Left: Sundial Group Above: Corinthia Hotels


LIGHTEN UP “Venues have a large part to play in ensur- ing delegate productivity, and there is no doubt that the room has a big psychologi- cal impact on the audience,” says Unique Venues of London general manager Lisa Hatswell. So treating delegates like mushrooms, keeping them in the dark and shovelling Powerpoint presentations on them is clearly not the way forward. Although any event that involves a lot


CASE STUDY


Taking the temperature


THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF NURSING (RCN) congress is arranged by the college’s event organiser, Rebecca Hoole, who includes a health and wellbeing programme. This year the congress took place at the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre (SECC) in Glasgow and some 4,000 delegates attended over the four-day event. “The SECC complemented my programme with ideas of their own, so there was a lot more going on,” says Hoole.


This included yoga before the first session of the day; a pedometer challenge that had delegates tweeting the number of steps they had done each day, with vouchers as prizes; and guests being given a voucher code for an app, so that they could use Glasgow’s rental Nextbikes for free: “Most delegates were staying in the city centre, 30 minutes from the SECC, so that was a good option,” she says.


In addition, some morning sessions included breathing techniques to aid relaxation and meditation classes, and on two of the four days, Hoole organised a Health Hub providing shiatsu and Bowden therapy massages. Also, visitors could have their blood pressure and body/mass index (BMI) measured, and talk to personal coaches and nutritionists. Further wellbeing issues were addressed with sessions on topics such as managing emotions and mindfulness.


118 BBT September/October 2016


“Everyone who engaged with the programme is really positive about it, and said they needed to eat more healthily and make time for exercise,” Hoole says. “They are passionate about making change.”


The SECC became the world’s first accredited Healthy


Venue under the World Obesity Federation’s criteria. This initiative seeks to stimulate and support practical actions that will help people achieve and maintain a healthy weight, and reverse the global obesity crisis. It focuses on steps venues can take to promote healthy eating and more activity among delegates. Yoga sessions, a step challenge, lunchtime football and promoting use of Nextbikes are all part of the SECC’s award-winning strategy.


of projection or stage work will need a darkened room, it is important to ensure participants can take a break in areas with natural light and have the chance to do some kind of activity, whether that is wander around grounds or just stretch. When Marriott launched Meetings Imagined in 2014, one of the ingredients was daylight. “We are dedicated to deliver- ing engaging experiences that promote productivity and collaboration,” says


Marriott events director Christiane von Stockert. “Adaptable, transformative spaces with natural light and appealing views combine with flexible seating, tables and technology to enable meeting planners to design their ideal meeting set-up.”


A HEALTHY MIX Serious consideration and planning should also go into the format of the


SECC Glasgow BUYINGBUSINESSTRAVEL.COM


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