Conference & Incentive Travel articles from May 2010

Conference & Incentive Travel archives from May 2010

Editor's Comment: A beacon of calm in a cloud of chaos.(Editorial)(Brief article)
May 1, 2010... What began as a rumble in Iceland caused worldwide panic as the plume of volcanic ash led to the shutdown of the European air network, causing the events industry to lose a substantial sum as clients and agencies faced huge disruption over a...

Powwow Turns to Ratcliffe's Input
May 1, 2010... Powwow Events has appointed former Talking Point Group chief executive Paul Ratcliffe to advise the London agency on its target to grow turnover by 20% this year. Ratcliffe sold Talking Point to BCD Travel before setting up Starfish...

Novell gives Event IT further work.
May 1, 2010... Novell has appointed Event IT to run a series of meetings in Amsterdam this month. The software provider will hold events for 50 delegates on 18 May and 200 delegates on 19 May at the West Indisch Huis. Event IT was appointed after...

Sky increases budget for Skyfest recognition event.(Brief article)
May 1, 2010... Sky has increased the budget for its annual staff recognition event, Skyfest, by about 5%. The festival-style event, which takes place at Dalmeny House in Edinburgh on 5-6 June and at Grasshoppers Rugby Club in Osterley, London on 16-17 July,...

Lines moves on to new role at Nestle HQ.(Martin Lines)(Nestle UK)(Brief article)
May 1, 2010... Martin Lines has relocated to Nestle Professional's head office near Geneva, Switzerland to take up the new post of global beverage portfolio manager. He was previously UK marketing director for four years. Nestle Professional UK...

Industry left to count cost of Iceland's volcanic cloud.(Brief article)(Statistical data)
May 1, 2010... The volcanic ash that forced the closure of UK and European airspace is estimated to have cost London more than pounds 100m in lost visitor spending, according to Visit London and the Mayor of London's Office. London hotels report they were...

W&O boosted by event arm growth.(Brief article)
May 1, 2010... W&O Events reported turnover of pounds 20.7m for the year ended September 2009, compared with pounds 13.3m for the previous year. The agency's business grew significantly due to 'increased sales particularly in the pharma-ceutical...

The HBAA and MIA spurn Eventia's merger advances.(Meetings Industry Association)(Hotel Booking Agents Association)(Brief article)
May 1, 2010... The Hotel Booking Agents Association (HBAA) and the Meetings Industry Association (MIA) have rejected the idea of a merger with Eventia. Eventia had earlier invited the HBAA and MIA to discuss a possible merger following an idea mooted by...

Good Month - Bad Month.
May 1, 2010... GOOD MONTH RPM Corporate has won nearly pounds 1m-worth of events business since its launch in November. Wins include a global sports retail event, an engagement event for 1,500 staff from a consumer electronics company and an awards ceremony...

Move of the Month: Combes departs Logistik for Opus.(Kelly Combes )(Brief article)
May 1, 2010... Opus has appointed Kelly Combes to the post of event manager. Combes moved from Logistik's London office where she spent around 18 months as project manager (events). Her remit at Opus will include working on accounts for two key corporate...

Win of the Month: Balfour Beatty reappoints DRP Group for staff event.
May 1, 2010... Infrastructure services company Balfour Beatty has appointed DRP Group to run its 2011 staff event. DRP Group managing director Dale Parmenter said the agency won the business without a pitch. Balfour Beatty awarded DRP the contract following...

We Go Together: Nic Cooper and John Worthington.
May 1, 2010... Nic Cooper - chief executive, Sledge The first time I met John was several years ago during a pitch. There were about four people from O2 there, and John stood out because he was so direct and open, and it was obvious he understood the live...

Nottingham: In a whole new light.
May 1, 2010... A recent Nottingham fam trip showcased what the city has to offer the C&I market and how it is challenging its reputation. David Atkinson gets the low-down from buyers. NARINDER WEBB - EVENTS COORDINATOR, PORSCHE CLUB GREAT BRITAIN -...

Dates for the diary.
May 1, 2010... The Germany Convention Bureau has launched a cultural calendar tool for event planners. Kunal Dutta picks some of the country's top events in 2010. BACH FESTIVAL, LEIPZIG 11-20 June Getting there: Leipzig is two hours south of Berlin by...

One hour from London: Orbital options.
May 1, 2010... The counties surrounding London offer venues with space to think and room to relax. HEVER CASTLE, KENT Nearest station: Edenbridge, 40 minutes from London Bridge, then ten minutes by taxi. Morning meeting: Impress up to 64 delegates...

Abu Dhabi: Cultural shift.(Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority)
May 1, 2010... With its forthcoming Louvre and Guggenheim openings, Abu Dhabi is fast becoming the Middle East's culture capital. Once seen as Dubai's less-developed cousin, the UAE capital is becoming a major player on the international C&I stage....

Abu Dhabi: Designed with business in mind.
May 1, 2010... Five new and forthcoming venues that reflect the emirate's determination to be a C&I leader. FOR SPORTS FANS... The Yas Hotel Treat delegates to a futuristic sports experience at the sleekly designed hotel, located on Yas Island's...

Unusual Venues: 6 of the best al fresco venues.
May 1, 2010... Abigail Wills picks six venues around the UK that cater for open-air events. Stockley Farm, Cheshire New to the corporate market is Stockley Farm, a working organic farm 17 miles outside Manchester in the Cheshire countryside. Given enough...

The A List Party.
May 1, 2010... This year's 35 under 35 found themselves in stellar company, at the Madame Tussauds celebration. Barack and Michelle Obama, the Beckhams, Leona Lewis and George Clooney were among the luminaries and glitterati who came out to party in honour...

In-House Event Models: Counting the cost.
May 1, 2010... As the spotlight falls on profitability, three in-house agencies outline their event remits. Corporate-side events departments' very existence has come under intense scrutiny during the recession, leading to job cuts at BMW and Pfizer, among...

Sustainability: More than words.
May 1, 2010... Are green practices back on the agenda as the industry climbs out of recession? Last month's Sustainable Events Summit (SES) kicked off against the backdrop of a cloud of volcanic ash wreaking havoc on the aviation industry, but the debate of...

Austria: Treasure trove.
May 1, 2010... Austria's latest campaign highlights the country's hidden treasures. Rob Gill unearths some of the country's best undiscovered gems for groups. MEETING IN STYLE... Swarovski Crystal Worlds For a spectacular meeting location, try...

Lexus event boosts dealer confidence.
May 1, 2010... A preview event in Brussels ahead of the auto giant's CT 200h world launch required preparations with an emphasis on secrecy. Pre-event planning: Lexus holds retailer meetings for its entire European network of more than 900 dealer principals...

Crisis Management: How to ... create a contingency plan to contend with travel disruption.
May 1, 2010... What is the best way to mitigate against unforeseen travel issues, from strikes to volcanic ash? The event is set, the hotel booked and delegates ready to go. Then, the day before the overseas event, a volcano erupts, spewing ash into the...

Denmark: Open for business.
May 1, 2010... Copenhagen and the surrounding region has launched its 'Open for you' campaign to reflect its liberal, green outlook and enthusiasm for events. Tourist boards often use catchy campaign slogans to promote their destination in a bid to boost...

Agency Challenge: The post-merger Christmas party to break the ice and integrate staff.
May 1, 2010... Following a merger, the client wants to hold a Christmas party for its 200 staff. The chairman would like to make a short speech during a drinks reception, before a buffet dinner, with entertainment and ice-breakers. - Petra Reiterer,...

Hungary: 6 of the best new developments.
May 1, 2010... The Hungarian capital is vying for central European supremacy with a raft of new developments. Paul Oswell selects six openings and upgrades. - Topark City Centre Budapest is firmly setting its sights on competing for international C&I...

Imex: Worldwide showcase.
May 1, 2010... An essential fixture for the global meetings industry, this year's Imex show sees the return of some familar brands. The eighth Imex show opens on 25 May at its base in Messe Frankfurt, Germany and this year features its largest ever...

Reader Rant: Hotels blocking spirit of the DDA.
May 1, 2010... Accessibility in terms of the Disability Discrimination Act, is leading to hoteliers having a problem defining what is 'reasonable' and they are losing business as a result. DDA-compliance comes down to interpretation - but in this...

Competition.(C&IT, Excelsior Hotel Ernst and Germanwings teams up)(Brief article)
May 1, 2010... C&IT has teamed up with the Excelsior Hotel Ernst in Cologne and Germanwings to offer one lucky reader, plus guest, the chance to win a gourmet two-night stay including flights. The prize includes two nights in a superior room, a...

twitterific!(Calendar)
May 1, 2010... Some compliments coming in from clients who we have got back to the UK. Thats why you book with an accredited agent :-) 6.30am 20 April, @Altitudelondon Hmm 1000 delegates flying in from all over europe starting monday, interesting times...

Online poll.
May 1, 2010... 76% - Percentage of visitors to citmagazine.com deterred from booking with British Airways following the strike. -------------------- Did you find this article useful? Why not subscribe to the magazine? Please call 08451 55 73 55 for more...

Blog of the Month: The plane versus the volcano.
May 1, 2010... The eruption of Eyjafjallajokull in Iceland is disrupting the global aviation industry and causing enormous chaos throughout the world. But did anyone stop to think about whether there are any positives to draw from it? Reports indicate that...

Las Vegas: A beacon in the city of lights.
May 1, 2010... The CityCenter complex adds 6,000 rooms across five new hotels, as well as an array of leisure and event space. Mike Fletcher gets the vital stats on the Strip's bold new development. 67 - The acres of land between the Bellagio and Monte...

Malta: 10 things you didn't know about Malta.
May 1, 2010... The well known location still has some hidden gems for groups determined to find the best of the island. Hotel Phoenicia: Hotel Phoenicia invested pounds 2.6m upgrading its facilities last year, with improvements to its reception and lobby...

Malta: Novell's networking solution.
May 1, 2010... A winter meeting of senior managers arriving from three continents meant location and climate were paramount. Pre-event planning: IT firm Novell holds an event twice a year for its Platinum Partners, and has worked with agency Event IT for...

Nurture Your Loyalty Relationship: Loyalty is worth it weight in gold what.
May 1, 2010... Loyalty card, reward card, advantage card, club card - no matter what they're called, almost everyone uses at least one or more of them daily, but what does loyalty really mean to a business and its customer? One industry that has had to...

The real reason I'm running again.(Nigel Cooper of Motivcom speaks about event planning)(Personal account)
May 1, 2010... In recent months, I have been asked by a number of Eventia members if I am planning to stand for election to the board again. I was then asked by a magazine if I was planning to stand. Next, I was asked by a couple of board members. Since...

Australia: Developments down under.
May 1, 2010... Significant additions to many of Australia's state capitals mean their appeal has rocketed. Susie Harwood takes a look at some of the new developments, city by city. Sydney Unsurprisingly, Australia's most popular destination for C&I...

Corporate Profile: Lesley Harrison, Azzurri Communications.
May 1, 2010... The business communications giant's events marketing manager tells Leanne Bell how events work in harmony with sales and reveals her passion for hospital dramas. Events marketing manager for voice, data and mobile communications services...

Destination of the Month: Time for ... Trinidad.
May 1, 2010... The Caribbean island twins perfectly with Tobago for an action-packed event. Why Trinidad? Separated by just 21 miles of Caribbean Sea, the oil-rich islands of Trinidad and Tobago offer unforgettable nature and water-based incentives,...

Christmas Parties: Will 2010 bring seasonal cheer?
May 1, 2010... After a year of recession, job losses and pay freezes, will companies face issues of perception and recognise staff with year-end revelries? Kunal Dutta investigates. Christmas parties were once the main event in the corporate calendar,...