What's Floating Around Cloud 9? 13 March 2017

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Have a great week!

What's Floating Around Cloud 9? 16 January 2017

Welcome to another week and its Blue Monday, officially the most depressing day of the year apparently. Well not here at Cloud 9 Towers, we don’t do depressed so here are 9 reasons to embrace the day and look ahead positively!

Firstly today is a great day to kick start something new, have a different lunch,  take some exercise or finally invest a little time and unsubscribe from any emails that you no longer wish to receive. Alternatively you could plan an event for your team – and save yourself some time and trouble by using our free venue finding service. So Monday 16 January is now known at Cloud 9 Monday instead of Blue Monday!

Chinese New Year starts on 28 January and it’s the year of the Rooster. We’re not suggesting that you use this an excuse for a take-away but if you have an International Event Schedule and you are looking for a potential destination, then why not make China an option.

Maritim Hotels has confirmed plans to open two new hotels in China, in Hangzhou and Hefei. Well located in prosperous cities in eastern China, both properties will be expertly designed, stunning new-build hotels featuring a distinctive interior inspired by the local culture of the region. Ask us for details of these amazing new properties for your next international event.

February 28 is Shrove Tuesday or Pancake Day - The ancient Greeks and Romans ate pancakes, sweetened with honey; the Elizabethans ate them flavoured with spices, rosewater, sherry, and apples. They were traditionally eaten in quantity on Shrove Tuesday, a day of feasting and partying before the beginning of Lent and whilst we can’t do much to take you to a bygone age here, we can suggest that maybe an event in Greece this year is worth a look.

Sani Resort, Greece’s much-loved five-star resort and ecological reserve, is expanding with a band new adult-friendly hotel, Sani Dunes, in 2017. The chic new destination will offer a private beach, indoor and outdoor heated pools, an exclusive spa with six private treatment rooms including a couple’s suite with private steam bath, a special Thai massage cabin, Jacuzzi, fitness studio and gourmet restaurants. With 80 open-plan suites and 56 spacious rooms with handcrafted furniture and uncluttered interiors, it will be one of the hottest places for events and escapes in 2017.

March 17 is St Patricks Day so what a great excuse to make Dublin a go to destination for your next event. It is reported that billionaire Virgin boss Richard Branson is looking to tap into the ongoing demand for hotel rooms in Dublin by establishing a new property in the capital.

"Dublin is a city we're actively pursuing as part of our European growth strategy," said Alex Andjel, vice-president of development for the company, adding that, "At this stage, we have not confirmed a location. Further details will be release in due course so look out for a new Virgin Hotel in the City.

On April 23 its St Georges Day, so why not consider the Saint Georges Hotel in central London for your next event. The Directors Boardroom on the 15th floor overlooking the West End is ideal for meetings and private dining for up to 10 people. It is also possible for the Directors boardroom to be combined with the Small Lounge to accommodate up to 18 people.

The Heights Venue next to Heights Restaurant Bar and Lounge on the 15th floor with a wall of windows can cater for functions ranging from formal dinners, cocktail parties and wedding receptions for up to 100 guests. This area features a wooden floor, a raised balcony, modern furnishings as well as high quality audio equipment and plasma screens. Ask us for details of this hidden London gem.

May 9 is known as Liberation Day in Guernsey and Jersey, so if you fancy getting away from it all for your next event, but without a huge commute or flight, then both of these charming channel islands could be ideal.

Hand Picked Hotels has introduced a range of options for meetings, conferences and business events to ensure that delegates enjoy a productive, creative and memorable experience without the distractions of the office.

The Channel Islands hotels are great places to escape for meetings. In Jersey, L’Horizon Beach Hotel & Spa and Grand Jersey Hotel & Spa have stunning sea views and outdoor terraces. St Pierre Park Hotel & Golf Resort in Guernsey, set in 35 acres and overlooking a beautiful lake,   provides a range of spaces. The newly refurbished La Fontaine Suite has a capacity for 350 for a reception.

The big American Eclipse on August 21 offers a range of great destinations in order to enjoy the event and there are lots of places claiming to offer the best view and best parties. If you stick to the length of time you can enjoy the eclipse, then we suggest Hopkinsville, Kentucky where they have totality for 2 minutes and 41.2 seconds.

The civic boosters of Hopkinsville cite their fair city as the best spot in the nation for the eclipse. While Hopkinsville is a great location, you can travel for hundreds of miles east and west along the eclipse centerline and receive within 1 or 2 seconds of maximum eclipse duration. But if you would like to join a festive crowd, Hopkinsville will certainly be a great location to enjoy the eclipse.

31 October is of course Halloween and although the American influence of making this a major holiday in the Uk continues to expand, if you want a truly magical Halloween experience, then Londonderry in Northern Ireland is for you – just ask some of our team who have first hand experience of this amazing destination which is now the European Capital of Halloween!

And finally, although you may have only jst recovered from this festive season, no reason to plan ahead and get next years Christmas Party all sewn up. From 1 December until the big day itself we’ll be personally selecting the best hotels and venues for our clients to celebrate Christmas 2017 in style.

So there you have it, no reason to be blue today – just on Cloud 9!

 
Have a great week and enjoy.