providing a timely response to enquiries. Easily accessible from the North of England, delegates can travel by rail in under two hours from Liverpool, Manchester, and Birmingham. North Wales is a destination like no other and your delegates will be sure to receive a truly memorable experience.

There is also plenty on offer for those with calmer tastes, with an enviable reputation for locally produced food and drink, including world-famous seafood, lamb, vineyards, distilleries, and breweries. You’ll find top-class chefs and Michelin-Starred Meetnorthwales.co.uk | restaurants proudly info@meetnorthwales.co.uk showcasing local ingredients, all adding to the very special experience the Scan for area offers to its guests. North Wales Conferences Alongside its beautiful and Business surroundings close to nature Events and competitive pricing and increased value for money, North Wales boasts a purpose-built conference and events centre, two world-class

www.hospitalityandeventsnorth.com

Your team’s next breakthrough starts in the mountains.

Explore. Challenge. Grow.

Exclusive whole-house hire in the heart of the iconic Beddgelert, Eryri National Park. Perfect for leadership away-days, strategy retreats and high-performance team building programmes.

Tailored 1 – 4 day outdoor adventure experiences in Eryri/Snowdonia

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outdoor team challenges

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What’s included? all necessary safety gear, optional catering and accommodation available on request, Duke of Edinburgh training and expedition organisation.

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SCAN TO FIND OUT MORE

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Outdoor Adventure Fell walking Orienteering Bushcraft Mine exploration Rock climbing Mountain biking Wellness Yoga

July 2026

INDUSTRY OPINION

Lost Generation Shonali Devereaux of the Meetings Industry Association (MIA) explores what the crisis in youth employment means for the meetings and events sector and why protecting entry-level opportunities matters. For decades, the meetings and events sector has provided a first step into employment for thousands of young people. However, recent labour market trends suggest those opportunities have become increasingly limited. In Alan Milburn’s recent ‘Young People and Work’ review, it was revealed that the UK risks creating a ‘lost generation’ with a rising number of young people not in education, employment, or training. The report also identified a decline in entry-level opportunities, particularly in sectors such as hospitality. PAYE figures also highlight hospitality employment has continued to decline over the past 12 months, with employment rates for 16-to-24-year-olds remaining below prepandemic levels.

our sector and the role our industry can play in addressing it.

At a time when rising Employers National Insurance and National Minimum Wage costs have increased pressure on recruitment decisions, many organisations are finding it more difficult to invest in apprenticeships, junior roles, and workforce development. While understandable, these pressures raise important questions about the future workforce on which our industry depends. Against this backdrop, the sector is already responding. The MIA is proud to support The Power of Events’ new Experience of Work programme, which aims to create 500 career opportunities for young people in the sector. Alongside this, we are engaging with the Department for Business and Trade to ensure policymakers understand both the impact of declining youth employment on

A career in our sector is often described as something discovered by chance, rather than actively pursued. Yet few sectors offer the same breadth of entry-level roles, transferable skills, and progression opportunities. If we are to avoid a ‘lost generation’, we must be more strategic in how we introduce young people to our industry, helping them see business meetings and events not as a career they fall into, but one they aspire to join. Mia-uk.org

Corporate Venue in North Wales Looking for an inspiring business venue in Anglesey to host a meeting or hold a conference, look no further. At Château Rhianfa, we invite you to try something different to accomplish your business objectives.

chateaurhianfa.co.uk/corporate/

Go North Wales Hotel Of The Year 38

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TEAM BUILDING

Top Team

This summer is filled with major sporting events so get your team going with one of these sport-based team building activities. Zip World The world’s first underground adventure golf set in a cave is available at Llechwedd’s Zip World in North Wales. Take on the 18-hole course, set 500 ft. below the ground in a disused cavern and only accessible by Europe’s steepest cable railway. Enjoy the impressive display of lighting and interactive elements as you and your team putt your way through the course’s exciting levels, with four floors to tackle. The venue is also home to a subterranean adventure course, giant bouncy nets suspended in a former coal mine, and Penrhyn Quarry lake and the historic Tower Colliery – both available to hire for the backdrop of your next company day out. Zipworld.co.uk/locations/llechwedd

Bubble Boy Events Bubble football (or zorb football) is exactly what it says on the tin, playing football in giant bubbles. This fun, unique twist on the sport results in heaps of laughter and bumping around that will allow your team to unwind and unleash their inner child. The game can be enjoyed on surfaces such as 3G pitches, astroturf, and sports halls across our region that will lead to fantastic jumping, shooting, bouncing, and tackling in the giant bubbles. It also encourages communication, teamwork, and friendly competition in a relaxed and entertaining environment that helps create bonds outside of the workplace. Bubblefootball.co.uk

Ballsportz Ballsportz offers a dynamic range of sports-themed team building activities that can energise and engage your team. One of the highlights of the company’s offerings is cricket, football, or rugby darts, giant inflatables that combine some of the UK’s most-loved sports. Players bat or kick Velcro balls at the giant dartboard to score points, creating a fun and interactive experience for all abilities. The mix of skill, accuracy, and light-hearted competition makes it an ideal activity for groups looking to bring people together in a casual setting. With simple rules, quick rounds, and plenty of opportunities for participation, these activities help encourage collaboration and keep energy levels high. Ballsportz.co.uk

World Padel Academy The latest sport taking the world by storm is padel, Nottingham-based World Padel Academy hosts team building and wellness days for all – even those with little or no previous experience. The company’s packages can be customised to include and combine warm-up and fitness sessions, introduction to padel, professional coaches, matches and tournaments, and more! Worldpadelacademy.uk/experiences

42 Cycling In Inverness, 42 Cycling hosts cycling tours that can act as a refreshing and rewarding way for teams to connect outside of the workplace while exploring some of the beautiful scenic routes Scotland has to offer. Colleagues are encouraged to support and motivate each other throughout the journey whether navigating off-road trails or simply just enjoying a long-distance ride through the Highlands. These shared challenges naturally promote resilience and cooperation to help develop stronger relationships. The tours can also be tailored to include specific objectives with professional guides, support vehicles, equipment, and event coordination on hand. 42cycling.com/team-building

July 2026

MULTI-PURPOSE VENUES

Many Uses Venues that can seamlessly shift between meetings, conferences, and hospitality are increasingly in demand.

As clients look for more cohesive event experiences and tighter budgets demand value at every stage, the multi-purpose venue (MPV) has moved from a convenient option to a strategic one. Astute event planners understand the advantages of multi-purpose spaces and how they can help get the most out of an event programme. Versatility is more than just a matter of size. A room that can host 200 for dinner or a conference is useful, but a space that can move those same delegates through a keynote, a breakout session, a drinks reception, and dinner service is something even more valuable. As events diversify, incorporating innovative new formats and multi-faceted programmes, event profs are drawn to venues which are agile and adaptable. Like most modern sports venues, arenas, and conference centres, the best MPVs have structural flexibility built in rather than improvised. These spaces have been specifically designed with an array of different event requirements in mind. Ceiling height, acoustic separation between rooms,

load-bearing capacity for rigging, and loading access for production teams are features that determine whether a space can accommodate a complex brief. However, some of the most effective MPVs aren’t purpose-built, they’re buildings that have been adapted with consideration and imagination. Industrial conversions have become a significant part of the sector – former mills, warehouses, and works buildings offer vast spaces and robust infrastructure which make them highly functional for event production. Part of the appeal is aesthetic as these spaces create an impressive atmosphere, but the practical advantages are also significant. High ceilings accommodate staging and lighting rigs, wide floor plates give planners room to configure, and loading bays that used to receive freight now easily handle flight cases.

Tech-integration is a litmus test that separates successful MPVs from those that struggle. High-speed connectivity, house rigging, in-built AV, and hybrid streaming capabilities are now expected as standard by most corporate clients. A truly functional MPV has these features embedded in the infrastructure – ready for action and easy to work with – preferable to the cost and hassle of relying on hired-in equipment and technical staff.

reducing the number of supplier relationships in play and limiting points where things can go wrong. For complex, multi-stage events, that cohesion and flexibility directly impact both the client experience and the planner’s workload. MPVs are often located in prime locations such as central business districts, near transportation hubs, or within accessible areas for those delegates travelling from out of town. The convenience of having everything in one location means less time spent on travel and more time for attendees to actually engage with the event. Additionally, many of these venues are situated near hotels, restaurants, and entertainment options, which can enhance the overall experience and provide networking opportunities outside of the formal event. These factors contribute to making the event more enjoyable and convenient for everyone involved. A well-chosen multi-purpose venue can be a real gift to the ambitious event planner. Rather than ask you to compromise, it gives you a lot more to work with.

While aesthetic appeal, floor space, and tech specs all matter, the strongest case for MPVs is the logistical one. A single venue managing catering, AV, security, and room changeovers streamlines operations while

www.hospitalityandeventsnorth.com

SPOILT FOR CHOICE AT

MILLENNIUM POINT

At Millennium Point, no two events need to look the same. With a range of versatile, multi-purpose spaces, we give you the flexibility to create an event that fits your vision perfectly, whether it’s a conference, exhibition, networking event, product launch or anything else that needs to leave a lasting impression. 354-SEAT AUDITORIUM

17 VERSATILE SPACES

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July 2026

cation and Contact

Corporate events at The Crichton

The Crichton Business Park

1 stunning sandstone buildings, 85-acres of beautifully2 landscaped Crichton Central grounds and gardens, an on-site 3 Crichton 3 The hotel, a dedicated events team and Gardens 8 a thriving community4feel, Themaking Crichton Memorial Church it the perfect location for your 5 6 4 corporate events.

 Variety of spaces to suit all corporate 1 requirements from 10 to 350 guests 2

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6 Easterbrook Bistro, Bar & Spa

event space in Academic Campus 7 Largest south-west Scotland

8 Holiday Inn Dumfries

Variety of spaces to suit all corporate requirements from 1:1s 600 conference delegates Scan QR codeup for to more

information!

Breakout rooms

5 7  Largest multi-functional business park 6 12 The Crichton is located at: 71-bedroom hotel on site in the south of Scotland

Location and Contact

parking, with DG1 EV charging points The Crichton Trust, Banked Road, Dumfries, 4ZE

 On-site catering and accommodation 1

1 The Crichton Business Park

stunning sandstone buildings, 85-acres of beautifully Crichton Central  Town centre location, 2 landscaped grounds and gardens, an on-site 2 Crichton 45 minutes from A74(M) 3 The hotel, just a dedicated events team and Gardens a thriving community4feel, making The Crichton Memorial Church it the perfect location for your 7 corporate events.

 Variety of spaces to suit all corporate requirements from 10 to 350 guests

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In-house catering team On site bistro and café Professional events team Town centre location

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contact

EXCELLENT SPACE EXCELLENT SERVICE Experience the ultimate venue for meetings, conferences, and exhibitions. Suitable for conferences, exhibitions, meetings, events or performances, we have a space to suit your needs. At The Edge, we offer a wide range of flexible rooms that can accommodate from 1 to 1,000 people. Whether you’re planning a small meeting or a large conference, we have the perfect space for you. We offer a range of exceptional services to ensure the success of your meetings, conferences, and exhibitions. Our dedicated team will support you from start to finish, creating an event tailored to you.

HELLO@THEEDGEWIGAN.COM | WWW.THEEDGEWIGAN.COM 01942 244460 | THE EDGE, RIVEREDGE, WIGAN WN3 5AB 42

www.hospitalityandeventsnorth.com

EVENT TECH

Tech it Easy Johnny Martinez, Head of Partnerships and Events at CrowdComms, discusses efficiency, personalisation, and the technologies reshaping the events landscape. Ahead of his talk at The Meetings Show, Johnny Martinez discusses a shift in the conversation around event technology: “It’s no longer just about logistics. It’s about data, revenue, and making sure the people delivering events can focus on what actually matters.” Just over two years ago, Johnny joined CrowdComms, the event tech company which offers services from online registration and badge printing to hybrid platforms, mobile apps, and live streaming. As the events industry landscape has changed, so has his role: “We’ve become event tech consultants as much as providers. If a client comes to us with a problem we can’t fully solve ourselves, we’ll point them towards tools that, alongside our platform, will get them there.” This highlights a fundamental truth about technology in the events sector: no single platform does everything, and the best results come from a considered stack rather than a single solution. For smaller agencies in particular, efficiency is everything: “It’s about maximising output, freeing people up to focus on delivering a great experience rather than drowning in admin.”

“It’s about maximising output, freeing people up to focus on delivering a great experience rather than drowning in admin.” On the other side of the client equation, there are different challenges to which AI is increasingly offering solutions.

July 2026

CrowdComms’ matchmaking tool collects interests ahead of an event, analyses the delegate pool, and builds schedules around the most relevant connections before anyone comes through the door: “People want to meet the right people and avoid wasting time on the wrong conversations. I like the phrase ‘don’t make me think’, it’s definitely a common feeling when it comes to navigating networking.”

In terms of emerging tech that has Johnny excited, he points to two developments which stand out. The first is easier integrations: “They’re complex to build, time-consuming for developers, and historically one of the weaker points in any tech stack from a data privacy perspective.”

Johnny believes data is where the real long-term value lies. The ability to summarise attendee feedback quickly, reflect on past behaviour, and demonstrate how such processes shape future programming is increasingly available to organisers: “Event tech creates additional sponsor exposure, referral ticketing, and the ability to reward your most engaged community members. Saving time is really about redirecting effort to what matters most.”

Secondly, AI-powered multilingual captions and real-time interpretation have improved dramatically in recent years, and Johnny – who speaks English as an additional language – sees them as a genuine step forward for accessibility and inclusion: “People are locked out of valuable content simply because it isn’t in their language. Now, if I want to make a session accessible to someone in Brazil or China, I can. For highly technical conferences you may still need a human interpreter, but they don’t need to be on-site. That saves cost and opens doors.”

As new technology becomes more prevalent, many fear it may result in events feeling increasingly impersonal. Johnny suggests the solution is smarter segmentation: “You need to properly categorise your community – members, non-members, first-timers, lapsed contacts, different sponsor tiers – and communicate accordingly. It’s obvious when an email hasn’t been tailored to you. Make a focused effort to each part of your community in turn. People notice the difference.”

Crowdcomms.com

NorthinBrief Cuts Cause Concern

Stronger Partnerships

The Meetings Industry Association (MIA) and events association beam have voiced concern following VisitBritain’s decision to restructure its business events division amid wider funding reductions. The move follows previously announced cuts to VisitBritain’s government grant-in-aid funding, which fell by 41% to £10.57 million, prompting fears across the sector about the future of the UK’s international business events activity.

The Event Society is a newly launched trade association founded by former Alliance of Independent Event Agencies (AIEA) Chairman Chris Walls. It aims to create closer collaboration between event management companies and supply-chain partners through networking, training, and knowledge-sharing initiatives. Since opening in May, the organisation has attracted 24 agency members, collectively representing around £15 million of event business across the UK and overseas.

MIA Chief Executive Shonali Devereaux criticised the lack of a coordinated government approach to business events policy: “Despite its significant contribution to economic growth, the sector lacks consistent representation within government, with responsibility spread across multiple departments rather than a single, coordinated point of engagement.” Chair of beam, David Tremmil, is deeply concerned by the changes: “Reducing dedicated support for business events sends the wrong message to an industry that continues to deliver significant economic impact across the UK.” David warned the cuts risk weakening the UK’s competitiveness internationally at a time when many rival destinations continue to invest heavily in attracting meetings, conferences, exhibitions, and incentive travel: “Business events drive investment, create commercial opportunities, support regional economies, and showcase UK expertise internationally. At a time when the UK economy needs growth, trade, and inward investment, reducing support risks becoming a false economy.”

See the latest news online Hospitalityandeventsnorth.com

Katherine Ryan to Host Awards Comedian, Writer, and Presenter Katherine Ryan will host this year’s M&IT Awards, bringing her trademark sharp wit and unapologetic honesty to the meetings industry’s biggest night. Known for her stand-up specials, hit Netflix series The Duchess, chart-topping podcasts, and bestselling memoir The Audacity, Ryan has become one of the UK’s most recognisable comedy voices. Her appointment will bring a bold new energy to the M&IT Awards, which returns to Grosvenor House, London on 18th September. M&IT Editor Paul Harvey said: “Katherine Ryan is one of the sharpest and most recognisable voices in British entertainment right now, and we’re absolutely delighted to welcome her to host the M&IT Awards. Katherine has an incredible ability to combine glamour, intelligence, and laugh-out-loud honesty, which makes her the perfect fit for the awards and our industry. With her unpredictability and razor-sharp humour, we know she’ll bring something truly special to the night.” The M&IT Awards remains one of the flagship events in the UK meetings industry calendar, attracting hundreds of event professionals for an evening of networking, recognition, and celebration.

Forum Registration Opens beam has opened registration for its Annual Forum, taking place at Wyboston Lakes Resort on 16th and 17th July, with this year’s theme continuing the conversation around the power of human connection. This year’s event, Relationships 3.0: From Connection to Momentum, will explore how relationships can drive collaboration, innovation, and business growth across the sector. The forum will be opened by Labour MP for Bedford Mohammad Yasin MP, including an opportunity for attendees to take part in a live Q&A session. Andrew Griffith MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Business and Trade, will join Robert Wright from The Business of Events for a fireside chat discussing the future of the industry. beam has also confirmed Nick Saunders as keynote speaker. Having reached more than two million people globally through his talks and events, Nick’s keynote will focus on the importance of trust and human connection in an increasingly AI-driven world. beam is working alongside event partners Wyboston Lakes Resort, Just Smile, Speakers Corner, KDM Events, and Cvent to deliver this year’s Annual Forum. For more information and to register, visit beam-org.uk

Chris said the association was created to address what he sees as a longstanding disconnect between agencies and suppliers: “The Event Society is very much designed with collaboration, proprietary equality, and a complete team approach in mind. There are plenty of organisations that represent agencies and plenty that support suppliers, yet there hasn’t been a dedicated community focused on strengthening those relationships and encouraging collaboration across the entire supply chain.” The Event Society describes itself as a member-led collective focused on helping organisations build stronger commercial relationships, access specialist expertise, and share best practice. Membership is open to agencies and suppliers operating across sectors including AV, event technology, marketing, print, legal services, insurance, and HR. The group’s development will be guided by a set of core principles including integrity, accountability, respect, empathy, relationships, and passion. Future plans include member training sessions, specialist clinics, familiarisation visits, and networking events aimed at supporting collaboration across the events sector.

New Chapter

Crewsaders, the UK’s premium event crewing company, has announced the appointment of six new regional crew managers as part of a major strategic investment in operational leadership, client service excellence, and long-term business growth. The promotions mark an exciting new chapter for Crewsaders as the company continues to expand its national presence and strengthen its commitment to delivering industry-leading service standards across every project, venue, and event. Each of the new appointees has progressed through the business from senior crew chief positions, bringing with them over a decade of hands-on industry experience. The newly appointed Regional Crew Managers are John Robertson and Clint Coppard – London, Chris Bryan and Stu Chapman – Birmingham, and Josh Salkie and Liam Garside – Manchester. Managing Director at Crewsaders, Jez Berryman said: “This is a hugely exciting moment for the business. John, Clint, Chris, Stu, Josh, and Liam have all earned enormous respect throughout the industry through their hard work, professionalism, and leadership.”

www.hospitalityandeventsnorth.com

UNIQUE Q EVENTS AN ICONIC VENUE

B O O K YO U R E V E N T N O W

SCAN ME

TO FIND OUT MORE

LUXURY

LUXURY VENUES

Lap of Luxury Venue choice matters Reputation matters event held at a luxury venue instantly more than ever, so why An brings prestige and credibility as these spaces are often associated with not choose one filled excellence and sophistication, helping to you and your client as credible and with luxury and prestige position even aspirational in the eyes of delegates, prospective clients, and partners. We all for your next event? know that first impressions matter and these Perhaps one of the highest determining factors of whether an event will be a success is the choice of venue. Castles, stately homes, villas, grand estates, and top-of-the-range hotels are just some examples of the remarkable venues our region has to offer. But what are the real benefits of hosting an event that oozes luxury?

Feel-good factor One of the most important draws of a luxury venue is that it offers a glamorous experience unlike any other. Pampering delegates with opulence elevates the overall event – on-site spas, valet parking, concierge services, and indulgent accommodation packages help attendees to feel valued and exceptionally well cared for so they feel like more than just a number. Particularly important if you’re hosting a multi-day event, premium accommodation and wellness facilities are an unmistakable draw of a grandeur venue. Incorporating wellness experiences into an itinerary provides opportunities for rest and relaxation to improve delegates’ productivity and ultimately make them more refreshed and engaged, ready to get the most out of the event.

spaces are designed to impress from the moment attendees arrive, sending a clear message that quality matters to you and setting the tone for a sophisticated and well-executed event.

Looking good These venues are celebrated for their elegant architecture, refined interiors, and meticulous attention to detail. Dramatic chandeliers, stylish and curated décor, timeless special touches, grand ballrooms, and beautifully landscaped grounds naturally create a sense of occasion and excitement. It’s these backdrops that provide the perfect opportunity for photography and social media content (who wouldn’t want bragging rights all over Instagram?) so your event reach is guaranteed to be extended organically.

Unbeatable service Beyond aesthetics, luxury venues are renowned for delivering exceptional levels of service and it’s memorable hospitality that often becomes one of the standout talking points for delegates long after the event has ended. Teams are well trained in hospitality and event management so every detail, no matter how big or small, is handled both professionally and efficiently.

From planning support and guest services to bespoke catering, security, and AV coordination, these teams of experienced staff are on hand to support wherever needed. This level of support is invaluable for event profs who can have peace of mind to focus on more strategic elements such as programme delivery and delegate engagement.

Tech-tastic Alongside their staff, the technology and facilities available at these venues are second to none. Premium amenities such as high-speed internet, advanced lighting systems, HD video conferencing, premium sound systems, and cutting-edge AV equipment all help to ensure events of all kinds run without a hitch. Ultimately, luxury venues offer a combination of elegance and professionalism that can transform an otherwise ordinary event into something that will stick with delegates for a long time. Investing budget in a luxury space might be more costly than your standard, run-of-themill venue, but its impact is guaranteed to be more than worth it.

www.hospitalityandeventsnorth.com

LUXURY

Where excellence unfolds

Make your meeting or event memorable, explore everything Glasgow has to offer and relax at the stylish Hilton Glasgow.

hilton.com/glasgow Hospitality & Events North 25.indd 1

July 2026

30/01/2026 13:48:05

LUXURY

TRAINING AND EVENTS

BEYOND EXPECTED Discover a resort transformed - where inspired meeting spaces, elevated experiences and stunning surroundings come together in ways you won’t believe. If you haven’t visited Wyboston Lakes Resort for a while, what was once familiar is now reimagined, delivering authenticity, style, energy and possibilities far beyond what you’ll remember...

Introducing - The Box. Our all-new event space coming July 2026. Sitting at 900sqm, it’s flexible, and built for high-impact events.

Come and visit us at The Meetings Show, our team will look forward to seeing you. We’re on the Venues of Excellence stand.

Visit our website!

www.wybostonlakes.co.uk

www.hospitalityandeventsnorth.com 48 sales@wybostonlakes.co.uk

LUXURY

COMPETITION

Win a Stay at York’s Grande Dame The Milner York is giving one lucky reader the chance to win an overnight stay for two with dinner included.

features have been seamlessly woven with contemporary comforts, resulting in 155 elegant bedrooms and suites decorated in balanced, neutral tones.

A brief stroll from York Railway Station and within sight of the magnificent York Minster, The Milner York is one of the North’s most celebrated hotel destinations. Multi-award-winning and steeped in the city’s rich history, the hotel is the perfect base for corporate events and exploring York’s wealth of heritage, culture, and independent dining. The hotel takes its name from William Milner, a York Station foreman who gave his life to save others during the Second World War – a legacy of courage that the hotel honours throughout its design and character. Originally opened in 1878, the Grade II listed building is a striking example of Victorian architecture, designed by William Peachey of the North Eastern Railway. Its sweeping central iron staircases, soaring original ceilings, and viewing galleries are a testament to that era’s ambitious spirit. Today, those period

At Peachey’s Bar & Grill, guests can enjoy modern British dining that celebrates the finest ingredients Yorkshire has to offer, from the signature Milner Yorkshire Burger to the house Peachey’s cocktail. The Swollen Gambler, opposite York Station, offers a relaxed setting for craft ales, cocktails, and casual bites, while The Garden Room

In what year did the original building housing The Milner York open? provides sweeping views across manicured lawns towards York Minster and serves the hotel’s signature chocolate afternoon tea, inspired by York’s celebrated chocolatemaking heritage. The hotel is equally well placed for events, with 10 versatile spaces and a purposebuilt event centre accommodating up to 400 delegates – making it one of York’s most sought-after venues for corporate gatherings, conferences, and celebrations. For delegates looking to unwind, there is a fully equipped gym, a 13-metre swimming pool, jacuzzi, steam room, and sauna. Blending undeniable elegance with centuries of history, The Milner York is a true reflection of the city itself – a place where heritage meets modern luxury in the heart of one of England’s finest cities. Themilneryork.com

July 2026

COMPETITION

To win a one-night stay for two at The Milner York, including a three-course dinner from the seasonal set menu at Peachey’s Bar & Grill, simply answer the following question…

Enter online at Hospitalityandeventsnorth.com/ competitions/ or by post to JLife Ltd, Unit 7, Gemini Business Park, Sheepscar Way, Leeds, LS7 3JB. Please ensure your entry includes your name, address, daytime telephone number, and email address. The winner will be randomly selected on the closing date: 31st July 2026 Terms and conditions apply: Prize must be redeemed by 31st October 2026. Accommodation is based on a double room for two guests; dinner will be taken from the three-course seasonal set menu at Peachey’s Bar & Grill. All reservations are subject to availability. Non-transferable. When entering the competition online you have the option to not be entered in H&E North Magazine and The Milner York’s databases in order to be contacted about news, promotions, and special offers. Postal entry data will not be saved. Publisher’s decision is final.

LUXURY

FEATURE

Better Together eventkind is a brand-new community platform designed to help members create the best events possible. One of its founders, Emma Wellstead, tells us more. Emma Wellstead and Caroline Noel of Warwick Events are the brains behind eventkind, a new community platform for the industry. The platform’s mission is to equip and inspire event planners with the tools, knowledge, and community to design better events – balancing experience, sustainability, and value without added complexity. By joining the platform, members have access to an open and friendly community, daily inspiration, bite-sized tips, speedy support, practical takeaways, weekly live sessions, expert-led training sessions, and much more! eventkind was born out of a growing need for community in the industry: “It’s a tough world out there and we’ve naturally become silos, it’s so sad! Events have got to stand up to scrutiny, and we need to work together to share what we know to do better collectively. We held a phenomenally successful event called Louder Than Words – which is still the largest B Corp gathering in the world – in 2024 and once it was done, we realised that all the knowledge we had wouldn’t go anywhere. It was then that we had the idea to create a platform where we can share our wins, methodology, and practical insights so that others can implement them and hopefully make their events even better.” The site simply asks new members to pledge to the ‘eventkind promise’. These are five simple promises: to be present, to give generously, to stay curious, to support others, and to keep it meaningful: “This is one of the main differences between us and other associations; we’re passionate about making it a space where we listen and lift each other up.”

“We have three different spaces which all serve a different purpose,” explains Emma. “Share is designed to give bite-sized information to each other. This covers things like how you can work more efficiently, new/interesting products you’ve come across, practical takeaways, and really just anything you want to share with the community. If you’ve been really impressed with something, let’s shout about it! “The ‘ask’ section is where we encourage members to ask anything they might need. As founders, we might create a poll or post a question that’s designed to get people interacting and reacting with other members. ‘Chat’ is our third section – a social space where we have a ‘live moment’ between 8:45am and 9:15am every Wednesday where members come together and spend a bit of time conversing. It’s also there to be used whenever it’s needed outside of the live moment.” eventkind’s membership also offers regular opportunities to chat and learn: “On the last Thursday of every month, we host lunch and learn sessions which are 30 minutes of curated expertise led by experts covering a whole range of topics. Every Tuesday at 2pm is our event drop-in where members can join the conversation to share a challenge, gripe, or frustration – the good, the bad, and the ‘just brilliant’!”

We’re under so much pressure and I can’t believe there hasn’t been a resource like this to build bridges between people and simply just offer some support.” “We haven’t set up eventkind to make money, success for me would literally just be overhearing someone talk about the membership benefits and how it’s helped them,” it’s clear Emma’s passion is rooted in building change from the bottom. “There are a lot of people trying to change policy from the top which I respect but all we want to do is try make the industry feel like a more enjoyable community from a grassroots level. Our world is changing so much, we need to huddle together like emperor penguins to stay strong in a battle of survival! We won’t survive out there on our own, but if we come together, we can flourish and get the industry back to the one we love.” The member’s feedback speaks for itself! Neil, a freelance event professional, sees eventkind as: ‘A refreshingly non-commercial forum for genuine industry conversation’ and values its authenticity and relevance. Amy, who works at an events management company, finds it a: ‘Friendly, inclusive community that supports learning and connection among professionals’ and values the ongoing sharing of knowledge between members. Eventkind.org

“It’s really opened my eyes to how under pressure people are in our industry,” explains Emma on what creating eventkind has taught her. “I’ve been in the industry for 30 years and I naïvely thought it’d got better.

www.hospitalityandeventsnorth.com

LUXURY

OPENING

10th J U LY 1000 capacity event space •

Only 5* Golf Resort in the Northwest •

18 Hole championship golf course onsite •

3 Onsite Restaurants including Gordon Ramsay at The Mere •

Stunning Lakeside Views from the Grand Ballroom

events.themere@fairmont.com

Welcome to Moddershall Oaks. A modern, flexible space in a stunning location. Set in 72 acres of Staffordshire countryside, the beautifully landscaped grounds include award winning spa facilities, fully refurbished meeting spaces, a stunning lake and private woodland that will help provide the space to focus without distraction or interruption. The perfect environment for your next event. 01782 399000

Moddershall Oaks, Staffordshire, ST15 8WF

July 2026

events@moddershalloaks.com

www.moddershalloaks.com

ACCESSIBILITY

All Inclusive Andy Williamson, Founder of Welcome Brain, discusses how the events industry can lead the way with neuroinclusive events. Welcome Brain is a consultancy aiming to change the world of events by embracing neurodiversity and making inclusion central to the industry. Andy Williamson came to neuroinclusion through education – working with neurodivergent young people in schools. He noticed a sharp drop-off as people move out of compulsory education: “As a society, we’re reasonably good at making adjustments for neurodivergent people at school, but when they reach adulthood, a lot of that disappears. The expectation becomes that you conform. There’s a clear gap there, and that’s what Welcome Brain exists to address.” Welcome Brain’s most significant contribution to the events sector is the Neurodiversity in Events Checklist, co-developed with the Association of British Professional Conference Organisers (ABPCO) and the Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC) and launched in February last year. Free and open source, it operates across three tiers – silver, gold, and platinum – with silver designed to be achievable at no cost. Organisations that complete a tier can apply for official accreditation at that level, also free of charge. A parallel Neuroinclusive Venue Accreditation scheme has followed, piloted with the Eastside Rooms in Birmingham – the first venue in the country to receive the award – and it’s expanding rapidly. At Hospitality Live, the Royal Armouries announced it was signing up, and Welcome Brain has now partnered with Venue Directory so planners can search specifically for accredited venues: “Event planners are increasingly looking for that because more and more people are demanding it.” Around 20% of the population is neurodivergent – one in five of the people in any room. So, the case for Welcome Brain’s initiative is both ethical and commercial: “The events industry is fundamentally about human connection. If you’re not making your events neuroinclusive, you’re excluding a significant portion of people.” The proof

Andy challenges the assumption that feedback data justifies inaction: “Your endof-event survey only captures the people who had the energy to stay all day. It doesn’t account for the people who didn’t come in the first place or who left at lunchtime because they’d already burnt out.” Some

Welcome Brain offers two CPD-certified training routes. A Neurodiversity in Events course focuses on embedding inclusive structures well ahead of the event day – reducing, not adding to, on-the-day workload. The Neurodiversity First Responder course, modelled on mental health first aid and believed to be the first of its kind in the UK, allows individual staff members to be upskilled without taking an entire team offline. Technology is also lowering the barriers: AI-powered real-time subtitling tools such as Speakeasy have made live transcription affordable, and Andy points to emerging AI crowd-navigation tools that could guide attendees around busy areas of a venue in real time: “They act in the same way Google Maps redirects you around traffic. I think that’s going to become commonplace.”

If you’re not making your events neuroinclusive, you’re excluding a significant portion of people.

Welcome Brain is launching a free guide on neuroinclusive networking at The Meetings Show, the product of a major research study undertaken with an ABPCO working group. The findings make sobering reading for event planners: 94% of neurodivergent people reported feeling actively anxious when networking, but so did 74% of neurotypical people, and three quarters said their least favourite format was unstructured mingling, which is still the industry default. For Andy, the trajectory is clear: “In the events industry, sustainability is now the expected standard, not a differentiator. That’s exactly where I want neuroinclusion to go. The UK is currently the world leader on this, which is a huge advantage for event planners. The checklist works and it’s free, so there really aren’t any excuses left.”

is in the results: a NatWest Audit Academy event at the EICC became the first to achieve gold certification and returned 100% positive feedback: “At worst, neurotypical people don’t notice the changes. But for neurodivergent people, it genuinely means the world.” The NatWest chief executive subsequently announced that the practices trialled at the event would be incorporated into the company’s wider corporate operations.

Welcomebrain.com of the most effective changes are also the cheapest. At a fertility conference at the EICC, reserving the two back rows of the plenary hall so delegates could step in and out without disruption cost nothing and generated some of the warmest feedback of the day: “We’ve since built that into our checklist as standard practice.”

www.hospitalityandeventsnorth.com

SHOW STOPPER EVERY UNIQUE EVENT DESERVES A UNIQUE STAGE

MAKE IT HAPPEN!

0121 245 2066 | enquiries@uniquevenuesbirmingham.com Unique Venues Birmingham Centenary Square, Broad Street, Birmingham B1 2EP

July 2026 All profits are reinvested back into our venues

EXCEPTIONAL events. Delivered with CARE. Glasses clinking. A plate placed in front of you at just the right moment. When catering is done well, you don’t notice the details. You just enjoy the experience. Let’s create something remarkable together. Inspired by you. Created by us. 01244 304 660 E N Q U I R I E S @ H O R S E R A D I S H C AT E R I N G . C O M

HEALTH & SAFETY

There are clear obligations for event planners under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. The legislation requires a designated ‘responsible person’ to oversee fire safety whose duties include ensuring a fire risk assessment is undertaken, that the appropriate equipment is installed and maintained, and that evacuation procedures are clearly communicated to all staff and delegates. For larger venues and outdoor events, there may be more than one responsible person, so it’s important that fire safety duties are understood between all parties. Outdoor events present a different fire risk profile to permanent venues with hazards evolving at every stage, from build to event day and takedown. Common risks fall into a few categories: catering and cooking equipment where open flames, fryers, and gas appliances are a leading cause of fire; temporary electrical setups where overloaded power supplies, damaged cables, and wiring running through damp grass create real vulnerabilities; flammable materials such as marquees, tent linings, wooden signage, and decorative elements; and environmental factors like dry vegetation in hot weather. Each of these should be identified in the fire risk assessment so that appropriate equipment can be specified and correctly positioned. One of the fastest-growing concerns for event planners is the volume of lithium-ion battery-powered devices now present on-site. Portable speakers, vapes, e-bikes, e-scooters, broadcast equipment, and portable power systems used to run AV setups all rely on these batteries. If faulty, incorrectly stored, damaged, overcharged, or exposed to excessive heat, lithium-ion battery failure can induce a process called thermal runaway – an uncontrolled selfheating chemical reaction inside the cell that produces toxic gases, burns at very high temperatures, and can be prone to reignition even after appearing to have been extinguished. There is now an internationally recognised, dedicated fire classification for lithium-ion battery incidents. For event organisers, these risks should be considered within the fire risk assessment, with appropriate equipment specified to address them, particularly in areas where devices are being charged, stored, or used in proximity to attendees.

July 2026

Fire risk assessments inform equipment choice, and there is no one-size-fits-all approach. Different parts of an event site have different risks, and fire safety equipment should reflect this. CO2 fire extinguishers suit electrical areas such as AV desks, lighting towers, and broadcast equipment. Wet chemical fire extinguishers – particularly the newer PFAS-free versions – are appropriate for catering zones and cooking oil fires. In larger, noisy environments, a wireless site alarm system ensures alerts can be raised and heard across the site, even without fixed infrastructure. Fire extinguisher trolleys and flat-pack stands are increasingly popular at festivals and fan zones because of the need for a mobile fire point. They allow equipment to be deployed, repositioned, and packed down as the site evolves. And where lithium-ion battery risks are present, specialist equipment – such as lithium-ion battery fire extinguishers or fire blankets specifically designed for EV fires – should be considered for higher-risk areas. If the workforce at events is seasonal or temporary, fire safety training must be built in from day one. Staff should know where fire extinguishers and fire points are, understand the evacuation plan, and be confident in their role should an incident occur. Clear handover procedures between shifts are essential, particularly for multi-day events. Fire safety needs to be dynamic and adaptable to conditions on the ground, and it depends on a workforce that understands the correct actions to take. With record summer temperatures now a regular occurrence in the UK, event organisers should factor heat into their fire safety planning from the outset. Extremely dry conditions can turn grassland into a serious fire risk, and lithium-ion battery-powered devices left in direct sunlight or on charge in hot weather risk failure. In some cases, fire risk assessments may need to be re-run closer to the event date, with measures like banning open flames, increasing fire patrols, or repositioning fire extinguishers in response. Future-proofing also extends to fire safety equipment choice – PFAS-free fire extinguishers, for example, support environmental responsibility alongside safety. Checkfire.co.uk

Old Flame

Fire safety regulations mean we need a clear plan for events. Joshua Marshall, Product Manager at CheckFire, tells us more.

WELLBEING

Head Space We talk to founders of the Meeting & Event Network (MEN), a new confidential support initiative for men working in the industry across the UK. The events industry projects confidence. From the outside it can look energising, fast-moving, and rewarding – and it often is. However, for many men working within it, the picture is more complicated. Long hours, constant availability, the pressure to always appear in control, and the isolation of a sector that’s intensely social but rarely safe for honest personal conversation – these are the realities that MEN was created to address. MEN held its first session in May this year, though the idea had been taking shape for around six months before that. CoFounder Robert Kenward is clear about what prompted it: “On a personal level, I’d had my own struggles with alcohol and mental health since the pandemic. I realised there wasn’t really a space where I could speak openly with people who understood the realities of working in events. Professional therapists absolutely have their place, but sometimes you want to talk to people who understand the pressures, the pace, the travel, the expectations, and the culture of the industry without needing it explained to them first. Eventually I reached the point where I thought, if this space doesn’t exist, maybe we should create it ourselves.”

are dealing with at that moment. There’s no pressure to speak, no requirement to share personal details, nothing recorded, and no notes taken. What is said in the room stays in the room. MEN is open to men and those who identify as male, regardless of career stage, job title, or seniority.

The network was founded alongside James Hitchen, Clinical Director of The Wellbeing & Recovery Collective and a qualified therapist with more than seven years’ experience in mental health and addiction support. Also involved are James CapellAbra of Stress Matters and Mark Green of the QEII Centre, both long-standing advocates for men’s wellbeing in the sector.

Robert is forthright about the wellbeing challenges facing men in the sector: “Burnout, anxiety, depression, and unhealthy coping mechanisms aren’t unusual in this industry, but we don’t have many places where men feel they can talk honestly without worrying it will somehow become public or affect how they’re perceived professionally. That’s really what MEN is trying to address by creating a confidential, supportive environment where people can speak openly without judgement.”

Sessions are held quarterly in central London, run for a couple of hours, and are free to attend. They take place in small groups, facilitated by a trained mental health professional alongside MEN’s cofounders. The format is a talking circle that’s lightly guided, allowing topics to emerge organically based on what people

James Hitchen echoes that, and points to how the industry shapes behaviour over time: “For many men, one of the biggest challenges is that they simply don’t talk about what’s going on. There’s still a lingering mindset that you should just get on with it, push through, and keep performing regardless of what’s happening

personally. It can become all-consuming – the pace and intensity of events work can impact relationships, sleep, physical health, and work-life balance, and many people end up feeling surprisingly isolated despite constantly being surrounded by others. The issue isn’t just the pressure itself – it’s what happens when people feel they have nowhere safe to deal with that pressure.” While the founders are keeping things deliberately measured for now, the longer-term hope is for the initiative to have expanded reach and impact, as James explains: “We’d like MEN to become a recognised and trusted part of the events sector, helping to reduce stigma, encourage earlier conversations, and remind people that asking for help isn’t weakness. It would be great to see the community grow and work alongside employers and industry organisations to help create healthier workplace cultures across the sector. Ultimately, if MEN helps even one person realise they aren’t alone and encourages them to seek support before reaching crisis point, then we’re making a genuine difference.” Meetingandeventnetwork.com

www.hospitalityandeventsnorth.com

ClientNews

“It’s a really exciting time. We’re investing in our people as much as our events and the Off Limits team are truly invested in delivering our offering to exceed client expectations.” – Joanna Garland, Owner.

PHOTO: GRAHAM BROWN

Celebrating 20 Years Have you enjoyed a concert at Eirias Park, visited Wrexham Racecourse, taken the family to the CBeebies Panto at Venue Cymru, been to the Urdd Eisteddfod, or maybe even attended Wakestock back in the day? These are just some of the events that have formed part of the last 20 years for SC Productions Ltd, an events production company based in Cardiff, working across Wales and the UK. Led by directors Sarah Hemsley-Cole and Jake Warriner, the company is celebrating 20 years in the industry. Sarah’s journey began in Cardiff Council’s events team before going freelance and eventually setting up SC Productions Ltd in April 2006. Over the past two decades, the company has played a part in major events across the whole of Wales. During COVID, Sarah also led the Welsh We Make Events campaign, lobbying government and supporting friends and colleagues across the live events industry at a time when mass gatherings simply were not possible. Stereophonics, Tom Jones, Ed Sheeran, and Taylor Swift are among the artists SC Productions Ltd has delivered site management at stadiums and outdoor events across the UK. Its festival portfolio also includes artist liaison work for Llais, Creamfields, and Bloodstock. As the anniversary celebrations continue, part of the team is currently on site for the Urdd in Ynys Môn, while the rest are at Emirates Stadium with Boyzone – and summer is only just beginning. Scproductionsltd.com

Same Great Experience. Same Creativity. Same Passion At Off Limits, some things are worth holding on to. Long known for delivering high-quality corporate events and team building experiences across the UK, Off Limits continues to be driven by the same experience, creativity, and passion that have defined the brand for years. At the heart of the business is a dedicated team whose experience and collaborative approach consistently deliver exceptional results for clients. Off Limits has always been about bringing people together in meaningful ways, and that remains at the core of everything that we do. What is evolving, however, is what sits around it.

New Investment. New Ideas. New Opportunities The business is currently undergoing an exciting period of significant investment, creating new opportunities to enhance its offering while strengthening the foundations that have made it so successful; Off Limits is building for the future, whille keeping sight of its legacy. Clients benefit not only from a proven track record, but also from a forward-thinking approach that continues to push creative boundaries. “Our loyal client base continues to look to us for new engaging event experiences, and as we develop new ideas and services, we’re confident that we will continue our position as a leading supplier to clients direct and the events industry.” – Joanna Garland, Owner. With the same great experience, creativity, and passion, Off Limits is well positioned to build on its reputation as a leading name in corporate team building events, with the promise of even more exciting developments to come. Offlimits.co.uk

Get the Edge Located in the heart of Greater Manchester, The Edge Wigan has quickly become one of the North West’s most dynamic venues for entertainment, business, and community events. Opened in 2017, the contemporary multi-purpose venue combines modern facilities with a strong community focus, making it far more than just a conference centre. With flexible spaces capable of hosting anything from intimate meetings to large-scale concerts and exhibitions, The Edge has built a reputation for professionalism and versatility. Its impressive auditorium, advanced technology, and excellent transport links have attracted businesses, performers, charities, and audiences from across the country. From live music tributes and theatre productions to corporate conferences and cultural events, the venue offers something for everyone. What truly sets The Edge apart, however, is its connection to the local community. Operated by Way Church, the venue reinvests profits into charitable and social projects that support people locally, regionally, and internationally. Alongside its busy events calendar, The Edge is also home to the popular Postcode Coffee House and several community initiatives designed to bring people together.

Visitors frequently praise the welcoming atmosphere, attentive staff, and highquality facilities, helping establish The Edge as a leading destination in the region. Whether attending a live performance, networking event, or community gathering, guests experience a venue that combines creativity, hospitality, and purpose under one roof. As Wigan continues to grow culturally and economically, The Edge stands proudly at the centre of that transformation. Theedgewigan.com

Raised Expectations Boutique wine merchant, Terra Sarda Wines, has become the first in the UK to offer braille labels and other accessible information for people with sight loss. Based in East Yorkshire, it works directly with small-scale, family-owned vineyards in Sardinia to bring premium, eco-conscious wines to the tasting table, while making its experiences as inclusive as possible. Co-Founder Sue Scott says: “Sardinia is the oldest but least known of Italy’s great winemaking regions, producing superb, small-batch, sustainable wines that no one here has heard of. We want to give all wine lovers the opportunity to appreciate this amazing secret cellar, and our accessible wine range helps to achieve that.” Accredited by the UK’s Good Business Charter, which recognises smaller businesses making a positive social and environmental impact, the company’s direct relationship with vineyards means it can evidence sustainable practice, giving conscious consumers confidence that they’re making the right choices: “That’s particularly important for event organisers in the light of the UK’s new Green Claims Code. We’re definitely seeing a growing desire for experience and products that tell a genuine story.” Having connected with hundreds of wine lovers across the North at its Wine Storytelling events, Terra Sarda Wines is looking to broaden its B2B and corporate hospitality offer. It recently introduced ‘Sip & Connect With…’, a flexible new tasting format that can be adapted to larger, less formal occasions: “If you’re a venue or event manager who feels our values align, we’d love to introduce Sardinia’s wines to you.” Terrasardawines.com Hello@terrasardatours.com

www.hospitalityandeventsnorth.com

t ee fas Fr er Fi p i Su W

SAME GREAT EXPERIENCE. SAME CREATIVITY. SAME PASSION.

Manchester city centre’s versatile conference and meeting venue, with excellent public transport and ample local parking. The fully equipped Auditorium is perfect for in-person and hybrid conferences for up to 400, exhibitions, exams and more. We also have seven smaller rooms, four of which have full livestream capabilities.

GET IN TOUCH TODAY sales@offlimits.co.uk | 01773 766 050

Our friendly team look forward to welcoming you.

0161 276 8194

King’s Church, Sidney Street, Manchester M1 7HB enquiries@kingshouse.co.uk | www.kingshouse.co.uk

July 2026

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STILL HAVEN’T REGISTERED?

THIS IS YOUR FINAL REMINDER. The countdown is on - and if you work in events, meetings or incentives, this is your sign to secure your place at The Meetings Show. Join thousands of event professionals and hundreds of global suppliers at Excel London for two days packed with ideas, opportunities and connections designed to move your business forward.

practical takeaways to help you stay ahead in a fast-changing industry. An unrivalled exhibitor line-up, featuring destinations, venues, hotels, tech providers and event suppliers from across the globe - all ready to help solve your biggest event challenges.

WHAT’S WAITING FOR YOU?

And, of course, the conversations, inspiration and unexpected opportunities that only happen when the industry comes together under one roof.

A dynamic education programme packed with expert-led sessions, fresh insights and

Don’t be the one hearing about it afterwards. Be there.

THEMEETINGSSHOW.COM/REGISTER

PROMOTION

Hot Ticket For professionals across the industry, The Meetings Show is set to be a standout moment in the 2026 calendar. The Meetings Show – which will be opened by Labour MP and Chair of The All-Parliamentary Group for Events, Martin Rhodes – will return to Excel London on 24th and 25th June. Bringing together nearly 6,000 industry professionals over two days, it offers a wealth of fresh ideas, valuable connections, and practical solutions all under one roof.

and Q&As – bringing together a stellar lineup of speakers offering practical insight, future-focused ideas, and tools that can be applied immediately in attendees’ day-to-day lives.

Commissioned by The Meetings Show and conducted in partnership with The Business of Events, the research reveals that AI is increasing the need for human meetings, not reducing it.

Among the headline speakers brought by LA International is keynote Emma Henderson MBE, one of fewer than 500 female airline captains worldwide until September 2020, and John Vincent MBE, Co-Founder and former CEO of LEON.

Network supercharger

Also returning is the ever-popular The Reckoning – a candid, no-holds-barred debate that will see industry heavyweights Paul Harvey (Editor, M&IT), James Lancaster (Editorial Director, AMI), and Paula Rowntree (Founder, The Business Events Network) debate the impact of AI on how we work, create, and connect as event professionals.

Home to the UK’s largest hosted buyer programme, The Meetings Show enables a diverse mix of corporate, agency, and association event organisers to benefit from pre-scheduled one-to-one appointments, exclusive masterclasses, and a dedicated welcome reception ahead of the main show, all designed to enhance connection and learning.

A first for the industry

A faster, smarter way to source events For busy event organisers, the ability to meet hundreds of suppliers in one place is a major draw. With more than 550 exhibitors and over 80 international destinations represented, delegates can explore venues, hotels, and services from across the globe. This includes a host of new exhibitors such as Hotel Ripa Roma, Uniworld River Cruises, Philadelphia CVB, and Social Supermarket.

Real insights and practical tools The show’s new-look education programme has been designed with event buyers front of mind to help them discover new ideas and stay ahead of the latest trends. Delivered across 63 sessions and three stages, it features a dynamic mix of formats – including panels, presentations, workshops,

The Meetings Show will mark a milestone this year as the first meetings, incentives, and events industry trade show to offer a fully staffed on-site crèche for attending families. Delivered in partnership with event childcare specialist Nipperbout, the crèche will also include a dedicated breast feeding and nappy changing area.

Supporting emerging talent The show supports upcoming talent through initiatives such as Tomorrow’s Talent, now in its eighth year and delivered in partnership with M&IT. Celebrating and championing the future leaders of the UK’s meetings, incentives, and events sector, the programme provides up-and-coming professionals with invaluable exposure, meaningful connections, and opportunities to make their mark on the industry.

There are various ways to register to attend The Meetings Show 2026, which will be co-located with Business Travel Show Europe and TravelTech Show. To find out more about registration options, please sign up at Themeetingsshow.com/register

The productivity gap The UK Productivity Gap Index, a new study building on the Northstar Meetings Group/Cvent PULSE survey and based on a survey of 1,000 UK business leaders, reveals how everyday collaboration challenges are quietly slowing organisations down.

Come see H&E North at stand B55! www.hospitalityandeventsnorth.com

PROMOTION

Victoria Braddock, MD of Marketing Manchester, explains why event organisers love Manchester’s warm welcome as the organisation turns 30.

30 YearsOn On

marketingManchester Manchester is one of the UK’s most forward-thinking destinations for conferences and business events. At the centre of this momentum is Victoria Braddock, Managing Director of Marketing Manchester, who leads the city region’s place promotion strategy and its ambition to grow its global events footprint. As Marketing Manchester turns 30 this year, Victoria explains Manchester’s evolving offer and why the city is a destination of choice for world-class events.

How important is Manchester’s international connectivity in attracting global conferences and supporting delegate experience? Reliable connectivity is vital. Manchester Airport is the largest outside London with direct flights to over 200 destinations, so getting here is straightforward. The ongoing multi-billion-pound transformation, including the redevelopment of Terminal 2, is making sure it stays a world-class gateway for international delegates.

Hi Victoria! How is Manchester positioning itself in the global business events marketplace, and what sets the city apart for planners? Manchester is deliberately positioning itself as a destination where events can deliver genuine impact, something Marketing Manchester has been championing for the last three decades. We’ve watched the city transform, becoming exceptionally well connected, internationally recognised for our strengths, and with a long track record of hosting world-leading events. Look at the year we’ve just had – from the Brits to the BIBA Conference, that diversity is one of our greatest strengths. A big part of that success comes from our Conference Ambassador programme, where esteemed academic leaders play a pivotal role in attracting high-profile academic events. They strengthen bids by helping to shape programme content and connect events with wider academic communities. Organisers often tell us that planning here feels refreshingly straightforward. It’s the blend of big city capability and down-toearth Mancunian charm that helps events really shine.

The Bee Network provides tram, bus, and active travel routes across the city region, making it easy to move between venues, hotels, and our thriving bars and restaurants. The city centre is compact and walkable, giving delegates the chance to take in the sights while getting around.

Through the Manchester Convention Bureau, a part of Marketing Manchester, organisers have access to resources and guidance to help them plan more sustainable and socially impactful events. Many of our venues and hotels are already leading the way with renewable energy and sustainable catering.

So, in a nutshell, why Manchester? Manchester throws its arms around every event it hosts, it’s a city built to welcome people and bring them together. Yes, we have global connectivity, exceptional venues, and sector strengths, but we’ve also got that unmistakable Mancunian spirit that makes every visitor feel part of our story. It’s made our job at Marketing Manchester over the last three decades a privilege, and to see the world embrace Manchester as we do is something truly special. In short, if you want a city with a warm welcome and world-class ambition, come to Manchester! To explore how the city can support your next conference or business event, visit Meet in Manchester and discover why organisers are choosing Manchester as the place where great minds meet.

Greater Manchester has a bold 2038 net-zero target, how is this shaping the city’s approach to sustainable events? Manchester wants to lead by example on sustainability. Our 2038 carbon neutral target drives action across the visitor economy, and it’s one of the reasons we’re the highest ranked English destination on the Global Destination Sustainability Index.

Meetinmanchester.com

www.hospitalityandeventsnorth.com

MANCHESTER HAS A NEW FAVOURITE PLACE TO STAY & PLAY

LOBBY

Treehouse Hotel Manchester is your new city hideout, made for long lunches, late checkouts, skyline sips, private parties, meeting moments and nights that roll into morning

M&E FLOOR

STUDIO SUITE

VISIT US AT STAND D-41 Blackfriars Street M3 2EQ @treehousehotelmanchester

Cottons Hotel & Spa

Nellies Mobile Bar

Located on the edge of Knutsford, step through the door to discover charming hospitality, an indulgent spa, rosette award dining and modern business spaces.

Based in beautiful Mid Wales, Nellies Mobile Bar travels across the UK bringing a stylish, bespoke bar experience to weddings, festivals, private parties, corporate events. Choose the perfect setup for your event: • A charming converted rice trailer bar • A rustic pop-up wooden bar Whether you’re planning an small or a large-scale event, Nellies Mobile Bar delivers friendly service, flexible packages. Available throughout Wales and across the UK.

01565 650333 | reservations@cottonshotel.co.uk www.cottonshotel.co.uk

hello@nelliesmobilebar.com | 07496 876975 www.nelliesmobilebar.com

Festival Site Crews

Terra Sarda Wines

Today, we deliver professional site teams ranging from specialist crews of two through to deployments of 100+ personnel, supporting festivals, largescale events and high-footfall venues across the UK. Our teams are trained, dependable and used to demanding live-event environments where safety, speed and presentation matter. As a founder-led business, we combine agility with accountability.

Kind wines for mindful drinkers Eco-conscious Inclusive Events featuring rare wines from Sardinia. Unique ‘Wine Storytelling’ & ‘Sip and Connect With...’ formats take your guests on a journey in a glass!

Private | Corporate | Public Contact us for a brochure.

Lindsey Harrison | 07737 231063 lindsey@festivalsitecrews.com | www.festivalsitecrews.com

hello@terrasardawines.com | 07487 509303 www.terrasardawines.com

Hotel Linen Services

The Tow Bar We offer personalised services to a wide range of events, such as: Festivals, Corporate Events, Private parties and functions there should be something to suit your needs.

Linen, Towels, Workwear hire and laundry you can rely on. Clean, consistent and delivered on time, without the hassle. Delivering across Scotland.

Tow-Bar Mobile Bar serves clients throughout the whole of Yorkshire. We can theme the bar to fit with the event’s requirements and customise drinks choices to cater to the attendee’s varied tastes.

hotellinenservices.co.uk | info@hotellinenservices.co.uk 01294 688336

07890 527708 | info@tow-mobile-bar.co.uk www.tow-mobile-bar.co.uk

Lift You Hire

Welcome to Ramada Hotel & Suites by Wyndham Coventry

Welcome to Lift you hire, a familyrun business where innovation meets experience in the world of event logistics. With over 15 years of expertise in the events industry, we’ve witnessed the excitement, the challenges, and the ever-evolving landscape of event planning and execution.

Dedicated Meeting Floor up to 100 delegates Onsite parking Walking distance to Coventry Rail Station

Our mission is simple. To deliver event logistics in a way that is easy to understand, effortless to manage and exceptional in execution.

11 miles from Birmingham Airport

024 7623 8110

www.liftyouhire.co.uk | 01926 961185 jhodson@liftyouhire.co.uk

www.ramadacoventry.co.uk reservations@ramadacoventry.co.uk

www.hospitalityandeventsnorth.com