Conference & Incentive Travel articles from April 2005

Conference & Incentive Travel archives from April 2005

First Off: UK hotel service is letting us all down.(Brief Article)
April 30, 2005... Minister for tourism Richard Caborn is desperately trying to backtrack. At the British Travel Trade Fair in Birmingham last month, he was quoted as saying that 'most of the UK's tourism businesses are not fit for purpose'. Despite his...

Low pay and bad training at fault for poor service levels.(Brief Article)
April 30, 2005... Poor service standards within the UK hospitality sector stem from a lack of training, poor salaries and bad management, according to a number tourism officials . At a Workforce Skills seminar at the Tourism UK conference on 16 March at...

KPMG names TRO to handle campus work.(Brief Article)
April 30, 2005... KPMG has appointed event management agency TRO to handle a graduate recruitment event to raise awareness of its brand and cherry-pick 800 of the UK's top graduates. The project will start in the autumn and will target around 20...

Hotel room rates soar despite fall in bed occupancy.(Brief Article)
April 30, 2005... The cost of an overnight stay in a UK hotel room continued to rise last year, despite a decline in occupancy levels. Figures released by hotel consultancy service PKF found that the average room rate increased by 4.1% in 2004, rising to...

UK Price Check.(Brief Article)
April 30, 2005... Sales strategy-planning meeting: A two-day meeting, with overnight stay, in November for 50 UK delegates, with five break-out rooms. The prices include B&B and VAT . Oakley Court, Windsor 24-hour rate pounds 12,500...

News brief: Spectra appoints director of operations.(Jeremy Brown)(Brief Article)
April 30, 2005... Spectra, the London-based DMC, has announced the appointment of Jeremy Brown as its new director of operations. Brown has previously worked for the Grosvenor House Hotel and Maritz. www.spectra-dmc.com.

News brief: Whatley Manor named 'most excellent spa'.(Brief Article)
April 30, 2005... Whatley Manor has been named 'most excellent spa in the UK and Ireland' by Conde Nast Johansens, and has also joined deluxe hotel association Relais & Chateaux. www.whatleymanor.com.

News brief: New events management company launched.(Ambient Events )(Brief Article)
April 30, 2005... Ambient Events is a new events management company launched by Robin Dilley, of marketing and business development company Robin Dilley Associates. www.ambient-events.com.

News brief: Ryanair launches two routes to Italy from Liverpool.(Ryanair Holdings PLC)(Brief Article)
April 30, 2005... Ryanair is launching two routes to Italy from Liverpool this month. Pisa and Venice (Treviso) will now be linked to the north of England with daily flights. www.ryanair.com.

News brief: Bmi reports pre-tax profits for 2004.(Brief Article)
April 30, 2005... Bmi has reported pounds 2.1m pre-tax profits for 2004, compared to a pre-tax loss of pounds 9.8m for the previous year. Last year, the airline added Aberdeen, Inverness and Naples to its network. www.flybmi.com.

News brief: Orient-Express Hotels launches brochure.
April 30, 2005... Orient-Express Hotels, Trains & Cruises has launched a brochure highlighting more than 20 of the luxury rail journeys it offers in the UK. www.orient-express.com.

News brief: Thistle Hotels embarks on marketing alliance.(Rotana Hotels)(Brief Article)
April 30, 2005... Thistle Hotels has embarked on a marketing alliance with Rotana Hotels, a hotel operator based in the Middle East. The aim is to provide greater market share through the exchange of business and trade connections. www.thistlehotels.com.

Eye-care retailer assigns account to McMenemy Hill.(Bausch & Lomb Inc)(Brief Article)
April 30, 2005... Vision care specialist Bausch & Lomb has selected UK agency McMenemy Hill to oversee its 2006 Global Symposium in Athens. It will be the second time in a row that the Berkshire agency has run the symposium, following the previous event held...

UN gives Grass Roots US conference remit.(United Nations)(Brief Article)
April 30, 2005... The United Nations has appointed the Grass Roots Group to handle its global environmental conference in October in New York. The Hertfordshire-based agency will manage the two-day roundtable conference for the UN Environment Programme -...

DRP Group strengthens its events service.(www.thevenuepot.com)(Brief Article)
April 30, 2005... Full service agency the DRP Group has introduced a suite of services to boost its events division. The Worcestershire-based outfit, which won silver in the Best Conference category at the ITMA awards, has timed the moves to coincide with...

Somerfield signs First Option deal.(Brief Article)
April 30, 2005... Supermarket chain Somerfield has appointed Stockport-based agency First Option to handle its accommodation and conference venue sourcing. The remit for the two-year deal will also see the booking agent responsible for finding staff-training...

Choice sees first quarter sales up by more than 50%.(Choice Group )(Brief Article)
April 30, 2005... The Choice Group is celebrating its most successful first quarter after its sales passed the pounds 3m mark. Figures for the same period in 2004 amounted to pounds 1.3m. With clients predominately from the healthcare industries, general...

People and Places: Australian CVBs in London.(Convention and Visitors Bureaus)(Brief Article)
April 30, 2005... Australia came to London last month for a one-week promotional campaign to woo the UK's C&I travel buyers. Representatives from seven of Australia's convention bureaux - Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, Adelaide, Canberra, the Whitsundays and...

MIA acts to stem the fall in subscriptions.(Meetings Industry Association )(Brief Article)
April 30, 2005... The Meetings Industry Association (MIA) told delegates at its AGM that it had lost around 110 members since August 2003, worth pounds 22,000 in subscriptions, leaving it with 611 paid-up members. Chief executive Jane Evans said the...

Confex receives mixed reviews.(International Confex )(Brief Article)
April 30, 2005... Visitors to International Confex in February had split opinions as to the show's success, according to a survey by researcher CTS among 500 attendees. While 68% said the show had met or exceeded their expectations, 31% described it as...

Webwatch: Hotel Booking Agents Association.(www.hbaa.org.uk)(Brief Article)
April 30, 2005... Web: www.hbaa.org.uk What's to tell? The Hotel Booking Agents Association (HBAA) website is the online arm of the industry specialists in hotel and conference bookings. It is more of a practical guide to the organisation and its...

Trust is the oil that greases the wheels of the C&I industry.(Conference and Incentive)(Brief Article)(Column)
April 30, 2005... Trust is a key element in doing business these days, and our industry demands it more than most. We all promise to deliver the best possible service to our clients, but unlike in other sectors, the nature of the live events business means...

Goodyear names SLE for event role.(Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co.)(SLE Group)
April 30, 2005... Goodyear Tyres has appointed event management agency SLE Group to handle a four-day brand experience event at the end of this month. The Midlands-based agency won a three-way pitch and will be responsible for three days of presentations and...

Venue alliance to launch showcase promotion event.(Brief Article)
April 30, 2005... Conference Centres of Excellence (CCE), the UK consortium of 36 venues, is to organise its first annual showcase. Entitled Access 05, it will be open to C&I agents and corporate buyers. The event takes place on 7 June at the Royal...

Logistics in place for joint NTO buyer show.(National Tourist Office)(Brief Article)
April 30, 2005... The initiative launched by 18 national tourist offices to host UK buyers at two events has gathered pace with the announcement of the chosen venues and a name for the programme. Entitled 'The World Is Your Oyster', the 18 participating...

Seminar will close gap between procurement and C&I agencies.(Brief Article)
April 30, 2005... The Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS) is joining forces with the ITMA to educate procurement officers on the most effective way to work with event management suppliers. In a one-day seminar, to be held on 4 May at London's...

News brief: Board of Visit Britain announces appointment.(appoitments)(Brief Article)
April 30, 2005... The board of Visit Britain has announced the appointment of a new deputy chairwoman. Viscountess Cobham will take up the post with immediate effect. She is also chairwoman of Heart FM and the British Casino Association. www.visitbritain.com.

News brief: Easyjet announces service from Gatwick to Berlin.(Brief Article)
April 30, 2005... Easyjet has announced a new twice-daily service from Gatwick to Berlin Schonefeld, beginning in September. The airline will also fly direct from Berlin to Rome, Milan, Belfast and Valencia among other destinations. www.easyjet.com.

News brief: London Marriott Hotel awarded status by the HCIMA.(Brief Article)
April 30, 2005... The London Marriott Hotel Kensington has become the first hotel in west London to be awarded both Hospitality Assured and Hospitality Assured-Meetings status by the HCIMA, just 18 months after opening. Meanwhile, all Marriott properties will be...

News brief: Marketing Birmingham launches conference guide.
April 30, 2005... Marketing Birmingham has launched its latest conference guide. The publication coincides with the city winning a number of industry awards and gaining its first two Michelin stars. www.marketing.birmingham.com.

News brief: Millennium & Copthorne Hotels signs agreement.(Brief Article)
April 30, 2005... Millennium & Copthorne Hotels has signed an agreement to open a venue in Southampton in 2007. It will be the city's first new four or five-star hotel in more than a decade. www.millenniumhotels.com.

News brief: Edinburgh ICC attributed with generating money for the city.(Edinburgh International Conference Centre)(Brief Article)
April 30, 2005... Edinburgh International Conference Centre, which is shortly to celebrate its tenth anniversary, has been attributed with generating pounds 150m for the city since it opened in 1995. www.eicc.co.uk.

Luxury exhibition attracts 100-plus stands for debut.(Premium Travel Show )(Brief Article)
April 30, 2005... The Premium Travel Show has secured in excess of 100 exhibitors for its opening year, beating its initial forecast. The exhibition, which will run between 16 and 17 May at the Royal Albert Hall in London, is now also expecting to attract...

P&MM ranked 44th in the UK.(Brief Article)
April 30, 2005... P&MM was among the great and the good in this year's Sunday Times list of the best small companies in the UK to work for. Published last month, the performance improvement agency was ranked in 44th place out of 100, proving that it is one...

Haymarket titles research sector's worth.
April 30, 2005... CIT is working with its sister Haymarket Publishing titles, Event and RSVP, to establish the worth of the creative events market and its significance to the overall marketing mix. The study, conducted by research agency Vivid Interface on...

International: Corporate buyers reluctant to commit to new EU states.(Incentive services)(Brief Article)
April 30, 2005... One year on from the expansion of the European Union, agencies report that while interest in the new member countries is high, enquiries have not been translating into business. Beyond Certainty managing director Haralambos Stavrou said:...

International: Raffles in European expansion initiative.(Raffles International Hotels and Resorts)(Brief Article)
April 30, 2005... Raffles International Hotels & Resorts is planning to expand across Europe's cities in a bid to become a global hotel chain and develop its portfolio via a series of management contracts. It is opening two properties, one in Moscow next...

International: UK ranks number one in Disneyland Paris events table.(Disneyland Resort Paris )(Brief Article)
April 30, 2005... The UK represented the leading international market for events at Disneyland Resort Paris in 2004, according to its figures for the last fiscal year. In 2004, the resort's corporate events division, Business Solutions, sold more than...

International: World Price Check.(Sofitel)(Four Seasons Ritz)(Westin Excelsior)(Brief Article)
April 30, 2005... Sales strategy meeting: Two days, with overnight stay, in November for 50 UK delegates with five break-out rooms. The prices include VAT. Sofitel, Marseille Day rate pounds 4,549 Accommodation ...

International brief: SuperStar Virgo calls at Phuket.(Star Cruises)(Brief Article)
April 30, 2005... Star Cruises' SuperStar Virgo has started to call at Phuket, bringing 2,000 passengers a week to the resort. The company had re-routed its itineraries via Langkawi following the tsunami. www.starcruises.com.

International brief: Hong Kong records best-ever figures.(Foreign visitors)(Brief Article)
April 30, 2005... Hong Kong has recorded its best-ever January arrivals figures. An inbound figure of 1.84 million people beat the previous record of 1.75 million last year. www.discoverhongkong.com.

International brief: German Convention Bureau releases brochure.(Brief Article)
April 30, 2005... The German Convention Bureau has released a new 40-page brochure on running events in the country, available free online. www.germany-meetings.com.

International brief: Turespana to spend on UK advertising campaign.
April 30, 2005... Turespana is to spend pounds 4m on a UK advertising campaign, centred around the slogan 'Smile, You're In Spain!' www.tourspain.co.uk.

International brief: Guoman Hotels polls Confex attendees.(Brief Article)
April 30, 2005... Guoman Hotels polled 550 Confex attendees and found that only 55% of respondents felt that luxury hotels offered value for money. www.guoman.com.

International brief: Intercontinental puts portfolio up for sale.(Intercontinental Hotels Group PLC)(Brief Article)
April 30, 2005... Intercontinental is putting its entire Australian portfolio up for sale to free up its balance sheet. The 12 properties are worth around pounds 165m, which represents the country's largest ever hotel sale. www.intercontinental.com.

International brief: Virgin Atlantic announces more weekly flights.(Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd.)(Brief Article)
April 30, 2005... Virgin Atlantic has announced it will add two more weekly flights to its Las Vegas schedule by September, which will result in 50,000 extra seats a year. www.virgin-atlantic.com.

International brief: Starwood to open 70 hotels.(Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide Inc)(Brief Article)
April 30, 2005... Starwood is to open 70 hotels over the next two years, more than half of which will be located outside the US. www.starwood.com.

International: Meritus backs its Asian expansion with UK fam trips.(Meritus Hotels and Resorts)(Brief Article)
April 30, 2005... Meritus Hotels & Resorts is building on its year of expansion across Asia with a marketing assault on the UK C&I industry. For the first time, the Singapore-based chain is working with the major Asian NTOs in London to raise awareness among...

International: EIBTM launches initiatives to strengthen 2005 event.(Brief Article)
April 30, 2005... EIBTM has launched a number of initiatives to enhance this year's show. Members of a new advisory board, comprising 12 meetings professionals from across the world, will be announced this month. 'The board will be a barometer for us on...

International: Thailand on recovery path post-tsunami.(Brief Article)
April 30, 2005... The recovery of Thailand's tourism industry following the tsunami has been boosted by the re-opening of a raft of properties in Phuket and Krabi. All the affected C&I properties in Krabi are now operational, while in Phuket, the Le...

International: People and Places - Egypt.(Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide Inc)(Brief Article)
April 30, 2005... Starwood Hotels held an international fam trip to Egypt in early February, taking 40 buyers from around Europe to the land of the Pharaohs. The four-night itinerary took in Cairo as well as Hurghada and El-Gouna. Six UK agents made the...

International: Bumper season for Club Med on Europe's slopes.(Club Mediterranee S.A.)(Brief Article)
April 30, 2005... Club Med has announced record sales for its conference and incentive business during the 2004/5 winter ski season. The events division, Club Med Business, handled 50 groups during the ski season, resulting in a year-on-year sales increase...

International: Agents push airlines on disability access.(Brief Article)
April 30, 2005... In light of the recent updates to the Disability Discrimination Act, UK C&I agents are calling on airlines to reappraise their attitudes to accessibility. International transport - including airlines - is not covered by the Act and the...

International: Meetings in the sky on the cards.(onboard business facilities)(Brief Article)
April 30, 2005... The twin-deck Airbus 380 will make airborne meetings a reality, as airlines ordering the aircraft are already planning onboard business facilities. The concept has been welcomed by agents and corporates. The Cartel Group Holdings head of...

International: Pushing Frontiers - Belgrade.(Brief Article)
April 30, 2005... Back on the map after years of civil war, Serbia's capital boasts a vibrant nightlife, tree-lined avenues and old-fashioned charm. Belgrade has been destroyed some 40 times in its turbulent 2,300-year history, but the destination's cachet...

International: Slashing incentive content could lead to the cruellest cut.(Brief Article)(Column)
April 30, 2005... Over recent weeks, I have been putting two pieces of information together. The first is the level of financial losses reported by some of the major players in the incentive travel sector. The second is the growing realisation there is a...

Sounding Off: Staff safety should be more than small beer to our clients.(Brief Article)
April 30, 2005... When members of the construction industry met late last month to discuss reducing the number of deaths in the industry, it made me grateful that we work in a sector where deaths in the workplace are a rarity. But, following the Health and...

In Person: Gary Knight - Manager, global events, Land Rover.(Interview)
April 30, 2005... When, after 30 years with the same company, a man still talks about his job with the kind of animated gusto more associated with kids' TV presenters, you know that somewhere along the line things have gone very right. Land Rover's Gary Knight...

Analysis: Election fever.(General Election )
April 30, 2005... With the General Election looming, what are the key concerns facing the C&I industry? Anna Bowden asks some buyers if they are ready to place their votes. The frustrating thing about the run-up to a General Election is that there always...

Analysis: Head to head - the role of the DMC.(Destination management company)
April 30, 2005... As the role of the destination management company evolves, some representatives in the industry are questioning their true worth. In their present state, will DMCs still be around in ten years time? YES - Darren Mitchell - Sales director...

Case Study: BBC wows international buyers.(BBC Worldwide Ltd.)
April 30, 2005... With 450 global TV executives to impress, BBC Worldwide had to pull out all the stops to make this year's Showcase a sales event to remember, as Kerry Baggott reports. When an annual event is in its 29th year, it's hard to come up with...

Museums & Attractions: 20 of the best - Venues with a difference.(Directory)
April 30, 2005... From amusement parks to aquariums, Abigail Wills rounds up alternative venues with a twist. BLETCHLEY PARK Contact: Kay Davenport, 01908 631129 Website: www.bletchleypark.org.uk Function spaces: 10 Largest space holds: 100 Nearby...

Venuemasters Show Guide: Academic roll call.(meetings facilities )
April 30, 2005... Venuemasters is the only exhibition to focus solely on the meetings facilities within UK centres of learning. Anna Bowden highlights some of the venues attending this year's show. Venuemasters, the consortium representing more than 90...

Ayrshire and Arran: Way out west.(Ayrshire and Arran Convention Bureau)
April 30, 2005... The Ayrshire and Arran Convention Bureau's marketing approach is attracting organisers to the region's blend of luxury retreats, outdoor incentives and ease of access. Paul Blaney reports. Beginning 20 miles south of Glasgow and stretching...

West Midlands: Urban shift.(Convention centers)
April 30, 2005... With Birmingham leading the way, West Midlands tourist bodies are developing joint strategies to raise their game. Steve Jones investigates. To many people, Birmingham is the sum of the parts that can be seen from a slow-moving car inching...

West Midlands: The Midlands - beyond Birmingham.
April 30, 2005... COVENTRY AND WARWICKSHIRE Contact: Fiona Hawkins Tel: 024 7660 7013 Website: www.visitcoventry.co.uk Hotel round-up: Hilton Coventry's 172-room property offers conferencing for up to 600 and 350 for banquets. There are 13...

Imex Show Guide: The growing concern.(Worldwide Exhibition for Incentive Travel, Meetings and Events)
April 30, 2005... With more stands and many exhibitors extending their presence at this year's show, Imex is strengthening its case to be the top C&I showcase. With a 15 per cent growth on last year's show, 2005's Imex exhibition is consolidating itself as...

France: Introduction - Love thy neighbour.(Convention centers)
April 30, 2005... The UK's affair with France is ongoing but, as Yasmin Razak finds, there is still untapped potential. The issue of access is always a tricky one for new destinations trying to entice British groups away from the UK. If, however, you happen...

France: Lyon - A feast for the senses.(Hotels and motels)
April 30, 2005... More UK companies are branching out and tasting the delights of Lyon. Yasmin Razak reports. When the plane starts its descent towards Lyon's Saint Exupery airport, visitors might be forgiven for thinking that the pilot had overshot France...

France: Lyon - Showcase: Lyon's diverse hotel stock.
April 30, 2005... From modern skyscrapers to Renaissance gems, Yasmin Razak looks at Lyon's hotel accommodation. Radisson SAS - www.lyon.radissonsas.com Locally known as 'le crayon' due to its imposing but angular design, the Radisson SAS Lyon dominates...

France: Paris - Bidding for glory.(Olympic Games 2012)(Interview)
April 30, 2005... Now on its third bid for the Games, Yasmin Razak asks the organisers why 2012 could be the one. Enter a buzzing office in a modern building just yards away from the Musee Galliera in the 16th arrondissement of Paris and you will come face...

France: Paris - Discover Bercy's secrets.
April 30, 2005... Just a stone's throw from the centre of Paris, Yasmin Razak unearths a hidden gem for groups. Bercy, set in the east of Paris and just seven minutes by Metro from the Place de la Madeleine, is opening itself up to the C&I industry and...

France: 10 things to do in ... Paris and Ile-de-France.
April 30, 2005... Yasmin Razak matches the incentive to the delegate, so take your pick in and around the capital. 1. Scale the national monument Ideal for Spiderman and superheroes Go behind the scenes at the Eiffel Tower with the help of the...

France: South of France - Southern belles.(LSO International )(Interview)
April 30, 2005... What's the best the South of France has to offer? With many parts of the region now targeting the UK C&I market, Yasmin Razak gets the answers from LSO International director Pierre Oudine. Born in La Rochelle with a childhood spent in...

Spas: 20 of the best - International spa retreats.(Directory)
April 30, 2005... Revitalise your delegates. Anna Bowden peruses the spa menus from properties the world over. EUROPE ROYAL PARC EVIAN, FRANCE Contact: Alex Taylor, 020 7290 1010 Website: www.royalparcevian.com Number of meeting spaces: 13...

Mediterranean Incentives: Sun shines on the Med.
April 30, 2005... The Mediterranean is a perennial favourite among UK organisers, and with the region's various destinations continually raising their profiles, this looks set to continue. Dave Saunders reports. Their short-haul flight times ensure that the...

Mediterranean Incentives: Tee off on the Med's top fairways.(Destination management company)
April 30, 2005... Warm summers and mild winters are ideal for year-round golf. With 55 golf courses, the Costa del Sol is the golfing capital of the Med, and the south of Spain is continuing to attract new golf developments. The 107-room La Cala Resort in...

Mediterranean Incentives: Cruising - the all-inclusive solution.
April 30, 2005... The selling points of a cruise as a C&I option speak for themselves - multiple destinations in one trip with no tiresome transfers, a captive audience and an all-inclusive deal. The main season is May to October, though winter cruising in...

Oman: Picturebook Arabia.(Hospitality industry)
April 30, 2005... With its varied landscape of dunes, beaches and fjords, combined with a strong Arab identity, there is far greater C&I potential in Oman than just a hotel overspill for the Emirates. Very few British C&I groups have experienced Oman, yet...

Morocco: Mystic medina.(Hotels and motels)
April 30, 2005... With the launch of direct flights from London, will Fez become Morocco's number two C&I choice? Ben Lerwill investigates its potential. When the founders of Morocco's imperial cities were outlining their vision for the future, hosting...

Barcelona: The Catalan concept.(Convention centers)
April 30, 2005... So you know Barcelona? Well think again. As the city aims to reclaim its place at the top of the ICCA table, it is drawing attention to its more unusual venues and the wider appeal of rural Catalonia. Stephanie Siegle reports. Barcelona...

Venue Focus.(Royal Lancaster Hotel )(Harrogate International Centre)(Four Seasons Doha )
April 30, 2005... New meetings space for the Harrogate Centre Harrogate International Centre has unveiled a new conference space. The Queen's Suite, a pounds 5m project that came about as a result of feedback from clients, was inaugurated by the Liberal...

Diary: Don't miss ..(Calendar: Travel industry)(Brief Article)(Calendar)
April 30, 2005... MPI Professional Education Conference: 10-12 April - Monaco's Grimaldi Forum plays host to the annual MPI event. www.mpiweb.org IMEX: 19-21 April - This year's event will take place on the largest single floor at the Messe Frankfurt. -...

Diary: The worst song titles in the world ... ever!
April 30, 2005... Last month's highly childish call for a disco playlist with an industry twist resulted in something approaching a positive flurry of suggestions from people with clearly far too little to do. While some wags suggested Money for Nothing,...