The Visit England Awards recognised the efforts of the UK's meetings and conference venues that acted as hospitals during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Manchester Central, ExCeL London, the National Exhibition Centre (NEC), Harrogate Convention Centre and The Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre (SECC) were all recognised in the Outstanding Contribution Award.
Visit England Advisory Board (VEAB) chair, Nick de Bois presented the award and said: “The efforts of business events venues and the broad range of suppliers, from those providing the shell scheme materials to logistics, have been pivotal in supporting the NHS’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Five exhibition and conference venues across the country have stepped up to provide capacity for 2,300 beds, with a potential maximum of over 7,000 beds if need.
“Congratulations to all those involved, you played a critical role in supporting the British people, the NHS and the Government during these unprecedented times. This is a very well-deserved award.”
AEV chair, Dan Thurlow collected the award on behalf of the venues and suppliers who helped create the temporary hospitals. He said he was, “immensely proud.”
Previous recipients of the Outstanding Contribution Award include The Great English Pub, the Harry Potter films, the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games Makers, The Travel Agent, The Royal Shakespeare Company, The Chefs of England and last year’s winners were England’s National Parks.
However, this year, Visit England bestowed the award to the business events venue sector.
“Putting together facilities such as these at the speed they were required shows the capability and collaboration our industry is known for, we do it every week. And we now look forward to getting back to doing this for our organiser clients and running shows that will play a significant role in kick-starting industry, local and national economies and showcasing our international appeal,” Thurlow added.
A desire to travel led Holly Patrick to the business meetings and events world and she’s never looked back. Holly takes a particular interest in event sustainability and creating a diverse and inclusive industry. When she’s not working, she can be found rolling skating along Brighton seafront listening to an eclectic playlist, featuring the likes of Patti Smith, Sean Paul, and Arooj Aftab.
