Operations


Left: The Covid pandemic set the wedding sector back years.


Below: Briefi ngs and conferences are starting to pick up again.


slowly fell away: the road to recovery for conferences and events was an arduous one. But how has this facet of hospitality fared since?


Is the recovery there, or is it still lagging? Are people still shunning larger-scale events despite the Covid pandemic having passed, with a new normal having set in? Has the business viewpoint of these events shifted? These were the questions we sought to answer


by digging into the detail. Comparing the pre- and post-Covid landscapes,


we uncovered clear and objective findings: the situation for conferences and events is looking very positive, with revenue levels practically back in line with pre-pandemic standards. Across the board, there’s been an average 14% increase in the revenues generated by events, with meetings, conferences and banqueting performing particularly strongly. The rise in remote working means businesses are more inclined to come together in hospitality venues – opting for hotels and the like to bring teams and clients together. With face- to-face interactions no longer the day-to-day norm, meetings and events are increasingly important. One thing in particular that was interesting to note though is that parties have experienced a significant decline. Gone, it seems, are the big boozy summer and Christmas parties of before. The more straitlaced sectors, such as finance and banking, which may, in the past, have splashed out on the opportunity for workers to let their hair down are now much more conscious of the optics. People are more mindful now of mingling too closely, while


Hotel Management International / www.hmi-online.com


another factor is the rising cost of living and other economic dynamics. While serious events focused on business are admissible, the more ‘frivolous’ activities, such as parties don’t look as acceptable as they once were – and businesses are making a conscious effort to steer clear. Nonetheless though, parties aside, both in London


and regionally around the wider UK, conference and banqueting revenues have seen a remarkable transformation, and are now showing positive growth – and this is something we can all welcome.


Not all rosy


While we celebrate these positive trends, it’s essential to acknowledge the challenges faced by another significant sector of the hospitality industry: weddings.


14% The average


percentage increase in the revenues generated by events, with meetings, conferences and banqueting performing well.


HOSPA


17


IVASHstudio; New Africa/Shutterstock.com


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