Central Hall Westminster awarded ECOsmart Platinum Award for outstanding green standards

Central Hall Westminster, (CHW) part of Central Hall Venues group, recently announced it has been awarded the ECOsmart Platinum Venue Award for outstanding green credentials. CHW joins a select group of just 12 venues in the country, seven of which are in London, to receive the accolade.

The industry-standard accreditation programme is run by Greengage Travel and Event Solutions which recognises and supports eco-friendly hotels and conference venues throughout the UK that demonstrate an environmentally conscious approach and the adoption of eco-friendly measures. Awards range from entry-level Bronze to Platinum, the highest possible standard.

Central Hall Westminster has long been a sustainable venue, having previously won the Eco-Smart Gold Award and several other environmental accreditations over the last seven years. However, having gone the extra mile to reach the highest possible standards of environmental sustainability, the venue underwent a rigorous audit from Greengage Solutions to reach Platinum, an award which recognises leaders in hospitality who have considered sustainability in all aspects of their business.

Alongside the existing measures carried out over the last five years including reducing water waste, ensuring zero waste goes to landfill, introducing catering sustainable practices and installing ECO LED lights in all rooms, CHW undertook several additional measures to achieve Platinum including:

  • Providing LED lighting in all event rooms
  • Monitoring energy usage on a daily basis
  • Actively encouraging recycling in all meeting rooms
  • Donating furniture and equipment to local charities
  • Encouraging green meeting practices by providing conference organisers with a list of eco recommendations
  • In conjunction with on-site catering partner, Green & Fortune, – giving preference to local and seasonal produce with vegetarian and vegan options; providing Fair Trade coffee, tea and sugar; offering organic wine as an option; and giving excess food to those who need it
  • Filtering and bottling water on site
  • Achieving the Platinum Award for its eco approach by Westminster Council
  • Vetting suppliers to ensure they operate in line with the principles of the organisation

The venue’s dedicated green team of sustainable champions from across all staff areas helped drive these initiatives forward and implement over the last two years.

In addition, CHV’s Head of Communications, Anna Glazebrook, has been invited by Greengage to join its Platinum Inner Circle who meet regularly to discuss ideas and make recommendations to the events industry on sustainability measures.

Andrew Perolls, CEO of Greengage Travel and Event Solutions, comments: “We are delighted that Central Hall Westminster has worked so hard to take further measures on sustainability since they won the Gold Award and have now gone on to achieve Platinum. It is incredibly difficult to reach this outstanding top level and we were impressed with their long-term commitment to introduce green initiatives in all areas.”

Sarah Ainsworth, CEO of Central Hall Venues which runs Central Hall Westminster, adds: “As an organisation which exists to provide funds to maintain this beautiful historic building and donate to charitable works across the world, running a sustainable venue is incredibly important to us. Our Green Team and on-site partners have worked tirelessly to ensure sustainability is included in all areas of our operation and we are very proud to have achieved Platinum.”

Find out more about this sustainable venue here.

Westminster Venue Collection partners with Paje Consultancy

Westminster Venue Collection are delighted to announce they have awarded the contract to provide Westminster Venue Collection with a full marketing, membership and enquiry service to Paje Consultancy Ltd from 1st November 2021.

WVC offers over twenty high quality venues in the Westminster region of Central London, and the Paje team are delighted to be working with this organisation to assist them in their exciting journey back to pre-pandemic business levels.

The WVC portfolio encompasses fashionable townhouses and private members clubs to luxury hotels, celebrated attractions, historic institutes and leading society venues.  This carefully selected venue collection combines both modern and traditional exhibition spaces, museums, auditoria, conference rooms and banqueting halls to offer the finest world-class facilities all based in London’s iconic City of Westminster.

Rachel Azzopardi, Chair of the Board of Directors for the Westminster Venue Collection says “We are delighted to be working with Mandy Jennings and the experienced team at Paje Consultancy.  The Board and I believe with their excellent track record in sales and marketing, plus success in managing hospitality industry consortia they will take our London collection of venues to new heights and really help support our venues coming out of the pandemic”

Mandy Jennings, CEO and Founder of Paje comments “Building on our strengths and the experienced team we already have in place; this is an ideal opportunity for progression.  We look forward to working with all of the exciting and innovative WVC venues over the coming months and developing a strong business model as meetings and events business continues to bounce back.”

This latest appointment provides Paje Consultancy Ltd with a fantastic opportunity to use their experience gained from successfully representing other leading UK consortia.   Mandy Jennings and the team have been partners of Venues of Excellence since 2016 winning the “CHS UK Best Representation Award in 2020” and during the pandemic Mandy made the decision to purchase the organisation to assure its longevity.  Paje Consultancy also provide a dedicated sales and marketing team for the acclaimed Academic Venue Solutions association.  Paje Consultancy formed in 2010 and have worked on over one hundred independent consultancy projects for hotels and venues during this time, plus they operate a first class Learning & Development academy providing online and classroom training for the hospitality industry.

ENDS

For more information contact:

Mandy Jennings MIH, CEO Paje Consultancy Ltd & CEO Venues of Excellence

Email:  [email protected]

Mobile: 07776 307167

WVC Website:  www.venues-london.co.uk

Paje Consultancy Website: www.paje-uk.com

You’re invited to the spookiest showcase in town!

Things are set to get pretty spooky this October when all our member venues come together at One Great George Street for our annual showcase – and you’re invited to attend… if you dare!

Creep along on Tuesday, 24 October at 6.30pm and meet with our selection of scarily good venues – all based in London’s iconic borough of Westminster. On your way, you may even bump into the phantom monk said to walk the tracks at Westminster Tube Station.

In true Halloween tradition, not only will you have the chance to meet and chat with representatives from our 34 venues, but you’ll also be invited to take part in a ‘Trick or Treat’ lucky dip where you could win some spooktacular prizes and experiences.

With fashionable townhouses and private members’ clubs to luxury hotels, celebrated attractions, historic institutes and societies, we can help you find the perfect venue for your next event quickly and efficiently, no matter what you’re planning.

Pre-register for your place by contacting [email protected] before the witching hour on Friday, 20 October.

Places are strictly limited and Westminster Venue Collection reserves the right to qualify your event planning credentials in order to confirm your place.  

Cavendish Venues looks forward to a great year with WVC

Westminster Venue Collection board member and director of sales at Cavendish Venues discusses a successful 2016 and looks ahead to the next 12 months as part of the consortium.

We at Cavendish Venues are proud to be a member of the Westminster Venue Collection with the Cavendish Conference Centre located in the Borough of Westminster.

As a board member of WVC, it has been exciting to take on the role of website chair throughout our recent rebrand to oversee not only the long-awaited rebranding of the collective’s name but the launch of the new website.

With a strong and diverse collection of 33 prestigious, unique and unusual venues in the London Borough of Westminster, the rebrand has allowed us to reinforce the nature of the group being, at its core, about venues. With this being a key focus for 2016, significant investment was made on a new website using a contemporary new colour palette and a slicker brand identity in line with a new vision for the WVC’s development.

As a board, we listened to our members and clients, took their valued feedback on board, and constructed a functionality that streamlines the user journey and allows only specific enquiries to be received per venue, saving venue members and event bookers’ time significantly.

The new website, launched at the #WVC2016Launch Showcase in December, also gives autonomy for member venues to promote themselves with a portal where they can edit imagery, criteria and special offers as frequently as they need to.

Significantly, the portal will also allow members to track the number of specific enquiries received via the WVC website, there booking status, the number of confirmations and ultimately confirmed revenue for return on investment.

2017 is set to be a fantastic year for the collection. Don’t forget to sign up to our monthly newsletter for event information, venue news and unmissable special offers and promotions!

Welcome to Westminster Venue Collection

On Monday, 12 December event professionals from across the UK gave a resounding thumbs up to the grand reveal of the Westminster Venue Collection’s new website and branding.

Formerly known as The Westminster Collection, the consortium hosted a suitably festive showcase at Central Hall Westminster that saw members come together to unveil the new identity. After being the first to witness the changes to the leading marketing consortium, event buyers were also treated to a

demonstration of the new website by chair, Clare Arouche, and board member, Rob Chambers.

In his address Rob explained the brand overhaul is the biggest shake-up since the consortium’s conception and is a responsive move to the changing behaviours of event buyers and the importance of providing time-saving intuitive venue finding tools.

Julia Belgrove, office manager at interactive design and user experience agency Allofus, shared her thoughts on the collection’s new website. She said: “I can’t think of another website where I can tailor my needs so precisely. The new Westminster Venue Collection’s website will save me time and I look forward to using it in the future”.

Sarah Gautier, head of studio at digital product design company Ostmodern, added: “For me, it is the ease of use and the ability to have so many great venues in one place that will make the Westminster Venue Collection’s new website such a great tool for event planners.”

The evening was also given a suitable festive touch with carols and music provided by member venue St Martin-in-the-Field’s resident choir St Martin’s Voices.

The pinnacle of the evening came in the form of a prize giving ceremony where 12 lucky event professionals got their hands on one of the collection’s ‘12 treats of Christmas’ including bespoke suits, designer shoes, dining experiences and a remote-control James Bond Car.

Jerina Brown, corporate secretary at CQC, the Care Quality Commission, was also named as the winner of the ‘Westminster Way’ grand prize which included two tickets to the London Transport Museum, lunch for two at One Great George Street, afternoon tea at Conrad London St James and dinner at the Lansdowne Club – everything needed for a perfect day out in iconic Westminster.

Chair of The Westminster Collection, Clare Arouche said: “As chair of the new Westminster Venue Collection board, I am absolutely thrilled to finally reveal the new brand to our members, industry peers and clients. Everything about the new look is designed to improve functionality, create smarter more intuitive searching and ultimately make researching, sourcing and booking a Westminster venue quicker, easier and more efficient for our clients. The showcase event was a fantastic success and the perfect opportunity to highlight our diverse collection of venues and for our members to make solid and lasting business connections. We were truly delighted with the initial response from event buyers.

Last chance to register for the launch of The Westminster Collection’s new identity

There is just a few days left for event buyers to register for their place at leading venue consortium, The Westminster Collection’s glamourous launch event to unveil its re-brand including new name, website and identity.

In an innovative and exciting move for the collection, the new branding will be revealed at Central Hall Westminster on 12 December, and will create a more contemporary, engaging and intuitive event booking system that allows event professionals from around the world to access 34 unique Westminster venues at the click of a button.

The full new-look branding will be revealed exclusively to those in attendance at the launch event which will also give guests the chance to meet and network with the collection’s member venues as well as industry peers and key media.

Entertainment will be in abundance on the night with music provided by member venue St Martin-in-the-Field’s resident choir St Martin’s Voices and guests can get snap-happy with a photo booth provided by PhotoBooth Magic, a preferred supplier for the collection.

Following an introduction from The Westminster Collection’s chair Clare Arouche, Rob Chambers, collection board member and events manager at London Film Museum, will deliver an opening speech highlighting the key features of the new website, the thought-process behind the branding and plans for the collection’s future.

Those in attendance on the night will also have the chance to win one of ‘12 treats of Christmas’ as well as the ultimate ‘Westminster Way’ grand prize with everything needed for the perfect Westminster day out including two tickets to the London Transport Museum, lunch for two at One Great George Street, afternoon tea at Conrad London St James and dinner at the Lansdowne Club.

Chair of The Westminster Collection, Clare Arouche said: “We, as a collection, are thrilled to be able to reveal our re-brand and new website that offers event buyers and planners an even more efficient way of accessing a host of premium and diverse Westminster venues all in one place. A lot of work, research and development has taken place to ensure that the new website offers today’s time-poor planners all of the functionality they need to easily access, enquire and book prestigious venues in the heart of London. The news marks a dynamic time of change and development for the well-established collection.”

To pre-register for your place at The Westminster Collection’s exciting re-brand showcase contact Verity Lethbridge on [email protected] before Big Ben strikes midnight on Sunday, 11 December.

Places are strictly limited and The Westminster Collection reserve the right to qualify your event planning credentials in order to confirm your place.

The Westminster Collection to reveal its new identity

London’s leading consortium for Westminster venues, The Westminster Collection, is set to unveil a total re-brand including new name, identity and website at a glamorous showcase next month.

In an innovative move for the collection, the new branding that will be revealed at Central Hall Westminster on 12 December, will create a more contemporary, engaging and intuitive booking experience that allows event professionals from around the world to access Westminster venues at the click of a button.

The full new-look branding and website will be revealed exclusively to those in attendance at the launch event which will also give guests the chance to meet and network with the 34 member venues as well as key industry peers.

Entertainment will be in abundance during the interactive evening, which is set to start at 6pm, with music provided by member venue St Martin-in-the-Field’s resident choir St Martin’s Voices and guests can get snap-happy in a photo booth provided by PhotoBooth Magic – a preferred supplier for the collection.

Those in attendance on the night will also get the chance to to win a whole host of prizes including a remote-control James Bond car from the London Film Museum and a pair of Christian Louboutins from Cavendish Venues.

Following an introduction from The Westminster Collection’s chair Clare Arouche, Rob Chambers, collection board member and events manager at London Film Museum, will deliver an opening speech highlighting the key features of the new website, the thought-process behind the branding and plans for the collection’s future.

Chair of The Westminster Collection, Clare Arouche said: “We, as a collection, are thrilled to be able to reveal our re-brand and new website that offers event buyers and planners an even more efficient way of accessing a host of premium and diverse Westminster venues all in one place. A lot of work, research and development has taken place to ensure that the new website offers today’s time-poor planners all of the functionality they need to easily access, enquire and book prestigious venues in the heart of London. The news marks a dynamic time of change and development for the well-established collection.”

To pre-register for your place at The Westminster Collection’s exciting re-brand showcase, contact Verity Lethbridge on [email protected] before Big Ben strikes midnight on Friday, 9 December.

Places are strictly limited and The Westminster Collection reserve the right to qualify your event planning credentials in order to confirm your place.

 

Imperial Venues Launches New Wedding Brochure

Imperial Venues has launched a new wedding brochure for its ceremony and reception venues in South Kensington.

With two historic townhouses, which are both licensed for civil wedding ceremonies, along with large and modern event spaces, Imperial is the perfect choice for couples looking to get married in central London.

The brochure’s stylish design benefits from beautiful venue photography, updated reception packages and additional venue information, helping couples to choose the right space for their big day.

Ceremony and reception packages are available at 170 Queen’s Gate and 58 Prince’s Gate, Imperial’s historic townhouses, both of which benefit from private outdoor spaces. Reception only packages are available in the Queen’s Tower Rooms, ideal for larger parties.

For more information about weddings at Imperial or to download the brochure, please visit the Imperial Venues website or contact a wedding expert on 020 7594 9494.

The benefits of being part of a venue collection from One Great George Street

Being a stand-alone, independent venue is not always easy. While it definitely has its advantages, such as full control over day-to-day management and procurement which allows us to pass on the very best produce and services to our clients, we do everything ourselves without the helping hand of a sister organisation. Without drawing on a larger pool of manpower, Marion and I need to be selective in choosing which trade shows, forums and networking events will best showcase our fabulous venue, One Great George Street (OGGS).

We jumped on The Westminster Collection (TWC) bandwagon 5 years ago and are still current members due to the excellent ROI we receive year on year. For example, in the last 12 months we have received approximately 77 referrals and confirmed over £25,000 worth of business – a very healthy return on our membership fee of just £1,700! There’s also very real value in the affordable access the collection gives us to exhibition shows, FAM trips and networking events.

For example, The Meetings Show is a very popular industry trade show which we try to attend as part of TWC (offered on a first-come-first-serve basis). It takes place once a year, attracts over 3,000 industry professionals and provides us with pre-scheduled buyer appointments. This year we received 17 new enquiries and over 300 scanned leads which we are now in the process of prospecting for new OGGS business. This is a free event which has provided me with over 300 fresh contacts – sounds too good to be true right? But it’s true and it’s great! The next event will be TWC’s very own showcase which takes place on Monday 3rd October – sign up to our newsletters for more info.

When contemplating the advantages of joining a collection, I can say that One Great George Street has been able to utilize collections such as The Westminster Collection to support us with sales opportunities and also become part of a friendly and constructive environment with our competitors and industry peers.

Please find the original blog post from One Great George Street here.

Private members club website gets a new lease of life

The Victory Services Club website has been given a brand new look and the finished website is better than ever. Updated to include some of the latest features in web design, the new site gives online visitors an enjoyable experience that matches that offered at the club itself.

The new site’s navigation makes it easier than ever before for online visitors to find what they’re looking for, and to find out more about the fantastic venue and exceptional in-house catering on offer at the 100 year old Club.

The revamped events section of the new site has been designed to encourage individuals and corporate event bookers to engage with our first class in-house events team. Event bookers looking for somewhere to host a corporate event, from award ceremonies to private dining, are now just one click away from finding the perfect venue.

With more and more internet users using their smartphones and tablets to browse the web, having a website that’s mobile optimised is essential for the modern marketplace. The new Victory Services Club website is responsive so whether visitors view it from a mobile, tablet, laptop or PC the site will automatically adjust itself to suit the device it’s being viewed on.

The Club’s investment in the new website reflects its commitment to offering visitors the very best in customer service and will help take the venue, so richly steeped in history and heritage, into the next chapter of its story.

For more information about the Victory Services Club and to check out the new website visit www.vsc.co.uk