JULY 2010
In This Issue
RESEARCH: IRF Pulse Survey Tracks Incentive Travel Trends ENGLAND: London Opens International Convention Centre at ExCel EVENTS: IT&ME Announces Education Schedule UAE: Frasers Hospitality Opens United Arab Emirates Property CRUISES: Landry & Kling Partners with MCI DENMARK: World’s First Design Hotel Turns 50 AUSTRIA: New Vienna Meeting Planner’s Guide Published
In The Air
IN THE AIR: European Airline Traffic Up
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Incentive industry professionals think we’re out of the woods as far as the economy’s negative impact on program planning, but that doesn’t necessarily mean more corporate dollars will be freed up this year for rewards & recognition. The Incentive Research Foundation (IRF) surveyed industry professionals during the month of April, asking them about incentive travel programs, merchandise/non-cash programs and ROI/budget considerations. The most promising data from the IRF’s most recent Pulse Survey show that respondents appear to be more optimistic about the current economic climate than they were in either the Summer or Fall of last year. Other key issues and trends from the most recent IRF Pulse Survey include:
• Image Issues Remain: Key “influencers” on program design, implementation and product selection that peaked in the Fall of 2008 have stabilized in 2 out of 3 areas, but sensitivity to program extravagance remains high, having risen from 45% to 64% between Fall 2008 and Spring 2010, making it the second most important influencer. • Growth in Individual Travel: Respondents were asked if they anticipate their award strategy using more individual travel and fewer group trips, either temporarily or permanently. Although two-thirds predict no change in policy, 29% see some movement from group to individual travel. • Increased Involvement by Procurement: While most respondents anticipate no change with regard to the involvement of Procurement/Purchasing departments in incentive travel programs, 44% agree that their involvement will increase by some degree. • More Domestic Travel: Although nearly half of respondents (47%) felt there would be no change in the basic make-up of incentive travel programs in 2010, another 42% predict a shift from international to domestic destinations, and 47% say the average length of travel programs will decline. www.TheIrf.org |
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 The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, officially launched the city’s first International Convention Centre at ExCeL London on June 24. The new facility encompasses London’s largest banqueting space, ICC Capital Hall, the 5,000-seat ICC Auditorium and the ICC Capital Suite, comprised of 17 individual meeting rooms for 50 to 2,500 delegates. “Business tourism is vital to the London economy, and the opening of the ICC is a brilliant addition to our business offering,” says Johnson. “Alongside the Olympic Park, it will boost the overall regeneration of the East End and help ensure the capital remains an open, diverse and competitive city.” In related news, ADNEC, the Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company that owns ExCel, announced plans to build the UK’s first Starwood ALOFT hotel. The 4-star, 252-room business hotel will be linked to the ICC London. www.excel-london.co.uk/icc |
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 The Motivation Show recently announced the final schedule for its conference program that runs from October 12-14 at McCormick West in Chicago, IL. The 4th Annual Conference: Connecting Employee Engagement and Financial Results will start with a Tuesday Education Day (the day before the Exhibit Hall opens) and Luncheon Keynote featuring Dave Rife, White Castle Family member and Owner, who will share the insights he gained from going undercover in his own company in his presentation, Uncovering Brand Truths – My Journey as the “Undercover Boss” at White Castle. A Wednesday General Session, Social Isn’t Just for Media: How Connecting People Drives Business Value, sponsored by the Forum for People Performance Management and Measurement, will feature Jennifer Rosenzweig, Research Director for the Forum, and Michelle Smith, Vice President, Business Development, for O.C. Tanner Company. The Thursday General Session, sponsored by the Incentive Research Foundation, is entitled Incentives, Recognition & the New Normal: A Look into 2012 and Beyond. Presenters will be IRF President Melissa Van Dyke and Rodger Stotz, Chief Research Officer for the IRF.www.motivationshow.com |
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 Cruise Events Specialists Landry & Kling have announced a strategic alliance with MCI, a leading global association, communications and event management company. The partnership agreement includes Landry & Kling company Seasite.com, the first cruise portal dedicated to the cruise meetings and events market. Under the new alliance, MCI will promote the use of cruise ships for group meetings and events accessing Seasite.com services and resources including cruise sourcing, contract negotiations and planning tools. In addition, MCI will request Landry & Kling services for its clients who require cruise logistics custom planning services, from the pre-event planning phase through on‑site event implementation. To support the ongoing partnership, Landry & Kling will recommend Ovation Global DMC (part of MCI Group) to its customers who require Destination Management Services such as port excursions, special events, or group transportation at key Ovation locations. These destinations include (but are not limited to) Malaga, Valencia and Barcelona, Spain; Cannes, Nice, and Monte Carlo, France; Livorno, Rome, Naples, Sorrento, Taormina, and Venice, Italy; Stockholm, Sweden; and Hong Kong. www.landrykling.com |
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 The SAS Royal Hotel Copenhagen (now known as the Radisson Blu Royal Hotel Copenhagen) celebrates its 50th Anniversary this year. Widely recognized as the world’s first designer hotel, the legendary Arne Jacobsen (1902‑1971) created the look of the 260-room property, which opened in 1960. Following the inauguration of a new route between the USA and Scandinavia, SAS aimed to build a complex conveniently located next to Tivoli Gardens and Copenhagen Central Station that would represent the very best of Scandinavian design, including a luxury hotel, a travel agency, and a passenger terminal. Behind the slim, elegant façade, Jacobsen created an exemplar of futuristic Danish design – in fact, some of his most famous pieces of furniture were designed especially for the SAS Royal Hotel, including his Egg Chairs and Swan Chairs. Room 606 of the hotel is still exactly the way it was when Jacobsen designed it, and it is one of the most recognizable and photographed hotels rooms in the world.Phone: +45 3342 6210 www.radissonblu.com/royalhotel-copenhagen |
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 The 2010-2012 Vienna Meeting Planners’ Guide is an outstanding tool for all those intending to organize congresses, seminars or incentives in Vienna. Published in English and German, its 201 pages contain information about 152 conference venues in Vienna. The guide is available free of charge from the Vienna Tourist Board’s Vienna Convention Bureau. The 152 venues are divided into five sections: congress centers (3), conference hotels (84), historic venues (39), modern venues (18) and universities (8). There are short descriptions of all these, as well as photographs, and clear floor plans. The new edition includes eighteen new event venues, including Palais Schönburg, the Schönbrunn conference center, and the Phoenix Supperclub Vienna. Also new in the guide is an “Incentive Ideas” section, with suggestions ranging from themed walks to gala dinners. Contact information for over a hundred useful suppliers (event equipment, furniture rental, giveaways, airport transfers, etc.) rounds out the Guide.Phone: +43 1211 14 521 Email: convention@vienna.info |
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In The Air |
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Three European airlines report that stronger demand on Asian routes boosted air traffic in June, noting a rise in sales of business class tickets as economies begin to recover. Air France-KLM posted a strong rise in unit revenue in the month, as growth in both passenger and cargo activity outpaced capacity. Scandinavian airline SAS and Finnish national carrier Finnair also said passenger traffic had risen last month, fueling a 12% increase over the past year. All three airlines attributed part of the boost to a recovering market for air travel in Asia, where economic growth has accelerated. European airlines, already shaky from the global recession, had suffered in April when the eruption of an Icelandic volcano threw up a cloud of ash, grounding flights for nearly a week and costing the industry billions in lost revenue. But things have brightened somewhat since then, as business travel has picked up and some airlines have reduced their capacity in an attempt to meet competition from low-cost rivals.
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