Comprehensive Analysis of the UK Conference and Banqueting Industry

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the conference and banqueting industry in the UK. It begins by outlining the industry's size and scope, emphasizing its significant contribution to the UK economy and its reliance on sectors like tourism and hospitality. The report then delves into the various factors influencing the industry's development, including political stability, socio-cultural considerations, technological advancements, and relevant regulations such as licensing and health and safety laws. Strategic and operational issues are examined, such as booking management, pricing strategies, space utilization, and adherence to health and safety regulations. Furthermore, the report explores performance and quality review techniques, including client evaluations, venue appraisals, and profit realization analysis. The report concludes by summarizing the key findings, highlighting the industry's growth potential and its reliance on strategic planning and effective management practices to maintain its competitive edge. The report also includes a detailed reference section with books and journals.

INTRODUCTION
Conferencing and Banquet management refers to managing of various formal and
informal meetings which are conducted in form of seminars, small gatherings, wedding, etc.
This report present research about the conference and banqueting management industry in UK. It
discusses about it size and scope in UK, factors which are affecting them like, political, budget
targets, technologies etc. The key strategic and operational issues which affects it management.
Further, what factors should be taken into consideration while preparing the key menu,
organising an off-site conference, and evaluate about the ergonomic factors.
TASK 1.
1.1 Size and scope of the conference and banqueting industry in the UK
UK is among the fastest growing economies of the world. They are the strongest and
developed economy large number of conference are been organised every year. The size and
scope of the conference and banqueting depends upon the ownership, orientation, services
provided by them. This sector is growing at fast pace in many parts of UK.
Scope of this sector depends upon the support from various others sectors like restaurant,
bar, hotels, etc. It attracts tourist and foreign clients to avail the services provided by them. There
are across 43000 hotels and resorts that fulfil the needs and demands of conference and
banqueting of diverse population of UK.
This industry helps to boost the economy of a country as it generates around $45 billion
turnover every year. Further, it provides large number of employment opportunities to
unemployed youth of the country, covering almost 130000 properties which employ around 1.5
million people (Davis and et. al 2018).
The industry operates in a very large and diversified environment. It is among the third
largest industry of UK, thus it provides opportunities of growth and development, as UK has
specialised in this sector. In addition, the country has a strong tourism sector and attractive
locations like London; it attracts huge number of tourists from around the world. This in turn
needs large number of workforce to cater the present visitors needs. The size of conference and
banqueting is generally small, medium or large. Moreover, it depends upon the number of guests
attending; number of meetings and conferences took place in particular period like, how many
meetings are conducted in a particular, Months or Days. Further, small sized business meetings
are popular trend and these types of meetings are done on large basis. It lasts for 1-2 days,

whereas medium size meetings go on for 2-3 days and large sized meetings are stretched to 4-5
days with 3000-4000 participants.
In addition, UK is benefited by various informal gatherings like wedding, small
gatherings and ceremony. This helps to generate revenue and boost the economy (McCallaghan,
2015).
1.2. Factors that have influenced its development
The hospitality industry operates within dynamic environment with many factors that
influences it operations. These factors affect conference and banqueting in many ways. They
contribute in it development and growth, help it to properly operate and work. It can be both
external and internal factors. Here are some external factors which are as follows:
 Political: It refers to the current political situation in economy. If there is any problem
arises within country and could hamper the business of conference and banqueting, as
people would not feel safe and would not attend meetings, also, price of necessary items
would increase, etc. The economy of UK is stable which promotes proper functioning of
this industry.
 Socio- Cultural Consideration: Customer is the important asset of conference and
banqueting industry. Their behaviour, expectations and perception depends upon the
cultural norms and beliefs. Further, change in attitude of consumers also affects the
industry and there working, consumers can have both positive and negative attitude.
Company needs to properly see to it (Singh and Srivastasva, 2016 ).
 Technological: Conference and banqueting industry is not untouched by the fast growing
technology. To improvise it working they need to utilise new technology to bring down it
cost and to improve it quality. If company does not utilise new technology it may get
obsolete and their chances of growth becomes stagnant.
 Free Meals: It is a catering industry and meals are among the basic things i.e. provided
in conference and banqueting. To attract more customers to avail for there services many
companies' or hotels serves some free meals along with the food order. It attracts
customers and increases business in a short span of time.
 Licensing laws: The laws states that to when, where and to whom the alcohol or liquor
be supplied. These laws are governed by strict regulations of UK government. The new
law has benefited industry as people can enjoy more hours of drinking even at late nights.

 Lighting: The conference and banqueting industry serves consumers directly, thus it is
essential to have power back ups, company should provide 24 hours service of electricity
and it system should work properly.
TASK 2
2.1 key Strategic and Operational issues involved in the effective management of conference or
banquet
The Conference and banqueting industry is affected by various operational and strategic
key issues for its effective management which are:
 Booking diary: The term booking refers to arranging something in advance, for
example: booking up of a conference hall, similarly, diary help in keeping record of all
the bookings done in the company. Further, those organisations who has sound system of
booking will help to effectively manage the other operational function.
 Pricing and Packaging: Those companies' who provides better quality of services at low
price, would generate more revenue than others. In addition, the packages provided by
them should be attractive and budget friendly so more customers can be attracted to avail
the services (Rahimi, 2017). Space utilisation: The bigger space provides more scope and opportunities to serve
many customers. It should properly divide the given space according to requirements. If
the company is engaged in hosting conference for business meetings then it should allot
more space for conference halls. Further, it should wisely choose a location so that
visitors are not hampered. Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 (HASWA): This act stays lays down large number
of duties on employer. It is the duty of employer to protect the employees, visitors, casual
labourers, self-employed workers, etc. This law allowed government to imposed rules
and regulations and Assigned a Code of Practice (ACOP's) for employers. Hygiene regulations: Any person who owns or work in food business should consider
the cleanliness factor i.e. it should be related to the place where it makes food, hygienic
in serving of them and it should also focus on the maintenance of keeping there rooms
clean (Varini, 2012).
 Discounting initiatives: good package deals offered by service provider attracts
customers. Further, discounting initiatives like; free internet services, minimum package

that offers free meals, 24 hours laundry services and opening of food court, etc. would
attract more customers to make use of company services.
2.2. Performance and quality review techniques used by the Conference and banqueting industry.
It is important to review the performance. There are different techniques used in to make
quality and performance review by conference and banqueting industry. These techniques are as
follows: Client and Guest evaluation procedures: To review about the services provided by the
hotel, they evaluate through feedbacks. At general clients are asked to fill feedbacks
forms asking to express there reviews on various kinds of services provided by them.
With modern time and technology evaluation company uses apps to rate there
performances. This guides hotel to know which services are proper and which areas need
improvement and up to what extent (Bowdin and et. al, 2012). Venue Appraisal: Venue plays a key role in promoting the business of conference and
banquet industry. Hotel engaged in providing services take reviews on whether the venue
was according to what customers need or requested for, these techniques helps to see
what necessary changes can be made with regard to venue. Profit realisation: Profits are the bases to review the graphs of company. These graphs
help firm to see that whether they are able to perform according to there standards or not.
Revenue generated by hotel shows that it is working has improved and more customers
are availing service of hotel. Similarly, if the profits are less than it means it has to take
necessary actions to improvised it services.
 Conducting Surveys: Often companies engaged in conference and banqueting services
conduct surveys to know about the reviews of customers, these informations help them to
get knowledge of customer preferences, choices and what changes it can make to
improve it services (Wang, 2012).
These techniques of checking the performance of services provided by them help to
improve it quality standards and make organisation performs better. It guides them to improvised
it employees skills to meet current demand of there customers.
TASK 3.
Attached in PPT.

CONCLUSION
Conference and banqueting industry serves the large and diversified groups of UK. It is a
leading sector and growing at fast pace in many areas of the world but, in UK it I a third largest
sector. Economy of the country is financially strong and has stable political condition which help
in attracting foreign clients and tourist from around the world. It generates huge amount of
revenue and help economy to get boosted. The industry owns a large part of UK properties and
employs nearly 1 million plus people. The strategic factors like, technological, political,
discounting initiatives enable in growing and expanding this sector.
REFERENCES
Books and Journals.
Davis, B and et. al 2018. Food and beverage management. Routledge.
McCallaghan, W. A., 2015. Service quality management in conference tourism: expectations
versus delivery (Doctoral dissertation, North-West University (South Africa), Potchefstroom
Campus).
Singh, V. and Srivastasva, U.R., 2016. Team Performance Scale for Hospitality Professionals.
Journal of Psychosocial Research. 11(1). p.1.

Rahimi, R., 2017. Organizational culture and customer relationship management: a simple linear
regression analysis. Journal of Hospitality Marketing & Management. 26(4). pp.443-449.
Varini, K., 2012. Revenue management for the hospitality industry. Journal of Revenue and
Pricing Management. 11(4). p.479.
Mammen, R., 2017. Assessment of Physical Workload, Ergonomic Problems and Prevalence of
Pain among Low Wage Hotel Housekeepers in Orlando.
Bowdin, G and et. al, 2012. Events management. Routledge.
Shen, H., 2015. Critical success factors for leading hotel brands in Asia: a case study of Banyan
Tree. International Journal of Marketing Studies. 7(3). p.19.
Fast, J., de Boer, E. and Rowson, B., 2017. The influence of the importance of event factors on
meeting planner satisfaction: A case study of a theme park event business. Research in
Hospitality Management. 7(1). pp.27-38.
McCabe, V. S., 2012, April. Developing and sustaining a quality workforce: Lessons from the
convention and exhibition industry. In Journal of Convention & Event Tourism (Vol. 13, No. 2,
pp. 121-134). Taylor & Francis Group.
Wang, X. L., 2012. Relationship or revenue: Potential management conflicts between customer
relationship management and hotel revenue management. International Journal of Hospitality
Management. 31(3). pp.864-874.