news

October 2008

Welcome to the October issue of the newsletter.

Well folks that was summer, we have had it and now as we move swiftly into Autumn we pack away our bikini’s and sarongs for another year. We embrace our tweed jackets and swathes of cashmere scarves to protect us from the distinct chill in the air and prepare us for the bitterly cold months ahead. If you listened to Roger Martin-Fagg’s predictions at our recent Summer Eventia you perhaps would have been forewarned that the credit crunch would fast become a full blown recession and despite all the schemes the government might be trying to put in place to assist, it would seem we are all in for a rocky road over the next 12-18months.

However, there is some good news, events are still the best and most effective form of marketing alongside digital, and if you look hard enough and work smart enough there is still business taking place and events to be won. Now is the time to be even more creative with our clients, finding them solutions and proving our worth as an industry. It is the time to invest in our resource, to retain the best people as well as attract the best new talent from the competition. Keep investing in your brands, maintain your profile and service offering and you will reap the rewards at the other end. Yes trimming costs is definitely on the cards but being smart about how and where to invest in our businesses is now even more critical than ever. As I said to my bank manager, my investments in Prada, Gucci, D&G and Manolo Blahnik have all paid off as my investments remain safely in my wardrobe rather than lost at the hands of Icelandic bankers. So I will continue with my strategy, if I can wear it I buy it!

All joking aside, gaining good ideas is always of great importance and the recent, and first ever, ‘Event UK’ took place during National Meetings week in September and congratulations to the show’s organiser Duncan Reid and Kate Disley the Marketing manager who have successfully moved Event UK away from its previous incarnation as the National Venue Show. The rebranded show had more regional focus and provided event organisers with a huge choice of venues and suppliers. Changes to the show included making it a two day event, introducing a new identity and new features like ‘the next big thing’ a great example of using digital and live to create a brand experience. This ‘X Factor’ style competition was launched online, and drew over 200 contestants who posted performances on the site, which were voted on and short listed to appear at the show in front of a live audience. The 10 finalists were voted on by a panel of judges and the audience, using interactive technology. The panel of judges including myself, the infamous Mike Fletcher, Matt Storey of Gallowglass and Adam Sternberg of Sternberg Clarke were hand-picked from the Eventia network to judge, provide critique and unveil the performance which we believed to be ‘the next big thing’. The winners rock/funk band ‘The Red Bullets’ won a contract with Sternberg Clark, a leading entertainment agency and £1,000 cash. They are rumored to be appearing at a high profile industry event coming up so watch out for them. ‘The next big thing’ provided a great brand experience for Event UK and one that sets them apart from other trade shows, as an innovator and thought leader.

Eventia was represented on the BACD Pavilion at the show as part of the ongoing merger process which will see Eventia and BACD become one in the new year.

National Meetings Week has become a truly inclusive event with widespread support. This year many events took place across the UK to mark the week, from networking and education events to news announcements and features raising the profile of the meetings and events industry. This year Eventia were involved with a number of these events. As well as Event UK and the Next Big Thing was a seminar on BS8901 – what, how and why? hosted by M&IT and a Visit London Networking Night at The Movieum of London which was a perfect opportunity to meet and network with Visit London partners, industry stakeholders and members of Eventia.

My only bug-bear with National Meetings Week is the name, I mean come on guys, we have long moved on from calling what we do as ‘meetings’ or ‘MICE’ that other hideous term that suppliers just seem to constantly use and which Event professionals abhor! These are such limiting terms, surely we are comfortable that we are now in the much wider arena of ‘Events’ and I know the argument that a few people keep putting forward about the corporate and general public understanding what a meeting is, but not quite grasping what an Event is – well I think that is an old and outdated argument and quite frankly when I speak with corporates and the general public they all seem to understand the word ‘Events’ and for those that don’t, surely it’s our job to communicate it to them and educate them on what we do. If we can’t get our terms right then how can we expect the outside world to understand us?!

Okay rant over and moving on to highlight some of the many events we have coming up over the next few months, not least of which are our Eventia UK Awards in association with Event. This is set to be the celebration of the year so don’t miss out, 21st November at ‘The Troxy’ all booking details are online here.

Our training calendar is full with a fabulous sales and motivation course on 24th November with international author and renowned trainer Mary Sharp. Events in Action our one day training for newcomers to the industry is being held on 28th October and finally a one day seminar on Risk Assessment is on 28th November. In addition to this we are running a, free, members only breakfast event on sustainability and demystifying BS8901. So lot’s for you to choose from and for the very first time we are supporting the Confex After Hours/Visit London ‘White Christmas’ party on 13th November, tickets are free to event organizers and suppliers get a discounted £20 rate for members. It will be a fab night so hope to see you there or at one of our upcoming educational events.

And just remember, if you don’t like my investment strategy of buying luxury brands you could always adopt the mattress investment idea instead!!

Best of luck in the days ahead and I hope to see you at one of our events soon,

Yours,

Izania