By Simon Hughes, Vice Chair BVEP

I wonder what Humphrey Bogart would make of it all? The year started badly for the organisers of the Presidents Club Charity Dinner, when the FT published the results of their investigation into this 33 year old event. Past tense now though after the undercover reporters from the FT revealed details of how the 130 hostesses were treated – from the instructions about the clothes they should wear to the appalling behaviour they were subjected to by some of the guests. Groping, lewd comments and invites to bedrooms made the headlines. These in turn made some of the charities that benefitted from the money raised refuse to accept the donations.

By Heather Lishman, Association Director, ABPCO 

One of the most important and rewarding parts of running any organisation is listening to your stakeholders and reacting to their needs. It is however even more rewarding when you are part of an association where the feedback is coming from an involved membership. With this in mind the Association of British Professional Conference Organisers (ABPCO) holds a membership engagement survey every year to see what we can be doing better. Over the past few years it has seen us become more efficient, more profitable, deliver greater education opportunities and add new events to the calendar. However, this year’s message included a clear need to be more holistic and consider our purpose and core values.

By Nick de Bois is Chairman of the UK Events Industry Board
@nickdebois

How the UK Events Industry Board is Delivering the Governments Vision for the UK’s Business Events Sector

Last week the first ever Business of Events Senior Leadership Forum was held in London’s magnificent QEII Conference Centre. Bringing together representatives from across the private sector, government and VisitBritain, along with many other DMO’s and influencers, this event marked the next step in the collaboration between government and industry to help drive the UK as a destination of choice for major international congresses, exhibitions and conferences. I was delighted to attend as the Chairman of the governments UK Events Industry Board, which is the permanent body made up from private sector and government to advise ministers on what steps must be taken to deliver on the shared vision for the growth business events here in the UK, and the expansion of our international export business.

Blog by Meetpie.com's Editor and first posted on Meetpie.com

“We’ve never had a greater position with government.”

So said Michael Hirst, chair of the Business Visits and Events Partnership, speaking to me at a welcome reception ahead of the Business of Events Leadership Forum. And as someone who has been championing the industry in Westminster for as long as he has, he should know.

By Simon Hughes, Vice Chair BVEP

Having lived through a version of ‘The Thick of It’ for 10 years as a civil servant, I have always admired the work of Armando Iannucci, so you can bet I’ll be booking a ticket to watch ‘The Death of Stalin’ when it comes out. Taking on a story about the death of one of the most blood soaked dictators in history and finding a place for humour in that tale requires a brilliant script, some fantastic actors and sensitive direction. Sadly I don’t have access to any of those things but curiously find myself pondering on the comedy potential that might lie ahead of us all at the end of March 2019. Just imagine – no Brexit deal and Tom Daley has been wheeled out around all the major media outlets to explain how dangerous diving off a cliff actually is.