UK-based events industry think tank, The Business of Events (TBOE) has published its Plan of Activity for 2024/5, kicking off on 1 April.
TBOE will expand its schedule of work and activity over what is set to be a critical year for the global events economy, with high-profile elections taking place around the world.
In the UK, as well as a general election likely before the end of the year, local government and mayoral elections will also be held around the country, potentially changing the political landscape. That backdrop makes it all the more important, TBOE says, to engage with politicians and policy makers, creating content, briefings and holding events to promote the value and benefits of having a strong business events economy.
As well as engaging with what will be one of the largest intakes of new MPs in a generation, TBOE says its planned activity will also connect event planners, both domestic and international, with its partners.
The think tank’s plan also includes an expanded programme of regional, national, and international events. These will be predominately invitation only, bringing together senior event industry leaders to connect with politicians, policymakers, stakeholders and planners to look at ways in which they can, together, build better local and national economies through business events.
Martin Fullard (pictured), director of news and content at TBOE said: “The need for increased advocacy to highlight the opportunities available by having a strong event economy has never been greater, which is why this year we are significantly expanding our sphere of activity; more research, more events, more insights and more engagement.
“In the UK, we have a limited but critical window of opportunity to tell our story, as the focus shifts towards a general election and a much-changed Westminster landscape. This is why we have been focussing on engaging with those who are likely to be in parliament and in positions of influence, as well as continuing to connect with the corporate and association planners and agencies, to ensure our partners have real time insights into how the UK can become even more competitive as a world leading event destination.”
TBOE will run a number of regional events, along with specific Advocacy Forums, which will be held within existing events and trade shows. The signature Global Policy Forum will be held in February 2025 in Westminster.
Full details of the plan can be downloaded here.
