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01/12/2011

René Dee, Chief Executive and one of the original founders of The Westminster Collection, has announced his decision to retire on 6 March 2012, after eight years at the helm of London’s leading venue marketing consortium.

Following René's decision to retire, the Collection's Board has used the opportunity to restructure to execute a fresh development strategy for 2012, which is set to see The Westminster Collection reassert its position as the city’s most powerful venue marketing group.

Established in 2003, The Westminster Collection has since grown to 53 full members and 36 Associate and Affiliate members, all of whom are part of the network for its ability to drive sales leads, increase exposure of Westminster as a business destination and share referrals amongst member venues.

In 2009, at the height of the recession, The Westminster Collection grew by 33% and in 2010 it grew by a further 100% despite mounting economic fragility. 

Speaking of René’s decision to retire from his position as CEO and of The Westminster Collection’s energetic plans for 2012, Allyson Hargreaves, a Director of the Board and Business Operations Director at St Martin-in-the-Fields, said: “On behalf of the Board of Directors, it is with sadness that I announce the retirement of René Dee from the post of Chief Executive Officer for The Westminster Collection. Nevertheless, 2012 promises great things for London and the UK as a whole and we are very enthusiastic about The Westminster Collection’s role within that.

“The Board of Directors and the Marketing Committee are currently putting plans in motion to refine our approach to marketing Westminster as a premium destination for conferences, events and corporate hospitality, and we look forward to working with member venues next year to remain the leading venue marketing collective in London. The future is very rosy and we march into it with genuine excitement about the opportunities. For now, it is very much business as usual for The Westminster Collection and René remains in his post until 6^th March.”

Amongst the plans agreed for 2012 is the intention for The Westminster Collection to be run solely by the Board of Directors, with direction from the Marketing Committee. The post of Chief Executive will not be replaced.

Splitting redefined responsibilities amongst the five Board Directors, Wendy Greenhalgh, Director of Sales and Marketing at One Great George Street, will assume charge of Partnerships and Business Trends, Nigel Collett of One Wimpole Street will be Company Secretary and Treasurer, Jonathan Morris of No.11 Cavendish Square will assume responsibility for Membership Relations and Allyson Hargreaves of St Martin-in-the-Fields will assume charge of Management Accounting.

Robin Parker, General Manager of Church House Conference Centre, will be joining as the fifth Director of the Board following Rene Dee’s retirement and subsequent resignation as Director of the Board and he will assume sole responsibility for Marketing, managing communication between the Chair of the Collection’s Marketing Committee and the Board.

The Collection’s visions and goals will be expanded to include a special focus on training and personal development for the teams behind the venues that make up The Westminster Collection. It will enable ‘The development of future leaders and industry professionals through the creation and provision of learning, development and networking opportunities, as well as the sharing of industry knowledge and experience.’

 

In a letter to the member venues of The Westminster Collection, René said:

 

After 8 years of being at the helm of The Westminster Collection (TWC), I have decided to retire from my present position as CEO on my 66^th birthday next year, on the 6^th March 2012.

It has been a great privilege, and tremendously satisfying, to have been able to drive TWC from its small beginnings to its current position as a leading venue marketing collective in London. I am proud of the success achieved. Along the way I have been supported by many who shared my vision, and who helped to create a model that has been adopted by others in their search to represent their own niche destinations better, and to drive more business into their exceptional venues. London and the relevant local authorities within it have certainly been the beneficiaries of this, as well as the venues themselves.

I am hugely grateful to all of my past and present colleagues on my Board, the wonderful members of TWC who put their trust in me, and all others that have helped smooth the path to greater things for TWC. I shall miss them all, but I now wish to spend more time with my wife and family, promoting my book, walking to more places of natural beauty in the UK and overseas, and learning to cook!

I am confident of leaving TWC in the capable hands of the TWC Board and its Marketing Committee who will take TWC to the next stage of its necessary development with the continued support of the members, and further improve its success as a vital component of the way London can be presented to event organisers and planners at home and abroad.

 

René Dee

CEO

TWC (WESTMINSTER) LTD

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