Katharine Jordan, Author at EDGE Venues

21st May 2014

News From Budapest

The Hungarian Convention Bureau reports in its newsletter that in April it had organised an international MICE Study Tour in Budapest for 49 MICE professionals from 8 countries. The HCB worked in cooperation with ten 5* hotels and four DMCs to showcase the city.

The primary aim of the study tour – beyond introducing 5* conference hotels and special event venues – was to experience the real Budapest through exciting incentive programmes as a possible destination for future international events.

5 star study tour in Budapest

19th May 2014

Puente Romano’S Fresh New Look

This past year has been incredibly exciting with enhancements and changes taking place at the Puente Romano. The most impactful transformation has been the rebranding of the resort with a new name and logo, which now complements its fresh contemporary look and feel. The name Puente Romano Beach Resort Marbella embraces the location and new physical style as a beach resort.

During the past 18 months the 8 restaurants have been transformed and the two Michelin starred Dani Garcia Restaurant has been added.

The hotel has refurbished all the accommodation and banqueting facilities and is currently working on a large garden landscape redesign project.

9th May 2014

Intercontinental O2 Due To Open In Q3 2015

A brand new Intercontinenal Hotel is due to open next door to the O2, construction has started and is due to be complete by Q3 of 2015. The hotel will have Europe’s largest ballroom holding up to 2500 in a pillar free space. This will be supported by 453 bedrooms.

Other news from The Arora Group … The Arora Park Hotel will soon become an IHG property and Macdonald Savill Court has just been taken over by the brand.

Arora also look after The Sofitel T5 which has 605 bedrooms and 45 meeting rooms with much of the furnishings designed by hugo boss! They can hold up to 1200 theatre style and 117 in tiered seating with the theatre.

Finally … one to watch out for is the sixth floor boardroom at Arora Heathrow which has 180 degree views of the runway and a terrace with its own mini golf course!

1st May 2014

Fairmont Hotels Incorporate Social Responsibility Into Corporate Events

While plenty of hotels have internal corporate social responsibility platforms, Fairmont Hotels and Resorts is trying to get its corporate guests involved in worthwhile causes as well: The company’s Meetings That Matter program lets event planners booking a meeting of 50 room nights or more donate 10 percent of the room revenue generated by the event to the charity of their choice.

Groups supporting the arts, fighting HIV/AIDS and helping children with disabilities have been popular beneficiaries of this incentive, which has been available at Fairmont hotels for several years. If the event attendees want to get physically involved, they can volunteer to clean up waterways, help local school children or support local craftspeople. Jeff Doane, vice president, sales and marketing at FRHI Hotels & Resorts (the umbrella company for Fairmont, Raffles and Swissotel), told International Meetings Review that the company specializes in both “socially responsible and signature events options” that are authentically local to each of the brand’s properties.

These activities, Doane added, can ultimately be beneficial for groups. “We have noted an increase in a variety of team-building activities during meetings and conferences,” he said. “[Planners] are placing a heightened value on ensuring that their teams are aligned and engaged with one another. These activities tend to drive that alignment/closer working relationship.” Fairmont also has a dedicated green conferencing program.

Courtesy of International Meetings Review, 30/04/14

29th April 2014

Jacqui Kavanagh Wins Business Person Of The Year

At the second annual Stamford and Rutland Business Awards last week, Jacqui Kavanagh, Managing Director of Trinity Event Solutions was awarded Business Person of the Year. It was a double celebration for Trinity which was also named runner up in the Contribution to the Community category.

Trinity was founded by Jacqui in 2006 and now employs 30 people in venue finding, event management and to book accommodation. She was delighted to receive the award and commented, “I am a firm believer that if you give 100 per cent, you will be rewarded. Winning this award will give me the chance to create more opportunities for people, whether it is through work experience, mentoring or encouraging people from all walks of life to work hard to achieve their goals. I could never have imagined that I could start a business which would be recognised as one of the top companies in the region and in its industry. Our success also means that Trinity is able to support local communities through our annual Triple Challenge fund raising initiative.”

The judging panel praised Jacqui’s “focus on staff development and its key importance to the growth and success of the business”. They also said that “Jacqui has created a sound platform for growing the business” and “she demonstrates a good understanding of her market and is developing a range of strategies for securing their place within in it”.

The Stamford and Rutland Business Awards attracts entries from micro businesses through to national SME’s and covering an extensive range of market sectors. The judging panel included Miranda Rock, the Chairman and House Director of Burghley House; Ian Leech, Chief Financial officer of BGL Group and CEO of Coral Administration; Tony Worth, the Lord Lieutenant of Lincolnshire and Brian Edwards, the MD of Swynford Consulting.

29th April 2014

Park Inn Invest £50M In The Last 12 Months

Park Inn Hotels have undergone a major investment programme spending £50m on the UK properties in the last 12 months, plus a further £13m on the Park Inn Heathrow property alone. The investment aims to change people’s perception of the brand by offering a ‘Smart Meetings’ concept. The Smart Meetings concept offers brand standards and consistency and was rolled out across 23 UK properties and over 230 global properties in Feb 2014. All Park Inn hotels now offer free basic WiFi, creative lunches and unlimited tea/coffee.

A little more about Park Inn Hotels…

Park Inn by Radisson Birmingham West is located at J1 of the M5, they have 17 meeting rooms and 168 bedrooms and can offer free parking.

Park Inn Heathrow is the largest of the portfolio with 895 beds and capacity for 700 theatre style. Their ‘Conference Red’ area is being totally refurbished during August 2014 and will be unavailable for event bookers. They will benefit from new carpets, chairs, tables, walls and equipment! They have already upgraded all of their Business Friendly bedrooms and 200 of their standard rooms leaving just 350 standards to be completed by the end of 2014.

Park Inn Northampton has just completed a massive refurbishment of their bedrooms (apart one floor), public areas, meeting rooms, bar, restaurant and lobby. They can hold up to 600 theatre style.

Park Inn Telford is located within 3 hours drive of 70% of the population and just 10 minutes walk from Telford International Centre. They invested £4m in to the property in 2013.

16th April 2014

Hilton Waldorf Employ A New Head Chef

The Hilton Waldorf Hotel in London have just employed a new head chef that will be starting next week, they will also soon be launching Cup Cake making classes for team building activities!

The Hilton London Ealing and Hilton London Hyde Park have spent £10m on each property converting them in to Doubletree branded venues. Both are fresh, modern and are offering very competitive rates!

The Hilton London Park Lane have just launched their Meetings Simplified Package and news hot off the press is that they will soon have a casino onsite!!

7th April 2014

Trinity Has Reached The Finals Of The Conference Awards

CA2014 finalist managed1.jpg

The event management division of Trinity organised the Global University Summit which has taken place every year since 2008 in different international destinations including Sapporo, Turin, Vancouver, Dijon and Chicago. Higher education depends heavily on government support in every country. Global University Summits are always held in conjunction with G8 Summits to draw the attention of world leaders to the needs of higher education and its vital role in helping the attendees deal with the challenges of the present and the future. The University of Warwick outsourced the organisation of this event to Trinity.

26th March 2014

Moevenpick Open New Properties

Moevenpick Paris Neuilly will complete it’s bedroom development in June 2014 increasing it’s bed stock to 281 rooms. All 281 rooms will have a full refurbishment creating a more modern and contemporary look.

A recent opening for Moevenpick is the Jumeirah Lakes Towers which opened in Dubai during November 2013. This is a boutique hotel with just 144 beds.

Other upcoming new openings include… A brand new hotel in Istanbul which is due to open in the summer of 2014, it will be located on the Golden Horn and will be a boutique property but with meeting space for up to 200. The next to open will be in Marrakech during October 2014, this hotel will have over 400 bedrooms and meeting space for up to 600. And finally 2016 will see the opening of a hotel in Bangkok and two in Abu Dhabi.

25th March 2014

South African Spotlight

The Rand has devalued by almost 25% since the same time last year, which makes it the perfect time to visit South Africa. See below for a snapshot of some amazing South African venues waiting to be discovered…

TANDA TULA SAFARI CAMP & TANDA TULA FIELD CAMP: GREATER KRUGER – A truly authentic under canvas safari experience with all the necessary luxuries. Remember Tanda Tula Field Camp is ideal for exclusive walking safaris. Best combined with White Pearl Resorts and Thanda Private Game Reserve.

KWANDWE PRIVATE GAME RESERVE: EASTERN CAPE – One of the largest private game reserves in South Africa with 2 lodges, 2 safari villas and a wide diversity of wildlife. Kwandwe provides the perfect safari for all travellers and is best combined with Le Quartier Francais.

THANDA PRIVATE GAME RESERVE: KWA-ZULU NATAL – With the very exclusive Thanda Safari Lodge, private residence Villa iZulu and great value Thanda Tented Camp, you are spoilt for choice and guests enjoy Big 5 game viewing within 14 000 ha of Zululand wilderness. Best combined with White Pearl in our ‘Zulus and Pearls’ combo package.

LE QUARTIER FRANÇAIS: WINELANDS – Take full advantage of the Gourmet Capital and enjoy fine dining restaurants within the Valley at great rates. Do not forget that when you stay at LQF all transfer within the Valley are included in the nightly rate! Best combined with either Kwandwe or Tanda Tula.

ELLERMAN HOUSE & ELLERMAN HOUSE VILLAS: CAPE TOWN – Situated in the wind sheltered Bantry Bay, Ellerman House offers incredible views over the Atlantic Ocean. Enjoy wine tastings in the new Wine Gallery and stay in the newly launched Ellerman House Villa Two. Best combined with Singita and Azura.

Courtesy of Classic Portfolio 04/02/14