55,000 new rooms have been added to the EU Hotel bloc in the last 18 months. This has had the overall effect of reducing room rates by an average of 9 per cent. It’s the old supply and demand adage.

Brexit sees some challenges for the hospitality industry in the UK. Minimum wage and utility cost increases have had a double whammy on the industry, together with the drop in the number of Europeans who have come to work here. Other increases incurred by employers are in the employee national insurance, apprentice levy and compulsory pension enrolment schemes.

Management is now having to reorganise their business models to keep service levels high whilst running profitably and still offer decent service levels.

The challenge with new openings is that they increase the demands on established businesses qualified staff, who are aware of new opportunities in the expanding market place,

In terms of rates, some are offering lower room and meeting prices, to win the business. This is where GSC can advise and be helpful!

London adds close to 7,000 bedrooms between 2017 and Q1 2018 – Try our venue finding service for something different.

New York, followed by Geneva, Zurich, Paris, Washington, and Monaco, with London* dropping to sixth place (in Europe*) due to strong currency fluctuations, healthy new supply, extreme weather, and Brexit – resulting in a 4.8% decline in average occupancy.

Quality of content, type of delivery, time of delivery, and place of delivery are key factors to the successful outcome of a meeting. We can offer advice in all these areas. It is important to stay ahead in whatever business you are in, with personal interaction with your staff and customers a vital part of keeping ahead of the trend. Our customers are planning their events up to three years ahead. We are also helping to arrange very short term meetings for those that need to keep up with new policy and legislation changes.

Wow – the time has gone by quickly learning all the way. Experiences have filled every memory of it – together with our customers we have grown stronger – receiving advice and giving ideas – to help our clients have the best times possible. Whatever happens with the bigger picture surrounding events – we combine the experience and approach of the best people and companies we have worked with to arrive at the best outcome for a meeting.

18 hours of darkness presents a different type of opportunity for a conference organizer at this time of year, and being famous for its Nobel Peace Prize presentations, it is busy. The famous place offers great winter activities only half an hour from the city center. If you want your group to get away from it all, and experience the chill of the Northern Hemisphere, GSC can help you.

We have booked meetings this year and going forwards to 2019 in :-

Berlin, Abu Dhabi, Paris, Barcelona, Prague, Dublin, Ottawa, Rio, UK, Holland, Hungary, Malaysia, Tokyo, South Korea, and have looked at, and are looking into client requests for meetings in India, Singapore, the USA, and different destinations around Europe.

Outlook

Safety, ease of access, and high standards, with prices that reflect quality of service – these are key selling points.

We understand how clients and venues work, and giving all round feedback is so important to GSC. Emphasis on listening and learning helps with improvement and success.

Trust in electronic communication is waning. Looking forwards, meeting on a one to one basis has never been more important than now, and it quickens the pace of getting the job done efficiently and methodically, because meeting one another face to face leaves no room for misunderstanding.

GSC is working towards it’s 31st year helping industry with its important meetings and events.

Having just spent some time in this wonderful city we can confidently recommend a wide range of venues to suit your budget and numbers – you can have a go at Gaelic Games or Irish dancing once your conference has ended. We have excellent contacts in the city to make sure you experience real Irish Hospitality!

Base factors come down to number of square meters, local property prices, and popularity of location. Big events, amenities and levels of service are the “ups” of influencing price.

Newquay – Grade 2 listed building – £25m in investment – over looking the famous Fistral Beach – For now it is just one of those Hotels that resembles great hospitality of the past where time almost stands still, and yet you can get everything you want now. For any company that wants to blow wind through its hair, get the cobwebs out of the cupboard, and have the time to think up new strategies, this certainly is a place for it, and it won’t cost an arm and a leg. Ask us for more details.