Conference & Incentive Travel articles from March 2008

Conference & Incentive Travel archives from March 2008

Talking about Y Generation.(Survey)(Brief article)
March 3, 2008... 'Wanted: work-shy, self-absorbed job-hopper to complain about lack of 'me' time. To start at middle-management level.' Welcome to Generation Y - whose arrival in the events industry dominated the debate at the latest Circle of Excellence...

Tracker Briefs.(Business Visits and Events Partnership )(Brief article)
March 3, 2008... In C&IT News Tracker this month: The Business Tourism Partnership (BTP) is to change its name to the Business Visits and Events Partnership in an effort to reflect the broader events industry (30.01.08). Pharmaceutical specialist...

Nestle renames Opus to deliver rebrand message at conference.(Brief article)
March 3, 2008... Nestle has reappointed Opus Creative Marketing following a five-way pitch to run an annual conference for its newly rebranded division, Nestle Professional. The two-day conference for 250 delegates takes place at Oxfordshire's Heythrop...

Farineau joins Incentive Plan to generate new UK business.
March 3, 2008... Former Maison de la France promotions executive Cedric Farineau has been recruited to help lead Incentive Plan, the fledgling incentive sister company of agency Venue Find. Incentive Plan organises bespoke incentives, conferences and...

CMP reworks venue show.
March 3, 2008... CMP's National Venue Show has rebranded as it bids to attract a wider audience. Event director Duncan Reid announced that the relaunched show, Event UK, will run for two days, not three, with a broader remit than the old show. ...

Eventia forms education link.(Brief article)
March 3, 2008... Eventia is creating an education taskforce in partnership with universities in an effort to bolster interaction between the industry, colleges and students. Eventia board member John Walker said: 'This group will prioritise future action...

Maritz in rejig after DMS buy.(Giselle Ripken appointed as managing director )(Karen Giles appointed as operational director)(Brief article)
March 3, 2008... Maritz has restructured, with former director (project management) Giselle Ripken replacing David Preston, managing director of sister company, DMS (Delegate Management Services), which it acquired last year. Preston has left the Maritz...

Zibrant growth plan on track with KL opening.(Jacquie Freer appointed as business development director )(Brief article)
March 3, 2008... Zibrant is to make its first international foray with the opening of an office in Malaysia on 1 May in a move will be followed by further expansion. Jacquie Freer, formerly account director, becomes business development director for Asia...

Seal continues with Celebrity.(Brief article)
March 3, 2008... Celebrity Cruises has reappointed Seal Events to organise a series of roadshows designed to motivate UK-based cruise sales travel agents. Seal event manager Emma Barker-Muzzell said the agency is organising a cruise ship-themed incentive...

Q Hotels in GM shopfloor plan.
March 3, 2008... Q Hotels is sending its general managers 'back to the floor' this month in an initiative to create a better understanding of the needs of front-line staff. The initiative will see GMs from across the 21-property group taking on roles such...

'Trash bash.
March 3, 2008... Glitz and glamour at Madame Tussaud's last month when the London venue threw a Eurotrash-themed party for event planners in the week that they were in town for International Confex

Competitive Edge wins PJH Muscat incentive.(Brief article)
March 3, 2008... Competitive Edge has won a three-way pitch for kitchen and bathroom distributor PJH to run a six-month incentive campaign culminating in a four-night luxury trip to Omani capital Muscat this October. The trip is for the 100 top performing...

Indeprod restructures board.(Jo Eldridge promoted to managing director)(Barry Reading appointed as chairman )(Richard Skeels appointed as client services director )(Brief article)
March 3, 2008... Agency Indeprod has restructured its board in a move that has seen former operations director Jo Eldridge promoted to managing director. Elsewhere, founder Barry Reading becomes chairman and client services director Richard Skeels also...

How to ... Maximise event sponsorship.
March 3, 2008... BE RELEVANT The event must be relevant to your brand values - there's nothing worse than a brand aligned to an event that is irrelevant to it. This serves to alienate rather than engage. EXPLOIT MEDIA LINKS If media partnerships...

Don't die a death of a 1,000 cuts.(Brief article)
March 3, 2008... Emerging economies, increased outsourcing and the threat of a downturn make for an uncertain business environment. Many employers are nervous and know they need to retain their best staff if they are to compete. During any time of change...

Fresh acquires Full Fat Media in growth push.
March 3, 2008... Fresh has acquired rival agency Full Fat Media as part of a bullish growth strategy, which is likely to see it purchase up to four more agencies this year. Full Fat Media offers conference, venue finding and production services, and the...

Credit crunch hits Fortis event.
March 3, 2008... Banking and insurance group Fortis has put a planned international incentive for 700 on ice, citing the impact of the collapse in the US sub-prime market as the main reason. The finance giant had lined up St Moritz as the destination for...

Carrier News.
March 3, 2008... Sanctuary Cruising is launching the MS Yangzi Explorer on China's Yangtze River on 20 April. The vessel has 62 suites and cabins, a 600m2 spa and boardroom for exclusive hire. Qatar Airways is introducing its fourth daily direct flight...

An armada that left minus sales.
March 3, 2008... This month I had hoped to applaud a sales initiative from a group of regional tourist boards along with key hotels and DMCs who visited the UK in January. Their approach of selling destination first, individual products second, met with my...

Starwood rejig for UK agencies.(Starwood Lodging Corp.)(Brief article)
March 3, 2008... Starwood has overhauled its UK agency incentive programme. 'Star Attractions' will see ten to 15 top clients, plus partners attend a three-night Athens incentive next month. This is followed by an 'Agents' Extravaganza' later this year,...

Grass Roots opens first office on sub-continent.(Brief article)
March 3, 2008... Grass Roots Group has announced the launch of its first office in India. The new office, based in New Delhi, is led by managing director Samitha Rao, as well as Deepali Jetley, who is responsible for sales and marketing, and Sandeep Gupta,...

Echard sets up consultancy.
March 3, 2008... Monaco Tourist and Convention Office's former director of sales and marketing, Benedicte Echard, has launched a marketing and promotion consultancy, BE&Co. Echard worked for the Monaco organisation for 13 years and, prior to that, was...

One to Watch: Nisha Virani, Business development manager, First Event.(Interview)
March 3, 2008... - Why are we watching her? First Event enjoyed its best ever year last year with turnover of pounds 4.3m, and as the agency's newly appointed business development manager, Virani's responsibilities will include ensuring that growth...

Appointment at Church House Conference Centre.
March 3, 2008... Church House Conference Centre has appointed Alison Forsyth as operations manager. She joins the London venue from Croydon's Fairfield Halls, where she was head of operations and events

Appointment at Reed Travel Exhibitions.
March 3, 2008... Reed Travel Exhibitions (RTE) managing director Richard Mortimore takes over the chairman's role following the retirement of Tom Nutley this month. Nutley, chairman for 25 years, begins a part-time consultancy role as non-executive president of...

Appointment at Expotel.
March 3, 2008... Former Carlson Wagonlit man Ian Taylor has joined Expotel to take on the position of travel team leader for the group's new business travel department in its Leeds office

Appointment at Agency Line Up.
March 3, 2008... Agency Line Up has appointed Jonathan Cooley as head of graphics Cooley joins from Aspect where he worked as show graphic designer.

Appointment at Accor Hotels.
March 3, 2008... Accor Hotels has appointed Karelle Lamouche as marketing manager for Sofitel, Novotel, and Mercure Hotels. Lamouche has been with Accor since 1997 and was previously marketing manager for budget brands Ibis and Etap

Appointment at Jarvis Woodhouse Events.
March 3, 2008... Jarvis Woodhouse Events has appointed Gillian Kempster as an event manager specialising in major outdoor events. She previously worked in Gloucestershire for Westonbirt Arboretum, arranging shows and concerts

Appointment at Principal Hayley Hotels and Conference Venues.
March 3, 2008... Principal Hayley Hotels and Conference Venues has appointed Mandy Jennings as group sales director. She joins from the De Vere Collection

Confex News: Olympic supplier price charter set for summer.(Brief article)
March 3, 2008... The supplier pricing charter for the 2012 Olympics, led by Visit London, is on track to be unveiled by the time this year's Games in Beijing get underway in August, it was announced at Confex. The Fair Pricing and Practice Charter is being...

Confex News: Seventeen in BS8901 tribute.(Brief article)
March 3, 2008... Seventeen Events managing director Andrew Williams took on critics of the BS8901 sustainable events standard during his seminar session at Confex, urging agency peers to defy the cynics. Williams first attacked accusations that BS8901 is...

Confex News: ACC Liverpool grows team.(Brief article)
March 3, 2008... The new BT Convention Centre - located in ACC Liverpool - announced at Confex that it is extending its corporate team to meet demand from the market ahead of its April launch. 'Demand has been exceptional so we are now recruiting a...

Confex News: Confex breaks visitor record.(Brief article)
March 3, 2008... This year's International Confex recorded the highest visitor numbers in the show's 25-year history. According to unaudited figures, this year saw a 15% increase in visitors to 9,550, excluding the 1,350 visitors from co-located show...

Confex News: P&MM: avoid CSR lip service.
March 3, 2008... P&MM client services director Chris Clarke called on corporate procurement departments to pay more than lip service to CSR at a Confex seminar. In his session, 'Corporate social responsibility: how to make it work for your business and...

Confex News: The Show Stopper.
March 3, 2008... Work hard, play hard: International Confex-goers live it up at the exhibitor party after the second day of the show. Entertainment at the party - at London's CC Club - included everything from live music to a contortionist

Analysis: Time shift: working with Generation Y.
March 3, 2008... Work-shy, disloyal job-hoppers with unrealistic visions of fat salaries, or a tech-savvy gateway to mobile and social network campaigns? Yasmin Arrigo looks into the Generation Y wave of employees. When Excel London's Circle of Excellence...

Analysis: THA tests its staff in Brussels.(Thomas Hannah and Associates Ltd. merges with Q Group )
March 3, 2008... To boost staff integration, the agency held a pitch exercise, joined by C&IT's James Thornton. It's been a landmark few years for agency THA. The firm merged with Q Group in March 2006, and spent the remainder of the year bedding the two...

Case Study: Wolverine's Lisbon display.(Case study)
March 3, 2008... The clothing giant showcased all of its brands together for the first time. THE BRIEF Wolverine Worldwide is the parent company of footwear and apparel brands including CAT, Harley Davidson, Merrell, Sebago and Patagonia. Previously,...

Venue focus: Property bulletin.(Centara Hotels and Resorts )(Dundas Castle)(Park Plaza County Hall )
March 3, 2008... Phil Heard reviews the latest developments from Milan to the Maldives. PARK PLAZA COUNTY HALL - LONDON Two years after construction started, the pounds 100m four-star deluxe Park Plaza County Hall opened on London's South Bank last...

Pushing frontiers: Time for ... Costa Rica.
March 3, 2008... The Central American state offers a Latin, eco-friendly incentive option. INCENTIVES Costa Rica boasts 26 national parks, eight biological reserves and 63 wildlife refuges, so hiking is a popular activity. Groups can visit the largest...

Agency Focus: The C&IT Challenge.
March 3, 2008... This month's brief is to stage a sales incentive for 150 delegates themed around the Euro 2008 football tournament for a multinational automotive company's UK dealer network. The incentive would launch at the client's HQ with a...

5 minutes with ... Instinctif.
March 3, 2008... Location: London and Dubai Staff: 19 What's the lowdown? Instinctif was set up when its four directors bought-out communications company Broad Street in 2005. Having had a few years to bed in, the outfit hit the spotlight at this...

In Person: Lucy Foster, Grant Thornton.(Occupation overview)
March 3, 2008... James Thornton meets the finance giant's events chief who cuts out the middleman. Grant Thornton conference coordinator Lucy Foster joined the financial firm in 1998 as a PA/marketing executive. By the time the company wanted to formalise...

Sounding Off: Cost cuts shouldn't blunt marketing message.
March 3, 2008... You would be hard pushed to ignore the dark clouds currently gathering on the economic horizon. So is it time for the event industry to batten down the hatches, lock in our most loyal clients and seek cover as the storm passes? Or should...

Case Study: Sharp breaks ground with Far Eastern foray.(Case study)
March 3, 2008... The consumer electronics giant awarded its copier division's top sales performers with a packed twin-centre trip to see the sights of Cambodia and Thailand. Mike Fletcher reports. THE BRIEF To drive performance in its Document...

London: Countdown to 2012: Industry views.(Interview)
March 3, 2008... Susie Harwood speaks to a selection of suppliers about how their preparations for London 2012 are going and what the legacy might be for the events industry. BILL PROSSER, DIRECTOR, THE COMPETITIVE EDGE - Just how big an impact will...

Show Preview: 10 good reasons to attend GIBTM.(Gulf Incentive, Business Travel and Meetings Exhibition )(Conference notes)
March 3, 2008... 1. LOCAL KNOWLEDGE Abu Dhabi's Gulf Incentive, Business Travel and Meetings Exhibition (GIBTM) is the sole dedicated C&I exhibition in the Gulf region. Run by Reed Travel Exhibitions, it follows the same successful format that has been...

London For all Seasons: Taking in the spring views.(Brief article)
March 3, 2008... The London Eye and Madame Tussauds are the ideal venues for spring events. Where: The London Eye and Madame Tussauds What's the lowdown? Spring is an ideal time to try out Merlin Venues' new networking package. Groups are collected in...

London For all Seasons: Outside for summer parties.(Renaissance Chancery Court Hotel)(Brief article)
March 3, 2008... The Courtyard at the Renaissance Chancery Court is an ideal al fresco option. Where: The Courtyard, Renaissance Chancery Court Hotel What's the lowdown? With outdoor event space at a premium in London, the Courtyard at Renaissance...

London For all Seasons: Fine dining in autumn.(Brown's Hotel )(Brief article)
March 3, 2008... Brown's hospitality courses offer delegates the chance to be 'hosts with the most'. Where: Brown's Hotel in Mayfair. What's the lowdown? As the autumn nights start drawing in, nothing beats a good home-cooked dinner with friends, and...

London For all Seasons: Rooftop winter wonderland.(Trafalgar Hotel )(Brief article)
March 3, 2008... The Trafalgar Hotel roof gardens offers panoramic views for Christmas events. Where: The roof gardens of the Trafalgar Hotel, London's first unbranded Hilton property, located on the south side of Trafalgar Square to the left of Canada...

London: Case Study - Gap briefs its store managers.(Case study)
March 3, 2008... The retailer chose London for its annual store manager meeting Susie Harwood reports. THE BRIEF Each October, Gap holds a two-day 'Holiday' conference for its 170 UK store managers and senior executives. 'We always have a conference...

London: Case Study - Kingfisher's capital network.(Case study)
March 3, 2008... The DIY retailer wanted its senior global staff to meet in a self-contained conference centre at a London hotel. THE BRIEF Retail group Kingfisher, which owns the B&Q and Screwfix brands in the UK and Castorama in France brings...

Chester & Cheshire: Business in bloom.
March 3, 2008... With its improving infrastructure and Year of Gardens initiative running in tandem with Liverpool's Year of Culture, David Atkinson finds a growing, yet boutique, destination. Chester is seeking to emerge from the shadow of neighbouring...

Coastal Resorts: Seaside bounty.
March 3, 2008... Its all change beside the sea as coastal resorts embark on multi-million pound projects to boost their infrastructure. Yasmin Arrigo looks at some of the more ambitious plans. BLACKPOOL'S POUNDS 250M FACELIFT ReBlackpool is the company...

The Midlands: 10 of the Best Places to Meet in The Midlands.
March 3, 2008... 1. RICOH ARENA, COVENTRY. Tesco, Asda, O2 and Barclays Bank are recent visitors to this purpose-built convention centre. Covering more than 15,000m2, it features the Midlands' largest column-free banqueting suite, the E.ON lounge, which...

Dublin: The Emerald Isle's new jewel.(Convention Centre Dublin )
March 3, 2008... The countdown to the opening of the Convention Centre Dublin is underway. Paul Oswell finds out what it means for the city's C&I potential. The Convention Centre Dublin (CCD) will be the first major state building since the foundation of...

Dublin: Check Out - On the property ladder.(Dylan and Radisson SAS)
March 3, 2008... Two new hotels in contrasting styles are adding quality and choice to the Irish capital. DYLAN Where is it? Dylan is a designer boutique hotel set in a leafy suburb close to the Grand Canal, historic Baggot Street and St. Stephens...

Eventia International Awards: A night of recognition and reward.
March 3, 2008... Last month, more than 800 of C&I's glitterati gathered to celebrate excellence at the Eventia International Awards. The great and the good of the events industry rubbed shoulders at Grosvenor House on 1 February for the annual Eventia...

Switzerland: A canton for all seasons.
March 3, 2008... The facilities around its famed pistes make Graubunden a year-round centre. With almost 1,400 miles of pistes, Switzerland's largest and eastern-most canton, Graubunden, is already an established winter destination. But the region, which...

Croatia: Pearl of the Adriatic.
March 3, 2008... Its history, sparkling coast and hotel offer make Croatia a real contender. Should proof be needed of Croatia's rising industry status, then last month's C&IT Agency Survey provided it. In the emerging destinations section, the Adriatic...

Croatia: Nationwide Hotel Showcase.
March 3, 2008... Ben Lerwill selects six notable properties for planners across the whole of the country. REGENT ESPLANADE The undisputed grande dame of the Zagreb scene, this 209-room property was opened in 1925 for Orient-Express passengers on...

Croatia: The case for Croatia.(Christina Koullas )(Interview)
March 3, 2008... DMC OM Croatia's Christina Koullas explains how the country is set up for C&I business. CHRISTINA KOULLAS, MARKETING OFFICER, OM CROATIA - What's the appeal of Croatia for the C&I market? The country is somewhere that people have...

Marbella: 10 Good Reasons to Visit Marbella.
March 3, 2008... Spain's gold coast has the climate, hotels and incentive options for rewarding events. 1. CLIMATE If there's one thing that most UK groups are looking for in the depths of a miserable British winter, or even summer, it's some...

The Algarve: The Algarve in numbers.(hotels and convention centers in Algrave region)
March 3, 2008... Susie Harwood breaks down the Portuguese region's appeal to UK planners into pertinent bite-sized numerical pieces. 43,000 - The number of new hotel rooms expected to come on stream between now and 2012. There are currently 34,456 hotel...

Macau: Upping the ante.
March 3, 2008... With 27 million visitors last year and more ongoing construction projects than anywhere bar Dubai, Macau has genuine claims as the Vegas of the East. Think Macau, think Las Vegas - at least, that's the leap the destination would like...

World Convention Centres: The global players.
March 3, 2008... Clive Walker proposes ten short- and long-haul convention centres that offer ease of access, a good location, ability to handle big groups, proximity to hotels and incentive pull. SHORT HAUL Best for access - Magma Art and Congress...

Diary: Guess What?(Eventia International Awards)(Brief article)
March 3, 2008... This month's social calendar kicked off with the model of decorum that is the eight-hour Eventia International Awards. Pictures often speak louder than words - check out Portaventura man Paul Black's hot moves and the various fruggers below...

Diary: Relaxing in style.
March 3, 2008... Visit Malta's Barthet-Brown and Tourism Australia's Corgan unwind at the C&IT spa day at Champney's in January. The next day's Eventia Awards saw Charlie the Goat in his best bib and tucker, alongside Maximillion's John Strachan and fellow...

Diary: Celebrating into the night.
March 3, 2008... A champagne toast for the good crew of the Agency of the Year, Banks Sadler, while elsewhere there was the requisite amount of groovy dancing, including Eventia's own Ms Downie leading the way, vogueing unashamedly on the dancefloor ..

Diary: Who's got my goat?
March 3, 2008... Who's got Little Charlie this month? Contact cit@haymarket.com to name our Alpine flower and Zibrant will supply a goat to an African village. You get a cuddly one too. Last month's winner: Jersey Conference Bureau's Hamish Reid. Confex...

Diary: Said & Done.
March 3, 2008... Is everyone at Visit London gorgeous? I mean there's you, Zanine... ah, you are Zanine - One party-goer networks hard at the Eventia Awards. Good morning. ooh, your hair looks nice - Confex director Duncan Reid gets morale boosting...