Wednesday 20 March 2024

Uncategorised · Wednesday 20 March 2024

LEARN MORE ABOUT YOUR LEAD HOSTS

As many of you know, Alex Ryan is Smart Parties Sales Director and Paige Norman is Head of Sales for Moving Venue, click below to read more about why they love the Smart Friends community, why they do the jobs that they do and what's on their bucket list for the Smart Friends trip 2025!

Alex

I do my very best to sell things! My role used to only include selling our ticketed venues to capacity over Christmas. These days we have a portfolio of venues spanning the breadth of London. Whether it be the London Beer Festival, Freemasons’ Hall or Evolution London, my team can assist with anything seasonal!

Paige

I also do my best to sell things! As Head of Sales at Moving Venue, my role encompasses managing the wonderful team and our relationships with our venues and clients. As an accredited caterer at over 40 venues across London, it is imperative that each venue and client feels that we look after them not only from an operational perspective, but from initial enquiry through to completion.

WHAT BROUGHT YOU TO SMART GROUP?

Alex

I actually started my career in the Construction industry and after returning after three years working abroad, I received a phone call from an old school friend (Jake Lawson) asking me if I’d be interested in changing industry and working for the group. I have been here ever since!

Paige

My first role was working in an exclusive venue for a caterer and ever since then I have loved the food and drink industry. Over the last 10 years, I have worked for a number of event caterers, but it was an Instagram message from our Managing Director, Chloe Jackson in the summer of 2018 that brought me to Moving Venue. I had known about Moving Venue for years by then, and I knew they had an amazing industry reputation. When I met Chloe, she really sold me the dream and I am pleased to say she absolutely delivered on every promise.

WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE EVENT THAT YOU HAVE DONE SO FAR?

Alex

Last year Moving Venue catered The Magical Taxi Tour which involved a Disney-themed breakfast for over 300 children suffering with terminal illnesses. The children were then chauffeured over to Disneyland Paris for the weekend. We were onsite at 3 am but I don’t think I’ve ever experienced anything quite like that feeling of waving them all off after service.

Paige

Oh, I loved that one too, but I would probably say a 2,000 person reception at the Natural History Museum where we had 120 different nationalities come together to celebrate future young leaders.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT THE SMART FRIENDS COMMUNITY?

Alex

I think it’s about sharing meaningful experiences with groups of people who are all working toward a common goal. We all love the hospitality industry and it’s a community of people helping each other out and having a good time. What’s not to like?

Paige

I love how we bring together a community that would otherwise see themselves as competitors, but, when it comes down to it, we bring together people who all strive for the same thing. On the Smart Friends trips, we all bond over our love of events, and it always brings our industry together.

WHEN YOU ARE NOT IMMERSING YOURSELVES IN ALL THINGS SMART, WHAT DO YOU GET UP TO?

Alex

Outside of Smart, life consists of swimming lessons, rugby or talking dinosaurs with my two little boys Charlie and Alfie. When I occasionally get a few hours to myself, I like to either go shooting or run long distances in the countryside.

Paige

My favourite thing in the world is a Sunday roast, and I am still on the hunt for somewhere that can do it better than home. I have a little French bulldog called Paul, so a dog walk followed by a Sunday roast is my most perfect day.

WHAT WOULD BE YOUR DREAM SMART FRIENDS TRIP FOR 2025?

Alex

India! This has always been on the bucket list.

Paige

I am all about the foodie destinations and sunshine, so seeing as we are already doing Provence for this years trip, next year will be hard to beat. However, Copenhagen is home to an impressive amount of Michelin stars, so that would be one, however the beaches of Greece would also be top of my list!

LEARN MORE ABOUT YOUR LEAD HOSTS

TELL US ABOUT YOUR ROLE AT SMART GROUP LONDON?

Alex

Paige

WHAT BROUGHT YOU TO SMART GROUP?

Alex

Paige

WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE EVENT THAT YOU HAVE DONE SO FAR?

Alex

Paige

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT THE SMART FRIENDS COMMUNITY?

Alex

Paige

WHEN YOU ARE NOT IMMERSING YOURSELVES IN ALL THINGS SMART, WHAT DO YOU GET UP TO?

Alex

Paige

WHAT WOULD BE YOUR DREAM SMART FRIENDS TRIP FOR 2025?

Alex

Paige