News – August 2006
Posted in News on August 11th, 2006Manchester venue for B2B North West
Bob Geldof has been confirmed as the main speaker at a free business event this November.
B2B North West takes place at G-Mex in Manchester, England, on November 22-23, 2006.
The event is a joint venture between two companies – Business Enterprise Xchange (BEX) and B2B Portfolio.
Geldof will be talking about his motivations and how they apply to his business interests. He will outline how he motivates everyone he comes into contact with, whether through his Ten Alps communications business or his campaigning work, to achieve his objectives.
Joining Geldof on the programme will be Richard Duvall, founder of Egg, Jacqueline Gold, chief executive of Ann Summers and Knickerbox and over 50 business and industry experts sharing their advice and experiences.
http://www.eventmagazine.co.uk/news
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M&IT TOPS THE POLLS AGAIN
M&IT is best read publication by conference and event organisers according to research
Latest market research by leading hospitality industry consultants BDRC again shows Meetings & Incentive Travel magazine to be the publication most widely read by conference and event organisers with 74 per cent of agency personnel saying they read M&IT on a regular basis.
With a mean average of 45 per cent of event organisers in three segments reading M&IT on a regular basis – agencies, corporate organisers and association planners – M&IT scored the highest across the board and enjoyed a higher readership by corporate organisers than even the Financial Times.M&IT also attracts more readers among associations than any of its competitors with 34 per cent of those associations surveyed saying they read at least three out of every four issues.
The survey – the BDRC UK Meetings Market Survey 2006 – follows only two months after M&IT was again named top meetings magazine in another major market research project, the UK Conference Market Survey, commissioned by The Meetings Industry Association.
The BDRC Group is one of the UK’s largest independent research organisations and has a team of research professionals dedicated to the hotel, hospitality and MICE sectors. BDRC’s blue chip client base includes 25 London FTSE 100 companies, most of the major hotel and hospitality groups worldwide, as well as leading public sector organisations.
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NEC plans contractor division with French
The NEC Group is in talks with the French event services firm GL Events with a view to launching a contractor division at the Midlands venue.
The news was leaked at the Exposure Event Creations-organised Designer and Contractor Conference, held in association with the Association of Exhibition Contractors (AEC), at Excel on 27 June. During a venue and organiser question and answer session, NEC group operations director Riach Ryder indicated that talks to establish such a joint venture enterprise were at an advanced stage.
“We’ve looked at getting involved in the contracting business for some years and we’re now well down the road. It would be a joint venture with a high-quality company. Our driver is to improve quality. We want good design but it’s also about innovation,” said Ryder.
He went on to stress that the service would be on offer to organisers on a non-obligatory basis.
The NEC declined to comment directly on the matter but released the following statement from commercial director Paul Thandi: “As part of our plans to secure a successful future for the NEC group, we are always looking at ways to give all of our customers – be they organisers, exhibitors, visitors, concert-goers or contractors – a consistently better experience of our venues.
“To do this, we need to constantly enhance our products and services in unique and innovative ways – and not develop a ‘me too’ or copycat culture.”
The AEC has said it will be writing to the NEC for clarification of its intent.
The remainder of the one-day conference threw up a number of relevant issues for the 100-strong attendees.
The use of international contractors was debated strongly. Organiser Clarion, which employed international contractor Stabilo across its antiques portfolio, was one company to address the matter.
Portfolio director Dan Gorton said: “It’s about product, people and price. Most of the products provided, such as AV and stand-fitting, are a commodity with not a huge amount to distinguish, so it often comes down to price.
“We’ve now signed a deal with a UK contractor using a different system because we’re always looking for something new. It sought out something different and we’re very happy with it.”
Among the other issues discussed were accountability in relation to the Disability and Discrimination Act and shell scheme pricing.
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Agency reaps benefits of HAC affiliation
European Events has extended its partnership with the Honourable Artillery Company (HAC) in London to stage events at the HAC grounds for next year’s summer and Christmas seasons.
The agency has had a contract with the HAC since 2004. Its managing director, Adam Austin, said: “Together we are really reaping the benefits of a fabulous venue and our brilliant team of live event managers. Last year our events raised £900,000 for charity, so it really is a plus all round.”
The HAC features five acres of gardens and a semi-permanent structure that has a capacity for 3,000 standing and 1,700 seated. The structure features dance floor lighting, a reception area with a separate bar and raised staging and dance floors.
http://www.eventmagazine.co.uk/news
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ONLINE HEALTH AND SAFETY SURVEY LAUNCHED BY EVENT SUPPLIERS’ INDEX
Survey will enable organisers to gauge suppliers’ health and safety awareness.
The Event Suppliers’ Index has added an online survey enabling event organisers to gauge health and safety-awareness of potential suppliers.
The survey, completed by suppliers of event services – in particular destination management companies – will reveal measures put in place by companies as part of their risk management policies.Among the areas covered by the survey are questions on risk assessment practices, whether or not a company has a health and safety manual, and the level and range of insurances it holds.
Philip Haines, one of the originators of the Event Suppliers’ Index said: “For event organisers, one of the most worrying aspects of selecting a new supplier, particularly those based overseas, is establishing whether or not they understand the importance of risk management and have taken steps to train staff and select their own sub-contractors to meet the required safety levels. We have come up with an easy method of self-certification that will be instantly accessible online at no cost to event organisers.”
Eventia chairman Nigel Cooper said: “This is a worthwhile and useful tool for event organisers, given their obligations to put in place preventative and protective measures to minimise risk.”
The Event Suppliers’ Index Health and Safety Survey will benefit responsible suppliers because it will provide the opportunity for them to publicise this specific area of good practice and client service.Event organisers will be able to see at a glance which potential suppliers have health and safety policies and emergency procedures in place.
The Index, endorsed by Eventia at its recent Summer Conference, can be accessed at www.eventsuppliersindex.com.In addition to health and safety standards, the Index includes a broader range of customer satisfaction ratings.
