By Simon Hughes, Vice Chair BVEP

The good news that Google are planning to go ahead with an estimated £1bn in extra investment in the UK – including a new headquarters and 3,000 new jobs – has been widely and warmly welcomed. Sundar Pichai, Google’s Chief Executive, was at pains to point out that despite the outcome of the Brexit vote they still view the UK as an attractive place to do business because it was open and connected and had a healthy marketplace in scientists.

Post by Nick de Bois - posted on ConferenceNews on July 7th, 2016 - http://www.conference-news.co.uk/2016/07/time-for-the-uk-events-industry-to-step-onto-the-stage/

I was recently asked why I had wanted to become a Member of Parliament before the 2010 election. Put simply, I felt it was time for me to move on from being just a cross between a commentator and an armchair critic of government (of any persuasion), and instead try to shape and influence outcomes that mattered. Since leaving parliament in 2015, I don’t take any different view now, which is one of the reasons I was happy to assume the role of chair for the new UK Events Industry Board.

By Simon Hughes, Vice Chair BVEP

On polling day for the EU Referendum I sent a text message to my eldest son in which I wrote that I was feeling sick with worry about the outcome. So I wasn’t surprised to hear one commentator describing the subsequent developments in our political world as having become visceral. The heart versus the head. The leavers versus the remainers. The old versus the young. 1.3 million votes the difference that left me staring in disbelief at the TV screen as the numbers rolled in from across the nation. The people have spoken. So did the markets. Cue strong emotions all round.

'ORGANISERS WILL KNUCKLE DOWN AND DO THEIR BEST' - Steve Heap, general secretary of the AFO, chairman of EIF and director of Mrs. Casey Music, gives Access his personal take on what Brexit might mean for the events industry.

Clearly I cannot speak for all the members of AFO and EIF so I write personally.

I didn’t think the original terms for the UK to join EEC (EU) were very good in the first place, but democracy ruled and UK joined.

By Michael Hirst OBE, Chair of the Business Visits & Events Partnership - The ONS UK inbound tourism figures for March 2016 were published by VisitBritain on Friday 20th May, wrapping up Q1.

The figures portrayed an overall positive image for the UK tourism industry, with a record breaking number of visits made during the first three months of the year. This included 2.57 million visitors in March, an increase of 6% from 2015.