Beam Spring All Members Meeting – Summary
The first speaker was Paul Raymond, CCO of HotelHub, who gave a talk on Hotel Transient Market Evolution: Lessons From 2025, Expectations For 2026. He shared the data on and talked about the increased interest in the corporate business travel space because of the political messages and the impact geopolitics is having on travel policies.
Paul shared their hotel booking data, to show the key shifts in pricing, behaviour and demand over the past year and explore what these trends reveal about the likely dynamics, pressures and opportunities in the year ahead.
Next, was the highly anticipated beam Question Time, with a mixed panel of speakers from agency (Brief2Event Solutions, Bright Vision and Priority Event Solutions) and venue (Bowood Hotel, Village Hotels and Radisson Hotels) backgrounds – many of which were joining a panel for the first time and gave a unique perspective.
The session sparked lively discussion across several key industry challenges and trends. Delegates shared firsthand insights on the impact of tax levies, with Manchester highlighted as a region where effects are being particularly felt.
The conversation then moved to the competitive landscape, exploring whether large hotel brands, with established loyalty schemes, hold an advantage over smaller, independent properties. This led to a broader debate on generational differences among bookers, as well as differing priorities between procurement teams and event professionals.
Attendees also examined the growing number of venue-finding agencies and platforms, raising concerns around the strain this places on venue resources, particularly in relation to response times and data consistency.
The panel addressed the evolving demographic within the industry, noting an influx of younger sales professionals who may feel hesitant about attending events. Initiatives such as the beam buddy system were highlighted as effective ways to shift perceptions and encourage greater engagement among new members.
The session concluded with a forward-looking discussion, touching on external factors shaping the industry, including the impact of global conflicts, the increasing importance of value-added services, and upcoming sustainability legislation.
Before lunch, beam’s charity of the year, The Rainbow Trust, gave an overview of the potential ways the £15,000+ raised so far can support the families of sick children. The raffle on the day raised £1,100 in itself!
We bounced back after lunch with a ‘rhythm rally’ led by Michael of Bright Vision Events that got everyone beating their drums to Queen.
Robert Kenwood moderated a panel all about making the most of talent, often the ‘quiet professionals’. He was joined by Nel Flint of HTS, who gave practical advise about recognition in the workplace and Lauren Hawkins, Inntel, who gave a personal account of her experience. Questions led to discussion around flexible working and returning from maternity leave.
Laura Cresswell, Cvent, and Jason Gutteridge, Venue Directory, gave a joint M&E Update.
The Keynote speaker, Max Fellows, got everyone thinking with his session: Building a Personal Brand That Drives Both Influence and Revenue.
Everyone was left feeling inspired and eager to build their own brand.
Thank you to all our speakers, and everyone who contributed at the event. Save the date for our Autumn All Members Meeting – 12th November 2026.
