April 2008

News venues.org.uk

Latest news stories

Thu 15

Essex Brothers’ Ship set to feature on TV with A-List Hollywood Celebrities at Cannes Film Festival

Privately owned mega-yacht chosen by Channel 4’s T4 programme to film on location in Cannes

Mon 21

Work starts on Coach House at Great Fosters

Great Fosters, near Windsor, will be launching an exclusive new meeting facility within the grounds of the 16th Century hotel in September. The Coach House is being re-developed as part of a £3 million investment of the Surrey hotels' business facilities.

Mon 21

EC&O most nominated venue in AEO Excellence Awards 2008 shortlist

The shortlist for the AEO Excellence Awards 2008 has been announced. Of the 41 shortlisted companies, three are leading the charge. CMP Information notches up an incredible 12 shortlisted entries, while Melville is named six times and EC&O Venues has five nominations.

Mon 21

The QEIICC's masterclass series gets off to a great start

The first of the masterclass series held by London’s Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre (QEIICC) has been rated a success by all those that took part. The half-day seminars give in-depth knowledge and hands-on tips to event organisers on various topics associated with the organisation of successful and powerful conferences.

Mon 21

QHotels achieves AIM accreditation across group

QHotels has announced that all its hotels have achieved Entry Level for Accredited in Meetings (AIM) status with the Meetings Industry Association (MIA).

Mon 21

The real Crackers come to Edinburgh

Hundreds of Britain’s forensic psychologists, the people whose expertise was dramatised in the highly successful television series Cracker, starring Robbie Coltrane, are to descend on Edinburgh in June for a special event.

Mon 21

Cambridge opens its doors for events

A series of events to highlight the unique range of venues and facilities on offer in Cambridge will continue during May, specifically focusing on Queen’s College, the Pitt Building and St John’s College.

Mon 21

Top TV talent show returns to Emirates

The X Factor makes a triumphant return to the Emirates Stadium for the 2008 London auditions. Simon, Sharon, Louis and Dannii are back for four days in June to pick the finest raw talent London has to offer. The stadium serves as the perfect venue to host the hopefuls who are looking impressing the judges with their singing talent.

Mon 21

Greener lighting for Corn Exchange

Edinburgh’s landmark event space, The Edinburgh Corn Exchange, has recently completed the installation of a bespoke, state of the art LED lighting and surround sound PA system, designed with environmental consideration at its core.

Mon 21

Aberdeen-based MacDonald hotel is star struck

The Automobile Assoication (AA) have awarded the Macdonald Pittodrie House Hotel a prestigious new star, launching it into the luxury four-star category.

Feature of the month

What’s on the menu? Getting the food right at your event

Following on from last month’s look at the reasons behind the growing importance of catering at events, Ian Whiteling examines the factors that determine exactly what kind of food should be served.

A word from the editor…

The editors

Danielle Pham: Successful events are all about preparation

The manager of the Lewis Media Centre says effective event organising is all about forward planning, offering tips on attracting delegates and crisis management.

News from our partner

Video

WISE MAN SAYS... From fashionista to erotica

Richard John talks to adult entertainment consultant, Brian Wiseman, about how to weave through the politics and misperceptions associated with creating an event for the adult market. play

GLOBAL VISION Association Review: MPI in the Middle East

Fresh from MPI’s Middle East Meetings and Event Conference, chief executive Bruce MacMillan talks to James Latham about the challenges facing event planners in the region and beyond, how the association is addressing these issues and how it is transforming itself from a traditional trade body into a global community. play

DRIVING SALES: Why Xango brings its global team together

Nicole Santiago from global nutritional supplement business Xango talks to Ian Whiteling about how events play a crucial role in motivating and educating the company’s disparate sales force. play

SEXY TIMES: The adult exhibitions market hits the mainstream

With Passion 08 – a new exhibition created by women for women – due to start on 24 May at Earl’s Court, James Latham caught up with some of the women behind the event to find out how the exhibitions industry is finally capitalising on the power of women. play

CATERING FOR SUCCESS: Sodexho Prestige leads the way

Ian Whiteling talks to Sodexho Prestige's Simon Bailey. play

News

Smartwire revolutionises exhibition stand power and lighting

Melville Exhibition & Event Services, part of GES Worldwide Network, successfully unveiled its revolutionary new electrical exhibition stand system at the Homebuyer and Property Investor Show 2008, which took place from 7-9 March at ExCeL London.

Emap Communications restructure begins with a digital focus

News of the anticipated restructure of Emap Communications, the business-to-business media services group, is filtering through. The entire publisher stream of management is alleged to be out of one door this week, while 50 new digital executives move in from another.

WISE MAN SAYS... From fashionista to erotica

Richard John talks to adult entertainment consultant, Brian Wiseman, about how to weave through the politics and misperceptions associated with creating an event for the adult market.

NEC Birmingham bucks economic forecast with three new shows

Grass Roots Football Live, the Your Money Matters Show and Streetlife have Been unveiled as the latest additions to Birmingham venue the NEC for 2008.

Vauxhall ups Tigra style factor with Britain’s Next Top Model event

To celebrate Vauxhall Tigra’s sponsorship of the new series of TV show Britain’s Next Top Model, Vauxhall has asked live events agency TRO to create a regional brand experience, which features the stars of the LIVING channel programme and positions the Tigra in front of its prime young female market.

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