What's Floating Around Cloud 9? 20 April 2015

Welcome to another week and today is the first day of National Stop Snoring Week, launched by the British Snoring and Sleep Apnoea Association to draw attention and raise awareness to solving a huge problem.

We all know how annoying it is, but it's solving it is not always so simple! So what is the cause of snoring?   Well, there are more reasons than you might realise.Eating too much, drinking a lot of alcohol and allergies can all irritate and block your nasal passage and airways.  For a full list of causes and more information, you can visit the National Stop Snoring Week site.

It's the bane of many a light sleeper. The unrelenting sound of someone clearly enjoying a deep slumber but, in the process, denying others the same luxury.

 

Back in 2011, six Crowne Plaza Hotels in Britain implemented snore patrols as well as trialling "snore absorption" in 10 hotels across Europe and the Middle East. Designated quiet zones in hotels in London, Leeds and Manchester had snore monitors patrolling the corridors.

Here at Cloud 9 Towers we are not sure just how successful all of the trials were, but certainly if you want to stay at the Crowne Plaza at the NEC in Birmingham, there is still a Snore Monitor available on the Quiet Zone floor of the hotel to ensure their guests get the best night’s sleep possible.  

The sound of snoring can be worse than a nightmare if you are trying to get a decent night’s sleep. Crowne Plaza Birmingham NEC have created a way that ensures that their guests are not disturbed by the snores coming from other rooms, as a way of enhancing the fantastic Sleep Advantage programme they already offer.   

The Sleep Advantage programme combines superior comfort bedding and a guaranteed wake up call with the quiet zone, where no housekeeping or engineering works will take place between 9pm and 10am on Sundays to Thursdays and the ‘This Works’ aromatherapy kit to help clear your head and counter physical and mental fatigue. 

The job of the Snore Monitor is to check snore decibels coming from guests’ rooms. If they reach over 100* decibels then a polite knock on door is deemed necessary to inform the guest that their snores have reached such a level that they may disturb other guests.   

The Royal National Institute for Deaf people say that a normal snore creates between 50 and 100 decibels, the new Snore Monitor at Crowne Plaza will ensure snores reaching over 100 decibels are monitored to ensure guests are not disturbed.   

The Snore Monitor at Crowne Plaza Birmingham NEC Hotel said “Guest sleep satisfaction is paramount at Crowne Plaza and this new way of ensuring they get the best night’s sleep possible is fantastic. I think of my job as the next level in customer service, looking after guest’s needs whilst they sleep.” 

Trip Advisor is littered with comments from disgruntled guests who have slept in rooms all over the world and been disturbed by other guests in adjacent rooms whose snoring is excessive. But what can you do?

Well, all we can really suggest here is to maybe invest in an Anti Snoring Pillow. Lots of hotels have pillow menus these days and whilst we rarely see an Anti Snoring one, you will probably find one a decent investment. 

For example, the Hotel Collection Anti-Snore pillow. This ultimate snore-relief pillow helps to open up the airway by supporting the head and neck, therefore encouraging better breathing and reduced snoring whilst you sleep. Filled with a foam core, surrounded by soft hollow fibre, covered in smooth polycotton casing. 

And if all else fails, you can always look at sleeping somewhere really remote where you are unlikely to disturb anyone else!

Have a great and hopefully, snore free week! 

 

What's Floating Around Cloud 9? 13 April 2015

Welcome to another week at Cloud 9!

We're now halfway through April folks, Mothers Day has passed, Easter has passed and there's only 255 days until Christmas - can you believe it! Throughout April is Stress Awareness Month in the USA - time to deal with your stress, learn how to cope with stress and help make yourself feel better. 

At the official website, you can find out information about stress and ways to relieve it during Stress Awareness Month.  Dealing with stress can in itself feel stressful, but there are lots of things you can do to manage it and start feeling great!

From teenage stress to work related stress, there are lots of simple steps that can help you to overcome your problem.

Why not start a stress journal to find out how or why your stress is triggered?  Or just make some more time for fun and relaxation. As we work with some fantastic venues all over the world, we can recommend just some of the best Spa Hotels, where you can relax and defeat the stress within you...

Aman Resorts, Thailand

Since the opening of Amanpuri on Thailand’s tropical island of Phuket in 1988, Aman Resorts has integrated treatment facilities and full service spas into the development of its resorts. Linking discovery of some of the world’s most interesting cultural and natural environments to the health and well-being of its guests has always been a cornerstone of Amanresorts’ approach.  Adjacent to Amanpuri, Aman’s first full-service spa, The Aman Spa, opened in 2001.

Aman is the Sanskrit-derived word for “peace” and Amanresorts strives through its services and facilities to fulfil that promise, offering in boutique resorts a guest experience that is both intimate and discreet. Each Aman resort and destination highlights distinctive local well-being practises. Spa facilities for therapeutic massage, body wraps, scrubs, baths and beauty treatments provide ample opportunity to relax after various expeditions or sporting activities, or to revitalise the mind, body and spirit.

The Scarlet, Cornwall

With its luxury tented treatment rooms lit by lanterns and its far-reaching views over Mawgan Porth Beach to the wild Atlantic beyond, the Scarlet Spa is essentially a quiet, contemplative, almost spiritual place.

Their spa is a little different to others you might have visited. Their focus is your holistic

well being and the nourishment of your mind, body and soul. They do this by drawing on the wisdom of Ayurveda and adding their own, distinctive Cornish twist.

You might want to slather yourself in rich mineral mud in their rhassoul, experience a traditional bathing ritual in the hammam, or try your hand at massage guided by one of their therapists. Outside, a cliff top hot tub invites you to stargaze or storm watch, and their natural chemical-free pool, cleaned by reeds, beckons you into the water.

Their stunning Relaxation Room has cocoon-like pods swinging from the ceiling where you can drift away following your treatment and really absorb its benefits.

Eco has never felt so good.

Sugar Beach, Viceroy Resort, St Lucia

Cradled in the embrace of St Lucia’s World Heritage-listed Pitons, it is hard to imagine a location more conducive to relaxation and rejuvenation than the Rain forest Spa at Sugar Beach, A Viceroy Resort.

Widely regarded as the island’s spiritual heart, the lush foliage and soaring mountain vistas of Val des Pitons provide the perfect backdrop for St. Lucia spas. Guests wishing to unwind can experience a period of re-creation in its truest sense - a time for reflection, renewal and a break from the everyday stresses of life.

The Bulgaria Spa, London

Regarded by many as the crowning achievement of the hotel, the Bulgari Spa has curated

a selection of the most advanced beauty, grooming and health-enhancing treatments available today, offering the flexibility of one off specialist treatments to long term life-improvement programmes uniquely tailored to the needs of the individual. 

The Spa and fitness centre at the Bulgari offers a unique universe of wellness five storeys beneath, and a world away from the fast paced bustle of modern metropolitan life. 

Conrad Maldives Rangali Island

Conrad Maldives Rangali Island caters for everyone's fitness needs with two luxurious Spas and a Fitness Centre, all set in the most idyllic of beachside settings with sweeping ocean and lagoon views. The Spa Retreat on the Main Island is set on stilts over the ocean and boats a holistic spa experience that combines therapies, cuisine and holistic and lifestyle classes, including naturopathic and complementary healing therapies.

The Over-Water Spa epitomizes barefoot luxury with glass-floored treatment rooms set on stilts above a coral reef in the resort's lagoon. This spa features an array of luxury treatment rituals designed with couples in mind using precious oils, colours and crystals to create an air of seduction and mystique. A lavish range of spa facials is also offered.

Le Meridien, Barcelona

Inspired by the centuries-old traditions of social European spa cultures, Explore Spa revitalises the spa experience. The spa pulses with magnetic energy and artful displays, enabling curious minds to discover the good life while engaging with their surroundings, signature treatments and fellow spa goers.

Each Explore Spa offers exclusive services, inspired by the local culture, designed to tap into your sense of creativity and discovery. Signature touch points subtly signify transitions between services and set the Explore Spa experience apart.

As day shifts to evening, Explore Spa offers Spa After Dark – events that connect Le Méridien spas to the local, regional and international art communities. From art-driven cocktail parties to charitable auctions, these curated events evoke thoughtful conversation and spark new ways of thinking about spa.

Kulm Hotel, St. Moritz

Heaven on earth describes it best! Put all your cares behind you in its magnificent pool and sauna-scape, or indulge in the exclusive treatments of your choice, whether in one of their new treatment rooms or in their luxurious Private Spa Suite. 

Their Spa partners and team of highly skilled professionals have created for you an all-inclusive selection of treatments that together appeal to every one of your senses. So join them on a journey to this wellspring of beauty and inner peace. Breathe their pure mountain air and regain all your energy and reserves as they help you discover nature's hidden strengths.

ESPA Life at Corinthia Hotel, London

Set in a space of iconic beauty, ESPA Life at Corinthia London is quite simply the Next Generation of Spa. A pioneering new concept, ESPA Life excels at offering a fully integrated approach to well being, bringing together a team of the world's top experts to offer an unrivalled choice of spa, complementary alternative therapies, fitness, beauty treatments and Daniel Galvin Hair Salon.

Ayana Resort and Spa, Bali

Stunningly located on rocks amidst the sparkling Indian Ocean, these two awe-inspiring spa villas are the pinnacle of their Bali luxury spa. Surrounded by the sea, each spa villa has been ingeniously designed to blend with the environment, highlighted in Indonesian 'merbau' wood, traditional Balinese 'alang alang' thatched roofs, and interiors enhanced by the natural contours of the rocks on which they sit. Experience the sound of waves gently lulling beneath, feel soft sea-breezes drift into your private villa and be invigorated by the scent of refreshing ocean midst whilst indulging in a treatment created exclusively for Bali Spa on the Rocks guests at the best spa resort in Bali.

There's just a few of the beautiful spa resorts that are available to you and we wish you all a stress free month.

Have a great week! 

What's Floating Around Cloud 9? 6 April 2015

Welcome to another week and we're hoping that everyone had a great Easter. It may be a short week here at Cloud 9 towers, and as busy as ever, but that doesn't mean we wont all be having our usual office sweep stake in the lead up to The Grand National this coming Saturday.

We're not massive gamblers here at Cloud 9 and our choice of runners and riders is more to do with the colours of the silks that the jockeys wear and the horses name rather than form, but hey, that's half the fun!

History has been written about the legendary runners and riders who have triumphed in the Grand National, each of them demonstrating that thrilling combination of human endeavour and equine fortitude. From the legendary triple-winning success of Red Rum, to our present day successors, there is always a story to be told.
Once again the world will stop in its tracks, as 600 million people watch live on television. 40 horses and jockeys will line up to race across the famous fences including Becher’s Brook, Canal Turn, Valentine’s and The Chair.
Whilst your chances of being at Aintree to witness the drama unfold in person is a bit unlikely if you have left it this late to book, that doesn't mean you cannot enjoy some of the other great Jockey Club venues during the year.

 

Paula was lucky enough to enjoy a great weekend with the fabulous Trident Hospitality a couple of weekends ago in Newmarket, which included stays at both the Jockey Club Rooms and also the rather lovely and only four star hotel in Newmarket, The Bedford Lodge & Spa.

The luxury country hotel, recently awarded the highly prestigious 4 RED Stars by the AA provides a perfect blend of old and new and includes a luxury on site spa, indoor pool, superb restaurant and if you have over indulged, a great gym!

The hotel epitomises a contemporary style and each of the stylish guest rooms and suites is chic and comfortable and comes equipped with the latest technology. If you’re looking for quality Newmarket hotels, why not choose the very finest available?

Not only is the accommodation and setting perfect, its also ideal for meetings so do give us a shout if you would like to know more, and you can take advantage of our free venue finding service!

After a great stay at the hotel, and a tour of a nearby stabling yard, it was clear that Newmarket is a unique Town and is visited by many people who are interested in seeing the horses on the gallops, but are not sure if they are allowed! 

Most of the work is done between 6.00am and 11.00am so do not expect to see anything other than the Heath men in the afternoons or on Sundays! The best place to head for if you are looking for some action is Warren Hill, and Paula enjoyed a rather windy trip to see a constant stream of valuable horses working on the two uphill canters. With over sixty trainers and at least 2000 horses in training, there is never a shortage of interesting viewing.

 

From there, we went to Newmarket Racecourse, just one of the Jockey Club courses.  The Jockey Club is the largest commercial group in British horseracing, with assets including Cheltenham, Aintree, Epsom Downs and Newmarket racecourses. Governed by Royal Charter, all profits are invested back into the UK’s second biggest spectator sport.

With a 263-year heritage at the heart of British racing, today The Jockey Club focuses its resources, influence and assets on ensuring the sport remains the best in the world, as its leading investor and innovator.
The Jockey Club owns 15 leading racecourses, including Aintree, home of the Crabbie's Grand National; Cheltenham, stage for the prestigious Cheltenham Festival; Epsom Downs, home to the Investec Derby; and Newmarket’s Rowley Mile and July Course, considered Flat racing's global HQ.
Other parts of its Group include Jockey Club Estates, its property and land management arm, which operates the famous training grounds at Newmarket and Lambourn; The National Stud, its Thoroughbred breeding, boarding and education arm; and charity, Racing Welfare, which offers help to all racing's people in need.
The Jockey Club is also the largest shareholder in QIPCO British Champions Series, which aims to throw the spotlight on the very best races in the UK Flat season, and climaxes with QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot in October each year.

Newmarket’s Rowley Mile racecourse is the perfect place to host a conference or meeting no matter how big or small with a host of flexible rooms set in acres of breath-taking countryside.They can accommodate everything from 10 to 300 delegates in one location with an additional 20 syndicate and breakout rooms. Together these fully-equipped, comfortable and striking facilities provide the flexibility to meet the full diversity of your requirements.

Beyond the raceday, Jockey Club Racecourses maximises the use of its facilities for conferencing, events, exhibitions, weddings and non-racing leisure pursuits, such as golf, equestrian sport and karting, with profits supporting its core racing business. In total, Jockey Club Racecourses offers 81 function rooms and 230 syndicate rooms, along with 40,000 free parking spaces. It can offer a room suitable for a meeting of half a dozen people through to an auditorium that can comfortably seat 2,000 delegates for a large conference. Each course has its own unique character, from the historic to the highly modern, set in easily-accessible and often picturesque locations, which have proved attractive to business customers and the public.

The weekend in Newmarket ended with a very special stay at The Jockey Club Rooms in the heart of Newmarket High Street. In fact, they have been at the heart of British horseracing for over 250 years. As a private members club, few people have had the privilege of stepping inside and seeing the magnificent interiors, which house an unparalleled collection of British racing memorabilia. The Jockey Club Rooms is available to non-members to use this prestigious Suffolk venue for weddings, high level business meetings and overnight accommodation.

As a gated property with no public access, The Jockey Club Rooms offers total privacy and if you’re planning 24-hour business meetings or a residential conference they also have 18 country house style bedrooms available for use. The Jockey Club Rooms are located less than 1 ½ hours from London and 25 minutes from Cambridge and the M11.







Dinner there was really amazing, and if you are looking for a special venue, then The Jockey Club Rooms is certainly worth the consideration. It doesn't matter if you are horse mad or not, you cannot fail to be impressed with all that Newmarket has to offer.

Have a great week and if you want a tip for the Grand National then we're collectively backing Many Clouds - after all, why wouldn't we?!

What's Floating Around Cloud 9? 30 March 2015

Welcome to another week at Cloud 9 and as we've recently launched our own YouTube Channel, we thought we'd share a few tips we've learnt along the way! 

“2015 is the year of the video”. You hear this sentence time and time again and it can be seen all over the internet. Everyone is talking about the rise of video and how video marketing is, without doubt, the future of content marketing. While everyone within the events and meetings industry admits to knowing that video is the way forward, we're still not using video to its full potential. (we have to admit we've still got a way to go but we're giving it a go!).

Below is a sneak peek of Meeting Booker's findings and how hotels can use video to drive more bookings...

Use video to increase social engagement

Recent Twitter research revealed that Tweets featuring a vine video get 256% more engagement than
tweets with no video. 256%. That’s a phenomenal difference. Sharing video on your Twitter or Instagram can help you get a huge following and will also encourage customers to share their own videos and tag you in them. Posts that include video on both Instagram and Twitter are a lot more likely to be seen and shared than posts which contain just text or images.

Use video to attract people to your website

Site visitors who view video on the hotel website’s homepage stay, on average, two minutes longer than visitors who just view text. Making video available can also make customers happier with the likelihood of a customer making an online booking or requesting a proposal said to increase by as much as 67% if a video tour is available.

Use video to increase conversion rates in emails

Did you know that including video in the body of an email can now increase conversion rates by up to 50% for hotel bookings? Video content in email marketing used to be considered something of a trend, but in recent years it has become more of a standard marketing technique.

The reason a lot of people opt not to include videos in their emails is that video can take up a large amount of memory and space, and many mail clients will not support large video files in the body of an email. To get around this problem, you can make a thumbnail image of the video and include that in the body of the email instead.

Use video to get a page 1 ranking on Google

There are four key ways in which video can help increase your sites’ SEO. First off, video will improve your sites SERP ranking. Pages with video are in fact 53 times more likely to rank on the first page of Google search results than pages without video. Secondly, having a video encourages more people to click, thus attracting more people to your site. Thirdly, visitors to your homepage will usually stay two minutes longer on your site on than sites without video and finally video is great for link building.

Use video to showcase your venue on YouTube

According to Google’s first ever YouTube White Paper, 89% of leisure travelers and 93% of business travelers watch online travel videos before going somewhere. A great way to advertise your hotel is to

pay for your video to be shown at the beginning of popular YouTube videos.

While most YouTube watchers are interested in community-generated content, the majority of travel-related views are for professionally released videos. In fact, views of branded videos are up 394% year on year, making YouTube an excellent platform to showcase your property and attract more bookings.

We hope this has been helpful and maybe given you the motivation to use the power of video, but if not then don't let that stop you looking at our efforts! 

So, that's it for this week folks and don't forget it's just a month away until the CHS Awards, so book your tickets here. 

Have a great week folks! 

What's Floating Around Cloud 9? 23 March 2015

Welcome to another week and it's all things purple at Cloud 9 this week as we approach Purple Day 2015 on Thursday 26! 

Purple Day is the international day for epilepsy awareness. To celebrate this year, Epilepsy Action will quite literally be turning purple – and they want you to join them by turning your world purple! You can do anything – just make sure its PURPLE!

Holding a Purple Day fundraising event really is simple! Whether you paint yourself purple, organise a purple bake off or host a purple tea party you can hold your Purple Day event anywhere and invite anybody along to share in the fun. 

They have had Purple Day events all over the UK and further a field, in schools, homes and workplaces, so here are just a few event ideas you can do to support the cause...

Purple Day Bake Sale

Bake up some purple-coloured sweets and have a bake sale at your school or office! Raise awareness and fundraise with tasty treats everyone can enjoy.

School or Work Contest

Organize a contest to get your colleagues involved in Purple Day. Host a poster colouring contest at school or a purple costume contest at your work place. The most purple wins!

Silent Auction

Plan a silent auction to raise epilepsy awareness and help your local epilepsy organization. Don't have a local organization? Help our global Purple Day sponsors - The Anita Kaufmann Foundation in the USA and Epilepsy Association of Nova Scotia in Canada.

Sponsored Sporting Event

Are you a sports fan? Why not send a request to your favourite major or minor league sports team to host a Purple Day game!

Coffee House / Concert

Organize a Purple Day benefit concert. Invite your friends and family, classmates or coworkers and the public at large to a night of music, tasty appetizers (ask your local restaurant or pub to donate the food) and plenty of PURPLE.

Gala

Plan an evening out at a local hall to raise awareness about epilepsy and raise funds for your local epilepsy organization or global Purple Day sponsor (The Anita Kaufmann Foundation in the USA and Epilepsy Association of Nova Scotia in Canada).

Last year saw venues across the UK including London King’s Cross mainline station, The Blackpool Tower and Leeds’ First Direct arena, all lit-up purple on 26 March to raise awareness of epilepsy. However, they are looking forward to seeing the Niagara Falls lit up in Purple this year to support Purple Day, we're sure it will look stunning!

Although they do still want to build on their previous purple success. They want even more venues to turn purple in 2015, to get people talking about epilepsy. We know there are plenty of venues out there who can participate in this, so why don't you get involved! 

Moving on now as we've got on to the subject about venues, this week we are also supporting the Conference and Hospitality Show taking place in Leeds. 

The Conference & Hospitality Show is a FREE to attend event which connects meeting and event organisers with a fantastic range of venues and an exciting variety of suppliers.  CHS15 offers inspiration with innovative and creative event ideas along with an informative and motivational educational programme.  If you work in the events industry or ever have to organise a meeting or conference then don’t miss the opportunity to secure your complimentary ticket to attend CHS15. There are plenty of showcases and exhibitions for our industry, but we have to say this is one of our favourite, so don't miss out! 

Also, for the first time at the event this year, they are announcing the shortlist for the inaugural CHS Awards! The Awards provide hotels and venues with a unique opportunity to showcase their facilities and compete in each of the 12 carefully chosen categories; Best Afternoon Tea, Best Anticipated Launch, Best Bar, Best Boardroom/Small Meeting Room, Best Bedroom (Classical), Best Bedroom (Funky), Best DDR, Best Outside Space, Best Reception, Best Spa, Best Unusual Event Space and Best Large Conference/Exhibition Space. So good luck to all of the entrants! 

That's it for this week folks, have a good one!

What's Floating Around Cloud 9? 16 March 2015

Welcome to another week and this week we're all about Marrakesh, following the recent fam that Paula took with the marvellous Moulden Marketing. Hosted by Activ Travel, one of the best DMC's we've ever encountered at Cloud 9, it was truly a wonderful trip and rather surprising in terms of just what you can do with groups and incentives in the region.

With regular flights from both British Airways and Easyjet, its a very accessible location and the range of hotels is fantastic. 

We were met by Activ Travel, who have been providing high quality MICE programmes and travel to Morocco for almost 20 years. Founded in 1996 by Abdellatif ‘Ben’ Benmoussa and Hicham Tahri, Activ Travel is one of the most experienced and well renowned DMCs within Marrakech and Morocco. Working with a dedicated team of full-time staff, and cleverly utilising their fantastic relation-ship with the local people of Marrakech, Activ Travel are able to provide their guests with an incredible insight into the culture, colours, experiences and beauty of the country of Morocco.

We stayed at the La Mamounia a stunning hotel. Ravishing and regal, La Mamounia hotel is set in royal gardens, styled with Moorish opulence, and as sensuous as a seraglio. Aware that its guests (Winston Churchill was a fan) expect the best, and you won't be disappointed. 

After a quick change, it was off for an orientation tour by night of Marrakech rampart and the Famous Djemaa el fna square. Marrakech's famous Central Square. This was followed by a great evening and dinner at the M Restuarant Lounge, with belly dancers and fire eaters!

Up with the lark and after a great breakfast, we were off again exploring and the first stop was The Royal Palm Hotel, sister hotel to those in Mauritius and our friends at Beachcomber. Simply stunning is how we would describe the hotel!

After a 4x4 driving experience into the Atlas Mountains of Marrakech  with a stop off at a remote traditional Berber Village for some mint tea, it was off to Terres D’amanar.

Located on a beautiful plateau overlooking the Atlas mounts and their beautiful valleys in the heart of the High Atlas Mountains near the town of Asni, the Terres D’amanar domain is a unique site with an exceptional environment and very authentic feel. There is an adventure park in the trees and on the Arial rope slide, assisted by professionals, as well as equestrian, pedestrian, and mountain bike excursions. The more leisurely inclined can relax by the pool, or discover the Berber customs and tradition during the culinary and artesian workshops. This is what Paula opted for whilst the other mad fools were crossing rope bridges and zip wires!

We returned to La Mamounia by late afternoon for a quick dip in the pool and then it was

off for a tour and pre dinner drinks at at Palais Soleiman, which is a little difficult to describe, but truly amazing and well worth hiring exclusively if you have a small group and a reasonable budget. 

Then it was off to one of the best experiences ever, a  Party Dinner in a private camp in the heart of the PALM GROVE, with traditional Berber entertainment - The idea here was to  show us how to give our guests experience a magic moment. A single moment doesn't do it justice. It was simply full of magical moments, from the arrival, through to drinks, dinner, entertainment and departure. Even the loo's are worth a mention! This was a real introduction to Moroccan culture. It is a recreation of a “Moussem” or a traditional feast where locals celebrate the harvest. 

Despite the late night, it was an early start as we enjoyed a most entertaining hot air ballooning flight over the north of the palm grove of Marrakech between the river of Tensift and the Mountains of djebilets. The banter of the Pilot was worth the trip alone!

Then we were off to visit Marrakech gardens, and then Marrakech souks discovery, which I was glad to have had a guide as we had to navigate our way through the souks and food stalls, and learn how to haggle like a pro! 

It is a riot of colour, noise and activity, a wealthy storehouse of all the treasures of this vast and varied country, and then we had an introduction to Moroccan cooking and lunch at Al Baraka restaurant, located in the Famous Djemaa El Fna square.


We packed a lot into a short trip and it was without a doubt, a fabulous experience, so if you fancy Marrakech for your next event, please let us know. It really will be worth it!



Have a great week!

What's Floating Around Cloud 9? 9 March 2015

Welcome to another week at Cloud 9 and we're sure you'll all like to here that it's National Bed Month - time for a lie in before learning about the importance of a good night's sleep!

Organised by The Sleep Council, the month aims to remind us all of why a sound sleep is good for our health. Forget the old saying that if "You snooze, you loose."  It's thought that a good sleep has amazing properties that make you healthier and happier, and can even add years to your life!

At the Sleep Council website, you can find out all about the essentials you need to have the perfect sleep, and of course, the right bed should be your number one priority. We can help you with just that and thanks to Huffington Post for the inspiration, below are 17 hotel beds you need to try...

U.S. Grant, San Diego

Comfort begins with the Luxury Collection and is enhanced with Italian linens, plush down comforter, robe and slippers. Their pillow-top mattresses are mentioned on several review sites as "huge and super comfortable"!

Graham & Co. Phoenicia, NY

With paired-down but cosy beds in a stylized upstate motel The Graham & Co is located at the foot of Hunter Mountain and just two blocks off of Phoenicia's main street, approximately 2.5 hours from New York City!

Cavallo Point, Sausalito, CA

Their Contemporary Two Queens room is highly recommended featuring modern design, two queen beds in one room, and inviting gas fireplace. Some rooms enjoy views of the San Francisco Bay or Golden Gate Bridge. Accommodating up to four persons in 450 square feet, this room is ideal for families with children or friends travelling together.

Bay Lake Tower, Disney World

The only Disney beds to make the cut, these mattresses reside in the modern Bay Lake Towers at Disney's Contemporary Resort. 

Post Ranch Inn, Big Sur, CA

Embracing the dramatic beauty of the California coastline, Post Ranch Inn is a serene retreat where romance and connection thrive. The 39 guest rooms and two private homes blend rustic elegance with luxury and comfort, offering stunning ocean or mountain views. Post Ranch is a destination in which to relax and reconnect with yourself, your partner and the environment. With this is mind, their guest rooms do not include televisions or alarm clocks - Great for the perfect nights sleep!

Kensington Marriott, London

During your London visit enjoy comfortable accommodation in their modern guest rooms. Pillow-top mattresses and custom duvets ensure a good night's sleep in the heart of South Kensington!

Charles Hotel, Cambridge, MA

Every guest room at The Charles is designed to provide you with all the comforts of home. The rooms offer panoramic views of Harvard Square , Cambridge or Boston. All of our Cambridge hotel suites are generously appointed with custom designed down quilts, Italian waffle bathrobes and slippers and turndown service upon request.

The Caledonian, Edinburgh

Stay at Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh - home to 241 elegantly furnished guest rooms and suites, many with spectacular views of historic Edinburgh Castle. Renovated to Waldorf Astoria's peerless, internationally-renowned standards, each room and suite offers a backdrop of luxury, style and sophistication, with bespoke furniture, eclectic artwork and pristine en-suite bathrooms with marble and burnished chrome fittings. These beautifully furnished, elegant spaces are equipped with luxurious beds complete with an exclusive Waldorf Astoria Serta mattress and a unique pillow and bedding menu.

The Palazzo, Las Vegas

Immerse yourself in the beauty of the accommodation at The Palazzo, including a bed chamber with a plush king-sized pillow-top bed and 400-count wool throw blankets!

XV Beacon, Boston

Offering the best in Boston hotel accommodations, each room is seamlessly balanced with

modern and antique furniture, sharing the same warmth and handsome colour scheme of taupe, cream and espresso. 

This palette marries furniture and furnishings, including the Frette linens, which provide visually crisp, tailored lines and are pure luxury to tuck into. 

Mindfully designed, our rooms are ideally suited for hosting an intimate party or simply relaxing. Sleek modern lines enhance guest rooms' modernism and functionality, while gas fireplaces and canopy beds lightly accent our traditional New England soul. In-room thermostats and water conservation options, such as third-day linen changes, leave eco-choices in guests' hands.

InterContinental Asiana Saigon, Vietnam

Their spacious and well appointed rooms offer clean designs and an elegant marble bathroom featuring walk-in shower and separate bath. The rooms offer magnificent views over the modern Ho Chi Minh City from our unique floor-to-ceiling windows. 

The Roosevelt, Los Angeles

From the historic Spanish Colonial lobby, you'll find the Hollywood Roosevelt has taken on rather a dual personality over the years. The Tower is original 1927, where Clark and Carole carried on. The Cabanas are vintage 1950's famous as Marilyn's place of residence around the time of her very first modelling shoot - at the Hollywood Roosevelt pool, no less. The Roosevelt offer ultra comfortable luxurious new beds with custom-made 400 thread count SFERRA linens. 

Aston Waikiki Beach, Waikiki 

Directly across Kalakaua Avenue from Waikiki Beach, this 645-room hotel features comfy, contemporary guest rooms and suites with naturally inspired décor. Some 85% offer full or partial ocean views, while most are decked out with a private balcony where you can soak up the scenery and the action that make Waikiki such a hot destination. 

Fountainebleau, Miami

A total of 1,504 guest rooms offer luxurious comfort and privacy. From guest rooms to three bedroom suites and penthouses, your stay will be made unique by providing a variety of room/suite configurations. Many guest rooms and suites have breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean as well as the twinkling necklace of lights that reveals Miami Beach at night. Modern sophisticated interior designs create an atmosphere of quiet and calm for effortless relaxation.

Four Seasons, Sydney 

Spoil yourself with Sydney's best luxury accommodation decorated in contemporary grand-luxe style. Relax in luxurious room or suite that overlooks the Sydney skyline, George Street or Walsh Bay, unwind in a City Harbour-view Room with partial views over Sydney Harbour, or treat yourself to full harbour-view accommodations that offer dramatic panoramas of Sydney Harbour Bridge and Walsh Bay. The views are exquisite. 

Hotel St. Cecilia, Austin

Perhaps the Saint Cecilia's most significant offering is an exquisite night's sleep on a handmade organic bed made by Hästens, Sweden's most revered bedding company. Bathrooms are outfitted with custom kimono bathrobes and Le Labo bath products. The hotel offers a variety of other amenities and services to inspire and delight. 

Loews Hollywood 
Each and every one of our newly renovated 628 guest rooms and lavish suites is decorated

in a refined mix of slate grey plus deep violet and burnt orange accents. The colours may be dramatic but the overall feel is one of sophistication and serenity. Modern wallpaper, cerused oak furniture and iconic Eames chairs complete the look. Since their hotel is a commanding 20 floors, they have some of the best views in the city. All of their bedrooms are equipped with complimentary Wi-Fi and flat-screen TVs, crisp 100% cotton sheets, embroidered robes and Comfort Zone skin and body products ensuring you'll feel pampered throughout your stay. 

That's it for this week folks, sleep well and enjoy your week!