October 2008

MEET, EAT& SLEEP Why some conference menus are turkeys

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MANAGING EDITOR: MARTIN LEWIS 31 PUBLISHER: STEPHEN LEWIS EDITOR: JOHN KEENAN DEPUTY Meet, eat EDITOR: KATHERINE SIMMONS ASSISTANT EDITOR: BELINDA COLE & sleep ASSOCIATE EDITOR: SALLY TRELFORD Will the grub PRODUCTION DIRECTOR: RICHARD you dish up to CORSER PRODUCTION EXECUTIVE: your delegates AMANDA LUDMAN DESIGNER: STEVE leave them 35 WARD GROUP SALES DIRECTOR: at the peak NICOLA PRESIDENT DEPUTY SALES of concentration DIRECTOR: BELINDA MARSTON or in a deep UK SALES MANAGER: KERRY slumber? HOLLAND INTERNATIONAL SALES MANAGERS: MARTIN BALMER, 41 MAREK PHILLIPS SALES ADMINISTRATOR: MAXINE BRIGGS MARKETING DIRECTOR: GILLIAN EIBTM Preview LUIS-RAVELO EVENT MANAGER: What’s new at LIZ COLERIDGE ADMINISTRATION this year’s show MANAGERS: JACKIE BOWDEN, MICHELLE HARLEY DATA AND WEB SERVICES DIRECTOR: MARIA VOLLER DATABASE & WEB EXECUTIVE: DAVID ROSE DATABASE ADMINISTRATOR: JOHAN SKOGQVIST CIRCULATION/SUBSCRIPTIONS: 29 NICK NUNHOFER, ELOISE MILLEN Winning ways Providing a warm welcome for disabled delegates has resulted in a major business win for the Sage Gateshead, 2008 M&IT award winner for Best 45 Disabled Facilities 39

In this month's issue... Regulars Supplement: Greece

New and improved 05 Viewpoint Subscriptions are £60 (UK) per 20 year (ten issues) and US$200 The latest venue openings and refurbishments in our new (ROW), including postage. monthly feature 06 Mailbag The publishers cannot accept responsibility for errors or omissions, A rewarding business 08 News although the utmost care is taken that information contained is 26 M&IT dons a black tie for three glittering awards ceremonies accurate and up-to-date. Typesetting 23 Fisher's file and origination by Aquatint/BSC Strategy for success Print/CAT Publications Ltd. Printed 24 Meetings mentor in England by Wyndeham Grange. 23 John Fisher says it’s not enough to simply ‘do the travel’…you Published by: need to offer incentive planning advice as well 26 Three of a kind Conference And Travel Publications Ltd, Kings House, Cantelupe Road, Survival instinct 35 Speaker speaks East Grinstead, West Sussex 37 Convention Travel has carved a niche for itself in the RH19 3BE, United Kingdom motivation travel sector. John Keenan talks to the irrepressible 110 Keyhole E-Mail: [email protected] Ian Murray on the secrets of his success Web site: www.meetpie.com Tel: +44 (0) 1342 306700 Opus applies cruise control 51 Dubai/ 61 Kuala Lumpur/ Fax: +44 (0) 1342 302547 + 69 Budapest/75 Conference ISSN 0953-2803 45 The launch of MSC Poesia combined rhyme and reason, as © Conference And Travel Publications Ltd. Belinda Cole reports Germany/81 Dubrovnik/ 87 Edinburgh & St Andrews/ Achieving the right figure 93 Belgium/96 UK&Ireland 48 Kate Braxton explains how to arrive at a budget which suits Historic and Heritage all parties venues/103 Istanbul Average Circulation July 07 - June 08: 17,222

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Ban the buns and get fruity

John Keenan, Editor

Millennium Gloucester Hotel Never compromise on catering. As many a meeting planner has learned to their cost, chefs have a way of & Conference Centre making sure parsimony sticks in your delegates’ throats. You can safely squeeze the venue hire (the walls aren’t t impressively modern going to shrink), you can quibble over the cost of dressing t incredibly flexible the room and you can be mean over man-hours when it comes to turning a conference room into a discotheque. t easily accessible But if the menu is dire, you will be paying for the mistake for a long time. London’s premier meeting As we point out on page 31, there’s a good reason why & event space you will never be forgiven if you get the food wrong. Humans are hard-wired to remember the source of their food and whether it was good or bad. Just as our ancestors learned to avoid the places where lunch might +44 (0) 20 7331 6257 prove fatal, so modern day delegates will be wary of returning to either a venue or a planner that leaves a bad [email protected] taste in the mouth. Nutrition expert Ian Marber (aka the Food Doctor) puts it bluntly. “Ninety-nine per cent of conference food is crap,” he says. And there is more at stake than the chef’s reputation for creating a fancy vol-au-vent. What you feed to your delegates and when you do so can make the difference between a memorable and a forgettable event. If Marber’s theories, which we spell out in the Anatomy of a Meeting feature, are taken up by conference planners 4-18 Harrington Gardens it could spell the end of the road for Lunchtime O’Snooze. Out will go the big (or even medium sized) blow-out in London SW7 4LH www.millenniumhotels.co.uk the middle of the day. In will come modesty proportioned and perfectly timed healthy wholegrain snacks. And to prevent your people’s concentration levels from peaking and slumping, keep them away from the caffeine and croissant combination. Instead, say the experts, try serving a little fruit and a cup of herbal tea. I can already hear the howls of anguish from the sugar junkies. While I rely on my morning fix from the local coffee shop, I can’t deny the logic of the food experts. It’s time to ban the buns and get fruity. Meeting planners must send a wake-up call to catering departments – the food we are served at events should stimulate our minds well as fuelling our bodies.

October 2008 05 mailbag PCOs offer tailor-

Write a letter, win a made solutions cool weekend. "Association Management variety of events and customers not all associations can afford Companies(AMCs) are the and their clients benefit from the the services of an AMC on a This month’s mailbag prize is an Overnight Indulgence Pamper Break for two people best option for association vast experience and expertise long term basis and as events at Center Parcs which includes a one hour event organising”, say's the gleaned - a dynamic cross are becoming more and more Elemis Body Wrap, overnight accommodation AMC Institute (News, M&IT section of knowledge, including dynamic in type, they often in an executive apartment (twin beds) with an September) revenue-generating ideas, either require or can only afford evening meal at one of the restaurants, plus access to Center Parcs facilities. Well they would say that, theming, technical execution, the flexible, tailor-made solution Center Parcs offers dedicated conference wouldn’t they? risk management and so on. that is offered by a PCO. and meeting facilities within a stunning Of course an AMC The greatest concern for Some associations prefer forest environment at Sherwood Forest, understands the association an AMC team is that they the broad-ranging services of Nottinghamshire (maximum 600 delegates); Elveden Forest, Suffolk (320 delegates); it is working with better than will become bogged down by an AMC, and others opt for the Longleat Forest, Wiltshire (350 delegates); a professional conference day-to-day association admin, dedicated event-specific focus and Whinfell Forest, Cumbria (320 delegates). organiser (PCO) - initially. leaving insufficient time to think of a PCO. The fact that several Prize valid until January 31, 2009. But most PCOs invest a huge strategically and creatively about significant organisations in this amount of time in understanding the event in question. industry have made successful 8 jkeenan@ the organisations they are A PCO’s core USP is space for both offers within their cat-publications.com dealing with; it is the only way flexibility; an AMC will need portfolio surely bears testament an organiser can truly make an a significant fee to cover the to the rightful place for each. Please keep letters event work! resources required over the ÑRachel Ley to 200 words PCOs deal with a huge course of the year. However, The Rachel Ley Consultancy

Business travel goes budget Clients show little loyalty to agencies With reference to the news Further to Mark Ivackovic's more clients are becoming hotel they have requested! story 'Business travel goes letter about frustrating clients unbelievably demanding in their They seem to think that our budget' (Meetpie.com, August), (M&IT, Mailbag, September) behaviour and cost control bargaining power knows no in the past four months we have I have found after some 20 requirements, which often bounds and if we cannot meet seen some marginal rises in odd years in the business of verges on the ridiculous or their budget we are not doing our market share for economy hotel delivering the impossible for indeed the impossible. Tom jobs properly. brands of approximately 2-2.25 next to nothing, that clients Cruise has nothing on my We also have the frustration of per cent. However this has been really do not appreciate how team when it comes to Mission clients contacting several agents a steady trend over the past hard you work to achieve this Impossible! for their bookings and it ends two years. The background to on their behalf. Loyalty seems ÑLin Davis up in a power struggle and mad this can be explained by the to be passed on to the next The Forest View Group rush to get to a venue before increased product quality of the agency who offers a cheaper anyone else. leading economy hotel brands. package! The expectation seems We battle with unrealistic I would like to invite some This has resulted in an open to be that agencies must work budgets on a daily basis. Clients of our more difficult clients to willingness of travel managers for minimum profit levels, take do not seem to get the message spend a day in our office doing and procurement to include no commission and charge when you explain that a £40 day our jobs and see how they cope! such brands onto preferred minimum management fees! delegate rate is not going to be ÑBeryl Smith hotel programmes, where I have found that more and offered at the five star London Conference Consultancy minimum standards criteria are met (such as onsite F&B). The most noticeable reaction in the corporate world in the area of hotel spend is a more Extra offers are counterproductive robust application of policy, With reference to the news back up and more importantly Incentives are our business and and with this, more stringent article ‘Venues sweeten deals the booker will lose in the long we should not sniff at them. authorisation processes for with vouchers and gifts’ (M&IT run when her finance director However, longer term planning hotels. This has not necessarily September) offering extra discovers the true price of a and precise briefing should get impacted on the need to switch benefits and reduced DDR's cup of coffee or that late night better deals. to lower grade categories but may work for the hotel to get sandwich. Hotels that reward Don't blame hotels for with policy compliance comes gap filling business. My view corporates for booking late do practising what we preach. immediate savings and through is that it is counter productive, nothing whatsoever for the But do take all the advantage visible control of spend the by selling cheaper, they will industry at large. This is the that you can in an increasingly ability to leverage value from the not get the rate back to the right time to develop and guard tough world. hotel market. correct level again. They will all long term relationships. ÑRoy Piercy ÑTrevor Elswood not gain loyalty from the client ÑMaugie Lyons Greymatter Marketing & BSI when they try to hike the prices RHH Communication, UK/France

06 October 2008 : +-=

Jane Is Russia right for you? Jones Following the Russian invasion of Georgia this summer, UK-based Long haul will be organisers might wonder about the losers the advisability of operating events With regards to your Trends in Russia. and Spends survey in the At Performance, we operated September edition of M&IT, two groups to Russia in 2007, there is no doubt overseas one in St Petersburg and the destinations will find it other in Moscow. They were both increasingly more challenging in extremely successful and we had the short term to attract more rave reviews from the delegates events from the UK. from both groups. With increasing fuel costs While it is not the easiest place leading to an unavoidable rise in in the world to work because of the cost of travel, UK companies cultural differences, it is becoming will be looking for locations much easier than when I took closer to home with venue the first of the six groups I have rates that will help reduce this operated there, back in 2000. financial impact. If growth is to Suppliers are becoming be expected it will most likely much more used to the exacting be found in those destinations standards at which we want to within a two hour flight time operate. Part of our job, as with from the UK, with long haul any country we operate in, is destinations becoming the understanding the mindset of the biggest losers over the next 18 locals. If you choose your suppliers months. carefully, they operate to a level Expect Spain to continue to comparable to mostly anywhere out perform other locations around the world. but with the weakening pound Russia still remains one of the Russia: mystery and history against the euro they may find most exciting locations in the world operating there, that is a matter for to this fabulous country. I look increased competition from to operate and it retains that air the event agency and the client to forward to having the opportunity more financially competitive of mystery and a truly colossal discuss and decide. of operating there again in the not destinations such as those in history which makes it both a I am watching the developments too distant future. eastern Europe. significantly motivational and in Georgia to see what happens. ÑSteve Pinnock ÑJane Jones aspirational venue. Hopefully things will be resolved Performance & Event Drp Group As to whether we should be and we can get back to operating Management Ltd

Unconferencing is the next big thing

attendees want agendas that are that encourages delegates format generated hundreds of more fluid, with depth and focus to submit and lead their own ideas and produced genuinely Chris on a limited number of topics, agenda topics. This is not the meaningful mind-share. We have Elmitt rather than a lot of ground frightening free-for-all it may been supporting unconference- being covered superficially. appear, because quality is style events since 2000 and I wholly endorse Ib Ravn’s Most importantly, they value self-determining: the delegates the delegate feedback received comments on the format and meeting and learning from other choose which sessions they has proved that this is a highly content of meetings (M&IT delegates as much as they want to attend, so the key areas effective model, which does not September), particularly the value presentations, so it makes of interest quickly become have to replace the traditional need for shorter presentations sense to make this exchange a apparent. The involvement of a one-way broadcast format, interspersed with discussion part of the agenda, rather than trained moderator also ensures but provides an excellent and interactivity. cramming it with presentations. that the discussion flow is complementary component. Last year, Crystal Interactive Since that time, the US guided and conclusions can be So picking up on Ib’s excellent surveyed nearly 5,000 business press has become reached. article, if you want to find the delegates attending over increasingly excited about My company provided both the best way to get the delegate to 50 events, to find out how what they herald as a new facilitation and the technology retain and apply information, they rated their experience. phenomenon, and the next Big for the Unconference that make them a part of the Our resultant white paper, Thing in meetings organisation. preceded the Social Media for communication. 'Inside the Mind of a Delegate' This has been termed the Communicators conference in ÑChris Elmitt concluded that conference ‘Unconference’ and it’s a format Las Vegas earlier this year. The Crystal Interactive

October 2008 07 news EVENTS & EDUCATION

Event: Meetings Industry Marketing Awards Date: October 16 Venue: The Landmark Hotel, CPM acquires TRO London 8 www.meetpie.com UK-based field marketing agency one of our goals.” and be led by Rob Allen COO Paul Woolley to the role Event: VisitBritain’s CPM has acquired events and Integration of Exentio into and his existing executive of non executive chairman. Discovery experiential agency TRO for TRO will be completed by management team. That team CPM is owned by global Date: October 19–21 an undisclosed sum. CPM will the end of 2008. The merged will be strengthened with the marketing conglomerate Venue: Manchester and merge its own existing consumer- agency will trade as TRO appointment of CPM Group Omnicom. Liverpool focused agency, Exentio, into 8 www.visitbritain.com TRO, creating one of the largest agencies in the UK. Event: How to inspire your TRO chief executive Rob delegates Allen said: “For some time now Date: October 22 we have been looking for a Event budgets slashed Venue: The Royal College of Physicians, London partner to give us the ‘quantum push’ we need. This move 40 per cent admitted to altering unnecessary costs. 8 www.meetpie.com More than 50 per cent of event extends the sectors we operate organisers in the UK have had the format of their events to stay Vinopolis managing director Event: Meetings on a budget in and decreases our reliance their budgets cut and over half within budget. Money saving Rupert Ellwood said the findings Date: October 27 on our more traditional areas. are organising fewer events methods included reducing the meant venues must stay on Venue: Savoy Place, London Our clients will benefit from than last year. duration of the event, limiting top of their game: “Organisers 8 www.meetpie.com having an agency capable of That’s according to a survey free drinks and doing their own still need to impress and show Event: ICCA helping them right across their of 1,000 event organisers research. their business in the best light Date: November 1-5 communications activity, for conducted by London-based In addition, 57 per cent of without obviously highlighting Venue: Victoria Conference both consumer and corporate venue Vinopolis. organisers said they wanted the cuts. Venues that have let Centre, Canada events. We can now also offer bespoke quotes over all maintenance slide will find the 8 47 per cent of planners are www.iccaworld.com them a truly international taking the no frills approach, inclusive packages, giving them slowdown really tough.” capability, which has long been cutting finishing touches, while the flexibility to shave off any 8 www.vinopolis.co.uk

The 20-year anniversary of the dismantling of the Berlin Wall will hail another boom year for Germany's conference industry in 2009. Fifty-four M&IT read- ers hosted by the German Convention Bureau (GCB) at Mercedes Benz World (MBW) experienced one of the country's leading brands at first hand and learned some of the reasons for Germany's extraordinary success in the meet- ings and events market. The event at Mercedes Benz World was staged jointly by GCB and M&IT and brought together 25 German suppliers with M&IT's corporate and agency readers for a day of testing German destinations and roadcraft. Pictured above: three buyers and a trainer from MBW.

INSPIRING PEOPLE BT calls on Zibrant Zibrant has beaten more than 100 was very thorough with RFI/RFP and other agencies to secure an initial inspections and presentations with 12-month contract providing events key stakeholders. This robust process for BT. allowed us to fully demonstrate our The agency has been selected as a capabilities to BT across a range of Dean’s Yard, Westminster, London SW1P 3NZ preferred supplier joining Hotelscene services and gave potential suppliers a Tel: 020 7390 1590 Fax 020 7390 1591 and Inntel to run BT’s venue find, and is completely fair playing field." [email protected] one of the key agencies on their roster The team at Zibrant has begun its www.churchhouseconf.co.uk looking after their events. working partnership with all six divisions Zibrant's sales and marketing of the BT Group. director Fay Sharpe said: “The process 8 www.zibrant.co.uk

08 October 2008 A MEETING OF MINDS.

Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. Scotland’s most visited tourist attraction and the perfect reception venue. WWW.SEEGLASGOW.COM news

Eventia call to support waiters Eventia says the industry should Grass Roots acquires HBI support the government’s decision that tips should no Grass Roots Group plc has opportunities and further business further with the motivation agency from the Grass longer count towards the announced the acquisition strengthens our status as backing of Grass Roots.” Roots this month with a remit to minimum wage. of venue sourcing agency leaders in the events industry.” O Mark Taylor is to join BI as develop the events team. Taylor Unite, the union for waiting HBI (formerly Hotel Brokers HBI’s managing director head of events. Taylor is set will head up a team of 30 events staff, said a number of International). Des Mclaughlin added: “I to join the Milton Keynes- specialists responsible for almost restaurants and hotels were HBI will continue to be led by look forward to expanding the based communication and 100 events per year. currently taking advantage of founder and managing director a loophole in the law which Des Mclaughlin and will retain allows them to use gratuities all 44 employees based in its to top wages up to the £5.52 south-west London office. HBI, Swindon-based Venues Event minimum. which specialises in global Management recently passed venue and accommodation annual audits for both the ISO9001 If the practice is outlawed standard and Investors in People next year, employers’ costs sourcing for blue-chip clients, (IIP). The company has held the could rise by as much as 10 particularly in the financial ISO9001 for six consecutive years per cent. Eventia executive industry and professional and IIP for fifteen. The event management, director Izania Downie said: “It services sector, joins the events conference placement, venue is crucial we put in place terms division of the Grass Roots finding and accommodation and conditions of employment Group led by Maritz’ managing booking specialist was the first that will change both the director and Grass Roots agency to be awarded the Investors in People (IIP) accreditation in 1993. perceptions and the reality board member Nick Bender. Venues Event Management has of the jobs we offer, creating David Evans, chairman of the held the ISO9001 standard since genuine career opportunities Grass Roots Group plc, said: 2003, when it was awarded a “The acquisition of HBI adds distinction. Pictured left to right: within an employment Julie Evans, standards and quality framework that minimises greatly to our venue-sourcing controller, and Becky Guest, staff turnover and maximises capacity, technology solutions, marketing manager. staff retention.” offers excellent cross-client

ENGLAND: NORTH Last Drop Village Hotel & Spa, Bolton Dunkenhalgh Hotel & Spa, Blackburn Norton Grange Hotel & Spa, Manchester North St.Paul’s Hotel & Spa, Sheffi eld ENGLAND: MIDLANDS The Mercure Meetings Albrighton Hall Hotel & Spa, Shrewsbury Brandon Hall Hotel & Spa, Coventry Queen’s Hotel, Cheltenham Shakespeare Hotel, Stratford-upon-Avon 4 star quality Parkside Hotel, near Woburn Individuality ENGLAND: SOUTH Whately Hall Hotel, Banbury Personal service Eastgate Hotel, Oxford Unique venues Brigstow Hotel, Bristol Holland House Hotel & Spa, Bristol Unique events Francis Hotel, Bath Southgate Hotel, Exeter White Hart Hotel, Salisbury Wessex Hotel, Winchester Castle Hotel, Windsor Thames Lodge, Staines Burford Bridge Hotel, Box Hill 4 star quality, personal service and a promise that covers White Horse Hotel, Dorking Bush Hotel, Farnham every aspect of your needs - from just £35 per delegate. Hythe Imperial Hotel & Spa, Hythe LONDON Mercure is a byword for value and our day delegate rates refl ect this. All of the Mercure London City Bankside London Gatwick Airport Hotels listed below are currently offering day delegate rates starting from £35: WALES Holland House Hotel & Spa, Cardiff UÊÊHolland House Hotel & Spa, Cardiff UÊÊBrandon Hall Hotel & Spa, Coventry Lodge Hotel, Cardiff SCOTLAND UÊÊHolland House Hotel & Spa, Bristol UÊÊDunkenhalgh Hotel & Spa, Blackburn Ardoe House Hotel & Spa, Aberdeen Point Hotel, Edinburgh UÊÊCastle Hotel, Windsor UÊÊSt. Paul’s Hotel & Spa, Sheffi eld UPDATES Sundial launches exchange WorldEvents announces Meeting Professionals programme International (MPI) has introduced a Certified The Sundial Group has Meeting Professional Online launched an exchange £1.3m profit Study Guide. The guide programme which will allow allows individuals to study employees the opportunity compare to profit before tax of result of significant investment at their own pace and can to spend six weeks working £1.6 million and a turnover of in the company. be used independently or £26 million in 2006. “The success of previous in an overseas conference Martin in conjunction with group centre. Parry Although the results years enabled WorldEvents’ study programmes offered by Sundial Group, which represent the third successive policy of growing the business many of MPI’s 69 chapters has three UK properties, WorldEvents Group has year that the company has organically to be fast-tracked worldwide. has established an annual announced its 2007 results achieved a profit significantly in with investment in additional 8 www.mpiweb.org work experience scholarship which show profit before tax excess of £1 million, managing operational staff. This included of £1.3 million and turnover director Martin Parry said the the appointment of Gary programme through The Hotel Booking Agent of £21.2 million. The results year-on-year drop was the Dickinson as chief executive its membership of the Association (HBAA) has officer for the US business.” International Association of unveiled a new brand identity The costs of setting up Conference Centres. at the organisation’s annual a new European office in Each autumn, Sundial forum. The HBAA’s new MCI opens Glasgow office Amsterdam were also borne Group will invite volunteers corporate brand identity sticks in 2007 with European across all properties to put MCI is continuing its UK Samsons will also head up the to the colour blue spectrum, development director Andrew themselves forward for expansion with the official expansion of MCI’s professional while a more contemporary Winterburn now recruiting a selection, offering the chance opening of MCI Glasgow in conference organiser (PCO) typeface has been introduced. new European team. to work at an overseas centre Scotland. offering in the UK. The new branding also Parry said a reduction in for up to six weeks. Lynn and Graham Samson, includes a new tagline - O the 2007 turnover figures was Partner conference centres formerly with Glasgow-based MCI has also announced ‘Accommodation, Conferences, due to clients choosing to pay have been identified in Meeting Makers, have been the opening of a new office in Meetings and Events.’ Canada, USA, Australia and appointed joint managing Hong Kong. venues directly rather than 8 www.hbaa.org.uk across Europe. directors of the new office. The 8 www.mci-group.com through the group’s accounts.

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Tariff subject to availability based on a minimum of 15 participants. Rate will vary according to location. Reward vouchers are non transferable and only to be used by the company/client that has placed the booking according to your company policy. 3% will be paid on the pre-booked value of business (group accommodation/residential/day delegate rates and pre-booked food and beverage). Reward voucher to be paid upon payment of event. Event to take place by end of 2009. Only 1 voucher per event is to be rewarded. This voucher can be redeemed at any UK Mercure Hotel and must be presented upon arrival at hotel. The voucher can be redeemed against food and beverage, accommodation and/or spa treatments. No cash alternative or money back. news UPDATES

Business figures for CMPi and Jigsaw Bournemouth for April dispute settled 2007 to March 2008 Merger for Universal show an overall economic CMP Information Ltd, owner benefit of £127.5 million of the International Confex – a rise of just over 3 per CIT and Procon exhibition and the Blue & Green cent on last year. Over Directories, has settled its £73 million was generated and travel services. The a result of the merger. dispute against venue finding by Bournemouth merger is aimed at providing Mike Ford, Universal’s agent Jigsaw Conferences for International Centre (BIC) an opportunity to combine current managing director who what it claimed were unpaid commissions dating back to and Pavilion Theatre and Mike skills to offer a more complete will head up UniversalProcon, Ballroom. The BIC and Ford service to new and existing said: “We truly believe August 2006. Pavilion attracted 68,608 clients. that by coming together, The commissions related to conference delegates and Universal CIT and Procon are to The new company will be UniversalProcon will be the venue finding work carried out 72,853 exhibition visitors merge from October 1 to form a called UniversalProcon Ltd in leading healthcare full-service by Jigsaw on behalf of Blue & for the year. full service event management the UK and UniversalProcon Inc event management agency, Green’s venue finding website 8 www.bic.co.uk company operating in the in the US and will continue to providing a wider range of (www.venuefinder.com). healthcare sector. operate from the two UK offices services to a growing audience A joint statement from CMPi Norton Park in Winchester The two companies are both in Harrogate and Slough, as well spanning the UK, US, Europe and Jigsaw said: “There was a has been awarded the part of the Sales and Marketing as three US offices in Stamford, and beyond. dispute between the parties as first AIM (Accredited In Division of United Drug. Both Indianapolis and Orlando. The "In the coming months we to the amount of commission Meetings) Silver standard agencies offer venue finding companies currently employee look forward to revealing our owing to CMPi, however this by the Meetings Industry and event logistics through to 100 full-time staff between them new brand identity to support matter has now been settled Association. AIM Silver creative marketing, production and staff cuts are not planned as our new look organisation.” and the proceedings have been level accreditation withdrawn.” requires members to meet the criteria set in the Best Practice Hooker to head Forum (BPF) Achieving consulting Service Excellence with company a minimum 80 per cent score. UK-based integrated marketing 8 www.mia-uk.org agency AddingValue has launched a new consulting Drpgroup has assisted practice, AddingValue Worcester, Bosch Group Consulting, in conjunction with in producing a 30 minute and headed by ex-THA and BI video communicating director John Hooker. how greener practices Hooker said: “The practice will could be incorporated into provide consultancy, research today’s lifestyle. Having and training to help organisations purchased their own resolve existing issues relating Energy Savings house, to operational efficiency, best and documented changes practice and business growth in made, Worcester engaged the hospitality, events and travel the services of drpvideo, industries.” a self-contained division Pictured: Bringing in the brass, Yorkshire South Tourism’s conference ambassadors of drpgroup. Around Yorkshire South Tourism’s Conference Ambassador Programme has secured an estimated £1.5 70,000 copies of the video million for the region since its launch in 2007. Insurance portal are being distributed with The figure represents the full economic impact to the region from bed-nights in hotels to travel launched to restaurant bookings. The ambassador programme engages with academics and business- a Sunday newspaper, people in South Yorkshire and helps them use their contacts book to bring events to the region. Industry insurance company and further copies are The 92 ambassadors come from a whole range of disciplines - from the head of Sports Event Assured has launched a being mailed to trade Engineering at Sheffield Hallam University to a lecturer in Astronomy at the University of Sheffield. new website. professionals. Event Assured managing 8 www.drpgroup.com director Brian Kirsch said: “Until now, event insurance websites The Petersham Hotel focused on selling standardised Group has bought Zurich Organisers accused of unrealistic deadlines packages or data capture and Insurance’s national Events organisers are don’t know what an RFP is only 60 per cent.” referrals, generating follow up training centre. The “bombarding hotels with things – you really have to explain, Fay Sharpe, sales and calls and communication from purpose-built venue, re- they don’t understand” and and you’ve got to give marketing director, Zibrant, brokers. Now, organisers and named The Liddington, is giving “unrealistic deadlines”. time for that explanation. agreed: “I’ve had more RFPs brokers will have a flexible, located near Swindon. The That’s according to Roland Corporates and agencies are in the last 18months than I’ve easy to use web portal for the centre has 45 meeting, Tanner, COO of Lanyon INC, asking more and more hotels had in my whole career.” purchase of event insurance. conference and training an automated request for to reply. We’re processing However, she warned that rooms for up to 320 The site is a client-focused proposal (RFP) service, who about one million RFPs a year hotels would have to improve fully interactive site that leads delegates, including two spoke at the Hotel Booking now. Three years ago it was their responses and “go the lecture theatres and 198 users through each step of the Agents Association (HBAA) only half a million. Back then extra mile” if they wanted bedrooms. purchasing process.” Annual Forum. we were getting an 80 per to see out the economic 8 www.event- Tanner said: “The hotels cent response but now it’s downturn. insurance-online.com

12 October 2008 We haven’t seen this much excitement since the Vikings sailed into town.

The world has loved visiting Ireland for thousands of years. In fact, it was the Vikings who first settled in Dublin well over a thousand years ago. And soon there will be a new, even more exciting reason to visit our bustling city.

The new Convention Centre, Dublin, will be a fantastic, state-of-the art building nestled in the heart of Dublin’s reborn docklands area. Opening 1 September, 2010, The Convention Centre, Dublin will play host to a wide range of association and corporate meetings, from 8 to 8,000 delegates.

Perhaps you’ve always wanted to visit Dublin — well, The Convention Centre, Dublin will offer a big, new reason to do just that. But bring your own Viking hat.

For more information, contact: Catherine Newhall-Caiger on +353 1 856 0000 or e-mail: [email protected]

The Convention Centre, Dublin, Spencer Dock, North Wall Quay, Dublin 1. Ireland. www.theccd.ie news UPDATES Edinburgh plans Venue finding service new convention The Conference People centre has launched a free on-line Strata buys time tool which calculates room Edinburgh council is planning to capacity. build a new convention centre Users enter room to accommodate events for up measurements in square from creditors to 40,000 people. feet or metres and the Room Jonathan Guthrie, city Capacity Calculator shows centre development partnership UK-based agency Strata has has meant that Strata has faced invested time reviewing all of the maximum number of director for the City of Edinburgh reached an agreement with a set of circumstances beyond its our financial systems, controls delegates which can be Council, said: “We have its creditors in order to trade control which led to a short-term and operating procedures; accommodated. It also shows received a significant number of through its current cash flow cash flow challenge. As a result have reduced overheads and, the potential capacity for five enquiries for major international challenge. Around £500,000 there are a small number of as a result, have become more different room configurations, events for 10-40,000 delegates. has been ring fenced for suppliers who, due to our strong efficient and streamlined, including theatre style, We have to ask ourselves if our payment over an extended working relationship with them, placing us in an excellent boardroom and banquet, as infrastructure would keel over period. have allowed us to enter into a position to weather any further well as for exhibition stands. should we hold them.” A creditors’ committee has formal financial arrangement to economic downturn. 8 www.confpeople.co.uk/ The council are looking at been set up with three of its key extend the period over which we “As a demonstration of this, roomcalculator.php areas which could benefit from suppliers, Saville Audio Visual, pay them. Strata continues to win new redevelopment, including the Presentation Services and Opus “Our business is otherwise work and has recently signed Glasgow has been confirmed airport area and waterfront. as host destination for the Events. financially sound and meeting up three projects for clients in International Convention Strata director Mark Maclure all financial commitments, but the telecoms and healthcare on Science, Education and said: “As with many other to ensure Strata continues this sectors with spends in excess Medicine in Sport (ICSEMIS) businesses, the credit crunch way for the long term, we have of £700,000.” NEC Group heads which will take place at overseas the Scottish Exhibition + Conference Centre in Glasgow The NEC Group has announced between July 19 – 27, 2012. ambitious plans to expand its The 3,000 delegate overseas operations over the conference is expected to next decade. generate more than £5 million Chief executive Paul for the local economy. Thandi said the NEC Group, which operates the NEC in Maritz has awarded 11 Birmingham, ICC Birmingham employees with a VIP trip and Conference Centre Dublin to London as part of the (CCD), which is due to open in company-wide ‘Heroes’ September 2010, planned to incentive. The trip is part take on more overseas venues of Maritz’ ‘Exceeding in the next 10-15 years. Expectations’ recognition programme for employees where staff are nominated HBAA honours by managers or colleagues winners for exceeding expectations. Conference centre managers from around the world tuck into a Medieval banquet This year’s winners are: at Warwick Castle during IACC’s annual conference. The Hotel Booking Agent Virginie Bonvalet, Charlotte Association (HBAA) announced Booth, Liz Gear, Sarah Green, the winners of the first Claire Heuser, Sue Johnson, Conference food ‘must improve’ ever HBAA Awards at the Amanda Johnston, Raj Kapur, association’s annual forum, Kat Oakley, Ainsley Procter Conference centres must model and think about the from food allergies and held at the Park Inn, Heathrow, and Clare Starck. improve their catering offer if individual. People want intolerances would need to be London. they want to keep up with the personalisation,” he said. addressed, he said. The winners of the inaugural Dolce International has competition. “People also like interaction “34 per cent of UK teenagers HBAA Awards 2008 were: rebranded as Dolce Hotels That was the message at with their food, so deli have an allergy or intolerance Training & Development and Resorts. In addition to the International Association of operations and salad bars and these are the conference- Award: The Brewery a new name and logo, the Conference Centres (IACC) Annual will grow in popularity.” goers of tomorrow. We need to Promoting Excellence within group will enjoy further Conference held at Warwick According to Russell, train our people to meet these the Industry: HBI expansion and renovation, Conferences in Coventry. trends being seen in customers’ needs because this Commitment within the as well as design and Professor David Russell of The supermarkets should be isn’t going to go away.” Community: Travel Services operational changes. A Russell Partnership, a consultancy reflected in banqueting Russell warned that the Best Environmental Practice: partnership with Broadreach specialising in catering, design menus, including ethical forthcoming year would be Great Hallingbury Manor Capital will enable the and conferences, told delegates foods such as Fairtrade, tough for conference centres Best Client Procurement group to grow its portfolio that the dining environment and health and wellbeing foods, and asked IACC members how Team: PricewaterhouseCoopers of 24 properties. food presentation would become local and seasonal products they planned to deal with the Tim Gasson Award - Awarded 8 www.dolce.com more important in the future. and mini-sized treats. economic downturn. to an individual for outstanding “We’ve got to move away In addition, the growing t
See Anatomy of promotion of the HBAA: Lisa from the mass catering number of people suffering a Meeting, p31 Lernoux-Doc, Chewton Glen.

14 October 2008 CREATING CONNECTIONS INSPIRATIONAL CENTRAL DEDICATED EFFECTIVE WORLD-CLASS

Your outstanding venue for world-class conferences at the heart of the nation.

The ICC, Birmingham – why consider anything less?

Please contact Richard Smith, Head of Conference Sales +44 (0) 121 644 5025 [email protected] THEICC.CO.UK A new Place in History

Opens for business 1st November 2008

207 contemporary guest rooms. 11 fl exible meeting and event rooms with main suite to accommodate up to 600 delegates. State-of-the-art business facilities including Free Wi-Fi. City centre location with views of the old city and cathedral. Car Parking, Health Club, Treatment Rooms and Filini restaurant.

Radisson SAS Hotel, Durham [email protected] +44 (0) 191 3727200 durham.radissonsas.com news

Indeprod probation win LOCOG passes baton to Visit London Indeprod has successfully won a three way pitch to stage The London Organising through the issue of non-sponsor and marketing at London’s is doing about it.” Thames Valley Probation’s Committee of the Olympic corporate involvement. It may be Landmark Hotel, said: “It’s A spokesperson for Visit Sentencers’ conference, Games (LOCOG) has called that it is prevented from doing so clear that LOCOG will take London said: “Visit London to be held later this year. on Visit London to take by the gargantuan sums offered care of around 50 per cent of will offer a range of support The conference is aimed at responsibility for non-sponsor by the major sponsors. What is the business. VisitLondon has from media permissions judges and magistrates in the corporate hospitality and event clear is that DMCs like ourselves got to pick up the baton for the and permits, to advice on Thames Valley region, with marketing opportunities. will have to be creative in rest. Have they got planning accommodation right through the objective of promoting Speaking at a presentation identifying opportunities for our procedures in place? We know to a free and impartial events confidence in community organised by the Society of clients’ marketing and events London will deliver a good venue-finding service. We sentencing. The brief is to Incentive Travel Executives and we will need the help of Games – but suppliers and aim to deliver a best-ever include the creative branding (SITE) at the Wyndham Grand, Visit London.” organisers need more and we experience of London during of the event across group London, Donna Taylor, head Sally Beck, director of sales need to know what VisitLondon the Games.” sessions, plenary meeting and of accommodation, and Neil networking activities. Beard, senior operations Richard Skeels, Indeprod manager, said that their client services director, said: focus would remain with The new management team at Village’s new hotel at South Leeds took time out from their “Although the public sector the International Olympic training schedule recently to release the hotel’s tends to be more commercially Committee and the Game’s blimp to the skies, heralding the building’s final accountable, they still require headline sponsors. They told stages of development. the creative and innovative All members of the new team have been the audience of event planners employed from throughout Yorkshire as part of approach in the branding and that only major sponsors would the 150 jobs created at the new venture. management of their events. be able to hold corporate events Pictured front to back: Clare Wilson, Our pitch demonstrated that within the Olympic stadia. housekeeping manager; Amy Holloway, reception manager; Chris Hartley, general we have the capabilities to Aidan Ford, of destination manager; Paul Harrison, meeting and events deliver inspiring, cost effective management company manager; David Kelly, Victory pub and kitchen solutions within challenging Wedgewood Travel, said: “I’m manager – back left. budget guidelines." not sure LOCOG has thought

October 2008 17 your extraordinary event needs an extraordinary venue

Have you experienced The NEC lately? _ Extraordinary flexibility – the ultimate blank canvas offering endless possibilities for your event _ Extraordinary service – our array of value added services transform your event from the special to the extraordinary _ Extraordinary catering - inspirational menus from our award-winning team to complement your event _ Extraordinary location – centrally located, easily accessible plus a wide range of hotels on your doorstep _ Extraordinary expertise – for a stress-free event let our Event Managers’ knowledge and expertise help you to create the extraordinary

The NEC – the key to a successful event.

Contact us T: +44(0)121 767 2782 E: [email protected] necconferences.co.uk news NEW GRANDSTAND OPENING APRIL 2009 Food prices eat profits

Venues are slashing margins in order to keep delegate rates, while 4 per cent admitted to delegate rates down, according to a poll by reducing food quality. the Meetings Industry Association (MIA). Dan Kelly, of Norton Park in Winchester, The MIA asked visitors to its website if said: “In order to remain competitive and to they had put up prices to reflect the 20 per make sure buyers get competitive rates we HOTEL cent increase in food prices experienced in cannot pass on every cost we get. the past year. “While food is a major expense for Of the 73 respondents, 71 per cent said us we are doing our very best to absorb they had held prices and reduced margins, 25 the increased cost and maintain the high per cent said they had been forced to increase standard of our catering.”

LEISURE

Harry Baum MBE (right) has been presented with an honorary membership of the International Congress & Convention Association (ICCA) - the first such award to be conferred CONFERENCES outside of former presidents of the association. Making the award on behalf of the ICCA board, Harry Fine (left) said: “This award is a rare one to a rare man in recognition of a lifetime's achievements in the meetings and events industry.” Before retirement, Baum EVENTS founded Spectra Travel and is now chairman of Meetings Industry Meeting Needs, the event industry's own registered charity. Recruitment role for Foley 30 minutes from London. Trevor Foley, formerly head of the Association of only those currently in the job market. It will Event Organisers and latterly the Events Industry not operate a head hunting service. FER will Alliance, has launched a new recruitment also serve the consultancy and non-exec A million miles away service, Foley Executive Recruitment (FER). sectors. from any other venue. FER, which will be operated by Foley’s Foley said: “My relationship with and company Event Services network, will knowledge of the individuals and the provide a low-key service acting as a source businesses in the event sector means that I of recruitment information. The agency will am quickly able to advise whether or not I have operate at a senior employee level placing appropriate matches.”

SEC launches BS8901 certification Sustainable Event Certification (SEC) is the audit of the sustainable event management first certification body to provide independent system to confirm that the system meets third-party certification to sustainable event the requirements of the standard and is standard BS8901. delivering results. The audit process involves BS8901, launched in November 2007, interviews with key personnel and relevant requires organisations to understand the stakeholders, a review of documentation sustainability issues relevant to their event and records and observations of working 0844 848 0187 and to put in place measures to control and practices. Certification can take one to two minimise these impacts. days depending on the size and complexity of SEC’s certification process requires an the organisation.

October 2008 19 new&improved Autumn arrivals Find all the latest venue openings and refurbishments in our new monthly feature

Trafalgar Events is a new conference and events venue by Trafalgar Square, London. It has a range of flexible meeting rooms in contemporary style, all with natural daylight and AV facilities including drop down projection screens, built in PA systems and specialist lighting. A choice of Fairtrade and organic catering options are also on offer. The venue is a new project for Clare Arouche, formerly conference manager at Regent’s College. Arouche says ecological corporate responsibility, excellent customer service and value for money are at the forefront of her strategy. www.trafalgarevents.co.uk

The Coach House is a new self-contained meetings facility at the 16th century Great Fosters Hotel, in Egham, Surrey. The £3 million venue features an airport style executive lounge facility, three high-tech boardrooms for 10 to 22 delegates and 22 individually styled bedrooms. A ten minute drive from Heathrow, the Coach House has been built to take advantage of the airport’s expansion and new international routes. Great Fosters expects to see a growth of 20 per cent in business from outside the UK. www.gfcoachhouse.co.uk

East Midlands’ venue management and catering company Maverick has added Norwood Park in, Southwell, Nottinghamshire, to its portfolio of venues. One of Nottinghamshire’s finest examples of Georgian architecture, Norwood Park is set in 175 acres of parkland. Facilities include an 18-hole golf course, cricket pitch, spa and 10 bedrooms. Norwood Park can cater for reception parties of 250 and sit down dinners of 150 in the Palladian style Coach House, which overlooks the cricket pitch. The property also has its own fruit farm and Maverick plans to create an innovative apple juice pressing teambuilding activity. www.maverickvenues.com

Opening this month, The Franklin Hotel is on the doorstep of Knightsbridge’s famous department store Harrods. It is the first hotel belonging to new group Fairquest Hotels, and has been designed to combine its English heritage with contemporary European style. Spanning four Victorian townhouses, the hotel offers 40-rooms, many with four poster beds. Overlooking the private garden, The Dining Room, Lounge and Bar serve up a variety of world dishes. The Franklin’s two private dining rooms, The Brompton and The Egerton, are available for meetings and private dinners. The hotel is also available for exclusive hire. www.franklinhotel.co.uk

The Shakespearean Courtyard Garden at 51 Buckingham Gate, Taj Suites & Residences, London, is now available for alfresco events. The beautiful space is so called due to the intricate stone friezes depicting four of Shakespear’s best-loved plays. The venue also boasts a newly re-branded spa. The treatment rooms have been revamped and a whole new list of exclusive Anne Sémonin treatments are on offer, including the Anti-Stress Back Therapy with self-heating algae which fizzes and pops on the back, releasing tension. Corporate packages and event add-ons, such as hand or neck massages, are available. www.51-buckinghamgate.com/spa

Following in the footsteps of Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen project, Beyond Boyle @ All Hallows is a unique social enterprise that creates opportunities for disadvantaged people. Adjoining All Hallows by the Tower, the oldest church in the City of London, the new restaurant serves fresh, locally-sourced seasonal food prepared by trainees who have experienced homelessness. Under the supervision of chef founder Simon Boyle and his team of professional chefs, trainees learn skills on an 18-month apprenticeship programme, while charity partner St Mungo’s provides hostel accommodation. Beyond Boyle @ All Hallows is open to the public Monday to Friday between 12pm and 2.30pm but is available for hire at other times. Capacity is 70 seated or up to 120 standing. www.beyondboyle.com

20 October 2008

Introducing our new, non-stop service to Rio de Janeiro

British Airways is delighted to announce the launch of our new non-stop service to Rio de Janeiro from London Heathrow three times a week on a three cabin Boeing 777 aircraft.

The schedule is ideal for planning an event or incentive over a weekend, with an outbound Thursday daylight flight and an overnight flight returning on Sunday evenings.

LHR – RIO BA249

Tuesday and Thursday depart 1135, arrive 2105

Sunday depart 1205, arrive 2135

RIO – LHR BA248

Tuesday and Sunday depart 2315, arrive 1225

Thursday depart 2345, arrive 1255

Seating capacity

World Traveller 212 seats

World Traveller Plus 32 seats

Club World 48 seats

For more information, including pricing and availability, contact British Airways Groups on 08444 930765 or an authorised British Airways Groups agent. fisher'sfile Strategy for success

John Fisher says it’s not enough to simply ‘do the travel’...you need to offer incentive planning advice as well

Glamorous travel is not enough – your campaign needs to answer a wider demand

t’s a curious thing how often widely about the mechanics of how clients refer to incentive travel as winners win. There is nothing worse Filenotes ‘holiday prizes’. As we all know, than a high profile campaign dogged 1. The answer is not always just incentive travel. In most schemes there holiday prizes are individual by debate and controversy as to how may well be a prestigious group travel event as the headline award but packages in which the winners qualifiers can qualify or not. there will also be lower level merchandise or retail voucher rewards Idepart at times to suit themselves, because we all know that only a small proportion of the potential qualifiers • If you are involved in communicating normally bought from a travel agent. regular performance updates, make will actually travel. The programme needs to appeal to the widest possible audience for the winners to ‘emerge’, even if they don’t all go. Incentive travel is by definition sure you have a proofing mechanism group travel with winners and hosts in the process for the client to check 2. The biggest issue these days with incentive programmes is share of enjoying the same event at the same the rank order tables before they are mind in a crowded marketing environment. To get noticed the destination, time. Once you get into the habit of published. What may seem logical to however glamorous, may not be enough. Think about offering ‘double defining what is required, the leap the agency may look stupid when the from travel supplier to incentive points’ for the first month to get people involved or extra points for certain client realises the data department has problem products…anything to get commitment at the very beginning. planning adviser is easily made. At included results from Area A, when the same briefing meeting that deals they shouldn’t have, for example. with the travel requirements the 3. Rules are not sacrosanct. If the economy dives you are perfectly within • If you are not involved in the tracking conversation inevitably turns to the your rights as sponsor to amend or even cancel the programme, provided of performance, make sure you update objectives, the launch mechanism, you have already put this in the rules at launch. Or if you start out with a yourself during the campaign as to ongoing promotion, informing the fixed number of winners but then want to reward more people because how it is going. It is not uncommon winners and what to do, if anything, it is going so well, you can announce ‘great news’ of more ways to win for a client to ‘confirm’ 50 pax to New about the losers. during the campaign. No-one ever complained about the chance to win York to discover only three people more than they thought was available. The trouble is if you don’t know what have qualified. If the agency has you are talking about with regard to pre-booked the hotel and the flights, 4. Mid-campaign communication does not always have to be ‘a postcard incentive planning, there is a strong that’s a lot of deposit money the client from the venue’ and a miniature of dubious local liqueur. Think about the chance you will get sucked into doing may not be able to recoup. If you had profile of the potential qualifiers and how they normally work. SMS, home things you hadn’t costed for, or even known early on in the campaign that emails, online newsletters, social networking sites, DVDs, USBs, Sales worse, not doing things you should winners were not coming through you Director’s blog? Consider promising enhancements (limo transfers, suite have done to ensure you get the could have changed the rules to allow rooms etc) for the very top qualifiers in the last month of the campaign to winners for a successful incentive more people to qualify. push the top qualifiers even harder. travel campaign. • The nearer the reward to the 5. Be aware that tactical extras during the campaign such as sports event desired behaviour the more likely Issues tickets or bottles of champagne all add up. Make sure that you have that behaviour will be reinforced and ring-fenced the travel element, otherwise you will have some mightily • There is often a tendency to launch become habit. You need to build in at disappointed qualifiers going nowhere at the end of the campaign. the programme with a ‘watch this least four to six weeks, often longer, space’ message in the mistaken belief after the end of the campaign before that salespeople will make extra the winners travel. Sales figures efforts to qualify for an award they need to be checked, passports know nothing about. Even if you only have to be got, baby-sitting or have a week to prepare you need to other arrangements need to be John Fisher is a director of Oxford Motivation say, at least, where the event is and made by winners and possibly what the highlights are. internal domestic connecting flights 8 john.fi[email protected] • Take care with the rules and consult organised.

October 2008 23 meetingsmentor

How to handle short notice enquiries

hort notice enquiries can place enormous pressure on clients, venue finders, event management companies - and, Sindeed, venues. But planners should understand that such enquiries are the best business around for venues. Venues have to be on the top of their game to benefit from such opportunities. What should they do?

Rush, rush, rush Venues need to understand that short notice enquiries, by definition, demand immediate responses to clients and even faster ones to agents who are expected to source a series of options and get back to clients, often within hours of the initial enquiry. Anything that gets in the way of the client/agent speaking directly to someone in authority will contribute to a venue losing the Short notice enquiries demand an immediate response business. Decision making Peter Rand Client priorities • What has been the recent level of Short notice enquiries require a Where enquiries are for events genuine enquiries? quick turnaround for a client who provides scheduled for days, weeks, or just • Would this period be expected then has to manage the remainder a couple of months ahead, it is normally to be quiet or busy? of their conference organisation. tips on how important to establish the client’s In these circumstances, protracted priorities. Yield management provisional bookings are not an venues can • Is it essential that all the There is never a more important option and that is a real benefit to accommodation is under one roof? time to recognise the importance venues. When handling options, it is help meeting • Could they consider a dinner out, of yield management, than when important that venues are specific. if that was all that was preventing a handling short notice enquiries. planners faced venue from offering them facilities? With on-line bookings for airline Budgets or rail journeys, the rates are It is important to explore early with with short Who is in the driving seat? influenced by supply and demand. the client whether the budget has lead times Venues should know their This is for a straightforward been authorised for this event. occupancy levels, achievable rates seat where the opportunities for If not, the confirmation will be and market conditions. additional spend are very limited. meaningless if no purchase order • Are most of their facilities only It is essential to establish before can be raised and therefore no booked at short notice or is it saying ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to a potential deposit paid nor contracts signed. exceptional that they are still empty customer, the level of potential at this time? spend at a particular event. Background Venues should try to establish the background to the booking. Peter Rand has 35 years' experience as a • What are the circumstances? hotelier and event manager. He is director of • Was the event postponed? industry relations at Zibrant. • Did another venue let them down [email protected] at the last minute?

24 October 2008 CHECK IN. CHILL OUT.

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• The Event Manager: one person committed to your event. • The assurance of receiving your quote within 24 hours. • Wi-fi included in our meetings and seminars packages. • The expertise of an IT Solutions Manager and first-rate technology. • Internet access available in each room. • 5 to 700 seat modular rooms.

New attitude hotels for business travelers. www.pullmanhotels.com For more information and reservations, please contact us: 0871 702 9467

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ACC080806_UK210x297_Meetin.indd 1 7/08/08 14:33:18 threeofakind A rewarding business This month M&IT dons a black tie for three glittering award ceremonies

The Breathing Life Awards recognise the achievements Richard Parkinson of those living with Cystic Fibrosis. IncrediBull Ideas This year the awards returned to The Hilton Metropole, London, after three successful years at The Royal Lancaster. The show is televised on Sky Real Lives and The Cystic Fibrosis Trust - the Hilton’s ceiling height was ideal for the lighting rig. The Breathing Life Awards The Hilton has various lifts and routes into the Monarch Suite which was useful because people with CF need to avoid one another due to the danger of bacterial cross infection. The 120-strong organising team used the different entrances to full potential while getting the 30 nominees and 470 audience members in and out of the suite. Where to accommodate the large amount of broadcast vehicles was a challenge, but we overcame this by renting undeveloped land next to the hotel. As this may not be possible next year we are working on a plan to close the road. The budget for the event runs into six figures and is made up from sponsors, table sales and CF Trust funding, however the plan over the next two years is to bring on more sponsors, so their contribution is negligible or nonexistent. Star supporters Christopher Biggins and Jenny Agutter

Every year Marriott holds an Associate Appreciation Jan Marshall Week in May. Every Marriott around the world takes part London Marriott in the week which is designed to make employees feel County Hall valued. We always hold an Awards Ball on the Friday which this year we chose to hold in the Movieum, a new London Marriott County Hall movie museum next door to the County Hall building. Awards Ball 2008 The event also marked the 10 year anniversary of the hotel and the museum offered the wow factor we were after as well as being convenient. We had 120 guests, all hotel staff. They were welcomed with a drinks reception in the main foyer. Here they have props on display including a Mini from the Italian Job, over-sized items from The Borrowers and the Rank gong seen at the beginning of so many films. Next we moved to the original Council Chamber, a stunning circular room with 200 seats and green inlaid stonework - the perfect location to distribute the awards. For dinner we utilised the Riverside Rooms offering fantastic views of the Thames. The inter-connecting rooms allowed us to have separate areas for dinner and dancing and the food was outstanding. The associates enjoyed the experience - it is likely we will hold it here next year. Marriott Associates get ready to party

Organising the 2008 Craft Guild of Chefs Awards at the Darren Deadman Royal Courts of Justice in London was a real challenge – a Seasoned Events caterer creating a menu for 650 other caterers, making sure they have a fantastic meal and leave with happy memories! We were asked to deliver a menu created with British The Craft Guild of Chefs - seasonal produce and we put together a selection of inventive 2008 Craft Guild of Chefs Awards dishes including seared cutlet of Gower Peninsula lamb and cauliflower and poppy seed cheesecake. Feedback came from all and sundry but I’m pleased to say it was very good. After the venue closed to the public at 5pm we had two hours to get in the stage, lighting, tables, chairs, a banqueting kitchen and cook a four course meal. And we had to turn what is a judges' corridor during the day into a dramatic event space. The guests had a drinks reception in the first floor costume gallery. It looks onto the Great Hall but we blocked this off for the reveal. Three opera singers called the guests down to dinner, they then sang from the balconies during the breaks between courses. The Guild normally holds the awards in a hotel but they said the wow factor created at the Royal Courts was amazing. Catering for caterers: Royal Courts of Justice

26 October 2008 OFFER UNTIL 30 JUNE 2009* Just 3 hours from France, organize your next event at Yasmine, the new business and conference destination in Tunisia • Welcome: welcome tea with 1 local pastry • Plenary room free of charge on the 1st day • One or more areas of the hotel may be closed for private functions free of charge (bar, gastronomic restaurant, etc.) • 1 free upgrade to junior suite or suite for 40 paying rooms • 20% rebate on the SPA flat fee or individual treatments for participants**

Discover your meeting solution in Tunisia at the Sofitel Saphir Palace Yasmine Hammamet

Located on the seafront between the Medina and one of the town's most beautiful beaches, 50 minutes from Tunis Carthage International airport, the recently opened Sofitel Saphir Palace Yasmine Hammamet offers high-quality services that meet all requirements for seminars and incentive events: 196 rooms and 40 suites, most of them looking out on the sea; 4 meeting rooms, one of them 540 m2 for plenary meetings; 20 50-m2 subcommittee rooms; 1 outdoor pool and 1 heated indoor pool; 1 Beauty Spa in the Moorish style covering 1700 m2; 2 restaurants, 6 bars; … everything you need to make your event a success in optimum, exclusive conditions.

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** Subject to availability at the hotel on the requested dates. Applicable for direct reservations from 10 rooms for a minimum stay of 2 nights.

3445 - Crédit photo : © Jacques Lebar ** Applicable for general reservations by a company. It takes 5-star Excelsior service to deliver bespoke hospitality to your corporate event.

t the Excelsior in Malta, we extend our 5-star facilities to your conference table, too. service philosophy to each and every delegate. There’s room for 1,000 seated delegates in 4,026 It is what turns your mission-critical conference into square meters of space with fourteen separate venue such a truly memorable event. formats to choose from. Because our eventing skills and state-of-the-art Add to that, big picture windows and harbour views. technology are crafted to fit your corporate culture and Call our sales team now on (+356) 2125 0520 your budget. or email [email protected] for Excelsior’s 5-star We bring purpose-built, corporate and banqueting conferencing capabilities in Malta.

A Member of

www.excelsior.com.mt Providing a warm welcome for disabled delegates Savage © Mark has resulted in a major business win for The Sage Gateshead, 2008 M&IT award winner for Best Disabled Facilities. Robin Anderson reports

ight from the earliest stages of development The Just reward: The Sage Gateshead won an M&IT award in 2008 - and a 1,000 delegate conference Sage Gateshead complex has paid detailed attention to the needs of disabled Rconference delegates, exhibition visitors and concert-goers. The amenities exceed, by significant margins, legal requirements set out in the 2004 Disability Discrimination Act, while the staff all know how to Winning go way beyond the extra mile with their support and assistance. Chris Bray, event director with the Multiple Sclerosis Society, was one of the three judges that nominated The Sage for the award. “Until I became involved in the ways judging, The Sage had never entered our radar. It has, since then, proved to be a stunning venue – a revelation. interest persuaded us to think about already looking forward to working A brilliant setting on the banks of establishing an annual conference, as with.” the River Tyne, an abundance of well. So we are going to experiment Jessica Roberts, head of business amenities, meeting the needs of 'The staff all with an event at The Sage early next tourism at NewcastleGateshead disabled people, including masses of year, with a target attendance of Initiative, said: “NewcastleGateshead accessible loos. displayed a 1,000. The nearby Hilton Newcastle is renowned for its warm welcome “But it’s not just the wonderfully considerate Gateshead Hotel is already well and The Sage Gateshead’s accolade devised disabled-friendly infrastructure geared up to welcoming our members shows how major venues in the that impressed me. It was, much more, attitude: helping and their families and friends. destination have the will and capacity the mindset of the staff – they all Bray added: “I have also met the to go the extra mile to accommodate displayed a totally considerate attitude: people with staff at other nearby hotels, including the needs of all visitors. helping people with disabilities was not Jurys Inn and The Copthorne, who "It is also a great recognition of seen as a difficulty, by any of the team. disabilities is freely admit they still have some way all of the hard work that goes into “We have held two wonderfully to go in becoming totally disability- making the destination and its venues successful MS Life events at what is now not seen as friendly. But they are so incredibly accessible for everyone to enjoy. To called Manchester Central, attracting keen to take on board our advice. be recognised in this way has been 2,700 people involved with MS, in 2006, a difficulty' “Maybe it’s something in the borne out by the decision of a major and 3,500 earlier this year. Chris Bray Tyneside air, but nothing is too much organisation like the MS Society to “That growth in attendance and MS Life trouble to any of the people we are host a conference here next year.”

October 2008 29 "%7&35*4&.&/5
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XXXMPOEPOHSPTWFOPSIPVTFDPVL anatomyofameeting Meet, eat & sleep

Will the grub you dish up to your delegates leave them at the peak of concentration or in a deep slumber? Katherine Simmons tucks in Feather-brained: turkey will send delegates to sleep

onference delegates when it comes to maintaining the does point out that most scientific remember bad food. It’s perfect energy and concentration research on the effects of food on a cautionary tale for any levels. In Marber’s perfect cognitive functions is carried out in organiser and one that’s conference, there would be no place the morning after participants have frequently reported in the for a huge lunch in the middle of fasted overnight, so this method isn’t Cpages of M&IT. Get the food wrong the day, instead delegates would proven for beating that post-lunch and it could be one of the major eat more frequent but substantial slump. messages delegates take back with snacks of protein and complex Jones’ research involved them. But did you know that the carbohydrate-based (wholegrain) measuring the effectiveness of food you dish up can also have a 'There is an foods. glucose on participants’ spatial beneficial or detrimental effect on Timing is crucial. Rumbling memory, in this case, by asking them your delegates’ concentration? evolutionary tummies will embarrass your guests to count backwards. She concludes: You can’t blame your delegates and distract them from the task in “Glucose in the morning enhances for being picky. According to reason why hand. “Eating little and often means cognitive and executive functions Emma Jones, research officer at you get your energy from food, such as successful planning and Northumbria University’s Brain food improves otherwise you get it from stress, and organising. People had enhanced Performance and Nutrition Research then you are not running effectively, concentration 15 minutes after Centre, it’s only human nature to cognition - you are just running on adrenaline,” ingesting glucose drinks. remember what you had for lunch. says Marber. “Glucose tends to improve “There is an evolutionary reason why human beings “You need to eat little and often to performance of demanding tasks. If food should improve your cognition keep blood glucose levels consistent,” you give participants more difficult – human beings were designed to were designed he adds. “If you get a peak, you then tasks the brain uses available glucose remember where a food source get a trough and a rush of adrenaline to complete them,” she adds. was.” to remember followed by exhaustion.” But Marber warns organisers What you give your delegates to But if you want delegates to focus must also pay heed to the laws of eat and when you break for lunch or where a food their minds on a complex task, Jones gravity when devising menus. The snacks are just as important when it says there is scientific evidence that same principle – what goes up, must comes to choosing a menu. Leading source was' giving them a boost, for example, come down – applies to providing nutritionist Ian Marber, aka TV’s The Emma Jones by giving them an energy drink, can delegates with sugary foods such as Food Doctor, says frequency matters Northumbria University enhance concentration levels. Jones the biscuits and pastries that venues Continued on page 33

October 2008 31 anatomyofameeting

Continued from page 31 routinely lay out for coffee breaks. alertness at that time caffeine is the food at conferences is really, really Marber says eating these simple way forward.” shite. As a gluten intolerant there is carbohydrates will result in a surge Whatever their choice of menu, a lot you can eat but it’s never on the of energy which ultimately leads to a organisers should pay heed to how conference menu. As a result I have slump. powerless delegates can feel when it to plan in advance and bring in food in Organisers should steer well comes to what and when they eat. For Tupperware containers for my breaks clear of the popular coffee and cake the Food Doctor, most menus just don’t such as nuts or apples.” combo: “The worst foods you can cut the mustard. Marber, a frequent But there is hope. Despite give are simple carbohydrates – cola, conference attendee, is a coeliac, Marber’s bad experiences some tea and coffee with sugar. A pastry which means he cannot tolerate gluten organisers are waking up to the need and a sugary coffee is lethal. It would found in wheat products and many to feed delegates’ brains as well as be better to serve up a piece of fruit processed foods. But there are plenty filling their stomachs: “I went to a with some nuts and preferably herbal of healthy foods he can eat - the only conference the other day and at 11am tea,” he says. thing missing is choice. there were fruit, nuts and flapjacks At the same time, you can’t simply Marber is not a man to mince his without sugar – it was the first time I dismiss carbs as the enemy. Even words: “Ninety-nine per cent of all the had ever seen it!” if your conference programme isn’t much cop, Jones says carbohydrates can help put smiles on delegates’ faces by giving them a boost of happy 'The worst hormone serotonin: “Carbohydrate has been proven to increase the mood foods you can Top tips for learning menus which is linked to a rise in serotonin Imago at Loughborough University is one of the few levels. When people eat food they give are simple dedicated conference centres in the UK to have been generally feel better.” awarded the Food for the Brain Accreditation which Another top tip from our food carbohydrates independently evaluates how well catering operations scientist is to ensure delegates get deliver food to their customers and the nutritional value of enough protein – fish, meat, eggs, - a pastry and a the food on offer. nuts or tofu. Although it may not “The Food for the Brain Accreditation was a great help concentration levels, research sugary coffee is learning experience for the whole team,” says Imago suggests it may play a part in helping executive chef Andy Grant (pictured). “As a chef I know what tastes good – but delegates remember the message. lethal' this has taught me that food and menu combinations can also have a number of “With protein, my findings are that Ian Marber benefits for the whole body and not just the taste buds.” this affects episodic memory,” The Food Doctor 1 Get fruity explains Jones. “This is defined as Fresh fruit should always be incorporated in delegate menus to aid digestion a memory for an event – a delayed and provide long lasting energy. We also like to provide delegates with the recall is a verbal episodic memory. option of smoothies and fresh fruit juice to accompany meals and coffee breaks. In my research, I found that protein We offer home-made desserts with fresh fruit in them, so although delegates are enhances memory, although it did having a treat they still are getting one of their five a day. not affect concentration. Other researchers have also found that 2 Watch your speed protein enhances memory.” One factor which should be taken into consideration when planning a delegate Insomniacs may be pleased to hear menu is the GL, or Glycaemic Load a food contains. GL reflects the speed at there are some foods that can help which carbohydrate is converted into sugar and released into the body. Low GL you nod off, but Marber suggests foods fill delegates up for longer and helps prevent the slump that can occur conference organisers should cross after eating. For snack times we tend to avoid high GL foods such as pastries the following options off their list. If and sugary treats and offer alternatives such as dried apricots and nuts, which you don’t want to risk sending your prevent energy levels dropping. delegates to sleep, avoid putting dishes containing turkey, cottage 3 Watch out for caffeine comedown cheese and bananas on the menu. Drinks also play an important role in ensuring delegates stay alert throughout The culprit is an amino acid contained the day. Stimulants such as tea and coffee are not always the best drink to offer within the food called tryptophan, a delegates when energy levels need to be at an optimum. Although they may natural sedative (which explains why initially heighten energy levels, the delegate may notice a period of tiredness many of us feel zonked after eating when the caffeine wears off. To increase energy and concentration levels, we Christmas dinner). recommend sugar free juices, smoothies, water and herbal tea, all of which The post-lunch dip is the bane of rehydrate. any conference organiser’s life. But there’s little you can do to over-ride 4 It’s good to be seedy the natural rhythm of the body, Omega 3 fats cannot be produced by the body so need to be regularly according to Jones. She advocates consumed in our diets. They are used by the body for essential functions, keeping your meal light and finishing particularly by the brain for memory and mood, as well as for heart function and off with coffee. “A heavy meal isn’t hormone balance. Omega 3 fats can be found in oily fish, linseeds, pumpkin the best thing to have at lunch time. seeds and walnuts. Seeds can be sprinkled over a salad; you only need a But the post lunch dip isn’t just tablespoon of seeds to get your recommended daily dosage of Omega 3. related to food, it’s also related to the body’s circadian rhythms. To increase

October 2008 33 Conferences.Think differently. For 700 to 2 people at 13 luxury hotels in London and Manchester. Visit radissonedwardian.com or call London: +44 (0)20 7845 8680, Manchester: +44 (0)161 835 9929 or Heathrow: +44 (0)20 8757 7903. speakerspeaks Participation TV’s loudmouth creates Ruby Wax Meetings. waxes lyrical Meeting creates Understanding. Understand- on off-topic ing creates Networking. Networking creates Experience. Experience creates Knowledge. speeches Knowledge creates Technology. Technology creates Convenience. Convenience creates Well-being. Well-being creates Feeling. Fee- ling creates Motivation. Motivation creates Participation!

What is your idea of the perfect event? When I’m being hysterical and it’s not my imagination.

What’s the worst thing that has happened to you during an event? I spoke about a topic they knew nothing about.

Which speaker/performer do you most admire? Eddie Izzard.

What is your worst on-stage habit? Picking my hair.

What are the qualities that you least like in an audience? People who don’t appreciate me.

Name your favourite venue? The Dorchester.

And your least favourite? A tent.

Which phrase do you over-use? “That’s the beauty of Prozac.”

Any regrets? That I didn’t have longer legs.

Describe the perfect audience… People who love me.

What is your motto? Be brave, you can only bomb out.

Ruby Wax is best known to audiences as the brash, fearless interviewer who has shared a hot tub with Pamela Anderson and spent the weekend with Hugh Hefner. Having spent three years studying Neuroscience at University College, London, Ruby has written Personal a presentation about dealing with change and handling creativity in a corporate environment, file drawing on both her personal and professional www.austrian.com life in the cut throat world of showbusiness. www.acv.at Ruby is available from www.messecongress.at www.performingartistes.co.uk Tel: 01932 590 376. www.vienna.convention.at

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Convention Travel has carved a niche for itself in the motivation travel sector. John Keenan talks to the irrepressible Ian Murray on the secrets of his success

hat’s the equivalent of a ‘petrol-head’ in the incentive travel business? It’s a question Ian Murray, Wmanaging director at Convention Travel in Guildford, asks as he seeks to explain his undiminished enthusiasm for his line of work. “The company is in its 26th year and I am as hungry as ever,” Murray says. “If you don’t love this business, you won’t survive a minute. When things go wrong and you are really stressed, you don’t run away. It’s an opportunity to show your strength. But you need mental energy. That’s why we employ a good mix of steady hands and youthful enthusiasm. Some clients like the former, some prefer the latter. But what all clients like - what all clients really love - is success.” And while success has been no stranger to Convention Travel, Murray has not been in the habit of shouting it from the rooftops Cruising at altitude: Ian Murray says Convention Travel is a 'niche player' “We’re not spotlight seekers. We’ve tried to keep the ego thing in check. But I admit it has annoyed me when 'The challenge “Although we don’t pretend to have He says: “We are taking massive agencies without, say, Air Travel the clout of massive companies such action, we are a full service Organiser’s Licences won business is to analyse as Motivcom, we are a niche player motivation travel company and we while we did everything by the and where we can win is creating offer the creative direction, full book. They won because they knew trends in the fantastic solutions for our clients. The communications package and also the client better. And relationships bigger companies don’t seem to have post trip analyses. Today, persuading remain important despite encroaching client's business that edge. We’ve gone up against the clients to spend the money isn’t hard compliance. Getting to know a couple biggies and we have won – we have because people still love to travel. of purchasing managers still helps…” and work out experience, and crucially, we have And look what the client is getting You don’t own clients, you earn fantastic data.” in return – happy staff. Today, the them, Murray believes. He says that what will switch Alongside retaining the established challenge is to analyse the trends in the fact that Convention Travel keeps clients, Murray says, the company the client’s business and work out its staff is a major plus point because them on' is also talking to new clients in the what will switch them on. That’s the clients like dealing with the same Ian Murray recognition that it has to grow to benefit of having established clients. people. Convention Travel survive. We know them inside out. You sit in Continued on page 38

October 2008 37 agencypitch

Continued from page 37 a closed room, think of whacky ideas of the air. It happens all the time. and bring them to the table – you What we don’t like is when clients can’t be boring. say we’ve got £1,500 to spend so “By the time you are 30 years old, we construct a £1,500 programme. you may think you have been there Actually they have £2,000 and they and done that. But if you’ve been to are keeping £500 back. If they are Dublin, done the Powerboat racing, upfront, we will construct a better gone to Bono’s restaurant and got programme – a £2,000 event is smashed off your face then you start better than a £1,500 event with to think ‘wouldn’t it be lovely to go £500 worth of late extras. But to Ascot’. We can take them there you try convincing the purchasing in limos. Yes, you may have been department of that.” to New York, but we can take you In terms of his own budgeting, to a private shopping experience at Murray says he is ruthless with Bloomingdales, you’ll meet the store budgets, having learned from his manager and you’ll have vouchers to early days when his company was spend. That kind of thing is still a turn kicked from pillar to post through on. And when people reach the 40s being tardy with billing. and 50s you have to think in terms of Murray: "A lot of clients do not know how to budget" “You have to be focused and you snob value – things that money can’t cannot be juggling billing and selling. buy.” Convention Travel We’re looking at 30 per cent growth. The challenge is not to be new and We are undaunted. The clients are creative, he argues. The challenge 2008* 2007 out there. There are expanding is to persuade clients to budget industries. There are positive sensibly. Turnover £2,450,000 £2,350,000 indicators.” “A lot of clients do not know It’s as he says this, that the thought Profit before tax £51,000 £48,000 how to budget – they say we have strikes me – he’s not a petrolhead; £2,000 a head to spend – but it’s *un-audited due to end of year being 31 August he is a success-maniac. And it’s a figure they’ve just plucked out contagious…

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38 October 2008 specialreport

As the eyes of the world focus on London for the 2012 Olympics, David Hornby of Visit London looks back on the lessons from Beijing

t’s been a long time since David Beckham went anywhere by Boris Johnson at the handover ceremony in Beijing bus. But, on the evening of August 24 as the eyes of the world were once again on the Bird’sI Nest Stadium, he boarded a red bus as London took centre stage for eight minutes during the closing ceremony. We were of course celebrating Off the Team GB’s huge success in Beijing but more importantly for the Visit London team we celebrated the moment when the Olympic flag was formally handed over to the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, for 2012. starting block As the flag changed hands between the two leaders, the world’s spotlight dramatically shifted to London as we the industry will be working closely a city and its people to feel touched became the official host city for the with corporate travel groups to offer 'London must by the Games. London 2012 will be next summer games. realistic offers which will be flexible a huge opportunity to make London But before we focus all our to groups. make the a city where, sports fan or not, you attentions on London, I have taken feel like you’re having a fantastic one last look at some of the lessons First impressions Stratford site time. For all the impressiveness of we feel we have learnt from our time There have been major issues the stadiums and millions spent on in Beijing. with visa approval for Beijing and as open as promotion, I’m not sure China has this is something which London is really made its people “feel” engaged. Lack of flexibility determined to get right, especially security will The sight of Beijing residents It seems that when it came to with corporate travel and large group standing at the fence taking photos of corporate bookings – both with bookings! allow' the Bird’s Nest was heart-breaking. accommodation and transport – London must make the Stratford site Beijing was not working as ‘one’. The bigger picture and London as open as security will Beijing’s accommodation industry One of the other basic but very allow and let the Olympic spirit flow seemed to have over-estimated the important underlying messages to all. occupancy of their hotels for 2008 was that a city that hosts something Anyway, lessons have been and were reluctant to offer any group like the Olympics is never the learnt, contacts have been made and discounts – it was only when they same again. Sponsors also said the benchmarks have been set and we realised occupancy was low that games had a huge impact on them look forward to moving onwards and they started to make group offers. - both emotionally and strategically. upwards to London 2012. London is working closely with Everyone talked about how much both hotels and the events industry to people were inspired to take up make sure corporate group bookings sport. are going to be fair and flexible. We David Hornby is the commercial director for have even created 'The 2012 UK Engagement Visit London Event Industry Fair Practices and From our time in Beijing, the biggest Price Charter' which will mean that take out has been the opportunity for

October 2008 39 IN ABERDEEN JUST RELAX EVERYTHING’S TAKEN CARE OF

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Paul Kennedy MBE, group exhibition director of Reed Travel Exhibitions Meetings and Incentive Events, talks to Robin Anderson about what’s new for the 2008 show

Doing the

business Number to beat: 7,500 visitors attended last year's EIBTM

Is Barcelona still cutting the and issues affecting the industry, Croatia, India, Czech Tourism, Austria, mustard as EIBTM’s home city? learn new skills and network with Switzerland, Macau, Visit Britain and Absolutely. It is such a charismatic, friends and colleagues from around Visit Florida among others. interesting and well-organised city. the world. EIBTM offers this and The extended post-event tour The people of Barcelona in general, more. The event will offer bespoke programme for Hosted Buyers the transportation and Ultramar professional education programmes features trips to Costa Daurada, Express Event Management, the for agency, corporate and association Huelva, Leon, San Sebastian, DMC, and the Fira Gran Via team, buyers. Florence, Madrid, Valencia, Venice, have learnt a lot about the logistics EIBTM’s buyer driven Amsterdam, Bilbao, Costa del Sol, involved in hosting an event as pre-scheduled appointment system Girona, Sitges and London. These complex and demanding as EIBTM. enables buyers to meet with give participants the opportunity to Every year we have noted more and exhibitors of genuine interest to experience meetings and incentives more boxes ticked by buyers and their future business needs. Over products from these destinations at exhibitors alike. 40,000 pre-scheduled appointments first hand. What features keep EIBTM at the were made last year. This year’s To enable more networking to take cutting edge of the global trade show will showcase many more new place outside event hours, EIBTM events calendar for buyers? destinations and products, with new organises a welcome party, a club EIBTM is the only global meetings exhibitors this year including Los night and many other networking international exhibition which does Angeles, Baltimore and Chicago, events. not principally depend on a national Bulgaria, Valencia Convention Through the Hosted Buyer market. EIBTM keeps at the cutting Bureau, China, Madrid Convention Programme we remain totally edge of global events because it does Centre, Oman, Sharjah, Qatar focused on enabling our visitors to not rest on its laurels. We recognise Airways, Jordan, Texas, Cape Town, meet with exhibitors in the most that buyers need to feel they are and, yes, Zimbabwe. 2008 will see time-effective way. Our three basic getting real value for their time over 50 new companies exhibiting. values remain what they have out of the office. They demand an Many destinations have also Paul Kennedy, always been - to provide the best environment where they can conduct increased their stand space including Reed Travel business, best networking and best business, hear about new trends Turkey, New Zealand, France, Dubai, Exhibitions education. Continued on page 43

October 2008 41 It’s not about where you go. It’s about where you stay.

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Continued from page 41 And for exhibitors? Last year we delivered over 7,500 visitors including 3,326 hosted buyers, 3,892 trade visitors plus almost 300 press and speakers. All these figures are independently audited, not only as a quality control measure but as a way to prove to exhibitors that EIBTM delivers buyers and visitors that actually ‘do the business’. Our hosted buyer programme brings together senior buyers from all over the world. Acceptance onto the programme depends on fulfilling strict criteria, thereby guaranteeing Networking is central to the show buyer quality and committing them to a full programme of networking, professional education and business opportunities. We have found this format provides a strong return on investment for both visitors and exhibitors. What new features will this year’s events programme deliver? Our seminar progamme has always played a major role at EIBTM and this year is no exception. Our extended seminar programme aims to cover wide ranging and diverse topics. As a taster of what to expect, we will be taking a look at the ‘Global Marketplace: North American Meeting Planner Perspectives’; ‘The 'There's even an open seminar entitled 'Sex in the city - making the chemistry

An environment in which to conduct business work' Pre-scheduled appointments are key Living Brand - Taking your MICE the future association, plus workshops and unique Esferic venue in the Team from Employee to Brand led by organisations such as Congrex Mediterranean-inspired Joan Brossa Champion’; the launch of the EIBTM and the AMC Institute. The highlight of gardens. 2008 Industry Trends & Market the programme will be the new ‘Great Do you now have plans for other Share Report and the popular daily Association Debate’ to be moderated by global or regional editions of Technology Hour including the EIBTM a panel of association experts. A new EIBTM? Technology Debate. There’s even an EIBTM initiative, delegates will have the As we go into the last quarter of open seminar entitled ‘Sex in the opportunity to drive the discussion by 2008, it is a challenging and very City - Making the Chemistry Work!’ A suggesting topics on a noticeboard the exciting time for such a dynamic new feature in the 2008 professional previous day. The programme will also industry. RTE is committed to being education programme will be a include the EIBTM and ICCA ‘Personal at the forefront of the international Spanish Association Programme Connections’ networking event. meetings exhibition sector, and session run in conjunction with As well as addressing key topics with that in mind we do have plans Korrazza. This year’s EIBTM such as return on investment and for other global or regional editions Association Programme will organisation politics, this year’s of EIBTM. Readers of M&IT will be feature keynote speaker Paul Bridle corporate programme networking among the first to know when we are discussing leadership challenges for event will take place at the stunning in a position to announce our plans.

October 2008 43 Day delegate Bristol from £46 rates from* Cardiff from £43 Edinburgh from £45

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The launch of the MSC Poesia combined rhyme and reason, as Belinda Cole reports

Seeing stars: VIPs line up for the ship's christening Opus applies cruise control

ver 70 performers the arriving guests in the theme of were called in to Mark Spragg poetry,” explains Spragg. entertain guests at the Opus Creative The whole event took place star-studded launch of Marketing on-board the 93,300 tonne liner,

MSC Cruises new liner, following MSC's brief to make Poesia MSCO Poesia. “star for the night”. The client: MSC Cruises According to Mark Spragg, Spragg revealed: “All too often Agency: Opus managing director of celebrations of this type involve The event: Christening of the new Northampton-based Opus, the guests joining the ship for a tour, MSC Poesia concept was about bringing the then departing to facilitate the Guests: 1,900 UK and international ship’s name to life. christening. Once the christening travel trade guests and press “Poesia means poetry and we is complete guests rejoin the ship to Venue: Port of Dover chose to pay homage to this through conclude the evening. In doing this Date: April 5, 2008 art, dance, song and stage,” he says. the ship somehow feels disjointed Big names were called in to do 'A five-hour live from the overall experience and to the honours, including celebrated be perfectly honest does not give the Italian opera legend Andrea Bocelli, show immersed The ship docked with 400 VIP opportunity to showcase the ship’s award-winning singer/songwriter guests on board, with a further 1,500 operations. KT Tunstall, performance artist Brian guests in guests joining the next day. “I am not aware of any other cruise Olsen and 20-year-old jazz supremo “The entertainment programme company hosting a christening Peter Grant, accompanied by Ronnie the theme was live from 11am through to 4am celebration totally on board. I think Scott’s Jazz Orchestra. the following day. We operated a this is largely due to the majority It was the first project the company of poetry' five-hour full live show which rotated of ships not being able to host this had worked on for MSC and the brief Mark Spragg every 20 minutes inside Cruise number of guests in one dinner or was to “keep the ship alive 24/7”. Opus Terminal One, designed to immerse theatre sitting.” Continued on page 46

October 2008 45 meetings industry history marketing awards case

Continued from page 45 To facilitate this, Opus ran two 2008 dinner sittings and created two identical show programmes. While the UK audience dined, the Europeans watched the main theatre show, then the groups swapped. The set up meant the stars had to perform twice, which proved the greatest challenge in organising the event. “It is difficult enough to contract superstar entertainers for one show, let alone two shows in the same evening,” says Spragg. “Months of negotiations were required to make this happen, but we wanted to ensure the guest experience was 100 per cent.” BE THERE! The traditional ‘Christening’ ritual

Witness the award presentations, enjoy fine food and drink and network with industry colleagues 1830 Champagne reception 1930 Seated starter and main course On board MS Poesia of smashing a magnum of Champagne 2030 Awards ceremony on the ship’s hull took place at midnight, in the presence of Prince 2130 Networking desserts, and Princess Michael of Kent and film icon Sophia Loren, the ‘godmother’ of coffee and MSC Cruises. Celebrations continued live entertainment well into the evening with Radio 1 DJ Annie Mac. Bleary-eyed guests had to leave 2330 Carriages the ship at 9am because, at 2pm, it departed Dover on its inaugural 14-day cruise to Venice. Tickets are available at It was the first time the Italian £130 + VAT per ticket company had launched a ship outside of the country. The decision (price includes champagne reception was driven by the need to extend and three course dinner with wines) the appeal of MSC to the UK cruise market, and the company hoped the extravaganza would generate excitement in the press. Presentation banquet dinner - “ROI was not a statistical post- Thursday 16 October 2008 - event measure, but the immediate press commentary and uplift in The Landmark London bookings from the UK sector go some way to measuring the effectiveness Further information available at: of the event,” says Spragg. “I am delighted with the show we created www.meetpie.com/mima and trust that we, and MSC, have left or by calling +44 (0) 1342 306723 a lasting positive impression on our audience.”

46 October 2008 Let’s get down to business

We’re changing. Right now, we’re investing millions transforming 32 hotels nationwide, including our hotels into contemporary and up-to-the-minute venues with 9 in Central London the most flexible Meeting and Events facilities. Essentials such as LCD projectors and flipcharts supplied as standard When you come to us for your next conference, meeting or event, everything you need and expect will be waiting for you. Exciting new break and lunch So leave the details to us. We have dedicated Meeting and Events menus including healthy, savoury and sweet options experts, so that all you have to think about is the business at hand. All the facilities and services you need, provided by a team that will 288 flexible meeting rooms equipped always go that extra bit further for you. with the latest technology, to suit any occasion

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MEETINGS & EVENTS The way it should be inproduction

Kate Braxton explains how to arrive at a budget which suits all parties

t is rare that a client has a crystal-clear vision of their ultimate production requirements. It is rarer still that they fully appreciate what's neededI to achieve the end result. This knowledge gap, combined with inadequate preparation, drives a wedge between a production budget approved and budget finalised. There is a different client trait that is actually very common. They have experienced some new technology that’s given them a bit of a frisson, be it graphics on a PSP game or an effect in a (multimillion-pound) West End show. It becomes something that they have to have. Naturally this comes at a cost not hitherto considered. The wow factor is usually accompanied by a spectacular price tag Since the nature of both internal and external corporate comms is often wincingly last-minute, the lead-time becomes another major pricing affector. You see the creative hothouse smoking in the last weeks Achieving the and days prior to the event. The sign-off process on design, graphics, presentations and video content almost always becomes a little antsy. It tends to sit with a client owner who has a chance to shine with the right figure outcome, so decisions are made to ‘just do it’ and one can only deduce is very often misunderstood. That is, through more adventure and elevated that there are contingency budgets. until it makes the right person look creativity, which simply brings new Project Change Notices are fine to good. challenges. keep track of significant alterations Ultimately, all of this can make for So, in production, agreeing the to a brief, but when it comes quite a challenge when forecasting budget is not really about ‘agreeing’, to amendments to content and annual figures, not knowing how but rather ‘arriving at’. Let’s cut to the creative, you really have to play the projects could vary from budget chase: it’s a bit more like wrestling communications expert at their own sign-off to reconciliation. Repeat than paper, scissors, stone. It’s game. You brief the change, I name business is worth securing for this achieved through communication the price. You do win some and lose very reason. It gives you a chance holds, concession and acquiescence. some, of course, but the taking part to be firmer with a more familiar Briefing the change, naming the is critical for the upsell. client. But over time the unexpected price. And the key tactics for the I am often asked whether budget last-minute habits actually become a producer are to be fast, fair and holders find production ‘expensive?’ regular part of the process. A select level-headed at all times. We all know that this mythical few clients will choose to simplify If this is done well, you can be perception exists, but this is largely things for themselves. The majority pretty sure which corner will win because you cannot pinpoint the value 'You cannot will strive to better previous events, when the bell rings. of intellectual property, of a design or concept. The level of creativity pinpoint required by a given project tends to the value of Kate Braxton is head of production dictate the measurability of its value. and creative services at For example, the higher the creative intellectual BCD Meetings & Incentives input, the lower the measurability. Production is not overpriced but it property'

48 October 2008 Eastern Promise

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ATENSDUBAI

Angela Antrobus discovers a brave new world of hotels, food and entertainment in Dubai

On the beach: Burj al Arab in background A whole new world

ny country with the has seen dramatic changes in Dubai Adventures. A combination they have temerity to create another over the decade she has organised both found works well is a two-centre world in the image of the events there and she’s not so keen programme using a city hotel and the existing one must be on all the new development. exclusive Al Maha Desert Resort & pretty confident about its “I used to love the Jumeirah Beach Spa. Afuture and Dubai, the most dynamic area with its endless views across “Every suite has its own pool and of the seven United Arab Emirates, the Gulf but all that has now been you have a great choice of activities, has every reason to be just that. spoilt by the construction of the such as falconry, horse-riding and Its growth as far as new Palm Jumeirah,” she says. “I’m really archery,” says White. “You can do construction is concerned mirrors excited about the opening of the a four-wheel-drive safari, enjoy a its rise in popularity among the Atlantis on the outer crescent of the glass of champagne in the dunes multi-national business community Palm, when I can claim back the view at sunset and finish with dinner in and tourists who flock there for the and just see the sea. It also gives our a desert oasis with belly dancers, weather, shopping and beaches. clients another option and I’ve already fortune tellers and camel riding in The World, of course, is one of included it in one of my proposals for the dark.” the new man-made islands rising up a four-night programme.” The Emirates Group is one of out of the sea just offshore of Dubai. In the meantime, instead of Dubai’s biggest success stories. The Its 200 islands, laid out as a replica recommending beach resorts such WHO airline started in 1985 and now serves of the globe, will accommodate as her favourite Ritz-Carlton or 101 destinations in 61 countries. exclusive hotel resorts and expensive the One&Only Royal Mirage, which to contact Emirates operates 14 daily flights homes while, now in the last stages clients love, she has tended to from the UK to Dubai International of development, Palm Jumeirah is suggest hotels in the city centre. SIMON HALEWOOD Airport, five from London Heathrow, the first and smallest of three similar “Every time I go back to Dubai there’s European Marketing three from Gatwick, two from both complexes to comprise luxury another high-rise building, but the Office Birmingham and Manchester and hotels, villas and apartments, the Creek area has an oasis feel to it and Dubai Convention Bureau one each from Newcastle and subsequent two being Palm Jebel Ali the Park Hyatt is a beautiful boutique Tel: 01753 481 550 Glasgow. Charters are also available and Palm Deira. hotel for groups of 20 to 70.” Fax: 01753 481 600 for groups, coming into Dubai’s T2. Kirstine White, joint managing The Business Travel Team works Email: dubai@janetsealy T3 is scheduled to open this director of the Business Travel Team, in Dubai with local DMC Arabian partnership.com month. The exclusive use by Continued on page 55

October 2008 51

ATENSDUBAI

Continued from page 51 Emirates will enable the airline to match its passenger meet-and-greet with its quality service on-board and in its lounges. Concourse 2 will soon be operational, with Concourse 3 following later. Both are designed to manage the new A380 super-jumbos, of which Emirates has 58 on order. DMC Arabian Adventures is a part of the Emirates Group, growing as rapidly as the airline, and has a full-service PCO division, Congress Solutions International.

Dubai Trade Centre district Out of the ordinary: Atlantis The Palm Emirates Hotels & Resorts’ latest addition in Dubai is Green Lakes, 283 luxury serviced apartments in the fashionable Jumeirah Lakes Towers Palm pilot precinct. Like the recently opened rom the birth of the idea driving in and three for going out, Harbour Hotel & Residence, Green to the September opening, plus the monorail. They escape the Lakes aims to meet a growing demand Alan Leibman, president/ traffic and during a four or five- for more flexible accommodation managing director of day meeting have so much to do in options. Kerzner International, has Atlantis. The Harbour Hotel is in the beenF involved in every aspect of “There are wonderful fitness areas prestigious new Dubai Marina Atlantis, The Palm. From testing out and acres of sheer excitement. They development taking shape close rides and slides in Aquaventure, the 17 can be quiet, go shopping, or explore to Media City and Internet City. hectare water adventure playground, the Lost Chambers, an underwater It offers large studios and one, to ensuring the perfect design of world of passageways with relics two and three-bedroom suites, the four celebrity chef restaurants, of Atlantean life and over 65,000 three restaurants, a gym, pool and he’s been hands on throughout and marine animals. For an incentive Emirates’ trademark Timeless Spa. believes the integrated entertainment trip it’s extraordinary. We can give Both the Harbour and Green Lakes resort is unique – even for Dubai. them exclusive space in the water have a 24-hour deli and coffee bar. Leibman uses the word park and they can swim with the Al Maha Desert Resort & ‘extraordinary’ a lot when talking dolphins in the lagoon. Then we have Spa is Emirates’ showcase about the project which he says wonderful dining experiences in 17 conservation-based property just 45 creates a new hotel experience in restaurants. We can handle even the minutes from the airport. Al Maha is an already good marketplace. “The larger groups, 500 to 600 people. It’s Arabic for the Arabian Oryx desert beach hotels are doing very nicely a business we want to be in.” antelope and 90 of these endangered but our opening, at the beginning Atlantis’ 3,500 employees were species and other threatened of the peak season, is exceeding all handpicked from 25 countries. The indigenous wildlife are protected expectations. There will be 21 more 1,539 guestrooms all have views there. It is the only location in Dubai 'The message hotels here and people think it’s going over the Gulf or The Palm Jumeirah where visitors can experience the to be like Miami Beach, but it’s not. If with its rows of smart beachside desert and its wildlife. we get from you look the length of our property, apartments. The 5,600 square metre Al Maha has 42 suites of different planners is you can’t even see the next hotel.” conference centre, the Atlantis standards, scattered about the “Twenty to 25 per cent of our Ballroom, can seat over 2,000 and the shifting sands of the 225 square that they have business will be from groups. The Royal Terrace, pool decks and beach kilometre resort like a Bedouin message we get from planners is are ideal for outdoor functions. encampment. Groups must book at the budget but that they have the budgets but can’t “So far,” adds Leibman, “we have least 15 suites to stay there but up get the room allocation in Dubai. We only used 50 per cent of our land. So to 90 people can use the attractive can't get room are making sure they have it. We there is the potential to do more. In boardroom theatre-style. The staff/ have wonderful capabilities to check three to five years we shall probably guest ratio is very high and prices allocation' people in and when they arrive in do something like the Cove at Atlantis, are just slightly below those of the Alan Leibmen coaches they won’t have to walk 40 Paradise Island, in the Bahamas.” Burj Al Arab. Kerzer International metres. There are three lanes for Continued on page 57

October 2008 55

ATENSDUBAI

Continued from page 55

Well cushioned: Fairmont Dubai Easing the pressure

ully aware of its traffic problems, Dubai is on the case and, even if only locals use the new transport thebuyer's eye systems, the roads should beF a tad clearer for everyone else. Dubai changes by the month. new standards for InterConti. New high-speed water taxis are It’s still dusty and a building site The Madinat has well up and running. The Business Bridge in many places but it has scale, configured convention space and and Floating Bridge, the fourth and value for money, accessibility and bedrooms for large numbers. fifth Creek crossings, opened last quality. What it doesn’t have is Dubai is fantastic for meetings and summer and a design for the sixth culture. It’s a place for business, incentives and there’s absolutely crossing has been selected. It will not leisure. no risk on the streets. be a 12-lane, 1,600 metre long bridge 'The quality of The most outstanding thing is incorporating a line of the new Dubai the quality of the hotel product. Metro, with the first stage scheduled the hotel product It makes anything in Europe look to open late next year. There will also shoddy. The Crowne Plaza in the be a new tram line from Dubai Marina makes anything new Festival City on the Creek to near Burj Al Arab. made my eyes pop out. Compared In addition to expansion of the in Europe look with what you’d expect in the UK, existing airport, a brand new airport it’s more like four-star deluxe. The Mark Riches is under construction 40 kilometres shoddy' adjoining InterContinental has set First Protocol away at Dubai World Central. The Mark Ritches two will be linked by a high-speed First Protocol

Continued on page 59

October 2008 57

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Rob

Continued from page 57 Evans casestudy Maverick metro line. Initially, the six-runway Events Al Maktoum International will handle cargo operations, until a terminal with the capacity to cater for 120 million passengers a year is ready. Nearby, the first stage of Dubai Exhibition City will have 120,000 square metres of exhibition/conference space. The Burj Dubai Tower surges upwards, its final height still a secret. At the bottom, Dubai Mall, the largest on the planet with 1,200 shops, has opened and the Armani Hotel within the tower will open next year. The 501-metre high Burj al Alam in the Business Bay aims to be the world’s tallest commercial tower and, when finished in 2010, will include a five- star hotel and roof-top spa. Dubailand continues to develop Lobby at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel apace. Eventually, it will embrace seven mega theme zones with endless attractions, hotels and Package deal resorts. The Bawadi entertainment and leisure complex alone will cover Early last year, 170 DHL senior first night’s party was at the hotel’s a 10 kilometre strip of Dubailand, regional managers flew into Dubai Beachcombers restaurant – with with 31 luxury hotels including the for their annual EMEA conference. everyone in national dress . 6,500-room Asia Asia. Formula One racing provided a Once the CEO had revved up More hotels open daily, including suitable link and the Pole Position proceedings by driving an F1 car into the Grand Millennium, The Monarch, campaign was launched. the conference room, motivational Raffles Dubai, the Westin Dubai Mina “We took over Dubai Autodrome, meetings were intermixed with racing- Seyahi Beach and the Tamani Hotel turning pit garages into conference related activities. Divided into three Marina. The Al Bustan Rotana Dubai 'We took rooms and organising team activities groups, delegates completed pit-stop is celebrating its 10th birthday with over Dubai on and off the track,” says Maverick’s challenges, drove Audi sports cars a lavish refurbishment, including a production director Rob Evans. “The on the main circuit, negotiated cones new convention centre. Autodrome delegates spent an exciting two against the clock and raced go-karts. The Palazzo Versace Hotel in the days becoming fully immersed in the For the farewell party, they collected Culture Village development, Tamani turning pit company’s new internal messaging. different parts of a car and put them Hotel Park Lane and Rosewood Delegates stayed at the Jumeirah together, each element representing a Dubai are scheduled for 2009. Just garages into Beach. “It was a straight road from different function within the company. off Jumeirah Beach, Hydropolis, there to the Autodrome,” says Evans. “It was a big budget event but the world’s first underwater hotel, conference “Dubai has some beautiful venues successfully re-energised the whole is being created while Okyana Reef but we couldn’t risk the likelihood team for the challenges they faced in Lagoon, on the Australia section of rooms' of transfers in bad traffic.” The the year ahead,” says Evans. The World, will be the world’s first Rob Evans snorkelling lagoon. Maverick Events

October 2008 59

ATENSKUALA LUMPUR Independent spirit

UK event organisers are waking up to the appeal of Malaysia’s capital, Kuala Lumpur, where friendly service and value for money go side by side. Emma Allen reports Jewel in the crown: Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre

alk to event planners Frankfurt, Tourism Malaysia director Brokenshire also says that an about Malaysia and many Amiruddin Abu said that the goal industry partnership, made up of will probably conjure up now is to capture a greater share - Tourism Malaysia, Malaysia Airlines images of idyllic islands, at least ten per cent – of total tourist and the Kuala Lumpur City Council sandy white beaches and arrivals to the country. is also instrumental in winning lushT resorts rather than the merits The relatively new presence of business – the KLCC has more than of its business-like capital, Kuala the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre 400 bookings this year. Lumpur (KL). (KLCC), the jewel in KL’s convention One agency that hopes to tap in But that could be starting to change. space crown, is a particular boon to KL’s growing market is Zibrant, Last year, Malaysia celebrated 50 for organisers. The vast complex, which opened its first Asia office years of independence from British which includes the iconic Petronas in KL in May. According to business rule - and lively marketing campaigns Twin Towers, opened just two and a development director Jackie Freer, and promotional events have all half years ago, and consists of two the company chose the city as its helped to shine the spotlight on the auditoria (seating 3,000 and 500 WHO key base “because it is arguably capital and its attractions. Last year respectively), 9,710 square metres the central hub to the Asian Pacific alone, the country saw more than 20 of exhibition halls, a Grand Ballroom to contact market,” and while client requests million visitors, well in excess of the which seats 2,000 diners, a banquet are still dominated by Hong Kong government’s official target. hall for 500, a conference hall for MALAYSIA TOURISM and Singapore, she says they are Efforts to promote KL’s potential 1,800 and 20 other meeting rooms. PROMOTION BOARD seeing more and more interest in KL as a business destination, timed to Recognising the importance Siew Lean Poon from the UK. “The pharmaceutical coincide with last year’s celebrations, of the UK market, KLCC general Convention & sector has always been strong but are clearly paying off too. Total MICE manager Peter Brokenshire says Incentive Manager we’re increasingly booking financial, arrivals climbed to 1 million last the centre has a dedicated PR and Tel +60 3 2615 8188 telecoms and IT conferences into the year, up from 820,000 in 2006, and marketing representative in the UK E-Mail: slpoon@tourism. city,” she says. speaking at this year’s IMEX event in and regular fam trips are organised. gov.my For Freer, there is little doubt that Continued on page 63

October 2008 61

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Continued from page 61 the city has much to offer. “It’s safe, people are friendly and most speak English and it retains much of the local colour that has been wiped out in other boom Asian cities,” she points out. Ease of access from the UK is another plus, while at the main terminal in KLIA airport, Malaysia Airlines’ recently opened new luxury lounge boosts facilities for business and first class passengers. For transportation into the city, the KLIA Express runs every 15 minutes, and porters are on hand to assist with luggage. “Taxis are inexpensive but there may be congestion into the

Cafe culture in Bintang Walk Heading for new heights: the business-like capital will see a raft of new hotel openings city. The journey can take around 45 reopened as one of Starwood’s minutes in rush hour,” warns Freer. market is likely to attract the attention Luxury Collection following a lavish Other organisers also point to of event planners. £6 million renovation. Centrally KL’s reputation for offering value One new five-star option is located in the heart of the Golden for money as a major advantage, the Hotel Imperial (previously the Triangle business district, the hotel particularly in the current economic Sheraton Imperial), which has now climate. Last year, according to the Continued on page 65 World Economic Forum’s survey, Malaysia emerged as the second most price competitive country in the world, out of 124 countries, helping New hotel projects: what’s ahead? to give it an edge over pricier rivals like Singapore or Hong Kong. The five-star Royale Chulan Kuala Lumpur, currently under construction, John Derrick, managing director will open in December 2008. The hotel will have 305 deluxe rooms, most of at AYMTM, has taken a number of which will have panoramic views of the Petronas Twin Towers, and meeting incentive groups to Langkawi and facilities will include ten conference rooms and a grand ballroom with Penang in past two years, using separate access for up to 2,000. KL as a stopover, and agrees the city offers great value for money. 'There's a lack Opening this month, 105-room boutique hotel The Club at The Saujana However, he believes the destination is set in 160 hectares of lush tropical gardens, half an hour between the city is still underused. “There’s a lack of awareness centre and the airport. A member of the Leading Hotels of the World, it boasts of awareness about it, considering two 18-hole championship golf courses. all the plus points,” he says. “It’s about KL, a perception issue rather than a In 2009, the Cititel brand will open the MiCasa All Suite Hotel in negative, and I think it could promote Kuala Lumpur, just ten minutes walk from the KLCC, following a massive considering refurbishment. itself much better.” On the accommodation front, all the plus Starwood Hotels has announced its first St Regis-branded hotel in Kuala the city has been busy reinventing Lumpur. The property is due to open in 2014 and will feature 200 guest itself to tie in with independence points' rooms and a further 200 residences. celebrations and a flush of new John Derrick developments geared to the meetings AYMTM

October 2008 63

ATENSKUALA LUMPUR

Helen Continued from page 63 Wignall casestudy Maritz has ten meeting rooms and a 667 square metre Nusantara ballroom, as well as a spa, shuttle service and four restaurants. Just around the corner from the quaint Asian Heritage Row, with its shops and outdoor cafes, it makes a good option for groups wanting to explore some of KL’s historical past. Not far away, the city’s newest hotel meeting space is at the 'KL has 510-bedroom Hilton, close to Sentral station, which unveils three new top-notch conference rooms and space for a standing cocktail reception in facilities and September. Also new is the five-star 627-bedroom Gardens Hotel, which is good value opened in June in the upscale Gardens Mall area, 10 minutes by for money train to KL Central. Or for organisers looking for more against the of a resort-style option, the deluxe One World hotel also opened at the pound' beginning of the year. Situated in the Helen Wignall residential suburb of Petalinga Jaya, Maritz

Mezzanine at the Crowne Plaza Mutiara Doctors dine in: Crowne Plaza Mutiara

In May 2008, we organised a two-day top-notch facilities, it’s good value for investigators meeting to KL, on behalf money against the pound, and it has of a big pharmaceutical client, leading a great location in the heart of Asia a group of 60 client employees and Pacific, with decent flight connections doctors from the Asia Pacific region. around the region. Perhaps the only We stayed at the Crowne Plaza downsides are that the airport is quite Mutiara hotel, a five minute walk a long way from the city centre and away from the KLCC and Twin Towers. convention centre and traffic can be It was a largely business focused horrendous. That aside, I’d say that event, involving meetings during each although it is a business orientated day - and dinners were held in the city, it is also easy to find areas that hotel each night. Not that this was give a taste of Malaysian culture and a problem because the food was way of life, and wonderful beaches consistently fantastic and the service and stunning countryside aren’t far was absolutely five star. Altogether, away. Several of those attending our I think KL has a lot to offer. The city event extended their trip for a holiday. has an excellent range of hotels with

All seater: Auditorium at KLCC Continued on page 67

October 2008 65

ATENSKUALA LUMPUR

Continued from page 65 next to one of the city’s designer shopping malls and around 40 minutes drive from the airport, the hotel has 438 bedrooms, 15 function rooms, a ballroom for up to 2,500 and a spa. KL’s reputation as a business centre tends to overlook incentive possibilities but even a short stop in the city should build in some time for Meeting room at the Shangri-La shopping, with groups often heading to opulent malls like Star Hill Gallery or streets like Bukit Bintang with its thebuyer's eye mega malls and street stalls. A bustling restaurant and nightlife KL’s probably not the first place Bangkok and Hong Kong, but on scene can be fun for groups too, I’d think of in Asia because the plus side, it’s extremely good from Feast Village for a dinearound other destinations tend to catch value for money. It’s certainly a to one of the hip eateries on Asian 'Kuala Lumpur your eye first, but it does have cost effective option for groups, Heritage Row. Catherine Chong at a number of selling points. It’s particularly at the moment. We’re DMC Pacific World recommends is certainly a a modern city, the shopping’s not really selling Europe, for Luna, a cool urban style bar on the great, it has a good airport and example, because it’s expensive, rooftop of the Pacific Regency Hotel cost effective there is an excellent choice of but we’ve found that Asia is doing Suites with fantastic views of the KL hotels. I stayed at the Ritz Carlton well. and the Petronas Twin Towers. Or option for not so long ago and it was really for another rooftop venue, the trendy fabulous. I’d say it’s weak when it Rachael White, Skybar on level 33 of the Shangri groups' comes to sights compared to say, Business Travel Team La Traders Hotel is popular with an Rachael White international clientele. Business Travel Team

Make a date in your diary for the next

masterclass

How to inspire your delegates Venue Negotiation - how everyone can win Date: 22nd October 2008 Date: 3rd November 2008 Time: 0900 - 1330 Time: 0900 - 1330 Venue: Royal College of Physicians, Venue: Royal College of Physicians, London London Price: £250 + VAT Price: £250 + VAT

The venue contracts minefield - Meetings on a budget what are your rights? Date: 27th October 2008 Date: 21st November 2008 Time: 0900 - 1330 Time: 0900 - 1700 Venue: Savoy Place, London Venue: Royal College of Physicians, London Price: £250 + VAT Price: £350 + VAT

Keep up-to-date with the latest seminars and events at www.meetpie.com/events

October 2008 67 Well meeting, well being

Best Western Hotel Hungaria – Best in business! Located in the heart of Budapest, a 4-star modern hotel with traditional values.

• 499 air-conditioned rooms – Hungary’s largest hotel • 11 function rooms for up to 500 persons • Wi-Fi internet available in the entire hotel • Beatrix Restaurant, Fiaker Pub, Lobby Bar • On sight underground garage & coach parking nearby Day delegate rate: from EUR 36 for min. 30 persons (incl.: 1 meeting room hire, 2 coffee breaks, 1 buffet lunch). Accommodation: from EUR 75 / night in double room for single or double occupancy (incl.: buffet breakfast, 20% VAT and 3% local tax). This special offer is valid from 1st November 2008 to 20th December 2009.

Phone: (+36 1) 889 4000 • [email protected]

Danubius Health Spa Resort Helia – Conference with Confidence! Located on the embankment of the Danube facing Margaret Island and in easy reach of the city centre makes it an ideal location for business meetings.

• 262 air-conditioned rooms • 9 fully equipped function rooms, all on the one level and all with natural daylight, largest can take 400 delegates • Wi-Fi in the entire hotel • Jupiter Restaurant, Coffee-Shop Day delegate rate: from EUR 46 / person for min. 10 participants (incl.: 1 meeting room’s rental fee with mineral water, 2 coffee breaks, 1 buffet lunch). Accommodation from EUR 90 / night in standard double room for single use (incl.: rich buffet breakfast, on sight parking, use of the hotel’s swimming pool, thermal baths, Jacuzzi, sauna, steam bath and Danubius Premier Fitness Centre, local tax, VAT). This special offer is valid till 31st March 2009.

Phone: (+36 1) 889 5918, (+36 1) 889 5906 • [email protected]

Danubius Hotel Flamenco – Business with Pleasure! High standard accommodation and facilities for Meetings and Incentive groups. Excellent conference facilities in 15 multi-function meeting rooms. Largest conference room can seat 500 and total capacity: 1200 delegates.

• 355 air-conditioned rooms • Executive Club floors with wireless internet • Business Centre • Restaurants & bars, live music, alfresco eating, cafes • Fitness and Wellness Centers with an indoor swimming pool • In green Buda, 10 minutes from downtown Day delegate rate: EUR 39 / person Accommodation: from EUR 74 / night + 3% local tax. This special offer is valid from 1st November 2008 to 31st March 2009 (excluding the New Year's Eve period).

Phone: (+36 1) 889 5705 • [email protected]

UK Representative Office Phone: 01923 650 290 www.danubiushotels.com [email protected] ATENSBUDAPEST Taking sides

Dark arts: the Palace of Arts on the bank of the Danube udapest has consolidated its position in sixth place in the rankings of the International Congress & Divided by the Danube, Budapest Convention Association. ThereB has been a 12.6 per cent offers contrasting and complementary increase in international conferences in Hungary, with the capital pulling in venues. Ben Moore reports 71 per cent of the business. WHO Spreading out on either side of the reconstructed after the bombings theatre-style, and the Corinthia Grand Danube, the two districts of Buda to contact of World War II, and flat Pest, with Hotel Royal, with 414 bedrooms and and Pest remain distinct and create its wide boulevards and Art Deco maximum meeting capacity for 450. an appealing distinction ENDRE KARDOS tones. There is also the Hilton in the Unesco The city is a vibrant mosaic of HUNGARIAN NATIONAL Among the core of well-established World Heritage protected Castle mismatching styles - hilly Buda, TOURISM OFFICE hotels geared to the meetings and District, the 350-bedroom Sofitel, with its narrow cobbled streets Tel: 0207 823 1055 incentive market there’s the Art with its contemporary feel, and the and mixture of medieval and E-mail: director@ Noveau Four Seasons, with 179 riverside InterContinental, with 398 neo-classical buildings, almost totally gotohungary.co.uk bedrooms and space for up to 120 bedrooms and meeting capacity up Continued on page 70

October 2008 69 ATENSBUDAPEST

Continued from page 69 to 850 theatre-style. But these are being supplemented by an increasing number of new properties. Hotel Rosslyn will open in November. The four-star property, a member of the Design Hotels chain, has 70 bedrooms and a conference room for 200. And located at the foot of the Gellert Hill and close to the Elizabeth Bridge, the Baglioni Hotel is nearing completion. The property will offer modern wellness facilities in the historical setting of the Rác Thermal Baths. The hotel will also have a conference room for up to 80 delegates. At the end of the year, a new four-star Fashion Hotels 'Budapest is branded property will open in a neoclassical downtown building. It cosmopolitan Sitting pretty: interior at the Sofitel will have 112 bedrooms and meeting facilities. and has Budapest has also been chosen for the second hotel opening by an appealing From dictatorship the trendy Buddha Bar brand. The five-star Buddha Bar Hotel Klotild charm about it' Palace will offer 102 bedrooms in a Liz Harvey distinctive Asian environment. WorldEvents to dining options

udapest boasts a mix the exterior is illuminated with of conference and coloured lighting, making the Your DMCs in Hungary dinner venues, some rooftop terrace overlooking the modern and others Danube, a striking venue for a that remind you of cocktail reception. theB difficult past the city has Other more unusual venues  ##)!%) endured. include the House of Hungarian  $)) ) ! %") "$#()"!%") ) "#")#) !)#) ! The riverside Palace of Arts is Wines, a great location for
)#%)!# a modern performance arts venue incentives or a pre-dinner )$!#)( $)&)")&#!)( $)!) that can be used for conferences. reception in the historic Castle  ) !)!#%#() !)#) "#)"") ! !" The main concert hall has 1,700 District. seats, while the dance theatre The House of Terror is a      has 450 seats and there are two museum about communist  
)) ) '  
 )) ) ' smaller meeting rooms. At night Budapest in the 1950s and the   )) ) '  )) ) '   )) ) ' 
)) ) ' Continued on page 72 
)) ) '  
  ))) '


 
 thebuyer's eye          Budapest is extremely central easy to get around, even though Your event and incentive and there is great access from it can be busy and traffic can be southern England using low heavy at times. advisor in Hungary cost airlines with direct flights. The language barrier can be I’ve just come back from an issue. Communication inside staging an event for the first the hotels is good but it can be time in the city. It was a small more difficult around the city. four-day pharma conference for 40 delegates. I found the hotel and DMC very efficient. The architecture and history of the city impressed me, plus it was not overrun by leisure tourists. It is really cosmopolitan and has an appealing charm Liz Harvey, about it. It is very compact and WorldEvents

70 October 2008

ATENSBUDAPEST

Rob Continued from page 70 Clough facist legacy of World War II. Housed casestudy BI in the former Hungarian KGB headquarters it makes for a thought- provoking cultural option. Just off Heroes’ Square, is the Grundel Restaurant, the most famous Lawyers called to restaurant in Budapest. It can stage cocktail bar a cocktail reception on its terrace For the past 23 years, BI has followed by a gala dinner for up to organised a pan-worldwide business 400 people. conference for a leading legal firm. For the future, there is plenty more Budapest offered a fresh on the venue menu. Construction destination for the delegates, of a new pavilion has started at with good flight access - essential the Hungexpo Budapest Exhibition considering they were flying in from Centre. When the new hall opens in Cruising the Danube more than 70 different countries. the second half of 2008, it will have The city offered a compact key business messages and topical capacity for up to 3,000 people. solution, with accommodation in two issues were presented. Still to come is the Dream Island 'Budapest hotels within a short walk of each On the second evening, delegates development on the southern part of other. Guests were split between enjoyed a cocktail reception on the Hajogyari Island in the Danube. The offered a fresh the InterContinental - where the Europa boat as it floated up the 32-hectare site will feature hotels conference sessions took place - and River Danube to the Ladik Tavern, and a congress centre for 3,500 destination the Sofitel. where a rustic dinner was served. delegates. Construction is expected The programme began with On the final evening, an elegant to start at the end of the year. with good cocktails and dinner at leisure on the gala dinner was held at the Museum Budapest is full of ambition but only first evening, followed by two full of Fine Arts to mark the end of the the test of time will prove whether flight access' days of conference sessions where conference. the ambitious projects planned for Rob Clough the city come to fruition. BI

Travel is more than just A to B. Travel should open a world of new opportunities.

Only the view remains the same at the Hilton Budapest! 350 m2 new meeting and exhibition space, brand new Fitness by Precor facility, new Sony Bravia flatscreen TVs. New panorama restaurant to open in Q1 2009.

For more information please visit budapest.hilton.com or contact us directly at +36 1 889 6915. [email protected]

72 October 2008 Welcome to our new home

Our new home at London Heathrow Terminal 5 will revolutionise your airport experience.

From the moment you enter the terminal to the minute you relax in your seat on the plane, you’ll find everything has been created to make your journey as effortless and enjoyable as possible. And with a light, airy and spacious design, coupled with a practical and methodical lay out, you’ll feel a real sense of calm when passing through Terminal 5.

For more information on Terminal 5, please visit terminal5.ba.com

Heathrow Terminal 5 Advertorial Meetings and Incentives by Lufthansa - any size, anywhere Choose Lufthansa and you are selecting one of the preferred airlines of the meetings and events industry. Lufthansa Network Comprehensive network and two modern hubs

Lufthansa operates to more than 410 destinations in nearly 100 countries via our hubs in Frankfurt and Munich. We have a strong network and good capacity from the UK to Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and the Americas getting passengers to their destinations on time and in total comfort. Lufthansa products for the Meetings & Incentive sector Lufthansa Private Jet Sternreisen Lufthansa’s First Class within Europe – the ultimate exclusive For Pan European Group departures incentive experience.

If your client has a minimum of three points of origin plus at least 50 This unique product can offer you a tailor-made solution quickly, safely people going to one destination for one purpose, or a minimum of and simply through just one phone call to Lufthansa UK Service Team. € 25,000 air spend, they can qualify for pan-European group fares for all participants from every departure point. The advantages at a glance: r ;HPSVYTHKLP[PULYHY` r ;YHUZWHYLU[VUL^H`Ê_LKWYPJPUN r 3PTV\ZPUL;YHUZMLY[VHUKMYVT[OLHPYJYHM[ r 4PSLZ 4VYLTPSLZMVYL]LY`WHZZLUNLYHUKL]LY`ÉPNO[ r (JJLZZ[VV]LYHPYWVY[Z^P[OPU,\YVWLHUK[OL9\ZZPHU Federation r (JJLZZ[V-PYZ[*SHZZMHJPSP[PLZH[-YHURM\Y[4\UPJOHUKA\YPJO  airports if transferring onto a Lufthansa scheduled longhaul flight in First Class r ,_JS\ZP]LZLJ\YP[`HUKJ\Z[VTZJOLJRZ r 5L\[YHSSP]LY` r (IZVS\[LKPZJYL[PVU r

Sustainability Your Lufthansa Contacts

Lufthansa’s continued commitment to ecological and social Matilda Goes, sustainability Key Account Manager, Conferences, Events and Premium Products Environmental protection and sustainable development are prime E-mail – [email protected] objectives of Lufthansa’s corporate policy. We invested in scientific ;LSLWOVUL5\TILY‹   research and the latest technology, and we drive innovation – all in the name of achieving the lowest-possible CO2 emissions. Since 1991 Groups Department Lufthansa has succeeded in lowering its fuel consumption by almost 30 For IATA or non-IATA agents per cent to the present level of 4.4 litres per 100 passenger-kilometres. E-mail – [email protected] In recognition for our environmental commitment, Lufthansa has again ;LSLWOVUL5\TILY‹  been included in the internationally renowned Dow Jones Sustainability www.lufthansa.com/groups World Index 2008/2009.

In partnership with non-profit making company ‘my climate’, Lufthansa passengers have the opportunity to offset the carbon footprint of their flights through voluntary contributions. conferencegermany

Planners share their experiences of organising conferences in Stuttgart, Leipzig and Berlin, plus a round-up of what's new in the German meetings market

A full day's programme took place at Messe Stuttgart

Soft sell: Movenpick Hotel Stuttgart Airport & Stuttgart International Congress Centre

possibility to keep up with the requests Thorsten Kolbinger of the market on software developments Ungerboeck Systems and successfully allowed a wide range International of EBMS users to exchange their experiences, network and stay up to Event: Four-day European user speed with the newest enhancements,” conference said Thorsten Kolbinger, general Delegate numbers: 100 manager, USI Europe. Among the special features of the event were presentations in both German and French, which had been tuttgart was chosen by requested by delegates at previous Ungerboeck Systems events. International (USI) as There were also popular round the host city for its 2008 table sessions, which gave delegates European user conference. and USI the opportunity to discuss SThe four-day event, which ran from enhancements for future releases, Sunday to Wednesday in mid-April, formulate client specific solutions and was staged at the Movenpick Hotel foster best practices. Delegates also Stuttgart Airport and the Stuttgart found the face-to-face time available International Congress Centre. The with USI consultants invaluable to conference was enhanced by the close test specific features of the EBMS proximity of the two venues, plus the software. easy access to and from the airport. 'The The majority of the conference The annually held conference aims sessions took place within the to exchange experiences between USI conference Movenpick’s meeting space, although and its customers – the users of the one day of the programme was held event business management software was enhanced entirely in the neighbouring congress (EBMS) – to develop the software centre, which helped to showcase to the needs of its users. Among by the close the venue’s offering. Throughout the the delegates were pan-European event, informative presentations on the conference organisers, congress proximity of use of EBMS were given by speakers centres and venue-finding agencies. from the ExCeL centre in London and “The conference gave us the the two venues' Disneyland Paris. Continued on page 76

October 2008 75 conferencegermany

Continued from page 75

Banqueting at the Melia Berlin. Inset: Meeting room at the Melia Berlin

Property values: Melia Hotel, Berlin

According to organiser Frederic – the 364-bedroom, four-star Melia. Frederic Monteil Monteil, they wanted more glamour It served the event well, proving IPE International Publishers for the event - which also includes cost-effective, centrally located an award ceremony - and Berlin was and only a short stroll from Axica, chosen. The format of the event also the location for the dinner award Event: Four-day European user changed so that the award ceremony ceremony. conference was staged in an unusual venue rather Axica – a glass, steel and wood Delegate numbers: 100 than in the hotel. structure created inside banking “We could have gone to any German offices next to the Brandenburg Gate city, but Berlin has caché and it is – complemented the IPE conference PE had staged the forum for the more exciting than others in the superbly. Its location particularly fitted past two years in Amsterdam, but country. It has a reputation as being well with the event brief and financial for 2008 they decided to begin vibrant and more cultural than many background of the delegates. moving the event around Europe, 'We could have Germany cities. “On arrival the building itself is to experience different cities and “I also remembered doing an event nothing much to look at, but once our Ivenues. there in 2005 and the convention delegates walked inside they were gone to any The forum is a high-level event where bureau were outstanding, so it made amazed and very impressed. And pension funds, insurance companies, German city, it easy to return, having had such a of course at night, when we staged charities and foundations can discuss, positive experience,” says Monteil. our gala dinner award ceremony, the within a safe and secure environment, but Berlin has The majority of the two-day venue changes dramatically thanks to ideas and developments within the conference took place in the hotel, the wonderful lighting options,” adds European real estate market. caché' where all the delegates were staying Monteil. Continued on page 78

76 October 2008 conferencegermany

Continued from page 76 What’s new The 50th International Congress & Convention Association (ICCA) Congress will take place in Leipzig in the Congress Centre Leipzig at the end of October/early November 2011. Leipzig beat off competition from Pittsburgh and a joint bid from Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

The Dresden Convention Bureau has appointed Watterston Associates as its UK representation company. The Berkshire-based agency will carry out promotional, sales and marketing activities and conduct research to find meeting planner prospects to target. The CVB aims to draw more medical conferences to the city to capitalise on its reputation as a centre for science and research.

Steigenberger Hotels AG is to manage a new-build property scheduled to open on the German Baltic island of Usedom in 2010. The Crowd control: Leipzig Congress Centre luxury Steigenberger Hotel Kaiserbad will be situated on the waterfront of the coastal resort Heringsdorf and offer more than 150 rooms and suites. There Senior service: will also be four conference rooms and Leipzig Congress Centre & Westin Hotel a major spa facility. Agency THA Group has opened an office in Munich. The £500,000-plus push follows the closure of the agency’s US office at the end of last year as the one side of the venue. The conference company seeks to focus on European Rachel Ley programme was a mixture of plenary business. Rachel Ley Consultancy sessions and workshops in break-out rooms. Adina Apartment Hotels has opened At the end of day one, there was in Berlin. Besides its 125 bedrooms, it Event: Two-day senior management an informal networking dinner at features five meeting rooms for up to conference the famous Auerbach’s Keller. The 100 participants. Delegate numbers: 160 restaurant inspired parts of Goethe's The Westin Grand in Berlin has epic play, Faust, and there is still completed a major renovation project an emphasis on tradition - the food that has included the guest rooms, the n January this year a global is typical, hearty Saxon fare with a function area, the lobby, the wellness logistics firm staged their annual focus on local specialties. area and the restaurant. senior management conference The second day included a site visit in Leipzig, to coincide with the to the company’s new distribution Berlin’s new airport – Berlin construction of its major new hub, followed by a gala dinner in a Brandenburg International - is on IEuropean hub in the city that will local museum. track to open at Schönefeld in 2011. employ 3,500 people when it opens “Leipzig is small and wouldn’t Inner city airports Tegel and Tempelhof in 2012. necessary be a lot of people’s first will close as a result. All the participants stayed at the choice. But the attitude and aptitude Westin Hotel, from where they were of the local suppliers was first class. The Estrel Convention Centre in bussed to the conference each day. Everyone speaks very good English Berlin has been presented with the Almost half the delegates had and the service was excellent. award for the Best Convention Centre been attending a company event “It feels like an emerging place, in its size category by the European in Berlin immediately prior to the 'There is but one that can already deliver Association of Event Centres. The Leipzig conference, a train was good events. And it is not the most award goes to event centres that are chartered from the capital to transfer definitely room expensive German city. There is given the best marks by their clients them as smoothly as possible. Other definitely room to negotiate in and as a result of mystery shopper delegates arrived by train and plane. to negotiate in Leipzig, particularly in areas outside surveys. Leipzig Congress Centre provided the usual monetary value,” says an exclusive conference zone along Leipzig' Rachel Ley.

78 October 2008 Roomigami !

Plan your event as you want it to be and not as how rooms with a capacity for 22,000 people and generous the circumstances might make it possible. exhibition space are at your disposal, in addition You are looking for variable and combinable space for furnishing, technology, personnel and catering services. your meeting or convention – with charisma and an Everything is individually and professionally tuned to excellent infrastructure. Congress Frankfurt provides your wishes. When may we host your event? just that, a tailor-made offer of rooms on the premises of Messe Frankfurt, 75 congress and conference www.congressfrankfurt.de

ATENSDUBROVNIK

Liquid lunch: spa turn at Hotel Croatia Because it’s worth it hen a Croatian company wants to The delights of Dubrovnik don’t impress clients on its home turf, only come cheap, but this UNESCO World Dubrovnik will do. WIt may be around 30 per cent Heritage gem is worth splashing out more expensive than the country’s capital, Zagreb, but the beautifully for. Belinda Cole reports preserved medieval walled city has an unrivalled cache. “Dubrovnik is seen as an exotic everything themselves, if they go delegates attending conferences location,” says Saša Torlakovic, through us or via a DMC they can get which have made Croatia Airways project coordinator, Adriatic BTE. “If things cheaper.” the official carrier. you host an event here, it is to make The tourist board is currently So there are deals to be done, but a statement. All the hotels in the Old in negotiations with Ryanair to what sort of prices are hotels asking? City are five-star and everything is become the first low-cost airline to Grand Villa Argentina is a 96-room extremely expensive. Personally, WHO link London to Dubrovnik. Currently, five-star hotel surrounded by four I think it is too expensive – a good Croatia Airways and British Airways villas each containing between five to menu costs between '85-100 to contact fly direct from both Gatwick and 40 rooms. It has a selection of meeting (£68-80) per head.” Heathrow. BA also operates from rooms, the largest accommodating Maja Milovcic, of Dubrovnik NIK RACIC Glasgow, while Thompson and Avro up to 220 theatre style. As with Tourist Board, begs to differ. “It is CROATIAN fly from Manchester and Globespan most hotels in Dubrovnik, there’s no still cheaper than places like Paris,” CONVENTION AND from Edinburgh. set residential delegate rate, but an she argues. “It is still reasonable. INCENTIVE BUREAU The airline supports business average room rate is around '250 The problem is companies going Tel: +385 1 4699 307 tourism in Croatia and grants (£199). Conferences hosted recently directly to the hotels and organising [email protected] discounts of up to 20 per cent to by the venue include AXA, Castrol Continued on page 82

October 2008 81 ATENSDUBROVNIK

Continued from page 81 and the Croatian National Bank. It’s popular for high level board meetings – pharmaceutical company ABBOTT Laboratories was there for a four day meeting when I visited. Thirty-five general managers from Europe, Asia and America convened to discuss All round style: Gil's Terrace next year’s budget. New and improved Saša Torlakovic, from organising The Excelsior Hotel & Spa re-opened in April after a 22 million (£17.5 million) refurbishment which saw its traditional DMC, Adriatic BTE, says: “This is not decor replaced with contemporary dark woods, polished stone and hues of grey and brown. Again, one of the best things a normal group because they work about this venue is the view. The brand new conference space has floor to ceiling windows to show this off. It can seat up to from 8am to 8pm, the whole day in 450 and is a flexible, divisible space. The 158-room hotel also boasts a new spa and four restaurants, seating between 35 the congress room. They only have and 140. Two luxury apartments, each housing two to three suites, are currently under construction and will be available for lunch for 45 minutes and they don’t 11,000 (£8,770) a night. Room rates are also pretty pricy, starting from 270 (£215). take coffee breaks. However when Dubrovnik does not have a dedicated convention centre which has limited event sizes, but the four-star Valamar Lacroma they do take lunch, on the terrace, Resort, opening next year in Babin Kuk, will offer the city’s largest conference facility. The 890 square metre main hall will they can see the whole of the Old have a capacity for 1,000 people and there will be seven additional meeting rooms. City.” Currently, most large conferences are held at the Croatia Hotel, a five-star 480-room property conveniently located in In the evening the group dined Cavtat close to the airport – 20 minutes drive from the Old City. Since it opened in 1973, the conference market has been out, sampling Dubrovnik’s best at its heart, hosting international medical, scientific and technology congresses for up to 850. It has eight conference halls, restaurants, Proto and Nautika. numerous break-out rooms and a restaurant seating 950. It’s booking up to 2013 with the likes of Euromoney and Volvo “You can get equally good food and it’s easy to see why. Despite its large size, the hotel has been built to blend into the surrounding peaceful coastline for less outside of the Old City but and, although it was fully refurbished in 2000, it retains retro charm – including an authentic 1970s nightclub! Prices are the view from Nautika, of the river reasonable too - 150 (£119) for a sea view room during October to April, with an average 20 per cent group discount and the fortress, is beautiful,” says available. So Dubrovnik needn’t break the bank after all, but you won’t come back with much spare change in your pocket. Torlakovic. The group also enjoyed a drink at new fine dining restaurant and Continued on page 84

82 October 2008

ATENSDUBROVNIK

lounge bar Gil’s. It’s super chic and funky with a French fusion menu to 'Boat charter is match and stunning harbour views, although a group menu will set you proving popular back a minimum of '100 (£80) per head. with bankers, It’s situated next to Fort Revelin, corporates and which is a popular location for gala dinners of up to 500. Guests can dine industrialists' on the lovely open air terrace and Michael Bird retire downstairs for entertainment Adriatic BTE or a disco. Land Rover has a big event planned there in April. Incentive groups can charter a boat from Dubrovnik harbour to sail Croatia’s stunning Dalmatian coastline or to nearby Montenegro. Dalmatian Destinations can arrange industrialists who are visiting Eastern fully-crewed luxury boats from £600 Europe to set up joint ventures. They per person, per week. The company can hold meetings on board, lunch on has a selection of motor and sail deck and then put the sails up for a boats, including two large vessels day of relaxation,” says MD Michael each with 16 double cabins and Bird. “We organise an annual equipped with Wi-Fi, audio visual incentive trip for Viacom, taking 30 facilities, crew, chef and on-board people out in three boats, sailing event manager. Croatia’s archipelago of 1,400 islands “Boat charter is proving popular and dining in different privately hired Dubrovnik is popular for water-based activities with bankers, corporates and restaurants each evening.” Continued from page 82

84 October 2008 Slobodan Gacic Watch casestudy Centar d.o.o. Croatia

On time: Hilton Imperial Hotel Watch this space Our brief was to organise a five-day their companies. long distributors meeting for Sequel The event took place in September AG and Callanen International – world and we utilised all of the meetings wide distributors of Guess, GC, rooms; one for storage, another as an Nautica and Marc Ecko watches. office, one as a showroom, and the The aim of the event was to others as break-out rooms for quick introduce the strategy for 2008 meetings between distributors. and launch new product lines. The The main plenary sessions were event would feature presentations, held in the ballroom, which seats 259 workshops, distributor meetings and theatre-style, and we also used the a product showcase for approximately presidential suite and private dining 170 residential guests. area as meeting rooms as well. We decided on the beautiful city Dinners and lunches were held of Dubrovnik and the Hilton Imperial buffet style in the Porat restaurant and Hotel because both are famous for on the terrace. their hospitality. And with its 2,549 Everybody agreed the fantastic square foot ballroom and six meetings catering was one of the best parts of rooms, the hotel was an ideal size. the event, especially the unforgettable Great help came from Hilton not cakes! only at the time of the event but also And in the evenings, because of months before; preparing for hosting the hotel’s close proximity to the Old ZAGREB CONVENTION BUREAU numerous guests from all around the Town, delegates were able to venture +385 1 4898 555 +385 1 4814 340 world and receiving the goods from out or just stay in and enjoy the spa. tel. fax. e-mail:[email protected] www.zagreb-convention.hr

October 2008 85 Only in Scotland is the backdrop as inspiring as your conference. Attend a In Scotland you can be sure to find a range of unusual venues set in breathtaking surroundings. Where else can conference you hold a conference with an historic castle as your backdrop? Or do business looking over the famous Old where you can’t Course? Or even meet on the shores of Loch Lomond? And it’s never been easier to get here. So to find out help but gaze out more about hosting an event in Scotland, log onto conventionscotland.com of the window. Or perhaps that should be unconventional Scotland. Only in Scotland ATENSEDINBURGH AND ST ANDREWS Rip it up

The centuries-old centre of Edinburgh is to receive a modern makeover. Robin Anderson reports New for old: Edinburgh is upgrading

hey’re tearing up the drive to stay at the forefront of global almost £1.2 million into the city. streets in Edinburgh. tourism and business travel. In 2007/8 the ECB helped attract The Scottish capital’s Edinburgh is still the highest business tourism worth £72.8 charismatic Old and New ranked convention city in the UK, after million to the local economy – over Towns may have thrived for London, according to ICCA statistics. 160 events, attended by more than centuries,T but now they are destined It slipped down the listing compared 65,000 delegates. That was a six per to become even more accessible to with the previous year, but then so cent increase in economic value over conference and exhibition goers. did major competitors like Glasgow, the previous year’s results. OK, so they’re not tearing up all of Liverpool and Cambridge. Its Edinburgh’s pre-eminence in the the streets, but there’s a fair mileage reputation as a centre of excellence research and development of global involved. Round lots of the city in such meetings-minded sectors advances in life sciences has helped centre, down to the Leith Waterfront as genetics, bioscience, medicine, attract three major conferences set then westwards to the International electronic engineering, computing to take place between 2009 and Airport and beyond. Motorists and financial services continues to WHO 2012 – between them attracting who already find the city a tricky hold good. to contact 2,200 delegates and £4.4 million in proposition, now face three years The city has also emerged as one economic impact. of extra pain but it will be rewarded of the pharmaceutical industry’s top HILLARY BETT The Dynamic Cell, next April, with eons of gain when Edinburgh’s destinations. Two recent bidding - CORPORATE & will be the focus of an event run sleek new environmentally-friendly successes made by the Edinburgh INCENTIVE BUSINESS by the Biochemical Society and the tram system takes to the highways. Convention Bureau (ECB) echo that DEVELOPMENT British Society for Cell Biology, From mid-2011 the city is destined reputation. The International Trauma MANAGER accommodated by Edinburgh First, to enjoy faster journey times with less Symposium and the Society for Direct Line: 0131 473 3871 the University of Edinburgh’s congestion, pollution and noise - just Reproduction & Fertility conference Email: hillary.bett@ commercial division. The Edinburgh one feature in the city’s unceasing will bring some 1,640 delegates and conventionedinburgh.com International Convention Centre will Continued on page 89

October 2008 87 for meetings and events

offering spectacular scenery, the fi nest authentic dining, engaging service and excellent dedicated conference facilities, fairmont st andrews is the only name you need to know for meetings and events in scotland. for more information phone 01334 837084 or visit www.fairmont.com/standrews ATENSEDINBURGH AND ST ANDREWS

Continued from page 87 host the four-day congress of the European Society of Gastrointestinal & Abdominal Radiology in June 2012. And Quantitative Genetics is the focus of the third event, also at the EICC, over five days in the same month. A £13 million 200-room conference-minded hotel is planned for development at Heriot-Watt’s University's Riccarton campus. The development would mean the Edinburgh Conference Centre would be able to host events for up to 600 all year-round. Nearby Norton House Hotel & Spa, a Victorian country house set in 55 acres of parkland at Ingliston, has unveiled a £13 million transformation which now offers 83 high-tech guestrooms furnished in vibrant greens and purples. Edinburgh’s opulent 260-bedroom Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa features ten dedicated function rooms including the largest suite in the city for up to 485 delegates. The hotel’s £15 million One Spa, regarded as Socks appeal: revellers at the Edinburgh tattoo one of the most advanced city spa Continued on page 91 complexes in Europe, is undergoing a £1.5 million refurbishment programme to keep it at the cutting edge of holistic well-being. Plans have been unveiled for a £200 million development at Haymarket, destined to transform the western gateway into the city. It includes a 17-storey leaf-shaped hotel next to Haymarket railway station, plus offices, restaurants and shops. The landmark development includes this five-star hotel plus a three-star Travelodge. Edinburgh: The smartly-appointed Dakota Forth Bridge hotel set on a road Scotland’s inspiring capital interchange close to the landmark road bridge, has created a real stir among foodies and meeting attendees since its opening. A recent addition Please contact us for free, impartial advice on to Ken McCullogh’s Dakota portfolio every aspect of arranging a conference in this – which displays an inventive inspiring city counterpoint to his Malmaison addresses – the hotel’s chefs scored a double whammy earlier this year by 'The Dakota being named as Scottish Restaurant of the Year and Scottish Hotel Forth Bridge Restaurant of the Year. Down the hill, on South Hotel has Queensferry’s village-style main street, and set right on the Forth’s created a real +44 (0)131 473 3666 shoreline between the iconic road [email protected] www.conventionedinburgh.com and rail bridges, the Orocco Pier is stir among a largely undiscovered delight. Lively foodies and and inventive dining complements 12 modern guestrooms and a selection of meeting meeting rooms for up to 25 delegates. Perfect for boardroom retreats. attendees'

October 2008 89 Visit the EICC at EIBTM on VisitScotlandG300 stand more than just a space edinburgh international conference centre

The EICC is not just a building with convention space and equipment – it’s a team of people with expertise, enthusiasm and experience… This is a place where you can really make things happen.

www.eicc.co.uk

For more information please contact us at the details below, quoting M&IT

edinburgh international conference centre the exchange, edinburgh, eh3 8ee, scotland t: +44 (0) 131 300 3000 f: +44 (0) 131 300 3030 e: [email protected] w: www.eicc.co.uk ATENSEDINBURGH AND ST ANDREWS

Continued from page 89 In the Old Town, the Surgeons’ Hall complex, home of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, features an array of meeting and function rooms, and a smartly-appointed 78-room hotel, Ten Hill Place. Events accommodation includes the Main Hall, designed by William Playfair; the 158-seat Symposium Hall housed in a converted church; and the versatile modernist Quincentenary Hall which opened last year. Beyond the other side of Princes Street, the traditional-with-a-twist Royal Terrace Hotel has packed its 107 bedrooms and events suites for up to 100, with masses of multi-media amenities. Created from five Edwardian terraced houses set just outside the New Town, Channings maintains the atmosphere of a Scottish country house packed with oak panelling, ornate fireplaces, moulded ceilings and antiques. Its 41 guestrooms are individually decorated to high standards, likewise its meeting and function suites. ECB chief executive Sue Stuart said: “Edinburgh is driving an amazing array of new amenities Meal deal: dining at the Fairmont St Andrews which will interest meetings, events and incentive organisers and their participants. The refurbished Edinburgh International Climbing Holding forth across the Firth Arena – the world’s largest indoor Across the Firth of Forth and luxuriating on the North Sea coastline, climbing centre – offers delegate historic St Andrews is developing at a relentless pace. meeting space for up to 1,600, supported by teambuilding, rock The home of golf and of Scotland’s oldest university, St Andrews is climbing and abseiling services. investing heavily in its conference and events repertoire. “Down at Leith Harbour, The Royal St Andrews University is currently developing a £45 million School Yacht Britannia’s Royal Deck is being of Medicine and Sciences which is destined to lead research in areas brought back into use for dinners and such as cancer, health psychology and infectious disease. It will also receptions. A multi-million pound be one of the first UK medical schools where research facilities are expansion of the EICC is planned, integrated with other disciplines including physics, chemistry, biology featuring event space that can and psychology, delivering new dimensions in medical research and change from a flat-floor exhibition doctors’ training. or banqueting hall into a tiered auditorium or arena for 1,600 people, Catriona Anderson, associations manager with VisitScotland Business Tourism Unit, said: “We expect the school to be a major at the click of a computer mouse. draw for associations and conferences, when delegates will be able to “And the Scotch Whisky experience the town’s attractions and new incentives.” Experience on the Royal Mile will re-open in March 2009 after a £2 The Old Course Hotel Golf and Spa Resort – already a respected million refurbishment to offer a venue for blue-chip corporate events, seminars and conferences cutting-edge approach to learning – has recently completed a £12 million refurbishment. Most of the about whisky. property’s 146 five-star guestrooms overlook the famed 17th Road “Novotel has opened a 160-room 'Edinburgh Hole. hotel between the airport and the city The Fairmont St Andrews, one of the biggest conference hotels centre. The Apex group is opening its is driving outside Scotland’s major cities, is also undergoing a major fourth hotel at the east end of Princes redevelopment to create a destination spa venue to complement its Street, early next year. And there an amazing golf and sporting amenities. The hotel is home to two championship- are plans to redevelop Tynecastle array of new standard cliff-top golf courses – so business and golf make for a Stadium, home to Hearts FC, with an heady combination, particularly when post-meeting stays allow associated hotel,” Stuart added. amenities' participants to savour the Fairmont courses and, perhaps, some of Event planners will be hard Sue Stuart the 40-plus courses within a short drive. pressed to keep pace with Scotland’s Edinburgh Convention high-speed capital. Bureau

October 2008 91 Meetings designed for success

Over 70 meeting rooms throughout Belgium and Netherlands Amsterdam x2, Antwerp, Brussels x2, Hasselt, Spa x2 And more than 130 destinations in Europe, Middle East and Africa

Ring +44 161 436 1931 meetings.radissonsas.com ATENSBELGIUM A different picture

Belgium and its capital are not uninteresting – they’re unfamiliar. Angela Antrobus explains Paint the town: mural in Brussels

elgium has so much more “For instance, famous Belgian needed although I feel it looks a bit going for it than most Hergé’s hero Tintin and his faithful dated now. But exclusive use of the people realise. It’s close dog Snowy will be taking centre stage trendy La Manufacture restaurant, in and convenient, full of next year when they’re brought to an old Delvaux leather goods factory character and innovation, the Hollywood screen and Brussels’ for the awards dinner, was terrific.” theB restaurants serve phenomenal walls are already ablaze with Belgium’s many unique beers food (better than French, some say) colourful murals of his exploits.” featured in an incentive for 150 and its Eurostar connection makes Brussels even boasts a museum Knight Frank employees organised economic and environmental sense dedicated to comic strip characters by Maximillion Events. “Local to UK clients. and 130 delegates from Schröder destination management company So why ever do Belgium - and offices all over Europe came face Admire worked with us to run a beer its capital - get called boring? It to face with some of them, fleshed WHO rally in some Brussels breweries could be something to do with out by actors, on a team-building city and a visit to Waterloo, the site of the faceless EU bureaucrats, but as rally. MCI UK organised the event to contact battlefield,” says project manager Jane Read, managing director of with counterpart MCI Brussels (its Stuart Moffett. “The highlight was a team development specialist City DMC arm is now officially part of SARAH MATHEWS Belgian theme dinner in the Caves Challenge, says: “Brussels has Ovation Global). TOURISM FLANDERS de Cureghem, an old underground amazing architecture and street “Lead time was short so we didn’t BRUSSELS abattoir the size of a football pitch. paintings and, if you explore properly, have a large choice of hotels,” says Tel: 020 7307 7734 The buffet was enormous, there was you’ll never view it in the same light account director Martin Richardson. Email: sarah@ archery, falconry and a magician and again. “The Hilton had the meeting space we visitflanders.co.uk everybody loved it.” Continued on page 95

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 ATENSBELGIUM Squaring the circle

Continued from page 93 Brussels won’t feel it’s complete again as an international conference city until Square opens in September next year. On the same site as the old Palais des Moffett says Brussels was chosen Congrès, in the heart of town, it will bear little resemblance, starting with the to keep both costs and carbon 10 metre high glass cube at the entrance. The new-look centre will have a 580 emissions down by travelling from square metre main hall, a 650 square metre modular hall, three auditoria and London on Eurostar. But it was a 4,000 square metre of exhibition space. first for him and, like the delegates, he wanted to stay longer. New to view Andrew Winterburn, WorldEvents’ In Brussels, the ultra modern Hotel Bloom has 305 rooms and suites and 12 European development manager, says meeting rooms, including a 430 square metre ballroom. The Hotel Dominican Belgium offers great value for money is another new design hotel with 150 chic rooms and three meeting rooms and a good return on investment. In which open into one to seat 160. Brussels, he particularly likes Rocco The 500 square metre Le Claridge, inspired by the art deco period, has Forte’s revamp of the quintessentially been given a fresh new look and Les Halles des Tanneurs opened last year Belgian Hotel Amigo, the museums in a listed art nouveau building – it has large event rooms and a gourmet and the restaurants. And, for outdoor restaurant. activities, he recommends Heysel A new Novotel near Brussels Midi station will open in September 2009 and Park, overlooked by the gleaming balls Sofitel is renovating the grand old Astoria, also reopening next year. of the newly restored Atomium. Aquatic antics in Antwerp Belgium’s second city Antwerp has a small, comfortable feel to it, The hottest new hotel in Antwerp is the four-star Golden Tulip Antwerp according to Winterburn, but as a Centre, close to Central Station, the diamond district, zoo, business district port city it is also very cosmopolitan. and pleasant Meir shopping street. The Park Plaza Astrid Antwerp has been He says the hotels had been getting a completely renovated and it’s worth noting you can hold events in Aquatopia, little tired but Antwerp is now rising its underwater world. to the challenge and investing in facilities.

Andrew Winterburn casestudy WorldEvents

Meeting at the Amigo: Ambassador Ballroom Balancing act: fountain in Antwerp The already iconic Richard Rogers- designed new law courts have made Juggling the itinerary their mark on the skyline, setting the pace for further regeneration. WorldEvents has run many events in location gave the delegates a chance Looking ahead, the old harbour area Antwerp and finds it ideal for groups to get a sense of the city. For an is undergoing massive development 'Antwerp of up to 100. Staff based there and ice-breaker, for instance, they only had and the stunning new Mas Museum long-standing relationships with to step outside on to the town square and Red Star Line memorial museum works well as local suppliers allow the company to play ‘More Balls Than Most’, a will be major event venues. Now the to negotiate preferential rates juggling exercise which helps deliver search is on for a central site for a a walking city. and, by taking advantage of its key messages such as creativity, 2,000 capacity convention centre. full-service package, clients can focus dynamics and cooperation. And Antwerp is a fashion hub, the Motivational fully on their event content. Thirty excellent dining venues such as Huis diamond capital of the world pharmaceutical product managers did De Colvenier and Rooden Hoed were and café life is buzzing there. “It treasure hunts just that, meeting at the Hilton for an in walking distance. works very well as a walking city,” update on marketing activities. The delegates appreciated the says Winterburn. “You never feel on foot are very The hotel offers flexible meeting convenience and cosiness of the intimidated and motivational treasure space, an efficient meetings and destination as it enhanced the hunts on foot are very successful. As successful' banqueting department and recently meeting atmosphere and interaction for group dining, the fish restaurants Andrew Winterburn refurbished bedrooms and its central between them. near the port are fantastic.” WorldEvents

October 2008 95 UK&Irelandvenues

Sometimes there’s no beating the charm and character of an historic or heritage venue. Planners share their experiences with Robin Anderson

Raise your tankard: entertainment at Warwick Castle Golden oldies

here is a mind-boggling and set in 50 acres of what was once including conferences, meetings array of refurbished, the heart of Surrey’s Royal Windsor and exhibitions for the first time in upgraded and extended Forest, enlisted the help of one of its its 400-year history. Its dining room facilities coming on-stream biggest clients, Samsung, to develop can accommodate 80 theatre-style in historic locations. its Coach House as a modern while the Edwardian-styled billiard TBut another interesting trend meetings and product launch facility. room can seat 50 for dinner. Its 900 sees major corporates teaming up It features a video wall, and 50-inch parkland acres include the remains of with heritage venues they use on a plasma screens in the smaller a 12th century castle and are home to regular basis, to provide cutting-edge meeting rooms. fallow deer and a herd of rare white amenities in historic settings. The property’s 22 bespoke park cattle associated with Dinefwr For example, De Vere Venues’ guestrooms are also technology- for a thousand years. Horsley Park in Surrey has launched packed, with Samsung plasma Cardiff Castle, which boasts a the Allianz Suite, a versatile training screens and iPod docking stations. 2,000-year history back to Roman space designed specifically for blue- On more conventional - but times, has recently undertaken chip insurance company Allianz. Neil equally attractive - lines, medieval conservation works on its interiors, Hibbert, De Vere Venues business Warwick Castle now offers a new and added a £5 million interpretation development director, said: “We series of theme nights to round centre capable of hosting dinners for created three meeting rooms and off business days in the English 'Corporates are 70 guests. The Banqueting Hall and three syndicates in such a way that Midlands: highwayman’s suppers, Library are also in regular use for we could provide seven separate kingmakers feasts and ghost teaming up with conference-related celebrations. rooms. Working with Allianz, we suppers examining history, horror Plas Dinas, a house in Caernarfon, developed a touchdown IT room, and humour surrounding the life heritage venues north Wales, dating back to the 17th integrated into the Allianz network, of the Earl of Warwick. The 14th Century, and ancestral home of the and a trainer’s office, for privacy.” Century Great Hall and 18th Century to provide Armstrong-Jones family (including It’s an intriguing addition to De Vere State Dining Room can entertain on Lord Snowdon) has undergone Venues’ portfolio of 30 corporate an extravagant scale. cutting-edge a £100,000 refurbishment to its meeting, training and conference Across the Welsh border, Newton accommodation and public rooms centres, nationwide. House, Dinefwr Park and Castle facilities in combining new technology with Great Fosters, a country house in Camarthenshire has opened its preservation of its traditional hotel dating back to the 16th century, doors to corporate business events historic settings' features. Continued on page 99

96 October 2008 ne of England's most historic Ohomes, available exclusively for corporate and private entertaining, with two Championship golf courses and Faldo Golf Institute, yet only 22 miles from Hyde Park Corner. When the occasion demands Exclusivity, Privacy, Luxury Accommodation and a Butler, there really is only one choice...

The Prince Regent Suite, commissioned by the Prince himself, it is furnished in the ‘chinoiserie’ style, including hand- painted wallpaper, - a very fashionable theme in the 18th Century.

HERTFORDSHIRE, ENGLAND

For further information: T: +44 (0)1707 335241 E: [email protected] www.brocket-hall.co.uk In a presentation, use visuals to get attention. Conferencing at Mercedes-Benz World. l€}8y|‡EŽ‹y„8~y{„Œ}‹8†8‡Š8]Ž}†Œ8`y„„D8l€}yŒŠ}8y†|8 Y‹8}„„8y‹8Œ€Š„„†8\ŠŽ†8]ˆ}Š}†{}‹8Œ‡8z}8€y|D8~Š‡ 8 [‡†~}Š}†{}8kŒ}‹8yŠ}8yz‹‡„Œ}„‘8‹ŒyŒ}E‡~EŒ€}EyŠŒF8ZŒ8}Ž}†8}8 Ye_8h}Š~‡Š y†{}8Œ‡8g~~Ej‡y|F8e}Š{}|}‹EZ}†’8o‡Š„|8 €yŽ}8Œ‡8y| ŒS8Œ€}‘8ˆŠ‡zyz„‘8yŠ}†ÊŒ8€yŒ8‘‡Š8|}„}yŒ}‹8„„8 ‹8‚‹Œ8 †Œ}‹8~Š‡ 8Œ€}8eJM8y†|8Œ€†8}y‹‘8y{{}‹‹8‡~8 ‡8yy‘8Œy„ƒ†8yz‡ŒF8f‡Œ8€}†8e}Š{}|}‹EZ}†’8o‡Š„|8‡~~}Š‹8 `}yŒ€Š‡8y†|8_yŒ{ƒ8yŠˆ‡ŠŒ‹8y†|8Œ€}8Šy„8†}Œ‡ŠƒF ‡Œ€}Š8‹Œ „yŒ‡†8‡~8Œ€‹8{y„zŠ}F8Y†|8Œ€‹8‹Œ†††8_„„†8 ^‡Š8 ‡Š}8†~‡Š yŒ‡†D8Ž‹Œ8 }Š{}|}‹Ez}†’‡Š„|F{‡Fƒ {yŠ8‹8‡†„‘8Œ€}8‹ŒyŠŒF8l€}Š}8yŠ}8{„y‹‹{‹8~Š‡ 8Œ€}8€‹Œ‡Š‘8‡~8 ‡Š8{y„„8HIQKJ8KOK8OHOF ‡Œ‡Š†8y†|8‡Ž}Š8y8€†|Š}|8{‡†Œ} ˆ‡ŠyŠ‘8 ‡|}„‹8Œ‡8}ˆ„‡Š}F

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Continued from page 96

Bowood, the venue of choice in the South of England, is set in the heart of spectacular Wiltshire countryside and located within easy reach of the M4 corridor.

Top of our agenda is to deliver all your requirements for successful conferences, meetings, team-building and corporate days. Events, whatever size, can be tailored to suit your specific needs. On a plate: fine dining at the Manor House Hotel Enhancing Bowood’s Future returns: outstanding reputation as a first-class centre Manor House Hotel, Castle Combe of excellence, a new hotel and spa will be launched in May 2009. taken up with four parallel workshop sessions. Liz Barnes Future Publishing It’s an appropriate counterpoint setting for our folk who publish games, computing, technology, Client: Future Publishing design and music magazines. Event: Corporate meeting Indeed, we have held events at the Manor House over the past four years and also take guestrooms at nearby uture Publishing, based hotels, although all delegates gather in Bath, took on exclusive to dine at the Manor House. This use of the 14th Century year’s formal dinner at the hotel’s Manor House Hotel in the highly acclaimed Bybrook Restaurant delightful Wiltshire village involved 70 people ordering from the ofF Castle Combe – including all 48 restaurant’s executive menus. The bedrooms. It is set in 365 acres final evening featured a barbecue on to book or discuss your of gardens and woodland, but our the hotel’s lawns plus giant games of requirements, call our team delegates would have been hard Jenga and Connect Four. and discover more on 01249 822228 pressed to explore them all, given Parts of our conference were a business programme of morning recorded by BBC TV, for coverage on www.bowood.org plenary sessions and afternoons the local station Points West. Continued on page 100

October 2008 99 UK&Irelandvenues

Continued from page 99
                           

Scenic wonder: the venue showcased the stunning Brecon Beacons

Wye and wherefore: Llangoed Hall, Brecon Beacons, Wales

originally called Llangoed Castle on Karen McGrath a site dating back to 560AD, where Eventure UK the Welsh Parliament once held court. The oldest part of the current building dates back to 1632 and there Client: Welsh TV channel S4C are many original features. Event: Corporate conference There is no reception desk, just affable staff to fetch and carry bags. And there’s no bar – just a selection ur client wanted to of fine malts, wines and other spirits, hold a corporate event and a personal butler to fetch mixers in a venue that would and glasses. showcase Wales and all Our event took place in summer, it has to offer in terms of with the Great Hall’s French windows quality,O uniqueness and tranquillity. open during the drinks reception so Llangoed Hall stands on the banks delegates could enjoy the garden      
!"# of the River Wye with views over the and a pristine croquet lawn. Rosette- Black Mountains and some of the winning Head Chef Sean Ballington,
$%&'%!(")%%% country’s finest walking scenery. specialises in use of local produce  *     Each room is individually decorated including Welsh lamb, salmon and with antique furniture and works by laverbread (seaweed). Wandering      artists including Whistler, Sickert the maze is obligatory, but not after and Augustus John. The Hall was a night of celebrations.

100 October 2008 Healing touch: The Shelbourne, Dublin

  

   
 
  Set in the heart of Kent, just one hour from London, Leeds Castle has a long history of hosting important events for royalty, politicians and celebrities of the day.

Today, the medieval castle and its historic surroundings provide peace, privacy and security for residential and day conferences, meetings, corporate hospitality and banqueting.

This historic venue can accommodate small meetings of 10 The Royal College of Physicians was the gala dinner venue delegates or larger events for up to 2,000 people and offers a bespoke experience to suit a wide range of interests and requirements.

Margaret Lynch To receive a corporate information pack, or for more Verve Marketing information, please visit our website, call 01622 767823 or email [email protected] Client: Deutsche Leasing        Event: Supervisory Board meeting

eutsche Leasing’s Supervisory Board met : in Dublin, to mark the +- opening of their offices in the Irish capital. The = Devent was based at the Shelbourne Dublin. The programme incorporated a spouses’ programme and full schedule of business meetings. We had to tackle  

an extended arrivals schedule for the 60 participants – ensuring a top-flight programme for every guest, no matter when they arrived. 
 Thursday featured lunch in the Merrion Hotel’s Michelin-starred restaurant, followed by business sessions at The Shelbourne and a partners’ tour featuring Temple Bar,  
 the Book of Kells at Trinity College and shopping on Grafton Street. If you’ve got an issue you feel The evening began with whiskey 'We had to strongly about, share it with us. tastings in The Shelbourne’s historic Constitutional Room. Dinner was at ensure a E-mail us at [email protected] Aqua Restaurant in Howth Harbour, or go to www.meetpie.com/mailbag a fishing village on the outskirts of top flight Dublin. Friday included a partners’ visit to programme for We are waiting to hear from you… The Powerscourt Gardens in County Wicklow; city tour by open-top bus every guest, and a gala evening at The Royal College of Physicians. no matter Please keep The final day included a private letters to audience with the organists at St what time they 200 words long Patrick’s Cathedral and an Irish evening in the Johnnie Fox's pub. arrived'

October 2008 101

ATENSISTANBUL Two into one

Istanbul has doubled its appeal to conference planners, says John Keenan Where worlds collide: Istanbul's eclectic skyline

t is a cliché as irresistible as the has 395 rooms. “The organisation of IMF and World city it describes – Istanbul, the Boyce says: “The development Bank annual meetings in Istanbul city on two continents. A lesser comes at the same time that the marks an important step on the way known fact is that Istanbul is Congress Valley, in the city centre to being a significant finance centre. also the city with two conference near Taksim Square, is expanding Having hosted previous international districts.I in preparation for the Board of events with great success, we are According to Handan Boyce at Governors of the International now preparing to host approximately the Istanbul Convention & Visitors Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank 30,000 people governing world Bureau, the area surrounding Istanbul Meeting in October next year. finance.” Ataturk International Airport is fast "New construction, which will be Boyce is confident that the growing into one of Europe’s newest completed in March 2009, includes city will cope. “Just in case there conference districts. The Istanbul 1,000 fully-equipped offices and weren’t enough options for even the Expo Center forms the heart of the 83,700 square metres of new most demanding meeting planner, area while the Airport Conference conference space above and below Istanbul also offers other excellent District features six new four- and ground. WHO meeting clusters,” she says. “The five-star hotels planned or opening "Along with this, additions will be Maslak Business District provides soon, including the excitedly-named made to existing facilities, including to contact excellent accommodation such as WOW Hotels & Convention Center the Istanbul Convention & Exhibition the Mövenpick Hotel Istanbul and with 630 rooms and conference Center (ICEC), built to host the United HANDAN BOYCE the Sheraton Istanbul Maslak and capacity for 3,000 participants. The Nations Conference on Population ISTANBUL CVB venues within walking distance Holiday Inn Istanbul Airport North has (HABITAT II), which was host to Tel: 00 90 212 343 0000 of the Istanbul Stock Exchange 660 rooms, and Courtyard by Marriott the World Radio Communications E-mail: handanboyce@ (ISE), universities, and technology Hotel Istanbul International Airport Conference (WRC). icvb.org incubators.” Continued on page 105

October 2008 103 Land of Meetings Throughout history this land has been host to all the civilisations of the East and the West. Today - warm hospitality, excellent service, stunning natural beauty and a rich cultural heritage combine to make Turkey the perfect location for international meetings and conferences.

 


 
    




    ATENSISTANBUL

Continued from page 103 Play it strait

he Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts group has opened its second property in Istanbul. Located on the European banks of the BosphorusT strait, the property blends Turkish tradition with cosmopolitan convenience. The hotel has 166 rooms within the original palace building, complemented by two new wings. Meetings and event facilities include two ballrooms, which can accommodate receptions for up to 1,000 people. The new Four The former summer retreat of the Ottoman aristocracy, the hotel Seasons is features light and subtle interiors alongside tasteful Turkish touches. the former View from the Four Seasons at the Bosphorus Taking advantage of its waterside location, the exterior amenities – summer Beneath the terrace is a 2,100 with heady local elements. including heated pool and whirlpool, square metre spa, sky-lit from above, The hotel is a sister property to bar pavilions and the Wedding retreat of featuring three hammams. the Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at Garden – are located along a 190 The hotel’s main restaurant, Sultanahmet – a converted prison in metre waterfront terrace, framed Ottoman Aqua, takes its inspiration from the the heart of the city’s Old Town and by the Bosphorus and its protean waterfront, blending dishes from accessible from the new property by perspective. Mediterranean and coastal areas the Bosphorus. aristocracy Continued on page 106

October 2008 105 ATENSISTANBUL

Continued from page 105 Flying high

sked if Istanbul can be successful events held in Istanbul. considered a safe city "Mentor Graphic, a leading Sadik Caglar, managing US-based corporation in the director of ODS, one electronic design automation of the city’s leading industry planned their ‘Platinum Adestination management companies, Club’ incentive trip to Istanbul this reacts as if he had been asked if year. 260 winners stayed at the Manchester could be considered a Ritz-Carlton, enjoyed the Turkish wet one. Bath and sailed the Bosphorus 'According to He says: “According to a European aboard Sultan’s wooden boats. The Union study, Istanbul is the safest company chose the 1001-column an EU study, major city in the world. The EU Crime Cistern, one of the most ancient and and Safety survey for 2006 showed exquisite venues in the world, for Istanbul is the that the crime rate in Istanbul was their gala dinner. just 18 per cent last year. "And this summer the Red Bull safest major This compared with 32 per cent in Air Race headed to Istanbul for the London, 27 per cent in Amsterdam, fourth race of the season, where the city in the 26 per cent in Belfast and Dublin and world's best pilots took to the skies, 24 per cent in Copenhagen." racing metres above the Golden Horn world' He adds: "But you needn’t take my estuary at speeds of up to 400 kph. Sadik Caglar word for it. Look at the number of The race track was positioned along ODS

106 October 2008 Lobby lounge at the Marmara Hotel. Inset: view from the club floor the horn-shaped estuary, known in Turkish as the ‘Haliç', between Galata Bridge and Atatürk Bridge." Not content with rattling off high-profile events, Caglar also points out the strength of Istanbul’s infrastucture. International hotel brands which have opened second and third hotels in the city are the InterContinental Hotels Group, which owns Holiday Inn and Crowne Plaza brands, the Starwood Group, owner of Sheraton and W brands, and international companies like Marriott and Four Seasons. The Accor hotel chain has also made its debut in Istanbul and opened its first hotels, the Novotel and Ibis. But we were meeting not in an international chain but in the distinctly Ottoman setting of the lobby lounge at the Marmara Hotel, bang in the middle of the city. It deserves wider recognition among UK meeting planners. The meeting facilities can cater for 10 to 1,000 participants with rooms ranging from the Grand Ballroom, the Opera Room, the Taksim Ballroom and the Anadolu Club Room. The meeting and business centre comprises six smaller meeting rooms and a first-rate business centre. From my own experience I know that the staff at the Marmara Istanbul will go the extra mile to make an event a resounding success.

October 2008 107 gets more than 15,000 visits a week from event industry professionals looking for daily news, opinion, statistics, jobs, events, education, venues, suppliers and more

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108 October 08 recruitment

Head Of Production Leicestershire £55k + Benefits Video Producer Aylesbury £30-35k + Benefits Technical Director London (SW) £Neg Event Manager Worcestershire £25-32k + Bonus Client Services Manager Hampshire £Neg Set & Staging PM Leicestershire £31k + Benefits C&I Account Director London £neg AV Project Manager East Midlands £25-30k + Car + Benefits Senior Producer Leicestershire £50k + Benefits Senior Account Co-ordinator Middlesex £Neg Senior Producer London (N) £30-50k + Benefits Project Manager Nr Cheltenham £30k + Benefits Event / AV Producer Switzerland £40-45k + Benefits Graphics / Show Designer London (N) £30k + Benefits Sales Manager Leicestershire £35-45k + Comm Senior Account Manager London £28-30k + Car Technical Production Manager London (CE) £35-45k + Benefits Events Project Manager Leicestershire £25 - 30k Production Ops Manager London (N) £30-45k + Benefits AV Project Manager Lancashire £29k + Benefits Regional Manager Events London £40k + Benefits Congress Project Manager Berkshire £28k + Benefits Account Team Manager London £Neg Project Manager - Pharma Berkshire £28k + Benefits Events Operations Manager Berkshire £40k + Benefits Events Account Manager West Yorkshire £28k + Benefits Events Account Director West Yorkshire £38k + Benefits Events Account Manager London £27k + Benefits Production Manager Hampshire £32-36k + Benefits Event Co-ordinator (Contract) London £24k + Benefits Deputy Account Manager London £Neg Event & Group Travel Manager Surrey £20-24k + Benefits Account / Sales Manager Manchester (North) £35k + Car + Benefits Project Executive Berkshire £23k + Benefits Sales / BDM London (W) £35k + Car + OTE Deputy General Manager Worcestershire £23k + Benefits Senior Marketing Manager Coventry £35k + Benefits Tele-sales London (W) £20-22k + OTE AV Project Manager Staffordshire £Neg Account Executive West Yorkshire £21k + Benefits AV Project Manager Middlesex £35k + Benefits Events Executive Worcestershire £20k + Benefits BDM Middlesex £35k + Benefits F & B Buyer Birmingham £19k + Benefits Proposal Writer Surrey £27k + Benefits In-House AV Technician Warrington £16-18k + Benefits Telesales London £25k Inc OTE

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Nipped in the Striking gold (taste) bud Armchair athletes from Word reaches us that the the events industry have Sheraton Hong Kong Hotel revealed their own haul of & Towers is this month gold for Meetings Industry featuring the ‘Hairy Crab Meeting Needs from the Feast’. Wii Olympics. According to the blurb, The event, held at “the Braised Yang Ching the Marriott Grosvenor Lake Hairy Crab is the Square, just after Team best traditional specialty GB’s record breaking to savour the authentic medal haul at the Beijing flavour of the hairy crabs”. The Visit London golf and lifestyle day was held at the luxurious Olympics, raised £1,750 An acquired taste, no country estate, The Grove in Hertfordshire, in association with for the meetings industry’s doubt. Eventia and M&IT Magazine. own charity. Over 50 guests attended the inaugural event, including senior Following a networking members of BBC Worldwide, Universal CIT, Pfizer and Norwich Caroline Pidroni was presented Union Insurance, as well as many Visit London partners from event, attendees in mixed teams tested their skills using with a lookalike gnome of Zurich Oh crumbs! Barbican and ExCeL London to Wedgewood Britain and The by her Swiss supplier colleagues Brewery. Wii computer games to battle during a presentation by M&IT in While researching Guests were invited to either partake in an 18 hole golf it out with their opponents London last month. this month's Anatomy competition as part of a four ball, or alternatively try their hand at at sports including baseball, of a Meeting piece the executive sports clinics; where golf, tennis and volleyball were on offer. After plenty of outdoor activities, they all relaxed in the Potting golf, boxing - and even cow Core skill on conference grub, Shed at the end of the afternoon for a barbecue and prize giving. racing. Caroline Pidroni's departure M&IT discovered that The top prize of Best Golf Team went to the Sports Editors The event was from the London office undergraduate students at Team, made up of Mark Howell, Visit London’s Senior Manager organised by the SITE of the Swiss Convention Northumbria University’s for 2012 Games; Nick Cherrie from the Sunday Mirror; Tim Allan and Incentive Bureau from the News of the World; and Keith Perry from the Daily (Society of Incentive Food and Nutritional Telegraph (pictured). Winning all sorts of wonderful prizes from Travel Executives) Great was an emotional affair Department were eligible accommodation at Millennium Gloucester, to dinner at the Baglioni, Britain Chapter working where event organisers for sandwich placements tickets to the Barbican and tickets to a Chelsea match. in partnership with HBAA learned that the already during their course. BLT Special mention goes to Claire Lawson from The Brewery, who linguistically talented Swiss scored an Albatross! Full report in the October issue of M&IT. (Hotel Booking Agents anyone? Association), Eventia, have mastered yet another Meeting Professionals tongue: fluent Anglo- International and the Saxon. While thanking Ms Pidroni and announcing her Jingle b*lls… Vogt’s price promotion International Special Events Society. departure for the Big Apple When it comes to Germany's 3.8 per cent cheap ticket, it is clear office, her boss said of her added value, most of us meetings industry market that value for money Things they colleagues across the pond: think of free Wi-Fi or a share has grown to will feature high on their "They won't know what's complimentary drinks 5 per cent in the past list of unique selling say… f*cking hit them!" Even we reception, but not Yahoo! year and the secret of points. Vogt said of the "Tonight's dress code is English oiks were surprised The internet giant asks their success, according competition in France: "In smart/casual - just a little by such public use of the hotels to play its signature to German Convention Paris you get three-star smarter than you are vernacular and then Ms “Yahoo!” jingle when Bureau director Lutz Vogt, hotels at five-star prices wearing now..." Pidroni demonstrated her employees check in. is simple: "Top quality with two star qualities. How conference chair equal fluency with her “They really love it,” infrastructure at the best In Germany the cost of Gill Smillie delicately announcement into the enthuses international prices in Euroland." living and salaries are insulted delegates at the microphone: "It's not just a travel manager, Caroline While the Germans low - overseas visitors International Association Big Apple, it's a f*cking big Strachan. are loathe to hitch their benefit from the internal of Conference Centres bite!" Hmmm… meetings product to a competition." meeting at Scarman House. Ouch!

?An eventful life - Roger Parker Job: Director, Event Operations, record-breaking Vodafone Ball in Earls Tina develop the innovative service AddingValue Court 2 for 10,000 employees. offerings planned for launch over the next few months. That, and preparing to My first event: This year I celebrated My most disastrous event: When mobilise for a family holiday in Mauritius my 20th anniversary in events, hurricane George closed New Orleans later this year – a first attempt at flying having started as travel manager airport for two days in 1998 at the end with our year-old twin boys. with then fledging incentive house of a six-night, 400 person event. A Motivforce. It was in at the deep downtown curfew, with hotel firmly At my fantasy event: Venue: Abramovich end, organising a VIP incentive for boarded up, resulted in the bar being yacht; itinerary: Tahiti and Bora Bora; mobile service provider principals, drunk dry - not an enviable situation for food: Marcus Waring; wine: Ben Glaetzer; combining Cairo with a chartered any event manager! Then in October lounge tunes: Gilles Peterson; some Nile cruise, and not a little Imodium. 2005, hurricane Wilma closed our unspecified and entirely gratuitous role: Cancun hotel for 12 of the 18-months Halle Berry. The event I am most proud of: lead time, on another event for the same Working with Randle Stonier and client! An event I wish I could have attended: Tina Morris (amongst others!) a few A crewmember of the first European years ago on the Guinness world My next big event: Helping Randle and vessel to discover Mauritius.

110 October 2008

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A Meetings & Incentive Travel special supplement

GREECE is a country of unmatched history, hospitality, cultural heritage, unique habits and customs and natural beauty. Add Welcome to these attributes the lessons learned and the infrastructure built for the Olympic Games, and Greece can offer the knowledge and experience to successfully organise major events together with modern infrastructure, high standards to Greece of service and security. In a global tourism market with expanding international competition, Greece remains one of the leading destinations in the world tourism rankings. By maintaining our standards and evolving our facilities, we strive to strengthen the position we Aris Spiliotopoulos, hold while still setting the bar higher in our efforts to elevate Minister of Tourism, our country to a superpower in the global tourism arena. All these factors combined have helped us to develop a dynamic invites meeting and tourism sector that reflects our high expectations and responsibilities. We have an ambitious programme for the future, too, which we hope will ensure our continuing success. incentive planners And one of our great strengths is that we can offer the conference and incentive market excellent levels of service to enjoy the natural and facilities together with an exceptional range of City Break attributes of Greece, programmes. Greece offers conference planners many unique advantages in addition to the attributes developed for the 21st century together with tourism market. The close proximity to Central Europe, for instance, makes Greece an ideal destination for international its 21st-century conferences; the exceptional conference infrastructure in areas such as Athens, Thessaloniki, Crete and Rhodes – to name infrastructure but a few – offer delegates the chance to combine business travel with the opportunity to explore a country famous and facilities for its culture, sun and sea, offering a truly unforgettable experience.

Today, Greece has achieved a strong and secure position in South Eastern Europe and offers a modern, attractive destination for all visitors. Our main aim is to establish Greece among the top conference destinations with international standards without compromising our authentic ambience and Greek hospitality – qualities that stand out from that first ever congress in the 5th Century BC held in Pnyka Hill in Athens by Pericles.

Aris Spiliotopoulos Minister of Tourism

iii Greece Introduction A land of

GREECE has been called the birthplace of civilisation, with a history that Greece is spans four millennia. It gave us literature, drama, philosophy, democracy, modern medicine and the Olympic Games, and is one of the world’s a versatile greatest outdoor museums, with a host of unique monuments, historical destination for sites and echoes of the past. It is also one of the most beautiful and relaxing countries on the planet, bathed event organisers, in sunshine for much of the year and where having a good time, for locals and visitors alike, has become something akin to an art form. says Paul Rouse But there is more to Greece than ancient history and hedonism, and whilst the popular images conjured up of the country might be of Classical temples, drinking ouzo, smashing plates, lazing on long sandy beaches, or feasting on sumptuous mezes on vine-covered terraces, Greece is also a modern nation, with vibrant, bustling cities, a cosmopolitan outlook, and a pragmatic approach to business. And it proved with the 2004 Olympic Games that it is capable of handling the largest and most complex of events, under the scrutiny of the watching world, and that the country has invested heavily, and successfully, in its infrastructure.

Which is all good news for organisers. For what Greece also offers is a wide range of top hotels, from internationally-renowned grand dames in its major cities to trendy designer properties on many of its islands, together with a host of up-to-the-minute, fully-equipped conference centres and other venues suitable for events of all sizes, from major conventions to exclusive incentives.

Include some of the other factors that influence planners when choosing a CONTACT destination for an event – ease of access, efficient internal transport links, sunny weather, professional levels of service, a genuinely warm welcome, Makis Peppas - Director inventive DMCs, a variety of out-of-hours activities and value for money Greek National Tourism Organisation – and it is easy to see why the mathematics (a Greek word incidentally) 4 Conduit Street add up. London W1S 2DJ Tel: 0207 499 8161 It is also why the roll call of companies who have held recent events in the Fax: 0207 495 4057 country reads like a who’s who of the business world – Citigroup, Hewlett email: [email protected] Packard, PricewaterhouseCoopers, AstraZeneca, IBM, Deloitte, HSBC, www.gnto.co.uk Puma, BMW, Lloyds TSB and BP to name just a few.

IV Greece Left: The Greek islands have enduring appeal Above: The birthplace of modern civilisation Right: There are venues to suit all types of event

contrasts

MERITS ENCOURAGEMENT

Familiar to many perhaps from books, films, TV programmes, If delegates are in need of any further encouragement to attend individual business trips or summer holidays, it is probably fair events, then the list of incentive ideas and leisure pursuits on to say that Athens and several of the main islands such as Corfu, offer in Greece should more than convince them. How about Crete and Rhodes are the destinations most people in the UK the following for starters: would claim to know well. All have their merits, and are deservedly t
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to be explored by the more adventurous organiser, including coastal fabled Greek island cities such as Thessaloniki and Patras and smaller islands like Kos, t
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of the close proximity of beaches and resorts to many of the major complete with its own spa, fitness centre, beauty parlour and cities by organising a cocktail reception, gala dinner or dine-around heli pad using the sea as a backdrop. Greece is unique in many ways. Conferences the world over will Getting to, from and around the country is easy. International air often organise a mini-Olympics as part of the programme – links to cities such as Athens and Thessaloniki in particular mean but where could be a better place to hold it than at Olympia that Greece is ideally placed not just to cater for events from the itself, the birthplace of the games? The ancient stadium is a UK, but also for those where delegates are flying in from eastern must-see attraction in its own right, but mini-games organised Europe, the Balkans, the Middle East and the emerging economies for delegates allow them to compete against each other in the of the former Soviet Union. principal disciplines of the ancient athletes. The incentive or team building exercise can even include opening and closing By chartering direct flights for larger events, or taking advantage of ceremonies, a gala dinner, and the awarding of prizes to the the internal transport links – by air or sea – to many of the islands, winners. international conference organisers can also attract large numbers to events away from the mainland: ABTA, the EU and ICCA, who As a destination for your next event, Greece certainly deserves to have hosted events in Kos, Halkidiki and Rhodes respectively, have take the gold medal. all benefited from such thinking in recent years.

V Greece

Athens: wide appeal ATHENS Olympian ideals

ATHENS is the site of some of Greece’s most famous historical monuments such as the Acropolis, the theatre of Dionysus, the Roman Forum and The Games the Temple of Zeus, but in more recent times, it has become just as well known as the spiritual home of the modern Olympics, as well as makeover has a dynamic, stylish and contemporary city with a huge appeal to both leisure and business visitors. turned the Greek The 2004 Games, hosted with great success in the city, gave Athens a major facelift, and the improvements in infrastructure – including a new airport, capital into metro and tram system, as well as an extensive programme of road- building, venue construction and hotel refurbishment – have made the a gold medal Greek capital not only a better city for residents but much more appealing to tourists, convention groups and incentive winners. winner as Aiming to capitalise on its higher profile and the renewed interest in the city as a MICE destination, Athens also launched the new Athens Convention a meetings Bureau (ACB) earlier this year, offering a range of services including information and advice on conference and business tourism facilities, site inspections, official support to bid proposals, and liaison between public destination and private institutions, including the Hellenic Association of Professional Congress Organisers (HAPCO), which with 107 members is there to promote Greece as a leading conference destination worldwide. r

Hotels in Athens range from the ultra-modern to the traditional

vii Greece ATHENS

28 - 34, Ath. Diakou str., 117 43 Athens, Greece T: +30 210 9288400 F: +30 210 9233317 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www. royalolympic.com Zappeion is a popular venue for events Athens

Appeal

PROFESSIONAL VIEWPOINT It is not hard to see the appeal of Athens for a wide range of events, from international congresses to small and exclusive incentives. With a Over the past nine years I have organised Mediterranean ambience and 300 days of sunshine a year, the city many conferences in Athens, ranging combines many diverse elements into an attractive business destination: from 100-delegate investigator meetings a long history, a rich cultural heritage, a vibrant night life, modern hotels to summits for up to 1,200 people. It’s a and meeting facilities, sandy beaches and picturesque harbours close to the very popular destination that delegates city centre, fashionable shopping districts and traditional street markets, really enjoying visiting. The airport is an immense variety of cuisines, a varied arts and entertainment scene and easily accessible from cities around the - as if that weren’t enough - nearby islands for day trips, social events, world and the transfer to the city centre incentives and two-centre programmes. is very short, so delegates can be at their destination quickly and with minimum fuss. The accommodation and venue choices in Athens are equally diverse, from I have noticed a remarkable difference in the city since the luxury international brand hotels and chic boutique properties in the city 2004 Olympics, with new roads being built and a wide range of centre to a series of resort properties between 30-45 minutes away in infrastructure developments which are of benefit to all visitors. seaside suburbs such as Vouliagmeni and Lagonissi. Together with easy access, safety and its unique history, Athens is a very attractive destination for conferences. Athens is one of the few capitals in Europe with superb beaches so close to The hotels I have used offer high quality service, excellent the downtown areas, and it’s one of a number of reasons why the city meeting space and the food is of a very high standard. There are scores well with event organisers. There is also a super-efficient public many fabulous restaurants and dinner venues in the city, and I transportation system and, as a result, far fewer cars on the road, both have used the Byzantine Estate on many occasions, which offers of which make moving large groups around the city easy and convenient, excellent dinner menus and fabulous views over the city. especially as many of the top hotels are so close to each other. For conferences, Athens ticks all the right boxes for professionalism, expertise and inspiration. In addition to meetings-oriented hotels, several venues purpose-built for the 2004 Olympics can also be used for events, including the Velodrome, Annie Rhodes the Agora and – if the budgets and numbers add up – even the Olympic Conference Project Manager stadium itself, whilst the list of other event venues ranges from the neo- ISMO Conference Group classical Zappeion and the adjacent Aegli conference centre to the restored AstraZeneca, Macclesfield Athinais, the ultra-modern Megaron and the gloriously atmospheric Byzantine Estate. r

ix Greece

Trendy

The options for partner programmes, incentive activities and teambuilding – inland, on the beach, on the water, or on one of the nearby islands – are just as wide.

Excursions to Delphi or Corinth and Epidavros? Cruising around the Saronic Gulf? Treasure hunts in Plaka, the historic quarter of the city? Dinner in the exclusive Yachting Club? Cocktails at any of the trendy venues which form part of the Island complex? Beach Olympics, wine tastings, off-road motorcycle racing in Cape Sounion, canyoning and trekking in the mountains of Parnitha? They are just some of the possibilities on offer from a variety of experienced DMCs.

And after an adventurous day out, what could be more appealing than coming back to a swim, a drink or dinner looking out over the Acropolis? Athens makes the most of its most celebrated monument, and the city must have more rooftop swimming pools, bars and restaurants than any other, all proudly showing off its timeless and enduring icon.

Athens may now be one of the coolest ‘new’ destinations in Europe, but some things, thankfully, never change. Service standards are high ATHENS

xi Greece Left: The city has had a colourful history Thessaloniki Above: The Hyatt Casino is popular for off-duty delegates and special events

Great

GREECE’S second city, the largest port in the Balkans, and one of the major crossroads of commerce and industry in south-eastern Europe, Thessaloniki The city of has come a long way since its foundation in 315BC. A colourful history has seen the regional capital of Macedonia play host to Greeks, Romans, Alexander the Turks and Eastern Europeans, and develop into a cradle of education, art and culture with a cosmopolitan and multi-cultural outlook. The landmark Great is setting White Tower, the church of St Demetrius, the Byzantine walls of Ano Poli, the Archaeological Museum and the Arch of Galerius are among Thessaloniki’s noted monuments, and the city – which joined UNESCO’s out to conquer World Heritage List in 1988 - was justifiably named European Capital of Culture in 1997. the international Thessaloniki is no museum piece however. It is also a lively modern city of over a million inhabitants, bustling with activity along its tree-lined avenues meetings market and in its many parks and squares. A youthful population (it is home to Greece’s largest university), chic shopping districts, new boutique hotels and an inventive culinary scene have combined to make a lot of people PROFESSIONAL VIEWPOINT take note that there is more to Greece than Athens and the islands, and the joint efforts of the Thessaloniki Convention & Visitors Bureau (TCVB) and Evan Panagopoulos is Contracts Manager the city’s trade fair organisation, Helexpo, have seen Thessaloniki recently for GTA by Travelport in London, a leading move into the top 70 in the ICCA rankings of international convention wholesaler of hotels, ground products and destinations. services to the travel industry. He visited Thessaloniki as part of the hosted buyers’ Recognised programme for last year’s Philoxenia travel exhibition, and describes the city as “a perfect year-round TCVB director Helena Milona is determined to see Thessaloniki continue destination, ideal for leisure city breaks, MICE events, or as to broaden its appeal. To date, she explains, a lot of the conference and a base to explore the wonders of northern Greece. It’s well exhibition business coming to the city has been as a result of its role connected to an increasing number of international cities, and it’s as a commercial and academic centre. “Helexpo alone hosts over 25 the gateway to the historical Macedonian heartland, the lush and international trade shows every year, many with associated conferences, trendy Halkidiki peninsula and the beautiful and off-the-beaten- whilst the university has always attracted a wide range of prestigious track islands of the North Aegean. academic and scientific congresses. With an increasing selection of top “There are innumerable things to see and do: shopping for hotels and other venues and a thriving food and entertainment scene,” she top brands, sampling the blend of Mediterranean and Asia Minor adds, “and the advantages of being a city by the sea which gets over 300 cuisine in the tavernas near the port, or marvelling at the Roman days of sunshine a year, Thessaloniki is now also starting to be recognised and Byzantine heritage of the city. The conference infrastructure as a meetings and incentive destination in its own right.” is also excellent, with an increasing number of four- and five- star hotels and other private and public venues offering high level services and modern facilities.” xii Greece Mount Athos: a spiritual journey expectations

Organisers looking to plan stand-alone events have numerous options, and the city offers a variety of hotels, combining professional organisation with tradition and a high level of hospitality.

Non-hotel venues are equally varied. In addition to the enormous Helexpo complex, choices for meetings, gala dinners, cocktail receptions and a variety of other functions – many of which can be held out of doors between April and November due to the mild climate – include the Polis Convention Centre, the Archaeological Museum, the Megaron Musikis concert hall, the National Theatre of Northern Greece and a variety of university venues. Goal Looking for incentive ideas? A series of experienced DMCs are there to help. The recommendations? Wine tours, pirate-ship cruises, watersports, sailing, beach barbecues, team-building in the Olympus National Park comprising canyoning, mountain biking and kayaking, a treasure hunt in the centre of Thessaloniki to discover the tastes, sounds, smells and history of the city, and a charity adventure challenge combining organisational skills with a philanthropic goal.

The after-hours delights of the city include a wide range of restaurants, bars, nightclubs and live music venues, whilst for a choice between ultimate relaxation and something a little more spiritual, there is the possibility of partner programme tours or post-convention trips to the nearby seaside resorts of the Halkidiki peninsula, the archaeological sites of Pella and Vergina, or the world-famous monasteries of Meteora and Mount Athos.

Further afield, the Pelion region, near Volos, offers opportunities for smaller groups on shorter incentive breaks, with accommodation in traditional mansions and outdoor dinner with music in picturesque villages such as Makrinitsa. It is also one of a handful of places in Greece that can offer winter sports and ski trips as an incentive in January and February. If you can’t stand the heat…

xiii Greece

Crete: rugged beauty Crete

THE largest island in Greece, and the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean, Crete has both an incredible history and an extensive and long-established upmarket tourist infrastructure – both key factors in ensuring that it has History become a popular destination for the meetings and incentives industry. Many of its attractions are legendary, including the Minoan sites of Knossos and Phaistos and the classical site of Gortys, whilst the Samaria Gorge is one of the best-known natural wonders in Europe. lesson The island’s 1,000 kilometre coastline is dotted with coves, bays and peninsulas, creating a multitude of soft, sandy beaches, and with a wide selection of top hotels with conference facilities, it is an ideal destination for combining business with pleasure - the scent of orange blossom and jasmine, slices of cool red watermelon and a glass of iced raki may be the Greece’s largest stuff of holiday dreams, but they also go down well with delegates after a hard day in the meeting room. island combines In many respects, Crete is one of the most traditional of the Greek islands: many inhabitants still wear local costume, and maintain their rich and the best of the proud culture. And yet it has certainly moved with the times with regard to its hospitality industry, with a clutch of modern five-star hotels offering old and the new excellent meeting and leisure facilities, and a range of options for incentives and social programmes. r

xv Greece HOTELS SPA HOTELSSPA

HOTELSSPA

inspiringHOTELSSPA times

www.aldemarhotels.com Chilling out at the Elounda Bay Palace Crete

Adventure activities

One of the most popular activities is to cross the Samaria Gorge, whilst the island is also ideal for treasure hunts due to its rugged landscape. Incentive groups can play pirates on the nearby island of Spinalonga, which comes with its own Venetian fortress, whilst for partner programmes, a day spent visiting the site of Knossos, where King Minos built one of the most famous palaces in the world, is not to be missed. Many adventure activities take place in the White Mountains, using 4x4 vehicles, whilst picturesque coastal towns such as Chania and Rethymno are best explored by foot, and offer a wide selection of restaurants and tavernas for dine-arounds. Hiking, trekking, canoeing, archery, horse riding and scuba diving are among the many other activities, and the island also has an 18-hole golf course.

Meeting options meanwhile include a range of five-star properties combining state-of the art infrastructure with high levels of professionalism, able to The Creta Maris is a favourite venue for many organisers accommodate events of up to 5,500 delegates.

xvii Greece Dodecanese Islands Chariots

Rhodes and Kos form an impressive double act

OF the twelve islands making up the Dodecanese, it is Rhodes and Kos that are the most likely to appeal to organisers, given their accessibility and infrastructure, including a wide selection of top hotels and meeting venues. According to legend, Rhodes was raised from the sea for Helios, the Sun God, who rode his fiery chariot and flaming horses across the sky.

The island has since been at the crossroads of many civilisations, playing an important role in Greek, Roman and Byzantine history, and of course the Crusades. Rhodes is now a modern island that uses its past to full advantage as a conference and incentive destination, and has played host to EU summits as well as corporate clients such as Siemens and Unilever. Kos meanwhile provides a unique selling point for organisers of medical conventions, as the father of medicine, Hippocrates, is thought to have been born on the island, and in the centre of Kos town is the Plane Tree of Hippocrates, on the site of a temple where the ancient physician is traditionally supposed to have taught.

Both islands offer a wide selection of accommodation and conference centres incorporated into their respective leading hotels. Rhodes can accommodate up to 8,000 delegates in its largest conference venue, while Kos can handle individual events for up to 2,300 delegates. In short, experienced staff, an extensive range of meeting rooms and conference halls and the ability to take large capacities can satisfy the needs of most conference and event organisers.

xviii Greece Hippocrates: founding father Hospitality options for event planners using Rhodes include taking delegates for a flutter after dinner at the Casino Rodos, or hosting a gala dinner at the Palace of the Grand Master in Rhodes, built by the nights of St John on their way to Jerusalem, where the magnificent courtyard is an idyllic setting for cocktails and where the whole event can be staged in medieval costume.

Incentive opportunities and adventure pursuits on both islands are also legion, and include treasure hunts, beach parties, mountain biking, scuba diving, sailing, fishing, cooking lessons, wine tasting, spa sessions, and a host of events based around Greek, Ottoman, Crusader, medieval or mythology themes. Rhodes: versatile Free time can be spent wandering the cobbled streets of Rhodes town, one of the oldest complete walled settlements in the world; visiting the village of Lindos, with its whitewashed houses spilling down from the hillside below an impressive castle; a trip to Prasonisi, the southern-most tip of the island where the Aegean and Mediterranean seas meet; or boat excursions to some of the of fire quieter islands in the Dodecanese group such as Chalki and Symi – the latter well-known to film fans as the setting for Pascali’s Island.

xix Greece  


 



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WITH over 1400 islands, it is no wonder that Greece has one to suit every taste – and that’s especially true where the events industry is concerned. Famed for its cosmopolitan character, intense nightlife and as the summer     
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Picture Mykonos packs a lot into a relatively small area – it only covers 85 sq km, with a shoreline of 80 km and a permanent population of less than 10,000 – and the picture which is conjured up in the mind’s eye is that of the typically idyllic Greek hideaway: a deep blue sea washing ashore onto an

xx Greece Mykonos: hot nights call for cool bars

almost bare island bathed in sunlight, a fishing harbour with boats of every colour, an all-white town of cubed houses rising up the hillside, the domes and crosses of innumerable churches, and at the top of the hill, windmills with the breeze in their sails.

In Mykonos, thankfully, the dream can be realised.

By day, the island boasts an impressive selection of quality hotels, many with excellent meeting facilities, tailored to either the meetings or the luxury incentives market. The small picturesque streets meanwhile are full of trendy boutiques, art galleries and fascinating jewellery shops, ideal for off-duty delegates or partners.

By night, Mykonos starts to have real fun, with its array of bars, restaurants, live music venues and night clubs coming to life, with the enjoyment continuing into the early hours of the morning, especially in peak season. Outside of the main summer months, the island is a little quieter, but still more than lively enough to satisfy the party animal in any conference delegate. Make sure you have a compelling speaker booked for the first session each morning.

Mykonos is the party capital of the Greek islands

xxi Greece Ionian Islands The good life Chill out in Corfu and Zakynthos

CORFU is probably one of the best-known Greek islands as far as the British are concerned, partly due to its connections with Prince Phillip, who was born there, and with Gerald Durrell, whose childhood on the island inspired his love of nature. A popular holiday destination, James Bond movie buffs will also know it as the location of the underwater ancient Greek temple in For Your Eyes Only.

Contact us: The island is steeped in ancient history, and has been an intrinsic www.acnc.gr part of the heritage of Greece from the beginning of Greek Head Office: mythology, despite long periods of foreign rule, first by the [email protected], T. +30 210 6889100, Venetians and then as a British Protectorate: it is famously one 1A Pierias Str., 14451, Athens, Greece of the few places outside the commonwealth where cricket is played on a regular basis. London Office: [email protected], T. +44(0) 203 1786304, Due to its cosmopolitan feel and impressive cultural heritage, 20 Garrick Street, London WC2E 9BT, UK Corfu is particularly popular with association and academic AC&C is a member of the C&C International Group conferences, not only in the more obvious fields of history, archaeology and architecture, but also in areas such as science and technology, and has also hosted meetings of the EU. Legacy Corfu’s history is laden with battles and conquests prior to unification with modern Greece in 1864, and the legacy of these struggles is visible in a series of castles in strategic locations across the island. Two such fortresses enclose its capital Corfu Town, which, with its outstanding 17th and 18th century buildings, was named a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2007.

xxii Greece Off duty pleasure: Corfu Town Off duty pleasure: Corfu Town

Shipwreck Beach: spectacular

There are a range of top hotels on the island with conference facilities, which regularly host meetings, seminars and product launches, whilst its spectacular landscapes, wide range of activities and over 200km of coastline also make Corfu ideal for incentive groups. The more intrepid might consider a team-building hike to the top of the island’s highest mountain, Pantokrator, whilst slightly less energetic pursuits include scuba diving or sailing around Corfu and its neighbouring islands including Paxos, Antipaxos, Kefalonia and Lefkada. Bird watching, horse riding, mountain-biking, playing golf or producing your own wine are among the many other options. If delegates are in need of letting their hair down, Corfu also has a thriving nightlife scene, with no shortage of restaurants, bars and clubs. Spectacular Neighbouring Zakynthos (also known as Zante) is a little quieter, but no less picturesque: Shipwreck Beach is one of the most photographed in the world, and yet none the less spectacular for it. The Zante Mabely Grand is often the choice location for meetings, and the island is equally suitable for incentives based around activities such as sailing and scuba diving, or for groups looking for the chance to get away from the pressures of modern life in quiet contemplation on an island of secluded coves, churches, monasteries and mountain villages.

xxiii Greece

FACT FILE

CORFU

THESSALONIKI

Full name: The Hellenic Republic

ZANTE ATHENS Population: 11.1 million Capital: Athens KOS Area: 131,957 sq km (50,949 sq miles)

MYKONOS Major language: Greek. However, English is widely spoken RHODES Major religion: Greek Orthodox Monetary unit: 1 euro = 100 cents Exchange rate (August 2008): £1= 1.26 euros/€1= 0.79 GBP CRETE Internet domain: .gr International dialling code: +30 Time difference: GMT +2

Getting to Greece Direct flights between the UK and Greece are operated by Olympic Airlines, British Airways, Aegean Airlines and easyJet. The average flight time is three hours. Greece can also be reached from a variety of other European and international destinations. Getting around Internal flights are operated by Olympic Airways and Aegean Airlines, serving all the major cities and islands as well as other smaller destinations. Weather The climate varies depending on region. The northwest is alpine whilst parts of Crete border on the subtropical. Central Greece records some of the highest summer temperatures; these are alleviated on the coasts and islands by sea breezes. On the whole, Greece experiences mild winters and hot summers, the latter with very little rainfall. When to go Athens and Thessaloniki: almost year-round business destinations, although summers are very hot. The islands: the best months for conferences and incentives are between March and May, and September and November. Many islands are very quiet outside of the main tourist seasons. Major public holidays 2009 1 January: New Year’s Day 6 January: Epiphany 10 March: Orthodox Shrove Monday 25 March: Independence Day 17 April: Orthodox Good Friday 20 April: Orthodox Easter Monday 1 May: Labour Day 16 June: Orthodox Whit Monday 15 August: Assumption 28 October: Ochi Day 25 December: Christmas Day 26 December: Boxing Day

xxiv Greece