Month: June 2019

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Office workers dread all-day meetings, according to new study

A new study commissioned by Drayton Manor Park has found that out of 1,000 surveyed office workers, half of them dread-all day meetings.

The survey also identified that 59 per cent of respondents would rather concentrate on their work than have to attend a training session. A further 44 per cent attributed this feeling of dread with knowing that the meeting format would be the same as the last one they attended.

Other factors included too much being crammed into an agenda and the meeting not starting on time.

As a result of this dread of meetings, half of the survey respondents admitted to zoning out, while 12 per cent confirmed they had fallen asleep during meetings and 10 per cent said they had secretly listened to music during meetings.

“Our survey results show that businesses need to seriously think about the way it delivers meetings and training sessions. In a time where businesses are scrutinising all budgets, delivering effective meetings which people look forward to can ensure that no time is wasted when lots of talent is taken out of the office and invited to an all-day session,” said Melissa Penn, Drayton Manor Park conference and events manager.

An unsurprising result from the survey is that 82 per cent of meeting attendees agreed that productivity slumped after lunch, with only 22 per cent saying they joined in energising team activities, designed to help delegates break out of the post-lunch slump.

“It is clear that enthusiasm and motivation for meetings is flat at the moment and a change in format is required.

“We hope that our report will encourage event organisers to shake up their current meeting schedule and consider new methods to help re-energise attendees for the whole session,” Penn added.

One positive that was taken from the study if that 71 per cent of respondents said that would more receptive to all-day meetings if they were held off-site.

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UKCAMS reveals Conference industry now worth £20bn

New research into the UK’s conference and meetings sector, the ‘UK Conference and Meeting Survey 2019’ (UKCAMS), reveals a robust and buoyant industry. There was an estimated £20bn of direct expenditure generated by conference and meeting delegates in venues and in wider destination spend in 2018, up from £18.1bn in 2017. At the same time, the overall number of conferences and meetings held in 2018 was the highest in recent years – an average of 428 conferences and meetings per venue compared with 373 in 2017 and 419 in 2016.

These positive UKCAMS 2019 results show the industry flourishing. The research findings also reveal that the overall number of conferences and meetings in 2018 was an estimated 1.48m compared with the 2017 figure of 1.29m (and 1.45m in 2016). While most events (66%) comprised 50 delegates or fewer, with just 6% of events having more than 200 delegates, the average event size was 72 delegates, the same as for 2017.

Levels of capital investment by venues remained strong with 73% of venues reporting that they had invested in their property in 2018, with 17% investing over £500,000.

The ‘UK Conference and Meeting Survey’, now in its 26th consecutive year, has a specific focus on the value and volume of the market and the performance of meeting venues. It also highlights key market trends identified by venues. The results provide a definitive insight into the conference and meetings sector and are widely used to inform investment, advocacy and marketing activities.

Other key findings from the research include:

  • In 2018, there were an estimated 95.3m delegates accounting for approximately 152.8m delegate days.
  • The average duration of conferences and meetings was 1.6 days (unchanged from previous years), although almost two-thirds of events lasted only one day or less
  • Conference and training centres (640 events) and hotels (453 events) hosted higher than average numbers of events
  • Just over a third (35%) of conferences and meetings in 2018 were organised by a professional conference organiser (PCO) or event management agency

While the majority of UK venues are focused on the domestic meetings market, some 10% of venues are proactive in seeking to attract international conferences, which account for 11% or more of their business. Venues tended to target international conferences through trade shows and familiarisation visits.

Kerrin MacPhie, VisitBritain’s head of business events, commented: “The ‘UK Conference and Meeting Survey 2019’ provides UK destinations and venues with valuable insights into the sector’s scale and latest trends, helping to inform their business planning and marketing activity.

“The UK is home to many world-renowned venues that consistently host leading international events. Their success not only needs to be recorded but also celebrated. VisitBritain recognises the importance of the ICCA ranking as a key tool in achieving this. The UKCAMS research results show us that more can be done by UK venues to record ICCA activity and we strongly encourage them to consistently log their international ICCA events. Doing so recognises and celebrates their world-class credentials, reinforcing the UK’s position as a leading business events destination.”

Copies of the full UKCAMS 2019 report are available priced £180 + VAT. Click here to download the form.

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Global meetings and events industry set to converge at The Meetings Show

Meeting and event professionals from around the world will be coming together this week for two days of inspiration, education and networking at The Meetings Show, which is preparing for its biggest show to date.

Taking place on Wednesday 26 and Thursday 27 June at Olympia London, The Meetings Show will bring together more than 4,500 industry professionals, including over 700 exhibitors and more than 900 hosted buyers already signed up.

Following the hugely successful launch of a new two-day format in 2018, this year the show has seen significant growth in mid to long-haul destinations exhibiting, its education programme has been revamped with exciting new formats for sessions, and for the first time the show is offering dedicated initiatives to support young and up-and-coming talent in the industry.

To help you plan your visit, here are some of the highlights of The Meetings Show 2019.

Pre-Show Conference

Focus on this year being a sell out. A sell-out success in 2018, the Pre-Show Conference returns on Tuesday 25 June to offer exclusive educational opportunities to attendees of the three-day Hosted Buyer programme. Held this year at the Olympia Conference Centre, the conference will be opened with a keynote from one of the UK’s leading economists, Gerard Lyons, then followed with dedicated streams for agency, corporate and association buyers.

Hosted Buyer Welcome Reception

Hosted buyers will be getting into the swing of networking at the Tuesday evening Hosted Buyer Welcome Reception, taking place at hi-tech mini-golf venue Puttshack. Attendees will be able to vie for their place on the leaderboard for the night, while catching up with industry friends old and new ahead of the main show opening on Wednesday 26.

Inspiring exhibitors

With more than 700 hotels, venues, destinations and suppliers to the industry in attendance, visitors will be able to find all the inspiration they need for planning their next event. Walking the show floor, you’ll notice an increased international presence – 18% greater year-on-year – thanks to a whole host of new exhibitors, as well as many familiar faces from last year returning with bigger and better displays. You can see the full list of exhibitors here.

Engaging education

This year The Meetings Show is shaking up its education programme with sessions including expertise from outside of the industry and insight shared in a variety of unusual formats, including a courtroom trial, a dramatic performance and a live teambuilding pitch exercise. The Technology Tour will offer speed meetings with innovative suppliers and campfire sessions will provide the chance to participate in small-group discussions to get to the bottom of any burning issues.

Tomorrow’s Talent

The Meetings Show is celebrating and championing the rising stars of the industry with its Tomorrow’s Talent initiative. Launched in December 2018, Tomorrow’s Talent has sought out the 10 brightest under 30s from event agencies, associations, venues and suppliers to the industry to offer a platform for furthering their careers. The 10 winners will be in attendance at the show, and meeting with fellow event professionals at the MPI Foundation Cocktails for Charity event at 5pm on Wednesday 26.

The Future of Meetings

Once again, The Meetings Show in partnership with the Meeting Design Institute has selected the five most promising start-ups in the meetings technology sector to be shortlisted for The Future of Meetings Award. All five nominees will be exhibiting on the MDI stand and the winner will be announced on Wednesday 26 at 16:30.

The Meetings Show takes place on Wednesday 26 and Thursday 27 June at Olympia London. For more information and to register as a visitor, visit www.themeetingsshow.com/register. Join in the conversation and find out who else is attending by using the hashtag #MeetYouAtTheShow.

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VisitScotland launches Legends Legacy Network

VisitScotland Business Events has launched Scotland’s “Legends Legacy Network” – an evolution of its award-winning Legends marketing campaign.

The initiative was announced at a dinner hosted by The National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh and Heritage Portfolio, attended by 15 organisations across Scotland.

The Legends Legacy Network will bring together Scotland’s innovation centres, industry representative organisations and research hubs. It will utilise Scotland’s business events to enhance the country’s inward investment, inclusive growth and global profiling ambitions.

The evening welcomed a variety of sectors including technology, data science, creative, food & drink, marine, publishing, sensors & imaging and life sciences. These groups are represented by internationally renowned institutions such as The Data Lab, The Scottish Association for Marine Science, The Roslin Institute, Creative Scotland and many more.

Focus was on the importance of legacy and collaboration, both nationally and internationally, and how the country can connect with international businesses through business events. It aimed to promote Scotland as “a place where new #ideasbecomelegend.”

Rory Archibald, Associations and Sectors at VisitScotland Business Events said: “Legacy is much more than a fun run or a one-off public event as part of a conference programme.

“It is key to work closely with Scottish expertise, so that event organisers and delegates can see Scotland as a destination with world-class knowledge, which can create lasting partnerships, secure mutually beneficially investment and help discover the next idea that will become legend, the next idea that can change the world.

The Legends Legacy Network will continue to push and develop on the outstanding work that has already been achieved through the Legends campaign and continue to show that Business Events are a critical tool for economic and social progress.

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Keeping fit while you’re travelling

We all know how difficult it is to keep fit and healthy when we are travelling and in the events’ industry we are always on the move. The small hotel gym isn’t very appealing and it’s easy to eat and drink more than you would at home. However, there are some exercises that are simple, effective and don’t require much equipment. Some hotel groups are now helping with improved facilities and fitness equipment in the bedroom. At the moment, this seems to be more in North America than Europe, but like most trends it should spread here in time. Here are a few of the hotel groups that make it easier for you to keep fit while you’re away from home.

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts offers guests Adidas training gear through their Fairmont Fit progamme. Loyalty club members can have workout clothing, trainers and fitness equipment delivered to their guestrooms for use in the room, gym or outdoors, free of charge.

Yoga gear is easy to pack but the mats and other equipment is not. Kimpton Hotels have yoga mats in bedrooms and they provide extra towels, water, fruit, and on-demand fitness TV programming. Omni Hotels offer a complimentary Get Fit Kit that contains a yoga mat plus weights, a muscle therapy foam roller and push-up bars. Even Hotels, IHG’s wellness brand has four hotels and the group is growing. The bedrooms have a yoga mat and block, foam roller, core exercise ball, mounted fitness wall with resistance bands and an in-room training guide

Scandic Hotels, particularly in Scandinavia, often have bicycles to borrow free of charge and it’s a great way of getting to see the area too. Village Hotels, in the UK, usually have good leisure facilities with group exercise classes, gyms and swimming pools.

Hilton has launched a Five Feet to Fitness concept, where guest bedrooms have guided workout routines on a fitness kiosk, an indoor spin bike, suspension accessories, resistance bands, exercise balls, yoga mats and sports performance flooring. The plan is to introduce this programme to more than 560 of Hilton’s Doubletree hotels by 2020.

Many hotels now offer stationary bikes in-room and Westin has designed WestinWORKOUT rooms in over 50 hotels across the USA, where guests can work out on Peloton bikes.

Mirror, is a digital personal trainer that works though a screen on the wall and instructs on different fitness routines, from yoga and Pilates to boxing and cardio. This technology has been introduced at Mandarin Oriental Hotels’ suites in properties in America.

With a bit of motivation, we can all go back to basics and some squats, sit-ups, press-ups, planks and jacks can all be done in the comfort of a hotel room. A fitness band doesn’t take up any space of weight in your suitcase or there’s always the option of going for a run, walk, or swim. That’s if we have the time!

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EDGE Venues creates new role to support growing demand after just six months

EDGE Venues launched in December 2018 as the ‘go to’ global venue sourcing platform for agents, corporates and associations.

Since its launch, EDGE has seen considerable growth with higher than expected levels of venue licensees signing up, and agents/corporates registering to use the platform. The positive market reaction has led to the creation of a new role and the appointment of Tracy Winsworth to the new post of Commercial Director.

Tracy Winsworth

Tracy has worked at Trinity Event Solutions – the event specialists which built EDGE Venues – for over more than nine years. She joined as finance manager, before being promoted to director of finance and subsequently commercial director. Tracy will continue in her role at Trinity, while taking responsibility for EDGE Venues commercial strategy.

Tracy shares her excitement at this new opportunity: “EDGE Venues has been on an amazing journey in the last six months and I’m really excited for its future. We want EDGE to be the ‘go to’ platform for corporates and agents to source venues, and for venues which want to achieve growth in the corporate market. And we will take the platform to new heights by working closely with all of them on the technology, sourcing and commercial approaches.”

Jacqui Kavanagh, Managing Director for EDGE Venues explains the importance of this appointment: “Within six months we’ve raised the brand profile of EDGE – built by the industry for the industry – to the point where we need Tracy’s commercial expertise for further growth. The relationships she’s built with Trinity’s suppliers over the last decade have been key to the launch of EDGE, and I’m looking forward to working with her to strengthen this fantastic solution for the meetings and events industry.”

Following Tracy’s appointment, further re-structure within the team will ensure that growing demand is met as new licensees come on board and subscriber numbers increase. The newly formed team will be at The Meetings Show (26th/27th June) on the EDGE Venues stand – D500*.

Contact the EDGE Team to find out more:

+44 (0) 1780 484051

enquiries@edgevenues.com

*Make sure you stop by to say hello – the team would love to show you the exciting developments behind the platform, along with what’s in store for the next six months.

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The first Barcelo Hotel opens in Hungary

The 4-star Barcelo Budapest will open next month and is located right in the heart of the city. It’s in Pest, the east side of the Danube, in the Terezvaros district VI which is the historic centre of the city and surrounded by museums, art galleries and restaurants. Most of the major sights are within 15 minutes walk from the hotel. The transfer from the airport takes about half an hour.

The hotel will have 179 bedrooms and a stylish roof terrace which is perfect for drinks receptions. There are three meeting rooms with a maximum capacity for 110 people. The meeting rooms all have natural daylight and the outdoor terraces can also be used for events.

Much of Budapest is an UNESCO World Heritage and many of the historic buildings can be used for events, such as the Castle in Buda, overlooking the city or the Art Nouveau Gellert Spa baths. The main street is Andrassy Avenue, home to the State Opera House. The Museum of Fine Arts and the Hall of Art can both hold dinners and conferences, and these are located in Heroes’ Square, at the end of Andrassy Avenue, which is one of the most visited sights in Budapest.

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Belfast wins bid to host Europe’s largest conference on archaeology

Belfast has been chosen to host Europe’s largest annual gathering of archaeologists, joining Barcelona, Istanbul and Lisbon in a strong international line-up of cities to bring up to 2,500 delegates together in one place, Visit Belfast has confirmed.

The European Association of Archaeology (EAA) will visit the city in August 2022 for this major week-long event, boosting the travel, hospitality and conference economy by £3.8m.

ICC Belfast will host the main four-day conference event, supported by other venues across the city including Queen’s University Belfast, before delegates enjoy three further full days of field trips exploring historical sites throughout the island.

Visit Belfast, Queen’s University Belfast and ICC Belfast, with funding support from Tourism Northern Ireland and Belfast City Council, secured the prestigious conference for the city.

Based in Prague, where it was founded in 1994, the EAA has 2,500 members from over 50 countries of all continents, making it the second largest archaeological association in the world. This year’s conference takes place in Bern, Switzerland, followed by Budapest in Hungary in 2020 and Kiel, Germany, in 2021.

Rachael McGuickin, director of business development at Visit Belfast, said: “We are delighted to work with partners Belfast City Council and Tourism Northern Ireland, Queen’s University and ICC Belfast to secure this major international conference for Belfast and Northern Ireland.

“The EAA Conference will bring an estimated £3.8m to the local economy, contributing to the important role conferences and events play in developing and sustaining Belfast and Northern Ireland’s tourism economy by providing mid-week and year-round business that benefits event venues, hotels, restaurants, transport providers and attractions.

“This was a real Team Belfast effort – the city’s bid was a combination of the world-class research undertaken at Queen’s University’s School of Natural and Built Environment, as well as investment in Belfast’s hotels, venues and tourism product which has increased the destination’s appeal internationally and allows us to compete at the highest level.”Through its Belfast and Northern Ireland Ambassador Programme, Visit Belfast worked with Professor Eileen Murphy, Head of Archaeology and Palaeoecology, which lies within the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences at Queen’s University, to bid for the conference.

Welcoming the announcement, professor Murphy said: “We are delighted to be welcoming archaeologists from across Europe to our wonderful city and we very much look forward to introducing them to our rich archaeological heritage. The conference organisation team has partners from archaeological and heritage organisations across the island and there is huge excitement in our sector that it is coming to Belfast.

“Archaeology and Palaeoecology at Queen’s University is regularly in the Top 100 in the QS World Rankings and the conference will give us an opportunity to showcase our leading research to colleagues from throughout Europe. This will be the greatest concentration of archaeologists the city will have ever experienced, and we are in no doubt they will have a fantastic time savouring the friendly, vibrant atmosphere of Belfast”.

Much of the conference will take place in ICC Belfast, which, following a £29.5m extension funded by Belfast City Council, Tourism NI and the European Regional Development Fund, has been a key catalyst in Belfast’s development and growing success as a conference destination.

EAA president, Felipe Criado-Boado, said he was looking forward to Belfast hosting its annual event. “EAA is a project that promotes inclusive, collective discourse, communication and professional networking in archaeology and continues to build a strong unified voice for archaeological heritage and research in our culturally and politically diverse Europe, and we are delighted to head to Belfast in 2022 for our annual conference.

“Belfast is a modern city that looks to the future with confidence, as we do in the EAA. By coming to Belfast, we wish to acknowledge the support of our large number of members from the UK and Ireland and endorse their support of the EAA over the past 25 years.”

In 2018-19, Visit Belfast worked with its partners to secure 112 new conference wins for Belfast bringing in over 38,000 delegates and 116,000 hotel bed nights, generating an economic return of around £52 million for the city in future years.

Belfast now ranks 115th in the world for international association conferences and meetings ahead of established international destinations such as the Hague, Abu Dhabi and Dusseldorf.

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Creating better places to live, meet and thrive in

The Global Destination Sustainability Index’s Whitepaper highlights trends and strategies undertaken by 47 leading cities to become regenerative hubs for economic, social and environmental development.

At the European Cities Marking Conference, the Global Destination Sustainability Index (GDS-Index) released their third Whitepaper that details the case studies, data analysis and the actions taken by 47 Destination Management Organisations (DMOs) and municipalities to become destinations of choice for meetings, events and business tourism.

The whitepaper defines six converging mega trends that present destinations and the Event Industry with opportunities to improve their performance and adapt to the risks presented by climate breakdown, ecocide, demographic shifts, social change and digitalisation.

It highlights four fundamental building blocks for DMOs to become sustainable destination stewards and changemakers and defines eight tactics on how destinations can integrate sustainability into their core strategy and become leaders in future-oriented collaboration.

According to MCI’s CEO Sébastien Tondeur, “Scientific predictions about the rate and effect of human impact on climate and our living planet are increasing in certainty and accuracy. As an industry we need to step up, scale up and speed up our sustainability efforts. Destinations are key to the transformation of our industry, and the GDS-Index is an important catalyst helping them transform.”

Petra Stusek, ECM President, comments that “Destination Management Organisations are evolving into destination stewards and changemakers. They are progressively taking a bigger role in accelerating their city’s sustainable development plan. Through this report the GDS-index is sharing best practice and pieces of wisdom with the ultimate goal of supporting other destinations to focus on sustainable growth.”

Senthil Gopinath, CEO of ICCA, comments: “ICCA is proud to provide strategic support to the GDS-Index and contribute to the ever-growing sustainability of the global meetings industry. Alongside our global community of member-suppliers and international associations, we continuously seek to ensure every aspect of our strategic planning, events and general activities strongly adheres to and promotes best practices in sustainability.”

Carina Bauer, CEO of IMEX Group, mentions that “the economic, social and environmental significance of the Events Industry is massive. We could influence safe and fair working conditions for 26 million jobs, direct $1.5 trillion USD towards more responsible supply chains, and inspire 1.5 billion participants to action. Our industry has a decisive role in the achievement of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and its 17 SDGs. The next couple of years represent a serous tipping point for us all – and for the generations to come.”

Guy Bigwood, Managing Director of the GDS-Index adds: “Driven by concerned students, citizens, local governments and corporations a new era of sustainability is rising, and will touch every corner of the events industry. We believe that a better and more restorative global future lies in urban innovation and collaborative action. The GDS-Index plays a key role to engage, inspire and enable destinations to become more sustainable places to visit, meet and thrive in.”

The whitepaper is available for download.

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London hotel occupancy drops by 0.6% in May

New hotel openings resulted in a slight decline in hotel occupancy rates in London during May, according to new figures from data company STR.

The supply of hotel rooms increased by 1.8% alongside a 1.2% increase in demand, resulting in a 0.6% fall in occupancy to 82%.

The Chelsea Flower Show from 21 to 25 May helped drive up average daily rate (ADR) by 1.6% to £147.76, with the first day of the show recording ADR of £182.33.

Revenue per available room increased by 1% to £121.17.

STR will release its full results of the performance of London hotels during May later this month.