Clarity Conference 2025: The Power of Impact

On Saturday 22 March, our Clarity family (plus a few special guests) came together from across the UK and beyond for our annual company conference and awards – Impact. Hosted at the iconic Emirates Old Trafford, it was a day filled with insight, inspiration and, above all, celebration.

This year’s theme – making a positive impact – was brought to life in every corner of the venue. With more than 650 colleagues under one roof, including teams from Brighter, One Global Travel, Clarity Entertainment and Media, and our Clarity Nordics team - it was our biggest and boldest conference yet.

Big Connections and big conversations

From the very start, the buzz was tangible. A multi-floor supplier exhibition took centre stage, where attendees networked with a fantastic mix of travel and meetings partners – from hotels and venues to air, rail, road and ancillary suppliers. A huge thank you goes to our headline sponsors, IHG Hotels & Resorts and Qatar Airways, whose support helped elevate the event across the board. Their presence throughout the day made a real difference – and it didn’t go unnoticed.

Special shoutout to Best Western for turning heads (and spinning reels) with their 'human fruit machine' – an idea that’s going to be hard to top!

The afternoon conference session was packed with business updates and breakout content, including fireside chats with CEO Pat McDonagh and thought-provoking department-led discussions. Our keynote speaker, Lizzie Daly – scientist, wildlife filmmaker and TV presenter – captivated the audience with tales from her adventures, while giving a special nod to our growing Entertainment and Media division.

We also got an exclusive peek behind the curtain from our tech teams, offering a glimpse into the future of ClarityGo and MeetingsPro. While we’re keeping the details under wraps (for now), let’s just say innovation is coming – and it’s going to be a game-changer.

None of it would have run so smoothly without the incredible efforts of our events experts at Brighter, who managed every detail – from AV and stage set-up to on-the-day delivery – with their trademark professionalism and calm. Their behind-the-scenes brilliance truly helped bring Impact to life.

Impact After Dark: Celebrating our Shining Stars

As day turned to night, the celebrations continued with Impact After Dark – our evening awards and dinner event. Hosted by the ever-energetic Ben Hanlin, the room was buzzing as we came together to laugh, cheer and recognise the individuals and teams who’ve gone above and beyond over the past year.

From over 240 heartfelt nominations, the following individuals were crowned our Shining Stars:

• Shona McDonald Potter – Credit Control Team Leader
• Rebecca Collins – Operations Team Manager
• Elisha Maguire – Implementation Manager
• Becky Bell – Team Manager, Venue Find/Groups
• Carole Brown – Service Optimisation Manager
• Paul Waterfall – Facilities Assistant
• Molly Winterton – Customer Success Manager
• Andrew Hawkins – Head of Engineering

Thanks to our headline sponsors, Qatar Airways and IHG, these eight fantastic winners will enjoy a well-earned incentive trip to Doha.

Team winners were also recognised for their contribution and success throughout the year:

• QC Team
• Technology Team
• Out of Hours Team
• Edinburgh Team

Highly commended mentions were awarded to standout individuals and teams across the business – a big congratulations to everyone who was recognised on the night.

Making a difference for Macmillan

The spirit of giving was also out in full force. Our charity raffle raised an incredible £3,700 for Macmillan Cancer Support, thanks to generous donations and brilliant prizes from our supplier partners. Every penny raised will go towards helping Macmillan continue their vital work supporting those affected by cancer.

Until next time…

After months of planning, we want to say a huge thank you to everyone who helped make Impact such a success – from the teams who organised the day and night, to our suppliers, sponsors, nominees and attendees. Last but certainly not least, a big shoutout to our fabulous conference hosts, (and Account Managers by day) Jake Lawley and Lindsay Cook, who brought plenty of humour (and a splash of leopard print) to the stage.

It’s hard to believe it’s all over for another year – but what a way to celebrate everything that makes Clarity so special. Here’s to continuing to make an impact, every day.