Smart Group has announced that its 2019 Hospitality Rocks event, held on 11th January, raised over £14,761 for The Springboard Charity and Hospitality Action, which provides vital assistance to all who currently work, or have worked within hospitality in the UK and who find themselves in crisis.
Over 1500 hospitality professionals attended the sold-out event at Battersea Evolution, which was hosted by television presenter Mark Durden-Smith and took guests ‘Around the World in 80 Days’, with an eclectic mix of the best food, drink and entertainment the world has to offer, as well as adrenaline-pumping dodgems, a vodka luge, karaoke phenomenon Rockaoke and more.
As a result of the continued success of what is fast becoming an industry ‘must-attend’ event, in September 2019 Smart Group will hold a spin-off event, Hospitality Rocks Fest. The event will take place at Magazine London – an innovative new event space located in the heart of the Greenwich Peninsula, set to launch in summer 2019.
“We were absolutely delighted with this year’s Hospitality Rocks and to raise such a significant sum for both The Springboard Charity and Hospitality Action was fantastic,” says Greg Lawson, Chief Executive Officer. “The event was bigger and better than ever before, and it gave the industry a much-needed opportunity to let their hair down after the busy festive period.
“For some time now, we’ve been looking at how we can build on its success with something innovative and exciting for our peers. The launch of Hospitality Rocks Fest will give us the opportunity not only to bring the industry together for what will be a truly showstopping event with exceptional food and hospitality, but also to showcase our own capabilities in what will be a stunning new venue. We’re looking forward to announcing more details in due course.”
The Springboard Charity helps young people achieve their potential and nurtures unemployed people of any age into work. It helps alleviate poverty by supporting disadvantaged and under privileged people into sustainable employment within hospitality leisure and tourism.
Hospitality Action, established in 1837, supports those who currently work or who have worked in the industry who find themselves in crisis. The organisation runs a number of educational seminars for catering students, provides grants for essential items including food, equipment and central heating and supports isolated and lonely retired hospitality workers.
