#Baggs

May 24, 2012
2 min

New Porter Air route confirms Toronto’s two centre luxury incentive offering

With flights landing at the Toronto Island Airport, just ten minutes from the downtown and Yorkville areas, they offer swift and direct access to the city’s highlights and range of luxury hotels, including the recently opened Trump International Hotel and forthcoming Shangri-La Toronto and Four Seasons Toronto. Tourism Toronto‘s director of corporate sales, Julie Holmen: “The rapid growth of Porter Air has created a new market for high-end incentive groups looking to experie

May 24, 2012
4 min

Meetology® Group launches at IMEX Frankfurt

The Meetology® Group includes, as part of its four main business functions, Bradshaw’s attendee performance brand Meetings Mindset®. The Meetology® Group will also unveil its Meetology® Venue Certification product, through which its team of psychologists work with venues to help create ‘scientifically designed’ meetings and meeting spaces. The Barbican, London will be the first venue to receive Meetology® Certification following a six week project due to start in June. The Me

May 21, 2012
3 min

HIC retains key exhibition and conference business

Harrogate International Centre (HIC) has retained the business for a long running consumer exhibition and an academic conference. The two events will bring in excess of an estimated £500,000 in economic benefit to Harrogate and the region. The Knitting and Stitching Show has rebooked HIC for a three day exhibition in November this year. The show, which has been held at HIC for 20 years, is one of three the organisers hold across the country. It is expected to attract around 1

May 21, 2012
2 min

The Meetings Show UK Advisory Board announced

Meetings Show UK has revealed details of its Advisory Board, which includes industry experts from around the world. Paul Kennedy MBE, Strategic Advisor to The Meetings Show UK and Chairman of the Advisory Board explains: “Credibility and expertise were the two most important words used as we drew up our shortlist for the Advisory Board and Educational Panel. It is vital we bring together a group of respected industry leaders who act for the benefit of exhibitors and visitors

May 17, 2012
2 min

Hotel Granvia sets free Wi-Fi benchmark in Kyoto

Kyoto to provide a high speed wireless internet service throughout the building for free. In 2009, the hotel introduced a Wi-Fi service in its 13 function and conference rooms, lobby and restaurant areas. But to meet the demands from visitors, the Hotel Granvia has completed a Wi-Fi upgrade and free internet access is available throughout the hotel’s facilities, including guest rooms, to satisfy the needs of smartphone and tablet computer users. The Wi-Fi network ensures a se

May 17, 2012
2 min

LSO St Luke’s announces new approved suppliers

LSO St Luke’s has added three florists to its list of approved suppliers. Gray Hare, Jane Wadham and Jens Jakobson can now be used by organisers and clients to supply a variety of floral displays for their events. LSO St Luke’s list of approved suppliers also includes award-winning caterers and event management agencies. The comprehensive list gives clients a wide choice and the ability to make their event stand out. LSO St Luke’s marketing manager Tomoyo Miyakawa explains: “

May 14, 2012
2 min

Mystery shopping company recognised for quality

Douglas Stafford, a company whose services include mystery shopping, has attained ISO 9001:2008 in recognition of its quality management systems (QMS). The internationally recognised standard was achieved through Certification International. Douglas Stafford has worked with large blue chip companies across a broad range of consumer markets for more than 20 years, delivering performance improvement programmes which help them measure, understand and improve their customers’ ret

May 14, 2012
2 min

Lewis Moody guest of honour for charity lunch at Church House Conference Centre

Church House Conference Centre. The event, organised by Under the Posts, was held to raise money for the Motor Neurone Disease Association, Parasol Charity – an organisation which provides aid and comfort to injured service personnel and their families – and the Alzheimer’s Society. Under the Posts was created in 2004 following England’s success at the 2003 Rugby World Cup. It organises fundraising events for and on behalf of members of the team and their associated charities

May 10, 2012
2 min

Barbican celebrates 30th anniversary with bumper year for corporate events.

In March 1982, the Barbican opened its doors to the public for the first time. And as the iconic venue commemorates its 30th anniversary, the Barbican is also celebrating its second best year for corporate business. Anthony Hyde, general manager of Barbican Business Events, comments: “Meetings, conferences and corporate hospitality are an important part of the Barbican’s overall offering. And despite the economy stuttering and budgets being squeezed, the financial year for 20

May 10, 2012
2 min

MPI UK and Ireland Chapter announces 2012/2013 board

Barbican will serve a second year as chapter president, supported by James Samuel of International Confex as president elect. The chapter’s decision to appoint Samme Allen for a second year brings the UK and Ireland Chapter in line with many of its European counterparts, where presidents can serve for two years, allowing greater time for strategic planning to build a cohesive board and achieve goals that are of greater benefit to all members. The full 2012 / 2013 board will c

May 9, 2012
2 min

Certification International incorporates Exero Beyond into assessment process

Exero Beyond has been created to evaluate the compliance of an organisation’s management system against a range of standards, and it offers a pioneering approach to auditing. Certification International has introduced the system in order to advance the delivery of its third party certification services. Exero Beyond collates input from all participants throughout an organisation without the disruption normally endured during traditional auditing. The multi-level system report

May 3, 2012
2 min

The Meetings Show UK to invest £1 million in high value, high quality hosted buyer programme

marketing opportunity for the meetings industry. Centaur has announced that it is investing a sum in the region of £1million in The Meetings Show UK, creating the UK’s most engaging and rewarding hosted buyer programme. The show is expecting to attract over 1,500 buyers to more than 13,500 appointments, delivering substantial business and networking opportunities for both exhibitors and visitors. The cutting edge programme will be run by a full time, dedicated hosted buyer m

May 3, 2012
3 min

Leeds Metropolitan University wins MPI Young Achievers Award

A team from Leeds Metropolitan University has been crowned the winner of the MPI UK and Ireland Chapter 2012 Young Achievers Award, supported by the Switzerland Convention and Incentive Bureau (SCIB). Hosted at the Barbican and attended by around 100 meeting industry professionals, the event, which is now in its 3rd year, saw five teams each represent a Swiss destination and go head-to-head in a live bid presentation based on a real-life agency event brief. As a qualification

May 3, 2012
1 min

Magenta Security achieves ACS accreditation for door supervision

Magenta Security has attained Approved Contractor Status (ACS) for door supervision from the Security Industry Authority (SIA). Magenta Security is seeing an increase in demand for its door supervision services due to a rise in the number of public events being held this summer, particularly to celebrate the Olympics and Queen’s Jubilee. To ensure public safety and professional standards are maintained, many event organisers require security providers to hold ACS accreditatio

May 3, 2012
1 min

SMMEX renews Wembley Stadium contract

exhibition has been held at Wembley Stadium since 2009 and will remain at the venue until 2014. The most recent exhibition was held in March attracting more than 120 exhibitors and 700 key decision makers and buyers from more than 20 sports making it an unique opportunity to meet face to face and see the latest innovative merchandise, products and services. Jeremy Storey Walker, event director for SMEXX, comments: “SMMEX provides buyers and specifiers from sporting clubs and

May 3, 2012
2 min

CRN membership increases by 18%

Congress Rental Network (CRN), a worldwide network of top quality event industry suppliers, has increased 18% in the last two years. It has also seen interest in membership grow with a significant increase in the number of application it receives. CRN now has 42 members across 40 countries around the world. The most recent countries to join include Singapore, Mexico and Chile, as well as its latest member from Russia. CRN’s core operating area is Europe but it has been encour

Apr 30, 2012
1 min

Barbican chosen as venue for prestigious children’s book awards

Barbican as the awards celebrates 75th anniversary. The 2012 CILIP Carnegie Book Awards will be held at Europe’s largest combined arts and conference venue. The distinguished awards are a presentation of two medals – the Carnegie Medal – the UK’s most influential children’s book award – and the Kate Greenaway Medal which is awarded for outstanding illustration in a book for children and young people. Both medals are awarded annually by the Chartered Institute of Library and I

Apr 30, 2012
2 min

British Association for Psychopharmacology signs two year deal with HIC

The event will bring 500 visitors to the town during the four day meeting, contributing more than £500,000 to the local economy. The summer meeting is the largest the BAP organises, and it has been held at HIC most years since 2001. BAP brings together people from the clinical and experimental disciplines as well as members of the pharmaceutical industry involved in the study of psychopharmacology. It is one of many high profile medical organisations which choose to host larg

Apr 26, 2012
1 min

Soaring enters construction market

Soaring Worldwide is expanding the sectors it operates in to include the construction industry. The decision follows the appointment of Reputation Manager Sarah Carless last year. Sarah spent five years working for an agency specialising in the construction industry and is keen to bring on new clients in this area. Sarah says: “Having gained valuable knowledge in my previous role, I wanted to use my experience to help Soaring Worldwide grow in new sectors. The construction in

Apr 25, 2012
2 min

Kyoto cultural grant scheme for cultural meeting content hailed a success

Kyoto Convention Bureau hopes scheme will benefit more meetings in 2012/2013. A grant system launched in Kyoto to encourage meeting planners to incorporate traditional cultural activities into their events has been hailed a success. In 2011/2012, the City of Kyoto introduced the Support System Culture Programme for Meeting Events as part of its policy to promote the city’s brand internationally. It proved popular with 75% of the grant budget being used to incorporate cultural