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Take Note

28 Mar 2023

April's top 5

1) ExCeL partners with isla

ExCeL London, our partner venue for The Meetings Show, has announced a collaboration with industry body isla to offer the TRACE platform to event organisers – becoming the first UK venue to do so.

The platform has been designed to report on the environmental impact of an event's lifecycle and will be available as an additional service for any event hosted at ExCeL London. The new partnership will also see ExCeL become a member of isla, becoming amongst the first UK venues to have signed up.

Natalie Sykes, sustainability manager, ExCeL London said: “As an industry, we know we need to change from the make/break/dispose mentality when it comes to staging events and move to a circular approach. However, to be able to do this, you need to fully understand and measure your event’s existing carbon footprint, so you can then determine where you can make the greatest impact. This is where TRACE comes in and we’re delighted to be working alongside experts isla to play our part in helping to inform and inspire the events sector to make sustainable choices.”

 

2) Smyle Group launches employee experience agency

Powered by Humans is a new agency focused on transforming the employee experience by applying best-in-class marketing and advertising practices to drive brand love and advocacy.

Created by The Smyle Group, Powered by Humans will work with businesses to deliver campaigns and experiences that ‘unleash the power of the humans behind the brand by giving them the best experience of it’.

The agency was launched in response to a huge shift in workplace culture during and postpandemic. With a focus on equitable experiences for all, Powered by Humans will provide a range of services including strategy and planning; talent acquisition, development and retention; communication; and change.

 

3) Lime Venue Portfolio launches cross-industry campaign

Lime Venue Portfolio has announced it will launch a cross-industry campaign titled 'The Meetings of the Future', which will assess the events landscape.

As part of the initiative, Lime Venue Portfolio has partnered with MESA (Meetings & Events Support Association) and event creative, Robert Dunsmore. The brand will conduct its own empirical research as well as engagement exercises and focus groups with event professionals throughout the year.
Following this research, Lime Venue Portfolio will release ‘concepts’ around the future of association, corporate and charity events. While food will continue to be a factor, the research will focus on the event environment.

 

4) Cvent to be acquired by Blackstone

Event technology provider, Cvent, has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by an affiliate of private equity funds managed by Blackstone in a transaction valued at approximately £3.7bn ($4.6bn). A wholly owned subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) will be a significant minority investor alongside Blackstone as part of the transaction.

“We are excited to share this announcement and look forward to our next chapter alongside the Blackstone team,” said Reggie Aggarwal, founder and CEO, Cvent. “As one of the world’s largest private equity firms, Blackstone brings deep expertise in the event and hospitality industry and, with their backing, we plan to continue to invest in our business and deliver the innovative solutions that meet our customers’ needs and power the meetings and events ecosystem.”

The Cvent board of directors unanimously approved the merger agreement, and the transaction is expected to close mid-year 2023, subject to approval by Cvent’s stockholders and required regulatory approvals. Upon completion of the transaction, Cvent’s common stock will no longer be publicly listed, and Cvent will become a privately held company.

 

5) The Business of Events launches sector-wide consultation

The Business of Events, the not-for-profit independent Think Tank for the events industry, has launched its Policy Unit and opened the first stage of its sector-wide Consultation.

The aim of the Consultation is to gather sentiment among those owning, running, managing, and working in the events industry, which will lay the foundation for a comprehensive Policy Agenda for the sector. It marks the first stage of the Policy Unit’s work and will close on 14th April 2023.

Responses to the Consultation will be categorised into sub-sectors and discussed as part of a Policy Unit which will lead to the publication of multiple reports, which will be reviewed by MPs sitting on the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Events, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, and the Policy Unit’s Advisory Council.

A second stage Consultation will open later in 2023 and will further explore policy initiatives in more detail. You can complete the consultation here.

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