Conference & Incentive Travel articles from May 2004

Conference & Incentive Travel archives from May 2004

First Off: Airlines may find their salvation in C&I travel.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... There are tough times ahead for the airline industry if the words of Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary count for anything. He was recently quoted in the FT forecasting an 'awful' winter season for European airlines. Plagued by the...

BTP moves to share a vision and unify business tourism.(British Tourism Partnership)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Members of the British Tourism Partnership (BTP) are planning to create a better-unified and more profitable domestic business tourism sector. At the organisation's latest meeting in London on 1 April, the need for a set of shared issues...

Event specialist joins Mayoral Commission.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Former managing director of The Event Organisation Vanessa Cotton has been named as one of the first six expert members of the Mayoral Commission. The body was set up by the London Development Agency to investigate the case for a...

Forum reports on boosting London as a destination.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Results from the second annual London Leadership Forum on Business Tourism, funded by the London Development Agency in partnership with Visit London, will be available later this month. A report detailing the outcome of the forum, which was...

UK Price Check.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Management training event at a residential conference centre: 25 delegates for four nights, five days in October. Accommodation, breakfast, lunch, refreshments, dinner, room hire, syndicates and VAT Staverton Park, Daventry; 24-hour rate...

News Brief: MPI elects England.
May 1, 2004... MPI has elected Gary England as president of its UK chapter. England, who has spent six years as head of corporate sales at London's Barbican Centre, will take over from incumbent president Carole McKellar in July. Meanwhile, MPI UK has formed...

News Brief: UMIST centre re-accredited.
May 1, 2004... The Manchester Conference Centre at UMIST has been re-accredited with the Hospitality Assured Meetings standard for service excellence. Tel: 0161 955 8084.

News Brief: PGI announces appointment.
May 1, 2004... Event and communications agency PGI has announced that Jacqui Wylde has joined its European office in London as account director. Tel: 020 8336 6130.

News Brief: Macdonald completes restructure.
May 1, 2004... Macdonald Hotels has completed a restructure of its sales and marketing teams in a drive to increase brand awareness in the trade sector. A new sales director and marketing director have been brought on board. Tel: 0870 400 8855.

News Brief: ITMA introduces C&I training.
May 1, 2004... ITMA is to introduce training for C&I organisers in the provision of travel and event insurance, following the recent introduction of a regulatory regime for general insurance. Tel: 01737 779928.

News Brief: Tourism conference issues call.
May 1, 2004... This year's National Conference on Business Tourism has issued its call for papers. The steering group is welcoming all submissions of case histories, research abstracts and examples of successful best practice. For details visit...

Smyle runs Rolls-Royce projects in centenary year.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has appointed events agency Smyle to assist with the design and operation of several key projects during 2004. These include an international dealer meeting to coincide with the company's centenary year. Events...

Mayridge sets up a complete event arm.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Mayridge Group has added a division to its growing portfolio so that it can offer its clients a complete event solutions package. Mayridge Live Event Services has been developed in response to the increasing volume of conference work handled by...

Blandell moves to helm of BI in drive to boost profits.(BI Worldwide)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... BI Worldwide has appointed Richard Blandell as managing director. His previous roles include director of product development at TMO before its acquisition by BI and CEO at Claritus Europe. Blandell said: 'The prospect of joining an...

Montgomery chooses show travel operator.(Montgomery International)(MissionFare)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... MissionFare, the specialist congress branch of The Montpelier Collection, has won a contract from exhibition organiser Montgomery International to offer its clients travel and accommodation arrangements at trade shows. Destinations covered...

Duo team up to push Ibiza corporate service.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Euro RSCG Skybridge has teamed up with brand communication agency Dandelion Creative to launch 'Ibiza Covered', a corporate hospitality, conference and incentive service for the island. Skybridge account executive Laura McCrindle said:'Our...

People and Places: Marks & Spencer.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Marks & Spencer held two events in December at the Baltic Mill in Gateshead to introduce its new Lifestore brand and products to its staff. The senior management and store management team of 27 convened on the first day and 230 customer...

Eastbourne rolls out more youthful image.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Eastbourne Tourism has launched an advertising campaign in a bid to change its rather outdated image in the eyes of event organisers. Entitled 'Change Your View', the marketing strategy will span all tourism markets, with targeted direct...

Regional tourism builds on success.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Regional tourism boards have enjoyed a prolific first quarter, and launched a number of initiatives. Chester and Cheshire Conference Desk has joined forces with Destination Warrington to target national associations. In Lancashire, ten...

Toolkit Eventsforce.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... What's this month's product? Eventsforce is an online event management solution, providing comprehensive software tools to aid event marketing, delegate registration and overall logistics. Who is it for? The package largely...

Commercial nous will win the heart of procurement.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... At last we are making headway on the procurement front. The earlier 'them and us' hostilities are giving way to an acceptance that the procurement process is becoming part of winning business. So what do procurement clients want and how can it...

AIPC poll identifies a need for certification standard.(International Association of Congress Centres)
May 1, 2004... International congress centres have an 'urgent' need to adopt a universal quality standard to enhance their images, says a recent survey. Results from a membership poll by the International Association of Congress Centres (AIPC) show that...

German centres target UK as their leading market.(SevenCenters)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... A co-operative of German convention centres is targeting UK meeting organisers in a bid to boost inbound conference business from what it describes as its most important market. SevenCenters - founded in 2002 and uniting venues from Berlin,...

Milan tops survey of world's hotel prices.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Milan's hotels are the most expensive in the world, according to results from a recent survey by BTI UK. The analysis was based on industry figures, actual room nights booked and rates paid by more than 7,500 BTI UK clients in 2003. ...

World Price Check.(conference centers)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Management training event at a residential conference centre: 25 delegates for four nights, five days in October. Room, breakfast, lunch, refreshments, dinner, room hire, syndicates, travel and taxes Dolce Sitges, Barcelona; 24-hour rate...

News Brief: Outrigger launches MICE CD.(Outrigger Hotels and Resorts interactive marketing)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Outrigger Hotels & Resorts launched an interactive MICE CD for the conference organiser market at the Asia Pacific Incentives and Meetings Expo 2004. It has overviews of hotels, and offers a back-end booking engine and website link. Tel: +61 7...

News Brief: Easyjet announces new routes.(Easyjet Airline PLC)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Easyjet has announced four new routes from Belfast International Airport to Alicante, Malaga, Nice and Paris. The expansion comes from the Air Route Development Scheme, an initiative intended to improve the provision of air services from...

News Brief: ICCA and CIC enter into agreement.(International Congress and Convention Association)(Convention Industry Council)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... ICCA and the Convention Industry Council (CIC) have entered into a job-sharing agreement with the appointment of Joanne Joham. She will act as manager for North America at ICCA and project director at the CIC. Tel: +31 20 398 1919.

News Brief: Air Malta launches service.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Air Malta launched a no-frills service from Stansted to Valletta at the beginning of April. Fare 4U serves the Maltese capital three times a week with return fares from pounds 99.60 including taxes. Tel: 0845 607 3710.

News Brief: Groves appointed.(Leonie Groves)(Perth Convention Bureau)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Perth Convention Bureau has appointed Leonie Groves as convention and event manager to generate sales from the UK and Europe. The position is based at the Western Australia Agent General's office in London. Tel: 020 7240 2881.

News Brief: Hotel correction.(Correction Notice)
May 1, 2004... In CIT April, we featured an article on Barcelona in which it was incorrectly stated that the new five-star Gran Hotel La Florida is located in the coastal town of Sitges. The hotel is actually in Barcelona itself. Tel: +34 93 259 30 00.

EIBTM grows as new destinations spotted.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... The new-look EIBTM has sold 8% more floor space than last year's show, with seven months still left to go until the event takes place. A total of 32 new exhibitors are taking part, while 15 suppliers who did not attend the 2003 show in...

Top conventions head for CTICC.(Cape Town International Convention Centre)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... The Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) has secured a number of business wins in its bid to be a driving force behind business tourism in South Africa. The latest international meetings to sign up at the CTICC are scheduled...

Pushing Frontiers: Laos.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Bordering Thailand and China, the People's Democratic Republic of Laos is one of South East Asia's lesser-known destinations, but it offers extensive potential for adventurous C&I groups seeking an authentic experience. This Buddhist...

Happiest workers are those whose firms give them incentives.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... According to the latest annual Sunday Times survey, the best companies to work for are those with happy workforces because they outperform others. Probably a 'given' to those who work in the incentive and motivation industries, but perhaps...

SITE tackles procurement with a series of seminars.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Seminars to educate incentive houses in how to deal with procurement departments - which increasingly dictate C&I budgets - are to be developed by the Society of Incentive & Travel Executives (SITE). The move follows the third annual...

MPI grows its European membership.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Meeting Professionals International (MPI) has capped a year of expansion in Europe with record-breaking attendance figures at the 2004 Professional Education Conference - Europe. Approximately 502 delegates attended the conference this year...

People and Places: Starwood Hotels & Resorts.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... To kick-start another exciting year and mark the stepping down of Barry Sternlecht as group CEO, Starwood Hotels & Resorts held its leadership conference in Arizona in January. Entitled POP - The Vision to Lead, The Power to Win, the event was...

News Brief: SriLankan Airlines signs deal.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... SriLankan Airlines has signed a deal with Bmi to enable regional departures from the UK to Sri Lanka. Regular connecting flights are available from Belfast, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds Bradford, Manchester and Teeside. Tel: 020 8538 2000.

News Brief: Marked interest in Luxury show.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... The International Luxury Travel Market says there is a marked increase in exhibitor levels for its 2004 show. Around 90% of the world of luxury tourism will now be represented at the December event, with new exhibitors including Ritz Carlton...

News Brief: ICC Durban recognised.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... ICC Durban has been recognised as Africa's leading conference centre for the third consecutive year by the World Travel Awards. The venue is shortly to undergo a large-scale expansion. Tel: +27 31 360 1000.

News Brief: Cruise passenger arrivals up.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Cruise passenger arrivals to Gibraltar were up by 12% last year. Projected figures show a further leap in 2004. Tel: 020 7836 0777.

News Brief: Louis launches website.(Louis Hotels)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Louis Hotels, a specialist in accommodation for Greece and Cyprus, has launched a website at www.louishotels.com offering secure online booking. Tel: +357 22 588 007.

News Brief: Travelpack non-stop services.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Travelpack will unveil two new non-stop services from Gatwick to Delhi in October. They will leave on Sundays and Tuesdays. Tel: 08705 747100.

News Brief: Hotels in India rebranded.(First Hilton)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Eight hotels in India have been rebranded as First Hilton Hotels for India. Seven Trident hotels have become Trident Hiltons, while Mumbai's Oberoi Towers is now known as the Hilton Towers. Tel: 0800 888 44 888.

Analysis: Abroad - they do things differently.
May 1, 2004... The key to successful international events planning is: be prepared. Organisers need to research the destination thoroughly and double-check the details to get job satisfaction from all the hard work 'To be forewarned is to be forearmed' is...

Opinion: Sounding Off - Star rating system is misused and it damages industry.(hotel star ratings)(Brief Article)(Editorial)
May 1, 2004... Motoring organisations provide a valuable service to consumers with their well-recognised star ratings. The quality percentage score focusing on hospitality levels, leading to red stars for the very best, is a valuable refinement from the AA....

In Person: Caroline Packman, Head of business tourism - Visit Scotland.
May 1, 2004... After 15 years in London working in the field of brand marketing, Caroline Packman has returned to her Caledonian roots, to head up the business tourism division of Visit Scotland. She aims to 'raise the profile of business tourism, while...

Case Study: Forum unites key players in events market.
May 1, 2004... Building on last year's event, the CIT Forum 2004 will be a packed two-day event, and includes one-on-one meetings with leading MICE suppliers and a plenary session where everyone's opinion will be welcome Building on a successful event in...

Airlines survey: Dedicated approach.
May 1, 2004... Security has been a priority for carriers this year. Yasmin Razak finds out how this has affected services and what impact the increase in low-cost flights has had on C&I travel. Since September 2001, the global airline industry has been...

Coastal Resorts: Selling the sea.
May 1, 2004... With a co-ordinated push in investment and marketing, the UK's resorts are proving increasingly popular for all kinds of meetings. Belinda Gannaway reports. The UK's coastal resorts have had something of a rollercoaster ride in terms of...

Glasgow: Meetings with style.
May 1, 2004... Glasgow is relaunching itself as a stylish and design-led city, says Suzy Bashford, and is calling for event organisers to see for themselves how well it caters for corporate groups. Glasgow has 'reinvented itself more often than Madonna',...

London Docklands: 10 of the best - London Docklands venues.(Brief Article)(Illustration)
May 1, 2004... Go east and be tempted by some of the capital's more diverse facilities, says Colette Doyle. THE BARGE LEVEN Contact: Laura Cartwright, 020 7987 4002 Website: www.theleven.co.uk Number of meetings spaces: 3 Maximum capacity: 100...

Austria: A broader appeal.
May 1, 2004... Faced with growing competition from rivals Hungary and Croatia, Austria's conference sector is keen to attract UK buyers with a mix of old and new. Clive Walker reports on its progress. While Austria currently attracts a significant amount...

The Caribbean: Coming of age.(Interview)
May 1, 2004... The islands of the Caribbean are presenting new opportunities for events and incentives, says Mark Hillsdon, allowing groups to choose year-round sunshine and improved facilities. Fifteen years ago, function space in the Caribbean was a...

Denmark: From strength to strength.
May 1, 2004... A destination that offers the right mix of charm, culture and affordability. Ben Lerwill reveals why discerning buyers are increasingly taking their business to Denmark's varied centres. From the moment groups touch down amid the...

Monaco: The progressive principality.
May 1, 2004... Monaco plans to win back its share of the meetings market by increasing hotel stock and repositioning itself as a cost-effective destination, reports Sarah Wild. Despite a recent fall in the number of meetings held in Monaco - a combined...

Hungary: Into the fold.
May 1, 2004... Now that it has joined the European Union, Hungary is planning to target UK organisers more keenly than ever. Dave Saunders finds out what facilities the new member has to offer. Hungary's accession to the European Union this month has...

Venue Focus: Dubai Autodrome and Business Park.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Dubai Autodrome and Business Park, part of the Dubailand project to create a city within the emirate, opened in April. The venue has a 5.35km track and corporate hospitality suites to cater for a maximum of 1,500 guests. It is complemented by a...

Venue Focus: Bovey Castle.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Bovey Castle, set within the Dartmoor National Park in Devon, is now welcoming C&I delegates. Built in 1906, the castle houses 65 individually designed rooms, and the mews across the courtyard has been fully refurbished to provide a business...

Venue Focus: The Clarion Hotel Saint-James & Albany.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... The Clarion Hotel Saint-James & Albany, a four-star Parisian property located opposite the Jardin des Tuileries and the Louvre, has opened an opulent spa. Situated in the original stone vaults below the hotel, facilities include a 15m pool, a...

Venue Focus: Royal seaside residence attracts groups.(Osborne House)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Osborne House, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert's home by the sea, has opened its doors to C&I delegates. The historic Isle of Wight venue features a host of areas for events including the Durbar room, bedecked with artefacts from India, the...

Venue Focus: Capital launch for Mandarin Oriental in the US.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Mandarin Oriental Washington DC has opened for business in the American capital overlooking the Potomac Tidal Basin and the Jefferson Memorial. With 400 rooms and suites, the property features a ballroom for up to 900 and the Cafe Mozu and...

Venue Focus: Conrad Hotels.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Conrad Hotels, the luxury brand of Hilton, has opened a new resort and spa in Bali. The Grand Ballroom can be divided into three separate rooms, there are six meeting and boardrooms and unusual venues include the Balinese water garden. Tel: +62...

Venue Focus: Village Hotel & Leisure Club Maidstone.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Village Hotel & Leisure Club Maidstone is a new pounds 17m development by the De Vere group, due to open in June. The 122-room property will offer conference and banqueting facilities, restaurants and a leisure club. Tel: 01622 672200.

Venue Focus: Movenpick Hotel Berlin.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Movenpick Hotel Berlin is the latest addition to the Swiss hotel chain. Three conference rooms, two of which can be joined together, overlook the gardens, and delegates can also make use of the ballroom, fine dining rooms and Wilderness...

Venue Focus: Ramada Encore London West.(Ramada International Hotels and Resorts)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Ramada Encore London West, the second Ramada Encore property in the UK, has opened. The five purpose-built meeting rooms accommodate a maximum of 50 delegates and there is a break-out room. Private dining is available in the Wok Around The...

Venue Focus: Marriott International.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Marriott International has added a Courtyard hotel in the Dominican Republic to its portfolio. The Courtyard by Marriott Santo Domingo Downtown is located in the city's cultural centre and has two meetingrooms, fitness facilities and a...

Venue Focus: Center Parcs Longleat Forest.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Center Parcs Longleat Forest has increased its MICE offering with the development of 75 executive-class villas. Built to complement Center Parcs' dedicated conference centre, the West Country villas are situated close to the Aqua Sana...

Diary: Let's go to ... Lexington.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... It's a new one on me - tell all. Ahem. Nestled on the idyllic rolling plateau of Kentucky, the town of Lexington is renowned as both the horse capital of the world and the Athens of the East. Stables and dubious self-comparisons - sounds...

Diary: Latest hotel hot spot for the young ones.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Turkey-necked crooner Sir Cliff Richard has got a lot to be thankful for: a penchant for terrifyingly successful Christmas schlock, a care home fanbase of biblical proportions and now his very own hotel. The Arora International Manchester,...

Diary: Talking to the animals.(Chester Zoo)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Strange tidings from Chester Zoo, Diary hears. The venue's prized chimpanzee forest, home to many a merry ape, has been fitted out with a wireless PA system. The stated reason for the unusual move is to 'enable the zoo's presentational...

Diary: Confessions of an event planner.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... When site inspections lack a certain 'oomph', they can be humdrum affairs for both host and potential client. But I feel obliged to share my experience of one far-from-tedious guided visit that certainly left the guest with more than they'd...

Diary: Lady luck.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Trying to find a marketing tool with pizazz in the overcrowded world of commerce can't always be easy - the yawn-yielding advertising dirge we're subjected to daily is testament to that. But Lancashire Tourism has hit on an effective way of...