Conference & Incentive Travel articles from October 2005

Conference & Incentive Travel archives from October 2005

First Off: Hotels get just one chance to impress.
October 4, 2005... If there is one thing I cannot abide, it's bad service. I've just returned from Dubai where, the traffic and building work aside, the service standards are impeccable. Switzerland too deserves a mention for its almost paranoid sense of...

Hotel booking agents push for standard rates package.
October 4, 2005... A standard day-delegate package could become the industry norm if discussions between Hotel Booking Agents Association (HBAA) members come to fruition. Following demands from both hoteliers and agents at last month's HBAA annual forum,...

Agencies 'deliver more business to event suppliers'.(Brief Article)
October 4, 2005... Hotels and event suppliers are losing out on business by not recognising the benefits of working with intermediaries. The benefits of the relationship with agencies were discussed at Visit London's recent Business Forum, held in September...

Confex drops charge for seminar sessions.(Brief Article)
October 4, 2005... Seminars at International Confex will be free. In a turnaround from its previous shows, where delegates were charged pounds 50 for a half-day conference session, seminar attendees will now have access to a programme of free one-hour...

UK Price Check: Residential conference.(Brief Article)
October 4, 2005... Brief: A three-day residential conference in a secluded and luxury venue for 15 senior executives to be held in spring 2006. The group want to make use of a meeting room laid out boardroom-style, plus a separate private dining room. The price...

News brief: Appointment at Continental Airlines.
October 4, 2005... Continental Airlines has named Martin Braisby as its new marketing manager for the UK and Ireland. Braisby, who joins from Malaysia Airlines, replaces Ian Brocklesby, who is retiring. www.continental.com.

News brief: New initiatives for Moat House Hotels meetings.
October 4, 2005... Moat House Hotels has released a new range of initiatives for meetings, conferences and events, including unlimited tea and coffee during the day, fixed prices for technology hire and 25% discounts for events booked for a Monday or Friday. Call...

News brief: Birmingham launches new campaign.
October 4, 2005... Marketing Birmingham has launched 'Birmingham Bites', a campaign that aims to show off the city's culinary offering to both leisure and C&I visitors - and position itself as the UK's C&I gourmet capital. birminghambites.com.

News brief: Appointment at Hyatt Hotels & Resorts.
October 4, 2005... Hyatt Hotels & Resorts has appointed Andrew Ashmore as area director of sales for the UK and Ireland. Ashmore was previously director of marketing at Hyatt's China World Hotel in Beijing. www.hyatt.com.

News brief: Conferences and events brand for University of Leeds.
October 4, 2005... Universally Leeds is the new conferences and events brand for the University of Leeds. At the centre of the brand is a website, from which bookers can tailor-make their own package at the university, including choosing the right venue. ...

News brief: 2006 edition of Meet Britain published.
October 4, 2005... Visit Britain has published its 2006 edition of Meet Britain. The brochure, distributed to over 30,000 decision-makers, showcases the country's facilities, offers ideas for incentives and highlights venues that reflect British culture. ...

Expotel acquires Montpelier's C&I booking divisions.(conference and incentives)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2005... Expotel has bought the Montpelier Collection's conference and hotel booking arms, Meetingsfare and Bedfare, for an undisclosed sum. 'We felt the turnover for these divisions - around pounds 20m each - wasn't big enough, so we decided to...

SITE calls on agents to pitch UK to clients.
October 4, 2005... The Society of Incentive Travel Executives (SITE) is calling on agencies not to ignore the UK when pitching to clients. Head of the UK chapter Paul Miller said: 'The UK needs to compete on a level playing field against international...

Rentokil prepares to sell Initial Style.(Brief Article)
October 4, 2005... Pest control specialist Rentokil Initial is to sell Initial Style Conferences, its provider of UK-wide training, meeting and conference venues. 'Rentokil Initial wants to focus on its core business,' said Initial Style Conferences group...

Travel still the top way to incentivise and reward staff.
October 4, 2005... Incentive travel is still the best way of rewarding and motivating staff, according to BI Worldwide head of event management Emma Bainbridge. Speaking at a seminar at the Total Motivation Show last month, Bainbridge outlined how travel was...

Hotels compromised by price-cut pleas.
October 4, 2005... Hoteliers have fought back at event planners by citing their demands as unreasonable and unprofitable. At an MPI education seminar at the Melia White House in London's Regent's Park, hoteliers said that planners' obsession with price was...

People and places: The Octagon Challenge.(Brief Article)
October 4, 2005... The Octagon Challenge took place in Southampton last month and, as ever, the annual event attracted a large and enthusiastic turnout of senior agency staff and suppliers. Eight teams worth of novice seafarers, sleeping bags in hand and sea...

Agency arms merge under Zibrant name.(Brief Article)
October 4, 2005... The group of companies comprising IBR, Illico, MRM and McGarvey Russell has been named Zibrant, following a six-month strategic review. The move brings all four companies under one umbrella brand. 'In our old form, the group offered four...

MIA to launch venue 'kitemark'.(Meeting Industry Association)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2005... The MIA is to introduce its own accreditation scheme for member venues, replacing the Hospitality Assured-Meetings (HAM) kitemark. The scheme will be compulsory for all members and ensure that venues meet legal requirements - in terms of...

Book Review: The Big House Party.(Book Review)
October 4, 2005... The Big House Party by Jane Knight and Liz Bird What is it? A book detailing nearly 100 large properties around mainland Britain, all of which are available for exclusive hire. What do they have in common? Other than the fact...

C&I should develop strategies to assist poor communities.
October 4, 2005... Browsing through an article on the Fairtrade movement the other day, I spotted the grim statistic that 70% of Madagascar's population live on less than dollars 1 a day. Without apparent irony, a fact-box at the end of the feature invited...

T-Mobile runs the debut UK incentive group to Namibia.(T-Mobile (UK) Ltd.)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2005... Namibia Tourism has reported its first incentive group from the UK. T-Mobile is taking a group of 35 top achieving employees for a five-day trip to the west African country this month. The event is organised by event management company...

BSI identifies 5% hike in hotel rates across continent.
October 4, 2005... European hotel rates could rise by as much as 5% in 2006, according to figures compiled by event management agency BSI. BSI deputy managing director Richard Eades advised procurement officers that greater consolidation and a focused...

EIBTM to host global CEO summit at show.
October 4, 2005... EIBTM will tap into the knowledge and experience of key industry players at its show with the launch of its first ever summit meeting for global CEOs. The meeting, on 29 November, will see industry experts discuss global issues within the...

World Price Check: Three-day CEO meeting.(chief executive officer )(Brief Article)
October 4, 2005... Brief: A three-day residential boardroom-style meeting for 15 CEOs in spring 2006 in Dubai. Prices include room hire, business class flights and VAT. Ritz-Carlton Dubai Day-delegate rate: pounds 1,440 Accommodation; pounds 9,855 F&B:...

News brief: Kenya Airways launches direct Mombasa flight to London.
October 4, 2005... Kenya Airways has launched a direct Mombasa flight from London. The weekly service will leave London Heathrow on Fridays, returning on Saturdays, from 9 December. www.kenya-airways.com.

News brief: Radisson SAS opening a second hotel in Dublin.
October 4, 2005... Radisson SAS is opening a second hotel in Dublin this month. The 161-room property is located in the city centre and brings the total of Irish properties in the chain's portfolio to 11 (including Northern Ireland). The hotel will offer meeting...

News brief: SAS adds to Birmingham International Airport flight.
October 4, 2005... SAS has added to its Birmingham International Airport flight roster with the launch of a three-times-weekly service to Stockholm. The service will operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. www.flysas.com.

News brief: Fairmont Hotels & Resorts to offer complimentary high-speed internet access.
October 4, 2005... Fairmont Hotels & Resorts will offer complimentary high-speed internet access throughout its properties from 1 January. The offer is available to members of the Fairmont President's Club, the company's frequent guest loyalty programme. ...

News brief: Ryannair introduces daily flight from Newcastle to Oslo.
October 4, 2005... Ryanair has introduced a daily flight from Newcastle to Oslo. The service is expected to carry more than 100,000 passengers per year. www.ryanair.com.

News brief: 2006 Official Tour & Travel Reference Manual released.
October 4, 2005... The Orlando/Orange County Convention and Visitors Bureau has released its 2006 Official Tour & Travel Reference Manual, which details information and contacts about the Florida region's accommodation, attractions, activities, venues and...

Intercontinental in Thai openings and European sell-off.
October 4, 2005... Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG) last month announced that it will open three more resorts in Thailand. The properties, on Ko Phi Phi and Ko Samui and in Pattaya will open in 2007 under the Intercontinental brand. The group has several...

Return to London for Mauritius office chief.(Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority reappointed Toto Ghoorah )(Brief Article)
October 4, 2005... The Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (MTPA) has reappointed Toto Ghoorah as manager of the London office. Ghoorah worked for the MTPA in London for seven years and left in September 2003to take up a role in Mauritius looking after the...

Taylor launches South Africa consultancy.
October 4, 2005... Rick Taylor, former head of the South Africa Convention Bureau, has set up a business tourism consultancy and representation house for the C&I industry. The Business Tourism Company is based in South Africa and will focus on promoting...

People and places Western Australia and the Northern territory.
October 4, 2005... Tourism Australia and Qantas joined forces last month to offer seven lucky corporate buyers a fam trip of a lifetime. The chosen few, from firms including Merrill Lynch and Toyota, flew to Perth on 5 July (testing out Qantas' Skybeds en...

News brief: Windsor Court Hotel starts reopening 1 November.
October 4, 2005... The Windsor Court Hotel in New Orleans will start reopening from 1 November. The hotel escaped the hurricane relatively unscathed - only 20% of the rooms were affected - and will reopen in stages. www.orient-express.com.

News brief: Easyjet adds new route to Newcastle roster.
October 4, 2005... Easyjet is adding a new route to its Newcastle roster this winter. From 1 November, the airline will fly three times weekly to Faro in Portugal, increasing to daily next summer. www.easyjet.com.

News brief: Sofitel increasing presence in China.
October 4, 2005... Sofitel is increasing its presence in China with nine properties due to open by the end of 2006. The new hotels, which include the Sofitel Wanda Beijing, will bring the total number of the chain's properties in China to 21, second only to...

News brief: Silversea releases Alaska brochure for 2006.
October 4, 2005... Silversea has released its Alaska brochure for 2006. The guide has details of new programmes for next year, including a ten-day Vancouver to San Francisco trip departing 18 July. Those booking before 31 October will receive suite upgrades. ...

News brief: Appointment at Mandarin Oriental Prague.
October 4, 2005... Mandarin Oriental Prague has appointed Clemens Hoerth as general manager. The hotel is currently under development and will open in mid 2006. mandarinoriental.com.

News brief: Arabian Adventures launches Congress Solutiosn Dubai.
October 4, 2005... Arabian Adventures, the Dubai DMC, has launched a separate conference organising company, Congress Solutions Dubai. The service will predominantly target incoming business from associations and handle sponsorship, speaker line-ups and...

International News: Starwood signs deal for Le Meridien chain.(Starwood Hotels and Resorts Inc. acquires Le Meridien Hotels and Resorts Ltd.)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2005... Starwood Hotels & Resorts has signed a definitive agreement to acquire the Le Meridien brand and its 130 global properties. While still some months from being completely finalised, the deal has been widely anticipated for some time and is...

International News: Virgin Islands target UK buyers.(Brief Article)
October 4, 2005... The British Virgin Islands is gearing up for an assault on the UK C&I market with two fam trips in 2006. BVI regional marketing manager Lynne Morris said: 'The BVIs are established leisure tourism destinations, but this is the first time...

International News: Pushing frontiers Calvi, Corsica.(Brief Article)
October 4, 2005... Adored by the French and the Italians but largely undiscovered by the Brits, Corsica offers rugged landscape combining sea and mountains, luxury boltholes, pine-fringed beaches and acres of vineyards. Retreat to Calvi in the north west of...

International News: Hiring interns can lead to real insight into your company.(Brief Article)
October 4, 2005... A young student, Matthew, recently completed a full year working in our operations team as part of his degree course. This was not a free ride - for either party - but an opportunity for him to experience the real world, and to gain some...

Opinion: Sounding off - ROI clamour might be loud, but it isn't a new phenomenon.
October 4, 2005... Everybody is talking about ROI like it's something new; the latest thing in the CIT armoury. ROI measurement tools and specialised services are popping out of the PR machine all over the place. And, since the dark suits of procurement found...

In person: Nigel Cooper, Chairman K ITMA.(Incentive Travel and Meetings Association)
October 4, 2005... It's official: Nigel Cooper does not own a time machine. Despite adding the role of ITMA chairman to his three existing positions, his Milton Keynes office shows no signs that he manages on anything more than the standard 24 hours a day that...

Case study: BT meets face to face in Provence.(British Telecommunications PLC)
October 4, 2005... BT's global advisory groups put down the phone and got around the table. Ben Lerwill reports. As the company's own marketing campaign never shied from reminding us, 'it's good to talk'. BT heeded its own maxim in April when, for the first...

Hotels survey: The road to recovery.
October 4, 2005... Hoteliers have woken up to the fact that they need to offer a creative and dedicated service if they want a slice of the C&I cake. This year's C&IT hotel survey asked 24 major hotel groups about C&I business and their views on the sector....

London Introduction: That winning feeling.
October 4, 2005... London's successful bid to host the 2012 Olympics is focusing attention on the city's determined efforts to maximise business tourism revenues. Whether it's winning the 2012 Olympic bid or dealing with the aftermath of the bombings of 7...

London restaurants: The city's top tables.
October 4, 2005... London has established itself as the food capital of Europe, so share the good news with C&I groups. C&IT visits four restaurants worthy of note. Allium Part of the all-suite Dolphin Square Hotel complex in Pimlico, Allium recently...

London case studies: Working capital.(corporate events )
October 4, 2005... C&IT focuses on some of London's biggest and best corporate events of the past 12 months. CASE STUDY 1 SKANSKA AT THE V&A Event: Summer party Agency: Eventwise Group size: 650 Dates: 15 July 2005 Budget: Undisclosed After...

Airport venues: Close connections.
October 4, 2005... While convenience is their trump card, most airport hotels are equipped to deliver high-end meetings. Ginny McGrath rounds up the best properties in and around the UK's main air hubs. Heathrow On-site The four-star Renaissance London...

Isle of Man: Star on the horizon.(Mount Murray Hotel and Country Club)
October 4, 2005... With its A-list celebrity fans, off-shore banking status and a commitment to invest in its infrastructure, the Isle of Man is a business tourism outpost worth discovering. Ben Lerwill investigates. Reel off the names of recent visitors,...

UK Golf: Courses of distinction.
October 4, 2005... Golf is the natural incentive partner to corporate meetings. Steve Jones and Phil Heard look at some the UK's notable courses and suggest ways to add extra interest on the greens. Vale Hotel, Golf and Spa Resort, Cardiff Contact: Louise...

Portugal Porto: Vintage city comes of age.(tourism)
October 4, 2005... Porto's old charm and modern infrastructure make it a viable contender, says Yasmin Razak. While Lisbon climbs up the hot list and the Algarve's perennial charms continue to appeal, Portugal's second city is set to stake a claim in UK C&I...

Portugal Porto: Spoiled for choice in the second city.(Porto venues )
October 4, 2005... Porto is a planners' dream, with unusual venues and restaurants at every turn. Portugal's second city offers a veritable trove of hidden treasures with bars, restaurants and hotels bursting with life across both banks of the river. ...

The Netherlands: Old master, new tricks.
October 4, 2005... While the Netherlands' elevation up the ICCA charts can be credited mainly to Amsterdam, increased air access is broadening the appeal of the country as a whole. The Netherlands stormed four places up the ICCA international congress...

Jordan: Cinematic splendour.(Jordan Incentive and Travel)
October 4, 2005... Because of its more volatile neighbours, Jordan has struggled to rebuild its tourism industry, yet its stunning landscapes, top-class hotels and incentive options make it a C&I oasis. Kerry Baggott reports. Jordan is a land of drama. It is...

Costa del Sol: The gold coast.(Costa del Sol Convention Bureau )
October 4, 2005... Spain's southern coast has a Jekyll and Hyde effect. It leaves some buyers cold, but others, as Ben Lerwill finds, swear by its quality hotels and ease of access. While it might be caught between two conflicting reputations - jet-set...

Costa del Sol: Hispanic hospitality: hotel highlights.(Kempinski Resort Hotel)(Byblos Andaluz)
October 4, 2005... The region is awash with high-quality hotels offering spa and meeting facilities. Kempinski Resort Hotel, Estepona The Moroccan-pink exterior of the Kempinski has made it something of a landmark since it opened in 1999, and its...

Greece: Island life.
October 4, 2005... The Greek islands offer azure seas, a warm climate, imaginative incentives and a huge range of conference hotels. Crete Why go? Trekking, retreats and ancient history Getting there Crete has airports at Akrotiri, Heraklion and...

Ski incentives: Europe's winter-sports wonderlands.
October 4, 2005... As the first snow falls on the high peaks, Ben Lerwill looks at the continent's best ski resorts. BANSKO, BULGARIA Slope off Bulgaria might not have the cachet of other destinations, but it is kinder on the wallet and offers...

The Cowbell Cup.
October 4, 2005... C&I representatives from seven nations became fierce rivals as they battled it out on the inaugural Switzerland Trophy fam trip. They say there's nothing like a good downpour to clear the stuffy air. However, when the air is Swiss, there's...

Twin destinations: Twice as nice.(dual-centre itinerary)
October 4, 2005... Contrast - that's the essential ingredient when it comes to planning a dual-centre itinerary. C&IT suggests five pairs of countries that offer very different experiences. DUBAI AND AUSTRALIA In a seven-day, five-night itinerary...

Show preview: WTM: a C&I focus.
October 4, 2005... The meetings market is worth more than pounds 20bn to Britain's economy - little wonder that this year's World Travel Market has a special focus on the value of business tourism. World Travel Market's focus on the meetings, conference and...

Show preview: Hotels take centre stage.
October 4, 2005... The role of hotels in the tourism industry is being recognised at this year's World Travel Market with the Hotels 2005 panel. With a record number of hotel exhibitors, World Travel Market is for the first time hosting on the World Stage, a...

Venue Focus.(London Marriott Hotel)(Mandarin Oriental)
October 4, 2005... - London welcomes back Marriott property. The London Marriott Hotel Grosvenor Square will officially relaunch this month after completing an pounds 11m refurbishment programme. Its new interior design is centred around an Art Deco theme and...

Diary: Don't miss ..(Brief Article)(Calendar)
October 4, 2005... Incredible India workshop: 27 October - A C&I do at the Millennium Gloucester Hotel - www.moulden-marketing.co.uk C&IT Forum: 7-9 November - The next C&IT Forum sees 50 UK professionals heading to the Disneyland Resort Paris -...

Diary: Gorillas in the missed out of the packing list.
October 4, 2005... If there's one thing the C&I industry does well, it's chipping in and contributing to the world's lost property storerooms - barely a trip or event goes by without some sort of inadvertent delegate donation to a hotel's pile of unclaimed...

Diary: 'Marathon Man' legs it.
October 4, 2005... C&IT's very own Dustin Hoffman, Ben Lerwill, will be getting his training shoes on and legging it around Lake Michigan when he takes on the Chicago Marathon this month. Ben has committed himself to raising a small fortune for a very good cause....

Diary: The headlines 10 years ago.(Conference and Incentive Travel Partnership)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2005... The Conference and Incentive Travel Partnership (CITP) group's acquisition of the conference and incentive division of Thomas Cook gives CITP a boost in the agency world. It anticipates becoming the top incentive house within three years. ...

Diary: Competition.
October 4, 2005... Identify the location of this photo and you could be on a high - literally, 1,000 feet high. This month's C&IT prize is a 30-minute helicopter flight above the sights of London and the Thames with Hunt & Palmer. Hunt & Palmer is Europe's...

Diary: You don't have to be mad to work here ..
October 4, 2005... It might be important from a business viewpoint that hotel staff retain a dignified presence at all times, but if they all dress up as giant rabbits it's a hell of a lot more fun. Floppy top hats should be doffed, then, to the team at York Moat...