The NEC Group will switch off its lights at 8.30pm tomorrow evening (Saturday 23 March) in support of WWF’s Earth Hour, a unique annual phenomenon that focuses the world’s attention on the planet and how it needs to be protected.

The lights will be turned off for one hour (where safe to do so*) across the Group’s four venues – the National Exhibition Centre (NEC), the International Convention Centre (ICC), National Indoor Arena (NIA) and LG Arena – saving enough energy to make 13,700 cups of tea or to light a 60W light bulb for 5,000 hours.

The emissions savings are equivalent to the amount of CO₂ that would be absorbed by six maple trees over the course of their lifetime.

“We pride ourselves on our “green” credentials and we were delighted to reach our “zero waste to landfill” target at the NEC in September 2012,” says Phil Dyke, the NEC Group’s Engineering Manager.

“As part of our continued commitment to sustainability, the installation stage of our Smart Meters project is now underway so we become more energy aware; it will also show anomalies in our energy usage, giving us the opportunity to ask why we’re using so much energy at certain times of day or night or during certain events.

“Going forward, it’s the NEC’s intention to replicate, as a minimum, the saving achieved during this single WWF Earth Hour, which will mean saving more than 1,420 tonnes of CO₂ per annum.

152 countries and 6,950 towns and cities across the world took part in Earth Hour 2012, and in the UK alone, over 7.6 million people got involved via 3,500 schools and more than 1,200 businesses and organisations.

Last year, the NEC Group’s savings equated to over 250 kWh and made a very visual impact on the landscape around its venues. On this occasion, the target is to save over 300 kWh with an equally significant visual impact highlighting the Group’s commitment to a sustainable future.

“We’re delighted to have NEC Group’s support once again in Earth Hour across all their venues,” adds Colin Butfield, Head of Campaigns, WWF-UK. “The Group have helped give the campaign real visibility in promoting a sustainable future.

“WWF’s Earth Hour is not about saving an hour’s electricity. It’s something much bigger. It’s about people coming together to put the focus on this brilliant world we all share – and how we need to protect it. Not just for an hour a year, but every day.”

For 2013, the focus for the mass switch-off is the kind of energy used, and a move away from dirty fossil fuels onto clean green renewable energy which works with the power of nature, not against it

For more information and to sign up to WWF’s Earth Hour, go to http://earthhour.wwf.org.uk/

*Due to events taking place in NEC Group venues on Saturday night, lighting for those selected areas will remain on for safety.

Send to Kindle

The post NEC Group To Save Enough Energy For 13,700 Cups Of Tea appeared first on Exhibition Industry News.

International Confex, alongside Live Experience, underlined its position as the UK’s premier exhibition for the event industry in what organisers are calling the best programme in the show’s distinguished history.

The event celebrated its 30th Birthday in style with Confex Week packed full of industry discussions, education, meetings, buyer events, and promotional campaigns; both inside and outside ExCeL London. The week also saw the launch of both the Economic Impact Survey and the All Party Parliamentary Group Inquiry by Nick de Bois MP, who called the show “the place where the event industry speaks with one voice”.

“We’re incredibly proud of our show and our outstanding exhibitors this year; there was a buzz around the show, and the whole week, that underlined why Confex Week continues to be the most important dates in the UK event calendar,” commented James Samuel, Event Director, International Confex. “The product this year was superb, and in my opinion is the best we have ever produced, this is significant in making sure we get them back in 2014.”

This year’s event also saw the meteoric rise of Live Experience, adding yet more choice for buyers. “No other UK show exists that delivers the volume of buyer and exhibitor meetings that International Confex does,” continues Samuel. “We’ve had universally positive feedback from buyers within social networks and we were trending throughout the week.”

Samuel is equally aware of the tough climate the industry is operating in at the moment and is keen that the event plays its role in developing the industry in which it serves, “We’re not resting on our laurels, we’re on our first steps of a three year plan to grow this event and boost our industry, next year needs to be bigger and better again, and with the help of our exhibitors, buyers and our partners in the industry, I’m confident we’ll do it again,” he concluded.

Send to Kindle

The post Events Industry Celebrates at International Confex appeared first on Exhibition Industry News.

Lime Venue Portfolio’s showcase event drew over 200 corporate meetings and events buyers during the afternoon of the second day of International Confex at Excel yesterday (Wednesday 20th March 2013).

With a 25% increase in attendees from last year’s inaugural Unusual Made Easy Showcase at the Old Royal Naval College’s Painted Hall, the event underlines the continuing high demand for unique and unusual venues as meetings and events destinations. Guests were able to speak with representatives and familiarise themselves with the offerings of 46 of the venues in the UK’s finest collection of unique, unusual and sporting venues.

Engaging with Confex’s prestigious guest list of corporate event professionals including HRG and British Heart Foundation, Lime Venue Portfolio’s Unusual Made Easy Showcase kicked off at 3.30pm with a drinks reception. Delegates from the internationally acclaimed trade show were able to join the event throughout the afternoon, and meet with showcasing venues including Cheltenham Racecourse, Twickenham Stadium, Beaulieu and Edinburgh Zoo.

The menu for the event, created in association with Payne and Gunter and Leith’s at ExCel, reflected the unusual theme of the evening and included a starter station offering guests the opportunity to ‘Build Your Own Quiche with Goldfish Bowl Salad’, with a selection of assorted mini quiche cases to be filled to the brim with a choice of filling. Also on offer were ‘Savoury Knickerbocker Glories’ and a unique finger sandwich dessert station, featuring ‘Egg, cress and mayonnaise’ (coconut, shredded mango and fresh mint) and ‘Salmon and cream cheese’ (white chocolate spread with orange jelly).

Jo Austin, head of sales at Lime Venue Portfolio, said: “We’re delighted with the turnout at yesterday’s event. This has been a great opportunity to show some of our key buyers what our portfolio of venues has to offer, and has reinforced our reputation as a leading provider of venues for events. I’d like to thank our venues and suppliers for assisting us in making this event a success once again.”

Leading industry suppliers to demonstrate their products and services at The Unusual Made Easy Showcase included MCL, Eventologists, Payne and Gunter, Sternberg Clarke, Tubestation.tv, Bash Bars, Keith Prowse, Tavistock Avenue Photography, Bearfoot Graphics and Karen Woolven Floral Design.

Send to Kindle

The post Lime Venue Portfolio’s showcase highlights demand for unique and unusual venues appeared first on Exhibition Industry News.