May 2012

Among the doom and gloom of the seemingly never ending Eurozone crisis and media puff on the UK double-dip recession, there is good news to be found, and as we at the mia like to be optimistic, I’m avoiding anything that is not. For a start the sun is finally shining, and that’s not insignificant, but even more so is that the long wait for the Olympics is almost over and we can start to enjoy the opportunity to showcase the UK to the world.

As events budgets continue to feel the squeeze in difficult economic times, it comes as no surprise that clients are questioning what they get for their money these days. When it comes to Day Delegate Rates (DDRs), many venues talk about ‘transparent’ pricing and ‘inclusive’ deals, but what is included can often be far from transparent and certainly requires the meetings organiser or PCO to look closely at the list to ensure that they are not comparing apples with pears when it comes to venue selection based on DDRs.

When it comes to events, there’s no denying that 2012 is the UK’s year; events don’t come much bigger than the Olympics and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee is a truly historic occasion that everyone can take part it. It’s a great time to be in the UK meetings and events industry, so let’s tell them what we’re doing.

The latest issue of the quarterly meetings and events trends and status report from the mia, Pathfinder, has been published and is available to mia members. The Pathfinder survey has been revised and updated for 2012 to ensure it remains relevant. There are new questions, a new look and results are presented in a new format.

Warwick Conferences has cause for celebration after all three of its conference and training venues were awarded AIM Gold.  Jane Longhurst, chief executive of the mia said: “AIM is the meeting industry’s national standard and AIM Gold is the highest level a venue can achieve."

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Nominations for the mia-List 2013 are opening in June. Just in case you’ve not heard, the mia-List recognises those hardworking, enthusiastic, inspiring individuals that have such a positive effect on all they do. In 2012, the mia-List was in its second year and was a huge success and the mia-List 2013 will be even bigger!

The Government’s growth strategy for tourism could be put under threat by its own plans according to Tourism Alliance chairman, Brigid Simmonds. Relaying growing concern in the tourism industry that strike action and the cutting of 1,500 frontline immigration officers by 2014/15 could jeopardise the government’s plans to use tourism as part of its strategy to provide growth and employment for the UK economy,
 Simmonds said: “The Government is currently spending over £77m on marketing the UK as a tourism destination overseas with the goal of gaining 5 million additional overseas visitors who will provide an additional £3bn and 20,000 jobs for the UK economy"

After just one year as housekeeping manager, Sandra Dean has scooped a prestigious award for her work at Casa Hotel, Chesterfield.
Sandra, 46, from Chesterfield, has been awarded runner up for the AA Housekeeper of the Year 2012, an amazing accolade as she has only been working in hotels for three years. Sandra became part of the Casa opening team in 2010 and was promoted to housekeeping manager after just one year of service.

As central London’s largest conference venue, this Grade Two listed building enjoys a prime location opposite Westminster Abbey and next to the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben.

Built in 1912, Central Hall Westminster is celebrating its centenary year in 2012 and recently launched a new brand identity and website.

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In this highly competitive market place, it can be difficult to identify where your business growth will come from. Which sectors of the market place have the most potential for you and how successful have you been developing each one? We are starting to see a more positive focus on the wedding market, with more and more venues offering clients a dedicated wedding coordinator to service the wedding enquiries and coordinate the “big day”. Perhaps this is because some confidence is coming back into the market?