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Crowne Plaza Newcastle – Stephenson Quarter has launched a new short film showing how its frontline employees are trusted to use their judgement, respond quickly and find solutions for event organisers.Moving between the hotel’s kitchen, event spaces, sales office and technical production, the film follows the team as they navigate changing requirements, last-minute requests and the everyday challenges involved in delivering an event.Rather than focusing solely on the hotel’s physical spaces, the film places its people and service culture at the centre of the story, capturing the small interactions and quick responses that shape the overall experience.At its heart is what the hotel calls a new “yes mindset”: giving employees the confidence to take responsibility, act without unnecessary delays and find the best possible outcome for the client.Paul Borg, General Manager of Crowne Plaza Newcastle – Stephenson Quarter, said: “Event plans rarely remain completely unchanged. Timings move, rooms need to be adapted and new requests arise, sometimes while an event is already taking place. What matters is how quickly and positively a venue responds.“There is a new mindset here at the Crowne Plaza Newcastle; we want our people to feel confident making decisions and doing what they believe is right for the client. That doesn’t mean promising the impossible. It means listening properly, avoiding an automatic ‘no’ and doing everything we can to find a solution.“Our team understands the hotel, but they also understand the warmth and personality that people associate with Newcastle. We want every organiser and guest to experience that combination of highly personalised service and genuine North East hospitality.”Through a fast-paced series of interactions, the film shows the team adapting an event space, responding to a technical request, sourcing ingredients and attending to the small but important details that can make an organiser’s life easier.Watch the film on Crowne Plaza Newcastle’s website.
Saturday 19 September, Bristol – This afternoon, families - including celebrities, journalists and content creators - gathered at We The Curious for the special Play The Bluey Way event. The family activation was held as part of an international campaign celebrating the power of play and the joy of connection inspired by iconic Bluey moments.The event marked the arrival of a very special Bluey mural painted by a team of talented local artists. Special guests attended the event, which also welcomed local families and fans to enjoy the experience, with the Bluey costume character delighting visitors throughout the afternoon with her appearances. Among those in attendance were British fashion model Daisy Lowe and her family, along with content creators such as Amy Bell, Fabien and Ellen Beddard (Fab and Ell), Nick and Craig Ford (Two Men and a Lady), Jessica and Dom Lever, and Laura Louise.Taking part in the ambitious project were artists Phoebe Tonkin, Tanith Gould, Alice Humphreys, Joe's Murals and Nina Raines, curated and managed by Bristol-based public art producer Art Sync. The five connected towers, which together form a single Bluey mural, transformed Millennium Square into a colourful celebration of play, creating a unique public installation that families and visitors can enjoy throughout the coming weeks.Azul Amos, Co-Founder at Art Sync, said: “This mural has provided a fantastic opportunity for our team of Bristol creatives. It’s exciting to see BBC Studios embrace this art form and really immerse themselves in Bristol’s creative culture. The scale and timeframe made this a uniquely rewarding experience. I’m incredibly proud of the team we’ve put together, and a little sad to see this project come to an end.”With artwork created by Bluey producer Ludo Studio, the mural is inspired by the beloved episode The Creek. The artwork was painted by the five local artists in a studio before being finalised and assembled in Millennium Square, with each painted tower measuring approximately 6.1 metres.The special UK event created a joyful atmosphere for attendees, who experienced first-hand the excitement and meaningful connections that Bluey inspires among families around the world.Another fan-favourite activity enjoyed by guests was crafting and sailing their own Barky Boats in the fountains, inspired by the fan-favourite episode.As part of an ongoing partnership with We The Curious, families and fans will still have the chance to see the mural and take a photo alongside the artwork in Millennium Square for six weeks, until the end of October 2026. During that period, Bluey activities will be available inside We The Curious, helping families continue the fun during October half-term. Bluey merchandise is also available in the shop, including colouring books, stickers and some arts and crafts fun!The activity in Bristol was part of the global Play The Bluey Way campaign launched by BBC Studios, which encourages families everywhere to embrace more play, connection and fun in their everyday lives. The Bristol mural is one of a series appearing in locations around the world, including Brisbane, São Paulo and the Washington D.C. area, each inspired by iconic Bluey moments of play.Additionally, families can discover even more ways to Play The Bluey Way via a dedicated hub on Bluey.tv, featuring downloadable activities, games, play inspiration, campaign updates and interactive experiences. Launching later this month, the hub will also include a personalised quiz that explores each family’s unique play habits, with surprises from favourite episodes, game recommendations and shareable play personalities.Barky Boats, The Creek and more Bluey episodes are available to watch on Disney+, CBeebies and BBC iPlayer. The Bluey feature film will be released in cinemas on 6 August 2027.
14th September 26, Newcastle, UK: The events industry needs to do more to turn itself into a visible career choice for the next generation, according to Event Industry News podcast host James Dickson, speaking in the opening episode of the new Talking People with Paul Borg podcast.Dickson joins Paul Borg, General Manager of Crowne Plaza Newcastle, for the first episode of the series when it drops this week (16th September). The series aims to put the people behind events and hospitality at the centre of the conversation.Having interviewed hundreds of event professionals during more than a decade hosting the Event Industry News podcast, James reflects on his own unconventional route into events and a challenge that continues to face the sector. “We’ve built a multi-billion-pound industry, that is built largely from people who have fallen into (it) by accident,” he says.For James, the opportunity is to identify relevant skills much earlier and show young people that events can provide a deliberate career pathway rather than something they discover later in life.He points to young gamers as an example. Many already understand PCs, graphics cards, cameras, live streaming and switching between feeds, without necessarily recognising that those skills could translate directly into careers in event AV and video production. “All the skills are there,” James tells Paul. “Imagine what could happen if we could identify those young people and give them some additional training at a young age.”The conversation also turns to AI and its implications for employment. Here, James shares the example of a global events agency that has recruited a senior employee specifically to oversee the rollout and application of AI, suggesting that the technology could create new professions as well as change existing ones.For Paul Borg, these are the conversations Talking People has been created to uncover. The new series looks beyond job titles and businesses to explore careers, experiences and ideas through the people working across events and hospitality.Episode One sets the tone with a conversation spanning career pathways, technology, AI and the changing skills the industry needs. Appropriately for an opening episode about an industry many people enter unexpectedly, Dickson admits that his own podcast career began almost by accident too. More than a decade and hundreds of conversations later, it has given him a particularly broad view of the people who make the industry tick.
14th September 26, Manchester, UK: CHS Manchester has confirmed that its Hosted Buyer Programme is now more than 92% full, with organisers encouraging event professionals to apply as soon as possible, with the programme approaching capacity and with the show debuting later this month.Taking place at the AO Arena on 30 September, the event will bring together event organisers, venues, destinations and suppliers for a day of meetings, education and networking, supported by a wider programme of activity across the city. For hosted buyers, the experience begins well before the show opens. Guests will be welcomed into Manchester the evening before, with the official welcome reception, “Manchester Calling’ at Manchester Central, providing the first opportunity to meet, connect and settle into the city.Hosted buyers will also stay at some of Manchester’s leading hotels, with the city’s hospitality community playing its part in looking after guests throughout their stay.At the show itself, visitors will have access to a schedule of pre-arranged meetings alongside the exhibition, networking and a packed conference and education programme. Beyond the AO Arena, the ever expanding CHS Manchester Fringe Programme will add further events and experiences around the city.Emma King, CEO, CHS Manchester, commented: “We’re delighted with the response to the Hosted Buyer Programme. It’s a terrific programme of value for our guests and a chance to get business done, while having Manchester open to them. We really want to give everyone the chance to get on the programme, and to help us manage the numbers, we’re asking visitors not to leave it too late.The Hosted Buyer Programme forms part of CHS Manchester’s wider approach to creating a productive but highly sociable environment for event professionals. With busy diaries awaiting buyers on 30 September, the programme is designed to make the rest of their experience as seamless, and enjoyable, as possible.Applications for the remaining Hosted Buyer places are now open.