Hotels, Venues & Event news
Hilton has announced the opening of Grand Tirolia Hotel Kitzbuhel. The property joins Curio Collection by Hilton and marks the brand’s entry into Austria.
The hotel will be a part of the exclusive collection of independent hotels and resorts celebrated for their individuality, the property, a private oasis in the Austrian Alps, joins more than 60 one-of-a-kind Curio Collection by Hilton hotels around the world, including 11 in Europe.
Teams from destination marketing organisations and convention bureaux around the UK will reunite next month for the second Meetings Industry Association’s (mia) Destinations Summit.
Sponsored by VisitBritain, the two-day event will take place from 11-12 February at the Hilton Liverpool City Centre and is open to anyone responsible for attracting conferences and events at a destination or convention bureau.
Following the success of the inaugural summit last year, convention bureaux professionals from across the UK have come together to create a thought-provoking two-day programme designed to upskill the knowledge, skills and confidence of those working in key roles to attract business events to their destination.
Highlights will include a key note address by one of the leading figures of the international meetings and events industry, Christian Mutschlechner, the director of the Vienna Convention Bureau.
Airbnb’s head of EMEA partnerships Hadi Moussa, will also be giving a talk about new and innovative ways for destinations to utilise their system for events and Julian Stubbs, founder and CEO of Up There, Everywhere will be delivering a session on branding and place marketing.
Paul Szomoru, director of business at NewcastleGateshead Convention Bureau and Destinations Chair for the mia, said: “We are really excited about holding our second mia Destinations Summit in Liverpool. With a fantastic mix of international speakers and colleagues from VisitBritain and UK destinations, we are pulling leading experts and practitioners from near and far to share best practice on a range of subjects.
A lot of the content is being delivered by convention bureaux for convention bureaux on some very important subjects such as accommodation booking service excellence and destination strategic alignment.
“VisitBritain is a key delivery partner and it’s fantastic to have its support and involvement in the programme. The VisitBritain business events team will be delivering some great sessions, sharing the latest insights and engaging with destinations about the expertise the team can bring.”
Kerrin MacPhie, head of business events at VisitBritain, said: “We’re very pleased to be working with the Meeting Industry Association, supporting the Destinations Summit to boost the UK’s appeal as a leading destination for business events and promoting our role as a key partner to increase our share of the global marketplace.
“It is an exciting time for business events in the UK with new venue openings and product launches in 2019. VisitBritain is also working on new initiatives to win more international business and the quality and strength of the convention bureaux is vital to making this happen, as well as the strong relationships we have with destination teams across the UK.”
The theme will be the HBAA’s focus for events in the year ahead. The association will be exploring opportunities for collaborating with the Prince’s Trust, as well as developing resources to attract, nurture and retain the next generation of workers.
Experienced industry professionals will be providing continuous mentorship, and younger members will be invited to shadow the HBAA board at events throughout 2019.
Rachael Naylor, the new HBAA venue member chair, announced the launch of a Venue Members meeting, designed to forge closer collaboration between venues. This is set to take place along with the Great Venue Showcase on 11 and 12 April.
The HBAA will also be driving a major initiative to encourage action on mental health issues in the event industry. It will introduce a training course for members to become mental health ‘first aiders’, which all HBAA Executive Committee members will undergo.
It also announced a collaboration with charity Buses4Homeless, which outfits buses as overnight shelters and vocational learning centres for the homeless.
Angie Mason, HBAA Chair, commented: “I could not be more excited to take over as Chair. 16 years after my previous year in office, my association experience is coming full circle. I started my first business in this industry 29 years ago and have lived through tremendous change and three recessions. Many of the Executive Committee also have so much knowledge and experience to help, inspire and support ‘The Next Generation.’
Now more than ever, event planners are requesting healthier food and drink options, driven by what their customers want. According to an IACC report on nutrition and wellness trends, more planners and attendees are asking hotels and convention centres for healthier food. They want the option of a healthy event experience.
Attendees are becoming increasingly health conscious with dietary requirements and choices requested on the increase. Vegetarian, vegan, paleo, gluten free, raw… the list of diets goes on. Eating healthy when at an event like parties, receptions, and conferences can be a challenging experience when you are trying to balance healthy foods with foods high in fat, salt, and sugar.
Selecting “heart healthy” foods is not always easy because you have limited control over the food preparation by event caterers. However more and more event caterer’s e.g. Compass Group are designing menus that give control back to event bookers and in turn delegates. Caterers and venues are recognising that gone are the days where they can serve potluck dinners and beige buffets. Although healthier options may cost more, attendees appreciate and remember events where the healthy choice was the most tempting choice.
Here are some thoughts on how event professionals can support the move for healthier food at events:
Ever been to a conference or organised one, and got the 2pm slump, usually after eating a selection of heavy beige food? This is no good for delegate engagement and no good for the conference speaker on at that time. To combat this, caterers are creating menus that support attentiveness and performance.
Levy Leisure, a division of Compass Group, is championing the need for healthy food by supporting The Food for the Brain Foundation, which is an educational charity promoting the importance of nutrition in mental health and well-being. The accreditation ensures that menus support mental health, well-being, concentration and performance.
Items on the menu for breakfast include probiotic yoghurt with linseed, hemp, sunflower, pumpkin and chia seeds. Lunch guests can expect vibrant, colourful and healthy salads and dishes which are predominantly plant-based. Items on the lunch menu include chargrilled courgette, baby samphire, red chard and pecorino cheese; free-range chicken roasted with garlic, leeks and onions, served with sourdough bread and kimchi.
Meals should be balanced to support healthy blood sugar levels, meaning brain activity is maintained throughout the day.
According to the Vegan Society the demand for meat-free food increased by 987% in 2017 and going vegan was one of the biggest food trends in 2018. Last year Veganism dominated the press, social media and has significantly impacted catering at events. Along with totally committed vegetarians and vegans, there is a growing movement toward being ‘flexitarian’. These people have a primarily plant based diet but are flexible about eating an occasional meat based dish. This adds another layer to consider when planning a menu with your event caterer.
More and more venue and event caterers are offering plant based menus, with this trend set to continue into 2019 and beyond. Venues and caterers that can add this option to their standard catering menus, at no extra charge, will surely have an edge over competitors.
There is a new trend to all day grazing, allowing delegates to eat throughout the day, when they want, rather than set break or lunchtimes. According to catering supplier Bunzl, 1 in 5 UK adults admit to choosing to snack all day instead of eating 3 separate meals. Grazers’ often choose smaller servings of ready-prepared food options, enabling them to have a balanced food intake throughout the day. Although snacks are traditionally seen as an unhealthy option, grazing can provide more energy, more stable blood sugar, better appetite control and even a more efficient metabolism — provided that the snack choices are good ones.
While this catering style might not suit your event, you could try setting up a fresh and dried fruit station in the main room that delegates can help themselves to throughout the day – a ‘healthy’ pick and mix if you will. Any food left over can be taken home in doggy bags to minimise wastage.
Modern events should be sympathetic to every delegate and provide beverage options that are suitable for all. Some delegates may not drink alcohol at all or others may want to cut back on the amount of alcohol they are drinking at an award ceremony, private dinner or product launch.
Offering an alternative of non-alcoholic or low-alcohol drinks that still taste great is something venues and event caterers are offering more and more. Non-alcoholic beer tastes very similar to alcoholic beer but because low-alcohol beer tends to have fewer calories than alcoholic beer, choosing it over alcohol can reduce calorie intake as part of a healthy event.
Today more venues stock a growing range of non-alcoholic drinks and beers, which means it’s easier than ever for delegates to cut back their alcohol intake, whilst still enjoying the event.
We all know we should be drinking a minimum of 2 litres of water a day but why? Well, hydration is good for the body and the brain. However it’s not good for the environment if water is being drunk out of single use plastic bottles. Event planners or venues could consider giving out branded event or venue water bottles for delegates to use throughout the event, minimising waste and prompting delegates to drink more.
Venues can place water stations throughout the venue so attendees can fill up. Make the stations different by providing water flavoured with cucumber, fruit, mint, or other herbs.
Sitting all day isn’t good for digestion. Come up with creative ways to get attendees off their backsides. Hold a post-lunch group stretch in the breakout room. Schedule walking conversations focused on specific topics for small groups of attendees. Give attendees the option of standing during lunchtime around poser or raised tables. Why not hand out pedometers to delegates to encourage them to take a walk during breaks and lunch time?
In summary, event caterers and venues that put healthier options first, will surely help to create memorable experiences that means customers will return time after time.
All 90 venues under the Lime Venue Portfolio brand ensure healthy options are on the menu as they are part of global caterer Compass Group, so customers can be assured no matter which venue they visit, within the portfolio, they will get the best possible healthy food experience.
For more information take a look at www.limevenueportfolio.com or contact enquiries@edgevenues.com or call 01780 484051 for help to find a venue.
The UK conferencing and events market is growing as a whole, despite the conference and meetings segment suffering decline for a third consecutive year, according to an in-depth analysis of 11 industry reports by Warwick Conferences.
The analysis, by Warwick Conferences found that the number of events being held in the UK is falling, while continued scrutiny on meeting spend and return on investment (ROI) is driving a shift towards a more strategic meeting management approach.
While indications are that the decline is set to recover and achieve a growth of 3.6 per cent by 2022, the increased importance on ROI means the average number of events being organised is down. However, despite the industry seeing these lower numbers, Warwick Conferences has announced that it has seen a strong start to its financial year.
Paul Bartlett at Warwick Conferences said: “As event organisers attempt to stretch their budgets and deliver the greatest ROI, it’s no real surprise that we are subject to more scrutiny than ever before. However, at Warwick Conferences, we have seen increased numbers of our 24-hour rates, as well as our bigger event spaces continuing to perform well.”
Other findings from Warwick Conferences’ analysis include how venues must take on the role as a strategic consultant to deliver truly memorable meeting experiences, with catering to play an ever-important role.
According to the analysis, the quality of the Wi-Fi will play an important factor for successful meetings, while mobile app use is expected to grow, too, showing how technology is going to play an increasing role in the event experience.
Another expected trend is the wellness of delegates, as Bartlett concluded: “We have already announced positive changes to our wellness offering, thanks to the upcoming opening of the University of Warwick’s Sport and Wellness Hub, while our creative spaces ensure that truly memorable events can be easily and affordably organised.
“Our analysis ensures that we are best placed to support event planners maximise their ROI in 2019 and beyond.”
Central Hall Westminster has announced a record turnover for the year of £7.8m, and subsequently promised to increase charitable funding to £1.7m per year. This will represent a 21% rise in donations to charity by 2020.
The central London venue’s 2018 Annual Review reveals that the record turnover has been boosted by a 37% increase in high-profile concerts held in its historic Great Hall. This included the Royal Armouries’ concert to mark the end of the hostilities in the First World War attended by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Other high-profile concerts included UNICEF’s Christmas Carol concert featuring Jessie Ware which raised money for children in Syria, Katie Melua’s London leg of her World Tour, 80s pop band Madness transmitted live from the venue by BBC One and the Raymond Gubbay season of Christmas concerts.
The number of conferences held in 2018 also increased by 31% with clients including Deloitte, Shell, The Guardian and The Jamaican National Bank. Additionally, the flexibility of the venue allowed over six exhibitions to be held throughout the year including the 13th Annual BNC Show for the second year running.
Televised media events in 2018 included Channel Four’s Stand up to Cancer presented by Alan Carr, Maya Jama and Adam Hills, held at Central Hall for the third time in a row and which raised over £24.6m, and James Corden’s The Late Late Show for the second year running.
One of the highest profile events in 2018 was a public address by the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, which was streamed live to one billion people worldwide.
As a not-for-profit organisation, surplus revenue is used to maintain the historic Grade II* Listed building and to support charitable causes. In 2018, £450,000 was spent on improvement works including a complete refurbishment and rebranding of its public café. For 2019 and beyond, a budget of £1.1m has been set for a ten-year building maintenance programme.
As a result of the increased revenue, the venue was able to make a contribution of £1.2m to the funds of the Trustees of Central Hall which makes further contributions to the building’s upkeep and to a number of charitable causes including homeless charity, The Passage, and the onsite St. Vincent’s Family project which supports vulnerable local families. Other charitable initiatives for 2018 included raising over £28,000 through public donations to the Toilet Twinning charity which aims to provide clean water and sanitation to poverty-stricken families around the world.
Paul Southern, Managing Director of Central Hall Westminster, comments: “For the past five years we have beat our own record for results, but in the last year it has been phenomenal with the large increase in both concert and conference business. We really took the spotlight on the world stage with the number of internationally acclaimed and high-profile events which took place here. Prime Minister Modi’s address to one billion people around the world had particular resonance with us after Mahatma Gandhi addressed an audience from the very same stage exactly 70 years earlier. This demonstrates how we and the world have progressed to reach huge audiences, while our values remain the same.
“In addition, we have exceeded our five-year plan to increase the number of high-profile concerts which take place within the venue and are delighted that the profits from these and all our other events go to help so many worthy causes,” he added.
VisitBritain has announced its flagship business event MeetGB will return this year to show 120 international buyers why the UK is the destination of choice for meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions.
MeetGB will welcome 80 suppliers from venues, hotels and local attractions across the UK to do business with global buyers from France, Germany and North America at the De Vere Beaumont Estate in Windsor from Thursday 11 to Friday 12 April 2019.
The programme will see the buyers and suppliers engage in one-to-one business meetings, networking events and workshops.
VisitBritain chief executive Sally Balcombe said: “We are proud to bring MeetGB to Windsor in 2019 after the success of our inaugural event in 2018.
“MeetGB has been designed with global buyers in mind to demonstrate the breadth and quality of the UK’s meetings and events industry, highlighting VisitBritain’s commitment to growing the business events sector.
“MeetGB gives UK suppliers a platform to promote their products on an international scale, creating valuable business connections that will ultimately drive more international MICE events across the country.”
Ahead of the business programme, buyers will be introduced to some of the best of the UK’s conference and events offering as they take part in three days of educational visits across the country.
MeetGB is hosted by VisitBritain in partnership with VisitEngland, Visit Wales, VisitScotland and Tourism Northern Ireland.
VisitBritain promotes business events worldwide under the Events are GREAT brand, part of the UK Government’s GREAT Britain campaign.
The brand drives awareness of Britain’s destinations and products, highlighting its history of research, innovation and high-quality infrastructure, positioning it as a leading destination for business events.
Michelle Rennoldson joins CHS Group UK as buyer relationship manager with a remit to make the 10th Anniversary Conference and Hospitality Show the best yet.
A regular attendee from the inaugural event in 2000 to CHS18, Michelle has seen the Conference and Hospitality Show grow and build to the record-breaking national show in 2018, that has put Leeds firmly on the conference map.
Delighted at being the latest addition to the CHS team Michelle said: “I started with CHS as a project manager to cover a single event, which grew into another one and then they asked me to come on board permanently.
“I look after the Independent Venue Roadshow and hosted buyers programme. I’m currently recruiting judges for our 5th anniversary CHS Awards and relationship building with contacts, agents, PA’s and venues and inviting them along to our events.
“I’m so pleased to be working with CHS, I’ve known them and worked alongside them for a long time and they’ve always been such a great company to work with. They never sit still and are constantly looking to improve what they do and pushing for the next big thing. It’s wonderful to join the team at this exciting time, having seen CHS grow and build into a national show in Leeds over the last nine years.”
Michelle began her career 12 years ago as hotel sales coordinator where she gained lots of experience and her first taste of working in events.
Following an introduction at the inaugural Conference and Hospitality Show at the Royal Armouries in 2010, she joined the team of a brand-new casino in Leeds city centre, as front of house and reception, having fallen in love its events space, private dining, and private cinema. Following two-years of learning the trade, Michelle became senior events manager, in charge of everything from enquiry to operations.
Michelle then spent six years at the National Railway Museum, initially with Compass, and then Science Museum before combining her freelance work with a new position of buyer relationship manager for CHS Group UK.
“It’s interesting seeing how it works from this side. My previous experience has been as a venue, and a delegate and I’m now building a very different relationship with contacts from my venue background. It’s a different conversation as you are asking people to give their time and that’s almost as hard as talking sales and bottom line, that’s challenging but I really like that element of it and it really helps to have knowledge and an understanding of that other side I can be passionate about this as I believe it to be quality time invested well, I couldn’t promote it if I didn’t believe it.”
It’s an exciting time to join the organisation as it planning to mark two important milestones – the Conference and Hospitality Show will celebrate its tenth anniversary in 2019 and it will also be the CHS Awards fifth birthday. Michelle comments: “We’re very excited about the it’s the 10th anniversary, it will be focussed on where we’ve been, where we are, and where we are going. We’ll be celebrating with everyone who has been on this journey with us, so expect big and exciting things ahead.”
CHS19 will return to the First Direct Arena, Leeds for another Rockstar event on Tuesday 30th April 2019 and promises to be bigger and better than ever with lots of exciting keynote speakers, industry experts and quality buyers in attendance. Expect another great event, with plenty of opportunities to see what will be trending in the events and hospitality industry in 2019.
New research by SAP Concur has revealed that 31% of UK businesses consider growth during 2019 to be critical.
In addition, 96% reported that their company is planning to grow, with it being 25 months, on average, until they anticipate to reach their fastest rate of growth.
Importantly, companies demonstrated notable optimism about growth with 76% saying that they were very or extremely optimistic that their business would grow in the next two years, despite uncertainty surrounding Brexit.
Dafydd Llewellyn, managing director SMB UK and France, SAP Concur said: “That UK decision makers are so positive about their growth prospects makes for encouraging reading.
“To prosper in the midst of so much uncertainty will require resilience, determination and an adaptable mindset, in order to create a nimbleness to their operations that doesn’t hinder growth, stifle innovation or negatively impact their ability to retain and hire staff.
“Rather than fearing the unknown, UK businesses are up for the challenge. In line with this, they’re increasingly seeing finance as an innovative role that can equip them with the data and insight they need to make informed decisions that enable the growth by protecting their bottom line, investments and employees.”
Indeed, 96% said that finance was imperative to their organisation achieving its growth goals. 3 in 10 of those surveyed said that finance reporting and insights are critical to setting growth priorities, suggesting a clear link between finance and company ambition.
Llewellyn continued: “2019 is going to be a year where the ability to quickly change course is key to survival. With the right processes, transparency and tech in place, UK firms can give themselves the best chance of adapting to changing market conditions and realising those growth ambitions – because if they do the boost to society and the wider economy will be most welcome.”
Deloitte’s US report could mean greater options for meetings and event bookers.
2019 US Travel and Hospitality Industry Outlook talks of key trends powering growth in a technology-driven industry. A strong economy, rising global consumer purchasing power, and digital innovation have all fuelled record growth in the travel and hospitality industry. But there are still several challenges that could throw the industry off course in 2019.
So Deloitte’s report looks at the biggest trends likely to shape hospitality, airlines, cruises, and ground transportation in the year ahead. And in a section titled ‘Hospitality: Sustaining momentum’, it’s made clear that hoteliers need to plan for the longer term and be prepared for any potential downturns, even if they’re short-lived.
The report claims that those [hoteliers] able to weather any potential storm without drastic reductions in service quality and rates will be better positioned for profitability when the bull market returns. How hoteliers and venue operators achieve the balance will be for their strategists to decide!
And while competition is always good news on rates for meetings and event bookers, it could be positive for unusual venue and accommodation choices too…
“Hotels will likely continue to introduce innovative concepts, products, and loyalty strategies to cut through the noise of the more than 270 trademarked brands (and virtually innumerable independents) that currently exist worldwide. The rollout of new lifestyle, boutique, and contemporary brands in recent years demonstrates the sector’s unrelenting willingness to adapt to an evolving traveler. However, given that traveler preferences are ever-changing, opportunities will always remain.”