What's Floating Around Cloud 9? 25 Feb 2013

Welcome to another week!

It continues to be a bit manic here at Cloud 9 Towers as we have the Midlands Media Awards, Fresh, a great new project with the PRCA, the CIPR Northern Conference, an Oil & Gas Congress in Dubai and an exciting new initiative with Bristol Media.

But despite our busy schedule, we did take a little time out last week to make a start on the early celebrations of Carol's Big Birthday which is looming.

Often unsung, Carol does the money thing for both Cloud 9 and Fresh so we took a little trip down to London and treated ourselves to a rather pricey, but equally fabulous afternoon tea at Harrods - and yes, we kept the receipt!

The Georgian Restaurant at Harrods

Afternoon Tea clearly remains a very fashionable thing to do these days and even though it was half term week, and that we had booked well in advance, we did have to wait a fair while to be seated in the rather sumptuous and huge Georgian Lounge in the infamous department store.

So this week, we thought we'd have a little tribute to all things tea, the best places to go to enjoy it and the best companies that can bring a fantastic vintage tea party right to your own home...

The best place in London to enjoy a sumptuous Afternoon Tea has been named as The Athenaeum Hotel, which has scooped The Tea Guild's prestigious award for the capital for "Top London Afternoon Tea 2012". Now in their 27th year, The Tea Guild Awards are considered the ‘Oscars' of the tea world, with world-famous London hotels and tea rooms competing for the highly coveted honour.

Taking Afternoon Tea is a cherished experience steeped in British tradition and was particularly popular in the capital last year as the British public and many of this year's overseas visitors celebrate British traditions with the Queen's Diamond Jubilee and the 2012 Olympic Games.

With these British celebrations in the capital in mind, The Tea Guild has also awarded special Awards of Excellence to the following establishments in London in recognition of their outstanding quality and consistently high standards in tea service.

The Athenaeum Hotel gained the top spot for London tea destinations after hugely impressing the Tea Guild judges with its exceptional service, great quality tea and extensive knowledge by the staff. The Athenaeum Hotel, in the heart of bustling Mayfair, London, was voted into the top spot after its tea room, The Garden Room, gained a near perfect score from The Tea Guild's inspectors.

The Athenaeum Hotel Afternoon Tea

The judges praised it for its tasteful intimate style and fine furnishings, as well as friendly and efficient staff and excellent selection of scones, sandwiches and cakes. When it came to the tea itself, once again The Athenaeum Hotel surpassed expectations with an excellent selection of teas, and knowledgeable and friendly staff that excelled firstly in advising customers on the choice of tea blends on offer and then serving those teas perfectly. The judges concluded that The Athenaeum Hotel offered "a very enjoyable and relaxing tea experience in splendid surroundings." Commenting on The Athenaeum Hotel winning The Tea Guild's Top London Afternoon Tea 2012 Award, Irene Gorman, Head of The Tea Guild, said: "Year on year the nominees for this prestigious award become ever more challenging, but taking tea at The Athenaeum Hotel in The Garden Room gives a demonstration of exactly how special Afternoon Tea has become.

The elegant surroundings make Afternoon Tea a memorable occasion and an experience to cherish, aided by delightfully friendly, efficient and knowledgeable staff, and with delicious food and teas faultlessly presented. It is easy to understand why this leading establishment attracts so many, both the young and the old, to take Afternoon Tea."

"The standard of entrants this year was incredibly high and this was especially true in London, which has traditionally been the home of some of the finest Afternoon Tea experiences within many of the world's finest and most elegant hotels and establishments. In the capital as elsewhere in the UK, the tradition of Afternoon Tea has never been stronger, with Tea Guild members busier than ever. More and more people are taking time out to enjoy this great British tradition of Afternoon Tea."

"Afternoon Tea is now the most fashionable way to catch up with friends. It is increasing in popularity, be it for after a busy morning's shopping, a business meeting, a special family occasion, a romantic date or a truly memorable experience for the bride to be and her girlfriends.

Fortnum & Mason's

In Fortnum & Mason's Tea Salon you can choose from a range of teas selected by Fortnum's tea taster. The afternoon tea menu includes finger sandwiches, scones and cakes from the Highgrove Cake Carriage. You can request meat, fish, dairy or gluten-free teas.

Afternoon tea at The Langham has been a tradition since 1865. In the luxurious surroundings of the hotel's Palm Court, you can enjoy finger sandwiches, fresh scones with jam and cream, French pastries and specialist teas. The Langham's afternoon tea is so good, it was named the Tea Guild's Top London Afternoon Tea in 2010.

 

Fashionable Favourites!

If you're a fan of fashion, head to The Berkeley's Caramel Room for the Prêt-à-Portea tea. The éclairs, cakes and fancies are all inspired by the latest fashion collections, and are served in miniature mouthfuls for the figure-conscious. Madonna, Gwynneth Paltrow and the Beckhams have all been spotted here.

Afternoon tea is served five times a day in The Dorchester's famous marble and gilt Promenade. Enjoy a selection of finger sandwiches followed by warm scones with jam and cream, French pastries and a choice of fine and rare teas. You can also get afternoon tea in The Dorchester Spa's Spatisserie.

The award-winning afternoon tea at The Lanesborough includes freshly baked scones, thick clotted cream and homemade fruit preserves. If you have trouble choosing from the wide range of teas on offer, you can call on The Lanesborough's Tea Sommelier – the first in England – who will be happy to advise you.

Tea at The Ritz is nothing less than an institution. It has become so popular that there are now five sittings every day at 11.30am, 1.30pm, 3.30pm, 5.30pm and 7.30pm. Booking at least four weeks in advance is essential. Afternoon tea is served in the elegant Palm Court with music by a pianist or a harpist.

The Savoy

The Savoy's tea is served in the historic Thames Foyer, accompanied by a pianist playing on one of the hotel's traditional white pianos. Expect a selection of finger sandwiches, freshly baked raisin and plain scones, French pastries and Thames Foyer signature cakes, plus a huge selection of teas.

Claridge's was awarded the Tea Guild's Top London Afternoon Tea in 2011. The luxurious tea includes finger sandwiches, sweet pastries, freshly baked raisin and apple scones with jam and cream, and a choice of almost 40 teas. This popular afternoon tea is served daily at 1pm, 3pm, 3.30pm, 5pm and 5.30pm.

Brown's Hotel's award-winning afternoon tea is served in the English Tea Room, complete with wood panelling, fireplaces and original artworks. Relax to the sounds of the baby grand piano as you enjoy finger sandwiches, pastries, scones and cakes from the trolley. There's a choice of 17 teas, and two Tea Sommeliers to help you choose.

 

 Of course you may prefer to enjoy your tea in the comfort of your own home and there are all sorts of companies who will bring you a truly delicious afternoon treat direct to your door - and they'll do the washing up too!

Our favourite is Once Upon a Teacup Vintage Parties  based in Manchester. Once upon a time in Manchester "Once Upon a Teacup" started out as a couple of vintage tea sets for a girly tea party. As the passion for finding beautiful pieces grew, so did the china collection. Soon they knew that they had to share it with others. They enjoy collecting beautiful mismatched china and take pleasure in mixing them with vintage linen textiles, silver plated cutlery and pretty cake stands to create stunning and unique vintage style occasions for all to enjoy.

They specialise in providing Private Vintage Tea Parties in your own home/garden (or chosen Venue) and can cater for between 8 - 30 people providing all the food needed together with beautiful vintage crockery. 

If you are not in the North West and don't fancy a trip to London there is also a great option from The English Cream Tea Company: the home of delicious and indulgent fresh Afternoon Tea Hampers, Gifts and Vouchers.Your hamper boxes are delivered by Courier to mainland UK in beautiful, specially chilled packaging so that they arrive ready to eat.

Filled with all the goodies you get at a luxury London Hotel Tea, these hampers are perfect for treats, outings/events, corporate gifts, saying thank you, or just to make someone feel special.
 

They even made the Guinness Book of Records for the largest English Cream Tea Party ever.

 

 So there you have it, a tribute to tea, and to the one thing that keeps our office going - especially when we are busy!

Have a great week!

What's Floating Around Cloud 9? 18 Feb 2013

Welcome to another week!

We’re no stranger to hotels here at Cloud 9 Towers and despite the vast numbers of hotel venues we have used or stayed in, its clear that the UK market is missing something……something a little different.

Although we offer a free venue finding service, we think we would need some very special clients with specific tastes before suggesting any of the following....

In less than three months, North American LEGO fanatics will be able to book a stay at the continent’s first LEGO hotel. The finishing touches are being put on the fantasy-inspired Legoland Hotel in Carlsbad, California—while the hotel itself is not constructed of tiny plastic bricks, the bright, color-blocked façade will certainly bring to mind everyone’s favourite childhood toy. The hotel opens its doors on 5 April 2013 and has numerous themed rooms planned throughout. 

 These stunning glass houses may still just be a concept design, but there is a great alternative that will also allow you to immerse yourself in nature—these clear “bubble” tents by the Attrap’Rêves Bubble Hotel.

If you think that sleeping in a tent means roughing it out, you cannot be more wrong—each of these pretty bubble tents is 13 feet in diameter, and comes with luxurious comforts like a queen-sized bed, a telescope for star-gazing, and even an adjoining bubble bathroom.The hotel currently has location networks in Bouches-du-Rhone and Loir-et-Cher, France; its rooms can be set up in a variety of outdoor settings—from a pine forest to hilly wine country—and are suitable for use throughout the year. If you are looking to get as close to nature as possible but will prefer not to give up the modern conveniences of the city, a stay at this bubble hotel will be just the thing for you.  The only thing we suggest here is a good pair of PJ's and no modesty!

Beijing-based architectural firm PLaT Architects is building a hotel in the middle of the Gobi Desert—in Inner Mongolia—that is designed to work like a ship floating on the sand.
The Xiangshawan Desert Lotus Hotel is constructed without the use of concrete or water—it features a new structural system that fix in the fluid sand and load-bearing walls that take the load off the base of the building.
The architects have taken care to use local materials in interior design so as to give guests a true experience of the desert—for instance, the wall covering is made from the surrounding sand.  The Lotus Hotel is located in Xiangshawan Desert, 800 kilometers west to Beijing and middle of Ordos and Baotou. The site is facing Hantai River, a branch of Yellow River, and east to Kubuqi Desert that more than 200 kilometers wide. 

The form of Lotus Hotel not only blends in the desert, but also exhibits a power of the environment and itself. Architects used the traditional Chinese idea of “Zhen”, which is, in simple words, the art of repeating same elements. Rotation of squares in a same angle creates triangles in the process, and made the form stronger. In consideration of structure, shading and wind, architects integrated function, form and landscape, resulting in a form of lotus.

 

Belgium-based hospitality company Sleeping Around has rolled out a refreshing new hotel experience with their pop-up shipping container hotel that is constantly moving around. Packing luxurious rooms into compact 20-feet tall shipping containers, their rooms come complete with high quality linen, a walk-in shower and air-conditioning.

This unique hotel can crop up just about anywhere—such as on a busy street or in a park; it is currently located on riverfront in Antwerp but will soon be moving to another location. As it has no fixed address, guests are required to locate their rooms by GPS—this element of surprise is a key part of the hotel’s appeal. You may even submit new locations suggestions for the hotel to move to on its website. 

 

Now if budget is no object, how about An Orbiting Hotel Aboard A Space Station, For Space Vacationers.... Commercial space travel looks set to become a reality—first with a shuttle service to the moon and now, a hotel housed in a commercial space station.
Promising a truly out-of-the-world experience, Russian company Orbital Technologies plans to develop a commercial space station that would serve as an orbiting hotel, 217 miles from the surface of Earth. As can be expected, a space vacation like this will not come cheap—a ticket to the space station will set travelers back US$80,000, and another US$160,000 is chargeable for five days of accommodation.
Designed for comfort and leisure, the hotel comes with an experience space crew and will be serving up gourmet food instead of the bland food tubes astronauts traditionally eat—it is even equipped with windows, cameras and binoculars to allow guests to take in the breath-taking view!

Add this to your bucket list, beer-lovers—a hotel in Ostbevern, Germany, in collaboration with a regional brewery, has created a room where guests can snuggle up in a vintage 19th-century beer barrel.

The barrel was actually in use until 1995, when it was converted into a unconventional bed that would comfortably sleep two.

There are a total of three such beer rooms, so gather up a few of your beer-guzzling friends and make a booking for this unique experience here. 

As you can see, we are missing some of these unusual experiences here in the UK so maybe there is a chance for someone to do something very different!

In other news this week, its time for us to remind you of some key dates for 2013 and some of the fabulous events we are involved with....

1st March: The Fresh Awards opens for entries

13th June: The Midlands Media Awards

19th June: The CIPR Northern Conference

25th September: Freshtival 2013 begins

We've lots of other exciting event news coming soon!

Have a great week..

 

 

What's Floating Around Cloud 9? 11 February 13

Welcome to another week and as the calendar turns from January to February and Valentine’s Day looms, you yearn for a romantic escape. Since there are so many different ways to say I love you, there are many different ways to celebrate Valentine's day and we’re here to help you choose!

Location, Location, Location is still a factor so here is one of our more romantic destination guides!

  

Venice is still one of the most interesting and beautiful places in the world. Venice has decayed since its heyday, but the romantic charm remains. Celebrate Valentine's on an enchanting gondola ride through the inner canals of Venice and breathe the atmosphere of the most ancient city in the world built on water before enjoying a romantic dinner in a lovely Venetian restaurant.

Tie the knot under Juliet's window!

Generations of visitors to Verona have crowded the courtyard of a pretty 13th-century palazzo, gazing enraptured at a balcony. Here, lovers can tie the knot in the courtyard beneath the balcony of “Casa di Giulietta” - the world’s most sought-after wedding location… at a price.

Stay at the luxury Hilton Molino Stucky hotel, situated on Giudecca Island in Italy’s Venetian Lagoon. This classic Hilton hotel in Venice offers breathtaking scenery and exceptional amenities including a sparkling rooftop and renowned skyline bar.

Brussels invites you to stroll through and relive their forbidden romance. Chocolates, pralines and blossoms can add to the enjoyment of the senses. Moreover there are several lovely hotels and spas where you can recharge and relax together in sumptuous luxury. Vive l’amour!

The luxurious Conrad Hotel features a stunning courtyard terrace and spacious rooms with classic décor on the famous Avenue Louise. It also boasts an extensive spa, indoor pool and fitness centre. Show your loved one how much you care with an exceptional and unique Valentine's Day treat at Conrad Brussels. Enjoy special romantic touches like a limo pick-up with Champagne, breakfast in bed, roses in your room, a Swarovski gift and spa treatments. Take your special someone to cloud nine this Valentine's.

The Scheltema is a must this valentines in Brussels! Known for its luxury seafood specialties and its turn of the century pub ambiance, combines to make the Scheltema one of the most prestigious restaurants in Brussels. Ideally located in the historic centre of Brussels just a few steps away from the Grand’ Place follow the beautiful scent of garlic down the cobbled streets and indulge yourself within its seafood spectacular! And if that isn’t enough, the head waiter has a magnificent pair of spectacles that are magnetically connected at the nose!

You could always opt to stay closer to home though and celebrate Valentine’s Day with a truly romantic stay in the Cotswolds. Roaring log fires, cosy lounges, delicious food and fine wines – the ingredients for a truly romantic Valentines weekend.

Located in west-central England, sometimes called the “Heart of England”, the area covers 790sq miles and is the largest Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in England and Wales. 

Buckland Manor is an elegant country house hotel dating back to the thirteenth century. Situated on 10 acres with blissful gardens featuring waterfalls and fountains.  The hotel offers stunning views of lush Cotswold landscape, lovely gardens and grazing land with cattle and sheep. Rooms with four poster beds, rich fabrics, antique furnishings, warm bath robes, top notch cuisine in restaurant complete with candlelight dining and view of bucolic Cotswold hills, and 3 drawing rooms, one of which has wood paneling and crackling log fire. A snuggly and secure location to cuddle up with your loved one this Valentines Day. 

The Cotswolds timeless honey coloured stone villages are the perfect backdrop to a romantic drive - away from the madding crowd. This circular route from Broadway passes a beautiful stately home, several typical Cotswold hill villages, quaint riverside village, the Little Venice of the Cotswolds, an ancient Market Town, a bewitching manor house and a Folly high on the Cotswold escarpment. Visit the website to find the map and begin your romantic journey…

Most people think love and think Paris!

A stay in the hotel Concorde Lafayette will make it possible for you to easily visit the most beautiful Paris attractions this valentines day on foot. Breath taking views from every room of the hotel, right across Paris, capturing famous landmarks including Montmartre, the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe, are amongst the most memorable of experiences for you and your partner to enjoy at the Concorde La Fayette.

Chez Georges is a charming little restaurant a 10 minute stroll from Hotel Concord Lafayette. Everyone knows Chez Georges on boulevard Pereire. This authentic Parisian Brasserie is superb for a romantic couple looking for quality produce and friendly service in an intimate environment. We recommend the Pavé du Mail for the meat lover and the Sole Meunière for the fish lover. However, reservation is a must!

But there’s more…“La Vue Panormaic Bar” is situated back at the hotel on the 23^rd floor!! This spectacular cocktail bar is an impressive open air theatre looking out onto the world’s most incredible stage: the city of Paris. A perfect way to bring your valentines evening to a close.

The vibrant Catalan capital, Barcelona in Spain may not be the first place that springs to mind when it comes to planning a Valentine’s break, but why not add a little sunshine into the mix? After all, what could be more romantic than taking a stroll round the narrow alleyways of the Barri Gotic, before stopping off at a cosy bar for a few glasses of cava and some mouth-watering tapas?

The capital of Catalonia, Barcelona is Spain’s second largest and most visited city. That’s no surprise, as it really does seem to ‘have it all’ – great shops, lively nightlife, unique architecture and sunny Mediterranean beaches. It’s perfect at any time of year for both a stimulating city break and a longer holiday exploring the area. In fact, while Barcelona’s relatively compact and easy to walk around, you’ll find it difficult to fit everything into a weekend.

Discover the Hotel Arts, Barcelona and uncover one of the premier luxury hotels in Spain as you experience the exhilarating culture, architecture and cuisine of Spain’s second-largest city. From world-renowned structures to the sparkling waters of the Mediterranean, artistic masterpieces to award-winning dining, this Barcelona luxury hotel’s accommodations provide guests with convenient access to all this one-of-a-kind destination has to offer. After a day spent exploring the waterfront or immersed in the city’s fascinating past, guests can indulge in a soothing treatment at the Six Senses Spa, enjoy in an unforgettable meal at Enoteca, where Chef Paco Perez offers contemporary classic cuisine to compliment your luxury hotel experience in Spain.

If you really want to treat that special someone to something different and awe inspiring a ride in a hot air balloon could prove a lot of fun. You can fly over Barcelona and its surrounding areas in a package that covers everything from ground transportation to a mile high picnic. Visit the website to book your hot air balloon experience!

For the Rome-antic in you… (sorry)

How about unleashing your inner Audrey Hepburn or Gregory Peck with a romantic Roman Holiday this February? The Italian capital is perfectly geared up for a spot of romance, with dazzling monuments and architecture, fantastic museums and galleries, and some of the finest cuisine in the world. What could be better than strolling past the Trevi Fountain with a shared tub of authentic Italian gelato?

Option number 2…

For the foot sore, there's another way to experience Rome's romantic beauty by letting yourself glide on the waters of the Tiber with your other half. And for the helplessly romantic, night cruises are also available during the summer, some of which include dinner on board. 

If you’re looking for a lavish and intimate romantic break with your loved one then the “Spagna Royal Suits Hotel” is what you’re after. At this little boutique hotel, tucked behind an almost-anonymous door on the street that runs from the top of the Spanish Steps, every detail sets the mood, from the silk sheets to velour throws to the Bang & Olufson stereos. Some of the rooms have particularly saucy touches, like Jacuzzis right in the bedroom or big round beds. To truly understand what we mean by saucy, visit the website and see for yourself!

 

Looking for the ultimate in romance? How about snuggling up warm in your best winter coat and taking a walk across Charles Bridge in the crisp Czech winter with your loved one? It’s no secret that Prague’s one of Europe’s most beautiful cities, and a long weekend roaming the baroque, neoclassical, art nouveau and gothic architecture is a wonderful way to spend time with your partner. 

Consult the checklist - Idyllic views, a central river, fantastic wine, incredible art, and grand countryside retreats—and you'll see why Prague offers the same dose of l'amour and often at a better price. Oh, and of course there’s the famously filling food, best washed down with a glass of the legendary golden pilsner!

After you've spent a few days rushing around the city, retreat to the five-star, 17th-century “Chateau Mcely”, in the countryside just outside Prague. It's the perfect place to play Lord and Lady of the castle. But this chateau has an eco twist: it's a certified, award-winning "green" luxury hotel, where all meals and spa products use locally-sourced ingredients. Rooms are everything you'd expect, with regal furnishings, fluffy beds, and pampering toiletries (check out the herbal bath oil), and you can book a couple's massage, play croquet on the lawn, or stargaze with a telescope on the roof. It's a setting worthy of any romantic proposal—for half the cost of a French equivalent. Cloud 9 Tip: Book a Sunday between February and April to save 25% off high-season rates.

Just imagine relaxing in front of a flickering fireplace, eating elegant meals by candlelight, taking a horse-drawn sleigh ride, enjoying a couple’s spa treatment and sharing beautiful mountain vistas with your significant other. Sound romantic and perfect for Valentine's Day?

St Martin-de-Belleville is a commune abounding in quaint French character, offering quick and easy access to the largest ski area in the world, the Trois Vallees. Whilst most resorts in this area are largely focused on convenience, St Martin-de-Belleville earns extra points for its idyllic charm and picturesque views. If you’re looking for a relaxed, romantic ski break, this is the resort for you.

Combining experience, with quality and a passion for service, visit Chalet St Martin for a breathtaking holiday in this beautiful, unspoilt mountain village, which just happens to be in the biggest ski area in the world.

The 3 Valleys is the largest skiing domain in the world with over 200 lifts and 600km of pisted runs and about the same again off piste. The world famous Courchevel, Meribel and Les Menuires are part of this magnificent area, as is Val Thorens, one of Europe's highest resorts offering extensive  snow sure skiing for everyone from complete beginners to experts through-out the season.

  

  Valentine's Day in Budapest has some great programs in store for you and your loved one to make 14th February a truly memorable day. A few of our favourites include Wine Tasting and Chocolate & Pálinka Tasting

It is still winter in Budapest in the middle of February so a dip in the hot thermal pools of any of Budapest's baths will be a real treat on Valentine's Day. We recommend either the Gellért Bath or the Széchenyi Bath because these two have the best facilities and wonderful architecture. They also offer a range of massages and other spa and wellness treatments to make you feel invigorated on this cold winter day.

Exotic, frenetic and utterly unique, Istanbul is The European Capital of Culture meaning that as well as the beautiful mosques and chaotic bazaars, there's a whole range of new exhibitions, shows and galleries to explore. The city can be hectic, so to slow things down and keep a romantic feel, stay on Heybeliada, one of the Princes' Islands that lie just a short ferry ride from the centre of the city. There is no traffic on the island so the best way to explore the stunning Byzantine monasteries and Greek Orthodox churches is by bike or horse-drawn carriage...

Stay at The Marmara Taksim this valentines day, a five-star hotel located in the very heart of Istanbul, Taksim, offers a great package for Valentine’s Day including a night in a deluxe room and a romantic dinner at the Panorama Restaurant with the theme “Red & White” including live music. This “romance package” is 388 Euros.

An absolute must-do in Istanbul is to take a trip to the Turkish Baths! A traditional Turkish bath is one of the most important highlights in Istanbul - If you haven’t yet you have missed one of life’s great experiences and you will think never been cleaned before! The Turkish bath experience involves beautiful tile work, hot, steamy rooms, a wonderful gentle massage, a long sauna and discrete loofah washing. Big fluffy towels, more soap lather than you've ever seen finished with a lavender soap rub down with oils. A blissful valentines experience for you and your partner to enjoy.

So there you go, lots of love to spread around, and if you are single, then you probably hate Valentines Day so our apologies and have a great week anyway (and you can always sign up for an online dating service and save our advice for next year!).

Enjoy!

 

What's Floating Around Cloud 9? 4 Feb 2013

Welcome to another week and before you read any further, we should warn you in advance that we are after your cash. Well, maybe not your cash as such, but your sponsorship support…

Still with us?

Good!

We wouldn’t normally resort to being so blunt, it’s just that we have so many great event projects on the go, all offering great sponsorship opportunities, that it would be remiss of us not to mention them. Of course you might not be interested in sponsorship, but it provides a great means of broadening your competitive edge by improving your company's image, prestige and credibility and by supporting events that your target market finds attractive, a great way of finding new clients.

Sponsorship is vital in supporting events, especially awards where the income streams are limited, but for the sponsor it is a good way of increasing brand awareness, especially when a company can reinforce awareness among its target market and be involved in an event that attracts a similar target market.

Sponsorship is not an act of charity - it must show some form of positive return on investment and if done properly, then the sponsor can enjoy a wide range of benefits which include raising brand awareness and creating preference, creating positive PR and raising awareness of the organisation as a whole and also it can provide attractive content for a range of products and services.

Its usually also a great way to bring a corporate hospitality opportunity that promotes good relations with clients.

Such is the power of sponsorship, that there are even Sponsorship Awards, and the Hollis Sponsorship Awards are probably the most well known.  Winning or being shortlisted for a Hollis Sponsorship Award is a fantastic achievement; a huge boost to all who worked on the campaign and it’s tantamount to proof that your sponsorships work.

In these turbulent financial times, when threats of budget cuts are all around, you need to be able to offer concrete evidence to your board, your clients, employees, stakeholders and prospective sponsors that you know their business and your business inside out and that you have created a sponsorship that ticked all the vital boxes.

As Andy Lulham of Betfair quoted “The Hollis Awards are one of the highlights of the sponsorship calendar. Being shortlisted in the PR category for our Ashes cricket campaign, and subsequently picking-up the trophy, was a fantastic achievement and something that Betfair is extremely proud of. Not only does the award reflect the hard work that went into activating the partnership, it’s also testament to the fact that the sponsorship was successful in terms of meeting our objectives and delivering a  significant ROI.”

So that’s sponsorship for you….and if handled correctly, an extremely important tool in your marketing objectives.

If you are still with us….and looking for opportunities for your organisation then we have some cracking ones available, and, depending on who your target market might be, a wide range of possibilities.

If raising your profile amongst Journalists and Broadcasters is your objective, then The Midlands Media Awards will be an ideal platform for you. Scheduled for early June, the awards will recognise outstanding journalism from across the Midlands and provide sponsors with an ideal opportunity to mix with some of the leading journalists and broadcasters, many of them household names. You will be in great company and Birmingham Airport and Barclays Bank are already on board this year.

If you want to target the PR community then we have not one, not two but three separate opportunities available.

The first is The CIPR Northern Conference set for 19 June in Newcastle. The one day conference will see a range of high profile speakers deliver a fascinating insight on the industry, especially in light of the Leveson report. As part of the event, there will be a special networking and refreshment area and there are opportunities for sponsors and exhibitors alike to showcase themselves in an effective and inexpensive way.

If you are feeling a little more social in your approach to targeting the PR Community, then The Fresh PR Awards set for September, might be a little more appealing. As part of the “Freshtival”, a three day celebration of creativity and innovation in Advertising, Design, Media, Digital and PR, the Fresh PR Awards are an ideal corporate hospitality opportunity and great networking event, as well as providing unique benefits for sponsors.

We’re perhaps a little premature in mentioning the third opportunity to target the PR Community, but believe me, save some budget, its going to be big and beautiful and will change the face of communication events!

We have already briefly referred to “Freshtival 2013” but for anyone who wants to target the Creative, Digital or Media communities, then this is the event for you. One of the big advantages about any sponsorship packages for Fresh, is that creative input is also welcome from sponsors as well as the chance to mix and match the elements that are just right for you.

Outside of the Marketing and Communications Industry, there is also the chance to look at targeting the Oil & Gas Industry, with the first International PR Congress for this industry.

With a range of top-notch speakers, a fascinating programme and an exciting destination for the event, then this could be a very valuable sponsorship investment opportunity.

So there you have it, a great range of opportunities for 2013. We know budgets are tight, and its vital to stretch your marketing budgets as far as possible, but one of the core advantages we are able to offer sponsors here at Cloud 9 is flexibility. Pick the elements which appeal, ditch the ones that don’t – and we’ll work with you to create bespoke packages to match your budget.

Sold?

We hope so.

Please do drop us a line if you are interesting in sponsorship this year. We might just be able to help: paula@cloud9em.co.uk

Have a great week!