Holywell Park recognised by BDRC Continental VenueVerdict

One of imago’s flagship venues has been recognised in the latest BDRC Continental VenueVerdict results. 

Holywell Park has achieved BDRC Continental VenueVerdict Gold Standard Accreditation for Q1 2016. The standard is given to properties recording a twelve-month Net Promoter Score of +70 or higher from 40 or more Business Event Host responses in the twelve month period April 2015 to March 2016. Furthermore, each of the four calendar quarters is required to contain at least ten responses. 

It is the ninth time in total that the Loughborough venue has achieved the BDRC Continental VenueVerdict Gold Standard Accreditation and demonstrates its commitment to maintaining high standards. 

Emma Boynton, head of Sales and Marketing at imago, comments: “Feedback from clients is extremely important to imago. It helps us to build a strategy which allows us to continually improve our customer service. BDRC Continental’s VenueVerdict is based on responses from people who have experienced everything Holywell Park has to offer which makes this type of accreditation even more valuable and we are delighted that it has once again achieved the highest standard.” 

imago unifies Loughborough University’s conference and events venues under one brand, providing high quality meeting spaces, venues and accommodation along with excellent sports and leisure facilities. Imago, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2016, manages Burleigh Court, Holywell Park, Loughborough University’s conference and events facilities and The Link Hotel. 

Conference Centres of Excellence to rebrand to Venues of Excellence

The 30-strong marketing consortium of exceptional venues is taking this strategic step to broaden its footprint within the wider hospitality and events sector to maximise value for its members and clients.

Venues of Excellence will showcase at The Meetings Show (Stand Number H700) 14th-16th June 2016 at Olympia. 

Stuart Websdale, chairman of the consortium, explained: ”The Board has reviewed the positioning of the brand within the MICE sector and recognised that there are venues within the broader hospitality sector eager to  endorse their venue with a badge of excellence synonymous with the Conference Centres of Excellence brand.”

“Our goal is to expand the reach of our membership because we recognise the diverse range of venues delivering excellence goes beyond ‘conference centres’ only to include other quality-driven venues. On-going engagement with members and collaboration with industry peers has helped to crystallise our strategic direction. Our ultimate goal is to grow our membership to 50 members by 2020.”

The journey towards having broader representation and increasing value to members is already underway with several new venues recently joining the consortium. These include The Lensbury four star hotel at Teddington Lock, Manchester Conference Centre and Yarnfield Park in Staffordshire.

“Many of our members are independent players with a shared quality ethos and vision,” said Stuart Websdale. “What we offer is sharing of good practice, idea exchange and benchmarking to drive quality and to deliver excellence to our end users. For 24 years we have provided strong marketing support and networking opportunities for our members, as well as impressive lead generation via our central sales team. The strengths of the consortium are many, not the least of which are our emphasis on transparency of relationships and understanding of buyers’ needs. We view this re-branding as an opportunity for other quality, like-minded venues to come together under one umbrella to provide a targeted solution for discerning buyers.”

Before joining the consortium, venues have to meet stringent criteria in terms of quality, facilities, accommodation and customer care.

Visit the Conference Centres of Excellence website for more information about the consortium. 

Driving Sales at Woodland Grange

EEF Venues’ Woodland Grange venue in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire has secured bookings for several major classic car club events this year, as well as another for 2017.


From 29th April to 1st May, the Talbot Owners’ Club will hold its annual AGM at the AIM-gold accredited venue. The Club was originally formed in April 1934 and focuses on all Talbot cars manufactured at the London factory of Clement Talbot Ltd between 1903 to May 1937.

June sees the return of the highly successful HERO Summer Trial event from 17th – 19th June when classic car enthusiasts will gather from all over Europe at the venue. The Summer Trial is a round of the 2016 HERO Cup, supported by EFG Private Bankers and ZENITH Watches, and is an ideal introductory event to the world of classic rallying.

When re-booking the event, HERO event director, Jeremy Dickson, said: “Having held the event at Woodland Grange last year, we know it is a perfect location, with ample parking and easy access from the motorway for a fun weekend’s rallying on Warwickshire’s leafy lanes.“

The venue has also secured a booking for the Austin Healey International Weekend for July 2017.
Ian Chaplin, EEF Venues’ General Manager of Woodland Grange said: ”Our reputation for customer service excellence continues to drive venue sales.”

David Vaughton is appointed to the mia board

David Vaughton, director of venues for EEF Venues, has been appointed to the Executive Board of the Meeting Industry Association (mia).

A Fellow of the Institute of Hospitality and a serving board member of Conference Centres of Excellence (CEE), David has over 25 years’ experience within the hospitality sector. Over the last seven years, he has launched and consolidated the EEF Venues brand, with responsibility for the strategic direction and growth strategy for the group’s three AIM-gold accredited venues: Broadway House (Westminster), Woodland Grange (Leamington Spa) and Engineers’ House (Bristol).

Having already served twice on the mia Council, this latest commitment from David Vaughton underlines his on-going support for the association and its work. 

He said: “It is an honour to be part of the strategic thrust of the association and to join such talented and experienced industry professionals on the mia’s Executive Board to help raise awareness of this respected trade association and the work it does to raise industry standards.”

Mark Chambers, chairman of the mia and group managing director of the Eden Hotel Collection, said: “We welcome David Vaughton’s strong commercial focus and his insight into the challenges and opportunities within the sector. His first-hand experience of the impact AIM accreditation can have on a hospitality business makes him ideally placed to support our strategic objectives. “ 

Wilson Vale strengthens conference portfolio

Wilson Vale has gained a catering contract with Moor Hall Conference Centre, a Conference Centre of Excellence (CCE) in Cookham, Berkshire. The 80-bedroom residential venue is also home to the Chartered Institute of Marketing.

Under an initial 18 month contract, the independent caterer is due to open the new service on 11th April when a team of eight catering staff will provide a breakfast, lunch, evening and hospitality service for up to 200 people at the venue.

Andrew Wilson, co-founder of Wilson Vale, said: ”The level of understanding and expertise we have within this niche sector is driving the growth of our venues portfolio. Our clients  know the impact that great food and service can have on a venue’s reputation and performance -  and how it can influence delegates’ perceptions and their decision to return. 

“We are thrilled that our unique style and proposition is so valued by clients like Moor Hall and see this as an exciting opportunity to work with a like-minded client at this very beautiful venue.”  

Moor Hall plays host to hundreds of events and conferences at its nine acre site near Maidenhead.