What's Floating Around Cloud 9? 27 October 2015

Welcome to another week and we’ve been so busy that we are a bit behind on our blogs – shocking! But never ones to miss out on news and events, we’re delighted to share some updates on the lovely new Mandarin Oriental, Marrakech which is now open for business! 'The world's best voted destination by TripAdvisor in 2015'

Some of the facilities & services include - 63 keys including 9 Suites and 54 Villas each with their own private pool, 1800sqm world-class spa with indoor pool, hammam, fitness facilities, yoga room. Unique and timeless interior design with a sense of place by celebrated French duo Gilles & Boissier.

Whilst we are on the subject of launches, the new Studio Venue is also open in Leeds.

Based in the heart of the city (just a short walk from the train station) is their 8^th floor studio with stunning panoramic views of the beautiful north.

In typical studio style, you will find all of our usual quirkiness entwined within the 7 functional meeting & event spaces. We have everything from a living moss wall as you exit the lift, magnetic walls in the meeting rooms through to a Lego wall in the refreshment area… who said conferences have to be traditional?

As always, the spaces on offer are flood with natural daylight, have all of the mod-cons needed to run a conference and will be serviced by the excellent studio operations team with the true ethos of customer first at the heart of everything they do!!

You can check out the the interactive floor plans on their website, or take a peek at their YouTube clips of how to find the venue and images of all the new spaces. http://www.studiovenues.co.uk/plans/Leeds/index.html

They also have a rather funky time lapse video of thestudio… Leeds being built https://youtu.be/nEI9Vr4wFjw If only all new venues were this quick to build!

Finally this week, we’d like to wish everyone a Happy Halloween!

What's Floating Around Cloud 9? 19 October 2015

Welcome to another week and we are delighted to announce the launch of the new Character Awards which we are managing on behalf of the lovely team at the CHS Group.

Last years inaugural CHS Awards were a resounding success so the new look Character Awards will provide even more opportunities for venues to showcase aspects or facilities of their properties.

The date has now been confirmed for our very special Awards’ Gala Dinner, being held at one of Manchester’s Landmark hotels, The Manchester Mercure Piccadilly, on Wednesday 25 May 2016.  Please do save the date as we sold out last year and want to make sure everyone can join us.

Dave Lloyd, Director of Sales, at The Piccadilly, has very generously agreed to be one of the sponsors for this special Industry Night.  Big thanks to the Piccadilly for their support.

The Character Awards are open to all hotels and venues outside of the M25.  So, lots of exposure for everyone nationally!  The Character Awards 2016 is the perfect platform for buyers, venues and sponsors to celebrate in style! www.characterawards.co.uk and #character16 will be going live next week.

Here is a sneaky peek at the categories:

1:         Best Anticipated Launch/Refurbishment
2:         Best Boardroom/Small Meeting Room
3:         Best Bedroom (Classical)
4:         Best Bedroom (Funky)
5:         Best DDR / 24 hour Rate
6:         Best External Space
7:         Best Welcome Guest Experience
8:         Best Onsite Leisure Facilities
9:         Best Unusual Event Space
10:       Best Large Conference/Exhibition Space
11:       Best UK Representation of an International Venue
12:       Best UK Representation of a UK Venue
13:       Best Green/Sustainable Venue
14:       Best Outside Catering Company
15:       Best Onsite Audio Visual
16:       Best Venue Communication
17:       Best Independent Venue
18:       Best Group Brand
19:       Best Auditorium
20:       Chairman’s Award
The finalists will be announced at the Conference and Hospitality Show on Tuesday 26 April 2016 www.conferenceandhospitalityshow.co.uk.

There are several opportunities available to sponsor a category, support or enhance the Awards, including one VIP Package for a Headline Sponsor, please call Janet Cattell -  for Sponsorship, Entry forms and Awards’ Dinner tickets - janet@cloud9em.co.uk - Contact: +44 (0) 115 933 3811

In other news this week we are also pleased to be working with the team at St Mary's in the Lace Market in Nottingham. No, we have not moved to the other side of the agent/venue fence, but with such a stunning and spectacular property we feel that being given the opportunity to oversee and market their events is a really fantastic experience.

We will be letting all of the lovely agents in the UK know about the exciting possibilities for events at St Mary's and the event space itself is really fabulous.

It's early days and we are still preparing some of the marketing materials and the website but we encourage anyone who is thinking of hosting a corporate event in Nottingham to think St Mary's.

Finally this week, don't forget to come and say hello to us at the Rushcliffe Business Partnership Showcase Event on Tuesday which is being held at the British Geological Survey in Keyworth.

Have a great week all! 

What's Floating Around Cloud 9? 13 October 2015

Welcome to another week and whoops, we missed a day. No, it's not a Bank Holiday, we've simply been a little manic as per usual here at Cloud 9 Towers with all sorts of events and client meetings!

But normal service should be resumed now that last weeks Fresh events are both over although our schedule can hardly be called quiet in the coming weeks..but we are always on the look out for new opportunities and therefore next Tuesday we're off to show off at an exhibition.

The biggest business event of the year in Rushcliffe returns to the venue of the British Geological Survey in Keyworth in 2015 and is set to see a year-on-year growth in delegates and displays. John Collins, chair of the Rushcliffe Business Partnership, said: “We have been running this annual showcase event for several years now and it continues to become more popular and more successful. Holding the event at BGS last year proved to be a great success so we will be returning there again this year. The facilities at BGS are world-class and have benefitted from a £20 million refurbishment, providing the space to allow our event to grow as we receive more and more demand."

Now in its 5th year, this un-missable event on Tuesday 20th October is expected to be attended by over 250 delegates from Rushcliffe businesses. We encourage local business people to register early to avoid disappointment. Delegates will have plenty of time for informal networking among potential new customers and suppliers and the opportunity to visit numerous display stands hosted by local and national businesses. There will also be a high quality line-up of top speakers offering insights and helpful tips into running successful businesses and encouraging business growth.

Whilst we are in exhibition mode, on the afternoon of the 20th October, Janet is off to Manchester to join the CHS team at their Independent Venue Show at the Victoria Warehouse in Manchester with around 50 great independent venues and hotels from across the UK.

 

There is also the opportunity to take part in their educational sessions and enjoy great hospitality as the event will finish with a memorable after show party where Janet will experience the famous CHS hospitality first hand. Victoria Warehouse is an iconic industrial warehouse which is an exciting venue to relax and network with peers and hoteliers to strengthen existing relationships and build new ones. She will no doubt grab a drink and chill out to the funky hispanic vibe whilst enjoying the authentic Mexican street food which will be cooked in an open kitchen for all to see! 

Then Paula is off to Portugal with the Sana Hotel Group team for an education visit taking in both Lisbon and the Algarve..but more of that to come later! 

Lastly this week, we'd like to encourage all of our readers to vote for Nottingham in Englands Home of Sport Campaign. 

Historic cricket ground Trent Bridge was recently the site of our glorious Ashes win, while the Aegon Open returned to the city this summer for the first time since 2008. Robin Hood fans can go back to Nottingham’s heritage, and play Archery at Sherwood Forest or take the ultimate fitness test in the Outlaw Triathlon, a gruelling Ironman-distance course. Having received more nominations than any other English destination, Nottingham is a worthy finalist in VisitEngland’s Home of Sport.

Have a great week! 

What's Floating Around Cloud 9? 5 October 2015

Welcome to another week and its still all go here at Cloud 9 Towers, and we're off to Manchester at the back end of the week for both the Fresh PR & Fresh Creative Awards at the Piccadilly Hotel.

Whilst we are on the subject of Manchester, it looks like there will be another 622 hotel rooms to add to the mix as there are five new hotels planned for the City. 

We've already seen Hotel Gotham, Hotel Football and the new Melia Hotel open as part of the huge First Street Development, all this year and yet there are more to come!

First up is The Trafford City Hotel which will be a 203-room hotel covering a 1.75-acre site opposite Trafford Centre's EventCity. Work on the hotel is anticipated to start early next year prior to the planned Metrolink extension to the Trafford Centre set for 2018/19.

Budget airline easyJet have announced plans to convert a Grade II listed building in the Northern Quarter into a six story 116 room budget easyHotel. They already have easyHotels in London, Edinburgh and Glasgow (plus lots of International ones) and Manchester is next. 

Work on Bradley House which is know locally as The Flatiron Building and sits on the corner of Dale Street and Newton Street is due to start next Summer.

Travelodge has plans for two additional hotels in South Manchester. One with 86 rooms in Stockport on Heaton Lane and one in Sale on Cross Street, with 67 rooms and work on both should be up and running before the end of the year, with plans to open late in 2016.

Travelodge already have 16 hotels throughout Greater Manchester and long term they have plans to look at further seven new sites to increase their portfolio. Potential sites include two in in Manchester central, plus locations in Cheadle, Oldham, Rochdale, Wigan and Worsley.

Last but by no means least, Hilton are starting work on a new 150-room, four-star hotel at Emirates Old Trafford. The existing 68 room lodge is being replaced and the new hotel will feature a bar, cafe, ticket office, glazed bridge link to the pavilion and balconies overlooking the cricket pitch. Now news yet on an opening date, but exciting times ahead in the City all round!

We are also aware that there are other plans afoot, throughout Manchester and the Thistle on Portland Street is being rebranded as a Mercure, plans have been submitted for a new

350-room hotel planned for the 24-acre Mayfield Quarter development at Manchester Piccadilly and there are also plans for a 'major five-star hotel by Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville.

Additionally Allied London are looking at the potential for two or three new hotels in Manchester, Crown Plaza with a new 210 room hotel and the Staybridge Suites with 116 Rooms both on Oxford Road to be near the Manchester campus redevelopment. There are also plans in place for a new four-star hotel within Urban & Civic's £75m Gay Village development, with plans for another 200-bed hotel for a scheme at the Marriott Rennaisance hotel on Deansgate.

There might already be 11,000 hotel rooms in Manchester with around 7000 of these in the City Centre, but you can guarantee when you want a room you might struggle, such is the popularity of Manchester as a destination for both business and leisure. Good job we're around to help you make an informed choice!

Have a great week!