Cost of living crisis - a survival guide Be a D&I ally - all you need to know The power of mentoring Sustainability - why are we waiting? IN THIS ISSUE
Spring/Summer 2022 | mitmagazine.co.uk
TIME TO Our sexual harassment survey results STOP
DEST INAT IONS : AUSTRAL I A | CANADA | WEST MIDL ANDS | AUSTR I A | KOREA | RAS AL KHA IMAH
Tyne formeetings inperson Tyne for events that sparkle Tyne for conferences that count Tyne for getting together
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In a UK first, 35 venues across Newcastle and Gateshead have joined forces to help build back confidence in staging everything from international conferences to teambuilding sessions. All 35 locations, frommajor hotel chains to historic buildings, have gained coveted AIM Secure accreditation from the Meetings Industry Association (mia), enabling them to deliver events as safely as possible in a world with Covid. We’re world famous for our welcome, acclaimed for our iconic cityscape and loved for our vibrant atmosphere – and nowwe’re an even better choice to make your next business event the best yet. So, isn’t it about Tyne you got in touch?
meetnewcastlegateshead.com/tyne
+44 (0)191 440 5757
conventionbureau@ngi.org.uk
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35 The power of mentoring
Why wait until 2050? Sustainability now!
The big sobriety
M&IT Sexual Harassment Survey - the results 9
In this issue 21 Chain reaction J cqu v n h on resh p n suppl ch n rel t onsh ps 23 10 out of 10 Wh t’s n store t the 10th ed t on of The Meet ns Show 26 A seat at the table How to be d vers t ll - nd the p tf lls to vo d 46 The ultimate reward Holl P tr c rounds up Austr l ’s mpress ve ncent ve offer Regulars 5 Editor’s letter 6 News analysis 14 Talking point 17 Supplier sounds o 19 How to 22 Secret eventprof 29 Tech spec 33 Agency pitch Plus 39 IMEX in Frankfurt preview 41 West Midlands 44 Austria 55 Korea 59 Canada 62 Ras Al Khaimah
Ed tor P ul H rve Sen or Journ l st Holl P tr c Assoc te Ed tor S ll Trelford Des ners Ann e H rr s, Cl re G tes, S m nth D lle Cl ent Serv ces M n er Am nd Ludm n Cl ent Serv ces Execut ve Tom Err de Group Commerc l D rector U Ross B rer Account D rectors Ch rlotte Bl ss, M rt n B lmer, Conn e M ner, Brett Dempse D t & Cl ent Serv ces Execut ve Joh n Soqv st M n n D rector U D v d Ch pple Ed tor l D rector J mes L nc ster Group M ret n D rector Rochelle J w rden Portfol o M ret n D rector Alex Softle Sen or C rcul t on Execut ve N c Nunhofer
D t l M n er St c T lor He d of Events Emm Gordon
Im es © 123RF
The publ shers c nnot ccept respons b l t for errors or om ss ons, lthouh the utmost c re s t en th t nform t on cont ned s ccur te nd up-to-d te Publ shed b Northst r Meet ns Group, The Old St bles, P pp nford P r, M llbroo H ll, Nutle , TN22 3HW E-M l s les@ntmllccom Webs te m tm z necou Tel +44 (0) 1342 306700 ISSN 0953-2803 © Northst r Meet ns Group
mitmagazine.co.uk / 2022 3
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Time to stop L ast autumn, as we made our jubilant return to face-to-face meetings, the joy and relief at getting back to business
Jacqui Kavanagh of EDGE Venues has her say on how eventprofs should respond to the growing crisis. We’ve also got compelling sustainability stories from two of the biggest hitters in the sector, Dale Parmenter of DRPG and Carina Bauer of IMEX Group. Diversity and inclusivity is increasingly a key issue for businesses, so we asked Damilola Onamusi of DASH Events to put together a guide to being a D&I ally - and some of the pitfalls to avoid. Sticking with inclusivity, Gabby Austen Browne pitches in with a timely piece on why alcohol-free options have to be part of your planning arsenal. Elsewhere in the issue Richard John makes the case for apprenticeships, Marc Mekki casts his eye over the metaverse and Holly Patrick explores the power of mentoring, which has rocketed in recent years. You’ll also nd all the M&IT regulars including our spiky secret supplier, who certainly hasn’t mellowed over lockdown. And nally, if you’re in need of a spot of inspiration for where to take your next event, be it Canada or Coventry, you’ll nd something to whet your appetite in our plethora of destination features. It’s been a hectic start to the year at M⁢ we’ve launched a new website, a new event in our M&IT Summit, plus we’re gearing up for a busy summer with e Meetings Show in June, the Agency Challenge in July and the M&IT Awards in September. I can’t wait to get stuck in, hopefully we’ll see you soon. Enjoy the issue.
after 18 long months away was palpable. However, the good vibes also obscured the return of one of the sector’s most unwelcome aspects – sexual harassment. ere were enough rumours and reports of unwelcome and unwanted behaviour from the great return to events to make us here at M&IT realise that the subject warranted some serious attention.
Half of our respondents have been subject to sexual harassment, usually by someone in a senior position and overwhelmingly bymen
e result is the M&IT Sexual Harassment Survey, our cover story this edition that will surely give the sector pause for thought. Half of our respondents have been subject to sexual harassment in the sector, usually by someone in a senior position to them and overwhelmingly by men. It’s time we put a stop to it. Here at M&IT we intend to use these results as a springboard to make real change on this issue – watch this space. As ever, we’re tackling the big issues a ecting eventprofs across the board. Events legend Liz Taylor of TLC Events shares her guide to surviving the cost-of-living crisis – and as someone who’s steered a business through three recessions and counting, her advice is not to be sni ed at. Anyone organising events over the last six months will know all about the problems up and down the supply chain;
ph rve @ntmllccom
@meetp e
M&IT M z ne
m tm z ne
mitmagazine.co.uk / 2022 5
Cost adrift After two ers of Covd we’re fnll ettn bc to lve events – nd now cost of lvn crss hs turned up Lz Tlor, CEO nd founder of the Tlor Lnn Corporton, ssesses the ltest chllene for eventprofs A s live events began to come the industry. We were ready and eager to return; bigger, better, bolder. e outlook seemed bright. A tangible sense of positivity could be felt by all. at optimism was destined to be tempered with a new challenge. A smooth journey to recovery hasn’t been written into our story and as event professionals we are now facing many more bumps in the road. Astronomical fuel and energy costs, back, you could feel the buzz of excitement rippling throughout in ation, war in Europe, and the safety net of Government support removed as it attempts to repay the cost of the pandemic – could 2022 be an even bigger challenge than Covid? Increased costs Although on the surface, the cost of living crisis has been more widely reported from a consumer perspective, events and hospitality businesses will of course be a ected ‐ a knock on e ect of budgets being squeezed. Even more so as we are being hit
6 / 2022 mitmagazine.co.uk
facing these cost increases in their own business. It’s di cult therefore to pass on any of the cost increases we face to our customers. Much will have to be absorbed by the event planner. I am, and continue to, be incredibly positive about the recovery of our industry because I have seen the appetite there is for live events. Where there is demand for our services – there is always a way. at’s coming from a business owner who has survived three recessions and counting. We will need everything in our toolkit: sales, resourcefulness, creativity, tenacity. But we absolutely can ride the latest threat to the industry. Creative edge My advice is to never cut corners. If the budget reduces, don’t try to produce the same event at this new cost level. To attempt to throw the same event on less money is a bad outcome for everyone – clients, attendees, and the industry. Instead, use your creative edge. Make the
with a double whammy of price hikes: as the cost of running a business goes up, so too does the cost of staging a live event. National Insurance contributions increased in April for employers and employees. e chancellor o set this with a rise in the National Insurance thresholds which will come into play from July, but SME businesses will be a ected. Energy prices are soaring and there doesn’t look to be any let up on the horizon. Heating, lighting, and providing hot water in our o ces is in the process of becoming very, very expensive. Many in our industry are also still repaying Government loans from the pandemic. en, in the same week that all remaining Covid restrictions were li ed in England, the world watched on in horror as the war in Ukraine began. Where a threat to our livelihood pales in signicance to the plight of the Ukrainian people, it is true that the war will have more widespread consequences, further rises to fuel and food prices being just some of those. I am 100 per
cent in support of the Western sanctions being imposed on Russia. It’s a necessary evil and one we will navigate. And to staging events? e cost of transportation and moving kit is increasing in line with rising fuel costs. Our suppliers are having to put up prices thanks to supply chain issues and increasing overheads ‐ owers, food, catering, décor, lighting all
event totally di erent to the pre‐budget cut plan. Be innovative in how they are staged. It avoids pale comparisons but can also infuse an event with a new lease of life. Use it as a platform for fresh ideas. Source locally. Use suppliers, caterers, orists, talent from closer to home and everyone will benet from reduced fuel costs
To attempt to throw the same event on less money is a bad outcome for everyone
going up. e cost of hiring and travel for performers, speakers, even getting delegates to an event has increased massively. Every element that comes together to make an
and supporting local businesses. We once again face a huge challenge to our livelihoods and industry, but we have successfully steered our way through tricky times before. In fact, I would argue that the uncertainty of the pandemic was far worse. In those early days, our industry shut down overnight and gatherings were made to be punishable by law. I think we all struggled to see a way through for the long term. Our great industry is proven to be resilient and by using the best of our creativity we can, and will, nd a way.
event happen is rising in price. Shrinking budgets
Corporate budgets are likely to start being squeezed in a way we’ve not seen since the credit crunch in 2008. We have a client base that’s still regaining complete condence in live events a er all the forced cancellations during the pandemic, and who are also
mitmagazine.co.uk / 2022 7
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Time to stop Our surve revels tht hlf the respondents hve been sexull hrssed t wor – nd the perpetrtors re lmost lws men Isn’t t tme ths cme to stop
T he results of the M&IT Sexual for the sector. Exactly half (50 per cent) of our respondents had personally been subjected to some form of sexual harassment while Harassment Survey are in – and they don’t make for pretty reading
organiser declined to do this as it would be ‘awkward’. e man was eventually removed by security some time later because he was violent towards another man. ere was no record made of the incident and the police were not informed, despite what happened being a criminal o ence.” Time and again, alcohol was cited as a contributing factor to sexual harassment. “At events, people o en drink too much and act out of character,” said one woman, aged 31-40.
Whymight sexual harassment in themeetings and events sector go unchallenged?
working in meetings and events. In 95 per cent of these cases the perpetrator was male. In more
than three quarters of cases (77 per cent) the perpetrator was in a more senior role. One respondent said: “ ere are senior men in the industry who are well known for sexual harassment, but because they are senior no one says anything.” One woman shared that she and another woman, both senior event
“Also the transient nature of travelling to events o en leads to individuals feeling they can take advantage of the novelty and proposition young women especially.” “Alcohol owing, no rules around inappropriate behaviour – it can feel dangerous,” said another woman, aged 41-50. “Many
“Women m be frd to chllene t for fer of ther ob or to become nown s troublem er” Femle, 31-40
If someone is brave enough to report sexual harassment, people are dumbstruck
“It’s not sector specfc - more culturl, busness nd socetl ssue” Femle, 41-50
“It’s prt scene sometmes nd people don’t now how to ct especll when the ren’t sober” Femle, 31-40 “The mount of lcohol consumed t events, creer sprtons, old school mentlt” Mle, 51-60 “Fer We’re femle domnted ndustr, but mn senor postons re flled b men” Femle, 41-50
professionals, were sexually assaulted at an event last year where they knew both the perpetrator and the event organiser team well - and nothing was done. “We reported the incident immediately to a senior member of the organisers team and asked for the man to be removed to protect the other women present,” she said. “ e
women try to stick together for safety.” e survey reveals that 80 per cent of event professionals believe that it could be useful to have a sexual harassment code of conduct for events. “ is sector is behind the times,” said one female respondent. “We know how to deal with a the or say, a ght breaking out,
mitmagazine.co.uk / 2022 9
much all old white men” as a reason for sexual harassment going unreported, saying that it made it “di cult for women, particularly young women to speak up and even to lead calls for industry wide policy.” Of the people who had been sexually harassed, 44 per cent of these had experienced this within the last ve years. One quarter (25 per cent) had been harassed in the last ve to 10 years, while for 31 per cent the experience was more than 10 years ago. More than one quarter
during an event. But if someone is brave enough to report sexual harassment or worse, people are dumbstruck. “We need policies that not only protect those of us that work in the industry itself, but all of those people that participate in our events.” Many called for a cultural change in the sector, with one woman, aged 41-50, calling for public commitment to change from senior leaders. “ is is not a ‘women’s’ issue,” she said. “We need codes of conduct for
We need to make events safe and enjoyable for everyone
(26 per cent) of those who had been harassed took no action in response against the perpetrator. Actions taken in response to being sexually harassed included attempting to avoid the perpetrator (23 per cent), telling a colleague (18 per cent) and telling friends
participation in events with wide ranging bans for those who breach them.” Other suggestions included formal protocols for dealing with any incidents,
training for event teams and venue sta on how
and family (9 per cent). Only ve per cent of respondents said they had spoken directly to the perpetrator following the incident. Just 8 per cent told someone more senior at work, 3 per cent made a formal complaint and only 2 per cent reported the incident to the police. e e ects of sexual harassment incidents have been very serious for some event professionals, with 1 per cent saying they sought counselling, 2 per cent saying they took time o work, and 3 per cent leaving
to identify and manage situations where harassment might take place and a call on men in the industry to stop enabling a culture of harassment. e results reveal a little of the power dynamic involved in sexual harassment. Just 23 per cent of respondents had been harassed by someone of the same level of seniority. No one had been harassed by someone junior to them. One woman cited male dominated boards and industry veterans being “pretty
Have you ever been subjected to any formof sexual harassment while working in meetings and events?
Was the person responsible:
Prefer not to say: 3%
Female: 5%
Male: 95%
No: 47%
Yes: 50%
10 / 2022 mitmagazine.co.uk
Could themeetings and events sector domore to protect people working
in the sector fromsexual harassment?
“V ct ms must h ve the secur t th t the r tell n the truth w ll not be to the r d s dv nt e” M le, 51-60 “It st rts t the top, we need more sen or fem le represent t on I m lw s steps beh nd the sen or men, purel bec use I m fem le” Fem le, 41-50 “Commun c t n bout t s stem t c ll dur n n event or n sed, to the s me level s protect on nst Cov d, for ex mple” M le, 60+ “Appropr te me sures re needed where lcohol s served s th s obv ousl fuels the s tu t on” Fem le, 41-50 “M e sexu l h r ssment pol c es cle r n Ts nd Cs, t re str t on nd even n end s” Fem le, 41-50
Are you aware of any incidents of sexual harassment having taken place in themeetings and events sector?
Was the person responsible:
Same level of seniority: 23%
More senior than you: 77%
Yes: 73%
No: 27%
More junior than you: 0%
mitmagazine.co.uk / 2022 11
What challenges does themeetings and events sector face in relation to sexual harassment? “It needs to be cle rl def ned bout how to h ndle s tu t ons of ph s c l sexu l h rr ssment nd verb l sm ll t l / n ppropr te comments” Fem le, 31-40 “We need to m e events s fe nd eno ble for ever one, nd th s me ns follow n le l nd eth c l ch nnels Just l e other forms of v olence, th s h s to be m de un ccept ble n ll cond t ons nd s tu t ons” Fem le, 41-50 “Ops te ms re l rel fem le, contr ctors re predom n ntl m le nd unsoc ble hours c n be ch llen n If there s code of conduct/zero toler nce th t ll or n sers c n comm t to then th s m ht o some w to mprov n th ns Ever one should feel ble nd comfort ble to c ll th s beh v our out” Fem le, 41-50 “Alcohol, lon d s nd close wor n often le d to n ppropr te beh v our Ever one nvolved n meet ns nd events nclud n ttendees needs to now th t th s s not ccept ble nd w ll not be toler ted” Fem le, 60+
to sexual harassment. “ e burden of proof is on the victim, so many people know that nothing will happen if they bring the incident forward,” she added. Almost three quarters (73 per cent) of respondents were aware of incidents of sexual harassment having taken place in the meetings and events sector, with just 27 per cent unaware of any incidents in the sector. Of the people who were aware of incidents having taken place,
their job altogether. “People are too afraid to speak up out of fear they will not be believed and the harm it could do to their careers,” said one female respondent, aged 18-30. “We don’t have a culture of calling out this behaviour when we witness it, therefore, the victim o en feels alone in a situation.” Certainly, the data seems to show that the problem is around event professionals
having the con dence to report sexual harassment to their employer, rather than the lack of means by which to do so. Six out of 10 respondents said that their employer has a formal policy in place for dealing
more than a third (36 per cent) said that the incident was le unchallenged due to the perpetrator’s seniority, while one quarter said the incident was le unchallenged due to the perpetrator’s reputation. “It’s part of the boy’s club mentality where a man’s reputation is valued more
Aman’s reputation is valuedmore highly than a woman’s safety
with allegations of sexual harassment. Around one in ve (21 per cent) said they didn’t know, and slightly fewer (19 per cent) said that their employer had no such policy in place. Interestingly, a large majority (72 per cent) said that they felt con dent that their organisation would handle a complaint of sexual harassment appropriately if someone were to report it. One woman, aged 31-40, said that a “he says, she says mentality” exists in relation
highly than a woman’s safety,” concluded one woman, aged 41-50. “I also think the industry’s relationship with alcohol creates more situations where harassment is likely to occur. “Many events and employers lack speci c protocols to deal with an incident. When something is reported, people don’t know what to do, so o en do nothing.”
■ D t collected onl ne from 112 eventprof respondents from U nd Europe n M rch nd Apr l 2022”
mitmagazine.co.uk / 2022 13
TALK ING POINT
Talent search
Hiring interns is often seen as a cheap and easy way of finding new talent – but how much value do they
really add? Richard John, COO of event apprenticeship provider Realise,
shatters a few myths
Many interns are grateful for any work experience, but there are numerous problems with the process
14 SPRING/SUMMER 2022 mitmagazine.co.uk
W hat’s your approach to bringing on new talent and seeing if bright young things are right for your organisation? Part of the internship process is seeing whether there is a fit between the future employee and the company. So, getting them in for a trial is great, but any successful programme must be more than some tokenistic Bring Your Tortoise to Work initiative. It won’t surprise you to read that I’m an advocate for apprenticeships; Realise has delivered more apprentices across the UK events arena than all the other providers combined. But one of the things that always saddens me is when organisations say “it’s okay, we use interns.” To me that’s like saying “Don’t worry about an anaesthetic; I took an aspirin earlier!” Don’t get me wrong; many interns are grateful for any work experience, but there are numerous problems with the process. While the practice of internships started with the medical profession and was rigorously controlled, it became picked up by other sectors, and not always with the necessary safeguards. You’ll have read stories about interns being exploited – long hours, no real training, no pay ‐ and often in the publishing and media sectors. Inevitably that means it would only be the well‐heeled who could subsidise their offspring in such roles. So much for diversity! Issues While such practices have – for the most part – disappeared, there are numerous other issues that exist. An intern’s role can be for an unspecified amount of time, and can encompass anything; so where is the structured learning, development, and assessment? Sure, if these interns are students from a university, you’ll probably have regular contact with someone to address issues around safeguarding, but it is unlikely that there will be much analysis of the work itself. If you do take on interns, who is training the managers in how to train them properly? What record‐keeping takes place? How is the learning transfer monitored? What about the actual proof that something has been achieved, rather than just six months of extreme tea making and photocopying? Where is the external scrutiny, recognition, and accreditation? Plus, no matter how good your
benefit both apprentice and employer; they will be part of a cohort of apprentices from other companies, sharing experiences outside their own organisation. They will also be attending workshops that allow them to embed their knowledge within theoretical frameworks. It also means, from an early age, your new employees are mastering the vital This is about a different way of learning. On reflection, would you like to spend months studying in a classroom and then have a chance to try and put that accumulated knowledge into action in one hit? Or would you prefer bite‐size learning inputs followed by the chance to apply and reflect on the results? Most of us are what are known as activist learners; after a session of input we art of networking. Different
programme – and I have no doubt it is good – where is the proof of a transferable skill? Your programme is simply that; your way of doing things. What are you doing to get new ideas, to take on new people who might challenge you? It can seem painful, but remember it’s the grit in the oyster that creates the pearl. Contrast an internship with a modern‐ day apprenticeship. An apprentice is recruited with the same process as any other member of staff. The apprenticeship lasts up to 18 months, so this isn’t a short‐
sighted decision. Flexible
Apprentices must spend 20 per cent of their time undertaking off-the-job training. In the past that would have involved going to college; now the situation is much more
It can seem painful, but remember it’s the grit in the
oyster that creates the pearl
want to try these ideas out. Just like the apprentice, you will be held to account by the external coach, who will be examining how the relationship is working. Use the apprentice for tea making and envelope stuffing and expect to pay the consequences. It’s worth noting that apprentices tend to be far more loyal towards their employer; they also go on to make better managers, coaches, and mentors. Maybe that’s because of the way in which they have been developed; after all, behaviour is often contagious.
flexible. Have them spend a few hours each week reading about the industry, studying online courses, shadowing colleagues in other departments, even working with a client or supplier. It makes them a far more rounded person in terms of outlook, and the regulated hours swiftly mount up. They are also working towards a nationally recognised standard, put together by leading figures in this industry, and closely scrutinised and regulated by government. There are other dimensions that
mitmagazine.co.uk SPRING/SUMMER 2022 15
conferences@sec.co.uk sec.co.uk/conferences Scottish Event Campus (SEC) To find out more, contact us or visit:
SUPPL I ER SOUNDS OFF
Aiming high
E verywhere I look, I find people professing they are excited to once again be meeting in person. Why are they still saying it? We’ve been meeting in person for months now. Actually, it’s been over a year. And, let’s face it, if you work at Number 10 you never stopped. It’s all part of a constant wish to be seen to be engaging and to be part of a community. Unfortunately, engaging and being part of a community is pointless if it is not building business. And like it or not that is what our sector is about. Business. And Our secret supplier has spotted an opportunity to redefine the UK event sector – but will leaders be bold enough to take it?
building the sector is now what this country has a chance to do. We need to rethink the way we view our sector – and how it is viewed by others. Instead of self‐promotion and desperately justifying activity, we have a chance to be proactive and reset the business we try to win as a country. Most importantly, we should look to move the world of trade shows and business events out of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and into the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. Because really, isn’t that where it belongs? The word business should be a giveaway. We run business events – we need to remember that. It is still unclear what the plans are to put the UK at the top of international events. The talking shop of the Business Visits and Events Partnership (BVEP) has now morphed into the Events Industry Board Working Group. Let’s hope the members
get to work on improving the UK’s standing on the world stage. Just look at the raw materials they have to work with. There is so much to be excited about in this country. We have an amazing incentive product, brilliant accessibility at several international airports, superb convention centres and enviable hotel stock. We should be a resounding success. Hopefully Paul Black, a decent chap, will now slow down the revolving door of VisitBritain and create some consistency of action. His first task should be to shake up the Events Industry Board. I know that the tourist board is only officially an observer, but there is a real opportunity here. Energy should be focused on developing business opportunities for the UK cities and suppliers rather than the current seemingly never ending schedule of meetings. This is a once in a lifetime chance to have a reset for the better – hopefully the UK events industry is able to demand it.
mitmagazine.co.uk SPRING/SUMMER 2022 17
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18 / 2022 mitmagazine.co.uk
The big sobriety The number of people on lcohol free s on the rse – but re we ctern for them t our events Gbb Austen Browne, co-founder of Dverst Allnce nd Dverse Speer Bureu, revels how ou cn me our events sober-nclusve
A s event professionals, the socialising part of our job is just as important as the actual job. And alcohol is always part of that. But should it be? Once I entered the industry, I realised my drinking habits - like most Londoners my age - weren’t healthy. So I decided to go alcohol-free. Completely. With no end date in mind, just an ambition to look better, feel better and achieve more. at was three years ago and I haven’t looked back. With a clear head to re ect, I noticed how we, event planners, encourage each other and our guests to get drunk at events. And the more drunk - the better the event. ere came a point that tipped me over the edge. I had attended a couple of events and two awards ceremonies that did not cater for guests who were not drinking alcohol. e options at two of those events were coke, lemonade and orange juice - to which I replied, “I am not 12, what else
do you have?”. eir reply was a shrug. At one of the events I attended, I had to pay for so drinks even though red wine, white wine and prosecco were free. Making things worse, two of these events required me to buy a ticket. From an inclusivity, accessibility and health aspect, it’s disturbing. People who don’t drink alcohol are not always in recovery, what about those who are pregnant, those who are driving, those who don’t drink for religious reasons, or those who want to alternate because they don’t want to get drunk? We have a responsibility to be inclusive of all those who are attending our events. ere are enough alcohol-free options from big brands now, it’s just a case of us requesting them. We need to be thinking about what we can do to remove the stigma around not drinking alcohol. Now is the time to start planning sober-inclusive events.
Gabby Austen Browne
Gabby’s top ve tips for catering for guests not wishing to drink alcohol at events ■ For a drinks reception, oer a drink/s that adults would like to have. If it’s a sparkling reception include Nosecco in a champagne glass, an alcohol-free spirit or a mocktail. It helps those not drinking alcohol to feel included. ■ Don’t design all event activities around alcohol. Similarly, don’t include activities that require alcohol in order to make people feel condent to take part. ■ Make sure your venue has some alcohol-free options. Drinks packages should have a zz, a cocktail and a beer as a minimum and try to have at least one of these options available to purchase if there is a paying bar. Request this as non-negotiable. Big brands all have alcohol free options available now, so there is no excuse. ■ Be creative with networking activities at events. Don’t just oer a drinks reception as standard, provide additional activities for those who might want to build relationships that don’t revolve around alcohol. ■ Encourage and normalise non-alcoholic drinks at events. ink about those who are driving, pregnant, or don’t drink for religious reasons and for those who just don’t want to get drunk and would prefer to alternate their drinks.
mitmagazine.co.uk / 2022 19
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OUTS IDE THE BOX
Chain reaction The sector’s suppl ch n h s t en b tter n over the l st two e rs J cqu v n h, CEO of EDGE Venues, s s f t‘s t me to resh pe the rel t onsh ps w th n the suppl ch n – nd n turn, resh pe the ndustr
R ecognition of the supply chain in our industry got le behind during the pandemic. Whether it’s freelancers, booking agents, AV people and all the rest; without that supply chain in place, it adds cost to the end users, the corporate buyers. For venue nders, the commission-based model worked well for years. It opened the doors for many buyers to have access to a highly quali ed specialist service. e pandemic demonstrated to us though, that it wasn’t t for
erefore the requirements for outsourced is that these specialisms are done very well to keep the corporate planner safe. We’re responsible in a way, because our services deemed to be free of charge. Buyers don’t have to ght to get budgetary control support. But it’s not really free: it’s a di erent way of working. Maybe it would be better for them to pay us in a di erent way and to be more transparent - but they have to have the mechanism within their own organisation to be able to do that too. Trade bodies need to get involved and they need to get real. What is the trade body’s role within our industry? Has it been lost to being just a selling situation where venues go and sell to agents? We should be discussing business issues. We should be coming up with solutions, challenging the norm, championing technology and innovation, looking for good solutions with sustainability and reward and recognising those people who deliver that. Right now we have the best opportunity to reshape the industry. One of the weaknesses of our sector is that we’re all di erent, so it can be dicult to talk with one voice. However, with every weakness, you can turn it into a strength. ere’s a great opportunity there.
Jacqui Kavanagh
There needs to be more recognition of the supply chain and the professionalism it brings to our industry
industry knowledge, negotiation with venue knowledge, we build relationships... If everyone had to do everything to deliver an event, rather than having outsourced suppliers, they wouldn’t move past rst base. eir skill sets are not there. e role of the events
purpose. We got literally nothing for nearly two years - and we were still servicing clients. When the pandemic hit the hotels and venues were brilliant. Everyone was very supportive, but that doesn’t mean that anyone was actually making any
professional has evolved over the last 20 years. You need to be an expert on food legislation, dietary requirements, GDPR, technology, budget management – and you need to know the next thing that is going to come and hit you before it even hits you.
money. Lots of clients hadn’t a clue that we wouldn’t actually be earning anything. Because, of course, it’s a free service. ere needs to be more recognition of the supply chain and the professionalism it brings to our industry. We provide tech,
mitmagazine.co.uk / 2022 21
SECRET EVENTPROF
Reality bites It’s time to work smarter to deliver the wow factor in the face of adversity, says our secret eventprof
W ith corporates taking to venues again, event professionals across the country are getting back to doing what they do best, whether that’s launching, rewarding, presenting or educating. However, given the time away, the expectation that events will demonstrate the wow factor has been heightened - and that ‘je ne sais quoi’ element is in high demand. Thinking outside of the box for event delivery is becoming the norm. The ability to stand out and showcase has never been so prevalent. Every event comes with an expectation that delegates will be blown away. Just getting by is not an option. However, there is a real issue at the heart of this. Once you couple these heightened expectations with the ongoing challenges we see in venues, it’s
role of educator. It will be necessary to demonstrate to clients the art of the possible right now. What can they achieve within the realms of possibility? These limits need not be a barrier to success. In fact, with the right approach, you can turn a negative into a positive. My advice to event professionals in the current climate is to work smartly to create simple solutions to raise the bar even more. We can provide different experiences that underpin the objective of the event; experiences that are born of and speak to
the times we live in. Also, in these tough times, don’t forget about your fellow event professionals. We’re all in this situation together, and a collaborative approach is much more constructive than a combative one. Overwhelmingly, as a creative industry we need to ensure that we don’t collide while we all strive to deliver for customers, within budget and aligned to other agreed event success factors. Be creative, be presumptuous and be realistic!
obvious there is a problem brewing. Staff shortages are leaving venues stretched to the limit. Supply chain issues are wreaking havoc on events from all sides. Commercial return
We have to demonstrate the art of the possible
considerations thanks in part to rising energy bills are pushing prices up at venues. Taken as a whole, these issues are impacting outcomes versus expectations. Some corporate event planners have returned with the same expectations as they had pre-pandemic. That’s all well and good; however, the landscape has changed. It’s clear that for many, what was
possible on one budget in 2019 is not possible on the same budget in 2022. We’re
living in a different events world. Therefore it is going to be down to the agency or venue to take on the
22 SPRING/SUMMER 2022 mitmagazine.co.uk
THE MEET INGS SHOW PREVI EW
Ten out of ten The Meetings Show is celebrating its landmark 10th edition on 29-30 June 2022 at ExCeL London. If you’ve yet to sign up, here are 10 good reasons to be there
1 All-in-one solution With business booming but resources still stretched post-pandemic, attendingThe Meetings Show saves time and streamlines the planning process by providing all your event solutions in one place. Go around the world, connect with hundreds of suppliers, and stay on top of all the latest trends in just two days. 2 Broad range of exhibitors International exhibitors include Visit Denmark and Korea MICE Bureau alongside newcomers Zimbabwe National Conventions Bureau. All four corners of the UK will be represented including Visit Belfast, London Convention Bureau and Visit Scotland, alongside a range of hotels and venues such as Hilton, Melia, IHG and Barcelo. 3 Hotbed for tech innovation This year’s show will be a hotbed for the latest innovations with well‐known technology suppliers such as Shocklogic and Cvent exhibiting. Buyers looking for the most innovative event tech will also be able to meet with up‐and‐coming tech companies, who are being given the opportunity to exhibit through the brand new TMS Introducing scheme.
4 Unmissable keynote Olympic gold medallist and World Athletics president Sebastian Coe is headlining the show in 2022; the year that marks not only the 10th edition of The Meetings Show, but also the 10‐year anniversary of the 2012 Games. Lord Coe will take to the stage at 10am on Wednesday 29 June to share insights learned from organising London 2012. 5 Top notch education The programme features hours of thought‐provoking content for those hungry to learn and adapt to the new normal. Dynamic and informative sessions will cover the latest trends and burning issues including sustainability, building and fostering communities, events of the future and mental health. 6 Hosted buyer heaven The show’s hosted buyer programme helps busy events professionals maximise their time by giving them fast‐track access to the most relevant suppliers, education and networking opportunities. Hosted buyers enjoy a dedicated appointments diary to book pre‐scheduled meetings and are supported with travel, accommodation and a host of other benefits.
7 Sustainability spotlight FollowingThe Meetings Show’s pledge to reach Net Zero by 2050 and cut carbon emissions by 50 per cent by 2030, sustainability will be at the heart of this year’s show. Working with strategic partner isla, the show will measure and track emissions this year, and is committed to educating events professionals around sustainability through content sessions on the topic as well as its Complete Sustainable Events Course. 8 Community connections There is no better place to immerse yourself in the events, meetings and incentives community and reconnect in person thanThe Meetings Show. As well as catching up with your existing contacts, the show offers plenty of opportunities to meet new faces and grow your network. 9 Get social As always, there will be plentiful opportunities to socialise with industry peers and friends. In addition to the official Welcome Reception on Tuesday 28 June, there will be countless networking events taking place throughout the show and London, from on‐stand drinks to after‐show parties. 10 Don’t just take our word for i t 2021 hosted buyer Karyn Dickie, event consultant at Clarity Travel, said: “There were lots of interesting suppliers to catch up with, but the highlight was the speakers who were outstanding.” Johnny D. Martinez of Shocklogic said the show exceeded his expectations: “We
Tourism minister Nigel Huddleston opens The Meetings Show 2021
met a lot of new people and made 70‐80 leads.” To register, visit: www. themeetingsshow. com/register
mitmagazine.co.uk SPRING/SUMMER 2022 23
Why are we waiting? Dle Prmenter, CEO of DRPG, ss wh the sector s wtn untl 2050 to o net zero
24 / 2022 mitmagazine.co.uk
I was in Glasgow at COP26 at the launch of the Net Zero Carbon Events pledge. ey announced the commitment to achieve net zero by 2050 and I thought, I’ve got to say something. So I asked, why is it going to take so long? Surely we can do things faster than that? e reply was that whereas some countries are advanced, there are other countries that haven’t even got going. But I still feel that 2050 is a long way o and if there was enough passion across the globe, our industry could change things. We’re used to doing the impossible. So why can’t we make this happen? I just don’t see what the problem is. At DRPG, we’ve committed to achieve net zero by 2025. We’ve been working on this journey for 15 years working with SamWilson of Syntiro. We’ve done a tremendous amount around waste to land ll and power. Our building is powered by solar panels. We achieved internal zero waste to land ll last year. Looking at materials, we are repurposing and reusing rather than just recycling. Single-use plastics do not cross the threshold. We respectfully ask our clients not to turn up with a bottle of water. Two years ago, I wouldn’t even have attempted to do it. Now clients actually say sorry, they’re apologetic. Currently we’re looking at wood. It gets to a point where stage sets or exhibition stands can’t be reused anymore, and it gets broken down. So we’re looking at whether it
and they say it’s too expensive. ere is no choice anymore. So now we ask, what are the opportunities for making this event more sustainable? No business is 100 per cent focused on sustainability. If clients aren’t necessarily thinking about sustainability in the right way, particularly around events, I see it as our role then to educate them and change their mindset. ere’s a triple bottom line of people, planet and pro t. It’s like a milking stool. It’s got three legs, and if one of those legs is a little bit rickety, then it won’t stand up straight. If one of those legs doesn’t exist, it will fall over. If we’re not making a pro t, we’re not going to be able to look a er people or the planet. But similarly, if we don’t look a er people, we’re not going to get the pro t. e biggest challenge in getting to net
Dale Parmenter, CEO of DRPG
our teams to think creatively. Litter bins outside exhibition halls are always full of carrier bags. Why aren’t we using more sustainably sourced, more socially driven giveaways? If you want to do giveaways then absolutely do it. But let’s look at di erent ways of doing that. Sustainability has gone from tree hugging to hard facts and data. Once it was all airy fairy and a bit fuzzy, now it’s all about measurement. If a team has an idea to do something, that’s the rst thing we throw back at them - how do you measure it? We
can be shredded and used in our biomass boilers to heat the warehouse. We’re looking constantly at di erent ways. We’ve got 40 apple trees, we had our rst harvest last year and that fed into the canteen, where they made apple pies and people could grab apples. We have a sustainability day in January as a kicko to
It’s critical for agencies and clients towork together on this - we’ve got to pool our expertise
need to evidence everything that we do. Absolutely everything. Every single one of our
zero has got to be travel. e stu around waste or power consumption is pretty much solvable. But if we want to y 5,000 people into London, that’s going to be an issue. Hybrid is a way of mitigating some of that and we have certainly got clients going that way. But there will still be a need to get people together. We really need to be talking to airlines. Obviously, the airlines are working towards lower impact solutions. I hope we’re going to start to see alternative fuels. I think we’ve got to work with the aviation industry. How can we make this better? It annoys me that it’s going to take years to do it. Do it now immediately, no question, no discussion, just get on with it!
clients will have a sustainability policy. When I talk to clients, their sustainability department policy covers them for what they manufacture - it doesn’t cover them for running events. is is where agencies can step up and ll that gap. We see ourselves now as the consultant to the client, because they’re not going to get it internally. It’s critical for agencies and clients to work together on this. We’ve got to pool our expertise. Gone are the days where we ask clients if they want to do sustainability
the year. We challenge every team to come up with one objective for the year. It can be incredibly simple. e target for our tech team is to reduce ga er tape by 50 per cent. Do we really need to wrap up cables with ga er tape, can we use reusables? We ask
mitmagazine.co.uk / 2022 25
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