Insight: Issue 161 | Wed 15 Nov

November Newsyness

That’s us half way through the greyest month of the year – how does some va va voom in the way of weekly events newsery sound?

This week: ExCeL London unveils sustainability action plan; UK exhibitions drive $11.7bn in trade according to EIA report; “Recovery trends are emerging,” according to the UK’s mia; The O2 Enhances Accessibility Offering vis Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Membership; and the ISE 2024 conference programme is released.

ExCeL London unveils sustainability action plan

Long time advocates of all things Eco, ExCeL London has made public its sustainability strategy, centred around five key pillars: ‘Sustainable Venue & Events,’ ‘People, Culture & Safety,’ ‘Community & Platform for Change,’ ‘Clients, Partners & Supply Chain,’ and ‘Governance & Ethics.’ Developed off the back of it’s 2022 year-end analysis that brought together over 600 stakeholders, the strategy reflects ExCeL’s commitment to addressing stakeholder priorities and bolstering long-term Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) performance.

ExCeL’s Sustainability head honcho Natalie Skyes said :“A sustainable business does not continue to do the same thing time and time again, but continues to evolve. This strategy details our long-term ambitions to transform our venue and the way we work in collaboration with all our stakeholders, which will ultimately benefit both people and the planet.”

UK exhibitions drive $11.7bn in trade according to EIA report

£9.4bn in trade? 6.1 million global visitors? 99, 000 jobs?

Sounds like the workings of the UK’s exhibitions biz.

This fourth edition of the EIA’s Economic Impact Study, initiated by KPMG in 2005 and updated by Oxford Economics, affirms the sector’s long lasting relevance and contribution to the nation’s economy. Last year’s 969 exhibitions, involving 122,500 exhibitors, contributed a tasty £4.6bn to the UK GDP (after factoring in indirect and induced impacts.) And that’s not all – 2022s UK exhibitions made for around £34,000 in direct spending per exhibitor. Not bad, eh?

Chris Skeith, CEO, AEO and EIA director comments: “Pre-pandemic, the industry steered £11 billion of trade into UK business and although we are not quite back at those levels, we are making significant progress. The events industry has proven its resilience and enduring presence, accounting for nearly £5bn of GDP, that’s not far off the 2019 report.”

“Recovery trends are emerging,” according to the UK’s mia

The UK Meetings Industry Association (mia) has shone a light on positive trends in the events sector, citing an increased confidence reflected in rising conversion rates (42% from 34.5%), longer lead times (15.2 weeks from 10.5 weeks), and a 49% upswing in the average value of event enquiries to £30,927. Despite 76% of organisations investing in development, the end of the Energy Relief Bill Scheme has led 48% to up their prices, impacting clients seeking cost-friendly alternatives. Recruitment sees improvement, with 60% of organisations having vacancies (down from 76% in May) and skills shortages decreasing from 47% to 40%. Sustainability remains the focus of attention, with 88% noting increased demand for Eco-conscious practices. The long and short of it – while the sector is on a recovery path, challenges in recruitment and cost management linger.

Kerrin MacPhie, chief executive, the mia, shows optimism: “Longer lead times, higher value enquiries, greater conversion rates and the growing confidence to invest are all positive signs for business meetings and events. Similarly, it’s encouraging to see a much-welcomed trend is emerging with staffing issues, as today’s organisations report less staff shortages, skills shortages and a subsequent reduction in vacancies.”

The O2 Enhances Accessibility Offering vis Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Membership

AEG Europe run O2 Arena, is the first UK arena to join the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower (HDS) initiative, giving visitors to the venue the voluntary opportunity to disclose non-apparent disabilities.

The pioneering initiative waves the flag for inclusivity and understanding for conditions not immediately visible. Levy UK + Ireland and G4S, The O2’s catering and security partners, have also joined up. The venue aims to enhance accessibility through awareness programs and staff training, offering Sunflower lanyards or pins for visitors to signify their hidden disabilities if they choose.

The O2’s Guest Experience head, Jay Bourley, comments: “Ultimately our visitors come here to be entertained, and we want that experience to be as seamless as possible from the minute they walk through the door – the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower is a key component in making that happen, and we look forward to working closely with the team there to ensure we continue evolving our staff training and onsite facilities so that we remain best in class, always.”

ISE 2024 conference programme released

The wait is over. The juicy deets of the ISE 2024 exhibition programme have been released.

Kicking off on Jan 30, the 4 day Barcelona Fira bound event will see everything from Digital Signage to Smart Workplace and Sustainability Workshops on the agenda.

Want to see what’s on the bill?

Tuesday 30 January – Thursday 1 February

Smart Home Technology Conference

Tuesday 30 January

Control Rooms Summit – “Securing The Future”
Smart Building Conference – “Understanding the ROI of Smarter Building”

Wednesday 31 January

Digital Signage Summit – “Beyond Pixels – A holistic view of digital signage”
Content Production & Distribution Summit – “Brands: The New Broadcasters”
Smart Workplace Summit – part 1 – “Tackling the New Challenges”

Thursday 1 Feb

Education Technology Summit – “Educating Humans in a Digital World”
Live Events Summit – “New Solutions to New Challenges”
Smart Workplace Summit – part 2 – “Tackling the New Challenges”

Friday 2 February

Sustainability Workshop

We’ll love ya and leave ya for this week

Catch y’all next week for more!