beam’s Annual Finance Forum is back – Register now!
beam‘s annual Finance Forum is back! In an era of increasingly sophisticated AI-driven risks of payment fraud, cyber fraud liability, and more, we’re tackling the subjects that matter most to our members right now!
And, we’re covering your regular queries and questions too, covering billback, payment terms, data insights and more:
Date: 9 June 2025
Venue: Leonardo Hinckley Island Hotel
Time: 9:30am – 4:30pm
Accommodation offer: Leonardo Hotels is kindly offering beam members a 20% discount on accommodation, the night before or the night of the forum event, with code: LHICONF20
Agenda
09:30 – Arrival, Tea & Coffee
10:00 – Welcome
Session 1: Billback – Best Practice
Providing a recap and overview on billback and the HMRC Concession Guidelines, credit checks, principal payee, commission deductions, and more.
Presentation:
- Matt Gatenby, TravLaw
TravLaw are a travel-niche law firm. Terms and conditions of a booking are one of the most important tools of your trade, Matt will be providing regulatory advice, covering the guidelines of billback.
Panel Session & Q&A
- Q&A session with experienced panellists from agents and venues, and Matt from TravLaw
Session 2: Good Business Pays & Payment Terms
After some new developments from Terry at Good Business Pays, The BTA’s Andrew Clarke will host our panel covering payment terms, payment processes – Deposits, Client to Agent to Venue, and beam best practice.
Presentation:
- Terry Corby, Good Business Pays
Each year, Good Business Pays, publish the list of the fastest and slowest paying companies for each of the main industry sectors. This allows you to easily compare the recent payment performance demonstrated by the biggest companies by sector. And identify partners you wish to work with.
Panel Session & Q&A
- Q&A session with experienced panellists from agents and venues, and Terry from Good Business Pays
Panel hosted by: Andrew Clarke, BTA
Lunch & Networking
Session 3: Fraud – Stay One Step Ahead
One of our most highly requested sessions, and unmissable – developed in response to member feedback identifying the concern over the growing threat of cybercrime, with high-profile cases currently dominating UK headlines.
Critical session to helping anyone in our sector understand and prevent cyber and financial fraud, covering expert insights, examples, liability and accountability, protection, insurance, and more.
Presentation:
- John Allcock, Fraud Awareness Analyst and Fraud Education expert from NatWest
- Tony Armstrong from Needham Insurance
- Andy Cuff from information and cyber security experts, Computer Network Defence Ltd (CND)
Panel Session Q&A
- Q&A session with experienced panellists from agents and venues, and our expert speakers from NatWest, Needham Insurance and CND.
Panel hosted by: Jason Gutteridge, Venue Directory
Session 4: Data Forecast
This session explores UK and global outlooks across key areas including ARR, costs, and profit. We’ll take a deep dive into the latest data to understand where we are now and provide the tools to benchmark your performance. Are we following the trend – or breaking away from it? What’s the forecast?
We’ll also examine the external factors influencing our industry, including US economic decisions, the war in Ukraine, and more.
Presentation:
- M&E – Jason Gutteridge, Venue Directory
- Transient – Jonathan Read Leonardo Hotels & Shaun Cole, Village Hotels
Session 5: Open Mic – Ask the Experts
Your opportunity to ask any unanswered questions, and interact with any of our experts from throughout the day.
Panel & Q&A
Includes all of the day’s speakers, facilitated by Beam Finance Advisory Board (FAB) – Amanda Riley, Conference Care, and Shaun Cole, Village Hotels
16:20 Summary and Close
16:30: Meeting finishes
Who Can Attend?
Each member is invited to register themselves plus AT LEAST one senior finance colleague from their business to ensure meaningful discussions and knowledge-sharing.
We look forward to welcoming you!
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