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26th October 26, Manchester, UK: Organisers of the inaugural CHS Manchester have praised the warmth and collaborative approach. With the show’s host city, exhibitors, and visitors all contributing to a debut that far exceeded expectations, and as the events industry came together at the AO Arena for a packed show, surrounded by a city-wide welcome.From the Manchester Calling welcome at Manchester Central, to the city-wide fringe programme and onto the exhibition floor, the ambition of the event was bought to life last month as Manchester embraced the opportunity to host the CHS community.“CHS Manchester completely blew away our expectations,” commented Emma King, Founder and CEO of CHS Manchester. “The combination of an incredible Hosted Buyer programme, a genuinely interesting and insightful education programme, and the support we received from across Manchester created a busy, productive and energetic show.”With the show bringing together both CHS’s Leeds and Birmingham communities in a new Manchester supershow, exhibitor numbers rose to 52% higher than Leeds 2025 and 43% higher than Birmingham 2025, while the hosted buyer programme more than doubled compared with previous editions.That meant more buyers experiencing Manchester through its venues, people and hospitality, alongside a broader collection of exhibiting products, goods and services. At the same time, the fringe programme and welcome reception gave the community time to get to know the city and each other, bringing conversations and connections into the show before appointments had begun.“The success of CHS Manchester is also testament to the city and its growing profile as one of the country’s most exciting business events destinations,” continued Emma. “Marketing Manchester has been by our side throughout, while the AO Arena provided a dramatic and exciting backdrop that gave the show a real sense of occasion.“We couldn’t be more delighted with how it went. The buyers we hosted loved the opportunity to connect with brilliant people and businesses, and there was a fantastic energy throughout the event. It was a great occasion for CHS and for Manchester. Roll on 2027.”

Jo Austin, Sales Director at Lime Venue Portfolio, joins Crowne Plaza Newcastle – Stephenson Quarter General Manager Paul Borg to discuss the connections that shape careers, win trust and keep people in the events industry.Crowne Plaza Newcastle – Stephenson Quarter has released the latest episode of its Talking People with Paul Borg podcast, featuring Jo Austin, Sales Director at Lime Venue Portfolio.Jo and Paul worked together earlier in their careers at a large Manchester hotel. Reunited for the podcast, they discuss the event that helped shape Paul’s career, why some of Jo’s strongest client relationships began when things went wrong, and the people they have stayed connected with across the industry.“My career’s been built on great relationships, keeping great relationships, working great relationships, working with amazing people,” Jo tells Paul. “And it’s served me incredibly well.”The pair recall delivering the Rugby League Man of Steel Awards at their former hotel. For Paul, who was then a younger events professional, running an event of that scale was a defining opportunity. Jo remembers bringing a relatively new team together to make it happen.“Our industry affords us the opportunity to build amazing relationships,” she says, “and turn customers into friends and colleagues into friends.”Those relationships can become strongest when an event does not go to plan. Jo says her approach is to face a problem, listen to the client and take responsibility for putting things right.“Some of my best relationships and connections have been born out of adversity,” Jo says.Paul shares that focus on the people delivering events. “I’m an operator at heart. I’d still rather be down on the floor moving tables and chairs than sat reading a P&L,” he says. For him, that experience is why the team matters so much when an organiser chooses a venue.“There’s a lot of beautiful stadiums, hotels and venues out there,” he adds. “It’s about the people that run it and the connections, and the team that are on site and how they build that relationship with the client.”The episode continues the podcast’s exploration of the people and career paths behind hospitality and events, with the conversation covering how Jo moved from retail into hospitality, an event in Leeds that led to her meeting Nelson Mandela, and why employers must show young people the range of careers available across the industry to attract future talent.Listen to Jo Austin’s conversation with Paul Borg now via Talking People with Paul Borg.

Lime Venue Portfolio has announced that Liverpool Experience Campus (LEX) has joined its growing venue portfolio, adding one of the UK’s major convention and exhibition destinations.LEX, formerly ACC Liverpool, is a world-class events campus located on the city’s iconic waterfront, bringing together a conference centre, exhibition centre and M&S Bank Arena under one unified identity.The partnership will complement LEX’s established convention, exhibition and association congress business by generating additional opportunities for its small to medium-sized spaces, particularly for events of between 150 and 300 people on a day delegate rate. As a carbon-neutral venue and a key asset within the Liverpool City Region, LEX brings strong sustainability credentials alongside significant scale and infrastructure. The campus offers extensive exhibition space, purpose-built conference facilities and city-centre connectivity. Its range of rooms also enables small to medium-sized conferences, meetings and corporate events to take place alongside major events elsewhere on the campus, maximising the breadth and flexibility of the venue.Jo Austin, Sales Director at Lime Venue Portfolio, said: “We’re incredibly excited to welcome a major UK convention and exhibition campus of LEX’s calibre to our portfolio, marking another milestone in our growth strategy. It’s a great example of how we can work alongside an established venue team to unlock opportunities across the full breadth of a campus.”Adrian Evans, Director of Sales – Conference & Business Events, LEX added: “Joining Lime Venue Portfolio enables us to connect with a broader network of UK agencies and corporate buyers while retaining our identity and expertise. The partnership will help us create further opportunities across the range of spaces available on our campus, complementing our established programme of major conventions, exhibitions and congresses. We look forward to being part of a portfolio that champions quality, collaboration and exceptional event delivery.”