Venue Updata
From accolades for beam members, to World Cup packages, via historic Cambridge, a record year in Austria, and a brand new Times Square renovation, it's been an exciting month for venue news and updates from the UK and beyond.
Seven beam members recognised among the UK's Best Places to Work
Seven beam members are among the UK's Best Places to Work, according to The Sunday Times Best Places to Work list.
Cairn Group, De Vere, Richmond Hill, Royal Lancaster, The Belfry Hotel & Spa, Valor Hospitality UK & Europe and Wyboston Lakes Resort (pictured) have all secured places on the prestigious annual ranking, which celebrates organisations that demonstrate outstanding employee engagement, workplace culture, and commitment to colleague wellbeing.
David Tremmil, chair of beam, said: "These seven incredible beam members are demonstrating that when businesses put their people first, they create stronger organisations, deliver exceptional customer experiences and help strengthen the hospitality and events sector’s reputation."
Green Valley Ranch unveils refreshed meeting spaces
Green Valley Ranch Resort, located just miles from the Las Vegas Strip in Henderson, Nevada, has unveiled its completely reimagined meeting and convention spaces, including the debut of The Lawn – an all-new outdoor event space.
This milestone marks a key phase in the resort’s $200 million, multi-stage transformation, which aims to present a fresh vision for gatherings, events, and conferences across Southern Nevada.
Science Museum delivers second triple corporate conference day in six months
The Science Museum in South Kensington successfully delivered a triple corporate conference day, welcoming three major clients across its event spaces on Thursday 30 April. The programme spanned simultaneous daytime conferences and a daytime-to-evening transition.
Over 450 delegates were hosted across the events, with multiple spaces operating concurrently and transitioning throughout the day. The delivery highlighted the events team’s ability to manage logistically complex schedules, adapt spaces between uses, and support a wide range of corporate event formats.
The Rathbone, Fitzrovia announces refurbishment programme
The Rathbone, Fitzrovia is undertaking a phased refurbishment programme as part of a long-term investment in the property, enhancing its guestrooms, suites and public spaces while reinforcing the hotel’s quietly residential character.
Phase one focuses on the hotel’s 72 guestrooms and suites, which are being reimagined in a variety of styles that respond to the building’s varied room configurations. Seventy five per cent of the works have already been completed, with full completion scheduled for the summer.
Clare College Cambridge celebrates 700 Years
One of Cambridge’s most historic institutions is marking a rare milestone: this year, Clare College celebrates 700 years since its founding.
Part of the Meet Cambridge portfolio, Clare College was founded in 1326 as University Hall and endowed by Lady Elizabeth de Clare, a granddaughter of King Edward I. Clare is Cambridge’s second oldest college and one of the few venues in the world where 700 years of history provide the backdrop to modern events.
The College boasts a number of illustrious alumni who have gone on to achieve great success across a wide range of fields, including Sir David Attenborough, who spent his undergraduate years at Clare reading Natural Sciences.
The Venues Collection announces Family Fun Day
The Venues Collection has announced a dedicated family fun day for agents and their families, taking place at Sedgebrook Hall on Saturday 6 June.
Designed to give agents the opportunity to spend quality time with their families while also experiencing the venue, the relaxed weekend event will combine hospitality, entertainment and networking in a more informal setting.
Accommodation will be available for guests wishing to extend their stay, with a full programme of family-friendly activities planned throughout the day.
ARC brings premium to low and no
Arena Racecourse Company (ARC) is looking to redefine how drinks are delivered across business events, with a renewed focus on premium low and no alcohol options designed to sit alongside traditional offers at every level.
The move reflects a shift in delegate expectations. ARC’s updated approach integrates low and no drinks across its drink packages, ensuring that every guest, regardless of preference, has access to a considered and high-quality experience.
This includes alcohol-free sparkling wines such as French Bloom, Thomson & Scott Noughty and Copenhagen Sparkling Tea, and Freixenet 0.0%, premium gins, including refined serves from Seedlip, Pentire and Gordon’s 0%, and alcohol-free wines from producers such as Oddbird, Torres Natureo and Leitz Eins Zwei Zero.
Newly renovated hotel in Times Square
Millennium Premier Hotel New York Times Square has just reopened following a complete renovation.
The hotel features 124 fully refreshed rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows and workspace-friendly layouts.
The traditional check-in desk has been replaced by a welcome lounge with locally knowledgeable greeters, while redesigned public spaces including a lobby lounge, fireplace lounge, and a Club Lounge opening in early October 2026.
Chaperones and designated drivers to go free to OVO Hydro’s
World Cup fan zone
Designated drivers will receive free entry to the OVO Hydro’s Our Moment fan zone, which will show all three of Scotland’s World Cup 2026 matches on the largest screen in Scotland. There will also be free entry for chaperones who are
accompanying a standard priced children’s ticket.
Similar to schemes adopted in the USA for sporting events, designated drivers who are attending with a minimum of three paying tickets will gain free entry to the event as well as free parking.
Record year at Austria Center Vienna
With 78 events and around 190,000 participants – including one in three international congress delegates in Vienna – the Austria Center Vienna recorded revenues of EUR 25.9 million in 2025.
A recent EcoAustria study puts the venue's total economic impact at EUR 445 million in terms of GDP effect for Austria.
"We are very proud of this extraordinary result," said Dr Susanne Baumann-Söllner, spokesperson of the venue's board. "The figures impressively demonstrate that, thanks to the modernisation, we are competing in the absolute top tier internationally."
London Museum Docklands appoints Green & Fortune
London Museum Docklands has appointed leading independent hospitality business Green & Fortune as its exclusive catering and hospitality partner, introducing a more integrated approach to catering across the venue’s meetings and events offering.
The appointment builds on a wider collaboration between the organisations, with Green & Fortune also the exclusive catering partner at London Museum’s new site at Smithfield, which opens toward the end of this year.