CHS Leeds 2025: New Venues and Industry Insights
I recently had the pleasure of attending CHS Leeds 2025, one of the leading networking and exhibition events in the North for the meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) industry. As always, it was a whirlwind of reconnecting with familiar faces, forging new connections, gathering fresh industry insights and checking out new venues to share with my clients.
I arrived on Monday as a hosted buyer where I was also invited to the Conference Leeds Fam trip, more details below. I stayed overnight at The Park Plaza as a hosted buyer before exploring the show the next day. I then added on two more nights at Hyatt House and Crowne Plaza to explore further hotels and meet up with clients.
The exhibition is a fantastic opportunity to meet with over 100 exhibitors from across the UK—including hotel groups, unique venues, destination bureaus, and event suppliers. If you’re planning events in the UK, this show is an invaluable resource to stay on top of what’s new and exciting.
Conference Leeds Lunch & Speed Networking
As part of the show, I attended the Conference Leeds lunch, which featured a fast-paced speed networking session. Each venue representative shared three facts—one of which was a cheeky lie. We had to guess the false one! While I didn’t win a prize, I walked away with:
- Valuable, up-to-date insights about Leeds venues
- New venue contacts I hadn’t previously engaged with
- Caught up in person with venue contacts I have been in communication with
A fun and clever way to learn more about the Leeds event scene in just an hour!
Key Seminar: Martyn’s Law and Event Security
One of the most important sessions I attended was the seminar on Martyn’s Law, which will shape future venue security practices. It’s essential that we as event planners stay informed and proactive about attendee safety—and this session provided practical takeaways I’ll be applying to client events going forward. More on this was mentioned on my recent webinar – recap available here: Webinar Link
What’s New in Leeds? Top Venue Highlights
I always take time to explore venues when visiting a city, and Leeds did not disappoint. Here are some top Leeds venues worth considering:
✅ Hyatt House & Hyatt Place – Two BRAND NEW properties with plenty of bedrooms and sleek event space.
✅ Azotea – A brand-new, stunning rooftop venue with city views. Situated on top of Hyatt House & Hyatt Place —perfect for summer events and drinks receptions.
✅ Hilton Leeds – Freshly refurbished and offering contemporary spaces. I had a group buffet lunch here, it was delicious!
✅ Liquor Studio – A quirky, hands-on experience for cocktail-making and corporate fun. Note, they offer a non-alcoholic cocktail making (also available for delivery!)
✅ Park Plaza Leeds – A reliable choice for meetings, events, and larger conferences. Opposite the train station, nice and easy!
✅ Harvey Nichols Leeds – Chic, stylish, and perfect for VIP gatherings. Did you know you can hire their space in the evenings? I do regularly, and the team there are fab!
✅ Crowne Plaza Leeds – Loved their revamped spaces and relaxed TAP restaurant with outdoor terrace. I stayed the night here, enjoyed dinner, super comfy bed and plenty on offer at breakfast.
✅ Royal Armouries – Where the drinks reception night prior as well as the exhibition itself, was held. So many talking points here with two venues in one including New Dock Hall
The Value of Venue Site Visits
When it comes to choosing the right space, nothing beats seeing it in person. During my visit, I toured many of the venues alongside their sales teams. These site visits allow me to:
- Assess capacities and configurations
- Discuss potential bookings and requirements in detail
- Understand what types of events have worked well historically
- Evaluate flow, branding opportunities, and accessibility
- Capture photos for clients to visualise the space
Having these face-to-face conversations builds trust, ensures my recommendations are on point, and helps deliver successful outcomes for every client.
Catching Up with Clients in Leeds
Another highlight of my trip was the chance to meet a couple of clients based in Leeds. After years of working together remotely, it was lovely to connect in person and say thank you. We enjoyed lunch and drinks at the Azotea Rooftop, sampling food and drinks while soaking in the views. The sun was out in full force makign it even more memorable.
Having personally experienced the venue with them, I felt confident in placing business there—and I’m happy to say that’s already underway. Experiences like this reinforce why in-person site visits are so valuable.
Why Use a Venue Finding Expert?
Choosing the right venue is about more than availability—it’s about service, atmosphere, and value. Here’s how I can help:
✅ First-hand venue knowledge – I’ve personally visited hundreds of venues over the years, so I know which ones will work best for your event.
✅ Established relationships – I have direct connections with a variety of Sales Directors, Event Teams, Commercial Directors, Managing Directors, General Managers, Regional Directors, the titles are endless! Meaning I don’t just ‘secure the best deals and availability’ but work hard to bespoke and negotiate each event before contracting, to get the best outcome for both my clients and the venue.
✅ Stress-free support – I handle the research, negotiations, site visits, this can take people sooooo much time and it’s what I love! Plus, my experience means I have a pretty good idea what venues are going to work right from the start and how to get a quality quote quickly.
✅ Bespoke recommendations – based on your brief, goals, and audience. I know where to find it, quickly and efficiently, whether you need a conference space, a stylish private dining venue, or a unique team-building experience,
Events are about people, and my industry relationships allow me to match clients with a suitable venue every time.
📩 Need help planning an event? Contact me here. I’d love to help you source the perfect venue for your next conference, meeting, or celebration
What Else Does CHS Offer? Inspirational Venue Roadshow (IVR)
CHS isn’t just about the big shows like Leeds—they also run the Inspirational Venue Roadshow (IVR) throughout the UK. These events are a fantastic way to:
- Explore new and refurbished hotels
- Meet sales and event teams in a relaxed setting
- Participate in speed networking with over 20 venues
- Enjoy dinner, overnight accommodation, and breakfast with your peers
There’s no hard sell—just educational, insightful conversations. It’s all about building like, know, and trust relationships that lead to better bookings and smoother event planning.
If you work in the events industry and haven’t experienced a CHS event or an IVR yet, I highly recommend it.