EDGE Venues hosted its Winter Summit over three days across various London venues, with the pinnacle event held at the De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms, London, on 23 January.
Bringing together over 200 delegates, including agents, corporates, industry leaders, and stakeholders, the Summit celebrated not only EDGE’s growth, but provided analysis of industry issues, offering insights and discussions on future collaboration, and policy shaping to the meetings and events sector.
EDGE Venues CEO Jacqui Kavanagh talked about the need for the events industry to embrace change and actively seek solutions.
She noted that, while hotels and venues have made significant progress in reducing physical waste, the issue of inefficiency from unproductive RFPs remains. These generate unnecessary noise, cost, and effort without driving real business. EDGE, she said, was making a difference by transforming the approach to RFPs, focusing on well-prospected, high-performing opportunities that align with industry needs, prioritise efficiency, and deliver meaningful outcomes for all stakeholders.
Speakers and panellists represented Agencies and Corporates, as well as the media. Mash Media managing editor Paul Colston joined a panel with Davies Tanner CEO and special adviser to the All Party Parliamentary Group for Events, Robert Wright, and incumbent chair of the MIA Andrew Mosley to discuss government policy and its impact on the industry,.
Discussions also addressed the sector’s challenges and opportunities, Labour Government policy, and strategies for maximising influence, as well as the potential impact of a Trump presidency. The panel agendas also covered industry insights with actionable takeaways from EDGE Venues, along with technology innovations, including the EDGE Venues platform roadmap .
MIA’s Andrew Mosley said: “Events like this clearly show the phenomenal strength of our sector. Whether you provide a service such as tech, are a venue, association member, agent or corporate – as a united voice we can influence the change we want to see. Not just within public policy but by having a say on how we develop and grow technologies, best practice and ambitions within the sector.”
Photo: Policy Panel (L-R): Paul Colston, Andrew Mosley, Robert Wright and Emily Butler – EDGE Venues.
