Author: Toni

This Monday’s Insights (03 July 2023) feature brings you the latest news including the power of events report, beam’s annual forum, mia’s Student Membership, and more.

Headlines

The Power of Events is limitless but the industry needs to spread the word, according to a new report.

The report from ICC Wales , called Event Power: A Force for Good, ‘looks beyond the traditional measures of event impact – economic value, job creation, increased destination profiling – and focuses on the far-reaching benefits that events bring to communities and supply chains, as well as on matters such as sustainability and future-building’.

The report – details shared by M&IT – includes forewords from Rt. Hon Theresa Villiers MP, chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Events, and Chris Skeith OBE, chair of UK Events, alongside expert industry contributions from The Business of Events, the Association of Event Venues, the Meetings Industry Association, the Association of British Professional Conference Organisers, and the BestCities Global Alliance.

Launched at The Meetings Show 2023 at ExCel London, the power of events document concludes: “The events industry is an unsung hero. Many people believe events just happen… they have no idea of what goes on behind the scenes.

“Events are a force for good and we need to get this vitally important message across to those who are not in our community, so that the remarkable power of events is truly recognised.” 

Read M&IT’s insights and access the download link, here.

Northstar Travel Group has launched The Meetings Show Asia Pacific.

Northstar Travel Group, the leading B-to-B information, events and marketing solutions company in the travel industry, has announced the launch of the hosted buyer led tradeshow for the Asia Pacific meetings industry.

The Meetings Show Asia Pacific (www.themeetingsshow-apac.com), supported by Singapore Tourism Board, will take place from 17-18 April 2024 at Sands Expo and Convention Centre, Marina Bay Sands, Singapore, welcoming global exhibitors and an audience of pre-qualified and hosted buyers.

Singapore is a Global-Asia node for MICE and business. As a gateway to the fast-growing Asia Pacific region and home to a vibrant business community, Singapore was chosen as the host destination for the debut of The Meetings Show Asia Pacific, offering access to new partnerships and business ideas.

Featuring Asian and international destinations, venues, hotels and other key suppliers, the event will be supported by an exclusive hosted buyer programme, bringing senior meetings, conventions, events and incentives buyers to a bustling tradeshow floor. A unique prescheduled meetings platform will provide an intimate platform to do business, as well as a conference providing a thought-provoking education programme and a series of high-quality networking events.

The Meetings Show Asia Pacific is an extension of the long standing ‘The Meetings Show’ brand, which takes place annually in London, and will further complement Northstar Meetings Group’s global portfolio of media, events, information & marketing solutions.

Jason Young, CEO, Northstar Travel Group, said: “With our continued commitment to greater serve the APAC region, our depth of industry knowledge and the experienced meetings professionals who work in our UK, Singapore and US offices, it became apparent there was an opportunity to bring our world class experiences to the Asia Pacific meetings market under the established and successful brand of The Meetings Show.”

beam’s new style Annual Forum will prepare members for current and future challenges across their businesses.

Industry 4.0 – Collaborations, Connections & Community, is the title of beam’s upcoming annual forum, which has been created by the beam events action group. The event, with headline sponsors Open Audience and Song Division, will bring beam members together from across the UK at the Hilton Bournemouth on 6 & 7 July and is also open to non-members of the association.

“This year the Forum will be more of a hands-on business event, featuring engaging and inspiring speakers and generating tangible takeaways,” says Beckie Towle, events director of beam.

The keynote will be presented by Matt Lindley. Matt is a serving airline pilot and former RAF pilot who applies his experiences in leadership, accountability and culture to the business world.

Before taking his commercial flying job, he was a Royal Air Force Fast Jet pilot and later became a Captain on the Queens Flight, flying Her Majesty The Queen, members of the Royal Family, the Prime Minister and Cabinet worldwide for over 10 years.

Among the many outstanding and fascinating speakers sharing valuable insights will be Paul Martin of Events Air, Sam McNeill of Song Division, Helen Moon of EventWell, Leslie Robertson of Open Audience, Neil Thompson of The Delegate Wranglers, Peter Heath of Venue Performance and many more.

Beckie Towle continues “Industry 4.0 – Collaborations, Connections & Community is about preparing and supporting our members with what is coming next. The format will be a mix of plenary and educational breakout sessions.

“The content will cover a broad range of significant industry subject areas, including AI and ChatGPT, data, ESG, and leadership skills.

“There will also be follow-up sessions on recent beam events such as the Sustainability Forum, Finance Forum, and the Instant Book Summit. We’ll be joined by guest speakers from across the industry as well as experts covering the themes. There will be a lot of engaging content that is valuable to everyone.”

The beam Annual Forum is also well known as one of the industry’s best social events of the year. Throughout the two days, there will be plenty of opportunities to catch up with colleagues and get to know new contacts. The event will also be supporting and raising money for Meeting Needs through a variety of activities.

Sian Sayward, chair of beam, says: “We have been working hard on creating an event that offers real benefits for everyone. The program is designed with audience involvement as a priority, as well as delivering fresh, relevant and thought-provoking content. It will be a Forum that’s not to be missed.”

Contact membership@beam-org.uk for information or visit https://www.cognitoforms.com/Beam9/Beams2023AnnualForum2 to register.

The Meetings Industry Association (mia) has launched a student membership.

According to a feature on Event Industry News, the new membership is ‘designed to inspire the sector’s next generation of talent, the membership will present aspiring event professionals with exclusive educational and career opportunities and provide a platform for Continuing Professional Development (CPD).’

Find out more via https://www.mia-uk.org/Student-Membership or Event Industry News.

Senior leaders from across Northern Ireland came together at an event hosted by ICC Belfast on 29 June, to reaffirm their commitment to delivering economic impact for the city.

It is estimated that events, such as conferences and conventions, deliver approximately £209m in direct economic impact, with up to 2,000 new jobs targeted by 2030 as a result. Check out all the details via the Conference News feature, link below.

This Monday’s Insights (26 June 2023) feature brings you the latest news including Non-alcoholic drinks at events, ABPCO new board members, The Meetings Show, and more.

Headlines

Non-alcoholic drinks at events – have your say

Cameron Roberts, editor of Conference News, has launched a new survey that aims to delve into how events organisers are catering for the increasing number of delegates that are choosing not to drink.

As part of a feature to launch the survey into non-alcoholic drinks at events, Roberts writes in Conference News: “For as long as I can remember alcohol at events has been the norm, with many a delegate and organisers alike unwinding with a beer or wine in hand. But over the last year or so, the number of people who don’t drink, or who choose to not drink, has become more visible to me.

Read more about the reasoning behind the new research and have your say via the survey link in the Conference News feature.

The Association of British Professional Conference Organisers (ABPCO) has confirmed the appointment of six industry figures to its executive board.

Announced during its virtual AGM attended by more than 50 members, the new board members introduced are:
Madalina Marincas – Opening Doors and Venues
Katie Bolton – MCI UK
Sarvjit Wunsch – Association of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery
Sammy Connell – NASUWT – The Teachers’ Union
Sarah Vaughan – The Chartered Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys
Kate Sargent – Bioscientifica Ltd

The AGM also shared the outline of ABPCO’s plans for the upcoming year including significant opportunities for growth.

Heather Lishman, ABPCO’s association director, said: “As these dedicated individuals join ABPCO’s executive board, the association looks ahead to another successful year, driven by the passion of our members. We look forward to capitalising on past achievements and embracing new opportunities for growth, innovation, and professional development.”

The Tourism Alliance has confirmed that Susan Tanner, CEO of the National Outdoor Events Association and UKEVENTS Vice Chair, has joined its 2023/24 board as the UKEVENTS representative.

Tanner takes the place of Michael Hirst OBE, UKEVENTS’ Immediate Past Chair, who has sat on the board since 2013.

The Tourism Alliance is an umbrella organisation representing the collective interests of the tourism industry and visitor economy in the UK.

UKEVENTS, itself an umbrella organisation, plays a crucial role in advocating and promoting the value of the events industry within the broader tourism sector. It brings together various stakeholders, including trade associations, event organisers, venues, and destination management organisations, to collaborate and work towards a common goal of supporting and growing the sector.

Outlining the role of the events industry in the wider visitor economy, Tanner said: “Naturally, I am delighted to be appointed to the Tourism Alliance Board for 2023/24. Approximately 50% of the tourism and visitor economy can be attributed to events, according to the UK Events Report of 2019. It’s a crucial component, not just from a fiscal point of view, but in the positioning of ‘Brand Britain’ as a whole; everything from Glastonbury and agricultural shows to the Coronation of King Charles III to The Ashes.

“Owing to the vast contributions made by events to the hospitality, tourism, and creative industries, it is important that we use the strong collective voice of the Tourism Alliance to ensure our sector is fairly represented and that our challenges are heard.”

The Meetings Show is nearly upon us

In a bid to share the benefits of the industry event, which takes place at ExCeL London on 28-29 June, Meetings and Incentive Travel magazine (M&IT) has shared ’10 reasons to attend The Meetings Show 2023′.

From pre-show experiences to learning with a difference, and lots more, check out the highlights planned for this year’s show

This Monday’s Insights (17 April 2023) feature brings you the latest news including VisitEngland’s new visitor economy partnerships, Canadian event bookings, embracing CSR in team building, and more.

Headlines

VisitEngland has announced new Local Visitor Economy Partnerships.

VisitEngland has announced 12 destinations to gain Local Visitor Economy Partnership (LVEP) status, in addition to the three North East Destination Development Partnership (DDP) pilot LVEPs announced earlier this year.

Marketing Cheshire, Experience Oxfordshire, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, Visit Hull and East Yorkshire, Visit West, Marketing Manchester, Visit Peak District, Derbyshire and Derby, Visit Hertfordshire, Visit Kent, Liverpool City Region, Cumbria Tourism, and Birmingham, Solihull and the Black Country join the programme alongside the North East DDP pilot LVEPs NewcastleGateshead Initiative, Visit County Durham and Visit Northumberland.

Developed and administered by VisitEngland, the national portfolio of strategic and high-performing LVEPs support collaborative working locally and nationally on shared priorities and targets to grow the local visitor economy. The creation of LVEPs was part of the UK Government response to the recommendations of ‘The de Bois Review: an independent review of DMOs in England,’ to reshape destination management across England, reducing fragmentation and bringing coherence to its DMO landscape.

VisitEngland Director Andrew Stokes said: “VisitEngland is delighted to welcome onto the programme the new LVEPs, who will play a central role in transforming the visitor economy in England in an inclusive, accessible and sustainable way. Ensuring we have the right national and local infrastructure in place to grow our visitor economy will ensure England continues to be a compelling destination, for both domestic and international visitors, for years to come.”

“We look forward to working in collaboration with the LVEPs, providing ongoing support including a team of dedicated VisitEngland regional development leads. LVEPs will also have access to resources and guidance from VisitBritain/VisitEngland in areas including product distribution, business support, bidding for funding and marketing.”

VisitEngland will work closely with LVEPs during the set-up process and beyond, with ongoing support from a team of five new Regional Development Leads. As well as a nationally recognised official status, LVEPs will also be able to access expert advice, dedicated toolkits and training programmes, targeting their needs, from VisitBritain/VisitEngland in areas ranging from distribution, accessibility and sustainability to business support and marketing. An important strand of support will be highlighting available Government funding streams as well as developing and providing a ‘toolkit’ to help LVEPs with bids to those streams.

VisitEngland welcomed the first three LVEPs, NewcastleGateshead Initiative, Visit County Durham and Visit Northumberland, into the programme earlier this year. They form the pilot Destination Development Partnership (DDP) in the North East of England, led by NewcastleGateshead Initiative, first announced by the UK Government in November 2022. The pilot is a valuable opportunity to prove the DDP concept and the impact the model can have on growing the visitor economy, strengthening the case for future funding.

VisitEngland has worked in close consultation with DMOs to develop the LVEP programme, holding a series of roundtables across England in autumn 2022 with more than 100 participants.

CHS Leeds has expanded its Hosted Buyer Programme due to an increase in demand as the show continues to grow its visitors.

Conference News has shared that CHS Leeds show organisers are already predicting a 32% rise in hosted buyers, with a strategy focused on bringing new buyers to the event.

The show’s announcement supports the event’s strategy of putting specific resource around its Hosted Buyer Programme, while tapping into Leeds’s growing media and financial hubs and targeting event professionals within the many companies attracted to the city.

Read more on Conference News.

Future Canadian event bookings have stalled at 55% according to Skift Meetings.

Meetings and event bookings in Canada are 55 percent of pre-pandemic. And, according to Skift Meetings, the critical five-year booking window for larger gatherings is 47 percent causing major concern for cities and event venues nationwide.

While Canada only fully reopened its borders in October of 2022, after being closed for more than two years, that’s only a small part of the Canadian market’s story.

Read the full analysis here.

The Business of Events has extended the deadline of its sector-wide Consultation.

The aim of the Consultation, now closing on 30th April is to gather sentiment among those owning, running, managing, and working in the events industry, which will lay the foundation for a comprehensive Policy Agenda for the sector.

Responses to the Consultation will be categorised into sub-sectors and discussed as part of a Policy Unit which will lead to the publication of multiple reports, which will be reviewed by MPs sitting on the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Events, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, and the Policy Unit’s Advisory Council.

Complete the Consultation here.

IMEX Frankfurt registrations seem to be mirroring the industry’s return.

With 3,000 buyers from over 60 countries registered so far, buyer demand for IMEX Frankfurt in May continues to track upwards. This is a solid indication of the industry’s appetite to come together at the show, taking place 23 – 25 May, to address challenges and build forwards.

The wide variety of suppliers lined up to exhibit span the world and include: Europe – Germany, France, Spain and Croatia; North & South America – Peru along with Boston and Georgia (both of which are increasing their presence); Asia – Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand and Malaysia.

Despite bumpy economic headwinds, demand for in-person events is strong and many parts of the global market have responded with investment in refurbishments, new properties, product innovations, new technologies and enhanced attendee experiences. IMEX Frankfurt will be the stage for several important news announcements including Cairns Convention Centre, which is set to re-open this spring following a major refurbishment and expansion. The Asia Convention Alliance will hold their inaugural event during IMEX, while Cvent are among several suppliers presenting new research.

Education programming centres on IMEX’s 2023 Talking Point – ‘Human Nature’ – which gives attendees the chance to learn and embrace skills such as public speaking, experiential design, emotional intelligence as a leadership skill, focused attention and more. IMEX Frankfurt 2023 also makes allowance for sessions of evergreen interest including contract negotiations, talent acquisition and management, incentive programming and food and beverage planning.

“While doing business and powering industry growth sit at the heart of our forthcoming show, IMEX Frankfurt is designed to deliver an enriching, broad experience that ripples further than the eye can see. We recognise that creating experiences, not events, is more important than ever and that people in our global industry also want to feel connected, revived and re-inspired. We’re happy to lead the way and play our part,” sums up Carina Bauer, CEO of the IMEX Group.

IMEX Frankfurt takes place 23 – 25 May 2023. To register click here.

Can embracing CSR impact change, improve engagement, and retain employees?

It certainly can according to North America team-building company’s Roy Charette. Writing in MPI’s latest feature, Roy discusses how organisations that make corporate social responsibility (CSR) a part of their mission reflect their accountability and commitment to contributing to the well-being of society through various environmental and social measures.

Most of us will recognise that doing good feels good. This is also an effective way to engage and retain employees. And as Roy says: ‘when meeting planners incorporate CSR into their events in a way that aligns with the organization’s goals, it leads to stronger outcomes.’

Roy’s interests obviously sit with increasing team-building. Yet his points about incorporating CSR into team building to make a big impact on employees and the community are compelling and valid.

Read his full feature here, which examines everything from organisations showing heart and investing in teams to making meetings and events part of something bigger.