Buckmark Productions

GM Conference

Premier Inn

For the fourth year running Buckmark was engaged to produce the annual conference for Premier Inn in 2007. Delegates include a General Manager, Lead Receptionist and Head Housekeeper from every hotel in the estate, resulting in over 1700 employees attending.

Over the years this event has developed into a fun-filled get-together, which delegates really enjoy attending, largely due to the fact they’re encouraged to attend in themed fancy dress costumes!

Due to its scale, the conference is usually held in one of the larger Exhibition Halls in the Midlands. As such, Buckmark is required to transform a cavernous space into a fully-functioning theatre, and install everything necessary to deliver an event of this size; set, stage, seating, lighting, sound, carpeting …….. even kitchens!

The challenge in 2007 was that the event was initially scheduled to be staged at the RICOH Arena in Coventry in April. In February, we were consulted about the prospect of bringing the event date forward to March (just four weeks away) AND staging it in Hall One at the NEC.

We were able to oblige, thanks largely to the strength of the relationship with core suppliers, every one of whom brought their considerable experience and expertise to the project to ensure the event could be delivered to the highest standard within the very short lead-time.

After a two-day get-in, build and rehearse the conference was a resounding success. The format mixed serious business presentations with light-hearted ‘spoof’ videos, as well as lots of recognition of high performing hotel teams and individuals.

The central theme was the brand’s 21st birthday party, which manifested itself in four over-sized ‘gifts’ being unwrapped on stage throughout the day to represent the four key pillars of the business plan for the year ahead.

With its strong heritage in the production of film and video, a Buckmark conference typically includes a lot of VT inserts to bring messages alive, and this event was no exception, with 23 clips in total. One clip, a spoof of the film ‘Fatal Attraction’ (also celebrating its 21st birthday) involved members of the Senior Management team playing the roles of Glenn Close and Michael Douglas in a version entitled ‘Fatal Obsession’.

Another involved an X-Factor spoof, complete with Simon Cowell, Sharon Ozbourne and Louis Walsh look-alikes…………

The output from 3 x TV cameras was fed onto the main front-projected screens, as well as recorded for the post-event cascade DVD. In addition, we had an editor on-site using Final Cut Pro on a laptop, with key sound-bites from throughout the day being inserted into a pre-prepared time-line for play out as a closing VT.

Although the project as a whole was logistically challenging (with one or two white knuckle moments!!!!) the event itself was a resounding success.

Buckmark was engaged to produce the 2008 Conference.