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Hilton Birmingham Metropole Celebrates 50 Years with Immersive Showcase Featured post
Industry News28-08-26

Hilton Birmingham Metropole Celebrates 50 Years with Immersive Showcase

August 2026: Hilton Birmingham Metropole marked its 50th anniversary in spectacular style last night, welcoming event buyers, agencies and industry partners for an immersive celebration that showcased the hotel's creativity and vision for the future of events.Guests were invited on a journey through the venue, experiencing transformed event spaces, guided site visits, live entertainment, innovative production and an evening of celebration that demonstrated the scale and versatility of the UK's largest conference hotel outside London. With a theme of “A Merry Un-Birthday”, inspired by Alice in Wonderland, Hilton Birmingham Metropole was transformed into a whimsical wonderland.The milestone allowed the Hilton Birmingham Metropole team to demonstrate its new Strategic Event Partner Programme, which brings together a carefully selected network of trusted event specialists to provide clients with a seamless, fully integrated event delivery experience.The programme formalises long-standing relationships with four specialist suppliers:· Eventologists - creative event design and production specialists· Protec - technical production and audiovisual experts· Apollo Music - bespoke music and entertainment solutions· Showstoppers Entertainment - live entertainment and performance experiencesTogether, these partners transformed the hotel for one unforgettable evening, demonstrating how collaboration and creative excellence can elevate every stage of the delegate journey.Nicola Betley, Area general manager, Hilton Birmingham Metropole, said:"Our 50th anniversary was about much more than celebrating our history, it was about showcasing what's possible when great people come together with a shared ambition to create unforgettable experiences. Seeing the vision brought to life with our incredible partners was a fitting way to celebrate this milestone. These partnerships represent years of collaboration and trust. By bringing together specialists who know our venue, our team and our clients, we're making event planning simpler while giving organisers access to some of the very best creative and production expertise in the industry."The evening highlighted Hilton Birmingham Metropole's continued commitment to innovation, partnership and customer experience, while celebrating the people and relationships that have shaped the venue over the past five decades.

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Marketing leaders with global exhibitions pedigree launch new consultancy Featured post
Industry News25-08-26

Marketing leaders with global exhibitions pedigree launch new consultancy

Plus Ultra Marketing draws on 30 years' combined experience, including senior roles at global exhibitions leader GES, to help event suppliers unlock commercial growth.Coventry, UK - August 2026: David and Michelle Lane, a husband-and-wife team with senior marketing backgrounds in the global exhibitions industry, have launched Plus Ultra Marketing, a consultancy dedicated to helping suppliers in the exhibitions and events industry find and act on their biggest growth opportunities.The pair bring more than 30 years of combined marketing experience across supplier, organiser and venue businesses, giving them first-hand understanding of how event products and services are positioned, marketed, evaluated and bought."The event supply chain is full of brilliant businesses," said David Lane, co-founder of Plus Ultra Marketing. "They know their craft inside out, but knowing where to focus limited time, budget and resources can be difficult. More marketing activity isn't always the answer. The opportunity might be a proposition that isn't landing, leads getting lost between marketing and sales, or something valuable within the business that hasn't been properly explored. Our job is to find where marketing can make the biggest commercial difference, develop the right response and give the business a practical way to move it forward."Plus Ultra structures its work around focused 90-day engagements, each concentrating on the single commercial challenge or opportunity with the greatest potential impact, whether that's sharpening a proposition, building a go-to-market or lead-generation strategy, improving the customer journey, strengthening the marketing-to-sales handoff, mapping a commercial process, or identifying opportunities for automation.Each engagement turns the strategy into implementation-ready plans, frameworks, briefs, templates and tools that clients can put into action using their own teams, external specialists or AI tools, giving them the flexibility to deliver in the way that best fits their skills, capacity and budget."Businesses often know there's more opportunity there, but they don't always know where to focus first - that’s where we add value," said Michelle Lane, co-founder of Plus Ultra Marketing. "We bring an experienced outside perspective, identify what is most likely to make a meaningful difference, and turn that into something practical. The aim is to give clients clarity about what to do next, why it matters, and a clear structure for moving it forward."Beyond the initial 90-day engagement, Plus Ultra can continue to support clients as a strategic adviser - reviewing progress, testing assumptions, and helping determine where attention should move next.Plus Ultra Marketing is now working with event suppliers and other growing organisations looking to sharpen their positioning, improve commercial performance and make more of the opportunities already in front of them. The consultancy has already been engaged by its first client, a full-service contracting business in the exhibitions sector

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Hilton Cambridge City Centre Welcomes Mirko Spalvieri as Head Chef Featured post
Industry News25-08-26

Hilton Cambridge City Centre Welcomes Mirko Spalvieri as Head Chef

CAMBRIDGE, UK - Hilton Cambridge City Centre is pleased to announce the appointment of Mirko Spalvieri as head chef. Spalvieri joined the hotel on 13 July 2026, bringing 15 years of culinary experience gained across restaurants in Italy and the United Kingdom.In his new role, chef Spalvieri leads the hotel’s kitchen team and oversees its food operations and menu development, including daily dining and bespoke menus for conferences and events.“I’m delighted to welcome Mirko Spalvieri to the Hilton Cambridge City Centre team as our new head chef. Chef Spalvieri joins us at a crucial time as we plan our hotel renovation for next year and will look to reposition and relaunch our food and drink outlets from Summer 2027. He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience from one of Cambridge’s busiest and well-regarded high[1]class restaurants, The Ivy Cambridge, and we look forward to him delivering a touch of class with our dishes and developing our kitchen brigade. His calm demeanour, Italian heritage, creative passion, training focus and large-scale catering experience will all go hand-in-hand with our goals and values here at Cambridge’s largest and most centrally located premium hotel. It’s great to have him on board!” said Richard Finn, general manager, Hilton Cambridge City Centre.Spalvieri began his culinary career in Italy, where he completed a five-year Diploma in Professional Culinary Arts at Marco Gavio Apicio in Anzio. He went on to develop his skills in independent Italian restaurants, including Ristorante Il Vittoria in Nettuno and Satricum, a Michelin Guide-listed restaurant in Latina.His years working in restaurants along the Italian coast played an important role in shaping his approach to food. Working with seafood arriving from local boats and fish markets taught him to respond to seasonality and develop menus around the freshest ingredients available.Spalvieri later became head chef at Sapori di Mare in Anzio, where he led the kitchen team, developed seasonal menus and oversaw private events. After moving to the United Kingdom in 2019, he joined The Ivy Collection in Cambridge and progressed from senior chef de partie to head chef at The Ivy Cambridge Brasserie. There, he gained extensive experience leading a large team and managing a busy, high-volume kitchen operation.“Joining Hilton Cambridge City Centre marks an important new chapter in my career,” said Spalvieri. “I have always wanted to work in the hotel industry, and I have been impressed by the strength of the kitchen team and the way colleagues across the hotel work together. I want guests to experience food that begins with the highest-quality ingredients, delivers balanced and memorable flavour, and gives them a reason to return.”Spalvieri does not define his cooking through a single cuisine. His approach is shaped by his Italian training, his experience working with fresh seafood and the food cultures he has encountered through travel.At the heart of his philosophy is a commitment to sourcing the best-quality products available and drawing as much flavour as possible from every ingredient. He believes every component should contribute to a balanced dish and, while presentation creates the first impression, taste should always remain the priority.At Hilton Cambridge City Centre, Spalvieri plans to work closely with the kitchen team to develop seasonal specials, monthly themed Supper Clubs and customised menus for conferences and events. He also values the opportunity to work with UK-based and localsuppliers, helping the hotel strengthen its connections with the community and support local businesses.Guests can enjoy breakfast and dinner at Bull & Bass Restaurant, with an à la carte menu and seasonal specials. The Piano Bar offers all-day dining and afternoon tea, while the hotel also caters for private dining, conferences and events.

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How to Plan a Christening Party: 5 Simple Steps Featured post
How to Guide21-08-26

How to Plan a Christening Party: 5 Simple Steps

A christening party is one of the happiest gatherings a family throws, and one of the easiest to organise once you take it in order. Here are the five decisions that matter, and how to get each one right.Step 1: Set your budget. Most christening receptions in the UK land somewhere between £300 and £1,500 all in. Room hire ranges from around £25 for a community hall or pub function room to several hundred pounds for a hotel suite, and many venues waive the hire fee entirely if you meet a minimum food and drink spend, so always ask. Catering is usually the biggest line: finger buffets and afternoon teas typically run £10 to £25 per head.Step 2: Stay close to the church. The kindest thing you can do for your guests is a short journey from the service to the reception. Aim for a venue within a mile or two of the church, especially with grandparents, prams and small children in the party. Most venue searches let you filter by distance, so start from the church's postcode rather than the town centre.Step 3: Check accessibility. Step-free entry, an accessible toilet and nearby parking make the difference between older relatives enjoying the day and enduring it. Ask about highchairs and space to park prams while you are at it; venues used to hosting christenings will say yes to all of the above without blinking.Step 4: Choose the type of venue. Church halls and social clubs keep costs down and suit a relaxed crowd. Pubs and restaurants with private rooms handle the catering for you. Hotels suit bigger gatherings and out-of-town guests who may want to stay over. There is no wrong answer, only the wrong size or distance.Step 5: Size the room honestly. Thirty to eighty guests covers most christening parties. Pick a capacity a little above your confirmed numbers so there is room for buffet tables, a pram park and children on the move, but not so large that forty guests rattle around a room built for two hundred.When you are ready to look, you can browse christening party venues across the UK by town, compare capacities and room hire rates, and enquire free with no booking fees.

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CHS Manchester Fringe Spreads Across the City Featured post
Industry News19-08-26

CHS Manchester Fringe Spreads Across the City

17th August 26, Manchester, UK: CHS Manchester has unveiled the latest additions to its growing Fringe programme, with new experiences, workshops and social events springing up across the city ahead of the show at the AO Arena next month.Taking place throughout the show, the expanding Fringe will see the events community head out across Manchester for everything from chocolate making, live music and cocktail masterclasses to food tours, live event pitching and behind-the-scenes venue experiences.Among the experiences now confirmed is Creativity, Chocolate and Music at Hyatt Regency, where guests can take part in a sip and paint session, make chocolates alongside the hotel’s pastry chef and enjoy a live set from Kenny B from the hotel’s 18th floor.Elsewhere, From Power Hall to Cloud 23 will take guests from a live engine demonstration and exclusive event-space experience at the Science and Industry Museum, through to a Benugo reception and cocktail masterclass high above the city at Cloud 23.Flavours of Manchester will take a different route through the destination, beginning with low-carbon dining at Radisson Manchester City Centre before heading out on foot to discover some of Manchester’s independent food stories and finishing with drinks and nibbles at Townhouse Manchester.The Fringe is also continuing to grow beyond CHS’s own hosted buyer experiences.NOWIE will host Pitch Perfect: The Perfect Pitch Workshop, putting attendees into agency teams to respond to a live event brief before pitching their ideas to a panel of senior corporate buyers. Meanwhile, The Delegate Wranglers are also working on their own Fringe activity, with more details set to follow.The activity leads into Manchester Calling, the CHS Manchester Welcome Reception at Manchester Central, bringing the wider show community together ahead of CHS Manchester the following day. Adding some unmistakable Manchester flavour, the reception will also feature a special guest appearance from Manchester-born DJ Clint Boon.For CHS Manchester CEO Emma King, the way the Fringe is developing is as important as its growing size. “The Fringe is growing beyond what we’re doing at CHS; it’s got a life of its own now, and the industry is taking it forward,” comments Emma. “It’s a wonderful reflection of the industry and the city that so much is happening, all around the show and across the city. It’s a great success story for everyone.”“The Fringe is for everyone, and seeing it grow organically around CHS tells us something about how people want to experience industry events. They want the show, but they also want all the extra experiences that happen around it.”The Fringe begins across Manchester on 29 September, ahead of CHS Manchester at the AO Arena on 30 September.

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Hilton Birmingham Metropole Launches Strategic Supplier Partnership Programme to Enhance Guest Experience Featured post
Industry News17-08-26

Hilton Birmingham Metropole Launches Strategic Supplier Partnership Programme to Enhance Guest Experience

One Collective. Infinite Possibilities 17th August 2026 - Hilton Birmingham Metropole has announced a new strategic partnership programme with a select group of trusted event specialists. Together, the team delivers a fully integrated network of event suppliers designed to provide clients with a simpler, more seamless planning experience at the venue.Hilton Birmingham Metropole has formalised the partnership with long-time partners: - Eventologists – creative event design and production specialists - Protec – technical production and audiovisual experts - Apollo Music – bespoke music and entertainment solutions - Showstoppers Entertainment – live entertainment and performance experiencesEach supplier brings with them extensive experience of delivering successful events at Hilton Birmingham Metropole and share the venue's commitment to excellence. The initiative moves beyond the traditional venue-supplier relationship, bringing together an established team of experts who already understand the venue, its operations and its event standards.Nicola Betley, Area General Manager, Hilton Birmingham Metropole, said:"This new partnership reflects our commitment to making event planning as seamless as possible for our clients. We know that organising an event often means coordinating multiple stakeholders, suppliers and moving parts. By bringing together a trusted network of partners who already know our venue, our teams and our standards, we're able to offer a more streamlined experience that reduces complexity and allows clients to focus on achieving their event objectives."The partnership has been developed to deliver tangible benefits for event organisers, including faster planning processes, improved communication, reduced administration and greater operational reliability. It supports every stage of the event journey, from initial planning andproduction through to entertainment and on-site delivery, ensuring a consistent and high-quality experience for organisers and attendees alike.The launch reinforces Hilton Birmingham Metropole's position as one of the UK's leading event destinations, offering clients not just a venue, but a complete event delivery ecosystem where every detail has already been considered, coordinated and perfected.

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London Hilton on Park Lane Reports Growing Shift as Event Formats Blur Featured post
Industry News12-08-26

London Hilton on Park Lane Reports Growing Shift as Event Formats Blur

12th August 25, London, UK: The days of conferences, networking receptions and gala dinners existing as separate event formats are beginning to fade, as organisers increasingly combine elements of each into a single programme.The trend is particularly evident among returning clients. Around 40% of repeat bookings at London Hilton on Park Lane have evolved beyond their original format, incorporating new culinary concepts, entertainment or production elements to refresh the delegate experience.Aaron Testo, director of groups, conferences & events at London Hilton on Park Lane, said: "Challenging the status quo of a conference, awards dinner or networking event has become a major focus for many of our clients."We're seeing a move towards events that achieve several objectives in one programme, rather than hosting multiple events with individual goals. Clients want delegates to learn, connect, celebrate and build relationships during the same event. That naturally creates a blurring of traditional event formats."The shift is also influencing how organisers approach catering and networking, with food increasingly viewed as a way to bring people together rather than simply provide refreshments."The more engaging and creative a networking opportunity is, the stronger the turnout and the longer people stay," Aaron said. "That's increasingly what our clients are trying to achieve."We're seeing growing demand for interactive food concepts and more social styles of dining because they naturally encourage movement, conversation and connection. It's often where the best conversations happen."Aaron adds that organisers are looking for ways to evolve traditional formats without losing the sense of occasion that makes face-to-face events memorable."People still value moments that feel special, whether that's an awards ceremony, conference or client event," he said. "But they also want those moments to feel more social, immersive and memorable."The most successful experiences aren't built around entertainment or catering for their own sake. Every element should have a purpose. Whether it's live chef stations, personalised food experiences inspired by the destination or interactive entertainment, they should all help people connect, collaborate and leave with something worth talking about."Ultimately, organisers aren't trying to reinvent conferences or awards dinners. They're looking at how every part of an event can contribute to the overall experience and help people get more from being there."

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Scottish Event Campus Welcomes Campbell Arnott To Drive International Association Growth Featured post
Industry News30-07-26

Scottish Event Campus Welcomes Campbell Arnott To Drive International Association Growth

The Scottish Event Campus (SEC) has strengthened its Conference Sales team with the appointment of Campbell Arnott as Senior Sales and Business Development Manager.Campbell joins the SEC following 16 years with the Glasgow Convention Bureau, where he played a key role in attracting international conferences to the city and helping secure business events that continue to deliver lasting economic and social benefits for Glasgow.In his new role, Campbell will help drive the SEC’s international association strategy. Working closely with the SEC’s city partners, his role will support the SEC’s ambition of strengthening its position as a premier international conference destination.Campbell Arnott said: "Glasgow is one of Europe's most attractive and accessible congress cities and the SEC is its anchor, combining world-class facilities with an incredible delegate experience. I've always believed that if you work in sales, you need to truly believe in the product you're selling, and there are few better products than Glasgow and the SEC."I’ve spent most of my professional career working closely with the venue team who are hugely experienced in delivering major conferences. I’m really excited at the opportunity of playing a much bigger role in securing future business and helping to bring even more success to the SEC and the city."There's a real ambition about where the SEC wants to go, and the opportunity to work alongside such an experienced team to help secure the right conferences for the future was something I really wanted to be part of," he addedCampbell joins the SEC at an exciting time for the business as it continues to strengthen its position in the international association market. This year, the venue has welcomed landmark events including the American Geophysical Union's Ocean Sciences Meeting which was held outside North America for the first time, and the ERA Annual Congress, Europe's largest nephrology conference, which attracted record attendance.Recent conference wins include the 25th IET International Conference on AC and DC Power Transmission and the International Congress of Mathematicians in 2030.Dawn Lauder, Director of Conference Sales at the SEC, added: "Campbell is very well known and respected in the international association community and has spent years championing the SEC, Glasgow and Scotland on the global stage.“Every major congress the SEC hosts brings academic, clinical and commercial knowledge to Scottish institutions, creating lasting intellectual capital. Campbell’s experience and industry knowledge will be invaluable as we seek to build on our success to date and deliver more major international conferences for the venue. I’m delighted to welcome him to the team.”

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MAD//North Returns to Aviva Studios for 2027 Featured post
Industry News29-07-26

MAD//North Returns to Aviva Studios for 2027

Aviva Studios, home of Factory International, will host MAD//North for a third consecutive year when it returns in February 2027. The announcement, which went live at MAD//Fest earlier this month, follows another successful showing in Manchester, which saw the event welcome 4,000 delegates from the North’s creative, media and marketing community.MAD//North has now established a reputation and profile in Manchester that has not only seen it enjoy year-on-year growth, but also attract internationally recognised brands, speakers and influencers. This year, MAD//North brought together brands including Unilever, Bupa, Primark, Manchester City FC, Stripe, ITV, TikTok and BBC, sat alongside agencies, creators, innovators and emerging talent from across the North and beyond.At the heart of the event itself was a design-led, original and ‘unconference-style’ approach, built around the theme of ‘Northern Soul’. The event design encouraged movement, conversation and self-curated experiences, blending content, networking and live activations.The return is a significant moment for both the event and the city. In Manchester, MAD//North has found a natural fit, using the campus environment of the surrounding St John’s area and the city’s wider creative district, while connecting the event with neighbouring spaces and local businesses. The collaboration between event, city and venue has created an experience that feels distinctly Northern in character and ambition.Dan Brain, Co-founder of MAD//Fest, commented, “Coming back to Manchester and Aviva Studios was a very easy decision for us. The response to MAD//North was overwhelmingly positive, not just from our audience and partners, but from the wider creative and business community across the city.“There’s a real openness and energy to Manchester that suits the spirit of the event, and Aviva Studios gave us the flexibility and scale to create something that felt collaborative, ambitious and connected to its surroundings. We’re excited to build on that again in 2027.”Stephanie Williams, Head of Events at Factory International, the organisation that programmes and operates Aviva Studios, added: “MAD//North is exactly the kind of event we love to host at Aviva Studios. It’s an event brand that is bold, inventive and innovative, but not afraid to have boldconversations. It also embodies our own values, and that of our city, of creativity, culture and business-for-good in a way that feels authentic and meaningful.“The team at MAD//North brought the venue and the surrounding area to life, attracted a contemporary crowd of influential and inspirational people and created some outstanding content. We can’t wait to work with them again in 2027.”The 2027 edition is expected to build further on the campus-style model, with organisers already exploring expanded programming, deeper collaboration with local partners and new ways to connect audiences with Manchester’s wider cultural and creative ecosystem.

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Lime Venue Portfolio Kicks Off a Summer of Stadiums with Three New Signings
Industry News28-07-26

Lime Venue Portfolio Kicks Off a Summer of Stadiums with Three New Signings

Lime Venue Portfolio has continued its standout year of expansion by adding three football stadiums to its growing collection of UK event venues.Peterborough United’s Weston Homes Stadium, Watford Football Club’s Vicarage Road and Charlton Athletic’s The Valley have all joined the portfolio, further strengthening Lime Venue Portfolio’s presence across London, the Home Counties and the East of England.The announcement forms part of a significant period of growth for Lime Venue Portfolio, which has expanded its nationwide collection across sporting venues, exhibition centres and other distinctive event spaces. It reflects growing demand from venues seeking specialist representation and from event organisers looking for spaces with character, heritage and a strong sense of place.Jo Austin, Sales Director at Lime Venue Portfolio, said: “This has been a standout year for Lime Venue Portfolio. We’re welcoming major sporting stadiums, exhibition centres and distinctive event spaces from across the UK, creating an increasingly diverse nationwide portfolio for agencies and event organisers.“Peterborough United, Watford and Charlton Athletic each bring something different, but they all combine professional event facilities with the atmosphere, heritage and personality that make stadium events so memorable.“Together, they give our clients even greater choice across London, the Home Counties and the East of England, from meetings and conferences to exhibitions and dinners. Their arrival marks another significant step in the growth of our portfolio.”All three stadiums offer adaptable non-matchday spaces, including suites, lounges and executive boxes, with pitch views providing a distinctive backdrop for conferences, meetings, exhibitions, hospitality and celebrations.The Weston Homes Stadium in Peterborough can accommodate up to 220 guests. Many of its conference rooms overlook the pitch and benefit from natural daylight, private bars and stadium views.Watford’s famous Vicarage Road stadium offers a collection of bright, modern and distinctive suites overlooking the pitch, with space for up to 250 delegates.Charlton’s The Valley is one of South-East London’s largest event venues, accommodating up to 450 guests for a banquet. Located near the Thames Barrier, it also offers 200 car parking spaces.

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Hilton Birmingham Metropole Celebrates 50 Years with Immersive Showcase
28-08-26 Hilton Birmingham Metropole Celebrates 50 Years with Immersive Showcase

August 2026: Hilton Birmingham Metropole marked its 50th anniversary in spectacular style last night, welcoming event buyers, agencies and industry partners for an immersive celebration that showcased the hotel's creativity and vision for the future of events.Guests were invited on a journey through the venue, experiencing transformed event spaces, guided site visits, live entertainment, innovative production and an evening of celebration that demonstrated the scale and versatility of the UK's largest conference hotel outside London. With a theme of “A Merry Un-Birthday”, inspired by Alice in Wonderland, Hilton Birmingham Metropole was transformed into a whimsical wonderland.The milestone allowed the Hilton Birmingham Metropole team to demonstrate its new Strategic Event Partner Programme, which brings together a carefully selected network of trusted event specialists to provide clients with a seamless, fully integrated event delivery experience.The programme formalises long-standing relationships with four specialist suppliers:· Eventologists - creative event design and production specialists· Protec - technical production and audiovisual experts· Apollo Music - bespoke music and entertainment solutions· Showstoppers Entertainment - live entertainment and performance experiencesTogether, these partners transformed the hotel for one unforgettable evening, demonstrating how collaboration and creative excellence can elevate every stage of the delegate journey.Nicola Betley, Area general manager, Hilton Birmingham Metropole, said:"Our 50th anniversary was about much more than celebrating our history, it was about showcasing what's possible when great people come together with a shared ambition to create unforgettable experiences. Seeing the vision brought to life with our incredible partners was a fitting way to celebrate this milestone. These partnerships represent years of collaboration and trust. By bringing together specialists who know our venue, our team and our clients, we're making event planning simpler while giving organisers access to some of the very best creative and production expertise in the industry."The evening highlighted Hilton Birmingham Metropole's continued commitment to innovation, partnership and customer experience, while celebrating the people and relationships that have shaped the venue over the past five decades.

25-08-26 Marketing leaders with global exhibitions pedigree launch new consultancy

Plus Ultra Marketing draws on 30 years' combined experience, including senior roles at global exhibitions leader GES, to help event suppliers unlock commercial growth.Coventry, UK - August 2026: David and Michelle Lane, a husband-and-wife team with senior marketing backgrounds in the global exhibitions industry, have launched Plus Ultra Marketing, a consultancy dedicated to helping suppliers in the exhibitions and events industry find and act on their biggest growth opportunities.The pair bring more than 30 years of combined marketing experience across supplier, organiser and venue businesses, giving them first-hand understanding of how event products and services are positioned, marketed, evaluated and bought."The event supply chain is full of brilliant businesses," said David Lane, co-founder of Plus Ultra Marketing. "They know their craft inside out, but knowing where to focus limited time, budget and resources can be difficult. More marketing activity isn't always the answer. The opportunity might be a proposition that isn't landing, leads getting lost between marketing and sales, or something valuable within the business that hasn't been properly explored. Our job is to find where marketing can make the biggest commercial difference, develop the right response and give the business a practical way to move it forward."Plus Ultra structures its work around focused 90-day engagements, each concentrating on the single commercial challenge or opportunity with the greatest potential impact, whether that's sharpening a proposition, building a go-to-market or lead-generation strategy, improving the customer journey, strengthening the marketing-to-sales handoff, mapping a commercial process, or identifying opportunities for automation.Each engagement turns the strategy into implementation-ready plans, frameworks, briefs, templates and tools that clients can put into action using their own teams, external specialists or AI tools, giving them the flexibility to deliver in the way that best fits their skills, capacity and budget."Businesses often know there's more opportunity there, but they don't always know where to focus first - that’s where we add value," said Michelle Lane, co-founder of Plus Ultra Marketing. "We bring an experienced outside perspective, identify what is most likely to make a meaningful difference, and turn that into something practical. The aim is to give clients clarity about what to do next, why it matters, and a clear structure for moving it forward."Beyond the initial 90-day engagement, Plus Ultra can continue to support clients as a strategic adviser - reviewing progress, testing assumptions, and helping determine where attention should move next.Plus Ultra Marketing is now working with event suppliers and other growing organisations looking to sharpen their positioning, improve commercial performance and make more of the opportunities already in front of them. The consultancy has already been engaged by its first client, a full-service contracting business in the exhibitions sector

25-08-26 Hilton Cambridge City Centre Welcomes Mirko Spalvieri as Head Chef

CAMBRIDGE, UK - Hilton Cambridge City Centre is pleased to announce the appointment of Mirko Spalvieri as head chef. Spalvieri joined the hotel on 13 July 2026, bringing 15 years of culinary experience gained across restaurants in Italy and the United Kingdom.In his new role, chef Spalvieri leads the hotel’s kitchen team and oversees its food operations and menu development, including daily dining and bespoke menus for conferences and events.“I’m delighted to welcome Mirko Spalvieri to the Hilton Cambridge City Centre team as our new head chef. Chef Spalvieri joins us at a crucial time as we plan our hotel renovation for next year and will look to reposition and relaunch our food and drink outlets from Summer 2027. He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience from one of Cambridge’s busiest and well-regarded high[1]class restaurants, The Ivy Cambridge, and we look forward to him delivering a touch of class with our dishes and developing our kitchen brigade. His calm demeanour, Italian heritage, creative passion, training focus and large-scale catering experience will all go hand-in-hand with our goals and values here at Cambridge’s largest and most centrally located premium hotel. It’s great to have him on board!” said Richard Finn, general manager, Hilton Cambridge City Centre.Spalvieri began his culinary career in Italy, where he completed a five-year Diploma in Professional Culinary Arts at Marco Gavio Apicio in Anzio. He went on to develop his skills in independent Italian restaurants, including Ristorante Il Vittoria in Nettuno and Satricum, a Michelin Guide-listed restaurant in Latina.His years working in restaurants along the Italian coast played an important role in shaping his approach to food. Working with seafood arriving from local boats and fish markets taught him to respond to seasonality and develop menus around the freshest ingredients available.Spalvieri later became head chef at Sapori di Mare in Anzio, where he led the kitchen team, developed seasonal menus and oversaw private events. After moving to the United Kingdom in 2019, he joined The Ivy Collection in Cambridge and progressed from senior chef de partie to head chef at The Ivy Cambridge Brasserie. There, he gained extensive experience leading a large team and managing a busy, high-volume kitchen operation.“Joining Hilton Cambridge City Centre marks an important new chapter in my career,” said Spalvieri. “I have always wanted to work in the hotel industry, and I have been impressed by the strength of the kitchen team and the way colleagues across the hotel work together. I want guests to experience food that begins with the highest-quality ingredients, delivers balanced and memorable flavour, and gives them a reason to return.”Spalvieri does not define his cooking through a single cuisine. His approach is shaped by his Italian training, his experience working with fresh seafood and the food cultures he has encountered through travel.At the heart of his philosophy is a commitment to sourcing the best-quality products available and drawing as much flavour as possible from every ingredient. He believes every component should contribute to a balanced dish and, while presentation creates the first impression, taste should always remain the priority.At Hilton Cambridge City Centre, Spalvieri plans to work closely with the kitchen team to develop seasonal specials, monthly themed Supper Clubs and customised menus for conferences and events. He also values the opportunity to work with UK-based and localsuppliers, helping the hotel strengthen its connections with the community and support local businesses.Guests can enjoy breakfast and dinner at Bull & Bass Restaurant, with an à la carte menu and seasonal specials. The Piano Bar offers all-day dining and afternoon tea, while the hotel also caters for private dining, conferences and events.

19-08-26 CHS Manchester Fringe Spreads Across the City

17th August 26, Manchester, UK: CHS Manchester has unveiled the latest additions to its growing Fringe programme, with new experiences, workshops and social events springing up across the city ahead of the show at the AO Arena next month.Taking place throughout the show, the expanding Fringe will see the events community head out across Manchester for everything from chocolate making, live music and cocktail masterclasses to food tours, live event pitching and behind-the-scenes venue experiences.Among the experiences now confirmed is Creativity, Chocolate and Music at Hyatt Regency, where guests can take part in a sip and paint session, make chocolates alongside the hotel’s pastry chef and enjoy a live set from Kenny B from the hotel’s 18th floor.Elsewhere, From Power Hall to Cloud 23 will take guests from a live engine demonstration and exclusive event-space experience at the Science and Industry Museum, through to a Benugo reception and cocktail masterclass high above the city at Cloud 23.Flavours of Manchester will take a different route through the destination, beginning with low-carbon dining at Radisson Manchester City Centre before heading out on foot to discover some of Manchester’s independent food stories and finishing with drinks and nibbles at Townhouse Manchester.The Fringe is also continuing to grow beyond CHS’s own hosted buyer experiences.NOWIE will host Pitch Perfect: The Perfect Pitch Workshop, putting attendees into agency teams to respond to a live event brief before pitching their ideas to a panel of senior corporate buyers. Meanwhile, The Delegate Wranglers are also working on their own Fringe activity, with more details set to follow.The activity leads into Manchester Calling, the CHS Manchester Welcome Reception at Manchester Central, bringing the wider show community together ahead of CHS Manchester the following day. Adding some unmistakable Manchester flavour, the reception will also feature a special guest appearance from Manchester-born DJ Clint Boon.For CHS Manchester CEO Emma King, the way the Fringe is developing is as important as its growing size. “The Fringe is growing beyond what we’re doing at CHS; it’s got a life of its own now, and the industry is taking it forward,” comments Emma. “It’s a wonderful reflection of the industry and the city that so much is happening, all around the show and across the city. It’s a great success story for everyone.”“The Fringe is for everyone, and seeing it grow organically around CHS tells us something about how people want to experience industry events. They want the show, but they also want all the extra experiences that happen around it.”The Fringe begins across Manchester on 29 September, ahead of CHS Manchester at the AO Arena on 30 September.

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