Together again
nternational Confex 21 saw the UK events industry finally join together again , 1-2 September , in-person at London ECeL . Over the two days , the event saw multiple discussions surrounding important issues affecting the industry , and provided opportunities for networking and business .
On Day 1 , the show ’ s Association Event Forum saw Paul Martin , executive director for strategic business at event tech platform EventsAIR , address the topic of ‘ Revenue positive – good times ahead for associations post-Covid ’.
Martin offered insight into how associations ’ main streams of revenue had adjusted and could be exploited as the pandemic had brought with it an adjustment in the structure of the events industry .
He issued a warning to organisers that , “ if associations don ’ t move into virtual arenas effectively , members may choose to move away and look for alternative avenues to engage with these kinds of activity .”
Day 1 also saw Kathleen Warden , director of conference
sales at SEC in Glasgow , and David Zolkwer , project director of climate change conference COP26 at Identity agency , lead the Keynote Theatre ’ s discussion on the challenges of COP26 ’ s delivery , its significance , and its legacy .
Zolkwer said : “ Sustainability is quite a challenge because it makes good business sense , but it increasingly becomes a moral and ethical issue . There is no end to the sustainability journey ,” he added .
Warden noted conferences were enablers of social and economic change . “ COP26 is all about the purpose and the purpose of the
“ The appetite for live events will never go away .”
Heidi Hatfield , sales executive at The Grand York
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“ I think it ’ s what we ’ ve all been waiting for . To be back in the room together , and actually network , it feels like our homecoming .”
Rhiannon Kirk , sales manager for Delaware North , London Stadium
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