The inaugural CHS Birmingham event will take place on 26th October with the show organisers aiming to inject confidence into the meetings and events industry. The exhibition could not be better times, and represents one of the first exhibitions, focusing on the meetings and events industry, to take place since the easing of lockdowns.
CHS Group has gained a fine reputation for the quality of the buyer experience at its events, with CHS Leeds one of the most well-respected exhibitions in the industry calendar. However, both the company’s Leeds and Birmingham Shows have been postponed throughout the pandemic, leaving a massive demand come the first outing of CHS Birmingham.
The show takes place in partnership with both ICC Birmingham and the full support of the West Midlands Growth Company, both of which are throwing the full weight of their marketing and outreach to make the event a success from day one.
Project Confidence
A big part of the objectives for CHS Birmingham will be ‘project confidence’; encouraging both event organisers and delegates to feel more comfortable organising and attending larger events. With many smaller meetings already flooding back into the market, and with more to come throughout the summer and spring, the exhibition is challenging the industry to ‘go big, but not stay at home’.
“We’re looking to give confidence to businesses to hold larger events; organisers to petition stakeholders to get them organised, and delegates to feel secure and safe in attending them,” comments Emma Cartmell, Event Director, CHS Birmingham. “If we can do that, we can play a larger role in injecting speed into our recovery and a bouncier bounce back for everyone.”
The event’s arrival in Birmingham is also well-timed, and for the organisers, a fitting destination for the industry to reconvene following the pandemic. “We’re in the centre of the UK’s event organising community, what we call the UK’s events belt, and with easy access to organisers across the country. Birmingham itself also brings added interest as it looks to host the Commonwealth Games in 2022, a fitting platform for one of the UK’s oldest ‘event cities’, but also one with a new story to tell.”
Destinations Return to Market
As well as the support of the local destinations, one of the other reasons around the event’s continued confidence is the early support of some of the UK’s biggest event destinations, in the show. For the first time in almost a year, CHS Birmingham will showcase the qualities of destinations including London & Partners, Visit Scotland, Visit Wales and Liverpool, who have all confirmed large presence at the show.
As well as the obvious boost for the organisers themselves, the return of these destinations will also be a boost to visitors looking for more quality options for destinations and venues support across the UK, and another reason to be in Birmingham on the 26th October.
“Our mantra across the show is one of confidence,” continues Emma. “For our industry, for our visitors and for our exhibitors. But this is also a great endorsement of our show and we’re delighted to have these giant brands on our exhibition floor.
As well as these larger destinations, CHS Birmingham will also welcome brands including The Eastside Rooms, Pride of Britain, Trident Hospitality, and Venues of Excellence to the Show.
CHS Meetings & Events Industry Week
As part of the organiser’s plans to create a genuine, cross-industry gathering, CHS Group is also partnering with the West Midland meetings and events industry to create a celebratory week for event professionals. The week centres around CHS Birmingham and will be made up of satellite networking, educational and entertainment events, encompassing the themes of:
- The very best of UK events
- The reuniting and re-emergence of the meetings and events industry and the hundreds of thousands of professionals who work within it
- That our £70 billion industry is back in business and set to once again be one of the engines of the national economic recovery
- The industry’s special heritage in Birmingham and the city’s own exciting future for events including the 2022 Commonwealth Games
- The tireless work of the industry’s trade associations and the many other commercial collaborations
The event has also secured a partnership with new-kid-on-the-venue-block, The Eastside Rooms, which is now open to event planners and is using the show as one of its launch celebrations for the industry. As well as one of the official host destinations for the event’s hosted buyer programme, and an exhibitor on the show floor, The Eastside Rooms will also be the destination for the shows infamous opening party.
“We’re delighted to have the support of The Eastside Rooms this year,” adds Emma. “It’s a new venue in the city in an up-and-coming area and it helps us tell the story of a new Birmingham and a revitalised events industry. They’ve got some amazing plans for our opening party and will be a real benefit to everything we’re doing throughout our celebratory week.”
As well as the CHS Groups own events, other get-togethers already confirmed as part of the national week include:
- Filmed interviews, panel discussions, podcasts and webinars from the CHS Birmingham Show floor and throughout the week
- Association meet-ups, board meetings or monthly/quarterly meetings; and
- Companies in the industry meeting up for sales and business development planning and team meetings
“We have a special way of doing things at CHS Group and we take our responsibility to the industry really seriously,” concludes Emma. “We’re at the same time looking to boost business levels and confidence in the industry, provide a fitting celebration for it, and build a week of supporting events that bring the industry together and galvanize it for hopefully much more positive times to come. We can’t wait.”
