Bristol venues to hire

Bristol is a diverse, bustling city with Instagrammable street art and waterfront views. And if you’re looking for Bristol venues to hire, it certainly has many hotels and venues, and an eco-friendly, creative reputation, making it attractive to the meetings and events community.

Here, we take a closer look, before providing you with a selection of Bristol venues to hire, and how you can book:

Eye-catching Art

Bristol is one of few cities where street art is celebrated so openly. Beautiful murals and displays transform walls that were once an eye-sore, with pieces created by famous artists such as Banksy also on display.

The Eco-City

The residents of Bristol pride themselves on being extremely eco-friendly and doing their best to keep their city clean. So much so that Bristol was voted the European green city in 2015. Bristolians regularly use public transport and use less energy per household than other cities across Europe, so if you’re looking for a smog-free weekend, Bristol is the place!

Bristol’s History

Bristol has many historical features hidden throughout the city, the perfect way to spend time enjoying the city and learning at the same time! The Clifton suspension bridge which was built in 1831 is one of the world’s most magnificent bridges and has spectacular views across the River Avon. Bristol is also home to a port which dates back to mediaeval times and remains a prominent part of the city today.

Places to Eat/Drink

The city has a wide selection of places to eat and drink, from a tasty Italian pizza in La Grotta to a harborside meal in The River Grille, washed down with a drink in Keepers Kitchen or a delightful afternoon tea at The Harbour Kitchen, the options are endless.

Bristol venues to hire

If you’re looking for Bristol venues to hire, the vibrant city has an array of traditional and new spaces. Whether you’re hosting a small meeting or a conference, here’s a taste of what this inspiring place has to offer.

– Radisson Blu Hotel

Rooms – 176 | Meeting spaces – 4
This stylish hotel boasts elegance and is situated in the city centre making it an ideal place to stay when visiting the city. Bristol Filton Airport is only around 7 miles away, and there are nearby train links, perfect for an international conference. The Radisson Blu has 176 bedrooms and 4 spacious meeting rooms allowing plenty of room for large groups. High-speed Wi-Fi is available throughout the whole venue and there is a lovely on-site catering service available for guests.

BOOK HERE

– Mercure Bristol Holland House Hotel & Spa

Rooms – 275 | Meeting Spaces – 12
With the nearest airport only a 22-minute drive away, this hotel & spa is the perfect choice for accommodation. The meeting rooms are scattered across the 1st and 5th floors, each with unique features and varying in size to accommodate your group. The glamorous hotel offers access to a gym, swimming pool and an on-site restaurant, allowing you to fully relax during your downtime.

BOOK HERE

– The Bristol Hotel

Rooms – 187 | Meeting Spaces – 9
The Bristol Hotel is located right in the city centre of Bristol, close to a number of the best restaurants and other amenities. Less than a mile from Temple Mead train station, the hotel’s transport links are impeccable and the nearest airport is around 20 minutes away. The 9 traditional meeting rooms are elegant and spacious, ideal for any event, such as teambuilding meetings or large conferences.

BOOK HERE

– Engineers’ House Conference Centre

Event Spaces – 24
The Engineer’s House Conference Centre is an elegant space on the outskirts of Bristol. With 24 conference rooms, the venue can be used for various events. From meetings and group activities to board meetings and conferences. The Engineer’s House has indoor and outdoor spaces. It’s home to a rainforest café, marquees, and hidden passages, making it an exciting and entertaining space for all. The venue also boasts a large onsite car park and 4 restaurants for guests.

BOOK HERE

– Ashton Gate Stadium

Event Spaces – 34
Ashton Gate Stadium can accommodate up to 700 guests throughout its numerous event spaces. The event stadium offers a unique experience that differs from other venue locations and has an onsite restaurant available. There is a large onsite car park for up to 350 cars and disabled access to accommodate guests. It also has direct access to the M4 and the M5.

 BOOK HERE

– Aztec Hotel & Spa

Rooms – 128 | Event Spaces – 26
This purpose-built hotel is located perfectly for a stop-over, with close links to the M4 and M5. The Aztec hotel has a selection of rooms from junior suites to family rooms and premier suites. It also has a restaurant serving delicious local produce for guests to enjoy. It’s 21 meeting rooms can accommodate guests for a variety of meetings and events. Do you have delegates staying overnight during your event? These guests can enjoy use of the sauna, steam room, swimming pool and on-site gym.

BOOK HERE

– DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Bristol South – Cadbury House

Rooms – 132 | Event Spaces – 11
The DoubleTree Hilton is only a 17-minute drive from Bristol International Airport. The 4-star hotel is 30 minutes outside the city centre and offers a large, onsite parking space. The venue has three large meeting spaces. It’s function spaces have private bars and terraces with spectacular garden views for guests to enjoy during your event.

BOOK HERE

Bristol is bright and refreshing destination, with plenty of venue choice. So if the venues we’re covered here don’t match your needs, you can find more from our homepage, EDGEVenues.com.

And, don’t forget you can check out more of our destination features, such as Leeds.

CHS Leeds, beam’s call for new job support scheme, Meetings Show’s #takethetime campaign, & more

This Monday’s Insights (13 March 2023) feature brings you the latest news including CHS Leeds new partners, beam’s call for job support scheme to attract under 25s to enter meetings and events, The Meetings Show’s #takethetime campaign, and more.

Headlines

CHS Leeds has announced a series of agreements that will bring more choice to visitors at the show.

As well as presenting a chance to explore more of the host city through the exhibition’s partnership with Conference Leeds, the event has seen new exhibitors join from across the UK and Europe. 

Conference Leeds and CHS Leeds have worked together for 12 years to create the award-winning experience synonymous with the event, and once again Leeds is extending a warm welcome to visitors. The city continues to invest in its infrastructure and its public transport links make it an accessible and sustainable destination for event planners. LNER will be the show’s Hosted Buyer Travel Partner and will be transporting visitors from London to Leeds by First Class train travel from London Kings Cross. 

At the same time, it is fast becoming both a financial and media hub, with more and more businesses and brands moving into the city. ‘LEEDS 23 – Year of Culture’ is showcasing the best of the city’s creativity throughout the year and, as part of the relationship with Conference Leeds, CHS Leeds is looking to invite event organisers across these business communities to visit the exhibition, taking place at the Royal Armouries, 25th April 2023.

“It’s really important to us that both our visitors and exhibitors have a brilliant experience in the city and at the event,” commented Lou Hindley, Commercial Director, CHS Leeds. “We’re so proud of our long-standing partnership with Conference Leeds and the support we receive from the business events community across the city. In addition to the extraordinary hotels, venues and suppliers in the region we have new exhibitors that are offering ideas and inspiration from small and petite to big and visionary. It’s why our visitors come, and they won’t be disappointed.”

CHS Leeds recently announced its educational theme for the event which will once again focus on personal and professional growth. This year, educational seminars will look at the ever-changing world of office life. ‘Growth Part II: Worklife’ kicks off at CHS Leeds with a dedicated conference room for attendees looking at their own personal priorities. 

Attendees and exhibitors at IMEX Frankfurt this May will have access to a brand-new online platform designed to add further value to their participation at IMEX shows.

Ahead of the show taking place 23 – 25 May, IMEX has been working with event management company ExpoPlatform to offer participants a new online platform enhanced with a range of features and tools carefully designed to maximise business connections and ease of use.

At its core the new platform makes it easy and simpler for exhibitors and buyers to find and connect with each other in the run-up to the show and then to enhance those relationships face to face at IMEX.

The new platform also means that all attendees now have their own personal account for all future IMEX shows – enabling a fast, single sign-on for both IMEX Frankfurt and IMEX America.

Developments include:-

  • Free lead scanning for all buyers and exhibitors
  • Networking before, during and after IMEX
  • Recommendations
  • Personal email and calendar integration
  • Bringing clients or additional colleagues to appointments
  • A seamless desktop to app experience

Carina Bauer, CEO of the IMEX Group, explains: “At their heart, our shows are marketplaces, designed to connect the right people to each other and help them do more business. Alongside our new Official Tech Partner ExpoPlatform, we’ve created a new platform and online experience that truly powers this up, and at a time when new business is more prized than ever. Our buyers and exhibitors will find it easier to meet and track new or existing contacts and kickstart conversations and deals ahead of meeting face to face on the show floor.

“Our intention is for our buyers and exhibitors in particular to enjoy a simpler, more intuitive networking and appointment experience. We’ve done our very best to streamline our platform so that buyers and exhibitors can find and meet each other more efficiently. And we’re committed to continuing to learn and enhance the platform over the coming months and years,” explains Carina.

Tanya Pinchuk, CEO of ExpoPlatform, adds: “IMEX is one of the greatest business event showcases and a real force for good in our industry, so we are delighted to be working with them to make their events smart and seamless.

“Event planners are more tech-savvy than ever before, so we are excited to provide them with a strong digital-powered experience to improve the quality of in-person meetings. We can’t wait for IMEX Frankfurt and then IMEX America!”

Ahead of the Chancellor’s Spring Budget Statement, Finance Director of industry association, beam, has called for greater industry support.

The association’s Finance Director said: “While beam fully supports the widespread call for an extension to energy cost support, what the industry also needs is support more specifically appropriate to its issues.

“Most people in the industry are under great pressure because, while the sector is very busy, it is struggling to recruit enough staff to deliver the events. Nor can it afford to recruit them with costs rising and Bounceback loans still being repaid. 

“What our industry needs is a job support scheme to incentivise people under 25 to enter the meetings and events industry. We can’t compete with so many sectors.

“We have a long heritage of creating and producing world-class conferences, meetings and events – the Coronation in May will once again showcase our skills – but unless we recruit more young people, there will be no next generation of event staff to maintain that reputation.”

The Meetings Show, the UK’s leading event for the meetings and events community, claims to have your back with its latest campaign, #takethetime.

This campaign encourages event professionals to find space in their diaries to attend the show and tackle their challenges head-on. By attending the show, event professionals will have the chance to discover cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternatives, reassess budgets, find ideal suppliers, stay ahead of current trends, and streamline the event planning process, all in just a matter of days.

Jack Marczewski, portfolio event director of The Meetings Show, TEAMS Europe and Business Travel Show Europe, said: “We understand the challenges faced by event professionals and know how hard it can be to take time out of the office. But our research shows that just a day or two at the show can be invaluable and have major benefits on the long-term success of your work life.

“Attending an industry-focused event provides the perfect opportunity to stop and think, to address pain points, discover useful new products and services and approaches to work that will save time in the future, while making valuable connections.

“At The Meetings Show, we understand that time is precious for everyone, so we focus on curating pertinent content for education sessions, attracting quality destinations, venues, and suppliers as exhibitors, and creating numerous networking opportunities. We really encourage the industry to #takethetime out of their usual routine and broaden horizons.”

Join The Meetings Show community on 28 and 29 June 2023, at ExCeL London, and take the first step in improving your professional life. #takethetime to save time.

Andrea Doyle of Skift Meetings has written about industry progress in women’s equality.

Andrea says: ‘Although much progress has been made, there is still a long way to go. From increasing the number of women leaders in the meetings industry to closing the gender pay gap, much must be done to create a more equitable and inclusive future.’

Read more here.

The latest blog from MPI (Meeting Professionals International) uncovers MPI EMEC Brighton’s learning journey.

Robert Dunsmore writes that Meeting Futures ‘will be part of what I’ve called EMEC Manic Monday” where there’s a lot going on so follow this journey and to paraphrase Prince it’ll be your fun day. It will be run as a hosted live workshop to imagine the meeting space of the near future. Meetings fit for our new creator culture world of events. I really don’t know what will happen, but as a creative, I’m OK with that.’

Read more about the event in Robert’s full blog, here.

Battersea for events: 5 reasons to love this trending hotspot

Battersea is an area overlooking the Thames in South London and is becoming a hotspot for event profs. 

In the fast-paced world of venues and events, trends and popular locations constantly evolve. And while the Battersea area was previously an eyesore of mostly unused industrial buildings, a complete facelift in 2022 has sent it on the way to becoming one of the trendiest London locations. With event profs in mind, here is our list of reasons to love Battersea.

1. Beautiful Battersea Park

With 200 acres of green space, Battersea Park is a beautiful addition to the area. And it’s a lovely way to bring life back into the once industrially dominated space. As one of London’s largest green areas, there are many activities for delegates to enjoy during breaks or weekends. 

These options can be particularly attractive if your event is on a shoulder day (Monday/Friday). Delegates may have the option of arriving a day early or staying on after an event. So they can enjoy everything from ponds, a boating lake and zoo, to an art gallery and a café. All this, and the park itself, is enough to keep your delegates on a wellbeing event track for an entire day!

2. Eventful entertainment 

The idea to turn Battersea into a riverside community is very much underway. The exciting new neighbourhood displays glorious architecture and luxury apartment complexes overlooking the river, and endless entertainment options. The old power station in Battersea has been developed into a trendy new shopping mall which opened in October 2022. 

There are various high-end brands for your delegates to seek out – including TAG Heuer and Tommy Hilfiger. More big names are on the way in 2023.

With something for everyone, the mall includes a free museum on the ground floor. Your delegates can learn about the history of the power station, and experience the ‘PowerStation Lift 109’. The glass lift takes riders 358 feet high for a 360-degree view of the city.

3. Fancy some Vegan vibes, or salivating over steak? 

Battersea is home to some of the most stylish and diverse restaurants and bars, with something for all guests to enjoy.

Planning to spend a night away from your event venue? You can enjoy a mouth-watering steak at the luxury Macellaio. Or how about fresh vegan cuisine at the Clean Kitchen Club followed by a sophisticated cocktail at Control room B? Switch up the flavours with tasty seafood at The Wright Brothers or indulge in a cool drink at The Lighthouse.

4. Battersea’s visionary venues

Stylish new event venues are opening across Battersea. And, we’ve seen a selection of popular locations for event profs in the area. The Lost Garden at Lost Societies in Battersea is described as a ‘Hidden Gem’. This venue has a touch of nature with an outdoor space for up to 120 guests – with its own bar/bartender for your event. The partially covered terrace area is perfect for summertime and will make for a stylish eye-catching event this year.

Grand Estates is another glamorous venue, with a modern sophisticated look and a clean look for meetings and teambuilding events. The venue has 2 television screens and great lighting, making it a perfect location for presenting to a group. It is also situated on the ground floor, allowing easy access for all participants.

5. The best hotels

Battersea is home to some of the most modern and glamorous hotels in London. Here are just a selection that help guests have a relaxing and comfortable stay.

  • The Axiom Park hotel is nestled in the heart of Battersea, with a stylish reception and spacious rooms, this hotel has excellent city centre transport links.
  • The brand-new Art’Otel in Battersea has stunning 360-degree views, a jacuzzi, and a rooftop pool for guests, making it the perfect location for your stay. Opening on the 21st of February 2023, you could be one of the first to host your meeting or event at this unique hotel.

The Business of Events Consultation, CN Agency Awards, neurodivergence in events, & more

This Monday’s Insights (06 March 2023) feature brings you the latest news including The Business of Events Consultation, CN Agency Awards, The C&IT Show on neurodivergence in events, and more.

Headlines

The Business of Events, the not-for-profit independent Think Tank for the events industry, has launched its Policy Unit and opened the first stage of its sector-wide Consultation.

The Consultation aims to gather sentiment among those owning, running, managing, and working in the events industry, which will lay the foundation for a comprehensive Policy Agenda for the sector. It marks the first stage of the Policy Unit’s work and will close on 14th April 2023.

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

A second stage Consultation will open later in 2023 and will further explore policy initiatives in more detail.

Complete the Consultation here.

Martin Fullard, Associate Director, News & Content at The Business of Events said: “This is an important milestone in our work to create a Policy Agenda for the UK events industry.

“This Consultation is the first stage of the collation of evidence and sentiment, and the subsequent reports will inform where we go next. Once the Consultation closes in April, we will be arranging a series of roundtable discussions among different sector groups to discuss the findings and relay the views and opinions of the Advisory Council.

“I would like to extend my gratitude to those who have joined the Advisory Council so far. We have a blend of experience from a broad range of sector fields, and crucially we are delighted that Theresa Villiers MP has joined. Any policy initiatives must be stress tested by Government.

“I look forward to expanding the Advisory Council further with specific expertise as a picture unfolds, such as on matters such as taxation, diversity, sustainability, trade and many more.”

The Meetings Industry Association (mia) has celebrated its 2022 achievements at its AGM. 

Steve Jones, the associated outgoing chair, mia, comments: “We are in regular dialogue with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and hold a three-way meeting every six weeks.

“The Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA), part of the Ministry of Defence, connects us with organisations that have benefited from grant funding and have developed new safety and security innovation that could support the meetings industry.”

Read more on this in Conference News, including information on the mia’s restructured board.

An unfortunate lesson for event professionals took place at the recent Conference News CN Agency Awards.

For anyone not in attendance at the event, a very honest article on Conference News states: “At Friday afternoon’s event, an appalling incident took place involving our guest speaker and a member of the audience. At the event, the speaker made some deplorable statements which caused well-warranted offence from the affected party and many of those in the room.

“At the time of writing, it’s 24 hours since the Agency Awards closed, in that time members of the Conference News team have reached out to the affected delegate to offer our support. We’ve also contacted the speaker’s team to voice our disgust at their conduct on stage, and have requested a meeting to demand a formal apology from the speaker directly to the affected party.

“These actions were the speaker’s own, their crass attempt at a joke was unscripted and Conference News wholeheartedly disavows the words themselves, the sentiment behind them and the outdated mentality that they represent.

“However, we must do better. Which is why in future we will improve our speaker recruitment process by using trusted industry speaker bureaus, and adopt a more thorough vetting and briefing process with our speakers to ensure this incident does not repeat itself.”

An update on the Conference News website today, 6/3/23, states, “The Conference News team has been made aware that the best course of action would have been to remove the speaker from the event. Looking back, we accept we did not take appropriate action at the time and will be putting safeguards in place to ensure we do better in future.”

The entire team at EDGE Venues trust the appropriate action is taken, and sincerely hope it is something from which the entire industry can learn.

In the latest edition of the monthly The C&IT Show, Calum Di Lieto talks neurodivergence in events, playful creativity and Vegas adventures.

This is a fab episode covering lessons from Red Bull and Google, a Maltese hotel with panoramic views, BAFTA winners with links to the events industry, and more. Guest speakers include Gabby Austen-Brown, Founder of Diversity Alliance and Kate Scully, Global Travel Manager, Howden Group Holdings.

Check it out here.

Listen and learn from Julie Coker, CEO and president of the San Diego Tourism Authority, as she talks about community, mentorship, destination boycotts, and diversity, equity and inclusion.

According to Skift Meetings, “Julie began her journey into the events industry while working in restaurants in high school. This love of interacting with the public and helping them get to know her hometown began her love for the industry. This led to a corporate management trainee position with Hyatt after graduating from college.

“Coker worked her way up the organization, becoming a general manager at four different Hyatt properties, all of which exposed her to the wider hospitality industry and the role of destination marketing organizations (DMOs). This ultimately lead to her role as senior Vice President of convention sales at the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau, becoming President in 2016 and then moving to her current role in San Diego in 2020.”

Listen to this insightful podcast via Skift Meetings, here.

VisitBritain’s see things differently campaign, IMEX Group sustainability report, mia research, & more

This Monday’s Insights (27 February 2023) feature brings you the latest news including VisitBritain seeing things differently, IMEX Group sustainability report, mia research, and more.

Headlines

VisitBritain has launched a multi-million pound campaign inspiring visitors to ‘See Things Differently,’ driving bookings to Britain. 

National tourism agency VisitBritain has started rolling out its new multi-million pound international campaign for 2023 to drive tourism to Britain.

The international GREAT Britain marketing campaign invites visitors to ‘See Things Differently’, showcasing Britain as a dynamic, diverse and exciting destination, packed full of activities to come and enjoy now, with a warm British welcome at its heart.

The first phase of the 2023 campaign, with a budget of £9.8 million, gets underway this week and runs until early spring focused on markets where VisitBritain is seeing strong recovery including the USA, its largest and most valuable market, Canada, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and European markets including France, Germany and Spain.

In Europe and the GCC, the ‘See Things Differently’ advertising campaign – ‘Spilling the Tea on Great Britain’ – uses a play on Britain’s love of tea, through destination images and short films (see launch film here) to tell a fresh and exciting story about the experiences on offer, showing visitors that ‘whatever your cup of tea, we’ve got it.’

From a ‘Festival’ tea theme that gives a taste of Britain’s live music scene to a ‘Graffi-tea’ that celebrates its vibrant cities and cultural attractions. A ‘Surf’ theme shows the adventurous side of Britain and ‘#nofilter’ its natural beauty. A ‘Monster Hunting’ tea draws inspiration from myths and legends including world-famous Nessie the Loch Ness Monster. A limited release of the themed teas, blended by British tea company Tregothnan, will also be available for tastings at VisitBritain promotional and trade events.

In Canada and the USA the campaign, called ‘Fake (Br)it Till You Make It’ highlights the richness of Britain’s regional diversity. The phased advertising campaign gets underway with a variety of local phrases alongside destination images from across Britain. Later in March, a series of short films sees Brits sharing a warm welcome in local accents and dialects promoting their destinations, encouraging visitors to come and explore for themselves. Also from late March, a new online game on VisitBritain’s consumer website, using machine learning, goes live where players can have a fun go at mastering the accents with links to destination information to drive bookings.

VisitBritain CEO Patricia Yates said: “We know there is pent-up demand for travel and that tourism is also a fiercely competitive global industry. Our priority is to build on the recovery we have seen, competing hard in markets where we are seeing strong growth, tapping in to motivations for travel now to drive bookings.

“All eyes are on Britain this year and by telling the story of our dynamic destinations and diverse culture, along with a warm British welcome, we’re inspiring visitors to discover more, stay longer and explore year-round, supporting local businesses and economies.”

The campaigns also plan to capture major events in 2023 including the Coronation of King Charles III in May and Liverpool hosting the Eurovision Song Contest, on behalf of Ukraine, also in May, valuable opportunities to show Britain’s welcome, creativity and ability to host events of the highest calibre.

The campaigns have been developed based on VisitBritain’s research into motivations for travel now, with discovering new and surprising experiences high on the wish list for its target audiences and markets.

Both multi-media marketing campaigns are using a mix of on-and-offline channels including short films and branded content across social media, digital display advertising, for example digital billboards in the Paris Metro, and print media. Content also drives online traffic to VisitBritain’s consumer website with ideas and links to activities, attractions and experiences themed around ‘See Things Differently’ using #lovegreatbritain. 

VisitBritain is working with partners including Lastminute.com in Europe and online travel market place Wego in the GCC as well as paid content partnerships to extend the campaigns’ reach and drive bookings.

It has also called for tourism businesses, attractions and destinations to get involved by sharing local experiences that promote a different side of Britain across their own channels using #lovegreatbritain.

Separate campaigns are also set to run in the USA to harness the growth from this market, with visitor spending by Americans up 40% on 2019 based on latest statistics. A campaign is launching in March in the USA with British Airways as well as a test pilot of a cooperative marketing programme with industry to drive bookings. Marketing activity is also underway through VisitBritain’s GREAT Gateway Innovation Fund to boost visits through regional gateways.

VisitBritain’s latest inbound tourism forecast shows continued strong recovery in overseas visitor spending this year. Its latest forecast for 2023 is for overseas visitor spending in the UK of £29.5 billion, up 4% on the all-time spending high of £28.4 billion in 2019. It estimates 35.1 million inbound visits to the UK, 86% of 2019 levels.

VisitBritain’s ‘See Things Differently’ campaign is part of the UK Government’s GREAT campaign.

The Meetings Industry Association’s (mia) latest research has revealed that one third of organisations in the sector started the year with more confirmed bookings for 2023 than they did in 2019.

According to Conference News, mia’s latest survey of 126 event venues and suppliers found that two-thirds (66%) of organisations have forecasted more revenue for the year ahead compared to 2022.

The feature continues ‘Despite this signal of sector optimism for the year ahead, the research also reveals the estimated value of cancelled business as a result of recent rail strikes to exceed £337m for the sector, while over £550m of business has been postponed.’

The report also provides a look at the industry’s ongoing recruitment challenge as 53% of organisations claim to be understaffed, almost half (47%) have had to reduce their service, with almost eight in 10 (79%) currently advertising live vacancies.

Kerrin MacPhie, chief executive of the mia, said: “While the latest forecasts from within the sector gives confidence that we are navigating the road to recovery well in testing times, we must remain cautious of ongoing challenges that threaten the industry’s recovery. The value of business cancelled due to rail strikes demonstrates just how the UK’s volatile environment can change forecasts at the flick of a switch.”

Reda more here.

IMEX Group has published its first ever externally-verified Sustainability Report for IMEX Frankfurt (23 – 25 May). 

The IMEX Group has tracked and published the environmental performance of its American show, IMEX America, since 2012 but today’s report represents a significant achievement for its German counterpart.

The report for IMEX Frankfurt has been prepared by sustainability partners MeetGreen, an organisation devoted to accelerating the event industry’s transition to a sustainable future. It marks an extension of an existing partnership as well as the first step in an ongoing process of data-gathering intended to measure and improve the show’s environmental impact.

Today’s report is also an important milestone in IMEX’s Pathway to Net Zero. In working with an external authority to validate results, this report represents an important sustainability step for IMEX and establishes the benchmark against which all future IMEX Frankfurt shows will be measured. Previous environmental reports for IMEX Frankfurt have been conducted by IMEX staff only.

The new report covers aspects such as waste management, energy and water usage, event design and also social impact. 

IMEX Frankfurt is currently the only show at Messe Frankfurt to track such a high level of sustainable data and to make it public.

The report reveals notable achievements in waste diversion and energy use, as well as highlighting several opportunities for improvement. These include simplifying and standardising carbon footprint measurement, sourcing more carpet with recycled content and expanding community donations.

As well as benchmarking the show year on year, the report is designed to share the IMEX team’s learnings with the rest of the global business events industry and – ultimately – deliver long term change. A prime example of a long-term shift is the show’s energy use. Since 2012, IMEX has worked closely with host venue Messe Frankfurt to achieve 100% renewable electricity use. As a result, Messe Frankfurt has now adopted 100% renewable sourcing as a standard operating procedure across all its events.

“We’ve long been committed to improving and developing our sustainability practices at IMEX Frankfurt and were able to share some good results prior to the pandemic,” explains Carina Bauer, CEO of the IMEX Group. “However, thanks to an expanded partnership with our sustainability consultants MeetGreen, I’m delighted to share this first externally-verified Sustainability Report for IMEX Frankfurt 2022.

“This, together with our sustainability reports since 2012 for IMEX America, is part of a long-term commitment to the environment. As supporters of the Net Zero Carbon Events industry initiative, we’re also set to publish our roadmap to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050 later this year.”

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

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.

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.”

Read more.

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.”

Read more.

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.”

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!

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

Gateshead Quays arena-EDGE Venues

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.

More on this story, here.

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.

Read more about the Business of Events plans in Event Industry News, here.

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!

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!