Conference & Incentive Travel articles from September 2007

Conference & Incentive Travel archives from September 2007

Just say 'no' to stay on top.(promotion of Reto Bacher)(Hogg Robinson Travel)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... When business travel giant HRG announced that its former European president Reto Bacher is to take the newly created post of president of events and meetings management, it was yet another nod to our increasingly buoyant sector (p6). And...

MPI's new broom targets uplift in membership and education.(Meeting Professionals International)(Paul Cook)
September 1, 2007... Newly elected MPI UK Chapter president Paul Cook has identified an aggressive membership drive and a renewed focus on education as his targets as he settles in his role. Cook is aiming for a 50% rise in MPI UK members and has also...

118 118 hands Lynton Cooper double sales incentive task.(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Telecommunications firm 118 118 Media has appointed agency Lynton Cooper to handle event management for two incentive programmes. The projects are both incentives for 118 118's direct sales force and kick off with an event for 25 of the...

Confex courts buyers abroad.
September 1, 2007... The Confex Group is looking to enhance its online offering by extending the company's Venuefinder website to include international venues for the first time. This will add 4,000 venues from 40 countries to the existing database of 8,000...

Tracker Brief.
September 1, 2007... In C&IT News Tracker this month: - Rok has appointed Expotel after a four-way pitch to handle its conference, travel and hotel booking. It is the first time the building maintenance services provider has appointed one agency to handle all...

Axa retains Phoenix to plan Tenerife meeting.(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Axa Insurance is to take its annual sales conference overseas for the first time in two years next January with an extended event that will take place in Tenerife. Running from January 21-24 at the five-star Abama hotel, the event will...

Indeprod adds to staff roster.(appointment of Andrew Cattell)(appointment of Toby Farrance)(appointment of Andrew Hulme)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Indeprod has increased staff levels following a raft of new business wins. Andrew Cattell, Toby Farrance and Andrew Hulme have joined as new business manager, account director and account manager, taking staff numbers at the company's...

Excel hits peak in attendances.
September 1, 2007... Excel London is celebrating its focus on association business with business wins and record attendances. New business wins include Gastro 2009, the largest medical meeting ever in the capital. The five-day event is expected to attract up...

ABC puts C&IT at number one.(Audit Bureau of Circulation)(Conference and Incentive Travel)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... C&IT is the number one meetings magazine in the latest Audit Bureau of Circulation (ABC) figures. ABC's data for the year to June 2007 show that C&IT's readership grew from 15,949 to 18,031 in the past 12 months - 1,445 ahead of its...

Grass Roots in DMS purchase.(Delegate Management Services)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... The Grass Roots Group has acquired Delegate Management Services for an undisclosed fee. The business will stay at its Hampshire base, and no job cuts are planned. Grass Roots chairman David Evans said: 'We are always seeking new...

Battley signs up to Hogg Robinson's C&I refocus.(appointment of David Battley)(Hogg Robinson Travel)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Events By Association (EBA) managing director David Battley has left to join the Hogg Robinson Group (HRG). Battley, who was with EBA for 11 years, joins HRG, which is putting a renewed focus on the C&I market, in the new role of director...

Rapiergroup unveils Opus plan.(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Agency Rapiergroup has unveiled its business strategy for Opus Creative Marketing. The acquisition in July of Opus - formerly Mice OCM - was a joint venture between Rapiergroup and Hong Kong-based Pico, which runs events and theme parks...

How to ... run a greener office.(environment protection )(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Involve your staff Get a team of volunteers to form a working party and build up expertise. What's your size? Measure your office's carbon footprint and identify ways of reducing it. Energy efficiency Consider motion...

Eventia set fair for a bright future.(Eventia Summer Conference)(Viewpoint essay)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... At the recent Eventia Summer Conference, I was asked if I was sad or relieved to be stepping down as chairman? The answer is relieved - relieved that I didn't screw it up! I felt a tremendous weight of expectation and responsibility in...

Etc Venues puts green ambassadors in place.
September 1, 2007... Etc Venues has upped its environmental commitment with a scheme to place a 'green champion' at each of its seven London properties. Representatives are in place at all seven of the company's venues, the latest being Mobolaji Aregbesola,...

Aberdeen broadens its appeal.(increase the businness performance)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Aberdeen Convention Bureau is calling on local industries to help double C&I business in the region over the next five years. The CVB estimates that pounds 150m is being spent on business tourism in Aberdeen, but business tourism manager...

Short and sweet is the message.(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... 'And now, a few words from our sponsors.' How often have you heard that phrase at the start of a conference and felt your energy sapping away? Just as things get going, a rambling monologue from a stranger who blithely ignores the plea to...

Carrier News.(Etihad Airways P.J.S.C.)(Eurostar (U.K.) Ltd.)(easyJet Airline Company Ltd.)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... From this month, Etihad Airways will be flying three times a week from the UK to Brisbane, via its hub in Abu Dhabi and Singapore, another of its new destinations. Eurostar secured bookings for more than 110,000 passengers for its new...

Agency Forum: Royal Mail's Breeds urges more focus on content from agencies.
September 1, 2007... In a frank and engaging discussion at this year's Agency Forum at the Park Plaza Riverbank, Royal Mail head of internal events James Breeds issued a wake up call to agencies that don't understand their clients' needs. The session -...

Agency Forum: Ford calls for reappraisal of fee system.
September 1, 2007... One of this year's most well attended seminars at the forum saw Universal managing director Mike Ford issue a call for agencies to realistically assess their fees in order to help create a strategic platform for negotiating with corporate...

Agency Forum: How to ... set up a mentoring programme.
September 1, 2007... Promote the coach-mentoring approach across the organisation Make sure the message is relayed across the company of your aim for the mentoring scheme, and how it can impact on staff retention and career development at all levels. -...

Agency Forum: Said & done.(Conference & Incentive travel)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... We had one client who phoned us to say that because of our extended research they wanted to improve our scoping fee. - BCD business development director Vicki Laurie on positive client relationships We still suffer because of the cowboy...

Reader poll 2007: Vote for your top C&I stars and win a trip to New York City.
September 1, 2007... The C&IT Reader Poll is back and this year you could win a three-night stay for two in the Big Apple. You'll travel American Airlines on its popular Boeing 777 or 767-300 aircraft. The carrier flies 20 roundtrips a day between the US and...

Analysis: Towards a fair day's pay for a fair day's work.
September 1, 2007... Forsaking commission for more realistic fee-based work is just one way agencies can work towards a template for economic sustainability. When Universal managing director Mike Ford addressed last month's C&IT Agency Forum with a seminar...

Case Study: Vodafone on track in La Manga resort.(Case study)
September 1, 2007... The chance to go to Spain and race superbikes on the track, as well as soak up some sun, proved an extremely effective incentive for Vodafone telesales staff. The brief Events company and independent British Ducati Superbike race-team...

Case Study: Toyota rewards top performers in Venice.(Toyota Motor Corp.)(P&MM Ltd.)(Case study)
September 1, 2007... The car manufacturer set P&MM a tough brief for its Ichiban Awards; nothing less than perfection would do - no easy feat in a waterbound city, as Kerry Baggott reports. The Brief The Toyota Ichiban European Customer Satisfaction Awards...

Venue Focus: Property bulletin.(Hyatt Corp.v)(Langham Hotels International Ltd.)(Gramercy Park Hotel (New York, New York))
September 1, 2007... Susie Harwood rounds up the venue news from Crewe to Changun. CAVERSWALL CASTLE - Caverswall, Stoke-on-Trent This Grade I-listed building has recently opened its doors to events The 13th century moated castle, set in 35 acres of...

Pushing Frontiers: Time for ... New Orleans.(overview of the city)(City overview)
September 1, 2007... It is two years since Hurricane Katrina broke the levees, flooding much of the French Quarter and the downtown area, but like the city itself, C&I business is picking up well. INCENTIVES The historic French Quarter is ideal for...

Agency Focus: The C&IT Challenge.(Barcelona, Spain (City))(Venice, Italy)(Swiss Alps)
September 1, 2007... This month's brief is to stage an event next spring, to a short-haul destination, including a one-day conference, followed by corporate hospitality for 40 senior executives. - Barcelona is ideal, and the place to stay is the impressive...

Agency Focus: 5 minutes with ... Western & Oriental.
September 1, 2007... Location: London, Isle of Wight, Bristol, Ilkeley, Chichester and Frankfurt Staff: 150 - What's the lowdown? The luxury travel group acquired its third C&I business in just over a year last month - London agency Eclipse...

In Person: Clint Cordle, npower.
September 1, 2007... Leanne Bell meets the utility firm's hands-on and detail-obsessed event organiser. The first event Clint Cordle organised was the launch of his school banking service at the tender age of 11. Almost two decades on, as events and...

Said & Done.(Royal Mail Group PLC)(THA Group)(Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... We need more raw passion - THA's John Hooker wants to attract graduates with a bit of verve about them We won the first world war because the German supply chain ran out - CIPS's Roy Ayliffe highlights the history of supply-chain...

Sounding off: Silver lining to every cloud.(managing weather condition during events)
September 1, 2007... Conversation about the weather is the last refuge of the unimaginative, according to Oscar Wilde. I can see the great man's point of view but, as far as events are concerned, the weather - in particular the flooding the country witnessed in...

What's it like to work in ... Dubai.(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... When did you open? July 2006. - Why Dubai? The main reason was because we have several clients with a Middle East presence and it became more cost effective. - How did you set it up? We set up meetings with existing and...

Show Preview: National Venue Show.(information aboput International Confex candy event)
September 1, 2007... Now being run by Confex, this year's event is set to make a real impact, says Phil Heard. Visitors to this year's National Venue Show will find themselves in a reassuringly familar environment, particularly if they attended International...

Seminars: New exhibitors and highlights.(Ramada Jarvis)(West Ham United)(Yorkshire South Tourism)
September 1, 2007... Yorkshire South Tourism (Stand R11) will be unveiling its first incentive guide. The region hosted this year's Microsoft UK Challenge and will be promoting the incentive and team-building offer under four banners: Adventure and Adrenalin,...

Wales: 10 Good reasons to visit Wales.
September 1, 2007... From taking the plunge off cliffs in Pembroke to hosting large conferences in Llandudno, Leanne Bell finds ten reasons to consider basing an event in Wales. 1. Team building Blessed with mountains, forests, lakes and canyons, Wales...

Wales: Corporate Lowdown - Logica CMG's outdoor pursuits.(interview of Ant Taylor employee of Logica CMG PLC)(Interview)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... C&IT talks to Ant Taylor, test manager at Logica CMG, about the social networking trips to Pembrokeshire Coast National Park he organises for the IT company. - What type of events do you organise? I organise long-weekend trips for...

Edinburgh: Edinburgh in numbers.
September 1, 2007... David Atkinson measures the Scottish capital's C&I offer by analysing its latest figures. 27 - This is Edinburgh's ICCA ranking for 2006, a drop from 23rd in 2005. However, the table places Edinburgh second in the UK to London, which is...

Edinburgh: Case study - Advocates for charity.(Case study)
September 1, 2007... The pharmaceutical company wanted to organise an impressive fashion show to raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Support and its own profile with guests. The brief: The client wanted a fashion show and dinner to raise funds for Macmillan...

Edinburgh: Gala dinner venues.
September 1, 2007... THE ROYAL TERRACE HOTEL Fresh from an extensive pounds 5.5m refurbishment, this period hotel in the east of town boasts 107 rooms. The Balmoral is the flagship for dining and can hold up to 80 delegates for banquets. The hotel has...

Historic Venues: In a former life.(Malmaison)(Portland spa conference and banquering centre)(Hotel du Vin Ltd.)
September 1, 2007... Susie Harwood reveals the past and present incarnations of some of the UK's leading hotels and meetings venues. MALMAISON GLASGOW Formerly... This striking hill-top building on Glasgow's West George Street was formerly St...

Thailand: To Bangkok and beyond.(information about Chiang Mai)(information about Pattaya)
September 1, 2007... From the beaches of Hua Hin to the jungles of Chiang Mai, Jane Dunford highlights the very best of Thailand. Bangkok for gastronomy The buzzing capital Bangkok has something for corporate groups of all kinds - whether it's culture,...

Thailand: Case study - MGM Assurance's dual tour.(Case study)
September 1, 2007... Company: MGM Assurance Event: Incentive Group size: 46 Agency: BI DMC Destination: Asia Dates: 22-28 April 2007 Venues: Bangkok, Peninsular Hotel; Hua Hin, Hyatt Regency Budget: Undisclosed Challenges: The incentive is an...

Switzerland: Countdown to kick-off.(European Cup (Soccer) 2008 )(managing the event at the best )
September 1, 2007... It is less than a year until the start of the Euro 2008 football tournament. Kunal Dutta reports on preparations from the Swiss cities hosting games. For a country eager to develop its C&I status, there can be no bigger and timelier...

Mallorca: The Balearics' best.(yourist desitnation)
September 1, 2007... Corporates are flocking to Mallorca and updating its holiday island image. Never mind the package holiday perceptions - more and more corporate big guns are picking Mallorca. Recent visitors include Sony, Honda, Gillette, Toyota and...

Mallorca: 72 hours on the island.(Diary entry)
September 1, 2007... From meetings on the beach to dining in castles, Mallorca has something for every group. DAY 1 10.00 Jet into Palma airport (Son Sant Joan Airport). Primarena is among the many DMCs that can arrange welcome drinks at the airport....

Portugal: The Iberian challenger.(developing Lisbon to attract more events and enhance tourism)
September 1, 2007... Portugal is joining the big league for events, but can C&I groups look beyond Lisbon, asks Stuart Derrick. Lisbon's choice as the host city for July's globally televised announcement of the ceremony offically called 'The New 7 Wonders of...

Portugal: Case study - Miller Homes on the Algarve.(Case study)
September 1, 2007... The firm's first overseas trip was a good mix of business and pleasure. The Brief: Miller Homes' profits broke the pounds 100m mark in 2006, so Britain's biggest independent house builder decided to boost the reward element of its annual...

Portugal: Check out - Corinthia Lisboa Hotel.
September 1, 2007... Where is it? The towering 517-room property is minutes from Lisbon's historic heart and 15 minutes from the airport. Group check-in Corinthia Lisboa has the city's largest hotel-based meeting facilities and can cope with events for...

Portugal: Porto update.(information about the city)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Portugal's second city has the infrastructure and is now the focus for promotional activity. Portugal's second city Porto is home to just over 250,000 inhabitants and is an area that the Portuguese Tourist National Office is keen to push...

Cyprus: Rebirth of an island.(tourism development )
September 1, 2007... There is more to Cyprus than a cheap holiday destination, as Susie Harwood discovers. All signs are pointing towards a great year for Cyprus, as far as conference and incentive business is concerned. After a couple of tough years,...

Cyprus: Quantum leap in the sun.(Avenue for Conferences & Events (South) makes arrangment for tour)
September 1, 2007... City brokerage heads for the hills on its first overseas journey for staff get-together. The brief Quantum Mortgage Brokers is a young but rapidly growing City-based firm. 'We've grown from three to 15 people since March 2006, and a lot...

Cyprus: Budget Comparison - Wine, sailing and sun.
September 1, 2007... There's something to suit every budget in Cyprus, from coach tours to luxury yachts. BUDGET How to get there: Monarch offers cheap scheduled flights from Luton Airport to Larnaca four times a week. Where to stay: The four-star...

Cyprus: Island update.
September 1, 2007... Investment in the island's infrastructure has stepped up, with a huge number of government and privately backed projects scheduled over the next few years. This includes the redevelopment of the marinas in Cyprus' three main coastal...

Iceland: Out on its own.(tourism development )
September 1, 2007... Iceland's incentive offer is without compare, but what about meetings, asks Paul Oswell. While Iceland is probably one of the least conventional European destinations, its stunning natural attributes mean that the country enjoys a...

Iceland: Showcase - The best of the island's venues.(the best hotels)
September 1, 2007... From geothermal lakes to chic boutique properties, Iceland's venue portfolio is growing. THE BLUE LAGOON The island's iconic attraction is only 20 minutes from Keflavik International Airport and 45 minutes from Reykjavik. Surrounded...

Russia: The twin superpowers.(developing tourism in Moscow and Saint Petersburg)
September 1, 2007... Russia's C&I business is wholly centred on Moscow and St Petersberg. As ever, the proposition of Russia as a C&I destination is a divisive one. The recent frost in diplomatic relations with the UK will add further grist to the mill of...

Russia: Venue update - Moscow and St Petersburg.
September 1, 2007... It takes something pretty remarkable to cause a splash in a hotel market like Moscow's, but the July unveiling of the pounds 175m Ritz-Carlton has done just that (ritzcarlton.com). The 334-room property - built on the site of the infamous...

Egypt: The timeless pull of the Pyramids.
September 1, 2007... Egypt is developing the hotels and tourism infrastructure to match its natural attractions and peerless archeological heritage. Despite its troubles, the Middle East is home to some of the world's fastest-growing commercial hotspots, and...

Egypt: Spotlight on ... Sharm El Sheikh.(development in the city)
September 1, 2007... Go back 25 years or so and essentially there was nothing to Sharm but a rocky coast and a lone dive shop. Today, there are around 250 four- and five-star hotels along this stretch of coastline at the tip of the Sinai Peninsula, and what the...

Middle East: Luxury venues - Readers recommend high-end Gulf hotels.(services provided by hotels in UAE's Dubai and Muscat)
September 1, 2007... In a region bursting with impressive top-end properties, it can be hard to decide which would suit a particular group. Ben Lerwill seeks guidance from those in the know. RITZ CARLTON, DUBAI Recommended by Breitling UK Marketing...

Middle East: Spotlight on ... Petra, Jordan.(information for tourist)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Easily one of the most spectacular and popular attractions in the Middle East region, the 'lost city' of Petra - a Unesco World Heritage site since 1985 - was officially named a 'New Seventh Wonder of the World' in July. The ancient...

Middle East: In the pipeline.(development in Abu Dhabi)(development in Dubai)(development in Fujairah)
September 1, 2007... The highlights of the region's burgeoning property and infrastructural developments. With eye-popping destinations like Abu Dhabi and Dubai in its fold, it comes as no surprise that the Middle East has a list of bold openings in the...

Diary: People, parties, pics.
September 1, 2007... Got any interesting pictures that will let our Diary writer's imagination run wild? Any crazy company initiatives? Any embarrassing moments? Send your pictures and stories to Conference & Incentive Travel, 174 Hammersmith Road, London W6 7JP...

Diary: Guess What?(Douglas Walker employee of Unique Venues celebrates his success)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... So this is how people really react when they've won new business? Unique Venues of Edinburgh vice chairman Douglas Walker, celebrates financial success in some style and Diary is loving it. Much less innocent were some of the folk at this...

Diary: Time bandit - Vanessa Hunt, Allied Europe.(Diary entry)
September 1, 2007... 30% - Preparing client proposals with detailed destination information, ranging from sightseeing options, meeting/conference space suggestions and availability, evening activities and gala event suggestions. 30% - Co-ordinating...