BEST VENUE LEADERSHIP DURING COVID-19 2021
CCT Venues
Thanks to the strong leadership and determination of our Senior Management Team (SMT), we have successfully navigated this pandemic, getting through to the other side with as many jobs in tact as possible. We pride ourselves on being a flexible and agile business and that’s why we were one of the first venues to secure a trio of industry leading accreditations, as a result of the safety measures we implemented. This coupled with a proactive sales approach led by our SMT, resulted in us securing several key contracts during the peak of the pandemic. Not only did we secure this business, but we also received resoundingly positive feedback for our competence and the service we provided. We are proud to have played our part with the vaccination rollout by hosting over 2,500 St John Ambulance volunteers receiving vaccination training and were rewarded with an ‘Outstanding Contribution Award’ in return.
Our SMT also worked tirelessly to come up with innovative solutions for our clients to help them overcome the hurdles that were created by the pandemic, from connectivity solutions to safe catering options.
Chelsea Football Club
As well as being a football powerhouse, Chelsea Football Club is a leading events venue with a unique footballing heritage. Stamford Bridge is a versatile hospitality destination with spaces for exhibitions, conferences, meetings, and dining. When the pandemic hit the event industry that is worth £84bn to the economy, we realised that innovation and leadership were needed to help ensure our sector could emerge from Covid-19.
During the early-mid stages of the pandemic we developed innovative solutions that supported our clients and protected our revenues. We amended our standard contracts, giving clients the flexibility to reschedule events hit by Covid-19 restrictions free of charge, which saved the business £803,153. We introduced 3D-virtual-tours enabling our event spaces to be viewed remotely and overhauled our catering with menus innovatively re-designed for the safe production and delivery of food.
Our ‘Reconnect – Power of People’ hybrid event showed exceptional leadership in helping our industry bounce back from Covid-19. The event bought sector leaders together on 25th May to debate key issues the industry faces through panel discussions and interactive polls. As well as helping to set a way forward for the industry, ReConnect demonstrated how successful hybrid events can be.
East Wintergarden
Since 1987 The Canary Wharf Group (CWG) has transformed the docklands into a thriving district, reclaiming a former industrial site and turning it into a place that supports economic growth, fosters creativity and promotes wellbeing. By creating a better place for the whole community. A place that benefits everyone, not only by providing enriching spaces but by supporting the local economy, schools and talent. It believes that everyone should benefit from its developments, which is why it has committed to working closely with the community since day one. Today, CWG provides financial support, space and their employees’ skills and time to schools, businesses and charities in the local community. Over the last 10 years the Canary Wharf Group (CWG) has donated £23 million in financial, in-kind and volunteering support to the local community but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the last 15 months has been like no other. CWG has supported 33 projects. Several took place at the Canary Wharf Group’s East Wintergarden venue. From celebrating World Book Day virtually with hundreds of local primary school children to hosting NHS blood donations and a pop-up vaccination centre.
etc.venues
etc.venues is the UK’s leading provider of non-residential meeting and event venues with 17 locations across the UK and US. However, what really sets us apart isn’t our venues; it’s our people. Our management team remained focused on their goals throughout the challenges of last year. They were committed to leading our teams, our clients and the industry in a positive and innovative manner.
Success has come in several ways: The sales team engaged with key clients and partners in an empathetic manner and, embracing technology, online tools and 360 tours, retained a remarkable number of clients. By adapting to meet new challenges and creating bespoke solutions, etc.venues won new contracts from existing clients like the NHS and HMCTS. etc.venues, have not stood still, the team have built industry confidence with UKickstart 2020, developed an industry leading safety protocol and identified an opportunity to further develop the staff within the evolving hybrid meetings space.
