Tag: Monday Insights

This Monday’s Insights (22nd August) feature brings you a selection of recent industry headlines, including levelling up to redress economic imbalance, industry ageism, and group travel’s road to recovery.

Headlines

Levelling up on economic imbalance

Levelling up is a much-needed government strategy to redress the economic imbalance between London and the rest of the country, explains Liz Taylor, managing director of the northern-based Taylor Lynn Corporation (TLC).

Liz spoke to M&IT about how she welcomes any inward-investment to the Manchester region, and believes the Government needs to focus on its original plans for HS2. 

“Improved transport links will not only make it easier to do business in the city and between cities in the region, but coaxing large-scale conferences, meetings and trade shows, a huge revenue driver in the events sector will be a much easier sell with improved transport infrastructure. My focus is very much on live events and always has been.”

Read the full levelling up opinion article here. 

Ageism in events?

“It’s not even unconscious bias, it’s blatant bias.” Event industry recruiter, Robert Kenward, has shared his views on ageism in a new blog on Conference News.

The feature encourages agencies to hire eventprofs over 50, reminding readers that age inclusivity is a vital part of DEI.

“But no-one talks about it, there is no scholarship or initiative to encourage the over 50s into our industry. An employer would never say that they are looking for a white person, or a woman for a role, but it’s very common for agencies to specify the age bracket of the new recruit that they need.”

Read it here.

IMEX America clears the path

IMEX America, returning to Las Vegas October 10 – 13, is set to address the new needs of the industry head on. The four-day event is designed to deliver a tailored, targeted and enjoyable business experience. 

The business climate is defined by inflationary pressures, supply chain issues and talent shortages. So IMEX America is designed to guide attendees to the people, products and learnings that best fit their specific needs. Just two months after registration opened, over 3,000 global buyers have so far confirmed their participation. 

Likewise, there has been strong demand from suppliers from an early stage. International exhibitors returning to the show in force. The list includes all the major hotel groups.

The event’s free learning programme has been simplified for attendees, too. Under the theme ‘Pathways to Clarity’, the IMEX team has streamlined the number of education tracks from 10 to four. Attendees will find: Respect for People and Planet; Future Self; Innovation and Creativity; Event Planner Toolkit. And a global roster of speakers will offer fresh thinking on today’s challenges.

Find out more at imexexhibitions.com

Group travel on the road to recovery

Group travel is on the road to recovery, with live expos, in-person conferences, and incentive trips back on the cards. But there is a marked difference in the post-pandemic travel experience and the attitudes of those on board.

Read the views of Air Partner head of charter, Clive Chalmers on mitmagazine.co.uk.

Double Take

Should venues be more flexible during travel strikes?

Martin Fullard, editorial director, Conference News, says venues should have demonstrated greater flexibility during the rail strikes.

What do you think about the way venues have approached cancellation terms during this latest challenge for eventprofs? 

Check out his piece from earlier this month.

This Monday’s Insights (15th August) feature brings you a selection of recent industry headlines, including increase in industry-wide prices in 2023, potential city hosts announced for 2023 Eurovision and 480,000 plastic bottles saved at Birmingham Commonwealth Games.

Headlines

Business travellers to see industry-wide fare rises in 2023

According to the 2023 Global Business Travel Forecast, global travel prices are predicted to continue to increase in Q3 and Q4 of 2022 and throughout 2023.

Published by CWT and the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), the forecast covers the drivers behind the increasing prices.

The report suggests this is due to rising fuel prices, labour shortages, and inflationary pressures in raw material costs.

What does this mean for meetings and events?

Prices have increased in all regions across most categories of spend, fuelled by pent-up demand. The cost-per-attendee for meetings and events in 2022 is expected to be around 25% higher than in 2019 and is forecast to rise a further 7% in 2023.

Corporate events are also now competing with other types of events that were cancelled in 2020. With many companies having given up office space during the pandemic in favour of remote working, they are now booking meeting spaces when staff gather in person.

Read more via Conference News here.

UK hotel rates reached record levels during the second quarter, due to rising demand and inflationary cost pressures.

A report byBNP Paribas Real Estate found that the UK’s average hotel occupancy rate rose to 80 per cent in Q2, up from 70 per cent in the first quarter of the year.

Further insight available via Business Travel News Europe.

Eurovision song contest 2023: seven UK cities named as potential hosts

Birmingham, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle and Sheffield have been named as potential hosts of the 2023 Eurovision song contest when it is held in the UK for the first time in 25 years.

All great cities, but where do you think it should be held? Share your thoughts on our LinkedIn post.

Double Take

480,000 plastic bottles saved by Severn Trent at Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games

Severn Trent has announced that around 480,000 reusable water bottles were filled over the 11 days of the 2022 Commonwealth Games, having run refill stations at every Games venue.

Spectators, Games volunteers and emergency services staff were kept hydrated during the Games as the water company looked to tackle single-use plastic waste.

Counters installed on the water refill stations kept track of the number of plastic bottles saved, with the initiative helping to save people money on their memorable days out as they took in the excitement of each event.

As Official Nature and Carbon Neutral Partner of Birmingham 2022, Severn Trent had 248 taps in operation across the 41 water refill stations, with more than 800 volunteers from the company on hand to help and answer any questions spectators may have.

This Monday’s Insights (8th August) feature brings you a selection of recent industry headlines, including mia chief exec Kerrin MacPhie’s views on the rising rate of event evolution.

Headlines

Kerrin MacPhie, chief executive of the Meetings Industry Association (mia), has shared her views with Conference News on the rising rate of event evolution.

In a new blog last week, Kerrin explained: “When it comes to the evolution of events, no period has been more prominent than the last 30 months. Whether due to external forces shaking up the sector’s framework or disrupted capabilities inspiring innovation, our infamously fast-paced sector has shifted up a new gear to truly push the boundaries. Now is not the time for the sector to rest on its laurels. Events are still evolving today, at a pace faster than ever before.”

The blog covers Kerrin’s views on everything from the Metaverse, net zero and hybrid event solutions to recruitment and demonstrating the industry’s strength through data.

Check it out here.

Jacqui Kavanagh, CEO, EDGE Venues has shared her latest opinion piece, focusing on the industry’s readiness for recession.

Read it here!

The IMEX Group is set to remodel the professional learning programmes delivered at both of its global trade shows with the appointment of Tahira Endean as Head of Programme.

Vancouver-based Tahira’s new role signals a new era for IMEX. A three-year education strategy will capitalise on IMEX’s free-to-attend programming to meet the industry’s thirst for knowledge and continuous development while embracing a growth mindset.

The IMEX education programme was envisioned and developed in 2005 by Dale Hudson, Knowledge and Events Director. It has grown in size and quality over the last 15 years, adding substantial value to the visitor experience. Tahira’s addition to the team will build on that legacy. She’ll work with both the IMEX Marcomms and Knowledge and Education teams to design learning programmes that enrich the show’s value proposition and deliver measurable business benefits.

Tahira explains: “We’re focused on designing learning with buyer requirements in mind first and foremost as we want them to have meetings that are enhanced by education at the show. Our combined aim is for attendees to leave each session with tangible takeaways that also support their meetings onsite. IMEX’s legacy of tailored education that meets the particular needs of agencies, associations and corporate event professionals has always been strong; we’re looking to build on that too.”

“As a veteran of the MICE industry and self-confessed event nerd, I recognise IMEX as the professional home for our global industry. The opportunity to provide knowledge that helps us all develop and grow through turbulent times is important and to do it with a team as committed, passionate and talented as IMEX is really exciting.”

The West Midlands has outlined its ambitions to bring more international sporting events to the region. According to Access All Areas, over 250 delegates from governing bodies, global associations and professional sporting organisations came together for a sports economy day at the University of Birmingham’s Exchange building.

Officials from federations including World Athletics, the International Boxing Association and the International Extreme Sports Festival heard from speakers including Commonwealth Games minister Nigel Huddleston MP (pictured), leader of Birmingham City Council Ian Ward and Trudy Lindsdale, CEO of the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships.

Themes at the day included:

• Building sustainable sporting facilities
• Innovative fan engagement
• Sports events legacy
• Strengthening and enduring international relationships

Read more on Access All Areas, including details of the The West Midlands Major Events Delivery Plan, led by the Business and Tourism Programme, (BATP).

IACC’s latest Meeting Room of the Future barometer is a mixed bag of positivity and caution as the international meeting venue recovery continues. According to Meetings and Incentive Travel, Mark Cooper, CEO of IACC said: 

“The start of 2022 has shown some excellent progress in recovery however, there are still some key areas where venues need support, particularly in staffing. IACC will support its members and community over the next year, by providing important personal and professional development opportunities as the industry continues to repair the skills and knowledge shortfall that exist.”

Read the full M&IT feature here, which includes a link to the full report from the IACC.

Double Take

In a new episode of the Event Industry News Podcast, Dawn Lauder – head of international conferences at the Scottish Event Campus (SEC) – digs into her learnings from COP26.

Dawn talks host James Dickson through the ‘corona-coaster’, the prestige of hosting COP26 despite the tension wrought by Covid-19 in the run-up, the sense of team it fostered, the “off the charts” media coverage, maintaining that sense of purpose, why it’s worth reading the subsequent Sustainability Report, how hosting the summit has influenced Dawn Lauder’s manifesto for change and much more.

https://www.eventindustrynews.com/news/podcast-scottish-event-campus-net-zero-by-2030

This Monday’s Insights (1st August) feature brings you a selection of recent industry headlines, including a focus on Birmingham.

Headlines

Jacqui Kavanagh, CEO, EDGE Venues has shared her latest opinion piece, focusing on Birmingham Commonwealth Games opening ceremony. 

Read how the Alexander Stadium came to life to put the UK, specifically Birmingham, on the map for delivering world-class events.

And speaking of Birmingham, ABPCO Excellence Awards is heading to the city’s ICC. 

The 2022 event will take place on 9th December 2022 at Birmingham ICC, supported by the West Midlands Growth Company.

After a summer hosting sporting excellence at the Commonwealth Games, Birmingham will be the perfect location to celebrate excellence amongst ABPCO members and the wider association and not-for-profit industry.

2022 marks the ninth ABPCO Excellence Awards, which take place in different destinations across the UK each year.

This year’s awards will see an increase in categories as well as an opportunity for non-members to enter the awards for the first time.

The Awards, which will take place over lunch on 9th December, will be preceded by educational sessions in the morning as well as an evening networking event on 8th December. Association Director, Heather Lishman comments:

“Birmingham is a fantastic location for our awards, particularly so soon after its hosting of the Commonwealth Games.

We are grateful to the ICC team as well as the West Midlands Growth Company for their support and sponsorship of the event, which will showcase all the city has to offer. Located in the heart of the UK, Birmingham is accessible to all our members and we look forward to welcoming them as well as non-members for our annual celebration of success this December.”

The West End’s first new large-scale theatre in 50 years is opening this autumn.

According to eventindustrynews.com, @sohoplace is on the first newly-named street created in Soho for 72 years, also called Soho Place, and is part of a £300m regeneration project in the area which will see offices, retail space and a new piazza built.

The venue will feature a 602-seat auditorium, rehearsal room, actors’ Green Room, bar, restaurant and a terrace.

Read more about @sohoplace and its curved auditorium, which can be transformed into various other configurations.

Double Take

The Business of Events has published the first of its market sector reports. Conference News told readers that The Business of Events is a cross-sector not-for-profit series of events and reports, designed to raise the importance and profile of business events in the UK, as an economic, policy and societal driver.

Respondents in the international buyer community were asked what areas they consider important when selecting a destination or major venue in a post-pandemic environment. The questions focused on areas ranging from accessibility and ease of travel to venue quality and suitability.

Read more about the report, including a downloadable link on Conference News. 

This Monday’s Insights (July 25th) feature brings you the industry headlines you may have missed from the last week.

Headlines

Tourism boards in England are to undergo a £4m radical restructuring as the Government aims to make it easier for planners to discover the country’s destinations.

According to a feature on M&IT, the Government wants a “simpler structure where tourism boards, otherwise known as destination management organisations (DMOs), are a one-stop shop for visitors to find all they need to know about a local area.”

The £4 million will fund a pilot – in one region – of a new accreditation scheme to highlight the best DMOs, which will be renamed Local Visitor Economy Partnerships (LVEPs).

The funding will also be used to create a pilot in one region of the country, giving one top-tier DMO or a group of local DMOs the opportunity and investment to restructure under a new model, to show the best their region has to offer.

The changes follow last year’s independent review into DMOs, carried out by the chair of VisitEngland’s advisory board Nick de Bois. The review found the DMO landscape to be overly complex, making it confusing for tourists planning breaks and businesses looking to invest. 

De Bois recommended a tiering model for DMOs, including multi-year core funding. Tourism minister Nigel Huddleston said:

“Whilst I realise it will be disappointing that we aren’t rolling out the de Bois funding proposals nationwide at this point, we also need to be as confident as we can be that public sector investment will be value for money.

“De Bois highlights that there are gaps in information on existing DMO performance and the evidence that has been collected suggests the DMO structures in some parts of England are not currently mature enough to take on significant public funds. Furthermore, we need more robust evidence that state funding of Destination Development Partnerships drives up private sector investment and growth.

“My hope is that our pilot will serve as a proof of concept which, when combined with the rollout of the accreditation system, will give us the information we need to proceed with confidence at a national level.”

Read the full feature here, and view the full Government response to the De Bois review here.

Jacqui Kavanagh, CEO, EDGE Venues has asked ‘The Race for Number 10 – what does it mean for our industry?’ in her latest opinion post.

Read it in full, here.

As enquiries for hybrid events decrease, venues across Coventry and Warwickshire have seen a return to in-person meetings, conferences and exhibitions. 

Conference Coventry and Warwickshire, the region’s convention bureau, surveyed venues from across the region, including Coventry Building Society Arena, Coventry Conferences, Warwick Conferences, British Motor Museum, Telegraph Hotel, Eliot Park Innovation Centre and IXL Events Centre. 

One venue, in particular, reported that 75% of enquiries favour face-to-face over hybrid events.

Toby Batchelor, head of commerce, British Motor Museum, said: “Hybrid is still an element of conference and exhibition delivery, but I think it is now being used more as an extension for organisers rather than the focus.”

Paul Jones, managing director, Conference Coventry and Warwickshire, commented: “There has been a huge desire from people to get back to face-to-face events and the inevitable impact of that has been a reduction in enquiries for hybrid events.

“The return to face-to-face events is fantastic for our visitor economy and we have a varied portfolio of venues for event organisers to choose from in Coventry and Warwickshire.”

Read more on the findings here. 

The Independent Print Industries Association (IPIA) will tackle sustainability at its Autumn Conference on September 1 at the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC).

The event’s theme is ‘Print in Balance – Supporting People and our Planet’ and will tackle wellbeing at work alongside environmental sustainability.

According to IPIA, proposed government legislation, cultural changes, and corporate social responsibility shift will impact the UK print industry. Find out those impacts and what solutions the conference will bring on Conference News.

Andrew Harrison, director of the Event Services and Suppliers Association (ESSA), asks, what does ‘industry standard’ really mean, why do we need standards, and how can we uphold them, especially when the going gets tough?

In an opinion piece for M&IT, Harrison examines why standards matter, especially when under pressure. And with the events industry being so busy, the current shorter lead times and staffing issues, there has never been a more appropriate time to discuss the topic.

Check it out here.

Double Take

ICC Wales has hosted a Protect Duty Roundtable to highlight the role venues and event organisers play in ensuring they are as safe and secure as possible for attendees.

Following ICC Wales’ Protect Duty Report, the roundtable aimed to strengthen the events sector’s response to forthcoming legislation.

The new legislation, also known as Martyn’s Law, will formalize the responsibilities and actions that publicly accessible places must take to mitigate the risk of a terrorist attack.

Heather Lishman, executive director of the Association of British Professional Conference Organizers (ABPCO), said the discussions helped ease some of the uncertainty and anxiety surrounding the new legislation. She continued:

“Protect Duty can sound quite formal and scary, but ultimately protecting someone should be seen as a very positive message – it’s a caring cause, keeping people safe from harm. If we as all stakeholders work together and work out the potential harms together, hopefully we can mitigate the risk as a team effort. ”

Read the full story here.

This Monday’s Insights feature brings you the industry headlines you may have missed from the last week.

Headlines

Europe’s Events Market is set to be valued at USD $123.9 Billion by 2030, according to a report published by Allied Market Research. The report offers an extensive analysis of key growth strategies, drivers, opportunities, key segment, Porter’s Five Forces analysis, and competitive landscape.

According to coverage of the report in Digital Journal, the corporate sector offers various opportunities for event management companies to contribute to huge revenue generation, which, in turn, augments the growth of the Europe events market.

Digital Journal claims ‘The growth of the events industry is majorly driven by upsurge in frequency of corporate meetings, conferences, tradeshows/exhibitions, and other events. Furthermore, the presence of developed infrastructure and increased adoption of advanced technology in Europe has fueled the growth of the Europe events industry.’

Read the article and access the report here.

NewcastleGateshead Convention Bureau has reported signs of recovery for the meetings and events industry in the North East.

From April 2019 to April 2022, the convention bureau has facilitated a 73% increase in confirmed enquiries for meetings, events and conferences, with figures from May this year almost at full recovery from 2019. This is the highest performing month for value of confirmed business in six years.

May figures reflect a steady path to full recovery, coming in at 87% pre-covid levels despite the industry being disproportionately affected by the pandemic.

NewcastleGateshead Convention Bureau, part of NewcastleGateshead Initiative (NGI), work with established partnerships and local academia to help bring meetings, events and conferences to the region.

Paul Szomoru, Director of Business Events, NGI said: “The figures we have received are very encouraging for the steady recovery of the meetings and event sector, and are also testament to the resilience, collaboration and innovation of our team and each and every venue, ambassador and supplier across the region.

“Having a healthy pipeline of events is crucial to the sustainability of the sector and the recovery and growth of the local visitor economy, by filling our hotels, venues, restaurants and attractions, increasing visitor numbers and spend and supporting jobs across the industry.

“It’s a very exciting time for meetings and events in Newcastle, with the opening of the brand-new Sage ICC in 2024. The development is already proving to be a game-changer in the industry, by enabling us to target and attract bigger international events, more national and international delegates and ultimately working towards positioning NewcastleGateshead as the world’s meeting place.”

Read more.

Meeting Professionals International, the meetings and events industry association is unveiling an corporate docuseries on the resurgence of professional meetings and events and the professionals behind the scenes that make it a success.

Experience Professionals: Inside the Industry that Brings People Together explores the relationship between in-person gatherings and events and the many benefits to business acceleration. The irreplaceable human connections that define us are reliant on the coming together of people—live and in-person—to shape and enhance us and our communities. Whether you attend or facilitate, live event experiences provide immeasurable human value and opportunity to everyone involved.

Presented and narrated by former GMA and CBS Today Show Correspondent Taryn Winter Brill, “Experience Professionals: Inside the Industry that Brings People Together” will explore these issues, capturing stories from the people and organizations who work across the meetings and events industry. The program will show how through effective collaboration and education and with the right people, technology, locations, and facilities, industry professionals can deliver meetings that matter.     

The program is presented by Meeting Professionals International (MPI) and produced by dBase Media (DBM). Based in Dallas, TX, MPI is the largest meeting and event industry association worldwide and provides innovative and relevant education, networking opportunities and business exchanges.  

“MPI believes that ‘when we meet, we change the world,’” said Paul Van Deventer, president and CEO of MPI. “And the evidence of this industry’s impact on driving innovation, technology, learning and advancement is clear — meetings and events have long been among the top contributors for worldwide economic impact, directly responsible for over $1 trillion in spending and 10.3 million jobs.” 

Watch here.

MEETINGS 2023 is set to be held in New Zealand’s Tākina Wellington Conference and Exhibition Centre for the first time, Business Events Industry Aotearoa (BEIA) has told Conference and Meetings World.

BEIA chief executive Lisa Hopkins said: “Tākina’s opening in June 2023 is perfect timing for New Zealand business events to showcase in a new destination.”

Read the full feature here:

https://www.c-mw.net/beia-announces-meetings-2023-for-wellingtons-new-venue/

With delays and cancelled flights wreaking havoc on travel, what can event planners do to ensure keynote speakers, VIPs, and others make it to their events on time?

This article in Skift Meetings discusses how pent-up demand, staff shortages, strikes, and Covid have led to delays, cancellations, and disruptions. And it cover the implications if a speaker misses a gig due to travel delays and what can be done to mitigate losses?

Read it here.

Double Take

Business travel will be crucial to the travel industry’s recovery from the pandemic. Yet, when it comes to sustainability, business travel is a big part of the problem, according to a Reuters report.

The report claims that with so few sustainable alternatives to traditional jet fuel, and none expected until after 2030, just 1% of people cause half of all aviation emissions (European non-governmental organisation (NGO) Transport & Environment).

Sustainability and travel are important overlapping factors with meetings and event strategies; read the feature in full here.

This Monday’s Insights feature brings you the industry headlines you may have missed from the last week.

Headlines

The Meetings Industry Association has reacted to UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s resignation.

Kerrin MacPhie, chief executive of the mia, said: “We feel that Boris Johnson’s resignation potentially provides an opportunity for the business meetings and events sector as it really feels like wholesale change is in the air.

“Despite the distractions of the inevitable leadership challenge and subsequent ministerial appointments, we may potentially witness positive change such as visa conditions and immigration rules being relaxed. This will assist us to attract the much-needed workforce that left the UK post-Brexit and help business meetings and events thrive, providing much confidence to all – both domestically and internationally.”

She added: “We will have to see how things unfold but what is clear is that collaboration and staying connected as a sector has never been more important.”

Butlin’s is tackling the hospitality skills shortage with a new Chef Academy designed to train, coach and validate current team and new starters to the standard required to operate in all catering venues at its three resorts.

Mark Murphy, Butlin’s, said: “The Chef Academy has been years in the making and we have already welcomed two cohorts of chefs who have worked on several different conferences and events ranging from small events to large corporate gala dinners.”

Read the full feature here.

EDGE Venues’ CEO, Jacqui Kavanagh, joined the panel at Beam’s instant book summit last week.

The instant book summit, which took place DoubleTree by Hilton Oxford Belfry, brought together every type of organisation from across the industry interested in digitalising meetings and event bookings.

The event explored the future of venue finding and booking and saw Jacqui participate in thought-provoking content, opening minds as our industry is navigating a new world.

Senior professionals from agencies and travel management companies will came together with hotel and venue groups, independent hotels and venues, many specialist venues and a wide range of specialist technology providers to shine a light on the issues and the way forward.

Event industry recruiter, Robert Kenward, has shared a guide on recruiting and retaining Millennials with Conference News. 

Those born between 1981 and 1996 were apparently the second-largest age group to leave the workforce during the pandemic. So how do we attract and retain need next-generation employees?

Robert covers everything you need to know, including, why people should stop using the term ‘Millennials, or Gen Y, or whichever name clumsily pigeonholes nearly two decades of wildly different people into one handy, but lazy and misleading, description.’

Double Take

Tom Bairstow of NorthHouse has shared how the 2022 Platinum Party at the Palace projection mapping, video design and direction, screen visuals and broadcast graphics came together.

The Creative Director and Founder told Event Industry News how the company ‘delivered unique and dazzling results which transformed Buckingham Palace into the largest projector screen in the world in a show broadcasted to millions globally.’

Check out the full story here, including what Prince William had to say about Buckingham Palace turned into a giant IMAX screen.

This Monday’s Insights feature brings you the industry headlines you may have missed from the last week.

Headlines

Conference & Incentive Travel (C&IT)’s State Of The Industry Corporate report 2022 has looked at why retaining staff is a rising challenge.

Almost half of those surveyed (47%) for the report said it would be difficult to retain talent in the next year.

And one respondent believes it could be down to people moving on from that weren’t right for them, but were taken out of necessity. “After the pandemic lots of eventprofs were forced to move roles and did not necessarily get one that’s the best fit so people are still reshuffling looking for a longer-term role.”

The annual report was discussed in detail at a roundtable event. Here, it was noted that one planner felt there was a growing trend of in-house event organisers being replaced by agencies. ‘Many companies relied on agencies and other external suppliers during the pandemic to help them deliver virtual events, and this could well be an ongoing post-pandemic approach.’

From market saturation to self-improvement and beyond, take a look at what survey respondents say about why staff shortages are impacting the sector in the 2022 report here.

Conference News has shared that £117m worth of events were covered under the Government insurance scheme

The scheme, aimed at helping ‘plan events with confidence’ was said to be worth over £750 million during it’s launch by Chancellor Rishi Sunak on August 5 2021.

Check out the Conference News feature for analysis of the event covered, and comments from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).

Center Parcs reopening conference and event spaces at two of its UK locations from September following their closure due to the pandemic.

According to a report in BTN Europe, the Venue meetings space at Woburn Forest in Bedfordshire, which has undergone a £2.5 million upgrade in the past two years, and Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire will reopen for corporate groups in the autumn.’

It’s ‘nature-rich escapes’ are already in high demand, as Center Parcs told BNT that ‘bookings for conferences and events had already exceeded pre-Covid levels and enquiries from booking agents were now up by 10 per cent compared with 2019.’

Read the news here.

EIC has launched an enhanced framework for sustainable events.

Exhibition News told readers the Events Industry Council’s (EIC) Sustainable Event Standards is comprised of eight standards ‘designed to assess events and industry suppliers in support of environmental and social responsibility.’

Originally created in 2019 to replace the APEX/ASTM Environmentally Sustainable Meeting Standards, the Sustainable Event Standards provide guidance and metrics for event professionals at all stages of their sustainability journey.

Find out more about the changes here, which include :

• Foundations Level
• Improved Ease of Use and Expanded Criteria
• Integrated Property Standard
• New Certification Cadence
• Clearly Defined Roles

Doubletake

Malaysia’s Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre has seen a significant increase in demand for in-person events, with up to 127 global meetings (51 conventions and 76 exhibitions) booked at the venue from 2022 to 2024.

Alan Pryor, the Centre’s General Manager, told Kongres Magazine:

“We definitely are seeing an improvement in Malaysia’s business events landscape after two years, which were heavily impacted by the pandemic. Malaysia as a destination has demonstrated its capability to create a safe environment for business events moving forward and the strength and resilience of its supply chain and logistics, showcasing flexibility and agility in the face of a global crisis.”

Read the report here.

This Monday’s Insights feature brings you the industry headlines you may have missed from the last week.

Headlines

A collaborative design team will deliver a multi-million-pound renewal of the Barbican Centre. 

According to Conference News, the project’ aims to provide new opportunities for the Barbican’s community of artists, audiences, organisers, delegates and partners, as well as boost the building’s accessibility and environmental performance.’

The winning team includes architects Allies and Morrison; Asif Khan Studio; engineering and sustainability consultancy – Buro Happold; heritage experts from Alan Baxter Ltd; theatre, acoustic, and digital consultancy, Charcoalblue; landscape architects, Hood Design Studio, lighting design agency, les éclaireurs, and artistic advisors Isaac Julien and Nadia Fall.

Read more about the £50m-£150m project, the team’s experience, and thoughts from Jackie Boughton, head of business events, Barbican, here.

ABPCO has welcomed new joint chairs. The Association of British Professional Conference Organisers AGM, which took place digitally on Tuesday, 21 June, and saw Emma Duffy and Sarah Byrne begin their two-year tenure as joint chairs of the association.

The online AGM was attended by over 60 ABPCO members, who joined to hear details of the association’s recent successes and future plans.

The incoming chairs thanked the previous chairs for their achievements before outlining their ambitious plans for the coming years, which focus on five key pillars.

Read more about the five pillars, alongside the AMG’s focus on ABPCO’s core values, here.

Patricia Yates has been appointed as CEO of VisitBritain/VisitEngland, following a competitive external recruitment process.

Previously Director of Strategy and Communications at VisitBritain, Patricia was also Chair of the Tourism Industry Emergency Response Group and deputy CEO.

VisitBritain/VisitEngland CEO Patricia Yates said: “I am honoured to be appointed permanent CEO and will be continuing our focus on building back visitor spend as quickly as possible, supporting the industry and driving the visitor recovery, playing our part to deliver the ambitions of the UK Government’s Tourism Recovery Plan.

“I look forward to continuing to working with all our stakeholders with a strong focus on external engagement, rebuilding our industry to ensure it is one of the most successful and productive sectors of the economy and to making the strongest possible case for one of the UK’s greatest sectors.”

Doubletake

isla, the sustainability body for the events industry, is hosting its first forum to engage UK venues in accelerating the transition to Net-Zero and creating a sustainable destinations for events.

The forum will include senior representatives and sustainability leads from a group of prominent UK venues all working towards the sustainable industry goal.

Participating venues are ExCeL London, ICC Wales, De Vere, Edinburgh International Conference Centre and Manchester Central. The Association of Event Venues, VisitBritain and membership organisation Unique Venues of London will also take part in the forum.

Read more about the event, and comments from Anna Abdelnoor, co-founder, isla, on mitmagazine.co.uk.

This Monday’s Insights feature brings you the industry headlines you may have missed from the last week.

Headlines

ICCA (International Congress and Convention Association) has released its annual analysis of association meetings worldwide. 

The latest ICCA Ranking Report examines 8000 meetings scheduled for 2021 and categorises them based on how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the meetings. The report also compares last year’s affected meetings with ICCA’s analysis of meetings in 2020. 

After a hiatus in 2020, ICCA Rankings have returned to the 2021 ICCA’s Destination Performance Index (DPI). The DPI ranks destinations’ success in winning the original bid, COVID-19 event policies, adaptability and technological capabilities to convert on-site events into virtual or hybrid events – thereby maintaining business continuation.

“Now that the global meetings industry has had more time to adapt to the challenges of the pandemic, we wanted to acknowledge and reward the effort of destinations to not only keep these crucial meetings going but also to improve their business operations. The investments that destinations have made in new technologies, partnerships, and advocacy initiatives will continue to drive our industry forward,” 

ICCA CEO Senthil Gopinath

He continued, “Although we have yet to return to pre-pandemic numbers, we have gained significant ground on the road to full recovery. Further, we have transformed the meetings industry in the process.”  

The report reveals that the year 2021 brought out a “show must go on” mentality in the industry. For example, the market share of virtual and hybrid meetings doubled in just one year. Business continuation also increased by 30% while business cancellation dropped from 61% to 31%. 

“This report delivers a more holistic representation of the pandemic’s impact on association meetings globally. Moreover, it reveals strong and definitive signs of progressive recovery for the industry,” Gopinath said. 

The full 2021 ICCA Ranking (Destination Performance Index [DPI]) is available to ICCA members and complements ICCA’s online Destination Comparison Tool (DCT). 

M&IT Magazine has spoken to Kerrin MacPhie about the Meetings Industry Association’s (mia) Connect Day heading to Liverpool.

The mia’s latest Connect Day takes place at Liverpool’s Titanic Hotel on Tuesday 12 July. mia chief executive, Kerrin MacPhie, told M&IT that the destination was chosen to provide “accessible networking opportunities for professionals working across various UK regions.” 

The mia Connect Days aims to create a peer-to-peer space for open discussion, insight, solution sharing and support. Allowing delegates to immerse themselves in an intimate series of discussions to gain crucial insights and ask burning questions, to the benefit of all attendees.

View the day’s agenda or register, here.

EFS Europe’s Managing Director has spoken to Event Industry News about the sustainability of temporary event flooring products for events.

EFS Europe’s temporary event flooring products are widely used across the event industry, and this feature explains what happens to them at their end of life cycle. 

“We are finding that there are increasing pressures to provide sustainable products to reduce the event industry’s carbon footprint. Both our walkway and roadway products can be made from recycled materials and can be recycled. They are manufactured in polypropylene, which means they can be ground down into pellets and repurposed. To further reduce carbon emissions, we also have 7500sqm of event flooring in Scotland to service events with a local crew to install.”

Read more about EFS Europe’s mission to be as environmentally friendly as possible, and how the company works with manufacturers globally to produce, supply & recycle their event carpet. 

In a further Event Industry News sustainability-focused article, PDC puts the spotlight on badges, lanyards & ticketing.

Focusing on the need for eco-friendly and sustainable products, the organisation has introduced many new products. Check out the full feature here.

Doubletake

Camaraderie, optimism and fortitude mark 20 years of IMEX in Frankfurt. The first IMEX in Frankfurt since 2019 proved to be a momentous occasion for the global meetings, events and incentive travel industry this week. It was marked by an outpouring of camaraderie, celebration and, most importantly, business. 

After an enforced break of three years due to the pandemic, this IMEX show was always going to feel special. The question was, how special? Feedback from exhibitors and buyers made that abundantly clear. Day one saw Messe Frankfurt land two unexpected contracts, an endorsement of the team’s decision to exhibit on their own stand for the first time in 20 years and to promote their venue more assertively. 

Throughout the IMEX education programme, many presentations focused on future trends, current behaviours and changes to ‘industry norms’. Shorter sales cycles; an emphasis on sustainability; niche, highly targeted events plus shorter meetings and events are all forecast, and desired by attendees. Wellness is now front and centre, with a change in the story: an end-to-end duty of care to attendees, including consideration for their mental health, rather than a traditional focus on smoothies for breakfast or morning yoga, although both are expected too. 

Check out EDGE Venues’ representative’s view of IMEX Frankfurt on our Instagram reels.