Martin Rhodes MP, chair of The All-Party Parliamentary Group
(APPG) for Events says he will work ‘persistently and consistently’ to ensure
events gain recognition and support from government despite recent funding cuts
at VisitBritain and London & Partners threatening international visibility.
Speaking at The Meetings Show 2026, a month after news broke
that VisitBritain’s grant-in-aid funding was being reduced by 41 per cent, the Labour
MP for Glasgow, pledged to ensure the UK’s meetings and events sector continued
to gain the attention it deserves.
He said the cuts at VisitBritain and London’s growth agency
London & Partners, were the result of ‘difficult decisions’, but were his
impetus to push the industry forward.
“I'm keen to make sure that even in terms of decisions that
have already be made, even in that context, that we ensure that this sector
doesn't lose its profile, that it increases it,” he said.
“People who know me, know the attributes that I have are
being consistent and persistent. I will keep making the case for events and
shout about it more and get people to pay more attention.
“You see all the different businesses here [at The Meetings
Show], the different opportunities and the economic value of events. It’s an industry
that is successful, but it could be more successful.”
Rhodes officially opened the 14th edition of The Meetings
Show at Excel London with a celebratory ribbon cutting ceremony before meeting
some of the more than 550 exhibitors from across the global events community
gracing this year’s show floor.
Exhibitors included Visit Scotland, Hilton, Singapore
Tourism Board, Lime Venue Portfolio, Visit Cyprus, Imago Venues and The
Meetings Show’s accessibility partners, EventWell and Nipperbout.
When asked how the business meetings and events sector could
get its voice heard among government, Rhodes suggested taking a positive stance.
“This is a hugely successful industry whose selling point is
that it’s a strong, vibrant industry that is established and doing well.
“The message, therefore should be that with more support it could
actually do even better, not only for the companies in it, but for the economy more
generally.”
