Author: engineroom

10-11 Carlton House Terrace has issued a statement of commitment to delegate safety once events are permitted to resume.

The team has been undertaking intensive preparations, implementing social distancing measures, cleaning
procedures and protective practices to ensure the venue is safe to deliver events for guests and
staff in relation to COVID-19.

Measures currently include:

• Signage specifying site and event specific social distancing measures
• Working with clients to prevent congestion i.e. staggered arrival and departure times, catering breaks etc
• Capacities will be limited, and furniture layouts have been revised to ensure safe social distancing for guests
• Staff workstations in offices, reception and kitchens have been revised to ensure social distancing
• Free video conferencing facilities and video conferencing facilities available to organisers for each event
• Contactless AV and catering service to be introduced where possible
• Staff members provided with face masks and gloves
• Face masks will be available for visitors and event guests
• Hand sanitising gel readily available at entrance, restrooms, in each event space and throughout the venue
• Special rubbish bins for disposal PPE provided throughout venue
• All restrooms, handrails, door handles and lift panels disinfected every hour
• Tables, chairs, equipment and other high traffic touch points in meeting and event spaces disinfected at least twice a day or between uses
• Staff will be working from home as much as possible; any onsite staff members will be instructed to isolate if they display any symptoms. Facilities to check temperatures and isolate available onsite.

As part of plans to reopen in the coming months, One Great George Street has shared details of their safety measures to reassure event planners in a digestible video format.

Measures include revisions to capacities to ensure the safe social distancing of guests and a new one-way system throughout the venue to control the flow of people. As part of an extensive hygiene programme, hand sanitising stations will be implemented around the venue and high-touch points will be thoroughly cleaned multiple times per day.

Catering initiatives include a ‘grab and go’ lunch bag scheme as well as clearing stations for the return of cutlery and crockery avoiding unnecessary contact with staff.

For a full list of One Great George Street’s measures, watch the video here.

As IET London: Savoy Place prepares to safely reopen for socially distanced events once permitted, the central London venue has shared its extensive precautions for the reassurance of event planners.

The venue’s accessibility for conferences, lectures, meetings and product launches, spanning four floors with well ventilated rooms and additional outside space, has allowed flexibility in redetermining new event capacities without compromising the safety of delegates.

Following detailed risk assessments, the venue is using this time of physical closure to train its staff on social distancing competency and hygiene measures, while continuing to operate and take bookings remotely. Though venue staff will be well-versed in these new procedures, Savoy Place will ensure that fogging disinfection is carried out specifically by specially trained GCC operatives in all high-risk areas of the venue. Perspex screens are being installed in reception and standard precautions such as sanitising stations and PPE disposal bins will be implemented. All visitors will have an allocated arrival time to avoid unnecessary queueing or crowding and will be asked to confirm that they are symptom-free for accountability.

IET Venues’ highly competent technology lends Savoy Place to bespoke digital messaging for each event to reiterate important measures displayed on screens around the venue. These will also exemplify the new rules for a one-way system around the building to remind delegates how to safely travel throughout Savoy Place. Each room is set up with its own screen and capabilities for video conferencing, so everybody around the venue can tune into one channel at once, or allow for different sessions in each room. Instructions will be given to all speakers using lapel microphones to minimise the need for contact with the AV team.

To ensure the success of hybrid events, the AV team has been integrating popular online meeting platforms into their own AV system, so online and live audiences can interact simultaneously with presenters and speakers, as well as with each other. Multi-layer video switchers and digital sound desks allow the management of audio and video coming from different sources and locations and can merge them together in a multilevel communication layout. Dedicated hybrid event packages offer optional add-ons like Sli.do, which can be embedded into the streaming to encourage interactivity.

Savoy Place is offering the unique services of IET.tv, using its in-house video and webcasting team with its own independent broadcasting channel, offering both live and post-event uploads to the highest standards. Hybrid events require top quality AV and video production so that virtual participants are provided a similar experience to in-person participants. Knowing every inch of the venue like the back of their hand, the experienced team know every angle and hidden trick to ensure the lighting, sound and delivery of video is of unbeaten quality.

RSA House, in partnership with CH&Co, has shared its latest measures for a safe reopening when the time is right.

Using the term ‘physical distancing’ rather than ‘social distancing’, the team as RSA House has put together a helpful document and video to outline the safety measures for both guests and staff for future events at the London venue.

New procedures in response to the changing environments include flexible event solutions with rescheduling options, stringent hygiene routines and a revised catering offering.

For full details on these measures, view the document here.

One Great George Street has shared its new potential room capacities, which have been carefully considered, taking into account current government guidelines pertaining to social distancing.

The time the world will return to ‘normal’ is currently uncertain, however, the venue has been working to make room for a new ‘normal’, in anticipation of the time it can re-open.

To see the revised capacities, visit: https://oggsvenue.com/2020/05/the-new-normal-events-in-the-future.html.

During the challenges of lockdown and in aid of Mental Health Awareness month last month, Church House Westminster has shared its favourite mental health podcasts.

It’s a challenging time for many of us, making sense of social distancing, and the impact of not seeing loved ones on our well-being. In addition, some of us may have been furloughed, others are trying to work from home during the crisis, some are juggling homeschooling and we’re also rekindling relationships that have previously been neglected as we chased other dreams in our “busy” lives prior to COVID-19.

How have you been looking after your physical and mental wellbeing during lockdown? The theme for Mental Health Awareness Week was kindness. Be kind to yourself, and others. We invite you to take some time for yourself by setting aside an allocated time every day, just for you. Whether it is trying something new, exercising, or sharing your skills. Take a look at our self-care bingo ideas on LinkedIn for more inspiration.

Another great way to boost our wellbeing is to listen to mental health podcasts. Put on those headphones, find somewhere quiet, sit back in your favourite armchair (or comfortably in bed), close your eyes and relax with one of these podcasts.

For the full list of podcasts, visit https://www.churchhouseconf.co.uk/news/best-mental-health-podcasts

Excellence, Integrity and Teamwork; these are the values of the IET, and as such, are mirrored by the events team at IET London: Savoy Place, even in this new and challenging time.

While making the necessary decision to postpone all scheduled events until at least the end of June, our world has by no means stopped. This lull in immediate proceedings has given us the added opportunity to look deeper into the customer experience, how we can apply the latest technology for networking, and how we can adapt future events to cut avoidable costs for clients through digital alternatives.

Our team organises events all over the world, with some as far away as September 2023, so there is always important work to be done. Here’s how we’re practicing our values while working from home, with some top tips on living out your own businesses’ brand values.

Excellence

Efficient planning means never sitting still. Now is a great opportunity to action that long list of ideas for development that tends to get overshadowed by more urgent necessities in every day working life. It’s time to scrutinise internal strategies and procedures with a fine-tooth comb to ensure efficient online registration processes for events, optimum website usability and tech-based state-of-the-art innovations.

While we talk about physical isolation, we remain limitless in the possibilities of imagination and innovation. A few weeks back, we were part of an online company town hall meeting for over 400 IET staff with a Q&A for everybody to get involved. The meeting was a great practice for us as we gear up for the rise of hybrid events. This is a time of both expansion and refinement to ensure that the moment our doors reopen, we’re accelerating at top speed.

Top tip: As a team, make a list of the ideas and actions that have so far been avoided because of time restraints, not budget restraints. Rank them in order of priority, breaking down both the immediate benefits and the long-term benefits to business. While we’re inclined to prioritise those things that offer a quicker ROI, we should not neglect the bigger picture.

Integrity

We believe businesses have a social responsibility to consider the needs of the vulnerable during these difficult times, identifying ways to help with the resources they have.  We have opened our doors again at Savoy Place to set up the venue as a rest area for emergency services and key workers for the next few weeks, offering moments of respite with fresh water and use of the private facilities.

In addition, we have spent a lot of time considering our environmental responsibility and are using this period of closure to explore new ways to make both the IET Venues and the events we hold more sustainable for when we re-open. This includes the removal of paper and plastic, working with our sponsors and exhibitors on giveaways, and reviewing our supply chains to ensure we are running the greenest events we can.

Top tip: Now is a great time to re-evaluate how your business can give back to your local community. Keep the momentum going, get in touch with local charities to understand their biggest needs, and look at how you can still deliver on your core values.

Teamwork

A virtual team catch up to stay focused, discuss priorities and assign responsibilities among the team is a great way to start the day, as well as sharing thoughts and cups of tea!

It is important for us that our team remains connected and grounded, and that we build on the great relationship we have when we are in the venue, running events. We normally spend a lot of time together and this hasn’t really changed just because we are working from home – albeit virtually.

Wellbeing has become more important than ever and as such, several initiatives have been implemented to build upon skills and communication, with a central resource hub made available to every team with online learning sessions and virtual discussion groups. Our next session will cover resilience in times of change, developing healthy routines and self-compassion.

Colleagues have also been invited to take part in The Global Wellbeing Challenge, a worldwide initiative to stay fit and mentally well during these extraordinary times. In teams, staff are required to log all activity that keeps them mentally and physically fit; for example, running, painting, reading, and each 10 minutes of activity is awarded one mile. At the end of four weeks, the team that has accrued the most mileage will win a prize.

Top tip: Tough times don’t last, tough teams do! Take the time to regroup as a unit, even when you’re not physically together. Check in on each other. Take part in fun activities. It will make the return to the office environment so much easier.

Regent’s Conferences & Events, crowned Best Outdoor Space at the Academic Venue Awards, has shared its horticultural secrets for success during lockdown in celebration of World Environment Day on 5 June 2020.

While the four acres of central London event space has remained temporarily closed to the public, Regent’s has embraced the rarity of silence during lockdown as an opportunity to rebirth a habitat for nature and wildlife to flourish. The venue’s gardening team has been hard at work reaping the environmental benefits of lockdown and keeping on top of the unique tranquillity of the university’s landscaped grounds.

Comprising of pristine lawns, lush foliage, flowers and trees, the gardeners have deemed ‘unrelenting weeding and watering’ as the answer to maintaining the natural magic at Regent’s during closure.

Delving deeper into the depths of Regent’s’ enchanting surroundings and beyond its immaculate appearance, biodiversity has been given a platform to thrive in designated sections of the gardens. Tucked away, grass is left long and fallen leaves are blown into the wild area where wildlife is actively encouraged.

Though guests have been unable to attend events in recent months, the venue’s hospitality has remained rife over at its bug hotel, a log pile built up for endangered stag beetles to feed off the deadwood.

On the formula for building a successful bug hotel at home, Regent’s’ head gardener said: “It is best to allocate a particular area to let wildlife grow, even if it is just a small section of space behind a shed. Grass should be left longer around the base of trees as it creates a safe passageway for the insects that live on the lower parts of the trees. If you can, plant bee-friendly plants around your bug hotel as it will encourage Mason bees who tend to make their homes in naturally occurring gaps and small cavities. The hotel itself is a great way to use rotting wood with little other use, and you can get creative with natural adornments to make it as luxury as you like!”

Work is undertaken to ensure that any chemicals used in the gardens are biodegradable, and an efficient irrigation system is in place to minimise water waste. In addition, any garden waste is used to create compost. Anything that has to be cut down is re-used for nutrients and protection on the soil over winter.

As the events team continues to work remotely to build upon a sustainable future for the industry, the gardening team has continued on-site to implement practices that help sustain a green environment with physical longevity for events in the future.

Choosing the perfect venue for your London conference is one of the most important decisions an organiser has to make. But conference venue hire in London can be an overwhelming world for even the most seasoned event professionals let alone for an uninitiated rookie. New spaces are launching all the time and it’s worth starting from scratch every time you begin the planning journey for your next London conference venue, whatever your previous experience.

First things first: conference venue deal breakers

London is a big old place, so you need to narrow down your search by using some of your deal-breaking criteria. Perhaps you want to be near a certain tube station, or you have a particularly large number of guests to host or it might be that you know you want a contemporary look and feel to your venue.

Take your one ‘must-have’ and start researching online, bringing in your next couple of priorities if this still leaves you with too many to choose from. Your research at this stage need only be relatively superficial to leave you with no more than 10 options.

You can now start asking the questions that will ultimately lead you to the venue that most suits your next project.

The crucial numbers

There are three Big Numbers every organiser needs to keep in mind at the beginning of any conference venue search: cost, capacity and date.

Is the venue in budget?

The price tag on conference venue hire in London varies wildly, so before you visit any of your favourites make sure you have some upfront conversations with the venue team to avoid wasting everybody’s time. Make sure you ask about catering, furniture hire, AV costs and any other extras so you can get an accurate idea of the total spend you’ll be looking at. (Not forgetting to leave a little contingency fund for unexpected extras and last-minute creative ideas).

Read the full article here: https://10-11cht.com/news/blog/choose-conference-venue-london/