Conference & Incentive Travel articles from May 2007

Conference & Incentive Travel archives from May 2007

The appliance of science.(Brief article)
May 21, 2007... Hands up if you recognise these gripes. Events need to take a more strategic approach. Events need to move on from just logistics to event marketing. Like a scratched record, they cropped up again at Imex. But we've heard it all before....

Carphone Warehouse assigns incentives to fledgling agency.(Black Tomato)(Carphone Warehouse Group PLC)(Brief article)
May 21, 2007... Carphone Warehouse has appointed Black Tomato to handle two of its incentive programmes this summer. Black Tomato's remit will see the agency fly 30 top retail sales staff out to the Primavera festival in Barcelona at the beginning of June...

RPM extends client services with dedicated events team.(Brief article)
May 21, 2007... Consumer experiential agency RPM is moving into the MICE market with the creation of a dedicated conference and events team. It will be headed by former Eventworks project manager Alex Webb, who fills the new position of specialist events...

Visit London is back in BACD.(British Association of Conference Destinations)(Brief article)
May 21, 2007... Visit London has rejoined the BACD, prompted by the association's recent link-up with global body Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI). 'We're delighted to rejoin BACD,' said Visit London commercial director David Hornby....

Tracker Briefs: This month's highlights from C&IT News Tracker.(Association of Event Venues appoints Kevin Murphy as its new chairman)(Hyatt adds five new properties)(Rotana Hotels to add 53 properties in the Middle East)(Brief article)
May 21, 2007... The AEV (Association of Event Venues) has named Excel London deputy chief executive and managing director Kevin Murphy as its new chairman, following EC&O Venues group commercial director Nigel Nathan's decision to step down (28/03/07). ...

Hyperactive in Vodafone remit.
May 21, 2007... Agency Hyperactive has been appointed by Vodafone to run the communications giant's hospitality programme around the Uefa Champions League final later this month. Hyperactive is charged with levering Vodafone's status as an official...

Symposium in education win.(Symposium Events)(British Institute for Learning and Development)(Brief article)
May 21, 2007... Symposium Events has won the contract to produce the British Institute for Learning and Development's (BILD) annual conference and launch its new brand later this year. The conference will see 75 delegates attend the Royal Society of...

Maritz continues fiscal turnaround with wins.
May 21, 2007... Maritz has continued its financial comeback in the first quarter of this year, with pounds 6m-worth of new business across 38 events - including two new clients in the pharmaceutical and automotive industries - since 11 January. The pharma...

Record attendance at Imex.
May 21, 2007... Last month's Imex show in Frankfurt attracted a record 8,310 visitors, including 3,592 hosted buyers. The growth is attributed to the expansion of the show's long-haul hosted buyer programme, which primarily focused on the US market

Revenues soar at Top Banana.(Top Banana Inc.)(Brief article)
May 21, 2007... Turnover at agency Top Banana leapt 60% last year on the back of new accounts from the likes of Hoover Candy and Mecca Bingo. The year to 31 March brought in revenues of pounds 1.6m, up from pounds 1m in 2005/6. 'We created a management...

Parker to head new MCI team.
May 21, 2007... Former Blueprint head of events Roger Parker has been recruited to head up MCI's new account team. Parker will work as an account director, leading MCI's fourth account team, created in response to an increase in business. He has worked in...

Competitive Edge nets Renault in record year.
May 21, 2007... The Competitive Edge has won more than pounds 750,000-worth of new business in the first quarter of the year - a record for the agency, which secured contracts with automotive marque Renault and electronics giant Siemens. Director Bill...

Line Up wins launch for Volvo.
May 21, 2007... Agency Line Up has won a five-way pitch to run the international launch of two cars for Volvo. The event will see the vehicles launched to 6,500 Volvo dealers in Stockholm this summer. Delegates from 35 countries will fly in for a two-day...

How to ... Create the perfect meetings menu.
May 21, 2007... Maintain energy: Long periods of concentration at conferences means maintaining energy levels is essential. Meals should provide protein for energy and nutrition, carbs for slow release energy and natural sugars. Graze: In everyday life,...

Blue-chip work is the blue riband.(Brief article)
May 21, 2007... It's always been tough acquiring and retaining corporate clients, whether you're a venue, supplier or are involved with running an agency, so why would anyone look to build a business in this risky and fickle market? The most important...

Australia in marketing drive for associations.
May 21, 2007... Australia is targeting the international association market with the launch of a national marketing body, backed by a pounds 416,000 promotional campaign aimed at overseas buyers. Conventions Australia is made up of 12 venues and convention...

PCOs move in on corporates.(Professional Congress Organisers)(International Association of Professional Congress Organisers)(Brief article)
May 21, 2007... PCOs are increasing their share of corporate meetings business, according to research carried out by the International Association of Professional Congress Organisers (IAPCO). The announcement came as IAPCO unveiled the results of its...

Carrier news.
May 21, 2007... Etihad Airways carried 1,031,837 passengers in the first quarter of 2007, an increase of 176% year-on-year. New routes this year include Dublin to Abu Dhabi. Qantas has upgraded its first and business class offer, introducing improved...

Let's get Atol plans off to a flier.
May 21, 2007... A long time ago, our government decided to regulate travel agents and tour operators to protect the public. One early result was Atol, which, in my opinion, now involves a complicated and expensive mess of liability ratio ratings, directors'...

Malaysia set to launch bureau.(Tourism Malaysia)(Brief article)
May 21, 2007... Tourism Malaysia is in discussions to develop a convention bureau, according to Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre general manager Peter Brokenshire. He confirmed at Imex last month that talks are underway and that an announcement was imminent...

UK achieves top-three status in ICCA rankings.(International Congress & Convention Association)(Brief article)
May 21, 2007... The UK is the world's third most popular destination for associations to convene, according to figures, released by ICCA. The UK hosted 279 international association meetings last year, putting it in third, up one place from 2005. The top...

Thistle bolsters its C&I profile.
May 21, 2007... Thistle Hotels has stepped up its C&I business drive by appointing its third and fourth external agencies. The chain has hired Australia's The Wren Partnership (TWP), and Copenhagen-based Travel Pie in an effort to boost the MICE profile...

One to watch: Henriette Attard, Group and incentive sales director, Rocco Forte Hotels.
May 21, 2007... - Why are we watching her? Attard moves to Rocco Forte this month to head up the new MICE team alongside Danny Tamari, who has just been appointed group and incentive sales manager. - What's her new remit? Over a fifth of Rocco...

Appointment at Eventia.
May 21, 2007... Maritz director of marketing Aileen Reuter has joined Eventia's board of directors to lead its CSR efforts. Reuter has been with Maritz for 11 years, prior to which she ran her own marketing services business. She takes over from Emma...

Promotion at International Confex.
May 21, 2007... Dijana Pejovic has been promoted to sector manager for International Confex's international sector. Pejovic joined CMPi 18 months ago and was responsible for growing the Exhibiting and Events Live sector by 20% in just one year

Appointment at Lucien Barriere Hotels.
May 21, 2007... Delphine Robert has left her position at Disneyland Paris to join Lucien Barriere Hotels as director of sales UK & Ireland. She will be responsible for driving MICE business from the UK and Ireland to the chain's 13 properties. She takes over...

Appointment at Visit London.
May 21, 2007... Visit London has appointed Becky Graveney as head of association sales to further grow the capital's association business. The move comes as London jumped from 13th to 11th in the recent ICCA city rankings

Appointment at Starwood Hotels & Resorts.
May 21, 2007... Starwood Hotels & Resorts has appointed Katherine Gordon as director of sales and marketing for the two Sheraton hotels at Heathrow Airport. Gordon will manage the sales teams and marketing strategies

Double promotion at Q Hotels.
May 21, 2007... Q Hotels has announced a double promotion within the marketing team to take its brand to the next level. Liz Howe has been appointed director of marketing, and Sarah Chamberlain has been promoted to group marketing manager

MPI urges input for BSI standard.(British Standards Institute)(Meeting Professionals International)(Brief article)
May 21, 2007... MPI's UK chapter has called for corporates, agencies and suppliers to have their say on the British Standards Institute's (BSI) draft proposal for a sustainable meetings standard. The call came at MPI's latest UK chapter meeting, timed to...

MCI puts CSR at centre of its long-term strategy.
May 21, 2007... Global agency MCI has unveiled plans to make CSR and the UN Global Compact principles a fundamental part of its long-term strategy. CSR director Guy Bigwood announced at a seminar at April's Imex show that pounds 40,000 has already been...

Motivaction to 'green up' offer.(Brief article)
May 21, 2007... Motivation and events company Motivaction is cutting its environmental footprint with a carbon-offsetting scheme and 'green' incentives. Motivaction managing director Tim Waygood said it was working towards becoming carbon-neutral in...

Bluehat unveils Eden CSR game.
May 21, 2007... Team-building firm Bluehat UK has launched a CSR game designed to raise awareness. The objective of the game, Eden, is to build a sustainable community by completing tasks, which earn delegates points that are converted into resources used...

CSR's leading lights.
May 21, 2007... At a CSR summit held at the Tschuggen Grand Hotel in Arosa, hosted by Switzerland Tourism's Urs Eberhard, C&I agencies from across Europe discovered that the UK and France are leading the way in adopting CSR principles into their events mix

Analysis: The strategy of planning events.
May 21, 2007... No matter how much the science of event planning evolves, the same recognition issues keep emerging. James Thornton looks at how to bridge the marketing gap. Strategic event planning? Old news. Event marketing rather than mere logistics?...

Analysis: The state of the C&I nation.(British Association of Conference Destinations )
May 21, 2007... C&IT has joined forces with the BACD to measure the quarterly performance of the UK's meetings market with a survey of the regional tourism organisations. If you're looking to determine the state of the domestic meetings market, there is...

Airline Survey: The view from up the front.
May 21, 2007... C&IT's mystery shoppers get the lowdown from carriers on the options for groups and the in-flight experience just behind the cockpit. KENYA AIRWAYS The flight: Nairobi to Heathrow in Premier World The enquiry: Central reservations...

Case Study: IBM's Indian Ocean incentive.
May 21, 2007... The computer giant stretched Mauritius' event and logistical infrastructure to the limit but to great effect, says Clive Walker. The Brief: The best of the best of IBM's top sales performers - those that have hit more than 100 per cent of...

Venue focus: Property bulletin.
May 21, 2007... From the bustle of Manchester's city-centre to tranquility in Doha. HILTON PORTOROSA - SICILY, ITALY This new five-star hotel, sandwiched between a private sandy beach and the Portorosa Marina, has one of the biggest conference centres...

Pushing Frontiers: Time for ... Tunisia.(City overview)
May 21, 2007... From nights under the stars in Bedouin tents to opulent beach properties and a bustling capital, Annabel Symington discovers what the North African state can offer C&I planners. INCENTIVES Explore the ancient city of Carthage or wander...

Agency focus: The C&IT Challenge.
May 21, 2007... The month's brief is to organise a green-themed party for 100 delegates in London at the end of the year to help a corporate client celebrate its achievements in the CSR field. For our 'green' event, we know the 100 delegates will be...

5 minutes with ... Banks Sadler.
May 21, 2007... Agency: Banks Sadler Location: London, York and Warsaw Staff: 100 The agency is celebrating its silver anniversary this year. And it's not sitting back, having confirmed it is to open offices in Paris and Frankfurt. What inspired...

Malta: 10 unique venues in Malta.
May 21, 2007... Jane Dunford recommends ten of the island's best venues for meetings, dinners or incentives. MALTA FAIRS AND CONVENTION CENTRE Contact: Ruben Caruana Tel: +356 21 41 03 71 Web: www.mfcc.com.mt LE MERIDIEN ST JULIANS Contact: Mark...

In Person: Sandra O'Tuathail, Deloitte.(Deloitte & Touche L.L.P.)(Interview)
May 21, 2007... James Thornton hears about the teamwork that goes into organising 250 events a year. Last year saw O'Tuathail move from being a marketing manager in Deloitte's corporate finance division to take on her current role, heading up events for...

Said & Done.
May 21, 2007... I'm squatting at Brown's at the moment. If one must squat, it's a great place to squat - Rocco Forte groups & incentive sales manager Danny Tamari hails his crash pad. Sorry to those of you who saw me in my boxer shorts this morning. I was...

Sounding Off: Creativity can cure the Code.
May 21, 2007... It is now 12 months since the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry's Code of Practice was overhauled and the regulations pertaining to the organisation of meetings and hospitality were strengthened. The result has been...

What's it like to work in: Beijing - Ben Taylor, managing director (Asia), Jack Morton Worldwide.(Interview)(Brief article)
May 21, 2007... - When did you open? Our Hong Kong office was established ten years ago, and our first mainland office launched in February 2006, followed by Beijing in February 2007. - How did you set it up? Some of our Hong Kong business...

One hour from London: Orbital options.
May 21, 2007... The home counties around the M25 are home to a trove of distinctive venues, offering capital service standards without the distractions. Hard to believe, but it's been 21 years since construction of the M25 was completed, and in that time...

Cardiff: The city in numbers.
May 21, 2007... The launch of Cardiff's ambassador programme and its role as temporary host for the FA Cup has done much to raise the city's profile Alex James goes through the figures. The city has been on a mission to woo the C&I market since 2003, when...

Nottingham and nearby: Vying for the big league.
May 21, 2007... Winning the Conservative Spring Forum was a clear statement of the region's intent, as Paul Oswell finds. Deploying the style of its most famous former resident, Nottingham pulled off its very own 'taking from the rich' trick this year...

Nottingham and nearby: Big, bold and beautiful.(Brief article)
May 21, 2007... Paul Oswell rounds up some of the region's venues that are ideal for larger C&I events. THE CROWNE PLAZA NOTTINGHAM This four-star hotel is one of the largest in the city centre and has just refurbished all of its public areas. There...

Christmas Party Venues: Festive favourites.
May 21, 2007... Whether its for a group of 50 or 500, Jeremy King finds venues to suit parties of all sizes. FOR UP TO 50 Llangoed Hall Tel: 01874 754525 Web: www.llangoedhall.com London Dungeon Tel: 0207 3343965 Web: www.thedungeons.com...

Ireland: Regional expertise.
May 21, 2007... One of Ireland's great characteristics is the variety it offers, whether it's gastronomy and culture to the west, or stunning scenery, golf and activities to the north. Galway for culture The West of Ireland is an area where the C&I...

Berlin: The capital reborn.(Hotel Concorde)
May 21, 2007... Hosting the World Cup did much to alter people's preconceptions of Germany, and finally erased Berlin's Cold War associations. Ben Lerwill reports from a revitalised capital city. Germany may not have crowned last year's World Cup with the...

Berlin: Cabaret, techno and more besides.
May 21, 2007... Berlin is justifiably famed for its nightlife with nearly 6,000 bars, clubs and restaurants. Depending on your age, thoughts of after-dark Berlin will either bring to mind Liza Minelli in suspenders or speaker-shaking techno parties. In...

Berlin Showcase: The latest C&I properties.(Brief article)
May 21, 2007... Ben Lerwill rounds up some of the more recent developments that are ideal for groups. HOTEL DE ROME Opening its well polished doors in October, Rocco Forte's Hotel de Rome is an impressive 146-room property located in a converted...

Denmark: Better by design.
May 21, 2007... Copenhagen is extending its flair for innovation into the conference room, as Susie Harwood discovers. Copenhagen is one of Europe's most creative and innovative cities, thanks to design icons such as Arne Jacobsen and Borge Mogensen, not...

Monaco: 20 reasons to choose Monaco.
May 21, 2007... From grande dame hotels to conference centres and cliff-top 'leaps of faith' to handling diamonds, Paul Oswell finds much to admire in the Principality. 5 LUXURY BOLTHOLES - Planning restrictions mean that new hotels are few and far...

Austria: Alpine challengers.(City overview)
May 21, 2007... Salzburg and Innsbruck are developing a reputation to rival Vienna, says David Atkinson. Vienna is home of the waltz, and the capital also takes the lead when it comes to revenues derived from Austria's meetings business, but the country's...

Grenada: The Spice Island.
May 21, 2007... What Hurricane Ivan destroyed in 2004 has been rebuilt better, and with the island's Cricket World Cup cameo and a planned UK fam trip, the only way is up for Grenada. Grenada may have been a luxury destination for many years, but to all...

Grenada: Event planner's guide to Grenada.
May 21, 2007... The tropical retreat's C&I infrastructure is to be boosted by a pounds 250m Mediterranean village. Getting there British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and Excel operate direct, non-stop flights from London to Grenada. Places to stay...

10 of the best places to meet in Asia.(Directory)
May 21, 2007... C&IT takes a tour of the best places to meet in Asia for beachcombers and city-slickers alike. BEACH RESORTS Parkroyal Penang, Malaysia Tel: +60 48 81 11 33 Web: www.penang.parkroyalhotels.com Park Hyatt Goa Resort & Spa, India...

Diary: Guess What?
May 21, 2007... 'Consider the strawberries,' pleaded Eventia's Sarah Webster at the breakfast briefing at Imex. Food miles were high on the green agenda with Webster imploring a packed room of hungry hosted buyers to think before requesting the berry out...

Diary: Striking a light for smokers.(Pearl Restaurant and Bar)(Brief article)
May 21, 2007... Anxious smokers fretting ahead of the looming smoking ban, should make a beeline to elegant eaterie, the Pearl Restaurant & Bar in London It has started serving up its fag-deprived punters a 'delicious tobacco-infused cocktail' to relieve their...

Diary: Racing heroes and demons.
May 21, 2007... Officials at the home of the St Leger - Britain's oldest classic horserace - have buried a time capsule chocka with historic trinkets. Among the goodies that might one day be dug up in Doncaster are a lock of hair from the mane of Silver...

Diary: Chef comes a cropper skillet.
May 21, 2007... We have been following Lee Gaskins, head chef at Sundial Group's Highgate House as he won the International Association of Conference Centres - UK chef of the year competition. The success saw him represent the UK in the IACC Copper Skillet...

Diary: Time Bandit - Joss Croft, Visit Britain.(Brief article)
May 21, 2007... 30% - Developing a strategy for Britain in consultation with UK partners and our 36 overseas offices. Events will be boosted by London 2012 Olympics, so we have to get the industry working together. 20% - Raising the profile of Visit...

Diary: Pin board.
May 21, 2007... The winners' enclosure at this year's C&IT Power 50 - Eventia's Downie does the smiling for the awol Cooper - Dish of the day gets near the knuckle in Frankfurt - C&IT's Leanne Bell gets the inside word on green issues - Environmental...