Francesco: Graham, how is your year so far?
Graham: Time is flying, I can’t believe we are at the end of February already. I am not a massive fan of Winter, so really looking forward to spring, we have a holiday booked in Cape Verde to keep us going! When we return to work in the new year we hit the ground running especially as Business Travel Show Europe, The Meetings Show and TravelTech Show run alongside each other in June, since the pandemic. It is all systems go to get the buyers and hosted buyers registered and plans made to get them to London for the shows, and as Omega are a key part of making that happen, you know how busy it gets!
Francesco: how is life at Northstar Travel Media and what have you got in store for this year at Business Travel Show Europe and The Meetings Show in June?
Graham: There’s never a dull day working in Northstar Travel Media, both in the BTN Group for Business Travel Show Europe and the Northstar Meetings Group for The Meetings Show, and for those of you who know the team, you’ll know that’s true! Everyone works hard and pulls together to make the best shows that we can. We have the added excitement that it is Business Travel Show Europe’s 30th anniversary this year, so we’re making plans to celebrate that, plus the return of the ever-popular Innovation Face off, just one of the many conference sessions available to our attendees, along with over 200 exhibitors and all the onsite meeting and networking opportunities over the two days. The Meetings Show definitely keeps us on our feet with so many elements to it like Tomorrow’s Talent, The Complete Sustainable Events Course, TMS TV, a packed education programme and over 700 meetings and event exhibitors. Both shows have large hosted buyer programmes too, which is what me and my amazing team work on. Currently we are putting all the logistical elements of the programme together, which includes venues for our hosted buyer networking events, always a highlight. We have all been working hard behind the scenes this year to look at different ways to improve the attendees experience and I am delighted to be able to say that we are using a new event platform, incorporating the hosted buyer diary and attendee app for 2024, we are sure that all the attendees will benefit from an improved experience.
Francesco: What keeps you up at night?
Graham: Not a lot normally, except during the month of June when strikes, swans, last minute venue cancellations or anything that can affect my hosted buyers arriving or departing with ease and having a great time at the shows can rear its ugly head. Let’s hope that we don’t see anything like that this year.
Can’t wait to see you and everyone at the shows this year.
