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CHS Birmingham has announced the final speakers for its much-lauded educational programme this year. With the show expecting many new visitors to the ICC Birmingham, 29th October, the backdrop of discussions will be about how the role of event planners has changed, and how the industry can continue to adapt. As well as keynote sessions from Event Psychologist, Kelly McCormack, on how to both enter the minds of your event’s delegates, and support your own when organising events, the show will also delve into the world of production to demonstrate how a little theatre can add a huge spark to your content. Carrying on the theme, this year’s educational programme will see talks and discussion focused on the changing demands of event planning, and the support needed to organise modern events. Sam Murray, whose CV includes supporting some of the most recognisable ‘A-listers’ in the world on film and TV productions, will talk about consent, creating safe places, and protecting the wellbeing of event planners, and their delegates. The conversation will continue throughout the day, with a special slot on event and team cultures, with Emma King, CEO & Founder, CHS Birmingham, and Cat Kevern, Director, Electric Cat Productions. PA’s, EA’s and Office Managers, will also have access to a second stage of education through the show’s PA Lounge, offering specialist curated content for those who have event organising as part of a very long to do list. “We’re acutely aware of the pressure on event organisers at the moment, and the changing skills they need to learn to be effective in their roles,” comments Lou Hindley, Commercial Director, CHS Birmingham. “Our education is always designed to create a safe space to discuss these challenges, but at the same time we’ll have an energised show where buyers can get business done, quickly and effectively.” CHS Birmingham opens its doors at 9am, 29th October at ICC Birmingham, with the Welcome Reception taking place on the Monday evening at IET Birmingham: Austin Court.

Hilton Cambridge City Centre was recognised with the Hospitality Business of the Year Award and the Green Award Highly Commended at the inaugural Cambridge Independent Business Awards 2024 hosted at the prestigious King’s College Great Hall. These awards salute those in the hospitality sector who consistently elevate guest experience and celebrate organisations which have sustainability at its heart, correspondingly."We are truly delighted and honoured to be awarded 'Hospitality Business of the Year' and ‘Green Award Highly Commended’ by the Cambridge Independent Business Awards,” said Richard Finn, general manager, Hilton Cambridge City Centre. “These accolades recognise our dedication to sustainability, community engagement, and operational excellence”During the past year, Hilton Cambridge City Centre has undertaken numerous initiatives to reduce their environmental footprint and have actively supported local charities such as Spectrum, Wintercomfort Help the Homeless Cambridge, and Papworth Trust through fundraising, donations, and volunteer assistance. This have been sustained through initiatives which support Hilton’s Travel with Purpose ESG strategy such as the 'Conserve to Preserve' programme and the installation of the H2Ousewater self-bottling system, the team is dedicated to environmental responsibility and providing exceptional guest experiences.“Our strong partnerships with local charities, our dedication to reducing environmental impact, and our focus on supporting the professional growth of our team are all sources of great pride for us. These initiatives have positively impacted both our organisation and the community we serve,” added Richard.“Moreover, their commitment to service excellence is evident in the feedback received from our guests. We start every morning by reviewing guest feedback with our management team to identify areas for improvement and ensure continuous enhancement of our service delivery,” said Richard.Hilton Cambridge City Centre provides a complement of services and brand amenities, including 198 guest rooms, six meeting & events rooms up to 220 guests, restaurant & lounge bar, 24-hour room service, executive lounge, concierge and fitness centre. Each guest room includes modern conveniences including contactless check-in via Digital Key.To find out mote, visit Hilton Cambridge City Centre or call +44 (0) 1223 464491.Hilton Cambridge City Centre is part of Hilton Honors®, the award-winning guest loyalty program for Hilton’s 24 world-class brands. Hilton Honors members who book directly through preferred Hilton channels have access to instant benefits, including a flexible payment slider that allows members to choose nearly any combination of Points and money to book a stay, an exclusive member discount that can’t be found anywhere else and free standard WiFi. Members also have access to contactless technology exclusively through the industry-leading Hilton Honors mobile app, where Hilton Honors members can check-in, choose their room and access their room using Digital Key.

Meet In Wales has announced the next evolution of its Sector Strategy campaigns, this time focusing on the destination’s creative industries. The digital content campaign which showcases feedback from the producers, directors, production designers and actors behind HBO’s global TV sensation Game of Thrones’, prequel House of the Dragon, highlights the destination's strengths for business events. It also narrates the journey of conference ambassadors within the creative industries, covering areas such as advertising, media, broadcast production, esports, and gaming. Supported by Creative Wales, HBO, the network behind the series has now released the much- anticipated second season of House of the Dragon, using North Wales as a key location and underlining the destination’s natural landscapes, its affinity with storytelling, and its strong links to the wider international creative and media industries. Meet In Wales is capitalising on Creative Wales’ support for the production through its Sector Strategy, showcasing the destination’s national ambassador program, one of few countrywide initiatives of its type, and the significance of conference ambassadors in the creative sector. Equally, the destination is using the campaign to highlight the unique settings and landscapes that business event organisers can make the most of while in Wales. The initiative also follows on from Meet In Wales recent focus on the esports and gaming industries, and once again shows Wales as not only a highly-connected destination, but one with an increasingly global reach, on the biggest stage. Maintaining a positive relationship with HBO cast members has been a rewarding experience and cast members including Eve Best (Princess Rhaenys Targaryen), Emma D’Arcy (Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen), Freddie Fox (Gwayne Hightower), and local favourite Rhys Ifans (Ser Otto Hightower), have all shared their thoughts on working in Wales and the strengths of the destination. In addition to boosting the local economy with over 250 local people employed to work as crew members, the campaign also hears from Executive Producers, Directors, Production Designers, and Screenwriters including, Loni Peristere (Executive Producer / Director), Alan Taylor (Executive Producer / Director), Geeta Vasant Patel (Co-Executive Producer / Director), Jim Clay (Production Designer), and Ryan Condal (Executive Producer / Showrunner / Writer), all of whom bring to life how the natural landscapes of Wales contributed to the final production of the show. Speaking at the time of production, Kevin de la Noy, Executive producer, said: “It was great to be shooting in Wales with its stunning scenery and landscapes that bring to life our Westeros. I had no hesitation in taking House of the Dragon there, as we knew the support from Government and the local populous would help us achieve remarkable footage, and we were blessed with the most glorious weather too. Thank you, Wales!” Wales’ core sectors strategy consists of; Renewables, Life Sciences, FinTech, Creative, Cyber Security & Compound Semi-Conductors, Food & Drink, High Value Manufacturing, and Tourism.

CHS Birmingham has announced a new raft of exhibiting companies that will add even more to its visitor’s experience when the show opens its doors at the ICC Birmingham, 29th October 24. The exhibition will once again provide a mix of domestic and international venues, destinations, unique venues, and support services that will allow event planners to build their events during one day at the show. As well as continuing support from the event’s founding and strategic brand partners, ICC Birmingham and the Birmingham & West Midlands Convention Bureau respectively, the CHS Birmingham is also delighted to be welcoming Visit Scotland, Manchester Convention Bureau, Meet Bath & Bristol, Meet Devon South West England, and Meet Blackpool. As well as the stellar domestic options, visitors will also be able to meet international representatives from VisitMalta Incentives & Meetings, Minor Hotels/Hosmark Hotels, and Maritim Hotels Germany. Adding to the luxury, high premium end of the market, CHS Birmingham will also welcome Shangri-la The Shard London, Iconic Luxury Hotels and The Langham London. London is well represented with exhibitors including the Royal Garden Hotel London, the Barbican, Clermont Hotel Group, Imperial London Hotels and The Mermaid London. Equally, across the UK, there are further hotel options including The Alexander Hotel Collection, Elite Hotels, Tudor Hotels Collection, Countrywide Hotels, BWH Hotels Great Britain, The Belfry and Hyatt Hotels, also represented at the show. These will all be supplemented by a series of partnerships within the exhibition that will see production specialists, venues, and event support partners available to organisers, including, Reftech, Lighthouse Events, UTAC Millbrook, Avanti West Coast, Eventologists, Leopold Marketing, and Concept Furniture. “We’re so proud of our exhibitors, not just of their quality but their approach to the show this year,” comments Lou Hindley, Commercial Director, CHS Birmingham. “They’re there to do business, offering interesting solutions for our buyer’s events and providing up to date and relevant information that means every meeting will have the maximum value for both buyer and exhibitor. It’s going to be an enterprising show.” CHS Birmingham will also welcome a series of specialist brands this year, including stands from ODEON, ASM Global, Showcase Cinemas, Academic Venue Solutions, UTAC Millbrook, TOCA Social, Clays, BOOM BATTLE BAR and Escape Hunt. Earlier this month the show announced IET Birmingham: Austin Court as the show’s Welcome Reception Partner, a major part of the CHS Birmingham experience as Hosted Buyers and Exhibitors begin to network and build business relationships the evening before the event.

Red Bull Technology Group is set to unveil the latest in a string of investments in MK-7, its Milton Keynes conference and event facilities. The new state-of-the-art 46.25 metre LED screen can be found in MK’7’s main auditorium and provides the perfect backdrop to its fleet of F1 cars, which frame the space and date back to 2005. To complement the 1,004 m² event space, which regularly hosts dynamic events, it was time to upgrade the static banners that stood alongside previous Oracle Red Bull Racing cars. As a longstanding team supplier of Oracle Red Bull Racing, PPDS specified a custom-built U-shaped dvLED video wall featuring Philips 7000 series dvLED screens, perfectly tailored for MK-7. The screen is believed to be the biggest indoor dvLED wall in Europe and offers organisers a new medium through which they can brand the space and share content. The complex installation was completed in just four weeks—an ambitious timeline that was scheduled in line with the venue's busy event diary. Using a combination of standard Vogel’s video wall components, custom-made parts, and pre-installation training, integrator Ruitech, supported by Vogel’s on-site engineering team, delivered the project on time and to the highest standard. The installation consists of 517 Philips Public LED 7000 Series cabinets and 2,035 tiles, achieving a stunning total resolution of 19,240 x 1,144 for an unmatched viewing experience. The immersive MK-7 venue invites visitors to explore the rich history of Oracle Red Bull Racing memorabilia, and the team’s championship-winning cars. With the installation of this state-of-the-art video wall, the space now offers an unparalleled visual experience. The Team’s Director of Events and Hospitality, Nick Kenton, commented: “This latest investment in our facilities provides guests with even more opportunities to be creative with their event content. We are continuing evolving our offering and want clients to make the space their own while also embracing the rich and exciting heritage of Red Bull Racing. The new large scale immersive screen is just part of our ongoing plans to enhance our guest experience and provide a premium setting for live events.” Across the site, Red Bull Technology Group is able to cater for a variety of conferences and events. Named in tribute to its Buckinghamshire home, MK-7 offers a unique setting for brand activations, receptions, dinners, conferences and intimate meetings, and the ongoing upgrades signal the Team’s increasing commitment to the conference and events sector.

Glasgow and the Scottish Event Campus (SEC) are reporting the continued increase in delegate numbers across major European conferences. This growth is underlined by the recent success of the European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO), which attracted over 7,000 participants. The delegation is the largest ESTRO congress held to date and underlines a growing trend of major congresses expanding in the city. ESTRO followed the staging of the 50th Annual Meeting of the EBMT (European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation), which attracted a further 4,700 in-person registered participants, and the European Conference on Cystic Fibrosis, which also saw 2,200 researchers, scientists, and medical professionals meet at the SEC. The SEC and Glasgow will be welcoming the annual conferences of EAACI (European Association of Allergy & Clinical Immunology), which will take place June 2025, and ERA (European Renal Association), in June 2026, with the conferences expected to attract over 8,000 and 9,000 delegates to the city respectively. The news follows the announcement earlier this year, that the AC Forum will be holding its Annual Meeting in January 2025. To date, over 50% of AC Forum members have hosted or are hosting their meeting at the SEC, again underlining the city’s natural affinity with members of the organisation and its ability to work with European congress organisers. “There has been tremendous leadership from our ambassadors and the scientific community within Glasgow to attract and grow these exceptional meetings,” commented Kathleen Warden, Director of Conference Sales, SEC. “We are delighted that events prosper in our city”. “Glasgow Convention Bureau is delighted to partner with the SEC to support these prestigious European Association meetings to deliver successful and memorable events in our city. We look forward to welcoming the AC Forum Annual Meeting delegates to kick off next year,” commented Aileen Crawford, Head of Tourism and Conventions, Glasgow Convention Bureau. ”We are incredibly proud of our ‘Team Glasgow’ approach, where hosting events such as these are recognised as incredibly significant and important to the city’s conference community.”

The Live Group has announced a new vision into 2025 which will see the businesses continued expansion, both domestically and internationally, the growth of its team, and new investment in audience engagement and event technology. The news follows the group’s announcement of an injection of VCT funding from leading private equity group Foresight Group. The investment from the Foresight Group earlier this year has been specifically earmarked for research and development within the Live Group’s already well-respected digital event products. The business is already investing in the latest technologies with a view to accelerating a suite of products that increase audience understanding and engagement. “Anyone that knows Live Group has seen how much our business has grown and transformed in just a few years, however we know our heritage sits at the sweet spot between production excellence, smart technology, and market leading audience insight,” commented Stephen D. Pickett, Managing Director, Live Group. “Technology advancement gives us an opportunity to accelerate our audience-led learning, and this can only be good for the events we produce.”In addition to the developments in event technology, Live Group continue to expand and actively seek the best talent, both in the UK and its Singapore office, which successfully launched last year. The group envisions leading the industry in creating inclusive and accessible event environments, which has helped shape its culture as an innovative, diverse, and equitable workplace. This vision is already attracting talent from diverse backgrounds, both within and outside the traditional events industry, to join its business on its exciting journey. At the same time, the group has continued to put quality at the heart of its business, recently achieving ISO accreditation in Event Sustainability20121: 2012, in addition to their Quality Management, Information Security and Cyber Essentials Plus credentials. This substantial achievement has already led to positive growth across the Live Group, both within the businesses existing client portfolio, and in the form of new clients to its already healthy roster. “The credibility of our growth has always been as important as its speed,” continues Stephen. “The event technology and audience profiling technologies we have produced are highly effective and have taken years to perfect. We’ve some really exciting plans in the offering that have undergone the scrutiny we needed them to. They’re nearly ready, and we can’t wait to share them with our clients.” “This is about having the best people, the right products and an exceptional workplace, for Live Group to solidify its position as a leading international event brands, and one that is growing responsibly, sustainably, and with equity and innovation at its core,” concluded Stephen.

Lime Venue Portfolio and The Delegate Wranglers have agreed a partnership that will see the portfolio become the first ever Educational Partner of the meeting and event industry’s leading social media platform. The partnership follows on from a series of activations between the two brands, including the first ever educational session from The Delegate Wranglers, jointly curated by the brands earlier this year, and which bought members of the community together to learn more about event legacy. The new partnership will build on the success of the event with the aim of bringing new topics to members of The Delegate Wranglers community looking at advancing their education and career in the industry. As part of the partnership the two organisations will jointly create a further four educational sessions over the next 12 months, with events taking place in Scotland, London, the Midlands and the North of England, with other areas also welcome as the events gain traction. Lime Venue Portfolio have already produced a number of events this year, leaning on outside experts who have bought to life pertinent subjects from event legacy to neurodiversity. In the past the group has also bought to light specialist subjects such as food and sustainability and mental health first aid, winning The Drum Best B2B Educational Series. The two brands have also worked collaboratively at some of the major industry events and exhibitions, again with the joint ambition to progress the industry through networking and community engagement. “We love the team at The Delegate Wranglers,” commented Jo Austin, Sales Director, Lime Venue Portfolio. “They share our ethics and values, our enthusiasm, but also our desire to make events better, both through education and community networking. We can’t wait to get started on these events and to see what The Delegate Wranglers community think of them.” “This is a massive step for The Delegate Wranglers, and we’re really pleased to have the support of Lime Venue Portfolio,” commented Neil Thompson, Founder of The Delegate Wranglers. “We’ve always been a tight community, and these events mean that we’re adding more value to our member’s professional life’s, bringing more education and career development opportunities. We really hope they will add value and keep our amazing group engaged in The Delegate Wranglers.” The first event of the Educational Series will take place mid-November 2024, with more scheduled in the new year.

The Mercure Manchester Piccadilly hotel team won the Aimbridge Hospitality's ‘Whale of a Win’ Award 2024 – a 4ft soft cuddly whale named Amy, which honours “AMY-zing results”. The recognition followed the announcement that the hotel's meeting and booking revenue has grown by 55% in the year to April, following a £3million refurbishment project of 280 bedrooms and reception area, plus a major investment in people. This focus on employees featured an extensive recruitment drive to hire 53 conference, events, and hotel staff locally. The appointment of two leadership positions has been key to the business making significant strides in its commitment to excellence in events, hospitality, and service. Stephen Cox has been appointed Conference & Events Operations Manager, bringing a wealth of experience and expertise to the role. Within a few months, Stephen has already overhauled the hotel’s conference and events offering for organisers and delegates, and VenueVerdict scores are now consistently achieving 9/10. Dhiraj Kumar has also been hired as Head Chef. With more than two decades of experience working with major hotel brands, Dhiraj brings a wealth of culinary knowledge and creativity. Aziza Yessi, Sales Director, Mercure Manchester Piccadilly, commented: “Our teams have achieved a phenomenal uplift in the M&E segment, fuelled by a standout performance in February. Our events and hotel teams have shown exceptional foresight, strategic planning, tenacity, and commitment to client satisfaction and retention. We are delighted to have our hard work and achievements recognised with this fun Aimbridge Award for April.” This is the second Aimbridge award for Mercure Manchester Piccadilly this year. In January, the business won the Aimbridge Hospitality Award for the most improved Accor hotel in EMEA, with a 12.7% increase in performance and guest reputation.

Hilton Cambridge City Centre was recognised by the SME Cambridgeshire Business Awards with a Business of the Year (More than 50 Employees) Award for 2024. The award honours businesses that consistently show outstanding initiative, boldness and imagination in the enterprise, sound management practices, and sustainable growth."We are incredibly honoured to be recognised as 'Business of the Year (More than 50 Employees)' by the SME Cambridgeshire Business Awards,” said Richard Finn, general manager, Hilton Cambridge City Centre. “This accolade is a testament to the dedication, innovation, and hard work of our entire team at Hilton Cambridge City Centre” Over the past year, Hilton Cambridge City Centre have focused on becoming the leading choice for guests in the city by enhancing their commitment to sustainability and community engagement. Through initiatives which support Hilton’s Travel with Purpose ESG strategy such as the 'Conserve to Preserve' programme and the installation of the H2Ousewater self-bottling system, the team is dedicated to environmental responsibility and providing exceptional guest experiences. “We take pride in our strong partnerships with local charities, our commitment to minimizing our environmental impact, and our dedication to the professional growth of our team. These efforts have made a meaningful difference in both our organisation and the community we serve” added Richard. Hilton Cambridge City Centre provides a complement of services and brand amenities, including 198 guest rooms, six meeting & events rooms up to 220 guests, restaurant & lounge bar, 24-hour room service, executive lounge, concierge and fitness centre. Each guest room includes modern conveniences including contactless check-in via Digital Key.