Published by Neil ThompsonAs venues plan to open their doors once again to the MICE sector, leading UK Consortium Venues of Excellence (VOE) are delighted to become a Strategic Partner of the Institute of Hospitality.
Over the past few months, VOE have been integral to position additional membership benefits to with their 47 member venues and their hospitality teams, and their focus has been to help position them strongly to regrow their business post COVID-19.
Mandy Jennings, Executive Director, VoE commented: “VOE value the importance of their alliances with key industry partners, who all play a crucial role in the strategic development of moving our consortia and brand forward. We believe sharing best practices across organisations and becoming a Strategic Partner of the Institute will being benefits to our members and their teams, enhancing the relationship for all.
Through our partnership, we have three key areas of focus to support the hospitality industry and our membership:
- Support our industry by sharing best practice, giving great examples of how to be an award-winning conference and event venue, continually striving to be “best in class” and achieving excellence in both venue quality and service.
- Support in learning and development, helping develop winning teams, increase knowledge and sales and marketing expertise, and drive venue quality and innovation.
- Support by helping to bring in new blood into the industry through pride of what we stand for as an industry where graduates are welcomed with respect and are their roles are valued.
VOE is principally a sales and marketing consortium for independent conference and event led venues which has been in place for over 30 years. Whilst thousands of people are employed in this industry it is quite amazing how we are all connected; our golden thread is that we are all passionate, enthusiastic people with boundless energy, and right now it is truly amazing to see how we are all supporting each other.
From initial discussions with the Institute of Hospitality, Jennings worked with Board Member, Stewart Elsmore, Director of Campus Services, Cranfield University to forge an alliance to take the consortium and members forward.
Stewart who became a member of the IoH in 2017, commenting on the new partnership quoted; “Relationships and alliances with industry partners are key to strengthening hospitality and meetings organisations to hasten the recovery for both our customers and memberships. The reality of partnering is that by working together ‘the whole is stronger than the sum of the parts’.”
As the hospitality’s global professional body, Peter Ducker FIH, Chief Executive IOH, commenting on the partnership said “Our new arrangement with Venues of Excellence is a tremendous example of Industry organisations working together to improve knowledge and promote professionalism. I believe that the Institute’s resources, publications, webinars and thought leadership will be of great value to their members, as they are for our 10500 industry practitioner members and 5000 student members
I also believe that our MentorMe scheme will be of great value to their members - mentoring skills empower senior executives and help their mentees plan and develop their vocational skills.”
VoE member venues have received the information regarding the strategic partnership and both parties are looking at ways to work together moving forward benefitting both the membership and the hospitality industry.
