Leonardo Hotels Midlands FAM Trip and East Midlands Elite Expo Showcase Strength of the Region’s Hospitality and Events Sector
The East Midlands events industry has been celebrating following the success of two major networking and business events held last week at one of Leonardo Hotels’ award winning hotels Leonardo Hotel & Conference Venue Hinckley Island, bringing together venue professionals, event agencies, suppliers and buyers from across the region and beyond.
The inaugural Leonardo Hotels Midlands FAM Trip welcomed 50 agency partners for an immersive experience designed to showcase the group’s Midlands portfolio and strengthen relationships within the meetings and events sector.
Guests enjoyed an evening of networking, hospitality and entertainment, including a surprise ceilidh dancing experience, while learning more about Leonardo Hotels’ Midlands properties, including Hinckley Island, Birmingham, Nottingham, Derby and East Midlands Airport. Representatives from the National Sales Team were also on hand to provide updates on the wider Leonardo Hotels UK & Ireland portfolio.
The following day, the East Midlands Elite Expo welcomed more than 60 qualified buyers and 40 exhibitors from across the hospitality, events and business sectors. Throughout the day, attendees participated in networking, business development and supplier engagement opportunities, creating a vibrant atmosphere that exhibitors described as energetic and highly productive.
Feedback from both exhibitors and buyers has been overwhelmingly positive, highlighting the quality of connections, conversations and opportunities generated throughout the event.
The Expo also welcomed local MP attendance, helping to highlight the economic impact and importance of the meetings and events industry across the East Midlands. In addition, East Midlands Elite officially launched fundraising activities for its newly announced charity partner, Maggie’s Nottingham.
The events were supported by Sounds Commercial, who served as the AV Partner creating a seamless experience for attendees across both events.
Tia Goadby, Director of Sales at Leonardo Hotel & Conference Venue Hinckley Island and Co-Founder of East Midlands Elite, said:
“Having spent the last nine months planning both events, it was incredibly rewarding to finally see them come to fruition. The support from our industry has been phenomenal, and the success of both the Midlands FAM Trip and East Midlands Elite Expo demonstrates the strength, collaboration and ambition that exists across the East Midlands events community.
The success of both events highlights the growing strength of the East Midlands as a destination for meetings, conferences, exhibitions and business events, while demonstrating the value of collaboration across the hospitality and events sectors.”
Building on the momentum of the Expo, the East Midlands Elite is now finalising plans for its third annual charity event in support of Maggie’s Nottingham. The event will take place on Friday 14 August at one of the network’s member venues, the National Space Centre in Leicester, bringing together industry professionals from across the region to raise vital funds for the charity’s work supporting people affected by cancer.
