Published by Neil ThompsonAs 2024 draws to a close, Mandy Jennings, CEO, reflects on the incredible progress and achievements of the past 12 months for the consortium and its member venues.
The membership consortium remains deeply committed to empowering our member venues, supporting them in a range of crucial areas including sales, marketing, exhibitions, PR, training, and providing valuable peer-to-peer networking opportunities. These initiatives allow venues to gain valuable insights into future trends while also creating a platform to share challenges and solutions within the ever-evolving hospitality sector.
This year has been filled with collaboration, growth, and success, and we look forward to continuing our journey together in the year ahead, driving positive change and ensuring that our members thrive in the face of new opportunities and challenges.
2024 kicked off with our Annual Conference, The Power of Discovery, where we provided an insightful programme to support our members’ business strategies for the year ahead. Featuring top industry speakers addressing key trends and challenges, alongside a diverse range of exhibitors showcasing essential services and products for the hospitality sector, the conference was a resounding success. Over 150 delegates attended, making it a valuable and well-received event that set the tone for a year of collaboration, growth, and shared knowledge.
With over 50 member venues, the Venues of Excellence consortium takes pride in representing the very best in independent conference and event venues. In 2024, we were thrilled to welcome Center Parcs Sherwood Forest, Center Parcs Woburn Forest, The Jockey Club Rooms, Friends House, and Mar Hall Golf and Spa Resort into our growing membership.
Every new venue member undergoes a thorough audit across their business before joining the consortium, ensuring they meet our high standards. For our existing members, our ongoing Quality Assessment audits reinforce our commitment to our Quality Pledges, ensuring all venues consistently maintain their position as leaders in the hospitality sector. This rigorous approach helps us maintain the excellence and distinction that Venues of Excellence is known for, enabling our members to stay ahead of the curve and continue delivering outstanding experiences.
Our Learning and Development Academy has experienced a significant increase in delegate attendance in 2024, with a diverse range of courses designed to meet the evolving needs of the hospitality sector. Offering both online and in-person options, our courses provide venues with the flexibility to ensure their teams can participate, no matter their location or schedule. From sales and marketing to food and beverage management, we've welcomed over 250 delegates from both member and non-member venues over the past 12 months. These courses play a key role in supporting our members by offering valuable career development opportunities, which in turn enhances staff retention and boosts overall service delivery. The positive impact on customer satisfaction is a direct result of our commitment to continuous learning and professional growth, helping our members stay competitive and provide exceptional experiences. We are extremely proud to have 10 of our members hit 100% in their recent BVA-BDRC enquiry handling mystery shopping calls, and 24 of our venues over the 90% level.
Now in its second year, our Senior Leaders Dinner took place at the stunning West Court, Jesus College, Cambridge, and was expertly hosted by Stuart Websdale and Alexis Moreau. This exclusive event provides senior leaders with a unique opportunity to engage in confidential discussions about current business trends, challenges, and solutions over a relaxed dinner. The evening’s topics included the recent government budget, HR issues, outsourcing services, and market confidence in conferencing and events—issues that are shaping the future of the hospitality sector. Attendees shared their appreciation, with comments like, “I thoroughly enjoyed the event; it was incredibly useful for my business,” and “Great food, great company, and a chance to discuss our collective challenges.” With 16 venues in attendance, the evening was a great success, providing a valuable platform for open dialogue and collaboration. The discussions held will play a key role in navigating the challenges and opportunities facing the sector as we look ahead to 2025 and beyond.
Looking ahead to 2025, we have an exciting line-up of networking events designed to showcase Venues of Excellence and our member venues to conference and event planners. These events will not only highlight the exceptional venues in our consortium but also provide valuable insights on membership benefits and tips for successful event delivery. Our Annual Conference, Positive Evolution, will take place at Burleigh Court Conference Centre and Hotel, Imago Venues, Loughborough, and promises to be an inspiring journey. It will be a day designed to inform, motivate, and uplift teams, offering a wealth of knowledge and opportunities for both members and non-members in the hospitality sector. We encourage many members to attend our Members Forums and the Venues of Excellence Annual Conference—described by many as “the best conference” in the industry. These gatherings foster meaningful conversations and the exchange of valuable information among venue colleagues, helping us all stay at the top of our game.
2024 has been an exciting and successful year for Venues of Excellence, and I am incredibly proud to lead such a proactive consortium. Our Enquiry Service and Venue Find service has gone from strength to strength and we have doubled our sales from 2019. Our members continue to be at the forefront of delivering outstanding customer service and experiences within the conference and events sectors, and I look forward to seeing even more success in the year ahead.
