Author: Rebecca Hurley

We love sharing news when our amazing team are asked to be interviewed for their expertise in the events industry, and here our very own Business Development Event Manager, Hannah Robinson tells us about her experience of dealing with clients from the enquiry stage through to contract.

Read her interview with Locus-Point here.

Contact our caring event planners on [email protected] for more information on our sustainable London venue or call 020 7874 7020

The sun is starting to appear more often, blossom is appearing on the trees and spring flowers are poking their way through the dark winter soil. It is impossible not to feel a little more upbeat when there is so much fresh growth around us.  The feeling of “potential” within nature’s bounty is incredibly powerful and that feeling generates thoughts of long summer’s evenings, outdoor celebrations and parties.

Summer parties are of course not limited to just a few friends but also offer a wealth of opportunities to gather with a much wider range of acquaintances, colleagues, clients and more.  They are a chance to revel in the warmth of a setting sun, whilst enjoying fantastic food and drink, great company and here at BMA House the unique, undefinable feeling that nothing beats a British summer’s evening.  In fact, you might even describe it as “paradise.”

Such an event sounds idyllic, what better way to spend a summer’s evening?  However, such events come at a cost both financially and environmentally.  With regards to the costs there are a wealth of tips organisers can follow to make the figures work.  However, the single biggest tip we can offer is to think in terms of value rather than cost.  Focus spend on the areas that really matter such as venue choice, catering and theming – those are the elements attendees will truly remember – particularly if you think in terms of quality rather than quantity.

However, it is vital that we consider wider costs that might not initially or directly impact us in the short term – but could impact us all for many years to come.  Events by their very nature can have an impact on the environment and we therefore need to make allowances and adjustments wherever possible to minimise this.

Here at BMA House environmental savings start with the simple choice to use our wonderful outdoor spaces for summer parties.  Whether it’s our Courtyard, with its magnificent fountain for up to 320 or the Garden with its hidden nooks capable of hosting 90, either of our external spaces free up the need for the additional lighting and electricity that accompanies indoor spaces.  However, at BMA House we go a lot further than thinking about just the electricity bill when it comes to sustainability, and we believe you should too.  So, what else can you consider when organising your sustainable summer party?

• Start with travel – how will you and your guests get to the party? Few things are more pleasurable on a summer’s evening than a leisurely stroll, so consider proximity for your guests when selecting a venue.  A venue with a clean air walking route should also be a strong contender due to the higher air temperatures in summer – which can increase pollution and smog in traffic dense areas.

• Public transport options should be considered – ranging from the tube and buses to include some of the more unusual options such as the scooters and bikes that are hireable in many cities. In fact, with good light remember cycling could be a great option that might not be considered at other times of the year.  Transport to and from an event is one of the single biggest environmental factors every organiser should consider and needs to be factored in from the start.

• Attendee numbers are vital – so get them right. Food waste offers one of the biggest opportunities to get event sustainability right but can also be an area for huge mistakes.  Ensuring accurate catering numbers and sensible portion sizes are the perfect place to start.  Consider your minimum numbers, keep a close watch on registrations and communicate with the venue as things change.  A good venue will know how much food to cook and deliver for any given number of attendees – but only if they have accurate information.

• Food choices are also a great way to minimise waste. People attending a stand-up party in hot summer weather will eat differently to the same group sitting down for a three course Christmas party.  Again, the venue will know and understand how to get the numbers right.  However, they can also steer you in truly sustainable directions when it comes to the food choices.  We are for example offering beef and lamb free menus as standard for 2023 as well as entirely meat free options – Jackfruit Burgers have to be tasted to be believed…

• Summer food choices also provide a wealth of seasonal options, including some of the best fruits and vegetables unavailable locally in the winter. These allow for incredibly creative menu options – not to mention some pretty unusual cocktails.

• It is also worth noting that changing climates mean some of the best sparkling wines are now produced here in the UK – so don’t ask for imports and their associated food miles when you can support vineyards all across the country.

Finally, it is worth considering theming.  In the dark winter months, most venues might consider decorations and other paraphernalia to maintain the Christmas spirit.  Summer is very different – the weather is potentially all the theming you need.  So, avoid wasteful expenditure on single use décor and simply enjoy the wonderful light and warmth that comes from not just the climate but also the camaraderie and pleasure of spending time with other people.

Paradise Found party packages at BMA House

Join us for an unforgettable summer party in paradise, in the heart of Bloomsbury!

This year we invite you to experience our version of paradise in our exciting Paradise Found party package. Being in paradise is said to improve your wellbeing, so let us transform your mood from work to bliss the moment you step inside our wrought iron gates. Soak up the sun whilst sipping on cocktails with colleagues next to our magnificent fountain in the Courtyard, suitable for up to 320 guests, or tuck into a sizzling BBQ or vibrant Street Food stalls in our lush idyllic Garden, for up to 90.

A sustainable summer

Sustainability is always at the forefront of party planning; our catering partners, Company of Cooks. will ensure only the finest quality ingredients are used. Our ethical & sustainable food practices mean we support British farmers & source local produce where possible, whilst ensuring food waste is at its absolute minimum.

No matter the theme or size of the crowd, you can customise your Paradise party package to fit just what you imagined.

For more information, contact us here

The BMA House Events Team

Our passion to care for the planet is one we love to shout about! Here our Venue Marketing Manager, Rebecca Hurley shares what it means to be one of the most sustainable venues in the capital and what we are doing to ensure the moment guests step inside our building, their experience is sustainable from start to finish.

Read the Sustainable Venue Spotlight interview with HeadBox here:

To find out more about our sustainable venue, or to book your next event, email [email protected] or call 020 7874 7020

This March, our Venue Marketing Manager, Rebecca Hurley was interviewed by the lovely team at The BNC (Buyers Networking Club) – here she reveals all about her experience in running events, her love for promoting everything sustainable, and why she’s been at BMA House for so long (14 years!)

You’ll find us at the next BNC Show at Central Hall Westminster on Wednesday 19th April 2023. Click here to register for your free ticket and to find out more about this exciting show.

The BMA House Venues Team

Email: [email protected]

Tel: 020 7874 7020

Sustainability lies at the heart of everything we do at BMA House and this week we were delighted to be featured in the ‘Sustainability Special’ newsletter with the The Delegate Wranglers.

Have a read and find out what sustainability means to us and our passionate Venue Marketing Manager, Rebecca Hurley

To enquire about holding your sustainable event with us, contact our caring team on:

Email: [email protected]

Tel: 020 7874 7020

bmahouse.org.uk

The BMA House venues team picked up another prestigious award last week at the Greengage Insights and 2023 Sustainability Awards.

During a fantastic afternoon at The Marylebone hotel, we were delighted to take home a trophy for ‘Best Accommodation & Meetings Sustainability Initiative’. This comes after recently being announced as a finalist for The Sustainability Award (Venue or Catering) at the London Venue Awards 2022. These awards recognise outstanding achievement in the field of business travel, meetings & events and related sustainable products & services.

Back in August 2022, BMA House was amongst the first venues in the world to achieve Greengage’s ECOsmart Platinum accreditation, so to say we now have an award of such a high standard to accompany this, is proof we are leaders in hospitality and have considered sustainability in all aspects of our business.

Up against strong competition from Radisson Hotels, Wyboston Lakes Resort and The Marylebone hotel, we felt very lucky to win this prestigious award, and couldn’t have done it without some key people at BMA; a special thanks goes to our Estates team, Corporate Development, and our creative catering partners, CH&CO., who’ve helped make BMA House the successful and reputable venue that it is.

Winning this award is a huge testament to the hard work we have put in over the past 18 months. We’re so proud of the environmental and social initiatives we’ve launched as part of our goal to be carbon neutral by 2030.

The winners from all award categories can be found here: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/greengage-solutions_thank-you-to-all-our-attendees-sponsors-activity-7024753476467314688-sqJo?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop

Sustainability is not just a buzzword; it has become an undeniable part of everyday living and is something we should consider at every opportunity.  As one of the most significant days in our lives, weddings offer an ideal opportunity to demonstrate not just a love for our partner but the world around us.  Amongst the myriad decisions we make when organising a wedding, the choice to be sustainable should be a simple one and there are many ways to achieve it from proposal to planning.  Here are a few of our top tips and thoughts.

Sustainability starts with the proposal: What better way to demonstrate a commitment to the planet than from the very moment you get engaged.  Choice of a sustainable location etc are obvious but perhaps the most significant part of the proposal is the ring itself.  Rather than visiting the local jewellery store why not consider proposing with a piece of jewellery that is already in the family – perhaps your grandmother’s ring or similar?  If classic, vintage looking jewellery is not your thing you can even get old stones reset or have the metal melted and reshaped into something more your style.  Either option saves the use of new resources.  Speaking of which, if you do choose to buy new then check the source of the stones – particularly diamonds.  Sadly, many come from less reputable sources including areas of conflict and abuse of the miners.

Venue Choice: Once you are engaged it is time to start planning.  Very often the first choice is the venue – something we know a little about here at BMA House!  Talk to your potential venues to understand their commitment to sustainability, what actions are they taking to protect the planet?  How will they support your sustainable choices.  Many of the subsequent decisions you make about your wedding will be based on the capabilities and options available at the venue, so ensure you discuss sustainability with them from the very beginning.

Venue Décor: An area of significant waste at many weddings can be décor and theming.  Significant amounts are often spent on changing a room to meet the needs of the couple and these frequently include single use items that are thrown away after just a few hours of usage.  Surely a better option is to choose a venue in a style that suits your tastes and desires – why pay extra for décor when so many beautiful venues exist with a style all of their own?  This even includes the great-outdoors.  Many venues are either purely external or offer significant external spaces that can be used throughout the day – whether it is for your ceremony, reception or photos.

Minimise Travel: Speaking of venues, there is amongst many couples a trend to use several venues, requiring transport from hotel – to ceremony – to drinks reception – to wedding breakfast – to party.  Each one of those journeys impacts the planet so we highly recommend minimising this as much as possible by sticking to one or at most two locations.  For those considering overseas weddings – travel sustainability and destination choice becomes an imperative.

Reduce, Reuse and Recycle: This mantra is key to sustainability across all parts of our lives and as such can be reflected in wedding planning.  Firstly – use less, secondly, don’t use it only once, thirdly – recycle it for future use.  Clearly this is relevant in the décor and theming discussed earlier.  However, a few other key areas are invitations, flowers, food and favours:

• Invitations are potentially a big waste of money and environmental resources. Consider whether they even need sending – or perhaps digital invitations would be a better option.  Next think about printing requirements such as sustainable ink and paper choice.  Finally, minimise waste by only sending out what is truly necessary.

• Cut flowers by their very nature look beautiful but aren’t sustainable – you are quite literally killing them to provide decoration at the wedding. At the very least consider what is in season and local.  There are however many other more sustainable options that can be considered including pot plants or even herbs and small trees.

• Food offers a significant potential for waste, particularly as it is one of the most expensive elements in the cost of any wedding. Here in particular it is vital to talk to the venue and caterers.  As a venue, along with our catering partner CH&CO. we have been delivering sustainable food options for a long time and could in fact write a whole article on just that topic.  For the moment though our key recommendations are to seek out local and seasonal food; order the right quantities and select menu options that have lower impacts on the environment.  And when it comes to drinks – try the local wine and avoid bottled water.

• Favours are a lovely memento of any wedding but think about the long-term usage and how realistic it is that the attendees will keep or make use of whatever it is that you give them. Trinkets and tat are likely to gather dust and eventually end up in landfill, food stuffs are a far better option as are small plants, seeds and the like.

Where and What Next? The gifts and honeymoon also offer plenty of opportunities and pitfalls for sustainable choices.  A sustainable gift registry is a good choice as of course are donations to worthy charities.  Above all else you don’t want people spending money on items that are never likely to be used or are unsustainably sourced.  When it comes to the honeymoon – well that is a whole other article on sustainable travel and destination choices!

Ultimately, making a wedding sustainable is not just a matter of ticking a few check boxes.  It needs to be carefully thought out and planned.  For some it seems like it is all a bit too much hassle – however, when you consider the lifelong journey you are setting out on together, surely it is worth a few extra minutes to ensure it starts in the most positive way possible.  Here at BMA House we believe that a sustainable wedding will lead to a sustainable marriage – what more could you want and what other reason do you need to place sustainability at the heart of your wedding?

To find out more about holding your wedding in our stunning sustainable London venue, contact our wedding planners on 020 7874 7020 or email [email protected]

Photo credit to Michal Gutowski

Website: https://mgweddings.co.uk/

BMA House might be best known as a fantastic event and conference venue, but we are also seeing a significant rise in small scale exhibitions, particularly those run alongside our larger conferences.  They offer a fantastic opportunity for organisers to generate additional revenue, bring partners onsite and overall add more value for attendees. In one recent example, which included an exhibition alongside the ABPI Conference, the medDigital team said: “It was also a lovely opportunity for a few of the medDigital team to spend some time in person with both new and old acquaintances. Thank you to the BMA House team who were the perfect hosts. They ran a flawless [event], ensured we were looked after and well fed …the canapes were amazing!”

However, as with everything else at BMA House we are always looking for a sustainable angle – a way to ensure no matter what we do, it is with one eye on the environment.  Most of our historic advice and activities; ranging from transport and sustainable catering through to resource management and waste minimising are relevant for an exhibition.  However, here are three top tips we think worthy of mention.

Sustainable stand build – whether its shell scheme, a pop-up or bespoke build, the single biggest opportunity for waste at an exhibition is the stand itself.  Think hard about how you are going to use the space you have booked, question the materials used, the print methods and every resource that has gone into its creation.  Cost is important during financially tough times, but so is the environment.  Single use bespoke stands are a fundamentally awful idea but multi use modular bespoke options that can travel the world can be truly creative and exciting.  Shell scheme doesn’t need to be three grey walls but it also doesn’t need to be covered in single use plastics.  Exhibitors, we urge you to think before you invest… organisers we urge you to point your exhibitors in a sustainable direction – or even make it a part of your t&c’s.

Stand giveaways – does anyone really need yet another plastic branded pen, mouse mat, notepad, USB stick… the list goes on.  And so does the level of wastage!  Ask yourself where the value is in such a giveaway?  Surely the most important giveaway is knowledge and information that will be of value to the potential customer.  If your stand team are doing a good job, talking to the right people, qualifying them and only focusing on quality then a cheap plastic pen that will last 500 years beyond the end of the event is a terrible waste of resource.

Ditch the paperwork – it feels like Covid might have been the nail in the coffin for business cards, doesn’t it?  Is there really a need to hand over a piece of card / paper to be looked at, potentially filed and probably binned within a short period of time?  There are now so many networking apps, social tools and simple contact features on our phones, tablets and computers that it is time to move on from the card.  And whilst you are at it, you might as well ditch all those leaflets and catalogues that normally go out of date within a few weeks.

Exhibitions are a fundamentally superb way of making new connections, spreading your messages and developing relationships.  But we must all think about how best to approach them, and how to ensure they deliver not just for us but also for the planet.

For more information on enhancing your event with adjourning exhibition space, contact our caring planners on [email protected] or call 020 7874 7020.

You might be surprised to learn that BMA House is a popular venue for Team Building events – then again, when you consider our fantastic location and superb facilities it makes complete sense.

The best team building events are those that truly engage the participants, bringing them together in an unforced style that involves everyone.  To do so, the setting needs to be relaxed enough to ensure everyone is comfortable, whilst providing all the necessary facilities – access to “more than just a meeting room” is also a huge bonus.  This is a big draw for us as team building activities can extend out to our Garden, Courtyard or even the streets of London beyond.

The best teambuilding events also make the most of their location by drawing themes from the venue and surrounding areas into the activities.  For us here at BMA House this particularly means a focus on the environment and world around us.  Where better to hold a team building event to improve environmental credentials than a multi-award-winning sustainable venue?

We saw a substantial increase in team building bookings through 2022.  In particular, we saw significant use of our outdoor spaces this summer.  Some made use of the quiet seclusion of the Garden, where teams can escape the hustle and bustle to think, plan and create; others preferred the more expansive Courtyard, which offers space to move and develop bigger and more elaborate ideas or even physical challenges.

Importantly though it is not just the content of the day that ensures a successful teambuilding event – the coffee breaks, lunches and dinners are where relationships are cemented, and successes toasted.  Great food and drink are vital here as they allow the attendees to focus on the events of the day, which is where our fantastic partnership with caterer CH&CO. is so important, as they deliver creative and interesting receptions, buffets and sit-down meals.

With so many people working from home and unable to spend as much time with colleagues as they did historically, there has never been a more important time to gather teams and help them develop into successful cohesive units – and we think BMA House is the perfect place to do so.

Contact our caring team of planners to help you get started with your next team building event.

Tel: 020 7874 7020

Email: bmahouse.org.uk

The Venues team picked up a prestigious award last week at the London Venue & Catering Awards 2022.

During a fantastic afternoon at The Oval, we were delighted to take home a trophy for ‘Best Venue for Hybrid Events’. These awards recognise excellence, creativity and dedication needed to deliver outstanding service and expertise to customers.

Furthermore, we were shortlisted for ‘The Sustainability Award’, which in itself is a great achievement. There was some tough competition in this category, however we have not lost faith and will put all our efforts into taking our venue to the next level where sustainability is involved; next year we’ll be a stronger contender to take home an award.

Our Hybrid and Virtual event packages came to life over the pandemic, a period which saw our venue close for a considerable period. However, this drove us to investing in state-of-the-art technology to ensure we could still run some events safely despite being closed for larger events, furthermore establishing ourselves as a leading Hybrid London venue.

Up against strong competition from Olympia London, Friend’s House and Barbican, we felt very lucky to win this prestigious award, and couldn’t have done it without some key people at BMA; a special thanks goes to Chris Littlemore and the AV team, Estates, and for those who provided testimonials to support the submission, you’ve helped make BMA House the successful and reputable venue that it is.

We’re so proud of our achievements and in the competitive London market it is a challenge to stand out from the crowd – we have proved our ability to do just that!

The winners from all award categories can be found here: https://londonvenueawards.co.uk/

For more information on our Hybrid & Virtual packages, please contact the team on [email protected] or call 020 7874 7020