In the first of two interviews from Eventia’s recent National Meetings Week breakfast briefing, Michael Hirst, chairman of the Business Tourism Partnership, talks to James Latham about the importance of events to the UK economy and marketing industry, and why insufficient government funding could not only prevent the industry reaching its full potential, but also damage its ability to compete globally.

Watch Martin Sirk's address at the Breakfast Seminar that Eventia hosted as part of the National Meetings Weeks.