Conference & Incentive Travel articles from January 2003

Conference & Incentive Travel archives from January 2003

FIRST OFF: Industry rises to the challenges it faces.
January 1, 2003... The most frequently asked question of the past year had to be 'how's business?' Although some are putting a brave face on it, the economic slowdown has led to budget cuts that have severely affected operators, with some programmes cancelled...

BTA and ETC pool their resources for merger.
January 1, 2003... The British Tourism Authority (BTA) and the English Tourism Council (ETC) are to merge to create a unified body. The body is as yet unnamed but will be effective from 1 April this year. It will be headed up by BTA chief executive Tom...

Confex hosts buyers at this year's event.
January 1, 2003... International Confex is to launch a hosted-buyer programme for the 2003 exhibition. The buyer programme, called the Confex Privilege Club, is looking to attract 100 top industry buyers from the UK and Europe, 80% of who will be...

WTM figures up despite doubts on Excel debut.
January 1, 2003... World Travel Market (WTM) claims its 2002 show attracted its largest ever audience attendance. Unaudited figures show visitor numbers up 6.8% over the previous year. The number of exhibiting countries rose from 172 to 184, with 17...

UK PRICE CHECK: One-day meeting and spa day.
January 1, 2003... Brief: A one-day meeting for 15 delegates in a city spa hotel followed by a day of spa treatments. Costs: restaurant dinner, accommodation, meeting room, lunch, tea and coffee breaks and VAT. Sheraton Grand, Edinburgh 24hr/Day rate ...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Showcase to be held.
January 1, 2003... Monaco Convention Office will be hosting its annual Destination Monaco showcase on 21 January at Claridges, London. Tel: 020 7352 9962.

NEWS IN BRIEF: Conference Kent enquiries increase.
January 1, 2003... Conference Kent, formerly known as the Maidstone, Medway & Kent Conference Bureau, received enquiries totalling pounds 1m from April to September 2002. This marks an 83% overall increase in enquiries. Tel: 01622 602485.

NEWS IN BRIEF: International Centre awarded grant.
January 1, 2003... The International Centre, Telford, has been awarded a pounds 700,000 grant from the European Development Fund. The money will go towards the first phase of the centre's redevelopment. Tel: 01952 281500.

NEWS IN BRIEF: Jersey Conference Bureau undertakes study.
January 1, 2003... Jersey Conference Bureau has undertaken a feasibility study to determine demand for a purpose-built conference centre on the island. The results will be known by the end of the month. Tel: 020 7733 1301.

NEWS IN BRIEF: Thistle Hotels launches Meeting Service.
January 1, 2003... Thistle Hotels has launched its Instant Meeting Service, enabling buyers with groups of up to 50 delegates to get an immediate quote from a central reservations team. Tel: 020 7895 2236.

NEWS IN BRIEF: Easyjet to establish base.
January 1, 2003... Easyjet is to establish a base at Newcastle Airport from spring 2003. Tel: 0191 222 1282.

NEWS IN BRIEF: BACD attracts buyers.
January 1, 2003... The BACD (British Association of Conference Destinations) attracted more than 100 association and corporation buyers to its second Confer London workshop last November. Tel: 0121 212 1400.

NEWS IN BRIEF: National Museums of Scotland teams up.
January 1, 2003... The National Museums of Scotland has teamed up with Apex Hotels to provide conference packages in Edinburgh. Tel: 0131 247 4113.

Venue-locating company keeps Lloyds TSB remit.
January 1, 2003... Bristol-based venue finder and production company Conference Connections has retained its contract with Lloyds TSB for another three years. The agency originally won the pitch with the bank three years ago, and the contract was extended...

Maritz names team for European drive.
January 1, 2003... Maritz has appointed a team of advisers to head up its European arm in a bid to expand its operations on the continent. The new team is expected to bring Maritz Europa in line with the company's global operations. Maritz Travel chairman...

PEOPLE AND PLACES: Northern Rock visits London.
January 1, 2003... When mortgage lender Northern Rock decided to move its annual reward programme to a domestic destination last September in a bid to cut costs, it chose London - and it did not fail to impress. The company's top ten, north-east based...

20/20 opens US office to support global ambition.
January 1, 2003... Agency 20/20 Productions has opened an office in the US as part of ongoing expansion plans to pitch the company to the global market. The San Francisco-based office opened late last year. It will cater for the agency's UK clients such as...

Virgin takes on C&I desk staff for UK business.
January 1, 2003... Virgin Atlantic has hired two national account managers to concentrate on the UK C&I market. Claire Liggins moves from her position as account manager, specialist sales at Delta Air Lines, while Chris Price has been with Virgin for three...

Bournemouth gets full CVB go-ahead.
January 1, 2003... The Bournemouth International Centre (BIC) and the town's industry suppliers have been given approval by the borough council to set up a full-service conference bureau. Officially launched on 1 January, the Bournemouth International...

BTP presses for tax parity with Europe.
January 1, 2003... The Business Tourism Partnership (BTP) has called upon the government to bring UK taxes in line with other European destinations. At a recent forum between the BTP and Business Tourism Scotland (BTS) - which has recently joined the BTP as...

Cheshire to run C&I showcase as annual event.
January 1, 2003... Chester & Cheshire Conference Desk is to run its C&I showcase event annually, following its debut last November. The mini-exhibition was held at Chester Racecourse and featured 60 local venues and suppliers and pulled in more than 150 UK...

The incentive age is over - long live motivational travel.
January 1, 2003... There's been a lot of talk lately about the possible demise of incentive travel. As if the economic downturn and 11 September weren't enough, the imminent hike in NIC on incentives will put the boot in still further. Add to that the fact...

MIA survey points to training needs.
January 1, 2003... Research conducted by the Corporate Travel & Meetings Forum, in association with the MIA, has highlighted the need for vocational training within the C&I industry. In a survey of UK senior corporate event managers, 65% of respondents...

Entries soar in all categories for CEA Awards.
January 1, 2003... Entries for the 2002 Corporate Event Association (CEA) awards rose by 50% to 75 in total. It was the first time the awards were held in association with CIT sister publication Event. 'There was a good range of events up for consideration...

BACD redefines meeting venues.
January 1, 2003... The British Association of Conference Destinations (BACD) is to relaunch its annual British Conference Market Trends Survey, in a bid to standardise industry definitions and allow for greater comparability. Entitled British Conference...

WEBWATCH: Cannes opens up availability.
January 1, 2003... The Cannes convention bureau has launched a website - www.goforspace.com - to enable potential buyers to instantly discover availability at the town's venues. After logging on to the English language version, the site shows users the...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Appointment at Warwick Conferences.
January 1, 2003... Warwick Conferences has appointed Brian Healy as director of training and conferences, and Catherine Greenhill has joined as business development manager. Tel: 024 7652 3222.

NEWS IN BRIEF: MacDonald launches brochure.
January 1, 2003... MacDonald Hotels has launched its meetings, conferences and events brochure for 2003. Tel: 0845 604 4242.

NEWS IN BRIEF: Appointment at Event Agency Acclaim.
January 1, 2003... Event Agency Acclaim has appointed Caroline Perry as account manager. Tel: 01297 20820.

NEWS IN BRIEF: Main Event launches.
January 1, 2003... Main Event Publishing has launched to create customised magazines for corporate events. Tel: 020 8969 5726.

NEWS IN BRIEF: Appointment at Wonderful Copenhagen.
January 1, 2003... Wonderful Copenhagen has appointed Lene Christensen as sales manager for the UK and Ireland. Tel: 020 7201 3985.

NEWS IN BRIEF: Appointment at The Heart of England Tourist Board.
January 1, 2003... The Heart of England Tourist Board has appointed Sam Warnock as head of marketing. Tel: 01905 761147.

NEWS IN BRIEF: Appointment at Festival Cruises.
January 1, 2003... Festival Cruises has appointed Julie Maskell as groups, conference & incentives executive. Tel: 020 7734 9460.

NEWS IN BRIEF: BI launches Eventrak.
January 1, 2003... BI has launched an online management tool called Eventrak. The system covers various elements of event organisation such as hotel bookings and post-event campaign activity. Tel: 020 7917 1767.

NEWS IN BRIEF: Appointment at Raffles International Hotels & Resorts.
January 1, 2003... Raffles International Hotels & Resorts has appointed Claudia Schuitemaker as manager for global sales, conference and incentives for the UK. Tel: 020 7300 1837.

NEWS IN BRIEF: Harrods breakfast packages.
January 1, 2003... Harrods now offers executive breakfast meeting packages from pounds 20.50 per person. Tel: 020 7225 6736.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS: Thailand grows visitor remit with CVB launch.
January 1, 2003... Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has launched a dedicated convention and exhibition bureau, two years after the idea was first mooted. The bureau will be represented in the UK by the convention team at TAT's London office. TAT...

INTERNATIONAL NEWS: Indonesia initiates Bali boost.
January 1, 2003... The Indonesian Culture & Tourism Board (ICTB) has launched a series of recovery initiatives for this year to rebuild international confidence in Bali, in the aftermath of last October's terrorist attacks on the island. ICTB executive...

INTERNATIONAL NEWS: Sydney builds extra space in SCEC for shows.
January 1, 2003... The Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre is to expand, after finding that two thirds of its international convention business includes an exhibition component. 'The expansion of an additional 10,000m2 would boost the total space to...

INTERNATIONAL NEWS: World Price Check - One-day meeting and spa day.
January 1, 2003... Brief: A one-day meeting for 15 delegates in a city spa hotel followed by a day of spa treatments. Costs: restaurant dinner, accommodation, meeting room, lunch, tea and coffee breaks. Interalpen Hotel, Tyrol pounds...

INTERNATIONAL BRIEFS: Mandarin Oriental offers package.
January 1, 2003... Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong is offering a residential meeting package of pounds 154 up until 15 March. Tel: +852 2522 0111.

INTERNATIONAL BRIEFS: Appointment at Corinthia Hotels International.
January 1, 2003... Corinthia Hotels International has appointed Raymond Capdevila and Pierre Boppe to the board of directors. Tel: 020 8943 4191.

INTERNATIONAL BRIEFS: Dorint Don Giovanni Prague offers rate.
January 1, 2003... The Dorint Don Giovanni Prague Hotel is offering a day-delegate rate of pounds 25 until the end of February. Tel: +420 2 6703 1609.

INTERNATIONAL BRIEFS: Destinations Unlimited represents.
January 1, 2003... Atlas Travel of Croatia is now represented in the UK by Destinations Unlimited. Tel: 01993 851 590.

INTERNATIONAL BRIEFS: Malta to host conference.
January 1, 2003... Malta is to host the 2003 annual conference of the Institute of Travel and Tourism this June. Tel: 020 8877 6993.

INTERNATIONAL BRIEFS: ICCA launches YIPI.
January 1, 2003... ICCA has launched YIPI (Young ICCA Professionals International), a group for meeting industry newcomers. Tel: +31 20 398 1919.

INTERNATIONAL BRIEFS: Millennium publishes brochure.
January 1, 2003... Millennium Hotels & Resorts has published its latest brochure for event organisers. Tel: 020 7872 2480.

INTERNATIONAL BRIEFS: Disneyland publishes brochure.
January 1, 2003... Disneyland Resort Paris has published its latest Business Solutions brochure for meeting planners. Tel: +33 1 60 45 75 00.

INTERNATIONAL BRIEFS: Air France introduces services.
January 1, 2003... Air France has introduced direct services to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport from Aberdeen and Bristol. Tel: 0845 0845 111.

INTERNATIONAL BRIEFS: HKCEC offers packages.
January 1, 2003... Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) is offering meeting packages in 2003 starting at pounds 15 per delegate for a half-day meeting. Tel: +852 2582 8888.

Middle East moots marketing alliance.
January 1, 2003... www.citmagazine.com Plans to launch a tourism marketing alliance for states across the Middle East are currently under consideration. The alliance, coined the Arabian Travel and Tourism Industry Association, is the initiative of...

Airline takes lead on Vietnam's C&I drive.
January 1, 2003... Vietnam Airlines is spearheading the launch of a marketing campaign to boost C&I business to the country. The 'Vietnam When Meetings Matter' drive is backed by the airline, 13 international hotels in Ho Chi Minh City and the Vietnam...

Incredible India brand adopted to push country.
January 1, 2003... The Indian Ministry of Tourism and Culture has adopted a global brand name to focus its marketing activity. The strap 'Incredible India' will be used in all the country's global marketing campaigns. It aims to emulate other south-east...

Newly empowered staff bite the hand that nurtures them.
January 1, 2003... A major recruitment company announced recently that outsourcing is the hot topic in human resources. Given our industry's growing dependence on freelance staff, are we finally in step with commercial reality? I do wonder if clients worry...

Portugal eyes C&I with regional CVBs.
January 1, 2003... Portugal is looking to pull in more C&I business by launching three regional convention bureaus. Estoril and Sintra, Madeira, and the Algarve are all aiming to pull in groups through dedicated convention bureaus. The Estoril Coast...

Reed bullish on AIME exhibitors for 2003 show.
January 1, 2003... Reed Travel Exhibitions (RTE) claims this year's Asia Pacific-based show, AIME, is expected to be 10% larger in terms of floor space and exhibitor numbers should top 600. Held in Melbourne from 18-19 February, the show will incorporate an...

Dubai and Cape Town sign up to BestCities pact.
January 1, 2003... Cape Town and Dubai have been accepted as members of worldwide convention bureau alliance BestCities.net. The cities join existing members Boston, Copenhagen, Edinburgh, Melbourne and Vancouver. The new members will be required to adhere...

PEOPLE AND PLACES: Compass cooks in Vienna.
January 1, 2003... Foodservice company Compass Group looked to Line Up Communications to organise its senior management conference last summer. More than 420 delegates from 60 countries attended the four-day event at the Austria Trend Eventhotel in Vienna....

NEWS IN BRIEF: Martinez and Royal Monceau join Vision.
January 1, 2003... The Martinez in Cannes and the Royal Monceau in Paris have joined the Vision Hotel Group. Tel: +33 1 42 76 98 36.

NEWS IN BRIEF: Historic Conference Centres welcome members.
January 1, 2003... Historic Conference Centres of Europe has welcomed four new members. Kaisersaal Erfurt and Kongress Palais Kassel in Germany, The Pieterskerk in the Netherlands, and the Anthinais Conference Centre in Athens bring the organisation's...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Radisson SAS to open hotels.
January 1, 2003... Radisson SAS Hotel & Resorts is to open 29 hotels across Europe, Africa and the Middle East over the next two years. Tel: +32 3 702 9224.

NEWS IN BRIEF: South Sinai appoints Supereps.
January 1, 2003... South Sinai Travel, a DMC based in Egypt, has appointed Supereps International as its UK representative. Tel: 020 7242 3131.

NEWS IN BRIEF: Cambridge appoints Connect AB.
January 1, 2003... Cambridge Beaches in Bermuda has appointed Connect AB as its UK representative. Tel: 01753 684810.

NEWS IN BRIEF: Sportsworld takes bookings.
January 1, 2003... Sportsworld is now taking bookings for corporate groups looking to go to the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. Tel: 01235 541173.

NEWS IN BRIEF: Vancouver Convention benefits.
January 1, 2003... Vancouver Convention Centre is set to benefit from dollars 500m (pounds 314m) funding from the governments of Canada and British Columbia. Tel: +1 613 957 5555.

NEWS IN BRIEF: Los Angeles bureau rebrands.
January 1, 2003... The Los Angeles Convention & Visitors Bureau has rebranded as LA Inc, the Convention and Visitors Bureau. Tel: 020 7318 9555.

NEWS IN BRIEF: Targeting UK C&I buyers.
January 1, 2003... Sacramento Convention & Visitors Bureau is working in conjunction with Lake Tahoe to target UK C&I buyers. Tel: 020 8237 7979.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS: Greece prepares to profit from Games.
January 1, 2003... Greece has launched a two-year marketing plan capitalising on the awareness generated by the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, to drive C&I business to the country. The campaign will have three tiers - establishing four regional convention...

INTERNATIONAL NEWS: RTE to introduce new technology stand at EIBTM.
January 1, 2003... Reed Travel Exhibitions is introducing a number of initiatives at this year's EIBTM exhibition. It will work with Meeting Professionals International (MPI) to host a Technology Village at the show, focusing on the impact of technology in...

INTERNATIONAL NEWS: IMEX schemes to foster debutants and productivity.
January 1, 2003... IMEX has outlined a number of projects for its inaugural show this April. These include running a wild-card scheme for potential exhibitors and a Performance-Improvement pavilion in conjunction with SITE. The wild-card scheme will...

INTERNATIONAL NEWS: Pushing Frontiers - Greenland targets groups.
January 1, 2003... Greenland will target the UK C&I market this year with a series of promotions run in conjunction with the Danish Tourist Board. Various campaigns will roll out over the next few months, including buyer fam trips, to drum up business for...

INTERNATIONAL BRIEFS: Appointment at ICCA.
January 1, 2003... ICCA has elected Christian Mutschlechner, director of the Vienna Convention Bureau, as president. Tel: +31 20 398 1908.

INTERNATIONAL BRIEFS: Bella Centre merges departments.
January 1, 2003... Denmark's Bella Centre has merged its meeting and exhibition departments and has appointed Lene Mortensen as head of the new department. Tel: +45 32 47 20 02.

INTERNATIONAL BRIEFS: Austria Centre launches package.
January 1, 2003... Austria Centre Vienna has launched a package for smaller meetings with a shorter lead-time. It can be booked at any time of year, for events no more than six months in advance, at a day delegate rate of EUR 60 (pounds 43) per person. Tel:...

INTERNATIONAL BRIEFS: Silversea offers opportunities.
January 1, 2003... Silversea is offering groups a number of charter opportunities in the Caribbean. Tel: +1 954 713 3910.

INTERNATIONAL BRIEFS: Appointment at Marriott International.
January 1, 2003... Marriott International has appointed John Licence as vice-president of global sales for Europe and Annie Brooks as vice-president for business development in Europe. Tel: 020 8741 3393.

INTERNATIONAL BRIEFS: Appointment at IACVB.
January 1, 2003... IACVB (International Association of Convention and Visitor Bureaus) has appointed Suzanne Denbak, CEO and president of Tourism Whistler, to its board of directors. Tel: +1 604 938 2795.

INTERNATIONAL BRIEFS: Appointment at Reed Travel Exhibitions.
January 1, 2003... Reed Travel Exhibitions has appointed Tom Nutley as chairman and Mike Allsopp as managing director. Ian Dockrill joins as director of global industry relations and strategic development for RTE's C&I events. Tel: 01580 201178.

INTERNATIONAL BRIEFS: Barcelona CVB introduces Card.
January 1, 2003... Barcelona CVB has introduced a Congress Card offering discounts around the city. Tel: +34 933 68 97 00.

SOUNDING OFF: Clients should pay for pointless briefs.
January 1, 2003... Do you corporate buyers out there have any idea of the time it takes for us agencies to prepare a full proposal in response to a brief? I am sure it's a great deal more than you think. To give you an idea, we recently prepared a written...

CASE STUDY: Gleneagles offers Orange a free rein.(planning conference )
January 1, 2003... When mobile network Orange hosted one of its forums in the UK, it booked sole use of the Gleneagles Hotel, enabling it to change the decor to match its brand image. Julia Gosling reports on the transformation The regular Orange Brand...

CORPORATE HOSPITALITY: Cutting costs, adding value.
January 1, 2003... To fit in with today's economy organisers are choosing to refocus corporate hospitality events so they stretch both the imagination and budgets, as Colette Doyle discovers From learning magic tricks to masterminding culinary creations,...

MANCHESTER: Centre of attention.(travel and meeting destination )
January 1, 2003... The Commonwealth Games turned the global spotlight on to the city of Manchester and, as Jennifer Creevy discovers, this has further enhanced its offer to the corporate market More than 1 billion people watched the Commonwealth Games last...

BELFAST: Pride of the province.(meeting location )
January 1, 2003... Despite the ongoing political mire, buyers continue to rally to Belfast's meetings offer. Jennifer Creevy finds the city owes much of its reputation to the quality of its venues Belfast is bullish about its offering. Belfast Visitor &...