Conference & Incentive Travel articles from December 2002

Conference & Incentive Travel archives from December 2002

FIRST OFF: Fate in the balance on C&I's wheel of fortune.
December 3, 2002... Destinations for C&I programmes tend to be cyclical by nature, falling in and out of favour with organisers as they go from emerging, to established, and then on to passe. Some try hard to reinvent themselves while others are thrust back into...

ITMA report sees trend for short-haul growing.
December 3, 2002... Short-haul destinations made up 63% of UK-organised incentives over the past financial year, according to a recent ITMA survey. The survey found that of the European events, 22% took place in the UK, with Madrid, Barcelona, Paris and the...

HA-M accreditation shake up for clarity.
December 3, 2002... Industry accreditation scheme Hospitality Assured and its meetings component HA-M have been streamlined. Meetings Industry Association (MIA) award HA-M now consists of ten steps rather than 12 and has 50 measurable indicators. It has been...

BACD to launch PCO directory at Confer London.
December 3, 2002... The British Association of Conference Destinations (BACD) is to launch a directory of PCOs for the first time. The directory will comprise details and services from members of the Association of British Professional Conference Organisers....

UK PRICE CHECK: Two-day meeting.
December 3, 2002... Brief: a two-day meeting for 50 delegates at an airport hotel with a Christmas party on day two. Costs include: single room rate, lunch, dinner, meeting room hire. Costs are inclusive of VAT. Le Meridien, Heathrow Meeting cost ...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Marketing Birmingham awarded grant.
December 3, 2002... Marketing Birmingham, which incorporates Birmingham Convention Bureau, has been awarded a pounds 1.5m grant by the European Regional Development Fund. It has also developed its website, www.beinbirmingham.com. Tel: 0121 603 2000.

NEWS IN BRIEF: Hotel and agency to offer activities.
December 3, 2002... The Watergate Bay Hotel, Cornwall and agency The Extreme Academy have teamed up to offer beach activities for conference groups staying at the hotel. Tel: 01637 860543.

NEWS IN BRIEF: Appointment at IBR.
December 3, 2002... IBR has appointed Paul Girdler and Debbie Fullerton-Batten to the roles of business development managers. Tel: 01483 520770.

NEWS IN BRIEF: E-Metrics launched.
December 3, 2002... Jack Morton Worldwide and NFO World Group have launched E-Metrics, a web-based product to measure audience response. Tel: 020 8735 2000.

NEWS IN BRIEF: Maritz Travel launches MeetingHQ.
December 3, 2002... Maritz Travel has launched MeetingHQ, an online booking tool for meeting planners. Tel: 01628 486011.

NEWS IN BRIEF: Magna Science records growth.
December 3, 2002... Magna Science Adventure Centre has recorded a 25% growth in corporate bookings this year. Tel: 01709 723114.

NEWS IN BRIEF: Appointment at Wembley Conference Centre.
December 3, 2002... Wembley Conference Centre has appointed Adrienne McGovern as sales manager for conference and banqueting. Tel: 020 7736 4022.

NEWS IN BRIEF: University to develop centre.
December 3, 2002... University of Hertfordshire is developing a new conference centre as part of a pounds 190m regeneration programme. The facilities will open in 2004. Tel: 020 7419 6953.

NEWS IN BRIEF: Lloyds TSB appoints Russell.
December 3, 2002... Lloyds TSB has appointed The Russell Organisation to manage elements of its autumn 2002 rugby hospitality programme. Tel: 020 8744 0612.

Motivaction set to float following firm restructure.
December 3, 2002... Motivaction has restructured and rebranded in a bid to float the company within five years. The firm has created a holding company to administer three separate businesses. TM Group now encompasses Motivaction, the event management arm,...

Carlson travel arm goes alone as RTS.
December 3, 2002... Carlson Marketing Group's (CMG) travel division has rebranded as a separate entity with the aim of doubling its incentive travel turnover, of between pounds 5m-pounds 6m, within the next 12 months. Called Relationship Travel Solutions...

Top Banana wins force agency to grow staff team.
December 3, 2002... Conference and video production firm Top Banana has expanded its team following a series of blue-chip client wins. Guinness, Smirnoff, Box Telematics and Ember Inns are among the agency's recent wins. The firm has appointed Nicky...

Olive rejigs after merger to form trio of offerings.
December 3, 2002... The Olive Partnership has restructured following its merger with customer relationship management (CRM) consultancy Crimson Tide. It has created umbrella brand Olive 360 deg, which administers three separate companies - Olive Partnership,...

PEOPLE AND PLACES: Hyundai goes to Telford.
December 3, 2002... Hyundai Car UK staged a one-day event in August to launch its first-ever five-year warranty to 160 dealers. Agency Line Up Communications chose the International Centre, Telford as the venue. Line Up business development director Josie...

Irish offer survives shelved Assembly.
December 3, 2002... Tourism Ireland is to continue with its full marketing plan despite the suspension of the Northern Ireland Assembly. Under the Good Friday Agreement, the body markets the island as a whole. Tourism Ireland C&I executive for Britain...

LCB seeks balance through committee.
December 3, 2002... The London Convention Bureau (LCB) has made five advisory committee appointments in a bid to balance out its offering. The committee's aim is to ensure the LCB is in tune with its members so it can carry out its advocacy role effectively....

Bluebird Events grows service across 20 sites.
December 3, 2002... Party planning and outside catering firm Bluebird Events now operates at more than 20 venues. The catering arm of Conran Restaurants offers services in venues such as BFI Imax, the Serpentine Gallery and the Royal Exchange, as well as...

CAA move to close loopholes reopens UK package issue.
December 3, 2002... The recent Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) clamp-down on the loophole that enables operators to sell split-travel packages (the separate sale of package travel components), raises the spectre of the UK's interpretation of the EU Package Travel...

SSDA approves bid for hospitality SSC.
December 3, 2002... The Government body Sector Skills Development Agency (SSDA) has given approval for the travel, tourism and hospitality industry to proceed to the development phase of establishing a Sector Skills Council (SSC). SSCs receive public...

M&IT quits Excel and moves date for show in 2003.
December 3, 2002... The Meetings & Incentive Travel Show is to move back to Kensington Olympia for the 2003 event after two years at Excel, and switch dates from June to October. Show director Steve Lewis said the move followed a survey of visitors and...

Nottingham acts to fill C&I deficit.
December 3, 2002... Conference Nottingham and Profile Nottingham are to merge in a bid to create a unified tourism body for the region. Conference Nottingham is the city's current C&I arm, while Profile Nottingham deals with leisure tourists. The new body...

WEBWATCH: Venueseeker's online helper.
December 3, 2002... The Concerto Group launched its venue-finding website at September's National Venue Show. The site - venueseeker.co.uk - is UK-wide and venues can register online free of charge. Venues wanting a more detailed listing can upgrade their...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Easyjet to set up hub.
December 3, 2002... Easyjet is to set up a new regional hub at Newcastle International Airport. Services to Europe will commence in 2003. Tel: 0870 600 0000.

NEWS IN BRIEF: TourEast London compiles guide.
December 3, 2002... TourEast London has compiled a C&I guide for the area, available on its website, www.visiteast london.co.uk. Tel: 020 7932 2017.

NEWS IN BRIEF: Member of MIA.
December 3, 2002... Old Government House, Guernsey, has become a member of the MIA. Tel: 01481 724921.

NEWS IN BRIEF: Newcastle Gateshead to host conference.
December 3, 2002... Newcastle Gateshead is to host the 2005 Labour Party spring conference. Tel: 0191 243 8800.

NEWS IN BRIEF: Days Inn targets market.
December 3, 2002... Days Inn, the budget hotel brand, is to target the meetings market following the opening of its conference facilities at its London Gateway and Glasgow properties. Tel: 020 8762 6500.

NEWS IN BRIEF: Armathwaite introduces website.
December 3, 2002... Armathwaite Hall Hotel has introduced a website to coincide with the launch of its outdoor pursuits package at www.lakelandchallenge.com. Tel: 01768 776551.

NEWS IN BRIEF: Swan offers first night.
December 3, 2002... The Swan at Streatley is offering a complimentary first night reception to companies booking a residential meeting throughout January and February 2003. Tel: 01491 878800.

NEWS IN BRIEF: Corporate Adrenalin launches tool.
December 3, 2002... Corporate Adrenalin, the live event and web game specialist, has launched a performance improvement measurement tool. Tel: 01539 443133.

NEWS IN BRIEF: Elite Hotels unveils website.
December 3, 2002... Elite Hotels has unveiled a website for buyers www. eliteconferences.co.uk. Tel: 01323 412 345.

NEWS IN BRIEF: Appointment at Missenden Abbey.
December 3, 2002... Missenden Abbey, the training centre in Buckinghamshire, has appointed Steven Crawford as director. Tel: 01494 603015.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS: UK operators pull Bali from incentive roster.
December 3, 2002... UK C&I agencies have removed Bali from incentive proposals for the short-to-medium term, following the bomb attack of 12 October and Foreign Office advice against travel to Indonesia. McGarvey Russell director Paul Taylor said the agency...

INTERNATIONAL NEWS: Asian tourism pleads safety.
December 3, 2002... The national tourist offices of Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore are reassuring groups the region is safe, following the Bali terrorist attacks. This follows on from the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) citing general threats to Western...

INTERNATIONAL NEWS: Cairns secures 14 conferences to pull in pounds 15m.
December 3, 2002... North Queensland town Cairns has secured 14 major conferences until 2006 that will generate more than Adollars 43m (pounds 15.3m) for the local economy. The conferences are set to pull in more than 17,000 delegates and will all be held at...

INTERNATIONAL NEWS: World Price Check - Two-day meeting.
December 3, 2002... Brief: a two-day meeting for 50 delegates at an airport hotel with a Christmas party on day two. Costs include: single room rate, lunch, dinner, meeting room hire. Costs are inclusive of VAT. Sheraton, Munich ...

INTERNATIONAL BRIEFS: Eventclicks works in conjunction.
December 3, 2002... Eventclicks is working in conjunction with the Starwood Preferred Planners scheme to offer buyers the chance to win a holiday when they book groups into Starwood properties in the Asia-Pacific region. Tel: +852 2911 7900.

INTERNATIONAL BRIEFS: Appointment at Singapore Tourism Board.
December 3, 2002... Singapore Tourism Board has appointed Lim Neo Chian as deputy chairman and chief executive. Tel: 020 7437 0033.

INTERNATIONAL BRIEFS: Brisbane Marketing reports rate.
December 3, 2002... Brisbane Marketing's convention bureau has reported an 8.6% response rate following its direct mailing push earlier this year. Tel: +61 7 3006 6200.

INTERNATIONAL BRIEFS: Six Continents Hotels to develop hotels.
December 3, 2002... Six Continents Hotels is to develop 20 hotels in the Middle East and North Africa. Sites include Tunisia and Jordan and seven properties in Egypt. Tel: 0845 700 5050.

INTERNATIONAL BRIEFS: IMA and MIAA to host seminars.
December 3, 2002... AIME 2003 has announced that the Incentive Marketing Association (IMA) and the Meetings Industry Association of Australia (MIAA) will host seminars during the event. Tel: 020 7470 8855.

INTERNATIONAL BRIEFS: Emirates Airlines to appoint.
December 3, 2002... Emirates Airlines is to appoint a full-time member of staff by next January to handle group travel bookings. Tel: 020 7808 0019.

INTERNATIONAL BRIEFS: Le Meridien relaunches website.
December 3, 2002... Le Meridien has relaunched its website, www.lemeridien.com. The site now offers a dedicated section for buyers, with room capacities and meeting enquiry forms. Floor plans are to be added. Tel: 020 7025 7039.

INTERNATIONAL BRIEFS: Appointment at The German National Tourist Office.
December 3, 2002... The German National Tourist Office has appointed Udo Grebe as director for the UK and Ireland. Tel: 020 7317 0908.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS: Mixed views greet RTE's EIBTM move.
December 3, 2002... Reed Travel Exhibitions' (RTE) decision to relocate EIBTM and change its dates has evoked mixed reactions from UK exhibitors and buyers. EIBTM 2004 will take place at the Fira de Barcelona from 30 November to 2 December. The switch from a...

INTERNATIONAL NEWS: ATC runs Dreamtime as a biennial event.
December 3, 2002... Australian incentive show Dreamtime is to become a biennial, rather than an annual event, after research found it would be more effective for buyers and sellers. The Australian Tourist Commission (ATC) made its decision after feedback from...

INTERNATIONAL NEWS: Johannesburg to capitalise on interest via CVB.
December 3, 2002... Johannesburg's tourism and marketing division is to set up a convention bureau for the region. The bureau launches in January 2003 and aims to be fully operational within the first six months of the year, with a remit to grow C&I activity...

INTERNATIONAL NEWS: To Victor the spoils as Mauritius sways Meldrew mindset.
December 3, 2002... One of the (few) advantages of age is experience, but with that comes a Victor Meldrew-style unshakeable belief in one's own judgement. Among such opinions was my perspective of Mauritius. While I have always understood its attraction as...

INTERNATIONAL NEWS: IMEX and MPI form global partnership.
December 3, 2002... IMEX has teamed up with Meeting Professionals International (MPI) to launch joint marketing strategies. Its first mission is to co-market its events - MPI's 2003 Professional Education Conference-Europe (PEC-E) and the IMEX exhibition....

INTERNATIONAL NEWS: Amsterdam top of Dutch league for congresses.
December 3, 2002... Amsterdam pulled in more than double the amount of international meetings than any other Dutch city last year. A Dutch Congress Bureau survey reports the city hosted 425 international meetings in 2001. Its nearest rival was Noordwijk, which...

INTERNATIONAL NEWS: IMF conference spurs Dubai to chase C&I work.
December 3, 2002... Dubai is gearing up for the World Bank and IMF conference next September with an increased bid to pull in C&I business. The Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) has described the opening of a convention bureau as 'imminent',...

PEOPLE AND PLACES: Copenhagen goes on show.
December 3, 2002... A selection of international C&I buyers, including 30 from the UK, were invited to attend Wonderful Copenhagen's fam trip to Denmark's capital city for two nights at the end of September. Entitled 'Love Is In The Air', buyers were flown out...

INTERNATIONAL BRIEFS: Offices to be rebranded.
December 3, 2002... DMC Konciti Viajes's offices in Barcelona and Tenerife are to be rebranded as Cititravel Barcelona and Cititravel Canarias as part of the group's expansion throughout Spain. Tel: +34 93 225 67 67.

INTERNATIONAL BRIEFS: Directory launched.
December 3, 2002... Great Hotels of the World has launched its conference, meeting and incentive directory. Tel: 020 7383 2335.

INTERNATIONAL BRIEFS: McCluskey appointed.
December 3, 2002... Oklahoma Tourism has appointed McCluskey International as its UK representative. Tel: 020 8237 7979.

INTERNATIONAL BRIEFS: Singapore wins bid.
December 3, 2002... Singapore has won its bid to host the 2006 annual meeting of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank. Tel: 020 7437 0033.

INTERNATIONAL BRIEFS: Travel Forum to hold meeting.
December 3, 2002... The Central America International Meetings & Incentive Travel Forum will hold its first meeting in Honduras from 21-23 November 2002. Tel: +11 504 222 2122.

INTERNATIONAL BRIEFS: City of Monterey rebrands division.
December 3, 2002... The City of Monterey, California, has rebranded its group sales division as Monterey Convention Authority. Tel: + 1 831 646 3388.

INTERNATIONAL BRIEFS: Hamilton Island resort creates programme.
December 3, 2002... Hamilton Island resort, at the Great Barrier Reef Australia, has created a dedicated programme for children accompanying conference delegates. Tel: 01628 623003.

INTERNATIONAL BRIEFS:.
December 3, 2002... Meetings and Incentive Travel Market (MITM) for Europe and the Mediterranean will take place on board the Grimaldi Group-owned luxury yacht Fantastic from 28 November to 1 December. A hosted-buyer programme will run in conjunction with the...

INTERNATIONAL NEWS: Luxury event adds to buyers offering.
December 3, 2002... International Luxury Travel Market (ILTM) has extended its offer for buyers to include a pre-event conference and post-event golf day. The Cannes-based show is taking place from 10-12 December. The optional conference will be held on 9...

INTERNATIONAL NEWS: Carlson joins up with Rezidor for properties deal.
December 3, 2002... Carlson Hotels Worldwide has teamed up with Rezidor SAS Hospitality to develop more than 700 hotels in Europe, the Middle East and Africa over the next ten years. The partnership will see properties operating under Carlson brand names,...

INTERNATIONAL NEWS: Snooze auction site offers hotel rooms via web.
December 3, 2002... An internet auction platform to allow users to purchase hotel rooms for congresses and group travel has been set up. Snoozeland.com is the brainchild of Leipzig Tourist Service director Richard Schrumpf. It has been designed to enable...

PUSHING FRONTIERS: The Seychelles go upmarket.
December 3, 2002... The Seychelles is an Indian Ocean archipelago. With an average temperature of 29 degC and a population of 81,000, it offers a secluded beach destination. While a number of agencies have hosted UK groups there, the main concern has been the...

INTERNATIONAL BRIEFS: Appointment at The Czech Tourist Authority.
December 3, 2002... The Czech Tourist Authority has appointed David Gladis director. Tel: 020 7631 0426.

INTERNATIONAL BRIEFS: Appointment at Leading Hotels of the World.
December 3, 2002... Leading Hotels of the World has named Thorsten Meier as European director of group sales. Tel: 0800 2888 8882.

INTERNATIONAL BRIEFS: Showcase to be held on 19 November.
December 3, 2002... The ICC Durban, Durban Africa Convention Bureau, and Tourism KwaZulu-Natal will be holding their annual showcase in the UK on 19 November. Tel: +27 31 304 4934.

INTERNATIONAL BRIEFS: Appointment at Monaco Government Tourist and Convention Authority.
December 3, 2002... Monaco Government Tourist and Convention Authority has appointed Michel Bouquier to the post of director. Tel: 020 7352 9962.

INTERNATIONAL BRIEFS: Appointment at Dallas Convention and Visitors Bureau.
December 3, 2002... Dallas Convention and Visitors Bureau has appointed Chris Luna as chairman of the board. Tel: + 1 214 571 1000.

INTERNATIONAL BRIEFS: Bureau launches guide.
December 3, 2002... Sydney Convention and Visitors Bureau has launched its latest incentive guide called Imagine Sydney. Tel: +61 2 9331 045.

INTERNATIONAL BRIEFS: Membership granted.
December 3, 2002... The Great Hotels of the World organisation has granted the Fiesta Americana Grand Coral Beach in Cancun membership of the Great Incentive Hotels of the World consortium. Tel: 020 7383 2335.

INTERNATIONAL BRIEFS:.
December 3, 2002... Les Bordes golf club in France is offering a 24-hour winter conference rate, including a golf lesson, of EUR150 (pounds 95). Tel: +33 02 54 87 72 12

INTERNATIONAL BRIEFS: Martinez offers upgrades.
December 3, 2002... Hotel Martinez, Cannes, is offering free room upgrades for groups between January and March 2003. Tel:+33 492 98 74 11.

INTERNATIONAL BRIEFS: Fira Palace offers free room hire.
December 3, 2002... Hotel Fira Palace, Barcelona, is offering free meeting room hire in January and February. Tel: +34 934 262 223.

OPINION: Sounding Off - Responsibility has to trickle from top.
December 3, 2002... Many companies today bang the drum about corporate social responsibility. But in my experience, I see this as lip service and rarely backed up by action. If companies want to create a culture of social responsibility, they must visibly...

CASE STUDY: Aon team builds in the community.
December 3, 2002... Affected by the events of 11 September, the Aon Global Risks Division forsook the traditional team-building day in favour of assisting local charities of their choice. Clearing a riverbank, painting a mural in a school playground and...

UNUSUAL VENUES: An event less ordinary.
December 3, 2002... Unusual venues can attract delegates and reinforce brand messages, but what should organisers look out for when selecting a venue for an event? Julia Gosling investigates For many years, and across all areas of the conference and meetings...

BOURNEMOUTH: Coastal resource.
December 3, 2002... Long held to be middle England's retirement capital, Bournemouth's facilities and dynamism could surprise conference organisers. Paul Twite reports on the factors behind the new image The fact Bournemouth's blue-rinse roots have been...

NORTH WEST ENGLAND: Northern highlights.
December 3, 2002... With two airports, good road links, and a range of conference facilities in city, country and coastal settings, the north west of England has a lot to offer organisers, as Stephanie Roberts finds From cosmopolitan cities to seaside resorts,...