Conference & Incentive Travel articles from April 2007

Conference & Incentive Travel archives from April 2007

Are you listening Gordon Brown?(Brief article)
April 10, 2007... We're all about recognition this month. Or rather, the lack of it. While the Government is quick to champion big events - waving the Olympic flag and organising photocalls for ministers at Wembley - it just can't seem to muster the...

BTP urges event planners to lobby government for support.
April 10, 2007... The Business Tourism Partnership (BTP) is calling on agencies and planners to alert Visit Britain ahead of big events in an effort to help secure Government support for pitches. BTP chairman Michael Hirst said he would encourage event...

Olive 360 retains its branding after purchase by BSI Group.(BSI Group acquires Olive 360)(Brief article)
April 10, 2007... London-based agency Olive 360 deg has been acquired by accommodation giant BSI Group in a deal that both sides have said is integral to further growth. 'The deal takes us to the next level in terms of pitching for larger events,' said...

Skybridge wins Jaguar account.(Euro RSCG Skybridge, Land Rover, Jaguar Cars Ltd.)(Brief article)
April 10, 2007... Euro RSCG Skybridge has successfully regained its dealer motivation account for Jaguar and Land Rover, following a six-way pitch. Skybridge has worked with the two marques since 2001, and the new contract is worth pounds 10m over three...

This month's highlights from C&IT News Tracker.(Sue Biggs was named Woman of the Year - at this year's Shine awards)(Preferred Hotels Group has appointed industry stalwart Peter Haigh)(International Confex records highest visitors)(Brief article)
April 10, 2007... International Confex recorded a 13% increase in visitor numbers this year - the largest in seven years. More than 12,500 people attended, according to preliminary figures (28.2.07). Palais des Congres and Paris-Expo, may join forces. Parent...

Sussex agency merger official.(Genesis and Adoration changes name to Genesis Adoration )(Brief article)
April 10, 2007... Sussex-based agencies Genesis and Adoration have formalised their merger with a new name and office. The company formed through the merger has begun operating under the name Genesis Adoration and has moved into a new office in Haywards...

C&IT Forum's speaker listing.
April 10, 2007... Universal CIT's managing director Mike Ford, KPMG's senior manager Janice Edgar, and Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS) director of professional practice Roy Ayliffe are among the speakers to confirm their presence at C&IT's...

Miller Homes appoints ETS for overseas event.(Miller Homes contracts with Effective Travel Solutions)(Brief article)
April 10, 2007... Construction firm Miller Homes has appointed Effective Travel Solutions (ETS) to take charge of its first overseas event. The four-day event will see 90 regional company directors gather at the Quinta do Lago Hotel in Portugal for a...

Pharma firms are 'paranoid'.
April 10, 2007... Companies have become 'paranoid' in the wake of changes to the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry's (ABPI) code of practice, according to medical consultant Joan Barnard. Barnard, who acts as a consultant on the code, said...

Oxford in golf pitch success.
April 10, 2007... Oxford Motivation has won a pitch to run two golf trips to southern Spain this autumn for builders' merchant the Wolseley Group. Delegates will comprise Wolseley's major buyers and clients, and Oxford director John Fisher said each trip...

GIBTM opens.
April 10, 2007... The first GIBTM show at Abu Dhabi's ADNEC beat expectations last month despite a date change, attracting more than 200 exhibitors and 218 hosted buyers. In 2008, MPI will run one of its PEC conferences ahead of the event

Motivcom looks to flex its acquisition muscle.(Motivcom plc)(Brief article)
April 10, 2007... Motivcom - the parent company of P&MM and Archer Young - is looking to acquire further businesses in the next 12 months. The company, which announced a fifth successive year of record turnover and profits last month, will consider any...

Eventia set to name 1% partner.(Brief article)
April 10, 2007... Eventia is poised to finally announce its environmental partner company for its long-awaited '1% initiative'. Details of the scheme, in which planners would make a 1% donation from the cost of events to help the environment, are expected to...

How to ... Host a cross-cultural event.(Brief article)
April 10, 2007... Timekeeping and attendance Build in time for latecomers - nationalities view punctuality differently. To ensure maximum attendance, check the calendar for religious and bank holidays. F&B Dietary requirements will be hugely...

We succeed in spite of government.(Brief article)
April 10, 2007... A breakfast briefing organised as part of British Tourism Week brought together the great and the good from what the Government views as 'the business tourism sector' - in other words, those organisations producing conferences, incentive...

HBI finds procurement unmoved by CSR trend.
April 10, 2007... While CSR remains high on the C&I industry's agenda it has failed to make much of an impact on meetings procurement, according to a report commissioned by venue finder Hotel Brokers International (HBI). The industry's interest in issues...

Bond leaves Universal post.
April 10, 2007... Universal CIT has made its business development manager Geoff Bond redundant as it 'rationalises' its new business department'. Of the move, deemed amicable by both sides, Universal creative services manager Alex Olliver said that although...

Carrier news.(Von Essen Aviation acquires Premiair Aviation Group )(Brief article)
April 10, 2007... Von Essen Aviation has acquired the Premiair Aviation Group from the Sir Robert McAlpine Group for an undisclosed sum. Premiair Aviation specialises in charter, engineering and sale of business helicopters and jets. BMI has extended...

It's a budget of yet more bovver.(Brief article)
April 10, 2007... Dull, harsh, dreary, misguided, punitive, miserly, wasteful, controlling, thieving, money-grabbing, Stalinist - why use all these words when, according to some civil servants, just two will do - Gordon Brown. A tirade against Labour?...

MPI PEC-E News: MPI changes its global strategy.(Brief article)
April 10, 2007... MPI kicked off its annual European Professional Education Conference (PEC-E) in Copenhagen last month with the announcement of a new global strategy. The next two years will see extensions to the PEC programme in Singapore and Dubai, a new...

MPI PEC-E News: MPI London education event to be biggest yet.(Professional Education Conference)(Brief article)
April 10, 2007... Next year's European MPI Professional Education Conference (PEC-E), taking place at Excel London from 18-20 April, is set to be the biggest yet as the organisation looks to drive North American delegates to Europe. 'London offers a...

MPI PEC-E News: European office gets autonomy.(Brief article)
April 10, 2007... MPI is to announce the identity of its European sales and marketing director this month. The move by the US-based association is part of a renewed focus that will give greater autonomy to Europe. The director will be based in MPI's EMEA...

MPI PEC-E News: One to watch.(Emma Bainbridge)(Brief article)
April 10, 2007... Emma Bainbridge, General manager, Events, Shanghai, with BI's subsidiary the Mint Organization. - Why are we watching her? Bainbridge recently left her UK role at BI to head up events for the company in China in the newly created...

MPI PEC-E News: Appointment at Institute of Hospitality.
April 10, 2007... Visit Scotland and Gleneagles managing director Peter Lederer has been appointed the first president of the Institute of Hospitality - formerly known as the Hotel & Catering International Management Association

MPI PEC-E News: Appointment at Universal Creative Services.
April 10, 2007... Universal CIT's new in-house Universal Creative Services is to be headed by creative services director Dave Ratcliffe. He will head an in-house team across offices in the UK and US

MPI PEC-E News: Appointment at Hillgate Travel.
April 10, 2007... Hillgate Travel has recruited Julie Cope to be its UK operations manager. Cope held a similar role at World Travel/Expedia, where she worked for the past 25 years

MPI PEC-E News: Appointment at The Association of Event Venues.
April 10, 2007... The Association of Event Venues has a new chairman. Former vice-chair, and Excel London deputy CEO and managing director, Kevin Murphy has accepted the board's nomination to replace Nigel Nathan

MPI PEC-E News: Appointment at Macdonald Hotels & Resorts.
April 10, 2007... Macdonald Hotels & Resorts has recruited Jeanette Jones to the recently created position of UK managing director for spa and leisure Jones was previously director of health and fitness at Chardon Management.

MPI PEC-E News: Appointment at P&MM.
April 10, 2007... P&MM has appointed Hilary Bowen to the new position of senior producer. Bowen will spearhead production activity and has worked as a freelance for various production companies for the past 12 years

MPI PEC-E News: Appointment at Weston Park.
April 10, 2007... Shropshire stately home Weston Park has recruited Lotte Janssen to the position of house events co-ordinator

MPI PEC-E News: Appointment at Ashdown Park Hotel & Country Club.
April 10, 2007... Ashdown Park Hotel & Country Club, Sussex, has appointed Ben Booker as general manager. Booker worked previously as deputy general manager at The Grand Hotel in Eastbourne

Analysis: Will MIA's AIM scheme work?
April 10, 2007... There is demand for a quality standards scheme for venues. But, asks James Thornton, will the Accredited in Meetings programme be undermined by its self-policing nature? A site inspection gives event planners some insight into a venue, but...

Case Study: Motorola entertains O2 staff.
April 10, 2007... The centrepiece of an eight-week Motorola incentive targeting 02 sales teams was a showbiz spectacular in with the cream of TV's talent Susie Harwood reports. THE BRIEF: Motorola targets staff at O2's call centres once a year with an...

Case Study: Liverpool entertains Toyota's clients.
April 10, 2007... The car maker rewarded its top clients with a gala evening that reflected Liverpool's musical heritage and future tenure as European City of Culture. David Atkinson reports. THE BRIEF: A private gallery viewing accompanied by a champagne...

Venue Focus: Property bulletin - From indoor golf in London to new-build luxury in the Arabian Gulf.
April 10, 2007... Norton Park, Winchester, Hampshire. A new conference and events centre is now available at this property, following an pounds 11m refurbishment and extension by owner QHotels. The conference and banqueting Norton Suite can take 320...

Pushing Frontiers: Time for ... Sofia.(hotels )
April 10, 2007... Groups looking to escape the stag and hen parties of Prague or Budapest should consider the Bulgarian capital - a relatively undiscovered Central European gem with good facilities. INCENTIVES Follow Sofia's yellow brick road, taking a...

Agency Focus: The C&IT Challenge.
April 10, 2007... This month's brief? Organise a two-day conference to a short-haul destination - easily accessible from the UK - for 1,000 delegates from Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Just 30 miles from Nice Airport, Monaco is an excellent destination...

Agency Focus: 5 minutes with ... Indeprod.(Indeprod director Richard Skeels speaks)(Interview)(Brief article)
April 10, 2007... Agency: Indeprod Location: Chilton, Buckinghamshire Staff: 42 The agency acquired Oxford Motivation in February and is looking to acquire at least one more firm this year. The business is half way into a five-year plan and director...

In Person: Tricia Clarke-Jervoise, BAE.
April 10, 2007... James Thornton hears about the triumphs and trials of being BAE Systems' head of events. Tricia Clarke-Jervoise is head of events and exhibitions at aerospace giant BAE Systems. In one form or another she has always been in travel and...

Said & Done.
April 10, 2007... 'I apologise for being a male, I can't do anything about it tonight but maybe in the next life' - Tourism Minister Shaun Woodward addresses bemused guests at the Shine Awards 'Lunch will be quite a nice surprise, it will not be lavish,...

Sounding Off: Recognition is not enough.(Letter to the editor)
April 10, 2007... I was encouraged to read Vanessa Cotton's upbeat assessment of the events industry and the success that her own venue, Excel London, is enjoying (C&IT, March). It's also no bad thing, from time to time, to sing the praises of the UK's event...

What's it like to work in ... Australia.(Absolute Corporate Events)(Interview)(Brief article)
April 10, 2007... Tim Gasson managing director, Absolute Corporate Events. - When did you open your office? Absolute Corporate Events opened an office in Melbourne, Australia, in 2005. It enables us to manage events in Asia, the Pacific and Oceania We...

Birmingham: Excellence of the centre.(Marketing Birmingham)(Interview)
April 10, 2007... Birmingham's ambassador programme is just one reason the Midlands' C&I star is in the ascendant, says James Thornton. Ian Taylor is commercial director at Marketing Birmingham and has been with the CVB since June 2005. In that time, he and...

UK Activities: Taking part and winning.
April 10, 2007... The current vogue for participatory events and team building by corporates is fuelling a growth in the array of activities available Leanne Bell looks into some of the latest options. MAVERICK'S GOURMET GAMES Contact: Helen Johnson,...

Purpose-Built Convention Centres: Centres of creativity.
April 10, 2007... Purpose-built centres may not fire the imagination, but with creativity and application their blank canvases can produce some rewarding branded events. Kerry Baggott reports. BBC WORLDWIDE AT THE BRIGHTON CENTRE Around 560...

France: The Tour de France.
April 10, 2007... Paris remains a C&I hotspot, but other French cities are catching up fast. Susie Harwood talks to the head of the French Convention Bureau's London office, Anne-Laure Tuncer. This year marks a decade of promoting France as a C&I...

France: South of France - The South by budget.
April 10, 2007... The French Riviera conjures images of lavish expense, but hosting an event there doesn't have to cost the earth. Susie Harwood explores with the assistance of LSO International. BUDGET: NICE How to get there: Easyjet flies to Nice from...

France: Paris - 10 of the best new attractions in Paris.
April 10, 2007... Paris plays host to a raft of new attractions that will pique the interest of event planners. Yasmin Razak scours the city to unearth its new gems. THE FIVE HOTEL Address: 3 Rue Flatters, 5th Arrondissement Tel: +33 1 43 31 74 21...

France: Case Study - Handling the load.
April 10, 2007... The launch of Ford's new Transit could have been a logistical nightmare. Instead it was a triumph of organisation and management, says Susie Harwood. THE BRIEF: Ford of Europe wanted to hold a central event to launch its new Ford Transit...

Norway: Natural wonder.
April 10, 2007... Despite being blessed with some of Europe's most spectacular scenery and skiing, Norway is not widely used but, as Stuart Derrick reports, a major marketing push aims to change that. Norway may not be a big country, but it does things on an...

Norway: Event planner's guide to Oslo.
April 10, 2007... Compact it may be, but Norway's capital has the venues for all occasions. WHERE TO STAY: Radisson SAS has two of the largest conference hotels in Oslo. The 37-floor Plaza is Norway's highest and largest hotel, with 673 rooms and a meetings...

Barcelona: The Catalan fightback.
April 10, 2007... While Barcelona is the big ticket destination, the other nine regional centres in Catalonia are developing their offers to provide a tempting alternative to the capital. Barcelona is a city operating at - or at least very close to - the...

Barcelona: 72 hours in the city.
April 10, 2007... Paul Oswell takes a tour in and around Barcelona in the company of Ole Special Events. DAY 1 10.00 Arrive at Barcelona Airport. Transfer to hotel, with an official city guide to talk about the various landmarks on the way. This can...

Barcelona: Showcase - Infrastructural developments.(Brief article)
April 10, 2007... Paul Oswell rounds up the very latest C&I developments from across the Catalan region. HOTEL BARCELONA CENTER This 135-room, four-star property opened in 2006 and is at the very centre of the central Eixample area. The hotel offers...

Porto: 20 reasons to choose Porto.(business venues)
April 10, 2007... Nestled in the port-producing Douro Valley, Porto has much to offer says Robin McKelvie. 5 LUXURY BOLTHOLES - The palatial 73-room Hotel Infante Sagres (www.hotelinfantesagres.pt) is a five-star property just up the hill from the...

Greek Islands: Hellenic hospitality.
April 10, 2007... Historically popular with pharmaceutical conferences, a growing number of direct flights and five-star properties are making the Greek Islands a viable option. Susie Harwood reports. RHODES FOR LARGE GROUPS Besides being home to one of...

The Canary Islands: Island snapshots.
April 10, 2007... With year-round sun, a growing portfolio of five-star properties and tax set at five per cent, the Canaries have much to offer. Kerry Baggott rounds them up. TENERIFE SLEEP TIGHT: Many of the big luxury hotels are located in the busy...

The Canary Islands: Triton unifies its brand in Tenerife.
April 10, 2007... The travel agents' convention gave Tenerife the chance to shine Kerry Baggott reports. THE BRIEF: Event agency CO Plus was tasked with organising all the aspects of Triton Travel Group's first conference. The conference was held just eight...

Canary Islands: Incentives - Off-shore and inland activities.
April 10, 2007... From windsurfing to rolling your own cigars, there are activities to suit groups of all kinds. GRAN CANARIA Unlike the golden beaches in Tenerife, several of which have been man-made, Gran Canaria offers the real thing and on - as its...

The Canary Islands: The latest developments.
April 10, 2007... The Canary Islands are keeping their C&I offer fresh with refurbishments and new openings. Among the Canaries' attractions for C&I organisers, are tax of just five per cent (as opposed to 16 per cent on mainland Spain), frequent flights...

Cyprus: A quality revival.
April 10, 2007... Cyprus is putting the negative perceptions of Agia Napa behind it with a marketing focus on the luxury hotel developments that are taking place on the island. Abigail Wills reports. Three-star hotels on Cyprus have had a tough year - no...

Cyprus: Local knowledge put to the test.(Interview)
April 10, 2007... Two of the island's DMC managing directors make their recommendations for UK buyers. Stavros Kleovoulou, managing director of OM, and Olga Xanthou-Kondo, managing director of Premier Destination Management, which launched in January 2006,...

Venue Update.(hotel renovations)
April 10, 2007... THE ANNABELLE Situated near the harbour in Paphos, the Annabelle has just finished a two-year renovation. The 218-room hotel opened 22 years ago but a sympathetic refit has hauled it into the 21st century, while maintaining much of its...

African incentives: 10 of the best lodges in Africa.(Brief article)
April 10, 2007... From life on the move on a luxury train to nights under canvas, Africa's spirit of adventure makes for ideal high-end incentives. Alex James reports. Epacha Game Lodge & Spa, Namibia Web: www.leadinglodges.com/epacha Tel: +264 67 69 70...

Malaysia: Penang's quality revival.
April 10, 2007... The reopening of the Shangri-La Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa has turned the spotlight back on to a destination that many MICE planners felt had had its day. Ben Lerwill investigates. Malaysia has plenty to celebrate. Not only is this year its...

Malaysia: Venues - C&I property developments.
April 10, 2007... Malaysia's diverse regions share a common desire to constantly enhance their portfolios. KUALA LUMPUR All direct flights from the UK head straight to Kuala Lumpur these days, and the capital is continuing to develop its glossy business...

Zen and the art of meetings.(Japanese National Tourist Organisation)(Interview)
April 10, 2007... Jane Dunford finds out from Japan's man in London what the country has to offer C&I groups from the UK. Chad Shiver was born near Chicago and studied political science at Western Illinois University. He spent time in Japan studying politics...

Show Guide: Imex - On stand in Frankfurt.
April 10, 2007... This year's Imex could be the biggest yet, but the organisers are determined that scale will not compromise quality and ease of use for visitors and exhibitors alike. Phil Heard reports. Bigger is better seems to be the watchword at this...

Diary: Guess What?
April 10, 2007... 'Where are the chemicals, where ARE the chemicals?!?!' Well, the Power 50 was another top industry night out, but which two venue heads wanted a little more powder than the average skier? Elsewhere that evening, one senior industry player...

Diary: The Maritz men who wear the pants lose their trousers.
April 10, 2007... Maritz got into the spirit of Comic Relief's Red Nose Day last month, with staff using their creative expertise for a series of company-wide initiatives. MD Nick Bender and finance director Graham Corfield had their trousers kidnapped and held...

Diary: The lunch that's worth its weight in gold. And platinum.(Platinum Club Sandwich)(Von Essen Hotels)(Brief article)
April 10, 2007... Meanwhile, another way for C&I folk to spend their hard-earned cash comes in the shape of the world's most expensive sandwich, courtesy of Von Essen Hotels. At pounds 100, the triple-decker Platinum Club Sandwich, available at Cliveden in...

Diary: Gaining insight into the event sector's bag ladies.(Conference Leeds )(Brief article)
April 10, 2007... It takes something special to surprise event planners but last month Conference Leeds did just that when it invited buyers to join it for lunch. As part of the entertainment, ladies could have the contents of their bags analysed to see what it...

Diary: Time Bandit - Sue Burgess, Inntel and HBAA.(Hotel Booking Agents Association)(Diary entry)(Brief article)
April 10, 2007... 40% of my time is spent handling and dealing with emails and corresponding with suppliers, venues, clients or staff. 10% Hotel Booking Agents Association commitments. As vice chair, I attend meetings and deal with issues. 10% Meeting...