CONFERENCE AND BANQUETING SECTOR

Conference and Banqueting Sector

1.1 A review of the size and scope of the conference and banqueting sector in the UK2

The size of the sector2

The scope of the sector2

1.2 Analyis of the Influences that have shaped the conference and banquesting sector4

References6

Conference and Banqueting Sector

A review of the size and scope of the conference and banqueting sector in the UK

The conference and banqueting sector deals with event management. In a hotel, the events department is called as conference and banqueting department (Ferdinand & Kitchin, p. 259).

The size of the sector

In UK the conference and banqueting sector is immense. It is a growing industry. Throughout UK more than 12500 conference and banqueting managers are employed. The sector includes specialized Event management companies, contract companies, business centres, leisure facilities, restaurants, hotels and pubs (inputyouth.co.uk.). Conference and banquet managers are found in all these locations. The conference and banqueting department is a part of all hotels. Extensive conference and banqueting facilities are present in resort and business properties. Budget hotels usually lack these facilities (Jones, p. 166). Establishing the number of hotels in UK is a difficult task as there are many. In 1999, about 11,450 hotels were to be found in UK (Jones, p. 166). Because of mergers and acquisitions, the number of hotels ahs decreased.

The scope of the sector

The conferencing and banqueting sector is part of the event sector that is refereed as MICE (Meetings, incentives, conferences and Exhibitions) or catering, events conferences and banqueting.

The management of the conference and banqueting sector organizes and runs several events. The events include private as well as business ones: banquets, conferences, weddings, dinners, parties, presentations, sales promotions, news conferences, product launches, training events, exhibitions.

In UK, Banqueting dates back to Elizabethan period. In the modern era, business banquets have become ...