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11/2018

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HBAA provides predictions for 2019 at its latest Members Meeting

Monday, 26 November, 2018 - 10:08

From predictions for 2019 and expenses payments to mental health, the HBAA delivered a packed programme to a capacity audience at its latest Members Meeting, held recently at the Crowne Plaza Solihull

Providing a global economic report for 2018, Liz Hall from Liz Hall Hotel and Travel Consulting discussed key forecasts for next year. She predicted that the hospitality and events industry will experience modest growth despite challenging macro-economic conditions. The average daily rate (ADR) is expected to increase in 2019, with London experiencing an 0.8 per cent rise, resulting an extra £150 of spending, while the provinces will see an increase of over 1.2 per cent, representing an £70 in additional spend.

Former HBAA Chair and Director of Proposition-Accommodation and Meetings at Capita Travel and Events, Leigh Cowlishaw unveiled Capita’s #THISISME campaign, which aims to call attention to and tackling the growing problem of mental health in the workplace. Alison Jenkins from Meetings Club unveiled her venue location platform, which focusses on   sharing feedback and reviews.

Tony Morris from the Sales Doctors provided an engaging session on what the top one per cent of all sales professionals do differently. Key habits include ‘becoming the CEO of the first impression’, ‘helping to buy’ instead of selling, developing visual triggers of desired goals, matching your customer’s body language, asking relevant questions, stressing success over experience and continuously asking for referrals.  

David Wood from Conferma explored consumer innovations driving change in corporate expenses payments. Explaining how one in three industry professionals experience cash flow issues and 38 per cent experience stress while waiting for business expenses to be reimbursed, David argued that virtual cards and digital payments not only eliminate these problems, but they provide full visibility and transparency for employers on staff travel purchases.

HBAA Tech & Innovation Chair, Caleb Parker, Founder and CEO of Bold, provided an update on the future of Wi-Fi at venues. The results from a recent survey suggested that more than 80 per cent of hospitality and events professionals want a transparent industry standard that is clear on service levels for Wi-Fi. Nearly 90 per cent believe that the industry would benefit from standardised pricing for Wi-Fi that offers a fair market.

Delegates were then split into groups and asked for their thoughts on response time to client enquiries and how the process could be improved. After a brief brainstorm, audience responses included the need to streamline small meetings bookings, reducing the amount of unnecessary options, creating more honesty between agent, client and venue, and ensuring there is greater transparency in budgets. The outputs from this session will be used to inform best practice for enquiry handling, as part of next year’s full review of the HBAA Code of Practice.

Louise Goalen, HBAA Chair says, “Our theme for the year has been Building on Success and the last meeting of 2018, attended by so many members, and delivering valuable, inspirational, and insightful presentations, was the perfect way to round off the year.”

etc.venues’ largest Conference and Exhibition space opening in The City.

Wednesday, 21 November, 2018 - 14:11

They never seem to stand still at etc.venues, so hot on the heels of last month’s news of our expansion at their Monument venue, they’re delighted to announce a brand new conference and exhibition venue in London – etc.venues 133 Houndsditch.

Fantastically located minutes away from Liverpool St and Bank stations, the venue will offer their largest room to date, seating 700 theatre style or 500 Cabaret. This large conference suite and the additional 7 large breakout rooms (for 50-200) are conveniently situated all on one floor, along with multiple media walls providing plenty of branding options.

The Enterprise Suite boasts a generous ceiling height and natural daylight with the latest in built in audio visual technology, whilst the adjacent open plan galleria offers over 15,000 sqft of flexible exhibition & catering space.
All done with the usual etc. flair for modern design, on site chefs and exceptional service!

The venue at a glance.

 Centrally located at Liverpool Street in the City of London
 9 flexible conference rooms over 33,000 sqft of space all on one floor
 Large conference suite with a capacity for 700 theatre / 500 cabaret / 500 banquet
 Up to 15,000 sqft of stylish catering and exhibition space adjacent to the conference suite
 A number of exclusive use and branding options available
 Stunning lightwell perfect for intimate networking or sponsor space
 Natural daylight throughout the venue
 Their own team of chefs onsite offering bespoke menu options

The tech stuff...
 Multiple media walls and digital signage opportunities
 Free Wi-fi high speed fibre connectivity
 Modern, contemporary fittings and colour changing lighting options
 Cutting edge laser projectors and built in screens

133 Houndsditch will be the 16th venue in the UK for etc.venues, and they’re very excited to bring their award winning knowledge and service to such a large venue. Their Sales Director, Margaretha Welsford said:
“133 Houndsditch will be a game changer for the conference industry in London. Conference suites with this capacity supported by large break out options all on one floor are difficult to find, especially in The City. Our existing clients have requested that we take on a larger space for a while and we can’t wait to see what they think of our latest venue.”

The venue will open Spring 2019.

Events that Work – Celebrating 10 Successful Years

Wednesday, 21 November, 2018 - 14:07

Event Works Europe, the event management specialists, are delighted to announce the achievement of a very significant milestone: they are celebrating 10 successful years in business this year. In a competitive industry, and despite periods of economic recession, Event Works Europe (EWE) have gone from strength to strength by utilising their highly specialist skill-set, along with more than 28 years’ experience in delivering events of all types, across a range of sectors.

Jayne Foster, Founder and Director of EWE, commented: “Along with my team, I’m very excited about our achievement, and to mark the occasion we held a drinks reception in Chelsea last night as a thank you to some of our key clients who have been instrumental in our success during the last 10 years.”

Who are Event Works Europe?

A UK business based in Ledbury, Herefordshire, EWE delivers events internationally – regularly supplying solutions for clients throughout Europe. The company has the flexibility and expertise to deliver anything from a small team event, to a 1000 delegate conference – and of course, everything in between. EWE will deliver as much or as little as the client needs – everything is specifically tailored to the client’s individual requirements.

What Makes EWE Different

EWE’s success is mainly attributable to their considerable experience, and of course – an immense amount of hard work. Additionally however, the ‘magic formula’ that sets them apart from the competition is their unique approach – whereby the EWE team aligns with the client’s business with the aim of seamlessly integrating with the client’s team – in effect, to become one team. By offering their expertise alongside the client’s, the result is a highly effective method that delivers the client’s proposition in order to successfully meet their strategic objectives.  Emphasising their distinctive and completely client-focused approach, Jayne Foster stated: “We believe our unique approach is the secret of our success.  Basically, when delivering an event for our clients, we are at their complete disposal, essentially becoming part of their team. Our aim is that our clients see us as their trusted partners.”

Clients benefit from EWE’s vast experience, wisdom, and knowledge: having worked both client side and in-house, and in a wide range of sectors, EWE have a deep understanding of clients’ needs, including budgetary constraints and the dynamics of teams.

Jayne commented further on the secret of EWE’s success: “We offer clients a huge degree of flexibility: if they need guidance about formulating and developing their events, then we can assist with this – via activities such as initial discussions, then brainstorms – basically, whatever’s needed to achieve the final goal. We are there from the get-go, to build a foundation that ensures our clients achieve the outcomes they’re aiming for, and to successfully grow their business.”

Jayne added: “By using EWE, clients benefit from a highly personal approach, and also from ongoing account management by experienced, reliable personnel with proven track records. We’re a very personable team, and this – along with reliability, transparency, and a proven track record of dedication to delivering for our clients – is what makes us stand out. For us, it’s all about making our clients look good – we are very passionate about that”.

What’s next for EWE?

Expanding on current developments at EWE, Jayne talked about the latest news: “This is an exciting time for our business, as we consolidate the work of the last 10 years. In order to remain successful and keep moving forward, I’m pleased to confirm that our team is growing. Sharon Brunt has been working with the business, as an associate, for some time and I’m delighted to announce that she’s now formally joining EWE as a Director. Sharon brings with her significant communications and marketing expertise, in addition to wide experience of global events and conferences.”

A communications and marketing professional with over 20 years’ experience, Sharon said: “Having worked alongside EWE recently, I’m thrilled to become a permanent member of the team.  And as a Director, I’m delighted to have the opportunity to play a part in the continuing success of the business.“

Reflecting on the last 10 years, Jayne concluded: “At EWE we’ve been lucky enough to enjoy working with some super clients, and we look forward to continuing to help clients – both old and new – develop their plans to accelerate success for their businesses. And of course, more than anything, we remain passionate about achieving the fundamental aim for our clients, which is: supplying hassle-free events that deliver the ‘WOW’ factor.”

Inntel are delighted to welcome Justin Bullock back as Head of Account Management

Wednesday, 21 November, 2018 - 14:02

Justin will lead the Inntel Account Management team to deliver exceptional levels of management for high value, long term partnerships with clients. He will support the company's strategy and ambition to grow the business, with a market leading approach.

Justin said: ‘I couldn’t be more excited to return to Inntel as Head of Account Management. Having been away from the business for a number of years, I have continued to follow Inntel’s growth closely and am thrilled to once again be part of the journey. Inntel’s dedication and commitment to their clients is second to none and I am looking forward to build on the success Inntel has received so far.’

Since 2005, Justin has worked for a selection of large corporate travel management companies, in a multitude of client facing roles demonstrating a wealth of experience in the industry. He has been responsible for large business portfolios where he has monitored all financial aspects of the client relationships

in order to create major cost and efficiency savings.

Jane Dibble, Director of Business Development said: “Justin's strong experience and knowledge of our industry is second to none. Attracting someone of Justin's calibre back into the business is a great endorsement of our organisation."

GDPR: has the fog cleared away yet?

Thursday, 15 November, 2018 - 14:08

GDPR came into force on 25 May, the culmination of months of debates and discussions. Jenner Carter, Head of Marketing at Lime Venue Portfolio and Marketing Chair for the HBAA explored the aftermath of GDPR with HBAA members.

In the run-up to deadline day, there was clearly still great uncertainty about GDPR and many people saying ‘let’s wait and see’. Reflecting on this, a series of campfire sessions with HBAA members provided a good opportunity to invite more than 30 event industry professionals to share their thoughts and experiences, to see if any of the feared consequences had occurred or if there was any greater clarity. The discussion created an interesting snapshot of how far GDPR has evolved so far.

The months up to 25 May

Looking back, the majority of industry professionals recall a huge amount of scare mongering in the press and dozens of organisations looking to make a quick buck by offering advice, seminars, training et al. Intelligence was being collated from the ICO website, internal legal teams, business white papers and many, many more. It all created a ‘fog’, a lack of clarity and major conflicts of interpretation, and none of it was fondly remembered.

The general amount of frustration within organisations should not be underestimated. Some remember open arguments within their organisations on exactly what the law was saying, what they could do, what they couldn’t do. Many empathised with this; in every office there seemed to be one person who said, ‘Let’s just carry on regardless’, and another who thought that absolutely everything and anything could result in trouble under the dreaded GDPR regulation.

Whether conversations had begun 18 months ahead of deadline day, or just in the final weeks up to 25th May, there was universal agreement that the cost was great, both in time and financial output. This has been a costly process.

Calmer?

Is the reaction to mention of GDPR calmer now? No, not really; companies are still incredibly worried about the enforcement of GDPR. Fear is caused by the potential that organisations could have got things wrong and may find out the hard way, with penalties including financial and reputational damage. Most people seem to be waiting for the ICO to fine the first company; a major blue chip company or someone smaller? Either way, seeing where people went wrong could produce a little more clarity for everyone else. Quite a few people even equated GDPR as a PPI claim issue waiting to happen, foreseeing call centres driving legal action against companies who may or may not have breached GDPR.

B2C or B2B

The campfires revealed that some organisations believe that the GDPR was more predominantly aimed towards consumer data and less so business to business. What was not in question is the fact that most businesses had responsibly made efforts to ensure best practice on both sides of the B2B and B2C coin.

When the campfires explored the tangible effect on the volume of data carried by businesses post GDPR, some had heard of instances where B2C lists had been cut by up to 90%, others felt that data had actually been cleaned and that it was richer because of GDPR. Those that now have compliant databases didn’t seem so worried by it, everyone seemed to accept that data is about quality rather than quantity.

Where are we now?

The majority of the participants felt they were well on the way to GDPR compliance. This may mean that they weren’t compliant yet, but that they would be very soon, and were comfortable that the process was an ongoing one.

But was it all worthwhile? Would it make their data richer and therefore their marketing and business better? Most said that the whole process has been painful and costly (again, that’s time and money) but predicted a longer-term benefit from the process they went through as a result of GDPR; that this was a pain worth bearing in order to look at new ways of using data to benefit their businesses.

So, in the post GDPR events industry, which businesses have created a framework for GDPR compliance? Most had put in place the continual removal of old data and regular ‘check-ins’ with customers on their data etc. Statistics do show that consumers value their data, but have no problem with sharing it, as long as they get something in return. The question is now, what can events businesses give to customers to incentivise them? It’s something the industry needs to wrestle with, and the answer isn’t obvious.

The scars from GDPR are still there. The event industry has had to look deep into itself and change the way it acts around data. For some this was simple and easy, for others it presented a clear and present risk to their businesses and the need to invest a great deal of money to protect themselves.

In the run up to deadline day, the words GDPR were met with a mixture of confusion and frustration

and, according to those that attended the campfires sessions, still are.

The lessons are still being learnt, the fog still clearing so it will be interesting to revisit this later, perhaps around the first anniversary next year.

To read the full article, please visit www.limevenueportfolio.com/about-us/blog/gdpr-four-months-on/

Hotel chief champions ‘business as usual’ throughout Brexit negotiations

Thursday, 15 November, 2018 - 14:00

Hotel chief champions ‘business as usual’ throughout Brexit negotiations

The countdown to Brexit is well and truly on, and ‘deal or no deal’ is the hot topic on everyone’s lips – but what exactly should the hotel industry be doing in this period of ‘limbo’? Helder Pereira, CEO of the UK’s leading independent hotel management company, RBH, says it’s a case of keeping calm – and astute – while carrying on.

PwC’s latest hotels forecast for 2019* has highlighted that, while the uncertainty of Brexit has helped inbound tourism, business investment growth has ‘dampened’ as a result of protracted negotiations. It predicts that hotels will grapple with rising wage and operational costs and slowing growth into 2019.

However, Pereira is taking a more upbeat approach – pointing out that, until an outcome of Brexit negotiations is decided, hoteliers must continue to operate their businesses as efficiently and effectively as possible.

He does recognise the uncertainty that has been felt since the result of the UK referendum dictated the country would leave the EU, and the need for the industry to react to the more immediate impact, saying:

There are so many dynamics at play when it comes to Brexit, that it is hard to predict what the future might hold. However, in the here and now, there are certain factors we in the hotel industry must deal with to ensure our businesses continue to flourish through uncertain times.

The declining EU labour market has been most keenly felt by industries like hospitality, with effects on labour overheads which will – no doubt – have a knock-on impact on recruitment and training costs as we move forward.

Many businesses in general are worrying about the future and are trying to mitigate any future impact, either as a result of a poor deal or no deal at all, by cutting back on expenditure like travel and training as well as product launches. There is no denying that this effects certain hotel occupancies. The longer the uncertainty, the more volatile the market.”

Pereira does, however, see the silver linings through the general haze of negativity that the lingering Brexit negotiations have created, adding: “The weakening of the pound as a result of the ‘leave’ vote and subsequent political and economic uncertainty has certainly driven leisure travel throughout 2018 – but this is starting to stabilise. It is still encouraging those based in the UK to holiday at home and continue the ‘staycation’ phenomenon.”

And while the hotel chief holds the opinion that until the Government can offer some clarity on the future, it is difficult to assess the impact any future Brexit impact, he does identify one area in which futureproofing must continue.

He says:

Whether we end up in a ‘no deal’ situation or not, we do have to consider that criteria for future immigration and working rights in the UK will change – and it’s highly likely that we’ll experience further outflow of EU nationals as they relocate to areas that offer certainty in working rights. This will put immense pressure on the industry to attract alternative labour, which in turn will result in rising costs – and even a temporary lapse in standards.

One of our major focus areas at RBH has and always will be on excellence in the areas of the business that centre closely on our people, such as candidate attraction, recruitment and retention through training and development. These areas become even more important during times of uncertainty, and it is in these areas of the business we must continue to ensure we are fully prepared for the impact of Brexit and robust enough to guarantee we can deal with any issues around labour.

That’s why we have looked at investing further in our already comprehensive training and development programmes, as well as our offering for apprentices, with a particular focus on labour retention.”

Pereira also recognises that many of the factors at play, including a stressed labour pool, the pressure to identify new revenue streams and sources of income as other businesses cut back on travel and associated expenditure, and the potential increasing cost of imports, will result in cost pressures and tight profit margins across the industry.

However, he is clear that RBH’s expertise in the market will ensure the best outcome for hotel owners and highlights potential opportunities that may materialise as a result of ongoing negotiations in Brussels.

He states:

As hotel operators, our priority is utilising our substantial knowledge of the market to sustain profits and maintain and exceed standards for clients and owners. We always keep a close eye on the market so we can prepare for any changes and react quickly to them, and we’re also looking out for alternative revenues as well as working with suppliers to look at how best to hold costs.

We constantly look for opportunities where others may not see them. For instance, if a ‘no deal’ situation looks likely many businesses will need to put in place plans and actions to deal with the ramifications of this, which could mean more meetings, temporary relocations and training, and a general demand for hotel services outside of simply accommodation. We simply have to remain astute to ensure we can grab these opportunities as they arise.”

SilverDoor Apartments Launch Online Booking Platform OrbiRelo

Thursday, 15 November, 2018 - 13:22

Leading global serviced apartment agent, SilverDoor Apartments, has launched a new powerful online booking platform aimed specifically at the global mobility industry.

OrbiRelo builds on the success of Orbi which was launched to the corporate travel sector by SilverDoor in July 2018 and enables users to make instant online bookings across an impressive global inventory of reputable apartments.

With OrbiRelo, SilverDoor worked closely with its relocation clients throughout development to introduce a number of new features tailored to the needs of modern mobility management.

The platform has been designed to give companies complete control of their temporary housing requirements while also being intuitive to use.

Commercial Director, Stuart Winstone, commented: “We’ve been overwhelmed by the positive feedback following the launch of Orbi. It’s such an impressive platform and we’re delighted to build upon that with OrbiRelo.

“The new features we’ve introduced make it easier for relocation professionals to manage their temporary housing requirements and we intend to work closely with the industry as we continuously review and optimise the platform.

“We’ve long been known for our outstanding account management but now with our own cutting-edge technology we can provide the complete temporary housing solution for our clients.”

The public launch of OrbiRelo comes shortly after SilverDoor Apartments received the award for Best Corporate Housing Provider of the Year at the EMEA Expatriate and Mobility Management Awards (EMMAs).

The honour cements SilverDoor’s position as the leading global temporary housing provider for the global mobility industry after the company also won the same award at the APAC EMMAs in July.

For more information about OrbiRelo, contact orbirelo@silverdoorapartments.com

Inntel Recognised By Vitality As A Highly Commended Supplier

Friday, 9 November, 2018 - 16:25

Inntel is delighted to have been awarded highly commended in the 'Best Overall Supplier' category by Vitality.

The achievement is just one of many successes for Inntel in recent months, including CEO, Douglas O'Neil being awarded the elite global Business Travel Award, taking bronze for 'Best Corporate Event' at the Conference Awards, winning the 'Best Meetings & Events Agency' in the People Awards and being shortlisted for the 'Best Specialist Business Travel Service' in the Business Travel Awards.

 

The annual Vitality Supply & Partner event was held at London's Soho Hotel where David Luney, Inntel Account Manager was presented with the award by Dr Keith Klintworth, Vitality Deputy CEO.

 

Jane Dibble, Director of Business Development at Inntel said;

“It was an absolute pleasure to receive the award from Vitality. The recognition is testament to the relationship and expertise we have developed with Vitality . It is a highly successful supply partnership and one which we look to replicate across all our clients".

Sourcing & Supplier Manager, Frances Cooke said:

“Inntel is a supply partner who is integral in supporting the travel management of our business. Their Account Manager consistently goes above and beyond, often responding to issues at a moment’s notice, they consistently innovate, finding savings and solutions just when we thought we had exhausted all avenues. Their excellent service never ceases, always dazzling us day after day"

 

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