Business Dinner Arrangements

Unscripted moments are actually opportunities for immense personal growth. I learned this lesson during my time in the cockpit (and now as a full-time entrepreneur running my company). No matter how much we prepare, unexpected situations will always pop up. Life doesn't follow a script. The sooner we embrace that, the more we can thrive. Those who panicked? They struggled. But those who adapted? They excelled. So next time you find yourself in an unplanned situation, remember: 1. Stay open and curious. Look for the opportunity in the moment. 2. Reframe challenges as chances to test your skills. 3. Focus on what you can control, not what you can't. 4. Embrace flexibility. Adjust your approach as needed. 5. Reflect afterward. What did this experience teach you? By shifting your mindset, you turn unscripted moments from obstacles into opportunities. You build resilience, adaptability, and a growth-oriented approach to life. So I challenge you to lean into the unexpected. That's where the magic happens. ✌️

Most people go to conferences and hope the right people show up. The best ones engineer it. There's one tactic almost no one uses that pulls every person you want to meet into the same room, at the same time, during the conference. It's called the anchor tenant dinner. Here's why it works: Instead of chasing people down one by one, you create a table so compelling that the right people come to you. Pull, not push. Step 1: Find your anchor tenant. One person you already know who others would show up for. Call them and say: "I want to pull together the coolest people at this conference. Would you co-host a dinner with me?" Step 2: Pick your night. A free night during the conference works great. So does the night everyone's headed to one of those boring obligatory dinners. Give people a better option. Step 3: Decide the structure. A private room at the hotel. One long table. An intimate dinner off-site. The format matters less than the people in the room. Once your anchor tenant says yes, start building the list. Don't go after the biggest names yet. Start with the "medium" people you genuinely want to meet. Your pitch becomes: "So-and-so and I are hosting a dinner during the conference. Would you like to join?" They may not know you yet. But they know your anchor tenant. That's enough. Once two or three people say yes, you have three names. Now you add those names to every new invite you send. The list becomes the pitch. That's social proof in action. People don't just say yes to the dinner. They say yes to the room. The best time to host it? The night before the conference officially kicks off. Everyone's already there. Energy is high. And you get ahead of the chaos before it starts. Here's proof this works. At Davos this year, this exact approach led to a roundtable breakfast of 26 people during the conference. CEOs of three of the biggest tech companies in the world. Major, major names. A day before the breakfast, several of those CEOs had already said no. Then they saw the list of who was coming. The response? "Holy sh*t… of course I'm making room for that." The right list doesn't just attract people. It makes the people who said no change their minds. Stop chasing people at conferences one business card at a time. Build the room they all want to be in. And let them come to you.

Over the next 3 months, I’m hosting 4 major events in France, UK, USA and KSA. Beforehand, I want to share my top tips on how to get the best out of networking. 1. Set Clear Targets Action: Make a hit list of the top 10 companies or people you need to meet. Research what they care about—know their wins, pain points, & what they’re hunting for before you walk through the door. Outcome: These conversations won’t just happen by chance. By doing your homework, you’ll turn a five-minute chat into a deal-building moment. Schedule meetings in advance, & after the event, send a tailored follow-up email that shows you were listening. 2. Take the Stage (Literally) Action: Get on the agenda. Whether it’s a keynote, panel, or fireside chat, nothing says “I’m the one to watch” like holding the mic. Use this time to address the industry’s biggest challenges & position yourself—& your company—as the answer. Outcome: Speaking builds instant credibility. It’s not just exposure; it’s authority. Post-event, share the highlights on LinkedIn & invite attendees to continue the conversation, turning an audience into a lead pipeline. 3. Own the Floor Action: Don’t just lurk—work the room. Engage with key exhibitors, ask questions, & position yourself as a resource, not just another pitch. Be direct but curious: “What’s your biggest challenge this year?” and “How can I help?” are powerful openers. Outcome: You’ll stand out as someone who listens. Take notes during conversations, & follow up within 48 hours with a personalised message. Not a generic “great meeting you”—send actionable insights or specific ideas that move the ball forward. 4. Host the Inner Circle Action: People bond better in a more relaxed setting than over Wi-Fi. Organise an exclusive dinner, roundtable, or cocktail event for a curated group of heavy hitters. Keep it intimate—this is about building relationships, not just showing off. Go easy on the heavy sell. Outcome: People remember who brought them value & connections, not who handed out free pens. Post-event, share any key takeaways & book one-on-one follow-ups to solidify what you started over drinks. 5. Hack the Tech Action: Use every tool at your disposal—event apps, LinkedIn, QR codes. Pre-event, reach out to attendees & book meetings. At the event, swap contacts digitally to keep things seamless, & use a CRM to track every interaction. Outcome: You’ll leave the event with an organised roadmap of leads, not just a stack of business cards destined for a desk drawer. Follow up strategically with segmented, value-driven emails & keep the momentum alive. The Bottom Line: Trade fairs & exhibitions aren’t just networking. Preparation, presence, & follow-up separate those who close deals from those who just collect swag bags. Be human. Don’t think of this as just a branding exercise but an opportunity for long term partnerships. Be genuine - your new contacts will become close contacts, if not friends. Make it count! #revenuegrowth

When planning events, be transparent about inaccessibility. What do I mean? In your pre-event communications, plainly share any known accessibility gaps so attendees can plan (maybe by bringing a companion or equipment). Some disabled folks might even decide not to attend your event, and this helps us save our limited energy and time. Examples of event accessibility gaps: - Steps / no ramp - No captions or a lack of captions for certain aspects of the event such as breakout rooms - A loud space without a quiet area - Flashing lights - Low and non-adjustable lighting - A caterer that cannot adequately adjust to certain dietary restrictions or allergies - Automatic captions instead of human CART captioners Honesty shows respect and accountability. Obviously, the best-case scenario is to design a truly accessible event, but accessibility is a journey and sometimes barriers are present. Does this resonate? What are other examples of possible accessibility gaps? P.S. I'm adding a new training to my offerings about event accessibility. The official announcement is coming soon but just wanted to give you the inside scoop! #EventPlanning #Accessibility #Disability

Making your events more accessible for blind & visually impaired people really isn’t as hard as you think. Here are my top tips. 1. Provide precise venue information. Include things like clear drop off and pick up point information, what the key features of the building are, a rough description of where the toilets are, describe where the reception desk is, and let us know in advance if you’ll need a Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan completed. Bonus points for using a service like Euan's Guide or AccessAble to provide specialist access information. 2. Provide as much event information as possible. Share all key details in advance, ideally by email in an accessible format. Include timings, speaker names, attendee names, a brief agenda, and any known accessibility considerations. It helps us plan travel, support, and energy levels and it also helps us know who’s attending so when we’re surprised with a “Hey Robbie!” we can narrow it down to who it might be. 3. Food information is key. It sounds simple, but make sure menus are firstly available, then accessible - even for buffets. Relying on a fellow attendee to tell me something “looks chickeney” gives me the absolute fear. Include dietary details in an electronic format we can read with a screen reader, and avoid handwritten or printed-only menus. Tell us how food will be served so we can prepare (for example, buffet vs plated service). 4. Ask about adjustments - don’t assume you’ll know what someone needs. Just ask the question when people register. Keep it open and inclusive, such as “Do you have any access requirements you’d like us to be aware of?” 5. Provide complimentary +1 places as an adjustment - if someone needs a guide, PA, or support worker to attend with them, they shouldn’t be charged double. It’s an inclusion basic that makes a big difference. 6. Finally, provide training to your staff and event volunteers. Organisations like The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association and RNIB can help you here with things like sighted guide training. And most importantly - don’t wait until someone asks before you do this. It won’t help just blind people, it’ll help everyone. Think about this list - is there anything on here that genuine would help you as a sighted person? Build accessibility in from the start and everyone benefits. #DisabilityInclusion #Disability #DisabilityEmployment #Adjustments #DiversityAndInclusion #Content

How robust is your Strategy confronting high volatility and disruption? No one can completely predict today how the world will unfold over the next twelve months; advancements in technology, geopolitical actions, conflict, societal and environmental adjustments, natural disasters, and monetary policies bind together with industry shifts. External Forces drive exceptional change. Yet in many organizations, the Strategy discussions tend to be very "inward" focused, based on incremental changes, leading to blind spots and unquantified risks that impact your firm, your suppliers, your customers, your ecosystems. This does not mean however we need to give up. In my experience there are five steps you can take to be better prepared: 1. Get together your board and management team with an experienced facilitator for a focused session with just this one item on the agenda. 2. Make visible your vital few Strategic Assumptions (no more than 5 or 6,) and write down the implications for your business, considering Supply, Demand, Technology, and key external impacts. Carefully address any bias that may be present in both your thinking and data sources. 3. Develop an action plan of what you can do in the event of the most probable and highest impact scenarios. 4. Set in place a plan to test and monitor your assumptions, and a fast alert to board and management in the event of both expected and unexpected changes. Leverage your Strategy process to stay ahead of the game. 5. Ensure your budget and operational plans are coherent with your Strategic assumptions, and update regularly based on new information. It can feel as if small changes in the world may lead to dramatic shifts in your industry, and yet it does not need to be overwhelming. You can set in place a system and plan which allows your people to be their best, and ensures you are not solely focused on internal discussions while external events change everything. What have you found to be most effective in ensuring your Strategy identifies and addresses external trends, pressures, and industry shifts? Strategy is Mastery.

I do this weird thing… I mix accessibility with luxury. Everyone else in the events and weddings world thinks inclusion means lowering the bar, ticking compliance boxes, or doing the bare minimum to “get by.” But I… ✨ Walk into 5-star venues with the eye of an access consultant. ✨ Pair champagne receptions with wheelchair-friendly layouts. ✨ Design guest journeys that work for a bride with sensory sensitivities and her nan with a mobility aid. Most people think luxury and accessibility are opposites. I know they’re actually soulmates. This works because… When you combine accessibility with excellence, EVERY guest feels like a VIP. And here’s the kicker: businesses make more money when more people can say yes to what they’re offering. So yes, it’s weird that I’ll talk about the Purple Pound in the same breath as canapés and champagne towers. But that weirdness is the reason my clients stand out, sell out, and sleep at night knowing they’ve nailed inclusion. If you love this weird approach, where accessibility is the ultimate luxury, we should talk. #InclusiveEvents #AccessibleLuxury #EventProfs #AccessibilityMatters #PurplePound #LuxuryEvents #InclusiveWeddings #RepresentationMatters #AccessibleDesign #HospitalityIndustry #EventStrategy Photo credit Amanda Hutchinson

Tackling Crisis, Finding Your Own Way Out Crisis is inevitable. Whether it’s on the job site, in business, or in personal life, challenges arise that test our limits. But here’s the truth: no one else can rescue you from a crisis. You must take ownership, think creatively, and find solutions that work for you. Recently, I witnessed a powerful example of this mindset. Faced with a seemingly insurmountable problem, instead of panicking or waiting for help, someone found another way around. It wasn’t the obvious path, but it worked—and it reminded me of some key strategies for navigating tough situations: 1. Accept Reality The first step to overcoming a crisis is acknowledging it. Denial wastes time and energy. Accept what’s happening and shift your focus to what can be done. 2. Think Creatively Standard solutions don’t always apply in extraordinary situations. Think outside the box. Ask yourself: Is there another resource I can use? Can I reframe this challenge as an opportunity? What haven’t I tried yet? 3. Take Responsibility No one else can own your crisis like you can. It’s your challenge, and you’re best equipped to tackle it. Don’t wait for rescue—start taking action, no matter how small the steps. 4. Leverage Your Network While the responsibility is yours, collaboration is invaluable. Reach out to trusted teammates, mentors, or peers for ideas. A fresh perspective can unlock solutions you hadn’t considered. 5. Adapt and Overcome Sometimes the path forward isn’t a straight line. It might mean going around, over, or under the problem. The key is to stay adaptable, resilient, and focused on the goal. The Hard Truth No one can save you from a crisis, but you can save yourself. Whether it’s finding an unconventional solution, changing your mindset, or rallying the right resources, the power to move forward is in your hands. Crisis is not the end, it’s a challenge to grow stronger, think smarter, and emerge better. Remember, it’s not just about finding one way out; sometimes, it’s about finding another way around.

Accessibility looks very different depending on who you ask ♿ When many non-disabled people think about whether a venue is wheelchair accessible, the questions are: ➤ Is it step-free? 
➤ Is there a lift? And that’s often the entire checklist. But if you ask a wheelchair user to assess the same venue, the mental checklist looks very different. We’re thinking about things like: 🚪 Door width - can a wheelchair actually fit through? 🔁 Turning space – is there room to manoeuvre or is everything cramped? 🚻 Accessible loos - are they genuinely usable, or just labelled accessible? e.g. no grab rails, no turning space, being used as a supply closet 🪑 Table height and layout – can you sit at the table comfortably? Is it too low to roll a wheelchair under it? 🛗 Lift reliability – does it work consistently or break down every week? Is there more than one lift? (When moving house I only considered apartment blocks with multiple lifts) 🚧 Thresholds and “just one step” - the classic barrier businesses forget about. Not all wheelchairs can get over a 2 inch lip. 🅿️ Accessible parking nearby 📏 Counter height - can you actually interact with staff? 🧭 Clear routes through the space – or is it an obstacle course of furniture? Accessibility isn’t a single feature, it’s an entire user journey. And this is exactly why I’m passionate about: ✅ Disabled people being prioritised for accessibility roles
 ✅ Lived experience groups being embedded in strategy and design
 ✅ Accessibility being evaluated by the people who actually use it Because accessibility designed without disabled people often misses the most basic things. It’s also why I love platforms like Sociability: accessibility information about venues written by disabled people, for disabled people. Businesses still routinely: ➤ Misunderstand what “accessible” means ➤ Describe places with “just one step” as accessible ➤ Or fail to provide clear information at all And that uncertainty can be the difference between someone going out or staying home. Accessibility expertise isn’t theoretical. For many of us, it’s daily lived experience. Value it. #Accessibility #DisabilityInclusion #NothingAboutUsWithoutUs #InclusiveDesign #LivedExperience #AccessibleSpaces