Conference & Incentive Travel articles from November 2008

Conference & Incentive Travel archives from November 2008

What a difference a year makes ..
November 1, 2008... When C&IT unveiled the results of its Agency Survey back in February 2008, what a bullish bunch we were. When the going gets tough, the tough get motivated insiders quipped, and weren't we all keen to agree? Fast forward ten months, and...

Tracker Briefs.
November 1, 2008... In C&IT News Tracker this month: Motivcom - parent company of agency P&MM - announced a 75% rise in gross profit, up to pounds 12.25m, in the six months to 30 June 2008. Its headline operating profit was up 73% (24.09.08). Global...

BP reveals streamlined event management agency roster.(Conference news)
November 1, 2008... BP has revealed the six agencies on its first centralised event management roster. Venues Event Management, The Phoenix Partners, World Events, Grass Roots Group, Aberdeen-based Hamilton Rose, and D&D Conferences have been confirmed for...

Vantage Point acquires Travel Impact to broaden coverage.(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... Vantage Point has acquired fellow London agency Travel Impact for an undisclosed sum. The two brands will remain but be brought together under the new umbrella company Vantage Point Group, which will also include Vantage Point's winter...

Spire gives Hrs hotel contract.
November 1, 2008... Spire Healthcare has awarded its hotel booking contract to online booking portal hrs.com. Hrs.com won the work after private hospital provider Spire reviewed its travel and hotel booking policy following its acquisition of Classic...

Brands gather for C&IT event.(Conference news)
November 1, 2008... Gap, Thomson Reuters and 3M are among the brands confirmed for C&IT's first Strategic Events Conference. The one-day event at the Barbican on 21 January, is split into two streams for corporate and agencies, with joint networking sessions....

Mobiles left on for meetings.
November 1, 2008... Three-quarters of delegates ignore pleas to turn off mobile devices during conferences, according to a survey carried out by venue Wyboston Lakes. The study questioned 875 delegates and found 75% ignored requests to switch off mobile...

M&I Forums in global growth.
November 1, 2008... Meeting and Incentive Forums - the buyer/supplier networking events run by the Great Hotels Organisation - are to expand into Asia and South America next year. Currently, there are two European and one US forum but, next year, these will...

THA offers aid to freelances.(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... Agency THA Group is to launch a series of workshops for freelances in order to help them set themselves up as limited companies. The move comes in response to increased pressure from the HM Revenue & Customs to treat freelances as agency...

Shell and Lexus among Opus business wins.
November 1, 2008... Northampton based agency Opus has unveiled further details of the three new business wins, initially announced at the end of October. Opus won pitches to deliver projects for Shell and Lexus Europe - the agency has worked for both since...

Building blocks.(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... Excel London's Phase II development is being forecast to bring some pounds 1.6bn to the capital by 2011. The prediction came as Mayor of London Boris Johnson last month laid a commemorative foundation stone at the site. ...

BMW cuts events team in marketing review.
November 1, 2008... BMW has made four of its events team redundant as part of a 'review of efficiencies' of its marketing set-up. 'I can confirm that four positions have been made redundant as a result of a reorganisation of the marketing department,' said BMW...

Black Tomato boosts UK team.
November 1, 2008... Black Tomato has announced plans to expand its C&I team again next year as the London agency increases its UK event focus. 'Originally, we were predominantly focusing on overseas business, but many of those clients are now asking us for UK...

Carrier news.
November 1, 2008... Swiss International Airlines has launched a mobile website to allow users to book tickets and check flight details using WAP-enabled mobile phones. Eurostar has seen a third-quarter rise in traveller numbers and ticket sales. Passenger...

Add value by building relations.
November 1, 2008... I was fascinated to see that BT has reduced its roster of agencies to a mere 42. While this is admittedly a shorter list than the 130 with which it started, I struggle to see what has been achieved for anyone. I would anticipate the cost...

Singapore tops UIA rankings.(Union of International Associations')(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... Singapore has been ranked the world's 'Top International Meeting City' in the Union of International Associations' latest global rankings. Last year, the C&I sector accounted for three million of Singapore's visitor arrivals and...

Reed adds US to show portfolio with AIBTM.
November 1, 2008... Reed Travel Exhibitions (RTE) is to add another international trade show to its global portfolio with the Americas Incentive Business Travel and Meetings Exhibition (AIBTM), to be held in Baltimore, Maryland from 29 June-1 July 2010. ...

Atlantis targets UK buyers.
November 1, 2008... The newly opened Atlantis, The Palm has partnered with Emirates to announce its first UK fam trip. Buyers selected for the trip, which will run from 29 January to 1 February 2009, will fly on a new Emirates Airbus A380. 'We expect the...

One to Watch: Geoff Iredale, project director (automotive), Fitch Live.
November 1, 2008... - Why are we watching him? Fitch Live has created a automotive-specific division and appointed Iredale to head it up. The news of his new role comes after his previous move to agency George P Johnson in July. - What's his remit? ...

Appointment at ICC Birmingham.
November 1, 2008... The ICC Birmingham has hired Karen Ward to be sales director of its conference sales team. She joins from Hayley Conference Centres. -------------------- Did you find this article useful? Why not subscribe to the magazine? Please call...

Appointment at House of Usher.(Lorraine Swann appointed business development manager )(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... Lorraine Swann has been made business development manager for event-management and hotel-booking agency, House of Usher, based in Crick, Northamptonshire. Swann previously worked for the Sundial Group where she spent nine years. ...

Appointment at Royal Garden Hotel.
November 1, 2008... Louise Pullicino has been made conference sales manager for London's Royal Garden Hotel. She was events executive for Corinthia's meeting and events brand programme. -------------------- Did you find this article useful? Why not...

Appointment at Olive 360.(Fraser Otterbein appointed as sales manager)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... Agency Olive 360 has appointed former Eclipse Productions business development manager Fraser Otterbein as sales manager. Mark Dando, previously a freelance, has also been appointed a sales manager and former Skybridge project development...

Appointment at Tunisian National Tourist Office.(Anissa Ramoundi )(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... The Tunisian National Tourist Office has named Anissa Ramoundi as its UK and Ireland director. Ramoundi will be based in the London office and will promote Tunisia's attractions. -------------------- Did you find this article useful?...

Appointment at Langham Hotels International.
November 1, 2008... Langham Hotels International has named Bob van den Oord as vice-president for sales and marketing. Van den Oord previously worked in senior hotel management in North America, Europe and Asia. -------------------- Did you find this...

Appointment at Commonwealth Club.
November 1, 2008... The Commonwealth Club has promoted Kaliopi Carras to event manager Carras will be responsible for planning conferences, exhibitions and meetings. -------------------- Did you find this article useful? Why not subscribe to the...

Lloyds chief calls for sustainable approach.
November 1, 2008... Companies that do not operate sustainably are set to lose business and staff and see their event programmes cut, the C&IT Corporate Forum was told. Lloyds TSB head of sustainable development Paul Turner questioned delegates about the level...

Google fights for suppliers.(Vish Patel)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... Google head of events Vish Patel used his session at the C&IT Corporate Forum to urge fellow corporates to treat suppliers fairly during the economic downturn. 'I know there are agencies clinging to the prospect of our events programme for...

Said & done.
November 1, 2008... 'It doesn't bode well when the world's leading internet technology company's laptop doesn't start' Google's Vish Patel fails to boot up 'Sustainable development is like teenage sex: everybody claims they are doing it but most people...

Cage aux belles.
November 1, 2008... London's Electric Birdcage played host on the second night of C&IT's Forum. Here elegant representatives from Tesco, Excel London and Organise this take a break from the dancefloor -------------------- Did you find this article useful?...

Forum briefs.(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... Procurement puzzle Corporate planners need to be proactive in setting the procurement agenda for events, Pricewaterhousecoopers head of UK hotels and venues procurement Samantha van Leeuwen told forum delegates. She said planners must gain...

Analysis: Is Christmas cancelled?
November 1, 2008... Leanne Bell asks venues, agencies and corporates how the credit crunch is affecting parties. VENUES Darren Hart, corporate sales manager, The Brewery Our bookings are up and there are quite a few larger parties than normal. I...

The year in review: A look back at 2008 ..
November 1, 2008... Leanne Bell reflects on the past 12 months, quarter by quarter. 2008 kicks off with UK agencies expanding their overseas reach. World Events opens its first European mainland office in Amsterdam, Zibrant announces plans to open an office in...

The year ahead: The financial sector.(Survey)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... This time last year, many commentators already professed to be sick of the term 'credit crunch' and were bullish about the sector's performance for 2008. However, C&IT's latest online poll shows that 70% of respondents feel that results are...

The year ahead: The financial sector - Finance clients bite the bullet.
November 1, 2008... In the first part of C&IT's 2009 preview, James Thornton speaks to financial clients and agencies about the PR and budget implications of events. 'I can't give specifics of individual events, but I will say that Barclays has always been...

The year ahead: Agency models - Strength in numbers?
November 1, 2008... Leanne Bell asks which agency model is better placed to survive the current conditions. BIG AGENCY Mark Saxby, sales and marketing director, World Events In the current economic climate, clients may look to outsource their events....

The year ahead: Vox Pops - The UK versus overseas.
November 1, 2008... Leanne Bell asks industry figures if clients are likely to opt for UK-based events next year. Linda Mansfield, managing director, Events in Business 'I think clients will try to play it safe and, therefore, there will be more events in...

The year ahead: Technology - TV nation?
November 1, 2008... Leanne Bell asks whether the downturn is leading to an uptake in video-conferencing. With clients slashing budgets and coming under increasing scrutiny for staging events in far-flung destinations, video-conferencing and new virtual...

The year ahead: Staffing - Freelance - a taxing issue.
November 1, 2008... Interpretation of the 'right of control' is putting a burden on agencies. In last month's C&IT, THA chief executive Darren Gilbert flagged up a renewed focus by HMRC to tax freelances at source, and he called on Eventia to take a lead in...

Special Report: Party politics.
November 1, 2008... The annual party conferences are complex events to plan, as Leanne Bell learns backstage with the Tories. There are few UK events that are bigger or more complex than the annual party political conferences, with thousands of delegates,...

Case Study: New Look fashion event puts staff in the picture.
November 1, 2008... Keen to bring its now multinational team up to date with the company's progress and plans, the retailer hosted a London conference with a catwalk twist. James Thornton reports. The Brief: It is seven years since fashion retailer New Look...

Case Study: St James's Place at Gleneagles.
November 1, 2008... The wealth management firm found a conference venue to match its criteria. Brief: Rewarding top-tier high performers calls for something beyond a standard five-star experience, so identifying a prestigious, stimulating venue was essential...

Special Report: 5 ways to beat the Crunch.
November 1, 2008... Leanne Bell and Yasmin Arrigo find five special deals in the UK to ease constricted budgets. Helping hand Hand Picked Hotels is offering a new rewards incentive for events bookers. The 'Escape the crunch and take the credit' incentive...

Property bulletin: C&IT reviews the latest hotel developments from Bromsgrove to Beijing.(Sugar Beach resort reopened after renovation)(Thistle Glasgow completes its makeover)(Mandarin Oriental opens)
November 1, 2008... Sugar Beach - Mauritius Sugar Beach resort on Mauritius has reopened following a pounds 12.9m renovation. The four-month refurbishment has upgraded the hotel from a four- to a five-star property. Among the new facilities on offer at the...

Venue Tracker Briefs.(hotels opens after renovation)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... In C&IT Venue Tracker this month: Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa in Hawaii has completed a pounds 15m renovation. The resort's 1,310 rooms have been overhauled (02.10.08). Principal Hayley's Derbyshire Hotel has undergone a...

Pushing Frontiers: Time for ... Cologne.
November 1, 2008... The German city has launched a convention bureau targeting UK business. INCENTIVES Sample Cologne's two millennia of history by taking a walking tour round the old town and its famous gothic cathedral. To get a different perspective...

Agency Focus: Challenge: the ski trip.
November 1, 2008... This month's brief is to run a three-night ski trip over a weekend to thank your agency's top ten UK clients, plus their partners. This select band is a group with mixed skiing abilities. To give our best clients a treat, we'd choose The...

Agency Focus: What makes me click - Duncan Beale, managing director, Line Up.(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... I started out in theatre production in the West End, before taking those skills to corporate events when I set up Line Up in 1982. Since then, I've overseen 4,000 projects for UK and global clients such as Inchcape, Indesit, Compass and...

Agency Focus: 10 minutes with ... Black Tomato.(Interview)
November 1, 2008... Founder and director Matt Smith talks to Leanne Bell about the agency's plans for 2009. - Location Shoreditch, London - Staff 25 full-time employeees, plus occasional freelancers according to need. - What's the lowdown?...

In Person: Kate Coldwell, Thomson Reuters.
November 1, 2008... Leanne Bell meets the events expert and high-flier at the information and media giant. Thomson Reuters has just been placed 44th in Business Week's global brand ranking, and Kate Coldwell has every reason to feel proud. As global head of...

Letters.(Letter to the editor)
November 1, 2008... ITM IS HELPING TO ADVANCE PROCUREMENT ARGUMENTS. I would like to say congratulations to the ITM (currently the Institute of Travel Management) for its proposed name change to the Institute of Travel & Meetings. Over the years,...

Sounding off: Motivation is simple.
November 1, 2008... Reading the C&IT Corporate Survey (C&IT, September), I was surprised to see staff motivation cited as one of the top challenges for 2009. I appreciate that when budgets are being slashed it can be difficult to keep upbeat, but the same...

EIBTM Preview: A show that delivers.(Interview)
November 1, 2008... EIBTM's Paul Kennedy tells Stuart Derrick how the show is constantly upping its game. Paul Kennedy, MBE, group exhibition director, meetings and incentives events, Reed Travel Events - This is EIBTM's fifth year in Barcelona. What has...

EIBTM Preview: EIBTM attracts fresh faces.(Calendar)
November 1, 2008... This year's show will host a wide range of new exhibitors, including an increased US presence. EIBTM will this year welcome a number of new destinations and exhibitors, with Bulgaria, Valencia Convention Bureau, Zimbabwe, China and Madrid...

Unusual Venues: Distinctively different.
November 1, 2008... The UK has an enormous array of unusual venues for groups of all sizes. FOR UP TO 50 GUESTS The London Eye There are few venues in the UK that afford guests views as spectacular as those from the London Eye. Each private capsule...

Bournemouth: On the crest of a wave.
November 1, 2008... A surf-themed campaign is pushing Bournemouth's credentials Victoria Furness reports. The UK's political parties are no longer the only big groups that are attracted to the south coast resort of Bournemouth. Corporate groups from BT, Serco...

Bournemouth: Budget Comparison - Sushi, sailing and surfing.
November 1, 2008... Whether doing things in style or on a budget, the seaside town caters for all price bands. BUDGET[QQ] HOW TO GET THERE: South West Trains operates a direct train service between London Waterloo and Bournemouth, which takes less than...

Glasgow: Clydeside contender.
November 1, 2008... The 2014 Commonwealth Games is behind some of Glasgow's key statistics. Pounds 31m: Glasgow Airport handles 30 airlines flying to more than 80 global destinations including Canada, the US and the Gulf. A pounds 31m terminal extension,...

Jersey: Off-shore banker.
November 1, 2008... Despite hard trading conditions, Jersey seems set to buck the downturn. Despite a tricky start to the year, following negative press coverage about the police investigation into the Haut de la Garenne youth hostel, and the doom and gloom...

Jersey: 10 of the best Properties.
November 1, 2008... Jersey's hotel array stretches from 14th-century manor houses to chic boutiques and international chains. Radisson SAS Waterfront Hotel The newest addition to Jersey's hotel scene, the Radisson SAS hotel opened in November 2007 giving...

Belfast: Ulster assembly.
November 1, 2008... Northern Ireland's principal city has developed a competitive C&I infrastructure over recent years. Mike Fletcher picks three accommodation options for a range of budgets. Pounds 140: Day-delegate rate Solution: The Merchant Hotel...

Belfast: Incentive options.
November 1, 2008... From helicopter treasure hunts to taking in the city's history and the renowned atmosphere of its pubs. Belle Isle Castle Estate Cookery School - Ideal for gourmets Belle Isle Castle Estate on the northern tip of Upper Lough Erne,...

Paris: Business boulevards.
November 1, 2008... The French capital is the ideal destination to host events of all types. Victoria Furness suggests venues and activities suited to an incentive trip, management forum and AGM. The Incentive Most incentive activities in Paris focus on...

Paris showcase: New and improved venues.
November 1, 2008... From former industrial sites to elegant pavilions, the French capital is keeping its offer fresh. Le 104 The white backdrop and flood of natural light provides the perfect blank canvas for event planners. This large venue dedicated to...

Paris: Urban surrounds - Beyond the city limits.(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... The pace of life drops, but the array of venues still dazzles. Escape the busy streets of Paris with a jaunt to one of the beautiful surrounding towns and villages to discover a slower pace of life and another layer of France's rich...

Paris case study: Hamiltons hits town.(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... Client: Hamiltons Event: Staff party Agency: In-house DMC: Isango Group size: 195 Date: 12 July 2008 Venue: Bateaux Parisiens Budget: Undisclosed Challenges As there were 190 employees, Hamiltons arranged for them to travel...

Spain: The sunshine coast.
November 1, 2008... The Costa's del Sol's C&I figures are almost as bright as its blue skies. 6km is the full length of what is known as Marbella's Golden Mile - the Costa del Sol's most buzzing section of coastline, running between Marbella city and Puerto...

Spain: Regional revisions.
November 1, 2008... New developments show that Spain is determined to remain a C&I player. Perennial C&I favourite Spain is keeping on top of its game with a host of developments. In the south, the picturesque Andalucian 'white village' of Casares is leading...

Spain case study: Solidworks embraces Spain.(SolidWorks Corp.)(Conference news)
November 1, 2008... The software publisher went overseas for the first time this year. THE BRIEF: Solidworks is a software publisher with a focus on engineering packages. To increase effectiveness of its annual product launches, the firm holds a conference for...

Scandinavia: Ice-cool itineraries.
November 1, 2008... Ben Lerwill selects memorable three-day itineraries to maximise on Scandic backdrops. DENMARK Day 1: Arrive on a morning flight into Copenhagen before a lunch meeting at the Hilton - the hotel has 29 conference rooms and is connected...

Canada: 10 of the best hotels.
November 1, 2008... Paul Oswell selects five city and five resort properties with facilities ideal for C&I groups. CITIES The Gladstone, Toronto Often topping polls of the city's best hotels, the Gladstone cuts an artistic swathe through Toronto's...

Canada Case Study: Panasonic takes in town and wilderness.
November 1, 2008... The TV maker wanted to dazzle top resellers with the best of Canada's urban and rural offer. The Brief To maintain its high-quality brand reputation and increase sales, Panasonic was keen to incentivise 30 key resellers for its System...

Canada Toronto: Future visions.
November 1, 2008... The Ontarian capital is adding to its offer with exclusive openings and extensive renovations. Trump International Construction has moved to the next phase for the 60-storey Toronto landmark Trump International Hotel & Tower. The...

Dubai check out: Atlantis explored.
November 1, 2008... C&IT editor Yasmin Arrigo was among the first guests to visit the Kerzner property. WHERE IS IT? Set on the infamous Palm Island Jumeirah, Atlantis is the first hotel to open on the Emirate's long-awaited man-made island. As it is located...

Dubai: The good ... the bad ... the ugly.
November 1, 2008... Susie Harwood reveals mixed opinions on Dubai from an exclusive C&IT perception study. With its plethora of luxurious hotels, seemingly endless wealth, ongoing construction, and year-round sunshine, there are few destinations that garner...

Dubai: In defence of the emirate.
November 1, 2008... Dubai Tourism & Commerce Marketing's Ian Scott addresses buyers' key concerns. For every person that has ever complained about noise levels and construction, there are countless more that are simply awe inspired by the scale and pace of...

Dubai: Incentives - Action stations.
November 1, 2008... Dubai's incentives run from dune surfing to indoor skiing in malls Kunal Dutta picks five of the best. BURN RUBBER Ideal for petrol heads Thrillseekers should head to Dubai Autodrome where groups of up to 56 can line up against...

South Africa: From beach to bush.
November 1, 2008... Teresa Machan assesses South Africa's regional specialities and activities for C&I groups. Cape Town for gastronomy South Africa's culinary variety mirrors the geography, culture and history of this vast country. Seafood is abundant,...

South Africa: Case Study - Guardian Wealth Management enjoys adventure of a lifetime.
November 1, 2008... Cape Town's blend of luxury and adventure was the ideal tonic for its European top sellers. THE BRIEF: To motivate the European sales force during the final quarter of the year and build team spirit and rapport, Guardian Wealth Management...

Asia: China - City dynasties.
November 1, 2008... The Olympics have opened up Beijing and Shanghai to incentive groups, says Ben Lerwill. BEIJING Its dramatic history and air of faraway intrigue have long made the Chinese capital a destination apart, and the success of this year's...

Asia: Case Study - Gucci in the Forbidden City.
November 1, 2008... The luxury group wanted an awe-inspiring venue for its meeting and found it in Beijing. THE BRIEF: The Gucci Group needed an inspiring heritage setting to host its biennial conference. Beijing was chosen from a shortlist that also included...