What's Floating Around Cloud 9? 30 May 2016

Welcome to another week and as it was the #CHSAWARDS16 in Manchester last week which were brilliantly hosted by Andy Johnson, this week we have handed over our blog to him!

Martin Gaisford as Hercule Poirot.
Picture:artdecoproductions

The Mysterious case of Poirot, the fire drill and

 the locked car park

It was a night that would have taxed the “little gray cells” of Agatha Christie’s most famous detective.

It started inauspiciously enough.

I got to the Manchester Mercure Piccadilly Hotel at around 5pm to rehearse, as I was hosting the CHS Awards 2016.

It started to get a little bit Belgian just before dinner was due to be served. There we were in all our DJ and posh frock finery (I went for the DJ as opposed to the frock on this occasion) and the fire alarm went off.

Nobody moved a muscle. There was no announcement. Eventually after a good 15 minutes we were told to make our way out. So we ambled into the foyer. We hung around a bit. Someone said it was a false alarm so we made our way back in to sit down. Only to be ushered out straight away saying we had to vacate the building.

So we shuffled out to Portland Street and stood outside in the drizzle for another ten minutes. People then started to drift off down the car park ramp and we were eventually re-united with other guests at the side of the hotel – complete now – with two fire engines. Again, no official word, no practiced drill, just a few harassed members of staff in fluorescent vests looking totally flummoxed.

The nearest we came to actual danger was when two girls nearly got ran over by a bus trying to take a selfie with a fireman in the background.Eventually we drifted back inside and got back to our tables at 9pm, when I was supposed to be doing my thing as MC.

Then the Poirot thing happened. Martin Gaisford had come up to Manchester as a guest of the indomitable Paula Kelsey, a true force of nature and boss of the events company Cloud 9.

A trained actor, Martin was roped in at the last minute to do the Voice of God bit, announcing the nominations.

It was only when we were chatting afterwards that I found out that not only does he run a very successful murder mystery productions company, who have performed for Stella McCartney’s hen party celebrations and at Richard Branson’s Lake Como residence, but he is also the UK’s No 1 Hercule Poirot lookalike.

Even he was at a loss to solve the mystery of why the fire alarm went off and how inept the hotel were in carrying out a half-decent fire drill.

Nevertheless, the evening was a great success. Showcasing the fantastic venues and events in the UK.

Cast your eye over a few of the winners, including, The Coniston Hotel & Spa, Horizon Leeds, The Grand Hotel York, Ardencote Manor, Thorpe Park Manor and Solent Forts, and you can see what a vibrant sector it is.

So well done to all of them, Paula and the team at Cloud 9, and the CHS Group UK.

The drama wasn’t over though.

I’d parked next door in the Piccadilly Plaza, Because of the delays, I got back in the teeming rain to discover the car park was locked.

Hercule couldn’t solve this problem, so I rang NCP’s emergency number and within 15 minutes, they had sent a man with a van to get me in and get me home. Great customer service,  so thanks NCP!

Even Agatha Christie would have struggled to make this one up!

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What's Floating Around Cloud 9? 9 May 2016

Welcome to another week and how fantastic that the sun is shining! Here at Cloud 9 Towers we are continuing the countdown to the CHS Awards and we're delighted that tickets are selling out fast - we have well over 200 guests confirmed so far so its looking like we are set a great evening.

Additionally, thanks to our friends at Grovesnor Casino's, the event is about to get even better as all of the guests attending the Awards have the opportunity to attend a fantastic after party from midnight onwards at their nearby Manchester venue - after the entertainment, gaming tables and bacon butties post ceremony of course!

In other news this week, one of the most unusual invitations we've had recently is to attend a performance of Der Freischütz and a Midsummer Night's Dream with live narration from 1623's Ben Spiller.

Nothing unusual about that you might think, but the setting is not some drafty old concert hall, instead it's a big, purple, portable and inflatable venue where where every show is different. Adaptable, mobile, stirring, evocative and as yet undiscovered, solve the mystery of what lies inside the Cabinet of Curiosity for yourself. Intrigue awaits you...

As part of this year’s Derby Book Festival and the Grand Tour 2016, Sinfonia Viva will present Felix Mendelssohn’s interpretation of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Der Freischützby Carl Maria von Weber. Both considered master classes in storytelling bravado, these tales are at once worlds apart and yet universally linked.

Mendelssohn was the great composer of The Grand Tour era, having gone on The Grand Tour of Europe during his lifetime. A Midsummer Night’s Dream is among his best loved works and is itself a journey into the beautiful dreamlike world of Shakespeare’s classic play. This performance will not only feature extracts from Mendelsohn’s score, but will also allow you to experience the story through live narration from 1623's Ben Spiller.   

Weber’s Der Freischütz is based on the German folk tale of the same name and is considered a monumental moment in German storytelling and music. Telling a tale of love, dark magic and feudal rivalry, it is an epic story that takes you on an incredible journey to 17th century Eastern Europe.

Drawing on our human need for musical imagination Sinfonia Viva reinterpret these two classic tales through narration and chamber music. Vivid, powerful and expertly adapted, this performance is not to be missed. 

Sinfonia Viva are well worth remembering as if you would like to add a touch of class, intrigue and mystery to one of your forthcoming events, then as a performing organisation they can provide music in many styles and with many different combinations of instruments from 55 down to a trio. 

From formal concerts to chamber music to background music for events, they can cover it all and love to work on imagining, developing and delivering special, bespoke projects ideal for clients looking for something a little different..so give them a try.

This event is part of the Grand Tour and Derby Book Festival and the Grand Tour is certainly on our radar as we have been looking at events to coincide with some of the exhibitions for clients.

From casino's to concerts to CHS, its another busy week ahead, so have a good one everyone!

What's Floating Around Cloud 9? 25 April 2016

Welcome to another week and this week its all about the CHS Show which takes place in Leeds tomorrow at the First Direct Arena. The Conference and Hospitality Show (CHS) is the leading event in the North for event organisers, venue finders and PAs.

The show is now in its 7^th year and for 2016 is moving from Elland Road to the world class First Direct arena in central Leeds. The event incorporates an exhibition of national companies - including venues, hotels and suppliers of meetings products and services, numerous education sessions and networking events.

The show has a well-established hosted buyer programme and specialist education streams serving both the PA and the event organiser and it has to be said, that out of the oodles of event trade shows that take place within our industry each year, CHS is right up there as one of our favourites here at Cloud 9 Towers.

We are lucky enough to attend as Hosted Buyers which means that the lovely CHS people treat us to an overnight stay and welcome party the night before the exhibition and even though we are hosted, we are not obligated to do a set number of appointments which is usually the case.

Instead at CHS we have the opportunity to wander round and talk to those venues exhibiting with who we are interested in finding out more, or simply catching up with those properties that we know well and have an existing working relationship with.

This informal approach is one of the reasons we love CHS and also the fact its just one day is also a plus as many of the shows these days run over two or three days and if you are hosted, it can be a big chunk out of your working week to attend.

But what makes Trade Shows important for our, and all other businesses?  With so many potential clients gathered in the same venue, trade shows present incredible marketing opportunities. They give companies the chance to connect with the customers who are most interested in what the company offers. 

Most companies set up booths featuring video displays, printed signs, promotional materials, and well informed sales people to highlight what is exemplary and appealing about the company. Representatives will provide presentations, hold competitions and all sorts of promotional activity to capture the attention of trade show attendees and CHS is no exception.

We're not typical trade show visitors though as if you are not careful you can find yourself bogged down by a million and one brochures - many of them duplicated if more than one of us is attending and we prefer to try and keep most of activities online these days. So exhibitors don't need to worry about the bag collectors from our end anyway - you know the type - not interested in the stand apart from the freebies! 

Luckily in our industry, everyone who attends CHS will be interested and qualified to attend so its unlikely that the exhibitors will be plagued by lots of visitors wasting their time.

However, exhibitors can sometimes get it wrong and those that don't understand the importance of marketing in advance can fail to get visitors to engage at their show. Also exhibitors who don't have a clear goal can come a cropper. It's all well and good handing out leaflets and promotional material but if you want to attract business then make sure you are getting your message across.

Additionally, its all very well collecting a million and one business cards, but exhibitors should concentrate on the quality of the visitors to their stand, not the quantity. Its also really important to follow up as many leads as possible as soon as possible after the show.

Promotional giveaways are a constant presence at trade shows and you can spend a fortune on water bottles, bags, phone chargers, pens, stress balls, as well as printed brochures, but what are these really doing for you, especially if you’re handing them out to anyone who walks by the booth.

 

Lastly, social media really counts as well and is a great way to engage at exhibitions, with photos and commentary online.

 

We'll be engaging at CHS on Tuesday and using the assigned hash tag #CHSRocks and in our opinion, it certainly does!

 

Have a great week everyone and don't forget that the nominations for the CHS Awards are out on Tuesday too...

 

 

 

 

What's Floating Around Cloud 9? 4 April 2016

Welcome to another week at Cloud 9 Towers and we can't quite believe that April has come around so quickly - at this rate it will be Christmas before we know it!  We are still very busy as always and this month see's us at the Midlands Media Awards for Students with the Birmingham Press Club, attending CHS in Leeds and gearing up for the CHS Awards in Manchester.

Whilst we are on the subject of the CHS Awards, we are pleased to be working with GTAssociates who are kindly sponsoring one of the categories at the awards, and we are delighted to welcome a guest blog from them this week, all about the magic of Venice, Capri and the Amalfi Coast.

"GTAssociates and our DMC family love working with Cloud 9 and, below, share an example of what you may do in Italy.

 

“Venice is like eating an entire box of chocolate liqueurs in one go.”  Truman Capote

Venice is a city of lavish fantasy; arguably the most beautiful city in the world. A city to spellbind your audience be it for Corporate meetings, Incentive travel, Conferences or other Events. Venice defies both the seas and description while its age defying beauty captures every visitor’s imagination.

Venice was created more than 1,000 years ago by men who dared defy the sea: erecting their splendid palaces and churches on mud banks in a swampy and treacherous lagoon. For centuries Venice was the mistress of trade between Europe and the Orient. Today Venice is a mistress of art, historic architecture and romance.

A beguiling place to meet. A master of Meetings and Incentive programmes. Sunlight shimmers and silvery mist softens every perspective here so small wonder the city was renowned during the Renaissance for its artists’ rendering of colour. Venice is full of secrets, ineffably romantic and an exotic mélange of Byzantine, Gothic, and Renaissance styles.

"You may have the universe if I may have Italy" Giuseppe Verdi

Capri & Amalfi Coast: Let this alluring Land of The Sirens lure you to amazing VIP Travel Incentives and Board Meetings. According to Homer The Sirens lured you onto the rocks. Nowadays with Capri & the Amalfi coast you are “lost” only in the sense you will be at a loss to choose where to hold your Event. 

Capri: Carefree, captivating and romantic. Beautiful beaches, amazing rock formations, luxurious hotels, nightlife, a sailing regatta in May, swimming marathon, summer classical music concerts and an International Folklore Festival, the Capri film festival in December and to end the year a spectacular fireworks display in La Piazzetta on New Year’s Eve. 

Capri an island loved by artists, writers, the rich and famous. Capri entertains and enchants so entertain and enchant your top performers or top clients with a travel Incentive to Capri."

Our thanks for a great insight in to the wonders of Italy and please do let us know if you have any requests as we would be delighted, along with GTAssociates to get a proposal over to you. Have a great week all! 

 

What's Floating Around Cloud 9? 22 March 2016

Welcome to another week as Paula is currently stranded in Alicante – we have taken the opportunity to infiltrate the C9 Blog!!  Paula PLEASE return soon – we need you!!

 

Special thanks to all our CHS Judging panel who have very kindly agreed to judge entries for #CHSAwards16.  We appreciate your support and value your expertise. 

We are currently immersed in lots of wonderful submissions for our CHS Awards 16 http://www.chs-awards16.co.uk/#!sponsor-us/c146e – thank you to all Entrants for their hard work.   We have been so impressed with the standard of entries and the amazing venues.

Judging is now underway and the nominees will be announced at the Conference & Hospitality Show at the First Direct Arena, Leeds on 26 April 2016 - http://www.conferenceandhospitalityshow.co.uk/. CHS Awards dinner tickets are selling fast – so please call Janet or Carol to book – we want to make sure everyone can go!! 

Midlands Media Student Awards is in full swing and again we have been astounded by the level and standard of entries received.  Charlotte is doing an amazing job with all the entries and judging is under way.  www.midlandsmedia.co.uk. Cloud 9 is very proud to produce the Awards for the Birmingham Press Club.

Paula and all the Staff at Cloud 9 Towers want to wish you an Eggscellent Easter.  We were trying not to have chocolate during March – as part of our Meagre March campaign.  However, we all fell at the first hurdle and now have Anxious April to contend with in our quest to lose weight for the CHS Awards’ dinner in Manchester on 26th May at the Manchester Mercure Piccadilly Hotel.  Watch this space for our progress!!

Have a great week!