The Alliance of Independent Event Agencies (AIEA) has appointed Rutland-based Hatch Events MD Kerry Walsh as its new chair. As published in Meetings & Incentive Travel, January Northstar Meetings, January 4, 2021, Kerry Walsh
said: “2021 will be a much better year, with multiple vaccines, new skills honed during lockdown, pent up demand for events from our clients, creativity of our industry, resilience of people in our industry are but a few of the reasons why as an Alliance we should be full of hope for the not too distant future.
“We will continue to remind our members the value we provide to those we serve and why what we do matters to others. Our Industry has weathered disruptions in the past. Working collaboratively, we will weather this, too.”
During 2020 and the COVID-19 pandemic, AIEA grew its membership to 85 agencies from across the UK. Walsh added that this growth in membership demonstrated the need for knowledge sharing in a time of crisis.
“2020 was a challenging year for everybody but arguably more so for our Members. It was extremely gratifying and dare I say, heart-warming, to see the Principals of our Agency members coming together, sharing knowledge and information and actually helping each other through the unprecedented situation.”