PAlife INTERN ATIO NAL CONFEX PREVIEW
NEW FOR 2013 Confex provides more interactive features than ever this year, responding to feedback from delegates who wanted more ways to make contacts and mingle with key suppliers. The HOTEL LOBBY is a new central focus
to the exhibition, providing a dedicated area for the very best properties to showcase their meetings and events products. It will host a selection of more than 35 UK, international and luxury hotels, including representatives from both large chains and smaller independent boutique properties. The STATUSUPDATE theatre offers all
you need to know to get the most out of social media strategy for your events, while DESTINATION VILLAGE lets DMCs from around the world represent their destinations alongside their international peers. Not forward-looking enough for
aspect of the industry. On Tuesday, Lord John Prescott will speak about his time in government and give his views on the economic situation and the challenges he sees ahead. On Wednesday, journalist, author and
broadcaster Janet Street-Porter will discuss her career with trademark frankness, describing what it’s like at the top of the media industry and how she got there. Plus there is a special Olympic keynote taking place in the Live Experience theatre from Piers Shepperd, Technical Director of the Olympic ceremonies, about how to upscale your event and get the best out of contractors while doing so. On Thursday business speaker Geoff
your liking? The LIVE LOUNGE will provide an exciting glimpse of the future of conferences, with a mind-blowing showcase of the latest hologram and projection technologies. The show organisers have also signed a
AYS TO C MAKE
WMORE
partnership agreement with the Local Authority Event Organisers Group that will see the association bring its annual general meeting, Local Live, to the exhibition. On top of the AGM, Local Live will also include two speaker sessions tailored towards organisers of local authority events. Finally, catch up with colleagues and
network with new ones throughout CONFEX WEEK. Events will take place before, during and after the show, to maximise your time out of the office.
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS Taking place at 1pm each day is a talk from a fascinating speaker, illuminating a different
ONTACTS
Cousins, previously Jaguar Land Rover’s highly successful Global Director for Sponsorship and Brand Partners, explores the transformation of the Jaguar brand. He looks at how it reclaimed its position in the market and how his strategies can be applied to businesses across the board.
VENUE IDEAS A number of venues and groups will also be showcasing their portfolios and new additions. Venue Birmingham will be aiming to hit the right note with its new £18 million landmark venue, the Bramall Music Building. The multi-million-pound concert performance, conference, meetings and events venue completes the semi-circle of buildings around Chancellor’s Court on the University of Birmingham’s campus, at the centre of which stands the magnificent Great Hall that opened its doors to the public last summer. The Staffordshire Stoke-on-Trent
Conference Bureau represents more than 40 venues and services, and promotes itself as “the ideal location” because of its
geographical position in the centre of the country. This year, the Bureau will be joined by Keele Conference and Events, Yarnfield Park Training and Conference Centre, Uttoxeter Racecourse and Hoar Cross Hall Spa Resort to make-up a ‘famous five’. Hoar Cross Hall will be bringing one of its therapists to the stand to offer basic beauty treatments to weary delegates. Visitors will also have the opportunity to get a taste of Staffordshire by signing up for one of the familiarisation trips. Following last year’s success, Lime Venue
Portfolio has announced it will once again host the popular Unusual Made Easy Showcase. Venues in attendance from the diverse collection will include Edinburgh Zoo, Carlisle Racecourse, Edgbaston, Museum of Science and Industry, Twickenham Experience and Aintree Racecourse. Guests will be able to meet experts in the fields of catering, event theming, AV and lighting, floristry, photography, entertainment, videography and hospitality. Last year’s showcase attracted an audience of more than 150 corporate meetings and events buyers and agencies to the Old Royal Naval College’s magnificent Painted Hall. And while summer may still be a little way
off, historic country house venue Stoke Rochford Hall in Lincolnshire will bring the outdoors indoors featuring a summer ‘garden’, with the beautiful stone Victorian mansion creating a backdrop. Visitors will be welcomed onto a carpet of lush green ‘grass’, recreating the lawns surrounding the Grade I-listed building. And fittingly for Confex’s 30th birthday,
Stoke Rochford will be popping a few corks of its own exclusive Champagne and offering the chance to win a prize of a free luxury weekend break for two. For more information about this year’s show and to see the full event agenda, visit
international-confex.com
FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @PALIFEMAG OR ON THE PA LIFE LINKEDIN PAGE
PALIFE.CO.UK ♦ 22 ♦ MARCH 2013 • PALife
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52