What's Floating Around Cloud 9? 17 August 2015

Welcome to another week and rather than continue our series on new hotel openings, we thought it was timely to talk about the whole issue of Fam trips and what constitutes a good one. Additionally which invitations should you accept and which shouldn't you?  For the uneducated amongst you, fam trips or familiarisation trips are a great way to discover new venues and to really get a grip on potential new venues for any new enquiries that might come your way. 

Along with many other agencies, we get a bit inundated here at Cloud 9 Towers, with invitations to all sorts of open days, weekends, lunches, dinners, breakfasts, excursions and lots of opportunities to explore far flung destinations abroad.

Getting the balance right between having enough staff in the office to cover our workload but also ensuring we use these experiences as an education can be a bit tricky - and where we can, we also want to try and convert business at some point so that we do actually deliver a return on the investment that is made on us. We don't want to be known as Fammer Scammers! That's not an official term but we love it!

For example, Paula went on a great trip at the back end of 2014 to Amsterdam with Accor Hotels, but it was only this last month that we managed to get some business in two of the hotels that featured as part of the trip.

 

Fam's are also a great way to connect with our agents and sometimes this can be equally as interesting as its always useful to discover just how other agents are doing, and how they approach the various issues that sometimes arise in this business of ours.

It's fair to say that if we wanted, we could probably be at something or other almost every weekend of the year, and the number of invites we have to turn down by far outweighs those that we accept. 

A client of ours in the Travel Industry regular takes agents away and its always interesting to hear stories about the trips and just how badly some of the guests behave on these trips - despite the fact they are fully hosted and paid for. 

Unfortunately, we have also witnessed this here as on some trips we have noticed both a distinct lack of manners and grumbles about hotel rooms, travel arrangements and even really petty stuff such as having to buy the odd drink or cover extras like newspapers. It never fails to amaze us just how much some people take these invitations for granted and we have a strict policy here when it comes to fams.

We only accept those when we think we may actually have a chance at getting some business for the property, destination or region. We always make sure we are on time and genuinely interested in the show rounds, be a hotel, venue or area. It doesn't matter whether we are seeing 17 different categories of hotel bedrooms in a single hotel, we maintain our enthusiasm. We tweet and put it out there on social media, both in advance, during and afterwards and we always, always, always, thank our hosts and the venues included for the wonderful experience. It is after all just good manners.

And, we only go if we have the time to do it!

Judy Allen wrote a great book called Event Planning Ethics and Etiquette: A Principled Approach to the Business of Special Event Management and it has a great chapter on Fams with the odd horror story thrown in for good measure, but its a must on this subject.

 Virtual Fams are a great idea if you don't have time but want to get a feel for a venue and Meet Pie have a great online destination reference tool for event planners.  Containing all the relevant data needed for meetings and incentive travel organisers to build an event programme, Virtual Fam Trip is constantly updated to provide necessary real time information for event planners - from dates of public holidays to visa requirements, meeting venues to local destination management companies, team-building to transportation, weather conditions to restaurants plus useful additional links and more. In this fast-moving world, Virtual Fam Trip gives you everything you need to research your next event location without even leaving your desk, allowing you to respond to the most demanding brief quickly and efficiently.

So, what's our Fam diary looking like? Well, Carol has just returned from a rather lovely visit to Ardencote Manor in Claverdon, Warwickshire. Over the years the Ardencote has evolved from a family home to an award winning Hotel and Country Club offering unrivalled facilities and excellent customer service. It's more a resort property these days with a Spa, Leisure Club and all sorts of really great facilities and its fair to report that Carol loved it and is already trying to interest clients in the venue for their next event.

Rubina is off to Scotland with Gleneagles next month, and Paula is off this coming weekend with Accor to enjoy Chester Races Ladies Day and three of the Mercure Hotels in the North West. And we have just signed up our new signing for IBTM in November, which includes a fam to Madrid....

So, that's it for this week, enjoy and we'll see you next week!

What's Floating Around Cloud 9? 10 August 2015

Welcome to another week and whilst we are enjoying some sunshine here at Cloud 9 towers, we're continuing our series looking at new hotel developments around the globe.  

This week, we're off to a place where it's always sunny, and sometimes even a little too hot for us fluffy white lot! 

Having secured the bid to host World Expo 2020, big things are on the horizon for Dubai. The six-month run will be the first time the event has ever taken place in the Middle East, which will also be the start of the country’s Golden Jubilee anniversary celebrations. With an estimated 25 million visitors set to make their way to the Dubai desert, the rush is on to open a convoy of remarkable new hotels.

Sprawled out along the Dubai Creek is an opulent project by Italian mega-brand Versace. A 214-room hotel will be flanked on either side by two wings of palatial residences designed with the upper crust in mind. The thread count is set to be high, the floors mosaic and marbled and the rooms completely outfitted with Versace’s signature fabrics and finishes. Original plans called for a “refrigerated beach”, but this has since been scrapped. But chances are this won’t sway your decision on staying at the Palazzo Versace Dubai. If anything, it’ll be the price. How much will a night be? Well, if you have to ask, you probably can't afford it!

The famed Hollywood studio, Paramount Pictures will lend its name and prestige to a four-tower development
located in western Dubai showcasing immaculate views of the city’s skyline and jet setter luxury amenities such as private yacht and jet charters. You can guarantee this hotel will be a looker if you have seen the films they've created in the past. 

You would've thought that hotel designs couldn't get any better after these. But a more modernised hotel, soon to be open in late 2015 'Kempinski Al-Othman Hotel, Al-Khobar' boasts 141 rooms, 57 suites and 20 elegantly appointed serviced apartments. Nine restaurants and cafes are sure to bring inventive cuisine experiences to the local market.

 

The Hong Kong-based Langham Hospitality Group will not only open its first establishment in the Middle East, but also the company’s first resort in what it’s calling a “global collection”. The whopping 323-room resort will provide all guests with beautiful outdoor terraces where they can all enjoy the sun, breath-taking seascapes of the Persian Gulf, along with a 13,000 square foot recreational facility including a pool, kids club and the Chuan Spa with 26 treatment rooms.

If you are looking to stay close to shopping and city amenities is what you’re after then The Address The BLVD will be the perfect place to stay come 2015. Standing 370m high, the 72-storey building will include 523 private residences along with a 200-room, an astonishing five-star hotel. The hotel will be linked to Downtown Dubai via an air-conditioned footbridge, allowing guests to enjoy a world of superlatives within walking distance.

Back to reality, we could all do with a holiday to the above hotels. But until then, Have a great week!

What's Floating Around Cloud 9? 3 August 2015

Welcome to another week and its another one in our current series looking at new hotels around the world. This week if you have ever heard the expression "Made in Taiwan" then this week's blog will be right up your street, as we head over to the East to look at some of the new hotels opening in far flung destinations.

We start with the Westin Tashee Resort which opened on 1 July, and is situated in northwest Taiwan amid verdant hills and forests, Taoyuan County sits at the edge of the greater Taipei area. The Westin Tashee Resort, Taoyuan is conveniently located in Daxi on Rixin Road. Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) is a 40-minute drive away, Taipei Songshan Airport (TSA) is 50 minutes away, and the Taoyuan Railway Station can be reached by car in 20 minutes.

Walk along the transparent skywalk at Xiao Wulai Scenic Area, and marvel at the three-tier waterfall, redwood forest, and panoramic views from the observation deck. Find spiritual wellness in an ancient cypress forest at Mount LaLa. Elevate your senses and sample delightful fish at the Shihmen Reservoir. The rich red and golden maple leaves are especially beautiful in season (November through January). Highlighted by a magnificent temple in its center, Longtan Pond is equally enriching day or night. Just 20 minutes from the hotel is the serene Cihu Mausoleum, the final resting place of the former president of Taiwan, Chiang Kai-Shek.

Play a stimulating round of golf at Ta Shee Golf & Country Club. Redesigned by Robert Trent Jones II, the 27-hole championship course is located next to the hotel. Delight in the rides, water park, and dozens of miniature models of famous buildings from around the world at Windows on China. The theme park is only 40 minutes by car from the hotel, the theme park is fun for the entire family.

Peruse the wonderful traditional architecture and shops on Daxi Old Street. Once a hub for camphor and tea trade, this famous street also offers a wide array of Daxi specialties, including bean curd dishes and peanut caramel candy. More entertainment can be found in Taiwan’s celebrated night markets. Featuring stalls selling all kinds of goods, and an impressive array of Taiwanese snacks, both the Taoyuan Tourist Night Market and the Jhongli Xinming Night Market are not to be missed.

From Taiwain we move to Thailand and the first hotel is the Hotel Indigo in Bangkok.

Have a great week, and we'll catch you soon! 

What's Floating Around Cloud 9? 27 July 2015

Welcome to another week and it's another busy one here at Cloud 9 Towers as most of the team are off to Amsterdam this week to oversee judging for the Fresh Creative Awards.

We're staying at The Mercure Hotel Amsterdam City is set in a beautiful location by the river and provides easy access to the ArenA, Ziggo Dome, Zuid-As business district and the centre of Amsterdam. The hotel is just 5 minutes away from the RAI Convention Center and you  can also reach the city centre by public transport in just 10 minutes. 

Whilst it should be a pretty good couple of days with lots of hard work, we will also be having a couple of excursions including a Boat Trip to the Sofitel Grand Legend which is a fabulous hotel. We're having, we hope, weather permitting, a bit of a do in the courtyard of the hotel.


The Sofitel Legend The Grand Amsterdam, is an historical site. In quite a unique manner, the history of Amsterdam is reflected in the past and present of the building, which were originally two convents, St. Cecily's Convent at the northern part of the property and St. Katherine's Convent to the south. The Grand was built in three sections, as is still evident from the two courtyards and central element, and in its design we can detect the basic structure of the two convents. The tiny tower perched so pertly on the north side of the rooftop is reminiscent of St. Cecily's Convent founded in 1411.

Amsterdam was a city filled with monasteries and convents. On old maps of the city, you can pick them out by their courtyards and walled gardens, always marked by a chapel. Even in the twentieth century, their remains are still in evidence in the floor plan of The Grand, in the patterns of several other parts of the city, and in any number of street names in this vicinity.

We are also planning to take in a sneaky peek at the new M Gallery Hotel, the INK. INK Hotel Amsterdam owes its name to the rich history of the building. As the former home of the Dutch newspaper 'De Tijd', this building was a place where stories were conceived, written and ultimately brought to life in ink. INK. Hotel Amsterdam is a bohemian lifestyle hotel, where the traditional rules of hospitality are freely translated to the modern day, rewriting the definition of 'luxury' in INK. INK. Hotel Amsterdam offers its guests the ultimate luxury: the luxury of the freedom of time. 

In other news this week, Friday see's the finalists announced for the Midlands Media Awards 2015 and its going to be a big year for the event as the Birmingham Press Club, for whom we run the awards, are celebrating their 150th Anniversary. Make sure you take a look at the website on Friday for the full listing.

The event itself will be at Aston Villa on 10 September and we are gearing up for the awards here with all of the planning that goes into an awards do! 

Lastly, we are also gearing up in August to launch three new initiatives in early September so no time to take it easy here at Cloud 9 towers!  We've two new lovely new clients and an awards to launch alongside our existing portfolio so we remain busy bodies but we wouldn't have it any other way! Have a great week!

 

What's Floating Around Cloud 9? 20 July

Welcome to another week and seeing as we have just had all of the photos in from our recent client event which was a Spinal Conference, we thought it timely to talk about photography for events this week.

Photo Booths are still playing a key part in both the private and corporate events scene and as we love an excuse to don a large hat, a whopping pair of sunglasses and a boa, we are no exception here at Cloud 9 Towers.

As well as increasing popularity at weddings there has been a new wave of photo booths at Proms, miles stone celebrations such as Christenings and Bar and Bat Mitzvahs and Birthdays as more and more people realise that not only are photo booths a great ice breaker and fun for guests, but they also capture unique and special memories especially those offering a post event guest book.

In the corporate and public events industry then its certainly the case that social media enabled photo booths are the way forward. These enable users to engage with the experience both offline and online, having a physical print and the ability to share their photos through hashtags, facebook, instagram and more. You can event create your own animated photos (GIFS) and flip books – again both as an actual flip book and a digital animation you can share with the world.

But once the fun stuff is out of the way, how about the professional photography?

Photographing special events is not the most glamorous gig in photography, but irrespective of the size or location of the event, getting the right images that capture the essence of the event can make all of the difference for you and your clients.

When you run a big corporate event it’s always a good idea to hire a specialised events photographer to capture the day. It’s also great to give your staff a reminder of your successful event because these photos can help them to be motivated and build their team spirit. High quality photos are also good to use as promotional materials and brochures.

Once you have chosen your events photographer you will need to brief them carefully to make sure that you get the shots that you want. The event only happen once so you don’t want to miss your chance to get things right so make sure you give a good brief.

Here are 9 ideas for you to make your photographer work for you and get it spot on!

People Count and if you have any keynote or guest speakers, or senior officials or celebrities then make sure your photographer know where and when to capture them. Introduce your photographer to the people that they will need to capture so that they will recognise them in the crowd and know who they should be looking out for. 

It may sound obvious but if you want your photographer to get the shots you need then they will have to be in the right place at the right time. You will need to give them an up to date schedule of the event and highlight any key note speeches, break-out sessions or team building games that you particularly want photographed. Remember they may need to get to a room early to set up their equipment so allow enough time between sessions for them to do this.

Many events these days have numerous stakeholders or sponsors, and they have probably invested a fair bit in both terms of time or financial support, so make sure you get shots of the key people involved, any exhibition stands or sponsors logos. Keep your photographer aware of any live sessions which have been sponsored.

If it’s an awards do, then again, keep those sponsors happy. Its not just about taking shots of the winners, but also capturing the essence of the entire event and sponsors giving out prizes will make for great memories for everyone involved.
 
Sometimes it’s hard to convey what you want out of a photograph in words so why not use a picture instead. Before the event have a look at other corporate brochures and search the internet for styles of photography that you feel will suit your brand. Then you can easily show your event photographer how you want your shots to look and the type of images that you are expecting from them.
 
Set up photos can also be a great way to show the befores and afters of an event. An empty space at 8am can look completely different at 10am when its packed with delegates and a good photographer can show the difference a few warm bodies can make to any space.
 
You will have briefed your photographer on who you want in your photos but you also need to tell them what you want in your photos. There’s nothing more frustrating than getting a great shot of a speaker but having an object such as a chair or lectern blocking your company logo. Be clear that you want full logos in the background of any shots that they take. If you are having your conference in a stunning venue or fantastic location you may also want them to get shots of these in the background too.
 
After a hard days of work your staff would want a chance to unwind. Many large corporations organise a party with food, music and dancing in the evening. Whilst it’s great to have the formal shots from the conference it can also be fun to get some more relaxed pictures to capture everyone really enjoying themselves. Let your photographer know if you want them to take some evening shots – they will definitely make everyone smile!
 
Finally, make sure you can get your photos quickly post event. There is nothing worse than having to wait ages to get the photos up and available for sharing. With the rise in social media, you need to make sure your guests and delegates can have access immediately to the shots!

There, we hope you have found that useful. Have a great week!

  

What's Floating Around Cloud 9? 13 July 2015

Welcome to another week and get ready for another long haul look at some of the new hotels worldwide, as our series continues starting in China.

Park Hyatt Sanya Sunny Bay Resort  is located on the southernmost tip of Hainan Island, widely known as "the Hawaii of China". Sequestered on a stunning, 350,000-square-metre inlet—with an internal lake and a white-sand private beach—the resort combines exclusivity with accessibility, being a mere five-kilometre drive from popular Yalong Bay. So that's the personal location checked off, what about the rooms? 

Designed to resemble a private mansion by the sea, Park Hyatt Sanya Sunny Bay Resort offers relaxed, personalised luxury, housing 207 sophisticated rooms and suites, the majority blessed with unadulterated, breathtaking views of the South China Sea. Grainy wood, leather and tactile textiles with red accents combine to create a warm, modern-Chinese interior. One entire length is devoted to bathing, featuring a powder room; spacious twin vanities with a TV embedded into the mirror; a large rain-shower room; and right by the window, an oversized soaking tub cast from a single piece of black stone.  That's a double check if you ask us!

World-renowned for its iconic luxury, Asia’s largest JW Marriott, JW Marriott Hotel Macau  brings its guests an approachable luxury experience through the richness of authenticity - discovered in the beauty of craftsmanship and delivered with an intuitive response to personal expectations. Opening in August 2015, you can expect Style with elegant sophistication and enhanced  residential comforts of your own home.

Another new addition to the hotel portfolio in China is the Sheraton Shanghai Jiading.Ideally situated in the heart of Pudong New District, they provide an easy access to Shanghai's central business district and places of interest as well as the fabulous views of the Huangpu River. The spacious lobby warmly welcomes you into the hotel. The bellmen will handle your luggage as you check in at our 24-hour front desk-what a weight off your hands!  Warm and cozy, the 525 beautifully appointed guest rooms and 141 apartment suites each boast the ultra-comfortable Sheraton Sweet Sleeper® Bed, a 32-inch LCD flat screen TV, and a host of other features. Business travelers (like us!) will be taken care of with a comfortable working area and High Speed Internet Access in all rooms, as well as a dedicated Business Center. Ideal right? Now what about food? China Court is a true connoisseur’s choice, with fine regional Chinese cuisine prepared by our master chef. Cantonese, Chaozhou, Shanghainese, and other regional cuisines highlight the best of China. With ten opulent private dining rooms able to welcome anywhere from six to 30 people, we are sure to have the right room available for your private entertaining. Well that's us sold!

You can expect the Sofitel Sanya Leeman Resort to be cultural and tasty, when it opens in the late end of this year. Enter the hotel and step into a visually enthralling universe. The intimate 470 rooms, yes that’s right, 470 intimate rooms, filled with bathrobes and luxurious bedding, will provide you with a peaceful and tailored break. Thoroughly refreshed, enchant your taste buds at their restaurant. Local culinary tradition is imaginatively combined with French gastronomy. Allow the sommeliers to guide you to discover the nuances of grand cru wines.

It is the perfect destination for Buzz Lightyear and Woody fans as Disney has unveiled plans to build a Toy Story themed hotel  - but you'll have to travel to over 5,500 miles across the globe to stay there.The new Shanghai resort is due to open in December 2015, and Disney also released a birds-eye view over the two themed hotels, as well as what's planned for an area called Disneytown – a shopping, dining and entertainment district.

As the hotel is part of the new Disney Land Shanghai, you can expect only the funnest and magical of stays. Next to the Marketplace will be an area called Spice Alley, offering a variety of popular Asian cuisines in a casual, yet romantic environment. The al fresco dining spots are perfect for lunch with friends or a more formal date. And the intimate streets and festive lights encourage leisurely after dinner strolling

Adding 3 new hotels to China, The Ritz-Carlton is set to take over the hotel empire. Opening its first one in Macau,  you can expect nothing better than the best. After being whisked away to the 51st floor lobby, settle into your spacious suite, where a large picture window offers a breathtaking view of the glittering city. Refined Asian hospitality draws visitors to Cotai, and The Ritz-Carlton, Macau embodies that allure with fine dining, world-class entertainment and incredibly luxurious amenities, including a full-service spa.

Ritz-Carlton Nanjing with feature 297 rooms and 32 suites, the grand property will also enjoy extensive meeting spaces including a ballroom and seven function rooms. Four restaurants and bars will include a Chinese restaurant serving renowned local Nanjing cuisine. A luxury Spa by ESPA will also form a central part of the well-being experience, alongside the indoor pool and fitness center. 

The district also enjoys a reputation as the region’s cosmopolitan powerhouse and is home to several department stores and luxury fashion houses so it's the ideal location too!

Last but not least for the Ritz-Carlton takeover is the Ritz-Carlton Mission Hills, Hainan Island. The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. has unveiled plans for its first golf resort in China when The Ritz-Carlton, Mission Hills opens in late 2015 on the tropical island of Hainan. The property, designed by architects AECOM with interiors created by Hirsch Bedner Associates, includes five restaurants and bars, a Ritz-Carton Spa (our favourite!) and extensive leisure facilities including tennis courts, two swimming pools and a recreation pavilion. The Ritz-Carlton, Mission Hills also offers 1,480 sq m of convention and meeting spaces, creating expertly-executed meticulous events tailored to leave a lasting impression. 

 Known as the Forest City, Guiyang offers a perfect summer vacation to escape from the heat and experience vibrant nature.  Bringing Anantara’s essence of luxurious discovery to this natural haven, guests of Anantara Guiyang Resort & Spa will be able to enjoy stunning landscapes, hot springs, Huangguoshu waterfall and scenic golf courses, alongside the rich heritage of minority Xijiang Miao culture town and the ancient town of Zhengyuan. And you won't fall short of places to stay as the Anatara Guiyang offers a collection of 207 guestrooms and 11 pool villas that will be surrounded by a golf course and mountain scenery, for a beautiful view while relaxing in luxurious comfort. 

So lots of choices for those looking East for your next meeting or event and some new hotels on the horizon! Enjoy!

What's Floating Around Cloud 9? 6 July 2015

Welcome to another week and if you are attending a conference abroad anytime soon we thought it might be useful to share a few tips with you, especially as in our experience the little things can make a big difference!

The world is a much smaller place these days and more and more people are heading off globally for meetings or to attend congresses and whilst the first rule of this is always to plan ahead, and not to forget your passport, there are all sorts of other things to consider.

Not only do International events provide an excellent opportunity to practise your skills as a delegate, enable you to make new friends, travel and offer you a great cultural experience, for some it may be a bit daunting.

So find out who else is going in advance, connect with them whether directly or via Social Media. If your entire company is off to Istanbul for the weekend, that's a bit different, but if you are the lone representative from your company, then buddy up in advance.  You can arrange to meet at the airport, plan your travel, share car parking, you name it, and even if you don't know the person, they might just appreciate the offer of a travel companion. And if they don't? Well ignore them and find someone else!

Pack accordingly. If you are off on a team building weekend that requires walking boots and warm winter woollies then great, but you don't want to arrive to find that the last night is a formal event that requires black tie or a cocktail frock. I know some might see this an excuse to pop off to the shops, you might find that your schedule does not allow any time for this!

If you do end up traveling alone, then make sure you know exactly where you need to be and by when, and make sure you have the opportunity to check in with someone back at base so you can let everyone know you are safe and sound. Even a selfie of Facebook post will do, but better to be safe than sorry!

Check your currency. No point being stranded in an airport with only a fiver in cash, so take some local currency with you whether its Dollars or Dinah, it might well come in handy should you need the loo or a coffee, or should that be a coffee then the loo!

Download a currency App to your phone so you can check local prices. You don't want to pay over the odds or be seen as a naive tourist.

Confirm your hotel reservation in advance, and try and give them an arrival time if you can. If you have a late night flight the last thing you want is to find your hotel has released your room because they thought you might be a no show.

Read your joining instructions carefully to make sure you know where you need to be and when. If there are transfers arranged between your hotel and any relevant conference centres, make sure you know where you are being picked up and how to get back later.

Don't be a party pooper - if the chance to go out and about for a few hours locally presents itself then take the opportunity and go for it, as you may never get another chance. However, only do this if you are with people you know and feel you can trust and always make sure you have enough money to get back to your hotel safely should you decide you have had enough.

Although we are encouraging you to have a good time, know your limits. Most of these events are expensive to stage and are representative of hours of hard work and its disrespectful to your colleagues, hosts and your company, especially if they have paid to send you along, to languish in bed with a hangover or to miss key sessions by sleeping off the excesses of the night before.

Don't upset the locals is also a useful motto. Some of the things we take for granted over here in good old Blighty are not the norm in some countries and can land you in serious hot water!

For instance, don't clink glasses in Hungary as it's associated with the execution of Hungarian rebellious generals back in 1849 and is still frowned upon today. Don't sing too loudly after Sunset in Honolulu, or you may find yourself with a criminal record! 

If you are in Singapore, then don't drop litter or eat on public transports as both acts are illegal and chewing gum is also banned.

So take a little time and check out some local customs before you travel, it could save you all sorts of headaches. And whilst we are on the subject of headaches, remember to pack your asprin or other medication and for ladies, any emergency supplies!

Above all, enjoy your conferences and meetings abroad, there is a whole wide world out there so go and enjoy! 

Have a great week!