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Is enough happening to support mental health and wellbeing training?

A panel of industry experts has emphasised the importance of business leaders taking responsibility for their staff and undergoing more mental health and wellbeing training.

The three-person panel discussed wellness and mental health within the meetings industry at International Confex 2019. The panel consisted of Jenner Carter, head of marketing at Lime Venue Portfolio and marketing chair at the HBAA, James Hitchen, GM of the Event Marketers Association (EMA), and Laila Datoo, a mindful business coach.

Carter, who recently picked up a qualification in Mental Health First Aid through the HBAA, spoke about the importance of leadership in addressing mental health in the work place.

“The industry has discussed at length the level of stress and anxiety found within event professionals, and awareness has been driven by some really great initiatives,” she said. “However, to turn awareness into action, leaders need to be trained to both spot staff showing signs of illness, and to intervene where possible.

“One of the things we learn through mental health first aid is the early warning signs, and how to handle intervening in a sensitive but professional manner.”

Hitchen said that the events industry needs to think about prevention rather than “just managing the symptoms of poor mental health”.

He said: “Leaders in business need to support their teams in improving their mental fitness. I believe it is a company’s responsibility to create conditions that supports living well.

“A company with a culture of wellbeing is happier, healthier, more productive and more profitable.”

The Mental Health Foundation estimate that 70 million work days are lost each year due to mental health problems in the UK, costing employers approximately £2.4bn per year.

The panel shared tips with the audience and emphasised the importance of the right level of training and awareness from senior leadership.

Datoo said: “Business leaders need to start equating wellbeing with performance and productivity. The happier and healthier your people, the better your bottom line.

“We shouldn’t wait for absenteeism figures to rise, people to leave or burnout or the culture to become toxic to address this.”

The HBAA runs a Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) accredited course that gives participants a recognised qualification to be a mental health first aider.

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The Dixon joins Autograph Collection in London

Autograph Collection Hotels has announced the opening of The Dixon in London.

The property joins the diverse and dynamic portfolio of more than 160 independent Autograph Collection Hotels around the world. Located at Tower Bridge on Tooley Street, The Dixon is set to become a new cultural hub in the midst of a creative neighbourhood, which boasts The Tate Modern, Shakespeare’s Globe and the new Bridge Theatre all a short distance away.

The Dixon was named after John Dixon Butler – the architect who originally constructed the Grade II listed building in 1905 as a Magistrates’ Court and police station and features 193 rooms, including ten spacious suites.

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HBAA hails promising trends and positive outlook for 2019

HBAA chair Angie Mason hailed the findings of the report, saying that “promising trends provide good reasons for a positive outlook on 2019”.

The report, developed in partnership with The MeetingsBenchmark Ltd. indicates that the average spend per meeting increased again from £1,954 in 2017 to £1,971 in 2018, an increase of almost 1 per cent. However, the average spend per delegate went down slightly from £88.35 in 2017 to £85.71 last year, a decrease of 3 per cent.

While the average day delegate rate (DDR) rose imperceptibly from £32.88 in 2017 to £32.89 last year, the average number of delegates also increased slightly from 53 to 54. With the average size of meetings booked to date for 2019 currently 72, forward prospects so far this year are encouraging.

There were also positive indications in the reduction of lead and conversion times. The average lead time for forward booking of events went down from 83.5 days to 79.7 days while the average conversion time went down slightly from 19 days to 18.5 days,

The HBAA Meetings Barometer also reveals a wide range in the average DDR across the country. There is a major difference between London (£39.97) and Newcastle (£24.91) with Manchester (£31.92), Birmingham (£29.87), Scotland (£27.54), Bristol (£27.51) and Leeds (£26.56) between them.

Angie Mason, HBAA chair said: “The HBAA Meetings Barometer once again provides a fascinating snapshot of the market and highlights several good reasons to be positive and optimistic about the year ahead.”

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New Radisson Blu set for Rome

Due to be fully renovated by Q1 2021, the new Radisson Blu hotel in Rome will mark the group’s third hotel in Italy’s booming tourism capital

Located in the Parioli neighbourhood the Radisson Blu GHR Rome will feature 297 rooms, including 51 suites, five meeting rooms totalling 485 sqm of event space, a bar and restaurant as well as taking in views of the Eternal City from another rooftop restaurant. Leisure facilities will include a spa and a fitness center.

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DMC group targets UK companies with new ‘staycentive’ offer

With Brexit uncertainty causing UK holidaymakers to put off travelling abroad, destination management company (DMC) group – TCE Group is enabling UK companies to do the same.

TCE Group is creating incentive programmes and experiences in the UK designed to appeal to British companies rather than just international clients.

Group CEO Bill Prosser said: “Why take your incentive groups abroad when there are so many wonderful things you could do in the UK at lower cost and lower risk?

“In the last 15 years we have created amazing incentive programmes in the UK for clients from over 50 countries around the world.

“Britain is an awesome incentive destination and we have worked from the Scottish Highlands to Cornwall and just about everywhere in between.

“London is one of the world’s greatest cities, and we are blessed with many others – Liverpool, Edinburgh, Bath, Manchester and a dozen more.

“These UK destinations and experiences work to achieve the objectives of brands from around the world and can be just as effective for British businesses at lower cost.”

Summer holiday bookings abroad have fallen 6 per cent year-on-year since the start of the year in the UK according to analyst GFK, with the current economic and political uncertainty shouldering the blame. TCE Group is hoping that ‘staycentives’ will become as relevant to business events as staycations are to leisure travellers, with Prosser hailing them as a good moment to look at what the UK has to offer.

“Incentive programmes aimed at the UK market focus more on experiences and less on sightseeing and offer greater opportunities for delivering brand messages,” he added. “With everything to offer from red carpet premieres to the fastest zip wires in Europe nowhere offers brands more opportunities.”

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Moxy Hotels to open in Copenhagen

Marriott’s lifestyle brand Moxy Hotels will open Moxy Copenhagen Sydhavnen in March.

Opening in Copenhagen’s Sydhavnen, Moxy will be located in a growing business area with Aalborg University Copenhagen and thousands of apartments buildings.

The property will include 226 rooms, a free gym for all, flexible and informal meeting rooms, 43” Netflix-ready televisions and a communal bar and co-working space.

Moxy Hotels is Marriott International’s new millennial-focused brand that debuted in September 2014 with the opening of the Moxy Milan.

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European hotel rooms see ‘strong growth’ in value

European Landmarks

Hotel values across Europe registered another strong year in 2018 showing 3% growth and reaching new highs, according to the annual European Hotel Valuation Index (HVI), compiled by global hotel consultancy HVS.

Although it was a more modest growth than that of 2017 at 3.9%, 2018 saw recovery for many cities as well as a levelling off in values for some markets, which had previously been depressed compared with the European average.

The annual HVI ranks the percentage change in the values of typically four-star and five-star hotels across 33 major European cities, both in Euro and local currency terms, as well as ranking each market in terms of the average price per hotel room.

Hotels in Lisbon, Moscow, Paris, Brussels and Berlin filled the top five slots in terms of highest percentage growth in values in euro terms, with Lisbon (9%), the year’s biggest climber.

On the back of the FIFA World Cup Moscow’s hotels recorded 8% growth in this year’s index with a RevPAR increase in euros of over 180% for June and July. St Petersburg showed a 6% increase, ranking it sixth in the HVI. In local currency value growth in these markets was even more pronounced.

Paris returned to the top five in this year’s index up 7%, while Berlin completed the top five also with 7% growth.

Only six of the 33 markets analysed experienced a value drop, with those at the bottom of the index, in euro terms, including Barcelona, which was badly impacted by the civil unrest caused by the strengthening of the Catalan independence movement; Hamburg, Manchester and Warsaw, which all suffered from an influx of new supply in the market; and Geneva and Stockholm, which were impacted by currency dynamics in 2018.

In terms of the absolute value of hotel rooms, those in Paris, London, Zurich, Geneva and Rome filled the top five slots for the most expensive in Europe, with Birmingham, Sofia, Bratislava, Bucharest and Manchester at the bottom end of the ranking.

Sophie Perret, director at HVS London, said: “Demand for hotel accommodation remains vigorous across most markets in Europe, and while economic growth for this cycle might be beyond its peak hotel demand is unlikely to suddenly fall away.

“For investors the advice is to factor in a slightly longer exit window and be cautious, but there are some good deals to be had by those seeking to acquire hotels in many European cities.”

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May opening for Radisson Collection Hotel, Warsaw

Radisson Collection has launched in the Polish capital of Warsaw, the hotel, will be a new addition to the group’s portfolio of premium lifestyle properties when it opens in May.

Following a major capital investment to upgrade and rebrand the existing Radisson Blu property, the Radisson Collection Hotel, Warsaw will seek to offer the highest standard of guest experience.

Situated in Warsaw’s business district, the property will be close to the city’s Financial Centre and the eye-catching Rondo ONZ Tower, making it an ideal base from which to attend meetings.

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Hotel Football joins Marriott International’s Tribute Portfolio

Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville’s Hotel Football in Manchester has joined Marriott International’s Tribute Portfolio soft brand for independent hotels. The Tribute Portfolio is described as a collection of independent boutique hotels with character that are rooted in their local community.

Under the franchise agreement Singaporean businessman Peter Lim and former Manchester United players Neville, Giggs, Nicky Butt, Paul Scholes and Philip Neville will remain the majority owners of the 133-bedroom hotel. Their management company, GG Hospitality, will continue to manage and operate the property.

The property will become the second hotel in the Tribute Portfolio in the UK, joining the Great Northern hotel in London’s King’s Cross and will forthwith have the full title of Hotel Football, part of the Tribute Portfolio.

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Why choose an unusual venue for your event?

There are lots of good reasons to choose a different or unusual venue for your event. Somewhere that has the ‘wow’ factor or is popular on social media will boost attendance because people want to go there. We all know about museums, sporting venues, castles etc, but now it’s all about what’s new. It’s not always easy to find a desirable venue, but look at Instagram and check which have created a great brand.

Of course, you need to follow the normal rules and consider the overall capacity, whether the space will work, access for production and caterers etc as well as the objectives and finding somewhere to match your brand. But if you’ve got the creative juices going then it’s time to think outside the box and find a venue to match your message.

Create an amazing first impression

This will start with the event invitation, people will want to attend and be part of your experience. Don’t only think about the venue, but what about the entrance and is there outside space? Build the excitement before people arrive.

Hire a bar or restaurant

There are new places launching all the time, some have private dining and some can be hired privately. Rooftops are really popular, so how about the B&H Garden Room on a rooftop in Leicester Square which has great views. Or Ours in South Kensington and Sushi Samba both have private dining rooms for small groups and are places that people want to be seen.

Hotels

The ME London can now privatise the Atrium area on their 1st floor for events and Zela is a new restaurant on the ground floor. The Curtain in Shoreditch can privatise their Lido Deck restaurant at some times of the year.

Cafés

The café culture has exploded in recent years and these destination venues are particularly good for a breakfast or lunch event. Take a look at
Feya and Butterscotch as well as the Elan Café, which has flower walls and LED lighting. Just one thing to watch for is that not all cafés are licensed so you may not be able to serve alcohol.

Blank canvass

Think about a warehouse, car park, ice rink, church and farm buildings as these venues can offer a large space to create the mood you wish. The ambiance is important, but also having flexibility to do what you want.

The warning signs

There is a risk if you work with a venue whose normal business is not events. You’ll need to keep on top of the communication, check their insurance, contracts and KPIs carefully to make sure the venue can deliver as agreed. If the venue is open to the public, there may be restrictions when you can have access and when you need to return it to them.