Monday, 9 January 2017

What's Floating Around Cloud 9? 9 January 2017



Welcome to another week and normal service is resumed – at least here at Cloud 9 Towers at least. The Christmas tree is back in it’s box, the cards have gone to the recycling centre and we’ve polished off the last of the chocolates that were left lying around.

So it’s a new start for the team here and diets galore – although it’s a little hard to stay on track when it’s so chilly out there. Rather than give in to temptation we have instead decided to look ahead in order to give us all something to look forward to - instead of succumbing to the January blues!

There’s no better way to cheer us up here, than for us to discover some amazing new venues and hotels and if you thought 2016 saw a huge explosion with new openings worldwide, let’s just say that 2017 is looking even more spectacular.

This month alone there are some amazing new properties opening their doors to guests and it seems with each new hotel, the offerings get just a little better and the meetings and event spaces, a little better thought out!

In all honesty, we have never been asked to source a venue in Ajman (its in the UEA in case you didn’t know either) but we couldn’t ignore the fantastic Oberoi Beach Resort which opens this month.

A unique eco-destination, The Oberoi Beach Resort, Al Zorah will provide a pristine natural environment including long, white sand beaches, azure lagoons and lush mangroves when it opens in Ajman. Just 25 minutes from Dubai, guests can enjoy a range of activities as well as spacious rooms and suites and international cuisine.

Also on our radar this month is the Fairmont Quasar Istanbul. A highly anticipated addition to the Istanbul's sky line, rising above the slopes of the Bosphorus and serving as a genuine hub for the well-travelled, while uniting the sophistication of modern Istanbul with the unique lineage of its location. The hotel will provide 209 guest rooms including 25 suites, each with panoramic views overlooking either the serene Bosphorus or the city skyline and decorated stylishly with industrial touches and plenty of natural light. With the Willow Stream Spa, the Marble Bar, stylish restaurants and elegant event space, this is one to watch.

A little less plush but in an equally charming location is the second Vienna House Berlin. Opening under the Vienna House Easy budget brand and will be set in the Prenzlauer Berg district. The hotel will be aimed at young urban explorers and offer modern rooms, with a bakery-style breakfast lounge, a stylish bar, three creative meeting rooms, a co-working area in the heart of the lobby and a mobile concierge service.

The Aloft Band seems to be making its mark, especially in the States, and Miami Airport is the latest destination to benefit from this hotel with modern rooms and meetings spaces. Also under the Aloft banner and due to open this month are Aloft Colombia Downtown in Carolina, and Aloft Louisville East in Kentucky.

Much closer to home is the new Four Seasons Hotel which opens at Ten Trinity Square. Located in London’s most historic area – close to illustrious neighbours such as the Tower of London and St. Paul’s Cathedral – Ten Trinity Square has long been regarded as one of Britain’s finest architectural landmarks. Now home to Four Seasons Hotel London at Ten Trinity Square, this Grade II*-listed building possesses a fascinating history.

In a landmark of power and prestige, Four Seasons Hotel London at Ten Trinity Square celebrates the capital’s rich history and culture, yet feels fully connected to the future with the latest technology. First opened in 1922, this Grade II*-listed building is the former headquarters of the Port of London Authority and played host to the inaugural reception of the United Nations General Assembly in 1946. Within steps of the Tower of London, Tower Bridge and the River Thames, Four Seasons is a premier destination for London conferences and events, featuring two ballrooms and three London meeting rooms for 10 to 250 guests. 

The setting for the inaugural reception of the United Nations General Assembly in 1946, the UN Ballroom is a beautifully restored London venue with nine-metre (30-foot) ceilings and original woodwork. Then there is the Merchants Hall - a one-of-a-kind circular ballroom, Merchants Hall glows with natural light from its circumference of windows. Light oak panelling and antique mirrors add a sense of traditional warmth. Finally, on the first floor, just above the front entrance, there are three London meeting rooms which can host from six to 16 guests for board meetings, private dinners or cocktail receptions.

So there you have it, the perfect tonic for the January blues with lots of new hotels to discover! 

Have an amazing week and see you all soon!

Monday, 2 January 2017

What's Floating Around Cloud 9? 2 January 2017




Welcome to another week and a very Happy Cloud 9 New Year to one and all. 

We hope everyone had an amazing festive break and that you have come back to work fully rested and ready to tackle the year ahead.




What’s in store for 2017 we hear you ask, and the answer is – lots!




Firstly is our Ambassador Programme which continues to expand and we’re delighted to announce that in addition to the fantastic team here at Cloud 9 Towers, the first six of our nine amazing Ambassadors are up and running.




We have Fiona in Essex, Liz in Bristol, Nick in the West Midlands, Simon in Lincolnshire, Jacqueline in the North East and Cristina in Northern Ireland, all of whom are flying the flag for Cloud 9 with new clients for our venue finding service.




Our search continues in the North West, Scotland and in Wales and we look forward to introducing you to some additional members of our team soon.




New for 2017 is the AIEA, an initiative that Cloud 9 is backing all of the way and we’re pleased to announce we’ve  been instrumental in its conception.




The AIEA is an Alliance of independent and privately owned event agencies working in the meetings, incentives, conference and events (MICE) sector. We are a group of unique and individual companies and as members of the AIEA we network and share our knowledge, experience and resource to enable us to provide the best quality service to our clients.




There are a large number of small to medium sized independent event agencies in the UK who are responsible for a significant proportion of the business generated in the MICE sector. Working closely with our own select client base we create very little threat to each other. Indeed, many of us have become close friends and associates. We have a great deal of knowledge and experience between us and when shared enables our individual businesses to operate more efficiently and profitably. As membership increases we believe the Alliance as a whole will quickly become one of the top 10 MICE buyers in the UK market.




The Alliance is not a competitor to any other existing association or society. We are happy to work with and alongside other organisations that benefit our industry as long as they share the same values and aims as we do.




Our suppliers are hotels and other unique venues that offer first class meeting and event space. The relationships we have with them are vitally important as they provide us, through meetings, forums, exhibitions and fam trips, the information we need and to keep our clients up to date.




The main criteria for choosing a supplier is that they fit our client brief. We are completely independent and do not favour or exclude any venue based on prearranged override or fulfilment contracts. Our suppliers also understand the value we add to the booking process and work closely with us to make sure our client’s expectations and needs are fulfilled.   




You may already be working with a small independent event agent to help you find that perfect venue for your next meeting or event. You’ll know the benefits of having a very professional and personal relationship with them and having a single point of contact from start to finish. If you don’t, then why not contact one of us today and find out how we can help you.




You may not know that as small independent companies we actually talk and share our knowledge and experience on the venues we use. The AIEA has been created to help independent agents share information in order to provide you our clients with the very best service.




A new year offers a great opportunity to forward plan so if you are unwrapping your shiny new calendar, or updating your online diary, there are a few key dates we thought we would share – especially for those in the event industry.





  • 12 Jan 2017 Meetings Morroco
  • 18 Jan 2017 Conventa, Ljubljana, Slovenia
  • 23 Jan 2017 DBF Be Our Guest at Goodwood
  • 30 Jan 2017 CHS Independent Venue Showcase, Manchester
  • 02 Feb 2017 CONFEC Red Venice
  • 08 Feb 2017 Convene, Vilnius, Lithuania
  • 15 Feb 2017 BNC Show London
  • 22 Feb 2017 ACE of M.I.C.E., Istanbul, Turkey
  • 23 Feb 2017 Meetings Space Copenhagen
  • 01 Mar 2017 Confex Olympia London
  • 13 Mar 2017 DBF Be Our Guest Chewton Glen
  • 24 Mar 2017 DBF All About People & Awards Malta
  • 27 Mar 2017 Tianguis Turistico, Acapulco, Mexico
  • 28 Mar 2017 M&I Forum Disneyland Paris
  • 04 Apr 2017 Conference & Hospitality Show Leeds
  • 12 Apr 2017 Venue Expo Edinburgh
  • 02 May 2017 Private MICE Spring Forum Ibiza
  • 07 May 2017 The Americas Cancun Mexico
  • 11 May 2017 CHS Awards, Royal Armouries, Leeds
  • 16 May 2017 IMEX, Frankfurt, Germany
  • 12 Jun 2017, DBF Be Our Guest
  • 13 Jun 2017 The Meeting Show London
  • 18 Jun 2017 We are Connections, Quito, Ecuador
  • 27 Jun 2017 M&I Summer Forum Seville
  • 09 Jul 2017 Emerging Markets Helsinki
  • 29 Aug 2017 Private MICE Forum Ljubljana, Slovenia
  • 30 Oct 2017 M&I Europe Forum Dubai
  • 10 Dec 2017 Transatlantic M&I Forum Canada





We’ve lots more to report so please check back with us as we have some great news on some brilliant new events, lots of new venue and hotel news and of course our own continued plans for world domination (okay well maybe a little bit of the world!)




Have an amazing week and once again, from all of the Cloud 9 Team, Happy New Year.