PRESTIGE EVENTS MAGAZINE

VOLUME 8 EDITION 4 WWW.PRESTIGEEVENTSGUIDE.COM

THE A-Z OF CORPORATE COOL: INC. 4TH ANNUAL COOL VENUES AWARDS COOL BRITANNIA COOL AROUND THE WORLD COOL SUPPLIERS COOL ENTERTAINMENT COOL EVENT MANAGEMENT COOL CATERERS WHY IS EXTREME TEAMBUILDING COOL? WHY YOUR NEXT EVENT NEEDS COOL YOUR PERSONAL COOL FACTOR COOL CONCIERGE COOL SECURITY WHY REWARDING YOUR CLIENT IS COOL 20 COOL THINGS TO EXPERIENCE

READERS LETTERS

ASK PAUL!

Our sartorial expert, leading Saville Row tailor Paul Wilkinson answers your questions to assist you in ensuring your presence commands the room in this era when you can’t afford to risk looking second-best.

Paul has 10 years of bespoke tailoring experience. Raised in strong

a successful business myself, I am looking for someone who can bring

Scottish stock, Paul is renowned for his warm, lively, and charismatic

in their own little bit of individuality. Whilst making sure your shoes and

personality, astute eye for detail, and colourful opinions on formal dress.

grooming are shiny and spotless, you can express yourself through your

Paul’s client portfolio is not restricted to bankers! His client portfolio

suit-cut and lining right down to your socks. I love a character with stripy

is very eclectic: from club owners to party planners and premiership

socks..it say’s there is something edgy about the individual’s character.

footballers to pop stars.

Q/ I have recently graduated and have just started a job with a globallyAsk Paul a question and win a fantastic Montblanc Pen. Thank you to Montblanc Corporate Gifts for the fantastic prize of a timeless Meisterstuck Platinum Ballpoint Pen’ (www.montblanccorporategift.co.uk). Email your questions to us at enquiries@prestigeeventsguide.com for a chance to win next time and to receive another piece of writing culture from Montblanc.

Montblanc Corporate Gifts. A time honoured tradition.

WINNING LETTER

known TV corporation. Problem: I am still wearing the hand-me-downs and stuff borrowed from friends. I am now on my 5th paycheck and have some ‘readies to splash’ but want to spend it well. Any tips?

Stephen, Bristol A suit should enhance your features, not fight them. If you’re on the large side, don’t go for a skinny slim-fit suit. If you are after the elongated shape then opt for a relaxed but slim suit. Think elegant. It’s always a great investment. Purchase soft greys with mixed yarns as an alternative to austere black. Look at some classic men whose style you admire. Analyse their look. You’ll then get a good direction.

Q/ I am a P.A and I find the area around my groin where my thigh’s rub has continued to wear away. I then have to buy another pair of trousers which

Q/ My idol is Monica Bellucci. I love her style. However I find the suit

often don’t match the jacket’s fabric. Am I wearing too-tight trousers or

‘look’ a bit too formulaic. Any tips on how I can make the suit feel more

should I invest in a new fabric?

Claire, Edinburgh EH1 Don’t worry Claire, you are not alone. Unfortunately, the group you probably fall into are those who wear their suit far too often. Ideally a suit item should be worn once a week. That’s five regular suits per season. And

agreeable?

Charlotte, Hampstead, London NW3 Invest in a variety of fabrics. Remember the Italians are the consummate suit wearer and carry it with an attitude. And remember, it’s fashion and suits can be best summarised by the combination of shape and proportion. It’s all about geometry. Getting the right cut can make you

it needn’t be expensive as there are some fantastic designers who have

look like a movie star too.

adopted the diffusion strategy and created brands that offer high street

_______________________________________

prices. Get surfing!.

Paul Wilkinson tailoring 12 Well Court (off Bow Lane)

Q/ I have a job interview coming up with a big IT firm. I am an individual,

London EC4M 9DW

a bit of a maverick, but really need the job. Help!

Tel. 020 7248 2165

Craig, London W1

Mob. 075 4297 4022

First off, I love individuals. Though you have to fit in, as the owner of

www.PWtailoring.com VISIT THE NEW WEBSITE

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17 THINGS

17 THINGS YOU DIDN’T KNOW in association with londonlaunch.com

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 12

Time to get Competitive Competitive Events is a new Events Management & Consultancy company based in London and Brighton that has a modern and flexible approach to the services it offers its clients. The main focus is to provide a service designed for each individual client to ensure maximum outcome and exceed customer expectations. Competitive Events will match the requirements of the clients with appropriate products and services to “offer a valuable and professional service at a competitive price.

Make An Entrance At The Barbican The Barbican Delegate Rate is an all inclusive package that offers excellent value for money for conferences of 30 or more delegates. Alternatively the corporate sales team will be delighted to prepare tailored quotations on a room hire only basis for more complex events or for events with less than 30 delegates attending. Call us to discuss your event on 020 7382 7043. Day Delegate Rate A DDR is available at a rate of £68.00 per person exclusive of VAT, subject to minimum numbers.

Give your delegates a working lunch at One Bishops Square Energise your delegates to a working lunch when you hold your event at arguably the most sophisticated and versatile bespoke presentation facility in London, One Bishops Square.

Cab Clue Trail with Team Tactics If you are you looking for a fun, hands on team building event which combines a competitive element?The Cab Clue Trail....steeped in history and mystery, our capital city provides one of the best locations for The Cab Clue Trail. This event is a great way to help your staff find new ways of working together more successfully.Solve the riddles and find the clues hidden across London in our taxi cab adventure that will put your detecting skills to the test.

Dazzling Dinner Package At Kensington Roof Gardens Thinking about treating your clients to an unforgettable evening, or do you just want to say ‘thanks’ to your team, or are you celebrating a special occasion? Enjoy exclusive use of The Roof Gardens indoor space and 1.5 acres of stunning themed rooftop gardens this Spring.

For an irresistible £89pp, you can enjoy a glass of sparkling wine on arrival, a divine 3 course meal with half a bottle of wine & mineral water, a DJ for 4 hours and much, much more!

Bowl and Spice For Your Client And Staff Team Building At The City Pavilion We are well and truly into 2011 already, and despite all the challenges we are facing, The City Pavilion can arm you with the tools and innovative ideas to maintain and develop your business further. In fact, what better way to start by focussing on the most valuable asset of your business, your staff! City Pavilion offer a full range of services under one roof and can accommodate for large numbers of people (272 to play bowling at the same time to be precise) and more than 1500 people for a conference in our luxurious and state of the art Millennium Suite

Spice Up Your Team Meeting At Broadway Bar And Grill With no hire charge, why not have your next Team Meeting at West London’s newest and most stylish venue that has the perfect area for groups from as little as eight, up to 450! Either kick-start your morning meeting with a selection of delectable breakfast treats or come in for a working lunch.

A Royal Wedding Package at One Whitehall Place And Royal Horsegaurds Feel like royalty while celebrating the Royal Wedding with an exclusive Royal Wedding Package. For only £375 per room, per night (based on a two night stay) you can relax in the comfort of their plush bedrooms whilst taking in the atmosphere and witnessing history in the making.

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9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 17 THINGS

Northfields - home of the largest selection of table linen and chair covers available for hire.

Northfiels: First impression + style +imagination = successfull event! Northfields have been making special events extra special for more than 40 years. It’s reputation as a linen hire company is second to none. Not only do they hold an unbeatable depth of stock and offer an amazing choice of design - their customer service is simply outstanding. From classic, elegant ranges right through to wild and outrageous with their animal prints, polka dots and fluorescent colours, they can theme your table linen to suit every event and ocassion. Clients include the new Renaissance St Pancras Hotel, Gordon Ramsay Holdings, Eventia Awards, Cateys, London Zoo, Grosvenor House and The Dorchester to name a few.

Visit The Brand New Altitude 360 Black

Altitude 360° Black is a brand new venue with sleek monochromatic design that encapsulates the entire 28th floor of the iconic Millbank Tower in Westminster. This modern and stylish venue features gleaming black marble floors and 360 degree breathtaking views all of London’s landmarks. The stylish and versatile venue comes fully equipped with a massive wrap around bar featuring a superior black Corian bartop. The sand-blasted glass sides are backlit with customisable LED lights that can be set to any colour. The overall effect of this venue is both aesthetically pleasing and perfect for branding any event.

Dare you brave the...Gilwell Challenge?

It can sometimes be difficult to inspire and motive your team after the Christmas break. But here at Gilwell Park we can make that challenge easy! Choose two from over 30 exhilarating activities available from Archery, Aerial Trek, Climbing and Bouldering walls and Jacobs Ladder for the ultimate team building experience. The Gilwell Challenge allows you to have some more formal meeting time with your team ( includes half-day meeting room hire am or pm) as well as all the fun, adventure and challenge of the activities.

So get the new year off to a flying start from just £49.50pp, including refreshments on arrival and a buffet lunch.

Happy Valentine’s Day...The Bubbly Is On Shoreditch Town Hall!

Feeling inspired by Valentines’ Day? Shoreditch Town Hall is offering a complimentary bottle of bubbly to all weddings and civil partnerships booked and confirmed between now and Monday 14th March.

A New Client Introductory Offer From JAM Staffing

As an introductory offer to any new clients, JAM staffing are offering a fantastic deal: if you book in 6 events with us, you will get the smaller one for free*! JAM Staffing offers a bespoke booking system that ensures that you get the same staff working for you again

and again, in times building up a reliable team. Call us on 0207 237 2228 or email enquiries@jamstaffing.com quoting reference number LL02.*If you book 6 events with us you will get the smallest event of the group booking for free

An Introductory Offer In February And March From Royal Thames Yacht Club

The Royal Thames Yacht Club is delighted to offer new clients the following introductory discount on all room hire for events booked and held in February and March 2011. To welcome on board all new clients the Royal Thames Yacht Club is delighted to offer special

introductory room hire rates for all meetings and events held in February and March 2011. February 2011 - 50% off room hire for all meetings and events. March 2011 - 25% off room hire for all meetings and events for bookings made by the 28th February.

An End Of Winter Special With Baden Powell House

Baden-Powell House Conference Centre is pleased to offer our “End of Winter Special” for new clients this February and March.

February 2011: 15% off room hire March 2011: 20% off room hire

London Bridge Experience Introductory Offer Introductory offer from Bankside Venues’ newest and scariest member

£30 exclusive of VAT per head to include: 6pm - Entrance into the London Tombs - UK’s Best Scare Attraction. Wine reception and cold finger buffet in our spooky museum until 10pm.

A Fab February With ILEC Conference Centre

Conference space of 1550sqm for only £6,700.00 in a fabulous February. After a hectic period of splashing out, now it is the right time to look after your money. And because here at the ILEC Conference Centre would like to help you on your intentions, we have a fantastic discount for February 2011.

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THIS MUCH I KNOW

WHAT I’VE LEARNT WORKING IN EVENTS Elena Kale of SNO!zone 2011 marks my 16th anniversary in and around “events”,

VALUE & LISTEN TO YOUR PEOPLE

having fallen into this industry totally unprepared in

Nobody can produce events alone. I have had the privilege of working

early 1995. From working agency side to creating and

with some amazing people, and it is vital to ensure strong communication

now overseeing the events department at SNO!zone,

and team involvement at every stage.

the changes and challenges have been immense; the personal and professional achievements well worth the

Every employee of SNO!zone can contribute to NPD, and some of our best

long working hours.

teambuilding, education and group package ideas have come from key individuals, who then take ownership to develop these further.

SNO!zone’s corporate events journey started in 2001 when I was asked to create the department in Milton Keynes, undertaking a steep learning

WORK HARD

curve about hospitality on real snow!

Over the years, our sites in

It sounds simple but we’re not a 9-5 business, and to achieve results

Castleford & Scotland opened with dedicated meetings and functions

there’s no alternative. Our service is personalised to clients’ requirements

facilities, with all 3 now offering a complete events service, entertaining

so no 2 events are the same, so although the hours can be long, I try to

thousands each year. Conferences, Incentives, Exclusive hire, Christmas

work smart and effectively – it’s also useful that I love what I do.

parties, leadership & development and events support are just a selection of the services available, proving that SNO!zone is so much more than

SEE THE BIGGER PICTURE

just snow. Continual NPD, partnerships and initiatives are seeing us

Each action can affect another part of the event/business/team – as a

grow during one of the biggest economic challenges many of us have

venue, our events impact on all aspects of the business, therefore it’s

faced, and from my own experience I believe the industry is well placed to

critical to think things through. I always ask questions and challenge the

flourish as the UK regains confidence.

responses. Risks can be taken, but calculated first!

Throughout the last 16 years I have learnt many lessons, here are the main

BELIEVE IN YOURSELF

ones that I try and live by:

I constantly monitor industry trends and research, and really know my

STAY CALM & STEP BACK One of the biggest has been the necessity to remain calm, and step back from situations in order to rectify. From a boardroom meeting for 10, to a family fun day for 1000’s, hitches can happen, usually beyond your control. With experience comes foresight, and it is very rare that a solution cannot be found.

market. When you’re creating something from new, you have to believe you can make a positive difference, retain your sense of humour and trust your instincts when times get tough.

PARTNERSHIPS Strategic partnerships cannot be under-estimated, whether it’s for brand awareness, enhancing the product mix, or ultimately increasing revenue.

“WHATEVER IT TAKES”

Sometimes it’s far better to work together than on one’s own.

This was a mantra often repeated by a previous boss, and one that has remained with me. Obviously there is a “within reason” clause but this

HONESTY

is minor when it comes to ensuring an event is delivered over and above

Build an honest reputation and you gain trust both from staff and clients.

•

expectations.

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WHY YOU NEED COOL IN YOUR EVENT

WHY YOU NEED COOL IN YOUR EVENT Written by Sally Webb of the Special Events Company

needs to be influenced through the event. An event is always a medium for the client to deliver a message, and the channel of delivery is where the

When do clients need that element of COOL in their

COOL come in. It is more difficult to make the environment understated

event?

and effective than opulent and glaring in the message.

There’s always something cool, new and innovative in event design. Every

Today’s COOL is all about subtlety….subdued lighting, subtle

producer wants to be cutting edge and every client wishes to wow their

entertainment, elegant linens, clean lines to furnishings and simple, tasty

audience with creativity. 20 Years ago, COOL was a Caribbean themed

cuisine are the current trends in today’s market.

party or a Western evening. Today this would really be the last resort unless you are in the social market and it’s the wishes of the client.

In 2011, COOL is all about being contemporary and simple. The trick for the event designer is to deliver the objectives without being overt or ostentatious in their design and planning –make it current and make it

Large, sit down dinners in traditional ‘table of 10’ is rapidly becoming outdated and being replaced with a ‘networking’ style of event where guests can mingle and dine in a more casual environment of food stations and casual seating. The buyer is realising that it’s not particularly effective to invite 500 people to an event, but only get to speak with 9 of them during dinner. The cost of delivering large programmes means that clients

exciting without making it lavish. Limitations on budgets have in some

need to interface with as many of their guests as possible, and an informal

ways been positive of the event design industry. We all need to work

setting allows them to achieve this more effectively.

harder and smarter to achieve that overall look. Budgets are not always reduced due to funding; often it is the perception of the customer that

The themed event is dead……COOL is simple, elegant, subtle and fresh.

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17

SIMON T BAILEY

Your Personal COOL Factor One of the greatest

and upload into your mind-drive that you intend to be outstanding in

accomplishments

everything you do. Most importantly have fun doing it. Logan Pearshall

in the world is to

Smith said “There are two things to aim at in life: First to get what you

live an exceptional

want; and after that, to enjoy it. Only the wisest of mankind has achieved

life

based

on

principles, values and

the second.” Find out who is the best in class in your industry and learn everything you can from them.

integrity. Individuals who consistently make a difference

• COOL people maximize every second of the day. Stop wasting time!

and leave the world a better place live according

According to Mobilizing Minds, a majority of workers waste one-half

their very own personal cool factor. What is a Personal

to two days each workweek on unproductive emails, voicemails and

COOL Factor? It is the very foundation of your life. It’s

meetings. Imagine the value you could deliver if you simply leveraged all

understanding how to be confident…opinionated…

the time you spend at work. Start by deleting unproductive emails without

outstanding…and likeable (COOL). It is the moral

reading them. Don’t waste even 30 seconds on them. Limit the message

compass that guides all of your actions, choices and

time on your voicemail and train people to get to the point in a minute

decisions.

or less. And finally, get creative and find ways to take yourself out of meetings that drag on and accomplish nothing.

Men and women who live by a Personal COOL factor create their own Personal Constitution and rarely waver on their decisions. And if they have

• COOL people love to hear No! In the book Think Big and Kick Ass in

to stand alone, they will. Their energy vibrates at a higher frequency of

Business and Life. Provocative title, isn’t it? (If you’re offended by the title,

authenticity, causing those around them to adjust their personal antennas

relax) Donald Trump says “If you want to be a success, you have to get

and tune in.

used to frequently hearing the word no and ignoring it. 98% of adults are conditioned to stop when they hear the word no. If you want to be in the

When these individuals enter your space, they leave an imprint on the

top 2%, you have to get real. Do not let somebody’s arbitrary no stop you.

canvas of your mind. You find yourself compelled to tell others about

Find a creative way to sidestep the no.” Just hearing a no will force you to

them. Their words bounce around inside your head because they are

think. Thinking people are often very opinionated and that’s a good thing

substantial, impactful and insightful. Why? Behind the content is genuine

because they have to protect their thoughts from stinking thinkers.

intent. People who live by a Personal Constitution don’t waste words because they cherish conserving their energy and power.

• COOL people are constantly shifting gears to stay fresh and on the cutting edge. Just look at Sir Richard Branson in his development of a

What are the steps to establishing your own Personal Constitution which

Virgin iPad Magazine. For bloody sakes is there anything that Sir Richard

makes you personally cool? Well, they’re quite simple. The following are

will not attempt to do. This guy is brilliant and always thinking down the

the five big tips to becoming cool. Take some time to carefully review

road. What about you? Is it time for an extreme professional makeover. A

them and then commit to revisit them from time to time, to ensure that

successful makeover first begins on the inside and is then manifested on

you’re still on target.

the outside. Start with the one key thing you could do that would make you more marketable, memorable and magical. Reinvent yourself.

• COOL people are confident! Their “it” factor currency is confidence.

You have it! Develop it from the inside out and watch how many doors open for you. People like being around someone who knows where they are going. They love to follow and take mental notes on how to do it just like you. Sir Thomas Brown said it best “Life is a pure flame, and we live by an invisible sun within us.

• COOL people are outstanding at whatever they do. There is a gravitational pull in the earth to be average. Delete that thinking from your heart drive

You are as COOL as you want to be. Isn’t it time to create your own personal constitution to live by? Simon T. Bailey says yes!

•

Simon T. Bailey, is a Brillionaire who teaches people to how to be the CEO of their life and business by releasing their brilliance. Visit www.simontbailey.com and join the Brillionaire Club!

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THIS GIRL’S A BIT SPECIAL

THE GIRL’S A BIT SPECIAL Keeley O’Mahony

Born: 19/01/1988 Position: Events Manager at The Penthouse London STRENGTHS: My ability to engage with clients and my enthusiasm to

TUNES YOU LIKE: I am a huge fan of House music, and will most

produce the perfect event, resulting in gaining and maintaining not only

certainly be a resident on Bora Bora beach this summer.

strong working relationships with clients but also friendships.

FLICKS YOU LIKE: I am the ultimate lover of cheesy films, so anything WEAKNESSES: I am stringent about paperwork and being extremely organised so this can result in getting a little bit stressed! ;-)

MODEL MYSELF ON: A mixture between Brent Bolthouse and Tamara Mellon, producing fantastic events and maintaining a great event brand whilst being effortlessly stylish and wearing amazing shoes!

which sticks to the motif of two star-crossed lovers fighting adversity to be together is A’ok with me!

TV PROGRAMMES: Doing a media degree meant my biggest excuse for being the TV addict I am was that “I was doing research” Top shows for me are Eastenders, True Blood, Misfits, Jersey Shore and pretty much anything on E Entertainment!

HIGHLIGHTS: Has to be our recent cast party for “The Children’s Hour”

LAST BOOK: Russell Brand’s Booky Wooky 2, I am a huge fan and have

I am a huge a fan of Keira Knightley so getting to meet her was amazing-

been to a couple of his stand up’s- I find him absolutely hilarious.

also the brilliant opportunity to be featured in the programme was a huge bonus too!

LOWLIGHTS: Working 14 hour days in heels!

TOUGHEST PROJECT: Christmas every year, 5 events a day,

LAST CD: Last CD I bought was JLS’ album... but do not judge me it was for a friend of mine... I promise ;-)

IF YOU WEREN’T IN EVENTS YOU’D BE…: Probably travelling around the world or in television production. Even from when I was young I’ve always wanted to be in a creative role and not stuck in an office 9-5.

paperwork coming out of my ears, and serious lack of sleep. However it is all worth it in the end when it all comes together and you can see your

TELL US SOMETHING WE DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU? I

hard work paying off on the night.

am ¼ Norwegian.

BEST PROJECT WORKED ON: Definitely working with Bauer Media on their Willy Wonka themed party, 7ft candy canes, oompa loompa’s,

WHAT DID YOU DO WITH YOUR FIRST PAY PACKET? I went to the pub with all my mates and bought everyone a round of drinks.

themed food, coloured champagne and getting to work with the wonderful

WHO WOULD BE YOUR DREAM WORK-COLLEAGUE?

people at Bauer.

David Beckham of course no other reason than to be able to perv at him

BIGGEST JOKER IN YOUR OFFICE: This is easy- most certainly my

all day!

IN FIVE YEARS TIME, YOU’LL BE…? Hopefully running my own

wonderful Events Director Jason- he has me laughing all day and whenever

events company in some amazing hot country and loving life... preferably

things get too much he always knows how to put a smile on my face.

with David Beckham!

•

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23

when only

THE COOLEST ENTERTAINERS AND ENTERTAINMENT IDEAS

COOL will do

by Will Broome

Entertainment always works best if it follows a theme.

nothing compared to the levels of protection the brand gets from on high.

The age of mindless entertainment is over because

This is the world’s biggest event and an asset worth hundreds of billions

nowadays we have a unique opportunity to tie

of dollars because the Olympic and Paralympic Games roll on. Every two

everything in to reiterate a core message.

years the Games will be staged (summer and winter). Guaranteed. Nothing short of a nuclear war will stop them (and with the amount of sponsorship

The core message is the purpose of the event in the first place and

involved probably not even that), so bending the rules is simply not an

the audience is required to receive and understand that core message,

option. There are no grey areas because if they’re grey, it’s a ‘nay’ – or so

effortlessly and unequivocally. So here lies the opportunity. Entertainment

they’ll say. So how could you capitalise on the Olympic theme, tying your

can now not only follow the wider theme, but as entertainment agencies

event into something topical, relevant, positive and un-missable? Through

become ever more sophisticated, it can mould, enhance and drive the

entertainment, that’s how.

theme, heighten the delegate or guest experience and drive the core message home. Executed correctly, this can improve the legacy of your

Our new ‘Get Inside the Games with Londonlaunch’ initiative is designed

event enormously.

to help you source the best and most relevant ideas for your Olympic themed event and, unless you’re Coke or McDonalds, it’s probably going

The ultimate theme over the next eighteen months is going to be the

to be your best shot at riding the wave.

Olympic and Paralympic Games. But it’s a contentious theme. It’s both

24

difficult and controversial because of the highly valuable and deeply

One fantastic way to give your event an Olympic theme is by hiring an

coveted Rings. And you can’t blame them. To put it in perspective, it

Olympian. That’s right, an actual Gold medallist who can effectively bring

would cost a minimum of $40 million to buy the right to associate oneself

the spirit of the Olympics with them as well as a world class motivational

officially with the Olympic Rings. Those that pay for the privilege are

talk with a tangible team-building or training message. It sounds so simple

understandably protective of their unique investment. However, that’s

and it is. Olympic rower and double Gold Medallist, Steve Williams, is

PrestigeEventsGuide.com

THE COOLEST ENTERTAINERS AND ENTERTAINMENT IDEAS a great example. Well versed, highly articulate and a world class orator,

information, intrigue, illusion and comedy. Whereas an individual magician

he comes with a dramatic ‘by-the-skin-of-his-teeth’ Gold Medal winning

is always entertaining, (in varying degrees of success from uber-cool to

story from Beijing accompanied by (giant) video! You just can’t beat a bit

ultra geeky with no real formula to transform from the latter to the former), a

of spellbinding ‘against all odds’ battle for glory with a fairytale ending.

professional management outfit who understand the intricacies of dynamic

What’s more, with Steve’s upcoming plans to scale Everest, he’s got

message delivery can enhance your event dramatically. If you like this idea,

a great story and great positive message about success in the face of

you can take this a step further by hosting your event at the Magic Circle

adversity. Another world class Olympic speaker is Canadian swimming

Headquarters for a spellbinding and theatrical experience.

Gold Medallist, Mark Tewksbury. Mark is responsible for delivering the best keynote speech I have ever seen and effortlessly fuses drama with

We recently staged one of our monthly networking and educational

tension, excitement with laughter and a very cleverly intertwined message

‘Londonlaunch:learn’ events with leading entertainment agency, Young

of dedication, determination and, ultimately, success. Speakers such

Guns. Whilst we wanted a light hearted, high quality ‘party band’ as an

as these guys cannot fail to inspire and quite literally bring the spirit of

antidote to the more serious and businesslike tone of the event that

the Olympics to your event, associating it with your business. One lucky

preceded it, Young Guns had more ambitious ideas. Rather than change

corporate company, having been an Olympic sponsor almost a hundred

the mood, they suggested we enhance the existing tone with a spectacular

years ago, are lucky enough to have retained the original Olympic torch of

and eclectic fusion of styles – rock, rap, jazz, classical, soul and even scratch

the era and hire it out, Rings and all. A clever, (if not a little ‘back door’),

DJs! This seemed like a risky approach but gave the event rhythm through a

way of having an Olympic theme.

symphonic and soulful crechendo which stunned the audience, stimulating a hugely positive reaction that is being remembered and talked about long

If you’re not up for capitalising on the Olympic and Paralympic Games

after the event itself. With twitter and Facebook ensuring that your events

(you’ll kick yourself afterwards though) then there are many other ways of

live or die by public, popular opinion, instantly, this added dimension

enhancing your event and accentuating your theme. It’s all about creativity

ensured that our event stood out and received the attention it deserved.

and weaving something equally spectacular and relevant into the fabric

Don’t go ‘middle of the road’ or your event runs the risk of being deemed

of your event. I wouldn’t recommend incorporating a disjointed mix of

‘insignificant’ or worse, might not even be ‘deemed’ anything at all!

individual entertainers as, although they may be independently brilliant, it may break the all important rhythm. The best events, like a great song, are

And the last word goes to.... ‘The Last Word’. Un-disputably the industry’s

all about rhythm and harmony. You can bring together the best musicians

best creative videographers, this company are experts at capturing the

in the world and they won’t be as good as Jessie J in the same way that

mood, the message and the point of your event. Every event staged should

you can put a top footballer in a mediocre team and he won’t necessarily

have a legacy and the Last Word will film, choreograph, edit, deliver and

stand out or help the cause. It’s all down to team work (there’s that all

promote your event, ensuring that it’s an ‘experience’ with legs for your

consuming Olympic theme again – see how it can work?). The solution is

guests to enjoy time and time again. Video can and should be used in sales

to talk to the ever increasing number of specialists who excel in bringing

presentations, promotional pieces and online literature because it creates

the world’s best and most innovative creative talent together in a packaged,

and portrays a mood to those who came and those who didn’t attend, giving

seamless and relevant format. Good Egg Creative is one such company.

your event reach. What’s the point of doing something great if the world

As a ‘boutique’ entertainment agency, Good Egg Creative specialise in the

doesn’t witness it?

tricky art of fusing musical entertainment into corporate events to dramatic effect. For example, they created the official entertainment to open and

You can find all of the companies and ideas mentioned in this article on

close London Fashion Week 2010, Elecktra, which is a unique show

londonlaunch.com and check out our new ‘Get Inside the Games with

featuring avante-garde costumes married with exhilarating choreography,

Londonlaunch’ initiative if you want to incorporate some winning spirit into

designed to enthral audiences with a heady fusion of classical and hip hop

your events this year. On your marks...

inspired music. Jane Cho is a world class (and very beautiful) musician whose melodic violin merges with dazzling Cirque performances as part

•

Will Broome, Founder & CEO, Londonlaunch

of their unique Elecktra Circus, engaging and entertaining your guests for lasting effect.

If it’s spectacular magic you crave then I’d advise checking out Magicians. co.uk who systematically conjure up a thought provoking cocktail of

insidethegames PrestigeEventsGuide.com

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COOLEST CATERERS

THE UK’S COOLEST CATERERS Catering is an art. It is the art of perfect preparation and

However, there are new kids on the block and unlike the gold rush of the

impeccable timing – designed to be taken entirely for

early naughties, those that remain are also excellent. PURPLE GRAPE

granted by demanding and discerning clients. It is also

have had a lightening fast rise to stardom over the past eighteen months

the art of perfect presentation and design.

and have forged relationships with many of London’s finest venues and most reputable blue chip clients. Their hands, on, friendly and flexible

Few event caterers have the luxury of being able to focus exclusively on

‘can do’ attitude not to mention their exquisite food has served them

the food, as party design has become not only a prerequisite, but also a

(as well as their clients) well. Every menu is tailor made and they’ll treat

pseudonym for the event caterer. The upside is that your caterer becomes

you as if you’re their first (and last) client. If it’s an innovative approach

the heart and soul of your event providing a delectable foundation from which a quality experience can be built. The downside (for the caterer) is that they become the unsung hero which would be more accurately described as event management, production, design, service, food and beverage director. Not forgetting, of course, that whatever goes wrong with the event is always the caterer’s fault!

coupled with a personal service with a smile, then Purple Grape are worth snuggling up to.

Another great catering company is BREAD & HONEY who excel in a number of key areas. Large scale corporate catering, bespoke catering services, total event management or even top restaurant quality home

For all of these reasons, the caterer is increasingly the first port of

meals, these guys really deliver (quite literally!). With the number of

call. Indeed, more and more caterers are promoting venues they are

highly trained top chefs they have in-house coupled with over a decade

associated with via londonlaunch.com. This is because, with so many

of front line experience, Bread & Honey are a safe and highly professional

disciplines covered, the caterer has an inherent knowledge of not only

pair of hands for any corporate event.

the intricacies of event management and party design, but also invariably has an intuitive understanding of the logistical challenges which effect

If it’s a really experienced London caterer you’re looking for then THE

each venue differently. If your caterer has never worked in a certain venue

LONDON’ KITCHEN is definitely worth a call. With a highly impressive

before it becomes much more difficult for them to deliver a flawless, all encompassing service. So you can see the logic of approaching your caterer and asking their advice on the venue, rather than the other way round. Caterers are arguably the most important people you’ll speak to with regards to your event so you’d better look after them. But who

repertoire of quintessentially lavish London events, this caterer knows the capital’s events scene as well as anyone. With a particular knack for knowing some really unique and interesting event locations, The London Kitchen are passionate about quality and sustainable ingredients. Another

should you be nice to and where do you start? At Londonlaunch.com we

great caterer is RICHMOND CREATIVE EVENT CATERING who are not only

are very proud to represent a selection of London’s finest, who collectively

one of the City of London’s top rated supplier of formal and meticulously

display a wide variety of styles and disciplines.

managed Corporate dinners but also mix things up a bit (excuse the pun) with some super funky events such as the NME Awards. Diversity, a great

RHUBARB FOOD DESIGN whose self declared ‘utterly fabulous’ event

selection of venues in which they work and superb value for money make

management service confirms the modern role of catering companies

Richmond unquestionably one of London’s finest independent caterers.

as per my opening paragraph, are widely recognised as London’s finest

And finally, why not go for something completely different. COOKS &

purveyors of fine dining on a commercial (or intimate) scale. From leading

PARTNERS operate out of a number of wonderfully unlikely event spaces,

corporate dinners to high end private affairs, Rhubarb retain that illusive

from Christchurch Spitalfields to Burlington House and even the Brighton

star quality which seemingly effortlessly fuses world class food with

Pavilion, this unique caterer can put something really unusual for you,

exceptional design and flair. What’s more, this super heavyweight has

whilst retaining the utmost levels of service, design and quality.

managed to transcend the common curse of others, and that’s the reliance

Event catering – still think it’s all about the food?

•

on one personality. Individual superstars were all the rage in the 80’s but can ultimately devalue companies. Rhubarb are still widely regarded as

All caterers mentioned in this article can be found on

the best, most stylish and coveted event partner, even accessory. Their

londonlaunch.com – London’s events community.

significant Olympic involvement which is an unintentional hark back to founder, Lucy Gemmell’s illustrious Olympic past as an eventer, is

Will Broome

testimony to that fact.

Founder & CEO Londonlaunch PrestigeEventsGuide.com

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COOL CONCIERGE

We’re all busier people these days, so using a concierge company to help keep business and personal lives organised makes great sense, finds Kristiana Kruysmulder.

Some services cater for more corporate needs like office and home

their services across nine worldwide regions and have corporate benefits

relocation, client entertainment and sporting tickets, travel and restaurant

to offer credit card holders with Coutts, Barclays or Lloyds banks.

reservations. Others focus on everything to help keep personal lives manageable, from collecting packages to booking holidays, flights,

Limelight Access Platinum is a private members club that predominately

arranging birthday presents and private events. What is the cost to us of

looks after footballers, rugby players, athletes and entertainment luvvies

gaining back time in our everyday lives and losing the stress these surplus

who are fortunate enough to be accepted after a rigorous interview

tasks create? Well, starting from £1,000 per year, it’s not exactly a snip, but

process! Due to this niche clientele, each package is bespoke and the

the benefits are deemed enough to warrant a huge growth in the industry.

consultants do not have to give in to the demands of high member

Some companies bill hourly or have tiered membership depending

numbers, meaning your wish is their command! In addition to booking

on how demanding you really are and are even advocated by the non-

for their private clients, they can also offer quotes for agents looking

profit association The International Concierge and Lifestyle Management

to pass on group ticket packages to their clients without necessarily

Association (ICLMA) and the National Concierge Association (USA).

becoming members themselves. The company was launched in May 2009 with offices operating from London and Manchester providing VIP

In fact, according the BBC World news last August, concierge services

access and services worldwide. Clients include Danny Cipriani and Tamzin

have defied the global downturn so effectively that there are now more

Outhwaite.

companies than ever vying for your to-do lists, due to low-start-up costs for any would-be entrepreneur. Some of the most unusual requests

A new kid on the London block, Bon Vivant also started in 2009 with the

received by the Ten Group include booking an elephant for a wedding

aim of filling a gap in the market for a more affordable concierge service

for £10,000, sourcing a rare one-carat blue diamond for £45,000 and

and offer only one type of membership, ensuring that all their clients feel

arranging hot chocolate hand delivered to a sick girlfriend for a mere

special. Members have access to benefits like discounts at top hotels,

£15.35 – surely worth it for the brownie points?

restaurants, members’ clubs and a range of lifestyle services, as well as access to VIP and sold out events. They must be doing something right,

Quintessentially, the globally dominant name in concierge circles continues

as they’ve just been nominated as best concierge in The Luxury Hub’s

to expand with partner offices in a staggering 56 countries. The brand has

annual LuXplosion Awards.

many distinct functions and sub-brands; the events management offering

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to both corporate and agents alike, the concierge service for members to

Caxton Manor offers strictly limited memberships in private, corporate

use however they wish, publishing, design, spas, weddings etc – there’s

or diplomatic categories all run by the inimitable Banke Laycock. Unlike

even a branded dating service in the pipeline! Founded over 10 years

many of their competiotors, they openly invite non-members to try some

ago by Ben Elliot and two associates, the company calls itself a private

of their services like event or destination management before joining,

members’ club with a 24-hour “concierge” service providing anything

to see just how it can work for their specific needs. Heritage Homes

from fine wines to opera tickets, hotel bookings, art advice and wedding

originally specialised in exclusive homes, apartments and hotel bookings

planning to thousands of rich individuals. Celebrity users reportedly

for high net worth clients. Now they’ve branched out to incorporate an

include Scarlett Johansson, Sir Richard Branson and Gwyneth Paltrow.

elite concierge service for club and restaurant bookings, vehicle hire and

Quintessentially claims an annual turnover of £50m and profits of £7.85m.

chauffeur service, travel bookings and personal shopping, but the most

UK-based Ten Lifestyle Concierge has seen a surge of interest in the past

exciting packages have to be the F1 dedicated trips to live the life of luxury

few years, reaching over a million requests last year. They also now offer

– meeting drivers and watching the race in comfort.

PrestigeEventsGuide.com

•

COMMENT: APRIL WHITEHEAD

PEOPLEBUYPEOPLE

There is an underlying element within the venue

Enterprise Hotel in Earls Court. Here, a series of 5 London town houses,

booking decision process which is not easily identifiable

in recent history, have been transformed into a stylish 100 bedroom hotel

or even readily acknowledged. It’s obvious when you

and venue. The reception and restaurant decor creates an opulent yet chic

detect it and ultimately it’s often the deciding factor

environment which immediately generates a positive ‘first impression’.

(within budget of course). Let’s be honest for a moment

While the air conditioned flexible and neutral venue spaces offers event

and recognise the fact that essentially it’s all down to

organisers a blank canvass.

personal preference.

Venue refurbishment and interior design is an exact science because a At some point in the decision process, which inevitably will involve;

venue’s personality can make a big impact on securing business. For this

location, capacity, facilities, rates and service levels - there will be an

reason venues invest heavily in ensuring decor and facilities are on trend

overriding factor and more often than not it will be a superficial one.

and quality standards are maintained. Venues tend to fall into two decor camps; neutral with wide appeal or big personality and themed. Hotel

People buy People and like it or not a venue has a personality and it’s

chains traditionally use decor to communicate brand values. Privately

that personality that venue bookers buy into. Venue staff can be highly

owned, unique and unusual venues have the freedom to put an individual

efficient and offer exceptional venue hire packages but if the venue itself

stamp on a building. For this reason venue visits are an essential part of

lacks personality or is not compatible with the personality of the event

venue booking – walking into a venue will generate an emotional response

organiser then it’s a non starter.

– this can be negative, positive or neutral but it’s a natural response all the same.

Every building and space has an image which can be influenced. OK, the location, age and architecture of a building are virtually impossible

‘Horses for courses’ I hear you say and you would be right! An individual

to change. But using skilled interior design and an innovative approach

may personally dislike a venue but it could be absolutely right for the event

virtually any ‘first impression’ can be created. For example The

they are organising. However I don’t think anyone can deny that personal

Runnymede-on-Thames, 4 star hotel in Surrey has undergone a series of

preference will always creep in.

•

transformations over the years. The current innovative quirky internal and external decor with a homely front room luxurious styling, gives a warm,

April Whitehead,

friendly and contemporary feel. Another hotel with personality is The

Event PR Consultant PrestigeEventsGuide.com

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COOL REGION: ESSEX

With the Olympic Park and London on our doorstep, plus conference and meeting venues in abundance, Essex really does have it all Visit Essex for Business is the official organisation promoting the county as a destination for conferences, meeting and events, and this once Saxon kingdom, conveniently located close to the City and continental Europe, is the perfect choice for your business needs. The county offers a unique combination of coast, town and country – the perfect backdrop for any event, and is fully accessible via road, rail and air, with many of our venues

Leisure time can be enjoyed exploring the rich heritage of our stately

located next to the M25, M11, A12 and Stansted Airport.

homes, gardens and museums, or relaxing and unwinding along the banks of the Blackwater estuary where the famous Maldon oysters and

Boasting top quality conference and meeting venues suitable for all

sea salt are harvested. Shop ’til you drop at Lakeside Shopping Centre,

your needs, Essex has some of the best and more unusual set in lovely

wine and dine in one of our many fine restaurants, or simply take a stroll

countryside with a rolling landscape, or picturesque historic towns. Quaint

within the unspoilt countryside.

coastal towns such as Burnham-on-Crouch, Wivenhoe and Brightlingsea differ from the popular seaside resorts of Clacton-on-Sea and Southendon-Sea, where a variety of attractions as well as exciting special events take place throughout the year, providing inspiration for business visitors to extend stays, or return at a later date with family and friends.

NEW FOR 2011 White water rafting at Lee Valley Regional Park – try before the world’s best athletes take to the waters in the Olympic slalom event!

The Osea Island Resort – a tranquil idyllic retreat in the Blackwater estuary Firstsite – where art meets business.

There is a rich mix of stately homes, spa hotels, purpose built conference centres or venues with a difference. How about a meeting on board a

Whether you are looking for a venue for a conference, meeting, exhibition,

Thames sailing barge, or a conference at Layer Marney Tower the tallest

party, launch or corporate hospitality, we can fulfil your needs. Essex will

Tudor gatehouse in the UK? The Five Lakes complex, a modern 4* resort

provide a high quality experience with consistent professionalism for

with full leisure and golf facilities and over 3,500sq metres of exhibition

all your business meetings and events, and if you havn’t thought about

space, is also an ideal location to mix business with pleasure.

holding an event in the county before, you really should! The Visit Essex

There are also many activities to choose from when it comes to team building and corporate days out, such as wine tasting in an English

for Business venue directory website will also be launched in April, with the official launch event taking place on 19th May at Hylands House Chelmsford. Event organisers welcome.

•

vineyard, the High Ropes Adventure course, Glamping (glamorous camping!), or maybe a round of golf at one of over 60 golf clubs in the

For all your business needs and further information go

county. Alternatively, try out a new skill such as cookery, or just have fun

to www.visitessex.com/business or call Carol Jolly on

with quad biking, karting, archery, paintballing or zorbing!

01245 435152. Email: carol.jolly@essex.gov.uk

PrestigeEventsGuide.com

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COOL REGIONS: LONDON’S EASTSIDE

COOL VENUES IN LONDON’S EASTSIDE I have just returned from a trip to Miami, and if there is

We always hear how event organisers are looking for unique venues...

one word I can use to describe the place, it is ‘cool’.

something other than a purpose-built room whose most interesting

Everything about it, is simply cool!*

feature is a table and some chairs! Although DE VERE VENUES IN CANARY WHARF offers purpose-built meeting rooms, their cool and

THE TROXY has original art deco features throughout the venue that would not go amiss in any of the striking and colourful buildings in South Beach. Although the venue’s interior makes a bold statement, it’s a surprisingly versatile space adapting easily to events such as gala dinners and awards ceremonies as well as conferences and receptions. A very cool venue indeed!

stylish décor appears to come straight out of Wallpaper magazine or Elle Decoration, and offers guests a bit more bang for their buck!

Lastly, the WHITECHAPEL GALLERY on the city fringe is the epitome of cool where contemporary and sometimes controversial exhibitions form the backdrop to events in this modern art gallery. The friendly and

The TOWN HALL HOTEL AND APARTMENTS in Bethnal Green has been

professional team are always on hand to ensure yours is the must-attend

described by everybody who has either stayed there or attended an event

event in the diary, and with catering at the gallery having recently been

there, as cool! It offers a refreshing take on what 5 star establishments

taken over by acclaimed chef Angela Hartnett, you know that the food is

have historically been known to offer, including their quirky ‘kitchen in

sure to be, you guessed it, cool!

a cupboard’ in some suites, and über cool head Chef Nuno Mendes is fast and furiously racking up the awards including his first Michelin Star.

Congratulations!

The MINT HOTEL AT TOWER HILL opened its doors in January this year, so is brand new to the London hotel scene, but has already notched up massive interest from the market. Most of the meetings rooms and 583 bedrooms of this hotel offer scenic views of major London landmarks, but

•

For full details of all these cool venues, and many more, please visit www.londoneastside.co.uk/venues * Famous film director Michael Mann literally went around to all the wonderful art-deco buildings featured in the tv series Miami Vice’s opening credits with pots of paint convincing the buildings owners that Miami’s

my favourite part of the hotel? The Skylounge Cocktail Bar of course…

image needed an overhaul after the hammering the city’s architecture took

very, very cool!

in Scarface.

PrestigeEventsGuide.com

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The Grimaldi

MONACO

Forum Monaco

“Still many challenges to take up…”

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PrestigeEventsGuide.com

MONACO Inaugurated in 2000, the Grimaldi Forum Monaco is now on the cusp of a new maturity. For 10 years the Principality’s Congress Centre has thrived on taking up challenges that have forged it a strong identity in the highly competitive world of event organisation, in its broadest sense.

To start with there was the challenge of building it: a flagship flying Monaco’s colours, covering 70,000m² (half being useable space), with an emblematic superstructure of steel and glass, standing entirely on land reclaimed from the Mediterranean Sea. Then very rapidly the next, vital, challenge loomed: to position Monaco and its hi-tech meeting tool among the must destinations for international business tourism. Its highly functional facilities, its teams’ knowhow (150 people, 46 trades), its expertise acquired through hosting an average of 100 events a year plus the attraction of a legendary Rock have enabled the Grimaldi Forum Monaco, now a regular recipient of industry awards, to establish itself firmly in the highest echelon of this sector.

To play a proactive role in the developing “green economy”, the Grimaldi Forum Monaco took on board the challenge of helping to reduce the environmental impact of an events industry that is a greedy consumer of temporary resources. By becoming one of the first European congress centres to hold ISO 14001 certification for its environmental management system, it legitimately and irrefutably offers tailored solutions to help all its clients work in an ecoresponsible way.

In the MICE field, the excellence of the location and of the services provided by the Grimaldi Forum Monaco has been highlighted by glowing reports from its extremely diverse clients working in such very different economic sectors as new technologies, telecommunications, medicine, sport, luxury living, the media, entertainment, finance, law, cosmetics, volume retailing etc. No business sector can in fact afford to overlook Monaco and its Grimaldi Forum when organising its headline event since both are now so clearly at the hub of geographical and economic realities, with the legend of the Principality as a bonus!

Its highly flexible exhibition spaces and technical features plus its optimum capacity of 400 to 2500 people mean the Grimaldi Forum Monaco is able to adapt to every type of event: corporate convention, trade fair, product launch, association congress, gala dinner etc. Over 10 years so many have put their faith in its potential and thereby guaranteed the success of their events. We award our loyalty prize to those clients who, through several editions of their corporate events, have forged their success and development in synergy with the Grimaldi Forum Monaco, among them PrestigeEventsGuide.com

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MONACO UEFA, MedPi, LuxePack, Sportel, the European Security and Information System Congress, to name but a few.

Barely 10 years on there is no lack of references and these are the pride and joy of Monaco’s business tourism players.

Cars: Nissan, Mercedes, Renault F1 IT and Telecommunications: Canon, IBM, Imagina, Momentum Medicine and Pharmaceuticals: BioMérieux, Anti-Aging, International Union of Phlebology, Biennale de Cancérologie, Osteology Foundation, Euretina, Abbott, PHR Group Entertainment: Monte-Carlo Television Festival, Fashion Rock Finance and Law: Banks Sadler, Ernst & Young Media: Publicis, Publitalia A list that is of course far from exhaustive.

However, a special merit prize must be awarded to the headline events for which the Principality is a natural setting and which consolidate its reputation, led by the F1 Grand Prix, the Tennis Open, the Circus Festival and the Monaco Yacht Show. The Grimaldi Forum Monaco plays its part in this dynamic events industry on the scale of an entire country, recent examples being the 2008 United Nations Environment Programme forum and the start of the 2009 Tour de France cycling competition.

General Director Sylvie Biancheri has the last word as she sums up the mindset that will drive the Grimaldi Forum Monaco’s teams in 2010 and after: “A force-10 commitment of our human and material means to serve our present and future clients, so they are fully aware of the added value inherent in choosing Monaco and the Grimaldi Forum. The success of the events they hold here will necessarily be increased by… a factor of 10!”

Café Llorca Monaco: a star-studded chef invites you to his table In past December the opening of Café Llorca Monaco has been without any doubt one of this winter’s big events. Once again the Grimaldi Forum Monaco ups the ante over its international competitors by becoming one of the very few congress and culture centres to serve the cuisine of a starstudded chef, in this case the famous Alain Llorca. Experience a bistro pared in design and inventive in cuisine.

TOOL BOX

Grimaldi Forum Monaco 10 av Princesse Grace 98000 Monaco Tel : +377 99 99 21 00 Fax : +377 99 99 21 01 www.grimaldiforum.mc gf@grimaldiforum.mc

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PrestigeEventsGuide.com

* * * *

SPECIAL & TECHNICAL FACILITIES: 3 auditoriums: 400, 800 and 1850 seats 11 breakout rooms for 50 to 220 seats each that can be divided in 22 2 halls of 40000 sqf each suitable for exhibitions and parties up to 2500 pax Several catering areas

TOP 5

TOP 5 COOL GLOBAL DESTINATIONS

COOL DESTINATIONS WORLD-WIDE

Which cities really float our boat?

Those that offer excitement, top choices for things to do, places to stay and are effortlessly cool.

Kristiana Kruysmulder presents the best by far…

NEW YORK

BARCELONA TORRE

The city has attitude aplenty and enough fantastic sights to keep groups of any demographic entertained. Distinctive areas change every few blocks to give Chinatown, Soho, Chelsea, the Meatpacking district, Midtown their own cuisines, landmarks and ambiance.Over 30 new hotels have opened from 2010 - 2011, including W hotels at Union Square and Downtown, Eventi, Mondrian Soho, InterContinental Times Square and Andaz Fifth Avenue.

The Lambs Club buzzing with a who’s who of NY power society. The Gansevoort Park hotel with its 3-level lounge and rooftop pool area are to offer a free ride in a 2011 Porsche Panamera 4S to appeal to design junkies. Perhaps less glamourous, the eco-friendly James hotel opened in September last year with a promise to transport guests by pedi-cab.

New York does art like nowhere else on earth. With its angled, lawn-

The silvery soon-to-open Dream Downtown in the Meatpacking district will be the sister property to the Chatwal with its now-famous restaurant

NEW YORK MUSEUM OF MOVING IMAGE

covered roof, the Hypar Pavilion is the most recent design-lauded opening at the Lincoln Center. The 11,000-square foot pavilion houses a 194seat restaurant and bar with a view over the renovated Alice Tully Hall, The Juilliard School, and the public plaza. Foster’s meticulously detailed Sperone Westwater Gallery brings nine floors of high-style art space to the once-gritty Bowery. An elevator-like gallery moves to deliver the public at each of the five light-filled exhibition floors. Perhaps the absolutely coolest new opening is the extension at Museum of the Moving Image.

Streamlined galleries attuned to the virtual are supported by an Yves Kleinblue auditorium articulated in triangular panels. Here, the audience waits for the kaleidoscopic curtain by artist Cindy Sirko to part and reveal the silver screen.

To chill out, the High Line Park gives a little patch of green to previously industrial neighbourhoods in the lower West and only New Yorkers could claim this former train track as their new walk to work. ► PrestigeEventsGuide.com

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TOP 5 COOL GLOBAL DESTINATIONS

BARCELONA

last issue, Glasgow is to host the Commonwealth Games in 2014 and has

It doesn’t matter how many times you’ve been to this city, event organisers love it, there’s always somewhere new to stay! One of the few European cities that can offer 4 congress centres across the four sides of town, larger congresses are now coming here rather than Cannes or Berlin.

That perfect combination of a city both modern and ancient, beaches, topclass design and of course, locals that like to stay up late and party, mean this city trumps its European competitors.

committed an estimated £5.5 billion in infrastructure over the next few years. Nothing stirs a city into modernisation like the promise of being in the World spotlight! Now streaking ahead as a destination of choice for media and art clients, the city’s urban grunge is becoming just polished enough to draw the most discerning travellers.

CitizenM is wowing the crowds with super-cool pale bedroom décor and curved surfaces in 198 rooms, while in the common areas it’s all bright splashes of colour that catch the eye. We still love the Hotel Du

Some of the coolest recent additions to the hotel offering are; The W Barcelona, Barcelo Raval, ME Barcelona or boutique loveliness in the form of the Ohla – a five-star palazzo covered in security cameras and Casa Camper – a hideaway for the shoe-obsessed. Mandarin Oriental Barcelona is a super-stylised haven on Passeig de Gracia, all heavily stylised interiors hidden behind a mid-20th Century exterior.

Vin, a gentleman’s club style hotel made of interconnecting Victorian townhouses with its welcome whisky, oak wood panels and a bistro that Gordon Ramsay once owned. Best of all, there’s a suite dedicated to the art of Jack Vettriano, the epitome of cool, classy gentleman and broads!

Hotel Indigo Glasgow opens May 2nd to bring boutique bling to all 95 rooms in a 19th century former electricity building.Glasgow Riverside

One look at landmarks like the Torre Agbar or the UFO-like crest of the Hesperia Tower hotel and Convention Centre and it’s easy to see why Barcelona is considered cutting-edge. It’s fitting then, that the city is one of the candidates to host the Secretariat for the European Design and Innovation Initiative in 2011 and 2012, a platform aimed at integrating Europe’s design policies and projects. Work has also commenced on a high-speed rail link, while a multitude of short-haul flights and choice of airports in the vicinity make this one of the best-connected destinations in the EU.

Museum opens in 2011 on the confluence of two rivers, the Clyde and the Kelvin. The excitement that comes from having Zaha Hadid as principal architect is justified – from this aspect alone predictions are for 800,000 visitors in the first year of operation – keep an eye out for the grand opening in early summer this year.

If that’s not exciting enough, the Jumeirah Glasgow 6-star hotel (don’t you love their creative hotel grading?) will open in the not-too-distant future in the financial district. Key cool factors will be the infinity pool, rooftop cocktail lounge and its eco-friendly credentials.

GLASGOW

MARRAKECH

For years Glasgow has been acknowledged as the artier little brother to Edinburgh, with the guts and grit of a much larger metropolis. As we heard

CITIZENM

Known as the ‘Red City’, Marrakech is still an excellent place for incentives and trips that need that something totally different. Both medieval and modern, with over 500 listed riads near the medina, smaller groups can experience this traditional style of living or go for the ultra-luxe resorts outside the old city walls. Developments in the past few years have centred on the Palmeraie (the Beverly Hills of Morocco) and outer lying areas to bring true five-star resorts to the city. Top contender Naoura Barriere is managing to keep some of the big spenders within the Medina.

The refurbishment and grand re-launch of La Mamounia, was certainly a star-studded affair. Murano Resort Marrakech is one of the funkiest new additions with 30 suites and four outdoor pools, including a sexy redtiled number that dazzles when lit at night. Other new properties include; The Baglioni Marrakech of fifteen Residences designed by Jade Jagger for yoo, a seventy-two roomed hotel from Baglioni Hotels and a 1,500 sqm spa from Six Senses. The Four Seasons is slated to finally open mid-2011

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PrestigeEventsGuide.com

TOP 5 COOL GLOBAL DESTINATIONS

MARRAKECH NAOURA BARRIERE

opposite the Menara Gardens. 141 guest rooms (including 27 spacious suites with balconies) are to be surrounded by a 40-acre walled garden and fountain courtyards, among groves of mature olive and palm trees.

W Hotel will burst on the scene in December and Raffles in early 2012.

Azar is one of the hottest new hangouts; a Lebanese-themed restaurant, bar and live Arabic DJs to dance the night away to. Lotus in the Hivernage area is another favourite place to be seen.

SYDNEY Quite honestly, if Oprah raves about it, it must be pretty special, right?

From the moment you fly in, the views of the city sprawled around hundreds of inlets and bays leaves a lasting impression. Few world-class cities can boast great weather, modern infrastructure, excellent cuisine and venue choice. Voted the 10th most liveable city on the planet, outdoor living is key, with 37 beaches and over 40 parks or nature reserves. For those needing adventure there are plenty of opportunities for water sports,

If you fancy cool air and a more rugged pace then the Kasbah de Toubkal remains a firm favourite. Nestled in the Atlas Mountains it affords views of pine forests and waterfalls with access to nearby Berber villages. Slightly

the Snowy Mountains for ski trips are 5.5 hours drive away and hiking in the Blue Mountains or day trips to fantastic wineries are just half that distance.

closer to town, the newer Kasbah Bab Ourika opened in 2009 and boasts slick modernism in the mountains.

Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre sits slap on Darling Harbour within the CBD and has proven so popular recently they have been turning

For art buffs, the newly renovated Museum of Moroccan Arts in the heart of the Majorelle Garden reopened its doors last September, while The Maison de la Photographie opened last year in a restored fondouk to showcase Berber life in the Medina. The museum’s crowning roof cafe is the perfect place to stop and revitalise and offers stellar views of the Medina. David Bloch Gallery, housed in a stark concrete block covered with bold graffiti, specialises in street art, and shows the new face of the city to perfection.

congresses away! To cater for this upturn in demand, a governmentbacked expansion both here and at the city’s Olympic Park stadium has been approved. Standout new developments include Star City (little sibling to Melbourne’s famous complex of the same name) comprising a casino, five-star hotel, restaurants, entertainment and conference centre.

Barangaroo former warehouse area on the south side of the Harbour Bridge will be redeveloped, transforming 22 hectares of industrial space on Sydney Harbour into a $6 billion public, residential and commercial CBD precinct with a waterfront promenade running the length of the site.

To get active, try skiing in the high Atlas Mountains, water sports on the Lalla Takerkoust Lake, or perhaps helicopter or hot air ballooning to view the city at the dawn call to prayer. If that’s not enough to fill your program, then add a trip to Essaouira on the coast for a learn-to-surf incentive with a difference.

Taronga Zoo on the north shore now offers overnight accommodation in luxury tents to give people the chance to sleep amongst the animals and wake with a view of the harbour. Coolest hotels? The Siebel Pier One that stretches over the Harbour, bijou Park8 or five-star The Observatory in the Rocks for old-world glamour.

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COOL VENUES AWARDS

There IS ONLY ONE EVENT INDUSTRY AWARD that showcases the X-factor which can make all the difference for a venue in terms of it’s market position and currency value...The COOL Venues Awards.

THE 4TH ANNUAL

COOL VENUES AWARDS One minute you are COOL, the next minute you are

venue. They often possess a character, charisma, and class that many

not.

‘newer’ builds cannot yet match. So what is COOL? A COOL venue should have: Charisma, Originality, Style, Innovation, Sex Appeal, Authenticity,

COOL is a matter of opinion. It is perhaps the greatest

Aspiration, and Uniqueness. COOL is a very personal opinion. Therefore,

currency you can possess; whether you are running for

a panel of judges was selected to form a council. Each understood the

President, or pitching for the next big event! It is what

intrinsic factors, elements and characteristics that deem a venue to be

gives an events venue the position of strength when

COOL.

negotiating with an event organiser.

The council represents a diverse collective; writers, industry figureheads, The COOL Venues Awards, an entirely unique and defining accolade,

and event organisers / specialists. They have applied the strict guideline

were developed in 2007 by Wesley Mendy of Prestige Events magazine

that each nominee should not be selected as a result of its technical

to recognise an unsung and largely influential element that emerges in the

capabilities, since many of these facets (lighting, AV, etc) can be imported.

process of planning a corporate event – How exciting is the venue? Will

We have continued to decide against giving you a couple of ‘runners-up’

the invitees RSVP? Will they turn up?

in each category. Firstly, it gives you - the event organiser - no wide scope of alternatives, and secondly, as a magazine we are supposed to be giving

In the current economic climate, the pressure on an event organiser is

you advice and guidance.

even more apparent. The need for an event venue to gain the chance to position itself aside form it’s rivals has more emphasis than ever before.

This year’s ‘barometer’, created by a council of 17 judges (see bottom of

Every corporate event organiser strives to ensure their next event is THE

page), provides very interesting reading (and to those that didn’t make the

hot ticket. Over the past seven years, Prestige Events magazine has tried

shortlist, remember there is always next year and 12 months to change

to identify for its readers venues which will make the difference, and set

‘opinions’)….

it’s editorial compass on what’s COOL for the benefit of it UK readership of event organisers.The barometer should not be biased towards all that

Enjoy!

is ‘new’ in our opinion. There is always a place for the classic / heritage

Wesley Mendy

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COOL VENUES AWARDS COOLest Multi-purpose venue:

COOLest Hotel Chain / venue portfolio:

COOLest Independent Hotel:

(previous winner: 40/30 at The Gherkin)

(previous winner: Radisson Edwardian)

(previous winner: The Hempel)

Winner:

Winner:

Winner:

Altitude 360

Radisson Edwardian

The Hempel Runners-up:

Runners-up:

Runners-up:

40/30 at The Gherkin

W Hotels

Zetter

Roundhouse

Malmaison

Town Hall Hotel

Magna

The Venue Collection

Blakes

Truman Brewery

Industri

Feversham Arms

02

Park Plaza

Home House

Science Museum London

Von Essen

Blythswood Square

Rosebowl at Leeds Met. University

Waldorf Astoria Collection

The Clarence

Imperial College

Soho House Group

Hoxton Hotel

Maybourne

The Bonham

COOLest Country House /

COOLest Independent Hotel:

COOLest ‘On Water’ venue:

(previous winner: Stoke Park)

(previous winner: The Hempel)

(previous winner: Royal Caribbean)

Winner: Coworth Park

Winner: Babington House

Winner: Silverfleet

Historic venue:

Runners-up: The Hempel

Sunseeker

Stoke Park

The Soho Hotel

Seadream Yacht Club

The Grove

Velvet

Bateaux London

Warwick Castle

Sanctum Soho

Royal Caribbean HMS Belfast

Brocket Hall

Barnsley House

Leeds Castle

The Scarlet Hotel

P&O Ferries

Harewood House

Lime Wood

London Duck Tours

Kenwood House

Le Monde

River and Rowing Museum

Lennoxlove House

Blakes

Rum Jungle

COWORTH PARK 44

Runners-up:

Runners-up: Blenheim Palace

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COOL VENUES AWARDS BABINGTON HOUSE

THE MAY FAIR

SAATCHI GALLERY

COOLest ‘Sporting Venue’:

COOLest Museum / Gallery:

COOLest Conference / Exhibition centre:

(previous winner: Wembley Stadium)

(previous winner: Natural History Museum)

(previous winner: Barbican)

Winner: Wembley Stadium

Winner: Saatchi Gallery

Winner: Barbican Runners-up:

Runners-up:

Runners-up:

Emirates Stadium

Tate Modern

City Hall

Ascot

Natural History Museum

The May Fair

Twickenham

Magna

Park Plaza Westminster Bridge

Lords

Tate Liverpool

Rose Bowl Leeds Met

Gleneagles

London Film Museum

SECC

Old Trafford

Madame Tussauds

Savoy Place

Sixways

Design Museum

Williams F1 Conference Centre

Sheffield International Venues

V&A Museum of Childhood

Wellcome Collection

Baltic Museum

Liverpool ACC Altitude 360 PrestigeEventsGuide.com

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COOL VENUES AWARDS COOLest Bar / Club:

COOLest Restaurant:

COOLest Spa:

(previous winner: Ministry of Sound)

(previous winner: Nobu Berkeley)

(new category)

Winner:

Winner:

Winner:

Fabric

San Carlo Manchester

Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park

Runners-up:

Runners-up:

Runners-up:

Ministry of Sound

Shaka Zulu

Coworth Park

40/30 at The Gherkin

Hakkasan

Hotel Verta

Shoreditch House

St Pancras Grand

The Carrick Spa Loch Lomond

Ronnie Scotts

40/30 at The Gherkin

Serenity Spa at Seaham Hall

CafĂŠ de Paris

Nobu Berkeley

Barcelo Walton Hall

Koko

Shoreditch House

Cedar Court Grand

The Penthouse

Corrigans

Champneys Tring

Hoxton Pony

Milestone

The One spa at Sheraton Grand

Movida

Rhodes 24

Pennyhill Park

Cloud 23 Mint Leaf

FABRIC

MANDARIN ORIENTAL HYDE PARK

SAN CARLO MANCHESTER PrestigeEventsGuide.com

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COOL VENUES AWARDS MAGNA

IL BOTTACCIO

ALTON TOWERS

COOLest for Corporate Fun:

COOLest for Awards Ceremonies:

COOLest for Gala’s:

(previous winner: Alton Towers)

(previous winner: Old Billingsgate)

(previous winner: The Savoy)

Winner: Alton Towers

Winner: Magna

Winner: Il Bottaccio Runners-up:

Runners-up:

Runners-up:

Sno-zone Xscape

Roundhouse

The Savoy

Mercedes Benz World

Old Billingsgate

Tate Modern

Centerparcs

02

Claridges

Porsche Driving Experience at Silverstone

The May Fair

The Northumberland at Trafalgar Square

Namco Station County Hall

Spitafields Market

The Lowry Hotel

Top Golf

Café de Paris

Imperial College

HOTA Humberside

British Museum

Royal Armouries

Nick Nairn Cooking School

Troxy

Middle Temple Hall

Daytona Motorsport

Royal Courts of Justice

Airkix Manchester

Banqueting House Bloomsbury Ballroom

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COOL VENUES AWARDS COOLest for Small Meetings:

COOLest for AGMS’s:

COOLest for Product Launches:

(previous winner: Tower Bridge)

(new category)

(new category)

Winner:

Winner:

40/30 at The Gherkin

Savoy Place

Runners-up:

Runners-up:

Runners-up:

Altitude 360

Gleneagles

Park Plaza Westminster Bridge

Claridges ‘Loft Rooms’

Celtic Manor

The May Fair

Wellington Arch

Stoke Park

Oui Rooms

Audi Quattro Rooms

Allen and Overy, Bishops Square

Ministry of Sound

Gleneagles

40/30 at The Gherkin

The Music Room

Stoke Park

City Pavilion

Alton Towers

IOD/ 116 Pall Mall

Mar Hall

Williams F1 Conference Centre

Malmaison Oxford

Telford International

Emirates Stadium

Mint Leaf

Belfast Waterfront

Winner: Stoke Park

The Adelaide The Vinyl Factory

STOKE PARK

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COOL VENUES AWARDS COOLest for Receptions:

COOLest for Outdoor Events:

COOLest Members Club Now Open For Events:

(previous winner: Altitude 360)

(previous winner: Cannon Bridge Roof Gardens)

(previous winner: City of London Club)

Winner:

Winner:

Winner:

One Moorgate Place

Cannon Bridge Roof Gardens

Paramount

Runners-up:

Runners-up:

Runners-up:

The Savoy

Kensington Roof Gardens

Shoreditch House City of London Club

Saatchi Gallery

Somerset House

National Railway Museum

Warwick Castle

116 Pall Mall / IOD

RIBA

London Zoo

40/30 at The Gherkin

Old Marylebone

The Deck at The National Theatre

The Groucho

Planet Hollywood

Shoreditch House

Diamond Club at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium

Lincolns Inn

The Hempel, Zen Garden

The Hospital Club

Hard Rock Cafe

Harewood House

Home House

The Chemistry Centre

Hopetoun House

Adam Street

Royal Society of Medicine

Mallory Court

Aura

COOLest Temporary structure:

COOLest Overseas Venue:

(new category)

(new category)

(new category)

Winner: Park Plaza Westminster Bridge

Winner: Battersea Power Station Boiler House

Winner: Grimaldi Forum, Monaco

Royal Society of Arts

COOLest Venue Launch in 2010:

Runners-up: The Savoy W Leicester Square City Hall CC Dublin Town Hall Hotel The Northumberland at Trafalgar Square Fabric Shaka Zulu 11 Cavendish Square Cedar Court Grand Hotel

Runners-up: GL Owen Brown / Farnborough Air Show De Boer for Concorde at Manchester Airport Cannon Bridge Roof Garden The Bloomsbury Big Top Edgbaston Cricket Ground Chinawhite at Cartier Polo Serpentine Gallery The Pavillion at The Tower of London Quintessentially Soho pop-up at House of St Barnabas

CANNON BRIDGE ROOF GARDENS 52

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Runners-up: Sunseeker Soho Beach Miami Disneyland Paris W, Barcelona Atlantis, Dubai Grand Excelsior, Malta Mena House Oberoi, Egypt Andels, Lodz Antwerp Dome Cathedral, Belgium Crillon, Paris Sandy Lane, Barbados Adam and Eve, Antalya - Turkey

PARK PLAZA WESTMINSTER BRIDGE

COOL VENUES AWARDS BOLIER HOUSE AT BATTERSEA POWER STATION

COOLest Venue Architecture: (previous winner: 40/30 at The Gherkin)

Winner: 40/30 at The Gherkin Runners-up: Eden Project City Hall CC Dublin Tate Modern Wembley Stadium Twickenham Skyroom, London Roundhouse

Judges Panel: Wesley Mendy (Prestige Events)

Izania Downie (Eventia)

Kristiana Kruysmulder (Prestige Events)

Gini Wilde (Bonner & Hindley)

Errol Griffiths (Prestige Events)

Clayton Dean (Red Carpet Security)

Hannah Fowles (UBM)

Jaspreet Dhindsa (RM Intermediary Services)

Richard Harden (Hardens)

Joanne Penny (JP Events)

Will Broome (Londonlaunch)

Emily Gillan (Purple Grape)

Stephanie Laing (Londonlaunch)

Julian Saipe (Zafferano)

Sally Webb (The Special Event Co.)

Sharon Ahimbisibwe (Big Wednesday)

Kanya King MBE (MOBO)

Celine Khor (freelance event organiser)

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COOL VENUES AWARDS EVENING: THE PENTHOUSE, LONDON, 26.2.11

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COOL VENUES AWARDS EVENING: THE PENTHOUSE, LONDON, 26.2.11

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CONFEX UK: COOL BRITANNIA

Cool Britannia This year’s International Confex at Earls Court 1-3 March is all

about innovation and there will be plenty of unique and cool things to keep an eye out for. As you can see from our sample of exhibitors, the show floor will be full of those who are at the cutting edge of cool design or cool inspiration.

Here are some the UK Venues exhibiting….

CHELSEA FOOTBALL CLUB 59 PrestigeEventsGuide.com

CONFEX UK: COOL BRITANNIA PANORAMIC LIVERPOOL Situated on the 34th floor and laying claim to being the world’s highest restaurant is Panoramic Liverpool. The funky, contemporary atmosphere is perfect for enjoying the stunning vistas over the city and the historic Liverpool waterfront.

A visit to Panoramic is also not complete without sampling some of their delicious cocktails, whilst enjoying the changing landscape as the city heads from day into evening.

CHELSEA FOOTBALL CLUB Centrally located just off trendy King’s Road, Chelsea FC encompasses the past, present and future of one of the city’s most exciting clubs. For further information on the meetings and events facilities, on-site restaurants, bars, hotels and even spa find the Visit London stand, number LA100.

VINCENT HOTEL, SOUTHPORT The Vincent Hotel brings a new twist to North-West hospitality. Situated on Southport’s fashionable Lord Street, it can host up to 200 in its stylish

PANORAMIC LIVERPOOL

function rooms.

A regular haunt for the rich and famous, everything at the Vincent is designed to impress. Find out more by visiting Southport Conferences at stand B241.

STRAND PALACE HOTEL

A

Situated in the heart of the bustling West End, minutes from Covent

Garden and Charing Cross underground station, the Strand Palace Hotel is at the centre of the capital’s finest and coolest attractions.

Club Rooms afford fantastic accommodation to the experienced business

traveller, while its enviable location near world-famous cultural and architectural landmarks is always a hit with leisure guests.

BRIGHTON DOME

This historic architectural gem offers dynamic conference and meeting facilities; situated in the heart of Britain’s cosmopolitan city-by-the-sea.

Offering five historic spaces along with additional breakout areas, Brighton Dome provides a unique and versatile conference and meeting venue available to hire for a variety of corporate events and exhibitions. It is part

of the glorious Royal Pavilion Estate, located in the heart of Brighton. ► 60

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BRIGHTON DOME

CONFEX UK: COOL BRITANNIA

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CONFEX UK: COOL BRITANNIA

ST ERMINS HOTEL 62

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CONFEX UK: COOL BRITANNIA ST ERMIN’S HOTEL Following a dramatic £30-million refurbishment, this London landmark is set to open on 4th April 2011. The opulent 4-star hotel is tucked away on a tranquil West End corner and offers the amenities and conveniences of a larger luxury hotel whilst never forgetting the personal indulgences and intimacy that visitors would expect.

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CONFEX UK: COOL BRITANNIA

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CONFEX UK: COOL BRITANNIA

SECC

CAFE DE PARIS

MOBOs with some of the biggest names in rap, hip hop and R&B taking

Set in the heart of London’s Piccadilly, Café de Paris has been a dazzling

to the stage as well as attracting headliners Kylie Minogue, Lady Gaga,

and opulent venue since it opened its fabled doors in 1924.

Coldplay and Rihanna to name but a few.

Its extravagant Parisian style makes it the perfect venue for corporate entertaining as well as private parties. From lunches, sit down dinners,

ROYAL GARDEN HOTEL

canapé receptions and film premiere parties to product launches, award

Set in leafy Kensington, Royal Garden Hotel (Stand P140) boasts some

ceremonies and live music showcases.

of London’s most stylish and flexible conference and events spaces.

The 5 star business venue recently transformed its key conference and

CHURCH HOUSE CONFERENCE CENTRE

banqueting facilities as part of a £3.75 million refurbishment program which it will be sharing with visitors to its stand.

Boasting an enviable central London location and exquisite views of Westminster Abbey, the Grade II listed Church House Conference Centre (L205) offers an elegant and tranquil setting for corporate and private

A DAY IN THE COUNTRY

events. The diverse range of rooms, indulgent cuisine and award-winning

A Day in the Country (B852) has been running corporate events

AV facilities guarantee a hassle-free event.

and conferences for over 25 years. The venue is centrally located in Oxfordshire, Junction 10 of the M40, and is set in 250 acres of wooded estate.

THE ROOF GARDENS Situated high above Kensington High Street, The Roof Gardens & Babylon

A beautiful 18th century stone barn is the main hospitality and

Restaurant are nothing less than spectacular. From dinners to discos,

conference area providing space for over 200 delegates. The company

barmitzvahs to weddings, business meetings to training days to BBQs on

will be showcasing its Segway vehicles which make up one of the many

balmy summer nights! And of course you’ll be treated to the extra special

activities provided at its venue in Oxfordshire.

attention that our staff are famous for.

ALTITUDE 360 THE SCOTTISH CENTRE

EXHIBITION

+

CONFERENCE

Altitude 360 London is situated in the heart of Westminster in London’s famous SW1, right next to the London Eye, The Houses of Parliament

The Scottish Exhibition + Conference Centre is the UK’s largest integrated

and The River Thames. The venue commands stunning views over all of

venue and certainly oozes the cool factor having hosted the infamous

London and the capital’s prominent landmarks.

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AZIA RESORT AND SPA

CONFEX GLOBAL

N

COOL AROUND

THE WORLD

Here are some of the coolest global venues exhibiting at Confex… ► PrestigeEventsGuide.com

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CONFEX GLOBAL AZIA RESORT AND SPA, PAFOS The Azia Resort is divided into three and offers sophisticated escapism.

Each element of the three-in-one boutique Cyprus hotel concept is created to fulfil different aspirations. The Azia Blue is about sophisticated, spacious living for families. The Azia Club and Spa is ideal for privacy and indulgence. The Residence is a haven of individual pampering and innovative style.

DOLCE LA HULPE BRUSSELS Our next cool venue is located in the heart of the majestic Soignes forest, only minutes from the Brussels City Centre and Brussels Airport. It boasts an incredible 4,500 m2 (47,900 sq ft) of dedicated, state-of-the-art meeting space featuring the most cutting-edge technology imaginable.

In addition to the luxury CINQ MONDES Spa, pool and fitness centre, fine dining, and a selection of 264 guest rooms and suites that reflect hospitality at its finest.

ABAMA GOLF & SPA RESORT If you are looking for a destination for your MICE programmes, look no further than Abama Golf & Spa Resort. The grand 5-Star resort overlooks the Atlantic Ocean on the sunny west coast of Tenerife. The venue promises ‘a paradise where you can feel the exclusivity in each of our services’.

BILTMORE HOTEL Standing out in a sea of Miami resorts, Biltmore is home to the exclusive Biltmore Spa, the Biltmore Golf Course and the esteemed Biltmore Culinary Academy.

Reflecting the passion and vitality of one of America’s most exciting cities, Miami, Florida, the legendary Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables has been a favourite of world leaders, celebrities, and sports stars since its opening in the 1920s. The Biltmore Hotel showcases championship golf, cosmopolitan dining, a luxury spa in addition to premier conference facilities.

LEONARDO ROYAL HOTEL MUNICH The new 4 star superior Leonardo Royal Munich is located on the historic ground of Munich’s first airport Oberwiesenfeld. It features modern architecture and trendy furnishings to create a contemporary and cool European hotel. Meetings and events space boast state-of-theart technology to ensure whatever the occasion; the hotel can meet your needs.

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CONFEX GLOBAL

DOLCE LA HULPE

BILTMORE CABANA PrestigeEventsGuide.com

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CONFEX SUPPLIERS

COOL SUPPLIERS

THAMES RIB

Here are some of the cool suppliers exhibiting at Confex…

ICE SKATE

EVENT PROP HIRE

Leisure Skate build real outdoor ice rinks in addition to supplying and

Leading hire supplier of event theming, furniture, dance floors, lighting and

installing synthetic ice rinks. With 20 years in the ice rink industry it works out to a large amount of experience that the company can offer. Not only do they have many years experience but so do its staff who have worked

more. Everything is designed, built and stocked in-house, making Event Prop Hire specialist suppliers of unique and visually stunning theming.

Services range from dry hire of individual items to bespoke design, build and installation of complete events.

with Leisure Skate for many years.

Their rinks can go inside or out and have been used in stately homes, racecourses, garden centres, shopping centres, leisure centres, and are a great way of bringing the community together.

THAMES RIB EXPERIENCE Thames RIB Experience have the fastest London Speedboats on the river!

In response to popular demand, facts on espionage and the history of the Secret Service are included on all standard Thames rib boat trips, to be accompanied by the beloved JAMES BOND theme music guaranteed to

If the recent spell of cold weather hasn’t put you off, you’ll even be able to

turn heads as you rip up the Thames on these supersonic London Speed

get your skates on and try it out at the show.

boats!

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CONFEX SUPPLIERS BOGUS BROTHERS

chance to win one of 12 pairs of Jimmy Choos, which will be given away every month for a year.

Energetic, exciting and explosive interactive entertainment in unique stage costumes fronted by a charismatic singer with a uniquely choreographed

ICE ANGELS

five-piece band have made the Bogus Brothers the celebrities and event

Ice Angels has been brought to you by the company behind the very

organisers choice for parties and corporate events at prestigious venues

successful Havana Miss Cigar girls. We know that up until now ice cream

all over the world.

has been sadly neglected in the creative arena of the events industry - we can now offer a stylish and delicious solution! All aspects of ice cream service have been stylishly made over to enhance any size or type of event.

DESIGNER FLOWERS

We use award-winning ice cream makers Maison des Sorbets to supply

Designer Flowers designs, creates, supplies and maintains floral

transport ice cream anywhere in the country.

us, and the latest technology in portable freezing to enable us to safely

arrangements for hotels, caterers, party and events and also the corporate markets with private weddings being our forte.

TENORS UNLIMITED In 2002, using talents honed in their previous solo careers in the opera,

Clients include Elton John Aid Foundation, Jennifer Lopez, Barclays, BMW,

theatre and recording worlds, they set out to bring their own unique blend

Coca Cola and American Express to name just a few.

of wit, charm and vocal arrangements - along with original compositions - to the classical crossover genre.

CRAFTY ARTY PARTIES Always one of the highlight stands at Confex, Crafty Arty Parties will once again be pulling out all the stops. Visitors to their stand will also have the

They have entertained audiences throughout the world and performed alongside such notables as Sting, Hayley Westenra, Lionel Richie, Simply Red and BeyoncĂŠ. They live in London and are currently working on their third album

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DESIGNER FLOWERS 72

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SUPPLIER FOCUS: RED CARPET SECURITY

EVENT SECURITY AND CLOSE PROTECTION

REQUIRES COOL CHARACTERS

by Sophie-Rose HIll of Red Carpet Security ‘Cool, Calm and Collected’ is one of those clichés that can have a significant value when applied in the world of Event Security and Close Protection. Depending on the nature of the event, style of venue and the client’s requirements these three C’s can play a big part in a Red Carpet Security operative’s character and performance.

Not only can the image of having Event Security or VIP Close Protection presence at an event or the appearance and presentation of Security operatives seem ‘cool’ and give a smart and impressive portrayal to clients and guests, it is imperative our operative’s also act and remain, cool, courteous and composed on each and every assignment. Although we pride ourselves on our preparation, planning, briefing and experience we never overlook that all sorts of different, at times, challenging and unanticipated situations can often occur so remind our operatives to stay alert, focused and ready to think on their feet! The Red Carpet Security inhouse training programme is specific detailed and challenging allowing the staff to experience a minimum of shadowing a Red Carpet employee for a minimum of 10 jobs before they are working alone this is even if they have come to Red Carpet with previous experience. It is then, due to their roles and responsibility that an operative can find themselves under pressure to act on the spot without stimulating noticeable disorder or disturbance and contain any situation.

Whether it’s Event Security or VIP Close Protection required as a professional, hands-on, versatile Security assistance or more of a discreet, covert service, it is an absolute Red Carpet Security must for all operatives supplied to have mastered the skill to stay Calm, Collected and Diplomatic when dealing with situations whilst representing clients and our company, resulting in your confidence in us to deliver, and keeping a pleasant atmosphere for all.

Visit us at www.redcarpetsecurity.co.uk or call us now on 020 7060 4321 for further information or call speak tous about how we can work with you today to make your next event an event that everyone will remember. First Impressions Leave Lasting Impressions.

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BEST IN THE

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WEST

VENUE FOCUS: FOCUS: SIXWAYS SIXWAYS STADIUM STADIUM VENUE

Sixways Stadium Stadium isis the the ultimate ultimate venue venue where where sport sport meets meets business business Sixways in an an inspirational inspirational setting setting unlike unlike any any other other in in the the UK. UK. This This isis truly truly the the in ultimate diverse diverse and and accessible accessible facility facility with with a a multi-purpose multi-purpose 6565ultimate acre complex complex used used 24/7, 24/7, 365 365 days days of of the the year year and and at at the the heart heart of of acre the events events and and business business community community in in the the Midlands.

Midlands. the Sixways boasts boasts an an unrivalled unrivalled event event space space in in an an ideal ideal location. location. Set Set in in peaceful peaceful and and glorious glorious Sixways Worcestershire countryside, countryside, itit is is within within striking striking distance distance of of the the M5 M5 in in the the beating beating heart heart of of the the local local Worcestershire community. An An international international airport airport is is also also on on the the doorstep doorstep and and the the venue venue is is less less than than an an hour hour community. from central central Birmingham, Birmingham, Warwick Warwick and and Cheltenham.

Cheltenham. from

So what what makes makes Sixways Sixways so so special? special? Well, Well, here here you you always always get get aa modern modern and and diverse diverse approach approach So that makes makes itit the the perfect perfect choice choice for for any any occasion, occasion, whatever whatever the the concept. concept. Flexibility, Flexibility, creativity creativity and and that

innovation are are central central to to the the Sixways Sixways success success story story that that has has seen seen the the venue venue evolve evolve to to become become innovation such aa striking striking facility facility over over the the last last decade. decade. such With 60 60 rooms rooms and and suites, suites, Sixways Sixways offers offers an an action-packed action-packed venue venue with with the the perfect perfect panoramic panoramic With backdrop to to add add aa different different sporting sporting dynamic dynamic to to any any event. event. Whether Whether planning planning aa meeting, meeting, sales sales backdrop

conference, training training session session or or party, party, you you will will find find the the perfect perfect space space for for guests guests ranging ranging from from conference, to 1,000.

1,000. For For aa smaller smaller and and more more intimate intimate location location try try one one of of the the fabulous fabulous executive executive boxes, boxes, 11 to

with stunning stunning views views across across the the pitch pitch and and stadium stadium complex. complex. IfIf you you want want something something bigger bigger and and with bolder for for your your event, event, select select the the impressive impressive Pitchview Pitchview Suite, Suite, or or Indoor Indoor Training Training Centre Centre that that offers offers bolder breathtaking uninterrupted uninterrupted space space covering covering an an impressive impressive 1,800 1,800 square square metres. metres. Perfect Perfect for for any any aa breathtaking event, from from fashion fashion shows shows to to concerts concerts and and awards awards evenings. evenings. event,

With more more than than 1,000 1,000 on-site on-site car car parking parking spaces spaces and and found found just just aa few few minutes minutes from from the the With motorway network, network, Sixways Sixways gives gives you you aa unique unique platform platform for for any any target target market. market. With With this this much much motorway

space anything anything is is possible, possible, be be itit aa sophisticated sophisticated and and elegant elegant approach approach or or aa themed themed ‘knees ‘knees up’ up’ -- itit space is all all here here at at your your disposal! disposal! is You can can also also relax relax in in the the knowledge knowledge that that whatever whatever your your menu menu choice choice or or need, need, itit is is also also sure sure to to You become aa tasty tasty reality. reality. Sixways Sixways offers offers bespoke bespoke inhouse inhouse catering catering where where you you can can choose choose from from aa become vast array array of of locally locally sourced sourced and and seasonal seasonal menus menus or or challenge challenge the the in in house house chef’s chef’s creativity creativity to to vast match your your culinary culinary dreams. dreams. Any Any scope scope or or scale scale -- aa fresh, fresh, healthy healthy and and modern modern approach approach to to food food match and flavour flavour is is aa winning winning combination. combination. and

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For more more information information on on Sixways Sixways Stadium Stadium call call the the Sixways Sixways Events Events For team on on 01905 01905 454183 454183 or or visit visit www.sixwaysevents.co.uk www.sixwaysevents.co.uk team PrestigeEventsGuide.com

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VENUE FOCUS: ROYAL SOCIETY OF MEDICINE

TAKEYOURMEDICINE The Royal Society of Medicine @ 1 Wimpole Street is a world class central London conference and banqueting venue, situated adjacent to Oxford Circus W1.

Their recent multi-million pound refurbishment allows them to offer first class modern meeting and catering space to the highest standard. Whether you require a conference, meeting, wedding reception, gala dinner, or exhibition, you can depend on their experienced team of event professionals to offer a detailed and complete service. Their two brand new lecture theatres are state of the art, offering web streaming, built in handheld delegate voting systems, and a live link-up for meetings of up to 450 guests. Their flexible meeting space also includes twelve smaller rooms which can accommodate from 6 to 100 delegates, to be used on their own or in conjunction with the lecture theatres as plenary breakout rooms.

The facility is within ten minutes walk of five major tube stations, as well as within convenient reach of Euston, Paddington, St Pancras, and Kings Cross mainline stations. The combination of great food, experienced event planners, and state of the art meeting technology, make the 1 Wimpole Street the place to hold any event, from a small boardroom meeting session to a gala movie screening.

Take it from us.

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VENUE FOCUS: PARK PLAZA WESTMINSTER BRIDGE LONDON Located on the foot of Westminster Bridge opposite Big Ben the Houses of Parliament, the contemporary new Park Plaza Westminster

1,200 for a cocktail reception. These suites also offer a large built-in bar

Bridge London has become one of the city’s hottest spots for hosting spectacular events.

For smaller events, seven Park Suites, conveniently located on the ground

perfect for catering coffee and tea breaks, lunches or evening cocktails.

floor near the hotel entrance, can accommodate up to 160 people theatrestyle. Eleven City Rooms, ideal for executive board meetings, feature

From glamorous award galas with dining for to 1,000 to intimate cocktail

windows with views over the city.

receptions for just a few, the chic décor and contemporary lines of the hotel add a sophisticated sense of style to any event.

Park Plaza Westminster Bridge London is only steps from the city’s most iconic attractions including the London Eye, London Aquarium and

The dramatic, pillar-free Westminster Ballroom leads the space with

Royal Festival Hall. Spacious guest rooms, which include 54 suites and

1,200 square metres and also 520 square metres of pre-function space

penthouses, provide a host of boutique touches alongside thoughtful

that can be cleverly transformed to create the perfect venue. Divisible

amenities. Distinctive dining options include Brasserie Joël created by

by four, the ballroom has served as the trendy spot for London Fashion

renowned Chef Joël Antunes, Ichi Sushi and Sashimi Bar, espressamente

Week post-show parties, as a dinner concert venue for UK performer

illy coffee bar and for cocktails, the stylish Primo Bar. The hotel features the new Mandara Spa, fitness centre complete with 15-metre swimming

D S Paul Young, as a comedy stage for Jongleurs and as one of London’s

top locations for gala award dinners. For conferences, the Westminster

Ballroom accommodates up to 1,400 theatre-style and features the latest technological capabilities to ensure a flawless event.

Among its 35 meeting rooms are the hotel’s Plaza Suites, possibly the most flexible space in London. Ranging in size from 36 square metres to 235

square metres, the Plaza Suites can be combined to create large meeting

pool, two executive lounges, and Wi-Fi throughout .

For more details, please see: www.parkplaza.com/westminster.

To learn how we might assist you in creating a spectacular event or to request a brochure, please contact us at +44 (0) 844-415-6792 or email at ppwlconf@pphe.com

r e D e h ra S

spaces or separated for smaller syndicate rooms, can accommodate up to

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UPCOMING EVENT: RSVP 2011

R

Rsvp 2011:

London’sEvent

Showcase

Celebrating 10 years as the UK’s most innovative and creative boutique event dedicated to the corporate hospitality, entertainment, party and special events industry, RSVP returns to the Business Design Centre, Islington this April (19th – 20th) with a series of exciting new developments for 2011 including a brand new team and the launch of a fresh look - London’s Event Showcase: Ideas and Entertainment for event people.

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R

S Jodie Richmond, CEO of Exhibition & Trade Fairs (UK)

UPCOMING EVENT: RSVP 2011

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS

Ltd, owners of the RSVP global show brand said,

“The refreshed RSVP event identity was developed

ENTERTAINMENT SHOWCASE

in response to the evolution of the Events Industry

Meet some of the UK’s best performers, entertainers and the event world’s

itself over recent years – the industry is sophisticated,

most unique characters and see how they can add that extra exciting

professional, global, diverse and discerning and we felt

dimension to your event.

the old identity wasn’t really reflecting that.”

VENUE SHOWCASE

“Through extensive focus groups following the 2010 shows we’ve clearly identified that whilst the RSVP name has a lot of history and brand equity,

the diverse visitor audience is seeking inspiration for their events and

better ways to entertain their important guests. The new identity clearly explains what visitors and exhibitors can expect to gain from being part of London’s Event Showcase, RSVP 2011.” continued Jodie.

Visit the Venue Showcase to source and experience some of the most unique and special venues in the UK - venues, bars, clubs, hotels, blank

canvas spaces. Be inspired and talk to the venue teams about how they can help you create that next amazing event.

TASTE SHOWCASE

Tantalise your taste buds and sample some of the UK’s top restaurants,

bistros, bars and catering companies’ most innovative cuisine -canapé

The new brand is coupled with a complete re-development of the Show

style and funky cocktail mixology. The Taste Showcase is your chance to

website and loads of exciting plans to build on last year’s features. New

meet the chefs, cocktail waiters, venue managers to discuss menu options

RSVP Show Manager, John Sanders said “ RSVP aims to be more than

and current food & drink fashions.

just event tradeshow, it’s an event experience. This year we have gone

back to the drawing board to identify exactly what our visitors are looking

PRODUCT SHOWCASE

for and to try and deliver this comprehensively across the Showcase;

View all the latest products and services from some of the UK’s top event

Venues, Entertainment, Food & Drink and most importantly, Inspiration.”

John concluded, “We also understand that budget and time are always

major factor when attending an event such as this. We have therefore made all seminar sessions free of charge and zoned the show floor into key industry categories to enable easy planning of your RSVP experience.”

suppliers and themeing companies that will help transform your event -

this area will thrill, allure and inspire and is sure to get your creative juices bursting over the top!

THE PERFORMANCE STAGE

Come and watch 45 of the best acts in UK entertainment first-hand and

capture your imagination for what is possible at your event. Party bands,

RSVP will draw on the creative talents of the UK’s leading event suppliers

variety acts, vocalists, classical musicians, magicians and more.

to present an exciting sensory experience for visitors.It will inspire guests

View performance programme at: http://www.rsvpevent.co.uk/visitors/

by showcasing fantastic event suppliers, new ideas and provide a rare

performance-stage/

chance to see, hear and taste the latest industry trends and experience the most exciting entertainment.There are a series of fantastic zones of activity

IDEAS SHOWCASE

to experience from the Venue Showcase, where visitors can experience a

The place to stop off if you are in search of some inspiration and exclusive

number of London’s top bar, hotel and blank canvas venues first hand, to the Performance Stage where they can watch all the latest top acts available for their event. (Full list of zones in Editor’s notes)

New show partners toptable.com will also be giving away 200 dining

new content to lift your next event off the ground. This quirky area will provide the most original ideas and unique event solutions that you could need.

EVENT MASTER CLASS

RSVP London offers an educational and inspirational series of discussions

points to the first 3,000 people that register, as well as ladyblonde.com

led by industry experts covering the very latest topics and issues in

giving away a copy of their Essential Party Guide to all those who attend.

events.

For full information or to register and book free seminars

View seminars at: http://www.rsvpevent.co.uk/event-

visit www.rsvpevent.co.uk

master-class/seminars/

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VP UPCOMING EVENT: RSVP 2011

RSVPA

THE EUMA HOSTED EVENT

A dedicated feature in the show giving PAs, EAs and Office Managers the

Wednesday 20th April 10.45am

opportunity to meet new suppliers, network with industry peers and visit

first-class seminars lead by event experts, aimed to inform, educate and

THE POWDER ROOM - PRESENTED BY THE POWDERPUFF GIRLS

entertain.

Visit The Powder Room at RSVP to be transported into a haven of glamour

and beauty. The 1950’s style parlour is the perfect place to take a break

View

seminar

programme

at:

http://www.rsvpevent.co.uk/rsvpa/

seminars/

from the show and relax whilst being expertly pampered by The Powderpuff

Girls. Their team of beauty professionals will pamper and preen with complimentary beauty treatments - makeup, hairstyling and manicures.

RSVP SHOWCASE BAR

The RSVP Powder Room will give you a taste of what The Powderpuff

The beating social heart of the event! The perfect meeting point to relax

Girls offer at their salon in London, a unique venue for corporate events

with a cocktail or glass of fizz and discuss your findings with friends &

and private parties.

colleagues or network with new event contacts. RSVPA feature partners The PA Club and European Management Assistants (EUMA) will be

THE ENERGY POD - PRESENTED BY INSPIRIT LONDON

hosting two networking events at the Showcase bar and invite current

Running out of steam? Enter the Energy Pod to be transformed and

members and new friends to join them for refreshments.

revitalised by Inspirit’s energy boosting massage treatments. In only 10 minutes, the team at Inspirit will soothe your muscles, relieve your tension,

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THE PA CLUB HOSTED EVENT

drive away your stresses and leave you invigorated for the day’s activities.

Tuesday 19th April at 16.45pm

Collect your energy top up at the Energy Pod.

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UPCOMING EVENT: RSVP 2011

P Rsvp 2011 Seminar Programme

TUESDAY 19TH APRIL

EVENT MASTER CLASS STREAM 11.00am - 11.45am: 13.00pm - 13.45pm:

The ISES Forum

15.00pm - 15.45pm:

Making your event A-List – How valuable are celebrities?

Mad, Bad and Dangerous to :Know - pushing the

17.00pm - 17.45pm:

boundaries of creativity for events.

2012 – a time for celebration?

RSVPA STREAM

10.00am – 10.45am: 12.00pm-12.45pm: 14.00pm-14.45pm: 16.00pm – 16.45pm:

First class events on your boss’s budget.

The Ultimate Restaurant Review Attention to detail - finishing touches & how they make difference to your event Networking 101 -How to work the room (& the inbox)

WEDNESDAY 20TH APRIL

EVENT MASTER CLASS STREAM 11.00am-11.45am: 13.00pm-13.45pm: 15.00pm-15.45pm: 17.00pm-17.45pm:

Food – the tastes, the trends, the changing styles.

East End Cool or West End Glamour? - where’s hot in 2011?

Featuring Prestige ‘ Wesley Mendy Events & Brands – the perfect match?

Harnessing the Power of Entertainment

RSVPA STREAM

10.00am-10.45am: 12.00pm-12.45pm: 14.00pm-14.45pm: 16.00pm-16.45pm

The Definitive PA Guide to running events Events can be stressful! Breathe…and relax…

PA should stand for “Particularly Ambitious” Parties - Private, corporate or weddings, are they any different?

RSVP 2011 IS ORGANISED BY:

Single Market Events Ltd – 9 Manchester Square, London, W1U 3PL: 020 7886 3112 Exhibition & Trade Fairs - 68-72 Lilyfield Rd, Rozelle, NSW, Australia, 2039

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PRINCESS OF CATERING

The Princess of Catering Speaks

Emily Gillan from Purple Grape Catering on her inspiration, likes and loathes of the event and catering industry: Inspiration: True creativity in general inspires me. It might be something really simple and low cost to produce but it still stands out from the crowd... that’s what I find really inspiring. Creativity in events doesn’t have to be expensive and that is exactly what we are trying to get across at Purple Grape! I’m also a great believer of thinking outside the box and finding quirky things in random places. I truly love the challenge of being given a theme or brief and creating some great concepts for our client be it a glamorous dinner, themed food stations or a summer canape party.

Trends: At the moment im really excited about the resurgence of good old British food. Essentially British food cooked well is delicious, and it is a great thing to see it coming back into fashion. Even more of a positive is that it gives coverage to, and raises the profile of, British suppliers. At Purple Grape we are relishing the opportunity to experiment and discover ways of finessing British Classics!

I don’t love: Believe it or not even after you read the next comment I personally hate early morning events.... The thought of getting up before the birds are singing never inspires me! I’ve simply never been a morning person... Give me a late night event anyday.

The last memorable event: A memorable event for February for us and actually the smallest - was an intimate breakfast reception for a leading coffee brand. We wanted to create an event which reflected the brands image and also inspire conversation and capture the invited guests before attending. We therefore developed a sit down breakfast menu rather than the normal walked around breakfast style reception. Guests before the day were given their choice between three dishes from an elegant “builders breakfast tower” through to Scottish smoked salmon with scrambled eggs and truffle. The result was a fantastic event which incentivised guests to stay for the entire morning.

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SUPPLIER FOCUS: EFX cricket’s superstar Sachin Tendulkar stole the show, picking up both the Outstanding Achievement in Sport award and the much coveted Lebara

COOL enough for

the COOL

Venues

Awards too.

People’s Choice award.

For sheer bravery and excitement the 2010 FIM British Speedway Grand Prix took the breath away. The special 10th anniversary event was held at Millennium Stadium in Cardiff and winner Chris Holder, from Australia, was presented with the largest aluminium award EFX has ever made, at 488mm tall and 450mm wide and 96mm deep, and weighing 10 kgs.

And finally, the Glamour Woman of the Year 2010 awards has to be on the most “cool” list of events. The Nation’s Favourite, Cheryl Cole, was presented with the top award, shimmering in a Julien MacDonald number she was wearing. Run by Glamour Magazine the event certainly lived up to its name, with the celebrity prize-winning line-up including Billie Piper and Lily Allen, and Aaron Johnson, who was voted Man of the Year.

Creating unique awards everyday of the week for such a broad span of industry sectors , certainly is the coolest job around!

•

For further information contact Special EFX Tel: 01789 450005

Special EFX reflects on some of the ‘cool’ events it has designed and made glamorous awards for this last year

E: sales@efx.co.uk www.awardefx.co.uk All press enquiries to: Fay Handley Dixon Handley Marketing T: 01926 885511

One of the perks of making awards and trophies for some of the high profile events of the calendar is that Special EFX knows who wins, in advance, as most of the names are individually engraved on the winners’ awards, in preparation for the awards’ ceremonies. Of course, all such information is strictly confidential, but it is fun to read the speculation in the press beforehand.

However the winners of British Comedy Awards, which took place in January at indigO2 and was watched by millions on TV were a closely guarded secret even the trophy makers EFX did not know the winners as they were to be engraved after the event! Miranda Hart was certainly not predicted to pick up a hat trick of accolades. The Team at EFX were thrilled to see three of their stunning brushed and pierced aluminium and acrylic awards, including the most coveted one of all: the People’s Choice Queen of Comedy Award going to such an emerging Comedienne.. Now that’s cool!

The first ever Asian Awards took place in October. Presented by Lord Sebastian Coe and attended by illustrious names including Nasser Hussain OBE, Gurinder Chadha and Christian Louboutin. Special EFX designed and made the solid aluminium, pierced logo awards, and 86

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fay@dixonhandleymarketing.co.uk

CORPORATE GIFTS

“IN BUSINESS, NOTHING IS MORE URGENT THAN THE NEED TO SAY THANK YOU” - Montblanc Corporate Gifts 2011

Giving has always been an act of great cultural

Montblanc has been known for generations as a maker of sophisticated,

significance. The Statue of Liberty was a gift from

high-quality writing instruments, and during the past ten years the

France to the United States, the Obelisk was a gift

collections have expanded to include exquisite lifestyle accessories,

from the Egyptian King Mehemet Ali to France and

luxury leather goods, jewellery, eyewear and watches. Montblanc

the Pantheon in Rome was a gift from Emperor Phokas

has thus become a purveyor of exclusive products which reflect the

to Pope Bonifaz III. This signifies the importance in gift

exacting demands made today for quality design, tradition and master

giving, of recognising strategic relationships.

craftsmanship.

A precious gift is one of the paramount ways to encourage and promote the success and creativity of your employees or to acknowledge the

Montblanc’s products and wide range of corporate services can help

loyalty of your business partners, to underline the value of a business

you motivate employees, honour achievements and recognise business

relationship, as a lasting gesture to recognise achievements, to mark

relationships. Be it a conference, an anniversary, a celebration of success,

anniversaries or as a simple thank you. A business gift that exudes style,

a long service award or a special thank you, you can rely on Montblanc’s

elegance and aspiration is the ultimate expression of personal worth,

expertise and knowledge to assist you. As a finishing touch, it can be tied

and in showing your appreciation a precious gift will be treasured by the

together with an exclusive personalisation and bespoke luxury packaging

recipient for years to come.

service. Choosing such a luxury gift for your corporate gift needs will demonstrate discerning taste and create lasting values, whilst also

‘In business, nothing is more urgent than the need to say thank you’,

representing the prestigious image of your own company.

and we do believe that this message is so important in todays business environment. Gifts praise and motivate, they recognise and reward, and

Matthew Fear

in a fast paced world where time doesn’t allow for some of the more

UK Corporate Sales Manager

•

important things, at Montblanc we can create these values by tailoring corporate packages to fulfil all your company’s requirements for gift

Contact:

giving.

W: +44 (0)20 8332 4571 M.: +44 (0)7736 060 028

For over 100 years, Montblanc has been manufacturing gifts of superlative

E: matthew.fear@montblanc.co.uk

craftsmanship and exquisite style, creating the most memorable gifts.

W: www.montblanccorporategift.co.uk PrestigeEventsGuide.com

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EVENT STAFFING - BRIGHTSPARKS

BRIGHTSPARKS RECRUITMENT At Brightsparks Recruitment our Event Staffing Team specialises in supplying the highest quality of front of house staff to a wide range of events. We employ a fantastic team of bright, presentable, personable and experienced staff.

We combine our close working relationship with thousands of the best students and graduates with our strong presence across university campuses, to drive our unique Graduate Recruitment & Young Professionals offering.

occasion or venue. The event staffing team aren’t content simply to deliver on what clients require, but are only happy when these expectations are exceeded by the passion, dedication and reliability of our staff.

The quality, consistency, performance and personality or our teams are what ensures Brightsparks are the staff who are remembered and re-booked. That’s not all, we are more than an event staffing solutions: due to the relationships the team have built through their personalised approach t, not only do staff recommend that their friends and families become Brightsparks, but they have also approached us to help them take their first steps into careers in the professional environment. Clients

Combine this with our close understanding of our clients, plus our

recognise that our staff have gained invaluable skills whilst being a part

experience in events, which enables us to deliver the unparalleled service

of our team during their time at university, and are looking upon this

of bespoke Event Management and Hospitality Packages using our

favourably when considering candidates for graduate roles. The fact that

integrated approach.

our staff have, in some cases, worked alongside us throughout their entire student experience gives us an even greater advantage when it comes to

The reputations of our permanent and temporary staff have afforded us

recommending and placing them within graduate roles.

the privilege of working at some of the UK’s most prestigious events. From the opening of bars made of ice, to private dinners for the stars, our teams are on hand to make sure that the events run smoothly, whatever the 88

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We combine Cool staff with Cool events at cool venues, with a cool assured approach.

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SUPPLIER FOCUS: EVENT EVENTSTAFFING STAFFING:- BRIGHTSPARKS

www.brightsparksuk.com

+44 (0)20 7469 2690 PrestigeEventsGuide.com

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COOL TEAMBUILDING

Why is Extreme

Teambuilding Cool?

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COOL TEAMBUILDING

WHY IS IT COOL?

“As a team we have had an amazing experience to draw on. In completing

‘Big Buzzz’ is how Ronan Keating described the feeling of climbing

and can pull together in our efforts at work as well as in an intense test of

Kilimanjaro with his Comic Team, where as Nicole Ansell (now of

endurance somewhere as harsh as the Brazilian rainforest.’’

this event we have proved that we can cope in the most extreme conditions

ThisWorks) said ‘ the sense of achievement was out of this world’ after a Coasteering day on the Dorset Coast, and continued, ‘If we can do that as

When Neil Armstrong walked on the Moon he uttered those famous

a team, we can do anything’.

words, apparently written by his wife, ‘One small for man, one giant leap for mankind’. Extreme teambuilding does not have to be out of this world,

There is no doubt that extreme teambuilding offer clients a huge

but your experience and the result might be.

opportunity to step out of their comfort zone and to experience sensations that much of today’s world has sanitised with virtual reality.

•

PJ Stevens www.leapplc.com

Remember Billy Elliott, from the film of the same name, talking about

Leap delivers motivational teambuilding, leadership

dancing? ‘’I feel a change in my whole body. And I’ve got this fire in my

and people development programmes.

body. I’m just there. Flyin’ like a bird. Like electricity. Yeah, like electricity.’’

Perhaps that what extreme teambuilding can give clients; that feeling of achievement, ownership and being alive. It is human nature to want to act, not be acted upon, and stepping up to a new challenge gives us this Big Buzz of Electricity in our bodies.

WOWWWW FACTOR I believe people are incredible and create the wow factor themselves. Forty years ago man went to the Moon, which is about as Extreme Teambuilding as you can get! Thankfully we can stay closer to home to get our buzz, as Antony Avery of Sergi C, who took his team on a Mud Run event in the Midlands, explains ‘’We loved the whole experience because it gave us ample opportunity to work together to complete obstacles and motivate each other at different points. The variety of obstacles meant some people were better at things than others so it balanced out overall....my boss trying to pull me down a muddy slope being the highlight!’’

One of greatest wow factors in extreme teambuilding is the opportunity to see people in a different situation, to change the stereotypical views we might have and enjoy a new shared experience. ‘’Clients seem to want to get away from everyday normal life, and sitting round a camp fire that they have built outside Mongolian Gers (yurts) on the edge of the Malvern Hills talking and cooking together gives them a greater sense of having a three dimensional experience’’, explains Kes Wilkinson of D3 Active.

OUTCOMES Schroders Private Bank in Guernsey raised more than £155,000 for charities when they took part in a notoriously extreme sporting event, the Amazon Jungle Marathon in Brazil. The team of five who all finished the challenge were led by Julian Winser CEO, who said of the achievement: PrestigeEventsGuide.com

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20 THINGS YOU MUST EXPERIENCE

20 THINGS YOU MUST EXPERIENCE 1. Sunset dining at The Gherkin www.searcys.co.uk/40-30-the-gherkin

2. Stop staring! London Duck Tours www.londonducktours.co.uk 3. Friday night at The May Fair Bar www.themayfairhotel.co.uk/bar 4. Taking your staff to Alton Towers www.altontowers.com

5. Who da chef? Corrigans cookery classes www.corrigansmayfair.com/classes 6. Driving a Lamborghini www.lamborghiniacademy.com 7. Your client’s face. www.montblanccorporategift.co.uk 8. Good enough for the BRITS. You too? www.greathire.co.uk

9. Indoor snow www.snozoneuk.com 10. Super COOL blues and jazz www.ronniescotts.co.uk 11. Got your country pursuits gear? www.adayinthecountry.co.uk

12. Proud2 at The O2 www.proud2.com 13. London Zoo at night www.zsl.org

14. Whales? Dolphins? Seals? Diving? www.regal-diving.co.uk 15. Opulence? Indulgence? Satisfaction? Yes, yes, YES! www.silverfleet.co.uk/events/private/veuveclicquotcruise/

16. Ringside? Haye vs Klitschko? www.hayemaker.com 17. Amazing views of the River Thames www.altitudelondon.com

18. Footsteps of Genghis Khan? www.silkroadexperiences.org 19. Believe in ghosts? www.delfontmackintosh.co.uk/Groups/Ghosts.php 20. West-End film premiere after-parties www.corporateeventsmanagement.com PrestigeEventsGuide.com

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USEFUL WEBSITES

USEFUL WEBSITES FOOD AND DRINK

Chocolate and Cake Specialists

Creative Event Management

www.chocolatestore.com

www.leapplc.com

Caterers and Party Food

www.theoriginalchocolatefountain.com

www.penguins.co.uk

www.crownsociety.co.uk

www.jane-asher.co.uk

www.applespiceevents.co.uk www.partridgeevents.co.uk

www.dishcatering.co.uk www.canapeum.com www.zafferano.co.uk www.officediner.co.uk

FLOWERS

www.hatstandcircus.co.uk

www.designerflowersuk.com

www.poissonrouge.co.uk www.bestpartiesever.com

www.anisecatering.com www.limefooddesign.co.uk www.purplegrapecatering.co.uk

www.rockevents.co.uk

TRANSPORT Air

www.oxygen-events.com www.magicmanagement.com

General Food Retailers

www.oceansky.com

Incentive Gifts

www.caleyco.com

www.expendientjet.com

www.montblanccorprorategift.co.uk

Limousines

Venue Finders

www.ultimatelimousines.co.uk

www.jpeventsltd.com

www.limousines.com

www.conferences-uk.org.uk

www.bleikers.co.uk

Coach

Event Speakers

www.blackface.co.uk

www.redwing-coaches.co.uk

www.londonspeakerbureau.com

www.ultimatelimousines.co.uk

www.jla.co.uk

www.islandseafare.co.uk

Rail

Badges, Wristbands, Lanyards

www.caleyco.com

www.trainline.co.uk

www.idcband.co.uk

www.orient-express.com

www.lanyards.uk.com

www.eurostar.com

www.identilam.com

www.oddbins.com

HOSPITALITY

Security

Cheese / Dairy Specialists

Teambuilding

www.showforce.com

www.paxtonandwhitfield.co.uk

www.leapplc.com

www.colstonbassettdairy.com

www.bluehat-teambuilding.co.uk

Organics / Special Diets

www.roantree.co.uk

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www.freshfood.co.uk

www.kirkstone-events.com

108 Clydesdale Road,

www.somersetorganics.co.uk

www.jenahura.com

Hornchurch, Essex RM11 1AJ

Beverage Specialists

Outdoor

www.fortnumandmason.com

www.owen-brown.co.uk

www.regionalfoodanddrink.co.uk www.freshfood.co.uk

Meat and Charcuterie Specialists www.realmeatco.sageweb.co.uk

Fish Specialists

Wine, Champagne & Spirits www.bbr.com

www.redcarpetsecurity.com

T: ++44 (0)1708 737393

www.parnhamfunfairs.co.uk

enquiries@prestigeeventsguide.com

Hampers / Gifts

www.igloos.co.uk (luxury loos)

www.prestigeeventsguide.com

www.presentsofmind.co.uk

www.merlin-fireworks.co.uk

www.chocolatestore.com

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Deliveries / Takeaways

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www.deliverance.co.uk

www.murdermysteryevents.com

www.officediner.co.uk

www.thediamonddivas.co.uk

www.fortnumandmason.com

94

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