Event and communications agency, the Grass Roots Group (GRG), handed out seven awards to suppliers at the company’s annual dinner at the JW Marriott Grosvenor House Hotel in London this week.
The awards were voted on by over 700 of the agency’s clients and it was a good night for De Vere Venues, its Wokefield Park centre winning the Best Residential Training Centre award and De Venues Canary Wharf winning Best Non-Residential Training Centre.
GRG clients attending the annual dinner included Morgan Stanley, Deloitte, Jaguar, SWIFT, Landmark Wholesale, Swiss Re, F2X Group, McKinsey & Company, Goldman Sachs and Shell.
Guests ex-Arsenal Goalkeeper Bob Wilson and his wife Megs (image below) spoke passionately about the work of the Willow Foundation, set up in honour of their daughter Anna and designed to create special days for seriously ill 11-40-year-olds suffering from cancer.
“The aim is simple,” said Wilson, “to create a break from the monotony of treatment.” The Foundation, he added, tried to bring some normality in the most challenging of times.
Grass Roots backed the charity to the tune of £20k last year, and GRG Meetings & Events MD Des McLaughlin pictured) told guests the support would continue and grow.
“We are truly grateful to everyone at Grass Roots for their efforts in fundraising for Willow and making such a positive difference to the lives of seriously ill young adults and their families across the UK,” said Bob Wilson. “This year Willow will fulfill its 10,000th Special Day and with the support of the Grass Roots team we will be able to continue to fund many more special days.”
GRG Chairman David Hackett told guests, which included suppliers and clients, about a new collegiate approach and about new leading personnel helping to make the company fully ”joined up”.
“We have a new go-to-market proposition as one business, one that spends £220m collectively in the meetings and events space,” Hackett said, adding: “No other agency in the UK has such a powerful hand of cards”. He appealed to the suppliers in the room to give “good deals and support us for the benefit of efficiency and value”.
The other five award winners on the night included: The Grove (Best UK Hotel), W Hotel Barcelona (Best Overseas Hotel), Four Seasons (Best Hotel Group), JW Marriott Marquis Hotel, Dubai (Best Hotel Newcomer) and Lisa Crosby (Best Account Management and Sales/Conference Team).
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