EDGE Venues, a leading force in the meeting and events industry, recently hosted its highly anticipated EDGE Venues Summer Party, bringing together an esteemed gathering of EDGE Venues licensees, corporate clients, and their teams. Now in its fourth year, this event not only celebrated the achievements of EDGE Venues but also created a vibrant environment for nurturing meaningful connections, sharing valuable business intelligence, and showcasing the power of collaboration.
The event served as a platform for sharing valuable business
intelligence through interactive workshops providing attendees with insights
into the latest trends, best practices, and innovative solutions.
Tracy Winsworth, Managing Director for EDGE Venues is delighted by the success and response of the event. “Our Summer Party is always so well attended, and I’m delighted this year to have welcomed some familiar faces, as well as new ones. It’s so important to be able to demonstrate the capabilities of the EDGE Venues platform to share how business opportunities can be maximised, both from the perspective of a licensee and of the corporate client.”
What our guests said about attending the EDGE Venues Summer Party
Jacquey Parker, JUMP Consultancy, said this on attending the
event: “When just getting on with the day-to-day job I tend to forget what an
isolating experience being a sole trader can sometimes be. It was such a treat
therefore to take time out to attend the EDGE Venues Summer Party. Two insightful
and informative industry focussed workshops and lively round table discussions,
are always fascinating to understand the challenges that many venues face.
“Great to spend time connecting with fellow industry
professionals and meet up with so many of the EDGE Venues Licensee members and
reconnect with some of the fabulous venues I’ve had the opportunity to work
with and site visit so far this year.”
Samantha Martin, Business Development Manager at Wyboston Lakes commented: “What a great day we had at the EDGE Venues summer party! Lizzie Thorpe and I enjoyed an afternoon of industry updates, networking and hearing all about the exciting and innovative plans that EDGE Venues have for the future. As Lizzie said afterwards “This is certainly not an agency that stands still for long!””
Sporting venues can be used for much more than exciting tournaments and matches. Many of the UK’s sporting spots can also be ideal venues for meetings and events. So, we’re taking a look at our top sporting venues picks.
Haydock Park Racecourse
Haydock Park Racecourse in Merseyside has fantastic facilities to make hearts race. The venue caters for any variety of event from conferences to corporate away days. They have a range of executive boxes and luxurious suites that accommodate up to 500 delegates.
Haydock Park Racecourse
Alternatively, the venue has a selection of banqueting suites with panoramic views across the racecourse for any gala diners or dances. However, for the large events, Haydock offers 1,000 square metres of indoor exhibition space along with 13 acres of hard standing exhibition areas for major events for up to 20,000 people.
Saints Events – Southampton Football Club
At Southampton Football Club, they combine creativity and unique environments to deliver ambitious events with a personal touch for up to 500 guests. With 15 unique event spaces and 30 meeting rooms, the variety and versatility of their suites makes the venue for all kinds of events. It is easily accessible from the M3 and M27 and offers complimentary parking for cars and coaches.
Southampton Football Club
The train station and ferry terminal are a 20-minute walk away, and Southampton Airport is a short 10-minute drive. Southampton FC has a range of flexible packages designed to suit any event objective with unique touches like stadium tours and presentations from ex-Southampton Football Club players that can add that extra flair to any event.
Exeter Racecourse
Exeter Racecourse sits just 5 miles from the end of the M5 southbound, along the A38. Set in a location overlooking the beautiful Devon Countryside, Exeter Racecourse can offer delegates its Conference and Events Centre, which has recently had a multi-million-pound extension.
Exeter Racecourse
The venue offer flexibility for any corporate or private event from conferences, meetings, seminars, tradeshows, and exhibitions, to intimate dinners, parties, gala dinners and outdoor events.
Wolverhampton Racecourse & Conference Centre
Wolverhampton Racecourse is an ideal spot for corporate events, especially during summer. The venue has acres of green space and suites with balconies to make the most of the outdoors.
Wolverhampton Racecourse
Wolverhampton Racecourse has 22 acres of private and offering hard standing grounds, as well as extensive grassed areas. They have a varied infrastructure of gated entrances, turnstiles, sound systems, digital screens. Also, there is free parking for up to 1,500 vehicles, which they incorporate into event packages.
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
The award-winning Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is UK’s most technologically advanced stadium and venue. Home of Tottenham Hotspur, The London NFL and a diverse range of stunning unique venue spaces, offering guests maximum choice and flexibility for your next event. The team work with guests to amplify their brand and create an immersive experience at any event.
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
The stadium provides the perfect platform to make any event shine, whether a business event or special occasion. The venue is confident that their dedicated team will go that extra mile to ensure that everyone enjoys a memorable experience from start to finish.
Doncaster Racecourse Exhibition & Conference Centre
The Doncaster Racecourse grounds exhibit a broad range of versatile conference and event spaces, which they tailor to suit any event requirements: from an impressive five-storey grand stand containing a purpose-built exhibition Hall of 3,400 square metres, to over 40 private suites which are able to house from two to 3,000 people.
Doncaster Racecourse
Many of their rooms are glass fronted with huge sliding doors allowing guests to gaze at the impressive views across the racecourse and beyond. The venue provides hotel accommodation via their onsite 154 bedroomed Hilton Garden Inn Hotel with complimentary Wi-Fi, fitness centre, and direct access to the racecourse. Doncaster Racecourse is on course to become the winning post for the UK exhibition industry.
Twickenham Stadium
Twickenham Stadium, the Home of England Rugby, is a premium London event location. With excellent facilities and a wealth of flexible interior space, the stadium can effortlessly cater for large-scale business conferences with state-of-the-art AV, private dinners and social receptions, weddings or meetings. Their facilities are available and are tailorable to any event’s needs.
Twickenham Stadium
Overall, there are 34 dedicated spaces and over 150 executive boxes for small meetings. Many providing attendees and delegates with a view of the famous playing field that has inspired the national rugby team. Twickenham Stadium is ideally located just 20 minutes from Central London and six miles from London Heathrow Airport. There’s excellent road links and over 2,000 complimentary parking spaces on site. The stadium also benefits from an onsite 4* Marriott Hotel and Virgin Active Club.
On the south eastern coast of Croatia sits Dubrovnik, the ‘Pearl of the Adriatic.’ The small historic city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and has famous city walls surrounding the city.
Dubrovnik: A Place of History
Dubrovnik takes great pride
in its city walls, which are double-layered for the most part. Built during the
16th century and stretching for almost 2 miles, these impressive structures
were go around most of the old city. They reach a towering height of around 25
meters. Inside the walls, visitors can find various towers, fortresses, and
countless historical monuments. As visitors venture outside the walls they will
come across charming villas nestled amidst beautiful gardens.
The Real-Life King’s Landing
Dubrovnik is famed for many
things, but some may know it for being the filming location of the popular
series, Game of Thrones. Dubrovnik serves as the setting for King’s Landing in
the series. For those who don’t watch the show, it is in a position equivalent
to London on the map of the kingdoms, making it a significant area.
Hotel Bellevue Dubrovnik
Perched dramatically on a
cliff 30 meters above Miramare Bay, Hotel Bellevue
Dubrovnik offers breathtaking views of the
stunning Dalmatian coast. The hotel is only a short 10-minute stroll away from
the medieval city centre, allowing visitors to enjoy the best of both worlds.
Nestled at the foot of the cliffs lies a pebble beach, enticing guests to
unwind on a sun lounger and bask in the warm Mediterranean sunshine without
having to travel far. The hotel offers two sophisticated meeting rooms that can
accommodate groups of 10 to 250 people.
Dubrovnik Palace Hotel
On the beautiful Lapad
peninsula, Dubrovnik
Palace Hotel sits between the sea and pine
forest. It offers peaceful seclusion and is blessed with a unique view of the
Elaphite islands while being only a few minutes by car, bus or taxi from
UNESCO-protected Dubrovnik Old Town. There are two dedicated conference areas
on the 9th and 10th floor, and all rooms provide state of the art audiovisual
equipment and services.
The Hotel Excelsior Dubrovnik
This hotel is in the city
centre and is just 18km from the main airport meaning it is very accessible.
This hotel boasts stylishly furnished rooms with contemporary benefits such as
en-suite bathrooms, free Wi-Fi and air conditioning. There are leisure
facilities such as a sauna, fitness centre, Jacuzzi, spa & wellness centre,
billiards, steam room and massage ensure guests have a relaxing stay. The Hotel
Excelsior is able to provide seven function and
event rooms with a maximum capacity in the most substantial space of 450
delegates, as well as 158 bedrooms and a catering capacity of 400 people.
Grand Villa Argentina
Located on the cliffs just
outside the historic city of Dubrovnik is Grand Villa Argentina. As soon as guests walk into the reception area, they
meet incredible scenic views. The breathtaking views of the Adriatic stretch
from the island of Lokrum to Dubrovnik’s photogenic old harbour. Whether guests
are sunbathing on the hotel’s beach with its saltwater pool, dining on the restaurant
terraces, lying on a sun lounge on one of the individual rocky outcrops, or
reading a book in the gardens, spectacular scenery surrounds guests.
This elegant luxury hotel
features three stylish and comfortable meeting rooms, all with natural light
and AV equipment, which can accommodate a maximum of 200 delegates in theatre
style seating.
Hotel Kompas Dubrovnik
Located adjacent to the
exquisite Lapad Bay beachfront and Uvala and its famous tree-lined promenade, Hotel Kompas
Dubrovnik is less than 4 kms from Dubrovnik’s
magnificent medieval Old Town city centre. The glorious panorama of the entire
Lapad Bay and its glistening clear waters and unspoilt beaches, greet guests
from the vast floor-to-ceiling windows of the grand reception and the Zenith
Bar.
Sat on the River Spree in
North-Eastern Germany is Berlin. This city is renowned for its vast range of
unique landmarks, vibrant nightlife and an eclectic mix of modern architecture
and historic buildings.
Sustainable Smart City
Berlin has one of the most
vast and efficient public transport systems in Europe. From the u-bahn to
trams, there is always something to get visitors from A to B, and in a
cost-effective way. This makes a massive difference as taking public transport
halves the CO2 emitted per journey.
Berlin also has the
Einwegpfand – a 25c deposit on bottles that you can get back by returning used
bottles. Not only does it incentivise recycling by getting your money back, but
it allows individuals in need to collect up bottles and earn some euros. The
scheme is popular with locals as people collect bottles off the streets to earn
back the deposit.
As well as this, Berlin has a
great selection of vegan cafes and restaurants. The variety gives visitors a
choice in reducing their environmental impact as they can chose plant-based
foods. Even in non-vegan restaurants there are plenty of plant-based options.
Hub for History and Culture
With citizens from over 190
countries, Berlin is a hub for culture. Walking through the streets of Berlin,
visitors will have no trouble finding street art and graffiti. Many of these
artworks have meaningful stories behind them, including pieces at East Side
Gallery (an art exhibition scaling a remaining section of the Berlin wall).
Berlin also has an abundance
of history. The city has more museums than it has rainy days – on average 105
rainy days a year to 175 museums. One of the city’s most famous historic
buildings, the Reichstag is a fusion of the original 19th century parliament
building and a restoration project from 1999. The building was heavily under
fire during WWII and was ON fire in 1933 – causing catastrophic damage.
Meetings and Events Hotspot
Germany’s capital city is
raising the bar on conference and event standards. Whether organisers are
looking for a unique event space or a conference hotel, Berlin has a range of
space to suit any event. VisitBerlin encourage the planning of sustainable and
green events, and with the facilities that Berlin already has in place, this is
easily achievable.
Venues to Suit Every Need
H4 Hotel Berlin
Alexanderplatz
Located on one of Europe’s most popular squares, this hotel embodies the unique combination of tradition and modernity that Berlin has to offer. The 4-star hotel has every amenity a guest needs to feel at home and cared for. The hotel also has eight conference rooms that can be flexibly combined. The rooms are each equipped with multi-media facilities and are accessible to large car models, making it a fully functional and versatile space.
Regent Berlin
Regent Berlin is a
classic-style 5-star property, home to 156 luxuriously decorated rooms and 39
suites. Each room is soundproofed and comes equipped with an antique desk. The
hotel is next to the Gendarmenmarkt Square, where there are plenty of upmarket
shops and restaurants nearby. The hotel’s restaurant, Charlotte & Fritz, is
decorated in the style of a 19th century salon and has views of the
square.
The Hotel Palace Berlin
This privately-run business
hotel sits in the centre of City West between the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial
Church and the Mall Bikini Berlin. The Hotel Palace Berlin is home to the
‘House of Gin’ and the sous-vide restaurant ‘beef 45’. Also, guests can find
Palace Spa and Fitness Centre, sauna, ice cave, and a modern gym. The hotel has
18 function rooms for meetings and events, from big conferences for 900
delegates to exclusive dinners, Hotel Palace can do it all.
Berlin is an unforgettable
choice of event location and makes a perfect spot for sustainably focused events.
The city’s public transport makes it a breeze to get from one place to another,
opening up lots of venues across the city.
Cambridge, the well-known university city on the banks of the picturesque river Cam, is scattered with beauty. From pretty bridges and streets to historical buildings such as the King’s College chapel, and Wren Library.
The city has a diverse community and a vibrant atmosphere enjoyed by the many business travellers who stay each year. With its stunning architecture, beautiful nature and intriguing history, there’s no surprise that event planner love Cambridge.
Here, we share some of the Cambridge venues for meetings and events, bookable on EDGEVenues.com.
Beautiful Cambridge venues
The beauty and architecture throughout Cambridge and its venues is a big attraction for events. Bringing elegance, beauty, and traditional features, if you are looking for an eye-catching location, look no further!
The Cambridge Belfry
The Cambridge Belfry is a beautiful hotel with stunning décor throughout and a charming brick exterior. Despite being situated outside the immediate city centre, the hotel is easily accessed by the M11, A1M, A14 and A428. It’s also only 40 minutes away from the nearest airport.
Set on a peaceful lake, with a calming courtyard, the venue offers a tranquil experience for guests. Boasting 120 comfortable bedrooms and 11 large meeting spaces, this is the perfect venue to create a classic, bold event.
The Fellows House Cambridge, Curio Collection by Hilton
The Fellows House is a gorgeous venue located only a short 15-minute walk from the centre of the city. The hotel offers 163 spacious bedrooms for guests to unwind and relax. And it has an elegant event space flexible for various events, from small group gatherings to a dinner setting.
This modern venue is filled with stylish features including intricate lighting and floor-to-ceiling windows to allow natural light in. There are also a range of amenities including a state-of-the-art gym and a lush indoor swimming pool.
The Graduate Cambridge
The Graduate Cambridge is a unique venue on the banks of the River Cam. It boasts excellent transport links with an airport under 20 minutes away and train station just a mile away. The graduate offers guests the perfect slice of Cambridge with traditional classic décor and wooden features throughout.
The reception offers a library backdrop which captures the essence of the city and its university culture. There are 148 bedrooms and 9 spacious meeting rooms providing a selection of options for your event.
University Arms Hotel
The University Arms Hotel is in the centre of Cambridge and has accessible transport facilities nearby. Cambridge train station is just a 5-minute drive and the city centre is a 5-minute walk away! Set across four floors the hotel is the perfect combination of classic Edwardian interior and modern features throughout.
With 189 bedrooms and 2 large meeting rooms, the hotel has space for a maximum of 200 delegates. The main feature of this venue is the grand ballroom. Boasting floor-to-ceiling length windows and traditional light features, natural light is abundant, lighting up the space for events.
Newmarket Racecourse
Accommodating up to 1000 delegates, Newmarket is a huge venue hosting various events. With 36 meeting rooms, there is endless space to accommodate large conferences and group meetings.
The venue is easily accessible and is close to the A11, A14 and M11 roads. It includes views of the racecourse and complimentary parking for up to 1000 cars, perfect for large group gatherings.
Restaurants and Bars
Cambridge, known for its friendly atmosphere has a selection of mouth-watering options for food and drink lovers alike! The Ivy has one of its spectacular restaurants in Cambridge. Sat amongst all famous landmarks, the boujee eatery offers all-day dining with a selection of delicious dishes.
For a taste of Cambridge luxury visit Trinity. The oysters-and-champers venue offers a selection of delicacies and delicious fresh seafood!
If you’re looking to enjoy the summer weather in Cambridge, the Oak Bistro is the place to go! Right in the heart of the city, the bistro offers a beautiful walled garden area. It serves a selection of mouth-watering classic dishes!
For a cold beer visit the Town and Gown pub in the city centre. It has a charming atmosphere, outdoor seating, and cocktails what more could anyone want? The 196 cocktail bar is also a favourite amongst visitors for a cocktail or two after a busy day!
Ultimately, Cambridge is an ideal location for event profs to host meetings and events. With its natural beauty, traditional buildings and cobbled streets, there’s nothing not to love about the city. Cambridge venues offer choice, beauty, and a mixture of high-end and traditional bars and restaurants to unwind!
To find out more, check out EDGEVenues.com and search ‘Cambridge’.
This Monday’s Insights (03 July 2023) feature brings you the latest news including the power of events report, beam’s annual forum, mia’s Student Membership, and more.
Headlines
The Power of Events is limitless but the industry needs to spread the word, according to a new report.
The report from ICC Wales , called Event Power: A Force for Good, ‘looks beyond the traditional measures of event impact – economic value, job creation, increased destination profiling – and focuses on the far-reaching benefits that events bring to communities and supply chains, as well as on matters such as sustainability and future-building’.
The report – details shared by M&IT – includes forewords from Rt. Hon Theresa Villiers MP, chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Events, and Chris Skeith OBE, chair of UK Events, alongside expert industry contributions from The Business of Events, the Association of Event Venues, the Meetings Industry Association, the Association of British Professional Conference Organisers, and the BestCities Global Alliance.
Launched at The Meetings Show 2023 at ExCel London, the power of events document concludes: “The events industry is an unsung hero. Many people believe events just happen… they have no idea of what goes on behind the scenes.
“Events are a force for good and we need to get this vitally important message across to those who are not in our community, so that the remarkable power of events is truly recognised.”
Northstar Travel Group has launched The Meetings Show Asia Pacific.
Northstar Travel Group, the leading B-to-B information, events and marketing solutions company in the travel industry, has announced the launch of the hosted buyer led tradeshow for the Asia Pacific meetings industry.
The Meetings Show Asia Pacific (www.themeetingsshow-apac.com), supported by Singapore Tourism Board, will take place from 17-18 April 2024 at Sands Expo and Convention Centre, Marina Bay Sands, Singapore, welcoming global exhibitors and an audience of pre-qualified and hosted buyers.
Singapore is a Global-Asia node for MICE and business. As a gateway to the fast-growing Asia Pacific region and home to a vibrant business community, Singapore was chosen as the host destination for the debut of The Meetings Show Asia Pacific, offering access to new partnerships and business ideas.
Featuring Asian and international destinations, venues, hotels and other key suppliers, the event will be supported by an exclusive hosted buyer programme, bringing senior meetings, conventions, events and incentives buyers to a bustling tradeshow floor. A unique prescheduled meetings platform will provide an intimate platform to do business, as well as a conference providing a thought-provoking education programme and a series of high-quality networking events.
The Meetings Show Asia Pacific is an extension of the long standing ‘The Meetings Show’ brand, which takes place annually in London, and will further complement Northstar Meetings Group’s global portfolio of media, events, information & marketing solutions.
Jason Young, CEO, Northstar Travel Group, said: “With our continued commitment to greater serve the APAC region, our depth of industry knowledge and the experienced meetings professionals who work in our UK, Singapore and US offices, it became apparent there was an opportunity to bring our world class experiences to the Asia Pacific meetings market under the established and successful brand of The Meetings Show.”
beam’s new style Annual Forum will prepare members for current and future challenges across their businesses.
Industry 4.0 – Collaborations, Connections & Community, is the title of beam’s upcoming annual forum, which has been created by the beam events action group. The event, with headline sponsors Open Audience and Song Division, will bring beam members together from across the UK at the Hilton Bournemouth on 6 & 7 July and is also open to non-members of the association.
“This year the Forum will be more of a hands-on business event, featuring engaging and inspiring speakers and generating tangible takeaways,” says Beckie Towle, events director of beam.
The keynote will be presented by Matt Lindley. Matt is a serving airline pilot and former RAF pilot who applies his experiences in leadership, accountability and culture to the business world.
Before taking his commercial flying job, he was a Royal Air Force Fast Jet pilot and later became a Captain on the Queens Flight, flying Her Majesty The Queen, members of the Royal Family, the Prime Minister and Cabinet worldwide for over 10 years.
Among the many outstanding and fascinating speakers sharing valuable insights will be Paul Martin of Events Air, Sam McNeill of Song Division, Helen Moon of EventWell, Leslie Robertson of Open Audience, Neil Thompson of The Delegate Wranglers, Peter Heath of Venue Performance and many more.
Beckie Towle continues “Industry 4.0 – Collaborations, Connections & Community is about preparing and supporting our members with what is coming next. The format will be a mix of plenary and educational breakout sessions.
“The content will cover a broad range of significant industry subject areas, including AI and ChatGPT, data, ESG, and leadership skills.
“There will also be follow-up sessions on recent beam events such as the Sustainability Forum, Finance Forum, and the Instant Book Summit. We’ll be joined by guest speakers from across the industry as well as experts covering the themes. There will be a lot of engaging content that is valuable to everyone.”
The beam Annual Forum is also well known as one of the industry’s best social events of the year. Throughout the two days, there will be plenty of opportunities to catch up with colleagues and get to know new contacts. The event will also be supporting and raising money for Meeting Needs through a variety of activities.
Sian Sayward, chair of beam, says: “We have been working hard on creating an event that offers real benefits for everyone. The program is designed with audience involvement as a priority, as well as delivering fresh, relevant and thought-provoking content. It will be a Forum that’s not to be missed.”
According to a feature on Event Industry News, the new membership is ‘designed to inspire the sector’s next generation of talent, the membership will present aspiring event professionals with exclusive educational and career opportunities and provide a platform for Continuing Professional Development (CPD).’
Senior leaders from across Northern Ireland came together at an event hosted by ICC Belfast on 29 June, to reaffirm their commitment to delivering economic impact for the city.
It is estimated that events, such as conferences and conventions, deliver approximately £209m in direct economic impact, with up to 2,000 new jobs targeted by 2030 as a result. Check out all the details via the Conference News feature, link below.
