01/2021

INNSiDE Manchester, part of Meliá Hotels International, has partnered with one of the UK's leading technical event production and AV hire companies, Sterling Event Group to launch Manchester’s first virtual event production studio in a hotel.

Installed and ready to be booked as and when Government guidelines permit, ‘INNSiDE LiVE’, at INNSiDE Manchester, is a virtual event solution that features a state-of-the-art studio setting, offering a live streaming experience, designed to facilitate a virtual or hybrid event.

A first for a Manchester city-centre hotel, the Sterling Event Group has taken over part of the self-contained event space to provide a creative technical studio production that enables businesses to engage, communicate and inspire employees, suppliers, clients and stakeholders by combining cutting edge technologies and expertise to create live, virtual and hybrid events. The set features a central rear projection screen with HD laser projection, 2 x 65 Inch screens for custom logos and content, brandable backdrop, stage floor, multiple cameras, live stream production suite and a professional audio and lighting system - plus more.

The COVID-safe space, set within the eclectic home-from-home #bleisure hotel’s Chadwick meeting room space, allows companies to hire out and to host live audiences at the venue, in line with current Government restrictions, whilst streaming professional, broadcast-quality content in real-time; engaging, entertaining and communicating with audiences wherever they are across the globe. Content can be streamed to Zoom, YouTube, Facebook and more. Alternatively, it can be pre-recorded ready for broadcast at a later date.

The live studio experience is supported by INNSiDE Manchester’s experienced in-house events team and the expert production crew at Sterling Event Group, who will be on hand to ensure all studio events run smoothly and safely from start to finish.

Commenting on the virtual studio collaboration, INNSiDE UK North, Cluster Director of Sales Scott Brown said: “INNSiDE LiVE is a new state-of-the-art hybrid event studio, that allows us to deliver a top-class event production facility, in a safe, dedicated space at INNSiDE Manchester.

With this facility staying in place for the next six months we have been able to offer a costeffective solution that doesn’t require the usual set up and break down costs, meaning this is accessible for everything from an online conference or awards event to company briefing or online training day.”

As and when events can return to what they were, on larger scale, this studio offering will only add to the experience; allowing organisers to reach a much larger delegate audience – both within the UK and globally.”

Dan Estcourt, Technical Manager at Sterling Event Group said, this is a great solution for event organisers as it works equally as well with a fully virtual audience as it does with a hybrid audience allowing them to plan with confidence.

INNSiDE LiVE comes as a fixed rate package, however Melia Hybrid Solutions have been developed globally meaning that virtual or hybrid events of a larger scale with full Video Walls or enhanced technology are equally as possible with quotes on request.

As part of Meliá Hotels International, INNSiDE Manchester will operate the global ‘Stay Safe With Melia’ programme across the hotel, which guarantees the highest COVID-19 health and safety standards, in collaboration with Bureau Veritas - Visit Britain’s ‘We’re Good to Go’. Some of the measures put in place to prioritise guest and staff safety during this time include: a new signage system to inform customers and indicate how spaces will be used and the need for social distancing, installation of protective screens in reception and other public areas, sanitising stations and digital concierge.

88 per cent of planners see irreplaceable quality of face-to-face meetings.

etc.venues survey provides interesting insights into latest industry thinking

73 per cent of event planners now think hybrid events will continue to be more common in future, up from 67 per cent when asked in May, while those who think this is just a temporary trend have gone down accordingly by 6 per cent.

The irreplaceable quality of face-to-face meetings was revealed when 88 per cent of event planners say they value face-to-face meetings more at the end of 2020, up from 77 per cent in May.

These are two of the many interesting insights from a recent survey with responses from over 400 event planners in the UK and USA by etc.venues, the leading UK based provider of urban non-residential event venues. Several questions included in previous research in May were asked again.

Adam Simpson, Director of Marketing and Sales in the USA says: “To quantify how these trends have continued to develop since May when we thought the barriers to meeting face-to-face were only temporary is fascinating and very helpful. As we go into another period of lockdown it will be interesting to see if this appetite continues to grow.”

In the latest survey, when asked where they think virtual meetings and events will be broadcast from throughout 2021, 20 per cent expected they would be from a professional studio set-up, 35 per cent said from an office using video conferencing and the remaining 45 per cent said it would be via Zoom from home.

Adam Simpson commented “As a hybrid and virtual events are increasingly established alongside live events, event planners are keen to refine and enhance the quality of presentation and the virtual audiences’ experience. In light of this we are expanding our studio offering and investing in the development of our virtual venue tours to help remote attendees feel more integrated with the live audience.”

www.etcvenues.co.uk

www.etcvenues.com 

Three leading venues in the Euston area of London are joining forces to promote the area as a prime location for events linked to healthcare.  BMA House, RCP and Wellcome Collection all use their profits to help larger medical organisations achieve their mission.  During this challenging time, they wanted to demonstrate their unity through a common goal.

Often described as the Medical Mile, the area around Euston is a hub of leading venues with strong links to local hospitals, practitioners and research institutes.  It is an ideal place for any form of meeting or event linked to not just medicine but also the wider healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors.  Specifically, the three venues will be collaborating, referring opportunities, supporting each other’s events and providing multi-site spaces for meetings as necessary.  Together they offer a wide range of delegate packages, hourly rates, digital and hybrid solutions, ensuring all client needs are met.

After an extremely challenging year with lots of industry changes, all 3 venues have successfully received the MIA AIM Secure Accreditation and Visit Britain Good to Go Accreditation making them COVID safe venues for the future.

Kat Winfield, Venue Manager, BMA House comments: “Medical and healthcare workers have continually showed their strength, resolve and professionalism throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and we are all extremely grateful for their dedication and commitment.  At the moment the greatest support we can offer is to stay at home and refrain from hosting events.  However, in time that will change and we are exploring all opportunities to support our clients.”

Fairouz Grzyb, Business Development Manager, Royal College of Physicians “When appropriate, we intend to come back stronger than ever, working as a collective to deliver the best possible experience for delegates and organisers alike.  In the meantime, we all offer extensive digital and hybrid packages to ensure that events continue and vital education, knowledge transfer and networking take place.”

Diana West, Sales Manager, Wellcome Collection concludes: “As a group, we offer a wide variety of event options.  We can work individually or across multiple sites and want above all to demonstrate our unity in challenging times.  We have extensive links into all areas of medicine, pharmaceuticals and the wider healthcare market, making us the ideal first call for any event across these sectors.”