Take a peek inside what’s going on at the major hospitality and events expos coming up!
International Confex | ExCel London |1st to 2nd September 2021
Back for its 38th year, International Confex is full of promise Attendees will hear from teams and individuals from some of the largest events on the planet, discussing how they have adapted their businesses to survive and even thrive in the pandemic and its aftermath. Talks will be co-moderated by Juliet Tripp, Deputy Head of Events at Chemical Watch and Board Director of the Female Hospitality Network, as well as Martin Fullard, Editorial Director of show host Mash Media.
Talks will examine key issues such as racial diversity in the events sector, as well as debating the gender pay gap, equal opportunities, mental health, sustainability, and event security. In addition to these key issues, the question of the treatment of the events industry throughout the pandemic will be raised, asking ‘how could an £84 billion industry be overlooked?’ and who exactly influences the future of the industry.
International-confex.com
Conference and Hospitality Show Birmingham | The International Convention Centre | 26th October 2021
CHS Birmingham is back with a new date and a new venue. While Leeds has always been the home of CHS, due to its massive success, the group has chosen to host a second show in Birmingham this year. The exhibition will include over 200 exhibitors, including Drayton Manor Hotel and Park, Grand Hotel Birmingham, and Millennium Point. The event attracts exhibitors from across the UK, made up of venues, hotels, and suppliers of meeting products and services, and will also include educational sessions and networking events.
“CHS Group deliver buyers of high quality and in significant numbers to each of its events,” says Paul Kennedy MBE, Chair of the CHS Group Advisory Board and Director of Kennedy Solutions: “But more than that, the CHS team keep in all-year contact with its exhibitor clients, ensuring that we understand what the exhibitors are looking for. It’s exciting that CHS has chosen Birmingham as the long-term home of its next event. Birmingham has a large buyer and large exhibitor community and is a fantastic strategic location in the UK.”
Chsbirmingham.com
Event Organisers Summit | De Vere Cotswold Water Park | 18th to 19th October 2021
The Event Organisers Summit will this year be a hybrid event based in De Vere Cotswold Water Park, a hotel of clean and modern design, hidden in the heart of the 152 lakes spread across the area.
The summit allows delegates to meet one-on-one with a range of events industry professionals that are relevant to their business. Meetings will be pre-arranged as part of an itinerary created based on an online pre-event selection process which delegates will undergo. During this, delegates will be able to select seminars, shortlist and prioritise suppliers they would like to meet, and arrange accessibility needs. The summit will also provide the opportunity to network with peers, attend topical seminars, and keep informed about industry knowledge and trends. There will be networking breaks throughout the day as well as a networking dinner and pre-dinner drinks. Attendance at the event is free, and includes the itinerary of meetings and seminars, overnight accommodation, and all meals and refreshments, including dinner and entertainment.
Virtual attendees will also have access to prearranged one to-one meetings with suppliers and other delegates, as well as access to complimentary webinars hosted by prominent industry professionals, and access to all presentation materials.
Eventorganiserssummit.co.uk
Leisure Food & Beverage Expo 2021 | Birmingham NEC | 10th to 11th November 2021
Leisure F&B Expo in November looks set to provide events professionals with a wealth of opportunities to make connections and explore options in the catering side of the industry. The exhibition will include keynote speakers such as Julia Kessler of soft drinks distributer Nix and Kix Ltd, who will discuss how to sell during uncertain times. Also speaking will be Jonathan Butler of Outsourced Consultancy discussing his strategy for success within the hospitality industry which will include how to grow your business within 90 days. The exhibition will also include more than 50 seminars on subjects such as removing paper and plastic waste from your business and food diversity.
Leisure F&B Expo will also include its annual awards ceremony where delegates can discover and celebrate the latest trends and innovations hitting the industry. Awards will include Innovation Design of the Year which will celebrate the temporary accommodation structural designs which are transforming the industry following the UK staycation boom. A sustainability award will also take centre stage to celebrate those who keep the welfare of the environment at the heart of their business.
Leisurefb.co.uk
Hospitality Tech & Innovation Forum | Hilton, Canary Wharf | 27th January 2022
This forum is a little further in the future but looks to be a good starting point to explore the expansion of technology in the events industry. Much like the Event Organisers Summit, this forum is a hybrid event, which will heavily feature pre-booked meetings between suppliers and delegates, with a guarantee that the meetings will involve no hard selling from the suppliers’ end. The forum will also include a tailored programme of seminars hosted by prominent industry professionals, and complimentary refreshments throughout. Virtual delegates will have access to arranged one-to-one meetings, webinars, and all presentation materials.
Speakers will include Jane Pendlebury, Chief Executive at the Hospitality Professionals Association who will discuss the acceleration of technology adoption in the industry during the pandemic. Jane will share some stats gathered from the delegates at the organisation’s annual conference, HOSPACE 2020, on their adoption of technology during the pandemic and will cover some of the innovative ideas that saw a sudden increase in popularity due to the demands of COVID-19 restrictions.
Panos Voulgaris, Creative Director and Partner at Malvi will also speak about using virtual reality to enhance delegates’ experiences. Panos will cover what virtual reality is about and how it has transformed different industries, virtual reality used as a marketing and storytelling tool, and personalised as opposed to unified experiences.
Htiforum.co.uk
EVENTIT 2021 | Edinburgh International Conference Centre | 10th September 2021
The Scottish Events Show is back and will take place in person this September. The show offers events organisers and suppliers the perfect opportunity to meet face-to-face with each other, find out what developments have taken place during lockdown, and make plans for the future. The exhibition will feature over 400 exhibitors, including Crowne Plaza hotels, Event Industry News, LNER, and Holiday Inn. The show will be a key networking event for up-and-coming event professionals, connecting event planners and suppliers from Scotland, the UK, and beyond, and giving delegates the opportunity to renew old acquaintances, make new contacts, and create virtual and face-to-face business development opportunities.
EVENTIT 2021 will also offer over 40 learning opportunities in a combination of face-to-face, recorded, and virtual panels and masterclasses. These experiences will use the latest technology, innovative theming, and even culinary magic, and will hear from industry experts and event leaders. Exact details on speakers are yet to be announced.
Eventit.org.uk
