Conference & Incentive Travel articles from June 2009

Conference & Incentive Travel archives from June 2009

Olympian powers of recovery.
June 2, 2009... The early figures from Imex pointing to record attendance last month in Frankfurt (p9) are among the encouraging signs as the second quarter of the year comes to a close. But surely talk of an actual recovery is premature even for the most...

Update: State of the industry - Dark clouds or green shoots?
June 2, 2009... The big five agencies report on performance and the outlook for the year. If the gloomy predictions made by corporates and agencies in C&IT's State of the Industry Report at the start of the year were anything to go by, 2009 looked set to...

Case study: Indesit beats targets at Evolution launch.
June 2, 2009... The flexibility of the Evolution Battersea Park venue enabled the white goods manufacturer to exceed the sales objectives of the event while running on a reduced budget. THE BRIEF: Indesit wanted to launch its new Indesit, Hotpoint and...

Property bulletin: Christy Wyatt rounds up the developments from Mallorca to Manchester.
June 2, 2009... - Iberostar Pinos Park, Mallorca The property reopened in May on the Bay of Font de Sa Cala in Capdepera, following a pounds 5.4m refurbishment that upgraded it to four stars The Mediterranean-style property is located on a sandy beach...

In Person: Carol Gress, Mortgage Next.(Interview)
June 2, 2009... James Thornton speaks to the mortgage firm's voice of marketing and events experience. With 25 years experience, including stints on both corporate and agency-side, as well as two years as a freelance, Carol Gress has a CV that ticks every...

Agency challenge: Regional training events.
June 2, 2009... This month's brief is for training events for 100 staff on new sales channels at its London, Belfast and Manchester offices. The client wants consistency and interactivity at each one-day session. - I would use Park Plaza in Belfast and...

What makes me click: Brian Tan, event designer, Imagination.(Brief article)
June 2, 2009... I have been with Imagination in London since 2005. I am currently a designer in the event group, delivering events that create engaging, effective face-to-face communication in live environments. Originally from Singapore, I graduated from the...

Agency focus: 10 minutes with ... Grass Roots.(Interview)
June 2, 2009... Managing director Nick Bender talks to Leanne Bell about the event agency's aims for the year. Location: In the UK, Grass Roots has offices in Marlow, Worcester, Clapham and Fleet. Staff: 280 in the UK on the events side. - What's...

Pushing frontiers: Time for ... Linz.
June 2, 2009... Austria's third city is in the spotlight as joint European Capital of Culture. James Thornton reports. INCENTIVES It's best to explore the architecture and churches of the Old Town or the many galleries and museums on foot. Take a...

UK Luxury venues: Luxury venues put on trial.(Calendar)
June 2, 2009... In straitened times, can luxury hotels deliver on price and perception? C&IT's mystery shopper sent out a fictitious brief to find out. THE BRIEF Client: A major financial company requiring total anonymity The event: Two-day event...

UK Luxury venues: Corporate verdict - MAN names top choices.
June 2, 2009... The commercial vehicle-maker's operations manager picks his venue shortlist. Derek Mensing, Operations Manager, MAN Truck and Bus UK CHEWTON GLEN (Shortlisted) Having had no previous dealings with this hotel, I felt the overall...

Sustainable venues: A green day at Sheepdrove.
June 2, 2009... The eco-conference centre's manager talks Ben Lerwill through a typical day at the venue. Russell Downing is centre manager at Sheepdrove Eco Conference Centre on the Berkshire Downs. He joined the venue in November 2007 and in addition to...

Sustainable venues: Regional round-up.
June 2, 2009... The rush to embrace CSR has seen new and existing venues make lasting commitments to sustainability. CSR has picked up considerable momentum over the past decade, so it's natural that the country today offers a strong choice of...

Kent & surrey: The garden of England.
June 2, 2009... The quintessentially English counties offer heritage charm to incentive thrills. KENT HOTELS: Kent boasts several chain hotels: Hilton has two, one in Maidstone and the other at Dartford Bridge; QHotels owns the 100-bed Bridgewood...

Yorkshire: A northern welcome.
June 2, 2009... David Atkinson speaks to the man heading the rebranded Yorkshire tourist board's C&I strategy. The decision to rebrand the Yorkshire Tourist Board as Welcome to Yorkshire reflects a new focus on business tourism across the region The man...

Yorkshire: The county three ways.
June 2, 2009... The diversity of Yorkshire's potential is reflected in these city, country and seaside itineraries. CITY SHEFFIELD Sleep tight Launched in January this year, the Jurys Inn has 259 rooms and is ideal for groups on a tight budget....

Scotland: Taking the green road.
June 2, 2009... Venues north of the border are taking their eco-credentials seriously, as Ben Lerwill discovers. ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS Opening later this year, the pounds 15.7m John Hope Gateway Centre will add considerable weight to the events appeal...

Scotland: Case study - GM unveils Insignia.
June 2, 2009... The car maker chose the scenery around Loch Lomond for its espionage-themed car launch. The Brief: GM UK wanted to organise a series of back-to-back launch events for delegates to test-drive the new Vauxhall Insignia. The brief stipulated...

Cruising: Goodyear on cruises.
June 2, 2009... Goodyear's Ron Pike tells Susie Harwood why cruises compare favourably with resort incentives. Ron Pike, customer communications manager, events, for Goodyear Dunlop UK, has been on a number of cruises, and recently organised an incentive...

Cruising: The official line.
June 2, 2009... Has the recession has affected C&I cruise bookings? C&IT talks to some leading operators. Michael English, head of sales, Celebrity Cruises (including Royal Caribbean International) Overall passenger numbers are up 18 per cent so far,...

Amsterdam: Going Dutch three ways.
June 2, 2009... Kunal Dutta selects three hotels in the Dutch city to suit groups with a range of budgets. EUR95 24-hour delegate rate Solution: The Lloyd Hotel Amsterdam Number of Rooms: 406 Largest Event Space Holds: 100 Originally...

Amsterdam: Incentives in the city.
June 2, 2009... From diamond evenings to a bicycle tour, Christy Wyatt picks ten top Amsterdam activities. 1. Diamonds are forever Ideal for luxury lovers For exclusive groups, DMC ITB Holland offers a diamond factory tour with a difference. Each delegate...

Lisbon & porto: Portugal city choices.
June 2, 2009... Choose your ideal city venue from a Porto bolthole to five-star luxury in the capital Lisbon. James Thornton and Victoria Furness pick a venue from each city across five categories. FIVE-STAR LUXURY LISBON: LAPA PALACE HOTEL The...

Turkey: Where east meets west.
June 2, 2009... Turkey offers luxury, culture and capacity just outside the eurozone. Christy Wyatt reports. ISTANBUL FOR... CULTURE Straddling the continents of Europe and Asia, Istanbul boasts a rich mix of Eastern and Western cultures. While...

Barbados: The event planner's guide to ... Barbados.
June 2, 2009... High-quality venues, hotels and service make a strong case for the island. Paul Oswell reports. With budget pressures and fears over media perception, the glamorous Caribbean playground of Barbados is less likely to make it on many event...

Macau: Asia's star turn.(Hotel review)
June 2, 2009... The figures point to Macau becoming a global player. Ben Lerwill reports. 75,000 - Since opening in August 2007, The Venetian has been at the forefront of Macau's drive to be seen as a serious events destination The hotel's 75,000m2 of...

South Africa: Getting set for the big kick-off in 2010.
June 2, 2009... Follow the boys at next year's World Cup in South Africa, with C&IT's guide to where to stay, group activities and the best places to party in four of the host cities. JOHANNESBURG STADIA Soccer City, Coca-Cola Park (Ellis Park...

South Africa: On the horizon.
June 2, 2009... The 2010 build-up means a raft of new venues, says James Thornton. The build-up to next year's World Cup in South Africa is in full swing and its pace is being matched by hotel and venue developments around the country. One & Only made...

South Africa: Case study - Spring's CSR incentive trip.
June 2, 2009... Recruitment firm brings Red Nose Day to South Africa to reward pupils and delegates. THE BRIEF: Recruitment specialist Spring Group rewards its 'best of the best' performers each year with an incentive trip, designed to motivate and...