MeetEngland

Our Senior Business Events Manager, Caroline Phelan was in Brussels today at the Cardo Brussels Hotel for the ESAE - European Society of Association Executives community meeting on Insurance. The meeting gave an insight into event insurance, exploring the available market options, and discovering how event planners and organisers can benefit from cover, to help manage the risks that are associated with organising events. As partners with the ESAE, we’re delighted to have sponsored this meeting and it’s great to kick off September by catching up on the latest market trends and learning more about the challenges event organisers face when booking conferences. #eventprofs #associations #businessevents #associationprofessionals

The UK Government has announced the next phase in the roll out of Electronic Travel Authorisations (ETAs). An ETA gives visitors permission to travel to the UK. By April 2025, all visitors who do not need a visa will need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to travel to the UK. - Eligible non-Europeans can apply in advance from 27 November 2024 and will need an ETA to travel from 8 January 2025. - Eligible Europeans can apply from 5 March 2025 and will need an ETA to travel from 2 April 2025. An ETA costs £10 and permits multiple journeys to the UK for stays of up to six months at a time over two years or until the holder’s passport expires . To help you communicate this information the UK Home Office has supplied a ‘Partner Pack’ for download including fact sheets and assets. They are also hosting weekly ETA information events for travel, tourism, business travellers and education organisations with dates available between September and December. https://lnkd.in/eTRAG9k4

Our VisitBritain Business Events Association Conference will take place 11-13 February 2025 at the fantastic ICC Wales! Hosted in partnership with MeetEngland, Meet In Wales and VisitScotland Business Events, the conference will explore the evolving landscape of event bidding, the expanding role of convention bureaus to support association missions and recent trends in emerging technology that may affect destination sourcing and event design. On the appointment of ICC Wales as our host destination, our Head of Business Events Paul Black said: “As Britain’s newest convention centre, the ICC Wales is a fitting host as we look at the current and future status of association events bidding. We look forward to working with our partners at the ICC Wales to deliver a meaningful experience for our delegates.” #VBBEAC25 #events #Wales | VisitBritain

If you work in #EventsManagement for Associations, you already know about the importance of #Insurance, but can you apply it to your organisation's benefit? ESAE members will have the chance to visit the lustrious newly opened Cardo Brussels and have a free, open conversation with Christophe Pirlot on Insurance for Association Events this Friday, at a Community session kindly supported by ESAE partners, MeetEngland, and designed by the wonderful Fanny Senez. Make sure to register and join us for a post-summer Eventsprofs gathering: https://lnkd.in/eg_MjucT

MeetEngland was delighted to join our fellow European partners and members of the Strategic Alliance of the National Convention Bureaux of Europe this week in Edinburgh. The Alliance is a network of colleagues from across Europe who work together and share best practice to accelerate progress in areas affecting the business events industry. This week we talked all things AI, plans for the forthcoming ‘Convene for Climate’ conference, the ongoing development of the new sustainability hub for events and current business travel trends. Thank you to VisitScotland Business Events for being wonderful hosts – great to see our European partners again this week! VisitEngland

We are delighted to see that the West Midlands has been named M&IT Magazine's latest Destination of the Month! Working closely with the West Midlands Growth Company, we see first-hand how the team are shaping the future of Business Events in the area. With impressive event spaces such as The ICC Birmingham, The NEC, Birmingham and the newly opened Eastside Rooms, as well as new venues opening in Coventry, Warwickshire and Telford, the West Midlands has seen an increasing number of corporate bookings and events taking place in the region. Having opened our offices in Birmingham’s Victoria Square earlier this year and with a wealth of culinary and cultural experiences, as well as growing sectors in manufacturing, low carbon and data-driven healthcare, we recognise the value that the West Midlands has to offer as a leading Business Events destination. To find out more about what the region has to offer, check out the full article here! VisitEngland #eventprofs #businessevents

It was great for our UK-based team to catch up yesterday in our new Birmingham office. In the afternoon we joined our partners at Birmingham and West Midlands Convention Bureau for a fun and interesting walking tour through the historic city centre, home to event venues like The ICC Birmingham along with dozens of restaurants and attractions, all within easy walking distance. We ended with a tour and cream tea at the gorgeous and newly renovated The Grand Hotel Birmingham. Thanks for a great afternoon - can't wait to be back in Birmingham soon! VisitEngland #businessevents #eventprofs

Our ongoing partnership with Hire Space sheds some light on the new tools and opportunities smart technology offers to business events professionals. Check out the previous features on creative event design and booking tools, and keep an eye out for our next article coming soon! VisitEngland | VisitBritain Business Events #eventprofs #businessevents #events

We’re proud to share that VisitBritain has received Business Events Shaping Tomorrow (BEST) recognition for our inaugural Business Events Association Conference, hosted this February in Edinburgh.   The BEST initiative, developed by the Edinburgh Tourism Action Group (ETAG), evaluates congresses held in Edinburgh and recognises the positive impact of these events on the city’s professional and wider community, in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Our conference at the EICC received gold recognition for promoting Sustainable Cities & Communities and Responsible Consumption & Production, and silver for supporting Good Health & Wellbeing.   Congrats and thank you to our team (Paul Black, Laura Caprioli, Frederica Pullan and Rachael K.), Jane Cunningham and our planning partners at #MEET4IMPACT, the EICC and Convention Edinburgh - Edinburgh Convention Bureau for delivering a successful conference that demonstrated our shared commitment to sustainability and positive impact through business events!

England’s renowned historic settings, range of venues and diverse sector strengths make it uniquely placed to host international meetings and events that are both influential and memorable, such as today’s European summit at Blenheim Palace in #Oxfordshire. World leaders gathered at the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill, a nod to the former Prime Minister’s legacy as they discussed international cooperation in Europe, and guests enjoyed locally-sourced afternoon tea and produce from Blenheim’s own gardens. Today’s summit is an example of England’s world-class hospitality and the outstanding venues and experiences on offer for international events.