Despite the headlines and a recession potentially looming, there is good news ahead as we see a continued rise in meeting space enquiries. At EDGE Venues, we’re on track to double our venue searches for Q3, with early analysis showing that we’ve already exceeded that of Q2.
And with August notoriously one of the quieter months of the year, we’re full of confidence as enquiries are up on those recorded in July and June. Moreover, we have high expectations for September and the latter part of this year.
The recent rail chaos has highlighted the opportunities for regional locations regarding demand and pricing strategy. Regions outside the bigger cities have certainly benefited as we’ve seen an increase in enquiries into these areas, delivering great options for meetings and events.
Plus, staycations and large events such as the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games are also impacting larger cities, offering a mixture of pricing strategies and no set trends. Now is the time for venues to be clear on their pricing strategies, to entice bookers to make enquiries with clear and concise messaging.
For smaller events/meetings, enquiries are high
for Q3 and Q4 this year, and looking ahead, we expect that to extend into 2023,
creating big opportunities for venues over and above the large event enquiries we’re seeing for next year.
This Monday’s Insights (22nd August) feature brings you a selection of recent industry headlines, including levelling up to redress economic imbalance, industry ageism, and group travel’s road to recovery.
Headlines
Levelling up on economic imbalance
Levelling up is a much-needed government strategy to redress the economic imbalance between London and the rest of the country,explains Liz Taylor, managing director of the northern-based Taylor Lynn Corporation (TLC).
Liz spoke to M&IT about how she welcomesany inward-investment to the Manchester region, and believes the Government needs to focus on its original plans for HS2.
“Improved transport links will not only make it easier to do business in the city and between cities in the region, but coaxing large-scale conferences, meetings and trade shows, a huge revenue driver in the events sector will be a much easier sell with improved transport infrastructure. My focus is very much on live events and always has been.”
“It’s not even unconscious bias, it’s blatant bias.” Event industry recruiter,Robert Kenward, has shared his views on ageism in a new blog on Conference News.
The feature encourages agencies to hire eventprofs over 50, reminding readers that age inclusivity is a vital part of DEI.
“But no-one talks about it, there is no scholarship or initiative to encourage the over 50s into our industry. An employer would never say that they are looking for a white person, or a woman for a role, but it’s very common for agencies to specify the age bracket of the new recruit that they need.”
IMEX America, returning to Las Vegas October 10 – 13, is set to address the new needs of the industry head on. The four-day event is designed to deliver a tailored, targeted and enjoyable business experience.
The business climate is defined by inflationary pressures, supply chain issues and talent shortages. So IMEX America is designed to guide attendees to the people, products and learnings that best fit their specific needs. Just two months after registration opened, over 3,000 global buyers have so far confirmed their participation.
Likewise, there has been strong demand from suppliers from an early stage. International exhibitors returning to the show in force. The list includes all the major hotel groups.
The event’s free learning programme has been simplified for attendees, too. Under the theme ‘Pathways to Clarity’, the IMEX team has streamlined the number of education tracks from 10 to four. Attendees will find: Respect for People and Planet; Future Self; Innovation and Creativity; Event Planner Toolkit. And a global roster of speakers will offer fresh thinking on today’s challenges.
Find out more at imexexhibitions.com
Group travel on the road to recovery
Group travel is on the road to recovery, with live expos, in-person conferences, and incentive trips back on the cards. But there is a marked difference in the post-pandemic travel experience and the attitudes of those on board.
Read the views of Air Partner head of charter, Clive Chalmers on mitmagazine.co.uk.
Double Take
Should venues be more flexible during travel strikes?
Martin Fullard, editorial director, Conference News, says venues should have demonstrated greater flexibility during the rail strikes.
What do you think about the way venues have approached cancellation terms during this latest challenge for eventprofs?
This Monday’s Insights (15th August) feature brings you a selection of recent industry headlines, including increase in industry-wide prices in 2023, potential city hosts announced for 2023 Eurovision and 480,000 plastic bottles saved at Birmingham Commonwealth Games.
Headlines
Business travellers to see industry-wide fare rises in 2023
According to the 2023 Global Business Travel Forecast, global travel prices are predicted to continue to increase in Q3 and Q4 of 2022 and throughout 2023.
Published by CWT and the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), the forecast covers the drivers behind the increasing prices.
The report suggests this is due to rising fuel prices, labour shortages, and inflationary pressures in raw material costs.
What does this mean for meetings and events?
Prices have increased in all regions across most categories of spend, fuelled by pent-up demand. The cost-per-attendee for meetings and events in 2022 is expected to be around 25% higher than in 2019 and is forecast to rise a further 7% in 2023.
Corporate events are also now competing with other types of events that were cancelled in 2020. With many companies having given up office space during the pandemic in favour of remote working, they are now booking meeting spaces when staff gather in person.
UK hotel rates reached record levels during the second quarter, due to rising demand and inflationary cost pressures.
A report byBNP Paribas Real Estate found that the UK’s average hotel occupancy rate rose to 80 per cent in Q2, up from 70 per cent in the first quarter of the year.
Spectators, Games volunteers and emergency services staff were kept hydrated during the Games as the water company looked to tackle single-use plastic waste.
Counters installed on the water refill stations kept track of the number of plastic bottles saved, with the initiative helping to save people money on their memorable days out as they took in the excitement of each event.
As Official Nature and Carbon Neutral Partner of Birmingham 2022, Severn Trent had 248 taps in operation across the 41 water refill stations, with more than 800 volunteers from the company on hand to help and answer any questions spectators may have.
This Monday’s Insights (8th August) feature brings you a selection of recent industry headlines, including mia chief exec Kerrin MacPhie’s views on the rising rate of event evolution.
Headlines
Kerrin MacPhie, chief executive of the Meetings Industry Association (mia), has shared her views with Conference News on the rising rate of event evolution.
In a new blog last week, Kerrin explained: “When it comes to the evolution of events, no period has been more prominent than the last 30 months. Whether due to external forces shaking up the sector’s framework or disrupted capabilities inspiring innovation, our infamously fast-paced sector has shifted up a new gear to truly push the boundaries. Now is not the time for the sector to rest on its laurels. Events are still evolving today, at a pace faster than ever before.”
The blog covers Kerrin’s views on everything from the Metaverse, net zero and hybrid event solutions to recruitment and demonstrating the industry’s strength through data.
The IMEX Group is set to remodel the professional learning programmes delivered at both of its global trade shows with the appointment of Tahira Endean as Head of Programme.
Vancouver-based Tahira’s new role signals a new era for IMEX. A three-year education strategy will capitalise on IMEX’s free-to-attend programming to meet the industry’s thirst for knowledge and continuous development while embracing a growth mindset.
The IMEX education programme was envisioned and developed in 2005 by Dale Hudson, Knowledge and Events Director. It has grown in size and quality over the last 15 years, adding substantial value to the visitor experience. Tahira’s addition to the team will build on that legacy. She’ll work with both the IMEX Marcomms and Knowledge and Education teams to design learning programmes that enrich the show’s value proposition and deliver measurable business benefits.
Tahira explains: “We’re focused on designing learning with buyer requirements in mind first and foremost as we want them to have meetings that are enhanced by education at the show. Our combined aim is for attendees to leave each session with tangible takeaways that also support their meetings onsite. IMEX’s legacy of tailored education that meets the particular needs of agencies, associations and corporate event professionals has always been strong; we’re looking to build on that too.”
“As a veteran of the MICE industry and self-confessed event nerd, I recognise IMEX as the professional home for our global industry. The opportunity to provide knowledge that helps us all develop and grow through turbulent times is important and to do it with a team as committed, passionate and talented as IMEX is really exciting.”
The West Midlands has outlined its ambitions to bring more international sporting events to the region. According to Access All Areas, over 250 delegates from governing bodies, global associations and professional sporting organisations came together for a sports economy day at the University of Birmingham’s Exchange building.
Officials from federations including World Athletics, the International Boxing Association and the International Extreme Sports Festival heard from speakers including Commonwealth Games minister Nigel Huddleston MP (pictured), leader of Birmingham City Council Ian Ward and Trudy Lindsdale, CEO of the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships.
Themes at the day included:
Building sustainable sporting facilities
Innovative fan engagement
Sports events legacy
Strengthening and enduring international relationships
IACC’s latest Meeting Room of the Future barometer is a mixed bag of positivity and caution as the international meeting venue recovery continues. According to Meetings and Incentive Travel, Mark Cooper, CEO of IACC said:
“The start of 2022 has shown some excellent progress in recovery however, there are still some key areas where venues need support, particularly in staffing. IACC will support its members and community over the next year, by providing important personal and professional development opportunities as the industry continues to repair the skills and knowledge shortfall that exist.”
In a new episode of the Event Industry News Podcast, Dawn Lauder – head of international conferences at the Scottish Event Campus (SEC) – digs into her learnings from COP26.
Dawn talks host James Dickson through the ‘corona-coaster’, the prestige of hosting COP26 despite the tension wrought by Covid-19 in the run-up, the sense of team it fostered, the “off the charts” media coverage, maintaining that sense of purpose, why it’s worth reading the subsequent Sustainability Report, how hosting the summit has influenced Dawn Lauder’s manifesto for change and much more.
Live events can drive through lethargy. There is a need for
communication, passion and motivation that is created by our society and live
events deliver these needs.
I know our industry is ready for this next challenge. We’ve been through a recession before and our industry survived. Therefore, we are prepared!
And speaking of Birmingham,ABPCO Excellence Awards is heading to the city’s ICC.
The 2022 event will take place on 9th December 2022 at Birmingham ICC, supported by the West Midlands Growth Company.
After a summer hosting sporting excellence at the Commonwealth Games, Birmingham will be the perfect location to celebrate excellence amongst ABPCO members and the wider association and not-for-profit industry.
2022 marks the ninth ABPCO Excellence Awards, which take place in different destinations across the UK each year.
This year’s awards will see an increase in categories as well as an opportunity for non-members to enter the awards for the first time.
The Awards, which will take place over lunch on 9th December, will be preceded by educational sessions in the morning as well as an evening networking event on 8th December. Association Director, Heather Lishman comments:
“Birmingham is a fantastic location for our awards, particularly so soon after its hosting of the Commonwealth Games.
We are grateful to the ICC team as well as the West Midlands Growth Company for their support and sponsorship of the event, which will showcase all the city has to offer. Located in the heart of the UK, Birmingham is accessible to all our members and we look forward to welcoming them as well as non-members for our annual celebration of success this December.”
The West End’s first new large-scale theatre in 50 years is opening this autumn.
According to eventindustrynews.com, @sohoplace is on the first newly-named street created in Soho for 72 years, also called Soho Place, and is part of a £300m regeneration project in the area which will see offices, retail space and a new piazza built.
The venue will feature a 602-seat auditorium, rehearsal room, actors’ Green Room, bar, restaurant and a terrace.
Read more about @sohoplace and its curved auditorium, which can be transformed into various other configurations.
Double Take
The Business of Events has published the first of its market sector reports. Conference News told readers that The Business of Events is a cross-sector not-for-profit series of events and reports, designed to raise the importance and profile of business events in the UK, as an economic, policy and societal driver.
Respondents in the international buyer community were asked what areas they consider important when selecting a destination or major venue in a post-pandemic environment. The questions focused on areas ranging from accessibility and ease of travel to venue quality and suitability.
