22 Interview
“ We are now in a position where we ’ ve got bookings out to 2028 and contracts out to 2026 .”
MF : Could you give us a rundown on the investment that ’ s taken place to make organising events that little bit better ? What ’ s in the pipeline ? MT : We ’ ve been working on our masterplan since 2013 . We ’ ve done four phases of our work right through the building . That ’ s included aesthetic improvements , technological improvements , and architectural interventions . For example , we ’ ve redesigned spaces which have improved the customer / client experience and our overall capability as a building .
We ’ ve also got phase five , which is looking at integrating our exterior opened courtyard , we are also trying to integrate that space into a usable space within the centre on levels four and five . This will create a great space for exhibitions , conferences , banquets and receptions right across the board .
– so where it might have been 1,000 people attending in the past , now it ’ s 700 .
There ’ s huge enthusiasm from the corporate sector , particularly to be back out there and wanting to bring their organisations together . But now you ’ ve got a situation of recession and not wanting to be too ostentatious , perhaps . There has been tentativeness with some of that , but the association side has been strong and obviously associations live for their annual conferences .
Aside from the possible recessionary impact , recovery will continue and we ’ ve looked at three scenarios for year-end . All of them
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are going to be beating budget , but by different parameters , by different margins .
MF : Has the profile of the organiser you ’ ve been dealing with changed since before the pandemic ? Are you dealing with more clients directly than via agencies ? MT : I ’ m not aware of a shift . We ’ ve always worked with corporates , agents , PCOs and venue placement agents directly . I think one of the interesting things is that organisers have ended up with a whole new team that perhaps are starting out and / or rediscovering this sector . So a change in personnel in some areas .
MF : Let ’ s touch on the House of Lords . It was known that this venue was potentially going to be a temporary home for them . But there is an update on that . What can you tell us ? MT : We had been mooted as a possible future restoration and renewal project venue for the Palace of Westminster to temporarily decant to . That situation has now changed . The centre has been formally advised that this trading constraint has now been removed . We are free to contract events , unencumbered and without any forward restrictions . We are now in a position where we ’ ve got bookings out to 2028 and contracts out to 2026 .
MF : How do you think the energy crisis might impact things ? How can you be working with organisers to make sure that your www . conference-news . co . uk