Wilson Vale chefs celebrate success at College Court

The Wilson Vale catering team at College Court Conference Centre at the University of Leicester has been named overall winner of the Wilson Vale Achievement Awards 2015. The team of thirteen, led by chef manager, Riccardo Corbinzolu, competed with 85 Wilson Vale catering operations nationwide to receive the award.

Judged under several categories including food, innovation, marketing, financial performance, customer care and training, the winning team received a trophy and a bonus each.
Ashby-based Wilson Vale provides a breakfast, lunch, dinner and hospitality service for delegates and visitors at the residential conference centre, as well as catering for a large number of private events including weddings, christenings and award dinners.

Formerly a hall of residence, College Court is a member of the Conference Centres of Excellence (CCE) and is the only dedicated residential conference centre in Leicester. Food has played a big role in the centre’s success since it opened in 2013, with an emphasis on fresh, seasonal dishes cooked in-house by Wilson Vale’s team of craft-skilled chefs.

Commenting on the Achievement Awards, Carolyne Vale, co-founder and managing director of Wilson Vale, said: “The standards get better year-on-year across the entire business and on every level.  In fact, the standards were so exceptionally high this year that there was just one point between the winning team and the runners up. This is a great reflection of our people – from kitchen porters up to managers – who go that extra mile to make a difference and whose passion has made Wilson Vale what it is today.”  

Wilson Vale’s chef manager at College ” I was in complete shock when Carolyne called to say that we had won as I never thought with all the amazing things going on in the company that we would take the top spot. We are our own biggest critic and that’s what drives us to keep evolving and developing our style of food and service to be the very best at what we do. We have had a great year as a team and this really is the icing on the cake.”
Court, Riccardo Corbinzolu, who lives in Ashby-de-la-Zouch, said:

The runners up were the Wilson Vale catering teams at NewDay (Leeds) and Amgen (Cambridge) and finalists included SERCO (Wiltshire), SCA Hygiene (Dunstable) and Amgen (Uxbridge). Other awards were given to the Wilson Vale catering teams at The Beacon School in Amersham, Kellogg’s in Kings Langley and The Ryley’s School in Cheshire.

Steve Crawford, conference centre director of College Court, said:“ I am delighted for Riccardo and his team to have been recognised as Wilson Vale’s top site. Very well deserved and is great recognition for the key role that they have played in developing the brand and reputation for the new business of College Court. Customer feedback has been excellent and has been a key factor in the ongoing growth of sales and increasing level of repeat customers. “

Eat the Elephant Improve Engagement and Performance at CEME Conference Centre

CEME Conference Centre is an Award winning, ‘Gold Accredited’ Events and Conference venue in East London and part of the Centre for Engineering and Manufacturing Excellence – a Regeneration Charity focusing on business growth, education, skills and learning in the Thames Gateway. The Conference Centre has enjoyed enormous success in the past few years growing the business by 250% in under three years; achieving Accredited In Meetings gold standard with the MIA – the only venue in East London or Essex to do so; being accepted into Conference Centres of Excellence; becoming a World Host venue for exceptional customer service; achieving an NPS score in September 2015 of 94; and, in October 2015, winning the Havering Business Awards for outstanding Customer Care.

Much of this success is down to the quality and commitment of the conference centre team and their level of employee engagement achieved, in no small part, through the partnership enjoyed with Eat The Elephant. At the beginning of 2105, CEME appointed Eat the Elephant to undertake their team development with the assurance that bringing them in would contribute substantially to making a good team even better by improving not only individual performance and engagement, but also team achievement, customer satisfaction and business development.

To this end, CEME embarked on a Team development programme over the course of a number of months with Eat The Elephant that began with employees completing on-line PPA profiles followed up with individual employee evaluation sessions, ‘1 to 1’ coaching and team development days. There were two key statements adopted to underpin the development and drive participation – ‘Engagement, Ownership, Performance’ and, for the team development day – ‘Responsibility, Action, Achievement’.

The results of the programme have truly been phenomenal with the engagement of all employees rising to the highest echelons comparable with any ‘high performing’ team; quality standard compliance improving to over 95%; the achievement of an NPS score for the business of 94 and ‘exceeding expectations’ at 66%; and financial targets for the year not only met, but substantially exceeded.

All in all, the employee engagement programme undertaken with Eat the Elephant has proved enormously successful and a guaranteed route for our organisation in improving employee engagement and business performance.

Key to helping delegates retain information revealed through imago research

An interactive presentation where delegates are encouraged to get involved with the learning process is of most importance to meeting attendees in helping them retain information, according to research carried out by imago.

The research - Does the future have room for face-to-face communication - was conducted earlier this year amongst a sample of more than 750 event organisers, delegates, graduate and undergraduate students – and is helping the conference arm of Loughborough University shape successful meetings for its clients.

Visuals, such as power point presentations, graphics and videos also ranked highly as an important way of retaining information, whilst technology such as audience response systems are only rated as of moderate importance. Social media ranked as the least important method of retaining information, particularly amongst students.

Emma Boynton, Head of Sales and Marketing at imago commented: “In line with other findings from our research into the value of face to face communications, we found that exercises and asking questions of the person leading the meeting help delegates retain more information. It confirms that people want to talk with other people face to face as it is how they get the most out of meetings. As one of our focus group attendees told us there is nothing better than a white board and pen or a flip chart to help with group cohesion. It was surprising to see social media ranked so low by students. They are considered its biggest group of supporters when using it socially so it is interesting that this isn’t reflected in a learning environment. The research has been of great value to imago as we have been able to take the findings and put the results into practice at each of our venues for the benefit of both organisers and those attending meetings.”

The research was undertaken by Loughborough University and imago.  The Right Solution provided methodology, analysis and validation of the research which was conducted amongst 779 respondents using a mixture of focus groups, online and face to face questionnaires.  The final research paper is available from http://go.welcometoimago.com/meet-the-future. Follow the debate and share thoughts about the research on Twitter via #futureF2F.

Launched in 2003, imago unifies Loughborough University’s conference and events venues under one brand which offers high quality meeting spaces, venues and accommodation along with excellent sport and leisure facilities. imago manages Burleigh Court, Holywell Park, Loughborough University’s conference and events facilities and The Link Hotel. 

Conference Centres of Excellence 2016 Conference - Early Bird Bookings Open!

Thursday 28th – Friday 29th January 2016

The 2016 Conference will bring together like minded professionals from across the industry to discuss and share the latest ideas and innovation for our sector.

The conference will feature inspirational keynote speakers, interactive workshops sessions and an exhibition showcasing top industry suppliers with various opportunities to network with peers throughout the course of the event.

An optional study tour of the recently built Crausaz Wordsworth Building at Robinson College and the Wellcome Genome Campus Conference Centre will take place on Friday 29th January.

Open to directors, senior managers, sales & marketing professionals and operational managers from food & beverage, front of house and technology. The programme is designed to stimulate all areas of our business with unique opportunities to collaborate, innovate and succeed.

The Møller Centre in Cambridge will be the host venue for this year’s event.  An intelligently designed purpose-built residential leadership development and conference centre set within 42 acres of beautiful parkland on the grounds of Churchill College, University of Cambridge.

Delegate packages include the full day conference, evening reception drinks, networking dinner and overnight accommodation.

Early bird bookings are available now for Conference Centres of Excellence and IACC members!

An event not to be missed – click here to register 

Wyboston Lakes appoints Operations Director

Wyboston Lakes are delighted to announce the appointment of Steve Jones as Operations Director for this £multi-million family business. Steve joins with a brief to further improve the Hospitality skills, operational efficiency and guest care - thereby delivering an even more secure future for this largest of independent specialists.

With over 24 years in hospitality, Steve’s career has followed consistent early promotion and four general management roles in his earlier career.  He was instrumental in creating the enormous success of Four Pillars Hotels through nine years rising to be the Board Director responsible for operations across all 6 properties with over 900 bedrooms. Most recently he has been the General Manager of the prestigious 414 bedroom Beaumont Estate following the purchase of Four Pillars, PH Hotels and De Vere Venues by Starwood Capital.

“Wyboston Lakes is a family business with a 50 year history and a long-term view of the Hospitality industry and the team that makes our success possible. Steve Jones joins us as Operations Director because he embodies all the Values and Principles that are at the core of our business and is hungry for further success and the opportunity to bring his ideas and wide experience to bear on our future.” Mark Jones, Managing Director.

Shaken, Not Stirred at Woodland Grange

David Jenkins, assistant food & beverage manager at Woodland Grange conference centre in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, has won first prize for his cocktails at the Conference Centres of Excellence’s Chefs’ Challenge 2015 at Cambridge Regional College on Saturday 24 October.

The 23-year-old competed with Woodland Grange chef de partie, Ian Sutton, as a new element to this year’s competition was a ‘Cook and Serve’ style approach, where each chef was
accompanied by a waiter or waitress who served the food, beverages and made cocktails for two invited guests. The duo competed with thirteen Conference Centres of Excellence (CCE) teams from throughout the UK to showcase Woodland Grange’s high quality food and service standards.

David took first place for his cocktails – a blueberry and ginger mojito and a Paddington Martini made from vodka and marmalade and featuring orange candy floss. He received a trophy, a certificate and a bottle of champagne for his creative efforts.

He said:”I am absolutely over the moon and never expected to win! There was some outstanding talent there and I am really grateful for the opportunity to compete with such skilled hospitality
professionals.” David Vaughton, director of venues for EEF Venues, the group behind Woodland Grange, said:”It was great to see junior talent acknowledged and celebrated in this way and to give young hospitality professionals an opportunity to shine. This latest success for Woodland Grange shows the emphasis we place on acknowledging every team member’s contribution to our reputation for excellence.”

imago Wins Business Tourism Title at Leicester and Leicestershire Excellence in Tourism Awards

imago, the conference and events arm of Loughborough University, has won Gold in the Business Tourism category at the Leicester and Leicestershire Excellence in Tourism Awards 2015.

The fifth annual awards were hosted by Leicester Shire Promotions and held as part of the inaugural Leicester Business Festival 2015, with the awards ceremony being held at the Leicester Mercure Grand Hotel last week (November 5, 2015). Its winning entry will now be re-judged for the national VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2016.

This award acknowledges the importance of the meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions sector of the tourism industry. The judges felt imago’s winning entry was creative, inspirational, and passionate with a focus on detail in all areas, being committed to guest requirements and constantly striving to better themselves.

It is not the first time imago has been recognised for excellence at the awards – Burleigh Court has twice won Gold in the Large Hotel of the Year category. The Link Hotel was also shortlisted in the Accommodation Provider of the Year Category at this year’s awards.

imago is one of the region’s leading business tourism providers – renowned for its commitment to excellence and customer service - offering high quality meeting and event venues and accommodation alongside sporting and leisure facilities. Its award winning portfolio includes Burleigh Court, Holywell Park, The Link Hotel and Loughborough University. These are complemented by its event management service which allows event organisers to make the most of its local knowledge and expertise.

Emma Boynton, Head of Sales and Marketing at imago, comments: “Winning the Business Tourism award highlights imago’s strength as a leading provider to the meeting and events industry within the region. Winning awards such as this is a testament to the hard work of the entire team and I would like to thank them for their enthusiasm and commitment in helping us achieve our goals. This is a fantastic accolade and recognition of our hard working, customer focused staff.”

Launched in 2003, imago unifies Loughborough University’s conference and events venues under one brand. For more information visit www.welcometoimago.com or call 01509 633030.

Another Award for CEME Conference Centre

The Havering Business Awards were held at CEME Conference Centre on 16th October to celebrate the success of the local business community in East London. Over 320 guests attended the glittering Awards Dinner hosted by comedienne Francine Lewis.

CEME Conference Centre Director, Eamonn Cole
with CEME’s ‘Award Winning’ Team – Ranjith Kumar, Debbie Beckett,
Kristina Jefremova, Marc Chattaway and Darren Lee

CEME Conference Centre were the proud winners of the Customer Care Award. Their success was the culmination of what has been a fantastic year for CEME having achieved their highest ever Net Promoter Score of 94; over 67% in ‘exceeding customer expectations’; and been a ‘Featured venue’ with Conference News and the Meetings Industry Association.

In receiving the Award, Eamonn Cole, Conference Centre Director commented,
‘This Award is really for our fantastic team here at CEME.  We focused this year on raising their levels of engagement through a bespoke team development programme that raised their engagement and ownership and, ultimately, their performance not least of all, in the crucial area of customer service. Our clients appreciated that enormously as reflected in the NPS result proving that 9 out of 10 of our conference clients will not only use CEME time and time again, but have no hesitation in recommending us to others’.

CEME Conference Centre is the only venue in East London or Essex to achieve ‘Accredited in Meetings’ Gold quality standard with the MIA and is a member of Conference Centres of Excellence and a World Host venue for outstanding customer service.

Multi-Million Investment Will See Warwick Conferences Open Fourth Venue in Coventry

Warwick Conferences has unveiled plans to invest £5.3 million in opening a fourth dedicated meeting venue on the University of Warwick campus in Coventry and Warwickshire.

The new venue – which will open in September 2016 – will offer 650 square metres of contemporary and highly flexible event space from a brand new standalone facility adjacent to two of Warwick Conferences’ existing training and conference venues.

With a single flat-floor space capacity of 350 seated, expansive ceiling height and reinforced flooring, the venue offers bookers a completely new option in Warwickshire and the West Midlands, and extends Warwick Conferences’ capability significantly.

Richard Harrison, head of conference centres at Warwick Conferences comments: “This is an important investment for both Warwick Conferences as a business and the region as a whole. Demand for high capacity, high quality, genuinely flexible event space is rising and there are few venues that can meet all these requirements in Central England currently – and even fewer that can do so without compromise.

It therefore should go without saying that we are thrilled to be making this announcement today. As a completely new development, our new venue will offer an uncompromised, contemporary and striking space that will give clients a complete blank canvas for their event. And, alongside our existing facilities, the new space will help to showcase our local area, bringing more business events and generating greater footfall to Coventry and Warwickshire.”

Designed to achieve a BREEAM Excellent rating, utilising highly sustainable construction standards, the new building will feature large expanses of glazing and exposed timber glulam structural elements. Surrounded by trees and landscaping, and in a lakefront location, the venue will also feature a striking full-length glass wall, opening onto a suspended deck that overlooks the water.

The new venue is available from September 2016.

For more information, visit www.warwickconferences.com.

October 30th, 2015

Research conducted by imago is being used to help shape the way its event management team assists clients in delivering successful meetings.

Conducted in conjunction with Loughborough University and The Right Solution, the research asked event organisers, delegates, graduate and undergraduate students what they felt were the main benefits of meeting face to face in a learning environment. The results found that the biggest benefits of attending a meeting were to learn from industry experts and to listen to speakers who inspired new ideas, challenge the norm and initiate change in every day thinking.

imago is using the results from the research to ensure its event management service provides clients with all the resources and knowledge to deliver a return on investment from their meetings.

The research also revealed there was a gap in the value event organisers and delegates placed on networking opportunities, both in terms of building relationships and meeting peers in a similar field from other businesses. Event organisers (92%) ranked networking as the most valuable element of face to face communication, whilst it ranked third for those attending events both from a delegate (84.4%) and student (74.6%) perspective.

Emma Boynton, head of sales and marketing at imago, commented:

“The research is having a real impact on the event management service we offer. The aim is to be able to work alongside clients and provide them with all the tools they need for a successful event, not just sell them a meeting space. This includes working out how they can best use their time so delegates get the most out of their day out of the office.

“The research showed that delegates rated listening to speakers who inspire new ideas, challenge the norm and initiate change in every day thinking as the most valuable element of face to face learning whilst students rated learning from industry experts first hand as most valuable. Through our links with Loughborough University we can source speakers which will be of genuine interest for both event organisers and those attending. And it is interesting that networking was rated highly by event organisers but not seen as such a valuable opportunity by those attending the event.”

The final research paper is available from go.welcometoimago.com/meet-the-future. Follow the debate and share thoughts about the research on Twitter via #futureF2F.

The research was undertaken by Loughborough University and imago. The Right Solution provided methodology, analysis and validation of the research which was conducted amongst 779 respondents using a mixture of focus groups, online and face to face questionnaires.

Wyboston Lakes Executive and Training Centres Assessed as "Green Healthcare Venue"

October 30th, 2015

Wyboston Lakes Executive and Training Centres are pleased to announce that they have recently become a “Green” Healthcare Venue, the only one in the Bedford area in the expanding Healthcare–Venues.com portfolio. This is following a rigorous assessment of their two standalone venues, facilities and services by the independent healthcare consultants Compliant Venues Ltd, confirming their suitability to host healthcare meetings and events.

The Healthcare Venues directory is a solution created and promoted by Compliant Venues Ltd and is a directory comprising of venues that have progressed through the audit, assessment and training solution they provide. The assessment solution has been developed to assist venues to understand and work more effectively with the healthcare sector, ensuring they can match the meetings and event compliance aims of transparency and appropriateness outlined by strict regulations across the sector.

Caroline Hill of Compliant Venues Ltd says “we are delighted that Wyboston Lakes Executive and Training Centres have joined our Healthcare Venues directory. We were extremely impressed by the quality and extent of facilities suitable for healthcare meetings and look forward to working with them moving forward.”

The assessment solution also includes key venue staff taking a compliance training programme teaching them about the Healthcare sector, industry regulators and the scope of regulatory codes as they relate to meetings and events. The course also provides tangible practical skills to integrate into everyday venue operations to enhance and support healthcare enquiries and meetings.

Having undertaken the training, Karen Evans, Commercial Director and Tony Knox, Business Development Manager are now considered Venue Healthcare Champions. Karen says,

“We are very proud to be joining a select number of venues in the Healthcare Venue directory and are now better positioned to demonstrate our knowledge and understanding of what is a challenging but important sector. This also underlines our ability to provide healthcare clients our excellent facilities in a controlled environment”.

Whilst Wyboston Lakes has been established for many years as the UK’s largest privately owned single site specialist conference and training venue, the quality of its facilities and overall services has been recently enhanced through a comprehensive £3.5 million investment programme.

Its two residential conference and training venues, the Wyboston Lakes Executive Centre and the Wyboston Lakes Training Centre, have received significant investment to enable the company to offer an exceptionally wide choice of dedicated facilities, services and delegate packages for conferences, meetings and training events. Becoming a Healthcare Venue underlines the commitment to continual improvement.

This investment and such initiatives as becoming a Healthcare Venue, are supported through strong team morale which has led to Wyboston Lakes achieving 35th position in this year’s The Sunday Times ‘Best Companies to work for’ List. This is the second year that Wyboston Lakes has ranked in the top 100, this year moving from 69th to 35th place.

Please see the full venue assessment on www.healthcare-venues.com/venues/4001

Academic Venues Join Forced For Agency Familiarisation Weekend

October 30th, 2015

A group of event organisers from meetings and travel management company Inntel have spent two days experiencing the best the Midlands has to offer during a motorsport-themed familiarisation trip organised by two leading academic venues.

imago, the conference and events arm of Loughborough University, and Warwick Conferences, the conference facilities at the University of Warwick, welcomed a group of 10 staff members from the UK’s largest independent meetings and travel management company for the ‘Do You Have the Need for Speed’ themed trip, which took place on 9-10 October.

Helen Lowrie, Senior Business Development Manager at imago, and Justine Meek, Client Relationship Manager at Warwick Conferences, organised the trip, which was not only aimed at showcasing the award-winning facilities on offer at both AIM Gold accredited sites, but to highlight a number of on and off-site events delegates can enjoy when booking events.

Participants took part in a series of motor-racing themed activities, including Scalextrix races and a Soapbox Challenge and Race at Warwick Conferences, and a Batak and Formula 1 Race Simulator challenge at imago. Scores from each activity during the trip were collated with the winners announced during a private dinner and awards presentation on Sunday 10 October.

Helen Lowrie, Business Development Manager (Agencies) at imago, commented: “The idea behind the joint familiarisation trip was to show what academic venues can really offer in terms of creative events. It highlights the partnerships we have with industry suppliers so the focus of an event doesn’t just have to be about meetings, but on and off-site activities too. The feedback we had from Inntel was fantastic and has gone a long way to changing the perception they had of academic venues. This is hopefully the first of many familiarisation trips we’ll be holding in association with Warwick Conferences as the familiarisation trip has been beneficial for both venues.”

Justine Meek, Client Relationship Manager at Warwick Conferences, comments: “The ‘Need for Speed’ familiarisation trip held in partnership with Imago recently was a hugely valuable way to showcase both our local area and the benefits of academic venues for meetings. Trips such as these help to highlight what venues have to offer, and partnering with imago meant that our visitors from Inntel were able to get a wider experience of academic venues in the Midlands.”

Launched in 2003, imago unifies Loughborough University’s conference and events venues under one brand which offers high quality meeting spaces, venues and accommodation along with excellent sport and leisure facilities. imago manages the AIM Gold accredited Burleigh Court and Holywell Park as well as Loughborough University’s conference and events facilities and The Link Hotel.

Warwick Conferences is an award-winning collection of conferencing venues at the University of Warwick, including three AIM Gold accredited dedicated training and conference centres and the on-site Conference Park.

October 27th, 2015

The prestigious CCE Chef’s Challenge welcomed 9 member venues on Saturday 24th October to enjoy a feast of culinary competition as Junior and Senior Chefs created tantalising dishes complemented by a demonstration of superb cocktail and food service skills from their Front of House colleagues.

Best Team – Nicholas and Paul with Stuart Websdale,
Chairman of Conference Centres of Excellence,
from The Møller Centre, Cambridge

Now in its seventeenth year, the Chefs’ Challenge underwent scrutiny by nine accomplished judges chefs including Peter Griffiths MBE President and Jim Eaves MIH Chairman of the British Culinary Federation. This year’s contest was the biggest to date with 13 teams competing across two heats at Cambridge Regional College.

As the temperatures rose in the kitchens, the competitors kept their cool to deliver outstanding innovative dishes demonstrating their culinary knowledge and abundance of local produce. Each Chef must design, cook and serve in 2hrs 30mins four plates of a three course meal suitable for an end-of-conference banquet for 40 people. This year, the starter included plaice, the main course guinea fowl forming the basis of the menu for Chefs to build their creative flair. The dishes are then served to invited guests by a food service team demonstrating their cocktail-making, wine service and food service skills.

Each year, items from the menus are sponsored and this year was no exception, with British Premium Meats and Fishco Midlands providing the guinea fowl and plaice. Other partners and sponsors, including Wilson Vale Catering Management, Tchibo Coffee International, Elior UK, Kent Frozen Foods, Savona and Cambridge Regional College all worked in partnership to contribute to this annual culinary feast.

Competition Chairman Barry Stonham OBE said “This was the first time we have made the competition entirely Cook and Serve, and the first time we have awarded prizes to junior competitors. Both of these changes were very popular and effective, and the quality of food prepared, and the skill with which it was served, were at the very highest standard, making the judges’ task of identifying the winners very difficult. The facilities at Cambridge Regional College were excellent and I am very grateful to them for all their help and cooperation. I would like to congratulate all 26 competitors on their great performance.”

The awards were presented at a gala dinner that evening at The Wellcome Genome Campus Conference Centre, to the following competitors:

Best Starter – Senior Nicholas Harry         Kents Hill Park
Best Starter – Junior Lewis Woodcock         Scarman House

Best Main Course – Senior Stuart Scanlon         Ashorne Hill
Best Main Course – Junior Lewis Woodcock Scarman House

Best Dessert – Senior Jason Turton                 College Court
Best Dessert – Junior Lewis Woodcock         Scarman House

Best Cocktails – Senior Paul Mott                         Kents Hill Park
Best Cocktails – Junior Dave Jenkins                 Woodland Grange

Best Wine Service – Senior Paul Hampton         Ashorne Hill
Best Wine Service – Junior Kimberley Tayler Scarman House

Best Food Service – Senior Paul Hampton         Ashorne Hill
Best Food Service – Junior Zoe Harrup         Wyboston Lakes

Best Team Nicholas Harry & Paul Mott         Kents Hill Park

Food Service Champion Paul Mott                 Kents Hill Park

Champion Chef Nicholas Harry                 Kents Hill Park

Nicolas Harry, from Kents Hill Park was awarded Champion Chef on the evening who with the help of his waiter Paul Mott, presented the following menu:

Kent Hill Park

Chef: Nicholas Harry
Waiter: Paul Mott

Cocktails

Apple and Pecan Mojito
Cambridge Hill Martini

Menu

Pecan Smoked Confit of Plaice
Candied Beet and Caramelised Seed Salad
Fennel and Parsley Purées
Gavi, Tuffolo

——————————————-

An Assiette of Guinea Fowl
Crepinette Crushed Sunflower Root, Chantrelle Beurre Noisette
Rillette Crisp Rosemary Crouton
Wellington Potato and Truffle Mille Feuille
Port Reduction
Chianti Reserva, Campobello

—————————————–

Elderflower Cremé
Strawberry and Yoghurt Cloud

New Report Reveals the Value of Expertise in Meetings, Conferences and Events

October 23rd 2015

A new independent study into the relationship between expertise and success in meetings reveals that venues have an ever-important role to play in ensuring their events
deliver.

The study – which sought the views of a cross-section of events, meetings, and conference stakeholders – investigates the motivations behind bookers’, managers’ and
delegates’ behaviours. It considers common problems and misunderstandings, as well as attitudes to off-site training across the board.

The Value of Expertise report has been commissioned by Warwick Conferences and acknowledged by both the Meetings Industry Association (MIA) and Hotel Booking Agents Association (HBAA). The second in the series, it follows 2013’s Value of Satisfaction report, which revealed how customer satisfaction affects the value of meetings, conferences, and events.

For this research, delegates, their managers, and internal event bookers were interviewed on a range of topics relating to their use of external venues.

Wi-Fi and technology is also examined in the new report - with an apparent disconnect between what delegates expect and what venues provide – and the issue of hidden costs is revisited, first examined in 2013’s Value of Satisfaction report.

Rachael Bartlett, head of sales and marketing at Warwick Conferences, comments: “This is Warwick Conferences’ second independent research report, and as in 2013, we’ve used a wholly independent sample to provide an accurate reflection of the state of the industry, which allows us to consider the sector’s issues objectively.

“This time around, we’re taking another look into what matters when it comes to meetings, where the most common problems arise, and crucially, how – by working in partnership – we can look to solve them. The study shows that misaligned expectations can occur throughout the event process, and highlights the need to champion collaboration and co-operation in events.”

Jacqui Kavanagh, chairman of the HBAA, the trade association for the hotel booking agency, apartment, and venue community, comments: “Following on from 2013’s Value of Satisfaction paper, it’s great to see Warwick Conferences is again leading the way with this new report. We work in an industry where relationships and communication are key. Co-operation and shared learning create a joined-up approach which is vital when we consider the channels that need to be navigated, from bookers, venues, managers, and delegates.”

Jane Longhurst, MIA chief executive, comments: “In today’s meetings industry, expectations to deliver are high – and justifiably so. With a plethora of venues and services on the market to choose from, what sets one apart from another? I believe it is a commitment to excellence, in terms of customer service, facilities and processes - and alongside this, the underpinning theme of this report: expertise.”

Rachael Bartlett concludes: “One consistent theme runs across our findings: a lack of expertise. Throughout the process, event bookers, delegates, and managers struggle to stay on the same page, leading to disparate expectations that could diminish event effectiveness. 

“A venue’s experience affords it a unique position to bridge the gap. Reframing the relationship between client and venue as a business partnership allows venues to promote their own expertise. And, when able to counsel on the wider aspects of an event – not just selling the space – a venue’s expertise can help to deliver events that score highly for managers, bookers, and delegates alike. It’s this collaboration that can make all the difference, helping all those involved to make the most of their meetings.”

The Value of Expertise report can be downloaded from voe.warwickconferences.com 
Join the debate on Twitter @warwickconf #valueofexpertise

For further insight, follow ‘The Value of’ Showcase page on LinkedIn

Woodland Grange supports the Myton Hospices Take 50 Challenge

Employees from Leamington and Warwick businesses have helped to raise a record-breaking £38,922 in The Myton Hospices’ Take 50 Challenge. Now in its fifth year, the challenge has raised almost £160,000 for the charity.

As well as being overall sponsors, Woodland Grange hosted an awards dinner on 21st May, attended by over 100 participants. The Myton Hospices Take 50 Challenge puts companies’ business skills to the test by challenging them to turn £50 into as much money as possible for the charity in fifty days.

A total of 30 teams from across Coventry and Warwickshire took part in the challenge, with IRESS taking the prize for the most money raised with a total of £5,151.30.

Hannah Morris, Myton’s corporate fundraising development manager, said: “It’s been an amazing year for Take 50. We’re delighted for the winning teams but also for every team that took part. They’ve contributed to the fantastic total. They’ve all put in so much effort and we hope they’ll take part again next year. A big thank you to Woodland Grange for sponsoring the event and for making the awards night so memorable.”

Triple TripAdvisor success for Woodland Grange

Woodland Grange Conference Centre in Leamington Spa has received a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence award for the third year running. The accolade, which honours hospitality excellence, is given only to establishments that consistently achieve outstanding traveller reviews on TripAdvisor.

To qualify for a Certificate of Excellence, businesses must maintain an overall rating of four or higher, out of a possible five, as reviewed by travellers on TripAdvisor, and must have been listed on TripAdvisor for at least 12 months. Additional criteria include the volume of reviews received within the last 12 months.  

Woodland Grange hosts thousands of delegates each year for training seminars, meetings and conferences. The venue has 28 versatile conference and meeting rooms, 114 en-suite bedrooms, a leisure facility, two bars, a restaurant and an internet café.   

Marc Charron, president of TripAdvisor for Business, said: ”By putting a spotlight on organisations that are focused on delivering great service to customers, TripAdvisor not only helps drive increasing hospitality standards around the world, but also gives businesses the ability to shine and stand out from the competition.”

Big changes at the Beardmore

The Beardmore Hotel and Conference Centre has announced earlier this week that they will be rebranding as the Golden Jubilee Conference Hotel in January 2016.

The rebrand supports the hotel’s 2020 vision to continue developing as an internationally recognised conference centre of excellence. 

The Golden Jubilee Conference Hotel will be at the heart the Golden Jubilee Foundation, the new brand name for the family of facilities which also includes the Golden Jubilee National Hospital, the Golden Jubilee Research Institute and Golden Jubilee Innovation Centre. 

Director of the Beardmore Hotel and Conference Centre, Bronagh Bell, said: “This announcement marks the next stage in our evolution as a provider of first-class meeting and hospitality services. Our shared campus means that our clients, guests and delegates not only have access to our custom-built facilities, but to state-of-the art research and clinical  skills suites, live audio visual links and our new Innovation Centre. 

“We are delighted to be a core part of the Golden Jubilee Foundation, which will allow the Golden Jubilee Conference Hotel to keep finding pioneering ways to support high level international, medical and innovative conferences and events.”

The Beardmore will transition into the new brand over the next few months, officially becoming the Golden Jubilee Conference Hotel on 11 January 2016. The hotel will still be running business as usual, welcoming and serving regular clients and guests from across Scotland, the UK and beyond. 

Bristol front of house manager shortlisted for the mia-List 2015

Olivier Nanchi, front of house manager at Engineers’ House conference venue in Clifton Downs, Bristol, has been shortlisted for the mia-List 2015, an initiative by the Meetings Industry Association (The mia) to identify the industry’s most inspiring and passionate people.

Ten people will be chosen this year to join the list at a celebratory lunch on 28th September 2015 at Park Plaza Riverbank, London.

37-year-old Olivier, who lives in Clifton but is originally from France, started his career with EEF Venues at Engineers’ House eleven years ago as a front of house assistant.  In that time, he has gone from providing general venue support, such as organising teas and coffees, to being responsible for a team of eight front of house and service support staff. 

Since 2004, the busy, AIM Gold accredited venue has grown by 400 per cent and was named UK’s No 1 Specialist Venue and Overall Venue in BDCR Continental’s VenueVerdict Awards 2014, in which Olivier is referenced on multiple occasions for his expertise and organisational skills. 

David Vaughton, director of venues for EEF Venues, said: ”In an organisation that has built its entire reputation on customer service excellence, Ollie Nanchi is a true ambassador of the EEF Venues’ brand.  He constantly strives for perfection and has an eye for detail, taking great pride to ensure that all of the 16 conference rooms have been set up impeccably. His customer service skills are legendary, reflected in the fact that repeat bookings account for 78% of the venue’s business, testament to the relationships he and his colleagues build with clients. His patience, understanding and good humour have earned the respect and admiration of all.”

Ollie said: “I feel truly honoured to be considered for the mia-List 2015. My job is all about making people feel welcomed and looked after so it is great to get this industry recognition.”

NEW RESEARCH VALUES THE UK MEETING INDUSTRY AT OVER £21 BILLION

New research into the UK’s conference and business events sector, entitled the ‘UK Conference and Meeting Survey 2015’ (UKCAMS), values the sector at an estimated £21.6 billion in venue and destination direct spend in 2014. The total represents an increase of some £2 billion compared with the previous year, due mainly to an increase in event size. 

The ‘UK Conference and Meeting Survey’, now in its 22nd consecutive year, has a specific focus on the value and volume of the market and the performance of meeting venues. It also highlights key market trends identified by venues. The results provide a definitive insight into the business events sector and are widely used to inform investment, advocacy and marketing activities.

The research findings also reveal that the overall number of business events in 2014 (an estimated 1.28 million) was similar to 2013. However, the increased average size of events led to a total of 104 million delegates generating 162 million business event days, compared with 91 million delegates and 148 million business event days in 2013.

Increasing optimism in the market was reflected in higher levels of investment by venues, with 78 per cent having undertaken some investment in 2014. The proportion of venues investing more than £100,000 was up on 2012 and 2013 levels. Venues also indicated that their overall business performance was up in 2014 compared with 2013, and 65 per cent anticipated that 2015 results would show further growth.

Other key findings from the research include:

• There was an average of 366 events per venue in 2014 – this was on a par with 2013 (356 events) and 2012 (373 events). The majority of events (61 per cent) were held in hotels
• The average event duration was 1.6 days, although most events (64 per cent) lasted a day or less. Average duration varied from 1.4 days for non-residential events to 2.0 days for residential events
• The average daily delegate rate achieved by venues for business events was £46 (inc VAT). The average 24-hour / residential rate was £126 (inc VAT). This compares to an average for the period 2010 to 2014 of £43 (inc VAT) for day rates and £129 (inc VAT) for 24-hour / residential rates.
• The lack of growth in rates achieved suggests that the market is still highly competitive. It may also highlight the influence of company procurement departments, identified by venues as one of the main challenges to their conference and meetings business
• Other challenges noted by venues were keeping pace with technology demands and the provision of Wi-Fi with sufficient bandwidth
• Interestingly, issues around compliance, contracts and T&Cs, staff recruitment and retention, and the payment of commission to agencies were rated as only a moderate challenge by venues.

Simon Gidman, Head of Business Visits and Events for VisitEngland and principal sponsor of UKCAMS 2015, comments: ‘England’s events industry has a lot to look forward to over the next few years. In addition to major global sporting events such as the England Rugby World Cup in the autumn of 2015, England plays host to a series of significant scientific and business events including the prestigious European Science Open Forum in Manchester (2016) and the International Festival of Business in Liverpool (2016). The ‘UK Conference and Meeting Survey 2015’ provides important confirmation of the energy and vitality of the sector, and really positive indicators for its future growth.’

Other sponsors of the research are: The Meetings Show, venuedirectory.com, Visit Guildford for Business, Conference Centres of Excellence, Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, and Hiscox Event Assured.

The research was carried out by Tony Rogers of Tony Rogers Conference & Event Services and Richard Smith of RJS Associates. 

Copies of the full UKCAMS 2015 report are available priced £145 + VAT. Visit http://www.ukcams.org.uk to download an order form.

Warwick Conferences video shows benefits of dedicated venues

Warwick Conferences has unveiled a new animation to showcase the benefits of hosting business events at dedicated conferencing facilities.

Using insights from the independently commissioned Value of Satisfaction report which investigated the factors that contribute to positive delegate experiences, the animation follows two characters - Sarah and Nigel - on their own conferencing journeys: Sarah at a dedicated business venue, and Nigel at a multi-purpose venue.

Their very different experiences stem from the varying likelihood of running into disruptions while on-site at a meeting.

Warwick Conferences’ Value of Satisfaction report found that meeting disruption can take many forms - from unhelpful staff to Wi-Fi that's not up to the job - with three-quarters of delegates experiencing disruption for one reason or another in the previous 12 months.

Business meetings held at multi-purpose venues - such as hotels - tend to be more susceptible to distractions, with 91% of delegates reporting having encountered disruption when using non-dedicated facilities. More than a quarter of delegates had been interrupted by non-business guests at a multi-purpose venue, including wedding parties and leisure groups.

Meeting disruptions can have a detrimental event on productivity, leading to events that don't achieve what they set out to do, which explains why 96% of managers agree that a venue should lack distractions, and value focused environments in which delegates can get on with the task at hand.

Warwick Conferences is a collection of meeting space at the University of Warwick, including three distraction-free, dedicated training and conference centres – Scarman, Radcliffe, and Arden – and the on-campus Conference Park. 

Rachael Bartlett, head of sales and marketing at Warwick Conferences, comments: “Unfortunately, meeting disruption is rife in the conferencing industry, leading to lower levels of delegate satisfaction and a high proportion of meetings that don’t achieve their goals.

“Choosing the right environment for your event is key to its success. Generally speaking, dedicated venues are better placed to deal with meeting disruption since their expertise and focus lies in catering solely for business guests.  Non-dedicated venues, on the other hand, have a multitude of needs to manage, leaving business events held at these venues more susceptible to disruptions.  

“To maximise productivity, it’s important to properly evaluate your requirements and ascertain which type of venue would work best for your event before you book.”

To view the video, visit www.warwickconferences.com/why-warwick-conferences.

Conference Centres of Excellence introduces venues to the agency market

Conference Centres of Excellence is targeting the agency market to develop brand awareness of its independent venues.

Under the leadership of new Director of Sales Mandy Jennings, Conference Centre of Excellence is targeting agency business by providing a single point of contact for booking the group’s 26 UK venues. As more corporate buyers are working with mandated agencies and procurement procedures, the approach to agents is vital in order to influence decision makers who are looking for dedicated venues appropriate to training, specific meeting and conference requirements. 

The Conference Centres of Excellence sales team is extremely experienced in the training venues market, and can facilitate agents booking venues which will deliver results perfect for training and regional roadshows. By offering all inclusive packages tailored to specific event requirements, the venues add value to the delegate experience, with free Wi-Fi, syndicate rooms, onsite AV support and unlimited refreshments, whilst enabling agents and their clients to monitor costs.

The approach to the agency market is designed to raise the profile of the group’s highly accredited independent venues, many of which are multi-award winning and considered some of the best in the UK. 

“Understanding the agency market and being able to facilitate introductions on behalf of our members provides benefits for both venues and agents” said Mandy Jennings, Director of Sales for CCE Venues. “By providing agents with one point of contact for 26 high quality venues, we can provide a regional solution that offers flexibility but with the ongoing reassurance of excellent service and facilities which our quality promise provides.”

Conference Centres of Excellence has integrated the agency brand awareness into its marketing plans over the coming months as part of the membership benefits to venues, and will be showcasing its venues at the upcoming Meetings Show at London Olympia (7-9 July).

For more details please contact agents@cceonline.co.uk

To book at meeting with the CCE Sales Team at The Meetings Show visit: http://www.themeetingsshow.com/Content/Register-here

Wyboston Lakes’ employee shortlisted in this year's MiaList Awards 2015

Davide Graziano, HR and Training Co-ordinator at Wyboston Lakes has been shortlisted in this year’s MiaList 2015, after being nominated by his Director of HR.

“Davide has only been here seven months and has already shown great dedication and support to his colleagues. He truly cares about the efficiency of the team and is always willing to go the extra mile. It is a fabulous achievement for Davide to have reached the shortlist.” Heidi Pegrum, Director of HR at Wyboston Lakes.

The miaList Awards recognise the individuals who inspire those around them, to go above and beyond the call of duty and have a positive impact on the business, and Davide embraces all of those qualities.

The miaList was created to celebrate the amazing industry individuals who are prepared to go that extra mile to ensure that their venue, service or product is nothing short of excellent.

Wyboston Lakes is very proud of Davide’s journey so far and wishes him the best of luck in the awards.

The judging lunch is on Wednesday 15 July and the winners will be announced at a celebratory lunch on Monday 28 September 2015, Park Plaza Riverbank, London

Bristol Patient Safety Conference returns to Engineers’ House

Following last year’s inaugural Bristol Patient Safety Conference, Engineers’ House hosted a very successful event again this year on 15th May.

Dr Mike Durkin, national director of Patient Safety for NHS England gave a keynote address, followed by presentations by leading national patient safety experts.

One of the aims of the conference is to provide networking opportunities for those involved in patient safety work across the region. Individuals and teams from local hospital trusts, local healthcare professionals, and businesspeople who have innovated to improve patient safety will be talking about their achievements at the conference.

Martyn Bowen, venue manager at Engineers’ House said: ”The format of the conference was a combination of plenary talks and interactive workshops so it was a lively event, with delegates making the most of our many break-out areas throughout this historic building.

”We were delighted that our client chose to return to Engineers’ House for a second consecutive year. It is always lovely when clients come back, and with repeat bookings accounting for 78% of our business, we see this as a great vote of confidence in our customer service skills. Our client has even gone as far as to book ahead for 2016 - a reflection of how successful the event was.”

Broadway House supports Sparks Charity

EEF Venues’ Broadway House in Westminster hosted a post 2015 Virgin London Marathon event at the venue on 26th April to welcome participants running in the marathon in aid of Sparks, a charity that raises money to fund pioneering children’s medical research.

The charity supports clinicians and scientists in finding cures and treatments to help the 1 in 30 children born in the UK with a condition which may affect them for life.

Amanda Sutton, venue manager at Broadway House, said: “There was a warm welcome awaiting the participants, their families and friends at Broadway House where they were able to take rest and refreshment after the event and share their experience with us.  We replenished their batteries with delicious finger food and plenty of juice and water and had  rooms set aside for massage areas for the participants.”

Todd Harris, challenge events executive with Sparks, said: “We had 75 runners participating in the marathon this year for Team Sparks and we expect to raise in excess of £165,000. In amongst those 75 runners we had former Olympian, Ian Stark; Phil Brown, current Southend United Manager, and Sarah-Jane Mee, Sky Sports Presenter. This is a major fund raising event for us and we were delighted to have had the support of EEF Venues at Broadway House.”

Woodland Grange appoints new reception manager

Woodland Grange has appointed Ann Langdon as reception manager at the AIM-Gold accredited venue. She joined on 11th May and is now responsible for a team of three.

Ann started her career with a HND in Hospitality Management at West Herts College and went on to hold many positions within the hospitality sector, moving up the career ladder from food & beverage team leader to general manager with Premier Inn.

Commenting on her new role at Woodland Grange, Ann said: "Reception is the hub of any venue so being organised and efficient impacts positively on the venue’s entire team and operation. Most importantly, first impressions count and it is a receptionist’s job to ensure that guests are greeted professionally and with warmth."

“It is a very exciting opportunity for me to join a business that is recognised for its customer service excellence, and I will be working very hard with my team to ensure that this reputation continues.”

imago to launch new industry research on future of face to face meetings at The Meetings Show

Research on The Future of Face to Face Meetings environment will be launched by imago at The Meetings Show next month as part of its education programme. 

Undertaken by imago in partnership with Loughborough University, this will be the industry's first opportunity to examine the research and its implications for the meetings sector moving forward. The results will be presented on Wednesday July 8th in an open forum by the research team, which includes Emma Boynton, head of sales and marketing at imago, and Sally Greenhill from The Right Solution. 

Emma comments: “The research we have undertaken examines the importance and benefits of learning in a face to face environment and whether it can compete with other forms of communication, particularly amongst tomorrow's business leaders. The results of this research will allow us, and other organisations, to build a better picture of the economic market place to spot opportunities that are not being maximised or highlight areas of the market that are over saturated. We welcome everybody along to hear the results and find out how face to face meetings play an important role in the way we conduct business.” 

The Future of Face to Face Meetings Environment will take place on Wednesday July 8 at The Meetings Show, held at Olympia, London (3.50pm). 

College Court is officially 5 Star!

Following an audit by the Environmental Health Officer College Court are delighted to have been awarded 5 Star which ranks the venue as ‘Very Good’ in their standards of food hygiene.

The catering team led by Riccardo Corbinzolu are passionate about food and want all guests to leave with a memorable experience.

"Since opening, guests have enjoyed wonderful food and while we know that we have always carried out best practice it is great for the team to have it recognised following an independent audit. Working with Wilson Vale, our catering partner, this is an excellent endorsement of the quality measures that they have in place and re-enforces that quality is one of the key building blocks at College Court" commented Steve Crawford, Centre Director.

Riccardo Corbinzolu Head Chef says "My team and I are always aiming high and this is a quality mark that recognises the commitment and efforts made by my team at all times, which ultimately delivers the best possible experience to all our guests."

A huge well done to College Court and their dedicated team.

imago increases broadband capabilities for better connectivity

imago, the conference and events arm of Loughborough University, has invested its broadband capabilities to ensure delegates stay connected. 

The broadband provided at each of imago's venues – Burleigh Court Hotel and Conference Centre, Holywell Park, The Link Hotel and Loughborough University campus - has increased from 100mps to 200mps making internet access quicker and easier. The investment means imago can accommodate even the most challenging AV requirements and provide seamless streaming for any event. 

Emma Boynton, head of sales and marketing at imago, comments: “We recognise the importance of technology in creating successful events, particularly the ability for delegates to stay connected. As a result we are always looking at ways to improve the facilities we offer. 

“Increasing the broadband speed not only provides seamless internet connection but also demonstrates our commitment to ensuring visitors Wi-Fi needs are fully catered for. As part of our commitment, for organisation’s holding an event across a number of our venues, the Wi-Fi is linked so there is no need for delegates to login separately at each site – they simply enter their details and stay connected for the duration of their visit. Improving our broadband capabilities allows us to facilitate larger events, and alongside our wide-range of AV services means we can provide the technological requirements of any event, however challenging they may be.”

As well as high speed broadband, imago’s conference and meeting rooms are equipped with the latest communications technology and AV equipment, supported by a team of on-site technicians. Facilities include a Crestron control system so all AV equipment is connected and controlled via in-room iPads, ceiling mounted HDMI projectors, projector screens, Blu-ray players, Digital Freeview and additional speaker system. 

The Beardmore enters Hotel Hall of Fame

The Beardmore Hotel and Conference Centre has joined an elite list of hotels around the world, by being welcomed into the TripAdvisor Hall of Fame. 

TripAdvisor, the world’s largest travel website, collates information from over 150 million reviews and opinions from consumers around the world. 

The Hall of Fame induction follows The Beardmore receiving the prestigious Certificate of Excellence from the site for five consecutive years. 

Gary Rice, General Manager of The Beardmore Hotel and Conference Centre, commented on the accomplishment, saying: “The Certificate of Excellence requires us to maintain a consistent “Bubble Rating” from our customers of a minimum of four out of five in our most recent reviews. 

“To have received this consistently for five years and be invited to join the Hall of Fame is an absolutely incredible accomplishment; I am very proud of everyone in our team for all the hard work and dedication that has made this possible.” 

The Hall of Fame recognition continues an impressive run for The Beardmore in 2015, having secured two consecutive VenueVerdict Gold Accreditation’s for customer feedback, along with being named the Best Large Hotel in Scotland at the LateRooms Simply the Guest Awards. 

Gary added: “Awards like this are significant, as they remind us how important it is to make sure we are providing the best possible experience for every customer and delegate that comes through our doors. 

Green Energy emerging at Roffey Park

Roffey Park has just added to its credentials by achieving the ISO14001 accreditation for environmental management.

Set in 40 acres of rural Sussex countryside and bordered by Forestry commission land, caring for the environment has always come naturally but it is nice to be recognised for the work that you are doing explained Premises Manager Charles McNeil. "The most recent innovation was the installation of a Ground Source Heat Pump system, a technological wonder which takes that natural heat from the ground and via a clever array of technical wizardry heats the entire older part of the site including heating the swimming pool reducing the reliance on oil to almost zero and LP Gas by 50%. As well providing a green energy system it is also expected to produce a net energy cost saving of £20,000 per year."

McNeil explained that when the bulldozers moved in last summer to dig 38 x 250 metre long trenches 2 metres deep in the beautiful meadows he was slightly perturbed but six months later all has been restored and the pumps are running perfectly virtually maintenance free.