Exhibition News July 2019 | Page 19

Cover Feature 2007 • NEC Box Office relaunches as The Ticket Factory • G-MEX rebranded to Manchester Central 2008 • Manchester Central undergoes major £30m renovation • ACC Liverpool opens its doors • ADNEC acquires ExCeL London 2010 • ICC London ExCeL opens 2011 • EventCity opens in Manchester 2013 • Plans for new £333m Scottish venue approved – The Event Campus Aberdeen (TECA) • The SSE Hydro opens in Glasgow. It is now the fourth-busiest entertainment arena in the world • First Direct Arena opens in Leeds 2014 • Earl’s Court shuts its doors 2015 • Resort’s World opens at the NEC • The NEC acquired from Birmingham City Council for circa £307m • Eikon Exhibition Centre opens outside Belfast 2017 • Olympia London acquired in £296m deal • SECC rebrands to The Scottish Event Campus 2018 • Plans for £1bn Olympia London upgrade revealed • Blackstone acquires The NEC Group for a reported £800m 2019 • ICC Wales to open, operated by Celtic Manor Resort • Plans unveiled by NewcastleGateshead for £250m convention centre come together and recognise that for all the competitive forces between ourselves as venues, there are many ways we can benefit each other if we collaborate.” At one time there were myriad different rules and ways of working, so the formation of the AEV was an opportunity to standardise the UK’s venue offering. “That was how the working groups started, and out of the working groups came the e-guide,” continues Parker. Launched in February 2008, the e-guide addresses internal industry issues concerning health and safety, as well as other operational procedures/regulations. Starting with three venues, there are now 19 that have adopted the guide. The industry association working groups have arguably taken the idea of collaboration to its logical next step. The AEV has 10 working groups, five of which are cross-association with members of supplier association ESSA and the AEO, covering everything from advances in sustainability and technology to HR. “These groups draw from the broader range of talent and expertise across all areas of the events sector, giving members a platform to collaborate on initiatives that drive progressive change throughout the industry,” continues Parker. “The heart of the AEV is the working groups,” adds James. “They drive through best practice and that’s what the association is all about.” “It is a hugely relevant platform promoting the industry’s interests; be it in lobbying, sharing expertise or encouraging best practice,” agrees Nigel Nathan, MD of Olympia London. The industry, comments ExCeL London CEO Jeremy Rees, has been a leading catalyst for business tourism, driving £11.5bn of economic impact annually and engaging millions of visitors every year. “The AEV has been instrumental in helping to drive this growth, ensuring that the UK events industry continues to thrive,” he tells EN. “The work of the AEV team; boards; working groups and committees, really matters; it has driven change and caused positive impact. I am enormously proud of what has been achieved over the last 15 years and it has been a pleasure contributing a little towards the first 15 years.” Evolving venues As the timeline on the left demonstrates, the past 15 years have seen some dramatic changes to the UK’s exhibition venues. Since first opening in 2000, ExCeL London has overcome an initial ‘wild west’ perception of its East London location, and Crossrail, though delayed, will only serve to increase its viability as a venue. The NEC has seen the opening of Resorts World, transforming the site into a true destination for visitors, along with continued investment in the venue infrastructure and customer experience, not to mention the addition of HS2 on the horizon. Plans for the ambitious Olympia London redevelopment have been presented, which will certainly transform the customer experience at the venue, and in Glasgow the SEC has continued to go from strength to strength. However, as organising companies also continue to grow in tandem, the loss of Earl’s Court in 2014 has been felt keenly by those with shows in the capitals. “The closure of Earl’s Court has resulted in a shortage of exhibition and event space, handing the venue owners a monopoly on space, which has in turn led to high price increases etc.” comments Lee Newton, CEO of Media 10. “The failure to secure a permanent London Underground service to Olympia has also been a huge problem. Earl’s Court provided customers with a transport service that supplemented the offering that an exhibition provided. If you make it easy for visitors to attend then they will return readily, if it is a difficult journey it will impact on their experience and thus their propensity to return.” As the industry continues its meteoric growth, the value of its associations will continue to grow, especially when it comes to the sharing of best practice that is so valued by AEV members. And, as the association continues to attract more non- traditional venues, it’s clear that the UK venue community is taking note. EN July — 19