“After a tumultuous 2022, you’d be
forgiven for hoping for a more settled climate next year” – the sentiment from venuedirectory.com
managing director, Michael Begley.
Photo Credit: Supplied“However, with the Office for
National Statistics confirming earlier this month that we’re in a recession,
resources are being squeezed tighter than ever, and the outlook is not as rosy
as we may like.
Begley shares his predictions and
hopes for the events industry as we approach 2023.
- To
achieve net zero by 2050, corporate procurement teams must make it
mandatory that all venues booked must have an audited sustainable
accreditation. Recognised schemes such as Green Key, Green Tourism Standard,
Green Meetings from Green Tourism and ECOsmart enable venues to demonstrate,
measure and – crucially - build on their commitment to sustainability.
- Agents
should look to streamline the number of venues they request proposals from to
ensure a better chance of success and save everyone's time. With many venues
now operating with fewer staff, some are struggling to handle the sheer volume
of incoming enquiries – our recent analysis showed that in 2019,
76 per cent of RFPs were answered within two hours compared to just 58 per cent
this year.
- Wellbeing
needs to remain a top priority. While the challenges of the pandemic may have
diminished, another wide-reaching upheaval has taken its place: the
cost-of-living crisis. With event professionals only rating their general
wellbeing as 6 out of 10 (according to the Event
Marketing Association), we need to be mindful of the stress our industry
friends are under and give them the space and support needed during the tough
times ahead.
- My
final wish for next year is for the community spirit that powers our industry
to continue and grow. The pandemic proved how our sector excels in coming
together and collaborating. Since then we’ve seen the launch of numerous
partnerships, such as the Net
Zero Carbon Events Initiative, which unites organisations under a shared
sustainability goal. As event professionals, we excel at bringing people
together and I’d like to see that collaboration continue in the year ahead.
