La Dolce Vita Christmas Ball

COME AND DINE WITH THE STARS. LA DOLCE VITA CHRISTMAS BALL STARRING BILLY OCEAN, JAMELIA AND AMICI FOREVER. THIS IS NO ORDINARY PARTY…..EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED!

Europe’s most beautiful people will converge on the new versatile Battersea Evolution on Wednesday, 12th December for what is being billed as the Christmas Party of 2007 – La Dolce Vita Christmas Ball.

La Dolce Vita has become famous for hosting celeb-packed parties in some of the world’s most glamorous venues, and past guests have included the likes of David and Victoria Beckham, Bono, Rod Stewart, Charlotte Church, Elle Macpherson and Sting.

Epitomising all the glamour of the international circuit, the ball at Battersea Evolution will be attended by a wide array of celebrities, actors, athletes and musicians.

Guests will enjoy free-flowing champagne, a gourmet four-course dinner, a glittering after show party and the chance to rub shoulders with the jet set crowd.

The evening’s live entertainment will be provided by World Music Award winner Billy Ocean, International Award Winner’s Amici Forever and Multi-award Winner Jamelia.

Dinner will be rounded off by a ’Money Can’t Buy’ auction in aid of DebRA, La Dolce Vita’s chosen charity for the evening, where guests will get a chance to bid for a range of once-in-a-lifetime experiences.

Previous auction lots have included the exclusive use of Eddie Jordan’s yacht for the duration of the Monaco Grand Prix, a studio session with Wycliff Jean and a one-on-one yoga session with Sting.

Each table at the ball includes a champagne and cocktail reception, dinner, all drinks throughout the night including magnums of champagne and fine wines on each table. Tickets also include entry to the after show party and all drinks until 3am.

source

Events diary service launches

A unique monthly events alert service that focuses on technology and academic events has been launched by the London-based technology research firm Gibson Index.

The aim behind the diary is to ensure that companies, local authorities, economic development agencies, national government departments, NHS organisations and other public bodies don’t miss out on the most important business events, especially those focusing on innovation, technology and enterprise.

For an annual subscription of only £68 plus VAT, subscribers will be sent a comprehensive summary of events per month, often with more than 120 events listed.

Via the website www.gb-calendar.com users can view a sample month – March 2007, one of the busiest months for technology and academic events. The calendar provides full details about each event, including date and venue, organiser contact points and website, plus a brief summary of its more interesting aspects, enabling organisations like local authorities to maximise opportunities to meet small to medium-sized companies (SMEs).

In addition to profiling UK-based events, the calendar also lists many of the most important international business, technology and innovation events around the world – such as CeBIT in Hannover, Germany, each spring, 3GSM in Barcelona, BIO2008 in the US and aerospace events in India, Pakistan and east Asia.

Commenting on the service, serial entrepreneur Richard Farleigh, a member of the BBC’s Dragon’s Den programme panel, said: “The events diary is invaluable in planning my forward business schedule.”

The calendar has been compiled by researchers at Gibson Index, London-based specialists in British technology SMEs, spinouts and emerging businesses. The new events service supplements the company’s ground-breaking activities in building a national SME database – the Gibson Index – which now contains 23,600 companies, and a popular monthly eNewsletter, ‘GiN’, which often stretches to 30 pages of A4 each month.

The Gibson Index was founded in 2003 by Marcus Gibson, a former Financial Times technology correspondent, who is one of the UK’s leading experts in small technology companies. Gibson, who started the diary for purely internal purposes because he was frequently missing out on important events, said: “We know how difficult it is to keep tabs on all of the many new business and technology events going on in the UK and around the world.

“Many national and international business trade fairs and conferences have become must-attend events for young SMEs, especially those that seek to be high growth, export-led and technology-driven,” he added. “In addition, event planners in local authorities and government departments can always check with us to see if there is a similar event planned on a date close to the one they may initially have pencilled in.”

source

London’s Design Festival

The fifth London Design Festival got off to a mixed start. At the opening ceremony at the Festival Hall, mayor Ken Livingstone presented the inaugural London Design Medal to Zaha Hadid to much applause from the crowd. ’I’d rather that [London] be second in financial services and first in creative industries. No one comes to look at a city for its bankers,’ quipped Ken, to more clapping, before planting a big kiss on the architect’s cheek.

Later, the party moved upstairs to the sixth-floor Design Embassy, but the euphoria subsided when a woman described as a ’gatecrasher’ chucked a glass of bubbly over a party-goer and attacked his male companion with the empty flute, requiring him to attend hospital. Things had really kicked off.

The fifth London Design Festival got off to a mixed start. At the opening ceremony at the Festival Hall, mayor Ken Livingstone presented the inaugural London Design Medal to Zaha Hadid to much applause from the crowd. ’I’d rather that [London] be second in financial services and first in creative industries. No one comes to look at a city for its bankers,’ quipped Ken, to more clapping, before planting a big kiss on the architect’s cheek.

London’s Design Festival may not have the commercial or deal-making appeal of other European events in Milan or Cologne, but for diversity and emerging talent London is sovereign. With more than 200 events, mainly centred on the ’hubs’ of Brompton, Brick Lane and the Festival Hall, it was hard not to be impressed by people’s resourcefulness and innovation. It’s a shame that some of the mainstream players in British design, the likes of Heal’s and Habitat, chose to stay away.

That aside, the two recurring themes of the festival were design-art and sustainability. The former, being awash with cash, had the largest galleries, the shiniest parties and the bigger buzz. The love-hate relationship many in the design industry have with limited-edition work – bought for vast figures not to be used but to be admired, stored and later sold for even vaster sums – was in evidence at shows such as Grandmateria, Trash Luxe and Established & Sons’ ’Elevating Design’, where party-goers grumbled about elitism and prices while downing Martinis made possible by those very same prices.

There’s less cash in sustainability, which in essence is about using, replacing and buying less – not the message the furniture industry wants to trumpet. So most of the sustainable noises are made by students rather than big manufacturers. The furniture industry’s attitude to the environment is beginning to look shameful when compared with the eco-efforts made by supermarkets and fashion brands – ie, really shameful. It appears it will take legislation to encourage them – an FSC-certified stick rather than a biodynamic carrot.

source

Thorns 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.

source

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.

source

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."

source

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.”

source

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.

source

Events and Services Administrator

The AMA (Arts Marketing Association) is a small, flexible and dynamic organisation working at the heart of the arts and cultural sector.

We are seeking to recruit an Events and Services Administrator to process bookings for our events and support the team in coordinating the operational aspects of all our training courses. For the right person, this job is a great opportunity to develop their skills in project or events management.

Please see www.a-m-a.co.uk for an information pack or call 01223 578078.Please do not send a CV.No agencies

Deadline for applications: 9am, Friday 19^th October

Interviews in Cambridge on Friday 26^th October

The AMA strives to be an equal opportunities employer.

Location: Cambridge

Salary: Not Disclosed

Contact: Please see www.a-m-a.co.uk for an information pack or call 01223 578078.Please do not send a CV.

Business Development Executive- Events & Conferences

First Protocol is an events marketing agency specialising in corporate conferences and events, brand and relationship building programs and Customer Relationship Marketing (CRM) through hospitality and specialist events.

First Protocol is a full service agency working primarily for Fortune 500 multinationals, with a customer-centric approach. We aim to add value through the delivery of live event experiences that bring ROI and integrate into our client’s overall marketing mix activities. Above all, we work with clients to deepen relationships with their own clients and staff, help build their brands and enhance revenues to their bottom line.

We are now seeking a new person to join the sales team, offering their experience, energy and enthusiasm to grow the First Protocol business.

This role will report to and work closely with the Business Development Director. It’s primary focus will be on the creation and realisation of new business opportunities.

The Role:

-Work closely with the Business Development Director to manage new and existing clients, opening up new business opportunities.

-Actively seeking new business opportunities both locally and on an international basis

-Build relationships with targeted clients and in line with sales goals

-Coordinate internal resources (Account teams, Directors) to support sales opportunities

-Stay abreast of industry trends to understand the market in order to determine customer needs for First Protocol’s services

-Conduct a solution-driven sales process with clients

-Contribute to company and external (appropriate) industry meetings.

-Perform other related assignments as required.

Location: Central London

Salary: £26K + basic DoE plus Commission + Bens

Contact:Elena.Chico@firstprotocol.com

Events Co-ordinator - Leapfrog International

Leapfrog International is a dynamic and diverse Corporate Event Management Company that offers Motivational Experiences and Social Events for large organisations and SME’s. Our products range from Team Development and Team Building Days to Conferences and Themed Parties. In addition to these packages we also offer Interactive Games Hire, Family Fun Days and Corporate Entertainment.

We take great pride in what we do and this comes from our strength in developing, planning and delivering events that really make a difference.

The Role: Event Co-ordinator within the Operations and Sales Departments

The Ideal Qualities: This role requires someone who is self motivated and able to work in a flexible environment, both as part of their immediate team and also to liaise directly with people from all other departments. You will be expected to work alongside the Sales and Operations teams as well as with individual

Event Managers. Roles include event crew staffing, order processing, venue finding, client enquiries and general office duties among many others; so an

organised way of working and ability to communicate under pressure is a necessity. As well as your office based responsibilities you will also be able to go out into the field on events to get a full perspective of the Events

Industry, so being a fun, lively and active person is also an advantage.

Working with Leapfrog International is not only a Work Placement, it is a

Full Time Job where you will be required to work closely within a young and informal team and be able to adapt to the dynamic environment of

Events.

It is essential that you have a Full Clean UK Driving License, your own

transport and a valid UK Passport.

Other Requirements: Good sense of humour

Outdoor and Sporting Interests

Hardworking

Adaptable

Quick Thinking

Committed

Organised

Genuine love of Fun and Excitement

Hours: 9am – 5pm on Office Days. Events vary and long hours and hard work isrequired – but the benefits outweigh the hours on every occasion!

Holiday Entitlement: 18 Days per annum

Start Date: 2nd June 2008

Deadline for Applications: 4th February 2008 – Interviews will take place the beginning March.

Salary: Competitive + Bonuses

Location: London

Contact: Please send your Application with accompanying Cover Letter and CV to: Zoe West, Leapfrog

International, Riding Court Farm, Riding Court Road, Datchet Berkshire SL3 9JU

www.leapfrog-int.co.uk

Account Executive – Events

We are looking for an Account Executive with a demonstrable passion for events. You will need to have worked within an agency environment providing event services to a range of industries. You will have great project management skills and will revel in the unique challenges that consumer events can generate. Our client is a highly successful Cheshire agency. Already working with a number of global brands, they continue to win new business thus leading to the need for a great Account Executive

Specialist events agency

Salary: Negiotable

Location: Cheshire

Contact: David Love davidl@blueskiescareers.co.uk

Head of Shows and Fairs – Leading Lifestyle Magazine

This leading lifestyle magazine is looking for a creative and hands-on Head of Shows to be responsible for the successful delivery of their shows, fairs and exhibitions, ensuring their profitability and commercial success. The magazine brand is well-known and prestigious. Managing a team of two, you’ll be responsible for the production, business management and P&L – ensuring all aspects of styling, organisation, sales, promotion, delivery and marketing of the events reflects the brand and brand values. You’ll be generating ideas for new shows, initiating, developing and delivering appropriate strategies, creating and delivering events of scale that enhance the values of the brand, and increase profitable revenue. The successful candidate will bring: – A strong background in shows/fairs/events – Excellent project management skills – Proven budget, p&l forecast and management – Man management experience – Experience of Health & Safety, and contract negotiations – Creative, visual marketing experience You will of course be an excellent communicator, diplomatic with good problem solving skills, with strong commercial awareness.

Location: London

Salary: £40-45k + good benefits.

Contact: events@regananddean.co.uk

Oct 9th – 17^th – Autumn Ideal Home Show Earls Court Exhibition Centre

Oct 11th – 14th – Frieze Art Fair Regent’s Park, London

Oct 12th – 14th Champions meeting, Newmarket, Suffolk

Oct 13th – 22th The Cheltenham Festival of Literature, Gloucestershire

Oct 17th – BFI London Film Festival

Oct 20th – Red and sika stag season closes in Scotland

Oct 21st – Roe buck season closes in England and Wales (Oct 21)

Oct 21st – 23rd – Turner Prize Exhibition at Tate Britain The Turner Prize is awarded to a British artist under 50

Oct 23 rd – Trafalgar Day Parade Parade and service at Trafalgar Square

Oct 24th – 28th – Metro Ski and Snowboard Show, Olympia London

Oct 25th – 28th - The London Wine Show, Islington

Oct 28th – Diwali, the Festival of Light, Trafalgar Square

Oct 28th – British summertime officially ends at 2 am (GMT) on the last Sunday in October (clocks go back).

Oct 31st – Halloween

Facebook® Platform

londonlaunch.com today announced an Event Planner application built on Facebook Platform, a platform that enables companies and developers to build applications for the Facebook website.

londonlaunch.com’s Event Planner application allows Facebook users worldwide to plan corporate or private events online. It provides access to the best of London’s venues, restaurants, hotels, caterers and other event suppliers. “Our application allows Facebook users to access our directory of top London venues and event suppliers from directly within their profiles.”, said Mark Westguard, IT Director of londonlaunch.com, “The events industry is all about networking, making Facebook a perfect platform for us. We will continue to develop our application on Facebook to ensure we maintain our reputiation as the premier event management resource online.”

londonlaunch.com plan to expand their Facebook application to cover their other directories which cover cities such as New York, Los Angeles and Toronto.

Facebook is a social utility that offers an efficient way for people to stay connected with their friends and the people around them. Facebook users communicate and share information through the social graph, the network of connections and relationships between people. With more than 43 million active users, Facebook is the sixth most trafficked website in the United States.

Facebook recently launched Facebook Platform, a development platform that enables companies and engineers to integrate with Facebook and gain access to millions of users. More than 50 percent of Facebook users return to the site each day, providing unparalleled distribution potential for applications and the opportunity to build a business that is highly relevant to people’s lives.

source

Exhibition Industry Revenue Grows 11.3 Percent in Second Quarter of 2007 in the US

The Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR) announces that data collected for the annual CEIR Index report reveals that show revenues continue to flourish in the second quarter of 2007. Year-to-date revenue rose 11.3 percent to $2.65 billion when compared to the same time period in 2006. In addition to this promising growth figure, attendance grew 13.5 percent. The other second quarter numbers for 2007 compared to 2006 are Net Square Feet, up 3.0 percent, and Exhibitors, up 4.5 percent. "The results show that the exhibition industry is healthy, vibrant and growing" commented CEIR President Doug Ducate. "We have had two great quarters and the trend is expected to continue through 2007."

As an objective measure of the annual performance of the exhibition industry, the CEIR Index measures year-over-year changes in four key metrics to determine overall performance: Net Square Feet; Attendees; Exhibitors; and Revenue. The CEIR Index provides exhibition industry performance across 11 key industry sectors: Professional Business Services; Consumer and Retail Trade; Sports and Entertainment; Food; Government; Building and Construction; Industrial and Manufacturing; Communications and Information Technology; Medical and Health Care; Raw Materials and Science; and Transportation.

Earlier this year, the CEIR Index reported the exhibition industry grew 4.8 percent in 2006 over 2005 levels, just slightly below the 5.8 percent gain posted by the industry in 2005 versus 2004, but marking the fourth consecutive year of industry growth. Over the course of the period covered by this report (2000-2006), all four exhibition industry metrics rose on a CAGR (compound annual growth rate) basis: Net Square Feet (+3.6 percent); Revenue (+2.6 percent); Attendees (+1.6 percent); and Exhibitors (+1.5 percent). In 2006, Revenue increased 9.7 percent, followed by 4.6 percent, 3.8 percent and 1.3 percent gains in Attendees, Net Square Feet and Exhibitors, respectively.

About CEIR
The Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR) serves to advance the growth, awareness and value of exhibitions and other face-to-face marketing events by producing and delivering research-based knowledge tools that enable stakeholder organizations to enhance their ability to meet current and emerging customer needs, improve their business performance and strengthen their competitive position.

source

Sky launches standalone entertainment brand

BSkyB is launching a second entertainment brand called Picnic that will offer broadband, phone and television services. Picnic is aimed at the “value” end of the market and will allow consumers to sign up as many of the three services as they want and in any combination.

The launch of the standalone brand confirms speculation that Sky planned to launch a standalone broadband service. It announced plans to launch a subscription service on Freeview earlier this year but it was scuppered by Ofcom, which launched a consultancy.

which launched a consultation into plans and it is not expected to rule until after the new year.

Sky is attempting to allay concerns by working with a number of set-top box providers to include ’Picnic’ technology, allowing consumers to upgrade to Sky at a later date.

Sky says that Picnic represents an "attractive commercial opportunity". BSkyB chief executive, James Murdoch adds: "The launch of Picnic will be a big step forward for customers who are hungry for value and simplicity."

source