Conference & Incentive Travel articles from March 2003

Conference & Incentive Travel archives from March 2003

First Off - Adding value saves need for cost cutting.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2003... Added value has never been more prevalent a concept than in these economically challenging times. It encapsulates a commercial reality: clients want more for their money, and, in some cases, more for less money. Agencies are agreed...

England CVB on cards as bodies near merge.(article discusses the merger of the British Tourist Authority and teh English Tourism Council)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2003... The possible creation of an England Convention Bureau is being mooted as tourism bodies British Tourist Authority (BTA) and the English Tourism Council (ETC) edge closer to merger. The merger will take place officially in April and...

UK Price Check.(price list for meetings of 1000 convention delegates in the United Kingdom)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2003... AFTERNOON AGM Brief: An afternoon annual general meeting for 1,000 delegates. Meeting costs include meeting room hire, tea and coffee breaks. Prices include taxes. Hilton B'ham Metropole Meeting cost: pounds 24,821...

Congestion charge earns mixed review.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2003... The pounds 5 central London congestion charge has provoked mixed responses from C&I suppliers and agencies. IBR sales and marketing director Fay Sharpe said while it would make London even more expensive, she admitted most clients travel...

MIA puts Souter to work as first ever chairman.(Meeting Industry Association)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2003... The Meetings Industry Association (MIA) has appointed Jim Souter as its first chairman. Souter takes over from outgoing president Peter Darnell. Souter has been in the hospitality industry for more than 20 years and is currently regional...

UK BRIEFS: Jersey Conference Bureau launches a Rendezvous Jersey.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2003... Jersey Conference Bureau has launched a product for European buyers planning small meetings called Rendezvous Jersey. A free online accommodation booking service for association conference organisers has also been introduced. Tel: 020 7630...

UK BRIEFS: Bmibaby introduces services from Manchester.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2003... Bmibaby is to introduce services from Manchester in May. It will operate daily flights to Alicante, Malaga, and Palma. Tel: 0870 264 2229.

UK BRIEFS: Conference Guerney elects chairman.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2003... Conference Guernsey has elected Andre Bourcier as chairman. Tel: 0118 934 5542.

UK BRIEFS: Malmaison plans to establish two budget-price hotel chains.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2003... Malmaison founder Ken McCulloch is planning to establish two budget-priced hotel chains aimed at the business traveller. Tel: 0207 479 9512.

UK BRIEFS: Appointment at Travel Management Group.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2003... Travel Management Group has appointed Alex Tennant as sales manager of its events division. Tel: 01926 313112.

UK BRIEFS: The Savoy Group launches a meetings and group hotline.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2003... The Savoy Group has launched a meetings and group hotline to provide a one-stop shop for planners booking events for more than seven delegates. Tel: 020 7750 6760.

UK BRIEFS: Date for Venuemasters Exhibition.(May 2003 conference)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2003... The Venuemasters Exhibition will be held at the Business Design Centre, London, on 7 May. Tel: 0114 249 3090.

UK BRIEFS: Ryanair cancels all Buzz flights.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2003... Ryanair has cancelled all Buzz flights in April, following its purchase of its low-cost rival earlier in the year. Tel: 0541 569 569.

UK BRIEFS: Appointment at Initial Style Conferences.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2003... Initial Style Conferences has appointed Alastair Stewart as group managing director. Tel: 0118 933 4000.

UK BRIEFS: Lancashire Conference Service's bookings increase.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2003... Lancashire Conference Service's bookings for this year have increased by 30% over 2002. Tel: 01206 210722.

BSI's conference remit to increase after restructure.(hotel and conference reservation agency BSI to expand)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2003... Hotel and conference reservations agency BSI is to expand its conference business, following a company restructure. The restructure will enable clients to book BSI's services - management, conferencing, consulting - with one call. Before,...

IBR modernises its corporate branding.(meeting management services )(Brief Article)
March 3, 2003... IBR is repositioning its offer with a corporate makeover in a bid to modernise its image and better reflect its range of services. The agency will retain its name but will launch a new logo, corporate colour scheme and redesigned website...

HPL takes its live event expertise to the US market.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2003... Essex-based live events agency HPL is to expand its operation by launching an arm in the US. HPL USA will be based in Florida and headed up by Nick Ayotte. The UK office's general manager Stuart White said he would like to see HPL USA...

P&MM appoints Clarke to grow its travel sector.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2003... P&MM has appointed Chris Clarke to the position of business development director for travel, in line with its strategy for growth. Clarke returns to the company following two and-a-half years as business development director at Worldspan...

People and Places - Cannes comes to the UK.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2003... Cannes Convention Bureau brought the south of France to the UK last month when it staged a workshop for 20 top buyers at Brocket Hall in Hertfordshire. The event was the first Cannes had held in the UK. The first day allowed guests to...

Birmingham to get new brand identity.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2003... Marketing Birmingham is to oversee the creation of a new brand identity with the aim of creating a more positive image for the city. The branding initiative comes as the city nears the completion of a pounds 5bn regeneration project, which...

Event Scotland will boost meeting role.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2003... Conference business in Scotland looks set to receive a major boost with the formation of a body to handle major events coming into the country. Event Scotland will be established later this month with pounds 10m funding from the Scottish...

Sector prepared to spend its way out of recession.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2003... Marketing spend is to grow in the UK conference and hospitality industry this year as companies prepare for an upturn in sentiment, according to a survey by agency Davies Tanner. More than 200 destinations were surveyed to determine the...

Just leaving things to chance can't be seen as reassuring practice.(importance of event insurance)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2003... The training course was going well. Ten minutes until coffee break and all the delegates were alert, nodding and even taking notes. And then I lost them - rapt attention replaced by blank incomprehension at the mention of two words: event...

Bedfordshire CVB is set for April launch.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2003... The Bedfordshire Conference Bureau (BCB) is to officially launch in April. The full-service bureau will be led by Mid Beds District Council, along with its partners Bedford Borough, South Beds District and the County Councils. ...

London outlines the potential of outskirt venues.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2003... London Tourist Board and Convention Bureau is to launch a campaign to promote attractions on the outskirts of the city and show how budgets can be stretched. Go Further in London will comprise a brochure of money-saving ideas and venues...

De Vere cites war for bookings lull.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2003... De Vere has cited the mood of uncertainty over war with Iraq as the reason it has seen a decline in conference bookings. The hotel group has witnessed a downturn in the number of residential meetings being booked into its larger conference...

Webwatch - Maastricht's digital debut.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2003... The Maastricht Convention Bureau has launched its first dedicated site for C&I buyers at www.maastrichtconventionbureau.com. The bureau hopes the site will be a valuable tool for organisers and enable it to monitor the international market...

UK BRIEFS: Appointment at Top Banana.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2003... Top Banana, the conference and video production company, has appointed Helen Crowther as project co-ordinator. Tel: 01562 881010.

UK BRIEFS: Conference Leeds offers discounted rates.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2003... Conference Leeds is offering discounted rates at a selection of venues throughout March. Tel: 0113 246 8120.

UK BRIEFS: Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park prices.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2003... Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park has established a day-delegate rate of pounds 69 and accommodation prices of pounds 198 per room. Tel: 020 7201 3772.

UK BRIEFS: Macdonald Hotels launches Business Solutions.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2003... Macdonald Hotels has launched Business Solutions, a corporate rate programme offering nationwide discounts on accommodation. Tel: 020 7437 1792.

UK BRIEFS: Capital Incentives guide titled The Art of Motivation.(partnership effort with Sewells Traiing and Consultancy)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2003... Capital Incentives, in conjunction with team-building specialists Sewells Training and Consultancy, has produced a guide titled The Art of Motivation. Tel: 01244 625435.

UK BRIEFS: Appointment at Choice Hotels.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2003... Choice Hotels has appointed Justin Dilks as director of agency sales. Tel: 020 7437 1792.

UK BRIEFS: Monarch Scheduled offers low-cost services.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2003... Monarch Scheduled is to offer low-cost services from Gatwick to Spain and Portugal from May. Tel: 01582 398287.

UK BRIEFS: Appointment at Chartridge Conference Company.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2003... Chartridge Conference Company has made Sarah Truscott business development manager. Tel: 01494 837484.

UK BRIEFS: Wembley Conference Centre introduces a day-delegate rate.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2003... Wembley Conference Centre has introduced a day-delegate rate of pounds 57. Tel: 020 8902 8833.

UK BRIEFS: Appointment at Inntel.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2003... Inntel, the conference solutions and hotel reservations agency, has appointed Helen Garton as corporate sales manager. Tel: 01206 210722.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS: Meeting venues plan to boost Canada offer.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2003... Canada is attempting to shake off its image as an incentive-only destination and beef up awareness of its conference offer. The move follows the launch of a marketing body of 17 Canadian conference centres. Convention Centres of Canada...

INTERNATIONAL NEWS: Norwegian centres moot CVB.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2003... Five Norwegian cities are looking at establishing a joint convention bureau, following the closure of the Norwegian Convention Bureau (NCB). The bureaus at Oslo, Bergen, Stavanger, Trondheim and Tromso are in talks about how best to...

INTERNATIONAL NEWS: Malaysia aims for 10% growth in groups work.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2003... Tourism Malaysia is aiming to achieve 10% growth year on year in C&I business from the UK following an aggressive marketing strategy. Unveiled at Confex last month, the strategy coincides with the appointment of a dedicated C&I...

INTERNATIONAL NEWS: World Price Check.(price lists for 1,000-person meeting venue)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2003... AFTERNOON AGM Brief: An afternoon annual general meeting for 1,000 delegates. Meeting costs include meeting room hire, tea and coffee breaks. Prices include taxes. Inter-Continental, Berlin Meeting room hire: pounds 6,216...

OVERSEAS BRIEFS: Launch of the Regional Victoria Planner's Guide.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2003... Melbourne Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Regional Victoria Conference Group are to launch the Regional Victoria Planner's Guide, comprising 69 meeting venues. Tel: +61 3 9593 3555.

OVERSEAS BRIEFS: InterContinental Hotels Group to be renamed.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2003... Six Continents is to rename its hotel arm InterContinental Hotels Group from April, following its demerger from the pubs and restaurants business. Tel: 01753 410357.

OVERSEAS BRIEFS: Orient-Express Private Jet Experience.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2003... Orient-Express Hotels is offering private jet charters in its Orient-Express Private Jet Experience. Tel: 020 7805 5090.

OVERSEAS BRIEFS: Appointment at IACC.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2003... The IACC (International Association of Conference Centres) has appointed Sundial's group director Tim Chudley to the post of global president. Tel: 01604 731731.

OVERSEAS BRIEFS: Appointment at Pacific Asia Travel Association.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2003... Pacific Asia Travel Association has appointed Marion Butler as managing director, Europe. She moves from the Australian Tourism Commission where she was manager for central Europe. Tel: +49 6101 33272.

OVERSEAS BRIEFS: ICCA 2003 congress and exhibition new date.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2003... ICCA 2003 congress and exhibition has been moved forward a week and will now run from 26-29 October in Busan, South Korea. Tel: +31 20 398 1919

OVERSEAS BRIEFS: Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts is to waive cancellation charges.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2003... Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts is to waive cancellation charges on bookings at any of its 39 properties in Asia if war starts in the Gulf. Tel: 852 2599 3323.

OVERSEAS BRIEFS: Reed Travel Exhibition is offering 10% loyalty discount.(EIBTM 2003 conference discount)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2003... Reed Travel Exhibitions is offering EIBTM 2003 exhibitors a 10% loyalty discount for 2004 when the event moves to Barcelona. Tel: 020 8910 7734.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS: Dublin launches its convention bureau.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2003... Three leading figures in the Irish C&I industry have spearheaded the establishment of the Dublin Convention Bureau (DCB). Launched late last month, the DCB is the brainchild of DMC Ovation Group partner and MD Ciaran Hynes, Irish Hotel...

INTERNATIONAL NEWS: Suntec unveils raft of marketing plans.(Suntec Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre launches marketing program)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2003... Suntec Singapore International Convention & Exhibition Centre has launched a programme of marketing initiatives for this year. Despite witnessing a 4.5% drop in seminars, exhibitions and catering bookings, the number of conventions at the...

INTERNATIONAL NEWS: Fewer UK hosted buyers travel to AIME 2003 show.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2003... AIME, the Asia Pacific trade show, recorded a drop in the number of UK hosted buyers, despite registering an overall increase in hosted buyers from other destinations. The number of UK buyers expected stood at 23, but the final count was...

INTERNATIONAL NEWS: Suppliers focusing on client size miss the bigger picture.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2003... If times are tough and business is harder to come by, and efforts must be redoubled to win C&I work, then why is it that an apparent lack of sales calls seems to be the norm? In other words - how come I only meet suppliers over drinks at trade...

INTERNATIONAL NEWS: Spain puts C&I top of STEPS priorities.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2003... The Spanish Tourist Office is once again to boost its C&I presence at the Spanish Tourism Exchange for Professionals (STEPS) exhibition. Four congress centres, 15 convention bureaus, and 49 hotels will be exhibiting at STEPS 2003, to be...

INTERNATIONAL NEWS: Pacific World to grow following Eventclicks buy.(DMC Pacific World to expand services in Asia-Pacific, Europe regions.)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2003... Asia-based DMC Pacific World has bought event management company Eventclicks, allowing both firms to grow their services in the Asia-Pacific region and Europe. Eventclicks will retain its name in Hong Kong and Singapore, overseen by...

INTERNATIONAL NEWS: Austrian Airlines freezes fares for delegate travel.
March 3, 2003... Austrian Airlines has launched a set-fare programme for buyers travelling to Vienna for a conference. The Conference Zonal Fares Programme works by grading 31 European countries into five zones. Each zone has two standard fare levels and...

INTERNATIONAL NEWS: People and Places - Palm shows off Cyprus offer.
March 3, 2003... Cyprus-based DMC Palm Conferences & Incentives staged an event for UK C&I buyers last December. It served to show the country's offer and highlight a change in Palm's UK representation, now handled by Cyprus Conferences & Incentives, headed up...

OVERSEAS BRIEFS: Iceland Express establishes itself as a low-cost airline.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2003... Iceland Express has established itself as a low-cost airline. It will operate daily scheduled flights from Reykjavik to London Stansted and Copenhagen. Tel: 0870 8500 737.

OVERSEAS BRIEFS: Meetings Asia exhibition date in Bangkok.(November 2003 convention)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2003... The Incentive Travel and Conventions, Meetings Asia exhibition is to be held in Bangkok on 4-6 November 2003. This will be the 11th time the event has run. Tel: +65 6395 7555.

OVERSEAS BRIEFS: Appointment at Maersk Air.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2003... Maersk Air, the Danish airline, has appointed John Donohue as sales manager for the UK & Ireland. Tel: 01780 754394.

OVERSEAS BRIEFS: MM & Company adds to its portfolio.(DMC Honeywell Incentives)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2003... MM & Company has added Cyprus-based DMC Honeywell Incentives to its representation portfolio. Tel: 020 8962 9562.

OVERSEAS BRIEFS: Appointment at Steigenberger Hotels & Resorts.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2003... Steigenberger Hotels & Resorts has appointed Nicola Byrne as UK sales manager. Tel: 020 8545 2620.

OVERSEAS BRIEFS: Appointment at Raffles International.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2003... Raffles International has seen Karen Tan take up the post of director of marketing for Raffles the Plaza and Swissotel the Stamford, both in Singapore. Tel: +65 6431 6653.

OVERSEAS BRIEFS: Appointment at Wyndham Hotels & Resorts.(Contact Travel Management appointed representative in the United Kingdom)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2003... Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, which has more than 50 properties across the US, Canada, the Caribbean and Mexico, has appointed Contact Travel Management to be its C&I representative in the UK. Tel: 01628 778863.

OVERSEAS BRIEFS: Kenya Airways.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2003... Kenya Airways has appointed Titus Naikuni as group managing director and CEO. The airline has also announced plans to increase the volume of services from Heathrow. Tel: 01784 888260.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS: Paris venues unite to target UK market.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2003... Three Paris venues have formed a marketing triumvirate to target UK conference buyers. The Leading Venues of Paris group encompasses the Palais des Congres de Paris, Palais des Congres de Versailles and Paris Nord-Villepinte. All...

INTERNATIONAL NEWS: Rocco Forte set to prioritise C&I with plan debut.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2003... Rocco Forte Hotels outlined details of a plan to boost C&I business during its debut appearance at last month's Confex exhibition. The hotel chain has launched a scheme called The Business. This aims to fulfil 15 guarantees to C&I buyers,...

INTERNATIONAL NEWS: Hotel coalition to launch incentive buyers initiative.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2003... Small Luxury Hotels is to roll out a global campaign to offer organisers more creative options for their incentive programmes. Initially being launched solely in the UK, the Luxury with Flair campaign is designed to drive traffic to its new...

INTERNATIONAL NEWS: Pushing Frontiers - Knokke's refined appeal.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2003... A united tourist board for the Belgian coast, Westtoer, was launched in 2002. Its C&I department currently represents 32 companies providing venues and incentive activities. One of the key member regions is Knokke-Heist. Heist, Knokke, the...

OVERSEAS BRIEFS: Appointment at Netherlands Board of Tourism.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2003... Netherlands Board of Tourism has appointed Amanda Groag to the post of MICE project manager at its London office, replacing Jeanne de Feber. The bureau has also launched the latest edition of its brochure - Destination Holland Conference Manual...

OVERSEAS BRIEFS: W Hotels introduces a meeting called 'Sensory Setup'.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2003... W Hotels has introduced a meetings concept called 'Sensory Setup' that includes music and aromatherapy as part of a package. Tel: 020 7290 7106.

OVERSEAS BRIEFS: Reed Travel Exhibitions sets up an EIBTM online E-forum.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2003... Reed Travel Exhibitions has set up an EIBTM online E-forum. The site will be managed by C&I academic Rob Davidson, who will identify and debate key issues in the industry. Tel: 020 8910 7734.

OVERSEAS BRIEFS: Tourism Whistlers launches a servies of virtual tours.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2003... Tourism Whistler has launched a series of virtual tours of the Whistler Conference Centre at www.whistler- meetings.com. Tel: +1 604 938 2709.

OVERSEAS BRIEFS: IACC represents the Auditorio y Centro de Congresos.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2003... The IACC (International Association of Congress Centres) now represents the Auditorio y Centro de Congresos 'Region de Murcia' in Spain; the Grieghallen in Bergen, Norway; and the Brussels Exhibition and Convention Centre. Tel: +32 496 23 53...

OVERSEAS BRIEFS: Appointment at DOME.(international research foundation for the travel industry appoints Reed Travel and Meetings Group official to board)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2003... DOME, the international research foundation for the industry, has appointed Yeoh Siew Hoon, editorial director of Reed Travel & Meetings Group, to the board of directors. Tel: +61 3 9655 3000.

OVERSEAS BRIEFS: New website for Chateau de la Solitude.
March 3, 2003... Chateau de la Solitude near Brussels has established a website for meeting planners at www.chateaudelasolitude.com. Tel: +32 2 7775 95 40.

SOUNDING OFF: Capital lacks vision on unusual venues.
March 3, 2003... We perpetually receive briefs from clients requesting something 'out of the ordinary' for their event. In most instances it is the venue that is key - holding an event in an unusual venue can reinforce the style and feel of the entire...

DIARY: Industry fetes winners on night of attainment.
March 3, 2003... The leading lights of the C&I industry gathered at London's Le Meridien Grosvenor House last month to celebrate the sector's success and the winners of the 2003 ITMA Awards. Platinum prize: Park Avenue chairman Derrick Tuke-Hastings and...

AGENCY SURVEY: Buyers' choice.
March 3, 2003... In the second part of the CIT Agency Survey, respondents nominate their favoured conference destinations and earmark ten more with incentive potential. Jennifer Creevy collates the data. The threat of terrorism and prospect of war are...

INTERVIEW: Setting out the business goals - The London Development Agency tourism manager.
March 3, 2003... Tim Addison is charged with steering through the Mayor's Visit London initiative. He tells Jennifer Creevy how his role will affect C&I business. This year is make or break for Mayor of London Ken Livingstone. His masterplan, upon which...

HOTELS: Room for manoeuvre.
March 3, 2003... Hotel chains are developing new properties and refurbishing their existing portfolio, so even as occupancy picks up, organisers stand to benefit from increased competition. Paul Twite reports All too often, the grand plans to reinvigorate...

CASE STUDY: M&S launches Christmas product range at Olympia.
March 3, 2003... When M&S was looking for a motivational destination for the launch of its Christmas food range, it settled on the appeal and first-rate transport links offered by the capital, as Julia Gosling discovers. The need for an aspirational...

UNUSUAL VENUES: Urban alternatives.
March 3, 2003... Nowhere in the UK offers a more extensive choice of unusual venues than the capital. Stephanie Roberts takes a look at the variety on offer - from historic buildings and breweries to art galleries and ships - and gauges agency opinion on why...