MIA UPDATE IN BRIEF
• THE Shoreline Conference Centre at Butlins Bognor Regis has been the subject of a £180,000 makeover just eight years after fi rst opening for business. The investment at the south coast venue includes the addition of a dividing wall system, HMDI projectors and new audio technology. The conference centre's maximum capacity is 550 delegates and the resort's three hotels have over 600 rooms and apartments that can be booked exclusively for corporate use in the off-peak season.
• WINCHESTER'S Marwell Hotel has completed the refurbishment of its Oakwood event suite. The 200-capacity room overlooks surrounding forest and has been refi tted to a high standard, including new AV technology and a bar. The hotel, which has four further meeting and event spaces, is currently offering a rate of £21 per delegate. Located close to the M3 and M27, as well as Winchester and Eastleigh train stations, the hotel also offers activities ranging from falconry to wine tasting.
• THE Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has launched a new meetings package at its art deco headquarters on London's Portland Place. Rates start from £30 per person and bookers can choose from one of the venue's light-fl ooded rooms with views of the London skyline. The 'Blue sky thinking' package is available for fi ve to 50 delegates and includes lunch and AV hire, as well as access to the RIBA's exclusive on-site exhibitions. Room hire starts from £220 and prices are valid for all meetings booked to take place by the end of April.
• THE Strand Palace Hotel in London is offering a 'Spring Day Delegate' rate of £48 for smaller meetings and events. The rate includes hire of a choice of rooms – from boardrooms up to 120-capacity rooms – plus, refresh- ments, three-course buffet lunch, LCD projector, screen, fl ip chart and stationery. The hotel has also launched a preferred corporate rate programme for small to medium-sized companies looking to make regular bookings at the hotel. Benefi ts include discounted rates throughout the year, inclusive full English Breakfast, gym access and free wifi access throughout the hotel.
THE meetings and events sector looks set to remain on a steady path in 2103 according to the results of a recent survey. Meetings and events agency
Zibrant says research among its venue-find clients showed 76 per cent are planning either the same number or more meetings in 2013 versus 2012, while 69 per cent said the size of their meetings would remain the same. When it comes to booking large
events, nearly half of respondents said choosing the right destination is the key to success, with 38 per cent saying the venue itself is the main ingredient of a good event.
Both venue-find and event clients
agreed that reduced budgets posed the single biggest challenge to their respective industries, while 77 per cent said positive delegate feedback was the most important indicator they looked for when assessing the effectiveness of an event. Zibrant's managing director of
sales and marketing, Fay Sharpe, says, “Given the tough economic conditions the UK finds itself in, we are cautiously optimistic with these results which indicate that both venue-find and events sectors will continue on a par with 2012 levels, and in some cases see an increase both in bookings and spend.”
CORINTHIAN ADDITION AT THE OVAL Positive progress
discuss industry trends with venue principals and venue managers. Their feedback enables us to tailor the benefits that the MIA offers to meet the needs of our members. When the rates clients are paying
M
for their meetings and events becomes our topic of conversation, it is generally the case that I am told venues feel they are not achieving the rates they deserve. As competition for business
becomes ever more intense, the complaint that pressure is driving prices down, creating some startlingly low day delegate rates, is increasingly common. Forcing prices down is a short term strategy which is not good for the industry. I know of several venue principals that fear for the future quality of meetings in the UK if prices are allowed to keep falling in this way. Of course onlookers will say,
‘This is business, and in business it is right to challenge costs and seek to achieve the best price possible.’ But value and worth are important aspects of business as well. Business activity must add value and be worthwhile. To achieve low rates, something has to give, so quality can be compromised as venues under invest to protect their margins. Buyers must beware that the true cost of low prices may be fewer quality venues and less impactful meeting and events. Clearly it is not the case that
buyers should accept at face value any price they are offered – negotiation is fair. However, the advice from the mia is that an essential part of negotiation is to ask for reassurances of quality. If the rate is especially low, ask
KEITH Prowse is adding a spectacular new events and hospitality location to its offering at London's Kia Oval cricket ground. Developed by Oval Events at
a cost of £250,000, the new Corinthian Roof Terrace will provide impressive views of the action on the pitch and of the city skyline. Keith Prowse hospitality packages for the new venue start from £349 (+VAT) per person.
The company's managing
director, Andrew Hodgkins, says, “We’re pleased to be launching such a remarkable hospitality and event space ahead of the eagerly anticipated Ashes Test Series. It’s crucial to our business that we continue to enhance our offering to meet the expectations of our hospitality customers, and we look forward to welcoming guests once the redevelopment is complete.”
yourself 'what is the venue operator having to do to achieve this?' Select a venue that can prove it operates to best practice principles, such as those that have achieved AIM accreditation. These venues cannot cut standards to save money without compromising their accredited status. This gives you a degree of protection and helps ensure your meeting will be successfully managed by committed professionals.
Jane Longhurst Chief Executive, Meetings Industry Association (mia)
y role at the Meetings Industry Association (mia) means I often
THE BUSINESS TRAVEL MAGAZINE 43
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80