The Conference & Hospitality Show turns ten this year and CHS19 – at first direct arena, Leeds on Tuesday 30th April - promises to be bigger and better than ever.
As to be expected from the North’s premier conference and hospitality expo, the team are busy putting together the final touches, ready to present a Rockstar event that’s bursting with innovation, expectation, and revelation, that PAs, EAs and Event Pros can’t afford to miss. What we can reveal, however, are some of the key sponsors on board keen to get the party started.
The #CHS19 tenth anniversary is a much-anticipated event and exhibition space sold-out in record breaking time with 30% of exhibitors new to CHS. Launch week registrations were up by 50% year-on-year and opportunities to sponsor this milestone event, were snapped up in record time. One of the major successes of CHS is the care taken to ensure that the sponsorship opportunities are aligned to their sponsors’ needs. Emma Cartmell, CHS Group CEO, said: “For us, this has always been about creating lasting relationships, so it is very important that our sponsors get great value for money and a significant return on their investment.
The team at Harvey Nichols, Leeds seem to think so, which is precisely why they have decided to get involved in the celebrations by being the host sponsor for the 10th Anniversary Welcome party for our hosted buyers and exhibitors, as Sarah Rosplock, Events and Corporate Sales Manager, Harvey Nichols Leeds explains: “We’re pleased To join with CHS in celebrating their landmark 10th anniversary and to host a truly memorable welcome event for their guests showcasing the style, creativity and flair for which Harvey Nichols is famous.
“Hosting this exciting event offers the opportunity for Harvey Nichols Leeds to showcase our unrivalled event experience in the most stylish retail and dining destination. We look forward to creating and building on new and existing relationships and exploring opportunities in the Corporate sector.”
Harriet Boatwright, Sales and Marketing Manager for MEETinLEEDS, commented: “We’re really excited to be supporting the Conference Hospitality Show, especially on its 10th anniversary, and are delighted to welcome the show back to Leeds. MEETinLEEDS are strong advocates of this wonderful city of ours and it is a real privilege to showcase our venues with visiting delegates and event organisers.”
To help get the Welcome Party started, Zest Mixology will be providing exotic cocktails and mocktails, co-sponsored by Newbury Racecourse. Elena Gurgul, Head of Sales, Newbury Racecourse, said: “Newbury Racecourse has recently completed a £50m outdoor refurbishment and the CHS19 10th-anniversary welcome party is the perfect place to showcase our conference & events facilities together with our onsite hotel, The Lodge. It’s a great, well-organised event, in front of our target market and the perfect place for our relaunch.
“Delegates can expect to see what is unusual and quirky about Newbury Racecourse. We can offer space from 10 to 22,000 guests, with a large spectrum of opportunities in between. It’s a flexible space too, from filming to team building, award nights and sporting opportunities. We can offer, the indoor corporate side of events and hospitality space, and plenty of outdoor space too. We have an onsite train station with direct links to London Paddington Station, which is unusual to have access to over 300 acres of space so well connected to the city.
“We are looking forward to meeting lots of new people and to share our brand awareness that Newbury has much more to offer than just a world-class racecourse.”
To celebrate the landmark 10th anniversary, the CHS team were keen that the birthday celebrations start as soon as delegates walk through the doors. Event Prop Hire, based at Thorp Park, Wetherby, is sponsoring the level one concourse at first direct arena. It’s the first time that they’ve attended CHS, but the opportunity to take part in the 10th anniversary event provided the perfect opportunity for the Yorkshire based company, as Marketing Coordinator, Sophie Calpin, explains: “We don’t want to give too much away too early, as delegates make their way through the double doors at the first direct arena, we want the WOW factor of what we’ve created to do the talking!”
“Last year, we merged our two Yorkshire based sites into one single head office at Thorp Arch, something that we had always dreamed about doing. When CHS approached us, it felt like this was the right time to be involved in a Northern based show to celebrate this milestone. Conversation soon escalated from being an exhibitor, into sponsorship. This came from a combination of us wanting to make a big statement to mark our first year at the show but also celebrating CHS’s 10th anniversary.”
“CHS is totally onboard with the concept we have created giving us a real idea of the elements that they wanted for their buyers. That’s where the idea of theming the concourse came from, where buyers can sit, reflect and recharge ready to get back to the show. We love it when a venue wants to be part of the transformation too and we think the theme we have chosen really complements the first direct arena.
“We’re just super excited about the show, they’ve created a great community that we have been welcomed into! Their attention to detail is incredible plus the team are super lovely. We have only heard great things about CHS, and we are so excited to help them create a space worthy of celebration.”
The CHS tenth anniversary celebrations continue at #CHS19 on Tuesday 30th April at first direct arena, where Zest Mixology and Preferred Hotels will be co-hosting the Rockstar Bar, entertaining VIPs with their tailor-made cocktails as Murdo McLeod, Managing Director, Zest Mixology, explains: “As the UKs number one supplier of pop-up bars for business events, private parties and weddings, co-hosting the #CHS19 Rock Star Bar is our perfect gig. We can’t wait to celebrate the 10th anniversary with our perfect target audience.
“We are masters of our craft, creating a unique and memorable bar experience for guests. As well as creating a magnificent cocktail, to commemorate the Conference and Hospitality Show’s tenth birthday, visitors will get a full flavour of what we can create for them.
It’s the first time that Preferred Hotels have co-hosted the Rockstar Bar, for Nic Wood, Director Group Sales, Europe and the Middle East, Preferred Hotels & Resorts it was an easy choice to make, he said: “The Conference and Hospitality Show is one of the UK’s top shows and we are looking forward to attending once again for its 10th anniversary year. It’s essential for us to have a strong presence throughout the UK and the CHS Show is a perfect opportunity to promote our global brand message and meet with both existing and potential new clients.
“We are looking forward to updating delegates with news on our new properties in Europe and across the globe and we are looking forward to celebrating with a drink or two whilst we’re there!”
And finally, a brand-new addition and to help us celebrate our tenth anniversary Conference & Hospitality Show is The Demo Zone, sponsored by The Cookery School at The Grand, York. It’s the latest instalment of the hotel’s £15m renovation, which has seen the opening of 100 new bedrooms, two restaurants and an executive lounge.
Head Chef Tutor Andrew Dixon, who brings 30 years’ worth of experience to the school, said: “We’re thrilled to be presenting at #CHS19. It’s the perfect place to showcase the school’s immersive and creative experiences for delegates and team building, whether it’s part of a bigger conference, or as a stand-alone visit.
“We’ll have two full cookery demonstrations on the day of sweet and savoury options prepared from our mini-kitchen. We’ll also have a couple of interactive, ‘hands-on’ demos, where we’ll be challenging individuals to come along to see what they can do and to have some fun. The Cookery School at The Grand, York, is a place to make friends, relax, have fun, and try something new. Food is a great way to bring people together and delegates at #CHS19 will get a real flavour of what we can do.”
