Have you ever thought of trying to get those creative juices flowing at 443 feet? The London Marriott County Hall has and now it’s offering an exclusive package for its corporate clients. I was invited to the launch of the Perfect Meeting last night, which included a preview of the activities available on the iconic London Eye (pictured). The hotel…
read moreHeythrop Park in Oxfordshire was the backdrop for this year’s EXECSec Summit, when around 70 delegates gathered to meet with suppliers and network with their peers. PA Life Editor Colette Doyle finds out how they got on Trade shows have their place, but we all know the frustration of schlepping wearily round a hall for hours on end, desperately trying…
read moreOrganising events takes up one day a week of the average PA’s time. The events in question could be anything from a training session, company away day, conference or other off-site meeting. This is one of the principal findings of an in-depth survey of a broad cross-section of the PA community conducted by PA Life in partnership with events agency…
read moreThere’s nothing better than a great pair of jeans – other than the opportunity to show them off, of course. Most of my fellow PAs will be familiar with Jeans for Genes Day, the annual event that raises vital funds to help children born with genetic disorders. Last night was the launch party and yours truly was invited to attend,…
read moreYou’ll no doubt have noticed by now that I love food. More importantly, I’m a big fan of international cuisine, so when I was invited to sample some delicious canapés at the Taste Portugal launch party at Notting Hill Kitchen, it was obviously an essential event for this self-proclaimed foodie. I had never been to the Notting Hill Kitchen before,…
read moreIt’s hard to believe it’s already mid-August. This summer has flown by and I haven’t been to nearly enough outdoor events. Luckily I tagged along to the Brewery’s secret garden party and got some fresh air after being cooped up in the office for weeks. I’ve heard the venue’s name mentioned at networking events and have always wanted to visit,…
read moreMr P has always been a fan of treating his clients to corporate hospitality at sporting events. That’s lucky for me because it means I get to try out the menus on offer before he does. My most recent tasting session was at Stamford Bridge, home of Chelsea Football Club. One of the best things about the venue’s hospitality options…
read moreWith warmer weather on the way, this is the perfect time to start planning your summer events. There is a huge amount of choice across the UK, so PA Life has selected a few options to give you a taste of what’s on offer Birmingham Botanical Gardens (pictured) birminghambotanicalgardens.org.uk/venue Type of outdoor space: The grounds provide an outdoor terrace,…
read moreAll of this lovely weather has been perfect for summer parties and there’s one in particular I’m glad I went to. The Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre is closing down for six weeks for refurbishment and it threw one last soirée on the green space in front of the impressive building. I was greeted by that staple of summer dos,…
read morePhew, trade shows are hectic occasions! Not only did I run myself ragged going round the stands at the Meetings Show at Olympia, but I had my hands full in the evenings too. First off, it was time for some Caribbean flavour as I headed to the Jamaican High Commission in Kensington Gore to sample spicy jerk chicken (cooked the…
read moreWhat’s in a name? Well, when it’s the Bingham hotel and restaurant, you get a rich history of nobility and culture, as the Richmond property was once the home of Lady Ann Bingham and later the poets Katherine Bradley and Edith Cooper. I was invited to the venue’s 30th anniversary party and I’m glad I made the time to go.…
read moreSourcing a venue for corporate events isn’t always an easy task, but academic institutions offer a low-cost alternative to hotels and conference centres. PA Life takes a look at the huge selection available across the UK. University of Bristol (pictured): bristol.ac.uk/conferences-hospitality/conferences/; Number of meeting spaces: The campus provides numerous spaces across a wide variety of buildings; Maximum capacity: 800; Number…
read moreWith a record hot summer forecast for the British capital, an increasing number of companies are choosing to hold their event outdoors this season. Event management agency Office Summer has noted a 15% rise in summer party enquiries for the London area so far this year. “Summer is the time for team-building and refreshing your employees for autumn campaigns… companies…
read moreStanbrook Abbey in Worcester was the home of a group of Benedictine nuns until 2009, when they moved to North Yorkshire in favour of a more eco-friendly building, writes Molly Dyson. Their relocation has benefited the events sector, as the property was purchased by Amazing Venues and turned into a truly unique setting for meetings and conferences. I’m treated to…
read moreAs most of you well know, finding a venue in a city that’s nowhere near your office can be a challenging task, to say the least. That’s why I felt it was vital to attend the PA Life networking event at Stanbrook Abbey in Worcestershire. Well, that and the fact that the pictures of the property are so inspiring I…
read moreEvery now and then you come across a restaurant that has a truly unique idea behind it. The Jones Family Project is my latest discovery; I was so blown away by the food at the tasting event I attended the other night that all I could say was “wow”. The restaurant is convenient for City companies such as mine and…
read moreParticipants at this year’s two-day EXECSec Summit have spoken to media partner PA Life about how useful they found the event. Mandy Brown from DHL International describes the set-up of pre-arranged appointments with suppliers as “much better [than the traditional trade show approach], as you’re not just milling around. “It also avoids getting into an awkward conversation with anyone, when…
read moreThe 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 it’s a day out of the office well spent. It’s an age-old scenario: you’ve got a big London event to plan, but you don’t have time to source a venue…
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