PA Life Magazine - Spring 2022

Let’s get back to business travel With pandemic restrictions easing globally, PA Life takes an in-depth look at all aspects of business travel to help keep you on the road (and train and plane!) in 2022...

PA PROFILE This month we sat down with Women in Games EA Gemma Elnaugh to talk about virtual events and community

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PA SHOW PREVIEW Everything you need to know about the big March event at ExCeL, including a discount for PA Life readers

OUTDOOR VENUES Spring is just around the corner, so if your want to get staff out and about in the sunshine, we’ve got some great options

TEAM-BUILDING It’s time to come together again as colleagues, so why not explore the exciting teambuilding options open to you?

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WELCOME...

WE’RE BACK! It’s no big news that the past couple of years have been tough for businesses – and, of course, individuals – due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the resulting restrictions. At PA Life we have pushed through, keeping our audience updated daily via our website, and twice-weekly via our digital newsletter. However, we had to take the difficult decision to temporarily halt publication of our print magazine.

But now, with restrictions lifting, confidence across the market growing and a welcome return to normality, we are back with our first issue of 2022. We’re delighted to have the magazine in print once again – and look forward to your feedback going forward! But for now, we have a cracking read in store for you...

For this month’s PA Profile we sat down with Gemma Elnaugh, who is the Executive Assistant to the CEO at Women in Games, a not-for-profit organisation focused on supporting and empowering women who work in the male-dominated video games industry. She talks to us about her hugely varied role in an executive support position, as well as her work in helping to create the organisation’s global events.

But there’s more, much more. Who’s looking forward to the opportunity to network with your fellow Assistants and valued industry suppliers again? The PA Show is taking place on March 8th & 9th at ExCeL London. PA Life will be there (come and find us on Stand P13C!) and in this issue we feature a taster of what to expect at the event.

“Who’s looking forward to the opportunity to network with your fellow Assistants and valued industry suppliers again?”

We have not one, but three big supplier executive interviews for you. First up, Nick Tipper, Butlin’s Head of Conferences and Events, talks to us about the huge investment the brand has made in its venues, and what that means for corporate event organisers like you. We also sat down with Rachel Tonge, UK Vice President & General Manager at American Express Global Business Travel (GBT), to talk about her role and the company’s ambitions for 2022, which encompass everything from Covid-safe travel to ensuring diversity across its operations and supply chain. And finally, Agiito Chief Operating Officer Donna Fitzgerald tells us how a fleet-of-foot approach, coupled with a genuine desire to help companies navigate business travel and events during the pandemic and beyond, has seen the company emerge stronger than ever from the past couple of years.

Of course, you’ll have the opportunity to learn from the best minds in the business in our regular How To expert columns, which this month tackle upslilling, wellbeing, hybrid working and summer party organising. Plus, our special features are focused on giving you everything you need to deliver successfully on business travel, outdoor venue bookings and teambuilding projects.

We’ll be back for our next print magazine issue in the summer. In the meantime we hope you enjoy the magazine and we look forward to seeing you in person at the PA Show! Don’t forget to check www.palife.co.uk on a daily basis for the latest news and updates important to you and your work.

Lisa Carter, Associate Editor

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CONTENTS

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FEBRUARY/MARCH CONTENTS 16

How Tos This month we have a series of articles exploring everthing from upskilling and technology to workplace wellbeing and hybrid neworking.

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Business Travel With trains, planes and automobiles back on the corporate agenda, we’ve spoken to some of the key players in the sector and profiled the best solution providers.

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Outdoor Venues If you’re thinking of getting your teams and clients together in the great outdoors, our special feature for this issue has some amazing venues and partners for you to consider this spring and summer.

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Networking & Events 2022 has started with a bang for PA Life Club members, with not one, but two amazing physical Meet Up networking events - check out all the pics from both nights, as well as key upcoming events.

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Team Building As we approach the end game of the pandemic, the focus is now on reconnecteing with colleagues as we move through 2022. We have rounded up some great partners for you to investigate.

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PA Life Club We sat down with our Club Member of the Year for 2021 – Karen Crowley from Baily Garner – to talk about her role and inspirations, remote working tips and things to look forward to in 2022.

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Got a news story?

Tweet us @PALifeMag

WIN a green meeting with New Place Hotel The New Place Hotel and Conference Centre supports you to achieve your Corporate Sustainability actions and goals whenever you look to book a venue for meetings and events.

So we’ve teamed up with this forward-thinking venue to offer PA Life readers a unique prize: The chance for up to 10 delegates to attend a Green Meeting in its amazing buildings and grounds.

As part of this prize, the New Place Hotel team will invite you to plant a tree with your logo, provide a meeting room with AV and screen.

Tea and coffee breakouts in both the morning and afternoon and a wonderful

lunch in the Manor House Restaurant, plus complimentary parking and Wi-Fi will be provided for all.

To enter, please register by quoting the code GreenPA via email to jfisher@ newplacehotel.com by April 30th 2022.

John Fisher, Director of Sales at New Place Hotel, said: “We will invite you to take a break from your Green Meeting to come and plant a tree, with your company logo, within the 32-acre estate. This contributes to preserving the UK’s environment and biodiversity.

The trees are purchased from a local nursery that is a subsidiary of Solent Mind, the

local mental health charity.

“We have planted many trees and shrubs to date, creating sensory gardens for our guests and local community to enjoy and spend valuable time for reflection. Our woodlands and gardens create a perfect backdrop to our Grade 1 listed Manor House and encircles our own cricket pitch and croquet lawns.

“We have created a venue that recognises the value of people, their wellbeing and the importance of service.

Our clients are confident they have the ideal facilities to be able to deliver clear messages to achieve their business goals and recognise special achievements by their teams.

They also know through our teambuilding activities they will adopt skills to address their business challenges.

“We look forward to hearing from you as this venue and meeting programme is exactly what your business needs to support a successful 2022.” www.newplacehotel.co.uk

Learn to become a time saving expert at the PA Life Summit The PA Life Summit is designed for senior PAs who want to discover innovative ways to respond to the daily challenges of their professional lives - and we have a great line up of seminars from industry experts ready to help take your career to the next level.

One of the seminar sessions that you can enjoy this April is ‘Become a Time Saving Expert by Using Outlook Tasks’, presented by Paul Pennant (pictured), a Certified Microsoft Trainer at Today’s PA. Outlook Tasks is a reliable,

effective and easy way to organise your work, manage your time and projects.

Using this approach will save you time and stress and will give you a feeling of being in total control of your duties.

Paul has been helping Assistants and other Office Professionals to excel in their roles, increase productivity and boost their confidence for over 17 years.

He has personally taught Assistants from over 4,000 companies in over 80 countries around the world.

His goal is to increase your productivity through more

effective use of Microsoft Office products.

The Summit takes place on April 28th at the Hilton London Canary Wharf - As always, the event is small, niche and highly-targeted, unlike other large, busy expos and conferences.

As one of just 60 delegates you’ll experience a day of private meetings with corporate suppliers of venues, gifting, hospitality and travel managers.

If you are a PA or EA and would like to secure your FREE space to the PA Life Summit, contact Laura Spratt

on 01992 374053 or email l.spratt@forumevents.co.uk.

If you are a supplier and would like to find out more about how you can meet with these senior corporate bookers, contact Courtney Saggers on 01992 374088 / c.saggers@forumevents. co.uk. www.palife.co.uk/pa-life-summit

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NEWS

A great event starts with an extraordinary location We’ve all spent enough time apart lately, so make your next meeting or event memorable with a venue to impress from Marriott.

flexible booking terms and dedicated meeting experts – make your next meeting effortless to plan and unforgettable to hold...

CARDIFF MARRIOTT HOTEL New state of the art meeting spaces and its prime location make Cardiff Marriott Hotel the ideal place for your next meeting or event. Located in the heart of the city, the hotel is situated minutes away from transport links. Its new space comes complete with modern technology and stylish décor. Delegates staying overnight are able to enjoy one of the hotel’s newly refurbished bedrooms and onsite facilities. www.CardiffMarriott.co.uk

Gifts are twice as nice We don’t want to make assumptions, but we’re pretty sure your team is stellar. After all, why else would you have them?

Show them how excited you are to have them back in the office and on the job with some irresistible gifts!

Choose from Popkakery’s extensive range of delicious treats to celebrate the return to the office.

Whether it is a box of chocolates, cakes, sweets or even vegan treats, each box is branded with your logo and artwork, and Popkakery insert a card with a personalised message into each box.

Just leave them on their desk as a welcome gift or send them to your colleagues, clients, friends or family by post to any address in the UK or further afield.

Popkakery can also post multiple boxes to multiple addresses.

LEEDS MARRIOTT HOTEL Following a complete transformation, the meeting and events complex in Leeds Marriott Hotel provides an impressive backdrop for events of all occasions, for up to 300 guests. The hotel’s 17 spaces are completely versatile and feature modern AV throughout. Expert event planners will take care of every detail, and talented chefs provide bespoke catering options to make your event memorable. www.LeedsMarriott.co.uk LEICESTER MARRIOTT HOTEL Experience a winning combination of convenience and comfort at the 4-star Leicester Marriott Hotel in the heart of England, just ten minutes away from Leicester City Centre. Offering almost 1,000 sq ft of state-of-the-art meeting and conference facilities, Leicester Marriott Hotel features 19 event spaces with the capacity and flexibility to host events from 12 to an impressive 400 people. www.LeicesterMarriott.co.uk LONDON MARRIOTT HOTEL MAIDA VALE Enjoy effortless access to the centre of London and iconic city landmarks from your Maida Vale venue, featuring 239 newly refurbished bedrooms and six versatile meeting spaces. Designed to be flexible, London Marriott Hotel Maida Vale’s two main event suites host up to 160 delegates and can be divided into smaller meeting and syndicate rooms, offering you privacy and exclusivity. www.LondonMarriottMaidaVale.co.uk

Call them on 0203 397 0529 or ping the team a message at info@ popkakery.com.

Visit the website: www. popkakery.com or follow them on Instagram @popkakery.

We’ve rounded up some of Marriott Bonvoy Events’ top UK venues featuring renovated meeting spaces, which – together with their

Don’t forget that when you host your event at a Marriott venue, you’ll earn Marriott Bonvoy Events points to redeem for free stays

worldwide. And when you book your next meeting or event before March 31st 2022 and host before August 31st 2022, you’ll earn double

Marriott Bonvoy points plus receive 5% off your master bill. Terms and conditions apply. www.meetingsmademarriott.co.uk

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PA PROFILE

Gemma Elnaugh This month we sat down with Gemma Elnaugh, EA to the CEO at Women in Games, to talk about working at a not-for-profit organisation, the challenges and rewards of organising virtual events, and the importance of community...

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PA PROFILE

Speaking to so many talented people at Women in Games events and on our social channels has been so rewarding and inspiring Tell us about your journey to become Executive Assistant at Women in Games.

I started working as a PA part time for a recruitment company and my manager also happened to be the Founder of Women in Games. I was introduced to a few of the team as my responsibilities involved diary communication and was so impressed by the work they were doing. My first involvement with Women in Games was assisting with the 2020 Global Conference, a virtual event held over two days.

I have worked in events and project management for over six years, which has involved organising anything from site visits for property developments to large-scale education events for 1000+ GCSE students.

After getting to know the CEO, Marie-Claire Isaaman, the need for an Executive Assistant was discussed and I put myself forward. I work two days a week with Women in Games and it’s an incredible job.

What does your role entail on a day-to-day/week-to-week basis?

I have a weekly catch up with the CEO to discuss any projects I’m working on and my priorities for the week. I also work closely with our PR & Comms and Partnerships Director as a lot of our projects overlap. We’re a small team with a big mission - to build a fair, equal and safe environment empowering girls and women in the games industry worldwide.

I see my role as supporting the CEO and wider team to enable them to make these changes in the industry. I try to make my approach proactive rather than reactive, which means that it gives me a chance to see what is coming up and ensure that everything is in place for it. My job involves a lot of planning, organisation and multitasking which means that no two days are ever the same!

Women in Games hosts a series of events throughout the year – what is your involvement in these?

Having started off with Women in Games as part of the events team I’m still heavily involved in events - both at inception stage and post-event. During the pandemic our events have been virtual, but this has meant we can get a lot more of our global community involved. We use a great platform called Hopin for our virtual events. I set up the events on the platform, manage the Expo area, create artwork for the events and also help to run things on the day. The events are so much fun to be involved in, and as a bonus I get to meet and work with so many incredible people in the industry. It’s a real privilege.

What are the most challenging aspects of your role?

Working remotely has its benefits, but it is challenging at times.

Women in Games is a not-for-profit organisation with no full-time staff, so team members are often working at different times to fit to their own schedules. As someone who was used to working full time in an office environment, I do miss the daily in-person interactions that come with that, but it’s something I’ve adapted to and we are a really close knit team, so we meet up as often as possible.

Working on the events involves being a liaison to the community. This means I regularly get to listen to the challenges people are facing in the industry. It’s exciting to see projects our community are working on, but it’s also difficult seeing and hearing about the toxicity and harassment many women go through. There’s a lot of work still to do, but through activism, advocacy and mentorship we’ll continue to support those that need it most.

And the most rewarding?

Speaking to so many incredibly talented people at Women in Games events and on our social channels has been so rewarding and inspiring. I’ve learned so much from their experiences and insights. It’s great to hear from the wider community about what they think could be done to improve representation of women in the games industry. Being a gamer myself, I see games as a way for people to express themselves, connect with others and experience different emotions that they may not necessarily feel in their day-to-day lives. That’s why it appeals to such a diverse group of people worldwide because it touches us all in different ways, yet brings us together as one community.

Describe a typical day for you.

It definitely starts with a big cup of coffee! I’m freelance and Women in Games takes up about half of my week. Alongside being an EA, I work for a Marketing and Partnerships company, also in the games industry, as an Account Manager. When I’m not doing either of those roles, I run my own business, making and selling handmade jewellery and accessories.

With Women in Games, my role as Executive Assistant means that I cover a lot of different areas: minute taking, diary management, sending out communications to the team and our community, creating procedures and analysing engagement to name a few. It is hugely varied, but that is what I love about it. We are such a small team that each day is different and I am constantly learning new things, which I believe is essential for personal development.

How does your relationship with your CEO work?

Working with Marie-Claire is incredibly rewarding, having the ability to get people immediately engaged is a skill not many people have. Having a manager that is so supportive and who

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PA PROFILE

It’s really great to work with people who are passionate about what they do and who wholeheartedly want to make a difference really values my input is very special. The whole team is brilliant, it’s really great to work with people who are passionate about what they do and who wholeheartedly want to make a difference. It makes it so much easier when you feel like everyone is working towards the same goal.

We check in with each other remotely throughout the week to keep updated on projects and upcoming events. There are so many aspects involved in helping Women in Games grow, especially as we’ve expanded globally over the past few years.

So supporting the CEO in getting procedures right and implementing them across the team has been really important in meeting our goals.

How did the pandemic and restrictions impact Women in Games as an organisation – and how did it affect you in your professional life?

Personally, I was in a lucky position where the pandemic didn’t have much impact in my professional life. In fact, it pushed me towards being a freelancer full time and opened up opportunities I wouldn’t have usually had. As an organisation, Women in Games has always been remote, with everyone working from home. So day-to-day life didn’t change too dramatically. Our events however had to adapt to being virtual, and although that involved a lot of work initially, our reach has expanded even further globally than we could have hoped.

I think changing from in person to virtual events also meant our attendees were more willing to share their experiences.

People generally felt more vulnerable during lockdown and that seemed to make them more open to talking about themselves professionally as well as personally. We channelled the importance of building relationships and support networks at our events and out across our social channels. During which, I personally made friendships that are extremely important to me.

The organisation you work for is all about empowering and supporting women and girls in their careers. What are the key things you’ve learnt that have helped you – and that you can share with PA Life readers who maybe feel they lack confidence in taking their career forward?

Women in Games has such a powerful and diverse community. I used to suffer from imposter syndrome constantly, making excuses for not putting myself forward for opportunities or allowing self-doubt to creep in when I had an idea. Seeing the amazing work being done by many across the sector is so inspiring that since joining the Women in Games

team my confidence has improved dramatically. So I recommend seeking out a community that makes you see your self-worth, where you feel valued and supported.

I’m sure many people reading this will understand the fear of taking on new challenges or feeling like they don’t deserve them, but if you are truly passionate about something then I encourage you to just go for it – what’s the worst that can happen? You learn something new and important about yourself.

The other thing that really helps me is setting myself small goals. I’ll write out ‘to do’ lists as long as my arm, but I make sure to recognise the achievement of ticking something off, no matter how small the task.

If you weren’t an Executive Assistant, what would you be doing now?

I have so many different answers for this! I’d most likely be running events, it’s something I enjoy and have lots of experience in, but dream-job wise, I studied Design and Pattern Cutting at London College of Fashion, so I am always itching to get back to that in some capacity. Otherwise, I love animals, so volunteering somewhere working with dogs or cats would be amazing.

How do you relax after a busy day?

I love playing video games, both alone and with my boyfriend.

We’re both big gamers and have a lot of consoles between us.

Our favourite game to play together is probably Rocket League but we both enjoyed playing Cuphead and Overcooked, even if it did cause a few arguments…

To top it all off, nothing beats having a cup of tea and cuddling up with one of our cats. We have three so there’s nearly always one within arms reach! I’m also a super proud aunt to my niece and three nephews, so hanging out with them always takes my mind off a stressful day.

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BUTLIN’S

Bring your teams together at Butlin’s Following huge investment, 2022 is shaping up to be a busy year at Butlin’s, so we sat down with Nick Tipper, its Head of Conferences and Events, to find out more…

What does Butlin’s recent conferences & events relaunch mean for your clients in 2022?

Butlin’s has always been about bringing people together. Our conferences and events proposition applies everything that makes Butlin’s great for families with a new approach for corporates and their employees.

The global pandemic has forced a shift in mindset. Employees are re-evaluating the importance of work-life balance, while businesses are realising they need to find new ways to re-engage their teams and bring people together again.

There is a new focus on spending quality time together as a team and building relationships, without sacrificing family time. For example, we are seeing an increase in enquiries at all three resorts for end of the week conferences which will allow attendees to bring their families to enjoy a weekend break.

The facilities and entertainment at each of the Butlin’s resorts create opportunities for every member of a team to have a personalised experience and find like-minded colleagues, no matter what they like to do for fun. From the fairgrounds to bowling and go-karts or from the beaches to the bars, there is something for everyone at Butlin’s.

Butlin’s is uniquely positioned to provide the solutions to our clients’ post-pandemic approach to events. With the launch of a brand new, state-of-theart venue in Studio 36, each Butlin’s resort can welcome events of all sizes and requirements. Studio 36 is fully flexible and comes with professional standard sound and lighting equipment, so the venue can be tailored to suit the needs of all types of events. Additionally,

everything at Butlin’s is in one place, so the venue, accommodation, catering and entertainment can all be contracted together for simplicity and peace of mind. Our new proposition puts Butlin’s in a position to be part of the recovery, pioneering how we think conferences & events should be moving forward.

Tell us about your Bognor Regis, Skegness and Minehead venues.

You’ll find the same quality facilities, entertainment and team support at all three Butlin’s resorts, ensuring a consistent product for all our clients regardless of their preferred location.

Each of our three resorts is situated in an iconic seaside location and has all the ‘key elements’ needed to create a memorable conference or event — venue, accommodation, F&B — all in one place. Each resort has Studio 36, fairground facilities, retail spaces and a

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Championship. Skegness, the original home of Butlin’s, is very popular with clients based in the Midlands and north of England thanks to the space on offer.

What can event organisers expect from the Studio 36 facilities?

Studio 36 is a fully flexible, state-of-theart venue designed to provide bespoke

Our new proposition puts Butlin’s in a position to be part of the recovery, pioneering how we think conferences & events should be moving forward

minimum of five venues to choose from.

The fairground is the ideal location for event planners as corporates are realising that ‘traditional’ team building is less effective and they are seeking to engage their teams with personalised fun and free time. However, each of our three resorts has its own USP. The resort in Bognor Regis has dedicated conference spaces and direct train connections to London and Gatwick airport. Minehead can host large arena events such as the annual PDC Darts UK Open and Players

solutions to client event needs. The new venue, available at all three resorts, is the perfect customisable space for event organisers. The pillarless space can host up to 1,600 delegates in a variety of seating arrangements including theatre, cabaret style and gala dinners. The industry level sound and lighting systems have been used by the likes of Diversity, Stephen Mulhern and Tony Hadley to name a few, and our in-house technicians can help create a bespoke brand-focused experience for our

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corporate clients. The space can be configured to allow natural daylight and breakout spaces, or blackout curtains can create a perfect canvas for an audio-visual experience.

Studio 36 gives the flexibility to personalise the space to suit each specific conference or event, and Butlin’s brings everything from AV and entertainment to catering and accommodation together in one place.

Tell us about Butlin’s approach to corporate catering.

If I had to sum up our approach to corporate catering in one word, it would be variety. We can offer a wide range of catering options from traditional gala dinners to something a bit more informal, like buffet stations or street food. The best in the business, including Michelin star level chefs, have created a host of new mouth-watering menus specifically for conferences and events.

We work closely with clients to ensure we are catering to specific requests and have bespoke solutions including an ‘around the world’ themed buffet with stations for 1,400 delegates and seated

dinners in one of our many restaurants.

What support can the Butlin’s team offer to event organisers?

We have a team of dedicated event managers with a wealth of experience at each of the three resorts, ensuring that event organisers have a single point of contact to support their experience from start to finish. Our event managers are brilliantly reinforced by up to 1,000 resort team members, so no matter what creative ideas they come up with we are here to help realise that vision and create a memorable event.

What measures does Butlin’s employ to ensure Covid safety at its venues?

We have already hosted a number of conferences and events at Butlin’s with Covid-secure policies in place. We have solutions adjusting every aspect of the delegate experience from check-in to dining and networking. We work closely with event planners to meet not only government regulations, but also any specific client requirements to ensure the safety of all visitors to Butlin’s. www.butlins.com/conferences-events

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HOW TO...

How to keep up with new tech – and the importance of upskilling Rosemary Parr, Founder of the Global PA Association & Training Academy, discusses the growing importance of Office Assistants as we emerge from the pandemic with new ways of working and an increased focus on technology...

We are now starting to adjust to life post-Covid and as such we are in the midst of a transformation in office working practices. The traditional office we knew has been changed forever. Futurists are predicting that the acceleration of remote working might be more important than the introduction of the internet in 1993. As employers scrambled during pandemic restrictions to implement remote working for all, there is no sign of a return to five days a week in the office for many. What does this mean for EAs and PAs? With hybrid working becoming the ‘new normal’ in the office, you are now at the forefront of managing software applications and working digitally.

Overnight you had to grasp the workings of Teams, Zoom, Cisco Webex, Go To Webinar and other conferencing applications. In the early days of lockdowns the conferencing technology did not always work well, with buffering, crashing and losing important clients on a video call among some of the challenges you faced – along with managing multiple diaries and communicating across time zones!

However, EAs & PAs always rise to the challenges that confront them, with the grace and ease of the swan.

So many new technologies have emerged mainstream in the last two years – and I often get asked – what is the best software for time management?

Project Management abilities have become a ‘must have’ skill. EAs & PAs are tasked with managing company events, golf days, team off-sites, conferences, dinners, lunches – all of which require coordination. Working remotely requires showing your digital skills and professionalism on video calls and by sharing spreadsheets of how you are coordinating an event. The days of the

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No one can afford to sit back and stay the same; we are all living in an era of rapid transformational growth in technology and soft skills.

notepad and pen, visiting your Executive at his desk and organising an event in your notebook are long gone, plus printers no longer exist in many offices!

Minute taking for many of you is now via video calls, which present new challenges in note-taking. The skill of a minute taker in a face-to-face meeting is the ability to read the room and connect directly with each speaker, and this ability can be lost on video calls.

In the digital office the future is promising for your profession. You are needed more than ever to coordinate and manage complex situations, so your

Executive is freed up to be super effective in their role. Continuous upskilling is now the ‘de facto’ standard for employees everywhere. No one can afford to sit back and stay the same; we are all living in an era of rapid transformational growth in tech and soft skills. At the Global PA Association & Training Academy we recommend you continue to attend soft skills and tech skill courses to maintain your competitive edge and increase your value to your organisations. For career and training advice do contact us at www.globalpa-association.com

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HOW TO...

How to boost employee wellbeing through office design Creating a healthier, happier place of work should start in the office. Caine Bird, HR Contributor and Writer, offers some advice…

Whilst workplace wellbeing tackles a spectrum of ideas about how work and health are interrelated, the role of office design is one that’s often overshadowed.

The impact of a workplace environment on employee productivity has been measured many times before – and the consensus is clearer than stating the obvious about chaotic, unstructured offices and how this is experienced negatively. The bottom line is that unhealthy office design takes away from employee wellbeing, shrinking their engagement and productivity.

To combat that, these three takeaways on how offices can be managed can be implemented in almost any workplace setting.

1. Front of House Is More Relevant Than Ever With so many building visitors, having the most relevant and appropriate services to maximise their management is critical.

Not only is it important for security purposes, but front of house services – that is, the team that greets your visitors – help form part of the initial impression visitors make within the first encounter with your organisation.

Reception, or front of house, is all about building an experience. Your employees want memorable, healthy connections to their place of work, starting from the moment they walk through the front door. A dedicated team is responsible for ensuring that employees feel safe, comfortable, and welcome – this role is critical in underpinning employee engagement, using an excellent sense of hospitality to make sure they can feel happy at work.

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The bottom line is that unhealthy office design takes away from employee wellbeing, shrinking their engagement and productivity

2. Security Underpins a Sense of Safety Enhancing building security is a way of making employees feel even safer at work. The certainty that their health and safety is taken care of is paramount to ensuring that they can comfortably relax at work. Corporate security covers everything from regulating visitors, to patrolling carparks. It plays a role in reassuring staff that they’re safe; security is, typically, at its most important during the arrival process. This means it complements front of house services and acts as a lynchpin in an employee’s journey as they navigate the office.

3. Is Your Office Hygienic?

Hygiene is more important than ever. In addition to limiting coronavirus risk, clean workplaces reduce the chance of any other infectious illness spreading, down to the common cold or flu.

Proactive managers can create healthy offices by ensuring regular and thorough cleaning schedules are met, and that waste is managed sustainably through quality FM. The opportunity for a happier, healthier building starts with a proactive mind about how to better design an experience that your employees will remember.

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HOW TO...

How to encourage productivity and wellbeing amongst office returners Matt Ephgrave, Managing Director at Just Eat for Business, on how to help employees adapt into their new working routine while prioritising well-being in the office and at home...

Last month, the scrapping of Plan B guidelines gave businesses the go ahead to bring their staff back to the office, with most adopting a hybrid model. Not all were thrilled at the prospect though, with 71% reporting preferring to work from home and 58% saying they were more productive when they did. In order to effectively bring back the balance and show employees the workplace can also allow for productivity and wellbeing, business leaders need to create an environment that offers the same perks at home and at work, to get staff in a place where they are happy with both.

Keep the conversation flowing With 84% of UK employees agreeing they would like to sit and talk with their team daily, the art of conversation is clearly an important aspect of office life.

Workplaces can use this insight to implement more team bonding initiatives with an aim to reconnect those that haven’t kept in touch over the past year. Whether this be a team lunch or a post-work social, catching up with your colleagues is essential in creating a motivated workforce. Ensuring remote workers are also included is essential.

Encourage employees to form routines Whilst working remotely, employees may have taken up new, positive routines. Perhaps mornings were occupied with a brisk walk and a podcast in replacement of the commute. Returning to the office shouldn’t hinder these habits, and encouraging the continuation of routines will allow for a more seamless transition to office life. Moreover, establishing a structured office plan will help employees find their rhythm within the workplace and can help streamline laborious practices.

“

Establishing structured routines and organising opportunities for staff to reconnect has never been more important and will continue to be

Establish fluidity between remote and office workers Team leaders should allocate resources into creating a unified environment - a solid technology infrastructure to allow both on- and off-site employees to communicate seamlessly is a must.

Team bonding sessions can be conducted online using a flexible platform such as Just Eat Pay, allowing

employees to order their favourite lunch using a pre-loaded balance. Initiatives such as these will act as a reminder that all staff, wherever they’re working from, are valued equally.

Establishing structured routines and organising opportunities for staff to reconnect has never been more important, and will continue to be as we navigate the office return.

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The PA Show returns!

Register for 10% off!

Education, Inspiration and Connection are the pillars of The PA Show, providing a unique forum for the Executive Support community to come together, learn and celebrate YOU – the individuals who drive, support and sit at the very heart of every successful business in the UK. ‘The Power behind the Throne’ was our theme for this year’s campaign and we’ve really enjoyed sharing the stories of so many PAs and EAs and the ways in which your roles and scope of responsibilities have been transformed over the last two years.

Learning sits at the heart of the show and we’re delighted that our seminar programme has been so well received, with a record number of you booking your delegate passes. We believe we’ve upped the ante again on the content and are excited to deliver a world-class programme on 8th & 9th March.

New for 2022 is the Tech Theatre in partnership with WorkSmart PA, a chance to explore a range of tech tools Find out more: www.thepashow.com

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and hacks that can make your working lives easier. We’re also delighted to announce the first Office Management Conference in partnership with The Office Management Group, where we’ll be sharing essential skills for Office, Ops/ Facilities Managers and Workplace Managers for strategic partnering as well as knowledge on items such as health, safety and wellbeing, DSEs and procurement, all critical information as our workforces return to the office.

Of course, we couldn’t do any of this without the support of our amazing exhibitors and sponsors who really bring the sparkle and we’d like to say an enormous thank you to all of them for their continuing confidence in the show.

A particular shout out to this year’s headline sponsor South Western Railway – make sure you drop by their stand D20P to talk about how they’re planning to make your travelling easier.

Looking forward to seeing you all on 8th & 9th March and wear your comfiest shoes – it’ll be a packed, full-on but, we guarantee, rewarding couple of days!!

Liz Agostini, Portfolio Director, The PA Show

WHAT THE PA SHOW 2021 ATTENDEES SAID: “It was my first visit to the PA Show and I was not sure what to expect, but boy was I pleasantly surprised. I had intended to just attend day 1 but I loved it so much I rearranged my day just so that I could attend day 2.

Definitely attending next year!”

Candice Nielsen, PA, Barclays “I had a fantastic time at The PA Show! The panel sessions were very interesting, full of some great ideas and development workouts. The PA Show certainly leads with a values based-approach.”

Gemma Trigg, Executive Assistant, NHS Wales “The PA Show was certainly empowering and motivational, the show really reminded me of why I choose my career and the joys I get out of it.”

Kim Wheeler, PA, The Hyde Group

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What’s on...

60 HOURS OF WORLD CLASS CONFERENCE SESSIONS The renowned seminar programme at The PA Show focuses on the issues and topics that matter most to today’s executive support professionals, providing education with real career enhancing takeaways and CPD accreditation all in one place. Whether you’re new to your role, or a seasoned professional, you’ll leave the event with improved knowledge, skills, and contacts.

HANDPICKED PREMIUM SUPPLIERS We’ve handpicked leading suppliers offering products and services for your contact book - including top hotels, restaurants, corporate gifts, travel agents, private dining, venue finding services and more. As well as sourcing the services, products and experience you need to grow in your role, you’ll also be able to secure exclusive prices not available elsewhere.

BENEFIT FROM UNBEATABLE NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES Benefit from unbeatable networking opportunities with thousands of Executive Support Professionals in attendance at The PA Show. There’s no better opportunity to make new industry connections.

SPEED NETWORKING Apply to take part in our Speed Networking sessions, which will involve four sessions across the two days each consisting of eight meetings. Our successful candidates will meet with eight exhibitors in quick fire sessions to source new products and solutions and find a supplier who best suits their requirements. Each candidate will receive a luxury gift box for participating!

Register for 10% off!

4 SHOWS IN 1 Your PA Show pass will give you access to not one but four shows on the 8-9 March. Co-located Shows include: INTERNATIONAL CONFEX International Confex has held its position as the leading exhibition for the events industry, bringing together the largest gathering of event professionals in the UK. Confex is where event organisers discover suppliers, venues, and service providers to help them plan their future events as well as catch up with their events industry family.

THE EVENT PRODUCTION SHOW Dedicated to the live events industry across sports, music and culture. EPS

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brings together event professionals from every sector; from event promoters, festival organisers, production companies, corporate event planners, charities, experiential and marketing agencies, local authorities, government bodies and everything in between and beyond.

THE PUBLISHING SHOW A world class conference and exhibition with key thought leaders in publishing and media, uniting the very best in the business and galvanising all professionals responsible for the development of publishing businesses, portfolios or products, injecting new ideas into their business model.

EAT MY LOGO IS A FAMILY RUN BAKERY THAT SPECIALISES IN MAKING BRANDS TASTY! Every day the Eat My Logo team bake thousands of cakes and biscuits that are used by businesses across the UK to Treat, Reward and Celebrate with their valued customers and employees.

Eat My Logo grew out of a High Street celebration cake shop in 2014 and its team now bake, decorate and dispatch hundreds of thousands of branded cakes and biscuits for business customers every year.

Its cake shop quality products are all baked and decorated in house and the range include cupcakes, biscuits, brownies, doughnut, millionaire and flapjacks that all come with a truly edible logo. It has also recently added a printed chocolate range.

All businesses like to treat and reward their people as well as celebrating their achievements and Eat My Logo’s team will help you find the perfect product. If you just want a few products that is great as they have very low minimum order quantities. If you need a large number of products going to multiple locations, Eat My Logo can easily accommodate that and are experts at large multi-site projects.

The company’s largest order to date is 200,000 bespoke shaped biscuits to 149 locations around the UK. More and more businesses are now choosing its ‘Surprise & Delight’ range to help promote their brand, so if you are looking for a product that will always generate a positive reaction from the recipient, whether a customer, a prospect or a staff member, then the Eat My Logo range is the perfect choice. Please visit their website at www. eatmylogo.co.uk or contact their friendly and helpful sales team on 01772 472 580.

Find out more: www.thepashow.com

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Register for 10% off!

Exhibitor highlights...

SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAY STAND: D20P The launch of the new SWR Business Direct self-booking tool gives your business the flexibility to book your rail travel when you want, how you want and with no booking fees. The new Business Direct tool is simple to use but powerful enough to allow our users to book rail travel anywhere in the UK mainland.

INCIPIO GROUP STAND: B71P Incipio Group operate 6 venues across London; With every venue, the experience comes first.

Frequent updates to themes, décor, drinking and dining concepts ensure every guest feels they have travelled ‘somewhere else’, whether it’s their first visit or their tenth.

Venues range from 300 to 850 capacity, each available for semi-private and exclusive hire.

PREMIER INN STAND D24P Premier Inn offers its business guests a great night’s sleep at over 800 conveniently located hotels across the UK, with hotels also located in Ireland and Germany.

At a range of its hotels, guests can enhance their stay with Premier Plus rooms, providing extra comfort and convenience. They’ve also got parking facilities at most of the hotels for maximum convenience.

DIAL A FLIGHT STAND: F24P People in charge of buying travel often tell us the hardest part of their job is finding a travel company, whether it’s for leisure or business, who can help them to save costs, but still provide fantastic service. It always seems to be one or the other.

DialAFlight introduced a fresh and creative approach to the world of corporate travel over 40 years ago.

WHITTARD OF CHELSEA STAND: B24P Whittard has been creating merry moments among friends, family and colleagues for 135 years now. The power of hot drinks to bring us together – to pause, reflect, catch-up and recharge – is what they’re all about. The secret is: it’s not just the beverages themselves, it’s the warmth, comfort and joy they help create.

SHELLEY FISHEL Founder, Tomorrow’s VA

ABIGAIL JONES Executive Assistant, Facebook

Shelley Fishel is the founder of Tomorrow’s VA, an online training academy for all things Microsoft. Having had a face to face training company and training in corporates and businesses of all sizes, Shelley now works mainly online with her many clients.

Abigail Jones is a career EA, winner of PA Life Club PA of the Year 2019 and Miss Jones PA of the Year 2018, shortlisted for Anderson Hoare PA of the Year 2019, Outstanding Achievement, EA of the Year 2018, London PA of the Year 2017, PA of the Year 2016.

Speaker highlights...

LAUREN BRADLEY Founder, The Officials

PAUL PENNANT MD, Today’s PA

Lauren has 15+ years of experience as an award-winning assistant, having held most of the titles in the industry. She is the founder and lead trainer of jointheofficials. com where she empowers admins and assistants through community, affordable training and coaching.

Paul has been helping Assistants and other Office Professionals to excel in their roles, increase productivity and boost their confidence for over 16 years. Today’s PA has been named ‘Best Assistant Training Provider in the UK’ six years running.

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HANA GRAY CEO & Founder , The Office Management Group Hana Gray is a specialist office and facilities management consultant with over 15 years’ experience; she founded Black & White Office Consultancy in 2016 and a unique online resource, The Office Management Portal, in 2017.

Find out more: www.thepashow.com

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OUTDOOR

Outdoor Venues & Activities Are you looking for spectacular outdoor venues to get your team or clients together this Spring and Summer? Here are a few ideas to get you started... >>> GO SPORT TRAVEL GO Sport Travel was established in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden, in 2001 as a sport-specialist tour operator, offering packages that have enabled clients to experience sporting events around the globe.

The company has grown to become one of Europe’s major suppliers of Premier League football packages, as well as offering sporting and cultural experiences in Europe and North America.

GO Sport Travel has now expanded its operation by opening an office in London where its team are engaged in

>>> THE LOWRY HOTEL An iconic five-star hotel in Manchester, set on the banks of the River Irwell and a mere five-minute walk away from the city centre. The hotel is close to Exchange Square and its high-end shops, the business Spinningfields area as well as some top-class restaurants.

Easily accessible by both private or public transportation, the hotel offers secure car parking.

With a selection of six different room categories making up the 165 rooms, and with the largest entry level rooms in the city, you are bound to find the perfect fit for you. The River Restaurant, The Lowry Lounge and Bar and

offering tickets and packages not only for sports events, but also for concerts, West End theatres, special-interest guided tours and experiences.

Based in its office in Westminster, GO Sport Travel are official resellers at any number of venues and like to think of themselves as a ‘one-stop-shop’, be it for days/ evenings out, extended trips (join them for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, for example) or as incentive & reward programme partners.

Sign up to their Newsletter online to be kept up to date on their products, get access to

great value offers and discounted tickets.

Please get in touch. Whether it’s within Great Britain (Premier League football, the Silverstone Grand Prix, the Open Golf, Wimbledon Tennis, concerts at

Wembley, the O2 or the Royal Albert Hall, etc), or abroad (Grand Prix motor racing, Italian Serie A football, North American ice-hockey, etc) they’d be delighted to hear from you! www.gosporttravel.com

The Lowry Terrace all overlook the city and the river. The bar menu offers informal classic food and sophisticated drinks. In the restaurant, the á la carte menu is specially created to ensure an exquisite dining experience.

The Hotel proudly boasts a total of 11 meeting and events spaces and a total of 778sqm.

Meetings Inspired is the hotel’s meetings & event product designed to bring your visions for your meetings to life. With cutting-edge technology, inclusive menus and a five-star service, they can help you create a flawless event that delivers. www.thelowryhotel.com

>>> SEARCYS Searcys is the brainchild of one man: John Searcy. A creative and culinary force of nature, John began his illustrious career as the confectioner for the Duke of Northumberland before pushing out on his own and taking his talents to London where he founded Searcys in 1847. Searcys soon became a hit amongst the capital’s high society gaining a reputation as the go-to events company for exceptional quality.

Today, Searcys is in residence at unique and historical venues across the UK including Blenheim Palace, The Pump Room at the Roman Baths, The Gherkin, and St Pancras International. Events are still central to what the brand does, but Searcys is also famed for its destination restaurants, afternoon teas and Champagne bars. Its 15 plus venues across the UK serve fresh, seasonal

dishes that focus on sustainability and local produce alongside extensive Champagne and wine lists, paired with world-class service.

Searcys prides itself on offering a taste of indulgence to every guest, whether that be a glass of Champagne before the train at St Pancras, or a breakfast that kicks the day off in style at The Pump Room.

Make it Special. Make it Searcys.

For more information on the Searcys portfolio of bars and restaurants, including outside hospitality for summer, visit www.searcys.co.uk

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OUTDOOR VENUES

>>> ROEHAMPTON VENUES It’s time to get the team back together and have some fun.

Creating Inspiring Moments.

Roehampton Venues were delighted to welcome guests, teams, friends, and family back together in its glorious grounds in 2021. This summer they are going bigger and better with a range of party and team building packages.

Roehampton’s Grade Listed building Grove House, with its terrace and beautiful gardens, are a perfect setting to bring your team back together.

Whether it is an afternoon tea, BBQ or a summer party they are on hand to create the perfect setting and create fantastic memories. Looking for a meeting before? Their Elm Grove Training Centre is a unique conference space situated on the third floor.

The Oak Suite, with its floor to ceiling windows, offers views of the surrounding >>> NEW PLACE HOTEL There is a recognised need to support the business community by providing a venue that offers a varied selection of flexible spaces for all types of events, from seminars in New Place Hotel’s meeting rooms, large corporate away days in its conference suite, or clear thinking in the truly unique syndicate treehouse nestled in the woodland.

Set in 32 acres of Hampshire countryside, the New Place Hotel and Conference Centre enables companies to value their employees, discuss business strategies and solidify that important team approach, to achieve their goals and success in 2022.

To find out more about its environmental ‘Green

grounds and lake. Treat your guests to a lunch with a view in the Lime Tree Suite. This space gives guests the option of an outside terrace and views overlooking the city.

How are Roehampton Venues keeping guests safe?

They are accredited with ‘Good to Go’ from Visit Britain

and is an ‘Aim Safe Venue’ awarded by The Meetings Industry Association. They consider the best format for your event to ensure guests feel comfortable with distancing and flow within the venue, offering enhanced cleaning and sanitising stations throughout. Roehampton has

updated catering menus – focused on individual service limiting touch points, and will give you guidance and support to help you navigate your event planning.

Dates are available this Spring/Summer and the team would love to hear from you! www.roehamptonvenues.co.uk

Meetings’, with planting your own trees and a choice of outdoor pursuits promoting leadership, teamwork and employee wellbeing, please contact their dynamic and experienced event coordinators to create your perfect event.

110 bedrooms – leisure facilities including swimming pool - woodland trail – cricket pitch - croquet lawn – private activity field. Email: Sales@newplacehotel.com

>>> 30 EUSTON SQUARE 30 Euston Square is a spectacular venue with a stunning outside space, perfect for a summer party.

The space can accommodate everything from a private meeting of 2 to a canape reception of 300. Coupled with a friendly and passionate catering, the venue’s talented chefs work with the freshest seasonal produce to create inspiring and delectable menus to suit all event requirements.

Guaranteed to impress your guests and offer the most memorable setting for your upcoming London events, the penthouse State Rooms and the adjoining Rooftop Terrace are bright, spacious venue options available for exclusive hire.

Hidden away above the

hustle and bustle of London’s streets is 30 Euston Square’s outdoor terrace, offering an ideal place to relax and unwind.

With a capacity of 90, the terrace provides the perfect breakout space for a party.

Wooden decking, multiple seating options and built-in AV create a comfortable and immersive atmosphere, while the partial cover means the British weather won’t spoil the celebrations. www.30eustonsquare.co.uk

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SUMMER PARTIES

Get ready for a summer of fun Arctic Fox Director Nicky Brown’s guide to hosting the perfect corporate party this summer…

After a crazy two years and with organisations adjusting to new routines and a desire for work/life balance, getting people together has become more important than ever.

What does this look like for you and your company?

A rooftop bar, company picnic, rounders tournament or even your very own festival – the list of possibilities is endless, and venues are more prepared than ever to make the most of their outside space and for all the fun summer parties can bring.

For a lot of companies, summer party planning is well underway to help their teams to celebrate, reunite, relax and have fun. But organising your summer event doesn’t need to be stressful – there are just a few things you need to think about to ensure you have all bases covered…

Room with a view A popular ask from our clients is a ‘room with a view’, and luckily there are so many great spaces that give your

guests something to gaze upon whilst they enjoy themselves, like Bateaux London (pictured, right). The all-important party selfie couldn’t be more memorable than with the sites of your host city in the background – look for the hidden gem roof terraces, bar boats and even iconic buildings that can accommodate parties to deliver a memorable evening.

Take the inside outside More than ever the need for

“

after the changes in hospitality since the first lockdown, with pop up bars, tented terraces suitable for all weather, tipis and pods, which are perfect for both larger and more intimate events.

Festival fun Demand has also increased for company festivals, offering a relaxed, inclusive and truly memorable experience for your teams. This doesn’t have to be a daunting task at all –

For a lot of companies, summer party planning is well underway to help their teams to celebrate, reunite, relax and have fun...

outside space is high on the list of priorities, with conferences and away days, as well as summer parties, demanding this box is ticked for both the wellbeing and comfort of guests. Venues have risen to this challenge

working with the right team, you can bring your festival fantasies to life and ensure an inclusive experience for the whole company. Hosting at the right venues to offer a hybrid experience, with both indoor and outdoor space,

means there is no end to what your company festival can look like.

As Pete Jones, MD of The Soul Camp (pictured, left) describes, the benefits of this sort of event format are huge: “The fresh air, connection with nature, huge corporate & social responsibility benefits (and of course, the sheer absolute fun!) – combined with the niceties of indoor events, including hotel facilities and bedrooms for overnight non-glampers – what more could you want?”

Ask the experts Whether its health and safety, planning activities or finding the right location or venue for your outdoor event, there are specialist companies who can help. Outsourcing elements of your summer or outdoor event can help alleviate some of the stress of booking, ensuring you have the best options at your fingertips when making the important decisions. www.arcticfoxevents.co.uk

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TEAM BUILDING

Let’s get together again It’s time to start re-connecting with colleagues and partners, so if you’re on the lookout for team building activities for 2022, we’ve got you covered... >>> LONDON BUSHCRAFT Let London Bushcraft plan your next team building event and have an unforgettable day. Let them know your requirements and they will plan the rest…

London Bushcraft’s team building events and summer parties are dynamic, fun and hands on. While you are in the capable hands of their authentic and highly knowledgeable staff you can sit back, relax and watch your team members shine in discovering their primitive self.

The team building will happen spontaneously as your team embraces the qualities of our Stone Age ancestors; adapting, being resilient and working >>> WHILTON MILL Daniel Whittemore, Executive Director at Whilton Mill Karting & Outdoor activities tells us what makes a team building event truly great…

I’ve worked in the events and hospitality industry for more than 20 years. During that time, I’ve helped to manage hundreds of events and have been fortunate enough to be a guest on many. It didn’t matter whether it was hospitality at the F1 British Grand Prix, a team building away day at Center Parcs or media launch in Mexico, there was one common thread that made or broke events for the guests, and that was food.

Hospitality is at the heart of a great event, when you get it right, guests go on to enjoy their experience. Get it wrong and it can become

together, all very relevant in today’s uncertain and fast paced world.

Whether you want a competitive survival scenario or you would like a slower paced day, you can be assured there will be lots of

fun, learning and bonding in nature. You can work together to make a fire without matches, make a shelter good enough to sleep in, use nature to help your survival and more. There will be lots of problem solving to

the focal point for the event, and the mood soon turns sour. It was Maslow that said physiological needs are the most important, food is one of those, but it’s easy to overlook food when planning a team building event.

Team building days at Whilton Mill Karting & Outdoor Activities start at just £99 per person for two activities with lunch. If you’d like to find out more call email karting@whiltonmill. co.uk. Quote ‘PALIFE’ to receive a 10% discount (terms apply).

>>> WWT LONDON WETLAND CENTRE WWT London Wetland Centre is an idyllic venue to hold your event, from meetings, awaydays, team building and product launches to Christmas parties and celebratory functions WWT’s experienced events team will manage your event, providing a professional but informal and friendly service.

Book a team building day at WWT London and enjoy the extensive outdoor wetland areas & amazing wildlife, with the opportunity to book a complementary guided tours around the grounds, either prior to or after your event.

Tours are extremely informative with a brief history of WWT, Sir Peter Scott and the London Wetland Centre. With a brief

bring out the best in each of your team. At the end of the day, your team will bask in their satisfaction from their joint efforts.

London Bushcraft can take care of the catering. Either treat your team to a unique slow cooked BBQ by professional chefs, or the teams can cook lunch over the fire as part of the event.

Treat your staff to a unique day offline and outside to bond in nature. London Bushcraft are the only bushcraft company based in the capital and pride themselves on providing a personalised, memorable day for teams. All you need to do is get in touch with theirs... www.londonbushcraft.com introduction to some species of conservation concern in the collection, such as the Nene and Red Breasted Geese. The team will showcase some of its more recent conservation projects and finish with a brief foray into Wildside. You are then free to explore the site.

WWT Wetland Centre is a Conservation Charity and by holding your event with them, you will be directly contributing to the Global Conservation of Wildlife and Wetlands. www.wwt.org.uk

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BUSINESS TRAVEL

The art of bringing people together

The past couple of years have been tricky for anyone involved in travel and events. But a fleetof-foot approach, coupled with a genuine desire to help companies navigate business travel and events during the pandemic and beyond, has meant that Agiito has emerged stronger than ever. PA Life speaks to Chief Operating Officer Donna Fitzgerald…

Give us a brief overview of Agiito and what it offers.

We’re a UK travel, meeting and events specialist and we’re experts in connecting people. We also partner with GlobalStar to provide a global, multinational offering.

We understand the pressures faced by EAs and PAs today, and we’re here really to help make their life easier. We provide that human touch, offering a team of experienced consultants and people who are specialists across travel, meetings and events.

Is it the human touch and your experience that sets you apart from

others in this space?

Yes absolutely, our people provide the knowledge and expertise, complemented by our technology. As a business, we are customer-focused; it is embedded and ingrained from the executive team right the way through our business and our customer facing teams, and is at the heart of everything we do. Our customers span many industries and we manage a diverse range of requirements such as bespoke VIP requirements, organising away days or team building, hotel, rail and air bookings right through to full scale corporate events.

You successfully rebranded in 2020.

What was the strategy behind it?

We had two previous brands, Capital Travel and Events, and NYS. We wanted to unite those brands for ourselves and also for our customers to form a single brand – bringing together our extensive experience across all areas of travel, meetings and events; and bringing together our people from both of those brands and our values.

Now that we are moving past Covid and restrictions, what are the key challenges and opportunities for those organising events and booking travel?

Sustainability and duty of care remain key. Sustainability was starting to

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BUSINESS TRAVEL

become a hot topic before Covid, but I think throughout the pandemic and with people having travelled less, it’s allowed everyone to challenge and look at the demand to travel, both as individuals and at a corporate level. People are returning to travel, but there is now a need to do this sustainably, which is more than just offsetting.

Duty of care has always been important, but with ever changing restrictions there has been a need to understand more about the risk pre-trip at a corporate level – where and why are your executives and teams travelling, and what are the associated risks?

Safety for women travelling is probably quite key for a lot of companies, and obviously the individuals themselves…

The safety of all travellers should be a priority, but unfortunately, it’s still the case that lone female travellers do face more risks and these need to be recognised. I’m a female who travels on business and sadly like many others have at times felt unsafe. We learn very quickly to be aware of our surroundings and shouldn’t hesitate to change or cancel plans if we have any concerns. I’m lucky to work for a business which is fully supportive of this. Female traveller safety experts Maiden Voyage are a fantastic starting point to help companies provide female business traveller safety awareness training and advice on gender specific travel policies.

What advice would you give to PAs and EAs who are booking business travel?

Book early. I know when you’re dealing with senior execs, that’s not always easy to do. But we’ve already experienced wider supply chain issues which have

“

Duty of care has always been important, but with ever changing restrictions there has been a need to understand more about the risk pre-trip at a corporate level

compounded availability and we may see fewer trips, so potentially they can be done further in advance.

Have more flexibility. Again, I appreciate you’re dealing with senior execs who may not be so flexible, but the landscape is still changing.

And the last one is to have a Travel Management Company relationship. The last couple of years have further demonstrated the value of Travel Management Companies in terms of providing vital assistance and levels of expertise to help when things don’t work out as planned; being able to rebook, offer correct advice, go through all of the jargon and ensure PAs, EAs and travellers fully understand any changes or impacts.

Moving on to events, are people moving back to physical meetings?

We saw demand for face-to-face meetings from September last year and this ramped up throughout October and November to around 70% of pre-Covid levels.

The majority of bookings have been for 30 and

below, with many team building activities so people can get back together and re-engage. Yes, virtual and hybrid meetings will continue, but will not replace the demand for face to face meetings... When we started to see a recovery from the pandemic there was a strong view of: “We’ll never go back to face to face meetings.” We have seen a completely different view, which has continued through the start of 2022, and that is – people cannot wait to get out and meet up, network and connect in person once more.

What are you doing to make people feel safe in those live meetings?

Meetingspro - which was co-created with our customers - is our innovative web-based venue find and meetings technology making it possible to search, plan, book and manage all meeting requirements. As well as providing a wide range of content it details accreditation including sustainability and our unique Covid shield, which enables our customers to select appropriate and safe options. We also discuss any concerns and ensure we’re having the right conversations with our supplier partners to mitigate those concerns and deliver to our customer expectations.

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BUSINESS TRAVEL

Rachel Tonge, UK Vice President & General Manager, American Express Global Business Travel (GBT)

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“The business travel industry has been going through a substantial amount of innovation and change, and GBT are at the forefront of pushing the boundaries across environmental, social and economic progress.”

Connecting communities We sat down with Rachel Tonge, UK Vice President & General Manager at American Express Global Business Travel (GBT), to talk about her role and the company’s ambitions for 2022…

How did you first get into the world of business travel?

Business travel really found me. I was keen for a career change, having worked in management consultancy for several years, and an exciting role came up at American Express Global Business Travel.

Travel is such an emotive sector. It powers progress across many facets of life. It brings people together and connects communities, helps break down barriers – as well as driving trade and economic growth. The opportunity to work in this space jumped out to me.

The industry has also been going through a substantial amount of innovation and change, and the challenge excited me.

What excites you most about taking on this role at GBT? Being able to make a difference to customer experience. GBT has been through significant transformation over the past couple of years, through acquisitions, investing in products and technology, diversifying our business model, and through improvements in our internal processes.

I’m excited to bring these improvements directly to our customers and travel bookers. It’s key for us that we provide value, through access to the world’s largest B2B travel marketplace content, experienced through our hands-on servicing teams and robust technology, and choice, of a diverse range of brands and offers.

What are the three main areas within your role you are focusing on?

Firstly, our customers – I want to ensure every touchpoint our travel bookers have

with us is seamless and simple, and that with our service, tools and expertise we can take the stress out of booking travel.

Secondly, our employees – the wellbeing of our colleagues is paramount, particularly given the ups and downs we’ve all faced throughout the pandemic and particularly in the travel sector. The happiness of our employees in turn impacts the level of customer service we’re able to deliver for our bookers.

Thirdly, diversity and inclusion - I believe that we have more work to do across the industry to ensure we have adequate representation from people of all backgrounds and when attracting new talent. We are also doing excellent work helping our customers look at increasing supplier diversity across their travel and expense spend categories.

How is your new role helping companies to return to travel as pandemic restrictions ease?

We are working side by side with our teams – with both account managers and travel counsellors – to bring our customers up to speed on frequently changing travel requirements, and how to adapt travel policies according to shifting business needs and priorities.

Gaining traveller confidence is key to helping get people back on the road. We launched our Travel Vitals tool during the pandemic to give travellers and bookers essential ‘know before you go’ information. You can easily search up-to-date travel guidelines by destination, airline, airport, hotel group, rail and ground transport operators. It shows relevant travel restrictions, regulations and safety protocols. Timely

communication is important to make travellers feel in touch and supported, via whichever channel they prefer using – whether notifications in the mobile app, itinerary-specific info at point of booking, webchat or on the phone with our travel counsellors.

What kind of support can GBT offer to PAs and EAs as travel demand grows again in 2022?

Simplicity is key to what we’re offering – simple, easy-to-implement solutions designed to make life easier for travel arrangers as well as their travellers. We want you to feel supported and have confidence in an efficient process that’s user-friendly and takes the stress out of business travel.

Just one example, we recently integrated expense reporting and reconciliation into the AMEX GBT mobile app. An end-to-end solution all in one place makes things easier and avoids having to sort through expenses and organizing paper receipts after a trip.

Are there any new and exciting services you have lined up for this year?

This year we are expanding our professional services programme. This programme offers a high-touch, personalised service to travel arrangers and the senior executives they support on a daily basis.

This is a service where your travel counsellors know your name – and you know theirs. Again, simplicity is key, with one booking taking care of everything, and 24/7 traveller care with proactive servicing, updating and rebooking if there are travel disruptions. www.amexglobalbusinesstravel.com

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BUSINESS TRAVEL

>>> LIMO PLUS Limo Plus has been working in the ground transportation industry for over 22 years and has made ground transportation easier than ever, putting customers first, and at the forefront of its mind. The firm’s clients require and expect a safe, reliable and quality service.

Limo Plus delivers and offers a completely relaxed way to get to and from a destination in the UK and Worldwide.

Based in London, with a global reach through an impressive network of partners, Limo Plus offers a simple to use end-to-end service, allowing them to take care of everything down to the smallest detail, customising every request and service, while surrounding the passenger with a confident positive can-do attitude designed around the individual needs of the passenger, their

business and their personal lives. Limo Plus offers a high level of service and attention to detail, both in the office and on the road, with the finest selection of the safest, most modern chauffeur cars, together with the best chauffeurs and operations team in the business. All with a very strong understanding of discretion and reliability.

The firm uses the most up to date global flight tracking

>>>LONDON JET CHARTER For business travellers, private charter flights offer the opportunity to operate business flights in a way that commercial flights cannot.

Private jets fly from more airports and with over 1,000 other options, you can fly to a regional airport near your home or an airport near your destination. Being able to land at smaller airports also means that private jets are more flexible, avoiding problems that can cause flight delays.

Renting a private jet allows you to minimise the flight time to your destination and reduce the number of flying hours, meaning you can make the most out of your day. As the only passenger, or one of the few passengers, you can avoid the usual queue checks and possible

delays. At London Jet Charter the team ensures you receive the very best service, at a competitive price. Its client list is largely based on recommendations.

Whether you want to charter a private jet or a helicopter, London Jet Charter takes the details of chartering a private jet seriously to ensure your trip is tailored to your needs. For

system and can monitor commercial and private jets, as well as cruise ships and its chauffeurs.

With strong foundations and continued internal investments, Limo Plus is an ideal choice for those looking for a fully managed end-to-end service that can support the requirements of the passengers and deliver peace of mind. www.limoplus.co.uk

businesses of all sizes, private jet travel is the pinnacle of comfort, luxury and convenience, helping you achieve your business goals.

If you would like to charter a private jet or helicopter, let the team know your needs for a free quote and all the necessary information.

London Jet Charter – For those who fly smarter. www.londonjetcharter.com

GETT Business travel specialist and PA Life Club partner Gett has confirmed the appointment of Runli Guo as Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), as it continues to expand operations.

Currently around one quarter of Fortune 500 companies use Gett’s ground transportation management (GTM) platform and as this figure increases, the company says it is placing greater priority on cyber security as part of its commitment to providing customers with the best service.

As such, Runli is now evolving the cyber resilience strategy of the business as it grows rapidly in a ripe-for-disruption analog corporate GTM market – estimated to be worth more than $100 billion a year.

Prior to joining Gett, Runli was the Global Head of Digital Cybersecurity Initiatives at Marsh McLennan, a global professional services firm.

Runli has more than 15 years of experience in global companies leveraging technologies such as big data analytics and artificial intelligence to build cyber security functions from the ground upwards.

In addition to her bachelor’s degree in computer science, Runli holds a PhD in artificial intelligence and is also a keen promoter for Women-in-Cyber and Women-in-Tech agendas. www.gett.com

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2022 has started with a bang as coronavirus restrictions ease and we can all start to think about resuming some sense of normality – and that means live events are back! On the following pages we recap our recent live Meet Ups, plus the big events you need in your diary…

Proudly sponsored by

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PA LIFE CLUB

WHAT YOU MISSED...

Over 60 PAs and EAs got together in January for the first physical PA Life Meet Up since before the pandemic.

The event, which was brought together through a partnership between PA Life and Lime Venue Portfolio, saw the close network of senior PAs convene at Penethorne’s Bar and venue at Somerset House.

While the main order of the evening was to bring the group together for the first time since the beginning of

In early February we held our second physical Meet Up networking event for PA Life Club members in partnership with bespoke gifting specialists The Midas I and Charlie Allen Bespoke Tailors.

The Midas I is a bespoke gifting practice comprised of trained Architects, Interior Designers, Artists and Executive Consultants. They understand the key details

the pandemic, Lime Venue Portfolio created a theme that put food and sustainability firmly on the table.

Lime Venue Portfolio’s sister company, Restaurant Associates, who cater at the venue, as well as other cultural and heritage properties within the portfolio, showcased ‘Ways to be Well’, a series of packages that inject sustainability, nutrition and mindfulness into meetings and event bookings. www.limevenueportfolio.com

that surround the perfect gift. They cater for the PAs & EAs, assisting wherever possible, as part of a membership-style consultancy service.

The Event introduced Club members to the world of Bespoke Gifting. The Midas I hosted a handful of their best suppliers under one roof for the evening, with the theme of love. www.themidasi.com

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PA LIFE CLUB

1. See you at the PA Life Summit The PA Life Summit (April 28th) is specifically designed for senior PAs who want to find solution providers and discover innovative opportunities to help respond to the daily challenges of their professional lives - and registration is now OPEN! www.palife.co.uk/pa-life-summit

FIVE

3. Book into The Meetings Show The Meetings Show is a platform for the events, meetings and incentives industry to come together to source, learn and network. It takes place on June 29th-30th.To register, visit www.themeetingsshow.com

THINGS TO DO

Networking, learning and things to keep in mind

4. Route to the Business Travel Show Business Travel Show Europe takes place at ExCeL London on June 29th & 30th with supplementary online content and networking. PAs can register for free at www.businesstravelshow.com/register

2. Join us at the PA Show 5. London Venues Summit The PA Show is the largest gathering of Executive Support Professionals in the UK, bringing together thousands of the community under one roof on March 8th & 9th 2022, at ExCeL, London. Use discount code PA2200 at www.thepashow.com

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A highly focused event that brings delegates and suppliers together, the Summit (July 4th) consists of one-to-one business meetings, seminars and networking opportunities.

Register at www.londonvenuessummit.co.uk

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PA LIFE CLUB

“I have learned that my work/life balance has improved, and I have much more focus working from home”

Work & life The PA Life Christmas Party, in association with Gett, saw Baily Garner’s Karen Crowley scoop a well-deserved PA Life Club Member of the Year Award – we spoke to her afterwards about her role and things to look forward to in 2022...

What’s the best thing about your job?

From one day to another I never know what I could be doing, and things change on a daily basis – it is a very diverse role, from arranging and attending events, making sure we adhere to our ISO14001 procedures, going to various Board/Partners meetings, general admin work, ensuring that my Managing Partner is prepared for the day and overseeing the office facilities (although I passed this role over in the New Year). I like the fact that no two days are the same.

What have you learned from working through a pandemic?

Personally, I have enjoyed working through the pandemic - as a business Baily Garner have been lucky enough to have thrived (and take on more staff) which, as the Managing Partner’s PA, has kept me busy. I have learned that my work/life balance has improved, and I have much more focus working from home without the daily interruptions, although I do enjoy the days when I attend the office, which on average is twice a week.

And the most challenging?

The most challenging aspects of the role are trying to juggle three or four deadlines at once. However, I seem to work better under pressure and, touch wood, I haven’t missed a deadline yet!

What are you looking forward to most about 2022?

Holidays – I absolutely live for my holidays and have found it very difficult to completely switch off and relax without having a break in the sun.

What inspired you to join the PA Life Club?

Being based on the outskirts of central London I didn’t have a network of PAs that I could liaise with, plus I needed ideas of venues to book for events, so I decided to join the PA Life Club to build up my network and attend events to be able to look at the different venues.

What’s your favourite part about being a club member?

The Club has enabled me to build up a great network, make friends and upskill from the various seminars/conferences that I have attended.

How did you feel when you won PA Life Club Member of the Year 2022?

I was extremely proud, surprised, and of course delighted!

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An annual subscription to PA Life is £25, contact Laura Spratt on 01992 374053 to secure your copy now

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