Introducing our VX Find Superheroes
VX Find is the Xpert venue finding team, that helps conference and event planners find the very best venues in the UK to host their events.
Their knowledge and experience within the hospitality sector is second to none, and you have that expertise to hand when you work alongside one of our VX Find Superheroes to source your venue.
They make a great team – so you don’t have to start from scratch!
Maria Vaquero
Revenue Executive
Back in Spain, I volunteered at local tourism events and even led guided tours – both on foot and by coach. In another life, I would have loved to become an official tourist guide!
2025 sees me celebrate 10 years working with the Venue Find team and I still see variety in every day! I love building relationships with clients, venues and our Venues of Excellence member venues, and seeing bookings develop into successful events. It’s incredibly rewarding to promote the quality of our VOE member venues and know that our recommendations help elevate our clients’ event experiences.
My hospitality background has primarily been operational, having worked in meeting and event, and reception roles. I knew early on that I loved the industry, which led me to study Tourism & Management at the University of Cordoba. Since joining Venues of Excellence, I have been fortunate to grow within the organisation, explore different areas of the business, and deepen my understanding of events while strengthening my knowledge of the UK meetings and events market.
Sarah West
Venue Find Team Leader
Outside of the office, Sarah loves exploring new places with her friends, family and her crazy Jackapoo!
Sarah shares our dedication to exceptional customer service with over 30 years in the hospitality industry. She has held roles within event sales in venues, reservations manager and working with as a venue finding consultant, After a career break to raise her two sons, Sarah returned to the hospitality industry as a cluster manager for a reservations company before joining the Venues of Excellence Team in 2017.
As our VX Find Team Leader, she is passionate about truly understanding client enquiries and delivering the perfect venue solution every time.
Annette West
Senior Venue Finding Consultant
I love being creative in the kitchen and have a growing passion for my garden and DIY.
Sales and Account Management with the hospitality sector have been central to my career. I have extensive experience with leading hotel brands where I progressed from Sales Manager to Business Development Manager and ultimately Director of Sales. After returning home to Warwickshire to raise my family, I joined Venues of Excellence in 2018 and have since advanced to Senior Venue Finding Consultant, a role I have proudly held since 2022.
The role is multi-faceted, and I love meeting with clients to understand their event goals and providing tailored solutions that achieve their objectives. Building long-term relationships based on trust leading to repeat business, while showcasing our unique services across a diverse range of industry sectors.
Lindsey Smith
Venue Finding Consultant
The team call me ‘Life Hack Lindsey’ as I always have a top tip or a life hack to share!
With over 10 years’ experience working in agencies across the industry, I have worked in a variety of roles supporting clients with accommodation, venue finding and the full delivery of events.
Joining the VX find team two and a half years ago, I really enjoy building relationships with clients to ensure their events are a success. My remit gets me out of the office to meet with clients at venues for site show rounds, which not only underpins the venue as the right choice for the client, but lets me see great venues and expand my knowledge of venues that I can share with the VX Find team.
Claire Johnstone
Venue Finding Consultant
I once danced with Wayne Sleep at the Royal Ballet.
With almost 25 years of experience in hospitality, I discovered my passion for Conferences and Events while working as a Conference Coordinator, before taking a range of roles, including Reservations Coordinator, Conference and Events, and Assistant Manager, before taking up a Partnership Manager role with Reservations Support Service company, supporting independent venues.
This experience positioned me perfectly to join the Venue Find Team, to continue to offer excellent customer service and create a memorable experience for all our meeting and event clients.
Claire Dorman-Matthews
Venue Finding Consultant
Outside of work, I volunteer at a local community café. I enjoy chatting with visitors or being a friendly face for someone who may have had a lonely week.
With over 20 years’ experience in the hospitality industry, I have held a wide range of roles across venues, including office administration, conference and events sales / coordination, sales research, and business development.
Much of my career has been spent working within academic venues, and all of them have been Venues of Excellence member venues!
I had a brief time away from the industry working for an international humanitarian charity, where I focussed on developing their corporate partnerships and corporate volunteering initiatives.
Meet our Business Development Team
VX Find has an amazing Business Development team working with our corporate clients and alongside our agency partners.
We understand the challenges of venue sourcing and we’re here to help you overcome them. Let’s connect and we can reach out to help you find the right venue for your next event.
We can introduce you to a fantastic range of unique, high-quality venues with a real WOW factor which will give you the WIN, WIN every time!
Nicola Jenkinson
Senior Business Development Manager
I used to work for Disney World in Florida and shared an apartment with Minnie Mouse.
No two days are the same, even after 10 years of working with Venues of Excellence. I talk to a variety of clients and venues and love helping clients find the right venue for their event. A client recently commented: “I never realised somebody like you existed, why didn’t I meet you years ago! You save me so much time.”
Having always worked in hospitality, as a graduate, I realised early on that sales was what I wanted to specialise in. I have worked in 4 and 5 star hotels, working to promote the venues to clients whilst also managing and developing sales teams. Working across a range of national and international brands, I have learnt so much around events.
Gillian Venning
Business Development Manager
I’ve conquered the Three Yorkshire Peaks and have a lifelong love for Scottish Terriers, having owned them for many years. They’re small but mighty in character – just like our VX Find team!
I’ve been part of the Venue Find Team for just over a year, and I’ve loved every moment of helping clients discover the perfect venue match.
What excites me most about my role in VX Find is the opportunity to build relationships and support clients through the initial stages of their event journey. As part of the Business Development team, I take pride in showcasing our exceptional venues and ensuring a smooth handover to the wider VX Team.
With extensive experience across the hospitality sector; from global hotel chains to independent venues, I bring a strategic, client-focused approach to sourcing and placing business. My strength lies in building trusted relationships with agents and clients, understanding their event needs, and matching them with the ideal venue from the Venues of Excellence collection. I’m passionate about and making the venue finding process seamless and successful.
Annette Spencer-Smith
Business Development Manager
My greenhouse is my happy place, growing veggies, all summer long! I’d like to think I was known for the best tomatoes in Berkshire!!
I have enjoyed over 20 years’ experience in sales, account management and customer service across the hospitality and consumer goods sectors. My hospitality career has included roles such as Corporate Sales Director, alongside sales and account management positions supporting independent and exclusive hotel brands, helping to drive market share and develop new corporate opportunities.
I also have extensive experience leading international customer care operations across the UK, Europe, the Middle East and Africa within the consumer goods and skincare industry.
My focus is on introducing customers to our superb venues and the VX Find Team through conversations and partnerships, and a customer-centric approach.