If you’re looking for something different for your next event you’re heading to the right place to find it at The BNC Show on Tuesday 1st April at Central Hall Westminster.

Take new exhibitors, Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve, for example. What they bring to the MICE market is unique, impressive and it has to be shouted about!

That’s why we caught-up with Stephanie Betts, Port Lympne’s Event Sales Manager, who tells us all about the lions the tigers and the bears.

Tell us all about Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve

We are a hotel and events venue based within a wildlife reserve in the Kent countryside that is home to 800 rare and endangered species.

The reserve spans 600-acres, and the location here gives fantastic views. We have so much space from the safari part to the landscaped gardens, giving groups so many options for corporate events from conferences to private dining to teambuilding and away days.

What can corporate groups do there?

As we have both indoor and outdoor spaces anything is possible.

The combination of the two makes us really unique and when groups are here for a conference and then an outdoor safari activity you can really see the transformation in them - they really benefit from this way of meeting and getting together. Here they are creating unforgettable experiences and it shows.

Our indoor event spaces are just as unique as the safari activities.

You have to come and see them to really absorb how amazing they are. From the large Orangery, which can seat 140 people for a dinner or up to 90-100 for conferences, to the Long Room with all of its artwork. Another impressive event space is the Spencer Roberts Room. He was an English designer and architect and we house his largest piece of work: a hand painted mural that envelopes the entire room. It’s a real showstopper and for private dinners it gives off a fantastic vibe, especially in the evening when candles are lit.

People love the spaces once they’re here.

We offer all the usual things like conference space and hotel rooms but if you want a break from the traditional then we’ve upped the game on that.

What are your most popular kind of events?

Anything really – conferences, away-days, lunches and team building days and conference add-ons. I’d say those are the most popular.

Teams can build pieces for the animal enclosures – such as a platform that the leopards can jump on and off of, or feeder boxes that clever orangutans can get food out of.

It’s a fun, skills-building activity plus it helps to give back to the venue.

After building something, under the guidance of some of our crew, groups can then go on safari and see what they created together ‘in action’.

Or if groups just want a safari, that is possible too. They don’t have to do the team building first.

The other reason people like booking events with us is that we are using nature, we are part of nature, and because of our conservation efforts. It aligns with a lot of companies’ goals.

And we’re not just seasonal – these things can happen all year round.

We’re really popular right now with London tech companies who come to us looking to do something different with their delegates and recently we hosted a three-day conference for a well-known energy drinks brand and they got the most out of organising their event with business and safari.

The did a two-night stay

• Day 1 meeting, followed by a nice evening buffet

• Day 2 meetings, safari team build

• Day 3 animal feeds

They got the best of everything here. It was quite ‘a biggy’ for us and the feedback that we got was sensational. We do similar events such as this all the time but this was on a larger scale.

What surprises people about Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve?

That we are not your typical hotel. The accommodation is very different to what people are used to.

We have 65 standard, single occupancy rooms within the park and we also have luxury lodge accommodation where you are literally sleeping next to lions, tigers, bears and rhinos!

Prior to 2020 corporate events took place in a space called the Aspinall Suite and what is now known as the Garden Room restaurant.

In 2022 we built the Orangery as a new space. We’ve been doing corporate events for many years but we’ve increased our offering and marketing over the last few years. It’s exciting that more and more people find out about us.

It’s really nice getting people on site because the feedback is always: “I had no idea this was here. This is amazing!”

The other thing that surprises them is that we are really close to London. They hear ‘Kent’ and think it’s far away but in reality we’re just over an hour’s  journey from London, with a 35 min train and a quick cab ride away!

Once groups get here people appreciate what we do and are so interested in the focus we place on conservation and rehoming animals.

Port Lympne works with The Aspinall Foundation who rehome endangered animals back into the wild. It’s wonderful to be a part of and even witness conservation work going on. We recently rehomed cheetahs back to Africa. It’s been quite an experience to learn about since I’ve been here.

What’s the best thing about your job?

Getting to see animals every day and learning things everyday about animals – that combined with showing people around and delivering incredible events and experiences for them. That has been the biggest joy.

Knowing that our work and people’s events enables the park’s partner, conservation charity, The Aspinall Foundation, to send animals back to the wild and manage animal protection schemes in Congo, Gabon, Java and Madagascar is quite powerful. Not many other Event Managers at a hotel and conference venue can say that.

www.aspinallfoundation.org/port-lympne/conferences-and-meetings/

Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve offers a distinctive, inspiring, and versatile venue for any corporate event. With its stunning natural backdrop, diverse event spaces, luxury accommodations, and unique team-building opportunities, it stands out as a perfect location for those looking to create an unforgettable experience for their attendees. Whether you're hosting a conference, product launch, or team-building retreat, Port Lympne provides everything you need to ensure your event is a resounding success. If you want to leave a lasting impression and create an event that attendees will remember, Port Lympne is the place to be.