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PUBLISHERS ANNOUNCEMENT
The Society of Event Organisers (SEO) which publishes this newsletter has moved to individual free membership, which can be taken up by organisers, venues, suppliers and agencies in the event sector.
All will receive all the SEO’s free newsletters, which can be unsubscribed at any time, as well as a 20% reduction on all qualifications, tutorials and conferences presented by the SEO. Supplier members, venues and agencies receive a 20% reduction on advertising rates.
To sign up for free membership go to www.seoevent.co.uk
Concern continues to grow over the ethics of pre-pack administrations, as employed by chef Tom Aikins, and many others.
The regulators at the Insolvency Service are particularly worried that the pre-packs are being organised with administrators behind closed doors and used as a convenient and profitable way for individuals in a company to deceitfully shed their debt responsibilities and continue trading with the assets, merely under a different name.
One well-established beneficiary from the poor business ethics is large London-based accountancy firm Tenon, currently being promoted by the Daily Telegraph, which should perhaps be setting a better example to its business readers.
Tenon recently filled its boots handling the pre-pack for a large audio-visual company Presentation Services Ltd (PSL), allowing a company that had been set up for the purpose seven weeks previously, Presentation Services London Ltd (PSSL), to buy the assets and continue trading. PSL claimed at the time that the pre-pack device had "saved 100 jobs" although only their four directors seemed to have retained their employment. PSL also claimed that the pre-pack allowed for a proportion of PSLLs turnover to be paid back to Tenon and distributed to PSLs angry creditors. A few weeks on creditors have learned that PSLL has also just gone into receivership.
(See Conference Venue Marketplace, Issue 5, Jan/Feb 09, DOWN AND BACK UP FOR PSL and AIKENS CREDITORS OWED MILLIONS. See also Event Organisers Update, Issue 72, April 09, ONE DEAD PHOENIX)
Lack of business forced restaurateur Anthony Worrall Thompson’s AWT restaurant and gastropub business into administration in February with reported debts of £10.5 million.
The company ran the Greyhound and the Lamb Inn at Henley, the Notting Grill in West London and the Barnes Grill in South West London (The Appointment).
Two other AWT restaurants, the Windsor Grill in Berkshire and the Kew Grill in London have been bailed out with the chef’s personal savings as has a delicatessen the Windsor Larder.
Anthony Worrall Thompson’s business partner and fellow director at AWT is exhibition organiser Tim Etchells who had to cancel a new restaurant show A La Carte a few years back due to lack of sufficient exhibitor interest, the same thing that happened to Etchells’ RSVP event on its first outing.
RSVP was recently sold by Etchells to a rather iffy Australian company, Exhibition and Trade Fairs (UK) Ltd.
Note. The above piece appeared in Event Organisers Update, Issue 72, April 09, see www.eou .org.uk
Staff at the Holiday Inn, Milton Keynes have been praised by the fire service for the way they evacuated 40 guests when a serious basement fire broke out in the early hours of Monday April 20.
The fire service representative commented: "Being tipped out of bed by a fire alarm sounding is the last thing people want but the hotel staff were brilliant at getting people out. There are always one or two reluctant to leave, or who think it's a practice".
Another fire at the same hotel over the Easter weekend has prompted an investigation into the possibility of arson.
One budget hotel group keen to expand its London presence is Travelodge, which is offering to pay a fee of £500 per room, up to £150,000, to anyone who suggests locations which are subsequently turned by the group into hotels.
Travelodge want to put one new hotel in each of 32 London boroughs, and in the City of London and say that suitable sites could be office blocks or listed buildings.
The group recently announced a new-build on a Tesco in Rugby.
The four-star Ramada Plaza hotel in Southport has picked up some costly bad press after it charged a guest £100 for smoking in one of the bedrooms of its all no-smoking property.
The guest was a 96 year old man on a weekend break with his 93 year old wife, both from Southport, and reportedly was not allowed to leave the hotel by the management until the money had been paid, in this case with the help of the man's sister-in-law.
The incident has sparked considerable criticism of the Ramada management. Much has centered around whether what some are calling a "fine" is actually legal, and whether £100 for room cleaning is fair. Some have claimed that cleaning is likely to have consisted of opening a window for 10 minutes and spraying some air freshener around. Ramada management have not helped the situation by claiming that the real cost is "nearer £200", prompting some to point out that cleaners are likely to be low-paid minimum-wage workers on £5.75 an hour, unlike the management, and that £200 buys more than 34 hours.
The invidious charge has prompted one potential event booker to look elsewhere for a venue for his company's breakfast meetings, and many others,smokers and non-smokers to claim they will be boycotting Ramada in future.
The Christian owners of a seven room seaside hotel in Cornwall are being sued for sexual discrimination after they refused to let a double bedroom to two homosexual men.
The owners of the Chymorvah Private Hotel, Marazion say that their policy is to bar all unmarried couples from sharing a room. On their website it states: "Here at Chymorvah we have few rules but please note that as Christians we have a deep regard for marriage (being the union of one man to one woman for life to the exclusion of all others) Therefore although we extend to all a warm welcome to our home our double bedded accommodation is not available to unmarried couples. Thank you"
Under the new Equality Act it is illegal to refuse a person goods or facilities because of their sexuality. European law on human rights allows that a person holding a religious belief should be able to manifest it in the way they act.
The owner of the Fairholme Hotel, Great Yarmouth has been fined for 17 breaches of food hygiene regulations, including keeping a rabbit in the hotel kitchen.
Athanasia Constantine, 40, who claims to be a countess but has supplied no evidence of title was fined £20,000 and ordered to pay £20,000 costs.
(See Conference Venue Update, Issue 5 , Jan/Feb 09, TWO IN NORFOLK)
In a move sure to send a chill wind through the hospitality sector our caring government is to highlight the number of calories in alcoholic drinks, to deter those worried about their shape from excessive boozing.
The recommended calorie intake for adult men is 2500 per day, and 2000 for adult women. A pint of premium lager contains 330 calories, so a four pint night out delivers more than half the ration. A large 250ml glass of medium strength red or white wine contains around 200 calories, or 600 per 75cl bottle, so is slightly less fattening. Those who like their Baileys are tipping down 320 calories per large 100ml glass, whilst those whose favourite poison is vodka can neck six 25ml singles at 55 calories a shot before getting close to the calorific damage in a pint of lager, though liver damage may be greater.
The Department of Health has also pointed out that more than 30% of drinkers consume even more fattening nuts, crisps and pork scratchings with their alcohol, and that excessive drinking can lead to bad eating, well-known amongst chaps as "lager-hunger", and often preceding consumption of multiple kebabs.
The old hoteliers' adage that whatever else you do to guests you should give them a good breakfast has, it seems, a scientific basis.
In an online survey studied by researchers at Cardiff University most men and women looked upon a cooked breakfast, or a bacon sandwich, as a pick-me-up and an antidote to feeling miserable.
The London International Wine Fair and companion event Distil both take place May 12-14 at Excel, London.
The organisers promise more than 20,000 different wines and spirits from 38 countries, although visitors are not expected to try them all.
www.londonwinefair.com
www.distil-london.com
The Society of Event Organisers (SEO has moved to individual free membership, which can be taken up by organisers, venues, buyers, suppliers and agencies in the events sector.
Members will receive all the SEO’s free newsletters, which can be unsubscribed at any time, as well as a 20% reduction on all qualifications, tutorials and conferences presented by the SEO. Regular low-cost members-only forums where buyers and suppliers can network to mutual advantage are being staged.
To sign up for free SEO membership go to www.seoevent.co.uk.
The list of events for 2009 includes:
o Certificate in Conference Venue Marketing, January and August.
o Certificate in Conference Food and Beverage, June.
o Certificate in Exhibiting, June.
o Tutorial – How to write a press release, April and October.
o Tutorial – How to be much more creative, April and October.
o Certificate in Conference Organisation, March, August and November/December.
o Diploma in Conference Organisation, August.
o Conference – Delegate Agenda, April and October.
o Conference – Training and Qualifications for Event Organisers, June.
o Monthly networking forums.
Circulated to 5000 of the UK’s leading event buyers listed in RGA’s Event Buyers Universe Database, which identifies event organisers/buyers from the UK’s leading companies, banks, PLC’s and associations, RGA’s Event Planners Pack is a shared mailpack featuring only services directly connected with the meetings industry.
We include a flier provided by you (maximum size A4 maximum weight 10 grammes), insert a maximum of 10 fliers in a display envelope, dispatch by post … and all this at a fraction of the normal postage and dispatch costs.
Established for over 15 years, the Event Planners Mailpack has proved very popular with the event buying community. So, if you’re looking for lead generation and/or a general awareness campaign targeting the UK’s leading corporate event buyers …. and, at a very reasonable price. Dispatch 2009 – 16 April & 24 September.
Contact RGA UK Ltd 01993 822303 or see out website www.rgaukltd.co.uk
Prospecting for Leads is a half day briefing seminar held on your premises for all exhibition stand staff in the art and craft of getting more valuable sales leads from exhibitions. It covers such aspects as opening conversations, keeping it short and succinct, selling benefits, securing appointments and following up.
Prospecting for Leads is presented by the Society of Event Organisers (SEO) and the fee is £325 plus VAT for the session, plus £10 plus VAT per delegate attending and plus travel, accommodation if required. SEO members can book for a 20% discount on the session rate, bringing this down to £260 plus VAT.
Call 01767 316255, or visit www.seoevent.co.uk for more information
The SEO’s free e-mail newsletter, Event Organisers Update is currently sent out to over 30,000. A 150-word announcement for your venue costs from £72 plus VAT, based on three insertions.
For more information call 01767 316255 or visit www.seo.org.uk
is a unique, four-day non-residential course, with a unique qualification for those who attend and pass the 1½ hour examination
It is staged by the Society of Event Organisers (SEO and sponsored by RGA UK Ltd, a specialist event industry direct marketing company, and the material is presented at all times from the event organisers (your customers) point of view with some eye-opening feedback from organisers on how they like, and definitely don’t like to be marketed to. In addition, and also uniquely, the material is all presented by marketing practitioners, sharing practical and proven tips for success, also incorporating what not to do.
THE CERTIFICATE IN CONFERENCE VENUE MARKETING is delivered to delegates as an instructive and enjoyable mix of presentation, interaction, discussion and exercises.
It will also feature significant time for the important delegate to delegate networking that invariably results in a mutually beneficial and invaluable exchange of tips, ideas and experiences in the specialised world of venue marketing.
The CCVM will be of most use and benefit to the following groups:
o Those already working in venue marketing, with one or two year’s experience, and wanting to share the experiences of others.
o Those working in senior general venue management needing a firm grasp of conference venue marketing.
o Those already working in venue sales looking for a move to marketing, or being moved to a marketing position.
o Sales and/or marketing staff at venue finding agencies, event management companies, and business travel agencies.
o Marketing and sales consultants working for conference venues, hotels and hotel groups.
o Marketing and sales staff at tourist boards and convention bureaux needing a firmer grasp of conference venue marketing.
The Certificate in Conference Venue Marketing for 2009 is being held at 16, Park Crescent, London W1B 1AH (nearest tube stations at Regents Park and Great Portland Street) on Monday 24 August 2009 to Thursday 27 August 2009 to coincide with a traditionally quiet time for most UK conference venues.
The fee, on a non-residential basis is £1,200 plus VAT per delegate with a reduction to £950 plus VAT per delegate if two or more delegates attend from the same organisation, or if delegate is SEO member (free sign up at www.seoevent.co.uk).
The Certificate in Conference Venue Marketing is a unique opportunity to acquire the valuable experiences of other practitioners. For many conference venues the profit on one extra booking in a year will more than pay for the fee.
The programme follows. To book places please complete the booking form (this can be downloaded) and fax or post a copy to the SEO.
PROGRAMME
DAY ONE
The big picture – nature of the market(s) – types of organiser – the big spenders – getting achievable marketing objectives for your particular venue – the best winning strategies – SWOT and what’s really important to organisers – what must go in the conference pack – where branding fits - pricing for maximum success – affinity marketing – networking with competitors – some zero-cost marketing – dirty tricks marketing (to avoid, not emulate) – the marketing bullseye, and the marketing plan.Advertising – magazines and newspapers, some golden rules – directory advertising – TV advertising – internet advertising .
DAY TWO
The scope of PR – what impresses organisers and what just curls their toes – some possible partnerships – evaluating the press – selecting the press and building a press list – approaching the press – press events – conceiving press stories, to impress the press – using story hooks, real news, surveys, advice, controversy – writing a press release, ten good and bad things to do – use of quotes – use of photos – delivering to the media – other ways to work with the media – how to alienate the media – what to do if you get bad press.DAY THREE
E-mail marketing, the lowest cost option – sourcing and evaluating lists – permission marketing – opt-in and opt-out, the law on marketing e-mails – spam filters and what trips them – an editorial option.Direct mail, some basic truths – what the objective should always be – the offer, the creativity and the list – formulating the best offers – creativity, some good tricks and bad traps – printing for direct mail – copywriting – building a database – types of lists available and how to evaluate – testing, testing – mailing to individual or job title – use and abuse of personalisation – maximising and measuring return – law on lists – Telemarketing, now it gets personal – the phone/mail/phone strategy – getting through - the best and worst approaches – some winning ways – and yes, it can be fun.
DAY FOUR
Exhibitions, the face to face medium – working out best strategy – choosing good exhibitions, not just the obvious ones – some criteria for evaluating – picking a high-traffic site – designing a stand that pulls in the right visitors – promoting the stand – managing the stand – training stand staff to work the audience and capture leads – following up.Special events at your venue – conceiving and organising open days, educational events and receptions – running show-rounds for interested potential customers - where all the above comes together.
Examination.
BOOKING FORM
To book delegate(s) on the SEO Certificate in Conference Venue Marketing (CCVM) course please download and complete the booking form: www.seoevent.co.uk
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Society of Event Organisers (SEO)
29a Market Square, Biggleswade, Beds. SG18 8AQ
Tel: +44(0)1767 316255 Fax: +44(0)1767 316430
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