Interview With Alice Russell – CEO, BOND Events

BOND Events celebrates its 20th Anniversary this year. Could you tell us about how BOND Events started?

BOND was set up in 2004 by founder Oliver Needs and his then business partner Mike Murray, who has sadly since passed away.  They had long admired the concept created by Richmond Events who hosted one-to-one meetings forums on ships.

The one-to-one meeting concept didn’t exist for the architecture and design industry at the time. So, BOND was created to address that gap in the market – to connect industry-shaping architects with top-level representatives from building and materials manufacturers so they can have the high-level conversations they crave.

20 years later and we now host 8 events globally that cater to commercial design, luxury hospitality, luxury custom residential and multifamily housing across the US, Latin America, Europe and the Middle East.

What is the mission of BOND Events?

BOND’s mission is to be the most loved, most trusted and most talked about events company in the architecture and design sector.

We want to provide the benchmark platform for companies such as Haddonstone to thrive through event experiences that level the playing field and create meaningful relationships that truly make a difference to our clients’ businesses.

Who attends a BOND Event?

BOND Events are attended by the world’s top architects, designers, and suppliers – the people who, together, make the headline projects happen.

Every architect and specifier who attends must meet strict criteria: they must be a Principal or above, and be able to evidence a portfolio of live, confirmed architectural projects.

Suppliers who come are typically company owners, or high-level architectural sales specialists from leading companies in the industry, ensuring a gathering of decision-makers with significant influence in their respective fields.

This guarantees that the connections made at BOND are more meaningful and impactful than anywhere else.

What can a BOND attendee expect from an event?

A BOND event takes the format of an all-inclusive business retreat. Over three days and nights at a luxury resort, our attendees participate in a series of 30-minute, pre-selected one-to-one meetings, allowing them to move beyond traditional sales pitches and engage in deeper, more progressive conversations with the people they want to meet.

The BOND team handles all the logistics so that every meeting is pre-scheduled and approved before the event, allowing attendees to focus entirely on building relationships on-site.

Everything is covered on arrival, including accommodation at the luxury venue, food, drinks, entertainment, and world-class seminars.

Everyone stays together for the entire event so they can get to know each other properly over meals, drinks, social activities and a pre-event tour.

Do you have any interesting success stories based on meetings that have taken place at a BOND event?

Our collaboration stories speak for themselves, and we have just started to compile them.

Most recently, Paul Downs, Founder and CEO of Paul Downs Custom Tables and Furniture, secured four active projects valued at approximately $500,000 just a few weeks after attending his first BOND Custom – The Forum for America’s Leading Luxury Residential Architects.

You can read Paul’s full story here.

BOND Events take place across several regions. Do you have a favourite event that you can tell us about?

I’m constantly amazed by the projects I see at our events that focus on high-end design: BOND Five Star and BOND Custom.

The hotels our architects are designing are nothing short of breath-taking, and some of the homes go beyond what you could imagine.

And this is matched by our incredible suppliers bringing truly unique and innovative products to the table—things I never knew existed, and, best of all, our architects are discovering for the first time.

It’s inspiring and incredibly fulfilling to know that we’re helping architects find extraordinary solutions for their clients.

What do you enjoy about working for BOND Events?

What struck me most when I first joined BOND was the atmosphere at the events. The team has mastered a perfect balance of professionalism, warmth, and genuine care for our customers, and it was really impressive to see.

It’s like old friends coming together – not only among our customers but also with our customers and our team.

In my 15 years of working in events, I’ve never experienced anything like it. It was immediately clear to me just how much our customers enjoy and value the company they find themselves in at our events. That they find genuine and personal worth in what we offer is so rewarding.

And I love the fact that I get to work with an exceptional team that truly believes in what we do.

What does the future look like for BOND Events?

The future is looking bright. We’ve recently undergone a leadership change, with myself stepping into the role of CEO alongside our new COO, Luciana.

2024 will be our most successful year yet as a business.

Our current focus is on refining and enhancing the eight events we run, ensuring they continue to deliver unmatched value and the best one-to-one event experiences in the industry.

The team is energised, and the feedback we’re receiving is consistently surpassing expectations.

We’re excited for this next chapter.

Arrange a free project consultation today

Our experienced and friendly team has been helping clients choose the perfect stonework for their project, for over 50 years.

So whether you know exactly what you are looking for, or would like to chat through some ideas, our team is on hand to assist you.

Arrange your free project consultation today.

Call:

• Toll free: 866 733 8225
• Telephone: 719 948 4554

E-mail:

[email protected]