Executive Director's Blog
Executive Director’s Blog: December 2007
Building on the foundations
It’s hard to believe that Eventia was only created in 2006! From an early ambitious start, the association has strengthened its offering to members in a series of initiatives. Now as we approach the end of the year it is only fitting that we pause and take a moment to reflect on how far we’ve come and some of our achievements to date…..
The second Summer Eventia surpassed even the success of 2006, almost doubling the attendance figures, incorporating the now infamous ‘global consolidation’ keynote address of Roger Tondeur (MCI), topical discussions and interactive workshops led by industry leaders and specialists in their fields. We launched the Eventia One Future programme, Rob Allen of TRO took over as Chairman, we ran 5kms then proceeded to do some ‘interesting team building activities’ during the Summer Workout which kick-started 2 days of networking and sharing of ideas.
Events in Action, the Association’s perennially popular one-day training workshop for industry newcomers, took place in the Spring, Summer and Autumn.
Working with Meetings & Incentive Travel, Eventia produced a Masterclass looking at the new Corporate Manslaughter legislation.
The first ever National Tourism Week in March saw Eventia collaborating with industry partners to raise the profile of the industry to the business community, via a Breakfast Briefing. This highly successful event was repeated as part of October’s National Meetings Week.
Five other events were held to celebrate National Meetings week, making this without doubt the most energetic week in the history of the Association.
On a more social note, Eventia held two networking evenings, at the British Library and the Barbican – each attracting record numbers of guests.
The Association participated at International Confex and IMEX, arranging its first ever hosted buyer’s trip to IMEX in Frankfurt this year, including a breakfast seminar for corporate buyers on the strategic value of events within the Marketing Mix.
Industry collaboration
Eventia is delighted to work with industry partners to achieve common goals. In 2007, we worked with the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS) as well as the HBAA and MPI (UK) to create the CIPS Events Services Guide to assist purchasing professionals in best practice.
We also have worked with fellow members of the Business Tourism Partnership (BTP) to raise awareness in government departments of the value of business tourism to the UK economy. In addition to the two Business Briefing events, representatives from Eventia, the Events Industry Alliance (EIA) and the Meetings Industry Association (MIA) joined Michael Hirst, Chairman of the BTP at a meeting with Margaret Hodge, Minister of Tourism.
A submission made by Eventia to HM Treasury has won an exemption for sales of corporate group travel insurance from the scope of new Financial Services Authority (FSA) Regulations. This will be a key benefit to organisers of overseas conferences and incentive travel programmes.
CSR
In 2007, Eventia has placed CSR issues as a key element of its strategic plan. We formed a Working Party to progress the Association’s plans for a co-ordinated approach to sustainable event management. A group of representatives, from both the agency and supplier sectors, is working on a series of short and medium term goals.
The association formed a partnership with The Carbon Consultancy, to launch Eventia One Future - a carbon reporting, carbon reduction and offset management programme. As part of the programme, a series of seminars have run throughout the year, and agency members are being assisted to produce their own carbon audits and train staff in the creation of more carbon-friendly events.
In September, Eventia partnered Conference & Incentive Travel magazine in its first ever CSR challenge, taking place in South Africa. Organized in association with South African Tourism, a group of ten agency representatives traveled to KwaZulu Natal on a three-day build project arranged for the charity Habitat for Humanity. Donating not only funds but also time and effort this group have helped change the lives of two families in the Mziki Village project – who are now the new recipient of the charity donation from the Eventia International Awards 2008, please give generously on the night so more lives can be changed and improved in this project.
November saw the Eventia UK awards celebrating the best events held in the UK, with a record attendance of over 500 of the industry’s best it was a night to remember, not least of all for our platinum award winners Loadstar Events and our Outstanding Achievement award winner Vanessa Cotton of Excel London. No wonder the champagne flowed and the celebrations continued under the full moon until the wee small hours…..a great party was had by all.
Finally we are ending the year with the announcement of an intention to merge with the BACD to create an even stronger industry association with one voice. I am very excited about the possibility this brings to the industry. So after an action packed 2007 Eventia has every reason to look forward to an even better, more exciting 2008.
We are closing the offices from 24th Dec to the 2nd Jan and with plenty of hard work ahead I am looking forward to a few days rest enjoying the fresh sea air in Bournemouth.
Wishing you and your loved ones a very Happy Christmas and fabulous New Year,
Festively yours,
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