Author: Suzi Johnson

Posted on

RFPs next discussion for EventHuddle February edition

Industry discussion forum EventHuddle will be looking at requests for proposal (RFP) at its next edition.

EventHuddle CEO Kirk Thomas said: “Receiving a RFP should be a joyous occasion; someone out there has expressed an interest in potentially working with your company. But for hundreds of event venues and suppliers up and down the country, the RFP has become a torturous process. 

​”The explosion in agencies over the last decade has lead to many businesses receiving 50-100 RFPs a day, many with 24 hour response deadlines, some with as little as one hour. As if that isn’t daunting enough, they then need to contend with incompatible software, blanket RFPs which could be classed as spam, speculative RFPs (where the agency hasn’t won the business yet), duplicate RFPs (multiple agencies sending the same request),  etc. All while trying to manage the many other responsibilities of your job.”

The event takes place on Tuesday 28 February, from 8.15-10.30am at 1 Wimpole Street, London and will include breakfast.

The panel will look at the RFP process, discuss what needs to change, offer tips on how to handle the overwhelming task and answer questions. 

For more information and to sign up visit the EventHuddle site.

The January edition of EventHuddle saw a discussion of what would happen to the events industry post-Brexit.

Former MP and Rapiergroup MD Nick de Bois told attendees it was important for the industry to prepare for a no-deal Brexit. The former chief of staff to former Brexit secretary Dominic Raab said that no deal would be challenging, but not the end of the world, and advised event professionals to prepare for it by reading the government’s technical advice.

Posted on

Conference and meeting venues urged to take part in UKCAMS 2019

Conference and meeting venues are being urged to take part in the 2019 UK Conference and Meeting Survey (UKCAMS), now in its 26th year.

Sponsored by VisitBritain, the UKCAMS 2019 report is scheduled for publication in June and 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 2018 research found that the conference and meetings sector was worth an estimated £18.1 billion to the UK economy, with some 1.29 million meetings taking place in 2017.

Kerrin MacPhie, head of business events at VisitBritain, said: “We are pleased to be supporting the Conference and Meeting Survey to enhance our understanding of the work and activity undertaken by UK venues in the international business events market. We are also keen on using the survey to discover how UK venues and destinations are performing in securing international events.

“Industry initiatives such as this are great for encouraging as many UK venues to get involved in contributing to the research, which helps to ensure Britain remains a competitive destination in the global business events marketplace.”

The 2019 survey asks UK venues to provide data on their conference and meeting business during the calendar year 2018. It includes questions on the number of events hosted, rates achieved, event duration and size, client type, levels of residential and non-residential business, origins of business, and investment plans. UKCAMS 2019 also includes a section on the targeting and securing of international events by UK venues.

Participating venues will receive a complimentary, personalised summary report enabling them to benchmark their performance against other comparable venues. The research is being carried out by Tony Rogers of Tony Rogers Conference & Event Services and Richard Smith of RJS Associates via an online survey.

Tony Rogers said: “The UKCAMS research has a proven track record as a source of reliable and robust information and market intelligence. It helps venues and destinations, as well as other industry stakeholders, to understand the latest and emerging trends in order to target their marketing and investment decisions to greatest effect. UKCAMS also plays a key role in highlighting the significance and value of the conference and meetings sector to the national economy.”

Posted on

Despite uncertainty, mia reveals delegate day rate growth up ten per cent

Meetings venues across the UK have overcome a challenging economy to experience a 10 per cent rise in delegate day rates (DDR) over the last four years, according to figures gathered by the Meetings Industry Association (mia).

Despite the ongoing economic uncertainty and a slowdown in the rate of GDP growth, the average DDR among mia members rose by 2 per cent in 2018 to £43.48, continuing the steady upward trend noted since miaTouchstone started tracking rates in 2015.

The outlook for the year ahead is also promising, according to results of the miaTouchstone survey. Overall enquiry levels were up by over 10 per cent in 2018 indicating the industry’s positive growth could continue into 2019.

Venues in the South West and East Midlands were among those with the highest rate rises. Both regions saw an increase of 20 per cent in their DDR rates in 2018 while residential rates rose around 25 per cent

Average 24-hour residential rates reported by the mia member venues to the online benchmarking tool also rose by 2 per cent in 2018 compared to those in 2017 with the latter months showing a bigger uplift.

While rates rose, so too did the average number of meetings. Despite an immediate drop off in activity levels following the EU Referendum in 2016, the industry bounced back to experience 12 per cent growth in 2018.

Mia chief executive Jane Longhurst said: “The miaTouchstone results indicate that 2018 was a good year for most participating mia members. To see growth in many areas, particularly DDR, is testament to the hard work of mia venue members in providing an excellent service to their customers and is especially noteworthy against the backdrop of a challenging economy.

“It is also heartening to see that confidence in the business meetings and events market is high for the year ahead, although everyone is aware that the UK’s proposed exit from the EU at the end of March could change that.

“MiaTouchstone’s review of enquiry levels is always a key indicator of prospects going forward, particularly in the current volatile climate, and this will be a key measure for mia members to watch over the next six months as the UK economy adjusts to a ‘post-Brexit’ world.”

Posted on

UK’s convention bureaux to return for second mia Destinations Summit

Teams from destination marketing organisations and convention bureaux around the UK will reunite next month for the second Meetings Industry Association’s (mia) Destinations Summit.

Sponsored by VisitBritain, the two-day event will take place from 11-12 February at the Hilton Liverpool City Centre and is open to anyone responsible for attracting conferences and events at a destination or convention bureau.

Following the success of the inaugural summit last year, convention bureaux professionals from across the UK have come together to create a thought-provoking two-day programme designed to upskill the knowledge, skills and confidence of those working in key roles to attract business events to their destination. 

Highlights will include a key note address by one of the leading figures of the international meetings and events industry, Christian Mutschlechner, the director of the Vienna Convention Bureau.

Airbnb’s head of EMEA partnerships Hadi Moussa, will also be giving a talk about new and innovative ways for destinations to utilise their system for events and Julian Stubbs, founder and CEO of Up There, Everywhere will be delivering a session on branding and place marketing.

Paul Szomoru, director of business at NewcastleGateshead Convention Bureau and Destinations Chair for the mia, said: “We are really excited about holding our second mia Destinations Summit in Liverpool. With a fantastic mix of international speakers and colleagues from VisitBritain and UK destinations, we are pulling leading experts and practitioners from near and far to share best practice on a range of subjects.

A lot of the content is being delivered by convention bureaux for convention bureaux on some very important subjects such as accommodation booking service excellence and destination strategic alignment.

“VisitBritain is a key delivery partner and it’s fantastic to have its support and involvement in the programme. The VisitBritain business events team will be delivering some great sessions, sharing the latest insights and engaging with destinations about the expertise the team can bring.”

Kerrin MacPhie, head of business events at VisitBritain, said: “We’re very pleased to be working with the Meeting Industry Association, supporting the Destinations Summit to boost the UK’s appeal as a leading destination for business events and promoting our role as a key partner to increase our share of the global marketplace.

 “It is an exciting time for business events in the UK with new venue openings and product launches in 2019. VisitBritain is also working on new initiatives to win more international business and the quality and strength of the convention bureaux is vital to making this happen, as well as the strong relationships we have with destination teams across the UK.”

Posted on

Nurturing ‘The Next Generation’ – HBAA focus for 2019

The theme will be the HBAA’s focus for events in the year ahead. The association will be exploring opportunities for collaborating with the Prince’s Trust, as well as developing resources to attract, nurture and retain the next generation of workers.

Experienced industry professionals will be providing continuous mentorship, and younger members will be invited to shadow the HBAA board at events throughout 2019.

Rachael Naylor, the new HBAA venue member chair, announced the launch of a Venue Members meeting, designed to forge closer collaboration between venues. This is set to take place along with the Great Venue Showcase on 11 and 12 April.

The HBAA will also be driving a major initiative to encourage action on mental health issues in the event industry. It will introduce a training course for members to become mental health ‘first aiders’, which all HBAA Executive Committee members will undergo.

It also announced a collaboration with charity Buses4Homeless, which outfits buses as overnight shelters and vocational learning centres for the homeless. 

Angie Mason, HBAA Chair, commented: “I could not be more excited to take over as Chair. 16 years after my previous year in office, my association experience is coming full circle. I started my first business in this industry 29 years ago and have lived through tremendous change and three recessions. Many of the Executive Committee also have so much knowledge and experience to help, inspire and support ‘The Next Generation.’

Posted on

Report from Warwick Conference indicates that the conference and events market is on a rise

The UK conferencing and events market is growing as a whole, despite the conference and meetings segment suffering decline for a third consecutive year, according to an in-depth analysis of 11 industry reports by Warwick Conferences.

The analysis, by Warwick Conferences found that the number of events being held in the UK is falling, while continued scrutiny on meeting spend and return on investment (ROI) is driving a shift towards a more strategic meeting management approach.

While indications are that the decline is set to recover and achieve a growth of 3.6 per cent by 2022, the increased importance on ROI means the average number of events being organised is down. However, despite the industry seeing these lower numbers, Warwick Conferences has announced that it has seen a strong start to its financial year.

Paul Bartlett at Warwick Conferences said: “As event organisers attempt to stretch their budgets and deliver the greatest ROI, it’s no real surprise that we are subject to more scrutiny than ever before. However, at Warwick Conferences, we have seen increased numbers of our 24-hour rates, as well as our bigger event spaces continuing to perform well.”

Other findings from Warwick Conferences’ analysis include how venues must take on the role as a strategic consultant to deliver truly memorable meeting experiences, with catering to play an ever-important role.

According to the analysis, the quality of the Wi-Fi will play an important factor for successful meetings, while mobile app use is expected to grow, too, showing how technology is going to play an increasing role in the event experience.

Another expected trend is the wellness of delegates, as Bartlett concluded: “We have already announced positive changes to our wellness offering, thanks to the upcoming opening of the University of Warwick’s Sport and Wellness Hub, while our creative spaces ensure that truly memorable events can be easily and affordably organised.

“Our analysis ensures that we are best placed to support event planners maximise their ROI in 2019 and beyond.”

Posted on

A record year for Central Hall Westminster sees them set to increase charitable funding

Central Hall Westminster has announced a record turnover for the year of £7.8m, and subsequently promised to increase charitable funding to £1.7m per year. This will represent a 21% rise in donations to charity by 2020.

The central London venue’s 2018 Annual Review reveals that the record turnover has been boosted by a 37% increase in high-profile concerts held in its historic Great Hall. This included the Royal Armouries’ concert to mark the end of the hostilities in the First World War attended by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Other high-profile concerts included UNICEF’s Christmas Carol concert featuring Jessie Ware which raised money for children in Syria, Katie Melua’s London leg of her World Tour, 80s pop band Madness transmitted live from the venue by BBC One and the Raymond Gubbay season of Christmas concerts.

The number of conferences held in 2018 also increased by 31% with clients including Deloitte, Shell, The Guardian and The Jamaican National Bank. Additionally, the flexibility of the venue allowed over six exhibitions to be held throughout the year including the 13th Annual BNC Show for the second year running.

Televised media events in 2018 included Channel Four’s Stand up to Cancer presented by Alan Carr, Maya Jama and Adam Hills, held at Central Hall for the third time in a row and which raised over £24.6m, and James Corden’s The Late Late Show for the second year running.

One of the highest profile events in 2018 was a public address by the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, which was streamed live to one billion people worldwide.

As a not-for-profit organisation, surplus revenue is used to maintain the historic Grade II* Listed building and to support charitable causes. In 2018, £450,000 was spent on improvement works including a complete refurbishment and rebranding of its public café. For 2019 and beyond, a budget of £1.1m has been set for a ten-year building maintenance programme.

As a result of the increased revenue, the venue was able to make a contribution of £1.2m to the funds of the Trustees of Central Hall which makes further contributions to the building’s upkeep and to a number of charitable causes including homeless charity, The Passage, and the onsite St. Vincent’s Family project which supports vulnerable local families. Other charitable initiatives for 2018 included raising over £28,000 through public donations to the Toilet Twinning charity which aims to provide clean water and sanitation to poverty-stricken families around the world.

Paul Southern, Managing Director of Central Hall Westminster, comments: “For the past five years we have beat our own record for results, but in the last year it has been phenomenal with the large increase in both concert and conference business. We really took the spotlight on the world stage with the number of internationally acclaimed and high-profile events which took place here. Prime Minister Modi’s address to one billion people around the world had particular resonance with us after Mahatma Gandhi addressed an audience from the very same stage exactly 70 years earlier. This demonstrates how we and the world have progressed to reach huge audiences, while our values remain the same.

“In addition, we have exceeded our five-year plan to increase the number of high-profile concerts which take place within the venue and are delighted that the profits from these and all our other events go to help so many worthy causes,” he added.

Posted on

VisitBritain’s flagship business event MeetGB returns in 2019

VisitBritain has announced its flagship business event MeetGB will return this year to show 120 international buyers why the UK is the destination of choice for meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions.

MeetGB will welcome 80 suppliers from venues, hotels and local attractions across the UK to do business with global buyers from France, Germany and North America at the De Vere Beaumont Estate in Windsor from Thursday 11 to Friday 12 April 2019.

The programme will see the buyers and suppliers engage in one-to-one business meetings, networking events and workshops.

VisitBritain chief executive Sally Balcombe said: “We are proud to bring MeetGB to Windsor in 2019 after the success of our inaugural event in 2018.

“MeetGB has been designed with global buyers in mind to demonstrate the breadth and quality of the UK’s meetings and events industry, highlighting VisitBritain’s commitment to growing the business events sector.

“MeetGB gives UK suppliers a platform to promote their products on an international scale, creating valuable business connections that will ultimately drive more international MICE events across the country.”

Ahead of the business programme, buyers will be introduced to some of the best of the UK’s conference and events offering as they take part in three days of educational visits across the country.

MeetGB is hosted by VisitBritain in partnership with VisitEngland, Visit Wales, VisitScotland and Tourism Northern Ireland.

VisitBritain promotes business events worldwide under the Events are GREAT brand, part of the UK Government’s GREAT Britain campaign.

The brand drives awareness of Britain’s destinations and products, highlighting its history of research, innovation and high-quality infrastructure, positioning it as a leading destination for business events.

Posted on

New Hire joins CHS team in Preparation of Record 10th Anniversary Show

Michelle Rennoldson joins CHS Group UK as buyer relationship manager with a remit to make the 10th Anniversary Conference and Hospitality Show the best yet.

A regular attendee from the inaugural event in 2000 to CHS18, Michelle has seen the Conference and Hospitality Show grow and build to the record-breaking national show in 2018, that has put Leeds firmly on the conference map.

Delighted at being the latest addition to the CHS team Michelle said: “I started with CHS as a project manager to cover a single event, which grew into another one and then they asked me to come on board permanently.

“I look after the Independent Venue Roadshow and hosted buyers programme. I’m currently recruiting judges for our 5th anniversary CHS Awards and relationship building with contacts, agents, PA’s and venues and inviting them along to our events.

“I’m so pleased to be working with CHS, I’ve known them and worked alongside them for a long time and they’ve always been such a great company to work with. They never sit still and are constantly looking to improve what they do and pushing for the next big thing. It’s wonderful to join the team at this exciting time, having seen CHS grow and build into a national show in Leeds over the last nine years.”

Michelle began her career 12 years ago as hotel sales coordinator where she gained lots of experience and her first taste of working in events.

Following an introduction at the inaugural Conference and Hospitality Show at the Royal Armouries in 2010, she joined the team of a brand-new casino in Leeds city centre, as front of house and reception, having fallen in love its events space, private dining, and private cinema. Following two-years of learning the trade, Michelle became senior events manager, in charge of everything from enquiry to operations.

Michelle then spent six years at the National Railway Museum, initially with Compass, and then Science Museum before combining her freelance work with a new position of buyer relationship manager for CHS Group UK.

“It’s interesting seeing how it works from this side. My previous experience has been as a venue, and a delegate and I’m now building a very different relationship with contacts from my venue background. It’s a different conversation as you are asking people to give their time and that’s almost as hard as talking sales and bottom line, that’s challenging but I really like that element of it and it really helps to have knowledge and an understanding of that other side I can be passionate about this as I believe it to be quality time invested well, I couldn’t promote it if I didn’t believe it.”

It’s an exciting time to join the organisation as it planning to mark two important milestones – the Conference and Hospitality Show will celebrate its tenth anniversary in 2019 and it will also be the CHS Awards fifth birthday. Michelle comments: “We’re very excited about the it’s the 10th anniversary, it will be focussed on where we’ve been, where we are, and where we are going. We’ll be celebrating with everyone who has been on this journey with us, so expect big and exciting things ahead.”

CHS19 will return to the First Direct Arena, Leeds for another Rockstar event on Tuesday 30th April 2019 and promises to be bigger and better than ever with lots of exciting keynote speakers, industry experts and quality buyers in attendance. Expect another great event, with plenty of opportunities to see what will be trending in the events and hospitality industry in 2019.

Posted on

New data reveals £1.9bn spend generated by academic conferences

Richard Smith of RJS Associates and Tony Rogers Conference & Event Service have released new research into the university and academic conference market.

Among the key findings are that academic conferences generated £1.9bn of in-destination spend during 2017, as well as an estimated 15 million delegate days.

The new report, entitled ‘University and Academic Conference Market Trends’, represents the first in a series of reports examining the developments, changes and trends in different types of conference and meeting venue over the past decade. 

It is based on the huge volumes of data that have been collected in this period via the annual ‘UK Conference and Meetings Survey’ (UKCAMS) research. It is designed to complement the national UKCAMS data by providing an in-depth analysis of different venue types on a sector by sector basis.

This report provides a more detailed focus on universities. It looks at the supply of such venues and their different characteristics, as well as the size, value and performance of the academic venue sector by different sub-categories of venue.

The report also contains a number of insights from university conference sales representatives, summarising their current market experiences, and reflecting on changes experienced over recent years.

Some other key findings from the research include:

 The annual average number of conferences has fluctuated since 2009. Academic venues experienced an increase in 2010 and 2011 but fell back in 2013 and 2014.  They have witnessed some growth in the last couple of years.

This trend appears to have been driven by business from the corporate sector which has also fluctuated since 2009 but has shown an increase from 2013.

Levels of overnight conference business have also increased from 2013 – reaching a peak in 2017.

Tony Rogers commented: “Academic venues, principally universities, have a long history of staging meetings and training events, but it is really only in the past two to three decades that serious investment has taken place to provide facilities for, and the marketing of, dedicated meeting and conference spaces for hire by external organisations.”

Authors Richard Smith and Tony Rogers also undertake the annual UKCAMS research. Copies of the report are available priced £250 + VAT. Visit http://www.ukcams.org.uk to order.