Andy Ashley, chief executive of Corporate Events
What has the last 12 months meant to the event industry?
"We feel 2013 has seen a turning point in the industry with clients once more focused on the ‘audience experience’ rather than purely the bottom line. Clients want great value of course, but they are also looking for creative and experiential solutions with real delegate impact provided it has a demonstrable ROI."
What plans do you have for events, your clients and the business in 2014?
"With our re-brand firmly in place, we will continue to invest in new innovations and push the boundaries of the business. At Corporate Events everyone gets involved in innovation so it’s not just the latest technology, its new ideas right across the business as we continue to challenge what we do and how we do it."
What do you think we can expect from the industry next year?
"We feel the event industry will continue to gather pace and diversity in 2014. Clients are increasingly looking for events with a life and a longevity of their own with a great emphasis on social media, event apps and audience interaction. No longer is an event confined to the venue, it has to come alive in the Twittersphere."
Glen Sutton, director of events, Rhubarb
What has the last 12 months meant to the event industry?
"The last 12 months has been an exciting and challenging time for the industry, the market is showing real signs of recovery yet budgets still remain restrained."
How well did your business perform in 2013? What was the most successful event you worked on?
"2013 has been another successful year. We have been privileged to be involved in a wide range of amazing events including Relais & Châteaux’s Dîner des Grand Chefs at Old Billingsgate; The Royal Foundation dinner at Kensington Palace; the ; and an exclusive lunch for The Queen in Lewes. Our growth continues in our events business which has seen a 10% increase in the number of events delivered year-on-year."
What plans do you have for events, your clients and the business in 2014?
"We will be focusing on developing our product over the next 12 months. Creativity and innovation have always been at the heart of our business and we will continue to apply this expertise to create a wide range of food and service products that respond to the changing market place."
What do you think we can expect from the event industry next year?
"We expect to see a growing confidence in the industry with events pushing new boundaries in terms of style, taste and overall experience. Technology is playing a more central role in the organisation and logistics within the sector which is helping to create a more seamless production.
Will Poole, events and compliance manager, Troxy
What has the last 12 months meant to the event industry?
"The last 12 months has been brilliant for the UK event industry. As a nation, we are still riding the crest of the Olympic wave and more international event organisers have been inspired to bring their conferences, brands and product launches to the UK, especially London.
"Within the venue sector specifically, the big players on the London scene such as The O2 and Excel are massively investing in their facilities to ensure that the upward trend continues. This will have an impact on the landscape as a whole, with subsidiary brands attending major exhibitions hosting break out celebrations at the medium-sized venues, such as Troxy."
How well did your business perform in 2013? What was the most successful event you worked on?
"We have seen an upwards growth in 2013 with turnover rising by 30%. Key client wins such as the partnership with Future Cinema have been a massive part of this, with the three multi-date shows hosted at Troxy this year; Casablanca, Saturday Night Fever and Ghostbusters, all being sell-out successes, as well as special one-off screenings of Footloose and . Ghostbusters broke all records with the five dates selling out in just four minutes, requiring an additional 11 dates."
What plans do you have for events, your clients and the business in 2014.
"We want to continue the upward trend and become an even more established event destination. We are already showing signs of this with the likes of the Design Week Awards and Golden Hedgehog Awards moving to Troxy in 2014. The London Lifestyle Awards has also made its move to east London as a permanent fixture, confirmed to take place at Troxy in October 2014."
What do you think we can expect from the event industry next year?
"I think we will continue to see the industry grow in 2014 as the economy is picking up so event budgets are being restored. The UK feel good factor looks set to continue with the Commonwealth Games in 2014 and Rugby World Cup in 2015 ensuring that we are kept on the world stage."
What are your thoughts on the event industry in 2013/14? Share your thoughts and your own highlights with us by commenting below.
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