Conference & Incentive Travel articles from October 2007

Conference & Incentive Travel archives from October 2007

All work and low pay?(Brief article)
October 24, 2007... After sportsman, writer and pilot, the next generation of Britons dream of being event organisers, according to a recent YouGov survey. The role is seen as a gateway to a glamorous lifestyle with travel and the chance to meet different...

Tracker Briefs.
October 24, 2007... In C&IT News Tracker this month: - Glaxosmithkline's Nutritional Healthcare division has given agency Indeprod its first full-service brief, as the blue-chip synchronises its product briefings to internal staff and external buyers....

Grass Roots acquires MMM to strengthen European events.
October 24, 2007... Grass Roots Group (GRG) has bolstered its live events offer with the acquisition of MMM in a deal that will pave the way for the Worcester-based agency to move into Europe. 'MMM has an excellent reputation in communications and events...

Agency parent Motivcom nets 31% growth in first half profits.(Brief article)
October 24, 2007... Motivcom - parent company of agencies P&MM and Archer Young, has posted a 31% rise in pre-tax profits for the first half of 2007 and is predicting stronger results for the following six months. The group made a pounds 1.23m pre-tax profit...

Clients missing ROI advantage.
October 24, 2007... The European Event ROI Institute (EERI) is to target corporates as it looks to grow take up of event analysis. Speaking at an MPI UK education seminar last month, EERI managing partner Elling Hamso said that while agencies recognised the...

Finishing touch signs TDA deal.(Brief article)
October 24, 2007... The Finishing Touch has signed a three-year deal to deliver more than 1,000 events for the Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA). The London agency is responsible for delivering the training events programme, aimed at...

Rand calls for CIPS backing.(Brief article)
October 24, 2007... Zibrant director of industry relations Peter Rand has called for agencies to progress the procurement debate by rallying round the new Chartered Institute of Procurement Services (CIPS) Guide to Event Services. Speaking at the Hotel...

Royal Mail unveils its five rostered agencies roster.
October 24, 2007... Royal Mail Group has revealed its much-anticipated event agency roster, which is worth around pounds 5m a year for up to four years. The move marks the first time the organisation has had one roster that services all its brands - Post...

Country Classic.
October 24, 2007... Von Essen has taken its portfolio to 25 with the acquisition of Amberley Castle. The 12th century property, near Arundel, West Sussex, boasts 19 luxury rooms and suites and is part of the chain's Country Set

DBMT scoops Chrysler work.
October 24, 2007... Agency DBMT has won the brief for the Chrysler Group's third-quarter sales manager incentive in a two-way pitch. The agency has been asked to create a scheme that rewards all sales managers who hit their targets. The partner...

De Vere names Deluxe chief.(Niels Sherry )(Brief article)
October 24, 2007... De Vere has named former Morgans Hotel Group stalwart Niels Sherry as the new chief operating officer of its Deluxe properties. Niels heads up a newly appointed executive team tasked with driving the repositioning of the nine-strong...

Legislation is stifling creativity.
October 24, 2007... I facilitated one of Excel London's Circle of Excellence discussion groups recently on the subject of CSR and, among other topics, we discussed new legislation and its potential impact on small businesses. These companies drive much of...

Hill makes the switch by joining Universal.(Brief article)
October 24, 2007... Caroline Hill, head of events at pharmaceutical firm Roche Products, has gone agency-side, joining Universal as operations director. Hill's position will see her working predominantly with the agency's key UK and European pharmaceutical...

MPI garners support for event.
October 24, 2007... Meeting Professionals International (MPI) is calling on other industry associations to support its annual European education conference. MPI UK chapter president Paul Cook said the European Meetings and Events Conference (formerly known...

How to ... Cater for disabled delegates.
October 24, 2007... Ask your delegates: Determine people's needs by asking them directly. Ensure registration forms cover this; for example, you may need a British Sign Language interpreter. Provide advance information: Distribute supporting material to...

True test of our resolve lies ahead.(Brief article)
October 24, 2007... Over the past couple of years, the developed world in which our corporate clients reside has enjoyed a reasonably stable economic pattern, with minimal stock market turbulence and a generally successful trading cycle. Against this...

World Events checklist bolsters stance on CSR.
October 24, 2007... Agency World Events is to introduce a 'triple bottom line' reporting system as it looks to confirm its CSR and ROI commitments. The first strand of the initiative, called Triple Impact, sees World Events commit to minimising emissions....

HBAA commits to going green.(Brief article)
October 24, 2007... This year's Hotel Booking Agents Association (HBAA) annual forum ended with executive director Peter Ducker committing to the creation of an environmental framework for its agency members and hotel partners. A vote in the closing session...

Carrier news.
October 24, 2007... - Silverjet will fly from London to Dubai from next month. The business-class airline will be the first and only commercial carrier to use the executive terminal at Dubai International Airport. - Lufthansa has teamed up with HRS to enable...

Venue firm in line for award.(Brief article)
October 24, 2007... Online venue specialist Conferences-UK has reached the finals of this year's Natwest Startups Awards in the Online Business of the Year category. Judges said its 'innovative concept and future potential' distinguished it from other...

UK conference activity appears to be levelling.(Survey)
October 24, 2007... Conference business appears to have levelled off across the UK, according to the latest British Association of Conference Destinations (BACD)/C&IT survey. The quarterly poll of 15 UK destinations saw 60% of respondents record slight...

Dawnay Shore stays in black.(Financial report)(Brief article)
October 24, 2007... Dawnay Shore Hotels' profits remained steady during the first half of this year, despite a drop in occupancy attributed by the group to property renovations. The firm, which owns Paramount Hotels, posted a gross profit of pounds 42.8m,...

One to Watch: Diana Banks, Senior vice-president, sales and marketing, Utell Hotels & Resorts.
October 24, 2007... - Why are we watching her? Banks recently took on the role of senior vice-president, sales and marketing at Utell, one of the world's biggest hotel representation companies, with a portfolio of 3,600 hotels. - What's her remit? ...

Appointment: Altitude.
October 24, 2007... Alex Tilling has joined Altitude as events manager. She has three years experience working in the events industry in South Africa for clients including Skyy Vodka, Glenfiddich and Campari

Appointment: P&MM.
October 24, 2007... P&MM has appointed Pippa Maryan as an account manager for its travel and events division. She joins from C&D Technology where she worked as a media relations manager

Appointment: Sofitel London Heathrow.(Brief article)
October 24, 2007... Sofitel London Heathrow has announced its management team prior to its opening at Terminal 5 in Spring 2008. John Donaldson has taken on the role of executive director, Vincent Madden joins as hotel manager and Raj Shah as director of...

Appointment: Benchmark.
October 24, 2007... Events management company Benchmark has boosted its team with two new starters. Catherine Coulter joins as project coordinator, and Thierry Francois as multimedia designer

Appointment: St David's Hotel & Spa.
October 24, 2007... The St David's Hotel & Spa in Cardiff has appointed Tim Price as general manager. Price joins from Bristol Marriott Royal, where he fulfilled the same role

Appointment: Vinopolis.
October 24, 2007... Rupert Ellwood has been appointed as the new managing director at Vinopolis, replacing Malcolm Ball who leaves at the end of the month Ellwood is currently head of events and catering at the Natural History Museum.

MCI purchases Berlin agency.
October 24, 2007... MCI has bolstered its German operation with the acquisition of P'Concept Berlin. P'Concept, which will operate as MCI Berlin, was founded in 1991 as a DMC for Berlin. It quickly added European corporate events, with particular strength...

ICCA to attract record number.(Brief article)
October 24, 2007... The annual ICCA congress, being held in Thailand later this month, is set to attract a record number of delegates. More than 600 visitors from more than 50 countries have signed up for the 46th ICCA Congress & Exhibition in Pattaya. ICCA...

C&IT CSR group forms plan for best-practice.
October 24, 2007... The C&IT CSR Challenge team returned from South Africa's KwaZulu-Natal region last month with a 14-point plan for CSR best practice for event agencies. The initiative saw C&IT take representatives from nine agencies to Mziki village for...

Holland urges second look.(Brief article)
October 24, 2007... Netherlands Board of Tourism & Conventions (NBTC) has launched its biggest ever business-to-business marketing strategy as it looks to get buyers to reappraise the destination. 'We are popular, but if lots of people have been to our...

Visit Florida in reader appeal.
October 24, 2007... Visit Florida is offering places to four C&IT readers to join UK agents and corporates on a hosted-buyer trip based around the Florida Encounter C&I event from 27-31 October. 'This is the first time we have actively targeted...

Historic Debut.
October 24, 2007... Bosnia and Herzegovina will exhibit for the first time at next month's World Travel Market as part of its drive to attract visitors and alter negative views created by the civil war of the 1990s (see page 41)

Analysis: Great expectations.(Quotation)
October 24, 2007... Glamour and a fat salary or long hours and low pay? C&IT asked this year's intake for the MA Conference and Events Management at University of Westminster about their aspirations and then quizzed employees from 20 top UK agencies to see if...

Hotel Report: Are you being served?
October 24, 2007... C&IT's agency investigates hotels' responses to an event brief. That the UK has an excellent venue offer is not in question. The really contentious issue remains customer service - for all the PR puff and new technology, initial contact...

Case Study: Big Top transforms Royal Mail awards.(Case study)
October 24, 2007... The postal giant needed to revamp a repeat venue and add mystique to an event held in broad daylight. Sledge went to the circus to find a solution, as Susie Harwood discovers. THE BRIEF This was Royal Mail's third annual chairman's...

Case Study: 3M stretches its sales team.(Case study)
October 24, 2007... Imagination and Mission Excellence combined to challenge delegates. THE BRIEF While Ian Beer, head of training and development at multi-product manufacturer 3M, says the business is doing very well, he wanted this year's Sales...

Venue Focus: Property bulletin.
October 24, 2007... Susie Harwood checks out new offerings from China to Center Parcs. - The Westbury Hotel - London This property on Bond Street in London's Mayfair has reopened its doors after a pounds 20m refurbishment. The Artisan restaurant has...

Pushing Frontiers: Time for ... Cambodia.
October 24, 2007... Stunning ancient temples and the chilling reminders of its bloody 20th-century history sit cheek by jowl, making Cambodia a fascinating C&I destination, as Susie Harwood reports. INCENTIVES No trip to Cambodia would be complete...

Agency Focus: The C&IT Challenge.
October 24, 2007... This month's brief is a one-day event in central England to introduce the new MD and board to 500 employees of a blue-chip company that has just undergone a merger and restructure. Venue choice is key - it's important to pick somewhere...

5 minutes with ... THA.(Brief article)
October 24, 2007... Locations: Leicester, Thames Ditton, Brussels, Denver Staff: 154 - What's the lowdown? In 2006, the agency made a pounds 600,000 loss, only pounds 300,000 of which was down to costs associated with its merger with Q Group early last...

In Person: Richard Parker, Pfizer.
October 24, 2007... James Thornton meets the pharmaceutical giant's organised-yet-chaotic events chief. Richard Parker's role as head of events (R&D) at Pfizer sees him managing one team of six event planners that handles events for up to 5,000 at Pfizer's...

Said & Done.
October 24, 2007... Excuse me, I think I may need some help over here, please - The winds may have turned to Force Eight in Sodwana Bay, South Africa, and waves were certainly overpowering her, but World Events' Victoria Pratt still remembered her manners. ...

Sounding Off: Hotels - mind your language.
October 24, 2007... Time was when I overheard a colleague on a call asking 'Do you speak English, please?' I could presume a piece of overseas business had come in. Not so now - the running joke is that when we hear those words, the call is probably to a...

Sounding Off: What's it like to work in ... Warsaw.(Interview)
October 24, 2007... Xavier Cadiou, European development director, Banks Sadler. - When did the office open? In October 2005 as a client implant with one staff member, then we opened our own office in 2006. It now has four staff. - Why Warsaw? ...

10 good reasons to attend: WTM.
October 24, 2007... This year's unmissable event has a green theme. Leanne Bell reports. 1. WTM World Responsible Tourism Day WTM World Responsible Tourism Day will be launched on 14 November by polar explorer Pen Hadow, with panel discussions on carbon...

London: Let the Games begin ..(Interview)
October 24, 2007... Visit London's David Hornby talks to Yasmin Razak about the impact 2012 will have on events. As the 2012 countdown begins, C&IT asks Visit London's commercial director David Hornby about the potential for events and opportunities for...

London Olympics: Symbol of discontent.(Brief article)
October 24, 2007... Has London fallen at the first hurdle with branding that fails to engage the public, asks Randle Stonier. - Randle Stonier, founding partner, AddingValue The strength of public feeling following the unveiling of the 2012 Olympic logo...

London Lives: Behind the scenes at the Brewery.(Diary entry)
October 24, 2007... Susie Harwood follows a venue manager, an event planner from a blue-chip finance house and an agency senior account manager around on a working day. Since joining The Brewery as general manager in 2002, Claire Lawson has helped boost...

London Lives: Days in the life of ..
October 24, 2007... - Katie Evans has worked on corporate events at global investment bank Lehman Brothers for seven-and-a-half years. She currently heads up a team of six people and is responsible for managing events across Europe, the Middle East and...

London: Shaken and stirred.
October 24, 2007... Direct marketing company DSICMM is a committed fan of London's cocktail scene when it comes to client networking. Susie Harwood reports from the bar at the Capital Hotel. Direct communications company DSICMM treated its top financial...

London: Case Study - A lucky find for Specsavers.(Case study)
October 24, 2007... When the opticians chain needed a big open space to hold a staff event, London's Royal Parks were unavailable. Luckily Coram's Fields came to the rescue, says Susie Harwood. BRIEF Specsavers held a fun run in London in summer 2006 to...

London: Case Study - Lloyds breaks the ice at The O2.(Case study)
October 24, 2007... It may not have won over many as the Millennium Dome, but the debut corporate event held at the new O2 shows that it has a spectacular future as a venue. If the false start of what was the original Millennium Dome accurately foreshadowed...

London: MPI Conference - In the spotlight.
October 24, 2007... Susie Harwood looks forward to MPI's visit in 2008. There can be few better ways for a city to showcase its C&I credentials than to host a major conference for event planners from around the globe. From 18-20 April 2008, London will get...

Glasgow: Bonny on the Clyde.
October 24, 2007... Glasgow City Marketing Bureau's Scott Taylor talks to Ben Lerwill about the city's plans for new developments to cement its position as a vibrant, modern global destination. Scott Taylor graduated from Strathclyde University in 1984,...

Isle of Man: 10 of the best places to meet on the Isle of Man.
October 24, 2007... THE SEFTON HOTEL This four-star property in the heart of the island's capital, Douglas, is located right next to the Villa Marina conference and exhibition centre. The gold-hued Garden Room - the main meeting space - can hold 160...

Netherlands: Going Dutch.
October 24, 2007... Holland is so familiar a destination it can be overlooked. Leanne Bell unlocks the country's secrets for making C&I visitors see it afresh. With its alluring mix of rich culture, diverse architecture and plentiful venues, Holland has...

Netherlands: Showcase - Rich pickings for planners.(Website list)
October 24, 2007... From beaches to skyscrapers or limestone caves, Leanne Bell explores Holland's venues. LA CAVERNE DE GEULHEM Jaguar, Subaru and Audi have launched vehicles in this limestone cave in the village of Geulhem, near Maastricht. It is also...

Ski Incentives: Make tracks for the slopes.
October 24, 2007... Victoria Furness takes to the piste to uncover Europe's best skiing resorts for groups. ZERMATT, SWITZERLAND Getting there: The nearest airports for Zermatt are Geneva, Zurich and Basle. Airport transfer times are 2.5 hours from...

Germany: World Cup winner.
October 24, 2007... The final victor of last year's football contest is clearly Germany, as it gears up to cater for the continuing growth in meeting and incentive visitor numbers. Paul Oswell reports. After such a bumper summer last year, which saw...

Germany: Case Study - The car's the star.(Case study)
October 24, 2007... Lexus showcased its latest models in the suitably upmarket Villa Kennedy hotel in Frankfurt, but not without the odd logistical challenge. THE BRIEF Showcasing a high-end vehicle to local car dealers demands that certain standards...

Germany: Building boom - Germany is continuing to bolster its C&I infrastructure nationwide.
October 24, 2007... BERLIN The capital continues to develop rapidly. The Haus der Kulturen der Welt (House of World Cultures), a gift from the US in the 1950s, has been completely renovated for its 50th anniversary. It is now open with a variety of spaces,...

Germany: Showcase - Venues with a difference.(Website list)
October 24, 2007... From space-age pods to F1 legends, Germany has an unusual venue for every occasion. THE HOCKENHEIMRING, HOCKENHEIM The world-famous Grand Prix circuit has 20 meeting spaces for groups of up to 350. The lounge over the south stand is...

Rome: 10 of the best hotels for groups in Rome.
October 24, 2007... Clive Walker samples the most luxurious and authentic hotels for C&I groups looking for La Dolce Vita in the Italian capital. CAVALIERI HILTON Overlooking the dome of St Peter's, Cavalieri Hilton isa firmfavourite with UK agencies...

Rome: T-Mobile enjoys La Dolce Vita.
October 24, 2007... VIP treatment, not an off-the-shelf experience, was the key to success for this incentive trip. THE BRIEF Entitled 'La Dolce Vita', this annual incentive rewards T-Mobile distributors for driving sales through distributor channels....

Czech Republic: Perfect Prague.
October 24, 2007... The Czech capital is so popular that the only real challenge is getting delegates to venture beyond it, says Adam Woods. As one of Europe's most stunning capital cities, it is little surprise that Prague should have emerged so rapidly as...

Czech Republic: Five of the best incentive ideas.
October 24, 2007... From castles and jousting to hot springs and mini football, the Czech Republic has it all. TOUR OF CZECH CASTLES The Czech Republic is dotted with hundreds, perhaps thousands, of Renaissance, baroque and rococo castles, including...

Mediterranean incentives: The best of the Med.(City overview)
October 24, 2007... Abigail Wills explores the varied attractions of the Mediterranean From wine-making and boat-building to clubbing and rallying, there's a feast of activities in an array of locations. SOUTH OF FRANCE - James Bond rally in 2CV cars...

Greece: The Greek picture.(Interview)
October 24, 2007... The GNTO's Makis Peppas talks to Adam Woods about the country's post-Olympics surge. MAKIS PEPPAS, director, Greek National Tourism Organisation UK & Ireland - What are Greece's great strengths as a C&I destination? Greece has...

Greece: Hellenic luxury options venues.(Website list)
October 24, 2007... There are a growing number of top-end luxury resorts cropping up across the country. ASTIR PALACE VOULIAGMENI Not one property but three, the Astir Palace Vouliagmeni is among the jewels of the so-called Athenian Riviera. Made up of...

Diary: Guess What?(Brief article)
October 24, 2007... Well, there's going green and there's going green but this cheeky chappie takes it to a new level. We're loving the pedal power, but the green garments were above and beyond the call of duty... Still, at least our man is sticking to his...

Diary: Pin board.(Brief article)
October 24, 2007... Keeping up the 'Reid' count is American Pie stunna Tara (no relation to C&I namesakes we're assured), the at London Fashion Week show at the Hilton Park Lane with Julien Macdonald and scary Joan Collins. Over at Gilgamesh, our friends at...

Diary: Time Bandit - Chris Jolly, Visit Sweden.(Survey)
October 24, 2007... 30% - Helping agencies and corporates with suggestions for trips to Sweden and with RFPs. It's all about getting them in contact with the right people. 25% - Researching and organising fam trips to Sweden. I have to make sure I get the...