Donna Abberley

How many times have you said 🗣 "I'm just too busy to" ... get to the gym 🏋‍♀️ , ... focus on healthy nutrition 🥕 , ... get a decent night's sleep 💤 etc etc? We all know life is busy and these areas are important - especially if we want to avoid stress and burnout 😰 Louise Larkum and the team at Mindcare Training deliver an excellent ✨ wellbeing series ✨ with a specific session focussing on stress and burnout for this very reason. ✨ It's excellent. ✨ 🤩 One of my personal goals for this year has been to invest more time and energy in me. Might sound selfish but I know by investing in me, I am also investing in my family, my business, my colleagues and my clients. I'm making sure that I'm at my best in order to deliver the best. 🤩 💫 For risk of repeating myself (yes, I know I've posted about Louise and the Mindcare team before but I think what they deliver is of utmost importance so I'll take risk) this course really is a no brainer. Take a look 👀 at the wellbeing series Louise delivers - if it's right for you, consider 🖊 signing up. You won't be sorry! The series has been one of my investments in me and it's been so very very worth it. #mindcaretraining #stressawarenessmonth #stressawareness #stressandburnout #investinyou #training

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I’m delighted to be supporting Events Apprenticeships by joining their event industry advisory board. Have you looked at hiring an apprentice - or explored the senior level apprenticeship qualifications for yourself or your management teams? 💡 I bet that question has surprised you. Join us and fellow industry peers TODAY on this webinar where we will be discussing “The road of opportunity: Upskilling and developing the events industry.” Richard Waddington Candice Kass #eventsapprenticeships #apprenticeships #eventprofs #learninganddevelopment

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🌍 Tracking the Recovery of Business Events: Insights from the EIC's Q1 2024 Report The latest findings from the Events Industry Council (EIC) have been released, and they paint a fascinating picture of where we stand in the recovery journey of global business events. 2023 was a year of sustained growth, but Q1 2024 suggests a more nuanced reality. 📉 While the hotel group room nights index is at 99% of 2019 levels, signaling a near-full recovery, it’s a slight drop from previous quarters that even surpassed pre-pandemic levels. Yet, there’s more to the story... 🔍 RFP Activity Trends The RFP (Request for Proposal) activity index has seen a slight increase, now sitting at 87% of 2019 levels. Interestingly, the demand for large and medium events has surged to 105% of 2019 levels, showcasing robust interest and potential for significant gatherings. On the flip side, RFP activity for small events has dipped slightly, from 84% to 82% of 2019 levels, indicating a shifting focus in event planning. 🌍 Regional Disparities The recovery is not uniform across the globe. Western Europe and Central and Eastern Europe are experiencing significant shortfalls, with RFP activities at 66% and 56% of 2019 levels, respectively. This regional disparity highlights the varying paces of recovery and the unique challenges faced by different areas. 📊 Looking Ahead: The Future Landscape Project To navigate these complexities, the EIC has launched a year-long research project aimed at identifying emerging trends and issues shaping the events industry. Supported by the APEX Critical Issues Working Group, led by ALHI President and CEO Michael Dominguez, this comprehensive study will delve into political and geopolitical dynamics, economic trends, technological advancements, safety and security concerns, and environmental impacts. 🚀 Stay Tuned The culmination of this research will be the Futures Landscape Report, set to be released in Q4 2024. This report promises to offer invaluable insights and guidance for all stakeholders in the events industry. As we continue to track and adapt to these developments, it’s clear that staying informed and agile is crucial. The path to recovery may be uneven, but with the right insights and strategies, we can navigate these changes and thrive in the evolving landscape of global business events. What are your thoughts on the current state of the events industry? Have you noticed similar trends in your region or sector? Share your experiences and let’s discuss how we can collectively drive forward the recovery! #EventIndustry #BusinessEvents #EventRecovery #EICInsights #FutureOfEvents #EventTrends #GlobalEvents

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Defining the vision for your organisation and navigating the path to achieve it is no small feat, especially for government departments dealing with the intricate web of public sector functions. Let’s explore the journey together! 🚀.....

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With the HFMA members' summer series being just over a month away. I'm really pleased to confirm our first speaker: Meri Lahti, who will be giving us an introduction to stress management and mindfulness. Meri's half-hour course serves as an insightful introduction to mindfulness and stress management techniques. Topics covered include understanding stress and its effects on our health, stress reduction strategies, and practical tips for integrating mindfulness into daily life. #myhfma https://lnkd.in/eFJyRV-H

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In an ever changing world, I look forward to our conversation around the recovery, resurgence and resilience of events! The Meetings Show, micebook

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👀 Keep a look out! 👀 The Collective's new incentive destinations & experiences guide will be going live in a week's time!! 🎉 You will not want to miss this comprehensive look at Incentive Travel, especially if you are planning your next reward and recognition programme. #incentives #incentivetravel #destinations

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Deeper dive into my key takes from the Next-Gen Engagement Strategy Summit earlier this month. It was a real eye opener not only from a business perspective, but as a dad of two trying to understand, engage and raise the next generation. #wearemeat #eventagency #eventplanning #eventstrategies #nextgen #corporateevents

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While August is often considered a key planning time for some in the UK and Europe, summer can be one of the busiest times of the year for the events industry. Ultimately, these busier times tend to vary by factors such as location, the seasons, and your sector. As a result of our global reach and client base, our model is built on being agile, adaptable, and ‘always on,’ ensuring we’re equipped to respond to time sensitive requests and changes, and brand new briefs. The latter is a trend we’re seeing is on the rise ongoing too, and so we’ve been putting this into practice more than ever. While team Sledge is prepped and ready to act as our clients' source of external support, we’re interested to know: how do you manage evolving and shortening lead times across projects? We’ve just shared a poll on this topic – head on over to the Sledge company page to have your say. #Sledge #eventplanning #projectplanning #leadtimes #eventproduction #contentproduction

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Great news story! Business/Industrial events that unite stakeholders & value chains, attracting both UK and international audiences, in a dynamic interactive experience, represent a crucial pillar in driving forward the UK's future industrial, creative and scientific leadership ambitions, for sure. In 2024 'Live' in-person events are stronger than ever, reflecting the immense value attendees on all sides see in such 'under one giant roof' industry coalescing for vital new business & ongoing business networking/commercial exchange, partnership & collaborative dialogue, vital supply chain procurement, technology transfer, innovation nurture & scale-up, industry intelligence and so much more .... The UK's business events portfolio has never been more 'at the heart' of delivering future growth

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❗️General Election post ❗️ This week we at The Business of Events have published our Policy Agenda for the events industry, which will form the scope of work for the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Events once it is reformed after the election. No political party has included any specific reference to using events as drivers for growth or knowledge exchange, but we know the sector is ripe to have its potential unlocked. One of the aces up the industry’s sleeves is that events can help any government achieve its policy objectives, and by creating a national strategy for events - identifying specific events to solve specific needs in specific locations - will ensure benefit is felt right across the country. Trade shows and exhibitions are ready-made marketplaces that grow business, conferences keep us informed and connected, meetings help us form plans, association congresses are where our global experts learn from each other and improves our lives in medicine, science, technology and just about anything else. You cannot vote today on event industry matters, but you can help influence the next Government by sharing the points of this Policy Agenda with your MP over the course of the next Parliament. The events industry is ready to go. Are you? #eventsindustry #conference #meeting #exhibition #tradeshow #events #eventprofs #ukgeneralelection #election #policy #government

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Elections in the UK, Europe and the USA all highlight the challenge of gaining support and commitment. Winning political votes and campaigning for your business both demand the same strategic planning and management. https://lnkd.in/e6HrhC8f #relationships #engagement #motivation #loyalty #marketing #communications

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This is going to be a great conversation. We are going to explore the role of tech to accelerate all processes while freeing time to be human centred. How standardization can improve both event outcomes and success measurements. I’ll also challenge the audience, asking can we standardized and still be creative. What do you want learn on this topic?

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I'M EXCITED 🍾 ...To see what the future landscape looks like for #trainingandeduction for the #eventsindustry. Following my talk at AEME (Association for Events Management Education) on Wednesday and the subsequent #newgovernment now in position, it's encouraging to know #apprenticeships are high on the agenda. Kerrin MacPhie commented in a the M&IT Magazine, "With less than half (47 per cent) of the sector currently employing apprentices according to our MIA Insights, we support Labour’s intention to create a new ‘growth and skills levy’. This fresh approach will allow operators greater flexibility to use up to 50 per cent of their levy contributions to fund training through alternative routes to support the exact training that is required to help the sector thrive." This is a significant shift and one that Events Apprenticeships is fully supportive of. But, we need to move the dial from 47% to 100% of the industry taking on apprentices and now is the time to do that. If you are still unsure how to do this, there is a webinar on Thursday 11 July to talk you through the process and hear from those who are already doing it! You can register here >> https://lnkd.in/eFdww3JF #Apprenticeshipswork #GrowthandSkillsLevy #Newlabour #eventsprof #eventemployers

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If you have been on a call, or met with us recently here at emc3 | Certified B Corporation you have probably heard us rattling on about "Holistic Sustainability". But what does that really mean? For me, holistic sustainability means looking at the big picture, and in the events industry, it’s about balancing environmental, social, and economic factors to create impactful and responsible events. 🌍 Environmental: Reducing waste, using renewable resources, emissions reductions, and accurate event emission tracking. 🤗 Social: Ensuring inclusivity, supporting host city local communities, looking after our team and our clients, and promoting education and health initiatives onsite. 💸 Economic: Fostering sustainable growth for emc3, practicing responsible budgeting for our clients to deliver on budget. This approach is helping our wonderful clients host events that make a positive difference for everyone involved. #EventPlanning #Sustainability #HolisticApproach #SocialGood #ResponsibleEvents

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Event management agencies and professional conference organisers produced 29% of UK events in 2023. This is based on findings from the latest UK Conference and Meeting Survey (UKCAMS), which is compiled by Richard Smith of RJS Associates, as well as Tony Rogers. This figure really resonated with me, because it could very well point to the fact that client teams are under resourced and stretched. They are opting to manage events in house, which can inevitably lead to burn out, and a less engaging and effective end product. Budgetary challenges no doubt play a part here too, however for me, I see it’s important that agencies proactively approach client teams, and highlight how we can support and add value, even in the face of reduced budgets and fluctuating lead times. Who agrees with me here? #Sledge #eventindustry #eventprofs #eventagencies #eventproduction #eventbudgets

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In March, I attended Melissa Hague's 2024 Courageous Coaches Gathering in Dorset, along with eight inspirational women. Together, we leaned into our #courage, explored our #vulnerability and #identity, listened, talked, shared, bonded, cried, supported and laughed. It was a wonderful experience that I will carry with me always. 💞 Shortly after returning home, I ended up in hospital for a week. My Crohn's was officially out of remission and I remain in a bad flare. I'm used to feeling unwell, as I juggle multiple autoimmune conditions, but this was unexpected news due to the amount of surgery I've had over the years. But them's the breaks, and I'm tackling one day at a time, whilst we assess treatment options. The timing of the work on identity was interesting. I’m not defined by my health but I carry deep trauma associated with it, that weighs heavy during these times. The body keeps the score, and a chronic health condition rarely (never?) "just" impacts one's physical health. The work on courage was also helpful prep! Courage to meet this latest bump in the road head-on - and also to be more open with those around me about what's going on. Rather than Stoic Steph who spent decades resolutely saying "It's fine. I've got this", this Steph is saying "I've got this" AND "It's really hard". I'm trying that vulnerability on for size and so far, I'm proud to say, it's fitting ok. 🤲 Holding down a full-time job during a period of ill-health is not easy. I'm fortunate enough to be supported by my CEO, who knows that the flexibility and understanding he gifts me during darker times, will be repaid tenfold in hard graft and dedication. Having built deep trust over the years, I'm afforded the autonomy to work around my symptoms and needs. I know that I'm in the minority here.  I cannot imagine the additional level of stress I would be battling right now if I didn't work in a supportive, flexible environment. So please, leaders, managers, execs...listen to your People experts. There are millions of people living and working with #invisibleconditions across the UK. How are you supporting them? Communicating that yours is a safe environment to come forward and tell you what they need? Any impact from time off, hospital tests, appointments and bad days will invariably be offset by gratitude, commitment, length of service and next level productivity, in the end. To create something constructive from my experience of running SMEs, building high-performing teams, working in HR roles, executive coaching, AND navigating life with invisible conditions, I'm planning to put together a best practice framework for SMEs, detailing how to better support people like me. This will factor in the brutal realities of restricted resource and limited budgets; in my position as director, I see both sides of the coin. I am a fierce protector of our businesses, our bottom line, AND our people. The #balance can be found, if the commitment to find it is genuine.

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On the theme of this post, I want to know, if you had a set budget to spend on your next ticket and hotel stay experience, how would you build your Bundl? Would you give more weight to the ticket or the hotel and why? Are you a gold circle fan staying in a budget motel? A GA ticketer with a taste for ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ hotels? Or something completely different? Let me know in the comments 👇

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