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:
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
At BMA House we are well known for our personal touches. Our team are regularly mentioned by name by brides and grooms for their outstanding work, particularly as they work with couples all the way from initial enquiry to the wedding day itself and beyond.
With this personal approach in mind, we asked our very own Sasha (Senior Venue Sales, Events & Wedding Planner), who is currently planning her own wedding, what some of her top tips would be.
Q. Let’s start with a nosey question – How was the actual proposal?
“We were away in Amsterdam for a few days in August 2020. We hired bikes one day and rode to a park for a picnic, Dan suggested going to look at the band stand which was overlooking a lake and as the clock tower behind us struck 11am (11 is our lucky number) I turned around to see he was down on one knee with the ring. I was very surprised that he had finally popped the question – I had been waiting 10 years!”
Q. How did you make your venue choice?
“We wanted the wedding to be an outdoor, countryside style so we started our search with this type of venue in mind. We visited 2 venues in Kent/Essex but neither of them offered enough outdoor space and focused too much on the traditional sit-down wedding breakfast inside. When visiting my family in the midlands an advert popped up on my Instagram for Belcote Farm, it was a brand new ‘Tipi’ wedding venue that had just opened in a village near where I grew up. We arranged a site visit for the next day and instantly fell in love with it – it was in the perfect setting, offered dry hire and had a brilliant package with so much included.”
Q. You have a child, how have you incorporated this into your wedding day?
“Our little boy Chester and nephew Casey will both be our Page Boys, they will be 2 ½ at the time of the wedding. We would like them to walk down the aisle together before the bridesmaids, but I think we will see how confident they are closer to the wedding. We are going to book some family style entertainment if our budget allows – a magician or something similar, there are also lawn games included as part of our venue package so I think they will have fun with these. We haven’t thought as far ahead of who will look after him on the day of the wedding, probably a few hours with the girls getting ready then he will go to the venue with the boys for photos before I arrive.”
Q. What are you disagreeing with when it comes to planning the little details with your fiancé?
“Nothing… at the moment!!!
We are pretty much on the same wavelength when it comes to the wedding, we have each taken control of different elements – we both researched and narrowed the choices down to a few options and then made the final decisions together. So far we have booked the venue, band, photographer/videographer and caterers.”
Q. What aspects have you most enjoyed?
“I have honestly enjoyed everything so far! I think as we both work in events, we understand the booking processes and how to work with suppliers which takes the stress out it. Finding our perfect venue was a highlight which made me very excited and going dress shopping with my mum and mother-in-law was a really lovely day and made it feel very real.”
Q. If you had an endless budget, what would you do with it for your ultimate dream wedding?
“I would have a two-part wedding. Part one would be jetting off with our closest family and friends abroad for an intimate wedding on an exotic beach (maybe Thailand or the Caribbean) followed by a big wedding party at our current venue with lots of different entertainment throughout the day.”
Q. What advice would you give others planning their wedding?
“Don’t make decisions based on what you think your guests would prefer – everyone has different opinions so you will never please everyone, make decisions that are right for you and your partner.
Keep track of your budget – Sticking to our budget is very important to us and it is very easy to go off track and forget how much everything is amounting to. We have created a budget tracker in Excel which we have divided the total budget between different elements, and we are adding to that as we go – we have had to reign in a few of our ideas to keep within budget.
Share the load – I think sometimes Brides take on the stress and workload involved with a wedding. Write down a list of everything that needs to be done and divide it between you and your partner and maybe get some family/friends involved too, it isn’t as daunting if the Wedding planning is split into little tasks.”
Thank you Sasha for these fantastic tips, we wish you all the luck with the rest of your planning, and hope your wedding is everything you dreamed it would be.
If you’d like to speak with Sasha for more advice, or require some information on holding your wedding at BMA House, please email [email protected] or call 020 7874 7020
✨ We are very excited to share our feature in October’s Conference News publication where our venue marketing manager, Rebecca Hurley talks about some of our sustainability achievements for BMA House and how we keep up with supply chain expectations. Head to pages 12-15 to read the full article ✨
In the words of Fleetwood Mac – “Everything’s waiting for you – You can go your own way”… which is all part of the celebrations and options available here at London’s beautiful venue, BMA House.
No, this blog isn’t an homage to 1977’s award winning Rumours album but an opportunity to reflect on something much more up to date – versatility and the fact that BMA House can be taken exclusively and used as a blank canvas to create your own event, your own way.
When you book BMA House exclusively it is yours to do with as you wish – assuming you don’t intend on abseiling from the Great Hall balconies! In all seriousness though, we regularly work with people looking to do something exceptional and we understand most individuals prefer a private setting all to themselves.
In particular, exclusive use often starts with a review of the catering on offer. We don’t want those booking with us to be limited by their perceptions of what we have to offer – so please talk to us about any potential changes you might like to make for a celebration. This can include switching out our caterers entirely to meet the needs of different cuisines. A perfect example is a Bah or Bat Mitzvah, where we can turn our kitchens over to one of our recommended suppliers specialising in Kosher cuisine.
Once the decision has been made to change the caterer then the whole venue is given over to that celebration. This is primarily because two different caterers cannot use the kitchen at the same time – partly due to space but also due to potential contaminations of produce that might be acceptable to one client but not another – in this case “too many cooks quite literally could spoil the broth!”
Once the venue is yours the opportunities are endless in terms of how you wish to use it to maximise impact and create something truly memorable for your guests. As ever our caring team are on hand throughout and as your single point of contact from start to finish can support with ideas and suggestions for making the most of an exclusive hire.
BMA House is famous for being a landmark venue steeped in history in the heart of London. We are also the beating heart of the British Medical Association and therefore sit at the cutting edge of scientific research and medical knowledge. This deep-seated passion for innovation and excellence runs through the whole of the organisation, including our event facilities and planning skills. So put your perceptions aside and find out how you can use us to “go your own way.”
Contact our caring team of event planners for more information.
Email: [email protected]
Note – our recommended maximum number of guests for events using external caterers is 200.
Summer has most definitely been and gone but weddings are still in full swing, and BMA House will regularly play host to weddings over the months ahead. Weddings are a wonderful time to celebrate but there is also a wealth of traditions and etiquette that are worth remembering for guests.
Firstly, and perhaps most important is to remember that cultural diversity means etiquette changes depending on the type of wedding – but there are a few generic do’s and don’ts that are universal.
Check out the dress code and make sure you adhere to it. No bride and groom want their photos ruined by someone completely out of touch, whether they are too relaxed, too formal or have made a poor colour choice. White is generally the colour to avoid of course but there can be other pitfalls – if in doubt just ask. If you are lucky enough to have been invited it means you have a good enough relationship with someone in the wedding party to be able to ask a stupid question.
Show up! It might sound a little obvious but don’t be that person who says they will attend but doesn’t show. The couple will have spent a huge amount of time (and quite a bit of money) planning their day around a specific number of people, often personalising elements to each individual, so don’t ruin all that hard work by not being there. It is of course also worth noting the fact that you shouldn’t randomly bring children or a guest unless they have been invited too.
Show some restraint with the free bar and don’t be that person everyone is talking about the next day. Drinking too much and making a fool of yourself is a great way to upstage the couple – they need to be what everyone remembers, not your stumbling effort on the dancefloor and feet poking out from whichever bush you fall asleep under.
Put your phone away and let the professional photographer do their job – and if you do happen to take some pictures, under no circumstances share them on social media until the couple share their own.
Finally, say thank you to pretty much everyone in the wedding party. Back in the dim and distant past most weddings would have been paid for by the bride’s father. However, times have changed, and the bill could be footed by anyone from the couple to crowdfunding – so play it safe and make sure everyone knows you appreciated their hospitality.
Enjoy the special occasion.
Why not give us a call and see our magical venue for your venue own eyes?
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 020 7874 7020
Images courtesy of:
Photographer Lucie Watson (luciewatsonphotography.com)
