London conference report
Keynote speaker Brigid Simmonds, OBE, chair of the UK Betting and Gaming Council
IMGL autumn conference was a credit to London There may have been an unprecedented inflow of visitors but the IMGL autumn conference went ahead in some style as Phil Savage reports. U nprecedented is a word that IMGL President Marc Ellinger has heard too much of when it comes to IMGL conferences under his tenure. For his first
standard of hospitality at London’s Landmark Hotel and with events at the Arts Club, Les Ambassadeurs Club, Flight Club (for the young lawyers networking event) and Home House, we hardly missed the fact that Kensington Palace, venue for the Gala Dinner, was not available. As ever, the standard of networking was second to none, offering the chance to catch up with old friends and make new ones in stylish surroundings. The social highlight of the event was undoubtedly the Gala Dinner and we were grateful to the Landmark for agreeing to accommodate us at very short notice. A crowd of 180+ diners enjoyed some excellent food and wine and the opportunity to here Marc pay tribute to those who he had relied upon throughout his time as IMGL President. Aside from the touristic and networking benefits, an outstanding education programme with some excellent speakers and panellists was at the centre of the conference. It had been widely expected that the UK government’s review
conference it was an unprecedented lockdown as a result of COVID-19 and for his last event it was an unprecedented inflow of visitors to London following the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth. It was a source of great relief that the second of these unprecedented events caused rather less disruption than the first. Thus, the IMGL Autumn Conference London 2022 was able to proceed almost exactly as planned, and it was a memorable few days for all manner of reasons. It was certainly a unique time to be in London and those who took time out to visit the Westminster area to pay their respects, view the myriad floral tributes or see the crowds queuing will have a personal experience they will treasure. For those who avoided the crowds there was a still a great deal to enjoy. We were treated to an exceptional
IMGL Magazine • November 2022 • 7
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