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CHS Leeds 2024, EventWell® Buddy service, The Power of Events Careers Hub, & more

Leeds map

This news round-up brings you some of the industry and association news and views from February 2024, including CHS Leeds 2024, EventWell®’s Buddy service, ABPCO’s 2024 Festival of Learning, IMEX Frankfurt’s Sustainable Event Report, and more.

Headlines

CHS Leeds 2024 has announced speakers and content for its educational seminars which will take place at The Royal Armouries, 23rd April.

It claims the programme will be one of the most comprehensive guides to organising modern events, with an A-Z, available to delegates, produced by the speakers live at the event. 

Beginning with ‘Event Organising 101’, presented by Neil Thompson, The Delegate Wranglers, Louisa O’Connor, SEEN Presents and Justine Bruce, QHotels Collection, and finishing with a challenging session on Accessibility from Orla Pearson, MyClearText Ltd and Acessloop, the sessions will summarise key take away points and add them to a working compendium that will be shared with all delegates at the end of the day. 

Julie Phillips, Operations Director, CHS Leeds, said: “In essence, they [visitors] want to go back to basic event organising, but through the lens of a massively evolving event world here in 2024. I really think we’re going to deliver, and what’s more, we’re giving them something to take away with them. So, if they do miss a session, they can still have the key take outs in our A-Z.”

CHS Leeds will also continue to follow its values of looking after event organiser’s personal and professional growth with each speaker asked to ensure their sessions are as empathetic and practical as possible. The team will write the A-Z throughout the day and make it available to download via QR code. 

Find out more, here.

Julie Shorrock, the newly-appointed chair of trade association beam, has spoken to M&IT about her plans for 2024, the state of the sector, and more. 

Julie told the magazine, “I’d like to see more collaborations between associations. I think we work better together. When another association’s doing something good, I think we could do a lot more sharing and collaborative work. We’ve already started with IACC, with BTA, and I look forward to developing those relationships this year.”

Read the full interview, here.

Ahead of IMEX Frankfurt in May, the team has published a Sustainable Event Report revealing the successes, experiments and learnings from last year’s show.

The report lifts the lid on sustainability planning in the run-up to and execution of IMEX Frankfurt 2023, sharing notable achievements in waste diversion and energy use, as well as highlighting opportunities for improvement as Carina Bauer CEO of the IMEX Group explains:

“This is the second report we’ve produced, working with our sustainability consultants MeetGreen®, meaning we can now benchmark our progress against 2022. It’s an opportunity to share our successes and our challenges with the wider industry so that they can take what we’ve learned and weave these into their own events.”

Read more here.

ABPCO has announced its 2024 Festival of Learning “Fit for the Future” content. 

The Association of British Professional Conference Organisers (ABPCO) has finalised the programme for the 2024 ABPCO Festival of Learning, taking place at the Scottish Event Campus (SEC) in Glasgow on the 29th and 30th of April. This year’s theme, “Fit for the Future,” reflects ABPCO’s commitment to preparing the event industry for the challenges and opportunities of the future.

Monday, 29th April kicks off with an exclusive networking session for new members and first-time attendees at the Crowne Plaza, followed by an evening at the Glasgow Science Centre with food, drinks and a fireside session titled “Cultivating Success: The Transformative Impact of Mentoring” featuring Cally Willoughby-Ward of Chatty Penguin, Sammy Connell of NASUWT, Sarah Vaughan of CITMA, and Rebecca Towell of Full Circle.

Monday afternoon attendees will also have an opportunity to take part in an Invisible Cities Walking Tour of Glasgow.

Tuesday, 30th April includes: Event Power – A Force for Good, The Winning Combination, Tips and Hack, Adapting to the Future with Limited Resources – The BEST Example, Accessibility – The Next Frontier in Event Management, Avoid the Pitfalls and Dodge the Disasters – Stay Future Fit by Minimising Risk, and Closing Keynote – Unlocking a future of heightened productivity and reduced stress.

Heather Lishman, ABPCO’s association director says: “Our carefully curated sessions and workshops are designed to empower attendees with the knowledge, tools, and insights needed to thrive in an ever-evolving landscape. This is a unique opportunity to explore future trends, network with peers, and drive positive change in our industry.”

Read more, here.

EventWell is expanding its support services.

The charitable social enterprise will launch its EventWell® Buddy service at International Confex 2024 in February.

Helen Moon, EventWell founder and chief executive, explains, “It is currently estimated that 15 – 20% of the population are neurodivergent, with approximately 8 out of 10 of those individuals choosing not to attend events due to anxiety, uncertainty around accommodations, communication challenges and more.

We created the EventWell® Buddy service to help reduce potential barriers for neurodivergent attendees by having trained professionals on-site to provide information, comfort and a friendly face to those needing extra support at events.”

EventWell® Buddy Meeting Points provide a designated space at exhibition and conference entrances, Quiet Room or other key locations where attendees can seek assistance from EventWell representatives.

Read more, here.

EVCOM, the event and visual communication association, has launched EVCOMference 2024.

The EVCOMference is the association’s annual conference, which gathers industry leaders, experts and next-generation talent together for a programme of keynotes, panels and discussions. It will take place on 22nd April at RD Studios, London.

This year, the programme is underpinned by facilitated discussions across three core areas: Harnessing Tech, Business Solutions and Building a Better Industry. Within these streams it will be touching on topics such as virtual production and AI, preparing for growth and maintaining a hybrid workforce, neurodiversity and apprenticeships. 

Find out more about the event, here.

The Power of Events has launched a new Careers Hub. 

The not-for-profit company – which aims to showcase the UK events industry – has designed the hub to showcase the depth and range of career opportunities available across the seven sectors that make up the UK events industry.

The hub states: For people looking to change roles, those looking to start their careers and those interested in events currently working in other industries, the hub is packed with information and links to advice, insight, and support. This includes the five main routes into the industry and a glossary that reveals the breadth of job roles across all the different sectors. It also includes links to some of the key support organisations that have helped curate the content and can provide more support and information.

Check it out, here.

Meeting Needs has rebranded as a charity foundation.

Chris Parnham, Meeting Needs chair, said that the refocus is “to better clarify what we are and what we do.” The brand’s new strapline reads: Meeting Needs is a foundation that awards life-changing grants to small charities, with funds raised from within the meetings and events industry.

Read more on M&IT

View from the EDGE

EDGE Venues’ Commercial Director, Scott Ford, summed up this February’s monthly Insights:

Image of Scott Ford, with his comment: "“beam’s new focus on collaboration is something the whole world of M&E could benefit from so we look forward to what comes next from the industry association. And it’s great to see industry events like IMEX Frankfurt keeping an eye on sustainability with its event report – it isn’t going away, rightly so, but how meaningful are many of the new ‘developments’ we often hear about in our space?”
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UKCAMS research, beam 2024 Chair, industry AI white paper, & more

This news round-up brings you some of the industry and association news and views from January 2024, including UKCAMS research, beam’s new Chair, IMEX Frankfurt’s new talking point, industry AI white paper, and more.

Headlines

UK conference and meeting venues are being encouraged to take part in the 2024 UKCAMS research.

In its 31st year, The Conference and Meeting Survey (UKCAMS) has a specific focus on the value and volume of the market and the performance of meeting venues. It also highlights key market trends identified by venues.

The 2024 UKCAMS research asks UK venues to provide data on their conference and meeting business during the calendar year 2023.

UKCAMS research’s questionnaire covers the regular questions on the volume and value of the sector but also includes important questions on trends and key issues (for example, venue sustainability practices and policies, AI activity in the business events sector, international business trends).

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 to the 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.

UK conference and meeting venues which take part in the 2024 research will receive a complimentary, personalised summary report enabling them to benchmark their performance in 2023 against other comparable venues. The online questionnaire can be accessed, here.

VisitBritain / VisitEngland Head of Business Events, Paul Black, said: “VisitBritain is pleased to support the ‘UK Conference and Meeting Survey’ in 2024, a valuable tool for us to demonstrate the importance of our business events sector to the UK economy and to Government. There are some important research questions for venues to answer alongside the business level assessment, so we would be very grateful for their participation in supporting this survey.”

The UKCAMS research results are expected to be published in June.

Melissa Cherry – chief diversity and inclusion officer/SVP for Miles Partnership – is moderating an MPI Academy webinar called Building an Inclusive and Equitable Meetings Industry on 13th February.

In advance of this webinar, MPI caught up with Cherry to discuss measuring inclusivity progress, the impact of leadership on DEI initiatives and creating a sense of belonging at events.

She said: “Achieving diversity and inclusion in leadership is an ongoing process that requires commitment at all levels of the organization. It’s not just about hiring diverse leaders but also creating an inclusive culture where everyone feels valued and has equal opportunities for growth and advancement.”

Read the full blog here, and access the link to register for the webinar.

Julie Shorrock, managing director of Hotel and Travel Solutions (HTS) has become Chair of beam, the industry association for business events, accommodation and meetings.

Shorrock has been a board director for many years and succeeds Sian Sayward. A new vice-chair position has also been introduced at beam. The vice-chair position aims to ensure the representation of both venues and agents at chair level and recognise longer-serving venue board directors for their contribution to the association. If the chair is held by an agent, the vice-chair will be a venue and visa-versa. The role follows the inclusion of venues in beam’s membership categories and board of directors.

Julie Shorrock said “What a marvellous honour! I’m taking over the reins at beam at a time when it is buoyant, thriving, and has plenty of momentum to grow further and continue to drive the industry and the association forward. 

“That’s testimony to the wonderful leadership of Sian over the last 18 months and the hard work and commitment of all those who have contributed while simultaneously managing their ‘day jobs’. We’ve created so much value as a team, from new advisory boards resulting in achievements such as our Payment Toolkit to a partnership with the IACC, and more. 

“I’m a great believer in collaboration, so I look forward to leading beam with so many supportive colleagues and members.” 

Ahead of IMEX Frankfurt in May, the IMEX Group has announced its new Talking Point for 2024 and 2025 – Impact.

The company’s annual Talking Point forms a focal point for the year ahead, anchoring IMEX show content, research and storytelling as well as providing a topic for exhibitors and attendees alike to explore at the shows and throughout the year. Ahead of IMEX Frankfurt in May, the IMEX Group has announced its new Talking Point for 2024 and 2025 – Impact (Imp-ACT).

The company’s annual Talking Point forms a focal point for the year ahead, anchoring IMEX show content, research and storytelling as well as providing a topic for exhibitors and attendees alike to explore at the shows and throughout the year.

IMEX CEO, Carina Bauer, explains: “Impact sits at the very heart of our mission to bring the global events community together to do business, learn and drive positive change. We’re especially emphasizing the ‘act’ within Impact, forming a rallying cry for our industry to collectively address the big issues facing our planet and communities. 

“Intention is one thing, but action is everything – it’s time to make a bigger, more positive Impact! Over the next year or two we’re inviting people and organizations from every corner of the global business events community to make a more positive impact through their events, their personal and professional actions, their commercial partnerships and more. We look forward to discovering how people embrace our Talking Point and incorporate the concept of impact across their whole lives.”

The IMEX team asked business event professionals to define what impact means to them. The powerful and varied responses were gathered into a short video:

SkyTeam, a global airline alliance, has announced that its data for January can reveal January’s top MICE destinations.

One offering, Global Meetings, is designed to cover MICE events in North and Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, Greater China, Asia, Africa and the Middle East. According to SkyTeam, data from Global Meetings demonstrates the most popular MICE destinations for 2024 thus far – Barcelona, Cancun, Buenos Aires, Las Vegas, Milan, Nairobi, Paris, and Prague. Read more, on Conference & Meetings World:

SkyTeam Global Meetings reveals January’s top destinations

A new white paper highlights the accelerating integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the global association conference and event sector.

The paper, authored by The Hague & Partners Convention Bureau and Ottawa Tourism, underscores the urgent need for widespread upskilling in the use of the technology as well as a need to understand the ethical implications of its use.

The research, which investigates the current and potential impact of AI within the sector, is based on qualitative and quantitative methods, including a global survey with over 100* participants from the industry.

Key Findings:

  • 63% of associations and not-for-profits are already utilising AI in event organisation.
  • A significant knowledge gap exists, with 72% not engaging in AI education 
  • 85% have no budget for AI training.

“The inevitability of AI in our sector is clear from our research. However, it’s not just about adoption; it’s about understanding and skilfully leveraging AI to enhance our industry,” said Ottawa Tourism’s Vice President, Meeting and Major Events, Lesley Pincombe.

“This upskilling is not just desirable; it’s essential for the sustainable growth and innovation in our sector. The research also highlighted the fact that there shouldn’t be fear associated with AI and the knowledge needed for its use. Ultimately, it is not for organisers to understand how to build or create AI tools, instead they should be working with technology partners and AI experts to see how AI can be integrated into the work they are already undertaking.”

The white paper not only presents a statistical overview of AI in the association events sector, but also offers in-depth analysis and actionable insights. It emphasises the importance of ethical AI use, especially in data management and privacy. The document serves as a call for industry stakeholders to not only engage in learning and applying AI in their operations but to understand the ethics behind its use and the implications for mismanagement of data and individual privacy.

“AI is rapidly becoming a key technology across so many different industries, ours is no different,” adds Bas Schot, Head of The Hague & Partners Convention Bureau. “Our industry must adapt swiftly to stay ahead, and this means investing in knowledge and skills that align with these technological advancements.

“However, we must be careful to protect our delegates and ourselves as we make the most of what AI has to offer – we already need to consider both the pros and the cons before we entrust vital information and data to third parties – AI usage is no different.”

In December, initial highlights from the research were revealed, including the fact that 63% of global association buyers are either very concerned or slightly concerned about the ethical implications of using AI in event organising. In response, although 63% think governments should legislate on the use of AI, 65% also think those same governments lack the required knowledge to be able to legislate effectively.

Ottawa Tourism and The Hague & Partners Convention Bureau advocate a proactive approach to AI education in the association event sector, emphasising the need for strategic partnerships, knowledge sharing, and resource allocation towards AI competency.

The full white paper is attached but also available for download below, offering valuable insights for association event organisers, technology providers, educators, and policy makers in the global events industry.

The research was conducted, and the white paper written by Adam Baggs from Soaring Worldwide on behalf of The Hague Convention Bureau and Ottawa Tourism. Download it here.

Key findings from an International Sustainability Report suggest sustainability is still not given a high priority in meeting planners’ dealings with suppliers.

The report, by ICCA and Destination Canada, surveyed of 248 meeting professionals, including 139 association planners. It showed that 21% of planners ‘somewhat’ integrated sustainability into RFP design, while only 20% said it was ‘very’ and 8% ‘extremely’ integrated into their RFPs.

Costs (74%), venue capacity (61%), range of accommodation (61%), and favourable contractual terms (59%) were the most important factors when it came to the RFP. Read more, here.