This Monday’s Insights (10 October) feature brings you the hotel mocktail switch-up from Skift, new Government tourism minister and data protection system, and aviation’s net zero goal
Headlines
Is the hotel mocktail overtaking the cocktail?
Skift has written a great piece of insight into hotel brands “increasingly showcasing non-alcoholic drinks”.
It’s a major shift considering hotels and venues traditionally view F&B, particularly alcoholic drinks, as a big revenue generator.
The health and wellness market has already led many hotels and venues to add greater menu choices, such as healthier options and vegan foods, in recent years. Is it now time for the ‘Shirley Ginger’ and the ‘Mango Mule’ to overtake the Cosmopolitan and the minty Mojito?
Conference News has reported that the culture secretary Michelle Donelan said the new system will be more “business and consumer-friendly”. Michelle was speaking at the Conservative party conference at ICC Birmingham.
We will watch with bated breath to see what the forthcoming changes mean for the events industry.
Aviation has moved a step closer to reaching net zero CO2 emissions by 2050.
According to BTN Europe, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has agreed to work collectively toward the goal.
ICAO is a United Nations body made up of around 200 countries. By officially adopting this long-term global aspirational goal (LTAG) it makes a big statement of intent that will be music to the ears of many event professionals.
For many event profs trying to deliver net zero events, flights often remain a blocker with offsetting being a necessary compromise.
Life Peer Lord Syed Kamal has been announced as the UK’s new tourism minister according to a feature on Exhibition News.
As part of prime minister Liz Truss’ government reshuffle, Kamall, who replaces Nigel Huddleston MP, will also take responsibility for civic society, heritage and growth alongside tourism at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS).
Staff wellbeing is the top priority for the global health and safety manager at RX Emma Dengate.
As chair of a cross-association working group for health and safety (AEO/ AEV/ ESSA), Emma told Exhibition News that “…two years of postponements have added huge pressure onto staff, but by working together we can keep teams happy and safe and exhibitions up and running”
“The single biggest issue in terms of health and safety is welfare. This issue has been exacerbated by the talent drain out of the industry and with many teams working with less resource.”
Read Emma’s interview here, in which she discusses the challenges, and the future including the incoming Protect Duty legislation.
This Monday’s Insights (3 October) feature brings you a blog from Martin Fullard on event industry sic codes, the EDGE Venues Q3 results success, Manchester Central and Mash Media’s sustainability white paper, and more.
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EDGE Venues shared its Q3 success at its annual Business Insights Event on Thursday, 15 September, including a 25 per cent increase in platform users and a 25 per cent uplift in venue searches compared to Q2.
The EDGE team delivered the results alongside market insights and user trends from its recently published Business Intelligence Report. Booking trends of corporate buyers and agents were compared to pre-Covid levels and illustrated increased event attendee numbers and average event values.
The invitation-only event for EDGE licensees took place at the tech platform’s Stamford Office, where more than 70 guests were also the first to hear about EDGE Venues’ development roadmap.
The team at Manchester Central has partnered with MASH Media to launch a white paper delving into the subject of sustainability for the events sector.
The two organisations have completed research aimed at understanding the industry’s current state of play, best practices, challenges we all face, and exploring some of the success stories we can all take inspiration from.
The project has resulted in a newly published whitepaper, Shaping a Sustainable Future. The paper shares key and meaningful insights from the research, which aim to help shape collective and individual sustainability journeys.
The findings suggest that sustainability is not only here to stay; it’s becoming more important and expected to become an even more significant part of our future decision-making. Yet, over half of survey respondents believe the industry isn’t doing enough to be sustainable or effectively prioritising it, and only 48% believe their organisations are sustainable.
Conference News editorial director, Martin Fullard, has shared his views on event businesses needing to review their SIC codes and use existing ones.
This is a critical read for anyone involved in the events industry. Standardised Industrial Classification (SIC) codes are managed by the Office for National Statistics in the UK. They are vitally important to measuring the events industry’s value to the UK economy. It’s time we were taken seriously by the UK Government, but that can only happen if we can officially demonstrate our collective worth.
“Fashion reflects social changes,” said M&IT editor Paul Harvey. “What we wear is just one lens through which we can study the transformation of our sector. You don’t have to go to too many events in our sector to realise that clothes are extremely important to eventprofs – how we represent ourselves, our companies and our brands.
“It’s also clear from the last couple of years that fashions in the sector are changing. For a time during lockdown it seemed as if we’d never wear work clothes again. Now trainers at trade shows are the norm as the boundaries between work and leisure get ever more blurred.
“What Eventprofs Wear – the M&IT Survey aims to discover exactly what current fashion patterns say about the sector – and what they say about the future. I hope as many of our readers as possible can find the time to get involved in our survey – as you only have to look at the style on show at any given industry event to know that what eventprofs wear is a topic close to the hearts of a great many people in the sector.”
The results of What Eventprofs Wear – the M&IT Survey will appear in the Autumn/Winter edition of M&IT.
isla has announced it has voted in nine new members to its Advisory Board, strengthening expert, cross-sector input across all isla activities.
Made up of both isla members and non-members alike, the new appointees represent a wide spectrum of events-industry stakeholders from agencies, exhibition organisers and venues right through to caterers and industry media.
“isla’s membership base is growing steadily and our expanded Advisory Board will ensure that we best represent the interests of our community and the wider industry, to create a united voice for change. Against the backdrop of COP27 and a growing appetite for turning climate conversations into solutions, we’re excited to harness the combined expertise and energy of the Advisory Board.”
This Monday’s Insights (September 26) feature brings you the BVEP’s Strategic Plan of Work, the Meetings Industry Association (mia)’s response to government businesses’ energy bill price cap, and more.
Headlines
Nigel Huddleston is leaving his ministerial post as tourism minister to move to the Whips Office.
Following his departure from the role, Simon Richards, treasurer of beam (the association for business events, accommodation and meetings), told Meetings and Incentive Travel magazine: “We all urgently need to educate Nigel Huddleston’s replacement as the minister responsible for our industry about the specific needs of the sector and ensure that business events is high on his or her agenda, not well down below sport and other events.
“This makes the need for all business events sector companies to join the BVEP campaign and register under one of three SIC Codes, particularly 82302, even more urgent so that the minister and the Government have the data to recognise the sector’s issues more clearly.”
The Meetings Industry Association (mia) has responded to the government’s announcement that businesses’ energy bills will receive a six-month price cap.
Kerrin MacPhie, mia chief executive, said: “The package of support will provide much-need reassurance to those operating within the business meetings and events sector, however for a limited time only.
“With energy prices fixed for six months, operators can at least now begin to forecast costs and subsequent pricing more effectively, while also being protected from soaring and simply unsustainable cost increases.”
“It is vital that these support packages are evaluated by government on an ongoing basis, and that government recognise sectors outside of the Standard Industrial Classification when determining sector-specific levels of support. We know from the results of our recent survey of 129 industry organisations, which featured questions on the cost-of-living crisis, that the rising energy costs are of huge concern to the sector.
“Operating within a highly competitive, price-sensitive market, many have conceded to heavily reduced profits that reflect a further setback to recovery plans, so these cost-savings will prove influential in the short-term as we continue to witness the green shoots of recovery.”
The Business Visits & Events Partnership (BVEP) has published its Strategic Plan of Work for the coming year, as the organisation continues to engage with the new government on behalf of the UK events industry.
As ‘the collective voice of the UK’s world leading events sector’, BVEP’s plan takes priority objectives from its five sector-specific Working Groups. The groups include Advocacy & Government Relations, Business Events, Outdoor Events, Skills, Talent & Diversity and Research & Business Intelligence. These objectives cover a wide range of subjects, such as raising the industry’s profile to government departments, developing a plan to adopt the new sector-specific SIC/SOC codes and promoting the outdoor sector to re-establish a more competitive supply chain.
“This plan not just sets out our goals for the year ahead, but also makes clear our commitment to represent the entire UK events economy as it continues to face its many challenges. We are also looking to the future, to ensure that the BVEP has the right structure, resources and voice to serve the industry as effectively as possible.”
Chris Skeith OBE, BVEP Chair
As part of its government relations and advocacy activity, the BVEP is liaising with the new government on how the events sector can support the delivery of its priorities of growth and levelling up. It highlights the contribution business events make to inward investment, trade, innovation and exports and how cultural events enhance local communities’ social prosperity and wellbeing.
The Strategic Plan is available for download here from the BVEP website.
CHS Birmingham returns for its second outing this autumn with a focus on personal and professional growth. The show, which is fast becoming a celebration of Birmingham’s business events scene, is enjoying the legacy of the 2022 Commonwealth Games, and the global attention on the destination.
The show will also return to the ICC Birmingham, one of its founding partners, as well as enjoy the support of The Birmingham and West Midlands Convention Bureau. Now, with the meetings and events industry continuing to return to pre-pandemic levels of activity, and the opportunity of a Commonwealth Games legacy in the region, CHS Birmingham is looking to encourage both professional and personal growth for every delegate and exhibitor at the show.
“We’re putting together an educational programme which is tailor made to the individual. Our research shows that the biggest demand from delegates is either to look at ways to enhance their own careers, or look at developing themselves as people,” commented Emma Cartmell, CEO & Founder, CHS Birmingham.
“There has been a lot of talk around how the industry Is performing right now, for us though, it’s now about supporting individual event professionals. Donna Cunningham, Sales Director for Conventions, NEC Group, commented, “CHS returning to Birmingham is an exciting opportunity for the attending hosted buyers to meet with teams from a range of destinations and venues at the ICC to do business. The educational programme is packed with inspiring speakers, presenting a great developmental opportunity for us to discuss key topics, share ideas and learn from each other as we bounce back from the pandemic.”
Outside of the educational programmes, CHS Birmingham will be introducing new venues and suppliers, as well as our existing clients, so that when delegates are not in meetings, they can take time to focus on cementing relationships with key destinations, venues, and event suppliers.
“It is fantastic to welcome back CHS Birmingham to the city’s event calendar, after an unforgettable first show last autumn,” commented Steve Knight, Senior Business Tourism Manager, Birmingham and the West Midlands Convention Bureau.
“The West Midlands is buzzing after hosting the most successful UK-based Commonwealth Games during the summer, with our hospitality and event venues providing a brilliant backdrop for 1.5 million ticket holders, and more than five million people who visited Birmingham city centre during the Games fortnight.
“We look forward to joining forces with partners across our business events sector to once again show delegates why Birmingham and the wider region should be top of their list when hosting their next event.”
CHS Birmingham will also be evolving its brand to take on some of the flavours of the city over the summer, and to bring it even closer to global ‘brand Birmingham’. The show takes place 1 st November 2022 at the ICC Birmingham.
This Monday’s Insights (September 12) feature brings you the Government guidance on National Mourning – applicable to the event industry following the loss of HM Queen Elizabeth II.
Headlines
The Government has issued ‘Guidance for the public and businesses on the period of National Mourningfollowing the demise of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.’
A period of National Mourning for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II began in the day of her passing. It will continue until the end of the day of the State Funeral, which takes place on Monday, September 19. The day of the funeral is also now set to be a Bank Holiday.
The Royal Family will undertake a separate period of Royal Mourning, subject to the wishes of The King.
The guidance on National Mourning states that organisations are under no obligation to suspend business during this period, but does state:
‘Depending on the nature and location of their business and the tone of planned events, some businesses may wish to consider closing or postponing events, especially on the day of the State Funeral. However, this is at the discretion of individual businesses. Public services will continue as usual, although there may be some changes to service availability. Further guidance on any potential considerations relating to the day of the State Funeral will be issued if needed.’
We’ve pulled the following sections from the guidance, which seem most relevant to our industry:
Travel Information
Throughout the period of National Mourning, particularly on days with ceremonial events and in the build up to the State Funeral, public transport in key locations will be very busy. Journeys may take longer than usual. Further information will be announced by network operators. Please check your journey before you travel to ensure all services are running as expected.
Commemorative Events
Many community organisations, including places of worship, Local Authorities and charities, will arrange events commemorating the life and service of Her Majesty. This may include holding services of reflection (or similar), and opportunities for those with no religious beliefs to pay their respects. Local Authorities will support the coordination of local events so please check with them or your local place of worship for further details.
Major Events, Entertainment, and Sports
There is no obligation to cancel or postpone events and sporting fixtures, or close entertainment venues during the National Mourning period.
This is at the discretion of individual organisations. As a mark of respect, organisations might wish to consider cancelling or postponing events or closing venues on the day of the State Funeral. They are under no obligation to do so and this is entirely at the discretion of individual organisations.
If sporting fixtures or events are due to take place the day of the State Funeral, organisations may want to adjust event timings. This would be to avoid clashing with the service and associated processions.
In keeping with the tone of National Mourning, organisers may wish to hold a period of silence. And/or, they may wish to play the National Anthem at the start of events or sporting fixtures. Players may wish to wear black armbands.
Public museums and galleries
Public museums, galleries or similar venues are under no obligation to close during the National Mourning period. Organisations may choose to close on the day of the State Funeral. However there is no obligation to do so and this is at the discretion of individual organisations. As with other organisations, these institutions may wish to display or share images of previous Royal visits, particularly if they are one of Her Majesty’s patronages.
Read the full guidance here, covering further areas including Books of Condolence, Floral Tributes, and more.
This Monday’s Insights (22nd August) feature brings you a selection of recent industry headlines, including levelling up to redress economic imbalance, industry ageism, and group travel’s road to recovery.
Headlines
Levelling up on economic imbalance
Levelling up is a much-needed government strategy to redress the economic imbalance between London and the rest of the country,explains Liz Taylor, managing director of the northern-based Taylor Lynn Corporation (TLC).
Liz spoke to M&IT about how she welcomesany inward-investment to the Manchester region, and believes the Government needs to focus on its original plans for HS2.
“Improved transport links will not only make it easier to do business in the city and between cities in the region, but coaxing large-scale conferences, meetings and trade shows, a huge revenue driver in the events sector will be a much easier sell with improved transport infrastructure. My focus is very much on live events and always has been.”
“It’s not even unconscious bias, it’s blatant bias.” Event industry recruiter,Robert Kenward, has shared his views on ageism in a new blog on Conference News.
The feature encourages agencies to hire eventprofs over 50, reminding readers that age inclusivity is a vital part of DEI.
“But no-one talks about it, there is no scholarship or initiative to encourage the over 50s into our industry. An employer would never say that they are looking for a white person, or a woman for a role, but it’s very common for agencies to specify the age bracket of the new recruit that they need.”
IMEX America, returning to Las Vegas October 10 – 13, is set to address the new needs of the industry head on. The four-day event is designed to deliver a tailored, targeted and enjoyable business experience.
The business climate is defined by inflationary pressures, supply chain issues and talent shortages. So IMEX America is designed to guide attendees to the people, products and learnings that best fit their specific needs. Just two months after registration opened, over 3,000 global buyers have so far confirmed their participation.
Likewise, there has been strong demand from suppliers from an early stage. International exhibitors returning to the show in force. The list includes all the major hotel groups.
The event’s free learning programme has been simplified for attendees, too. Under the theme ‘Pathways to Clarity’, the IMEX team has streamlined the number of education tracks from 10 to four. Attendees will find: Respect for People and Planet; Future Self; Innovation and Creativity; Event Planner Toolkit. And a global roster of speakers will offer fresh thinking on today’s challenges.
Find out more at imexexhibitions.com
Group travel on the road to recovery
Group travel is on the road to recovery, with live expos, in-person conferences, and incentive trips back on the cards. But there is a marked difference in the post-pandemic travel experience and the attitudes of those on board.
Read the views of Air Partner head of charter, Clive Chalmers on mitmagazine.co.uk.
Double Take
Should venues be more flexible during travel strikes?
Martin Fullard, editorial director, Conference News, says venues should have demonstrated greater flexibility during the rail strikes.
What do you think about the way venues have approached cancellation terms during this latest challenge for eventprofs?
This Monday’s Insights (8th August) feature brings you a selection of recent industry headlines, including mia chief exec Kerrin MacPhie’s views on the rising rate of event evolution.
Headlines
Kerrin MacPhie, chief executive of the Meetings Industry Association (mia), has shared her views with Conference News on the rising rate of event evolution.
In a new blog last week, Kerrin explained: “When it comes to the evolution of events, no period has been more prominent than the last 30 months. Whether due to external forces shaking up the sector’s framework or disrupted capabilities inspiring innovation, our infamously fast-paced sector has shifted up a new gear to truly push the boundaries. Now is not the time for the sector to rest on its laurels. Events are still evolving today, at a pace faster than ever before.”
The blog covers Kerrin’s views on everything from the Metaverse, net zero and hybrid event solutions to recruitment and demonstrating the industry’s strength through data.
The IMEX Group is set to remodel the professional learning programmes delivered at both of its global trade shows with the appointment of Tahira Endean as Head of Programme.
Vancouver-based Tahira’s new role signals a new era for IMEX. A three-year education strategy will capitalise on IMEX’s free-to-attend programming to meet the industry’s thirst for knowledge and continuous development while embracing a growth mindset.
The IMEX education programme was envisioned and developed in 2005 by Dale Hudson, Knowledge and Events Director. It has grown in size and quality over the last 15 years, adding substantial value to the visitor experience. Tahira’s addition to the team will build on that legacy. She’ll work with both the IMEX Marcomms and Knowledge and Education teams to design learning programmes that enrich the show’s value proposition and deliver measurable business benefits.
Tahira explains: “We’re focused on designing learning with buyer requirements in mind first and foremost as we want them to have meetings that are enhanced by education at the show. Our combined aim is for attendees to leave each session with tangible takeaways that also support their meetings onsite. IMEX’s legacy of tailored education that meets the particular needs of agencies, associations and corporate event professionals has always been strong; we’re looking to build on that too.”
“As a veteran of the MICE industry and self-confessed event nerd, I recognise IMEX as the professional home for our global industry. The opportunity to provide knowledge that helps us all develop and grow through turbulent times is important and to do it with a team as committed, passionate and talented as IMEX is really exciting.”
The West Midlands has outlined its ambitions to bring more international sporting events to the region. According to Access All Areas, over 250 delegates from governing bodies, global associations and professional sporting organisations came together for a sports economy day at the University of Birmingham’s Exchange building.
Officials from federations including World Athletics, the International Boxing Association and the International Extreme Sports Festival heard from speakers including Commonwealth Games minister Nigel Huddleston MP (pictured), leader of Birmingham City Council Ian Ward and Trudy Lindsdale, CEO of the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships.
Themes at the day included:
Building sustainable sporting facilities
Innovative fan engagement
Sports events legacy
Strengthening and enduring international relationships
IACC’s latest Meeting Room of the Future barometer is a mixed bag of positivity and caution as the international meeting venue recovery continues. According to Meetings and Incentive Travel, Mark Cooper, CEO of IACC said:
“The start of 2022 has shown some excellent progress in recovery however, there are still some key areas where venues need support, particularly in staffing. IACC will support its members and community over the next year, by providing important personal and professional development opportunities as the industry continues to repair the skills and knowledge shortfall that exist.”
In a new episode of the Event Industry News Podcast, Dawn Lauder – head of international conferences at the Scottish Event Campus (SEC) – digs into her learnings from COP26.
Dawn talks host James Dickson through the ‘corona-coaster’, the prestige of hosting COP26 despite the tension wrought by Covid-19 in the run-up, the sense of team it fostered, the “off the charts” media coverage, maintaining that sense of purpose, why it’s worth reading the subsequent Sustainability Report, how hosting the summit has influenced Dawn Lauder’s manifesto for change and much more.
And speaking of Birmingham,ABPCO Excellence Awards is heading to the city’s ICC.
The 2022 event will take place on 9th December 2022 at Birmingham ICC, supported by the West Midlands Growth Company.
After a summer hosting sporting excellence at the Commonwealth Games, Birmingham will be the perfect location to celebrate excellence amongst ABPCO members and the wider association and not-for-profit industry.
2022 marks the ninth ABPCO Excellence Awards, which take place in different destinations across the UK each year.
This year’s awards will see an increase in categories as well as an opportunity for non-members to enter the awards for the first time.
The Awards, which will take place over lunch on 9th December, will be preceded by educational sessions in the morning as well as an evening networking event on 8th December. Association Director, Heather Lishman comments:
“Birmingham is a fantastic location for our awards, particularly so soon after its hosting of the Commonwealth Games.
We are grateful to the ICC team as well as the West Midlands Growth Company for their support and sponsorship of the event, which will showcase all the city has to offer. Located in the heart of the UK, Birmingham is accessible to all our members and we look forward to welcoming them as well as non-members for our annual celebration of success this December.”
The West End’s first new large-scale theatre in 50 years is opening this autumn.
According to eventindustrynews.com, @sohoplace is on the first newly-named street created in Soho for 72 years, also called Soho Place, and is part of a £300m regeneration project in the area which will see offices, retail space and a new piazza built.
The venue will feature a 602-seat auditorium, rehearsal room, actors’ Green Room, bar, restaurant and a terrace.
Read more about @sohoplace and its curved auditorium, which can be transformed into various other configurations.
Double Take
The Business of Events has published the first of its market sector reports. Conference News told readers that The Business of Events is a cross-sector not-for-profit series of events and reports, designed to raise the importance and profile of business events in the UK, as an economic, policy and societal driver.
Respondents in the international buyer community were asked what areas they consider important when selecting a destination or major venue in a post-pandemic environment. The questions focused on areas ranging from accessibility and ease of travel to venue quality and suitability.
This Monday’s Insights (July 25th) feature brings you the industry headlines you may have missed from the last week.
Headlines
Tourism boards in England are to undergo a £4m radical restructuring as the Government aims to make it easier for planners to discover the country’s destinations.
According to a feature on M&IT, the Government wants a “simpler structure where tourism boards, otherwise known as destination management organisations (DMOs), are a one-stop shop for visitors to find all they need to know about a local area.”
The £4 million will fund a pilot – in one region – of a new accreditation scheme to highlight the best DMOs, which will be renamed Local Visitor Economy Partnerships (LVEPs).
The funding will also be used to create a pilot in one region of the country, giving one top-tier DMO or a group of local DMOs the opportunity and investment to restructure under a new model, to show the best their region has to offer.
The changes follow last year’s independent review into DMOs, carried out by the chair of VisitEngland’s advisory board Nick de Bois. The review found the DMO landscape to be overly complex, making it confusing for tourists planning breaks and businesses looking to invest.
De Bois recommended a tiering model for DMOs, including multi-year core funding. Tourism minister Nigel Huddleston said:
“Whilst I realise it will be disappointing that we aren’t rolling out the de Bois funding proposals nationwide at this point, we also need to be as confident as we can be that public sector investment will be value for money.
“De Bois highlights that there are gaps in information on existing DMO performance and the evidence that has been collected suggests the DMO structures in some parts of England are not currently mature enough to take on significant public funds. Furthermore, we need more robust evidence that state funding of Destination Development Partnerships drives up private sector investment and growth.
“My hope is that our pilot will serve as a proof of concept which, when combined with the rollout of the accreditation system, will give us the information we need to proceed with confidence at a national level.”
As enquiries for hybrid events decrease, venues across Coventry and Warwickshire have seen a return to in-person meetings, conferences and exhibitions.
Conference Coventry and Warwickshire, the region’s convention bureau, surveyed venues from across the region, including Coventry Building Society Arena, Coventry Conferences, Warwick Conferences, British Motor Museum, Telegraph Hotel, Eliot Park Innovation Centre and IXL Events Centre.
One venue, in particular, reported that 75% of enquiries favour face-to-face over hybrid events.
Toby Batchelor, head of commerce, British Motor Museum, said: “Hybrid is still an element of conference and exhibition delivery, but I think it is now being used more as an extension for organisers rather than the focus.”
Paul Jones, managing director, Conference Coventry and Warwickshire, commented: “There has been a huge desire from people to get back to face-to-face events and the inevitable impact of that has been a reduction in enquiries for hybrid events.
“The return to face-to-face events is fantastic for our visitor economy and we have a varied portfolio of venues for event organisers to choose from in Coventry and Warwickshire.”
The Independent Print Industries Association (IPIA) will tackle sustainability at its Autumn Conference on September 1 at the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC).
The event’s theme is ‘Print in Balance – Supporting People and our Planet’ and will tackle wellbeing at work alongside environmental sustainability.
Andrew Harrison, director of the Event Services and Suppliers Association (ESSA), asks, what does ‘industry standard’ really mean, why do we need standards, and how can we uphold them, especially when the going gets tough?
In an opinion piece for M&IT, Harrison examines why standards matter, especially when under pressure. And with the events industry being so busy, the current shorter lead times and staffing issues, there has never been a more appropriate time to discuss the topic.
ICC Wales has hosted a Protect Duty Roundtable to highlight the role venues and event organisers play in ensuring they are as safe and secure as possible for attendees.
Following ICC Wales’ Protect Duty Report, the roundtable aimed to strengthen the events sector’s response to forthcoming legislation.
The new legislation, also known as Martyn’s Law, will formalize the responsibilities and actions that publicly accessible places must take to mitigate the risk of a terrorist attack.
Heather Lishman, executive director of the Association of British Professional Conference Organizers (ABPCO), said the discussions helped ease some of the uncertainty and anxiety surrounding the new legislation. She continued:
“Protect Duty can sound quite formal and scary, but ultimately protecting someone should be seen as a very positive message – it’s a caring cause, keeping people safe from harm. If we as all stakeholders work together and work out the potential harms together, hopefully we can mitigate the risk as a team effort. ”
This Monday’s Insights feature brings you the industry headlines you may have missed from the last week.
Headlines
Europe’s Events Market is set to be valued at USD $123.9 Billion by 2030, according to a report published by Allied Market Research. The report offers an extensive analysis of key growth strategies, drivers, opportunities, key segment, Porter’s Five Forces analysis, and competitive landscape.
According to coverage of the report in Digital Journal, the corporate sector offers various opportunities for event management companies to contribute to huge revenue generation, which, in turn, augments the growth of the Europe events market.
Digital Journal claims ‘The growth of the events industry is majorly driven by upsurge in frequency of corporate meetings, conferences, tradeshows/exhibitions, and other events. Furthermore, the presence of developed infrastructure and increased adoption of advanced technology in Europe has fueled the growth of the Europe events industry.’
NewcastleGateshead Convention Bureau has reported signs of recovery for the meetings and events industry in the North East.
From April 2019 to April 2022, the convention bureau has facilitated a 73% increase in confirmed enquiries for meetings, events and conferences, with figures from May this year almost at full recovery from 2019. This is the highest performing month for value of confirmed business in six years.
May figures reflect a steady path to full recovery, coming in at 87% pre-covid levels despite the industry being disproportionately affected by the pandemic.
NewcastleGateshead Convention Bureau, part of NewcastleGateshead Initiative (NGI), work with established partnerships and local academia to help bring meetings, events and conferences to the region.
Paul Szomoru, Director of Business Events, NGI said: “The figures we have received are very encouraging for the steady recovery of the meetings and event sector, and are also testament to the resilience, collaboration and innovation of our team and each and every venue, ambassador and supplier across the region.
“Having a healthy pipeline of events is crucial to the sustainability of the sector and the recovery and growth of the local visitor economy, by filling our hotels, venues, restaurants and attractions, increasing visitor numbers and spend and supporting jobs across the industry.
“It’s a very exciting time for meetings and events in Newcastle, with the opening of the brand-new Sage ICC in 2024. The development is already proving to be a game-changer in the industry, by enabling us to target and attract bigger international events, more national and international delegates and ultimately working towards positioning NewcastleGateshead as the world’s meeting place.”
Meeting Professionals International, the meetings and events industry association is unveiling an corporate docuseries on the resurgence of professional meetings and events and the professionals behind the scenes that make it a success.
Experience Professionals: Inside the Industry that Brings People Together explores the relationship between in-person gatherings and events and the many benefits to business acceleration. The irreplaceable human connections that define us are reliant on the coming together of people—live and in-person—to shape and enhance us and our communities. Whether you attend or facilitate, live event experiences provide immeasurable human value and opportunity to everyone involved.
Presented and narrated by former GMA and CBS Today Show Correspondent Taryn Winter Brill, “Experience Professionals: Inside the Industry that Brings People Together” will explore these issues, capturing stories from the people and organizations who work across the meetings and events industry. The program will show how through effective collaboration and education and with the right people, technology, locations, and facilities, industry professionals can deliver meetings that matter.
The program is presented by Meeting Professionals International (MPI) and produced by dBase Media (DBM). Based in Dallas, TX, MPI is the largest meeting and event industry association worldwide and provides innovative and relevant education, networking opportunities and business exchanges.
“MPI believes that ‘when we meet, we change the world,’” said Paul Van Deventer, president and CEO of MPI. “And the evidence of this industry’s impact on driving innovation, technology, learning and advancement is clear — meetings and events have long been among the top contributors for worldwide economic impact, directly responsible for over $1 trillion in spending and 10.3 million jobs.”
MEETINGS 2023 is set to be held in New Zealand’s Tākina Wellington Conference and Exhibition Centre for the first time, Business Events Industry Aotearoa (BEIA) has told Conference and Meetings World.
BEIA chief executive Lisa Hopkins said: “Tākina’s opening in June 2023 is perfect timing for New Zealand business events to showcase in a new destination.”
With delays and cancelled flights wreaking havoc on travel, what can event planners do to ensure keynote speakers, VIPs, and others make it to their events on time?
This article in Skift Meetings discusses how pent-up demand, staff shortages, strikes, and Covid have led to delays, cancellations, and disruptions. And it cover the implications if a speaker misses a gig due to travel delays and what can be done to mitigate losses?
Business travel will be crucial to the travel industry’s recovery from the pandemic. Yet, when it comes to sustainability, business travel is a big part of the problem, according to a Reuters report.
The report claims that with so few sustainable alternatives to traditional jet fuel, and none expected until after 2030, just 1% of people cause half of all aviation emissions (European non-governmental organisation (NGO) Transport & Environment).
Sustainability and travel are important overlapping factors with meetings and event strategies; read the feature in full here.
This Monday’s Insights feature brings you the industry headlines you may have missed from the last week.
Headlines
The Meetings Industry Association has reacted to UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s resignation.
Kerrin MacPhie, chief executive of the mia, said: “We feel that Boris Johnson’s resignation potentially provides an opportunity for the business meetings and events sector as it really feels like wholesale change is in the air.
“Despite the distractions of the inevitable leadership challenge and subsequent ministerial appointments, we may potentially witness positive change such as visa conditions and immigration rules being relaxed. This will assist us to attract the much-needed workforce that left the UK post-Brexit and help business meetings and events thrive, providing much confidence to all – both domestically and internationally.”
She added: “We will have to see how things unfold but what is clear is that collaboration and staying connected as a sector has never been more important.”
Butlin’s is tackling the hospitality skills shortage with a new Chef Academy designed to train, coach and validate current team and new starters to the standard required to operate in all catering venues at its three resorts.
Mark Murphy, Butlin’s, said: “The Chef Academy has been years in the making and we have already welcomed two cohorts of chefs who have worked on several different conferences and events ranging from small events to large corporate gala dinners.”
EDGE Venues’ CEO, Jacqui Kavanagh, joined the panel at Beam’s instant book summit last week.
The instant book summit, which took place DoubleTree by Hilton Oxford Belfry, brought together every type of organisation from across the industry interested in digitalising meetings and event bookings.
The event explored the future of venue finding and booking and saw Jacqui participate in thought-provoking content, opening minds as our industry is navigating a new world.
Senior professionals from agencies and travel management companies will came together with hotel and venue groups, independent hotels and venues, many specialist venues and a wide range of specialist technology providers to shine a light on the issues and the way forward.
Event industry recruiter, Robert Kenward, has shared a guide on recruiting and retaining Millennials with Conference News.
Those born between 1981 and 1996 were apparently the second-largest age group to leave the workforce during the pandemic. So how do we attract and retain need next-generation employees?
Robert covers everything you need to know, including, why people should stop using the term ‘Millennials, or Gen Y, or whichever name clumsily pigeonholes nearly two decades of wildly different people into one handy, but lazy and misleading, description.’
Double Take
Tom Bairstow ofNorthHouse has shared how the 2022 Platinum Party at the Palace projection mapping, video design and direction, screen visuals and broadcast graphics came together.
The Creative Director and Founder told Event Industry News how the company ‘delivered unique and dazzling results which transformed Buckingham Palace into the largest projector screen in the world in a show broadcasted to millions globally.’
