DC Chamber of Commerce’s Post

A lot has happened in the last few months. As we all sit sizzling in the ever-unpredictable UK sunshine, our thoughts turn to H1 results and our teams' performances over the tricky first half of 2024 before we set the sights on H2 and, more specifically, that all-important third quarter—the autumn conference season. If we're honest, we always knew H1 would be "a bit up and down" (that's not one of the VP's KPIs), and so it turned out. We've toughed out a General Election (diary chaos), a relatively weak economy (challenging forecasting), global supply chain issues (F&B), and HR challenges (increased cost and recruitment competition). Overall, though, the trend for H1 was positive: ➡ Revenue Per Delegate was up +7.5% ➡ The average number of events per venue was up +7% ...and those are 2 key indicators. There are a few telltale signs that things are starting to cool down, though: ➡ Lead times have decreased by -8.5% ➡ Delegation size has decreased by -12% And those last 2 sets of data contribute to the "a bit up and down" sentiment to H1. Overall, though, the M&E market continues to grow and is forecast to continue the positive upward trend into H2. In other news, did you hear about our revolutionary and ground-breaking event, The Great M&E Debate, which we held at the end of June? With our partners and friends Thomas Finn from Edwards & Finn Ltd Watch the video HERE: https://lnkd.in/e3rfaPnV 100 commercial M&E leaders gathered to debate (and vote) 2 of the sector's critical discussion points: Technology and Metrics. We invite you to watch the video above ↑, a treasure trove of insights from our esteemed panellists, moderators, and organisers. It's a valuable resource that will catch you up on the discussions and enhance your understanding of this ground-breaking event. Stay tuned for more events on the horizon, offering further opportunities to engage with the industry's critical topics and enhance your professional knowledge. Bring on H2 and have a fabulous summer hols, wherever you may be. 😎 🏖️ Media player modal window This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button. Thank you to our moderators, Michael Heyward, Michael Grove & Neetu Mistry and panellists: Niamh Malone, Christine Wassell, Jason Gutteridge, Dan Humby, Leman Selamet, Alex Drinkwater, Emma Chamberlain, & Jen Paylor ❤️ Great economic presentation from Thomas Pugh from RSM. Loads of people asking for his deck to use with senior management discussions. 🧠 Amazing support from 2 key industry partners: Jerome Wise & Benoit Jeannot from Amadeus and Gerhard Wasem and David Goodman from Duetto.

I will be moderating tomorrow’s discussion. Follow the link below to register!

Talked to the Financial Times and the superb Jim Pickard about the merits of businesses attending party conferences this year. The new political reality means corporates should only be going to Conservative conference if they have a specific reason to do so. The timelines for the Tory leadership contest certainly don't help. More generally, we advise our clients to think clearly about their reasons for going to conferences. Don't go just for the sake of it. Networking is fine, but have a clear rationale for going. Do your research beforehand and think about what you want to get out of it. https://lnkd.in/euNqH4EQ

🚀 Exciting News! 🚀 I’m thrilled to announce that Brar's, OIC Foods Inc. will be attending the World Business Forum in New York City on October 23rd and 24th! This incredible event brings together some of the most innovative and forward-thinking leaders from around the globe, and we are honored to be part of it. What makes this even more special? We’ll be sharing the stage to showcase moments and glimpses of our products, highlighting the innovation that drives us forward. Additionally, we’ll be hosting a lunch and leading fireside talks focused on the food and beverage industry—a perfect opportunity to dive deep into trends, challenges, and opportunities in this dynamic sector. Our team is looking forward to engaging in thought-provoking discussions, exploring new trends, and connecting with industry peers. We’re ready to bring back fresh insights and ideas to drive innovation and growth. Stay tuned for more updates as we share our experiences and key takeaways from the forum. If you’re attending, let’s connect—I’d love to meet fellow professionals who are passionate about shaping the future of business. #WorldBusinessForum #NYC #Innovation #Leadership #BusinessGrowth #FoodAndBeverage #Networking #FutureOfBusiness

Our #GainingEdgeExpert, Loren Christie, will share insights at Business Events Industry Week in #WashingtonDC next week. Alongside Michelle Mason, FASAE, CAE and Elliott Ferguson, he will speak at ICCA's #Elevate2030 on April 9, focusing on the future of association meetings and societal transformation. Stay tuned for key takeaways from this event and more updates from the world of business events! #GainingEdge #BusinessEvents #IndustryWeek #ICCAElevate2030 #AssociationMeetings #SocietalTransformation

You know it is going to be a good session when we get to debate the value of current contact centre metrics!! We love to talk about the things that matter at Auscontact Association - so this should be a lot of fun! I love some healthy competition but be on notice Tanya Eglinton - I do like to win... #contactcentre #industryleaders #industryexperts

This article covers the highlights of Tipalti's Illuminate conference. From a summary of our CEO keynote to Tipalti best practices, we've got you covered.

Challenging: could this be THE term of 2024? While our MD, Sarah Yeats recognises our industry is facing its fair share of challenges, so are those of our clients, as we all tackle a myriad of external pressures. At the same time, it’s important to remember: we’re the event experts. This is what underlies our approach at Sledge, and Sarah recently reflected on the challenges we’ve faced of late, as well as shares some of the solutions we can all consider to embrace them head on with M&IT Magazine. You can view some of the takeaways below, and read more here: bit.ly/4bAAael. #Sledge #eventprofs #eventagency #eventindustry #eventstrategy #eventproduction

Minority GovCon Business Summit: Are Minority-Owned Businesses Set Up to Fail? Join Dr. Ebony Grey at the Minority GovCon Business Summit on October 18-19, 2024 in Fredericksburg, VA as we tackle the tough question: Are Minority-Owned Businesses set up to fail? The theme, Challenges of Minority Business Opportunities, will dive into the hidden barriers that often go unspoken. This is your chance to engage in vital discussions with industry experts, uncover strategies for success, and gain insights that could change the game for your business. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to break down the barriers and set your business up for success! Dates: October 18-19, 2024 Location: A & B Creative Events Center, Fredericksburg, VA Haven’t signed up yet? No worries—there’s still time! Here's the link to register: https://lnkd.in/eMYHe9Nu #GovConSummit #MinorityBusiness #BusinessOpportunities #BreakingBarriers #DrEbonyGrey #GovConSuccess #SmallBusiness #RegisterNow

Great content here for #smallbusinessowners, check it out!