“A conference that brought our strategy to life”

Furniture Village chose Center Parcs Woburn Forest for its year-end leadership conference, bringing together senior leaders from across the business to celebrate achievements, recognise the contribution of its people and share ambitious plans for the year ahead.

As the UK's largest privately owned family furniture retailer, Furniture Village places great importance on its people and culture. The conference was designed to create alignment around the company's 2026/27 strategy while strengthening relationships across the leadership team.

"Our year-end leadership conference is one of the most important events in our calendar. It gave us the opportunity to celebrate what our teams had achieved, recognise the incredible contribution of our people, and bring our leadership team together to share our plans, priorities and ambitions for the year ahead." – Managing Director, Furniture Village 

Four key objectives driving the event

The event was built around four clear goals:

• Celebrating the successes and achievements of the previous financial year
• Sharing the company's strategy and priorities for 2026/27
• Strengthening relationships across the leadership team
• Leaving delegates feeling motivated, energised and excited about the future

Furniture Village wanted an environment that would encourage meaningful conversations and genuine collaboration, away from the distractions of everyday business life.

Choosing a venue that offers more than a traditional conference space

Having previously hosted a leadership conference at Center Parcs, Furniture Village returned to Woburn Forest looking for an experience that was both productive and memorable.

The team wanted to move away from the conventional hotel conference model and instead take advantage of a setting that naturally encourages engagement, creativity and relationship building.

"Center Parcs offered a unique combination of excellent meeting facilities alongside a relaxed natural setting that encourages people to switch off from the daily routine, have more meaningful conversations and build stronger relationships."

A standout eagle experience linked directly to business objective

For this year's conference, Furniture Village wanted activities that would reinforce their strategic messages rather than simply provide entertainment.

Working closely with the Center Parcs Conferences & Events team, the group incorporated a live eagle flying experience into the agenda. More than just an activity, the experience became a powerful way of bringing the conference theme to life and creating a memorable shared moment for delegates.

"Seeing such an incredible bird up close was memorable in itself, but what made it truly special was how it brought our conference theme to life."

A balanced agenda of strategy, collaboration and networking 

Throughout the event, delegates took part in:

• Business performance updates
• Strategic planning sessions
• Collaborative workshops 
• Informal networking opportunities
• Team-building experiences

This balance of formal content and relationship-building activities helped maintain energy and engagement throughout the conference.

Responsive support and seamless organisation

From the initial planning stages through to delivery on the day, Furniture Village worked closely with the Center Parcs team to ensure every aspect of the conference ran smoothly.

"The planning process was straightforward from start to finish. The team were responsive, flexible and proactive, making the whole experience incredibly easy. Communication was excellent throughout, and we always felt supported."

Despite organising a large-scale leadership event, the team encountered very few logistical challenges thanks to the support and expertise of the events team. 

Sustainability values aligned

Sustainability was also an important consideration during the planning process. Furniture Village wanted a venue that reflected its own values and commitment to responsible business practices.

The natural environment, operational approach and commitment to sustainability at Center Parcs made Woburn Forest a strong fit for the event.

The impact of the forest setting

A refreshing alternative to traditional conference venues

One of the standout differences for delegates was the opportunity to step away from the typical conference environment.

Surrounded by woodland and nature, attendees found themselves more relaxed, engaged and willing to contribute to discussions and workshops.

"The natural surroundings created a very different dynamic compared to a standard hotel meeting room."

Higher levels of engagement and collaboration

The change of environment had a noticeable impact on participation throughout the conference.

"People seemed more present, more energised and more willing to contribute."

The setting helped create an atmosphere that was productive without feeling overly formal, helping colleagues connect on a more personal level while remaining focused on business objectives.

Exceeding expectations

The event successfully delivered against all four objectives, creating stronger alignment across the leadership team and generating enthusiasm for the year ahead.

"We left with stronger alignment, renewed energy and an even greater sense of togetherness. People returned to the business motivated and focused on delivering our shared goals."

Delegates praised the quality of the facilities, the service provided by the team and the unique experience created throughout the conference.

Supporting long-term business success

For Furniture Village, investing in leadership development and collaboration directly supports wider business performance.

"Our success depends on great people working together. Investing in our leadership team, strengthening collaboration and creating alignment has a direct impact on how we serve our customers and deliver results."

“We would return without hesitation”

Following the success of the event, Furniture Village would gladly choose Center Parcs again for future leadership conferences.

"The combination of outstanding facilities, excellent service and a unique environment created a fantastic experience for everyone involved. The team made the planning process effortless, and the event itself exceeded our expectations."

When asked what they would say to organisations considering a similar event, the answer was simple:

"If you're looking for more than just another conference venue, I'd highly recommend it. The environment naturally encourages collaboration, creativity and stronger relationships, while the professionalism of the team ensures everything runs seamlessly. It offers something genuinely different and leaves a lasting impression on delegates."

Thank you, Furniture Village

A huge thank you to Furniture Village for choosing Center Parcs Woburn Forest for their leadership conference. We're delighted the event helped bring your strategy to life, strengthen connections across your leadership team and create lasting memories for your delegates. We look forward to welcoming you back to the forest in the future.