What's Floating Around Cloud 9? 20 October 2014

Welcome to another week and we are certainly in the clouds this week as it's all about flying here at C9 Towers!

Not only are we working with the fabulous people at Cello (more about them later) but we have been really interested to see some of the massive developments airlines are making in terms of enhancing the whole flight experience.

Thomson Airways — which helps define leisure travel in Europe — has thought outside the fuselage when planning its new cabin interiors for its Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, bringing the coziness of travel by train to the skies.

There’s lots of talk of intermodal travel these days, but that usually involves one form of transport taking you directly to another seamlessly. Instead, Thomson blends the best of two modes of travel into what promises to be a unique travel experience in the skies.

The leisure airline says this forms part of “a five-year vision to change the face of holiday flying.” It will introduce new, more efficient and comfortable aircraft, add more long-haul destinations and introduce “innovative on-board product and service concepts,.” the airline states.

Thomson Airways announced that it will add two more Dreamliners and take delivery of 47 new Boeing 737 MAX aircraft by 2020, modernizing Thomson Airways’ fleet as one of the youngest in the UK, at an average age of just five years.

The Family Booth concept in the Thomson cabins would allow parents and children, or friends, traveling together to sit face to face, enjoying conversation and a shared dining experience with a folding table between them.

It’s not the first time we’ve seen the lounge seating concept — in fact it was a feature of the Southwest Airlines cabins for years — but Thomson expressly intends to target this toward people traveling together, which turns the concept from an awkward face-to-face with strangers to a pleasant coming together of families.

Other family friendly features of the new Thomson concepts include treats for the kiddies, which result in a more pleasant flight for the adults. An on-board kids’ club will include Thomson and First Choice child care with “a fully trained member of the crew to help parents keep the kids entertained with arts, crafts and quizzes that relate to the destination,” the airline states.

Thomson has also developed a concept to make flying more pleasant and comfortable for couples as it is introducing a triple seat with a multi-function folding middle seat.Thomson’s Duo-seats are seats designed for lovers; comprising three innovative pod-style seats which become two with a table for champagne, in-seat charging and mood lighting.

The folding middle has was a popular feature in vintage aviation, and still flies on some carriers with an extra-narrow middle in business class, but the full-sized middle will afford Thomson flexibility to sell the seats according to demand from singles. Beyond seating, Thomson has introduced an onboard snack bar where its Premium passengers will find drinks and snacks.

Staying with all things flighty this week, 

Virgin America prides itself on being a nontraditional airline, a characteristic that bleeds into its marketing strategy.

The airline this week uploaded a 5-hour 46-minute video to YouTube that traces the supposed real-time events on a flight from Newark to San Francisco.

The airline, the flight, and its passengers; however, are all fake. The video is a playful way to poke fun at the much-complained-about experiences that travelers endure on some domestic flights. Although the airline wouldn’t share the costs of producing the spoof, it is evident from the video that they were not high. We don't have time to watch the entire thing, but the short version is quite fun!

 And now on to our favourite airliner, Cello, based in Birmingham. If you want to experience the luxury of VIP air travel in the magnificent comfort of your own 46 seat corporate or private charter jet, look no further than Cello Aviation.

Cello Aviation's AVRO ABJ brings convenience, comfort and speed to European VIP private air charter operations, not to mention a product quality that surpasses anything currently in the corporate jet hire marketplace.

Perfect for almost any client requirement including corporate travel, sporting events [for travelling teams or fans], honeymoons or corporate events, Cello's personal service and commitment to client satisfaction is second to none.

The Cello's private or corporate jet hire service is simple - we exist to provide all of our highly valued clients with the best available VIP private jet charter and corporate jet hire options.

We are working with Cello on some very exclusive excursions so watch this space and you could soon be experiencing a whole new level of service and style....

Have a great week and keep flying high....!

What's Floating Around Cloud 9? 7 July 2014

Welcome to another week and although we are incredibly busy with a variety of projects for clients, it would only be fitting to class this week as party central!

As part of The Meetings Show, which the majority of the team are attending, we have been inundated with invitations to attend some rather lovely events and although it's not physically possibly to attend everything, we are doing our best to hold up the Cloud 9 banner this next week.

As hosted buyers, we're jumping on an early train down on the Tuesday and by the time we get to London we are sure that some of our industry colleagues will be nursing sore heads from the rather fabulous Lime Venue Portfolio Party which is tonight. 

Held at the fantastic Science Museum without the daytime crowds, guests will enjoy a wonderful cocktail reception, win great prizes, and meet great people, suppliers and the UK's largest portfolio of unusual venues. With the award winning catering of Payne and Gunter and entertainment by Steampunk entertainers, it looks like a great do.

Tuesday evening will see us at the Jamaican Embassy with the lovely people from Sandals and Virgin Atlantic, as they host a night of Caribean fun. With rum punch and steel bands, we only hope that the weather is as good as it is in Jamaica!

Wednesday night is Accor Party and we are really looking forward to it as we will have the opportunity to brag about our footballing skills (see last weeks blog) in the marvellous High Road House, whilst enjoying cocktails and canapes with some amazing entertainment.

Thursday as we head home, Shannon and Paula are taking a diversion to Birmingham for not one, but two Summer BBQ's. The first at a regular venue of ours, Aston Villa and the second with a client at The Studio.

By Friday we might be all partied out, but the Cloud 9 show goes on and we are a hardened bunch here so work will continue all week. 

We recognise that we are very lucky to work in such an engaging and entertaining industry, and this got us thinking, with so many party invitations (and we don't accept that many we promise) which are the biggest and best parties in the world?

After a little light digging, its amazing at just what goes on in the world and starting with Thailand, there is the Full Moon Party. Held either the night before or after the full moon, these all-night ragers draw as many as 30,000 people. Revellers drop in to bars and clubs along the beach to dance and indulge in liquor sold in buckets. There are several huge sound systems along the beach, and partiers can hear a range of music from R&B to trance and house. Although these parties have been associated with drug use, authorities on the island are reportedly cleaning up the celebrations.

Tomato juice flows through the streets of Bunol on the last Wednesday of August as revellers take part in the world’s largest tomato fight. La Tomatina in Spain see's festivities begin in the town square where there is a huge pole covered in soap and with a leg of ham at the top. Participants try to scramble up the pole to retrieve the ham as onlookers throw buckets of water on the crowd from balconies above. After a gun is fired to signal the beginning of the fight, huge trucks carrying tomatoes appear. People grab their ammunition and pelt each other in the streets until the pistol sounds again, marking the end of the event.

This annual Carnival of Ivrea celebrates the city’s liberation from a baron who starved citizens during Medieval times. As the story goes, a miller’s daughter roused the town to revolt and drive out the baron. The event, which takes place the week before Lent, is perhaps best known for its raucous Battle of the Oranges. Teams gather in the city’s main squares to re-enact the citizen’s rebellion by lobbing oranges at one another. Anyone can join a team to participate, but you might want to wear your raincoat and Wellies.

Fasnacht, in Switzerland is the country's biggest party with roughly 20,000 masked revellers taking part. Festivities kick off at four in the morning on the Monday after Ash Wednesday, when all the lights in the city go out and groups of costumed pipers and drummers parade through the town with lanterns. Celebrations continue throughout the week with lots of drinking and singing. Some groups act out notable events from the previous year in what’s known as the Schnitzelbängg.

Burning Man, Nevada: This infamous festival began in 1986 with the burning of a large-scale effigy to mark the summer solstice. It’s since grown into a week-long annual event that draws more than 48,000 people to the Black Rock Dessert. Held during the week before Labour Day, participants set up camp in the desert to celebrate art, self-expression and self-reliance. Each year has a theme which artists are encouraged to interpret through installations and performances. “Mutant vehicles,” redesigned cars and trucks, are staples of the event, as is the burning of a 40-foot “Man” structure.

For nine days in October, Cape Breton is alive with Celtic culture from all over the world. This annual festival draws more than 10,000 visitors to celebrate with music, dance and events in communities across the island. Craft workshops, lectures on Celtic history and square dances are all on offer, as are community meals where visitors and community members come together over home-cooked food. Artists get together for an informal jam session at the Festival Club, located at the Gaelic College in St. Ann’s, where the bar is open until 3 am.

Songkran in Thailand marks the Thai New Year, which is celebrated in the second week of April. This is the hottest time of the year in Thailand, so it makes sense that the biggest Songkran tradition is to throw water on people. A soaking is considered a blessing and it’s a sacred practice. Traditionally, people would bestow blessings by pouring scented water on each other’s hands. But today, Thais of all ages engage in full-blown water fights, using buckets, hoses and water guns to celebrate the event. Now we like a good water fight at Cloud 9 but then again, we would have to invest in some serious water proof mascara we feel!

With Bay to Breakers, in San Francisco This is a 12k race and party rolled into one. Held annually in late May, it’s one of the oldest foot races in the world and draws more than 50,000 participants. What makes Bay to Breakers so much fun is that many people run in wacky costumes. There’s a costume contest offering prizes for categories including Most Original, Best Group and Best Musical Theme. Several live bands provide a lively soundtrack along the route. One of the worrying things about this particular party is the amount of people who choose to run completely naked! Just Google it if you don't believe us!

So party central indeed, have a great week and enjoy!