Conference & Incentive Travel articles from January 2006

Conference & Incentive Travel archives from January 2006

First off: Taking the first step to a strategic future.(event planners become strategic event managers )(Brief Article)
January 23, 2006... 'Strategic' seems to be the new buzz word as a growing number of agencies now describe themselves as 'strategic event marketeers'. So what is strategy? According to Chambers, it's 'the art of conducting a campaign and manoeuvring an army'....

HBAA code sets out rulings on liability and commission.(Hotel Booking Agents Association )(Code of Conduct )(Brief Article)
January 23, 2006... The Hotel Booking Agents Association (HBAA) has publicly launched its new Code of Conduct to which all members must now adhere. The code's aim is to raise the standards of professionalism by clearly defining, among other things, which party...

UK Price Check: Residential conference with spa treatments.(residential conference )(Brief Article)
January 23, 2006... Brief: Three-day residential conference for 20 delegates board-room style, with two hours of spa treatments at spa hotel. Prices include bed and breakfast, day delegate rates for three days and dinner on two nights, plus VAT. THE...

Eventia attracts first agency signatories.(signed up to Eventia)(Brief Article)
January 23, 2006... Euro RSCG Skybridge, THA and Indeprod are just some of the event agencies to have signed up to Eventia, the association formed by a fusion between the ITMA and the CEA. Skybridge, which withdrew its ITMA membership in 2004, has rejoined in...

SITE UK chapter's networking effort wins recognition.(Society of Incentive and Travel Executives)(Brief Article)
January 23, 2006... The Great Britain Chapter of SITE, the Society of Incentive and Travel Executives, has been highlighted by the international body as a leading example of an improved chapter. In 2005, the Great Britain chapter more than doubled its...

News brief: Marriott Hotels is incentivising meeting planners with a deal.
January 23, 2006... Marriott Hotels is incentivising meeting planners with a deal that runs until the end of February. Planners booking a meeting for a minimum of 50 delegates will earn enough Marriott Reward Points for five nights at a 'category seven' hotel. 020...

News brief: Conference Centres of Excellence now has 40 members.
January 23, 2006... Conference Centres of Excellence now has 40 members, with the recent addition of Northcote House near Ascot and Weetwood Hall in Leeds. The organisation plans to add three to five new members per year. www.cceonline.co.uk.

News brief: Docklands Light Railway opens an extension ahead of schedule.
January 23, 2006... The Docklands Light Railway has opened its pounds 140m extension ahead of schedule. It now takes just 22 minutes to travel from Bank, in the City, to London City Airport. www.tfl.gov.uk/dlr.

News brief: Appointment at Starwood Hotels.
January 23, 2006... Starwood Hotels & Resorts has appointed Jonathon Sullivan as events manager for its Central London hotels - Sheraton Park Lane Hotel, the Park Tower and the Sheraton Belgravia. www.starwoodhotels.com.

News brief: In Any Event UK sponsers a series of classes.
January 23, 2006... In Any Event UK is sponsoring a series of food and wine master classes to offer advice on menu options and wines to accompany food. www.inanyevent-uk.com.

News brief: Orient Express Hotels, Trains & Cruises launches a brochure.
January 23, 2006... Orient Express Hotels, Trains & Cruises has launched a brochure for UK train journeys on preserved trains, the British Pullman, Northern Belle, Flying Scotsman, featuring new departure points for days out and events. www.orient-express.com.

News brief: Eastnor Castle offers JamesBond-themed team-building days.
January 23, 2006... Eastnor Castle is offering JamesBond-themed team-building days on a programme designed by Leapfrog International featuring 4x4 vehicles. www.eastnorcastle.com.

MMM Jaguar team scoops CEA event management gold.(Jaguar team)(2005 Corporate Event Association)(Brief Article)
January 23, 2006... The Jaguar team at brand experience specialist MMM won Event Management Team of the Year at the 2005 Corporate Event Association (CEA) awards last November. The agency beat off stiff competition - including agency TRO - to win. CEA...

First Protocol given Farnborough remit.(First Protocol to head up its client meetings and entertainment programme)(Brief Article)
January 23, 2006... United Technologies Corporation (UTC) has appointed event management agency First Protocol to head up its client meetings and entertainment programme at this year's Farnborough International Air Show. In a deal worth around pounds 500,000,...

London appointee for Visit Scotland.(Business Tourism Unit appoints Michele Ashby )(Brief Article)
January 23, 2006... Visit Scotland's Business Tourism Unit (BTU) has appointed a full-time business development manager for its London office. Former Millennium Hotel London Mayfair meetings and events sales manager Michele Ashby has taken up the new role with...

Etc Venues takes Best for Business Visit London prize.
January 23, 2006... Etc Venues won gold in the Best for Business category at Visit London's annual awards. The chain of venues won for 'its innovative and creative approach to the UK's meetings, training and C&I sectors,' according to the award's judges. ...

Director quits Maritz for move to Absolute.(Amanda Stranack)(Brief Article)
January 23, 2006... Maritz business development director Amanda Stranack has left the company to become full-time operations director at Bath-based agency Absolute Corporate Events. She replaces former operations director Jo Williams. 'My commute to the...

Dates for your diary industry events in 2006.
January 23, 2006... Exclusive Travel 20-22 January: Helexpo Palace, Athens, www.europartners.gr ABPCO Conference 27-29 January: Bournemouth Marriott, www.abpco.org International Confex 21-23 February: Earls Court, London, www.international-confex.com...

Long hours put the health and safety of the sector at risk.(events industry staff )(Brief Article)
January 23, 2006... Every few months there's news of a further development in the ongoing saga of the Working Time Directive. Last May, the European Parliament voted to phase out the individual opt-out from the 48-hour working week, prompting a flurry of media...

G8 summit planner in Confex keynote role.(International Confex show )(Brief Article)
January 23, 2006... The keynote address at this year's International Confex show will be delivered by the event manager of the 2005 G8 Summit, Gleneagles Hotel director of events and leisure Stuart Smith. Smith will talk about the logistical challenges -...

Buyers vote for trade show role.
January 23, 2006... Trade exhibitions are the preferred method for C&I buyers to communicate with national tourist offices, according to a survey of 1,700 buyers. The survey was conducted on behalf of the 19 NTOs that participated in the World is your Oyster...

Show watch Event Expo North.
January 23, 2006... What is it? Billed as the North's largest event for the conference and banqueting industry, Event Expo North is a two-day exhibition for those 'with an interest in the North', bringing together national and regional buyers and suppliers....

International: MCI identified as one of the fastest growing companies.
January 23, 2006... European event management agency MCI is among Europe's 500 fastest growing companies for the second year running. The agency appears in 138th place in the 2005 edition of Europe's 500, the annual ranking of high-growth, job-creating...

International: Puerto Rico opens biggest Caribbean convention centre.
January 23, 2006... Puerto Rico has opened a pounds 236m convention centre in capital San Juan. The centre, which is the largest facility of its kind in the Caribbean, can take up to 10,000 delegates and already has more than 70 domestic and international...

International: Greek NTO opens UK MICE office in London.(Greek National Tourism Organisation)(Brief Article)
January 23, 2006... The Greek National Tourism Organisation (GNTO) is opening a dedicated MICE office in London in the spring. The two-strong team, which will report to GNTO director Panos Argyros, comprises C&I consultant Marcos Katsimis, who joined in...

International: World price check - Residential conference with spa treatments.(Brief Article)
January 23, 2006... Brief: Three-day conference for 20 delegates in Europe. Prices include bed and breakfast, day delegate rates for three days and dinner on two nights. HOTEL DE PARIS, MONTE-CARLO Accommodation: pounds 12,170 Dinner and room hire:...

International brief: Starwood Hotels & Resorts to open a second Ireland property.
January 23, 2006... Starwood Hotels & Resorts is to open a second Ireland property in the spring. The five-star Sheraton Fota Island Golf Resort & Spa in Cork will offer 133 bedrooms, a spa and a championship golf course. www.starwoodhotels.com.

International brief: KTO announces it will work with Korean Air and Asiana Airlines.
January 23, 2006... The Korea Tourism Organisation's (KTO) London office has announced it will work with Korean Air and Asiana Airlines to jointly market Seoul as a stop-over destination. www.Tour2Korea.com.

International brief: Appointment at Gulf Air.
January 23, 2006... Gulf Air has appointed Richard Croft as sales manager offline Europe. Croft, who joins from Qatar Airways, will be responsible for the management and development of commercial activity throughout the European countries that Gulf Air does not...

International brief: BMI commences a three-times weekly service to Jeddah.
January 23, 2006... BMI will commence a three-times weekly service to Jeddah from Heathrow from the end of April and increase its flights from Heathrow to Mumbai to offer a daily service. In the summer, the airline will start daily services to Doha from Heathrow....

International brief: Maylaysis records a rise in foreign delegates.
January 23, 2006... Malaysis has recorded a rise in foreign delegates from 139,195 in 1999 to 675,699 in 2004, an increase of 80%. 2007 is Visit Malaysia Year, which it is hoped will boost interest further. www.tourism.gov.my.

International brief: Moscow announces a record increase in visitor figures.
January 23, 2006... Moscow has announced a record 15% increase in visitor figures in 2005, to 3.4 million from 2.9 million in 2004. The city is now set to meet its 2010 target of five million arrivals by 2008. www.geographia.com/russia.

International: New York pours pounds 1bn into Javits expansion.(Javits Convention Center)(Brief Article)
January 23, 2006... New York is investing an estimated pounds 1bn into the expansion of the Javits Convention Center. In response to customer demand for more space and extra facilities, the expansion will add a 6,000-seat ballroom, a 1,500-room hotel and an...

International: Westin properties to go smoke-free in North America.(Westin Hotels and Resorts )(Brief Article)
January 23, 2006... Westin Hotels & Resorts is the first hotel chain in North America to introduce a smoke-free policy. Following demand, all 77 US, Canadian and Caribbean hotels are now smoke-free, including the guest rooms and public areas. As part of the...

International: New Orleans starts to open for business.(reopened city centre hotels )(Brief Article)
January 23, 2006... New Orleans is now capable of handling events for up to 3,000 delegates, following massive refurbishments to venues in the aftermath of the floods that hit the city in August. Meetings and conferences can now be held at reopened city centre...

International: People and places - Argentina.(Events by Appointment )(Brief Article)
January 23, 2006... Six lucky agents from Banks Sadler, Grass Roots Group and Events by Appointment among others, were flown to Argentina last September on a fam trip hosted by Hunt and Palmer Marketing Services and local DMC Oyikil Argentina. The seven-day...

International: Small Hotels of the World welcomes 59 members to its fold.
January 23, 2006... Small Hotels of the World is welcoming 59 members to its fold this year, bringing the total to 359 properties. For the first time, hotels in South Korea, Laos, St Lucia, Russia and Estonia are now represented. www.slh.com.

International: Premium Travel 2006 sells out its floor space.
January 23, 2006... Premium Travel 2006 has sold out its floor space. New exhibitors at this year's show - at London's Royal Albert Hall on 27-28 April - include Bel Ami, Paris and Le Royal Meridien Resort & Spa, Dubai. www.premiumtravel2006.com.

International: Melbourne Convention and Visitors Bureau launches it updated guide.
January 23, 2006... Melbourne Convention and Visitor Bureau has launched its updated 176-page guide Melbourne Planner's Guide, containing the latest information on conference and exhibition venues, accommodation, suppliers and pre- and post-meeting options around...

International: Fairmont Hotels & Resorts manages leading New York property.
January 23, 2006... Fairmont Hotels & Resorts will manage leading New York property The Plaza when it reopens following a pounds 200m refurbishment in 2007. www.fairmont.com

International: Qatar Airway starts a fifth weekly service.
January 23, 2006... Qatar Airways will start a fifth weekly service to Manchester from Doha in February, increasing to a daily service on 26 March. This brings the number of weekly flights between Qatar and the UK up to 28, including twice daily from Heathrow and...

International: Staging Connections expands its services into Fiji.
January 23, 2006... Staging Connections, the AV and production firm, has expanded its services into Fiji. It will be based in-house at the Sheraton Fiji Resort, the Sofitel Fiji Resort & Spa and Shangri-La's Fijian Resort. www.stagingconnections.com.

Cutting corners is no way to preserve travel's popularity.(Group travel)(Brief Article)
January 23, 2006... Surveys can confirm anything the person that commissions it wants, but my eye was caught by a completely unambiguous question asked of a cross-section of corporate clients in a copy of Corporate Meetings & Incentives (CMI):'What incentive...

WTO seeks valuation of meetings market.
January 23, 2006... Recommendations for measuring the economic value of the global meetings were unveiled in a report by the Sustainable Tourism Cooperative Research Centre at an EIBTM seminar. The report, commissioned by the World Tourism Organization (WTO),...

Fisher opens Middle East office.(Fisher Productions)(Brief Article)
January 23, 2006... Full event management agency Fisher Productions will expand its services into the UAE early this year following increased demand for the destination from clients. 'Over the past 12 months we have had more enquiries about the Middle East...

Pushing frontiers: Brunei.(world's densest rainforest)(Brief Article)
January 23, 2006... Located on the north-western shores of Borneo, Brunei boasts some of the world's densest rainforest. Add to this opulent retreats, traditional inns and rich culture - not to mention one of the highest per capita incomes on earth, tax-free - and...

C&IT Corporate Forum News: Agencies lagging behind C&I clients on adoption of CSR.
January 23, 2006... Event management companies are the missing link in the C&I sector's drive towards Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), according to Responsible Travel's product development manager Richard Skinner. He said:'While major suppliers such as...

C&IT Corporate Forum News: Don't miss.
January 23, 2006... The next C&IT Forum will be open to agency planners. It will take place: - From Wednesday 2 to Friday 4 August - At the Riverbank Park Plaza, London. Visit www.agency. citforum.co.uk to register.

C&IT Corporate Forum News: Organisers 'missing a trick on branding'.(C&IT Corporate Forum)(Brief Article)
January 23, 2006... Branding an event is not just about using company logos but about recreating the company's ethos, O2 head of events John Worthington told seminar delegates at the C&IT Corporate Forum. 'The emotional connection you create is more important...

C&IT Corporate Forum News: People and places Disneyland Resort Paris.(Brief Article)
January 23, 2006... More than 40 corporate buyers, including Easyjet, Apple and Marks & Spencer, headed for Disneyland Resort Paris last November along with around 25 suppliers for C&IT's second annual Corporate Forum. The three-day event brought delegates...

C&IT Corporate Forum News: US events have a greater focus on face-to-face talks.(Brief Article)
January 23, 2006... Planners in the US spend more of their event budget on face-to-face marketing than their UK counterparts, according to agency First Protocol chief executive Richard Waddington. 'The US is more customer-centric,' he said. 'They spend 60% of...

EIBTM News: Vox Pops.(Sony Computer Entertainment Europe)(good mix of exhibitors )
January 23, 2006... What worked? 'I found the event remarkably worthwhile - I was able to visit key people in Monaco, Abu Dhabi and Budapest to identify possibilities for our conference in 2007.' Nick Sharples, director of corporate communications, Sony...

EIBTM News: 'Aligning objectives will boost creativity'.
January 23, 2006... Understanding business objectives of an event is crucial if meeting planners are to evolve into strategic event managers, according to European ROI Institute founder Elling Hamso. Speaking at a corporate seminar at EIBTM last month, Hamso...

EIBTM News: MPI uses member evaluation as tool to define training.(MPI's Member Solutions)(first online career guide)(Brief Article)
January 23, 2006... MPI seminars will be more targeted and focused following the launch of MPI's Member Solutions, the industry's first online career guide (see page 25). Individual chapters will be able to ascertain skill gaps among their members and develop...

EIBTM News: Debut summit institutes Global CEO Club.
January 23, 2006... Following the success of the inaugural CEO Summit held at EIBTM, a Global CEO Club is being established. Designed to bring together the most senior business leaders from across the global MICE industry to discuss issues and influence...

EIBTM News: EIBTM Review Key Trends for 2006.(Rob Davidson)(Brief Article)
January 23, 2006... Pure incentives are being replaced by the 'concentive' - an incentive with a meeting attached, according to the EIBTM 2005 Trends and Market Share report. Westminster University senior lecturer and industry specialist Rob Davidson, who...

Opinion: Sounding off - We need common practice to protect us from 'the worst'.(Eventia)
January 23, 2006... I read the article on crisis management (C&IT, Nov/Dec 2005) with a sense of foreboding tinged with a wry smile brought on by our experience of the events of this year. And what a year it's been: tidal waves in Asia, hurricanes in the...

In Person: Gerard Greene, Chief executive, Yotel.
January 23, 2006... Gerard Greene doesn't mince his words. He's dressed casually in designer clobber with a chunky silver chain, but may as well be wearing boxing gloves. 'We want to take on the big boys and produce something that sticks two fingers up at the...

C&IT Campaign Corporate Social Responsibility: Seizing the initiative.
January 23, 2006... Since its launch last month, more than 100 agencies and corporates have signed up to C&IT's CSR campaign. Yasmin Razak reports on this and several other new initiatives in the C&I sector. C&IT'S CAMPAIGN SO FAR More than 100 key...

London 2012 Seminar: Golden soundbites from C&IT panel.(Panel Discussion)
January 23, 2006... World Travel Market hosted a C&IT seminar focusing on the 2012 Olympics win and its likely effects. On the panel were Visit London commercial director David Hornby (DH); The George P Johnson Company senior account director Simon De Mille...

Training: Professional growth.(event planners job training)
January 23, 2006... In a people-focused sector, staff development is a crucial factor in determining both staff and fiscal turnover. Anna Bowden looks at how training is becoming integral to the C&I industry. For an industry that specialises, in part, in...

Training: Putting people first - how agencies nurture their staff.
January 23, 2006... For many agencies the link between bottom line profitability and investment in their workforce has led them to formalise staff development. First Protocol - working towards Investors In People certification For First Protocol,...

Case Study: Miller alights on China.
January 23, 2006... Brewing giant SAB Miller's motives for holding its staff conference in Shanghai were to 'wow' its senior managers and introduce them to the world's biggest beer market. Ben Lerwill reports. The buzz surrounding China as somewhere to visit...

Liverpool: A star is born.(Liverpool Arena and Convention Centre )
January 23, 2006... Liverpool's forthcoming Arena and Convention Centre and Capital of Culture status are combining to revive the city's fortunes in a throwback to its swinging-60s heyday. Ben Lerwill investigates how this will affect C&I business. Not for...

Liverpool: Developments along the Mersey.
January 23, 2006... Liverpool and its surrounds are home to some top-class C&I venues, as Ben Lerwill discovers. SOUTHPORT THEATRE & FLORAL HALL COMPLEX It may not have the cultural cachet of Liverpool, but nearby Southport has much to offer. Among the...

SPAS: Spoiled for choice.
January 23, 2006... With the pampering bug becoming an epidemic, competition is mounting with existing spas raising their game and new players entering the market. Yasmin Razak selects some favourites. COWSHED CLARENDON CROSS, LONDON Contact: Sara...

Sporting Venues: The competitive edge.
January 23, 2006... London's successful bid to host the 2012 Olympic Games has placed sport firmly back on the agenda, and venues are refurbishing to capitalise on the feel-good factor. As London eagerly awaits its hard-fought prize of the Olympic Games, an...

Sporting Venues Showcase: Contenders in the sporting arena.
January 23, 2006... Stephanie Siegle rounds up a selection of the UK's sporting venues all competing for C&I business WEMBLEY STADIUM - www.wembleystadium.com Although a building site currently, Wembley is already taking bookings. The new facilities,...

Gala Dinner Venues: Balls and banquets.
January 23, 2006... There is no need to restrict gala dinners to anodyne hotel ballrooms, when the UK offers such an array of unusual and distinctive options. Claire Bond samples some of the alternatives. IDEAL FOR CITY SLICKERS London Capital Club...

Belgium: A passion for fashion.(restaurant openings)
January 23, 2006... Brussels is witnessing a wave of trendy bar and restaurant openings, and now the congress bureau is marketing the city as a fashion capital to rival its neighbour Antwerp. When most people think about fashion, Paris, London and Milan and...

Germany: Pitch perfect.
January 23, 2006... Hosting the 2006 World Cup has put Germany under the spotlight. Anna Bowden finds out how the whole country is responding to the challenge. As Fifa World Cup year dawns, German nerves are jangling - and not just because they...

Germany: Follow the boys.(Fleming's Hotel Frankfurt)(Mainzer Landstrasse)(Radisson SAS)(Holiday Inn Nuremberg City Centre)
January 23, 2006... For groups lucky enough to be following Sven's men this summer, Yasmin Razak reveals some of the highlights of the first-round cities. MATCH 1, FRANKFURT The big match It all kicks off on 10 June when England take on Paraguay. ...

Madeira: State of rejuvenation.
January 23, 2006... Madeira is casting aside its starchy reputation and promoting a more youthful offer, incorporating spas and white-knuckle incentives. Ben Lerwill investigates. As a destination synonymous with cake and Saga holidays, Madeira, it has to be...

Madeira: The island's luxury accommodation.
January 23, 2006... Indulgence is the byword for Madeira's prestigious hotels. Ben Lerwill rounds up five of the best. Funchal's coastal hotel strip offers a number of prestigious properties, but none as architecturally striking as the Crowne Plaza Madeira...

South of France: The gold coast.
January 23, 2006... In terms of C&I options, all that glitters along France's southern coast is usually gold. Yasmin Razak joins the moneyed ranks and matches up activities to the destinations. Cannes for luxury Think about Cannes and the famous...

South of France: Showcase - retreats around St Tropez.
January 23, 2006... The town's venues justify its reputation as the place where the beautiful people party. Yasmin Razak reports. LE MAS DE CHASTELAS - www.chastelas.com Nestling along the peninsula lies an 18th-century Provencal gem that will appeal to...

Venue Focus: Westin opens luxury hotel on Canada's slopes.(Blue Mountain resort )(Brief Article)
January 23, 2006... The Westin Trillium House Blue Mountain has opened in the newly developed Village at Blue Mountain resort in Ontario, Canada. The 222-room luxury suite hotel has guest rooms overlooking the area's ski runs, as well as a year-round outdoor pool,...

Venue Focus: Le Meridien unveils new hotel near Shanghai.(Le Meridien She Shan Shanghai)(Le Meridien)(Brief Article)
January 23, 2006... Le Meridien has chosen the countryside surrounding Shanghai as the setting for its first property on the Chinese mainland. Le Meridien She Shan Shanghai is located 40 minutes from the city centre and provides a calmer alternative to the hubbub...

Venue Focus: Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman opens.(Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman )(Brief Article)
January 23, 2006... The Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman opened in December. The 365-room property is the result of a pounds 285m investment and provides five dining venues, a tennis centre, the Caribbean's first La Prairie Spa, a shopping arcade and a Greg...

Venue Focus: Northwick Park a new golf-centred venue near Wembley.
January 23, 2006... Northwick Park is a new golf-centred venue near Wembley. Open since December, its course boasts six holes, each modelled on a different international course. It offers a number of corporate hospitality packages and meeting space for 120...

Venue Focus: Legacy Hotels & Resorts opens a property in Johannesburg.
January 23, 2006... Legacy Hotels & Resorts will open the Michelangelo Towers in Johannesburg in February. The five-star property is 150 metres tall and offers a total of 194 suites. Six restaurants are on site, while high-class meeting facilities can be found at...

Venue Focus: Refurbishment for Brownes in Dublin.
January 23, 2006... Brownes in Dublin, an 11-room boutique property in the heart of the Irish capital, has completed its refurbishment. The 18th century Georgian townhouse is a member of the Stein Group and has a meeting room for 40. Tel: +353 1 638 3939.

Venue Focus: Hotel upgrades to four-star.
January 23, 2006... The Clarion Hotel and Leisure Centre Gatwick has been upgraded to a four-star property. Previously the Quality Hotel Gatwick, it now offers 246 rooms as well as a new executive lounge and sports bar. Tel: 0800 44 44 44.

Venue Focus: Ritz-Carlton Bahrain unveils new rooms and suites.
January 23, 2006... The Ritz-Carlton Bahrain has unveiled 245 new rooms and suites, some with Bulgari fittings. These complement the existing facilities, which include an award-winning hotel spa. Tel: +973 1758 0000.