In the build up to the UK Venue Show, 1st – 2nd February 2012, the show’s organisers have conducted interviews with senior operators at key
London exhibiting venues about the outlook for the event and meeting sector for the year ahead. Feedback revealed heightened competition for
business next year with venues prepared to fight their own corner in a year which is set to put the UK in the global spotlight.
Robin Parker, general manager at Church House Conference Centre said, “There are potentially many opportunities for 2012, but the fact that
some buyers are leaving it so late would suggest that they are going to be looking for value, and will not accept inflated rates.”
Kevin Leaver, head of events at Millbrook Events observed, “Conferences
and events are being moved into the early part of the year, away from
June & July and those that would have taken place in London during the
summer months are looking for alternative venues due to lack of
availability and accommodation and accessibility concerns caused by the
2012 Games.”
Lisa Hatswell, general manager at Unique Venues of London said, “Each
year UVL carries out a survey of all its members. The latest survey has
shown that the number of events is increasing, alongside an increase in
direct bookings. We know that many of our venues have been booked for
various Country Houses, by official Olympic Games sponsors, and as
individual hospitality or entertaining spaces for other business.”
Wendy Greenhalgh, director of sales and marketing at One Great George
Street commented, “There are many great last minute, unexpected and ‘one
off’ opportunities to play host to product launches, hospitality events
and high profile meetings, events and press conferences in the first
half of the year until the full extent of transport disruption can be
seen and felt. The challenge will be quoting the right price to get the
business, coping with transport disruption, recovering and activity to
gain business in the post-Olympic Games period.”
UK Venue Show, exhibition director Tanya Cohen commented, “The first
half of the year will revolve around the Olympics, particularly in
London but also across the country. Moreover, the Farnborough
International Air Show and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations will
propel a further increase in business. The challenge for the venues will
be to get the balance right between price and offering and when the
Games are over to work closely with new and existing clients to get them
through the new year. The show is designed to be the business platform
to meet all those important contacts. The tight focus of the event will
give exhibitors the first opportunity in the exhibition industry
calendar to meet key decision makers which will give the venues the
first stab at securing business for the year ahead”.
The UK Venue Show will kick off 2012’s season for the event market and
will run in tandem with its respected sister exhibition the Event
Production Show. Key buyers signed up to be at the show include Morgan
Stanley, Network Rail, Zibrant, Ticketmaster, Met Police, Oxfam, Rouge
Events, AEG Live, RPM Ltd, Jack Morton Worldwide, BBC Sport, L’Oreal UK
– their collective buying power and their decision making ability assure
that all exhibitors are set to gain during the two day event.
