The Hotel Booking Agents Association announced its award winners last night, during its Annual Forum dinner at the Holiday Inn Stratford-on-Avon. The awards, now in their third year, are designed to recognise excellence and the promotion of best practice in the hotel booking agency sector, said HBAA Chairman, Stephen Usher, who presented the winners in five categories.

Ricoh Arena has signed Opex Venue Services (OVS) as preferred supplier for mains and house services under a new five-year deal. The supplier will provide shell schemes, electrics, furniture, flooring, logistics, data management and registration facilities as part of the contract. A key element of the deal will be to freeze electric rates until August 2011.

Birmingham ICC's hosting of this autumn's Conservative Party conference is the eighth major party political conference for the city in five years. The city hosted the Tories' key annual event in 2008 and has it booked again in 2012.

The Scottish Exhibition and Convention Centre's (SECC) Head of Sales, Ben Goedegebuure, is to be appointed as the Professional Convention Management Association's (PCMA) first international board director. Goedegebuure is the first board director recruited from outside the US and North America.

UK chief executive of international energy supplier E.ON, Dr Paul Golby, opened the new E.ON Business Centre at the BT Convention Centre this week. The company is the venue's energy supplier. The centre has been refitted and includes a new Netpod, comprising of 14 energy efficient high speed internet desktops, designed to increase productivity for delegates and clients.