Conferences & Events team win award for best stand

There were five criteria for the award which was independently judged: clear message, stand design, staff appearance, staff conduct and incentives.

The theme of Sussex’s stand was that the University’s conferencing and events facilities are the best kept secret in Sussex.

Staff had secret agent badges, goodie bags that included a branded secret message spy pen with integral UV torch, and visitors to the stand were encouraged to take part in a top-secret code-cracking competition to break into a safe.

Those with the fastest times (displayed on a Top Gear-style leaderboard) won prizes including a private capsule and bottle of champagne on the Brighton Wheel, and afternoon tea at the Thistle Hotel.

A business card draw also gave visitors the opportunity to win two tickets to the show of their choice at the Brighton Dome.

The event was an opportunity for the team to show off their new branding and brochures, and to tell potential customers about recent developments on campus that have improved the conference facilities available during the summer, including the multi-million pound refurbishment of the University’s catering facilities, new en-suite bedrooms in Northfield, and ’coming soon’ the 500 seat subterranean lecture theatre in the New Academic Building.

The Academic Venue Show, which took place on Wednesday 17 May, is organised by Venuemasters, the marketing consortium for academic venues with conference facilities.

By: Heidi Swain