5
Editor’s Letter
OVERCOMING
the first hurdle
e must take the victories where we can find
them, but not fool ourselves into thinking
the return of large events and experiences
in October is as clear as it seems.
Make no mistake, receiving a start date from Boris
Johnson in July was a huge hurdle to clear. It is hard to
understate the efforts of the likes of Simon Hughes, the
chair of the Business Visits and Events Partnership, Chris
Skeith, CEO of the Association of Event Organisers, and Jane
Longhurst, chief executive of the Meetings Industry
Association, as well as their partner associations and
teams. There have been frustrations along the way, even at
a level of having to sell to ministers what our industry is all
about from the ground floor. I would like to think that if the
Government didn’t fully appreciate the value of our sector
before, they do now, or at least will when we are firing on all
cylinders in the future. If we can get the Standardised
Industrial Classification (SIC) code issue sorted, then we will
be all the stronger.
However, no sooner had we got the date (which I remind
you is subject to the threat level of the virus), that the reality
of the economic viability of running events has been
questioned. Specifically, with regards to the 2m and 1m+
rules, some venues and organisers will find it impossible to
even break even, to say nothing about turning a profit. Our
cover feature (p16) explains, in facts alone, what the
Government has announced, but the guidance, which has
been published, is still subject to change as a result of pilot
events. At the time of press there is no further information to
share with you, unfortunately, but do follow our online news
service at www.conference-news.co.uk to keep up-to-date
with the developments.
Of course, the other elephant in the room is that of
consumer confidence. The events industry can be all set
and ready to go, but if corporate policy prevents people
travelling, then what? What we must do is reassure the
public that our events – our experiences – are safe. This is
no easy feat, but there is a plan in the pipeline. Keep an eye
out for the hashtag #WeCreateExperiences online. An
announcement on the Conference News website will be
coming shortly.
Stay safe, and enjoy the issue.
Martin Fullard
Editor
Conference News
www.conference-news.co.uk