Looking for tech-savvy spaces to give your next meeting or event’s content a modern twist? Planning a hybrid event, tech brand launch, team meeting, or conference, that needs a digital-friendly backdrop?
The venues in this blog are recommended our team of our specialists at EDGE Venues, and they share why, here.
This month’s news round-up brings you some of the industry and association news and views from March 2024, including UKEVENTS UK Spring Budget wishes, mia’s latest survey, Conference News DEI market research, and more.
Headlines
UKEVENTS shared its UK Spring Budget wishes.
Ahead of the 2024 Spring Budget Michael Hirst OBE, Chair of UKEVENTS Working Group for Advocacy and Government Relations, shared his views on what the industry needs to meet its potential.
Writing on the UKEVENTS blog, he commented: “Ahead of the Spring Budget on the 6th March 2024, it is important that UKEVENTS lays out its recommendations to His Majesty’s Government on what the events industry can offer the United Kingdom.
“While the events industry continues to underpin so much in terms of cultural vitality, societal advancement and trade, there is much more it can offer the Government in terms of supporting its own policy agenda.”
The blog highlighted championing innovation, Facilitating trade and investment, preserving vibrancy, and more.
A researcher at the University of Northampton (UON) is asking event planners how they make decision to avoid disaster.
Claire Drakeley is a senior lecturer in Events Management at the UON and part way through a PhD in which she explores how critical decisions are made as events are taking place.
She is now asking event professionals to complete a 25min survey in which she presents different scenarios and asks survey participants how they would react to them.
Claire said: “…what if you’ve organised an event for 5,000 ticket holders, and then your audio-visual contractor doesn’t turn-up, there are major technical issues or the weather turns your venue into chaos?
“There’s a good chance you’ve been to an event where there have been major issues behind the scenes, but did you notice anything? These scenarios playout all the time, often combining to make it even more challenging, and it is usually up to the experience and knowledge of the Event Management Team to solve the problem before anyone notices.
“I hope this research will end up as a decision-making tool for new, and experienced event managers, which will help bring calm to the chaos and enable them make better decisions when faced with these complex situations.”
This is the first phase of Claire’s research and ahead of the next stage she is inviting survey participants to be part of an expert panel process with three rounds of online input over a four month period to record their feedback on the research and its findings.
The survey includes an invitation to participate in further research activity and to add an email address if they would like to receive the results of the research when it is completed next year.
mia’s (Meetings Industry Association) latest survey, conducted in February 2024, has shown a positive financial industry outlook and rising future bookings.
Yet, as Kerrin McPhee, mia’s chief executive highlights, “…there are still a variety of matters that we as a sector must keep on the radar. We cannot ignore the vast evolution of events that we are anticipating taking place over the next 12 months.”
Yet, as Kerrin McPhee, mia’s chief executive highlights, “…there are still a variety of matters that we as a sector must keep on the radar. We cannot ignore the vast evolution of events that we are anticipating taking place over the next 12 months.”
Some of the survey’s highlights include:
73% of organisations are forecasting greater revenue in 2024 than they did for 2023
59% have more confirmed future business as of 1 January 2024 than they did as of 1 January 2023
Overall costs to the sector increased 14% on average in 2023
50% of venues are currently prepared for the introduction of Martyn’s Law
Conference News has launched market research to explore social responsibility, diversity, equality, inclusion (DEI), accessibility, and mindful language and content in event planning.
The publication, in partnership with Marketing Manchester, has shared that its aim is to uncover how organisers incorporate these values to foster more inclusive and responsible events.
The Business Travel Association (BTA) is calling for an end to unfair and excessive airport pick-up and drop-off fees.
The BTA told TTG Media that “fees were earning UK airports £300 million a year and singled out Stansted, where a combined drop-off and pick-up is £17, as the most expensive in the UK.”
Details of fees were revealed in a BTA whitepaper, Drop the Drop Off Fees, alongside calls for a government investigation into the charges.
Clive Wratten, BTA chief executive, said: “It is utterly illogical that these fees have soared to such unprecedented levels. To get dropped off and picked up kerbside is a necessity for so many travellers.
The Business of Events (TBOE), theThink Tank and Advocacy Network for the global events sector, has published its plan of activity for 2024/5.
It will see a significantly expanded schedule of work and activity as the next 12 months is set to be a critical year for the global events economy, with several high-profile elections taking place around the world.
In the UK, as well as a general election likely to be held towards the end of 2024, local government and mayoral elections will also be held around the country, potentially changing the local political landscape.
All of this means that it is going to be even more important to engage with politicians and policymakers, creating content, briefings and holding events to promote the value and benefits of having a strong business events economy.
As well as engaging with what will be one of the largest intakes of new MPs in a generation, the activity will also connect event planners, both domestic and international, with TBOE partners. These connections will help ensure that the UK remains at the forefront of the global business events industry and continues to meet the needs of planners and delegates.
Working alongside strategic and content partners, the plan also includes an expanded programme of regional, national, and international events. These events will be predominately invitation only, bringing together senior event industry leaders to connect with politicians, policymakers, stakeholders and planners to look at ways in which together we can build better local and national economies through business events.
Martin Fullard, Director of News & Content at TBOE said; “The need for increased advocacy to highlight the opportunities available by having a strong event economy has never been greater, which is why this year we are significantly expanding our sphere of activity; more research, more events, more insights and more engagement.
“In the UK, we have a limited but critical window of opportunity to tell our story, as the focus shifts towards a general election and a much-changed Westminster landscape. This is why we have been focussing on engaging with those who are likely to be in parliament and in positions of influence, as well as continuing to connect with the corporate and association planners and agencies, to ensure our partners have real-time insights into how the UK can become even more competitive as a world-leading event destination.”
This year, a number of regional events will also take place, along with specific Advocacy Forums, which will be held within existing events and trade shows. Due to the UK general election likely taking place in the Autumn of 2024, the signature Global Policy Forum will now be held in February 2025 in Westminster.
C&IT has published a feature on how to get the data stakeholders actually want for event ROI.
The feature claims that even though 73% of event marketers are confident in their data, there is a gap when it comes to useful metrics.
Read more here, including details of a reaport that asked 500 brand decision-makers across Austria, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States working in the Alcohol, Beauty, FMCG, Retail and Technology categories about the live event marketing KPIs that matter, how they would use quality data and the developments they hope to see in the future.
Northstar Meetings Group has revealed that event professionals’ shift to hybrid working is making them more productive and improving company culture.
The group’s latest First Look Research survey reveals that 87 per cent now work from home for part of the week (61%) or work remotely all of the time (26%), with just 13 per cent describing themselves as office based.
Most (72%) were ‘happy’ with their working arrangements and 58 per cent said they thought the increase in hybrid working post-pandemic had increased productivity.
Venue Feng shui! Have you come across this yet? Feng shui is an ancient Chinese practice focused on creating harmony and balance in spaces. It is believed to have an impact on the energy flow (or “qi”) within a space.
And the Feng Shui Society has many corporate clients using Feng Shui Accredited consultants to maximise their spaces. Organisations include Hilton Hotels, Marriott Hotels, Coca-Cola, and more. The society recommends well-chosen colour accents to stimulate positive brain responses. Feng shui harnesses natural elements, colour, direction, light, and placement to suit the event environment.
In event venues,
the room arrangement in accordance with feng shui principles can influence the
atmosphere and attendees’ experiences in several ways.
Comfort
Properly arranged furniture and decor can create a sense of comfort and wellbeing among your attendees. For example, ensuring seating arrangements are conducive to conversation and relaxation can help people feel more at ease.
Tip: Have an open space for networking events with little furniture to encourage movement and conversations.
Flow of energy
Feng shui emphasises the flow of energy throughout a space. By arranging elements in a way that encourages positive energy flow, attendees may feel more energised and engaged.
Tip: Streamline the flow of energy – make sure the space isn’t cluttered and only includes essential equipment and furniture.
Enhanced focus
A well-balanced space can help reduce distractions and promote focus. This is particularly important for events where attendees need to concentrate, such as business conferences or workshops.
Tip: Ensure the furniture is comfortable and inviting, for example, by avoiding sharp edges to promote focus. It’s also important to position furniture to be as optimal as possible for the work your attendees need to do.
Tip: Have you got several attendees at virtual meetings? Set up separate spaces with a comfy chair and side table near a power socket. Is there a breakout meeting where attendees need to take notes? Pull together a clump of desks and sturdy chairs in a well-lit spot.
Certain feng shui
principles are also believed to have emotional effects. For example,
incorporating elements of nature, such as plants or natural light, can evoke
feelings of calmness and relaxation.
Aesthetic appeal
Feng shui encourages harmony in design, which can enhance the overall aesthetic appeal of the venue. A visually pleasing environment can positively affect attendees’ perceptions of the event and its organisers.
Tip: Add in some bright plants as a natural source of positive energy and to purify the air. Or hang mirrors strategically where you want to accentuate the ‘qi’ and create more light and space.
Symbolism
Feng shui often incorporates symbolism in its design principles. Symbolic elements can convey messages or evoke emotions that resonate with attendees, adding depth and meaning to the event experience.
Tip: A great example of this is water features. Water is a symbol of prosperity and abundance in feng shui, so adding a fountain or aquarium can suggest opulence.
The impact of feng shui on attendees may vary depending on individual beliefs and cultural backgrounds. Yet, many event organisers consider incorporating feng shui principles to create a more positive and harmonious environment for their guests. It can help attendees feel calm, more productive, and focused when done correctly, so it is definitely worth considering.
Looking for trendy meeting spaces that go beyond the ordinary? Whether you’re planning a meeting, team retreat, or training, these venues offer a special something to impress your delegates.
Each venue in our curated list of 10 is recommended by a member of our specialist EDGE Venues team:
Nichole says: “The Principal York offers classic historical-styled venues with plenty of natural daylight, ideal for keeping your delegates engaged. Plus, the views of the York Walls add an extra touch of charm.”
Catriona adds: “thestudio Birmingham offers a non-corporate atmosphere with brightly coloured meeting spaces. Tucked away in the city centre, it’s a hidden gem with great outdoor areas.”
Freya adds: “Wyboston Lakes leads the way for sustainability. The venue recently signed the Net Zero Carbon Events Pledge, making it a top choice for eco-conscious events.”
Felicity adds: “ICC Wales is dedicated to sustainability. It offers initiatives such as providing carbon footprint information on menus and repurposing unused items for charitable causes.”
Scott adds: “Bounce Farringdon offers meeting spaces in a fun, interactive ping-pong-themed environment. Its spaces combine with the latest event technology for a truly memorable experience.”
These 10 trendy meeting spaces offer more than just a place to gather. They provide immersive environments designed to inspire creativity, collaboration, and a lasting impression on your delegates.
Interested in exploring further spaces for your meetings or events? Give our search a try at EDGEVenues.com.
This news round-up brings you some of the industry and association news and views from February 2024, including CHS Leeds 2024, EventWell®’s Buddy service, ABPCO’s 2024 Festival of Learning, IMEX Frankfurt’s Sustainable Event Report, and more.
Headlines
CHS Leeds 2024 has announced speakers and content for its educational seminars which will take place at The Royal Armouries, 23rd April.
It claims the programme will be one of the most comprehensive guides to organising modern events, with an A-Z, available to delegates, produced by the speakers live at the event.
Beginning with ‘Event Organising 101’, presented by Neil Thompson, The Delegate Wranglers, Louisa O’Connor, SEEN Presents and Justine Bruce, QHotels Collection, and finishing with a challenging session on Accessibility from Orla Pearson, MyClearText Ltd and Acessloop, the sessions will summarise key take away points and add them to a working compendium that will be shared with all delegates at the end of the day.
Julie Phillips, Operations Director, CHS Leeds, said: “In essence, they [visitors] want to go back to basic event organising, but through the lens of a massively evolving event world here in 2024. I really think we’re going to deliver, and what’s more, we’re giving them something to take away with them. So, if they do miss a session, they can still have the key take outs in our A-Z.”
CHS Leeds will also continue to follow its values of looking after event organiser’s personal and professional growth with each speaker asked to ensure their sessions are as empathetic and practical as possible. The team will write the A-Z throughout the day and make it available to download via QR code.
Julie Shorrock, the newly-appointed chair of trade association beam, has spoken to M&IT about her plans for 2024, the state of the sector, and more.
Julie told the magazine, “I’d like to see more collaborations between associations. I think we work better together. When another association’s doing something good, I think we could do a lot more sharing and collaborative work. We’ve already started with IACC, with BTA, and I look forward to developing those relationships this year.”
Ahead of IMEX Frankfurt in May, the team has published a Sustainable Event Report revealing the successes, experiments and learnings from last year’s show.
The report lifts the lid on sustainability planning in the run-up to and execution of IMEX Frankfurt 2023, sharing notable achievements in waste diversion and energy use, as well as highlighting opportunities for improvement as Carina Bauer CEO of the IMEX Group explains:
“This is the second report we’ve produced, working with our sustainability consultants MeetGreen®, meaning we can now benchmark our progress against 2022. It’s an opportunity to share our successes and our challenges with the wider industry so that they can take what we’ve learned and weave these into their own events.”
ABPCO has announced its 2024 Festival of Learning “Fit for the Future” content.
The Association of British Professional Conference Organisers (ABPCO) has finalised the programme for the 2024 ABPCO Festival of Learning, taking place at the Scottish Event Campus (SEC) in Glasgow on the 29th and 30th of April. This year’s theme, “Fit for the Future,” reflects ABPCO’s commitment to preparing the event industry for the challenges and opportunities of the future.
Monday, 29th April kicks off with an exclusive networking session for new members and first-time attendees at the Crowne Plaza, followed by an evening at the Glasgow Science Centre with food, drinks and a fireside session titled “Cultivating Success: The Transformative Impact of Mentoring” featuring Cally Willoughby-Ward of Chatty Penguin, Sammy Connell of NASUWT, Sarah Vaughan of CITMA, and Rebecca Towell of Full Circle.
Monday afternoon attendees will also have an opportunity to take part in an Invisible Cities Walking Tour of Glasgow.
Tuesday, 30th April includes: Event Power – A Force for Good, The Winning Combination, Tips and Hack, Adapting to the Future with Limited Resources – The BEST Example, Accessibility – The Next Frontier in Event Management, Avoid the Pitfalls and Dodge the Disasters – Stay Future Fit by Minimising Risk, and Closing Keynote – Unlocking a future of heightened productivity and reduced stress.
Heather Lishman, ABPCO’s association director says: “Our carefully curated sessions and workshops are designed to empower attendees with the knowledge, tools, and insights needed to thrive in an ever-evolving landscape. This is a unique opportunity to explore future trends, network with peers, and drive positive change in our industry.”
The charitable social enterprise will launch its EventWell® Buddy service at International Confex 2024 in February.
Helen Moon, EventWell founder and chief executive, explains, “It is currently estimated that 15 – 20% of the population are neurodivergent, with approximately 8 out of 10 of those individuals choosing not to attend events due to anxiety, uncertainty around accommodations, communication challenges and more.
We created the EventWell® Buddy service to help reduce potential barriers for neurodivergent attendees by having trained professionals on-site to provide information, comfort and a friendly face to those needing extra support at events.”
EventWell® Buddy Meeting Points provide a designated space at exhibition and conference entrances, Quiet Room or other key locations where attendees can seek assistance from EventWell representatives.
EVCOM, the event and visual communication association, has launched EVCOMference 2024.
The EVCOMference is the association’s annual conference, which gathers industry leaders, experts and next-generation talent together for a programme of keynotes, panels and discussions. It will take place on 22nd April at RD Studios, London.
This year, the programme is underpinned by facilitated discussions across three core areas: Harnessing Tech, Business Solutions and Building a Better Industry. Within these streams it will be touching on topics such as virtual production and AI, preparing for growth and maintaining a hybrid workforce, neurodiversity and apprenticeships.
The Power of Events has launched a new Careers Hub.
The not-for-profit company – which aims to showcase the UK events industry – has designed the hub to showcase the depth and range of career opportunities available across the seven sectors that make up the UK events industry.
The hub states: For people looking to change roles, those looking to start their careers and those interested in events currently working in other industries, the hub is packed with information and links to advice, insight, and support. This includes the five main routes into the industry and a glossary that reveals the breadth of job roles across all the different sectors. It also includes links to some of the key support organisations that have helped curate the content and can provide more support and information.
Meeting Needs has rebranded as a charity foundation.
Chris Parnham, Meeting Needs chair, said that the refocus is “to better clarify what we are and what we do.” The brand’s new strapline reads: Meeting Needs is a foundation that awards life-changing grants to small charities, with funds raised from within the meetings and events industry.
Most commercial and association events have some form of event sponsorship, whether that’s financial, direct or indirect support. Yet, the expectations of sponsors have changed!
You can’t hang your hat on giving these vital investors a logo on signage, advertisement in a programmes or the opportunity to provide corporate gift bags. Sponsors are looking at events to connect them with your attendees and begin a relationship.
The best way to help them achieve this is to give the the chance to help attendees, rather than selling to them. But how?
Know your attendees
An in-depth understanding of the audience profile will make sure that you target the right companies for event sponsorship. They usually look for access to decision-makers and a highly engaged audience.
Consumer brands treat potential customers as fans, and business events give sponsors an opportunity to meet attendees face-to-face, make a connection and build loyalty.
Managing the event sponsorship package
Your results won’t be as good if you outsource your sponsorship sales and management. You need to get to know your sponsor and find out exactly what they are expecting. If you build a long-term relationship, there will be less turnover and a more successful outcome for both sides.
Understand the sponsor’s objectives
Fact finding is an integral part of the negotiation process. How does the sponsor’s involvement in the event link to their organisation’s strategic, or tactical objectives? Build an environment of trust to help your sponsor find the right package to meet their goals.
Check how many people or departments are involved, as they may have different objectives.
Measure the return on investment or return on objectives
There are many ways of measuring success, but if you deliver to the sponsor’s objectives then they will be happy. Find out what information they need, update them regularly and make sure that they are informed if there are any changes to the event.
Talk to sponsors onsite and afterwards and check that everything is as expected.
Examples of event sponsorship
Sponsors need to be integrated into the event, so branded experiences are a great opportunity, for example:
VIP networking events
Innovation hubs
Meeting pods
Refreshment stations
Wellbeing corners
Sampling innovative food and drink
A thought-leadership educational element to the event
Or work with the sponsor to design a bespoke opportunity to engage with attendees at the event and afterwards.
The engagement must be meaningful and creative so attendees pay real attention!
What if things don’t go as planned?
We know things can change or go wrong at events. So make sure you know what to do if the sponsor isn’t satisfied and deal with it immediately. Have contingencies ready to go! If they are happy with their experience of how you deal with a problem, you’re more likely to resecure a sponsor’s support for your next event.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has boomed in recent years and AI in event management has become a giant trend. But what is it, and how can you use it the event industry?
What is AI?
AI is a branch of computer science to develop intelligent machines to think and work like humans. Computer systems perform tasks that usually need human intelligence. These include visual perception, speech recognition, planning, decision-making, problem-solving and translation between languages.
Most of us are now familiar with voice recognition systems such as Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Siri, and Cortana. The driverless car has been developed which senses its environment and move safely with little or no human input.
Increasingly more intelligent devices are being used in homes through thermostats, lighting, and home security systems. AI is already being used in marketing, customer service, medical research, entertainment delivery, shipping/product delivery and much more.
Examples of AI in event management
SIMULTANEOUS INTERPRETATION
‘Wordly’ is a system that uses voice recognition to instantly translate an event presentation into over 50 languages. All that is required is a patch from the sound system into the internet-based application. Attendees access the information via their mobile devices using Wi-Fi.
The cost is lower than providing human interpreters, sound booths and issuing audio headsets to attendees. Although this system will not replace the need for human translators for high-end events, it enables simultaneous translation for a broad range of events.
SPEEDY REGISTRATION USING
FACIAL RECOGNITION
Airlines are testing facial
recognition for boarding passengers. iPhone users can use it to unlock their
phones. Hotels in China are using it for room check-in. If a conference
delegate adds their picture upon event registration, cameras on arrival recognise
them and print the badge automatically. This speeds up the process while
increasing security.
Tracking attendee numbers, demographics, and mood anonymously: iPhone cameras can be used
for facial recognition to collect estimates of the number of attendees, their
age, gender, demographics, reactions, the amount of time spent and what they
are looking at in an exhibition or other event area. It can be used anonymously,
so there is no concern about privacy.
CHATBOTS
Chatbots can provide good
support and reduce the number of staff onsite. They can conduct conversations
using text and respond humanely and are available 24/7.
CHATGPT
Similar to a chatbot,
organisers can use ChatGPT. ChatGPT is a language model developed by OpenAI.
The “Chat” in ChatGPT refers to the model’s ability to engage in
conversation and generate human-like text based on the input it receives.
ChatGPT is designed to
understand and generate coherent and contextually relevant text. It is
pre-trained on diverse internet text data, allowing it to capture patterns,
context, and information from various sources. Users can interact with ChatGPT
by providing prompts or queries, and the model generates responses based on its
training data.
It’s important to note that
ChatGPT operates based on patterns in the data it was trained on and doesn’t
have real-world knowledge or understanding. It may generate plausible-sounding
but incorrect or nonsensical responses, so take it with a pinch of salt.
The premium version of
ChatGPT has recently been updated to include up-to-date information and the
latest news, meaning it can generate more factual and relevant information.
Organisers can use this to
pull data, create reports, compile checklists, write copy, and so on. It is a
handy tool to save time and resources.
MAKING CONTACTS
Matchmaking programmes driven
by AI can analyse registration data, social media feeds, surveys, agendas, and
badge scans to suggest matches for event attendees and exhibitors. Attendees
can be given recommendations to attendees on the best sessions, speakers, and
panels to attend. This ultimately could improve attendee ROI.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
Software like ChatGPT can
analyse data and make predictions more quickly and deeply than doing this
manually. It can be used for better attendee personalisation, to provide more
accurate data for decision-making, to streamline communications, to plan content
and improve sales.
AI can monitor online content, remember what a user clicks on and prioritise future content based on these clicks. It can also provide links to related content sources. In the case of an online newsletter, each reader could receive a customised page based on their interests.
There will be more development of AI in event management and beyond, as the adoption of these tools becomes widespread. It has already taken the industry by storm; we’ll be keeping watch on what becomes capable of in the future.
Facial recognition will bring changes to the event industry. However, alongside the cost, there are concerns about privacy and how attendee data is stored and used.
It could be of great benefit, particularly at large-scale events. But would your attendees be comfortable knowing they are being watched?
Facial recognition technology
The recognition technology is becoming more advanced each year and is now being used commercially as biometric identification in place of passwords.
It has also been introduced by the Metropolitan Police in London.
Cameras in popular locations will scan passers-by to find criminals and suspicious individuals. This Computer Weekly guide looks at the use of facial recognition technology by UK police forces, and where it’s heading next. The guide includes police facial recognition controversies, including how it originally had ‘no firm legal basis, poor transparency and questionable accuracy (especially for women and people with darker skin tones)’.
The EU Parliament adopted a ban on facial recognition in public places in 2023. While the technology may not be introduced to the rest of Europe soon, it can still be used for events.
Facial recognition technology is still new and daunting for the events industry. Organisers and attendees will need to experience it and see the benefits, before trusting it.
Will facial recognition improve the attendee’s experience?
Event attendees can opt-in to share a photo when registering and supply certain pieces of personal data. Then, faces can be scanned on arrival at the event, avoiding the need to queue for a badge. Or attendees can check on-site at a kiosk which produces a badge.
The new radio frequency identification (RFID) badge has a code which can be detected by an electronic reader. It is far easier and quicker to detect than the current method of manually scanning badges.
It can also add another level of security if only people who have registered in advance and have been approved are permitted to join.
Data about the event can be collected and analysed in real-time. For example, in the conference rooms judge how well attended the sessions are, the number of attendees in breakout sessions, demographics of attendees, and the number of attendees for catering.
A further step is to detect facial expressions to judge the interest in presentations and assess positive and negative reactions. Facial recognition cameras can also be used at exhibitions to find out how people navigate the event, which stands they visit and how long they stay there.
This technology can impress attendees and many will find it a fun and exciting experience. It will enable an attendee to have a completely personalised event, as a camera recognises a delegate’s face wherever they go. When they arrive, their badge will be printed automatically, in seconds.
Considerations
However, event organisers need to reassure attendees about how their data will be used. Where and how long it will be stored? How does it take UK GDPR into account?
In the USA, guidelines on the use of facial recognition are falling behind. There are calls for federal legislation and an executive order, as well as attention from courts, the private sector, civil society organizations, and other organisations that work with facial recognition technology and provide guidance for the technology’s responsible development and deployment.
The technology does have its problems and will need to be addressed so that facial recognition can be used effectively. As with all technology, it can make errors and incorrectly identify attendees, leading to confusion and frustration. It can also be costly and time-consuming to set up and integrate into the event.
This news round-up brings you some of the industry and association news and views from January 2024, including UKCAMS research, beam’s new Chair, IMEX Frankfurt’s new talking point, industry AI white paper, and more.
Headlines
UK conference and meeting venues are being encouraged to take part in the 2024 UKCAMS research.
In its 31st year, The Conference and Meeting Survey (UKCAMS) 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 2024 UKCAMS research asks UK venues to provide data on their conference and meeting business during the calendar year 2023.
UKCAMS research’s questionnaire covers the regular questions on the volume and value of the sector but also includes important questions on trends and key issues (for example, venue sustainability practices and policies, AI activity in the business events sector, international business trends).
Findings of the UKCAMS research are widely used to:
Demonstrate the volume of the UK conference and meetings sector and its value to individual venues and to the national economy
Highlight key trends from a venue or supply-side perspective
Ensure continuing support and investment for the industry at national, regional and local levels.
UK conference and meeting venues which take part in the 2024 research will receive a complimentary, personalised summary report enabling them to benchmark their performance in 2023 against other comparable venues. The online questionnaire can be accessed, here.
VisitBritain / VisitEngland Head of Business Events, Paul Black, said: “VisitBritain is pleased to support the ‘UK Conference and Meeting Survey’ in 2024, a valuable tool for us to demonstrate the importance of our business events sector to the UK economy and to Government. There are some important research questions for venues to answer alongside the business level assessment, so we would be very grateful for their participation in supporting this survey.”
The UKCAMS research results are expected to be published in June.
Melissa Cherry – chief diversity and inclusion officer/SVP for Miles Partnership – is moderating an MPI Academy webinar called Building an Inclusive and Equitable Meetings Industry on 13th February.
In advance of this webinar, MPI caught up with Cherry to discuss measuring inclusivity progress, the impact of leadership on DEI initiatives and creating a sense of belonging at events.
She said: “Achieving diversity and inclusion in leadership is an ongoing process that requires commitment at all levels of the organization. It’s not just about hiring diverse leaders but also creating an inclusive culture where everyone feels valued and has equal opportunities for growth and advancement.”
Julie Shorrock, managing director of Hotel and Travel Solutions (HTS) has become Chair of beam, the industry association for business events, accommodation and meetings.
Shorrock has been a board director for many years and succeeds Sian Sayward. A new vice-chair position has also been introduced at beam. The vice-chair position aims to ensure the representation of both venues and agents at chair level and recognise longer-serving venue board directors for their contribution to the association. If the chair is held by an agent, the vice-chair will be a venue and visa-versa. The role follows the inclusion of venues in beam’s membership categories and board of directors.
Julie Shorrock said “What a marvellous honour! I’m taking over the reins at beam at a time when it is buoyant, thriving, and has plenty of momentum to grow further and continue to drive the industry and the association forward.
“That’s testimony to the wonderful leadership of Sian over the last 18 months and the hard work and commitment of all those who have contributed while simultaneously managing their ‘day jobs’. We’ve created so much value as a team, from new advisory boards resulting in achievements such as our Payment Toolkit to a partnership with the IACC, and more.
“I’m a great believer in collaboration, so I look forward to leading beam with so many supportive colleagues and members.”
Ahead of IMEX Frankfurt in May, the IMEX Group has announced its new Talking Point for 2024 and 2025 – Impact.
The company’s annual Talking Point forms a focal point for the year ahead, anchoring IMEX show content, research and storytelling as well as providing a topic for exhibitors and attendees alike to explore at the shows and throughout the year. Ahead of IMEX Frankfurt in May, the IMEX Group has announced its new Talking Point for 2024 and 2025 – Impact (Imp-ACT).
The company’s annual Talking Point forms a focal point for the year ahead, anchoring IMEX show content, research and storytelling as well as providing a topic for exhibitors and attendees alike to explore at the shows and throughout the year.
IMEX CEO, Carina Bauer, explains: “Impact sits at the very heart of our mission to bring the global events community together to do business, learn and drive positive change. We’re especially emphasizing the ‘act’ within Impact, forming a rallying cry for our industry to collectively address the big issues facing our planet and communities.
“Intention is one thing, but action is everything – it’s time to make a bigger, more positive Impact! Over the next year or two we’re inviting people and organizations from every corner of the global business events community to make a more positive impact through their events, their personal and professional actions, their commercial partnerships and more. We look forward to discovering how people embrace our Talking Point and incorporate the concept of impact across their whole lives.”
The IMEX team asked business event professionals to define what impact means to them. The powerful and varied responses were gathered into a short video:
SkyTeam, a global airline alliance, has announced that its data for January can reveal January’s top MICE destinations.
One offering, Global Meetings, is designed to cover MICE events in North and Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, Greater China, Asia, Africa and the Middle East. According to SkyTeam, data from Global Meetings demonstrates the most popular MICE destinations for 2024 thus far – Barcelona, Cancun, Buenos Aires, Las Vegas, Milan, Nairobi, Paris, and Prague. Read more, on Conference & Meetings World:
A new white paper highlights the accelerating integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the global association conference and event sector.
The paper, authored by The Hague & Partners Convention Bureau and Ottawa Tourism, underscores the urgent need for widespread upskilling in the use of the technology as well as a need to understand the ethical implications of its use.
The research, which investigates the current and potential impact of AI within the sector, is based on qualitative and quantitative methods, including a global survey with over 100* participants from the industry.
Key Findings:
63% of associations and not-for-profits are already utilising AI in event organisation.
A significant knowledge gap exists, with 72% not engaging in AI education
85% have no budget for AI training.
“The inevitability of AI in our sector is clear from our research. However, it’s not just about adoption; it’s about understanding and skilfully leveraging AI to enhance our industry,” said Ottawa Tourism’s Vice President, Meeting and Major Events, Lesley Pincombe.
“This upskilling is not just desirable; it’s essential for the sustainable growth and innovation in our sector. The research also highlighted the fact that there shouldn’t be fear associated with AI and the knowledge needed for its use. Ultimately, it is not for organisers to understand how to build or create AI tools, instead they should be working with technology partners and AI experts to see how AI can be integrated into the work they are already undertaking.”
The white paper not only presents a statistical overview of AI in the association events sector, but also offers in-depth analysis and actionable insights. It emphasises the importance of ethical AI use, especially in data management and privacy. The document serves as a call for industry stakeholders to not only engage in learning and applying AI in their operations but to understand the ethics behind its use and the implications for mismanagement of data and individual privacy.
“AI is rapidly becoming a key technology across so many different industries, ours is no different,” adds Bas Schot, Head of The Hague & Partners Convention Bureau. “Our industry must adapt swiftly to stay ahead, and this means investing in knowledge and skills that align with these technological advancements.
“However, we must be careful to protect our delegates and ourselves as we make the most of what AI has to offer – we already need to consider both the pros and the cons before we entrust vital information and data to third parties – AI usage is no different.”
In December, initial highlights from the research were revealed, including the fact that 63% of global association buyers are either very concerned or slightly concerned about the ethical implications of using AI in event organising. In response, although 63% think governments should legislate on the use of AI, 65% also think those same governments lack the required knowledge to be able to legislate effectively.
Ottawa Tourism and The Hague & Partners Convention Bureau advocate a proactive approach to AI education in the association event sector, emphasising the need for strategic partnerships, knowledge sharing, and resource allocation towards AI competency.
The full white paper is attached but also available for download below, offering valuable insights for association event organisers, technology providers, educators, and policy makers in the global events industry.
The research was conducted, and the white paper written by Adam Baggs from Soaring Worldwide on behalf of The Hague Convention Bureau and Ottawa Tourism. Download it here.
Key findings from an International Sustainability Report suggest sustainability is still not given a high priority in meeting planners’ dealings with suppliers.
The report, by ICCA and Destination Canada, surveyed of 248 meeting professionals, including 139 association planners. It showed that 21% of planners ‘somewhat’ integrated sustainability into RFP design, while only 20% said it was ‘very’ and 8% ‘extremely’ integrated into their RFPs.
Costs (74%), venue capacity (61%), range of accommodation (61%), and favourable contractual terms (59%) were the most important factors when it came to the RFP. Read more, here.
Nothing beats a gorgeous view as a backdrop for an important and productive meeting. So, we’re running down a list of our favourite venues with a view that will leave your delegates speechless.
Brighton Harbour Hotel
Brighton Harbour Hotel is located on the seafront in one of Britain’s best loved coastal towns and is a stone’s throw from the Brighton Centre. This sea-facing Victorian icon takes pride of place on Brighton’s world-famous promenade and is within easy walking distance of both piers, just a stone’s throw away from the glorious, pebbled beach.
Named one of the best hotels in Brighton by The Times, it’s the perfect location to enjoy the wonders of this bohemian city and soak up the city’s only luxurious subterranean spa.
Brighton
Harbour Hotel can be reached by train from London in approximately an hour, and
from Gatwick airport in 25 minutes. The hotel features two impressive, flexible
rooms for any meeting, conference, or event up to 160 attendees.
The Ickworth
The Ickworth is located 10 minutes outside Bury St Edmunds. The closest airport, Stansted International, is 1 hour away by road. This grand hotel offers 27 well-furnished guestrooms, in a range of styles. There is also a range of 6 flexible conference facilities available which can be set up to suit a range of needs. The largest of these spaces, The Old Kitchen, can seat up to 50 theatre-style.
Set in 1,800
acres of National Trust parkland, our history-rich palace promises a memorable
stay from the moment you arrive. Stumble across secret gardens and lakes, find
trees to climb and sheep to befriend.
Moonfleet Manor
Moonfleet benefits from excellent corporate facilities making it one of the finest of conference hotels in Weymouth. With a range of training rooms from the larger rooms that can accommodate 60 delegates, to a small, intimate meetings room for 8 delegates.
Once the business has been completed take advantage of the
hotel’s 36 bedrooms, restaurant, and spa.
Relax at the full-service spa,
where you can enjoy massages, body treatments, and facials. You’re sure to
appreciate the recreational amenities, which include 2 indoor swimming pools
and an outdoor tennis court.
The Tower Hotel
The Guoman Tower Hotel on the North side of the river Thames offers a range of meeting rooms, conference venues, bedrooms, suites, and apartments. This 4-star London hotel offers a selection of bars and restaurants and fully equipped meeting rooms with stunning views of nearby Tower Bridge, the Thames River, or St Katharine’s Dock.
There
are 801 bedrooms and 19 meeting rooms, the largest room, the Tower Suite, can
hold up to 550 delegates, including a complimentary catering space overlooking
the spectacular Tower Bridge. The hotel also has experienced and reliable
support from their in-house AV partners.
Luton Hoo Hotel – NEW TO EDGE
Luton Hoo Hotel, Golf & Spa is set in 1,065 acres of parkland. Beyond the magnificent facade of the Mansion House which greets guests on arrival, lies a 5-star, country house hotel on the border of Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire. However, guests quickly discover that behind the grand exterior of Luton Hoo, the atmosphere is very relaxed and welcoming.
There are excellent transport links between St. Pancras and
Luton Parkway railway stations mean it is easily reached from London or
Cambridge. As one of the most convenient hotels in Hertfordshire and
Bedfordshire for accessing Luton Airport, the hotel is within easy reach of
cities across Europe.
Luton Hoo offers two contrasting styles of venue for your
meetings and conferences. The Mansion House or the purpose-built conference
venue, Warren Weir, which has been designed specifically to offer business
clients who value total privacy a self-contained venue that is totally
discreet.
The Renaissance at Kelham Hall
The Renaissance at Kelham Hall provides a stunning backdrop for your event. This magnificent Grade 1 listed Victorian House is steeped in history, counting King Charles I as a guest when he was kept prisoner on the site at the end of the first Civil War. Set within a conservation area, the hall is a fascinating example of Victorian décor, and their beautiful grounds are the ideal setting to relax and inspire our guests.
The stunning conference and event rooms can accommodate from
10 to 650 delegates and includes fully integrated AV facilities as well as
high-speed free Wi-Fi, air conditioning and an abundance of natural light. The
hotel can offer a fully exclusive venue for team building, residential meetings,
and other courses all within 9 acres of beautiful gardens and parkland and can
help to individually tailor your requirements in order to achieve the outcomes
you require.
The hotel can offer bed & breakfast, lunch, and dinner
options, with freshly prepared menus to suit any requirements, and have the
benefit of two bars, a lounge and dining rooms as well as our 100-seater
air-conditioned banqueting space to create the event you want.
Treehouse London
True to its iconic location, Treehouse London is the gateway to everything British. Take in the landscape of London Town from above at our rooftop oasis offering world-class views of the London Eye, The Shard, Canary Wharf and Regent’s Park. For private meetings of up to 20, receptions for up to 300 guests, banqueting for up to 120 or “anything that requires a drink, a smile, and an excuse to stay a while.”
Make yourself at home in Treehouse London’s welcoming guest
rooms and suites, perched high in the city skyline. The venue provides a
versatile backdrop for private functions as well as parties of all sizes and
also offers rooftop terrace.
Ready to plan your next event? Search from thousands of venues right here at EDGE Venues.
