Issue 62
The UK's outdoor hospitality business magazine for function venues, glamping, festivals and outdoor events
The UK's outdoor hospitality business magazine for function venues, glamping, festivals and outdoor events
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59 Pods for NEC Birmingham<br />
THE NEC Group has secured<br />
planning consent for a major<br />
glamping resort at its campus<br />
in Solihull. The site will be<br />
situated by the lake opposite<br />
the National Exhibition<br />
Centre (NEC) and Resorts<br />
World Arena.<br />
It will be made up of<br />
59 pods and be able to<br />
accommodate a total of<br />
236 guests at a time. Andy<br />
Cole, director of property,<br />
partnerships and media at<br />
the NEC, said: “We're always<br />
trying to push the boundaries<br />
in diversifying the use of<br />
Green Events<br />
& Innovations<br />
Conference<br />
the NEC Campus to support<br />
our core exhibition and<br />
arenas business. Our latest<br />
addition, in partnership<br />
with AvantGlamp, perfectly<br />
complements our ambitions<br />
to create a competitive 24/7<br />
destination to work, rest, live<br />
and play, and adds to the<br />
existing destination offer.”<br />
Materials and Waste Management Toolkit<br />
VISION: 2025 and Julie’s Bicycle launched a Sustainable Materials and Waste<br />
Management Toolkit for festivals at the Association of Independent Festivals (AIF)<br />
Congress this month.<br />
The toolkit, developed by leading experts in waste and sustainability and supported<br />
by the industry Waste Task Force, provides practical step-by-step guidance and<br />
resources for those managing procurement and waste at greenfield festivals, including<br />
checklists, policy templates and guidance tips. www.vision2025.org.uk<br />
THE GREEN Events & Innovations<br />
Conference (GEI) welcomed 400<br />
delegates to the Royal Lancaster<br />
London for its 16th edition in<br />
February.<br />
Sessions covered extreme<br />
weather events, with a presentation from climate scientist Professor Richard Betts,<br />
greenwashing with Luke Howell (sustainability advisor to Coldplay and Glastonbury Festival),<br />
and The World’s First Carbon-Removed Gig – The 1975 at The O2 Arena.<br />
The Quick-Fire Innovation Round saw unique and innovative sustainability ideas presented,<br />
including ChefChain (blockchain for food traceability), ReClaim Audio (recycled speakers), and<br />
FibreStrap (biodegradable cable ties). The agenda also tackled the structures on which the live<br />
sector depends, including artist contract clauses, with a session hosted by head of sustainability<br />
for EMEA at Live Nation, Patricia Yagüe.<br />
It’s not possible to consider green events without considering the stage. ‘Greening The Stage’,<br />
hosted by John Robb (Louder Than War) discussed what we have in our toolbox today to design<br />
stages that mitigate the use of virgin materials, reduce emissions, and start working towards the<br />
circular economy.<br />
The day rounded up with the International AGF Awards 2024 sponsored by Skydiamond,<br />
with 27 events, venues and innovators from 12 countries as finalists. The top accolade – the<br />
International Greener Festival Award 2024 – went to Belgium’s Paradise City, which also<br />
scooped the Greener Catering Award.<br />
British award winners included Green Gathering (the Greener Power Award) and 6 Degrees by<br />
Team Love & re:right design (the Greener Innovations Award).<br />
SHOTAWAY<br />
AFO Hands<br />
over to AIF<br />
STEVE HEAP will retire from his<br />
position as general secretary of the<br />
Association of Festival Organisers (AFO)<br />
in April, handing over the operation to<br />
John Rostron and the Association of<br />
Independent Festivals (AIF).<br />
Steve Heap has been AFO’s general<br />
secretary since its formation in 1987.<br />
Since then it has grown to represent<br />
102 event organisers. The AIF is the UK’s<br />
leading national not for profit festival<br />
trade association. Together, the AIF<br />
and AFO will have a collective voice<br />
representing 202 festival promoters and<br />
event organisers across the UK.<br />
Steve Heap said: “Since founding AFO,<br />
I have devoted a considerable amount<br />
of time, effort and love to the grassroots<br />
festival industry. Members and I have<br />
worked together to build a stronger,<br />
well-recognised and sustainable future.<br />
Retiring from this desk now, after 38<br />
years, is a big tug and I will leave all the<br />
‘thank yous’ to my personal letters later.<br />
For now and the future, I am delighted<br />
to be giving the reins to John Rostron<br />
and the team at AIF, where I know AFO<br />
members will find support, knowledge,<br />
campaigning and unity in this world of<br />
festivals. AFO members are creative,<br />
conscientious, and resilient, and I believe<br />
will embrace this change of management<br />
with enthusiasm, leading on to a real<br />
recovery and strong, successful season<br />
in 2024.”<br />
AIF CEO John Rostron said: “Steve<br />
is a legend in the festival world and<br />
he’ll be greatly missed as he begins his<br />
retirement from AFO. We’ll continue to<br />
support AFO members in the way they’ve<br />
become accustomed, but also bring new<br />
opportunities and strength by having so<br />
many independent festivals together in<br />
one place. I’m pleased that I’ll still get<br />
time with Steve as he offers his wisdom<br />
and support as he steps back to enjoy<br />
more time in the fields, and less time at<br />
a desk.”<br />
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