Conference & Incentive Travel articles from March 2004

Conference & Incentive Travel archives from March 2004

First Off: Learn the lesson of other professionals.(Brief Article)
March 23, 2004... The announcement from MPI that around 300 meeting organisers now hold its Certification in Meeting Management is encouraging, but it does beg the question: what about the other 17,000-plus members of the association who aren't CMM-certified?...

Business tourism merges into Visit London initiative.(Brief Article)
March 23, 2004... Visit London's business and conventions team will restructure this month, following the departure of its head of business and conventions Mady Keup. Key changes involve the integration of business tourism - formerly managed as an...

London conference centre under review.(Brief Article)
March 23, 2004... London has taken a step towards creating a world-class, purpose-built convention centre with the setting up of a mayoral commission to examine the desirability and feasibility of the project. Vice-chairman of London First and treasurer...

Axe falls on post of commercial director at MIA.(MIA)(Brief Article)
March 23, 2004... Commercial director Charles Blowfield has been made redundant by the MIA as the association looks to tighten its purse-strings. While Blowfield may continue to work with the association on an ad hoc consultative basis, it was decided that...

UK Price Check.(Brief Article)
March 23, 2004... BOARDROOM LEVEL EVENT IN A GOURMET SETTING Brief: 15 delegates for two days, one night, with a gourmet dinner. Costs include accommodation, breakfast, lunch, dinner, refreshments, room hire and VAT LE MANOIR AUX QUAT'SAISONS, OXFORD...

News in brief: Experience Nottingham to hold second National Conference on Business Tourism.(Brief Article)
March 23, 2004... Experience Nottingham is to hold the second National Conference on Business Tourism in Nottingham from 15-16 November 2004. To be held in association with the Business Tourism Partnership, the theme is 'Inform, Inspire and Enable'. Tel: 01794...

News in brief: 2004 CIT Forum takes place from 22-24 September.(Brief Article)
March 23, 2004... The 2004 CIT Forum will take place from 22-24 September at the Westin Turnberry resort in Ayrshire, Scotland. The forum will bring together corporate buyers with key suppliers in a series of one-to-one appointments, and workshops. Tel: 020...

News in brief: Inntel launches its own travel department.(Brief Article)
March 23, 2004... Inntel, the Colchester-based conference solutions, accommodation and event management company, has launched its own travel department. This is in response to feedback from clients keen to use Inntel for all their travel requirements. Tel:...

News in brief: Appointment at The Russell Organisation.(Brief Article)
March 23, 2004... The Russell Organisation has appointed Simon Drake as account director. He will head a client service team working across two sites and will be based at the agency's West London office. Tel: 020 8232 7200.

News in brief: Subscription to Conference & Incentive Travel.
March 23, 2004... Readers who wish to take out a new subscription to Conference & Incentive Travel, or continue with an existing one for 2004, should call 020 8606 7500 or log on to www.citmagazine.com.

News in brief: Clarification of the CIT agency survey.
March 23, 2004... Following publication of the CIT agency survey in last month's issue, ILLICO Events has clarified the figures that appeared alongside its entry. The number of C&I groups it handled in 2003 totalled 59, up from 47 in 2002, and the number of...

ILLICO launches own video group for client events.(ILLICO Events)(Brief Article)
March 23, 2004... ILLICO Events has moved into the video production market in response to clients' needs for a high-quality one-stop service. The new department is being headed by Chris Spray, who has produced programmes for ITV, the Discovery Channel and...

Agencies query 'new' thrust of ITMA Awards.(Brief Article)
March 23, 2004... The C&I industry's main awards are increasingly moving away from the mainstream, some leading agencies have claimed. BI's executive vice-president David Hackett, a founding member of the ITMA, has hit out at the higher number of...

In Any Event adds free logistics to range of services.(Brief Article)
March 23, 2004... The Bristol-based venue finder In Any Event UK has expanded its services to coincide with its 15th year in business. The agency has added a free venue logistics service, which deals with liaison between clients and venue, said managing...

A new corporate image for Talking Point C&I agency.(Brief Article)
March 23, 2004... Full-service C&I travel agency Talking Point is adopting a new corporate identity. The move is part of a rebranding programme launched by parent The Travel Company Group (TTCG), and is intended to align the two brands. Talking...

Skybridge renamed to align with top brand.(Brief Article)
March 23, 2004... Skybridge has rebranded following a restructure of its parent company Havas in a move that it claims will help the agency service conference and events clients more effectively. The agency will now be known as Euro RSCG Skybridge, and...

People and places: Hong Kong Tourist Board.(Brief Article)
March 23, 2004... Hong Kong Tourist Board (HKTB) celebrated the advent of the Chinese Year of the Monkey at the end of January, inviting event organisers to an unusual reception at London's Rainforest Cafe. Despite snowy weather conditions, around 25...

Manchester defeats rivals for FCIB forum.(Finance, Credit and International Business Corporation)(Brief Article)
March 23, 2004... Manchester has been successful in its bid to host this year's prestigious International Conference of the Finance, Credit and International Business Corporation (FCIB). The city beat rival bidders including Prague and Madrid to stage the...

Deal brings Hyatt back to London.(Brief Article)
March 23, 2004... Hyatt International is returning to the London market for the first time in two years by taking over management of the Churchill Hotel from the Intercontinental Group. The property, which is owned by the Churchill Group, will be renamed...

Toolkit: ResConference.(Brief Article)
March 23, 2004... What does this month's product do? The ResConference online booking platform from 4oceans is designed to simplify the special rate booking process for overnight conference delegates. How does it work? ResConference works as a 'snap-in'...

Shared concerns will draw together the entire industry.(Brief Article)
March 23, 2004... Our industry has been suffering from an identity crisis for some time now. Are we C&I, MICE or corporate events? Do any of these monikers do justice to the vast range of disciplines that span everything from performance improvement to sales...

Corporate travel is on the up but clients prefer to pay less.
March 23, 2004... The business tourism market will move back into growth in 2004, although the sector will be marked by a cost-cutting mindset for some years, according to a new report by the International Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus...

World price check.(Brief Article)(Illustration)
March 23, 2004... BOARDROOM-LEVEL EVENT IN A GOURMET SETTING Brief: 15 delegates for two days, one night, with a gourmet dinner. Costs include accommodation, breakfast, lunch, dinner, refreshments, room hire and VAT LE ROYAL CHAMPAGNE, MARNE...

Cape Town ICC hits events target early.(International Convention Centre )(Brief Article)
March 23, 2004... The Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) has come close to hitting its first-year visitor target after just six months. More than 290,000 visitors and delegates have attended the centre since its July 2003 opening. CTICC's...

Thais put visitors' 'minds at rest' on bird flu outbreak.(Brief Article)
March 23, 2004... Corporate groups visiting Thailand for events can expect 'business as usual', despite the outbreak of avian flu, the Tourism Authority of Thailand has stressed. Precautions being taken by DMCs include the suspension of visits to local...

International brief: ICCA launches a new brand identity.(International Congress and Convention Association )(Brief Article)
March 23, 2004... The International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) has launched a new brand identity this month. The branding will adorn all ICCA publications, starting with the 2004/5 membership directory. Tel: +31 20 390 1919.

International brief: Malta to hold a week-long festival.(Brief Article)
March 23, 2004... Malta is holding a week-long festival to celebrate its accession to the EU on 1 May. Cultural events will culminate on the eve of accession, with musical processions, a water festival, ships parade and firework display. Tel: 020 7237 7979.

International brief: Singapore Tourism Board announces better than expected visitors numbers.(Brief Article)
March 23, 2004... Singapore Tourism Board has announced better than expected visitor numbers for 2003. Following the SARS epidemic, a 30% fall in numbers was anticipated, but year-end figures were down only 19.1% and the country beat its target of six million...

International brief: MPI held its first European cross-border event.(Brief Article)
March 23, 2004... MPI held its first European cross-border event in January this year when the French and Swiss chapters held an open conference on Yield Management. This took place at the International Bedouk Show at Paris Expo's Carousel du Louvre. Tel: +352...

International brief: Virgin Atlantic launches additional services.(Brief Article)
March 23, 2004... Virgin Atlantic is to launch additional services to Boston, Washington and New York for the summer peak period. The services offer passengers the chance to take advantage of the exchange rate. Tel: 0870 380 2007.

St Kitts prepares first campaign to woo UK.(Brief Article)
March 23, 2004... A three-year marketing campaign to launch the Caribbean island of St Kitts as an incentive destination has been announced by St Kitts Tourism Authority. The initiative will target the UK corporate events market for the first time, and...

Austria sets dates for trade show.(Brief Article)
March 23, 2004... Provisional dates of 3-5 October have been set for the Austrian Convention and Conference Exhibition, a dedicated trade exhibition for the destination's conference industry (CIT, January). Devised by the newly founded Austrian Business...

Pushing Frontiers: Whistler, Canada.(Brief Article)
March 23, 2004... Confirmed as the setting for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, the Canadian resort of Whistler makes an ideal C&I destination. Boasting the largest conference capacity of any North American ski resort, Whistler is an invigorating location...

Smaller firms are staying strong in these tough times.(Brief Article)
March 23, 2004... Over the past two years, I have been expecting to see a fall in the number of start-up agencies and in the survival rate of C&I newcomers, but it hasn't happened. Instead, it seems that fragmentation has continued, with individuals taking the...

Spanish reap rewards of investment in major cities.(Brief Article)
March 23, 2004... Latest figures for the C&I market in Spain identify the reasons behind the destination's move to second place in the ICCA ranking of most popular conference destinations. Meeting business in Spain's major cities was worth t2.3bn (pounds...

Mexico may slash VAT on inbound incentives.
March 23, 2004... Mexico is considering extending its zero rate of VAT on conferences and conventions to incentive travel as well. Mexico Tourist Board regional director for Europe, Manuel Diaz-Cebrian, said: 'Although incentive trips are not yet covered,...

People and places: Canon Europe.(Brief Article)
March 23, 2004... The Hotel Arts in Barcelona provided an elegant setting for Canon Europe's Synergy meeting, which took place in November last year. The event was attended by 110 delegates from across Europe, Israel and the Middle East. Barcelona was...

International brief: Maritz Worldwide to partner IMEX.(Worldwide Exhibition for Incentive Travel, Meetings and Events)(Brief Article)
March 23, 2004... Maritz Worldwide is to partner IMEX at the Performance Improvement Pavilion when the show takes place from 12-14 May 2004 in Frankfurt. Tel: 01273 227311.

International brief: New online service featuring Portugese MICE facilities.(Brief Article)
March 23, 2004... The Portugal Meeting Guide is a new online service featuring Portugese MICE facilities. The website is run by Portugese publishing group Maisturismo, and can be found at www.meetinportugal.com. Tel: +351 2 18 44 40 80.

International brief: Vietnam Meeting and Incentive Club launches a website.(Brief Article)
March 23, 2004... The Vietnam Meeting and Incentive Club is launching a website to promote MICE travel business in the country. It covers hotel and conferencing information and can be accessed at www.meetings vietnam.com. Tel: +84 494 210 61

International brief: Appointment at Historic Conference Centres of Europe.(Brief Article)
March 23, 2004... Historic Conference Centres of Europe has appointed Jochen Manninger as executive director. Previous director Ingrid Behaghel von Flammerdinghe has returned to Grazer Congress Centre. Tel: +43 316 80 49 20.

International brief: Mandarin Oriental hotel chain reports a fall in annual profits.(Brief Article)
March 23, 2004... The Mandarin Oriental hotel chain reported a 13% fall in annual profit last month. The company said pre-tax profit dropped dollars 9.9m (pounds 5.3m) as the SARS virus in Asia hit group earnings. Tel: 020 7529 9688.

International brief: The EIBTM awards 2004.(Brief Article)
March 23, 2004... The EIBTM awards 2004 is to be held during the show at its new location in Barcelona. The prize-giving ceremony will take place on 1 December. Tel: 020 7727 8404.

International brief: Conrad Hotels launches an online 'one-stop shop'.(Brief Article)
March 23, 2004... Conrad Hotels is launching an online 'one-stop shop' for meeting planners at www.conradmeetings. com which details meetings facilities at all Conrad properties. Tel: +32 54 24 790.

Analysis: No-frills air travel in the balance.
March 23, 2004... The low-cost airline industry is rebuffing claims by Ryanair that fares will increase across the board following its recent row with Brussels. And C&I groups are continuing to explore the no-frills routes. Following the European...

Opinion: Sounding off - Why industry must champion London's Olympic Games bid.(Brief Article)
March 23, 2004... Hosting the Olympic Games is a fantastic opportunity to showcase a city's culture and character on a worldwide stage in a way that money can't buy. So why isn't our industry backing London's bid wholeheartedly? Tourism is London's second...

In Person: Peter de Savary, Founder & chairman, Bovey Castle.
March 23, 2004... Peter de Savary knows a thing or two about life's shifting fortunes. When, on the upside, you've gone from teenage landscape gardener to global property magnate and competed in the America's Cup, the good times are rolling. But when the plane...

ITMA Awards 2004: ITMA winners celeb rate in style.(Incentive Travel & Meetings Association (UK))(Brief Article)(Illustration)
March 23, 2004... The C&I industry's top players met at London's Grosvenor House to raise a glass at the ITMA Awards, now in their tenth year. ITMA AWARDS 2004 This year's ITMA Awards featured a special Green Award conferred by the association on an...

Emerging Destinations: New arrivals.
March 23, 2004... Exciting locations for new-generation incentives are on the horizon, as Abigail Wills discovers. A recent report published by holiday firm Thomson predicts that China, Qatar and Slovakia will be among the top tourist destinations in 20...

Emerging Destinations: Top emerging destinations.(Directory)
March 23, 2004... BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS Contact: Fiona Scott Wilson, BVI Tourist Board Tel: 020 7355 9585 Email: infouk@bvi.org.uk Website: www.bvitouristboard.com Hotels include the Long Bay Beach Resort, the Prospect Reef Resort and Treasure...

Coventry & Warwickshire: Central conferencing.
March 23, 2004... Confidence is growing in the appeal of Coventry and its surrounding county as a C&I destination, reports Sarah Wild. For event organisers who have never been sent to Coventry, a visit to the city - and to the surrounding region of...

London Q & A: World-class strategy.(Interview)
March 23, 2004... With its bid for the 2012 Olympics in the pipeline, London is poised for massive investment which will make it even more attractive, writes Colette Doyle. London is on the crest of a wave. In January, the capital's official bid for the...

London - Case Study: Brambles finds the right connection.
March 23, 2004... London's Congress Centre was an ideal venue for Brambles' AGM. It fitted in with the firm's image and allowed live links to key participants in Australia. When event production agency Aspect was charged with organising an AGM for...

London Unusual Venues Showcase: A selection of unconventional venues.
March 23, 2004... The capital has a huge variety of out-of-the-ordinary venues to tempt groups away from the norm. ROYAL COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS 020 7935 1174; www.rcplondon.ac.uk/venue The college is housed in a Grade I-listed building overlooking...

London Hotels: 20 of the best London hotels.
March 23, 2004... The capital can offer an eclectic mix of traditional and modern hotels, reports Sarah Wild. NEW OPENINGS CROWNE PLAZA LONDON Contact: Conference & Events sales team, tel 020 7438 8029 Website: www.london-city.crowneplaza.com...

Yorkshire: Sense of identity.
March 23, 2004... A review of business tourism in Yorkshire commissioned by the county's development agency is set to give the sector a much needed fillip. Mark Hillsdon reports. The county of Yorkshire stretches from Leeds in the west, to Hull in the...

Malta: Five-star island.
March 23, 2004... Malta has always been good value for the corporate visitor, and is intent on really making its mark as a destination in 2004, reports Julia Gosling. For such a small island - just 8km by 15km - Malta has a fairly high profile. But while...

Dublin: Traditional hospitality.
March 23, 2004... Visitors are guaranteed a warm welcome in Dublin, writes Ben Lerwill, and the city sells itself on easy charm. During the past 15 years, the city of Dublin has enjoyed a golden age. Where once the capital of the Irish Republic was an...

Portugal: Winning tactics.
March 23, 2004... Euro 2004 could end up being Portugal's best ever marketing tool. Belinda Gannaway reports. Euro 2004, the most prestigious sporting event to be held in Portugal, is expected to cost the country around EUR5bn (pounds 3.4bn). It is an...

Portugal: The Algarve.
March 23, 2004... Easy access, great weather and good quality resort properties willing to invest in their facilities mean the Algarve is still a favourite for British and pan-European conferences. Algarve Convention Bureau executive manager Luis Rocha...

Portugal: Madeira.
March 23, 2004... While the island of Madeira still lacks an official convention bureau, it entices buyers by highlighting the many improvements to its C&I product. There is plenty of stunning outdoor space for events, a climate rarely below 18 degc and access...

Portugal: Porto.(Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Events )
March 23, 2004... Porto's recently launched Convention Bureau is now operational and allows the city to pursue vigorously incoming MICE business. 'We can improve the service we provide to all those agencies that want to organise events in Porto and the north...

Venue Focus: Ghan railway offers conference carriages.(Brief Article)
March 23, 2004... Great Southern Railways is now offering conferencing facilities on the historic train route from Adelaide in the south of Australia to Darwin in the north. The Ghan boasts a number of different carriages offering delegates a range of C&I...

Venue Focus: Holdenby House reopens with C&I facilities.(Brief Article)
March 23, 2004... Holdenby House, once the former prison of Charles I, is opening its doors to the conference market. Situated in the heart of England, just seven miles north of Northampton, Holdenby House offers delegates a slice of old English charm with...

Venue Focus: Movenpick Hotel Bahrain.(Brief Article)
March 23, 2004... Movenpick Hotel Bahrain sits all alone on the island of Muharraq. The 106-room Movenpick is the only hotel in Bahrain to offer high-speed wireless LAN. There is a technical services team on hand at all times. The hotel is just ten minutes...

Venue Focus: Queen Mary University of London.(Brief Article)
March 23, 2004... Queen Mary University of London will open for residential conference bookings in April. The student village is home to 500 new en suite bedrooms. The buildings are close to Regents Canal with views over Mile End Park. Tel: 020 7882 7881.

Venue Focus: Kempinski Hotel & Resorts.(Brief Article)
March 23, 2004... Kempinski Hotels & Resorts has chosen the island of Sicily as the location for its first hotel in Italy. The hotel has a 260-capacity conference centre housed in a 19th-century villa, as well as a banqueting hall for 450 people. The venue...

Venue Focus: Reed Messe Wien Congress Center.(Brief Article)
March 23, 2004... Reed Messe Wien Congress Center opened this January in Vienna. The venue has capacity for 25,000 delegates. Tel: +43 1 21 11 4.

Venue Focus: Apex Hotels.(Brief Article)
March 23, 2004... Apex Hotels is opening its first property outside Scotland. The pounds 20m London development is close to Tower Bridge and will offer 120 hi-tech guestrooms with entertainment and business facilities. Tel: 0131 666 5100.

Venue Focus: Hilton Helsinki Kalastajatorppa.(Brief Article)
March 23, 2004... Hilton Helsinki Kalastajatorppa is now open following a EUR25m (pounds 16.7m) refurbishment. The hotel's 17 conference rooms have been uprgraded to include video- conferencing facilities and wireless broadband connections. Tel: +35 8 94 58 11.

Venue Focus: Sheraton Skyline Heathrow.(Brief Article)
March 23, 2004... Sheraton Skyline Heathrow has begun a dollars 2.6m (pounds 1.4m) overhaul of 120 rooms aimed at business travellers. The new rooms will open in mid-March, and feature two line speakerphones, international plug sockets and high-speed internet...

Venue Focus: Hotel Mirabeau, Monaco.(Brief Article)
March 23, 2004... Hotel Mirabeau in Monaco has announced renovation plans. The meeting room is due to be upgraded, and will be completed at the end of April. Tel: +377 92 16 65 65.

Venue Focus: Chilworth Manor Hotel, Southampton.(Brief Article)
March 23, 2004... Chilworth Manor Hotel in Southampton has just installed a pounds 30,000 state-of-the-art AV package in its 140-seat presentation theatre. Tel: 023 8076 7333.

Venue Focus: Sheraton Nusa Indah Resort, Bali.(Brief Article)
March 23, 2004... Sheraton Nusa Indah Resort in Bali is to be renamed the Westin Resort following a multi-million pound renovation. Tel:+62 36 17 71 906.

Venue Focus: Choice Hotels Europe.(Brief Article)
March 23, 2004... Choice Hotels Europe has added the Comfort Inn Hinckley North to its portfolio. The 40-room hotel is close to Leicester City Football Club, Leicester Rugby Club and Leicester Racecourse, all of which have conference facilities. Tel: 0800 44...

Diary: Let's go to ... Riga.(Brief Article)
March 23, 2004... So, does the Republic of Latvia cut it as an exciting Eastern European State? Riga is described as the small, flat and largely boggy landmass languishing between its neighbours Estonia and Lithuania. One attraction is the Open Air...

Diary: Hey Jude - It's Now or Never for twin towns.(Brief Article)
March 23, 2004... Fifty years since Elvis Presley cut his first record, the home of the king is to be twinned with the home of Lennon and McCartney as Memphis rushes to embrace Merseyside. The year-long cultural exchange provides an opportunity for these...

Diary: Confessions of an event planner.(Brief Article)
March 23, 2004... On a trip to Monte Carlo, our client insisted that, as a leisure-time activity, they wanted to include arcade-style game machines. Ever eager to please, we reluctantly agreed that simulator games would work well in a five-star Monte Carlo...

Diary: Competition.
March 23, 2004... Every month, CIT will be testing your observational skills and giving away a fantastic prize. This month, you can win a two-night break at the historic Macdonald Alveston Manor in Stratford-upon-Avon, one of the leading conference venues in...

Diary: By royal appointment.(Brief Article)
March 23, 2004... Moat House Hotels clinched the relaunch of its Crown rooms with a royal seal of approval. Taking time out from his duties as the party prince, Harry and older brother William wowed guests at the Business Travel Show as they served canapes and...