COVID-19 SMART tests (Systematic Meaningful Asymptomatic Repeated Testing) were successfully used at the Livercool Conference 2020 for the first time. After mass testing of 90,000 Liverpool residents in early November, Liverpool City Council partnered with venue ACC Liverpool and Downtown in Business on the approach. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…
Ten well-known UK exhibition organisers have been describing their thought processes and plans for 2021. Several talked about how their teams had risen to the multiple challenges of keeping the lights on and their businesses ticking over. There was also real consensus of opinion about key learnings and outlook going forward. From Exhibition News…
Gateshead Council’s planning committee has approved the development of a £260 million regeneration scheme which will create around 2,000 jobs in the North East of England region, and give a £60 million boost to the local economy each year. A conference and exhibition centre is part of the Gateshead Quays scheme. From Conference News…
A vaccine that may stop over ninety percent of people from contracting COVID-19 could mean the return of in-person conferences and events sooner than most had anticipated. Early analysis shows the vaccine is effective and safe, and Pfizer and BioNTech will request emergency approval within this month. From Association Meetings International…
The owner of one of the UK’s largest convention centres is set to make 450 redundancies after reporting “almost zero revenues” due to the coronavirus pandemic. NEC Group, which owns ICC Birmingham and other venues including the National Exhibition Centre, is planning to cut its workforce by 55 percent. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…
Once the supply of event food was determined by the consumer. If a planner asked to have strawberries over winter or New Zealand lamb in Scotland, their whims were granted. Now more event venues around the world are implementing sustainable practices. Here’s a special report on those taking sustainability seriously. From Association Meetings International…
The UK Space Agency is supporting a new exhibition and conference to drive growth throughout the UK’s space sector. Space-Comm Expo will take place from in May 2021 at Farnborough International Exhibition and Conference Centre. It will be a showcase for key technologies and thought leadership in the sector. From Exhibition News…
Without a support package the UK meetings and events industry will enter into free fall. The very stark message from the Association of Event Organisers, Association of Event Venues and Event Supplier and Services Association was in response to the UK government delaying the reopening of business events. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…
Informa has posted pre-tax losses of £739.9 million ($946.9 million) in its financial results for the six months ending June 30th 2020. The group updated actions to ensure stability through into 2021, amid ongoing disruption and the postponements of events extending into the spring. From Exhibition News…
Iceberg partner AIPC has recently published two video perspectives about how business events are now evolving. ICCA President and ExCeL London Executive Director James Rees (pictured) talks to IMEX CEO Carina Bauer. ICCA and IMEX are also Iceberg partners. The second feature is on the Shenzhen World Exhibition and Convention Center. From AIPC…
The first UKickstart event brought together 1,419 event professionals both online and across twelve “in person” venues. It was the first live and virtual national gathering of the sector since lockdown. Illuminate at the Science Museum was one of the venues chosen to host a selection of physical attendees. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…
Jeremy Rees took over as CEO of ExCeL London towards the end of 2018, after joining as Sales Director in 2010. Here he discusses how the venue became an emergency field hospital for COVID-19 patients, the NHS Nightingale London, and is now restored to its original, event-ready state. From Exhibition News…
Manchester’s EventCity conference and exhibition venue has announced its closure and pulled the plans for its new centre. The UK venue had been planning to close and relocate to a new site (pictured). Owners Peel Group however now say EventCity will cease trading completely from March 31st 2021. From Exhibition World…
Collaboration and unity were shining through as 1,419 event professionals, including 305 on site across twelve venues, attended UKickstart. Started by etc.venues and with support from twelve sector associations, the new event for many was a first meeting face-to-face since the crisis began. Photo: Hosted by NML, via Twiitter. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…
The October 1st reopening date for UK business events is to be reviewed following a spike in the pandemic’s infection rate, the Prime Minister has announced. Boris Johnson also said social gatherings with more than six people will be made illegal and are punishable by dispersal, fines and arrest. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…
Olympia London is set to reopen in October, beginning with a series of hybrid events including industry fixture The Meetings Show. After working with organisers and other industry bodies, the facility has set out a robust plan of procedures in alignment with the new All Secure Standard endorsed by Government. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…
The UK Government has made it mandatory to wear masks which cover mouth and nose when inside conference and event venues. The call comes a few weeks after it was announced that England’s exhibition and conference facilities are allowed now to host business meetings and events for up to 30 people. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…
UK eventprofs have drawn attention to the critical state of the industry by lighting venues and other landmarks across the country in red. ICC Wales participated, and in London workers wore red shirts and lined the entire Southbank from Westminster to Tate Modern, all as part of the “Red Alert” #WeMakeEvents campaign. From Exhibition News…
In an effort to kickstart the market, associations and prominent leaders in the sector have joined together to create and support UKickstart Event 2020 in September. The multi-hub free-to-attend live and virtual event is the first big national face-to-face gathering of meeting professionals since lockdown. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…
Venue managers across the UK have welcomed the announcement that business events are to resume this autumn, subject to the successful outcome of pilot events. The ACC Liverpool Group, ExCeL London and the NEC in Birmingham are among those responding. From Association Meetings International…
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said conferences and exhibitions in the country will be permitted from October 1st. The PM announced that the decision would depend on data and that local authorities would have powers to close events if there was a danger to the public. From Meetings & Incentive Travel…
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