Profile
SUPPLIER FOCUS
RefTech
ALTERNATIVE VENUE
The Grand Brighton
Simon Clayton, chief ideas
officer, RefTech, on the
event tech hype cycle
and finding uninterrupted
thinking time
What’s one thing you would change about the
events industry?
People chasing the ‘magic bullet’ of tech.
Event organisers seem to be constantly looking
for a ‘unicorn’ – that is, tech that they think will
completely transform their event and that’s never
ever going to happen. All new technology goes
through what Gartner calls the ‘Hype Cycle’ – a
series of five key phases of a technology’s lifecycle
– that includes the ‘Peak of Inflated Expectations’
(the flurry of wildly unsubstantiated press releases
claiming that the technology is going to change
everybody’s lives) which is then followed by the
‘Trough of Disillusionment’ (where interest wanes)
and then some of these ideas make it to the ‘Slope
of Enlightenment’ (the slow but interesting part as
people start to really understand the product’s real
uses) and then it settles down into the ‘Plateau of
Productivity’ (we all know what the product can
and can’t do and it is adopted into the mainstream).
What issue most affects your working life?
A lack of time. There are not enough hours
in the day, and like most people, I suffer from a
lack of uninterrupted time. This is fine when I’m
doing small tasks, but a lot of my job is to problem
solve and to think creatively so I need focus and
concentration. This is the nature of the world we
live in – we are surrounded by distractions and
interruptions. I do find that my best thinking time
is when I’m on ‘holiday’, and I can step away from
the everyday interruptions and ponder.
How has your business changed over the past
five years?
It’s not changed enough. We are always trying
to change and move forward with what we do and
the products and service we provide, but it’s not
happening quickly enough for my liking. I’m driven
and impatient, but we often don’t have the time or
resources to move things as quickly as I’d like. EN
60 — June
Director of sales Alison Edwards on the historic hotel
on the Brighton shore
Tell us about the history of the venue
Established in 1864, The Grand sits majestically on Brighton
and Hove’s seafront. It’s an iconic property in a unique city,
and is the perfect venue for meetings and events in Brighton.
Whether it’s a large event or a small meeting, the hotel’s 13
event spaces, including the UK’s largest sea facing conference
suite, meet a wide variety of event needs.
What is the offering for exhibition organisers?
The Grand’s offering for exhibitors can be tailored based
on the capacity which exhibition organisers hope to fill. From
intimate meeting room spaces to large conference spaces set
in our Empress Suite with a maximum capacity fitting up
to 900 guests in 500sqm of sea-facing pillar-free space, our
venue spaces are fully adaptable to a range of event styles.
Our dedicated event management team combine event
expertise and a flexible ‘can do’ approach with five-star
refinements. They make it their priority to deliver a successful
event or conference..
What is the USP of the venue?
For event organisers, a real highlight is The Grand’s sea-
facing conference suite –the largest one of its kind in the UK!
But really, it’s our people and the independent status of The
Grand that are right at the heart of the standout service we
deliver as a venue. Time and time again, we receive feedback
from guests about the personalised touches our team
members add to the conferences and events they attend.
Is there anything exciting coming up?
We are working on a menu project at the moment to ensure
we are meeting the ever-changing needs of delegates and
organisers. While our current menu is flexible, we plan to add
more meat-free and street food style dining options.