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Chairman's Christmas Blog

2011 draws to a close. What a year it has been for Eventia. Throughout 2011 we have concentrated on delivering value to members and on promoting our industry by doing fewer things better. More specifically we have:

• Recruited 40 new members
• Launched and staged the Eventia Awards ourselves for the first time with over 700 guests and raising £10,000 for charity
• Held 6 board meetings to plan and drive Eventia’s work
• Represented Eventia at industry meetings for BVEP
• Represented our industry at UK and international events: International Confex, IMEX and the Event Organisers Summit
• Exhibited at 2 major trade shows to get our message out there
• Organised a successful Summer Eventia in Cardiff for almost 200 delegates
• Conducted and released the UKEMTS 11 research piece which has been on-going for 17 years providing the industry with volume, value and key trends data from a venue perspective
• Circulated 6 e-newsletters full of information for our members and about our members and the wider industry
• Sent out 45 e-blasts for Eventia and 7 e-blasts on behalf of industry partners
• Circulated 28 press releases to keep our trade press informed
• Achieved 84 editorial pieces in the trade press
• Registered 185 Google alerts
• Worked successfully with 4 leading industry organisations,  HBAA, IVCA, ITM and BVEP
• Received over 60,000 visits to the website from 35,241 unique visitors
• Held successful and engaging Winter and Summer networking events at Abbey Road Studios (a first!) and RCOG, London
• Run regular member inductions for Eventia newcomers
• Organised and lead the 2^nd Senior Advisory Council forum bringing over 40 leading industry heads together to discuss the state of the industry
• Attracted a record number of candidates for the Eventia Board Elections in June
• Sent 394 tweets and achieved 3,295 followers
• Issued 2 sets of guidelines on the Bribery Act and kept members updated on current regulatory issues including TOMs and ATOL reforms  

All of this was delivered by the Eventia team: Tracy Johnson, Marketing Services Director, Sarah Malkin, Communications Manager, Harpreet Tumber, Membership and Marketing Services Manager and Lydia Johnson, Marketing Assistant on just 5,290 cups of tea! 

I took over the Chairman’s role from Mark Saxby mid-year with the association in very good shape indeed.  I was delighted to welcome a number of new faces to the Eventia Board after the most hotly-contested Eventia elections ever. 

Our new Board has settled down well and I feel very excited about the work we plan to undertake as we move into 2012.  I want to flag up and applaud the hard work, time and energy which all of my fellow Board members have given – all free of charge - to Eventia. 

The last few years have been tough for our industry and the indicators for the immediate future are not as positive as we would ideally like.   But we are where we are.  Eventia cannot be a ‘fair weather only’ association.   In fact, when times are tougher, the more critical the role of an association becomes. 

Let me leave you with three Christmas wishes:

Firstly, that you feel Eventia has played its part for you and your industry through 2011.

Secondly, that you will continue to give feedback to the Board and management team at Eventia - Eventia only exists because of and for its members.

Thirdly, that you, your colleagues and families have a wonderful, well-earned Christmas and New Year break!

Rob
Chairman