Author: Suzi Johnson

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Our pick of the best Rooftop Venues

Summer is quickly approaching, and with rooftop venues in high demand, now’s the time to think about where you want to hold your summer party. We believe that rooftop venues are one of the best ways to soak up the spectacular scenic views of every city with an experience bound to be remembered by all.

A rooftop location for your event is the perfect way to stand out and has that unique ‘wow’ factor that everyone wants, whether it be for a small intimate team building activity or the chance to unwind after a full day conference. On a sunny summer’s day (and we do sometimes get those), rooftops are a sun trap and give delegates a professional space to enjoy the sun! Even if the weather isn’t on your side, almost all the rooftop venues offer have an additional inside space, so if the rain starts pouring, there is shelter for the event to continue.

With that in mind, we have compiled a list of some of our favourite venues across the UK which have access to stunning rooftop facilities, leaving you spoiled for choice when it comes to selecting your perfect summer venue.

Park Plaza London Waterloo

Park Plaza London Waterloo is a four-star hotel located in the heart of London. The hotel boasts a range of modern amenities, including a fitness centre, restaurant and bar, and meeting facilities. With its central location, guests can easily explore London’s top attractions. The rooftop bar and lounge area are a highlight of the hotel, offering panoramic views of London’s skyline. The outdoor terrace is equipped with comfortable seating, making it a popular spot for socializing and relaxing. Whether you’re taking in the view during the day or watching the city at night, the rooftop facilities at Park Plaza London Waterloo are not to be missed.

30 Euston Square

30 Euston Square is a historical venue located in the heart of London. The grand décor makes this an ideal location for conferences, meetings, and events. The venue features a range of rooms, including a ballroom, boardrooms, and meeting rooms of varying sizes. With its central location and versatile event spaces, 30 Euston Square is a top choice for hosting events in London. With an impressive rooftop terrace, this is an ideal setting for summer events, receptions, and conferences. It can accommodate up to 90 guests and guests have access to cocktails, wines and beers as well as a BBQ station for catering.

Ashorne Hill

Ashorne Hill is a beautiful country house set in 35 acres of gardens. The venue offers a range of meeting rooms and conference facilities, along with comfortable accommodations for delegates. This makes it a popular choice for corporate events, training, and team-building activities. Ashorne Hill’s picturesque surroundings provide the perfect environment for learning, networking, and relaxation. Ashorne Hill features a stunning balcony area overlooking the gardens, providing a perfect space for outdoor summer events. The space is perfect for enjoying scenic views and fresh air.

St Pancras Meeting Rooms

St Pancras Meeting Rooms offer a range of modern and flexible meeting spaces, perfect for conferences, seminars, and training sessions. The venue features a beautiful outdoor terrace area with glorious views. With modern décor and a comfortable seating area, the terrace creates a relaxed atmosphere for guests.

British Motor Museum

The British Motor Museum is not only a fascinating attraction for car lovers, but also a unique and flexible venue for events. The museum offers a range of meeting rooms, event spaces, and outdoor areas, accommodating events of all sizes.

Thestudiobirmingham

Thestudiobirmingham is a vibrant venue located in the heart of Birmingham. It offers a range of meeting rooms, event spaces, and on-site catering, making it a popular choice for conferences, seminars, and workshops. Thestudiobirmingham boasts a stunning rooftop terrace area, providing a unique setting for outdoor events. The space is fully equipped with comfortable seating, a BBQ station, and a fully stocked bar, offering the ideal backdrop for socialising.

Thestudiomanchester

Thestudiomanchester is a versatile venue located in the heart of Manchester. It features a selection of meeting rooms, ideal for conferences, training sessions, and exhibitions. Thestudiomanchester features a stunning balcony area overlooking the city centre, providing a unique and stylish setting for outdoor events and receptions. The space is fully equipped with comfortable seating, a bar, and a BBQ station.

Thestudioleeds

Thestudioleeds is a contemporary venue, featuring an impressive range of meeting rooms and event spaces. With its prime location in the heart of Leeds, Thestudioleeds is a top choice for businesses and organisations looking to host impactful events. It features a stunning rooftop garden with a balcony area, providing a picturesque area for outdoor events and meetings.

East Midlands Conference Centre

The East Midlands Conference Centre is a modern venue located in Nottingham. It offers a range of meeting rooms and on-site accommodations, making it a top choice for conferences and corporate events. The East Midlands Conference Centre has a stunning balcony area overlooking the scenic lake and gardens.

The Orchard Hotel

The Orchard Hotel is an eco-friendly hotel located on the University of Nottingham’s Campus. The hotel’s sustainable design and stunning surroundings, including a lake and landscaped gardens, make it a truly memorable destination. The hotel’s rooftop terrace features a balcony area with panoramic views of the surrounding campus and lake.

Visiting a venue with a rooftop terrace offers a beautiful setting for events during the summer season. The rooftop areas can provide the perfect backdrop for socializing, relaxation, and networking while enjoying stunning panoramic views of the city or surrounding areas.

Are you ready to book your summer events but not sure where to start? Get in touch with our venue procurement team today for some inspiration!

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Trinity EDGE Challenge is Back!

The Trinity EDGE Challenge is an annual CSR initiative in which Trinity EDGE Solutions’ team pledge our time and support to our chosen charities. It culminates in a team challenge, tied to industry product knowledge, of collecting items for our annual charity auction.

Now in our 10th year, we’ve selected three local charities to our Stamford office and have already been making headway with collections and fundraising ideas. 

Who we’re working with

  • Don’t Lose Hope – a charity that offers a professional counselling service for all members of the community from age 4 upwards.  This is a free service for families/individuals receiving certain state benefits and affordable to all others and now proud to be able to offer their online shop.
  • Second Helpings – a project run in partnership with Stamford Methodist Church and the whole community. Their aim is to ‘feed bellies not bins’ and they are passionate about reducing food waste and working with the community to reduce environmental impact.
  • Bumps and Beyond – founded in 2009 by Alice Scott in a small cupboard on the Stamford Hospital site. Ten years on and it is now a fully-fledged charity in its own right and has helped thousands of parents and care-givers!

Deena Squires, Business Development Director at Trinity EDGE Solutions is leading the CSR team and is excited about the initiatives planned. “It’s been a challenging time as we all recover from the impact of Covid, and now facing the rise of cost of living, it’s important to us that we support our local community. Our aim is to support with cash donations where we can, but to work alongside them and help raise the profile of what each of the three amazing charities do.

“We’ve already made a fantastic start with our recent Easter initiative. We get so many amazing treats from hotel suppliers when they visit the office, that we’ve been collecting these Easter delights and shared them at the recently opened Community Café at Second Helpings as an Easter surprise for the children.”

Trinity EDGE Challenge

As well as our own internal initiatives, we are excited to relaunch our successful Trinity EDGE Challenge. The Trinity EDGE Challenge sees members of the team visit venues to soak up product knowledge and collect donations that are auctioned off to raise money for the chosen charities.

Tracy Winsworth, Managing Director of Trinity EDGE Solutions is delighted to see the return of the Trinity EDGE Challenge. “In the years we have been running this initiative we have successfully raised more than £100,000. Last year we raised nearly £10,000, which went towards the Ukraine Humanitarian Relief Fund through the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC).

“This year, we’re looking forward to bringing the Challenge back closer to home and being able to support our local community challenges. We’ve been running this initiative for more than 10 years and we always get fantastic support from the industry, and it’s a great way to ensure our teams continue to build their product knowledge.”

The auction will go live towards the end of the year, so there will no doubt be a special prize to treat someone special at Christmas time.  

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2023 New Venue Openings

Looking for some new venue openings to inspire your next meeting or event? Make sure you’re choosing a venue that meets your business objectives and company culture.

There is a range of new venue openings both freshly opened and set to open this year, we have included a list of some of our personal favourites to keep an eye out for.

Art’otel London Battersea Power Station,

‘London’s Hottest New Hotel’ the Art’otel, is set to open on the 21st of February 2023 and will certainly come in with a bang. Jaw-dropping features and stylish décor are only the start of what this venue has to offer.

This hotel boasts stunning panoramic views of the city, a rooftop pool, a jacuzzi, and a gym. The hotel has a selection of rooms including the art room, the art room plus, the art room studio, and the art room skyline plus.

All with modern, unique, and bright design features by Jamie Hayton. It is home to 6 glamorous event spaces that can hold up to 250 guests, making this an ideal location for anything from small intimate gatherings or large business meetings. For a showstopper venue, the hotel occasionally offers its glamorous 16th-floor rooftop bar.

Hyatt Regency London Blackfriars

The Hyatt Regency Hotel in Blackfriars London is brand new and set to open in a few months. Situated at Blackfriars Station, the Hyatt has direct access to public transport and is close to the hustle and bustle of the city centre.

This glamorous hotel has 204 guest rooms, each with extravagant features such as climate control, HD TV, and deluxe bathroom spaces. On top of this, the venue offers 3 flexible event spaces, all of which are extremely versatile to suit your meeting group/size.

Raffles London, Old War Office

This historic building will have 120 rooms and suites as well as 11 restaurants and bars to ensure guests are spoilt for choice.

Nestled in the centre of Westminster around half a mile from main tourist attractions such as big ben and the London eye, this new hotel is situated perfectly for both work and pleasure. The Raffles is a must-see hotel so keep an eye out for its opening later in the year.

TreeHouse Hotel Manchester

The Treehouse-themed hotel is located in the beating heart of Manchester on Deansgate, set to open this Spring. Featuring 216 rooms, a rooftop bar, and a restaurant/bar on the 14th floor, This new venue will be impressive.

A playful, fun décor throughout the hotel will allow guests to experience a stress-free and light-hearted stay. The Treehouse has a selection of event spaces, perfect for weddings, group meetings, or conferences. There are also several dining spaces for meals and catered events.

100 Princes Street Edinburgh

Edinburgh’s hottest new hotel is set to open in August of this year and will be a lovely addition to the grand selection of hotels available in the city. The hotel is a beautiful restoration of the original building, keeping some of the iconic traditional features throughout.

100 princes street which is described as a ‘Truly Scottish experience’ has 30 guest rooms and suites as well as a unique 2:1 staff ratio ensuring that guests have the most enjoyable and efficient experience during their stay.

The Wildes Hotel, Chester

Set to open in the spring of this year, this stunning, boutique, Chester – based hotel will have 18 rooms and a rooftop pool with beautiful city views. In addition to this, the hotel will also feature a luxury spa and mouth-wateringly tasty meals served at the restaurant.

Room2, Belfast

With the success of London’s Room2 developments, Room2 is branching out into Belfast and will be set to open its doors this spring. The hotel boasts 175 rooms, a gym, a restaurant, and event spaces.

The Wesley Camden Town, London

The newly opened Wesley in Camden Town opened in January 2023. This boutique hotel has 20 meeting rooms, all varying sizes with flexibility for different events.

There are 38 stylish rooms with contemporary features, made using sustainably sourced materials. In addition to this, the hotel has a lovely restaurant and bar to make your stay even better!

Hotel La Palma, Capri, Italy

Venturing a little further afield, the Hotel La Palma is set in a gorgeous location on the popular island of Capri. It is the newest addition to the Oetker Collection and will be very aesthetically pleasing.

With a clean, modern feel, the hotel will offer a range of traditional Italian cuisines produced by  Michelin-starred chef Gennaro Esposito when it opens this spring.

Kempinski Hotel Cancun, Cancun, Mexico

This glamorous hotel will have 315 guest rooms and 48 suites with an elegant vibe and its own private balcony overlooking the Caribbean sea.

With a mixture of both inside and outside event spaces, this luxury hotel will amaze any guests and have plenty of room to accommodate groups of all sizes. Direct access to the beach makes this hotel unbeatable and in demand so be quick if it’s your dream stay!

Alila Kothaifaru Maldives, Maldives

Anticipated to open in Spring, this beautiful hotel incorporates the nature surrounding it to give a luxurious and relaxing feel. Each of the 44 beachfront villas and the 36 overwater villas come with a private pool for ease and comfort as well as magnificent views. Designed to make guests feel at one with nature, the Alila is one of a kind.

Keep an eye on EDGE Venues for more updates!

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Now is the time for a professional procurement team

Current economic climate makes professional venue find procurement vital for corporates, says EDGE Venues Jacqui Kavanagh…

Jacqui believes expert input can bolster technology platforms to maximise results.

Corporate governance, risk and financial challenges currently combine with the need for live events to support staff retention, brand differentiation and ultimate business growth. This makes partnering with professional procurement teams a must for event teams and for buyers.

Recent changes in the delivery of events, with virtual and hybrid, have resulted in a shift and increase in expertise required for events teams. But these teams are already overloaded with demands as clients and businesses return to live activity to achieve business goals. 

Additionally, with the daily changing economic climate, I believe professional venue procurement is more vital than ever. My view considers corporates booking meetings and events who must ensure budgets are spent wisely and return on investment is a given, not a risk. Professional event planners want and deserve the best support during this time, and technology tools with the personal touch and knowledge deliver the best of both worlds. 

Let’s face it every penny counts right now

Technology can support transparency, but people want – and need – to stay in control. Professional venue procurement teams can do that, while ensuring there are no surprises for any stakeholders. A professional venue procurement team can also underpin a quality mitigation approach to cancellation and terms of requirements, while boosting corporate governance in sustainability and risk management.

Technology can simplify tasks and support a professional organisation if the tech is agile enough to transform alongside corporate and agency business needs. Yet, meetings and events still need people to manage more complex requirements. This need is the reason we’ve retained the EDGE Venues’ model of ‘technology with personality’. We provide a professional venue procurement team behind the tech, for businesses which don’t have experts in-house.

What our clients say about our venue find procurement team…

An EDGE Venues contracted client within the Pharma sector is already using our technology and service. She supported my view when we spoke at EDGE Venues recent Business Intelligence event: “With such an influx of new people into our industry, it’s crucial for us to work with an experienced and professional venue procurement team. For a start, it gives us the security that our meetings and events business can remain compliant. 

“We have worked with Jacqui and the team at EDGE Venues for more than 15 years, using their venue procurement services and technology. EDGE has become one of the best in the business at delivering innovation and intuition, making our lives easier. We were consulted throughout the whole technology build, and the EDGE team continues to listen and act on our needs as corporate planners.

 “We can manage many of our venue bookings online, yet knowing we have a dedicated and consultative expert team gives us confidence from additional support for more complex processes where required. It’s crucial for us where value for money is concerned.”

*Pharma companies are not able to personally endorse products or services and this is a personal view.

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EDGE Venues unveils performance successes at Business Insights Event

EDGE Venues shared its Q3 success at its annual Business Insights Event on Thursday, 15 September, including a 25 per cent increase in platform users and a 25 per cent uplift in venue searches compared to Q2.

The EDGE team delivered the results alongside market insights and user trends from its recently published Business Intelligence Report. Booking trends of corporate buyers and agents were compared to pre-Covid levels and illustrated increased event attendee numbers and average event values.

The invitation-only event for EDGE licensees took place at the tech platform’s Stamford Office, where more than 70 guests were also the first to hear about EDGE Venues’ development roadmap.

This was the first opportunity EDGE Venues had to bring its licensees back to the annual event in person, having held previous Business Insights via a live broadcast during COVID. Jacqui Kavanagh shares her delight in welcoming everyone back to Stamford: “We’ve always had such positive feedback for these events, where we provide an opportunity for our licensees to view business intelligence behind EDGE Venues and demonstrate their return on investment.

“We’ve been holding these events via a live broadcast during the pandemic. As useful as they were at the time, they didn’t provide the personal interaction or engagement that we pride ourselves on at EDGE. To bring our licensees back to our offices and share first-hand our joint successes was an incredible feeling – it helps keep our licensees on the journey we’re on together.”

As EDGE Venues continues to develop, the company is hosting a series of forthcoming showcase events for hotels and venues interested in becoming licensees.

Jacqui continued: “With figures back to pre-pandemic, our vision now is to grow. The more venues we can bring on board, the greater the user benefits. So we’re investing more in marketing, which is paying off, and we’d love to see new venues at any of our showcase days to share the amazing opportunities we provide.”

Speaking after the event, Dan Elliott, Butlin’s Conference & Events, said: “Informative, fun and inspiring. To be able to connect with so many #eventprofs and refreshing to have honest conversations with good people about shaping the industry. So much love out there for Butlin’s Conferences & Events, which makes me so happy. Oh, and if I were an agent and could use EDGE Venues free of charge, I would be all over it.”

Melissa O’Grady, Radisson Blu Royal Hotel Dublin City, shared her thoughts: “Big thank you to Jacqui Kavanagh, Tracy Winsworth & team for creating the opportunity for us all to connect, learn and collaborate! Wishing you all the luck and success with your exciting growth plans! Looking forward to partnering with you along the journey.”

Amy Philips, ICC Wales, concluded: “It was great to attend the EDGE Venues event. Interesting sessions covered business insights and how to present your venue to clients at RFP stage. Thank you, Jacqui Kavanagh and team, for putting on a wonderful event!

To find out more about the showcase days, or to request the Business Intelligence Insights report, contact the team info@edgevenues.com.

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Let’s be positive; there’s good news ahead!

Jacqui Kavanagh

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.

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Industry-wide price rises and future predictions

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.

Read more via Conference News here.

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.

Further insight available via Business Travel News Europe.

Eurovision song contest 2023: seven UK cities named as potential hosts

Birmingham, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle and Sheffield have been named as potential hosts of the 2023 Eurovision song contest when it is held in the UK for the first time in 25 years.

All great cities, but where do you think it should be held? Share your thoughts on our LinkedIn post.

Double Take

480,000 plastic bottles saved by Severn Trent at Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games

Severn Trent has announced that around 480,000 reusable water bottles were filled over the 11 days of the 2022 Commonwealth Games, having run refill stations at every Games venue.

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.

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A recession may be looming, but our industry is prepared!

Jacqui Kavanagh
CEO, EDGE Venues

The inflation rate is forecast to hit a 42-year high of 13% this year, while the UK economy is expected to shrink for more than a year. But for me, there really is no better time for live events than there is now! It’s my belief that businesses need to trade out for recession, and that they continue to have their team with them and their customers to engage with.

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!

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UK events are back and shining on the worldwide map!

Jacqui Kavanagh
CEO, EDGE Venues

Well done to all involved in what was truly an incredible opening ceremony last night for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. The Alexander Stadium came to life and has put the UK, specifically Birmingham, on the map for delivering world-class events.

It’s been ten years since the London 2012 Summer Olympics, which was a spectacular performance for its time. Last night demonstrated the desire to equally captivate an audience, with a perfect combination of mechanics, technology, and emotionally human performance.

From the giant bull, and centre stage screens, to the dancers – all wonderfully inclusive, and choreographed to tell a story of the region’s history, development, and hope.

Over the next 10 days, we’ll see more of Birmingham’s amazing venues come to life as the games take place. Some of our favourite venues that we know and love, such as The NEC, Birmingham, Edgbaston Stadium, Coventry Building Society Arena, and many more, will be hosting a range of sports. And I’m also excited to see the Sandwell Aquatics Centre – the only brand-new venue built for the Games. I understand this venue will be re-configured post games, so it will be interesting to see if it’s one we can use for meetings and event spaces in the future. 

Finally, with the excitement of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, let’s not forget that the Lionesses will be taking to the stage again on Sunday as they face Germany in the Women’s Euros Final. Good luck, ladies; you have already made the nation proud!

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The Race for Number 10 – what does it mean for our industry?

Jacqui Kavanagh
CEO, EDGE Venues

I am pleased to see a confirmed date for when we will have a new Prime Minister to lead our country, and I hope there will be a focus on making Britain a place for people to do business, visit, work, and live.

I firmly believe that there should be a focus on rebuilding. The new Government must have an outward-looking approach rather than the existing inward-looking we have endured these past few years. 

Hopefully, the new Government will get this right under whomever it may be. They must rebuild the trust of the country through their achievements.

They could look to our industry for an example. Brought to its knees during Covid, meetings and events were rejuvenated through virtual and hybrid events when needed. And we’re now thriving with live events being so busy again. One example is the fantastic summer of sports events ahead.

The Commonwealth Games is kicking off in Birmingham next week, and how proud the Lionesses are making us by reaching the Semi-finals of the Women’s Euros – another fantastic tournament held on home turf. Both worldwide watched events are putting Britain on the map and showcasing some amazing stadiums across the country and how well we can deliver world-class events.

The future should look at building the economy however needed. This will provide solutions to most of the country’s challenges. Whether that will happen is a different question. The two potential leaders of the current party with power have incredibly different views on rebuilding.

Liz Truss is all for significant and immediate tax cuts, claiming they’re needed to avoid recession and jumpstart our economy – and that ‘economic orthodoxy’ of all governments over the past 20 years was wrong. Meanwhile, Rishi Sunak staunchly believes that tax cuts would be inflationary and that we must wait for them. 

No matter who wins, it will be a tough job. The industry will have little choice but to work with what we end up with to succeed. And let’s face it, that’s pretty much this industry’s story of the last few years!