Marketers must adopt inclusive and diverse content strategies to speak to the heart of target audiences, Strata event highlights

1 June 26, London, UK: To mark the appointment of James B. Clarke as the new General Manager of London Hilton on Park Lane, the hotel has unveiled a cinematic social film demonstrating its new vision for events, brought to life through music, performance, atmosphere, and glamour.

Framed as a modern love letter to the hotel’s long-standing role at the centre of London’s awards and banqueting scene, the film draws on a distinctly swinging 60’s aesthetic. Shot in low light and rich in detail, it blends vintage glamour with contemporary energy: ball gowns, smoke-filled rooms, and spotlighted performances sit alongside a confident, modern edge.

At its core is an original swing-inspired track, performed by a trio of vocalists whose presence carries the film across the full-scale of event capability available at the hotel. Clarinets, double bass, and live percussion build a layered sound, while the chorus “Elevated, iconic, yours already” anchors the narrative in the hotel’s identity.

The setting is unmistakably Park Lane. A Bentley arrives. Doors open and the film moves through the different aspects of the hotel that bring events to life; ballrooms, corridors, behind-the-scenes moments, each frame reinforcing a sense of occasion that feels both timeless and current.

The film extends this heritage into something more contemporary, showcasing a variety of musical genres, bringing a different rhythm and perspective, and reflecting how events at the hotel continue to evolve across formats and audiences.

Commenting on the film, the newly appointed General Manager, James B. Clarke, said: “This hotel has always had a relationship with performance. There’s a history here of big nights, big moments, and a certain kind of glamour that people associate with Park Lane. It captures something real about how this place feels when it’s at its best.”

The film reflects a broader shift in how London Hilton on Park Lane is presenting itself to the market. Rather than focusing on spaces alone, it captures how those spaces come alive, through people, personality, timing, and choreography that underpins delivery at scale.

As a companion to the hotel’s recent repositioning, the film offers a more immediate expression of its direction: a venue that balances heritage with a clear sense of how modern events are created and experienced. For event organisers, it is less a showcase and more

an opportunity to see how events at London Hilton on Park Lane are built, and how that sense of occasion is brought to life.

The Meetings Show will mark a milestone this year as the first meetings, incentives, and events industry trade show to offer a fully staffed on-site crèche for attending families.

Delivered in partnership with event childcare specialist Nipperbout, the initiative forms part of The Meetings Show’s ongoing commitment to creating a more accessible and inclusive event experience, reflecting the evolving needs of today’s event professionals.

The crèche will be available for delegates attending the event on 24-25 June 2026 at Excel London and will welcome children of all ages, from babies and toddlers through to teenagers, and will also include a dedicated breast feeding and nappy changing area.

Staffed at all times by qualified Nipperbout childcare professionals, the Ofsted-accredited service will be located in the Gallery Rooms on the north side of the venue, just moments away from the main show floor, and is expected to accommodate between 10 and 15 children.

The theme for this year’s crèche, ‘Epic Play Quest’, will see the space transformed into a live-action adventure inspired by children’s favourite games. Activities will include creative crafts, active play, themed ‘power-up’ zones, and imaginative challenges designed to encourage creativity and social interaction.

Jack Marczewski, Portfolio Event Director, The Meetings Show, said: “Today’s event professionals are balancing busy careers alongside family life and other real-world responsibilities, and we wanted The Meetings Show to reflect that reality. Introducing an on-site crèche is about making it easier for people to attend, participate and get the most from the show without having to choose between professional opportunities and caring responsibilities. We know accessibility and inclusivity mean different things to different people, and this is one way we can better support our community and create an event experience that works for modern attendees.”

Janthea Brigden, CEO and Director of Childcare, Nipperbout, said: “For over 34 years, we’ve supported organisers to create environments where families are considered an integral part of the attendee experience and not an afterthought. Providing childcare within live events requires specialist expertise to deliver safely and effectively in busy, fast-paced environments. We’re proud to be partnering with The Meetings Show on this initiative, which reflects a growing recognition across the industry that accessibility and inclusion need to be embedded into event design from the outset, and we look forward to talking to organisers about our services on stand F52.”

Parents/carers looking to make the most of this service can pre-booked here quoting event code: TMS240626 by 10 June. Space permitting, the crèche will also be available for drop-ins on a first-come, first-served basis. Please note, the crèche will close daily for lunch between 1:15pm and 2:00pm.

Now in its 14th year, The Meetings Show has established itself as a must-attend for event professionals across the UK and beyond. This year’s edition will see more than 550 exhibitors and over 80 international destinations represented under one roof, giving attendees unparalleled access to venues, hotels, destinations and services from across the globe.

There are various ways to register to attend The Meetings Show 2026, which will be co-located with Business Travel Show Europe and TravelTech Show.

26 May 2026, Newcastle, UK: Crowne Plaza Newcastle has unveiled a renewed vision for its meetings, events and hospitality offering, centred around faster decision making, empowered teams, local partnerships and more personalised delegate experiences, as organisers increasingly look for greater flexibility and creativity from venues.

Located in Newcastle’s Stephenson Quarter, the hotel offers nine modern meeting spaces and 251 bedrooms, serving corporate meetings, conferences and social events across the region.

The hotel says the shift reflects what today’s event organisers, businesses and guests are increasingly looking for from venues: greater flexibility, faster response times, more creativity, and experiences that feel connected to both people and place.

For General Manager Paul Borg, the direction is rooted as much in Newcastle’s character as it is in changing industry expectations. “People want personality,” said Paul. “They want venues that feel responsive, collaborative and genuinely invested in what they’re trying to achieve. Whether it’s an organiser, a business traveller, or someone joining us for dinner, people remember how you make them feel.”

The renewed approach is already shaping the way the hotel operates across departments. The hotel’s meetings and events team currently handles more than 1,000 enquiries annually, with an average response time of 48 minutes — significantly ahead of wider industry benchmarks.

The hotel says the approach is designed to reduce friction for organisers, with quicker approvals, more collaborative planning and greater flexibility in shaping delegate experiences..

Alongside faster response times, the hotel is placing greater emphasis on local sourcing and regional partnerships, from Northeast-based food and drink suppliers through to specialist event and production partners. The aim is to create experiences that feel more connected to the city and region, while giving organisers greater flexibility and access to local expertise.

The approach also builds on the hotel’s people-first culture, with cross-trained teams encouraged to work collaboratively across departments, helping create a more agile and responsive environment for clients and guests alike.

Paul added: “We speak to event organisers every day and the themes are consistent. They’re looking for creativity, confidence, quicker decisions, flexibility, and teams that are empowered to actually make things happen. That’s exactly the environment we’re building here.

“For us, this is about getting back to the roots of great hospitality. Brilliant people, local character, quality experiences, and a genuine willingness to say yes.”

Paul believes the combination of empowered teams and local identity is becoming increasingly important within the events sector. “Events have become more human. Organisers still expect operational excellence, but they also want warmth, ideas, energy and authenticity.

“Newcastle has a huge amount to offer — creativity, hospitality, brilliant local suppliers and fantastic experiences — and we want working with the hotel to reflect that from start to finish.”

The hotel says the renewed vision will continue to shape future investment in technology, team development, partnerships, wellbeing initiatives and guest experiences over the coming months.