Blog posts

We recently sponsored the AEO Conference, where organisers, venues and suppliers from the events industry came together to learn, share ideas, and network.

This Conference brought something different to the table with the “It’s a Knockout” interactive session, encompassing penguin suits, giant costumes, wet slides and medieval madness to name a few.

But is it enough to turn the tide of government opinion?

Even as Brexit looms and geopolitics continue to throw us all into a spin, the events industry shows no sign of wavering.

In fact, with a reported £11 billion economic impact and over 1000 exhibitions taking place up and down the UK, the industry has never felt more resilient or been more resolved to achieve necessary representation at government level.

Personalisation has become a key factor in the events industry. How can organisers ensure each attendee has an experience which is tailored to their needs, and is relevant to them? Even when it is a small event, it can be difficult. So how can you do it for a conference of hundreds, or even thousands of people?

Last week, I proudly took on my first official act as Chairman of the AEO International Organisers Group, guiding an AEO International Dinner.

The International Dinners are an exhibition industry networking event, focused on a particular geography, in this instance the USA. The International Organisers Group began these dinners to bring people together to talk about the opportunities, and gather market knowledge, of a particular country or region.

Did you know that highly diverse organisations are proven to be more profitable?

Karen Blackett OBE, who keynoted the AEO Forums earlier this year revealed that organisations with more gender diversity at top level are 21% more likely to outperform those with less. Those with more ethnically diverse workforces are 33% more likely to outperform companies less ethnically diverse.

What did the big telephone say to the little telephone? You’re too young to be engaged.

Aaarrrrrr yes I know, a terrible, awful, dreadful, unforgivable, dad joke; what was I thinking?

Well, I was thinking about engagement. In the twenty years or so that I have been involved in the AEO, I have observed that the incredibly talented and brilliant leaders of our industry have built their careers and businesses by networking, engaging and working with their peers.