Marketing Event articles from August 2005

Marketing Event archives from August 2005

From the Editor: With the right vision, the NEC could be a winning venue.(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... In his most candid interview to date, and the first since he took over as chief executive of the Birmingham NEC, Andrew Morris admits to what visitors, organisers and exhibitors have long suspected - something has been wrong for some time at...

Big Brother's house enters venue market.(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... The Big Brother house is to be made available for corporate events in September and October. The production company Endemol and Elstree television studios have commissioned the Ultimate Event Company to market it as an event space for...

Morris unveils plan to transform NEC Group.(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... NEC Group chief executive Andrew Morris has unveiled his five-year plan for the NEC, ICC, NIA and the NEC Arena - and revealed that the Midlands exhibition venue is bidding to bring ITU Telecom World to the UK in 2009. Morris has detailed...

Clarion takes control of ATE trade shows.(Amusement Trade Exhibitions )(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... Clarion Events has completed its acquisition of Amusement Trade Exhibitions (ATE), the exhibition, conference, publishing and services subsidiary of the British Amusement Catering Trades Association (BACTA.) Clarion gains a host of UK and...

T&F Informa in pounds 768m deal to acquire IIR.(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... T&F Informa is in the process of acquiring conference and exhibition organiser IIR in a deal worth pounds 768m. The London-based publisher and content provider is looking to expand its catalogue of around 2,800 events with the purchase of...

UBM buys up the Bar Show.(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... Mondiale Publishing has sold its Bar exhibition to United Business Media (UBM) as part of a pounds 5m deal. The sale of the Bar Show together with Theme magazine was agreed on 15 June and follows the purchase of the Publican group of events...

Over 40,000 visit Grand Designs Live.(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... The debut Grand Designs Live attracted over 40,000 visitors to Excel last month. The show organised by Media 10 and based on Channel 4's Grand Designs programme, took place from 10-12 June. It was divided into four sections, including...

ID carries out lager tasting for Heineken.(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... Agency ID has embarked on a nationwide blind taste test on behalf of lager brand Heineken. The Better Taste Tour will visit supermarkets and summer events, offering consumers a chance to compare the new tasting Heineken with Stella Artois....

Sector merger axed by new Confex boss.(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... International Confex event director Duncan Reid has scrapped proposals laid down by his predecessor to merge the Exhibition and Conference Support Services and Corporate Entertainment sectors in a bid to ease navigation around the CMPi-run...

Show visitors learn of new name for NTL.(Arqiva)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... NTL Broadcast has changed its name to Arqiva following its acquisition by MacQuarie Communications Infrastructure Group. Arqiva unveiled the rebrand at the Broadcast Production Show, staged at Earls Court from 1-3 June, in preparation for...

Ben and Jerry's music festival helps charities.(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... Ice cream maker Ben and Jerry's is holding its debut UK festival on 7 August at Clapham Common. Agency Cake will model the one-day event, called Sundae on the Common, on the US-version One World, One Heart that has taken place in Ben and...

Star Wars party for Red Bull.(GSP )(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... Energy drink brand Red Bull entered the world of Star Wars to co-promote the release of Episode III: Revenge of the Sith and to herald the new Red Bull F1 team at the 2005 Monaco Grand Prix. Agency GSP was chosen by Red Bull to design a...

Mean Fiddler picks stately concert sites.(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... The Mean Fiddler Group has chosen two London stately homes to stage this year's Jazz Cafe Picnics. Kenwood House in Hampstead and Marble Hill near Richmond will host the concerts for capacity crowds of 8,000 guests on 10 July and 14...

Eurostar takes Covent Garden into a new era.(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... Eurostar became the first company to stage an event within Covent Garden Market last month with a party for 700 guests to mark the reinvention of the train operator's first-class service. Moving Venue Management teamed up with the site's...

Liverpool Arena chief named.(Bob Prattey)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... Bob Prattey, former venues managing director of the NEC Group, has been hired as chief executive of the new pounds 150m Liverpool Arena and Conference Centre. The 14.6 hectare development at Kings Dock is planned to open in 2008 for the...

Excel to host 'fresh' Home Show in 2006.(trade shows of London EventCo)(Home Show )(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... Organiser London EventCo has announced the launch of the Home Show, planned for Excel from 20-23 April next year. The show, in association with The Sunday Times and IPC Media, aims to attract over 30,000 visitors and will offer advice...

Fighting Cancer.(Playtex Moonwalk)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... The Playtex Moonwalk, which saw 15,000 fundraisers - including celebrities such as Nell McAndrew and Lorraine Kelly - walk either a half or full marathon in their bras to raise money for breast cancer research and care, got underway in Hyde...

In Brief: Wembley Arena to be relaunched in April 2006.(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... Wembley Arena in London will be relaunched in April 2006 after a pounds 35m refurbishment. It will seat 12,200 and features will include a 200 cover restaurant, better facilities for disabled people, a covered service yard with capacity for 14...

In Brief: AEV changes official title.(Association of Exhibition Venues )(Association of Event Venues)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... The AEV has changed its official title from the Association of Exhibition Venues to the Association of Event Venues. AEV chairman Nigel Nathan said: 'The name change better reflects the wider membership of the AEV and is indicative of the...

In Brief: Xsite is new state-of-the-art venue.(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... Xsite is a new multi-purpose state-of-the-art venue within the Xscape entertainment complex in West Yorkshire, owned by X-Leisure. Agency Xspace built Xsite to offer a capacity of over 2,100 in 15,000sqm of space. It has three bars, a VIP...

In Brief: Business Design Centre chairman awarded OBE.(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... Business Design Centre chairman Jack Morris has been awarded an OBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours for services to further education. Morris is chair of governors at City and Islington College - London's first further education college to be...

In Brief: Independent Living London Show changes venue.(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... The Independent Living London Show 2005, due to take place from 21-22 September, has moved from Wembley to Alexandra Palace. Organiser Emap felt the change of venue would offer greater potential for expansion and a more visitor friendly...

In Brief: Moving Brands designs stands for fashion event.(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... Moving Brands designed the interior and exhibition stands for the London College of Fashion Graduate Fashion Week. The agency made a crystal maze to showcase the students' work at the June event, held at the college in Oxford Street. Moving...

In Brief: Touchstone cites venue move as reason for success.(Touchstone Conferences and Exhibitions )(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... Touchstone Conferences and Exhibitions has cited the move of the 11th Times Creme Executive Secretary and PA show from Olympia 2 into the National Hall for the success of this year's event. The two-day show attracted 6,922 visitors, up 13% on...

In Brief: Aspevents.net carries out survey.(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... Aspevents.net, a website management company for the exhibition industry, has carried out a survey which it says shows the importance of the Internet to the events sector. It found that 92% of respondents thought the Internet had a positive...

In Brief: Correction.(Correction Notice)
August 3, 2005... Polydor Records and Top of the Pops' Andi Peters commissioned agency Cunning to stage the Eminem concert on HMS Belfast last year. Cunning brought in Hey Chihuahua to achieve the seven-day build-up. Sodexho Prestige is hospitality provider at...

Clarkson and classics set for NEC's MPH show.(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... Brand Events has unveiled details of the first MPH motoring event to be staged in the Midlands. As last month's Event exclusively revealed, MPH05 will take place at the NEC from 10-13 November, then relocate to Earls Court from 17-20...

New website sorts events by postcode.(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... A new website aims to provide an online events diary for members of the public. WhereCanWeGo.com - launched by computer specialist John South and marketer Kimble Earl - has listings for events such as festivals, shows, sporting fixtures...

PCI Fitch adds new design to Saab museum.(services of PCI Fitch )(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... Agency PCI Fitch has redesigned a former Saab museum in Trollhatten, Sweden, for the launch of the Saab 9-3 SportCombi. The museum, which has now reopened, focuses on Saab's heritage. PCI Fitch group account director Nigel Lloyd-Jones said:...

Ex-ECTS director woos ELSPA with new format.(Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association)(officials of Tandem Events)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... Andy Lane, former event director of the gaming show ECTS, has won back the support of the Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association (ELSPA) for his first venture since leaving organiser CMPi. Games Market Europe is the first...

i2i stages drinks roadshow.(Cafe Met )(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... Cafe Met is teaming up with agency i2i Face to Face Marketing to create a nationwide summer roadshow targeting young professionals. The trailer-based roadshow will visit a series of summer jazz and swing concerts as well as city centres and...

TRO promotes Vauxhall cars at Goodwood.(Goodwood Festival of Speed)(services of TRO)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... Vauxhall's stand at The Goodwood Festival of Speed in June was designed by agency TRO to promote its VXR performance engine and new range of vehicles. The two-tier stand comprised a British Touring Car Championship simulator, three...

Deliberate disaster.(Fisher Productions )(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... Fisher Productions turned Leicester Square into a post-apocalyptic nightmare for the premiere of Steven Spielberg's film War of the Worlds last month. Commissioned by Nibbs Events on behalf of UIP, Fisher created building debris and a...

In My View: All these tales of woe make me excited about the future.(marketing agencies )
August 3, 2005... After leaving a large agency, I have been in the fortunate position recently of returning to planet Earth and talking to people in a more open way than being an alien (competitor) allowed. Talking to the heads of other agencies large and...

More visitors at Hong Kong exhibitions.(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... The number of visitors to Hong Kong exhibitions increased by almost a third last year, according to the Hong Kong Exhibition and Convention Industry Association (HKECIA). Around 3.6m visitors attended in 2004 compared with 2.8m in 2002 - a...

Key issues aired at UFI Open Summer Seminar.(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... The growth of the exhibition industry in India, venue security and statistic auditing were three of the key topics discussed at the 2005 UFI Open Summer Seminar last month. Almost 250 exhibition professionals from 45 countries attended the...

Tarsus Group acquires two French shows.(Mobile Office)(Heavent)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... Tarsus Group has acquired two French exhibition businesses for pounds 9.3m (EUR13.5m). They are Mobile Office, an exhibition for mobile business solutions staged in Paris each December, and Heavent, which runs a show for the event...

'It's a job with a lot of baggage'.(Interview)
August 3, 2005... In his first interview as its chief executive, Andrew Morris tells Mike Fletcher about his five-year plan to move the NEC forward. How have you settled into the role of NEC chief executive? After nine months, I can say that joining a...

10 ways to be inclusive.
August 3, 2005... John Sanders, projects division director of the AEO, explains how event organisers should be adhering to the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA). Marketing Tell people about access at your event. This will send out a strong message to...

Exhibiting: Get ready for the big event.
August 3, 2005... In the second part of a series offering advice to fledgling exhibitors, Simon Naudi looks at the radical difference that pre-show promotion can make. The message is simple - if you fancy great sex, you need good foreplay. I'll repeat...

Showcase: Ariel Tennis Ace Finale.(ariel and tennis event)
August 3, 2005... Claire Bond assesses how getting stars to play in Trafalgar Square will boost detergent sales and British tennis hopes. As the build-up to Wimbledon reached fever pitch in June, tennis ace Tim Henman could be found fulfilling a slightly...

Live Issue: Survey Results - Onwards, upwards and busier than ever before.
August 3, 2005... Claire Bond examines the results of Event's first industry survey and finds that many firms have reasons to be cheerful. Event's first ever survey of the industry suggests that event budgets will increase this year, with almost half of...

Campaign: The Peugeot 1007.
August 3, 2005... Lorraine Francisco looks at how fashion, fitness, hairdressing and hands-on experience all had a role to play in stoking up interest in the latest small car. To create a buzz around its upcoming 1007 car, Peugeot embarked on a six-month...

Profile: Philip Lowery.
August 3, 2005... Philip Lowery became commercial director of Brand Events in May, having earned his spurs at Upper Street Events. His job is to look after established shows for MD Chris Hughes, but as Mike Fletcher discovers, it still suits his risk-taking...

North of England: The bright stars up in the north.
August 3, 2005... Urban regeneration has fostered a sense of confidence in cities that were once considered deprived, writes Stephanie Siegle. A European Capital of Culture and a Lonely Planet endorsement for 'one of the world's most exciting cities' are...

Middle East: Arabian adventure.
August 3, 2005... Knowing crude oil reserves cannot last forever, Dubai leads the way in the development of exhibition facilities in the Middle East. Claire Bond reports. A region that boasts the self-proclaimed eighth wonder of the world in the form of a...

Exhibition Stands: Hard work has its rewards.
August 3, 2005... Lorraine Francisco talks to prize-winning exhibitors from three top shows about what makes a successful stand. AUTOSPORT INTERNATIONAL SHOW NEC Birmingham, 13-16 January 2005 Organiser: Haymarket Exhibitions Best space only in...

Christmas Parties: Don't overlook the festivities.
August 3, 2005... Now is the time for companies to think hard about the location and theme of their seasonal celebrations, writes Jeremy King. Just as the last strawberries are being polished off at Wimbledon, the time has come to start thinking about the...

Movers & Shakers: Appointment at Congress Centre.(Ana Velosa)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... Ana Velosa has been appointed conference and sales co-ordinator at the Congress Centre in London. Velosa previously worked as conference and banqueting assistant at the four-star Hilton London Paddington for two years.

Movers & Shakers: Appointment at Gallowglass.(Paul Anderson, Pat Fellows and Dick Munro)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... Paul Anderson is the new operations manager at London-based crewing firm Gallowglass. Anderson will take on overall responsibility for product delivery. Other appointments include crew manager PAT FELLOWS, who will look after recruitment and...

Movers & Shakers: Appointment at Imagination.(Mike Macleod)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... Mike Macleod has been appointed business group director at central London design and communications company Imagination, where he will be working with clients such as Unilever, Samsung and Coca-Cola. He previously worked for Maritz and...

Movers & Shakers: Appointment at thecentre:mk.(Fran Elkin)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... Fran Elkin is the new advertising and communications manager at thecentre:mk shopping centre in Milton Keynes. She was previously senior account manager at marketing communications agency Baber Smith, where she worked on the 'Feed Your...

Movers & Shakers: Appointment at Exhibitor Manual Company.(Lee Haggan)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... Lee Haggan has joined the Exhibitor Manual Company (EMC) in Farnborough, Hampshire, as head of global development for its event management system EMsystem. He was previously commercial director for CTS, where he worked on projects to improve...

Movers & Shakers: Appointment at Fresh.(Ian Bowden)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... Ian Bowden has joined Manchester events and production company Fresh where he will head up its TV and video department. He previously worked for five years at sale based events company Airplay, where he worked closely with Fresh directors Nick...

Movers & Shakers: Appointment at Top Banana.(Carly Pickering)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... Carly Pickering has joined Stourbridge-based business communications specialist Top Banana as a graphic designer. Pickering stood out from other applicants by being able to add her details on to the staff list on Top Banana's website. She has...

Movers & Shakers: Appointment at UFI.(Jochen Witt)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... Jochen Witt has been elected by the exhibition industry's global association UFI to join its triumvirate of presidents alongside Tom Beyer and Ruud van Ingen from October this year. Witt, who is from Germany, has served as the chairman of UFI's...

Movers & Shakers: Appointment at Bournemouth International Centre.(Clive Tyers)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... Clive Tyers is to take on additional responsibilities as head of conferences, exhibitions and events at the Bournemouth International Centre. The management restructuring follows Rob Zuradzki's departure as head of entertainments after 19...

Movers & Shakers: Appointment at Headcount Worldwide Field Marketing.(Philip Hermon)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... Philip Hermon has been appointed financial director at WPP company Headcount Worldwide Field Marketing based in Chertsey, Surrey. Hermon has extensive knowledge of the FMCG, telecoms and utilities markets.

Event Marketplace: Services Helpline.
August 3, 2005... Having trouble finding a product or service? Phone the helpline team on 020 8267 4407 or email them at mike.fletcher@haynet.com. CARTOON CAPERS Q: My company is launching a range of toys for children aged three and upwards. It would be...

Diary: Rounded performance ..(MTV Coldplay Live show)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... Could a virtual Chris Martin be any more interesting than the real thing? Visitors to Leicester Square saw for themselves in June when they were treated (or subjected, depending on your taste) to a two-week long virtual performance at...

Diary: Church service too ..(catering)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... FMC, part of All Leisure, the sport and leisure division of Compass Group, has been given a 10-year contract worth a total turnover of pounds 15m to provide all catering for events at The New Stadium, Swansea, home of Swansea City FC and the...

Diary: Shaggy dog story ..(children events)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... The theme tune to Hanna-Barbera's Scooby-Doo has been etched into children's brains since 1969, and the popularity of his ghostbusting gang remains as high as ever. So for fans - and their children - a show in Portsmouth organised by Green...

Diary: In the frame ..
August 3, 2005... Traditional art lovers would have been aghast at the display of art inspired by the caffeine enhanced drink Red Bull at its Art of Can exhibition at London's Old Truman Brewery. The event, organised by marketing and logistics division e2B...

Diary: Capital effort ..(fund raising events)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2005... Seven thousand Londoners put on their running shoes for the Capital FM Help a London Child 10K run in Hyde Park on 5 June. The event followed a stunning route, taking in West Carriage Drive, The Serpentine and the Board Walk. Limelight...

Diary: The Italian Job ..
August 3, 2005... It's hardly the most romantic image of Venice: lighting, rigging and sound equipment on a scenic journey along the Grand Canal. But for project management specialist Hawthorns, this was the reality of working on a five venue global dealer...

Diary: Trade Secrets.
August 3, 2005... The juiciest gossip from around the events and exhibitions industry that some people would rather you didn't know... 1. Which show director failed to turn up to his own show, leaving the contractor to take the helm? 2. Which agency...