What's Floating Around Cloud 9? 18 September 2017

Welcome to another week and we're pleased to report that we had a successful event last week in Harrogate for the National Acute Pain Symposium and planning is already underway for NAPS 2018.

We had quite a late night driving back on Friday, combination of sat nav fail, horrendous traffic and the usual rush hour out of any major city or town, so half way back, being all ladies of a certain age, we needed to stop and, ahem, powder our noses.

The A1 is littered with services advertising petrol, toilets and catering options but unfortunately the one we picked had a separate petrol station and diner, and we thought the diner would be the better option facilities wise. Sadly, the rather worn A4 sign in the window made it very clear that if you were not a customer, then don't even think about coming in to use their toilets - charming! It wasn't event the usual polite notice!

This got us talking on the rest of the way back, about just how important toilets are when it comes to events - and yet how often do we all ask about these when booking a venue?

Some of the more experienced event professionals will of course ask about this, but sometimes we are so under pressure, that we just automatically assume that everything will be hunky dory in the bathroom department for events, especially corporate events.

Festival organisers or those running events outside will have the arduous pleasure of sorting portaloo's and luckily times have changed considerably in this area, with posh loo's becoming the norm for many.

This though is sadly not the case at some venues where the space is spectacular, but the number of toilets - and the condition of them - is not nearly up to par. However, some venues have really gone to town with their loo's so we thought, just in case you get caught short, you should know some of them!

 
 

If you are not bothered by heights then thirty-one floors up in The Shard, Aqua’s urinals could well have the best view from a loo in Europe, certainly for gents. It's not quite as impressive for ladies though, sorry girls.

Perhaps ladies should stick to Claridge's, where luxury is the name of the game. Steeped in history, the elegant ladies’ room not only has vanity areas with chairs and well lit mirrors, but also a coat check and attendant. It’s how every bathroom experience should be.

If you are in Mayfair, then Sketch is quirky with their bizarre egg-shaped loos. The 18th century venue has been given a futuristic makeover where guests are invited to step into their own personal pod to have a tiddle. Birdsong plays within the pristine white pods to help keep a sense of calm, but we guess if you don't like small spaces, how calm will be you be?!

So Loo's really do matter, in fact check out the Loo of the Year Awards if you don't believe us! We do wonder if the trophies are made of porcelain though?

Have a great week! 

What's Floating Around Cloud 9? 4 September 2017

Welcome to another week and after our Summer Break (although we use the word lightly as August was a bit of a wash out - let's be fair!), we are back and raring to go.

Lots to report event wise and we have a pretty packed agenda looming which starts next week with the National Acute Pain Symposium in Harrogate for 300 medical professionals at the Harrogate Convention Centre.This truly international event also features a trade exhibition and a large display of abstracts so lots going on!

This is followed by the UK Awards Conference in November which is an educational eventfor Awards Organisers in the UK, and is supported by an exhibition of suitable venues for holding awards ceremonies. Our friends at CHS are organising this element for us - and next week is almost the planning for the CHS Awards 2018. We have some amazing speakers taking part so if you have yet to book, now is the time!

November also features a great event for Warwick County Council which is designed to connect local suppliers with national buyers and is part of the Coventry and Warwickshire Business Festival. Warwickshire Food & Drink is set for 22 November at the Warwickshire Gold & Country Club and to date we have over 20 exhibitors signed up and a raft of buyers coming from all different sectors.

Planning wise, we are coordinating the Nottingham Media Festival which includes the Nottingham International Microfilm Festival, The Fresh Creative Awards, The VR Expo & Awards, The International Drone Awards, SLICE which is Student Lives in Creative Enterprises, a fun competition for Lego fans called Lego Legends and finally (so far at least) the World Supedrone Racing Championships - phew!

Our venue finding arm has also been very busy over the summer helping clients sort all manner of events from small intimate one off meetings to annual schedules and Fiona in our team has also been busy restructuring our Ambassadors Programme and on a recruitment drive.

Fresh Adventures is also very much on the go, and we have now partnered with Aviator World to ensure all of our adventurers are fully protected and the team here are busy scheduling some amazing and engaging trips for the creative industry.

Our Corporate Hospitality division has also been active and our amazing partners, Optimise Hospitality has been busy ensuring we have a great schedule to offer clients - and Nick has secured Rugby tickets for clients that are rarer than gold dust! 

We have also been helping with the AIEA events which included the AGM and we are now looing at the AIEA New Years Honours, which are set to be hilarious if nothing else.

So, never a  dull moment and today Paula is off to join the M&I Forum at the Compleat Angler in Marlow and later in the week is off to The Izaak Walton Hotel in Dovedale which is a new addition to the Trident Hospitality Portfolio.  

We hope everyone has had an equally productive Summer and that you did manage to at least grab a little bit of sunshine wherever you were!

Have a great week! 

What's Floating Around Cloud 9? Week Commencing 5 June 2017

Welcome to another week and our focus is very much Awards, Awards, Awards this week as we'd like to mention the inaugural UK Awards Conference which we've launched in conjunction with Boost Marketing. 

The forum of education, energy & exploration for awards & events organisers in all key sectors. Refresh, renew and revitalise your brand, learn how to improve your core delivery programme and the steps to increase both market awareness and the bottom line.

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With an array of incredible speakers, the opportunity to attend workshops that are relevant to you and your awards, a wealth of useful new suppliers, the UK Awards Conference is also introducing a revolutionary new bench marking scheme for awards organisers, based on the core principals of the event.

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Increase the credibility of your event, improve your education and innovate your next programme all in one day.

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Delegates also have the opportunity to shape future content of the event as this conference is designed to share best practice and improve industry standards.

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One of the initiatives we are aiming to unveil at the Conference is a new code of conduct, best practice policy and accreditation for anyone running or managing awards events and programmes. 

This national recognition will demonstrate your ethics, commitment and your professional approach to delivery. Above all, the charter will show your brand is alinged with trust, with transparency & technology which will benefit your business, your audience and your awards.

We're delighted to be working with a host of professional and passionate organisations all of whom share the vision and values of both a new charter for awards organisers and the inaugural conference. We welcome any comments, suggestions or feedback you may have and with your support we look forward to growing and improving the event each year.

Scheduled for 7 November, the event is sure to create a buzz around the industry so if you work in the Awards sector, please make sure you register online for this event, being held at the Cavendish Conference Centre in London. 

Whilst we are on the subject of Awards we are also pleased to be involved in a new initiative for for one of our clients which is the National Acute Pain Awards, part of the National Acute Pain Symposium, scheduled for September in Harrogate.

Recognising the great work of the Pain Departments around the UK, the awards will be an important part of the event this year, so for additional details please take a look at the website.

Lastly, a little call for help please. As part of the Awards initiative, we're asking anyone involved in Awards to take part in a little survey please, just to let us get a better idea of the industry and it's structure. You could win a place at the Conference by completing the survey, so if you can spare us five minutes, well maybe ten, that would be great!

Have a fabulous week!