Conference & Incentive Travel articles from September 2003

Conference & Incentive Travel archives from September 2003

FIRST OFF: Talk of cost ignores value of experience.(Brief Article)
September 5, 2003... Recent research carried out by investment bank Goldman Sachs shows that in more than 70 per cent of cases it is cheaper for consumers to book their own holiday by buying the components separately, rather than buying a tour operator's package....

New body to help business tourism across south east.(Brief Article)
September 5, 2003... The conference market in southeast England is set to receive a shot in the arm with the founding of a powerful regional tourism body. Tourism South East (TSE), an amalgamation of the Southern and South East England Tourist Boards, was...

MIA career week will profile industry jobs.(Meetings Industry Association)(Brief Article)
September 5, 2003... The Meetings Industry Association (MIA) is to showcase the range of job opportunities available during the sector's first dedicated careers week. MIA Openhouse, from 6-10 October, coincides with the third annual National Meetings Week,...

Conference set to highlight issue of C&I best practice.(Brief Article)
September 5, 2003... The first National Conference on Business Tourism will take place on 24 November 2003 at the Hilton London Metropole. The event is being organised by Index Communications Meeting Services, and supported by VisitBritain and the Business...

UK PRICE CHECK.(Brief Article)
September 5, 2003... Sales conference at a five-star hotel Brief: 100 delegates for two days. Costs include accommodation, breakfast, lunch, refreshments, gala dinner, room hire and VAT. GRAND HOTEL EASTBOURNE 24-hour rate pounds 28,788...

NEWS IN BRIEF: ITMA to run training course.(Incentive Travel and Meetings Association)(Brief Article)
September 5, 2003... ITMA is to run a one-day training course in effective communication and presentation on 23 September at the Sol Melia White House. It has also announced two new board members: Andrew Winterburn and Peter Haigh. Tel: 01737 779928.

NEWS IN BRIEF: Appointment at Experience Nottingham.(Brief Article)
September 5, 2003... Experience Nottingham, the new destination management body for the city, has announced the appointment of Dr John Heeley as its inaugural chief executive. Tel:0115 915 9235.

NEWS IN BRIEF: Happening Group opens new office.(Brief Article)
September 5, 2003... The Happening Group has opened a new office in Dublin to complement its existing base in Belfast. Tel: +353 1 6392901.

NEWS IN BRIEF: Aviation Events Limited launched in Oxfordshire.(Brief Article)
September 5, 2003... Aviation Events Limited, a company providing clients with airborne corporate entertainment, has been launched in Oxfordshire. Tel: 01844 358274.

NEWS IN BRIEF: Appointment at The Royal Scotsman.(Brief Article)
September 5, 2003... The Royal Scotsman, the luxury rail trip organiser, has appointed Les Maitland as its new commercial manager. Tel: 0131 554 6111.

NEWS IN BRIEF: Appointment at The Conference People.(Brief Article)
September 5, 2003... The Conference People, a specialist in venue-finding and event support, has employed Matthew Wilson as an events director. Tel: 01323 644644.

NEWS IN BRIEF: Appointment at Belfast Visitor and Convention Bureau.(Brief Article)
September 5, 2003... Belfast Visitor and Convention Bureau has announced the appointment of Una Donnelly as convention bureau director. Tel: 02890 239026.

NEWS IN BRIEF: Correction.(Brief Article)
September 5, 2003... CIT's Management Training feature in the July/August issue wrongly stated that the Robinson College Executive Centre is in Cambridgeshire. The venue is, in fact, in Bedfordshire.

RT wins Domino's events account in the UK and Ireland.(Rodber Thorneycroft)(Brief Article)
September 5, 2003... Marketing communications specialist Rodber Thorneycroft has won a key account to manage internal events for Domino's Pizza. It will coordinate Domino's UK and Ireland programme, managing 16 events over the next year, including awards events and...

UK agencies cut staff amid global troubles.(TM Group)(Talking Point )(Brief Article)
September 5, 2003... Two well-known C&I agencies have made redundancies to counter the effects of global events and the struggling economy. TM Group joint chairman Malcolm Williamson has stepped down and the agency has made eight redundancies across its support...

Dearth of venues encourages SLE to set up division.(Brief Article)
September 5, 2003... A lack of suitable venues for corporate events has prompted production company SLE to set up a venue-finding service under the name Avenue. 'Through our production work we often ended up in venues that were not appropriate for our clients'...

Line Up relocates to better facilities despite downturn.(Brief Article)
September 5, 2003... Full service agency Line Up Communications has reported a number of new business wins that have enabled it to buck the prevailing economic trend. New projects include a conference for pharmaceutical giant Astra Zeneca, plus the send-off...

BI awards reflect change in partnerships.(Brief Article)
September 5, 2003... BI is citing the presentation of awards from two of its suppliers as proof of a change in the nature of today's business partnerships. The awards from BA and Starwood Hotels were made in recognition of the agency's commitment to strategic...

PEOPLE AND PLACES: ITMA EVENTS IN ACTION WORKSHOP.(Incentive Travel and Meetings Association)(Brief Article)
September 5, 2003... A day-long series of talks designed as a foundation course in event organisation was held in London in July by trade association ITMA. A mix of delegates, including hoteliers, agencies and people trying to get into the events industry, attended...

Le Meridien sale will not affect meetings.(Brief Article)
September 5, 2003... Event organisers holding meetings at any of hotel chain Le Meridien's UK properties can expect 'business as usual', the troubled group has pledged. Delegates and guests will face no upheaval, according to PR director Julia Clark, despite...

CIT forum invites event buyers.(Conference and Incentive Travel)(Brief Article)
September 5, 2003... Conference & Incentive Travel is inviting in-house decision-makers to meet key suppliers at November's inaugural CIT Forum. Buyers will be able to have one-to-one meetings with suppliers, including agencies, hotel groups, venues and tourist...

TOOLKIT TELEPORTEC.(Brief Article)
September 5, 2003... What's this month's product? It's called Teleportec and is a 'virtual 3D' video-conferencing communications system. What does it do? It takes video-conferencing one step further by providing a 3D environment, which gives the...

Proposed overhaul of ATOL is a chance for sector to speak.(Brief Article)
September 5, 2003... The CAA has finally decided that the ATOL system needs a radical overhaul and has asked the travel industry for its input in presenting a case to the Government. It has been prompted to take this action partly due to a drop in the percentage of...

UIA figures indicate Europe remains buyers' top choice.(Union of International Associations)
September 5, 2003... Latest figures from the Union of International Associations (UIA) have confirmed the continued downturn in the number of international meetings taking place. The UIA 2002 Meeting Report concludes that the decrease apparent in 2001 is...

Raffles to target C&I with Swissotel brand.(Conference and Incentives)(Brief Article)
September 5, 2003... Swissotel Hotels and Resorts, the chain acquired by Raffles International Hotels in 2001, is to be promoted as a separate brand, distinct from the Raffles properties, and marketed specifically to the meetings sector. The division of the...

CTO commissions survey to develop marketing project.(Cyprus Tourism Organisation)(Brief Article)
September 5, 2003... Cyprus Tourism Organisation (CTO) is to commission a study into the state of its C&I market. An external company will be recruited to undertake the research, the findings of which will be used by the CTO to form a comprehensive marketing...

WORLD PRICE CHECK.(Brief Article)
September 5, 2003... Sales conference at a five-star hotel Brief: 100 delegates for two days. Costs include accommodation, breakfast, lunch, refreshments, gala dinner, room hire and taxes. WESTIN PALACE, MADRID Accomm/room hire pounds 23,065...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Gibraltar Tourist Board targets north of England.(Brief Article)
September 5, 2003... The Gibraltar Tourist Board is to target the north of England following the announcement that Monarch Scheduled is due to commence a service from Manchester. Tel: 020 7631 9758.

NEWS IN BRIEF: Lyon Convention bureau publishes new guide.(Brief Article)
September 5, 2003... The Lyon Convention and Visitors bureau has published its new meeting and event planner's guide for 2003/4. Tel: +33 4 7277 7231.

NEWS IN BRIEF: Great Hotels announces three new Italian members.(Great Hotels of the World)(Brief Article)
September 5, 2003... Great Hotels of the World has announced three new Italian members: the Bernini Bristol in Rome, Florence's Grand Hotel Villa Medici, and Perugia's Brufani Palace. Tel: 020 7383 2335.

NEWS IN BRIEF: Appointment at SPET.(Official Tenerife Tourist Board; appointed Jose Manuel Bermudez Esparza )(Brief Article)
September 5, 2003... SPET (Tenerife's marketing body for the promotion of tourism overseas) has appointed Jose Manuel Bermudez Esparza as its inaugural vice-president. Tel: + 34 2 227 6000.

NEWS IN BRIEF:.(AJ Hackett Bungy)(Brief Article)
September 5, 2003... AJ Hackett, the adventure sports specialist, has created a new brand of high-adrenaline sightseeing in Macau. Skywalk X enables participants to circle the outer rim of the 229m Macau Tower without the aid of hand rails. Tel: 020 7771 7006

NEWS IN BRIEF: Pan Pacific Hotels seals alliance.(with Tokyu Hotels)(Brief Article)
September 5, 2003... Pan Pacific Hotels and Resorts has sealed a strategic alliance with Tokyu Hotels that will see it incorporate five leading Japanese hotels. Tel: 01474 707934.

NEWS IN BRIEF: World's Best Congress Centre.(Palacio de Congresos Bilbao)(Brief Article)
September 5, 2003... The Palacio de Congresos y de la Musica de Bilbao has been named 'World's Best Congress Centre' at the 2003 Apex Awards. Tel: +32 496 23 53 27.

NEWS IN BRIEF: Perth CVB launches new guide.(Brief Article)
September 5, 2003... Perth CVB has launched a new meeting planner's guide, highlighting the benefits of staging conferences in Western Australia. Tel: +61 8 9324 3355.

New charter aims to unite Monaco hotels.(Brief Article)
September 5, 2003... A business tourism charter that recently took effect in Monaco could help the principality hold its own against other high-profile C&I destinations such as Cannes and Barcelona. The ten-point plan, which was drafted by the MD of the Monaco...

Sydney pulls in record revenue.(business events)(Brief Article)
September 5, 2003... Sydney has won a record number of business events in 2002-3, doubling revenue from Adollars 143m (pounds 59m) last year to Adollars 291m (pounds 120m). 47 bids for international business were won by Sydney Convention Bureau (SCVB), which links...

PUSHING FRONTIERS SHARM EL-SHEIKH.(Brief Article)
September 5, 2003... The Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, located on the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula and overlooking the Red Sea, has untapped potential as a C&I destination. Egypt has enjoyed an upswing in business and leisure tourism following the...

Airlines are wrong to reduce premium services for groups.(Brief Article)
September 5, 2003... A few months ago the airline industry seemed to be polarising. At one end were nil service carriers such as Easyjet, which aimed their product at the individual traveller. Opposite them were full service operators such as BA, which offered...

Singapore is to benefit from event security programme.(Brief Article)
September 5, 2003... Singapore will be the initial benefactor of an innovative accreditation programme aimed at strengthening event security and streamlining it into the event management process. COPE International (Control and Performance) has launched the...

Italy CVB initiative targets C&I organisers.(Romagna Riviera Convention Bureau)(Brief Article)
September 5, 2003... Italy's Romagna Riviera Convention Bureau (CBRR) has launched initiatives to pull in more conference business to the area, from fam trips for overseas organisers to training courses for local suppliers. The CBRR's educational tours last three...

PEOPLE AND PLACES PRAGUE.(Brief Article)
September 5, 2003... Corinthia Hotels International (CHI) took a group of event organisers to Prague in June so they could see what the Czech Republic's capital has to offer as a C&I destination. The trip was also an ideal opportunity for the hotel chain to...

Thebe Tourism establishes specialist division.(Brief Article)
September 5, 2003... Thebe Tourism Group has established a specialist division, Thebe Conventions, to manage inbound conferences in Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town. Tel: +27 21 419 8301.

NEWS IN BRIEF: Hawaii Tourism splits global marketing.(Brief Article)
September 5, 2003... The Hawaii Tourism Authority has split its global marketing representation between five different groups, each of which will handle business in a particular geographical area. Tel: +1 808 973 2255.

NEWS IN BRIEF: Lisbon in top five ranking.(Brief Article)
September 5, 2003... Lisbon has continued its upward trend of recent years by being named fifth in the ICCA ranking of the top European cities used for meetings. Tel: +351 21 031 27 00.

NEWS IN BRIEF: Melbourne burea CEO to leave company.(Gary Grimmer)(Brief Article)
September 5, 2003... Melbourne Convention and Visitors Bureau CEO Gary Grimmer has announced he is leaving at the end of 2003 to set up a consultancy. Tel: +61 3 9593 3555.

NEWS IN BRIEF: Representation Plus wins PR account.(Brief Article)
September 5, 2003... Representation Plus has won the UK PR and representation account for the Oman Directorate General of Tourism. Tel:020 8877 4508.

NEWS IN BRIEF: Cayman Islands Dept of Tourism creates new arm.(Brief Article)
September 5, 2003... The Cayman Islands Department of Tourism has created an in-house meetings and incentives arm at its London office. Tel: 020 8237 7979.

NEWS IN BRIEF: Orient-Express Hotels adds new section to website.(Brief Article)
September 5, 2003... Orient-Express Hotels has added a meetings and incentives section to its website, www.orient-express.com, providing at-a-glance information. Tel: 020 7805 5067.

NEWS IN BRIEF: Appointment at Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel.(Brief Article)
September 5, 2003... The Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel Bangkok has made Goh Choo Leng director of sales and marketing. She will also take over as the area director of marketing for parent company Starwood Hotels and Resorts Thailand, Hong Kong and Macau. Tel: +66...

ANALYSIS: The changing face of procurement.
September 5, 2003... The growing involvement of procurement departments in the event-buying process is a concern to many in the industry, who feel that buying on cost alone could diminish the creative input required. When two trade bodies announce independently...

ANALYSIS: A destination's ambience can determine C&I choices.(Brief Article)
September 5, 2003... Event organisers may not realise it, but their perceptions of a city's culture may influence commercial decisions. It would appear that in the C&I industry, looks count. Research by Graham Hankinson, a senior lecturer at London Metropolitan...

SOUNDING OFF: A recession brings lean times, but will also make us fitter.(Brief Article)
September 5, 2003... There is no doubt about it - recessions are a good thing for businesses in our sector. Why? The first thing that happens is companies get rid of their excess baggage, all the crackpot ideas go out of the window and they are forced to focus...

IN PERSON: Vanessa Cotton - Managing director, The Event Organisation Company.
September 5, 2003... Vanessa Cotton has been mingling with the great and good of late. Over the past year her work with the agency she set up in 1987, The Event Organisation Company, has brought her into contact with such high-profile public figures as Ken...

CASE STUDY: StorageTek clients taste the latin spirit.
September 5, 2003... Very few destinations can match the exotic splendour of incentive newcomer Rio de Janeiro, as the valued customers of StorageTek discovered. Report by Sarah Wild. Some incentive destinations are now so routinely used by event organisers...

CASE STUDY: O2 Airwave event communicates brand message.
September 5, 2003... O2 Airwave brought its brand identity to life with a unique event that crystallised the company's strategy. Diana Bentley reports. Raising awareness of a new brand is a classic reason for organising an internal communication event, and such...

CORPORATE HOSPITALITY: Tailored treats.
September 5, 2003... As the corporate hospitality sector faces difficult times, Mark Richards discovers that clients - and agencies - are having to think laterally. Corporate hospitality means different things to different people. To the majority of the...

UK DESTINATIONS SURVEY: Domestic concerns.
September 5, 2003... The new BACD survey reveals trends that are certain to shape the future of the UK's expanding business tourism market. Sarah Wild examines this year's findings. If there is one message that comes across loud and clear from the British...

WALES: Celtic ambition.
September 5, 2003... With high levels of investment in its C&I infrastructure, Wales is staking a claim as a premier UK destination. Report by Sarah Wild. Conference organisers who thought that the development of Wales's event infrastructure had peaked with the...

ACADEMIC VENUES: Back to school.
September 5, 2003... Corporate buyers are in for a pleasant surprise: academic venues now offer their traditional value for money as well as increasingly hi-tech facilities. Julia Gosling reports on the changes. Academic venues are often associated with...

EDINBURGH: Capital ranking.
September 5, 2003... As the only UK city to make the ICCA top 10, Edinburgh has excellent facilities, a great range of activities and offers a wealth of heritage. Mark Hillsdon reports. Edinburgh is officially a world-class conference destination. Scotland's...

EDINBURGH: A view of the city's world-class hotels.
September 5, 2003... From contemporary to traditional, Edinburgh is now able to provide the very best in stylish accommodation. SHERATON GRAND HOTEL AND SPA - 0131 229 9131 The city's largest five-star hotel, its Edinburgh Suite can seat 485 theatre-style....

RUSSIA: Corporate revolution.
September 5, 2003... Dine in Stalin's bunker, let the Red Army Choir serenade you, or sit back as a police escort whisks you through the jams. Dave Saunders reveals how Russia is attracting delegates. While most of Eastern Europe is increasingly integrating...

SWITZERLAND: A safe bet.
September 5, 2003... Where better to encourage risk taking and dangerous sports, says David Nicholson, than Switzerland - a country famed for being cautious. Safety is a relative concept these days. While organisers are keen to include extreme and adventure...

CYPRUS: A place in the sun.
September 5, 2003... After recent highs and lows, the island of Cyprus is striving to reclaim its status as European destination of choice, as Abigail Wills discovers. A tough couple of years for the C&I market has left Cyprus in a reflective mood. The country...

CYPRUS: Discovering the island's hotels.
September 5, 2003... New hotels, improved motorway links between resorts and expanded flight schedules mean that groups have a wider choice than ever before when it comes to organising an event in Cyprus. But despite these developments, and the strong C&I product...

CYPRUS: Incentives under the spotlight.
September 5, 2003... Q: What are some of the most popular incentive activities in Cyprus? A: Honeywell Incentives group operations manager Marina Varnava insists 'there is something for everyone in Cyprus'. Depending on budget, groups can opt for horse riding,...

VENUE: Focus - The Mermaid Conference & Events Centre.(Brief Article)
September 5, 2003... The Mermaid Conference & Events Centre in the City of London has recently undergone a pounds 500,000 redevelopment. The 600-seat auditorium has been fitted with raked seating, new carpets and moving spotlights. Tel: 020 7236 1919 RE 875.

VENUE: Focus - Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts.(Brief Article)
September 5, 2003... Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts has unveiled a new property in the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius. The hotel offers 108 classic-style rooms, meeting space for up to 800 participants and extensive leisure facilities. Tel: 020 7233 2300 RE 876....

VENUE: Focus - Center Parcs Elveden Forest.(Brief Article)
September 5, 2003... Center Parcs Elveden Forest has reopened following a fire last year. Its conference facilities have been totally restored and can accommodate up to 320 delegates theatre-style. Tel: 01842 894589 RE 877.

VENUE: Focus - Lilianfels Blue Mountains.(Brief Article)
September 5, 2003... Orient-Express Hotels has completed a AUdollars 6.5m (pounds 2.6m) development of its Lilianfels Blue Mountains property in New South Wales. The hotel features 85 guest rooms and an Italian restaurant. Tel: 020 7805 5067 RE 878.

VENUE: Focus - The Inn at Kippen.(Brief Article)
September 5, 2003... The Inn at Kippen, near Stirling, was reopened recently as a new conference venue. The Inn has seen extensive refurbishment and now offers conference facilities for up to 40 people. Tel: 0131 332 7545 RE 879.

VENUE: Focus - The Shizen Lifestyle Spa Resort.(Brief Article)
September 5, 2003... The Shizen Lifestyle Spa Resort has opened at Herzliya Beach, Israel. The hotel offers 40 deluxe rooms with sea views and provides holistic treatments. Tel: 020 7957 4260 RE 880.

VENUE: Focus - Culverhayes Country House Hotel.(Brief Article)
September 5, 2003... Culverhayes Country House Hotel in Devon has announced plans for a pounds 2m expansion for 2004. The venue will offer conference space for up to 50 people and a fitness centre. Tel: 01837 89151 RE 881.

VENUE: Focus - Hilton International.(Brief Article)
September 5, 2003... Hilton International recently opened the 155-room Scandic Nedre Elvehavn in Trondheim, Norway. The hotel can accommodate up to 60 delegates. Tel: +47 950 86110 RE 882.

VENUE: Focus - Novel venue rebrands to attract new clients.(Energy Clinic)(Brief Article)
September 5, 2003... Energy Clinic in the City of London has rebranded as part of its push to attract corporate clients. The unique venue, formerly known as the Energy Bank, now offers combined meeting facilities for up to 390 delegates. The entire space has been...

VENUE: Focus - Plans for new centre unveiled in Malaysia.(Brief Article)
September 5, 2003... The Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre is a new facility currently under construction in the Malaysian capital. The completion of the project will result in a venue with enough conference space for up to 3,500 people. The centre plans to attract...

VENUE: Focus - Museum of Science and Industry.(Brief Article)
September 5, 2003... The Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester has added a touch of drama to its appeal as a conference venue. Delegates can now take pre-dinner rides on an 1830s steam train, while receptions can be held against a backdrop of vintage planes....

VENUE: Focus - Grand Hotel Palmera Plaza.(Brief Article)
September 5, 2003... The Grand Hotel Palmera Plaza in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain, opened its doors earlier this year. The 48-room, five-star hotel boasts a conference room for up to 200 participants, as well as an outdoor swimming pool, four Grand Suites and an...

VENUE: Focus - Furlong Hotels.(Lygon Arms Inn)(Brief Article)
September 5, 2003... Furlong Hotels has acquired the Lygon Arms Inn from the Savoy Group. The historic 69-room hotel, located in the Cotswolds, offers gourmet cuisine as well as state-of-the-art facilities. The Inn dates back to 1532 and has hosted both Oliver...

DIARY: LET'S GO TO ... BEIRUT.(Brief Article)
September 5, 2003... Crikey, are you sure? Hey, we're talking dynamic city here, a history of commerce, plus beautiful geography. Ah yes, those craters... Okay, the area has had its troubles, but it's not known as 'The City that would not Die' for nothing. Or...

DIARY: Chants of Harry, Harry, omm, will surely follow.(Swan Hotel, Walt Disney World, Florida)(Brief Article)
September 5, 2003... Conference topics range from the mundane to the extraordinary, so Diary was not overly taken aback at hearing of the inaugural Harry Potter symposium, a three-day 'wizarding' conference at the Swan Hotel, Walt Disney World, Florida. ...

DIARY: CONFESSIONS OF AN EVENT PLANNER.(Brief Article)
September 5, 2003... As an event organiser you try to make life easy for clients. You have hotel registration forms filled in for them, you book alarm calls, and you arrange porterage. Sadly you don't get to supply them with any common sense. As a well-known...

DIARY: COMPETITION.(Park Plaza Leeds)(Brief Article)
September 5, 2003... Every month, CIT will be testing your observational skills and giving away a fantastic prize. This month, to celebrate the launch of the stylish Park Plaza Leeds, we are offering readers the opportunity to win a two-night break at this...