Conference & Incentive Travel articles from September 2005

Conference & Incentive Travel archives from September 2005

First Off: Salaries highlight the gender divide.
September 7, 2005... Picture the scene. Two people both doing exactly the same job to exactly the same standard. However, all may not be as equal as it first seems, because based on something as irrelevant as gender, one is paid a whopping 76% less than the other....

P&MM chief vows to deliver results as new chair of ITMA.
September 7, 2005... Nigel Cooper, managing director of agencies P&MM and Archer Young, is the new chairman of the Incentive Travel and Meetings Association (ITMA). Voted in following an election among the ITMA board at the end of August, Cooper will take over...

UK Price Check.(Theobalds Parks)(Ettington Chase)(Highgate House)(Brief Article)
September 7, 2005... RESIDENTIAL CONFERENCE Brief: Two-day residential conference for 60 delegates theatre-style with back projection at a management training centre during October/November. Prices include all catering and two syndicate rooms for 20...

Fresh approach for ITMA's 2006 Awards.
September 7, 2005... The ITMA has announced plans for its 2006 ITMA Awards ceremony. Now in its 12th year, the event, in association with C&IT magazine, will take place at The Evolution, a semi-permanent structure located in London's Battersea Park provided by...

Business tourism leaders push for state recognition.
September 7, 2005... Business tourism professionals are calling for greater Government support as the value of business tourism to the British economy tops pounds 20bn. A report released by the Business Tourism Partnership (BTP) shows that business tourism is...

News brief: Warwick Conferences unveils plans for upgrade.
September 7, 2005... Warwick Conferences has unveiled plans for a pounds 1m upgrade to its facilities, for completion by the end of the year. Additions include AV equipment in six rooms at the Scarman Centre and a pounds 200,000 meeting room for 30 delegates at...

News brief: Eurostar sees surge in business travellers.
September 7, 2005... Eurostar saw a 17% surge in business travellers in the first six months of 2005, equating to 100,000 additional passengers. The rise is linked to hikes in the price of oil, which has affected airfares. www.eurostar.com.

News brief: Venuemasters launches 2005-6 directory.
September 7, 2005... Venuemasters has launched its directory for 2005-6, covering more than 100 university and college venues throughout the UK. For a free copy call 0114 249 3090. www.venuemasters.co.uk.

News brief: Excel appoints two new event managers.
September 7, 2005... Excel has appointed two new event managers to bolster its events team. Andrew Brett joins from Earls Court/Olympia, and Adam Brooke joins from the Gallagher Estate, a conference and exhibition venue in South Africa. www.excel-london.co.uk.

News brief: Swallow Hotels and Inns completes deal.
September 7, 2005... Swallow Hotels and Inns has completed a multi-million pound deal to buy all 17 Scottish hotels from the North British Trust Group. The hotels are located in Edinburgh, Fort William, Pitlochry and Gretna among other places. Rebranding will take...

News brief: Luton Airport opens first phase of development.
September 7, 2005... London Luton Airport has opened the first phase of its pounds 35m passenger terminal development, which includes a 7,400m2 departure lounge and a retail/catering complex plus new security, immigration and customs halls. www.london-luton.co.uk.

Netbenchmarks index lets buyers assess suppliers.(Events Industry Index)(Brief Article)
September 7, 2005... Event planners can now choose suppliers based on their record of customer satisfaction. The Events Industry Index, launched this month by Netbenchmarks, ranks suppliers according to responses submitted in surveys by customers. ...

Associations spurn collaboration move.(Brief Article)
September 7, 2005... Industry associations have abandoned plans to collaborate following a lack of momentum to push the process forward. At this year's International Confex in February, five bodies, comprising ABPCO, the BACD, the HBAA, the MIA and MPI,...

MPI debates hotel issues for buyers.(Calendar)
September 7, 2005... The next MPI Education seminar will debate the challenges faced by event planners within the hotel industry. The event, sponsored by C&IT, will bring together conference organising agencies, corporate planners and hoteliers. Delegates can...

C&IT seminar will outline Olympian vision for London.
September 7, 2005... C&IT will be holding a seminar at World Travel Market on 15 November to discuss the impact of the Olympic Games in 2012 on tourism and the events industry in the UK. On the four-strong panel will be Visit London commercial director David...

C&IT Corporate Forum call for registration.
September 7, 2005... C&IT magazine is to hold its third annual Corporate Forum at Disneyland Paris Resort from 7-9 November. The event, for around 50 corporate planners follows on from the first Agency Forum held last month in London (See report, p12). As...

People and Places: Destinations Unlimited DMC Workshop, Dorset.(Brief Article)
September 7, 2005... Destinations Unlimited held its inaugural two-day DMC workshop in Dorset in July. Around 30 agency staff and 22 DMCs attended the networking event at the Haven Hotel in Sandbanks in Poole, Dorset. 'We were very keen to offer a workshop in...

Are we fully alert to perils of the law on health and safety?
September 7, 2005... I fear that the C&I industry is marching into a legal minefield. The tale of the tour operator being sued following the death of a tourist in a helicopter crash in New York, and an alarming piece of research by Professors Ken and Sue...

Creativity the key to rewarding meetings.
September 7, 2005... Companies are looking for more creative approaches to conferences in a bid to increase delegates' productivity, according to research by conference planner Eventwise. In a July survey of 100 UK in-house planners from blue chip financial,...

Inntel achieves record turnover.(conference agency)(Brief Article)
September 7, 2005... Inntel has announced record turnover for the past financial year. The conference and hotel reservations agency is currently celebrating its 21st year of trading, and handled pounds 25m-worth of business for the first time. 'It's an...

Cruise Check: Carnival Liberty.
September 7, 2005... What is it? Launched in July, Carnival Liberty is the 21st ship in the cruise line's 'Fun Cruise' fleet. It has a capacity for 3,000 passengers across 13 decks and has 1,487 cabins. What's it like? A tamer interior design compared with the...

International: Imex survey finds renewed levels of optimism for 2006.
September 7, 2005... Over three-quarters of European C&I agencies and buyers are optimistic about next year's business prospects, according to recent Imex research. Results of the latest Imex Quarterly Barometer of Business Tourism Confidence for April-June...

International: World Price Check.(Illustration)
September 7, 2005... TWO-DAY RESIDENTIAL MEETING Brief: Two-day residential conference for 60 delegates at a congress hotel in October. Prices include lunch, accommodation, two syndicate rooms and flights. NOVOTEL BUDAPEST Day delegate rate ...

International: Asian NTOs link up in EIBTM sponsor deal.(Brief Article)
September 7, 2005... Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau, Singapore Tourism Board, Hong Kong Tourism Board and Tourism Malaysia are set to join forces at this year's EIBTM to promote tourism to South East Asia. According to Tourism Malaysia assistant...

International: Emirates signs up to the Dubai and Australia alliance.(Brief Article)
September 7, 2005... The joint marketing campaign announced between Dubai Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) and Tourism Australia (C&IT, June) is to be supported by Emirates. The airline is providing business-class seats to those organisers selected for...

International brief: American Airlines to operate daily service.
September 7, 2005... American Airlines is to operate a daily service between New York JFK airport and Newcastle International, starting in May 2006. This will be the first direct flight between the two cities. americanairlines.co.uk.

International brief: Melbourne gets extra business.
September 7, 2005... Melbourne has recorded more than pounds 25m-worth of extra international convention business since the city announced plans for a 5,000-seat convention centre ten months ago. www.vic.gov.au.

International brief: AIPC board elects best congress centre.
September 7, 2005... The AIPC's board of directors has elected the Congress Centre-Sofia, National Palace of Culture as the 2005 World's Best Congress Centre. The Bulgarian centre topped a field of 20 nominees. www.aipc.org.

International brief: BMI adds to Heathrow network.
September 7, 2005... BMI is adding to its Heathrow network this winter with the introduction of a four-times weekly service to Lyon, one of Europe's key ski hubs. Flights run from December to April. www.flybmi.com.

International brief: EIBTM to debut new award.
September 7, 2005... EIBTM is to debut a new award in November. The Joint Meetings Industry Council Profile and Power Award will recognise outstanding initiatives that promote the meetings industry. www.eibtm.com.

International brief: Ameri Suites to be rebranded.
September 7, 2005... Global Hyatt Corporation has announced that it is to rebrand the Ameri Suites hotel chain it acquired recently. The high-end market brand will be known as Hyatt Place. www.hyatt.com.

International brief: Scandinavian Airlines to operate twice-daily services.
September 7, 2005... Scandinavian Airlines will operate twice-daily services from London City to Copenhagen from 30 October. These will complement the airline's six existing daily services to the Danish capital from Heathrow. www.scandinavian.net.

International: Kenya targets UK business tourism with fam trip push.
September 7, 2005... Kenya Tourist Board is making its first foray into the C&I industry with four fam trips in 2006. The inaugural trip for ten agencies will take place in the spring, in association with Kenya Airways. Kenya Tourist Board sales and marketing...

International: Abu Dhabi rebrands to lift presence in UK.(Brief Article)
September 7, 2005... The Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) has stepped up its UK presence with the appointment of representation company Hills Balfour to promote the emirate in the UK and Ireland. Hills Balfour will unveil a new brand for the tourist authority...

International: DMC OM gives Moulden ambassador role.(DMC OM Destination Management)(Brief Article)
September 7, 2005... European DMC OM Destination Management has appointed Moulden Marketing to act as its UK sales office for its five overseas offices, which include Cyprus and the latest addition to its portfolio, Lithuania. Moulden Marketing director Gill...

International: People and Places - The Rhinegau, Germany.(Brief Article)
September 7, 2005... The finest German food, wine and hospitality made for a well oiled and enjoyable fam trip to Frankfurt, Wiesbaden and the Rhinegau region in August. Six UK C&I planners attended the trip organised by four local five-star Leading Hotels of...

International brief: Air Mauritius sales exec leaves role.
September 7, 2005... Air Mauritius sales executive for the C&I market Chris Brown has left his role to take up a sales manager position with technology provider Amadeus. He will be replaced temporarily by colleague Maggie Darby. www.airmauritius.com.

International brief: Le Meridien celebrates relaunch.
September 7, 2005... Le Meridien is celebrating the relaunch of its Barbarons property in the Seychelles by offering an introductory rate of EUR170 (pounds 115) per night until 20 December. www.lemeridien.com.

International brief: Seadream Yacht Club launches new website.
September 7, 2005... Seadream Yacht Club has launched a new website, which now includes full details on pricing, schedules and private charters. seadreamyachtclub.com.

International brief: Raffles Hotel sold.
September 7, 2005... Raffles Hotel, one of Singapore's icons, along with 40 other properties worldwide, has been sold to US-based investment fund Colony Capital LLC. The deal includes all Raffles and Swissotel hotels around the world. www.raffles.com.

International brief: Appointment at Concorde Hotels.
September 7, 2005... Concorde Hotels has appointed Elaine McCormack, formerly of the Millennium Gloucester Hotel, as regional director of sales and marketing. She replaces Chris Crowley, who has moved to the Travel Company/Synergi UK as head of sales....

International brief: Steigenberger becomes certified conference hotel.
September 7, 2005... The Steigenberger Airport Hotel in Frankfurt has become Germany's first certified conference hotel, following the introduction of an accreditation scheme by a number of German associations. www.steigenberger.de.

International brief: Easyjet adds daily flight.
September 7, 2005... Easyjet has added a daily flight from Edinburgh to Geneva, beginning in December. The flight will depart from Scotland at 2.40pm each day. www.easyjet.com.

International: Hungary profits from UK C&I visitor growth.
September 7, 2005... Business tourism to Hungary is up by 15%, boosted by visits from the UK by blue-chip companies such as IBM, Diageo, Johnson & Johnson and Glaxosmithkline. Research from the Hungarian National Tourist Office shows that in the first six...

International: Iceland gains Gatwick BA route.
September 7, 2005... British Airways is to run direct flights to Reykjavik from London Gatwick five times per week, starting from next March. The flights will add to existing services to Reykjavik by Iceland Express (12 times a week from Stansted) and...

International: Pushing Frontiers - Slovakia.(Brief Article)
September 7, 2005... After the Velvet Revolution of 1989, the Czech Republic ploughed its tourism efforts towards establishing trendy Prague while neighbouring Slovakia retained its folk traditions and concentrated on its rich landscape of natural parks, mountain...

International: We really need an impartial guide to the 'world of terror'.(Brief Article)
September 7, 2005... There was a time when we knew which parts of the world were safe and which needed to be negotiated with care. Over the past few years all of that has changed - practically every destination can be regarded as under threat from terrorism. ...

International: C&IT Forum Review - ROI forces agents to opt for marketing or management.
September 7, 2005... Event organising agents need to decide whether they fall into the event marketing or event management camp as return on investment (ROI) takes a greater hold in the industry. At a ROI workshop at the C&IT Forum, delegates concluded that...

International: Measuring Value Tips on ROI.
September 7, 2005... Event management agency Talking Point has recently launched a product called Strategic Event Management to enable clients to evaluate the success and maximise the impact of their face-to-face events, ultimately measuring the return on...

International: Overheard.
September 7, 2005... 'How can we expect the industry to become more professional when you don't need a degree to get a job in the sector?' Elaine Smith, managing director, In Any Event '85% of in-house conference organisers believe that a guest speaker...

C&IT Forum Special Report: The environment takes over as the hot industry topic.(Brief Article)
September 7, 2005... The issue of environmental sustainability was cited as one of the key concerns at the C&IT Forum. 'Security used to be top but now the environment is fast becoming the burning issue,' said Rand account director Sue Jones. 'More corporates...

C&IT Forum Special Report: Creativity 'won't win round' procurement.
September 7, 2005... Agents should curb their creative instincts and stick to what's needed when completing an initial request for proposal. That was the message from two procurement professionals presenting at the recent C&IT Forum. 'All responses should...

C&IT Forum Special Report: Land Rover events put brand values first.
September 7, 2005... Agencies must put client brand values at the heart of the event planning process if they want to create truly successful programmes. This was the message to Forum delegates by Land Rover manager of global events and exhibitions Gary Knight....

C&IT Forum Special Report: Speakers under the spotlight.
September 7, 2005... Tribute bands, group drumming and business gurus may have had their day, according to one of the industry's leading entertainment bookers. Talking at the C&IT Forum, Jeremy Lee, managing director of speakers' bureau JLA, branded the...

C&IT Forum Special Report: P&MM practises what it preaches.(Brief Article)
September 7, 2005... Agents can boost turnover by focusing on their own employee happiness, according to P&MM director of communications Debra Nightingale. At the Forum, Nightingale showed how P&MM increased turnover from pounds 20m to pounds 42m between 2001...

Sounding Off: The London bid got state support; why not the C&I sector?(Brief Article)
September 7, 2005... Congratulations to Lord Coe and his team; their success in securing the Olympics is sure to have a significant effect not just on London but the UK as a whole. A national sense of pride, renewed optimism, regeneration and the significant...

In Person: Caroline Hill, Head of conferences and events, Roche Products.
September 7, 2005... When she's away from her desk, Caroline Hill is one of those people who diverts her office phone to her mobile - even when she's heading up an incentive trip in China, which means the occasional call at midnight from a colleague in the UK. But...

Case Study: Seville passes the test.(Rotork Control & Safety's international meeting)
September 7, 2005... Engineering firm Rotork set its agency a number of logistical challenges for its international meeting in southern Spain, as Kerry Baggott discovers. Organising a conference for 450 delegates from 68 countries is no mean feat, but that was...

BACD Survey: Mixed messages.
September 7, 2005... The absence of responses from some big players skewed the BACD survey, painting a far gloomier picture than the reality. Anna Bowden reports. If this year's annual BACD members' survey is anything to go by, the UK conference market is in...

Salary Survey: The money matters.
September 7, 2005... The C&IT salary survey has unearthed the finding that, despite the industry's focus on experience, qualifications do lead to better pay. On the downside, women are paid significantly less than men. Anna Bowden reports So it's official -...

Edinburgh: Introduction - The festival capital.
September 7, 2005... Edinburgh's ever-evolving infrastructure and media profile will keep the city at the forefront of organisers' minds. Paul Blaney reports. What with the G8 summit and the annual Festival, Edinburgh has rarely been out of the headlines of...

Edinburgh: Themed Incentives - The capital's literary trail.
September 7, 2005... Follow in the footsteps of famous authors around the city's cultural landmarks. Edinburgh's long tradition as a city of writers was confirmed at the end of last year when it became Unesco's first ever World City of Literature. The city's...

Edinburgh: Case Study - Domino's star turn.
September 7, 2005... The pizza giant rolled out the red carpet in the Scottish capital for its franchisee and staff event. Every year the Domino's Pizza Group holds an event to entertain and incentivise its UK and Irish franchisees and staff. This year's event...

Edinburgh: Unusual Venues - Showcase: city venues of distinction.
September 7, 2005... Edinburgh's history and capital city status afford it a wealth of venues for special events. THE CONCORDE EXPERIENCE www.maitlandfieldhouse.co.uk/concorde The Concorde Experience at the Museum of Flight, East Fortune Airfield, opened...

UK: Team Building - Great British adventures.(The Cookery School offers team-building courses in cooking)(Alton Towers's rides)(Center Parcs offers indoor and outdoor activities)
September 7, 2005... Boost staff morale and instil a sense of togetherness with an injection of fresh air and adrenalin. Storming the Ramparts at Eastnor Castle, Herefordshire Contact Simon Foster, 01531 633160 Web www.eastnorcastle.com Storming the...

Wales: Welsh assembly.
September 7, 2005... Cardiff may still be king, but Swansea and Llandudno are waking up to the potential of the C&I market with plans to develop their infrastructure. Anna Bowden investigates. Cardiff may be hogging the limelight as it commerorates its...

The East Midlands: Essence of England.
September 7, 2005... Bounded by the Peak District and Sherwood Forest and dotted with stately homes and castles, the East Midlands offers the best of England. No-one in Nottinghamshire is quite sure whether the area is more famous for Robin Hood or Brian Clough...

The East Midlands: Out and about beyond Nottingham.
September 7, 2005... DERBYSHIRE Contact Helen Rydzyk Tel 01332 548100 Web www.conference-derbyshire.co.uk The Chesterfield Hotel, within sight of the town's crooked spire, has 73 bedrooms, five conference rooms and a ballroom for 200 theatre-style. Also...

Academic Venues: Enlightened choices.(Directory)
September 7, 2005... Stephanie Siegle takes a look at the refurbishments and expansion programmes at ten of the UK's seats of learning. HENLEY MANAGEMENT COLLEGE Contact Alan Brand, 01491 418713 Website www.henleymcconferences.co.uk Number of meeting...

Show Preview: National Venue Show.
September 7, 2005... An increase in exhibitors, suppliers and pre-registered visitors means the only way is up for the National Venue Show. Anna Bowden reports. With 20 per cent more exhibitors, including 100 debutants, the fifth annual National Venue Show...

Cyprus Q&A: An isle for all seasons.(Cyprus-a C&I destination )(Interview)
September 7, 2005... What infrastructural changes have taken place on Cyprus since the island's EU accession? Yasmin Razak gets the lowdown from the head of the Cyprus Tourism Organisation's C&I unit. Born and bred in Nicosia, Koullitsa Demetriou studied...

Cyprus: Compact & bijou.
September 7, 2005... By putting quality ahead of quantity, Cypriot hoteliers are wooing top-name clients such as Microsoft and Pfizer. Yasmin Razak explores the island's property portfolio. As the glare of neon and flashing lights along Limassol's coastline is...

Cyprus: Case Study - Building bridges.(National Merchant Builders Society, Builders Merchants Federation, Builders Merchants Journal and Unimer's conference)
September 7, 2005... The UK construction industry converged on Limassol for a debut event. The National Merchant Builders Society (NMBS), Builders Merchants Federation (BMF), Builders Merchants Journal (BMJ) and Unimer joined forces for the first time in 2005...

Middle East Luxury: Sensory overload.(luxury hotels are cropping up and providing better services)
September 7, 2005... The gaudy and occasionally over-the-top feel of some Middle East hotels may not be to everyone's taste but, as Ben Lerwill finds, no-one can find fault with their level of service or aspirational pull. The word 'luxury' means different...

Russia: Red star billing.(Moscow and St Petersburg)
September 7, 2005... Groups visiting Russia tend to congregate in Moscow and St Petersburg, which are developing an enviable C&I infrastructure. Ben Lerwill outlines a tale of two cities. What is it about Russia? It figures consistently on people's...

Caribbean: Windies welcome the world.(a look at facilities at West Indies )
September 7, 2005... With the West Indies gearing up to host the 2007 Cricket World Cup, Ben Lerwill tours the seven main islands and checks out the facilities for C&I fans. JAMAICA Jamaica has worked hard to convince buyers that there is more to the...

Caribbean: All eyes on Barbados for the big match.(location of Cricket World Cup final )
September 7, 2005... Ben Lerwill asks whether Barbados is ready for its moment in the sun as host of the Cricket World Cup final. The poster on the wall of the Cricket World Cup offices in Holetown is to the point. It reads: 'Our vision is to use the tournament...

Caribbean: England's battleground.(St Lucia)
September 7, 2005... St Lucia will spend pounds 1bn before the Barmy Army arrives. St Lucia is one of those destinations that attracts superlatives and accolades for fun, be it the Greatest Hotel Room In The World (the Anse Chastanet Resort), to one of the Five...

Switzerland: Peak performer.
September 7, 2005... Switzerland is combining its stunning landscape, regional variety and top-end venues to reinvent itself as a serious C&I contender. Ben Lerwill reports. Perceptions of Switzerland have moved with the times. The 'far more than cows,...

Switzerland: Regional variety across the cantons by canton.
September 7, 2005... Ben Lerwill looks at six regions and highlights their distinctive appeal for C&I organisers. BASEL Basel suffers from an unjust reputation as a dry business city - its 'Culture Unlimited' marketing tag is going some way to raise...

Show Preview: The M&IT Show.
September 7, 2005... There are more pre-registered visitors, exhibitors and extra funds in the Money for Miles scheme at this year's M&IT Show. Anna Bowden reports. With the time and place finally settled upon, this year's M&IT show is on track to beat its...

Venue Focus: Hilton Sydney back in business after revamp.(Brief Article)
September 7, 2005... Hilton Sydney reopened for business in July. Following its closure for two and a half years and more than pounds 85m worth of investment, the property now boasts Australia's largest hotel convention and meeting space. It has 4,000m2 of flexible...

Venue Focus: Le Meridien breaks new ground in Kathmandu.(Brief Article)
September 7, 2005... Le Meridien's latest venture, the Kathmandu Gokarna Forest Golf Resort & Spa, opened in July and represents the hotel group's first property in Nepal. Located only ten minutes from the international airport and offering 38 deluxe rooms, 16...

Venue Focus.
September 7, 2005... Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz Resort & Spa on Gozo, Malta's sister island, has reopened following pounds 5m-worth of renovation work. The resort has now been extended to offer 122 rooms, 48 of which are suites. An additional pool has also been...