Industry expert bows out in style

14 Nov 2006

Peter Rand MBE, chairman and founder of RAND, recently chose Highgate House in Northamptonshire as the venue for an event to thank the closest members of his team, following the sale of the business to Zibrant in August.

RAND is generally accepted as the first venue-finding agency in Europe and was established 33 years ago.  A genuine industry expert, amongst many other things Peter Rand was the Founder President of the Meetings Industry Association and was awarded the MBE in 2002 for services to the hospitality industry.

It is particularly fitting that the first venue-finding agent should choose what we believe to be the UK's first independently-owned residential conference venue for this event.  Highgate House is the founder member of Sundial Group, and is still owned and operated by the Chudley family over forty years since it opened its doors for business.  A beautiful country house, Highgate House also offers delightful cuisine, and the venue's elegant drawing room provided the perfect setting for the intimate celebration.  Peter chose this from a fantastic selection of prizes featured in a charity auction last year.  Sundial Group donated the prize: a dinner party for 12 prepared by Group Executive Chef, Jerry Toth, to assist the event's fundraising efforts.

Tim Chudley, Sundial Group's Managing Director, who was a founder board member of the MIA board under Peter's chairmanship, was delighted to have been given the opportunity to host this event.  "I could write a book about Peter's contribution to the meetings industry and still not do him justice.  Although he has now sold his business, I am sure that in his capacity as Director of Industry Relations for Zibrant, he will remain involved and that total "retirement" is not on his immediate agenda!  It was a fantastic reflection on Sundial Group that he chose Highgate House for this occasion, and I am personally glad that we could thank him in our own way while helping such a worthwhile cause."