8
News
UKinbound calls for
urgent funding clarity
HBAA vows to help
booking agents
The Hotel Booking Agents
Association (HBAA) has been
working with industry groups to
urge for more widespread
support for the events industry.
HBAA will support the events
industry by providing bitesize
guides and webinars. They will
discuss topics such as applying
for financial support.
Lex Butler, chair, HBAA, said:
“We’re fighting for the many
agencies whose businesses
have recently been obliterated
to be included as the
government plans the
distribution of financial support.”
CHS moves back
CHS Group has confirmed that
the Conference & Hospitality
Show (CHS) Leeds has been
postponed to 7 July 2020 as a
result of the impact of Covid19.
The 11th year of the show will
go ahead at the First Direct
Arena, Leeds, as usual.
“The date change has been far
from simple, but thanks to our
supply chain, including the
venue, and our main
contractors, it has been
surprisingly easy, and we can’t
thank them enough for this,”
commented Emma Cartmell,
CEO, CHS Group.
Meetings Industry Association calls for
industry input to push government
The Meetings Industry Association (mia) is continuing to work
hard to lobby government for greater financial measures for the
business meetings and events industry in the face of Covid19.
The association is calling for as many events businesses to
take their fortnightly survey so that they can provide as
up-to-date information to government as possible.
Meetings Industry Association chief executive Jane Longhurst
(pictured) said: “Your responses are informing our direct
communication to government as we continue to fight for
support for the sector.
“We are communicating directly with government because we
are concerned that, while of massive economic importance, our
sector could easily be lost in the myriad of headline messages in
the press and to government from the wider hospitality industry.
“As a sector we are not headlining but we are haemorrhaging.
So please do provide your response as soon as possible to help
inform our next communication with government.” The
association is also calling on all eventprofs to get in touch via
[email protected]. Visit www.mia-uk.org to take the survey.
UKinbound, the travel trade
association, has called for urgent
clarity on eligibility for the
emergency funding announced
by chancellor of the exchequer
Rishi Sunak, 17 March.
Joss Croft, CEO, UKinbound,
has also called for the removal or
deferment of VAT and PAYE
payments.
He said: “Urgent clarity is
needed on what the eligibility
criteria is for the proposed
funding, specifically for our tour
operator members who are the
backbone of our industry and
those in the events industry, to
ensure that the benefits of
tourism reach every corner of the
UK.”
Alliance writes to
government
In a letter to the chancellor Rishi
Sunak, 18 March, Chris Skeith
(CEO, AEO), Rachel Parker
(director, AEV) and Andrew
Harrison (director, ESSA) asked
for a rescue plan to specifically
support the exhibition industry
and its supply chain.
Leaders of the three
associations (known as the
Events Industry Alliance) have
asked for confirmation of all
aspects of both the rescue plan,
and the government’s Covid19
support package.
ICCA and EventsAIR confirm partnership
ICCA has announced a partnership
with EventsAIR as its preferred event
technology platform and industry
partner.
EventsAIR has recently launched its
6th generation event technology
platform and its solution will be used
globally to manage ICCA events. This
www.conference-news.co.uk
new partnership aims to expand
EventsAIR’s position as an event
association specialist.
ICCA has also recently launched its
‘ICCA Association Community’, which
aims to offer education, connections,
tools and resources to associations to
organise more effective meetings.