Conference & Incentive Travel articles from January 2005

Conference & Incentive Travel archives from January 2005

First off: Attention to detail is a basis for business.(EIBTM, Barcelona, Spain)(Brief Article)(Editorial)
January 21, 2005... When as big an event as EIBTM moved to Barcelona after far too many years in Geneva there were always going to be teething problems. Without a doubt the prospect of visiting this exciting city pulled in the punters with record numbers attending...

NTOs unite to target UK C&I buyers at inaugural event.(national tourist organisations, conferences and incentives)
January 21, 2005... UK-based national tourist organisations (NTOs) are combining forces for the first time to target UK C&I buyers directly. Around 20 NTOs, including Australia, Denmark, Germany, Switzerland and South Africa, are co-operating on the yet to be...

UK price check: Annual shareholders' event.(Brief Article)(Illustration)
January 21, 2005... 200 delegates for two nights, three days in June 2005 SHERATON GRAND, EDINBURGH 24-hour rate pounds 93,000 Day delegate rate pounds 11,100 Exhibition space Included F&B ...

UK business tourism remains undervalued.(Brief Article)
January 21, 2005... Business tourism remains a poor relation to leisure tourism in terms of funding, despite its growing importance to the UK economy. Speaking at the second National Conference on Business Tourism, Business Tourism Partnership chairman Michael...

Industry experts prepare to offer advice at Confex.(International Confex)(Brief Article)
January 21, 2005... Confex has unveiled the team of industry experts that will provide advice at this year's show. Write Style Communications director Mike Lyon has assembled the team, which will man the Advice Centre at Earls Court on 15-17 February. They...

News brief: Appointment at Manchester Evening News Arena.(Brief Article)
January 21, 2005... Visit London chief executive David Campbell will leave his post in the spring to join Manchester Evening News Arena owners Anschutz Entertainment Group UK, where he will oversee management of the Dome. Tel: 020 7234 5847.

News brief: Grant Thorton reports London loss.(Brief Article)
January 21, 2005... Grant Thorton, the accountants and business advisors, has reported to the London ICC Mayoral Commission that the capital loses pounds 27m a year in conference business due to lack of availability. Web: www.londonicc.co.uk.

News brief: RNM Systems report.(room booking systems)(Brief Article)
January 21, 2005... RNM Systems reports that almost half of staff have no idea of the costs relating to the rooms they routinely book and only 12% use specialist room booking systems. Tel: 020 8293 6860.

News brief: Appointment at Edinburgh Conference Centre.(Brief Article)
January 21, 2005... The Edinburgh Conference Centre has announced the appointment of Thomas Day as its first general manager. Day joins from Cardiff Catering in Wales where he was commercial manager. Tel: 0131 451 3666.

News brief: NYS Corporate adds Siemens UK to portfolio.(Brief Article)
January 21, 2005... NYS Corporate, a York-based C&I agency, has added Siemens UK to its portfolio. It will be the sole preferred agency booking Siemens' conferences. Tel: 01904 420222.

News brief: Conference Bristol launches website.(www.conference-bristol.co.uk)(Brief Article)
January 21, 2005... Conference Bristol has launched a website for hassle-free bookings. Web: www.conference-bristol.co.uk.

News brief: Strong growth suggested for UK hotel industry.(Brief Article)
January 21, 2005... PricewaterhouseCoopers' most recent report suggests that 2004 will prove to be the beginning of three years of strong growth for the UK hotel industry. Tel: 020 7213 4995.

News brief: Appointment at Venues Live.(Brief Article)
January 21, 2005... Chris Melton has joined Venues Live, part of the Live Group. He was previously a venue-search specialist for nine years. Tel: 020 8481 2033.

Angela Mortimer picks agency for events business.(Beyondevents)(Brief Article)
January 21, 2005... Recuitment company Angela Mortimer has handed its events business to a start-up agency that claims to specialise in 'intelligent events'. Beyondevents has been chosen to deliver events at both corporate and divisional levels, train staff...

SLE to handle Sesame's 2005 programme.(Brief Article)
January 21, 2005... Financial services group Sesame has appointed events company SLE to manage its 2005 programme of events. The Midlands-based firm will work with Sesame's in-house team to implement a programme of 220 regional roadshows, starting in...

People and Places: Radisson SAS, London Stansted Airport.(opening party)(Brief Article)
January 21, 2005... To celebrate the completion of the Radisson SAS hotel at Stansted, more than 1,000 guests attended a grand opening party in early November. The pounds 50m, 500-room property welcomed an audience of local suppliers and business people, industry...

Monkleigh clinches First Corporate deal.(acquisition)(Brief Article)
January 21, 2005... Monkleigh has completed its second acquisition in buying corporate event management business First Corporate Events. Monkleigh bought Bicester-based Pro Motions Event Management for pounds 255,000 in October. Chief executive Ric Yerbury...

Robinson Centre scoops a second award for its work.(Brief Article)
January 21, 2005... The Robinson Centre in Bedfordshire received the prestigious Training Venue of the Year award at the World of Learning Awards in November 2004. The accolade signifies a successful quarter as the venue also won the Business Tourism Award in...

Circom chooses Liverpool to host 2005 conference.(Brief Article)
January 21, 2005... Circom Regional, the European television association, has chosen Liverpool for its annual broadcasting conference in May 2005. Approximately 250 delegates from 38 European countries will take part in the four-day pan-European event, which...

CIT rallies sector to support the Games.
January 21, 2005... CIT is calling on readers to 'Back the Bid' in support of London's efforts to host the 2012 Olympic Games. In association with Visit London, CIT has devised a website to register support from the meetings sector. The site, which is at...

Disability body helps organisers.(Disability Rights Commission)(Brief Article)
January 21, 2005... The Disability Rights Commission (DRC) has launched a guide for event organisers looking to comply with new requirements under the Disability Discrimination Act. Creating Accessible Events provides advice and tips for organisers. Since 1...

Webwatch: Conference portfolio.(www.conferenceport folio.com)(Brief Article)
January 21, 2005... Web www.conferenceport folio.com What's the idea? The website aims to provide clients with a showcase of the most prestigious conference hotels in Europe. It is a spin-off venture of the venue-finding agency SB Nexus. How...

Come on girls: now is the right time to polish up your act.(leadership training)(Brief Article)
January 21, 2005... Not long ago I produced an events industry training workshop, at which there were two male delegates and 31 females. Some imbalance, you might say. But while it's news to no one that our sector is largely populated by women, how can it be that...

International: EIBTM unites organisations to promote sector globally.(Exhibition For The Incentive, Business Travel and Meetings Industry)(World Tourism Organisation)(International Congress and Convention Association)(Meeting Professionals International)(Brief Article)
January 21, 2005... EIBTM has joined forces with the World Tourism Organization (WTO), ICCA and MPI to collate definitive figures on the meetings industry to raise its profile and quantify its value among governments. The development dates back to the last...

International: World Price Check - Annual shareholders' event.(Brief Article)(Illustration)
January 21, 2005... 200 delegates for two nights, three days in June 2005 GRAND HOTEL ESPLANADE, BERLIN 24-hour rate pounds 86,000 Day delegate rate pounds 9,000 Exhibition space Included F&B ...

International: CVB survey indicates divergence on taxes.(Convention Services Bureau )(Brief Article)
January 21, 2005... A global benchmark survey of convention and visitors bureaus worldwide has identified the issue of local tourism taxes as one of the most significant differences between European and US organisations. In the US, tourism taxes such as those...

International: MPI establishes a monetary target on meetings work.(Meeting Professionals International)(fund raising)(Brief Article)
January 21, 2005... MPI Foundation Europe is aiming to raise EUR500,000 (pounds 340,000) for research and programmes in the meetings industry by March 2006. It follows the launch of the Focus 2006 campaign at EIBTM in Barcelona and is the group's first major...

International Brief: Hotels of the World launch programme.(Brief Article)
January 21, 2005... Leading Hotels of the World has launched an international spa evaluation and certification programme. To achieve Leading Spas status, facilities have to pass a 200-point inspection. Tel: + 212 515 5600.

International Brief: SITE to raise funding programme.(Brief Article)
January 21, 2005... The Society of Incentive and Travel Executives is looking to raise dollars 3m (pounds 1.55m) to help it develop educational programmes and provide scholarships to attend its annual conference. The fund has already gathered dollars 1.2m (pounds...

International Brief: Energy Clinic opens new facilities.(Brief Article)
January 21, 2005... Energy Clinic, the feng shui-concept meeting room and spa brand, has opened five new facilities in Zagreb, Dubrovnik and Bol in Croatia, Hamburg and Te Anau in New Zealand. Tel: 020 7650 0718.

International Brief: Appointment at Conferon.(Appointment)(Brief Article)
January 21, 2005... Conferon, the US's largest independent meeting planner, has appointed Jim Bennett to manage its Atlanta office. He joins from Starwood Hotels. Tel: + 404 841 9491.

International Brief: Hotel Hermitage, Monte Carlo wins award.(Brief Article)
January 21, 2005... The Hotel Hermitage in Monte Carlo won the Best Restoration of Rooms category at the recent Worldwide Hospitality Awards. The work preserved the historic facade while adding eight VIP apartments and 46 rooms. Tel: +377 92 16 40 00.

International Brief: Net profit for Sol Melia Hotels.(Brief Article)
January 21, 2005... Sol Melia Hotels has posted a m65m (pounds 45m) net profit for the third quarter of 2004, a 27% year-onyear increase. Revenue was up 5% to, 800m (pounds 550m) on the year. Web: www.solmelia.com.

International Brief: Europe Incoming Budapest appoints Supereps Intl.(Brief Article)
January 21, 2005... Europe Incoming Budapest, a Hungarian DMC, has appointed Supereps International as its first UK sales office to focus on the meetings and groups travel market. Tel: 020 7242 3131.

International: Historic body will benefit members as an association.(Historic Conference Centres of Europe)(Brief Article)
January 21, 2005... The Historic Conference Centres of Europe (HCCE) has officially become an association. The move means the body, previously a simple alliance of historic venues around the continent, can now offer its members direct sales assistance rather...

International: India set to capitalise on increase in flights.(Brief Article)
January 21, 2005... India has earmarked the UK C&I market as a source for future growth with the announcement of 21 new flights from Heathrow to the country in 2005. Virgin will fly to Delhi and Mumbai, sharing the last route with British Midland, while British...

International: Haymarket to launch luxury travel show.(Brief Article)
January 21, 2005... Haymarket Exhibitions has announced the launch of a luxury travel show to take place at the Royal Albert Hall on 16-17 May. Entitled Premium Travel 2005, the show aims to showcase 'the world's most exclusive travel brands to the premium...

International: People and Places - Copenhagen.
January 21, 2005... As part of a series of fam trips to Denmark during 2004, the Danish Tourist Board, Wonderful Copenhagen, SAS Scandinavian Airlines and DMC Conventum invited 11 buyers from the UK to explore the Danish capital for two days at the beginning of...

International Brief: UIA launches International Congress Calendar Online.(Union of International Associations)(www.uia.org.)(Brief Article)
January 21, 2005... The Union of International Associations (UIA) has launched the International Congress Calendar Online, providing details of 10,000 international meetings up to 2015. It is open to subscribers and UIA associate members. Web: www.uia.org.

International Brief: Swissotel launches website.(Brief Article)
January 21, 2005... Swissotel has launched a website with a quick reservation feature and dedicated pages for business travellers. Online reservations have grown by 50% in the past year. Web: www.swissotel.com.

International Brief: International Congress Centre Berlin report.(Brief Article)
January 21, 2005... International Congress Centre Berlin attracted 174,000 delegates to 585 conferences in 2004, according to its end-of-year report. Consumer spending by delegates amounted to 5100m (pounds 69m) for the city. Tel: +49 30 3038 3000.

International Brief: Tourism Australia calculation.(Brief Article)
January 21, 2005... Tourism Australia has calculated that business events are worth Adollars 17.36bn (pounds 6.8bn) to the country's economy and are responsible for 214,000 jobs. The National Business Events Study found that 316,000 events were held in 2003 in...

International Brief: Appointment at Conrad Hotels Ireland.(Appointment)(Brief Article)
January 21, 2005... Conrad Hotels Ireland has recruited Eoghan Sadlier as regional director of business development. Sadlier was previously sales and marketing manager, France, for Aer Lingus. Tel: +353 1 602 8900.

International Brief: SITE members provide vote of confidence.(Brief Article)
January 21, 2005... Society of Incentive and Travel Executives (SITE) members provided a vote of confidence for business in 2005 at its recent international conference in Mexico. Some 64%of delegates were optimistic about business growth in 2005. SITE also...

International: Some clients really take the biscuit, but not the one we made.(Brief Article)
January 21, 2005... Are we in danger of becoming nursemaids to a bunch of over-demanding, under-grateful ignorants or what? Recent conversations have confirmed my frustrations with particular regard to the behaviour of participants making special diet and meal...

International: New Monaco alliance will target organisers.(Brief Article)
January 21, 2005... Monaco's principal business tourism players have combined to launch a marketing concept aimed specifically at conference organisers. 'Monaco Meetings' unites the Monaco Government Tourist and Convention Authority, the Grimaldi Forum and all...

International: Cayman Islands ups C&I focus.(Brief Article)
January 21, 2005... The Cayman Islands Department of Tourism used last month's EIBTM as its first opportunity to showcase the island's full potential to the meetings market. 'The MICE market from Europe accounts for less than 5% of total business,' said...

International: Pushing frontiers beirut.(description and travel)(Brief Article)
January 21, 2005... Affectionately known as the Paris of the Middle East, Beirut has long striven to overcome the battering it took during the civil war in Lebanon, but the city's burgeoning hotel offering indicates that 2005 could be the year it makes a comeback....

EIBTM Review: Update on trends.(Brief Article)
January 21, 2005... Senior lecturer at the University of Westminster and EIBTM analyst Rob Davidson presented his latest industry report at this year's show. Here are some of the key findings: - The world economic outlook remains uncertain. - Buyers are...

EIBTM Review: Crisis strategies are a 'must have' says ICCA chief.(Exhibition for the Incentive, Business Travel & Meetings Industry)(International Congress and Convention Association's Martin Sirk)(Brief Article)
January 21, 2005... Crisis management plans need to be embedded into association conference strategies and not treated as an added extra, EIBTM visitors were told. Chairing a debate on the issue, ICCA chief executive officer Martin Sirk urged associations to...

EIBTM Review: ROI evaluation raises industry's credibility.(return on investment)(Brief Article)
January 21, 2005... The meetings industry needs to adopt workable methodologies for measuring return on investment (ROI) if it is to avoid commoditisation, according to a seminar at EIBTM. MPI director of European operations and global development Didier...

EIBTM Review: Hosted buyer appointments under review.(Exhibition for the Incentive, Business Travel & Meetings Industry)(Brief Article)
January 21, 2005... EIBTM is fine tuning its hosted buyer appointment system for next year following a number of reports of 'no shows' from both exhibitors and buyers. The move follows a mixed reaction to the change in the system for the 2004 show, which allowed...

EIBTM Review: Technology EIBTM Award winner.(Exhibition for the Incentive, Business Travel & Meetings Industry)(IntroNetworks)(Brief Article)
January 21, 2005... The EIBTM Worldwide Technology Watch is a competition looking at new technological products or services that will have a positive impact on the industry. The 2004 winner was IntroNetworks. What is it? Put simply, a social networking...

EIBTM Review: How it worked.(Exhibition for the Incentive, Business Travel & Meetings Industry)
January 21, 2005... WHAT WORKED - The quality and subjects of the seminar programme. - A 53% increase in visitor numbers on the 2003 show. - The easy layout of the hall. - Barcelona nightlife. AND WHAT DIDN'T - The buses from the centre. - The hosted...

EIBTM Review: EIBTM rewards FutureLab with Grand Prix prize.(Exhibition for the Incentive, Business Travel & Meetings Industry)(FutureLab)(Brief Article)
January 21, 2005... Swedish agency FutureLab took home two trophies from Barcelona last month, winning the EIBTM Award for the Best Conference and the prestigious Grand Prix. The prizes were awarded for FutureLab's role as organiser of the international...

Sounding Off: It's a pity agencies can't quote for their telepathic services.(conference management services, management)(Brief Article)
January 21, 2005... The phone rings. It's a new enquiry. 'Hello? You've booked The Ritz Carlton in the Cayman Islands? Are we interested in the project?' It's the client you've been waiting for all summer. 'So you'd like a guest speaker? A website? Flash...

In Person: Michelle Peden, Manager, Hong Kong Tourism Board.
January 21, 2005... Michelle Peden's Christmas was not a routine affair. The most recently appointed member of the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) spent the festive period chasing roofing contractors and browsing Orlando's DIY shops after her holiday home in...

Training: New year, new job.(Incentive Travel & Meetings Association)
January 21, 2005... With a buoyant year ahead, now is the time for C&I job seekers to start the hunt... and for employers to hold on to their best staff. Yasmin Razak reports. It's a new year and the time when most people conjure up a string of resolutions....

Training: Training opportunities.(Leeds Metropolitan University offers courses in event management )
January 21, 2005... The right course can give prospective candidates a flying start. The launch of a Bachelor of Arts degree in conference and exhibitions management in September 2004 has gone some way to meeting the demand for a qualification specific to the...

Training: In the field - Vox Pops.(meeting planners)
January 21, 2005... Whether established or starting out, people in the sector welcome the challenges of their roles. Established Susan Cross, vice-president head of event marketing and management, JP Morgan 'I joined JP Morgan in 1983 and was...

Taining: Change your life - Robin Sieger has the answers.(Brief Article)
January 21, 2005... You can change your life any time you want. It may sound a spurious thing to say, but it's the passionate belief of Robin Sieger - and the title of his new book being published this month. 'People set themselves New Year resolutions with...

Training: Case study - Indeprod sets the scene for success in Finland.(Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Events)
January 21, 2005... When an agency takes staff away to practise what it preaches, they return motivated and company focused. Keeping staff ruddy-cheeked with enthusiasm should be second nature to C&I agencies - they deal, after all, in motivation - so it's...

2005 planner: The Year Ahead.(conferences)(Illustration)
January 21, 2005... Don't double book - here are the essential dates for your diary ASSOCIATIONS BACD AGM/Spring Convention, 8-10 June, Marine Hotel, Troon Confer, date TBC Contact 0121 212 1400, info@bacd.org.uk ICCA Congress and Exhibition, 6-9 Nov,...

Spas: Surround yourself with luxury.(health resorts, United Kingdom)
January 21, 2005... Want to rejuvenate, invigorate and uplift delegates? Well why not check into a hotel spa and let the facilities and treatments do the work for you. Bhavna Mistry reports on the UK spa scene. Think spa and the connotation that springs to...

Spas: Showcase - places to unwind.(premier spa facilities)
January 21, 2005... A round-up of some of the premier spa facilities across the UK that are proving popular with C&I groups. - Four Seasons Hotel, Hampshire - www.fourseasons.com Built around a Grade II-listed Georgian manor house in the Hampshire hills,...

Liverpool: Imagine.
January 21, 2005... Liverpool may have hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons recently, but as it prepares to take on the mantle of European Capital of Culture in 2008 Paul Blaney sees only good news ahead. Dismissing The Spectator's thoughtless comments...

Germany: Prepare for kick off.
January 21, 2005... Warming up to play host to the Fifa World Cup in 2006, Germany's lesser-known towns and cities are experiencing a boost in accessibility and infrastructure. Julia Gosling reports. In 2006 all eyes will be on Germany, and 12 cities in...

Czech Republic: What fairy tales are made of.
January 21, 2005... Beyond the capital's well-known Old Town Square and Astronomical Clock, the Czech Republic offers a host of castles and villages that bring magic to incentive trips. Report by Jane Dunford. With budget flights and cheap beer, Prague has...

Czech Republic: A world of culture and technology.(meetings venues)(Brief Article)
January 21, 2005... Meetings venues in the Czech Republic are blessed with modern features in an historic setting. PRAGUE CASTLE Contact: Richard Vidlicka, +420 224 373 237 Web: www.hrad.cz Number of meeting spaces: 7 Largest space holds: 750...

Czech Republic: Q&A - William Lobkowicz.(interview)(Interview)
January 21, 2005... William Lobkowicz is a descendent of the Lobkowicz family, one of the oldest Bohemian noble families. He owns several castles and palaces in the Czech Republic that can be used for corporate events How many properties are in your portfolio?...

Belgium: Business as usual.(description and travel)(Brief Article)
January 21, 2005... Its convention centre may be temporarily closed, but the capital of Europe is building on other strong assets and strengthening its C&I offering. Brussels is many things. Ask the average Brit on the street for their perceptions of the city...

Belgium: Beyond Brussels - 10 incentives.
January 21, 2005... 1. Re-enact Waterloo Ideal for: history buffs Distance from Brussels: 30 minutes It's a nice round 190 years since Wellington and Napoleon's little tete-a-tete in the countryside south of Brussels, giving the ideal excuse to throw...

Cote d'Azur: The tide is turning.
January 21, 2005... Facing an onslaught of fresh competition, the Cote d'Azur is now fighting back with a swathe of investment projects and a more co-ordinated marketing strategy. Catherine Chetwynd reports. It is no surprise that last month's International...

Australia - Living the dream.
January 21, 2005... This year Sydney played host to Dreamtime 2004, a showcase for Australia's dynamic C&I industry. Kenny Coyle assesses its impact. Australia's premier incentive event, Dreamtime 2004, held in Sydney in late October, was the first held under...

Venue Focus: Deco reopens as flexible conference venue.
January 21, 2005... The Deco in Northampton has completed a pounds 5m English Heritage-approved refurbishment project to launch as a flexible conference and exhibition venue. The converted 1930s Art Deco cinema has over 670m2 of usable space in the auditorium with...

Diary: Let's go to ... Galveston.(Brief Article)
January 21, 2005... Ooh, I know a song about this. Yes. And I know what's coming. Please don't. Galveston, oh Galveston, I still see your sea winds blowin'! Stop it. I still see her dark eyes glowin'! Enough! Sorry. The rhythm smothered me. So why on...

Diary: Warwick Conferences makes a big meal of it.(Brief Article)
January 21, 2005... Customer service has long been as integral a part of the MICE industry as rickety flip-charts, but Warwick Conferences upped the ante recently when it turned up at a client's house to prepare and cook a six-course meal. The beneficiary of the...

Diary: Bald Aid rears its head.(Brief Article)
January 21, 2005... Hats off to Michael Michael, the Korean NTO's singularly named marketing manager, who got into the charitable Christmas spirit by losing every hair on his head to a barber's razor for Band Aid. Following in the recently refreshed footsteps of...

Diary: Confessions of an event planner.(Brief Article)
January 21, 2005... Alcohol and the meetings industry have a definite symbiosis. A decent bottle of wine or six can be the perfect business tool, whether oiling the wheels on a contract win or rewarding a group of hard-working delegates. Moderation is, of course,...

Diary: Competition.
January 21, 2005... Each month, CIT tests your observational skills. This month, readers can win an overnight stay for two at Pennyhill Park and Spa in Surrey (see p33), including dinner and breakfast and a spa treatment. Pennyhill is hidden in 120 acres of...

Diary: Hammer don't hurt 'em.
January 21, 2005... Few things give Diary more pleasure than the jaw-dislocating goodness that is toffee. So, sticky respect is due to the way in which Moat House Hotels embraced the king of confectionery. The sweet-toothed chain celebrated the recent National...