2020 will be ‘a year of reflection and change’ for the HBAA as it adopts regeneration as its theme for the year.
New HBAA chair Lex Butler, founder and operations director of agency Wolf & White, announced the plan to a record audience of 190 members at the trade association for the hotel booking agency, apartment and venue community’s annual Kick Off Meeting at The Grand Brighton.
She said: “We are in the final stretch of our current five-year plan. 2020 will be a year of reflection, where our key strategy is regeneration. A year ahead of change, movements and restructuring, making HBAA as relevant as possible to the needs of its members and the industry, will lead us well into our next five-year strategy in 2021.”
As a first step towards implementing this, the association has created new roles on its executive committee including a sustainability chair, training chair, partnerships chair and next-gen chairs.
Butler said: “Our executive committee has expanded to ensure it is robust and future-fit.”
Regeneration was also the theme of the one-day conference. It was reflected in sessions on developments such as Esports and Brexit as well as through engaging speakers such as Francis Gimblett of Taste the Vine and inspiring double amputee former soldier Micky Yule who is now a Paralympic powerlifter.
Discussing the new political landscape’, political consultant and analyst John Rowland of Cicero Group confirmed that recruitment, particularly of low-skill workers, from the EU, could pose a long-term problem for the hospitality and events industry in post-Brexit Britain under the proposed new immigration rules.
Rowland said: “Brexit will increase friction in travel but not enough to put off short-term visitors as those staying up to 90 days will not require a visa. It could affect those coming to live and work in the UK.” It is not anticipated that Brexit will have a negative impact on event visitors to the UK.
The hospitality industry may need to foster closer relationships with UK schools and FE colleges to fill a potential staffing shortfall.
Esports, the world of competitive video-gaming, presents a vast and untapped revenue opportunity for the event and hospitality industry, according to experts who spoke at the meeting.
Lex Butler also confirmed that Buses4Homeless will continue as the association’s charity partner for 2020 and the Annual Dinner in the evening added a further £22,000 to the £36,000 raised by members in 2019.
M&IT editor Paul Harvey is a journalist with more than 15 years of experience. He began his career in the local press, working for various titles across the north. Since joining M&IT in 2013, he has become a trusted and respected voice in the sector, championing event professionals and reporting on all aspects of the events industry for the brand.
