Throughout the event, the overarching theme of “Positive Evolution” resonated deeply with all participants. From keynote speeches by influential thought leaders to interactive workshops and networking opportunities, the conference fostered a unique environment for personal and professional development.
Throughout the planning for this year’s conference, the team at Burleigh Court worked with the VOE team to bring together an inspiring conference. Emma Chamberlain, Commercial Director, Imago Venues on being hosts to the conference said: “Hosting this year’s Venues of Excellence Positive Evolution Conference at Burleigh Court was an absolute pleasure for me and the entire Imago Venues team. It was fantastic to welcome industry colleagues to our venue, giving them the chance to experience firsthand the service, hospitality, and facilities we’re so proud of. What made this event even more special was the opportunity to showcase some of the exciting changes we’ve made at Burleigh Court. Introducing our brand-new restaurant, Fifty the Street, our beautifully refurbished bar, Carney & Scotts, and our brand-new conference suite to such a great audience was a real highlight. Seeing delegates enjoying these spaces and hearing their positive feedback was incredibly rewarding. The energy and enthusiasm throughout the conference were inspiring, and I’m so proud of our team for delivering a seamless experience. We’ve always valued our strong partnership with Venues of Excellence, and hosting this event reinforced just how important it is to collaborate and share best practices in our industry. We look forward to many more opportunities to work together and continue driving excellence in hospitality and events.”
Mandy Jennings, CEO for Venues of Excellence welcomed the delegates to conference and shared the incredible year it has been for the consortium with their high energy sales and marketing initiatives, highlighted key successes around their member quality assessments being finalised at all member venues, their 2025 January “Customer excellence programmes” at two Center Parcs resorts introduced for all venues to attend, plus the continued support from their membership and how exciting it was to welcome Drayton Manor Resort into the VOE family as their latest member. Handing over to Chair of the Advisory Group, Stewart Elsmore, he outlined how the economy has placed some pressure on businesses and emphasised the resilience of the hospitality industry has been nothing short of extraordinary. Before handing over to the conference moderator, Stewart encouraged delegates to “stay on a 10” and take the time to gather those special golden nuggets of wisdom, relax, and enjoy meaningful conversations with exhibitors, colleagues and friends, and step away from the daily challenges and recharge.
With a stellar line up of world class speakers, delegates gained unique insights across a range of topics; Innovation for Growth, Marketing Trends, Evolve to Thrive, Winning Mentality and Customer Excellence ahead of the motivational speaker Alison Edgar MBE sharing her insightful career journey through Hospitality and pushing through the barriers to get to the top of her game and cultivate a growth mindset. Delegates chose one of three breakout sessions; Selling 7 Days a Week, HR Legal Updates and Burleigh Court delivered an insightful Plant Forward workshop highlighting how they have embraced food sustainability through their menus and cocktail list.
Between sessions, delegates had the opportunity to network with 22 exhibitors across a range of products and services that support the hospitality sector, many of whom are members of the consortiums Preferred Partner Programme including the conference key sponsor Proposal 360 / View It 360 who are Premium Partners to Venues of Excellence. Noel Sexton shared his remarkable journey as a supplier with VOE, and how the partnership has been integral to the growth of his business and building excellent partnerships with the member venues and VOE team.
When the conference programme came to a close, delegates enjoyed an innovative conference dinner, creatively set with a Vivaldi “Four Seasons” musical backdrop reflecting the seasons through imaginative dishes. Norman Meyer, Head of Conference and Events at Rhodes Trust shared his thought on the day: “As a delegate at the VOE Annual Conference, I had the opportunity to explore ways to encourage positive evolution. The event featured inspiring speakers who shared valuable insights, providing an excellent platform for networking and exchanging ideas. It also provided an opportunity to engage with a number of excellent exhibitors at the event. Overall, it was a fantastic experience that concluded with a delicious dinner, offering our team a unique opportunity to learn and engage together.”
Afterwards, VOE presented two awards from our evening sponsors Oyster Recruitment and Venue Directory; the Referral Team of the Year was awarded to Wyboston Lakes Resort and the Venues of Excellence Sales and Marketing Ambassador Award was presented to Vikki Webb from Millennium Point. During the evening, guests were encouraged to support Imago Venues and this years nominated conference charity, Rainbows Hospice, with £1,594 being raised and presented to Gary Farnfield, Community Fundraising Manager who attended the event.
Talking to delegates post conference, this year’s conference theme has been heralded a great success. Mark Field FIH, General Manager at Victory Services Club said: “Positive Evolution was the overarching theme for the VOE Conference 2025. Created by the leading force in venue excellence, the VOE team out did themselves this year. The conference empowered delegates to take a ‘positive approach to change’ managing their venues, identifying what works best and capitalising on it to ensure the best customer experience possible. Throughout the conference we were challenged and encouraged to evolve the essence of our business, ensuring we focused on the consumer and keeping things simple for greater outcomes true to our roots and overall goals while not overcomplicating things for unnecessary reasons. It questioned what is at the heart of what we do, what makes our Venue unique and how can we capitalise on it. Fantastic speakers and networking, supported by the wonderful team at Imago Venues.”
Silvia Parnaby, Sales Manager from Weston Park said: “I really enjoyed attending the Venues of Excellence Annual Conference “Positive Evolution”, it provided an excellent opportunity for meaningful discussion, networking and knowledge exchange. The agenda of the day provided just the right balance to keep us engaged through listening to guest speakers, participating in a diverse range of workshops and allowing time to see the various suppliers on their stands. I found the guests speakers to be engaging, and the opportunity to connect with fellow colleagues from other venues was invaluable.”
Reflecting on the 2025 Conference, and receiving feedback from delegates, speakers and exhibitors Mandy commented: “As we look back on this year’s Venues of Excellence Annual Conference, I am truly inspired by the positive feedback we’ve received from delegates, speakers, and exhibitors alike. It’s clear that the conference provided a platform for valuable discussions, fresh perspectives, and meaningful connections. The energy and enthusiasm were palpable, and it’s heartening to see that the ‘Positive Evolution’ theme really resonated across all aspects of the event. It’s been wonderful to hear that attendees left with practical knowledge, new opportunities, and an invigorated sense of purpose. I’m especially grateful for the engaged participation of our exhibitors, who showcased innovative solutions that will undoubtedly shape the future of the industry. Moving forward, we’re excited to continue building on this momentum, as we listen to all the feedback and work to make each year even better. The ongoing evolution of our VOE community and the incredible vibe we all share is what makes these conferences so special.”
