Marketing Event articles from July 2003

Marketing Event archives from July 2003

FROM THE EDITOR: Wembley event facilities should be at heart of plans.(Brief Article)(Editorial)
July 31, 2003... Almost a year ago this column questioned the long-term survival of Wembley Conference and Exhibition Centre following the pounds 48m sale of the site to developer Quintain. Following a first phase of public consultation, the future of the...

Launches hold centre stage at stand show.(Display 2003)(Brief Article)
July 31, 2003... Protean Design and Dimensions Displays were among several stand design agencies launching products at last month's Display 2003. Protean unveiled curved modular unit Dermys at the show. The company says it is durable enough to be used for...

Wembley plans sound death knell for venue.(Wembley Conference and Exhibition Centre)(Brief Article)
July 31, 2003... Wembley Conference and Exhibition Centre could be torn down within eight years, under initial proposals from Wembley London owner Quintain Estates and Developments. The first stage in a public consultation by the developer has also...

Pen feeds the thousands at Vodafone ball.(Pen Productions)(Brief Article)
July 31, 2003... Caterer Pen Productions provided food for 13,000 revellers at this year's Vodafone Summer Ball. The annual event for Vodafone employees was organised by Hyperactive. It took place at Highclere Castle in Berkshire on 14 June and Pen...

WPP closes in on Pci:Live deal.(Brief Article)
July 31, 2003... Global advertising giant WPP is on the verge of acquiring Pci:Live as part of its proposed takeover of parent company Cordiant Communications Group. Pci:Live is part of Cordiant arm Fitch Worldwide. Industry insiders say WPP chief...

BECA reworks logo in bid to move forward.(British Exhibition Contractors Association)(Brief Article)
July 31, 2003... The British Exhibition Contractors Association (BECA) has revamped its logo as part of ongoing efforts to move the organisation forward in its 90th year. The logo has retained its box shape but has a more youthful appearance. BECA...

Sony stages showcase for yuletide lines.(Brief Article)
July 31, 2003... Sony's Christmas product range was unveiled to the consumer press at an all-day event in London on 3 July. The electronics manufacturer took over a four-storey townhouse in Soho, which was dressed to reflect a typical Christmas scene from...

Venue chief in search to run more centres.(Paul Kennedy, Commonwealth Conference and Events Centre)(Brief Article)
July 31, 2003... Paul Kennedy, managing director of London venue the Commonwealth Conference and Events Centre (CCEC), has joined a new consortium to buy or operate UK venues. Phil Soar, chairman of organiser Waypoint Exhibitions, has been appointed to...

AEO throws out latest contractor arm name.(Association of Exhibition Organisers)
July 31, 2003... The Association of Exhibition Organisers is struggling to agree on a name for its contractor division after rejecting the latest option. The first title, unveiled in April, the Association of Exhibition Contractors, was scrapped to reflect...

RPM develops three-city tour in lottery drive.(National Lottery)(Brief Article)
July 31, 2003... Brand experience agency RPM is to stage a series of one-day events for the National Lottery in a bid to raise awareness of its games and good causes. Lottery Fun Fests will tour three cities, Leeds, Birmingham and Bournemouth during...

Imagination wins Ford task.(Ford Motor Co.)(Brief Article)
July 31, 2003... Imagination has won the global exhibition design contract for Aston Martin, Jaguar and Land Rover. Ford Motor Company handed the agency the multimillion pound contract after an extended pitch. The work will include 25 motor shows a year,...

Cash promise helps Ally Pally to widen offer.(Alexandra Palace)(Brief Article)
July 31, 2003... Alexandra Palace is looking to develop its offer following assurances from its landlord, the London Borough of Haringey, that it will continue to take responsibility for a pounds 38m debt caused by a fire during the mid-1980s. The north...

Waitrose runs drinks push at music festival.(Hampton Court Music Festival)(Brief Article)
July 31, 2003... Supermarket chain Waitrose commissioned a bar experience to showcase its own-label drinks as part of its headline sponsorship of the Hampton Court Music Festival. Agency The Works London produced the bar area and hired actors to serve the...

Outlook bright for Venue Expo visitor figures.(Brief Article)
July 31, 2003... The National Venue Show is anticipating another jump in visitor numbers at this year's event at the NEC from 9-11 September. Almost 5,500 people visited the 2002 show, twice that of the year before. Show organiser Waypoint Exhibitions says...

Burton plans Exhibitor Show as heart of dedicated week.(Simon Burton)(Brief Article)
July 31, 2003... Exposure Communications director Simon Burton is launching a UK version of the Exhibitor Show in the US as part of a bid to create an annual Exhibition Week. The show will take place at Excel from 30 June-1 July next year. The annual...

Barnard quits CEA marketer role to go solo.(Tony Barnard leaves Corporate Event Association)(Brief Article)
July 31, 2003... Corporate Event Association (CEA) marketing director Tony Barnard has quit the trade body. He resigned at the beginning of June to focus on his marketing and communications agency Constratega, which he set up last year. Barnard had been in...

Morris eyes ECO sale leaseback deal.(Andrew Morris, Earls Court and Olympia Group)(Brief Article)
July 31, 2003... Earls Court & Olympia Group (ECO) is seeking a buyer for its venues as part of a proposed refinancing deal. The sale of the west London business is expected to fetch more than pounds 165m. ECO chief executive Andrew Morris is seeking a...

Indoor pool to star at debut Excel boat fair.(Schroders London International Boat Show)(Brief Article)
July 31, 2003... The 2004 Schroders London International Boat Show at Excel is to feature an indoor water sports area. A purpose-built 2,100 sq m pool at the event, which runs from 8-18 January, will include fans that can simulate a 30-knot wind. The area...

Salad brand in summer drive to boost sales.(Soleco Florette)(Brief Article)
July 31, 2003... Field marketer Loewybe has started a sampling drive for Soleco salad brand Florette. The eight-week activity kicked off in July. Hit squads will tour supermarkets and summer events handing out samples of the brand's Crispy Salad and...

Graham Parrish sold to stand contractor.(Brief Article)
July 31, 2003... Failed outfit Graham Parrish Exhibitions has been sold to a stand contractor and renamed GPE Exhibitions. Mike Hyams, managing director of TGA Chapmans, headed the purchase for an undisclosed sum on 30 June. He will manage both companies,...

Siebel parades IT portfolio.(Siebel Systems)(Brief Article)
July 31, 2003... Production agency The George P Johnson Company (GPJ) helped Siebel Systems showcase its IT products and services at a dedicated event in June. More than 1,500 customers and partners attended Siebel European User Week in Cannes. GPJ was...

O2 heads off on nationwide tour with Mice.(Mice International)(Brief Article)
July 31, 2003... Mice International is handling a UK-wide roadshow for mobile operator O2 that takes in events including London's Party in the Park, which was held on 6 July. The 'O2 in the city' tour includes trucks, kiosks and a branded 484 sq m...

DREAM TICKET.(Organiser Superior Creative Services)(Brief Article)
July 31, 2003... Organiser Superior Creative Services moved its annual awards ceremony for independent retailers and caterers away from the hotels on Park Lane, opting instead for Ragley Hall in Stratford-upon-Avon. The 2003 Booker Prize for Excellence Awards...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Cape Town Convention Centre opened on 28 June.(Brief Article)
July 31, 2003... Cape Town International Convention Centre opened on 28 June at an event attended by about 7,000 people. Guests were entertained in the 10,000 sq m exhibition hall by performers including world-famous violinist Vanessa Mae (pictured, left). Work...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Red Snapper Events awarded catering contract.(Brief Article)
July 31, 2003... Red Snapper Events has been awarded a catering contract for London Fashion Week during September. Working with Rouge Events, (the company contracted to manage the catering operation) Red Snapper will serve an array of celebrities at The Duke of...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Beauty Suppliers Guild signs contract with the NEC.(Brief Article)
July 31, 2003... Beauty Suppliers Guild has signed a three-year contract with the NEC to relocate its British Beauty exhibition from Stoneleigh Park. The six-year-old show will take place from 22-23 February and 80% of available space has so far been sold. More...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Opex Group subsidiaries launch two products.
July 31, 2003... Opex Group subsidiaries have launched two products. Registration firm Exposystems has unveiled Just the Ticket - a lead capture system that enables visitors to take a bar-coded ticket from an on-stand dispenser before handing it in with their...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Acclaim launches corporate catering service.(Brief Article)
July 31, 2003... Acclaim has launched a corporate catering service. Acclaim Food is run by experienced caterer Tim Holt, who has brought with him the contract to cater for corporate events on the Cathedral Express steam train which runs about 40 trips a year to...

NEWS IN BRIEF: National Direct Marketing show at the NEC.(Brief Article)
July 31, 2003... The National Direct Marketing Show at the NEC will this year incorporate a Royal Mail-sponsored Address and Data Management Solutions event. The two events will run simultaneously from 9-11 September, alongside the Reed-organised National...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Chelsea Village appoints Exhibition Services.(Brief Article)
July 31, 2003... Chelsea Village (pictured) has appointed Exhibition Services as contractor for all exhibition, display and event needs at the 12-acre site. Exhibition Services managing director James Dunman said: 'We're proud to be part of the team at such a...

NEWS IN BRIEF: Sound Advice teams up with Canegreen Commercial.(Deutsche Bank AG)(Brief Article)
July 31, 2003... Sound Advice, an event management firm, teamed up with audio supplier Canegreen Commercial to stage a party for Deutsche Bank in London's Hyde Park during June. More than 500 delegates enjoyed an acoustic performance from Irish band The Corrs.

NEWS IN BRIEF: The Ultimate Event Company entertains at High School.(Brief Article)
July 31, 2003... The Ultimate Event Company brought in ex-Five member Abs and boy band Triple 8 to entertain 180 16-year-olds at a High School Prom party on 4 July at Alcester Grammar School. The pounds 50,000 event was the winning prize in a competition in...

Industry report finds UK shows on the rise.(Brief Article)
July 31, 2003... The UK exhibition industry is showing clear signs of recovery with the number of shows held last year close to the record levels of 2000, according to the latest edition of UK Exhibition Facts. The annual report said there were 855 UK shows...

IBR wins pounds 10m Centrica deal.(International Bio Research)(Brief Article)
July 31, 2003... Agency IBR has clinched a pounds 10m contract to provide venue-finding services for telecoms and home services group Centrica. The deal will run for three years and IBR won the contract after a three-way pitch. IBR will also be sole UK...

McKenzie nets Marquee site for own chain.(Marquee Club )(Brief Article)
July 31, 2003... McKenzie Group, which runs the Carling Academy chain of music venues, has bought the old Marquee Club in Islington, north London for an undisclosed sum. The venue was bought from administrator BDO Stoy Haywood and landlords Delancey late...

THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT.(ADLIB Audio)(Brief Article)
July 31, 2003... Five areas at this year's Glastonbury including Theatre (pictured), Circus and Fire had equipment supplied by ADLIB Audio. The audio hire firm supplied sound equipment and a 21-strong crew to the music festival, which ran from 27-30 June.

IN MY VIEW: Making pitch decisions on price only devalues us all.
July 31, 2003... Being invited to pitch for work is flattering and I'm not one to look a gift horse in the mouth. But if you'll allow me another animal analogy, what really gets my goat is being invited to pitch for work that has already been decided upon, just...

Hong Kong to target events as SARS ends.(Brief Article)
July 31, 2003... The Hong Kong Tourist Board (HKTB) is targeting event organisers as part of a HKdollars 1bn (pounds 78m) recovery programme following the end of the SARS outbreak. A series of events to promote the city will take place up to March 2004....

Xmas parties getting smaller, says survey.(Brief Article)
July 31, 2003... Christmas parties are getting smaller in size, according to a report from a hospitality and marketing agency. Davies Tanner surveyed 623 central London businesses between January and March this year. It found the number of parties with up...

UFI/XM holds second joint summer talk.(Union of International Fairs)(XM Associated European Exhibition Organisers)(Brief Article)
July 31, 2003... The Union of International Fairs (UFI) and XM Associated European Exhibition Organisers (XM) welcomed 220 delegates from 30 countries to its summer seminar in Sweden last month. The two-day event in June at Svenska Massan, Gothenburg...

Park Avenue puts together German bash.(Brief Article)
July 31, 2003... Production agency Park Avenue entertained 4,500 invited guests at an event to promote the launch of German financial company HSH-Nordbank. The June event at the Colour Line Arena in Hamburg kicked off with a champagne reception followed by...

Opex and EAG team up on pounds 7.6m Clarion deal.(Opex Exhibition Services)(Early Action Group)(Brief Article)
July 31, 2003... Opex Exhibition Services and Early Action Group (EAG) have signed a pounds 7.6m deal to share stand-fitting services at shows organised by Clarion Events . The three-year contract was awarded after a four-way pitch last month (Event,...

All change for IT organiser in UK move.(Brief Article)
July 31, 2003... IT trade show organiser Key3Media Group has set up global headquarters in the UK and rebranded as Medialive International. The office in Hammersmith, west London will be headed by president Kim Myhre, who will oversee the company's European...

Theatre show draws crowds to 25th event.(Brief Article)
July 31, 2003... The Association of British Theatre Technicians (ABTT) attracted record attendance to its 25th annual trade show. The two-day fair at London's Royal Horticultural Halls (RHH) in June welcomed 2,300 visitors and about 100 exhibitors. The...

Docklands dances to carnival beat.
July 31, 2003... AEO Excellence Awards Industry gathers at Excel to celebrate achievements in past year. Excel staged the Association of Exhibition Organisers Excellence awards for the first time in July and the event was a carnival of sights, sounds and...

ANALYSIS: Both sides of the euro divide.
July 31, 2003... The Chancellor wants to take Britain into the euro in 2007, but the industry is deeply divided on the issue. On 9 June, Chancellor Gordon Brown set out a four-year plan to take Britain into the euro on 6 April 2007. In an eagerly awaited...

LETTERS: Your say on the issues that matter - Backing London for the Olympics and online advice.(Brief Article)
July 31, 2003... IT HAS TO BE LONDON FOR 2012 OLYMPICS When I heard the Olympics would be held in Sydney in 2000, I immediately began making plans to open an office there. It was clear that an event as big as the Olympics would change the face of event...

THINK TANK: CORPORATE EVENTS - In praise of parties.
July 31, 2003... When the going gets tough, corporate events are often the first activities to be cut from the marketing budget. Bad move. Our expert panel tells Emma Reynolds why. The corporate event industry received a welcome boost in April's budget...

PROFILE: David Ball, board director at marketing agency The Pulse Group.
July 31, 2003... David Ball trained as a cellist but decided a musician's life wasn't for him. Now a board director at marketing agency The Pulse Group, he tells Emma Reynolds why he relishes a challenge and talks about the family health scare that drives him...

SHOWCASE: 3 at Mobile Life.
July 31, 2003... Putting phones in people's hands was central to 3's strategy at the UK's first show for mobile users. Philip Chadwick reports. With four out of five people owning a mobile phone, it's surprising that until last month there hadn't been a...

SECTOR GUIDE: SCOTTISH/NORTHERN VENUES - Call of the north.
July 31, 2003... The recent launch of EventScotland to promote business tourism has encouraged event organisers to take a fresh look at the region's facilities, writes Clive Walker. Scottish and northern venues are hosting a raft of high-profile events in...

THEME PARKS: Park life - Despite the UK weather, theme parks can make a great place to hold an event whatever the time of year, says Abigail Wills.
July 31, 2003... Alton Towers closed its doors to the public for one weekend in June this year and handed the Staffordshire theme park to BT for exclusive use. The family fun day, rumoured to cost the telecoms giant pounds 1m, was open to 15,000 employees and...

EXHIBITION STANDS: When size matters.
July 31, 2003... Big shows require a big presence from their exhibitors. Jane Stanbridge asks five stand agencies how they used their design expertise to help clients achieve their objectives at a series of major international events. SOUTH EAST ENGLAND...

MANCHESTER VENUES: City of champions - Emma Reynolds heads for Manchester to report on the golden legacy of last year's Commonwealth Games.
July 31, 2003... One year on from the 2002 Commonwealth Games and business in Manchester is booming. The dazzling success of the sporting extravaganza coupled with world-class venues springing up across the city have helped Manchester enjoy a surge in corporate...

MIDLANDS VENUES: Hitting the big time.
July 31, 2003... As the NEC prepares to stage ITMA, one of the world's biggest trade fairs, Philip Chadwick finds it's not just the host venue that is anticipating a surge in business. Big international events are usually the preserve of the world's major...

MOBILE UNITS: Talking trailers - Five trailer suppliers tell Event about a key brief they received from one of their clients and how they met the requirements.
July 31, 2003... MANCHESTER UNITED FC In January, CPM Events managing director Gary Sillitoe was approached by Manchester United Football Club to create a mobile retail store for use at Old Trafford. The Premiership champions' ground has a permanent...

Appointment at The Russell Organisation.(Brief Article)
July 31, 2003... ROB ALLEN and KEITH O'LOUGHLIN (pictured) have been promoted at The Russell Organisation. Allen moves to the position of chief executive to concentrate on long-term planning and business development. Former client services director O'Loughlin...

Appointment at VisitBritain.(Brief Article)
July 31, 2003... JEREMY BRINKWORTH has been appointed head of business tourism at VisitBritain. He will be responsible for developing business travel into and within Britain. He has worked at the British Tourist Association and VisitBritain for 23 years and has...

Appointment at ITE.(Brief Article)
July 31, 2003... STEPHEN KEEN has been promoted to London international sales director at exhibition organiser ITE. He joined in 2000 as sales manager in the Information Technology division and in 2001 set up and directed the international sales division.

Appointment at the British Exhibition Contractors Association.(Brief Article)
July 31, 2003... CHRISTINE HASLER and TONY HALLETT have joined the British Exhibition Contractors Association. Hasler becomes a personal assistant to the trade organisation while Hallett becomes an administrator.

Appointment at Imark Communications.(Brief Article)
July 31, 2003... DEBORAH SMITH and LORNA CANDY have been promoted at Imark Communications. Smith will assume the role of head of projects for Imark's event management arm First Contact after a spell as event manager on ProjectWorld events. Candy is made...

Appointment at Early Action Group.(Brief Article)
July 31, 2003... PAUL WRIGHT has joined exhibition contractor Early Action Group to head the floorcovering division. He has been in the industry for 22 years and has had previous stints at Display Furniture Hire and Melville, where he was responsible for the...

Appointment at the NEC.(Brief Article)
July 31, 2003... CHARLOTTE BRISTOW and ADELA LIEW have been appointed exhibition sales account managers at the NEC. The appointments are part of a recruitment drive at the Birmingham venue following the merger of the exhibition sales and planning departments.

Appointment at Lois Burley PR.(Brief Article)
July 31, 2003... TREVOR LAND has joined Lois Burley PR as commercial director and will be responsible for developing its event management business. He was formerly group exhibitions director at the NEC and had been at the venue for 21 years.

Appointment at Brintex.(Brief Article)
July 31, 2003... WILLIAM BUTLER (pictured) and JO SMITH have taken on new roles at organiser Brintex. Butler has been appointed exhibition director for its traffic management and public sector exhibitions, having previously been sales director. Smith becomes...

Appointment at RPM.(Brief Article)
July 31, 2003... SARAH TRUMBLE and HAYLEY DAVIS have been appointed account managers at RPM. Both were previously with rival field marketing agency Arc. Davis will work on the Lipton Ice Tea account while Trumble will manage campaigns for Scottish Blend and PG...

Appointment at Roche.(Roche Holding Ltd.)(Brief Article)
July 31, 2003... CAROLINE HILL has been appointed head of conferences and events at healthcare company Roche. She has ten years' experience in event management most recently at Cisco. In Hill's new role she will head a team of five and plan events for the...

Appointment at Moyne Exhibition Services.(Brief Article)
July 31, 2003... LEE HORN has joined Moyne Exhibition Services as client services director. He was previously sales director at Melville Exhibition Services. Horn will be responsible for developing the company's database and its products.

Appointment at Red Snapper Events.(Brief Article)
July 31, 2003... GILES THOMPSON has become consultant chef at event organiser and catering company Red Snapper Events. Thompson was formerly executive chef of The Ritz in London and has also held posts at Danesfield House and Connaught Hotel.

Appointment at the Royal Horticultural Halls.(Brief Article)
July 31, 2003... ANTHONY LEE has been recruited as assistant conference manager at the Royal Horticultural Halls. He will be responsible for working on events ranging from gala dinners and exhibitions to conferences. Prior to joining the London venue he worked...

DIARY: Down, tiger ..
July 31, 2003... Another Wimbledon, another example of what the British do best at tennis - fail. Tiger Tim's quarter-final exit may have dampened some spirits but Diary was far too busy knocking back the Pimms-on-tap (a service that has caused outrage among...

DIARY: TRADE SECRETS.
July 31, 2003... The juiciest gossip from around the events and exhibitions industry that some people would rather you didn't know... 1. Which event management firm has employed a body double for one of its employees for more than four years because it's...

DIARY: School daze ..
July 31, 2003... Diary remembers its time at university as a hazy blur of sleeping, drinking and... er, that's about it. But lucky students at Nottingham Trent University (It's not often you hear the words 'lucky' and 'Nottingham' in the same sentence) got...

DIARY: Driven mad ..
July 31, 2003... Diary was left choking on its popcorn recently when it saw a cinema trailer for a remake of classic 1960s crime caper The Italian Job. Apparently the new film is set in Los Angeles, which to be fair is nearer Italy than some other places, like...

DIARY: Peak practice ..(Brief Article)
July 31, 2003... Diary takes its hat off to Sue Martineau (third from right) and her Ultimate Event Company teams for conquering 24 Lake District peaks in 24 hours. It was all for a good cause, namely humanitarian charity Care International, which benefited to...

DIARY: Silly games ..(Brief Article)
July 31, 2003... The Association of Exhibition Organisers hopes to resurrect the glory days of It's a Knockout (whenever they were) with its Annual Exhibition Olympics at Alexandra Palace on 1 August. But what will make this event particularly entertaining for...

DIARY: THEY THINK IT'S ALL OVER, IT IS NOW - THANK GOD.
July 31, 2003... As the UEFA Champions League final between AC Milan and Juventus at Old Trafford turned out to be a bore-draw, Diary found itself more interested in watching the giant inflatable footballs floating above the Manchester stadium. Summit Steel was...