beam Hosts Third State of the Nation Event at Westminster
beam, the leading association representing the business events, meetings, accommodation, and hospitality industry, hosted its third annual State of the Nation event on 9 June at the House of Commons. The high-profile gathering brought together industry leaders, policymakers, and key stakeholders to discuss the challenges and future opportunities facing the UK’s business events sector.
Hosted by Mike Wood MP and attended by Jack Rankin MP, the event marked the second occasion that beam has taken its State of the Nation discussions to Westminster, highlighting the growing importance of ensuring the industry’s voice is heard at the highest levels of government.
Industry Leaders Address Major Business Challenges
The event welcomed representatives from across the meetings, events, hospitality, and accommodation sectors for an open and constructive dialogue on the most pressing issues impacting businesses today.
One of the key themes was the increasing financial pressure on organisations, including rising employment costs, higher National Insurance contributions, and the ongoing challenge of attracting, developing, and retaining skilled talent. Participants also explored how apprenticeships and workforce development initiatives can help build a stronger and more sustainable talent pipeline for the future.
beam Highlights the Economic Importance of Business Events
David Tremmil, Chair of beam, emphasized the significance of the State of the Nation event as an opportunity for direct engagement between the industry and policymakers.
He noted that hosting discussions at the House of Commons adds credibility to the sector while reinforcing its economic importance. Tremmil stressed that conversations around workforce development, business costs, international competitiveness, and government support are essential in helping decision-makers better understand the value the business events industry contributes to the UK economy.
He also highlighted the importance of presenting a unified industry voice to ensure the sector receives the support needed for long-term growth and success.
Visitor Levies and City Taxes Raise Competitiveness Concerns
Another major topic of discussion was the introduction of visitor levies and city taxes in various parts of the UK and their potential impact on the country’s competitiveness in attracting conferences, meetings, and international business events.
With destinations around the world actively competing for global events and business tourism, delegates expressed concerns that additional taxes could reduce the UK’s attractiveness as a leading international events destination.
Government Support and VisitBritain’s Future Role
Attendees also discussed the importance of continued government support for the business events sector and the future role of VisitBritain in promoting the UK globally.
Industry representatives reinforced that business events generate substantial economic value through international trade, investment, tourism, and business engagement. They called for stronger advocacy and greater recognition of the sector as a strategic driver of national economic growth.
Business Rates and Investment Challenges
Business rates remained another critical issue throughout the discussions, with delegates highlighting their impact on venues, hotels, and accommodation providers across the country.
Participants examined how future policy reforms could encourage investment, innovation, and long-term growth while improving the competitiveness of UK venues in both domestic and international markets.
Strengthening the Future of the UK Business Events Industry
The beam State of the Nation 2026 event reinforced the industry’s commitment to working closely with government and policymakers to address financial pressures, workforce challenges, taxation concerns, and international competitiveness.
As the business events sector continues to play a vital role in driving economic activity and global engagement, industry leaders called for collaborative policy decisions that support sustainable growth and strengthen the UK’s position as a world-leading destination for meetings, conferences, and major events.
