Conference & Incentive Travel articles from March 2006

Conference & Incentive Travel archives from March 2006

First Off: Education provides the fuel for progress.(Brief article)
March 20, 2006... The great thing about working in an industry that is constantly evolving is that there is so much to learn. By keeping up to date on the key issues, you can ensure your service moves with the times. This month we've profiled Andrew Latta,...

P&MM buys Summersault to strengthen employee offer.(Brief article)
March 20, 2006... P&MM has acquired the employee-relationship company Summersault Communications. Summersault specialises in producing internal corporate literature such as employee magazines, intranets, conference literature and online communications. ...

Matalan gives Fresh rebrand events remit.(Matalan PLC)(Brief article)
March 20, 2006... Matalan has appointed Manchester-based communications agency Fresh to deliver a spring conference and series of roadshows as part of a rebranding exercise. The conference, which will take place this month at Bolton's Reebok Stadium, will...

UK Price Check: Residential Conference.(Brief article)
March 20, 2006... Brief: Two-day residential conference for 30 delegates classroom-style with private dinner facilities at a hotel in the UK during October. The hotel must have good airport access for internal flights. Prices include all catering and VAT. ...

UK Brief: SITE opens office in Scotland.
March 20, 2006... SITE, the Society of Incentive and Travel Executives has opened an office in Scotland with a view to raising its profile within Europe. The society's ex-president Carolyn Dow has been appointed as director. www.site-intl.org.

UK Brief: Village Hotel & Leisure Club invests in new space.
March 20, 2006... Village Hotel & Leisure Club in Cardiff has invested pounds 1m in a new space that contains four conference rooms and can hold up to 90 delegates. The rooms are serviced by a conference cafe and facilities include an LCD projector, screen and...

UK Brief: Wyboston Lakes has accreditation extended.
March 20, 2006... Wyboston Lakes, a conference venue near Cambridge, has had its Hospitality Assured accreditation extended for the seventh-year running after showing high standards of customer satisfaction, service delivery and business planning....

UK Brief: Initial Style Conferences pilots new weekend experience.
March 20, 2006... Initial Style Conferences is piloting a new weekend experience that will offer guests the opportunity to be a stand-up comedian. Comedian Bobby Bragg and actor John Arthur will give team coaching to 20 delegates over two days. The first pilot...

UK Brief: Jolly Hotels to hold workshop.
March 20, 2006... Jolly Hotels, the Italian hotel chain, is holding a workshop that will allow people from across the MICE industry to meet with its sales reps and managers within the group. The workshop will be held in London on the 30 March. To register,...

Confex News: Italian cruise line targets UK market.
March 20, 2006... Italian-based Costa Cruises used its first appearance at Confex to announce an increased focus on the UK C&I market. New marketing activity will include a dedicated C&I website, trade press PR and a series of fam trips planned for May 2007....

Confex News: Clients missing out on pounds 5bn VAT rebate.
March 20, 2006... Clients could be missing out on pounds 5bn each year by failing to reclaim tax paid on overseas events, according to Tax Back International commercial director Niamh Murray at a Confex seminar. Corporations are entitled to reclaim foreign...

Confex News: Bicester Country Club earns debut Confex CSR gong.
March 20, 2006... Bicester Country Club has won the inaugural Corporate Social Responsibility award at Confex. The award, launched in association with C&IT recognises the exhibitor with the strongest CSR practices. The venue supports and exclusively...

Confex News: Seminar uncovers knowledge gap on ROI.
March 20, 2006... Around 70% of industry professionals are still struggling to understand how to measure return on investment (ROI), according to a poll carried out in a Confex seminar. Of the 45 delegates at the session Measuring Success and Maximising the...

Confex News: Seminar - How to work with agencies.(TRO)(Rob Allen)(Brief article)
March 20, 2006... Clients can ensure better working relationships by choosing agencies that demonstrate an understanding of their business, according to TRO chief executive Rob Allen. Speaking at a Confex seminar last month, Allen proposed key questions to...

Confex News: Visit London goes beyond its pounds 48m target for the year.(Visit London Ltd.)(Brief article)
March 20, 2006... Visit London has exceeded its 2006 target by securing pounds 69m of events for the capital. This surpasses the pounds 48m planned for the financial year up to April 2006 for C&I business booked via Visit London. Commercial director...

Jigsaw director wins Shine Award plaudit.
March 20, 2006... Jacqui Kavanagh, director of Jigsaw Conferences, has been named Business Owner of the Year at the Shine Awards. Kavanagh beat off runners-up including Villa World managing director Sanchia Ascroft and Lugger Hotel executive chairwoman...

Plug pulled on the M&IT Show.(Tradeshows)(Brief article)
March 20, 2006... This year's M&IT Show has been cancelled, with the organiser blaming a lack of exhibitor and buyer interest. CAT Publications sales director Steve Lewis said the sector had too many trade shows chasing too few budgets and audiences, and...

Webwatch - www.menspeakers.com.(Website overview)(Brief article)
March 20, 2006... What is it? A one-stop shop where you can book male speakers from a 140-strong database for any type of event from motivational talks to keynote addresses or after-dinner speeches. What's so special about it? Launched last month at Confex,...

A lingua franca will stop orders getting 'lost in translation'.(language barriers and the huge scope for misinterpretation)(Brief article)
March 20, 2006... Ignoring, for once, the 'Big Industry Issues', let's look at a comparatively small problem and one that's easy to address. I'm talking about language barriers and the huge scope for misinterpretation they present. Did you hear about the...

Former tourism boss launches Manx DMC.
March 20, 2006... Former Isle of Man department of tourism CEO Terry Toohey has formed the island's first independent DMC. Destination Isle of Man will be a one-stop shop for conference and event organisers. The venture will capitalise on growing...

Brighton aims for pounds 50m target.(Brief article)
March 20, 2006... Visit Brighton is aiming to generate pounds 50m from meetings revenue this year, following January's launch of its convention bureau. Head of marketing Melanie Sensicle said: 'This is the first time the tourist board has appointed a...

BTI Annual Conference Survey.(Brief article)
March 20, 2006... Dubai's hotel and conference development programme appears to have paid off as the emirate's capital is the sole non-European destination to feature in the top ten of BTI UK's annual survey of meetings and conferences. Dubai sits at number...

While small might be beautiful, it also brings bigger risks.(air travel organisers licensing)(Brief article)
March 20, 2006... Very small event agencies have received some great press coverage recently. This seems laudable and redresses the balance against the PR machines of the big players. However, whereas small might be beautiful, it does not follow that...

Lufthansa targets revenue stream in incentive market.
March 20, 2006... Lufthansa is finalising plans to widen its share of the business travel market by focusing on the C&I sector. The German carrier, which made its debut at Confex last month, is in talks with corporate travel and event management agencies to...

World Price Check: Two-day residential meeting.(Table)(Brief article)
March 20, 2006... Brief: Two-day residential conference for 30 delegates classroom-style with private dinner facilities in Canada during October. Prices exclude transfers but include taxes. HILTON MONTREAL BONAVENTURE Delegate package pounds...

Sobel retires after 34 years at French NTO.(Rachel Sobel retires from the Maison de la France )(Brief article)
March 20, 2006... Rachel Sobel has announced her retirement from the Maison de la France (MDLF) as head of the C&I division. Following 34 years with the tourist board, Sobel will step down in May. She said: 'I thoroughly enjoyed my time with MDLF,...

Milan to host new international C&I October trade fair.
March 20, 2006... EXPOCTS, the organiser of Borsa International Tourism Exchange (BIT), is launching a new MICE exhibition in Milan. The International Congress and Incentive Market Place (ICI) takes place on 4-5 October at Fieramilano and will include a...

Appointment: The Mersey Partnership.
March 20, 2006... The Mersey Partnership in Liverpool has hired Paul Mullins as commercial tourism manager. Mullins, who has been with the Mersey Partnership for more than five years, previously held the post of tourism project manager.

Appointment: Disneyland Paris.
March 20, 2006... Disneyland Paris has appointed Carlos Olejniczak as director of business solutions for its corporate events division. Prior to this role,Olejniczak, who joined the group in 1998, was senior sales and marketing manager. He takes over from Peter...

Appointment: Mandarin Oriental.
March 20, 2006... Mandarin Oriental has named Liam Lambert as operations director. Lambert will oversee the group's portfolio in Europe and the Middle East. Lambert was previously general manager of Mandarin Oriental in London's Hyde Park.

Appointment: Logistik.
March 20, 2006... Logistik, a Leeds-based live events agency, has appointed Mark Bustard as creative director. Bustard has more than ten years of experience in exhibitions and live events for clients that include O2, Sony Playstation and Motorola.

Appointment: Sandown Park.
March 20, 2006... Sandown Park, the London racecourse and events venue, has appointed Jerry Kilby as managing director. He joins from Nad Al Sheba Club in Dubai where he was general manager from 2000.

Appointment: Intercontinental Hotels Group.
March 20, 2006... Intercontinental Hotels Group has recruited Michael Kooitje as director of sales across a number of its brands, including Holiday Inn and Crowne Plaza. Kooitje was previously area director of sales for Benelux.

Rotana expansion on course for 40 Middle East hotels.
March 20, 2006... Middle East hotel chain Rotana Hotels is pouring nearly pounds 500m into the region following an agreement to open nine properties in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Jordan and Bahrain. These are in addition to the ten properties currently under...

Jack Morton sets up new office in Beijing.(Brief article)
March 20, 2006... Experiential communications agency Jack Morton has doubled its presence in the Far East with an office in Beijing. The outlet will service UK and international clients' increasing demand for the region - although it will not act as a DMC...

MCI and Smith Bucklin forge Partnership.
March 20, 2006... Event management agency MCI has joined with association management company Smith Bucklin to form an umbrella group called the Global Partnership. Both MCI and Smith Bucklin will retain their identities but the Global Partnership will have...

People and Places: Namibia.(Namibia Tourist Board educational trip )(Brief article)
March 20, 2006... Four lucky agents comprising Banks Sadler, Flexi C&I, Discover the World Incentives and ITD were flown to Namibia in January on an educational trip hosted by the Namibia Tourist Board (NTB), Air Namibia and Springbok Atlas UK. The six-day...

Overseas brief: Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre delivers pounds 48m.
March 20, 2006... The Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre has delivered pounds 48m to the city's economy within its first six months, according to new figures. The centre held 225 events attended by more than 790,000 people between June and December 2005....

Overseas brief: Texas Tourism launches new meetings guide.
March 20, 2006... Texas Tourism has launched a new meetings guide in an attempt to raise the state's profile as a conference destination. The guide includes information on venues and DMCs, and will be distributed by the UK-based Texas tourism board TravelTex....

Overseas brief: Dubai Convention Bureau appoints marketing agency.
March 20, 2006... Dubai Convention Bureau has appointed marketing agency the Janet Sealy Partnership as its European marketing agency. The group will help target the association and corporate meetings market. www.dcb.ae.

Overseas brief: Flywho to offer direct flights to Florida.
March 20, 2006... Flywho, a new long-haul airline, will offer direct flights to Florida direct from Birmingham from this summer. The airline was formed alongside upcoming tour operator GoVisitAmerica.com and will offer flights to the US state twice a week....

Overseas brief: Le Meridien to open resort property in Pattaya.
March 20, 2006... Le Meridien is opening a resort property in Thailand's Pattaya with a view to developing its portfolio across Asia. The 250-room resort will open in January 2009 and will offer 1,000m2 of meeting space, three food outlets, a swimming pool and...

Overseas brief: Intercontinental to open new golf resort in Spain.
March 20, 2006... Intercontinental is opening a new golf resort in Spain. The Mar Menor, a member of Great Hotels of the World, opens in Murcia in June and will offer a ballroom, bars, tennis courts, a spa and pool. Tel: 0800 032 4254.

Opinion: Sounding Off - Liability rests with the organiser - not the drunk delegate.
March 20, 2006... I recently had the dubious pleasure of listening to one of our industry's leaders talking about how EU regulation affects the sector. If one of your buses bursts a tyre and passengers are hurt, you, as the meeting planner, are legally...

In Person: Andrew Latta, Head of corporate events & hospitality, Norwich Union.
March 20, 2006... The metre-high pile of unread trade mags on Andrew Latta's office floor is indicative of how busy he is. At the same time, the fact that he can't throw them out without reading them first demonstrates his thirst for knowledge. 'The...

Analysis: Planning for worst case scenarios.
March 20, 2006... Recent cases and new corporate manslaughter legislation have highlighted the need to assess risk and liabilities, but will this mean the end for white-knuckle activities? Stuart Derrick investigates. Companies involved in C&I activity have...

Case Study: Renault's F1 triumph.
March 20, 2006... Renault's F1 Team had a month to prepare for an event to celebrate the capture of the drivers' and constructors' championships, leaving it with another race on its hands. The brief: A day-long event at Blenheim Palace to celebrate the F1...

C&IT Agency Forum: Look who's talking.
March 20, 2006... Delegates at this year's C&IT Agency Forum will reap the benefits of a line-up of top speakers addressing the key issues facing the industry. If location, location, location is the mantra for estate agents, then the event organiser's motto...

Destinations Survey: Cream of the crop.(incentive destination)
March 20, 2006... In the second part of this year's survey, Anna Bowden rounds up agencies' top destinations. South Africa is the most popular overseas incentive destination according to the respondents of this year's C&IT Agency Survey. The country - which...

Corporate Hospitality: All together now.
March 20, 2006... Increasingly, corporate hospitality delegates want to participate rather than spectate. Anna Bowden looks at how creativity is driving the move from the passive to the active. Gone are the days when entertaining corporate clients simply...

London: Q&A - Business magnet.(London International Convention Center Mayoral Commission's chairman Gerry Acher talks about booting the business tourism)(Interview)
March 20, 2006... An international convention centre would further boost London's worldwide appeal. Anna Bowden talks to London ICC Mayoral Commission chairman Gerry Acher. Gerry Acher is a man of action. Since retiring from his highly successful 30-year...

London: Venues - Bed, board and space to meet in the capital.
March 20, 2006... Yasmin Razak rounds up the latest developments and new venues around town. This month's Destinations Report (See page 24) places the capital well and truly on top for UK meetings, so it comes as no surprise that more and more London...

London: Case Study - Sony cooks up a storm in town.(Sony Europe )(Brief article)
March 20, 2006... Sony made its HR team work for their supper with a kitchen-based incentive. The brief: Sony Europe wanted to combine a networking meeting for human-resources managers from various UK offices to discuss the latest trends and issues in an...

London: Incentives - Out on the town.(travel places)
March 20, 2006... C&IT suggests six venues to inspire and motivate groups. THE SILVER FLEET Web www.silverfleet.co.uk If you're set on sourcing a venue with that 'wow-factor' view but can't decide which to plump for, you could do far worse than a...

London: Accommodation - Check out Brown's Hotel.
March 20, 2006... Where is it? A couple of minutes walk from Green Park Underground station and The Ritz, just off Piccadilly. It's in an area nicknamed Wobo - West of Bond St - and offers easy access to Theatreland, Mayfair and a host of restaurants and bars....

London: Case Study - Givenchy revs up its consultants.
March 20, 2006... The cosmetics giant chose London to gee up its beauty staff. The brief: Givenchy wanted to motivate its beauty consultants, area business managers and in-house staff for a series of product launches for the second half of 2005, share the...

Coastal Resorts: Beach patrol.
March 20, 2006... Britain's coastal towns may range from traditional beach resorts to swanky weekend retreats, but they share the capability to host large C&I events. Paul Oswell reports. BRIGHTON FOR FASHIONISTAS Contact: Melanie Sensicle Tel: 01273...

Exclusive Hire: 10 of the Best Venues for Sole Occupation.(meeting room )
March 20, 2006... Claire Bond pinpoints venues that are ideal for groups that want the whole place to themselves. FEVERSHAM ARMS, YORKSHIRE Contact: Cath Couzens, 0161 773 3559 Web: www.fevershamarmshotel.com Largest space holds 30 The meeting...

The Algarve: Portugal's standard bearer.(Arade Pavilion )
March 20, 2006... The Arade Pavilion will add large-scale meetings potential to the Algarve's armoury of luxury properties and world-renowned golf courses. Dave Saunders investigates. Golfers and sun-lovers have long been drawn to the 125-mile Algarve...

Dublin: Great expectations.(Citywest Hotel)(K Club)
March 20, 2006... After protracted delays, Dublin's renowned social attributes are finally to be complemented by a convention centre. Steve Jones investigates what impact this will have on visitor numbers. A weary sigh is the universal reaction from...

Madrid: The Real deal.(City overview)
March 20, 2006... Since the arrival of the Beckhams, Madrid has become recognised as a European style capital and a C&I galactico in the making. Europe's highest capital it might be, but not everyone looks up to Madrid. It has played second fiddle to coastal...

Malta: An epic in miniature.(Suzanne Cassar Dimech of Malta Tourism Authority speaks about conference and incentive business in Malta)(Interview)
March 20, 2006... Malta has the history, heritage and facilities of a far larger destination. Jane Dunford investigates. Born and bred in Malta, Suzanne Cassar Dimech became head of the new meetings, incentives, conferences and events division at the Malta...

Madrid: The Spanish capital by budget.
March 20, 2006... Ben Lerwill suggests how planners on all budgets can make the most of their money in Madrid. BUDGET How to get there: Budget carrier Easyjet flies to Madrid from Gatwick three times a day (just twice a day at weekends) and from London...

Malta: Cultural Trail - On the island's cultural trail.
March 20, 2006... Jane Dunford suggests how incentive groups could spend their time in Malta's historic venues. With a fascinating history dating back 7,000 years, it's no wonder Malta prides itself on its heritage. There are megalithic temples, Phoenician,...

Marbella: 20 Of The Best Reasons to visit Marbella.
March 20, 2006... As well as celebrities and the jet set, Marbella also counts the cream of corporates such as BMW, Ferrari and Porsche among the guests at Spain's most exclusive beach resort. 5 LUXURY INCENTIVES The most exclusive property on the Costa...

Hong Kong: The new dynasty.
March 20, 2006... Hong Kong is strengthening its C&I allure with Disney's first incursion to China. One look at its dizzying skyline of towering skyscrapers and mountainous backdrop, or a visit to one of the city's countless markets that sell everything...

Diary: Don't Miss ..(Diary entry)
March 20, 2006... MPI's 2006 PEC: 26-28 March - The MPI Education Conference at Davos. www.mpiweb.org Eventia procurement workshop: 3 April - CIPS, the HBAA and MPI join forces to give an insight to the workings of the buying process. www.eventia.org.co.uk...

Diary: The ICC booked up for some prickly subjects.(Green diary)(British Hedgehog Preservation Society)(Brief article)
March 20, 2006... Diary is a green-living sort of cove, aware that there is a growing trend for all things corporate, social and responsible. Diary will, therefore, promote, when possible, the plight of our four-legged brethren. The smaller members of this...

Diary: Who's left the 'Iron' on?(Belfast Conference Showcase)(Norn Iron)(Brief article)
March 20, 2006... Diary remembers there was something of an outcry when Private Eye and Spitting Image lampooned the BBC's political editor of the time, the great John Cole, for his strangulated Belfast vowels. But that was then. 'Bout ye? I'm scundered...

Diary: The Headlines 10 Years Ago.(eco-tourism)(World Conference Travel)(Radisson SAS)(Brief article)
March 20, 2006... - The Greek National Tourist Organisation rethinks its tourism strategy after falling numbers of incoming UK visitors. UK director Panos Argyros promises to promote the country's diversity for cultural, eco-tourism and sporting breaks, as...

Diary: A Weekend Break in London.(Green Dairy)(The Parkcity)(Brief article)
March 20, 2006... Win a memorable weekend in London, courtesy of THE PARKCITY, the new four-star Kensington boutique hotel that's perfectly placed for you to enjoy the city. The winner will enjoy three nights' accommodation as well as a gourmet meal at the...

Diary: Lost in space.(Green Dairy)(Brief article)
March 20, 2006... We've all experienced it, that nagging feeling you only get at trade shows. After a while, all the aisles seem to merge into an identikit vortex of colours, proffered brochures and heightened chatter, leading to the urgent need to sit down...