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Make Venues has announced the opening of a new 238 sqm floor of meeting, training and conference space at its Broadway House property in Westminster, London. The event space opening marks the latest round of investments in the business’s facilities, that has also included a portfolio-wide upgrade in hybrid meeting technology.

Make Venues has proactively invested in both its people and its product throughout the pandemic, ensuring that its venues return to market future fit from both a facilities and service perspective. The new event space in Broadway House means the property now offers five floors of professional, contemporary and brand new space for event organisers, available now, as the London market looks to continue its bounce back.

“We set out stall out really early in the pandemic that we needed to emerge from it a stronger, better business and that we would need to invest in our people and our product at a time when many others were cutting,” commented David Vaughton, Managing Director, Make Venues. “The new space in Broadway House marks a real return for our property, but also the London market, which is really motoring now and needs new options from established brands like ours.”

Meanwhile, the business has already seen commercial returns from its hybrid investment, with a growing amount of meetings taking place across the group, now including a hybrid option for delegates.

“We tried to keep as many of our people in place as possible throughout the pandemic so that we had an experienced team ready to go when the market returned,” concluded David. “Because of this, we’ve now got really sharp people offering great service at a time when our customers need us the most.”

Hidden away in the heart of Westminster is an unbeatable private summer party venue in London.

Enjoy one of 10-11 Carlton House Terrace’s fresh summer party packages in your own leafy oasis. Relax and unwind with garden games, refreshments and a delicious summer feast whilst enjoying the surrounding beauty of St James’s from your own private gated garden.

The venue identifies food and drink as key elements to the success of a client event and its catering partner Searcys have carefully crafted ideal seasonal menus to suit the garden space that celebrate local, fresh and seasonal British produce.

With the news that the easing of lockdown has been delayed by at least another four weeks, the team at RIBA at 66 Portland Place has made the decision to run its popular ‘Build your Own’ summer party package again next year.

If you’re still hoping for a last-minute summer party this year, there is some availability for August and September if Government restrictions allow, and the team are also now taking bookings for this package for 2022, giving you even more time to plan a summer party to end all summer parties!

To celebrate the summer, and hopefully restriction-free events on the horizon (fingers crossed!), the 66 Portland Place team have been back at the venue working on a special summer-themed drop. RIBA branded lolly moulds complete with specially created cocktail and mocktail recipes from catering partner CH&CO were delivered to the doorsteps of key clients this week – just in time for the return of some sunny weather!

If you’d like to enquire about a summer party at 66 Portland Place this year or next, please email [email protected]

116 Pall Mall has seen a growing demand for summer parties and outdoor events this summer, with bookings for their Terrace on the rise even amid the pandemic.

With the Carlton Room at 116 Pall Mall opening out onto the secluded Waterloo Gardens and Terrace, this green space is a rarity in such a central location and is clearly proving popular with those wanting to host events once restrictions are lifted this summer.

Kate Dean, Marketing Manager at 116 Pall Mall said “It’s no surprise that event bookers are keen to get back out there and plan real life, in-person events. The pandemic has impacted events and meetings in both social and corporate settings which has changed the way we work and socialise.

“With the ‘freedom’ carrot being dangled before us by the government, planners have inevitably been preparing for face-to-face gatherings for months, and now this date has been moved back to the 19 July, there is of course going to be a further backlog of events.

Church House Westminster hosted the finals of the Count on Us Primary Challenge and the Jack Petchey Foundation Count on Us Secondary Challenge on the 29th of June and 1st of July 2021 respectively.

Count on Us is a Mayor’s Fund for London programme for primary and secondary schools. The Challenge is an exciting pan-London maths tournament that improves confidence and attitude by engaging young people in a range of maths activities designed to challenge, motivate, and inspire while developing curriculum-based maths skills.

The unique programme, with its focus on teamwork and collaboration, was run in classrooms and clubs across London’s schools, even during the period of school closures. The activities were developed in partnership with The Maths Zone, an education consultancy, and are in line with the new National Curriculum.

Good numeracy is an effective protective factor against unemployment, low wages and wider societal problems, including poor health. It is feared that the pandemic has pushed young people into a dark age of declining social mobility due to rising economic and educational inequalities. This ‘Covid generation’ faces significant learning losses as a result of prolonged school closures and must quickly fight against time to catch up, particularly in core subjects like maths.

Mark has been at The QEII Centre, one of London’s largest dedicated event venues, for almost six years and is working as the UK Business Development Manager. We spoke with Mark this month to find out how his role has changed over the past year.

While the last year or so has been extremely challenging particularly for the business meetings and events industry, what do you personally see as the positives to come out of the pandemic?
I’d say my skills in engaging with people via video calls as this has been one of the more significant changes to interacting with people. In the early phases it felt so awkward and unnatural to me, with me feeling overly self-conscious too. Now, I’ve learned to relax into it and make the most of the one-on-one direct way of meeting.

What lured you to work within the business meetings and events industry and what do you love about it most?
I’ve always loved doing business with people. Many, many moons ago I worked as a kitchen designer where I’d have meetings with clients to help bring their dream (kitchen) to life. Being a pivotal contributor to something like that and then seeing reactions was amazing, with the additional reward of winning a client for life, so to speak, as well as seeing the tangible results at the end. Being in the events industry shares a lot of parallels, but on a much larger scale and it’s a wonderful feeling to see an event brought to life and have a client delighted to have put their trust into me and my team.

What excites you most about the return to live physical events?
I’m truly a people person at heart and I love nothing better than meeting and interacting with people face-to-face, catching up, doing business, sharing stories, everything! I’m so looking forward to meeting new clients, existing clients, other venues and getting back to the pre-lockdown style of doing business.

Do you have a favourite type of event, and if so, why?
Good question. I’m a great fan of all types of events, but when The QEII Centre has hosted super high-profile types of events such as the CHOGM (Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting) which we had in 2018, we have royalty in attendance at the centre, ROYALTY – now that’s exciting. These types of events really make you feel part of something special.  I’m also a massive fan of technology events. I’m a closet nerd you’ll be surprised to learn and events where new and emerging technologies are launched and presented in detail are really interesting for me.

If you had one message to give to any hesitant event planners, what would it be?
Event Planners who are hesitating to confirm events can rest assured that the QEII Centre has invested in the very best hygiene and infection safety protocols and accreditations to ensure that our venue is fully Covid-Compliant and has systems in place to keep delegates, organisers, staff and indeed every person visiting the venue, safe. One of the many measures we are taking, for example, can be seen in our cloakroom facilities. We understand that delegates may need to travel with luggage, coats etc. so when checking those items in at the centre, we carefully and individually seal their items in biodegradable packaging so as to ensure zero contact with anyone or anything until the owner is ready to collect.

Why is Westminster the ultimate destination for events?
Westminster is the ultimate destination for events, as with the backdrop of Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, The Houses of Parliament and the London Eye, event attendees are left in no doubt that they are somewhere historically special and that they are right in the heart of London. Even after a client’s event, the images taken with the stunning aforementioned landmarks make it a highly attractive destination for both UK and international event organisers. Keep an eye out for a video I will be releasing soon showing off these landmarks on my way to the QEII Centre.

110 Rochester Row, centrally located near Victoria Station, is currently offering 50% off room hire for small meetings from 20 to 50 delegates.

The meeting and events centre boasts six fully equipped spaces ideal for meetings, interviews, training courses and seminars, in addition to the larger Rippington Suite catering up to 180 delegates.

Book now at  [email protected]. Subject to availability and catering order.

Regent’s Conferences & Events has been named one of Hitched’s 2020 Couples’ Champions for going the extra mile during the pandemic.

Following more than 400 nominations in a bid to recognise stand-out wedding businesses over the past year, a panel of judges representing Hitched selected Regent’s as one of the winners.

The stunning venue nestled in Regent’s Park was nominated by paramedic Paige Stride and police officer Rob Wilkins after they were gifted their dream wedding by Regent’s worth £20,000 as part of the venue’s ‘giving back’ campaign to identify and reward one deserving keyworker couple who last year had their wedding plans thwarted by the pandemic.

Paige said: “Regent’s has gone far and beyond running a wedding competition, they have strived to make our special day something for all of our emergency service colleagues to get behind and be part of.”

Since winning the competition, the venue’s events manager, Rafael Azzopardi, and the rest of the team have been working with the couple to host their dream wedding later this year.

Rob said: “Rafael’s humour and consistent approach striving for excellent results sets our minds at ease every time we talk.”

Rafael Azzopardi said: “This is such a lovely gesture by Paige and Rob to nominate us for this award. As a venue that can host both indoor and outdoor weddings as well as a complete range of other meetings and events, we were keen to give something back to thank the keyworkers for all of their dedication throughout this last year. We’re really looking forward to playing a part in their special day!”

To find out more about hosting your wedding at Regent’s, contact [email protected].

RSA House is offering exclusive Christmas party packages at its unique London venue, featuring multiple spaces that are suitable for parties, seated lunches and dinners, and drinks receptions.

The 2021 Christmas package includes several hours of sparkling and house wine, a live DJ and dance floor, a dedicated Event Manager, bespoke Christmas menus from CH&CO Catering, and even more to create the ultimate unforgettable Christmas party for up to 220 guests. Optional extras include pre-dinner canapés, unlimited sparkling wine or spirits, and the RSA ‘Pudding at the Theatre’ interactive showstopper dessert station to truly indulge in the luxury of the venue.

RSA House combines Georgian splendour with high quality contemporary design and is a versatile space suitable for a variety of events. For a truly magical experience, consider hosting your party in the subterranean Vaults, the ultimate underground venue full of unique character, exposed brickwork and intimate alcoves. Or, for a luxurious space steeped in history, hire the RSA’s flagship Great Room as a memorable backdrop filled with 18^th century art: a space like no other.

To book now, visit https://www.thersa.org/rsa-house/contact-us.

The prestigious 2021 Royal Gold Medal, which is awarded annually by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), was presented to Sir David Adjaye in a ceremony streamed live from Accra, Ghana and London, UK on Wednesday 26 May.

Presented in recognition of a lifetime’s work, the Royal Gold Medal is approved by Her Majesty The Queen and is given to a person or group of people who have had a significant influence ‘either directly or indirectly on the advancement of architecture’. Normally run as a physical event with a dinner for around 240 guests, this year’s ceremony was a virtual occasion featuring live and pre-recorded content; it was the first time in RGM history that the RIBA could open this event up for worldwide attendees.

In order to maintain viewer engagement via this virtual broadcast from London and Ghana, the RIBA team commissioned some excellent films to deliver all of the key aspects of the ceremony; a new online platform was brought in to allow networking among guests, so they could chat with each other in a 1-2-1 capacity as they would at a live in-person event. An Expo section of the platform with additional messages and content that could be accessed during and post-presentation was also included.

The event itself featured a welcome address and speech from the RIBA President and CEO; pre-recorded messages of congratulations from significant people around the world including former US President Barack Obama and U2 signer Bono; a film showing the significance of the medal and Sir David Adjaye receiving it; a conversation between Sir David and Lucy Tilley, Associate Principal at Adjaye Associates, discussing his past and in-progress projects; and a live Q&A with Sir David himself from Ghana, with viewers able to submit their questions.

Despite the challenges of lockdown affecting the creation of the films in London and Ghana, and factoring in sufficient time to make sure the audience understood all aspects of the event platform prior to the live broadcast, the first ever virtual Royal Gold Medal ceremony was a huge success. Most notably, it was a fantastic opportunity to broaden the reach of the presentation to audiences who may otherwise have been unable to attend and celebrate the achievements of Sir David.

For more information about hosting a virtual, hybrid or live event at RIBA, contact [email protected].