Blog Archives - Page 9 of 37

23rd February 20239th March 2023

A Love for Leeds

Leeds is a bustling city in the heart of England with excellent transport links to all corners of the UK.

A two-hour train ride from London with Scotland just as close, this glamorous city has a long list of attractions to keep business travellers occupied through culture, restaurants and walks in the great outdoors.

So let’s have a closer look at Leeds.

The History of Leeds

Leeds has an intriguing history with buildings and architecture dating back to Victorian times, still visble in the city today. The 12C Monastery at Kirkstall Abbey has an interactive visitor centre to teach visitors about the ruins and if you love this, The Royal Armouries Museum also proves a popular, free day out for all ages.

If you love the outdoors, this city will capture your heart with plenty of beautiful parks, such as Roundhay Park and its beautiful scenery.

The Best Places to Eat and Drink

Leeds has an abundance of high-quality, award-winning restaurants for half the price of those in London. With a selection of tasty cuisines, there will be something for everyone. Enjoy a lovely pizza at Rudy’s Pizzeria or indulge in a Sunday roast at Shears Yard after a fun-filled day exploring the city.

In the evening, visit old and traditional bars like Whitelock’s Ale House for a relaxing pint or two. Or perhaps a sweet cocktail at the Dirty Martini might be more to your taste. Wherever you choose, the cosmopolitan atmosphere that this city offers is unmatched.

The City’s Culture

This year Leeds will be hosting LEEDS 2023, a year-long event of experiences for everyone in the city. From arts and dance to poetry and sport, the city will see a celebration of its culture and future.

The event has already put Leeds on the Map as one of the UK’s top conference locations, and hopes that LEEDS 2023 is a huge success are high. It already demonstrates the beautiful city and displays everything it offers to the rest of the world, all while boosting the local economy.

Lovely Leeds Venues

Leeds is set to be one of the most sought-after locations for event profs in 2023. Whether you require a stunning meeting venue, a classy conference room or a unique team-building space, Leeds has everything to offer.

We’ve selected a few stand-out venues from the city and surrounding areas that make a great impression and leave delegates feeling the love for Leeds.

-Radisson Blu Hotel, Leeds

In the city centre, the Radisson Blu is located within a shopping complex called The Light. This complex offers an area to park, a gym facility, car charging ports and on-site shopping within a short walking distance for guests. The Radisson has ten spacious meeting rooms and 147 bedrooms, ensuring flexibility to cater to your group’s needs. It is a 30-minute drive from the airport of Leeds and a ten-minute walk from the nearest train station, making it an easily accessible venue.

BOOK HERE

-The Queens

The Queens, part of the QHotels Collection, has welcomed numerous famous guests, including Nelson Mandela. The property recently underwent construction and looks more glamorous than ever with enhanced 1930s beauty. It has 13 event spaces across the ground and first floor, perfect for conferences, board meetings and team-building activities. This truly stunning hotel has a lovely restaurant and bar for winding down after meetings, on-site parking, and 212 rooms/suites available for guests. The Queens boasts convenience, with a private entrance from Leeds train station.

BOOK HERE

-The DoubleTree Hilton Leeds City Centre

The DoubleTree Hilton is part of a successful world-renowned hotel chain and proves to be equally successful in Leeds. On the south side of the city and the banks of the Leeds Canal, the Hilton is central and close to local amenities. The Hotel has 333 rooms and 19 meeting rooms and parking on-site on a limited basis.

BOOK HERE

-The Studio Leeds

Also looking onto the Leeds, Liverpool canal is The Studio. This sleek, stylish venue is bursting with character and has so much potential for meetings and events in the area. With amazing, light-hearted decor throughout, the 11 outstanding event spaces are all unique and versatile for the occasion. The Studio is perfect for meeting and eating, as the breakout space serves a delicious two-course lunch throughout the day. With close links to the train station and the airport, The Studio is a great venue.

BOOK HERE

-Oulton Hall

Oulton Hall is a traditional building with heaps of character and endless space. It is perfectly located for quick and easy access, a few minutes from the M1 and the M62. With numerous pillar features and chandeliers, Oulton Hall is a stand-out venue. The hotel’s 152 large bedrooms and 9 meeting rooms are a glorious combination of traditional and modern, with high ceilings and charming features. It also offers a 27-hole golf course in its grounds and parking for up to 300 vehicles.

BOOK HERE

-Pavilions of Harrogate

The Pavilions of Harrogate has a glorious location, situated in one of England’s most elegant and beautifully laid out towns. The town has excellent regular links to London and Scotland, making the venue a lovely middle ground for meetings and conferences with a large, dispersed audience from across the UK. The venue has 14 large event spaces -all boasting stunning views- and a car park for 500 cars.

BOOK HERE

-Cedar Court Hotel Harrogate

Also located within the picturesque town of Harrogate, The Cedar Court Hotel sits beautifully looking onto a 200-acre parkland. Home to 100 bedrooms and eight meeting rooms, this venue offers space for everyone. The selection of meeting rooms is second to none, with magnificent features and charming décor. The hotel has parking for up to 150 cars and is only a short seven-minute walk from the train station.

BOOK HERE

With unlimited event potential, Leeds is second to none. With booming nightlife and historic culture, this beautiful city and its venues will leave you wanting more.

20th February 20239th March 2023

Australia business events, IMEX Frankfurt, event icebreakers & more

This Monday’s Insights (20 February 2023) feature brings you the latest news including Australia business events campaign, IMEX Frankfurt, event icebreakers, and more.

Headlines

Australia has launched a campaign to attract business events from the UK and Asia corporate markets.

Tourism Australia and Singapore Airlines have signed a new agreement aimed at promoting business events in Australia to the UK and Asia

Under the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), marketing and promotional activities will focus on Australia’s strengths as a business events destination by highlighting its diverse landscapes, venues, unique experiences and friendly people.

Andrew Hogg, Tourism Australia’s executive general manager of eastern markets and aviation, said: “Business events are incredibly valuable to Australia’s visitor economy and strategic partnerships such as this help to secure future business for Australia.”

Evolution Dome will launch its latest range at International Confex.

According to Conference News, Evolution Dome – a supplier of temporary inflatable structures – will launch its latest products at International Confex.

Attendees will be the first to see Evolution Domes’ latest inflatable structure, with its ‘multipurpose Decagon structure’ that can be used indoors and outdoors and offers five brandable walls.

Ash Austin, director, Evolution Dome, told Confere News: “Not only is the Decagon designed to be easy to transport and deploy, but it’s also our latest step towards providing more sustainable structure solutions. By using sealed air, the structure does not require a power supply and is inflated from mains or battery power, reducing carbon emissions, costs, and noise pollution in the long term.”

IMEX Frankfurt which takes place 23 – 25 May in its long-established home, Messe Frankfurt, is now open.

IMEX Frankfurt 2023 will reflect many of the big shifts and changes in the meetings and events industry globally. As a buying force, the Chinese market is back and Asia in general is booming, driving event demand, locally and internationally. The big tech companies in Korea are one of several factors behind this growth.

The IMEX 2023 Talking Point – Human Nature – is the backbone to the show’s four-day education programme plus many of show-floor activations, both from IMEX and imaginative partners and sponsors.

Specialist buyer events take centre stage on Monday May 22, with programmes such as Association Focus, Agency Directors Forum and Exclusively Corporate.

Carina Bauer, IMEX Group CEO, says “While we’re always focused on innovation, business value and experiential development, we’re still careful to ensure that IMEX Frankfurt 2023 is a physically and emotionally safe experience for all. Health and safety remain high priorities for us and, as the world and event attendees continue to demand more sustainable events, we’ll also share IMEX’s legacy and learnings while cheering the industry on to do more, and with more urgency.”

Register for IMEX Frankfurt 2023

Skift Meetings has shared 48 Icebreakers for More Engaged Events.

It says ‘Bad icebreakers feel like forced summer camp activities, while good icebreakers are the seeds of amazing friendships, business partnerships, and more. To help you break the ice in the best possible way, we’ve gathered 48 of the best business networking icebreakers.

Skift Meetings Studio Team.’

From the Novelty and fun, to the event themed ice-breakers, read them all here.

Haymarket’s profits have climbed to £16.9m as ‘live events boost revenue’.

According to Campaign Live, Haymarket’s UK B2B arm delivered best results in a decade, with revenue up 12%.

And it was great to read that Haymarket points to the ‘continued rebound in live events after the pandemic’ in helping boost its performance.

“Haymarket’s strategic diversification of revenues and continued investment in its multiple digital platforms has ensured its data and paid content opportunities are fully maximised,” the company said.

Kevin Costello, chief executive of Haymarket Group, said: “At a group level, we have maintained strong profit levels, in spite of the challenging macro-economic conditions, driven by the return to live events. We continue to invest organically and we are actively seeking acquisition opportunities.”

15th February 20239th March 2023

2023 New Venue Openings

Looking for some new venue openings to inspire your next meeting or event? Make sure you’re choosing a venue that meets your business objectives and company culture.

There is a range of new venue openings both freshly opened and set to open this year, we have included a list of some of our personal favourites to keep an eye out for.

Art’otel London Battersea Power Station,

‘London’s Hottest New Hotel’ the Art’otel, is set to open on the 21st of February 2023 and will certainly come in with a bang. Jaw-dropping features and stylish décor are only the start of what this venue has to offer.

This hotel boasts stunning panoramic views of the city, a rooftop pool, a jacuzzi, and a gym. The hotel has a selection of rooms including the art room, the art room plus, the art room studio, and the art room skyline plus.

All with modern, unique, and bright design features by Jamie Hayton. It is home to 6 glamorous event spaces that can hold up to 250 guests, making this an ideal location for anything from small intimate gatherings or large business meetings. For a showstopper venue, the hotel occasionally offers its glamorous 16th-floor rooftop bar.

Hyatt Regency London Blackfriars

The Hyatt Regency Hotel in Blackfriars London is brand new and set to open in a few months. Situated at Blackfriars Station, the Hyatt has direct access to public transport and is close to the hustle and bustle of the city centre.

This glamorous hotel has 204 guest rooms, each with extravagant features such as climate control, HD TV, and deluxe bathroom spaces. On top of this, the venue offers 3 flexible event spaces, all of which are extremely versatile to suit your meeting group/size.

Raffles London, Old War Office

This historic building will have 120 rooms and suites as well as 11 restaurants and bars to ensure guests are spoilt for choice.

Nestled in the centre of Westminster around half a mile from main tourist attractions such as big ben and the London eye, this new hotel is situated perfectly for both work and pleasure. The Raffles is a must-see hotel so keep an eye out for its opening later in the year.

TreeHouse Hotel Manchester

The Treehouse-themed hotel is located in the beating heart of Manchester on Deansgate, set to open this Spring. Featuring 216 rooms, a rooftop bar, and a restaurant/bar on the 14th floor, This new venue will be impressive.

A playful, fun décor throughout the hotel will allow guests to experience a stress-free and light-hearted stay. The Treehouse has a selection of event spaces, perfect for weddings, group meetings, or conferences. There are also several dining spaces for meals and catered events.

100 Princes Street Edinburgh

Edinburgh’s hottest new hotel is set to open in August of this year and will be a lovely addition to the grand selection of hotels available in the city. The hotel is a beautiful restoration of the original building, keeping some of the iconic traditional features throughout.

100 princes street which is described as a ‘Truly Scottish experience’ has 30 guest rooms and suites as well as a unique 2:1 staff ratio ensuring that guests have the most enjoyable and efficient experience during their stay.

The Wildes Hotel, Chester

Set to open in the spring of this year, this stunning, boutique, Chester – based hotel will have 18 rooms and a rooftop pool with beautiful city views. In addition to this, the hotel will also feature a luxury spa and mouth-wateringly tasty meals served at the restaurant.

Room2, Belfast

With the success of London’s Room2 developments, Room2 is branching out into Belfast and will be set to open its doors this spring. The hotel boasts 175 rooms, a gym, a restaurant, and event spaces.

The Wesley Camden Town, London

The newly opened Wesley in Camden Town opened in January 2023. This boutique hotel has 20 meeting rooms, all varying sizes with flexibility for different events.

There are 38 stylish rooms with contemporary features, made using sustainably sourced materials. In addition to this, the hotel has a lovely restaurant and bar to make your stay even better!

Hotel La Palma, Capri, Italy

Venturing a little further afield, the Hotel La Palma is set in a gorgeous location on the popular island of Capri. It is the newest addition to the Oetker Collection and will be very aesthetically pleasing.

With a clean, modern feel, the hotel will offer a range of traditional Italian cuisines produced by Michelin-starred chef Gennaro Esposito when it opens this spring.

Kempinski Hotel Cancun, Cancun, Mexico

This glamorous hotel will have 315 guest rooms and 48 suites with an elegant vibe and its own private balcony overlooking the Caribbean sea.

With a mixture of both inside and outside event spaces, this luxury hotel will amaze any guests and have plenty of room to accommodate groups of all sizes. Direct access to the beach makes this hotel unbeatable and in demand so be quick if it’s your dream stay!

Alila Kothaifaru Maldives, Maldives

Anticipated to open in Spring, this beautiful hotel incorporates the nature surrounding it to give a luxurious and relaxing feel. Each of the 44 beachfront villas and the 36 overwater villas come with a private pool for ease and comfort as well as magnificent views. Designed to make guests feel at one with nature, the Alila is one of a kind.

Keep an eye on EDGE Venues for more updates!

13th February 202313th February 2023

Gateshead Quays arena, another new Culture Secretary, Business of Events 2023 plans & more

This Monday’s Insights (13 February 2023) feature brings you the latest news from Gateshead Quays arena, another new Culture Secretary, Business of Events 2023 plans, and more.

Headlines

Consultation has launched for the new Gateshead Quays arena, events and conference centre.

Revised plans for a £330m development of Gateshead Quays arena, events and conference centre have been revealed as part of a public consultation, according to Conference New’s Louisa Daley.

Louisa’s feature states ‘the previously approved hotel element of the Gateshead Quays development is set to be relocated to a new site on the corner of Quarryfield Road and Hawks Road and is subject to a separate planning application.’

The revision is due to changes in operational and construction requirements. It includes the integration of a new linear park, running from north to south along the eastern boundary of the application site.

For more details on the revised plans, visit Conference News.

Rishi Sunak has announced the creation of four new departments and appointed Lucy Frazer as Culture Secretary, replacing Michelle Donelan.

The changes mean the DCMS is set to lose responsibility for ‘digital’, and will now become the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

Michelle Donelan will be the new Science Secretary for a new ‘Department for Science, Innovation and Technology’.

The other two new departments are the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and the Department for Business and Trade.

UKEVENTS has launched new research into the UK Conference and Meetings industry.

UK conference and meeting venues are being encouraged to take part in the 2023 ‘UK Conference and Meeting Survey’ (UKCAMS). This research has a specific focus on the value and volume of the market and venue performance. It also highlights key market trends identified by venues.

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 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.

The online questionnaire can be accessed at: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/UKCAMS2023

“VisitBritain is pleased to be supporting the ‘UK Conference and Meeting Survey’ which will provide some important insights, research and data on the business events sector in the UK. This is one of the valuable tools we use to demonstrate the importance of events to the UK economy with Government and so welcome the wide participation of our destination partners in supporting this report.”
VisitBritain Head of Business Events, Paul Black

The Business of Events has announced its 2023 planned activity.

Supporting the work carried out by UKEVENTS, The Business of Events is an independent Think Tank. It works to build a stronger UK events sector and realise it’s economic potential.

The independent Think Tank will launch its Policy Unit by hosting a series of roundtable discussions and evidence sessions.

This will lead to the publication of a series of reports, submitted to a newly created Advisory Council for review. A flagship Policy Forum will retain its Autumn slot. Here, policy initiatives will be discussed with representatives from the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Events, DCMS, UKEVENTS, VisitBritain and others.

Could Zoom layoffs signal turning away from events?

Zoom has announced it is laying off around 1,300 staff (c.15 per cent) of its workforce. So, Skift Meetings’ Miguel Neves questions if the move implies a shift in Zoom’s focus away from live events.

Neves writes: ‘Major companies such as Meta, Amazon, Google, Salesforce, Dell, eBay, and Microsoft all recently announcing layoffs.

According to tech layoff tracker layoffs.fyi, more than 100,000 staff have been laid off across 334 companies in 2023 already. Alarmingly, the same site tracked just under 160,000 employees laid off at over 1,000 for the whole of 2022. In the past few months, large event tech companies such as Hopin, Bizzabo and Hubilo have all had layoffs. In contrast to previous rounds, none of the companies made public announcements about the layoffs.’

Read Miguel Neves’ full analysis, here.

Keep an eye on EDGE Venues for more updates!

7th February 20239th March 2023

Why Event Profs Love the Cultural Edinburgh City

We’re almost certain Edinburgh city comes to mind when you’re ticking places off your UK event destination bucket list. So, we take a look at why Scotland’s pride and joy is favoured by event profs.

Edinburgh city’s Attractiveness

Edinburgh city is a picturesque combination of old and new, historical, and modern. Made up of the New Town and the Old Town, it is seriously eye-catching. With breath taking views and endless culture, it is popular among event profs.

Attracting a vast four million visitors and hosting thousands of events annually, its compact city makes Edinburgh perfect for easy exploration.

The city’s transport is easy and accessible, with tram and bus routes running regularly. This local transport is alongside Edinburgh’s international airport – one of the UK’s busiest.

A big part of Edinburgh’s cultural draw is its summer festivals and events. The Fringe is a perfect example: the month-long festival attracts diverse visitors from across the globe.

Edinburgh’s History

Home to the famous Edinburgh Castle, the city is rich with historical stories and buildings. Cobbled streets and medieval dungeon tours set the scene for the old town, with traditional bars and restaurants scattered along the Royal Mile.

Edinburgh city’s endless must-see sights include the Scott Monument, St Giles cathedral, and the famous Holyrood palace, all of great importance to UK heritage.

For the more adventurous visitor’s Edinburgh has various walks. How about a hike to Arthur’s seat, or a pleasant stroll up Calton Hill to observe beautiful historical architecture?

Edinburgh’s Food

Edinburgh has a wide variety of tastes for any palette from celebrity chef run restaurants to various global cuisines. The selection of restaurants available will leave any visitor spoilt for choice.

The Ivy is a high-end stylish option with delicious food to suit all tastes and incredible cocktails. There are numerous mouth-watering Italians including Mia’s Italian Kitchen which is a personal favourite of mine.

Additionally, there are a selection of steakhouses and traditional fish and chip shops. You’ll find The Fishmarket, Down the Hatch, and Scran Bistro cooking up top-tier food all year round.

Edinburgh’s Venues

With Edinburgh’s attractiveness and sheer popularity, the venues on offer throughout the city follow this trend. There are an endless number of hotels, meeting rooms, and conference facilities across the city, and here are a few to consider.

Radisson Blu Hotel – Edinburgh City Centre

The Radisson Blu is located in the city centre on the Royal Mile. And Edinburgh’s historical castle is just a few steps away. The venue is stylish and sleek, providing all the necessities and a great service.

Edinburgh central station is only a few minutes’ walk away, and Edinburgh International airport is a 13km drive.

Offering 238 bedrooms and nine meeting rooms it is a spacious venue with complimentary Wi-Fi available throughout the hotel. Boasting two restaurants, leisure facilities and on-site parking (additional fee), it’s a popular venue.

MEETING ROOMS: 9
BEDROOMS: 238

BOOK NOW

Intercontinental Edinburgh The George

Intercontinental is a prestigious venue which can be found in major cities across 60 countries globally. It is one of the oldest and most sought-after hotels in the city, situated right in the heart of the new town.

A few minutes’ walk away from the main street, the area is just five minutes from Waverly train station. The grade 2 listed building offers seven grand meeting rooms and 250 bedrooms.

MEETING ROOMS: 7
BEDROOMS: 250

BOOK NOW

Kimpton Charlotte Square

Overlooking the beautiful Charlotte Square gardens, the historical hotel is one of the oldest in the city. The hotel is made up of seven Georgian townhouses in the glorious New Town. It offers seven large function rooms and 199 bedrooms.

The venue is easily accessible: a 10-minute walk from Waverley Station and a 15-minute drive from the airport. The Kimpton has numerous high-end restaurants and bars on its doorstep. With high-speed free Wi-Fi throughout as well, it has everything to offer your delegates.

MEETING ROOMS: 7
BEDROOMS: 199

BOOK NOW

Holiday Inn Edinburgh

Located outside the city centre, the Holiday Inn is just four miles from the airport, with 250 free parking spaces. Despite being further from the centre, there are regular bus links providing easy access to the heart of the city.

The academy at the Holiday Inn has panoramic views across the hills and the nearby zoo. The property also boasts 14 large meeting rooms and 303 bedrooms. It’s an ideal venue for meetings, new conference food menus ensure that every guest is catered for.

MEETING ROOMS: 14
BEDROOMS: 303

BOOK NOW

Edinburgh is perfect for your next event, so check out more venues here!

6th February 20239th March 2023

All Party Parliamentary Group for Events latest, isla’s new CTO, UK exhibitions industry bouncing back, & more

This Monday’s Insights (06 February 2023) feature brings you the latest news from the All Party Parliamentary Group for Events, isla’s new CTO, UK exhibitions industry bouncing back, and more.

Headlines

The shadow culture secretary, Lucy Powell MP, has joined the All Party Parliamentary Group for Events

Powell is a Labour Member of Parliament for Manchester Central and holds the role of Shadow Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.

The All Party Parliamentary Group for Events (APPG) is a cross-party group made up of members from both Houses of Parliament, and acts as the event industry’s voice in Westminster.

The APPG for Events provides a forum for the highly diverse and valuable UK events industry in Parliament, engaging with representatives from across the political spectrum, and supports The Business of Events, an independent Think Tank for the events sector.

The APPG plays a key role in keeping the events industry high on the Parliamentary agenda.

Manchester Central has struck up a significant partnership with the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce to bolster the region’s business opportunities.

The two organisations have aligned in a bid to connect businesses right across the city region, helping to build networks and add value to firms of all sizes. The new partnership has grown from a collaboration which began in 2019 with the launch of the now popular Destination for Business event series which covers topical themes for Manchester business leaders and help to put the events sector at the centre of conversations.

As part of the agreement, Chamber members will have the chance to get involved with a myriad of events hosted at Manchester Central, while event organisers will also be able to list events on the Chamber’s website, promoting them across the region, and get complimentary access to members’ lounges and workspace at Chamber HQ in the city. Throughout the partnership, there will be joint promotion of events and ongoing collaborations to ensure as many businesses in the city as possible have the opportunity to connect with each other.

Kickstarting the partnership, the fifth Destination for Business event will take place this Thursday, 9th February, discussing sustainable growth within the city-region. Panellists will include Nick Richardson, founder of The Insights Family; leadership coach and business owner Maria Brycleland, Melanie Yeomans, partner at Ward Hadaway, Patrick Molyneux, co-founding partner at Acceleris Capital and Sharon Amesu, co-founder of She Leads for Legacy. Places are free and must be booked in advance online.

Shaun Hinds, CEO at Manchester Central, said: “Businesses of all sizes are the lifeblood of our regional economy and mutually benefit from connecting with others to grow and develop. We are resolute in our commitment to helping the city’s businesses to thrive. Our partnership facilitates this by creating valuable conversations, opportunities and collaborations which we hope will generate transactions for Manchester and North West businesses.

“Beyond this, we know clients across a broad spectrum of sectors are increasingly keen to engage with local businesses and communities when they bring an event to Greater Manchester. They see the significance and importance of attracting regional audiences to their events and making a positive impact on the region they are visiting. We’re really pleased to partner with the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, which will no doubt help to bolster the region’s business community.”

Lewis Crowe, head of membership and commercial at Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, added: “It’s incredible to see the city alive again with business events hugely contributing to our regional economy. This partnership allows us to build on this success and we’re looking forward to seeing the great initiatives that are instigated by working together in this way.”

isla has appointed Malcolm Leach as its first Chief Technical Officer (CTO) to develop TRACE – the definitive carbon measurement platform for sustainable events.

Malcolm joins isla from his most recent role as CTO at finance broker Funding Options, and brings with him more than three decades of experience spanning across technical product development, operational transformation and business scalability.

His role comes at a time of rapid growth for isla and TRACE. He will provide technical leadership and help develop and grow the TRACE team to ensure the platform continues to meet the needs of the industry and the wider net-zero landscape.

As CTO, he will also spearhead new data-driven product features to enable adopters to seamlessly measure, manage and minimise carbon emissions for events of all sizes, engaging their value chain and brand partners along the way.

isla CEO & Co-Founder Anna Abdelnoor said: “We’re thrilled Malcolm is joining the isla team. His appointment marks a key turning point for TRACE as we focus on accelerating event emission reductions and growing our data-led Insights – one of our key business pillars.”

isla CTO Malcolm Leach said: “Tackling climate change has always been important to me in my personal life and I’m excited to bring this into my professional life, joining the fantastic team at isla in their mission to help accelerate the event industry’s transition to a sustainable, net-zero ready future.”

Double Take

UFI, the global association of the exhibition industry, says the UK exhibitions industry is bouncing back from Covid-19 and recovering better than many other destinations.

The UFI’s latest research, covered in Exhibition News, shows that UK exhibitions are performing well but ‘highlight different concerns for organisers here to the rest of the world.

The biggest pressure for the UK industry for the coming year was the national economy and global economic pressures, whereas worldwide results prioritised issues within management structures and digitalisation.’

30th January 2023

ChatGPT for eventprofs, Meet Blackpool, Meet in Kent, footwear activation, & more

This Monday’s Insights (30 January 2023) feature brings you ChatGPT for eventprofs, Meet Blackpool, Meet in Kent, footwear activation, and more.

Headlines

Ever wondered what would happen if you interviewed a Chat Bot?

Neither had we, until we read a new feature from M&IT’s Editor, Paul Harvey, on what ChatGPT has in store for eventprofs – in its own words!

Launched in November 2022, ChatGPT has generated tonnes of media coverage. And Paul’s feature is extremely useful for any event profs who wants to understand the tool capabilities and limitations in terms of managing events.

It’s also very amusing, so take a look, here.

Louisa Watson, Director of Marketing at Wyboston Lakes Resort and Sustainability Director of beam has been recognised as Sustainability Industry Champion.

Commenting on the win at the recent Greengage Sustainability Awards, Louisa told Conference News, “I’m completely overwhelmed. This was a marvellous surprise and a wonderful honour for me and for Wyboston Lakes Resort. I’d like to thank Greengage for the tremendous recognition and also all my colleagues and the beam action group who have helped and supported me in my work.”

Meet Blackpool, Blackpool’s conference and exhibition arm is investing in a campaign to raise awareness for the town’s business events sector.

The marketing initiative will see £450,000k invested in ‘Business in Blackpool, always a pleasure’ – designed to showcase Blackpool’s quality venues, technology, new infrastructure, and entertainment roots.

Michael Williams, managing director, Blackpool Entertainment Company Limited, told Conference News,: “Blackpool has long been synonymous with entertainment and this new campaign has been designed to capitalise on that heritage as a destination for exciting experiences, while promoting our new and significantly enhanced offer for business events.

Visit Kent has launched a new campaign, titled ‘Meet in Kent’, a six-week campaign and part of the next stage of the EXPERIENCE Project.

The project, co-funded by the Interreg France (Channel) England Programme was created to help Kent develop “its experiential off-season economy”. The campaign is also part of a drive by Visit Kent, which strives to help business events suppliers in the county rebuild relationships with their local clients, as well as help them attract a new audience.

Deirdre Wells OBE, chief executive, Visit Kent, said: “With the Meet in Kent campaign, we want to deliver a project that helps to strengthen consumer confidence in business events and create off-peak business opportunities by encouraging local businesses to book their away days, corporate events and team building experiences with business events suppliers that they may not realise are located near to them – here in Kent.”

Skift Meetings has introduced readers to the joy an event activation that brings joy to delegates feet!

Skift’s Andrea Doyle has written a feature – ‘Comfortable Footwear Seduces Planners’ – which demonstrates that it’s not just event profs who are drawn to the idea of easy the burden on their toes during the ‘long days and nights navigating cavernous convention centers’.

M&IT has spoken to eventprofs on the industry challenges of venue response times and staffing levels.

Response times might still be lagging compared to pre-Covid, but M&IT reports that, anecdotally, service levels on site have remained fairly high.

Check out the snapshot of the state of play, including input from EDGE Venues’ CEO, Jacqui Kavanagh.

23rd January 20239th March 2023

Events Apprenticeship Framework, accessibility, sustainability, EBDS explainer, & more

This Monday’s Insights (23 January 2023) feature brings you the Events Apprenticeship Framework, accessibility, sustainability, EBDS explainer, and more.

Headlines

The Events Apprenticeship Framework has been launched by the UKEVENTS (formerly BVEP) Skills Talent & Diversity Working Group to tackle industry’s talent shortage.

The Events Apprenticeship Framework will launch with five apprenticeship schemes, which include: Events Assistant, Live Event Technician, Creative Venue Technician, Live Event Rigger, and AV Event Technician.

It will be overseen by the new Events Apprenticeships Advisory Board (EAAB), which comprises employers and specialist expertise.

Apprenticeships are becoming an increasingly popular route into the industry, with more than 500 Event Assistant apprentices entering the workplace between 2017 and 2021 (IfATE, 2022).

According to UKEVENT’s 2020 UK Events Report, the business events industry employed 700,000 people in 2019. The association’s 2022 data, however, puts the figure anywhere between 140,000 and 560,000, a broad range backed up by UKCAMS and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). This reveals the scale of the impact the Covid-19 pandemic has had on the sector.

With a clear reduction in overall staffing numbers, a structured apprenticeship programme is a sensible solution to tackling the shortage and presents a positive opportunity for growth.

Crowdfunding initiative launches

To help fund the Events Apprenticeship Framework, the EAAB has launched a crowdfunding initiative and has called for the industry’s support via donations and in promoting the new scheme to school leavers, those already working in the industry, or those considering a career change.

The EAAB says it is “imperative for the sector to have a robust and inclusive apprenticeship framework and to ensure longevity” and encourages any business able to contribute to do so. UKEVENTS has already provided seed funding, enabling a team of volunteers to build a strategy and lay out a clear plan.

Richard Waddington, Chair of EMA and a key figure behind the Events Apprenticeship Framework said: “When you talk to people about the events industry, it’s difficult to explain or understand, the Government doesn’t recognise it as a ‘professional industry’ and schools rarely talk about it as a potential career pathway – our aim is to change this.

“Whilst this is a massive ask in the current financial climate, the industry is crying out for people and there is an enormous untapped talent pool of people we’re not talking to, we need to bang the drum louder, have processes in place and attract people to this amazing industry.”

M&IT Talks are kicking off 2023 with Anna Abdelnoor and Selina Donald about all things sustainability, including:

the way the sector’s approach to sustainability has changed over the last decade
how large events can balance the in-person element with the environmental impact
how the sector should tackle greenwashing
the one thing they would change about the sector’s attitude to sustainability

Find out what part of the sustainability conversation is like Netflix v Blockbuster Video, the missed opportunities of Qatar’s World Cup, and how far you can drive in an electric car:

Conference News has shared that ten of the Association of Event Venues (AEV)’s groups and working groups will start the year with 18 new chairs and vice-chairs leading them.

Rachel Parker, director, AEV, told the magazine: “The AEV convenes 15 working groups, including cross association working groups and the new Multi-Association Security Awareness group (MASA). I would like to welcome the new chairs and vice-chairs who will be playing a vital role in leading each group, communicating its findings and concerns to other groups and the wider industry.”

Skift Meetings’ Andrea Doyle has written a fantastic feature on accessibility and ensuring all attendees, including people with disabilities, can participate.

The piece looks at recognising what’s essential when designing events from the perspective of people with disabilities. It focuses on the insights of accessible design and DEI expert Rosemarie Rossetti, who is paralyzed from the waist down due to a spinal cord injury.

Read the feature in full, here.

Double Take

M&IT Editor, Paul Harvey has put together a fantastic explainer on the government’s forthcoming Energy Bills Discount Scheme (EBDS).

The Energy Bills Discount Scheme will provide businesses with a discount on their energy bills from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024. The government says that the new scheme “strikes a balance between supporting businesses over the next 12 months and limiting taxpayer’s exposure to volatile energy markets”.

The M&IT explainer covers everything from what support will be available for businesses in our sector, including who is eligible, what discounts are available, and support for businesses that use a very large amount of energy.

Read the explainer guide, here.

16th January 2023

Energy Bill Relief Scheme, UKinbound’s confidence, 2023 meeting industry trends, & more

This Monday’s Insights (16 January 2023) feature brings you the Energy Bill Relief Scheme, UKinbound’s confidence, 2023 meeting industry trends, and more.

Headlines

The Energy Bill Relief Scheme will miss out many organisations in the events industry.

A new feature in Conference News explains that the scheme will provide support to ‘Energy intensive’ industries, but that our industry misses out, partly due to not having its industry classification (SIC) code.

The latest Business Barometer data from UKinbound shows confidence levels for the UK’s inbound tourism industry have returned to pre-Covid levels.

Yet, high energy costs for attractions, supply-side capacity issues for tour operators and difficulties with staffing across the industry are likely to be barriers to strong growth and recovery in 2023.

Conducted by Qa Research, the latest Business Barometer survey, held in December 2022, shows that:

Expected or confirmed bookings for Q1 of 2023 are at the same level or higher than they were before the pandemic for over half of businesses
Nearly two-thirds of businesses stated they expected revenue for Q1 of 2023 and booking levels for Q2 of 2023 to be the same or higher than before the pandemic
There is strong demand from US visitors to come to the UK with nearly half of businesses (44%) reporting they are seeing growth from this market

In contrast, businesses were asked what they expect to be their biggest barriers to growth over the next 12 months. For 61% of tour operators, it is ongoing issues with supply chain capacity and for 76% of attractions, their biggest concerns are inflation and the cost of energy. Ongoing recruitment and retention of staff remain a concern for nearly half of all respondents to the survey.

CEO Joss Croft said, “This data currently shows a mixed picture for the UK’s inbound tourism industry.

“It is great to see that many businesses are generally feeling optimistic about this year and confidence levels are returning to levels seen before the pandemic. It is also very positive of course that the UK is experiencing high demand from the US market and the fact that the Chinese market is also now re-opening. Unfortunately, however, our members are still experiencing some fairly fundamental problems.

“Unsurprisingly, inflation and energy costs remain a big concern – particularly for attractions, especially with the scaling back of support with energy bills from April. Our tour operator members are also telling us that they are experiencing issues with their supply chains such as not being able to secure enough quality accommodation for clients due to a reduction in bedstock because of Government contracts. Furthermore, all parts of the industry are experiencing difficulties with accessing the skilled staff that they need.

“We have some significant events taking place in 2023 in the UK – most notably His Majesty The King’s Coronation in May swiftly followed by the Eurovision Song Contest and whilst these events will generate a lot of positive attention for the UK, we cannot take this for granted.

“International tourism is a competitive business, and if we are to fully realise the economic benefits from these events and help turbocharge the recovery of the UK’s inbound industry – which is still suffering from ‘long Covid’ due to being the first industry to be impacted by the pandemic and the last to recover – the Government needs to increase its efforts and spend to successfully market the UK to potential visitors around the world.”

Click here for access to the full report.

According to Meetings and Incentive Travel, The Event Marketing Association (EMA) has been taken over by PCMA.

EMA’s membership consists of 800 UK-based corporate event marketing professionals who will immediately become part of the PCMA (US-based professional convention management association). The acquisition follows PCMA’s takeover in 2020 of CEMA – the corporate event marketing association.

EMA chair Richard Waddington said: “The opportunity of merging into PCMA and joining forces with CEMA to grow the representation and voice of the corporate internationally is an opportunity for EMA not to be missed. PCMA will bring far greater resource and capability, the opportunity for greater growth and most important far greater value for our members and partners.”

More on this latest association merger here.

Skift Meetings has published its list of seven meeting industry trends for 2023.

Covering everything from experience-first events, and the ‘weaponization of travel’, to inclusivity and data, this insightful report is a great read for events and meetings profs.

Check out Skift’s overview here, where you can also download the full report.

Double Take

The Meetings Industry Association (mia) has joined forces with Stress Matters to provide support and help members make wellbeing a strategic priority.

According to the Event Industry News, the collaboration will see mental health first aid training, a wellness manager programme and a series of webinars and discounted courses being offered to help members reduce the stress of their teams.

The rollout follows a recent mia survey that revealed while sustainability is a key part of the business strategy for 90% of organisations working in the sector, a third admit that they are currently operating without a mental health strategy.

9th January 20239th January 2023

Event CSR initiatives, face-to-face meetings performance increase, communicating with Gen Z, & more

This Monday’s Insights (09 January 2023) feature brings you event CSR initiatives, face-to-face meetings performance increase, communicating with Gen Z, and more.

Headlines

Event CSR initiatives are endless.

Skift Meetings has curated a fantastic list of ways to give back through events. For organisations with a desire to make a difference, the list is stacked with inventive solutions.

With everything from a The Charity Bike Build and Diabetes Cook-off, to Paws For A Cause, Foodbank Showdown and more, this event CSR list is a must-read for event profs.

Check it out here!

Face-to-face meetings performance is on the up!

More than half of event planners say they’ve had a noticeable improvement in business performance since returning to face-to-face meetings, according to etc.venues’ latest research.

Starting off 2023 with this positive news for the industry, Conference News has shared further key findings from the research: Almost 99% of the UK and USA event planners say they value face-to-face meetings “more than” or “the same” as before the pandemic, (up from 82% a year ago and a 22% increase from the start of the pandemic).

Other key findings, including what the research found about the meetings industry’s commitment to sustainability, can be found here.

Northstar Travel Group (“Northstar”), owners of M&IT, AMI and The Meetings Show, has announced changes to its executive team

Jason Young joins the team as CEO, succeeding Thomas Kemp, who has been chairman and CEO since 2009. Kemp will transition to the role of chairman.

According to M&IT, Young has been ‘an innovative leader in the digital transformation of the media industry, as well as a visionary in advertising technology. He spent 20 years with Ziff-Davis Media, the leading IT information and media business, eventually ascending to the CEO position.’

Thomas Kemp said: “We are thrilled to have Jason join Northstar as our new CEO to lead the company in our next strategic transformation as a content, marketing services, event, and data company,” said Kemp. “I have known Jason for over 20 years as a visionary leader integrating data and technology into solutions for media companies and their clients.”

Read the news in full on mitmagazine.co.uk.

Double Take

Should event planners be wary of trying too hard when it comes to talking to a younger generation?

According to Hannah Campbell on campaignlive.co.uk, brand owners in marketing are ‘battling to win the next generation of young consumers. But care is needed if brands are to successfully navigate this generational language gap.’

This is highly to be an issue for event planners too, in communicating with the generation of delegates. According to Campbell’s feature: ‘…Gen Z is shaped by constant connectivity and ready access to information. It is receptive to non-formal channels of communication – and language.’ But, Hannah writes, there’s a fine line to tread to avoid ‘doing the marketing equivalent of dad disco dancing.’

Read the full article here.