What's Floating Around Cloud 9? 27 March 2017

Welcome to another week and we're going slightly off topic this week. This coming Saturday is April Fool's Day and whilst we love a good joke here at Cloud 9 Towers, we are normally a little too busy to create anything too imaginative on this day of high foolery.

So instead, we thought we would take a look at back at some of the best corporate pranks that have been staged and delivered starting with one that only those of a certain age will remember and whatever your age, we hope you enjoy!

In 1957, the BBC announced that thanks to a very mild winter and the virtual elimination of the dreaded spaghetti weevil, Swiss farmers were enjoying a bumper crop of spaghetti.  They also showed footage of Swiss peasants pulling strands of spaghetti down from trees.  Large numbers of viewers were fooled.  When many called the company wanting to know how they could grow their own spaghetti tree, BBC supposedly replied, "place a piece of spaghetti in a tin of tomato sauce and hope for the best."

Not quite up to the same standards but in 1965 the Beeb were back with an interview with a professor who supposedly developed an amazing new technology, called "Smell-o-vision", that allowed the transmission of smells over the airwaves.  Viewers would now be able to smell aromas produced in the television studio in their own homes because the machine broke scents down into their component molecules which were then transmitted through the screen.  He then demonstrated the technology by placing some coffee beans and onions into the Smell-o-vision machine.  He asked viewers to report whether they had smelled anything.  As would be expected, several viewers called in from across the country to confirm that they had distinctly experienced these scents.  Some even claimed that the onions made their eyes water.

 

But perhaps their best stunt was in 1980 when they reported that the iconic Big Ben, was going to be upgraded to be given a digital readout.  The report included people's nostalgic reminiscences about the world's most famous clock, such as anecdotes about the day it stopped and when it chimed 13 times instead of 12.  Finally, the service announced that the clock hands, being no longer needed, would be given away to the first four listeners to contact them. You can imagine the rest! 

When it comes to hotels and travel, there have also been some imaginative pranks including LastMinute.com who in 2012 opened bookings for a new Top Secret, art deco-style hotel, which had “direct Thames access” and “was so hush-hush, guests wishing to stay in its rooms are required to sign the Official Secrets Act prior to check-in.” We didn't hear what the people at MI5 thought about this or how many guests tried to book!

The 'world's first flying hotel' was 'revealed' on Metro leaving readers baffled over their cornflakes. Heralding its arrival, the newspaper wrote: 'Sky-high prices will be the norm at the world's first flying hotel. 'The 18 rooms in the 'hotelicopter' feature sound-proofing and whirlpool baths and are reserved for 'adrenaline junkies seeking a truly unique experience'.' Expert Alvin Farley was said to have spent half a decade converting a Russian 137m (450ft) Mil V-12!

Boutique hotel specialist Mr & Mrs Smith announced that they were teaming up with London Mayor Boris Johnson to launch 'boutique bendy-bus boltholes'. Their website stated: 'Boris had the brilliant idea of inviting a number of top entrepreneurs to pitch on what to do with the notorious articulated buses that will no longer stay in London. 'Gordon Ramsay wanted to transform them into a chain of gastrobuses; Xfm wanted to create intimate movable music venues along the lines of Australia’s party buses; but we’re proud to announce that it was boutique travel specialists Mr & Mrs Smith’s winning idea of turning them into boutique bendy-bus boltholes that won the day.' The five-star vehicular 'hotels' were to allow guests to choose what 'country' they wanted to wake up in a world-themed tourist complex and included a 24-hour private butler decked out as a conductor.

So our advice is this, don't believe everything you read and or see and take a liberal pinch of salt with you before engaging!

Have a great week and Happy April Fools Day for Saturday!

What's Floating Around Cloud 9? 20 March 2017

Welcome to another week and we're gearing up for "All About People" with the great team at DBF Events this coming weekend in Malta. After Grand Hotel Huis ter Duin in 2015 and Barcelo Asia Gardens in 2016 , Malta is the destination for this year - and we are excited!

This is an annual forum which brings together agencies and suppliers and with a combination of one to one meetings and destination presentations the event is a great balance of education and fun.

One of Malta's top 5-star hotels located in the heart of downtown St Julian's and right on the water's edge, from where one can directly access the Mediterranean sea from one of two private beaches, and with  over 74,000 square metres of space, The Westin Dragonara Resort is the host venue for the event.

Having never experienced Malta before, Paula and Fiona are attending and are keen to discover what the Island holds for our clients. 

With less than a three hour flight and having great infrastructure, the Maltese Islands offer endless possibilities in just 316 square km. The weather is mild and sunny all year round, making it an ideal outdoor destination for al fresco dinners and outdoor activities. As a European Union Member, Euro is the official currency and the country is part of the Schengen area, making this Mediterranean destination easy and fast to get to. 

There are 15 five star hotels on the Maltese Islands together having 3500 rooms accommodating up to 7210 beds. 12 of these properties are identified as Conference hotels including one of the properties on the Island of Gozo. Five star hotels in the Maltese Islands are all required to offer certain facilities and services such as a desk with working area in the room, a bar open 7 days a week, 24-hour food and drink via room service, ironing service within the hour, shuttle or limousine service and indoor and outdoor pools. Conference hotels go an extra mile to offer the comfort of having meeting facilities right in the same building, saving delegates time and costs of travelling.

Four star hotels are no less satisfying then five star hotels.  For such a competitive price, four star hotels have so much to offer for your guests to indulge in excellence.  There are 44 four star hotels around Malta and Gozo, accommodating up to 16,253 beds.

Whatever the type or theme of event, there’s a venue in the Maltese Islands that will tick your boxes.  Whether in Malta or Gozo, indoors or al fresco, small or large scale, modern or aged, it can happen here. 

Perhaps the biggest advantage of the Maltese Islands is their size. No venue is far away, even if it is on the other side of the Island it can be reached within an hour or less. This offers program flexibility and good value for money since transfer times or transport costs are kept at a minimum. 

Most hotels have meeting and event spaces that can be transformed for that special Gala dinner or stand up reception. The coastal setting of most of the conference hotels opens up a wide range of possibilities. Replace a coach transfer with a thrilling speedboat ride arriving directly on a sandy beach where guests are treated to freshly prepared cocktails. Then continue the maritime theme with champagne lunch on board a Turkish gullet as you cruise along the coast of the Maltese Islands.

If you are looking for a venue or location which is off-site from the hotel grounds, there are many options to consider. Beautiful historical venues which are scattered around the Islands create the most special backdrop to an event, give unrivalled mystical elegance and tell a story of bygone centuries. Modern, purpose-built venues cannot be overlooked either. With their features of high tech, adaptable space, and special lighting, nothing is impossible.

The narrow meandering streets of Malta's ancient towns and villages are crowded with Renaissance churches and Baroque palaces. The landscape is dominated by the medieval walled city of Mdina, the historic three cities of Senglea, Cospicua and Vittoriosa lining one flank of the Grand Harbour looking out at the majestic 16th century capital Valletta. The countryside is dotted with the oldest known structures in the world, making Malta a veritable open-air museum. Village squares, churches, palaces, museums, and a variety of Government owned spaces and gardens can all be made exclusively available for special events on request.  

The capital city Valletta offers numerous locations and jaw-dropping backdrops for the most spectacular of events. Its magnificent palazzos and elegant squares will elevate a simple dinner into a dramatic experience set right at the heart of Malta’s rich history. On a balmy evening the gardens at Upper Barrakka on the city’s bastions are the perfect setting for a scintillating dinner al fresco with views of the Grand Harbour. The expansive 275m long promenade on Valletta’s Waterfront, an 18th century trading hub, can be adapted for any event of any size. Close by you can opt for an event at Fort St. Elmo or transfer to the opposite side of the coast to Fort St. Angelo in Birgu. 

Gozo is not short of outstanding scenery and one of the most spectacular natural locations is the Azure Window. Hewn by the raging sea, it offers a unique and magnificent backdrop to an unforgettable luncheon on the rocks for delegates. The Citadel or Ċittadella has recently been restored and is another alternative to consider.

With over 300 days of sunshine and mild winter weather, outdoor locations in the Maltese Islands are vast. One can choose from gardens to scenic viewpoints, historical forts, beaches, terraces to old buildings full of character. Sandy beaches and rocky shores give the event a unique island feel while the coastal locations of most of the conference hotels open up a wide range of possibilities.

We look forward to sharing a whole new range of opportunities for clients on our return and in the meantime, have a great week! 

What's Floating Around Cloud 9? 13 March 2017

Welcome to another week and we're fresh from a great night at the newly refurbished Nottingham Derby Novotel at the weekend, who had  a casino night and black tie gala dinner to mark the occasion. 

A good time was had by all but sadly we don't have any winnings to brag about so work continues this week at Cloud 9 Towers!

On the subject of a good time, no one knows how to party better than the Irish and of course, this Friday sees the arrival of St Patrick's Day so no doubt every bar from Dublin to Derry will be packed to the rafters.

Here at Cloud 9 we are also getting in on the act and attending a St Patrick's Celebration on Thursday evening at the King Street Townhouse in Manchester along with Moulden Marketing who have organised the event.

The evening will be hosted by nine of Irish partners; a mix of Hoteliers, Venues and Regional Convention Bureau and starts with Irish themed cocktails, presentations and then a three course meal topped off with Irish Coffee!

We are using this trip to Manchester as an excuse also to introduce Fiona, one of our Ambassador's to the region as its one we use for many events and its not a part of the UK that she is familiar with. So the Melia, the Mercure Piccadilly and Alderley Park are all on our radar.

Manchester is certainly keeping up its end as the Northern Powerhouse, and when it comes to looking at future trends with regards to hotels and guest attitudes to both in terms of business and leisure travel, the North West always offers a good benchmark.

Business travel in the region has seen significant growth and more and more guests want to try and create a home away from home feeling, with the opportunity enjoy the benefits of the service and facilities provided by hotels, but also the flexibility to cater for themselves.

With an increase in International Flights to Manchester Airport the North West Hub and weak pound has also driven a hike in international visitors, both for business and leisure so occupancy rates in Manchester are enjoying a high.

With increased occupancy rates and growth in the number of companies choosing to stay in the UK for their annual events, many hotels and venues face the challenge of maintaining and improving their service levels to meet and exceed demand.

Additionally,  health and well being has increased as a priority for many guests and delegates in recent years, so healthy menu options and wellness-focused environments are increasingly important.

Manchester has always been a bustling and innovative city and some of the new hotels set to open offer increased choice for guests and delegates alike and we're looking forward to seeing just is what next for the region so watch this space!

Have a great week!

What's Floating Around Cloud 9? 6 March 2017

Welcome to another week and did you know that it's the start of British Pie Week today?

Yummy!

We love a good pie and mash here at Cloud 9 Towers and at many of our awards events these days we actively encourage our clients to ditch the start, invest in a stodgy main course and pud and then have bacon butties after the ceremony.

There are several reasons for this, but the main one being that although Awards food has improved over the years (think mass catering chicken!), it allows the ceremony to start a little earlier and also restricts the alcohol levels of some guests who are difficult enough to control for even the most experienced host!

It also allows you to have a chance to retain your audience after the event, which if you have added a post ceremony disco or band, can be the scourge of many an event organiser who sees their guests departing the minute they have their trophy, through the door! 

When it comes to food at events though, you do need to think about your audience and its increasingly important, especially when it comes to conferences, to keep your delegates awake and attentive so think healthy and light.

We don't subscribe to this super foods trend to be honest, but we do recognise that offering alternatives to the traditional array of sandwiches and sausage rolls is a must so just what should you be selecting for your next event? 

Here is the Cloud 9 guide to the best options for a healthy and happy event!

Drink Up! Arrival refreshments are always important but but make sure you include a range of decaf options, fruit teas and lots of water. Elaborate coffees and sugary juices and smoothies are well and good but what starts with an early high for guests, will soon have them slumped in their seats.

Give it shot with a range of colourful alcohol free shots of fruit yogurts or mini smoothies. Shots also make a great option to serve smaller versions of desserts - so your guests can enjoy the puds without the guilt. They also make a great display. 

Make mine a mini:You can still offer a really wide range of indulgent foods, but keep them all mini sized. This allows you to expand the range of options you are serving to guests and they can experience a diverse taste experience without filling up on just one thing.

Stick'em up! Serve your snacks on a stick as small items presented on sticks are quick and easy for attendees to eat, especially when they are at an event with limited seating.  They also lend themselves to attractive displays, as they can be pushed into anything from cakes and fruit or even the humble spud!

Ee By Gum: One of the nicest array of foods we have seen for a while, was a range of canapes only served in mini Yorkshire puddings. All bite sized they included sausage and mash, chicken and white wine, pork and apple and of course traditional roast beef and mustard. Delicious and simple.

All Wrapped Up. Sandwiches are easily replaced with wraps and with the amazing array of flat breads available you can create a colourful and creative display of even the most humble fillings for your lunchtime snacks.

Get fruity: If you struggled to get your children to eat fruit when they were younger you will know that creative displays are more enticing. So encouraging them to try new fruits when they are presented as animals or something fun is far easier. Adults may also indulge more if the fruit is presented creatively  so pick a couple of key fruits and start imagining!

Create a Cone: If you have any veggie or gluten free guests they can sometimes feel like outcasts so create some savoury cones using cabbage or lettuce and stuff them with some delicious fillings to make your other guests envious!

Take a Dip: From veggie sticks and humus to bananas and peanut butter, allowing guests to sample of range of dips, dressings and sauces allows you to create a taste sensation. Just make sure no one double dips!

So there you have it, have a great week and enjoy...