Monday Insights – February 14th

This Monday’s Insights feature brings you the industry headlines you may have missed from the previous week.

Headlines

ExCeL London revealed a strong start to 2022, as the first of its 350 live events began. According to Event Industry News, ExCeL London is set to lead the recovery of the live events sector in London as it welcomed its first event of 2022 last week, beginning a packed calendar of more than 350 shows.

Simon Mills, Chief Commercial Officer at ExCeL London, said: “After a slight delay to the start of the year, we are expecting a buoyant 2022, with a renewed market confidence, particularly following the removal of the Government’s Plan B restrictions and an easing of travel restrictions. As well as a packed and diverse line-up of events, elements such as the opening of the Elizabeth line and work beginning on our substantial 25,000sqm expansion programme, provide reassurance to our clients and delegates.”

He added:

“Live events are such an important part of the regeneration of the capital and the Royal Docks area. Events hosted at ExCeL generate around £4.5 billion into the London economy and support more than 35,000 jobs.”

Leeds named Britain’s most ‘vibrant’ city. Leeds has been named Britain’s most ‘vibrant’ city in a new report that combines sales data from CGA and device log-ins from Wireless Social.

Read the full details at Big Hospitality, here.

The Welsh Government has announced planned face mask and Covid Pass changes in Wales. According to Business-Live.co.uk, Wales will gradually begin to relax some of its remaining coronavirus restrictions and from Friday18 February, the domestic Covid Pass will no longer be required for entry into indoor or outdoor events and venues, including nightclubs, cinemas, theatres and concert halls. However, events and venues can continue to use the pass if they choose, and the international Covid Pass will continue to be integral to arrangements for safer international travel. 

From Monday 28 February, a mandate for face coverings will be removed from most indoor public places, apart from in retail, public transport and health and care settings. First Minister Mark Drakeford said: 

“With increasing numbers of people vaccinated and boosted and thanks to the hard work and efforts of everyone across Wales, we are confident that coronavirus rates are falling and we can look forward to brighter times ahead. We can start to gradually and carefully remove some of the remaining protections we have in place at alert level zero. But we are not removing all the measures at once because the pandemic is not over yet.”

Double take

In support of this year’s National Apprenticeship Week last week, BVEP started the process of reinvigorating the events industry apprenticeship scheme.

Richard Waddington, EMA chair and event apprenticeship lead on the BVEP skills, talent and diversity working group, told Meetings and Incentive Travel: “Apprenticeship schemes are so important for all industries and the events industry is no exception. We’re such a vast industry with lots of different options. Learning on the job was how I did it, but an apprenticeship provides ongoing formal education alongside this. It allows many to get into our industry with support and get paid for it.”