With a rich background in the travel and tourism industry, Katarina Railko has become a key voice in the world of entertainment and events. Today, she joins us to discuss a significant shift from a major industry player, Lime Venue Portfolio, and its recent rebrand of a core service. We’ll explore the strategy behind this evolution, how it delivers tangible benefits to time-pressed event planners, and the way it elevates a simple venue-finding service into a hub of industry intelligence and relationship-driven support.
The rebrand to ‘The Hub’ symbolizes connection and collaboration. Can you walk us through the decision-making process for this new name and share a specific example of how this collaborative approach has already benefited an event professional using your service?
The decision to rebrand to ‘The Hub’ was incredibly intentional and far more than just a cosmetic update. The old ‘central desk’ term was purely functional, but it didn’t capture the essence of what the team truly does. They saw themselves as the beating heart of the operation, a place where everything converges—client needs, venue expertise, and industry insights. ‘The Hub’ perfectly encapsulates that idea of a central point for connection. For instance, a planner recently came to us with a very loose brief for a corporate retreat. Instead of just sending a list of venues, The Hub team collaborated with them, asked probing questions about their goals, and ultimately connected them with an account manager who specialized in their sector. This turned a simple search into a strategic partnership, resulting in a venue choice that perfectly aligned with the company’s ESG values—something the planner hadn’t even prioritized initially.
The Hub promises to save planners time by delivering multiple proposals from a single enquiry. Could you detail the step-by-step process a planner experiences from their first contact, and what kind of time savings are you typically seeing for your clients?
The process is designed for maximum efficiency, which is a currency every event planner is short on. It begins when a planner submits a single enquiry, and it doesn’t matter if it’s a fully detailed RFP or just the beginning of an idea. From that moment, The Hub team takes the reins, tapping into their deep knowledge of the entire UK and Ireland portfolio. They do the legwork of matching the brief to the right venues and then compile multiple, relevant proposals into one consolidated response. The time savings are immense. Instead of the planner spending days making individual calls, chasing responses, and comparing disparate quotes, they get a comprehensive package back quickly. We’re not just talking about saving a few hours; we’re talking about eliminating days of administrative burden, freeing up the professional to focus on the creative and strategic parts of their event.
Kathleen Edwards called this a ‘reaffirmation of commitment’ that provides industry intelligence. Beyond venue-finding, how is The Hub actively helping planners navigate key topics like ESG, and what does that support look like in practice?
Kathleen’s words really hit the mark; this is about doubling down on our role as a partner, not just a supplier. The Hub is positioned as an intelligence center, a place where planners can access insights that help them create better, more impactful events. When it comes to a critical topic like ESG, this support becomes very practical. The team can actively filter venue options based on specific sustainability credentials, provide data to help a client meet their carbon reduction goals, or inspire new thinking by suggesting venues with strong community-focused initiatives. It’s about being a catalyst for positive change. A planner might come looking for a conference space, but we can show them a venue that also supports local artisans or has a zero-waste policy, adding a powerful layer of purpose and storytelling to their event.
The article highlights that The Hub works with your account management team. How does this partnership function to create a ‘relationship-driven’ experience, and can you share an anecdote where this combined approach solved a particularly complex client challenge?
This tandem approach is the secret sauce to creating a truly relationship-driven experience. Think of The Hub as the brilliant, fast-acting first response team, and the account managers as the long-term strategic partners. The Hub provides the speed and breadth of options right at the start, ensuring no opportunity is missed. Then, the account management team steps in to nurture that relationship, adding a layer of deep, value-focused understanding to achieve the client’s core objectives. I recall a client who needed to organize a complex, multi-location product launch with a very specific set of technical requirements. The Hub was able to instantly identify a shortlist of potential venues across the country. An account manager then took over, negotiating a portfolio-wide deal and ensuring absolute consistency in service and tech at every single site, turning a logistical nightmare into a seamless success.
What is your forecast for the key trends that will shape venue selection and event planning over the next two years?
Looking ahead, I see three major trends taking center stage. First, the demand for true intelligence over simple information will skyrocket. Planners are drowning in data and will gravitate toward partners who can curate insights and provide expert, tailored advice, much like The Hub model. Second, purpose-driven planning, especially around ESG, will become non-negotiable. It’s no longer a box-ticking exercise; venues will be chosen based on their proven commitment to sustainability and social responsibility, and planners will need transparent data to back up their choices. Finally, despite all the technology, the human element will become more critical than ever. The most successful services will be those that offer a relationship-driven, collaborative approach, acting as a trusted extension of the planner’s own team to navigate an increasingly complex landscape.
