The Crowne Plaza – Oxford Road has unveiled its new events space. The seven meeting rooms can cater for more than 200 conference delegates at any one time. In a nod to its special location within the university district on Oxford Road, the hotel team have paid tribute to Manchester University’s most famous alumni – by naming their meeting rooms in their honour. General manager of Manchester’s only dual-branded hotel, Andrew Fletcher said: “We are so proud of the conference and meetings space we have created and believe we have a truly unique offering for anyone holding a meeting or event in Manchester. With a brand-new dedicated conference floor and flexible meeting space, we’re confident our hotel will give any organisation the options they need to do business, whether they’re organising an intimate board meeting or a large-scale conference.”
Luxury Hampshire hotel Tylney Hall Hotel & Gardens has invested £300,000 in its meeting and events facilities with a modern new refurbishment. The upgrades to six of the hotel’s meeting and event rooms marry contemporary facilities and design with the luxurious country house setting. The hotel has also unveiled a brand-new meeting and event space, the Boardroom, which is now available for private hire for the first time in the hotel’s history. The wood-panelled former chairman’s study is located above the entrance porch, with picturesque views across the parkland to the neighbouring golf course.
Luxury Hampshire hotel Tylney Hall Hotel & Gardens has invested £300,000 in its meeting and events facilities with a modern new refurbishment. The upgrades to six of the hotel’s meeting and event rooms marry contemporary facilities and design with the luxurious country house setting. The hotel has also unveiled a brand-new meeting and event space, the Boardroom, which is now available for private hire for the first time in the hotel’s history. The wood-panelled former chairman’s study is located above the entrance porch, with picturesque views across the parkland to the neighbouring golf course.
Lincoln Plaza London Hilton's second Curio Collection set for 2019 opening
Hilton has announced its second Curio Collection property, the Lincoln Plaza London, will open in January 2019.
The hotel has 129-bedrooms, includes by pan-Indian restaurant Mr Todiwala’s Kitchen by chef Cyrus Todiwala, Jack Speak bar and terrace which will serve cocktails and small producer wines and over 465 sq m of event space across seven meeting rooms.
Launched in 2014, the Curio Collection by Hilton is a soft brand featuring “upper upscale hotels with character” and is one of Hilton’s 15 brands.
Arora Group marked the official opening of its new Heathrow Terminal 4 hotels, ‘Crowne Plaza London – Heathrow Terminal 4’, and ‘Holiday Inn Express London – Heathrow Terminal 4’, with a launch event at the new Crowne Plaza. The dual-branded property is the largest hotel opening in the UK in 2018 and the largest hotel complex directly connected to a British airport terminal.
Crowne Plaza London ‒ Heathrow T4 has 304 comfortable and modern bedrooms. The hotel offers a range of business and meeting facilities including five meeting rooms accommodating up to 100 people and the very latest technology.
Holiday Inn Express London ‒ Heathrow has 457 bedrooms, complete with blackout blinds, pillow menus, flat screen smart TVs and the brand’s new larger, cosier beds.
The hotels are located within walking distance of Heathrow’s terminals via a covered link-bridge and with direct access to the London Underground, Heathrow Express train service and nearby motorways.
Hilton has announced the launch of its latest “affordable urban lifestyle” brand Motto, with London set to be the location of one of the first properties. Construction on the first 100-bedroom Motto in Marylebone is set to begin in early 2019 with completion set for 2020.
Motto, Hilton’s 15th brand, will target “prime cities”, and will provide multi-functional, customisable room designs. The concept has been designed to meet the needs of friends and family groups wanting more from the hostel market, with guestrooms featuring wall beds, lofted beds and multi-functional furniture that can be stowed when not in use.
Plans are also in various stages of development for properties in Lima, Peru; Dublin, Ireland; and Savannah, San Diego, Boston and Washington DC in the US.
Stratford hotel within the new Manhattan Loft Gardens to open in 2019
The Stratford hotel within the new Manhattan Loft Gardens skyscraper in east London is set to open in spring 2019. The venue will overlook the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, with the design inspired by 1950s New York.
Occupying the first six stories of the building with 145 guestrooms and suites and the triple-height lobby will feature a nine-metre high fireplace. The hotel will have two restaurants, Allegra and The Stratford Brasserie and be home to three gardens. The gardens will be on the seventh, 25th and 36th floors. The 36th floor garden will be a relaxing space with daily yoga classes; the 25th a cosy space with fire pits, barbecues and a bar; and the seventh and largest will have water features, herb gardens and seating for Allegra.
Silverstone is in a very handy location between Birmingham and London, with easy access to major transport links and on-site parking for up to 1,000 vehicles outside the Wing, plus additional parking in our overflow car parks by the main gate.
The event space includes five large exhibition halls (averaging 1400m2 per hall) each with its own balcony with stunning views of the legendary Grand Prix Circuit, a state-of-the-art 100 seater auditorium used for Formula 1 post-race interviews alongside a huge selection of smaller, more intimate meeting and breakout rooms available and a further 41 pit garages offering nearly 6,000m2 of flexible space, all with HGV access.
The venue is also set to have their Silverstone Garden Inn Hotel onsite due in Spring 2020 offering 197 bedrooms.
A Winter Chalet pop up has opened at FEST Camden Roof Gardens
A new season brings a new experience at the always exciting Fest Camden, who have converted their Roof Gardens and 200 year old stables into a warming wonderland by the name of Fest Winter Chalet. The atmospheric setting comes with a whole new theme across the menu and drinks selections and of course, plenty of festive entertainment, all from November 1st 2018.
An on site snow machine will add to the Alpine effect and big screens will be showing Red Bull’s finest snowboarders pulling their most extreme and mesmerising tricks in the mountains. There will be live music each day with busker style performers working through seasonal set lists and the rooftop cinema club will take care of Mondays and Tuesdays, screening cosy and nostalgic films to stoke the festive spirit.
The Hire Space Awards celebrate the very best of the events industry by recognising and rewarding hard working, innovative and forward-thinking venues and event organisers from across the UK.
Rebecca Hurley, Venue Marketing Manager said: “We are one proud events team! Winning this award has made all our efforts seem worthwhile. Our venue places sustainability at the heart of everything we do and we’ll continue to support sustainable events and encourage our organisers and delegates to do the same. Furthermore, achieving a Gold accreditation in Green Tourism in 2017, one of just five venues in London, was no mean feat for a Grade II listed building. This prestigious certification was awarded for our inspirational environmental ethos and excellent practices throughout the business, which in turn has led to us winning this award. But for now, we’ll continue to celebrate this great achievement!”
The Hire Space Awards celebrate the very best of the events industry by recognising and rewarding hard working, innovative and forward-thinking venues and event organisers from across the UK.
Up against strong competition from Lord’s Cricket Ground and ORTUS, they were lucky enough to win this prestigious ‘Greenest Venue’ award!
Rebecca Hurley, Venue Marketing Manager said: “We are one proud events team! Winning this award has made all our efforts seem worthwhile. Our venue places sustainability at the heart of everything we do and we’ll continue to support sustainable events and encourage our organisers and delegates to do the same. Furthermore, achieving a Gold accreditation in Green Tourism in 2017, one of just five venues in London, was no mean feat for a Grade II listed building. This prestigious certification was awarded for our inspirational environmental ethos and excellent practices throughout the business, which in turn has led to us winning this award. But for now, we’ll continue to celebrate this great achievement!”
The Hire Space Awards celebrate the very best of the events industry by recognising and rewarding hard working, innovative and forward-thinking venues and event organisers from across the UK.
On Wednesday 24th October the BMA House events team saw the unveiling of the 2018 Hire Space Awards at Museum of London which celebrated high achievers in the events industry within 15 categories. The team were shortlisted as a finalist in the Forward-Thinking Venues category for ‘Greenest Venue’, as well as the top senior sales and events planner, Hannah Anderson being nominated as ‘Unsung Hero’.
Up against strong competition from Lord’s Cricket Ground and ORTUS, they were lucky enough to win this prestigious ‘Greenest Venue’ award!
Rebecca Hurley, Venue Marketing Manager said: “We are one proud events team! Winning this award has made all our efforts seem worthwhile. Our venue places sustainability at the heart of everything we do and we’ll continue to support sustainable events and encourage our organisers and delegates to do the same. Furthermore, achieving a Gold accreditation in Green Tourism in 2017, one of just five venues in London, was no mean feat for a Grade II listed building. This prestigious certification was awarded for our inspirational environmental ethos and excellent practices throughout the business, which in turn has led to us winning this award. But for now, we’ll continue to celebrate this great achievement!”
The Hire Space Awards celebrate the very best of the events industry by recognising and rewarding hard working, innovative and forward-thinking venues and event organisers from across the UK.
BMA House, an EDGE venues + member has won the Hire Space prestigious Greenest Venue Award.
On Wednesday 24th October the BMA House events team saw the unveiling of the 2018 Hire Space Awards at Museum of London which celebrated high achievers in the events industry within 15 categories. The team were shortlisted as a finalist in the Forward-Thinking Venues category for ‘Greenest Venue’, as well as the top senior sales and events planner, Hannah Anderson being nominated as ‘Unsung Hero’.
Up against strong competition from Lord’s Cricket Ground and ORTUS, they were lucky enough to win this prestigious ‘Greenest Venue’ award!
Rebecca Hurley, Venue Marketing Manager said: “We are one proud events team! Winning this award has made all our efforts seem worthwhile. Our venue places sustainability at the heart of everything we do and we’ll continue to support sustainable events and encourage our organisers and delegates to do the same. Furthermore, achieving a Gold accreditation in Green Tourism in 2017, one of just five venues in London, was no mean feat for a Grade II listed building. This prestigious certification was awarded for our inspirational environmental ethos and excellent practices throughout the business, which in turn has led to us winning this award. But for now, we’ll continue to celebrate this great achievement!”
The Hire Space Awards celebrate the very best of the events industry by recognising and rewarding hard working, innovative and forward-thinking venues and event organisers from across the UK.
BMA House, an EDGE venues + member has won the Hire Space prestigious Greenest Venue Award.
On Wednesday 24th October the BMA House events team saw the unveiling of the 2018 Hire Space Awards at Museum of London which celebrated high achievers in the events industry within 15 categories. The team were shortlisted as a finalist in the Forward-Thinking Venues category for ‘Greenest Venue’, as well as the top senior sales and events planner, Hannah Anderson being nominated as ‘Unsung Hero’.
Up against strong competition from Lord’s Cricket Ground and ORTUS, they were lucky enough to win this prestigious ‘Greenest Venue’ award!
Rebecca Hurley, Venue Marketing Manager said: “We are one proud events team! Winning this award has made all our efforts seem worthwhile. Our venue places sustainability at the heart of everything we do and we’ll continue to support sustainable events and encourage our organisers and delegates to do the same. Furthermore, achieving a Gold accreditation in Green Tourism in 2017, one of just five venues in London, was no mean feat for a Grade II listed building. This prestigious certification was awarded for our inspirational environmental ethos and excellent practices throughout the business, which in turn has led to us winning this award. But for now, we’ll continue to celebrate this great achievement!”
The Hire Space Awards celebrate the very best of the events industry by recognising and rewarding hard working, innovative and forward-thinking venues and event organisers from across the UK.
EDGE+ member BMA House Awards news
BMA House, an EDGE venues + member has won the Hire Space prestigious Greenest Venue Award.
On Wednesday 24th October the BMA House events team saw the unveiling of the 2018 Hire Space Awards at Museum of London which celebrated high achievers in the events industry within 15 categories. The team were shortlisted as a finalist in the Forward-Thinking Venues category for ‘Greenest Venue’, as well as the top senior sales and events planner, Hannah Anderson being nominated as ‘Unsung Hero’.
Up against strong competition from Lord’s Cricket Ground and ORTUS, they were lucky enough to win this prestigious ‘Greenest Venue’ award!
Rebecca Hurley, Venue Marketing Manager said: “We are one proud events team! Winning this award has made all our efforts seem worthwhile. Our venue places sustainability at the heart of everything we do and we’ll continue to support sustainable events and encourage our organisers and delegates to do the same. Furthermore, achieving a Gold accreditation in Green Tourism in 2017, one of just five venues in London, was no mean feat for a Grade II listed building. This prestigious certification was awarded for our inspirational environmental ethos and excellent practices throughout the business, which in turn has led to us winning this award. But for now, we’ll continue to celebrate this great achievement!”
The Hire Space Awards celebrate the very best of the events industry by recognising and rewarding hard working, innovative and forward-thinking venues and event organisers from across the UK.
by Katharine Jordan, Marketing Director, Trinity Event Solutions
The Watkins Research Group produces a report every 2-years about destinations in North America. This year, as well as in 2016, Vancouver topped the poll of the most likely city that organisers would recommend to a business associate or colleague for an important meeting. I’ve just visited Vancouver and can endorse the findings. The city has a quick transfer from the airport to the centre, the hotel stock is excellent and accommodation is close to the convention centre, which is on the waterfront with beautiful views and it offers good value for money.
The survey was completed by almost 1,000 event organisers and the destinations with the best hotels for large meetings are as follows:
Orlando
San Diego
Las Vegas
Chicago
Seattle
Vancouver
Indy
San Antonio
Houston
Toronto
This is based on:
• Proximity of hotels to the convention centre • Rational convention rates • Close coordination between the convention bureau and hotels • Making sure adequate room blocks are available • Attractively furnished meeting rooms
The top 10 easiest destinations to fly to:
Chicago
New York
Washington
Atlanta
Las Vegas
Orlando
Los Angeles
Dallas
San Francisco
Boston
Top 10 cities that feel “safest”:
Vancouver
Salt Lake
Montreal
Toronto
San Diego
Nashville
Minneapolis
San Antonio
Phoenix
Austin
5 tips to consider when you’re planning an event in North America:
Think about transfer time to the destination, as well as the flight time, compare this with the length of stay and make sure everything is in proportion. No-one will thank you for a flight, followed by a lengthy transfer, which results in limited time at the destination. Also look at whether the transfer is by coach, train, boat or taxi and think about what the possible problems are – then try to pre-empt them.
Check the nationalities of the attendees and what passport they travel on. Make sure that any visas or visa waivers are organised well in advance – you don’t want people dropping out because they are unable to enter the country.
Speak to the Conference Bureau – a good conference bureau will help with contacts at Convention Centres and hotels, give you suggestions for off-site dinners, recommend DMCs and can assist with site visits.
Check the rates, as pricing is structured differently in North America. The meeting space is allocated depending on the quantity of bedrooms and is included in the bedroom rate, but syndicate rooms will be chargeable. Usually breakfast, dinner, lunches and breaks are priced separately and there will be a minimum food and beverage spend.
Rates are usually quoted excluding tax and the rates may be different on different items eg bedrooms, meeting rooms, food and beverage etc. The local tax and state tax vary, depending on the destination and they will also add a gratuity charge which is taxable. There can be a tourist tax per night or for the whole stay. A rate that initially looks great can be less attractive once the taxes are added.
For more information about venue finding and planning an event in North America, contact enquiries@edgevenues.com
