Conference & Incentive Travel articles from June 2003

Conference & Incentive Travel archives from June 2003

FIRST OFF: Need for principles not dishonest profit.(business ethics)(Brief Article)
June 4, 2003... With last year's Enron scandal still sending shockwaves through the finance community, the importance of business ethics is once again a hot topic. Whatever the profession, an ethical approach to business is needed to regulate best practice and...

NEWS IN BRIEF: London Convention Bureau has promoted ..(Brief Article)
June 4, 2003... London Convention Bureau has promoted Catherine Knight to the role of marketing executive, focusing on the UK C&I market, while Helen Horsfield becomes association marketing manager. Tel: 020 7932 2076.

NEWS IN BRIEF: The England Marketing Advisory Board ..(Brief Article)
June 4, 2003... The England Marketing Advisory Board has appointed four new members to its board including Tim Cantle-Jones, director of event management company Polar Productions. Tel: 020 7211 6200.

NEWS IN BRIEF: Westminster University is to offer ..(Brief Article)
June 4, 2003... Westminster University is to offer a masters degree in conference planning. The course starts in September and has been designed for those already working in the industry, as well as graduates looking for a career change. Tel: 020 7911 5000...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Southport is to host the Liberal Democrat ..(Brief Article)
June 4, 2003... Southport is to host the Liberal Democrat spring conference in 2004. The event will host 1,500 delegates and generate pounds 1.5m for the local economy. Tel: 0151 934 2402.

NEWS IN BRIEF: BICB, the Bournemouth International ..(Bournemouth International Conventio Bureau)(Brief Article)
June 4, 2003... BICB, the Bournemouth International CVB has secured business worth pounds 30,000 in its first quarter and has recruited more than 70 members including hotels, venues and support service. Tel: 01202 456400.

NEWS IN BRIEF: The National Venue Show has reported ..(Brief Article)
June 4, 2003... The National Venue Show has reported that nearly 90% of exhibition space has been sold. Exhibitors will include Birmingham and West Midlands, a London Pavilion and more than 50 BACD members. Tel: 020 8910 7033.

NEWS IN BRIEF: Lynton Cooper, the conference ..(Brief Article)
June 4, 2003... Lynton Cooper, the conference and events agency, is to update its branding and will launch a website later this month. Tel: 020 7001 9109.

UK PRICE CHECK: One-day meeting with overnight stay.(Brief Article)
June 4, 2003... Brief: A one-day VIP board meeting for 20 delegates with overnight accommodation at a top hotel prior to the meeting. Costs include VAT. LOWRY HOTEL, MANCHESTER Day-delegate rate: pounds 1,200 Catering: Included Accommodation: pounds...

Olympic bid to leave C&I legacy to capital.(convention and incentives)(Brief Article)
June 4, 2003... London's bid to stage the 2012 Olympic games has been heralded as a boost for the capital's meetings and incentives industry. Chairman of the Business Tourism Partnership Michael Hirst said he was delighted by the announcement. 'Just...

Six venues team up in consortium for Westminster.(Brief Article)
June 4, 2003... A group of six central London venues have banded together to form a marketing consortium. The Westminster Collection has been set up to bring more business into the area. The move follows research that showed the venues were collectively...

P&MM prepares for record profit figures for 2003.(P and MM)(Brief Article)
June 4, 2003... P&MM is anticipating record profits in excess of pounds 1m for 2003. The forecast follows a significant rise in profits last year, up to pounds 801,000 from pounds 150,000 in 2001, despite the difficult economic climate. P&MM director...

Jack Morton targets continent via Paris.(Brief Article)
June 4, 2003... Jack Morton Worldwide has extended its European footprint with the opening of an office in Paris that will allow it to target mainland European business. The Paris agency complements the Athens office, which the company opened last month...

ATC gives Rodber Thorneycroft job of steering drive.(Australian Tourist Commission)(Brief Article)
June 4, 2003... The Australian Tourist Commission (ATC) has handed Rodber Thorneycroft the task of creating, and managing its largest-ever business tourism push. A five-day programme themed around the Rugby World Cup kicks off at the England v France friendly...

Concerto sets up 'strategic' events arm for client list.(Brief Article)
June 4, 2003... The Concerto Group has established a new division, Concerto: live, with the stated aim of helping clients design C&I events around a well-defined commercial strategy. The new business unit, whose clients include Vodaphone and the Royal...

IBR takes on Irish market face-to-face.(Brief Article)
June 4, 2003... IBR is moving into the Irish market this month with the opening of a Dublin-based office. IBR Dublin will be headed up by account manager David Leech, who has been recruited from Irish events agency Ovation. Leech will be backed by an...

PEOPLE AND PLACES: BSH Home Appliances Roadshows.(Brief Article)
June 4, 2003... Determined to switch the focus of its product launches from large national trade shows to more personalised events, BSH Home Appliances organised a road show for its Bosch, Neff and Siemens brands. The company undertook a tightly focused...

BTP lobbies for CVB at Parliament event.(British Tourism Partnership)(convention bureau)(Brief Article)
June 4, 2003... The need to establish a national convention bureau for England was one of the main issues brought up at the first-ever meeting between the British Tourism Partnership (BTP) and the All Parliamentary Group on Tourism, which took place last...

Ambassador plan for Telford.(Shropshire)(Brief Article)
June 4, 2003... Telford and Shropshire is adopting a big-city approach to building its business tourism. The region has launched an ambassador programme to target local organisations and associations, which are invited to support the area by holding their...

PRODUCT: Toolkit Spotme.(Brief Article)
June 4, 2003... What's this month's product?: SpotMe by Shockfish What does it do? SpotMe improves networking at events. Delegates are armed with handsets to enable them to find one another, see who is nearby, and set up meetings. How does it...

Name is the game in keeping brand identity up to date.(Brief Article)
June 4, 2003... Brand identity is something we all see as vital to our business, so why are so many companies ditching well respected brand names in favour of the unknown and often quite forgettable? In a recent Reader's Digest trusted brands survey, those...

EIBTM numbers fall as IMEX and world events take hold.(European Incentive and Business Travel and Meetings)(Worldwide Exhibition for Incentive Travel, Meetings and Events)(Brief Article)
June 4, 2003... Preliminary figures from last month's EIBTM point to a drop in visitor and exhibitor numbers. The show pulled in 2,125 hosted buyers and 124 association buyers during the first two days of the event, compared to 3,034 hosted buyers over the...

Mexico drops sales tax to win business.(Brief Article)
June 4, 2003... Mexico is to suspend the sales tax on international conventions held there as of January next year in a bid to win more European business. The move is being hailed by secretary of tourism Leticia Navarro Ochoa as a key step in recognising...

Australia's west side eyes group market with CVB.(Brief Article)
June 4, 2003... Western Australia is targeting international business tourism with its first dedicated one-stop shop for convention organisers. The Western Australia Convention Bureau (WACB) will serve as a first port of call for meeting buyers. 'In the...

WORLD PRICE CHECK: One-day meeting with overnight stay.(Brief Article)
June 4, 2003... Brief: A one-day VIP board meeting for 20 delegates with overnight accommodation at a top hotel the night prior to the meeting. Costs include taxes and VAT. WESTIN PALACE, MADRID Room hire: pounds 847 Catering: pounds 1,234...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Qatar Tourism has launched a ..(Brief Article)
June 4, 2003... Qatar Tourism has launched a major trade campaign to drive C&I business to the country. It will be targeting UK buyers with a dedicated direct mail initiative. Tel: +974 441 15 55.

NEWS IN BRIEF: The EIBTM 2003 Industry Trends Report ..(Brief Article)
June 4, 2003... The EIBTM 2003 Industry Trends Report was presented at this year's show. Compiled by Rob Davidson, senior lecturer in business travel and tourism at Westminster University, it flags up the trends for training in the industry and the growing...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Reed Travel Exhibitions is considering ..(Brief Article)
June 4, 2003... Reed Travel Exhibitions is considering launching a meetings, incentive and business travel event for Latin America. Tel: 020 8910 7910.

NEWS IN BRIEF: The WHO (World Health Organisation) has removed ..(Brief Article)
June 4, 2003... The WHO (World Health Organisation) has removed its warning against non-essential travel to Hong Kong following measures put in place to counteract the SARS outbreak. Tel: 020 7533 7126.

NEWS IN BRIEF: The JMIC (Joint Meetings Industry Council) has ..(Brief Article)
June 4, 2003... The JMIC (Joint Meetings Industry Council) has elected Hugo Slimbrouck, general manager of Belgian-based DMC CIB Performance, as president. Tel: +32 2 412 40 10.

NEWS IN BRIEF: Valencia Tourism & CVB has reported ..(Brief Article)
June 4, 2003... Valencia Tourism & CVB has reported 13% growth in C&I events held in the last year over 2001, generating EUR 111m (pounds 80m) worth of business. Tel: +34 963 390 390.

NEWS IN BRIEF: The German CVB is to host a ..(convention bureaus)(Brief Article)
June 4, 2003... The German CVB is to host a workshop for UK meeting and incentive planners on 10 June at Vinopolis, London. Tel: 020 7317 0903.

NEWS IN BRIEF: Cape Town CVB has made Esmare ..(Brief Article)
June 4, 2003... Cape Town CVB has made Esmare van Tonder international sales manager for the C&I market. Tel: +27 21 487 2718.

Dubai targets UK C&I sector with fam trips.(Brief Article)
June 4, 2003... Dubai has launched a major programme to bring more than 70 UK-based C&I organisers to the Emirate over the next year. The initiative, Dubai Synergy, is being coordinated by the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) and...

Radisson in MPI training tie-in.(Brief Article)
June 4, 2003... Radisson SAS Hotels and Resorts has teamed up with Meeting Professionals International (MPI) to better educate its staff about meeting planners' needs. The agreement will see 1,500 Radisson SAS staff across Europe undergo training as part...

Pushing frontiers Sri Lanka.(Brief Article)
June 4, 2003... The island of Sri Lanka is promoting itself as a MICE gateway between Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia and the Far East. The island has enjoyed a recent upturn in C&I business, buoyed by increasing numbers of leisure tourists returning...

Hotels' short-term policy undermines long-run recovery.(Brief Article)
June 4, 2003... Everybody likes a bargain, and there are plenty to be had at present - a recent email offer cited a double room at a London five-star hotel for pounds 105 a night, for example. From the hoteliers' point of view this is an unfortunate but...

European alliance in talks to firm up remit.(Brief Article)
June 4, 2003... European incentive travel associations have firmed up their commitment to the fledgling alliance launched in Paris in January (CIT, February 2003). Representative bodies from the UK, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy and Spain met again at...

Portugal reforms tourism with role for its embassies.(Brief Article)
June 4, 2003... Portugal's C&I industry is facing a shake up after Portugal's Prime Minister announced major tourism infrastructural reforms. Speaking at the World Travel and Tourism Council summit in Vilamoura, Jose Manuel Durao Barroso said he planned...

Barcelona tops ICCA destination ranking.(International Congress and Convention Association)(Brief Article)
June 4, 2003... Barcelona is the most popular conference destination for association events according to the latest ICCA statistics. The Catalan capital has moved up four places, while Copenhagen has slipped down one to second place. Stockholm recorded a...

PEOPLE AND PLACES: EIBTM Awards, Geneva.(European Incentive and Business Travel and Meetings)(Brief Article)
June 4, 2003... The EIBTM 2003 Awards took place on the opening day of this year's show in Geneva, hosted by Belgian TV presenter Anne de Baetzelier. German-based agency Max Sense Live picked up the Grand Prix, as well as accolades for the Best Event...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Appointment at CTO.(Caribbean Tourism Organisation)(Brief Article)
June 4, 2003... The CTO (Caribbean Tourism Organisation) has appointed Julia Hendry as London-based director of marketing for Europe. Tel: 020 7222 4335.

NEWS IN BRIEF: The Korean National Tourism Organisation ..(Brief Article)
June 4, 2003... The Korean National Tourism Organisation has appointed marketing agency Mabox to create a direct mail campaign to target meeting, incentive and exhibition buyers. Tel: 020 7321 2535.

NEWS IN BRIEF: Malta Tourism Authority has launched ..(Brief Article)
June 4, 2003... Malta Tourism Authority has launched a dedicated website for meeting organisers. The site, maltaconferences.com, provides detailed information on the country's C&I facilities, including downloadable floor plans and flight information. Tel: 020...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Corinthia Hotels has launched a concept ..(Brief Article)
June 4, 2003... Corinthia Hotels has launched a concept called Events@Corinthia, which includes features such as 24-hour enquiry feedback, accompanying partner programmes and post event 'wind-down' packages. It is being rolled out at 13 European properties....

NEWS IN BRIEF: The Best Hotels Alliance ..(Brief Article)
June 4, 2003... The Best Hotels Alliance, the Vietnam-based marketing coalition in south east Asia, has expanded its membership to 33 hotels. The consortium aims to have secured 50 members by the end of 2003. Tel: +84 511 847 333.

NEWS IN BRIEF: Preferred Hotels & Resorts and ..(Brief Article)
June 4, 2003... Preferred Hotels & Resorts and Summit Hotels & Resorts are jointly promoting their Conference Collection brand in Europe, which incorporates 47 of the groups' hotels worldwide. Tel: 020 8232 5671.

NEWS IN BRIEF: AIME (the Asia Pacific Incentives ..(Brief Article)
June 4, 2003... AIME (the Asia Pacific Incentives and Meetings Expo) will be held from 17-18 February 2004 at the Melbourne Exhibition & Convention Centre. Tel: +61 2 9422 2569.

ANALYSIS: Should associations amalgamate?
June 4, 2003... ITMA's removal of the ATOL-membership criterion has reopened the debate as to whether the industry would be better served by one lobbying giant covering the whole spectrum, or a number of specialists. The changes to ITMA membership criteria...

OPINION: Sounding off - Procurement may breed consistency, but blur our ethos.(Brief Article)
June 4, 2003... There is much talk at the moment about the rise in prominence of client procurement directors. Their requirement for minutely-detailed agency responses to RFIs and RFPs comes at a time when pressure on margins, the economic downturn, SARS and...

IN PERSON: Jamie Neil, Chief executive K Archer Young.(Interview)
June 4, 2003... Jamie Neil, the new chief executive of business performance improvement agency Archer Young, hasn't always enjoyed a management role. A stint in the hotel trade, working for family business, The Open Arms in Dirleton, Scotland, gave him an...

CASE STUDY: BP takes top achievers on Far East forum.
June 4, 2003... BP's inaugural Admiral's Club incentive trip combined business and pleasure in a range of stunning venues. Julia Gosling reports. Cambodia is not well known as an incentive destination. While groups have occasionally visited, it had yet to...

SPECIAL REPORT: NTO Survey.
June 4, 2003... The results of this year's survey highlight the difficulty NTOs face in a deflated market. Yet, as Jennifer Creevy finds, more are appointing C&I staff, despite a downturn in activity. NTOs have a difficult role to play in the C&I industry....

SPORTING VENUES: 10 of the best UK sporting venues.(Brief Article)
June 4, 2003... Mark Richards suggests ten venues with sporting pedigree to inspire and motivate delegates. Ten years ago only a handful of sporting venues had the facilities that presented the C&I sector with an opportunity to hold events. Today almost all of...

NEWCASTLE GATESHEAD: Capital contender.
June 4, 2003... Newcastle Gateshead is in the midst of a cultural revival which is boosting the city's stature overseas and, in turn, interest from the conference sector, as Abigail Wills finds. The winner of the Capital of Culture 2008 bid will be...

SCOTLAND: Brand identities.
June 4, 2003... The launch of Event Scotland is part of a series of initiatives to attract major international events. Sarah Wild investigates how marketing its iconic venues is helping to lift the country's profile. By 2015, Scotland will be one of the...

SCOTLAND UNUSUAL VENUES: Ten of the best unusual venues.(Brief Article)
June 4, 2003... From city-centre chic to life in the trees, Scotland has a venue for every need. AROS CENTRE, SKYE Number of meeting spaces: 3 Maximum capacity: 180, 60, 50 Web: www.aros.co.uk DUNFERMLINE AFC Number of meeting spaces: 9 Maximum...

AUSTRIA: European heartland.
June 4, 2003... Austria is developing its C&I offer to capitalise on its ideal geographical location by developing its infrastructure across the entire country, as Belinda Gannaway discovers. While geography alone cannot account for a destination's...

EUROPEAN CONVENTION CENTRES: Meetings monoliths.
June 4, 2003... For large events, especially those with exhibitions, the continent's purpose-built centres are all competing to offer buyers the space they need. There is a bewildering array of convention centres across Europe and with smaller towns...

THAILAND: The extra mile.
June 5, 2003... Unfairly tagged with the SARS label, Thailand is fighting back with a new CVB and a targeted campaign to restore its C&I business. Colette Doyle finds the destination determined to better its 'friendly' groups offer When it comes to C&I...

VENUE FOCUS: Hilton London Green Park.(Brief Article)
June 5, 2003... The Hilton London Green Park is to undergo a multi-million pound renovation to upgrade all 163 rooms and public areas. The work is due to be finished by autumn this year. Tel: 020 7629 7522 RE 843.

VENUE FOCUS: Four Seasons Hotel, Prague.(Brief Article)
June 5, 2003... Four Seasons Hotel, Prague will reopen this month. The hotel closed last August due to damage caused by flooding in the city. Tel: 0800 6488 6488 RE 844.

VENUE FOCUS: The Kindersley Centre.(Brief Article)
June 5, 2003... The Kindersley Centre, part of the Sheepdrove Organic Farm in Berkshire, will open in August 2003. The centre will provide three main conference rooms for up to 200 delegates. Tel: 01488 71659 RE 845.

VENUE FOCUS: Mirage City.(Brief Article)
June 5, 2003... Mirage City, the Marriott resort in Cairo, opened for business in March. The five-star deluxe property offers 428 rooms and an 18-hole golf course. Tel: +20 2411 5588 RE 846.

VENUE FOCUS: De Vere Oulton Hall in Leeds.(Brief Article)
June 5, 2003... De Vere Oulton Hall in Leeds is now offering the use of a canal boat as an unusual venue for board meetings. The vessel can accommodate six delegates. Tel: 0113 282 1000 RE 847.

VENUE FOCUS: Rezidor SAS.(Brief Article)
June 5, 2003... Rezidor SAS has reopened the 1,006-room former Forum Hotel Berlin as a Park Inn property. The hotel has conference space for 320 delegates. Tel: 0800 1120 1140 RE 848.

VENUE FOCUS: Stourbridge College.(Brief Article)
June 5, 2003... Stourbridge College has opened its Advanced Technology Centre as a meetings venue. The centre has a 106-seat tiered theatre and various rooms for up to 40 delegates theatre-style. Tel: 01384 343106 RE 849.

VENUE FOCUS: Le Meridien Hotels & Resorts.(Brief Article)
June 5, 2003... Le Meridien Hotels & Resorts is to manage the Villa d'Anfa property in Casablanca, Morocco. The five-star, 120-room hotel will open in 2004. Tel: 020 7301 2410 RE 850.

VENUE FOCUS: The Kingston Communications Stadium.(Brief Article)
June 5, 2003... The Kingston Communications Stadium has opened in Hull. The pounds 45m venue has event space for up to 450, including 28 corporate hospitality suites. Tel: 01482 352355 RE 851.

VENUE FOCUS: Titanic exhibition creates hospitality space.(Brief Article)
June 5, 2003... The Science Museum in London recently launched its Titanic artefact exhibition, which can be hired by corporate groups looking for an unusual venue for evening functions. Gallery 24 on level one of the museum is available for themed drinks...

VENUE FOCUS: Riviera retreat aims to boost group business.(Brief Article)
June 5, 2003... Le Chateau du Domaine St Martin in Vence is targeting groups looking for a luxury retreat and high service levels. The hotel offers 33 suites and six cottages and is situated between Cannes and Monaco. Its two meeting rooms can accommodate up...

VENUE FOCUS: Weetwood Hall Conference Centre and Hotel in Leeds.(Brief Article)
June 5, 2003... Weetwood Hall Conference Centre and Hotel in Leeds has upgraded its meeting facilities. The property has completed a pounds 2m redevelopment programme, adding a further 15 training rooms and bringing the total number of meeting spaces to 40....

VENUE FOCUS: Le Meridien Chia Laguna in Sardinia.(Brief Article)
June 5, 2003... Le Meridien Chia Laguna in Sardinia has reopened following a pounds 4.7m renovation. The resort has 300 cottages and 76 rooms and suites. It also boasts a congress centre. The main auditorium can accommodate 1,200 and there are seven additional...

VENUE FOCUS: Mosimann's private dining club in Belgravia.(Brief Article)
June 5, 2003... Mosimann's private dining club in Belgravia offers six rooms for corporate use. Each room is sponsored and decorated by prestigious international companies such as Coutts & Co and Gucci. Room hire rates start at pounds 100 and DDRs from...

DIARY: Let's go to... Tarpon Springs.(Brief Article)
June 5, 2003... It sounds like a dodgy batch of feminine hygiene products. Where on earth is it? It's on Tampa Bay and 'working towards being the finest town in Florida'. So it's not made it yet, then? Perfection can't be hurried and it is, ahem, the...

DIARY: Tired and emotional baggage mishandler.(Brief Article)
June 5, 2003... Picture the scene. Eager to return home after a gruelling schedule of canapes and cocktails at EIBTM (sorry, that's 'pre-scheduled appointments'), the editor of a well-known travel industry magazine arrives back at Heathrow. Fortified by...

DIARY: Confessions of an Event Planner.(Brief Article)
June 5, 2003... O alcohol, and particularly, O Tequila, how would we cope without you? Well it would be less of a headache - in all senses of the word - for a kick-off. Acapulco. A group of around 150 20-something couples, all looking for a good time at...

DIARY: Competition.(Brief Article)
June 5, 2003... Every month CIT will be testing your observational skills and giving away a fantastic prize. This month, we're offering a luxury two- night break at the scenic Grade-II listed Hawkstone Park Hotel. This Shropshire venue is set in stunning...

DIARY: The Tom Nutley Tour Company.(Brief Article)
June 5, 2003... Two Wheel Challenge With EIBTM upping sticks and moving to Barcelona from next year, Reed Travel Exhibitions was keen that delegates should get a taste of the pleasures that await them in Catalonia. However, Diary would like to stress that this...