The London Venues Summit is the ideal way for PAs and event planners to source new suppliers. With a schedule of dedicated meetings and educational seminars, Molly Dyson explains why itโs a day out of the office well spent. Itโs an age-old scenario: youโve got a big London event to plan, but you donโt have time to source a venue between all the other work you need to do. The question to ask yourself is whether youโre willing to spend every spare moment trawling the internet.
Rather than go through the hassle of a drawn-out search, take a day out of the office to visit the London Venues Summit taking place at The Hurlingham Club in Fulham on 4 June. Youโll get the chance to sit down with the suppliers of your choice, ensuring you walk away with exactly the information you need and want.
Attendance is free for qualified delegates, making it an ideal way for senior PAs to source new venues. Plus, Youโll also be given a schedule of dedicated meetings entitling you to up to 20 minutes to ask all the questions you have without the hard sell you can often encounter at a trade show. In order to give each event planner the chance to sit down with their choice of suppliers, space is limited to 75 delegates, so early registration is advisable. In addition to the meetings, youโll have the opportunity to network with other PAs during lunch and at the exclusive post-event drinks, giving you the chance to pick up tips and leads throughout the day.
The summit also features a comprehensive seminar programme. This yearโs line up includes an opening presentation by Tracy Halliwell, Director of Business Tourism and Major Events at London & Partners, on whether the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games have changed the capitalโs approach to event planning. Nick Morgan from Big Cat Group will teach PAs how to measure return on investment for events. Lee Callender from Mail Magic will be talking about using email and social media marketing to attract delegates. Meanwhile, Malcolm Godfrey from the Avenue House Estate Trust will break down contracts and their terms and conditions.
Delegates and suppliers alike have given plenty of positive feedback on last yearโs event, providing testimony to the effectiveness of the set-up. A PA from the Britain-Australia Society said: โI liked the format and I had useful, friendly meetings. There were sufficient breaks in between so I could check my emails and not feel like Iโd taken a whole day out of the office.โ
An attendee from the Chartered Insurance Institute also found the day helpful, saying it was a โgreat balance of seminars and supplier meetingsโ. Meanwhile, a delegate from Designerโs Eye felt that it was โa relaxed way to meet suppliers, unlike other โspeed-networkโ services where I have to do all the running aroundโ.
Adding to the list of satisfied event planners is one from EMAP, who thought the summit was โreally worthwhileโ and โthe pre-arranged face-to-face meetings were of great valueโ. Commenting on the calibre of suppliers at the show, an assistant from Benefit Cosmetics says: โIโve been introduced to some really useful contacts for future events.โ
Suppliers also found the event ideal for making business connections, as De Vere Venues referred to attendees as โquality buyersโ. Mews of Mayfair, meanwhile, felt the summit was โextremely well organisedโ and โa very productive dayโ. The Science Museum Group revealed it was โpleasantly surprised by the quality of the contacts attendingโ and โhad some positive enquiries and site visitsโ as a result of its meetings at the show.
A delegate from Gafta vouches for the benefits of the summit for PAs, saying: โWhat a great day. Itโs so refreshing to have suppliers come to me for a change rather than spending hours or even days on site visits, or traipsing around exhibitions.โ
Seminar programme
Opening presentation โ Tracy Halliwell, London & Partners
How major events can change a city โ perception and reality
Tracy talks about whether London has captured a legacy for the future following the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. She details how the city has changed in its approach to event planning and why organisers should now consider the capital.
Seminar one โ Nick Morgan, Big Cat Group
Event ROI: Not everything you can count is worth counting
Running a successful event doesnโt stop when the last person leaves. Nick Morgan explains how to measure return on investment and takes a look at some of the trends in the industry, teaching organisers all the right steps to get the best result.
Seminar two โ Lee Callender, Mail Magic
Selling events using email marketing and social media: The five essential rules
Booking a venue and planning your event is only the first step. Lee teaches you how to encourage people to attend using email campaigns. He also details the five simple rules for using Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn to encourage interaction with delegates.
Seminar three โ Malcolm Godfrey, Avenue House Estate Trust
Itโs all in the small print
One of the biggest challenges faced by event planners is deciphering contracts. Malcolm gives an overview of terms and conditions, shedding light on terminology and looking at best practice to ensure both parties are protected and can maintain a reasonable working relationship.
Welcome to the Hurlingham Club
The location for this yearโs London Venues Summit is The Hurlingham Club in Fulham. Set in 42 acres on the border of the Thames, the property combines elegance with state-of-the-art event facilities. As well as being a private membersโ club, it is available for all manner of corporate bookings.
The club offers delegates the chance to escape the hustle and bustle of city centre meetings, as the property is surrounded by landscaped gardens and features complimentary parking, as well as a helipad available on request. Plus, public transport links are located nearby, making it the ideal venue for business people coming from both near and far.
The elegant Georgian country house features a 1,500sq m function room available for up to 1,200 delegates for receptions. The space can also be subdivided into nine smaller areas using soundproof partition walls for intimate meetings of up to 30.
An on-site events team is on hand to help organisers every step of the way and to tailor the room to your requirements. There is also equipment hire and high-speed wifi to help your meeting run smoothly. The venueโs skilled chefs offer a range of dining options, from canapรฉs, mid-morning cakes and fresh pastries to light buffets and full banquets.
Delegates are also invited to take a break from their busy working day to make the most of the venueโs grounds with its corporate teambuilding activities. These can be booked separately or in conjunction with a meeting, and sports on offer include tennis, cricket and croquet.
Essential details
London Venues Summit 2014
Date: 4 June
Venue: The Hurlingham Club, London SW6 3PR
Registration opens 8am; opening presentation at 9am
Face-to-face client meetings: 10am-5.30pm
Networking buffet lunch: 12.45pm-2.15pm
Exclusive networking post-event drinks: 5.30pm-7.30pm
For more information, visit forumevents.co.uk, email Laura Spratt at l.spratt@forumevents.co.uk, or call 01992 374053.
