“As I write this, I’m looking back at a season, the first real one since the crisis, where I have, at last, been able to achieve my wish of returning to events, joining friends and colleagues in fields once more. 2022 has not been easy, 2023 is just around the corner and I’m sure it will not be easy either.

I have a list as long as my arm of the challenges and issues our members are looking at despite what is being reported as an industry returning to ‘normality’.

I’ll leave those for another day, and another forum.

In the meantime, though I would like to wish all of our members, sponsors and supporters a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

I hope you all manage to have some rest and spend time with friends and family.

To those of you doing events over Christmas and New Year, I wish you the very best of luck.

NOEA will be back in 2023 as strong as ever, providing a voice and vital support to the outdoor events industry.

We are already looking forward to what 2023 has to bring, including the next NOEA Convention in Bath.”

Tom Clements, NOEA President