05/2013

This year’s HBAA Chairman’s Charity, the Make A Difference Trust, hosted its first fundraising event of 2013, the sixth annual West End Eurovision contest, at the Dominion Theatre last week.

HBAA members camped out late into the night to back 2013 Chairman Chris Parnham’s chosen charity, which brings together the British entertainment industry and its audiences to support those living with HIV and AIDS or facing hardship as a result of another long-term medical condition. 

The late night show commenced at 11.30pm, once the curtain closed on the stages of London’s West End, and paid tribute to the Eurovision Song Contest. 10 West End shows including Phantom of the Opera, Rock of Ages, We Will Rock You and Mamma Mia were pitched against each other, singing past Eurovision songs to win the votes of the audience, the competing entries’ judging panels and a host of celebrity judges. It was new Irish musical Once who won the coveted trophy with their adaptation of Dana's All Kinds of Everything.

2013’s contest was judged by a star-studded panel which featured X Factor’s Rylan, Lisa Riley of Emmerdale and Strictly Come Dancing, astrologer to the stars Russell Grant and I’d do Anything winner Jodie Prenger.  Gok Wan, Sinitta, Ben Richards and Christopher Biggins were guest presenters on the night, which included performances by former Eurovision winners Katrina and the Waves. 

Chris Parnham, Chairman of the HBAA, said: “The MAD Trust is a terrific charity, and the event was a huge success. HBAA members treated some of their partners and clients to a truly unique evening – 10 West End shows in one exclusive event.

Zibrant, George P Johnson and Smyle will represent the events industry at the E20 meeting at The Athenaeum, Mayfair, this month to discuss the export of UK events.

The forum, brought together by ISES UK Chapter and the Britain for Events campaign, will also see agencies Freeman UK and Mayridge discuss the subject, as well as major destinations and venues.

The event will also be attended by James Samuel, event director of International Confex; Michael Hirst, chair of the Business Visits and Events Partnership; Visit Scotland and London & Partners. The meeting will be facilitated by Philip Atkins, President of ISES UK Chapter. 

Atkins said: "Its our belief that the UK stands apart from its competition in terms of the creativity of our events industry, and it is our role as an association to both promote its worth and look to extend our reputation globally.

"We're privileged to have creative powerhouses around the table; these agencies are doing work that represents the very best of UK event production and are the envy of our competition around the world."
 
Findings of the E20 will be shared with the industry following the event as part of ISES UK's promotional and educational agenda.

The HBAA has welcomed Brunel University, Cambridge City Hotel and The Hotel, Brussels to its roster of domestic and international venue members.

As part of their membership, the venues will benefit from the various initiatives undertaken by the HBAA to provide a framework for recognised personal professional development within the industry, informal and formal networking opportunities, and encouraging and nurturing innovation that will advance the industry. 

The diverse range of venues to have recently joined the HBAA (which includes Drayton Manor and Yas Viceroy Hotel Abu Dhabi, besides those venues previously mentioned) highlights the value the association is able to provide academic venues, hotels and sporting stadia whose facilities are utilised for meetings and events

Iona Courtenay-Warren, business development manager at Brunel University, said: "We are very excited about joining the HBAA and developing our business relationship with various communities. The training offered by the HBAA is one of the reasons we have joined, as it is tailor-made to the sector and will assist the team in their learning and development."  

London's Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre (QEIICC) and Central Hall Westminster (CHW) have joined forces to offer delegates one of the largest event spaces in the city centre.

The two venues, which are located next door to each other, have launched a joint initiative – Central London International Conference Centres (CLICC) – and can be hired together to accommodate up to 2,160 people theatre-style in one room. The QEIICC and CHW are separated by a 300 sqm outdoor square and lawn and this space can also be used for events.

The venues also offer receptions for up to 1,500 people in one room, banqueting for up to 930 in one room, 36 breakout rooms and 2,067 sqm of exhibition space in one room. CLICC also has more than 5,500 beds in a range of accommodation nearby, offering preferential rates with seven hotels.

Sue Etherington, commercial director, The QEIICC said: “By working together we can offer the only extensive conference facility in central London for large conference events. Hosting the 2012 Olympics has raised London’s profile with large international organisations, and now they have the opportunity to hold their events in a very convenient, central London location right in the heart of Westminster, overlooking London’s historic skyline of Westminster Abbey, Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament.”