Industry News Oct 07
Posted in News on October 8th, 2007Thorns creates a ‘Vision’ at the Grand Designs exhibition
Thorns Group’s funky, eye-catching ‘Vision’ furniture range has helped to bring a Wow factor to the Grand Designs Live exhibition at London’s ExCeL.
Claret and a creamy dune were the two colour ways that brought a stylish look to the whole award-winning event.
After two successful years providing feature work, this was the first time Thorns was appointed as the main official supplier to the show, which was launched as a spin-off from the popular Channel Four programme, Grand Designs.
Thorns, which is one of the UK’s largest independent suppliers to the events, exhibitions and conference sectors, was contracted to provide a wide range of eye-catching furniture to the VIP area, organisers’ offices and press room and was official supplier to all the hundreds of exhibitors.
The company’s new stylish, funky office range of desks, chairs and lockable cupboards also proved a real winner with the organisers who were supplied with offices all decked out in the complementary claret and dune colour theme.
Adam Aston, Thorns’ Head of Exhibitions, said: “It was great to be involved in such a design-led show.”
Marisa Beckman, freelance operations manager for the organisers, Media10, was delighted with the service she received from Thorns Group.
She said: “The staff were a pleasure to work with and gave us a fantastic service. They were professional and helpful. The furniture ranges they provided were good quality and fitted in well with the needs of our design-orientated exhibitors. What I wanted arrived when I wanted – you can’t say fairer than that.”
Thorns Group is already planning a reprise of the successful event. The company also has the contract to be official supplier to the Grand Design Live exhibition at Birmingham’s NEC on October 5-7.
World PR Festival in London next year
Public Relations professionals across the world are gearing up for a two-day World PR Festival in London next year. The Conference, themed The Public Benefit of Public Relations: Developing Society through Effective Communication, will be at London’s InterContinental Hotel.
The Conference will aim to encourage best practice by drawing on case studies from across the world; stimulate debate and discussion on relevant global professional issues, and celebrate PR’s success and international growth. Fringe activities will lead up to the Festival and coincide with celebration of the CIPR’s 60th anniversary.
EVENTS:review buys leading online new service
EVENTS:review (ER) has completed the acquisition of leading online news service, Live Marketing News (LMN), founded by Richard John, for an undisclosed sum. By integrating ER’s videos streams with the existing text news service, the LMN audience is being exposed to a richer media.
The deal gives ER an additional 34,000 subscribers, bringing the web channel’s combined (de-duplicated) recipients of its weekly news alert service to over 80,000.
“The move confirms our commitment to providing the marketing community with up -to-date reportage on face-to-face techniques,” said ER’s CEO James Latham. “I can also confirm that as part of the deal, Richard will continue to contribute to ER and that he has already established himself as a regular interviewer and correspondent for ER particularly at overseas events such as IMEX.”
Commenting on the merger, John said: "I am delighted that Live Marketing News has joined the ER stable. We had already chosen to present the ER portal as an innovative source of news and information to LMN readers even before we spoke about joining forces. I’m also delighted that I will continue to be one of the online interviewers and look forward to meeting more of the movers and shakers at events around the world who want to contribute to ER."
GIBTM unveils cost effective solution for European exhibitors
Gulf Incentive, Business Travel & Meetings Exhibition (GIBTM), organised by Reed Travel Exhibitions, is unveiling a new feature area for the second show that will take place from 8-10 April 2008 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Company Centre. The new European Pavilion will provide space for convention bureaus, NTOs, conference venues and hotels.
This area will enable European companies who do not have the Middle East as a priority market at the moment, to participate in a smaller more cost-effective way.
The special package for these exhibitors will include a 4 sqm stand with 2 panels for graphics as well as furniture (counter and stools) all within the specifically designed pavilion. No stand sharers will be allowed. As usual, exhibitors will have access to the GIBTM Hosted Buyer’s pre-scheduled appointment system, networking events and to the pre-event publicity and promotional campaigns. The cost of the package is $4,500 (approximately £2,200 or 3,275 euros).
Graeme Barnett, event director for GIBTM, said: “We want venues and destinations from Europe to be given an opportunity to be part of the growing Middle East meetings and incentives industry. For those who have a limited promotional budget for this region at the moment, we are offering them a starter package enabling them to test the market on a more economical basis. It will be a unique way to do business and a valuable opportunity to test the water. Last year’s inaugural event quickly established GIBTM as the region’s only focused and dedicated event where the business travel, meeting and incentive industry both regionally and internationally can meet, debate and do business together and we want to give companies the option to be a part of this.”
Expotel launches internet booking solution
An online meetings, conference and events management tool has been launched by Expotel, which the award-winning hotel booking agency claims will "revolutionise the booking process".
Called ex-act, it has been developed in collaboration with ABC Connection, and takes the traditionally manual request for meetings (RfM) process online, “allowing Expotel staff to be more consultative in their discussions with clients”.
“Our clients require professional meetings and conference management, but in addition require consolidation of all meeting and conference spend combined with comprehensive management information,” said Sherie Starkey, Expotel’s commercial and operations director, conference and events.
“The time-consuming process of identifying venues, checking availability, creating shortlists, proposals and confirmations has been automated and will generate a comprehensive audit trail of activities. This in turn will provide a full suite of management information for our clients.”
Expotel’s chief executive Ian Burnley was equally excited about the new online tool. “The database of venues is over 160,000, allowing our domestic and overseas clients an enormous amount of choice,” he said. “The ex-act solution will clarify the process giving greater visibility of spend, by type of meeting or conference.”
ex-act is currently being used by Expotel staff and will be available to all the company’s customers via “unique client-facing portals” in January 2008.
