February 2016 - Page 3 of 4

9th February 2016

We Explore Abu Dhabi As An Destination For Events

Paula Calton, Trinity’s Director of Sales spent a few days in Abu Dhabi last week, looking at the emirate as a potential option for our clients. This is what you can expect to find:

Abu Dhabi is the capital of UAE and the largest of the seven emirates which make up UAE. It is a modern, cosmopolitan city in the heart of the Arabian Gulf, which is currently one of the fastest growing tourism destinations. Popular with those looking to experience a different culture and escape the winter temperatures of the UK.

Abu Dhabi offers a more cost effective option than Dubai with lower taxes and no city tax payable on accommodation.

The destination offers a wealth of options for experiences/activities including desert/water based activities. The Yas Island 15 minutes from airport and 30 mins from city centre features the Yas Marina Circuit which hosts the Formula 1 Grand Prix, Yas Beach, Yas Marina a links golf course, Ferrari World which boasts the world’s fastest roller coaster – Formula Rossa, Yas Waterworld and is developing the much anticipated Warner Brothers Theme Park which will open in 2018. In addition there is the Yas Mall offering an unrivalled tax free shopping experience and MAD the most glamorous night spot in the UAE all supported by seven hotels, including the Viceroy which is the world’s only hotel to straddle an F1 race track, all offering gourmet dining.

Visitors can discover more about Abu Dhabi’s religion and traditions with a visit to one of the world’s most impressive landmarks, the stunning Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. This architectural marvel, with a capacity for an astonishing 40,000 worshippers, features 80 domes, over 1,000 columns, gold plated chandeliers and the world’s largest hand woven carpet was the result of the work of 150,000 craftsmen.

One of the things to remember is that the weekend in UAE is Friday and Saturday. It is 4 hours ahead of UK and the flight time is approx 7hrs.

Airport:

30 mins from city centre

45 mins from southern part of Dubai.

The airport is currently undergoing major expansion programme and after completion in 2017 the airport will be ready to welcome 20 million passengers every year.

Visitors should ensure there is a minimum of two months ideally 6 validity on passport in order to be granted entry to UAE

Currency: Dirhams (AED) divided into 100fils

Language – Arabic is the official language with English and Urdu widely spoken

If you would like more information or to discuss holding a conference, meeting or event in Dubai, please contact Paula for more information.

9th February 2016

Cameron House Refurbishment

Cameron House has announced a refurbishment project which is due to start in 2016. During the work the hotel’s swimming pool has been closed. The hotel is located on the banks of Loch Lomond and is only 20 minutes from Glasgow Airport. The Hotel has its own boat – The Celtic Warrior, which can host lunches for up to 12 people on the Loch. The Hotel has 4 restaurants, from casual dining on the Marina in the Boat House to Fine Dining in the Michelin Starred Martin Wishart Restaurant, and due to it’s surroundings can offer a number of activities for Team building including: Clay Pigeon Shooting, Archery, Falconry, Sea Plane Trips, and Segway Safari, to name but a few.

8th February 2016

New Four Seasons Hotel

10 Trinity Square London is set to become a new luxury Four Seasons hotel. The former Port of London Authority building will include 98 bedrooms/suites, 2 gourmet restaurants, spa, private member’s club as well as meeting rooms, business centre, screening room and cigar lounge. The hotel will be located within a 35 minute drive to London City Airport and 20 minutes from the West End and Canary Wharf and overlooks the Tower of London.

The hotel is due to open within the last quarter of 2016.

5th February 2016

Mpi Economic Insights For 2016

Meeting Professionals International held an event on 18th January 2016 with a mix of agencies, suppliers, consultants and venues to look at trends and predictions for 2016. Speakers included leading economists and Jacqui Kavanagh of Trinity was on the panel of events industry specialists.

Here is a summary of the findings from the session, but if you would like more information, please contact Katharine Jordan for a copy of the report.

The Global Outlook

Business in Eurozone is looking better in 2016 with Germany in particular showing strong growth
Cautious actions are required in the emerging economies, particularly China where there is a lack of clarity on the rate of decline
Oil prices should produce a positive effect on consumer spend but are unlikely to change air fares

Events forecast for 2016

3.8% increase predicted in event spend
USA, Malaysia and UK are the top three destinations for business travel in 2015 – 2017
Geopolitical concerns are high but this isn’t currently reflected in client choice
Groups are now seen as collection of individuals with different needs
We’re seeing more internal meetings for strategizing
Clients are booking later meaning the best prices aren’t always available
The incentive sector is growing, with room for new businesses

5th February 2016

New Ibis Styles Hotels For Accor

The Ibis Styles Reading Oxford Road has opened following a full refurbishment of what was previously a Travelodge, with 97 bedrooms. The Accor group has signed franchises for three more hotels which are expected to open in 2016-17: a 62-bed Ibis Styles hotel is due to open in Birmingham this Spring; a 120-bed Ibis Budget is under construction at Luton Airport and there will be a new open a 159-bed Novotel at Heathrow Airport.

4th February 2016

Forest Works Snapshot

At Trinity we recently had a visit from Forest Holidays, who 5 months launched their meeting product “Forest Works” onto the marketplace. Forest Holidays are based in Forestry Commission owned woodlands, in 9 locations across the UK, stretching from Strathyre and Ardgartan Argyll (both in the Scottish Highlands) down to Deerpark in Cornwall. Across the sites Forest Works can offer a range of different products for different clients, and to suit differing price-ranges. Options include private-hire of cabins, which are self-sufficient and can sleep small groups, with space for meetings. Alternatively, marquees or tents can be set up, with the only limit the imagination. Being based in woodlands, there is a huge range of activities for teambuilding that can be chosen from. One popular feature of using the cabins is that Wi-Fi can even be turned off if requested, to help the atmosphere of a meeting away from distractions.

4th February 2016

Iet London Savoy Place – Now Open After A 2 Year Refurbishment

IET London: Savoy Place has officially opened its doors for external events, following a two year and £30 million redevelopment.

Transformed from top to bottom, delegates to Savoy Place will be able to enjoy access to two brand new auditoriums with a combined capacity of over 600, a second lecture theatre, enlarged riverside suite, state of the art boardrooms, roof terrace, and a ‘sesame lift’ at the front of the building, which enables the stone steps to retract automatically for easy wheelchair access.

A series of digital exhibits throughout the venue were unveiled earlier in the year and are now on display. Highlighting the IET’s engineering history, the exhibits, including ‘100 engineering ideas that changed the world’ and two stairwell sculptures, celebrate the past, present and future of the IET and can be integrated into events

Digital displays including a futuristic digital chandelier hung in the reception and live video walls on the second floor, can both be personalised for large events and connected to live comment feeds.

Simon Timmis, senior marketing manager at IET Venues & Events commented: “It’s been a busy start since we opened, it has been over two years in the making, and a lot of people have worked incredibly hard to make this possible. We wanted to design a venue with the future in mind, by investing in our technology infrastructure we have the capacity to adapt with the changing requirements of our delegates and event organisers. The redevelopment of Savoy Place has already been well received by past and new clients who have seen the substantial efforts to create a clean, spacious and fully integrated venue.”

3rd February 2016

Regents University York Lawns

Regent’s Conferences and Events at Regents University are opening their York Lawns for outdoor events from 23rd May through to 10th Sept 2016.

Their four acres of outdoor space and landscaped gardens is situated in the heart of London and can offer a potential venue for outdoor meetings including away days, team-building activities and summer parties.

The gardens can fit up to 1000 guests and BBQ packages start at £100 + VAT for 200 guests (packages can also be personalised for lower numbers of delegates). These packages include: ground hire, lined marquee with lighting, garden furniture, 2 course BBQ menu, 2 hour drinks package of unlimited beers, wines and soft drinks and security.

2nd February 2016

Changes In The Ownership Of Major Hotels

Following Accor’s acquisition of the FRHI Hotels & Resorts’ Fairmont, Raffles and Swissôtel brands, in December and Marriott’s purchase of the Starwood group in November, there are now is now another major brand up for sale. Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group is reported to have appointed advisers to look at the disposal of their portfolio of 1,370 properties.

In addition, the Hong Kong’s owners of the Rosewood London (pictured) have put the hotel up for sale with a guide price of £450M. The hotel underwent an £85M refurbishment in 2013.

Offers are to be invited for around a £700M for the freehold of the 1,059-bed Hilton London Metropole and long leasehold of the 790-bed Hilton Birmingham Metropole, which were acquired in a sale and manageback deal in 2006.

2nd February 2016

Mary Ward House Conference And Exhibition Centre Update

Mary Ward House Conference and Exhibition Centre, has recently undergone some refurbishments which will be completed this week.

‘’All works undertaking were sympathetic to the era and period of the original building as we wanted enhance on the existing ambience of the venue. The work spanned across our three floors and included flooring, plastering, paint colour schemes and creating a new lighting atmosphere across the venue. The end result is bright and airy, welcoming rooms which have retained all key period features from the original build design. Clients can enjoy a range of soft colour schemes over our 14 rooms complemented by light wood floors and neutral wood works and finishing.’’ Nile Halson, Operations manager at Mary Ward House.

The renovation work has certainly achieved this, the rooms all have a quirky shabby chic feel to them, a great venue if you are looking for something a little different with lots of original features.