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International Event Organisers Update (IEOU) is published monthly and is an information source circulated FREE to 12000 selected organisers and others interested in keeping abreast of development in the international event industry. It is edited to higher standards than the inadequate ones laid down by the self-regulatory Press Complaints Commission (PCC)
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Note: As a matter of policy International Event Organisers Update (IEOU) does not carry any 0870 telephone numbers in entries for the news or Announcements section of IEOU. This is because these numbers operate as covert premium rate lines – misleadingly called “national rate” by BT and others that sell them – and are charged at five or more times the current normal cost to dial a normal geographical UK number.
Readers are advised to visit www.saynoto0870.com for more information about this customer-unfriendly scam, and to ask all suppliers and potential suppliers to provide their normal, cheaper numbers.
New rules introduced this year for visitors using the state-run Italian bus services target tourists by barring them from using the same tickets as residents.
The scheme, or scam as some term it, is that during the summer tourist season in the Naples area visitors cannot buy the normal one euro, one hour tickets for their journeys but have to buy a 5 euro day ticket, even if they only want to make one short bus trip.
The ticket also misleadingly states that it is “valid for 24 hours” when it is not – it is only valid for use until 12 midnight on the day it is stamped.
Reportedly some British tourists in Sorrento, annoyed at being treated as revenue fodder by the bus company, have been seen selling on their 5 euro tickets to other tourists when they have done with them and there is still some validity left.
It is thoughts that the daft decision of the Italian authorities to dual price for visitors can only set a bad example to other Italian traders serving the market, some of whom, judging by the prices charged to anyone clearly not Italian, need no such encouragement.
One British lady, known to the author, who moved to the Naples area to work went to buy some sun-block and when told the high price queried it in perfect Italian. She then received an apology on the basis that the shop keeper thought she was a tourist and a much lower price. She reportedly told the shopkeeper to “stick it where the sun don’t shine”, or the Italian equivalent, and walked out.
It is also thought that ripping off visitors on public transport is a scam unprecedented in Europe. In the UK, for example, all visitors (including Italians) can purchase the same discounted bus and train tickets as residents with no discrimination practised. Even in rip-off London visitors can purchase an Oyster card, use it to gain the lowest prices on the buses and tubes and then hand it in for their deposit back when they go home.
A tradition of having fiesta goers fight over, and often tear apart, live ducks thrown into the sea has been banned by the Valencia region’s Supreme Court.
The ban has been imposed because of the suffering caused to the birds, which have their wings clipped so they are unable to fly away. The practice, part of the August religious festivities of the coastal town of Sagunto, 23 km north-east of Valencia has been described by the court as a bloody spectacle with no cultural justification.
Bit like bull-fighting, and fox and stag hunting then?
A complaint about misleading advertising placed by airport operators BAA for its Stansted Airport has been upheld by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA).
BAA claimed in a leaflet that: “The price of all food and drink sold in BAA airports is matched with the UK high street so you won’t pay a penny more than you’re used to”. Another leaflet stated: “Don’t forget our caterers are committed to matching the price of all the food and drink they sell within their airport stores against their high street equivalents. So get stuck in as you won’t pay a penny more that you’re used to!”
The ASA noted however that prices charged at Stansted, especially in WH Smith and JD Wetherspoon were substantially higher than those charged on most high streets owing to the policy of BAA allowing its retailers to price match with the substantially higher prices charged by their outlets in Central London and Central Cambridge. On this basis the ASA ruled that the BAA claim was misleading and breached the CAP code on substantiation and truthfulness and BAA were told not to use the claim again.
Officials on Ibiza are anxious to curb the drug culture that is synonymous with its name, and a large part of its attraction, and are planning to shut down clubs that stay open till dawn.
Drugs such as amphetamines and ecstasy, which inhibit feelings of fatigue are popular with those who want to dance all night and some of the next day too.
According to the Sunday Telegraph one of Ibiza’s largest drug clubs, Amnesia was forced to close for one month and fined more than £4000 for its “lax attitude” towards drug taking. And two others, Bora Bora and DC-10 were forced to close for one month and two months respectively.
Last year Ibiza police arrested 900 for drug possession, many of them part of the British contingent of 500,000 that visit every year.
Those paying bills overseas by credit or debit card, or drawing money are facing higher bank charges for so doing.
According to a recent survey in the Daily Mail the cost of a £100 bill paid with a credit card attracted fees from 2.75% to 2.95% and on a debit card from 2.75% to 4.25%. Those withdrawing their own money from ATM machines in the local currency are charged between 4.25% and 4.99% on debit cards and 5.25% and 5.95% on credit cards. Banks surveyed were Nat West, HSBC, Lloyds TSB, Barclays and Halifax.
The charges are hidden from customers by manipulating the exchange rate applied and shown on statements.
One bank not making charges on overseas transactions is Nationwide for customers using their debit card for their Flex accounts, although customers of all banks should check that the ATM machine isn’t making a charge.
The author recently tested the exchange rates charged by Halifax Visa and Nationwide by making a purchase in Italy on each card at the same time on the same day. The exchange rate given by Nationwide was 1.4300 euros to the pound against a Halifax Visa rate of 1.3935 euros to the pound. Thus a 1170 euro hotel bill cost £817.25 to pay from the Nationwide account whereas Halifax Visa would have charged £839.61, or £22.36 more, (2.74%) although there would have also been one month’s credit if paid by Visa, equivalent to an APR of 34%.
Travellers are warned to keep receipts for all foreign currency bought.
One organiser visiting Vienna was jostled on some steps and then realised her purse had been stolen. This contained a large quantity of euros but the insurance company refused to pay out because the receipt couldn’t be produced.
The 218-bedroom three star Novotel Monte-Carlo has just opened in the principality.
Located in the central Condamine district, near the railway station the hotel offers conference space for up to 200 delegates, gardens and an open air swimming pool.
The hotel increases the number of 3 star rooms in Monte-Carlo from 337 to 555, which has 1282 four-star luxe rooms, 887 four star rooms and 41 two star rooms. The highest category of hotel in Monte-Carlo is four star luxe, owing to the high rate of tax set for five star establishments.
Visit: www.novotel.com
The 5th Dresden Pow Wow Reggio, an event for organisers of overseas events takes place 5-7 February 2008.
Organisers accepted pay a participation fee of 65 euros (£45) and an accompanying person fee of 100 euros (£70) if sharing a hotel room or 130 euros (£90) if in a separate single room. After these charges organisers are given two nights accommodation, most meals, side-trips and entry to an exhibition of Dresden and area venues, attractions and services, but pay their own air fare and transfer costs.
This year’s event includes a visit to the recently restored Frauenkirche – virtually destroyed by the Allies in the infamous WW2 bombing of Dresden – as well as, for additional fees a pre-convention tour to Chemnitz, a former GDR city, 60 miles south-west of Dresden, from 4-5 February and a post-convention tour to Leipzig, 75 km north-west of Dresden from 7-8 February.
Tel: +49(0) 351 82 12 640
Fax: +49(0) 351 82 12 64 44
e-mail: info@dresden-powwow.de
Visit: www.dresden-powwow.de
Interesting to note the courageous impartiality of the Daily Telegraph in its weekend travel section.
In a regular piece entitled Heaven and Hell celebrities give examples of their best and worst holidays, what they love and hate about them and are invited to describe the best and the worst hotels they’ve ever stayed in.
Curiously whilst the “best” hotel examples are always named the “worst” examples never are, which could trigger suspicion amongst the cynical that the latter regularly advertise with the editorially impartial newspaper.
Telegraph readers should certainly be told.
EVENT PLANNER SPAIN, EVENT MANAGEMENT, MEETING AND EVENT PROVIDERS IN ANDALUSIA (SPAIN)
www.EventPlannerSpain.com is the first Andalusian portal for event and meeting service providers, with all you need for organising your corporate and private events in Andalusia. Browse a wide range of quality meeting and event-related resources and contact directly the suppliers of your choice. Alternatively, use our inquiry service and let us help you find what you are looking for. Special offers, practical information, segmented news and our monthly newsletter for those of you wanting to be kept informed, complete our service package, all totally free of charge.
Tel: +34 952 294 327
info@eventplannerspain.com
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o Event Organisers Update (EOU) for those running UK based conferences and seminars. www.eou.org.uk
o Corporate Hospitality and Party Update (CHPU) for those organising client hospitality and parties. www.eou.org.uk
o Association Update (AU) for association organisers. www.eou.org.uk
o Exhibition Update (EU) for organisations that exhibit themselves. www.eou.org.uko Association News (AN) for those who associate. www.associationnews.org.uk
o Charity Matters. www.ezinematters.com
A 100-word announcement costs from £95 in this section of International Event Organisers Update (IEOU) and reaches 12,000 organisers.
To download full details and a booking form visit www.eou.org.uk Alternatively call (44) 1767 316255 or fax to (44) 1767 316430.
For more information please contact the organisers directly. You are advised to check that events are appropriate to your needs and still running before finalising travel plans. IEOU only lists the main international exhibitions and events specific to the events market – there are however lots of smaller country-specific presentations and travel industry events that can deliver useful information to organisers.
12-15 LONDON World Travel Market exhibition
www.wtmlondon.com
27-29 BARCELONA EIBTM exhibition
Tel: 0208 910 7929
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