Author: Charlotte Gill

Istanbul: where worlds collide

Posted on by Charlotte Gill

Istanbul sits at the crossroads of two continents. As everyone knows, environment plays a massive role in shaping the personality of a place, so it will come as no surprise that Istanbul’s own character is a stirring amalgamation of the two continents’ cultures, with an added splash of something that is entirely its own.

The Bosphorus strait, which divides the European and Asian halves of the city, connects the Black Sea with the Sea of Marmara. This completely unique geographical position has not only impacted Istanbul’s look and feel, but it has also helped the city to become a hub of economic activity for Turkey, and now the world. For this reason, more and more people are finding themselves travelling to the Old City on business, helping to make Istanbul one of the most popular travel destinations in the world.

The city holds prime real estate, with its position as the gateway between Europe and Asia making it a vital trade route for commerce. The Port of Istanbul plays a massive role in driving the national economy onwards and upwards, being responsible for generating more than half of Turkey’s total trade. Every day the port readies Turkish exports, with local producers selling everything from tobacco and olive oil to rubber and cotton.

While Istanbul’s large population has helped it to compete on the global stage, migration and urbanisation have put a strain on its infrastructure

Building a reputation
The city is also an extremely important site with regards to the country’s burgeoning tourism industry, which caters to both holidaymakers and professionals who are visiting on business. In fact, the city’s popularity as a tourist destination is growing so rapidly that Mete Güney, European Region General Manager of MasterCard, said in a 2014 press conference that the city is expected to surpass Paris as the second-most visited city in Europe by as early as this year.

Venturing away from the city’s coastline and towards the districts of Levant and Maslak, visitors can find Istanbul’s busy financial sector, which is home to the Borsa Istanbul and a growing number of international banks, including JP Morgan, Citibank and Deutsche Bank. The Borsa Istanbul is the sole exchange in Turkey, having replaced the Istanbul Stock Exchange (ISE), the Istanbul Gold Exchange and the Derivatives Exchange of Turkey.

Recently, the Chairman of the exchange, Talat Ulussever, boldly said that the issue of income inequality could be solved if the world adopted Islamic finance’s interest-free lending model: “Instead of a stock market model where only interest-free Islamic stocks and Sukuk are traded, we should develop a model in which all securities could be traded in an Islamic way”, Ulussever said in a speech at the International Islamic Finance Summit in September. His hope is that, through the adoption of Islamic principles in Turkey and beyond, that income will be more evenly distributed, as the core tenets of Islam promote the idea that wealth and prosperity should be shared equally.

Interestingly, his comments come at a time when Turkey, and Istanbul specifically, has a lot of wealth to divvy up. In fact, the Old City is doing so well for itself that it is now responsible for bringing in a little less than half of all tax revenues that the Turkish Treasury collects, according to data compiled by the Ministry of Finance. Comparing its contribution with that of the nation’s capital, Ankara, which contributed just over TRY 23.15bn ($8bn) against Istanbul’s TRY 89.63bn ($31bn), it is easy to see which city is the real jewel in Turkey’s crown.

Playing in the big leagues
Despite the country as a whole experiencing a downshift in economic performance, with GDP tapering off slightly in recent months, Istanbul’s local economy remains strong. Its economic success is a by-product of the way that the city has evolved over the last 100 years: for starters, its population has grown rapidly, with Istanbul expected to become the largest European metropolis by 2020, overtaking London in the process.

Rapid urbanisation has provided the city with a large labour force, which has been an essential ingredient for turning Istanbul into the industrial, financial and logistics hub that it is now known as. However, for all its successes, its journey to becoming one of the world’s most prosperous cities has been wrought with challenges: while Istanbul’s large population has helped it to compete on the global stage, migration and urbanisation have put a massive strain on its public infrastructure and housing, making investment in these two areas crucial if the city is going to continue to perform as well as it has grown accustomed to.

The composition of the local economy has altered a lot too – many would have once laughed at the idea that the city would one day grow to become a hotbed for technological innovation, but, as more and more start-ups choose to make Istanbul their home, this is exactly what is in the process of happening.

Where to eat

Karaköy Güllüo˘glu
Rihtim Cad 3-4
+90 212 293 0910
karakoygulluoglu.com

The Güllü family has been baking traditional Turkish baklava since 1820. The family opened its pastry store and café in 1949, and 16 years later became the owner of the world’s first baklava factory. Ever since, Karaköy Güllüo˘glu has become an integral part of the Istanbul agenda, boasting a catalogue of daily visitors that have been coming for decades alongside some that have travelled to the store from the other side of the world. Serving over 20 different types of the sticky, sweet pastry – including almond, chocolate and pistachio flavours – along with dozens of other kinds of desserts, the store is a national institution, and one not to be missed when visiting Istanbul’s winding streets.

Rumelihisarı Iskele Restaurant
Yahya Kemal Cad 1
+90 212 263 2997
rumelihisariiskele.com

Fully dedicating itself to providing some of Istanbul’s most exquisite seafood, Rumelihisarı Iskele overlooks the very water from which its dishes originate. Located beside Bosphorus Bridge, the restaurant owes its citywide fame to its delicious appetizers and one-of-a-kind fish dishes, which are made from only the freshest local produce and can be grilled or fried at the customer’s request. Complemented at all times by stunning views of the Bosphorus strait, the light and refreshing main dishes, including salted sea bass and calamari grilled in a garlic butter sauce, can be followed by some of Turkey’s traditional desserts, such as baklava, silky crème caramel and sweet pumpkin.

Where to meet

Istanbul Congress Centre
Darulbedai Cad
+90 212 373 9900
iccistanbul.com

The largest convention centre in Turkey, the Istanbul Congress Centre (ICC) prides itself on its capacity to host a tremendous range of meetings, events and exhibitions. With an auditorium capable of hosting 3,700 people, several multipurpose meeting rooms of various sizes, and separate designated fair and exhibition areas, ICC has become a cultural and commercial meeting point in the heart of the city. With ambitions to become the go-to destination for even international events, ICC offers state-of-the-art audio-visual equipment, exceptional catering services and a unique hostessing service, each of which have contributed to the centre’s reputation for world-class events.

CNR Expo
Yesilköy-Bakirköy
+90 212 465 7474
cnrexpo.com

With over 150,000sq m of indoor exhibition space, CNR Expo is by far the largest international exhibition centre across Europe and Asia. Since its establishment in 1985, the centre has accommodated more than 100,000 exhibitions and over five million visitors, following numerous refurbishments and the construction of several new exhibition spaces. CNR Expo offers a wide variety of services that for 30 years have singled it out as one of the forerunners in the MICE industry, including an array of sponsorship opportunities – such as carpet sponsorship in the centre’s entrance hall – and partnerships with accredited travel agency services that assist in every element of event planning.

Where to stay

Hotel Amira
Mustafapasa Sok 43
+90 212 516 1640
hotelamira.com

Hotel Amira’s location is undeniably one of its defining features: perched on the edge of the Bosphorus, the boutique hotel is located in the Sultanahmet District, only minutes away from some of Istanbul’s most famous sights, including the Blue Mosque, Basilica Cistern and Grand Bazaar. The Ottoman-style house offers 32 rooms, each featuring unique touches such as hand-painted ceiling frescoes and state-of-the-art amenities, including mobile wireless internet that guests are able to use when outside of the hotel. Offering tea and treats at 5pm every day, the hotel prides itself on its commitment to providing exclusive services and the utmost luxury to each and every visitor.

Hotel Ibrahim Pasha
Terzihane Sok 7
+90 212 518 0394
ibrahimpasha.com

Two four-story Ottoman houses that were originally constructed at the turn of the 20th century have since been converted into the boutique Hotel Ibrahim Pasha. Offering stunning views of the Blue Mosque and the Sea of Marmara from its central but quiet location, the hotel is an ideal choice for those travellers seeking a more intimate experience of Istanbul: decorated with a modern twist on the traditional Ottoman style, Hotel Ibrahim Pasha offers contemporary amenities such as underfloor heating, free Wi-Fi, ensuite bathrooms with rain showers, luxurious Molton Brown toiletries and a rich Turkish breakfast, each of which are included in the price of every one of its 24 rooms.

“E-commerce is a growing sector with great potential. However, this is a highly segmented market with a lot of small players. It is a hard game, as currently e-commerce consumers are very price-sensitive and generally not as much focusing on the quality of goods and customer service. There really is an incredible amount of potential here.”

Numan isn’t the only one struggling to contain his pride over the city’s potential to blossom into Turkey’s answer to Silicon Valley. In fact, the biggest hurdle for Turkish tech companies right now is obtaining the necessary amount of capital they need, with the tough economic climate significantly reducing banks’ willingness to lend. “It is difficult to get funds for innovative projects compared to other hubs”, Hakan Bas, an investor and local technology expert and one of the other entrepreneurs quizzed in Virgin’s report, said. “Even if you have an original idea like Twitter or Instagram, you wouldn’t be able to make it easily happen here. Nobody invests [in] a dream. It’s all about proven models, usually from abroad.”

Employing new technology
It seems ludicrous that investment is so hard to come by, especially when Turkey boasts a population of more than 76 million people, providing the potential for a massive domestic market for e-commerce. There is hope, however, that Turkish banks’ sentiments will change as the economic stability of the country further improves. In the meantime, the best option available for fledging tech companies seeking to secure investment is from venture capitalists, and the best way to get their attention is undeniably by creating innovative products and services. This is easier said than done, of course, but in recent years – and thanks to some breakthrough start-ups like BiTaksi, Istanbul’s answer to Uber – foreign investors have started to become a little more willing to open up their chequebooks.

Another route that has been highly successful for start-ups looking to secure investment is crowdfunding. This is slowly emerging as a viable alternative for tech companies in Istanbul: there are currently three equity crowdfunding platforms operating in Turkey – Biayda, Fongogo and Fonlabeni – but they are still relatively new to the game, and it only takes a quick perusal of their websites to see that there is a distinct lack of tech campaigns to invest in. Such slim-pickings, however, are the result of a relatively infant ecosystem for crowdfunding, rather than a lack of ambition. “The priority is to have a well-educated ecosystem,” according to Numan. “As this is a young hub, new entrepreneurs need smart money, and not just money on the table.”

It is clear that it will take time to nurture such an ecosystem, and it is better for start-ups in Istanbul if the foundations for success are laid slowly, rather than jumping the gun early and unravelling all the good work that the industry has done so far. All in all, the start-up community and the technology sector as a whole look very promising indeed, and the likelihood of the city growing to become a tech hub capable of rivalling the very best is high, as long as it continues to grow in a sustainable manner.

A break from business
Istanbul’s geographical position has not only allowed it to become an international bastion of economic activity and trade, but it has also helped it to become one of the most culturally enriched cities in the world; helping it to grow in popularity with business travellers and tourists alike. The city boasts a stunning cityscape full of historical landmarks and breathtaking views, and while its selection of monuments and sites of historical value is immense, without a doubt one of the most beautiful and impressive has to be Istanbul’s Topkapı Palace. This stunning structure was once home to the sultans of the Ottoman Empire – however, since the establishment’s demise, the palace has been transformed into a museum that holds some of the most important artefacts of the Muslim world, including the cloak and sword of the Prophet Muhammad.

Once travellers have adequately gorged on the history of the kingdom, it is time to indulge in the arts, with the city more than capable of catering for art lovers of all tastes: for those with thirst for contemporary art there is the Istanbul Modern, home to a permanent collection of exhibitions including the works of Juan Munoz, Anish Kapoor and William Kentridge. The gallery itself is a spectacle in its own right, however: a converted warehouse that manages to maintain its industrial heritage while mixing modern technology and design, creating a piece of architecture that is simply stunning. Meanwhile, those who prefer the classics can take a short trip to the Sakıp Sabancı Museum. Inside, visitors are able to feast their eyes on works ranging from those of Pablo Picasso to Salvador Dali.

After a long day trekking around the city, some R&R is often needed. For some, the best way to relax is with a little retail therapy – and luckily, Istanbul has some of the best bazaars and shopping districts in the world. One of the best is the aptly named Grand Bazaar, or Büyük Çarsı in Turkish: consisting of a vast network of interconnecting passageways that brim with bright colours, loud chatter and a wide array of merchants selling everything from authentic Turkish carpets to various trinkets to take home; there really is something for everyone.

At the heart of any culture is its cuisine, and Istanbul does not disappoint here: its cross-continental location has certainly helped it to become a hotbed for trade, but it has also resulted in the city becoming a melting pot of culinary delights, where old meets new and tradition intersects with modernity. The Old City truly has something to satisfy even the pickiest of palates, with a plethora of restaurants serving everything from classic Ottoman dishes to some of the finest fresh fish that the Bosphorus has to offer.

The city has gone through a lot of changes over the centuries, a fact exemplified by the many names it has had. All of its former titles, from Byzantium to Constantinople to the modern Istanbul, represent a different phase of its history, determined by the rising and falling of various empires that once claimed the city as their own.

Istanbul is now embarking on yet another chapter, with its hopes set on becoming a global city and hub of technological innovation in the near future. Over time, the city’s various rulers have left their mark, adding to the city’s story in the process – it is this rich history that will ensure that Istanbul remains a place that is coveted the world over for years to come.

Istanbul city diary

Saint Petersburg Ballet Theatre
TIM Show Centre
December 3-6

Following a world tour that has taken it from Finland to Australia, the Saint Petersburg Ballet Theatre – one of the world’s leading classical ballet companies – will be arriving in Istanbul this winter. The company will perform Swan Lake, Giselle and The Sleeping Beauty over four nights at the stunning TIM Show Centre.

Hagia Sophia Museum
Istanbul
€9.00

Hagia Sophia is one of the most visited museums in the city, as well as one of its most recognisable monuments. Originally operating as a church for 916 years, the building later became a mosque before being converted into a year-round museum, hosting a
collection of religious and cultural articles, in 1935.

Fazil Say New Year Concert
Kültür University
Jan 7

Fazil Say wrote his first piano sonata at the age of 14, and ever since has toured the country with his catalogue of symphonies. He will now return to Istanbul for a one-off New Year concert, which will see him performing pieces by Ahmed Adnan Saygun, one of Turkey’s greatest composers.

MSA workshops
Istanbul
Oct 7 – Dec 30

Mutfak Sanatlari Akademisi (MSA), which ranks among the world’s top culinary schools, is providing a unique set of classes and workshops from its own specialist campus this season. Its professional lessons, which range from pastry making for beginners to artisan coffee brewing, are guaranteed to provide an authentic taste of Istanbul.

Topkapı Palace
Istanbul
€9.00

Once the main residency of the Ottoman sultans, Topkapı Palace is now a museum that explores the imperial era. With hundreds of rooms, chambers and halls, only a relatively small section of the lavish palace, including the Sofa Mosque and the Ottoman harem, is on display to the public.

Bosphorus cruises
Bosphorus Strait
From €25.00

The Bosphorus Tour Organisation offers dozens of river cruises, ranging from half-day sightseeing tours to private yacht chartering. Its dinner cruises are especially popular, offering authentic Turkish cuisine and entertainment set against the stunning backdrop of Istanbul after dark.

New Years Eve
Central Istanbul
Dec 31

Istanbul goes all out for New Year’s Eve. As a symbol of transitioning from old to new, most of the city will take to the streets to watch the spectacular fireworks and the illumination of Bosphorus Bridge. The Taksim Square party is the most popular, but for a less raucous experience, visitors should consider the nearby Kadiköy celebrations.

Cağaloğlu Hamamı
Yerebatan Caddesi
From €30.00

Turkey is famous for its hamam baths, and Cağaloğlu Hamamı is undoubtedly one of its most spectacular bathhouses. The beautifully domed rooms and intricately decorated archways offer the perfect setting for an array of services, ranging from its self-service treatment to the luxurious Sultan I Mahmut package.

South Africa has a lot of potential, but not enough growth

Posted on by Charlotte Gill

Looking at A T Kearney’s African Retail Development Index, one country is particularly notable due to its poor performance: Gabon, Botswana and Angola all performed favourably in first, second and third position, and yet South Africa – the most developed economy on the continent and the holder of its most mature retail sector by far – ranked outside the top five.

According to the report, the risks in South Africa are few, the political situation is stable and the infrastructure is relatively sound. However, “local players are seeking new ways to grow as the country’s economy struggles and new international players ramp up the competition”.

Considering the figures for the past three years, South African retail looks as if it could be losing steam. Going back to 2010, retail trade was up 5.6 on the year previous and another 6.1 percent in the following, yet the subsequent three logged only 4.5, 2.5 and 2.4 percent growth respectively. The reasons for the slowdown are little changed since: “The retail opportunity is greater than ever before”, the report said of the health of African retail generally – however, opportunities in South Africa are not as they were.

Without the assurance of favourable demographics and discernible shopping trends, South Africa’s allure has diminished

A gloomy outlook
The easy availability of retail space plus an influx of international talent means that the country’s retail trade has enjoyed a good few years in the sun, buoyed both by economic growth and rising household incomes. However, the retail situation must still echo that of the wider economy, and so rising utility bills, together with labour riots and a depreciating currency, have since weighed on retail’s bottom line.

“Another issue is that South African consumers are at times unpredictable”, Christy Tawii, Senior Research Analyst at Euromonitor International, told Business Destinations. “Although aspirational, they don’t always act in line with economic models given the current economic situation – even if the economic situation is tough, some consumers will not cut back on spending, but would rather borrow, hence the high debt levels in the country.”

South Africa’s retailers are still, by some margin, the largest of any on the continent, and it’s only the changed landscape that means market leaders are struggling to build upon their local and international presence. There are a few exceptions, however: in 2014, Woolworths scooped Australia’s David Jones in a deal worth ZAR 23.3bn ($1.7bn), while Steinhoff International, the country’s leading furniture retailer, put in a ZAR 62.8bn ($5.7bn) cash-and-share bid for Pepkor and its more than 3,700 international stores.

“The increasing presence of international brands and retailers is increasingly reshaping the competitive landscape and increasing competition in South Africa”, said Tawii. “In terms of how international retailers would respond to the changing economic situation, the current economic environment is actually favourable for international retailers, especially when it comes to importing products into the [country] due to the falling exchange value of the South African rand. They are likely to partner with locally established retailers to strengthen their distribution channels, which is what we are currently seeing in the form of retail concessions between Topshop, River Island and Edcon (Edgars).”

Maintaining traditions
These are companies that are aiming to make good on the country’s 350 million middle-class consumers and its budding – if slow to grow – infrastructural competencies. Yet these names are increasingly finding that these same consumers are unwilling to part with their cash, and tens of millions are unwilling to sever ties with the thousands of informal outlets at large in the continent’s retail sector.

In sub-Saharan Africa, there are an estimated 550,000 traditional grocery store outlets, and these tabletop alternatives – which represent 80 percent of the overall – are more plentiful even than formal stores. True, the informal sector is less pronounced in South Africa than it is in neighbouring nations, and while modern retail accounts for 70 percent of sales, a tendency to shop outside of formal channels means that the data on which retail strategies tend to rely can be hard to come by. This, coupled with the continued decline of consumer spending, means that the risks for international brands often prove too great, and without the assurance of favourable demographics and discernible shopping trends, South Africa’s allure has diminished.

On the one hand, it’s easy to see why sub-Saharan Africa – with its nearly one billion inhabitants, an emerging middle class and rising mobile penetration – has attracted so much international attention. However, South Africa’s maturity relative to other nations means that companies must reinterpret the retail landscape, and as the most saturated market on the continent, retailers must eke out hard-to-find opportunities if they’re to survive ahead of the competition.

Challenges of maturity
No longer the African powerhouse of former days, both consumer and business confidence in South Africa have suffered, while an influx of major names in recent years means that competitiveness is an issue and loyalty hard to come by. For example, it’s not uncommon to find two competing supermarkets on the same site. Opportunities for international brands, therefore, are limited, and the market is better suited to existing players looking to build upon their competencies as opposed to new entrants looking to test the waters.

By all accounts, global players eyeing the country have likely entered the market already, and so are unlikely to risk entering the South African market now that the opportunities are less. Saying that, it’s likely that mergers and acquisitions activity will pick up in the coming months as retailers adapt to the size and scale of the market, with a special focus on distribution.

“We shouldn’t forget that, despite the aforementioned issues, local retailers will still continue to have the advantage on global retailers, as they have a greater knowledge of the local market, customers and seasons, [plus] an established customer base and prime store locations”, according to Tawii. And herein lies perhaps the greatest challenge of all for retailers in South Africa and sub-Saharan Africa generally: international clout counts for very little without a proper understanding of the local market.

“Beyond the well-known infrastructure constraints, one of the more overwhelming challenges is the complexity of the retail environment”, Allen Burch, Head of Africa at Nielsen, wrote in a recent report entitled Africa: How to Navigate the Retail Distribution Labyrinth. “Modern trade is growing, but it is still small and underdeveloped outside South Africa. This leaves companies to figure out how to reach consumers in the hundreds of thousands of smaller, traditional and informal outlets that account for the majority of CPG sales.”

Embracing opportunities
Complications aside, the South African marketplace is far from being without its fair share of opportunities: while Gabon, Botswana and Angola are more advantageous in terms of unrealised potential, South Africa is home to opportunities that other, less developed nations are not.

One key area where South Africa is some distance ahead of the competition is in online retail, which is in itself symptomatic of the country’s maturity as a retail destination. Looking at last year, internet shopping was the most dynamic channel of any in the sector, owing to improved broadband penetration, a growing internet population and the development of online payments platforms. Woolworths claims that its number of online shoppers has doubled year-on-year, and the platform has proven adept at bolstering the brand’s bricks-and-mortar sales.

For an economy in South Africa’s position, it stands to reason that online retail is the logical next step. However, while increased connectivity and rising disposable incomes play neatly into the hands of e-commerce, World Wide Worx estimates that online shopping will account for a meagre one percent of retail sales come 2016. Here is perhaps the clearest indication that South Africa has failed to realise its potential in terms of retail development, and, without an economic turnaround, international names are unlikely to select South Africa ahead of the competition.

Riga: a hotspot for business travellers

Posted on by Charlotte Gill

Offering everything that meeting organisers and planners look for in a destination, the thriving capital of Latvia is one of Europe’s most innovative and affordable meeting locations. Located within a short flying distance from most major European airports, the city of Riga is connected to over 80 international destinations via more than 300 weekly flights.

Ideally positioned between its Baltic and Scandinavian neighbours, Riga offers an enriched history and a unique cultural heritage that spans over 800 years. The city’s compactness is one of its defining features, making it possible for visitors and travellers to walk from venue to venue exploring the capital’s unique mix of historical architecture and modern structures in the most sustainable way possible.

Over the next two years, more than 1,500 additional hotel rooms will be added to Riga’s accommodation figure

Catering for businesspeople
Riga’s endless incentives for business travellers include more than 80 hotels with a total of 12,500 beds, along with a vast array of exclusive and colourful meeting settings that make the city perfectly suited for hosting conventions and delegations of all sizes. Furthermore, Riga is currently undergoing an extensive expansion: over the next two years, more than 1,500 additional hotel rooms will be added to its already respectable accommodation figure.

The city’s development plan, which commenced in 2014 and is due to be completed in 2016, will see the Latvian capital opening its doors to a selection of newly built hotels, including Kempinski Riga Hotel, Mercure Riga Centre Hotel, Metropole Riga Hotel, Wellton Hotel Riga, Hilton Garden Riga and Pulman Old Town Riga Hotel. With all hotels in Riga already offering free Wi-Fi – a citywide requirement – and many holding Green Key certification (an eco-label awarded to around 2,400 hotels worldwide), business travellers and meeting planners alike are sure to find accommodation perfectly suited to their needs.

In addition to these extra beds, a series of supplementary conference rooms and professional multi-purpose meeting venues will also be added to the city’s repertoire. Riga’s existing venues include the Great Guild House, a magnificent building that dates back to the 14th century, and the one-of-a-kind Riga Latvian Society House, which boasts a contemporary feel through its striking steel and glass exterior. As for pre- and post-conference activities, visitors will be dizzy with choice: Riga’s cultural catalogue includes influences from Germany, Sweden and Russia, with modern Latvian cuisine offering a sublime mix of flavours that stem from the country’s international inspiration.

Guaranteed value
Whether travelling in a small group or a large delegation, Riga’s cost-benefit nexus plays a key role. The city undercuts its competitors by providing incredibly high value for money while simultaneously outperforming more ‘traditional’ destinations in terms of customer service. Not only is Riga known for its rich history and culture, but also, when it comes to hospitality and efficiency, the city’s well-trained workforce – famous for its friendliness, delicacy and discretion – cannot be outdone.

Meet Riga is the city’s official meetings and conventions bureau, boasting a list of endorsed partners that includes many of Riga’s major hotels, event venues, destination management companies, professional congress organisers, incentive agencies, chartered bus and car rental services, and the commercial airline AirBaltic. Meet Riga believes that collaborating with local and international businesses is the best and most effective way of providing excellent services to visitors and travel planners. After contacting the bureau, customers will be presented with an extensive list of possibilities to help plan their upcoming event, as well as a series of special offers, advice and inspiring new ideas for before, during and after the occasion.

IACC: what changes can we expect in the meetings industry?

Posted on by Charlotte Gill

The European MICE industry has evolved in spectacular fashion over the past few years, while technological advancements – as with so many sectors – have caused environments to change at times almost beyond recognition. With such changes occurring, new market leaders have emerged, bringing with them the age of the dedicated meetings venue.

Mark Cooper, CEO of the International Association of Conference Centres (IACC), spoke to Business Destinations about the many ways in which the meetings industry has changed in recent years, along with his predictions for the future of the sector.

What trends have you witnessed in the last few years that have really defined the meetings industry?
By far one of the biggest trends is the move to a stronger meetings environment, for meeting planners and delegates alike. By that, I mean a transition to new and innovative meetings environments and meeting venue design. Many in this space are looking less so to traditional meeting and training environments, and what we’ve seen is a strong growth in smaller, non-residential properties and city centre locations.

For us, day centres have been the fastest area of growth in our membership over the last two years, mostly in cities like New York, Tokyo, Paris, London and Chicago. It has really been about that movement to smaller, more art-based and modern environments, [which still offer] all of the facilities you would expect: continuous refreshment break services and good quality, healthy lunch options – they’re all still there. That’s probably one of the most significant areas for us.

IACC members are part of a group that strives to innovate, look at the latest trends, and develop the facilities for the next generation of delegates

How has the IACC contributed to these global changes?
The IACC was formed when we identified that there was a market for dedicated meetings facilities and venues. This then [progressed] from a very small, US-centric trend to one that applies just as easily worldwide, and I think the concept has grown incredibly since 1981 – evidenced by the fact we’re in 21 countries around the world, including [those in] Asia, the Australia-Pacific, Europe and the Americas. If anything, what has changed is that the concept has evolved, continuously and helpfully, and provided alternative environments to the traditional hotel meetings facility. It continues to be a big, fast-growing market.

Which nations, or continents, have moved forward over the last few years?
In recent years it has been [mostly] northern Europe: Scandinavian countries – Denmark and Sweden in particular – have shown a high degree of invention and a willingness to advance the concept. A lot of our members from other parts of the world that have attended our conferences and meetings have really been looking at what has been happening in Scandinavia, in terms of developing the meeting venue concept. In the course of doing so, they’ve taken a lot of these ideas back to other parts of the world, so we’re seeing a lot of meeting venues with a strong northern European influence at the moment. I would say, where 20 years ago everybody looked to the Americas for innovation, the world now looks to northern Europe.

Are there any regions in particular that have struggled?
In terms of the business, everybody has come out of the economic downturn at different times, so we did see pockets of northern Europe in particular come out the fastest. This region had very good years in 2013 and 2014. The Americas, meanwhile, have come out since and continue to exhibit strong signs of recovery, but we still have challenges: it’s still very difficult trading in countries like the UK, Australia and Denmark; countries where they haven’t quite exited the recession as fast as others have done.

In terms of innovation, I wouldn’t say there are any countries struggling, mainly because we have such a diverse membership. But, like I say, some of the European countries are leading the way in terms of technology, advancements in meeting room design, etc. So, no – I wouldn’t say there are any [regions] necessarily struggling in that area.

How has technology changed things for you?
Technology has changed the way that delegates interact… in the meetings environment. Technology for us has affected the whole pipeline, from the way meeting planners communicate and source their news; how efficiently they can communicate online; and right the way through to how delegates interact within the meeting environment, through apps and other tools for audience participation. The obvious one for us is bandwidth: having very good, very complete bandwidth throughout all of our meeting environments is absolutely key, and it’s something our members need because they’re using technology in many different ways.

What do your members get from being part of IACC?
By becoming an IACC certified conference centre, they’re becoming a member of an exclusive club of venues that really are proven specialists in the field, so they’re focused on the meeting’s product as opposed to other items like corporate travel, functions, weddings, etc. By bringing these members together and having this community, they’re really part of a group that strives to innovate in this area, look at the latest trends and develop the facilities for the next generation of delegates. Really they’re in a position where they can learn from each other and network with like-minded experts or professionals in the small-to-medium-sized meetings market.

It’s about learning and education, it’s about trends and research, and it’s about raising the profile of what are often independent conference centres and not part of a big brand. By joining the IACC, it grants them membership to a brand that is globally recognisable.

Do you believe that the quality of events has improved?
I think the quality of events as well as the thought and planning that goes into events is definitely improving, both in terms of the content and the environments. That might be down to people holding a smaller number of events, but of a far higher quality. It also might be that the time people come together for meetings now is often the only time they meet their colleagues, because everybody these days is working remotely. So what they need to achieve at meetings, in terms of bringing people together and forming relationships, is far more important, because they’re not returning back to the same office environment.

What are your predictions and ambitions for the future of the industry?
I think the small-to-medium-sized meetings industry will continue to evolve, and continue to change quite radically in the next five years. Again, as people become more used to working remotely and travelling a lot, the environments they look for for meetings… will look very different. I think [with] technology – although it’s having a major effect in terms of change right now – we’re just starting to see how it’s changing the way people work and react. I think technology will become a lot more sophisticated in the next five years, and I think that will affect how people meet.

Cabfind.com’s unique technology guarantees smooth travel experience

Posted on by Charlotte Gill

For many companies, there is a tendency to group travel expenditure all in one place, showing a total cost to the business with no in-depth breakdown. But when businesses make their journeys via Cabfind.com’s single booking and billing platform, a number of reports can be generated that allow corporate customers to accurately calculate their exact expenditure on a month-to-month basis.

“Our single booking and billing platform not only tracks our clients’ total expenditure, but considers unused cabs, opportunities for cab sharing to reduce cost, and suggestions for CO2 reduction measures”, Chris Jordan, Managing Director of Cabfind.com, told
Business Destinations.

“Corporate clients can see exactly where the bulk of their taxi expenditure is, note regular missed journeys, identify opportunities to cab share and therefore reduce cost and CO2 emissions”, he continued. In fact, Cabfind.com’s management system can help clients reduce their travel expenditure by as much as 40 percent.

Cabfind.com’s software and technology has evolved to meet the needs of the ever-changing digital landscape

The travel management provider offers its services to a wide array of clients who require taxi solutions for a variety of reasons: whether this is working with train operator companies who require taxi travel in order to transport crews or to assist passengers during disruption, or working with large organisations like the television network ITV, which used Cabfind.com to move staff and contestants for various productions.

Driving progress
Cabfind.com has grown exponentially since its inception, with its software and technology constantly evolving to meet the needs of the ever-changing digital landscape. However, it has faced a number of challenges along the way, according to its Managing Director: “Companies like Uber – and the draw for cab drivers to move to Uber – pose a challenge in terms of providing the largest fleet of vehicles in the UK”, said Jordan. “The shifting workforce is a challenge for suppliers, but it has that knock-on effect for Cabfind.com.” In order to stay ahead of the competition, Jordan has invested a lot of money back into the business, with the company possessing one of the largest development teams in the industry.

“Over £2.8m has been reinvested into Cabfind.com to future-proof the technology and software that is the foundation of the business”, said Jordan. “A new state-of-the-art software application is in development, and due to be launched in 2016.”

Expanding network
Cabfind.com recognises that each individual client has widely varying needs. As a result, the Cabfind Advanced Booking System (CABSI), a web-based booking application, was created so that corporate clients are able to easily book, amend and view their taxi journeys. The program also offers multiple reporting options such as jobs reports, a CO2 report and top users reports.

The intuitive application, which can be accessed via web, tablet or smartphone, provides end-to-end booking management capabilities and can be implemented as a white label version of the CABSI booking tool to deliver brand consistency for clients – something that the company wishes to improve upon year-on-year, so that its customers continue to get the best service available.

“Growth and expansion is definitely the future for Cabfind.com”, said Jordan. “At present, our headquarters are undergoing a relocation and office expansion to allow for more staff members to enter the business. Furthermore, the recent acquisition by Transdev, one of the world’s largest public transport operators, will allow Cabfind.com to excel in both the European and North American markets. 2016 will see the launch of Cabfind.com’s new software application, which will support the company’s infrastructure going forward.”

Artists aren’t just creatives. They’re business people

Posted on by Charlotte Gill

Jeff Koons is one of the most revered – if divisive – figures in contemporary art. In 2013, he sold a sculpture of a balloon dog – aptly titled Balloon Dog – for $58.4m, setting the record for the single most expensive piece of art sold by any living artist. He also worked as a Wall Street commodities broker; initially at First Investors Corporation and later at Clayton Brokerage Company and Smith Barney. These are two achievements that, while far apart in nature, actually make use of many of the same qualities.

“There exists quite a bit of common ground between art and business, and it comes in many forms”, Neil McKenzie, who authored The Artist’s Business and Marketing Toolbox and boasts over 30 years experience as a management consultant and corporate marketing executive, told Business Destinations. “Business can benefit from the arts and, most certainly, the arts can benefit from business. Some of the forms this common ground takes are the need for creativity, engaging an audience, developing and designing great products, and developing an atmosphere of wonder and risk taking.”

Noah Scalin, a US artist and founder of Another Limited Rebellion, an organisation that encourages creative thinking in business, says that there is common ground between art and business: “The world is rapidly shifting, and what I’m told most consistently by the businesses I work with is that they are desperate to be more responsive and innovative. Artists are one of the most innovative groups of people on the planet, and we’ve developed skills to do this on a consistent basis.”

In a period where businesses have struggled to keep ahead of the curve, art sales have risen hand over fist

A team effort
Koons, the Pennsylvania-born artist who first found fame in the New York City art scene of the 80s, has often been likened to a businessman. His studio setup in particular has caught people’s attention: choosing not to indulge in the isolation that characterises the majority in his line of work, Koons instead presides over a team of over 100 employees. He is one of a growing band of artists who prefers not to extend a hand when it comes to the making of their art – rather, his method is to dictate his vision to an army of art-workers, making his role closer to that of a chief executive, as opposed to an artist.

Other such artists include the prolific Takashi Murakami, who maintains two studios on two continents, and Damien Hirst, who heads up a 97,000sq ft production facility in the UK. The former has been likened to Andy Warhol, insofar that he draws heavily on pop culture and produces works en masse at extremely high margins. The latter does much the same, and has come in for criticism time and again for his so-called ‘mass-produced’ art.

A so-called artist’s factory usually comprises dozens of art workers, whose task it is to make otherwise time-consuming processes more efficient. The benefits of such a process were made public perhaps most famously in the case of Hirst’s spot paintings, for which studio assistants were instructed to paint spots of varying sizes and colours onto a blank canvas in order “to create that structure, to do those colours, and do nothing”, according to the man himself. “I suddenly got what I wanted. It was just a way of pinning down the joy of colour.”

Breaking boundaries
Understandably, this rather hands-off approach has been criticised by many who claim that business practices are contaminating the arts. In an interview with The Guardian, Mary Moore – daughter of sculptor Henry – said that Hirst had set art back by 100 years. Speaking about her father and how he reinterpreted the Victorian era art, she said, “What he did was come along and take it out of the frame in a very weird way”. Of Hirst, she was less complimentary: “[He] put it back in the bloody frame and art is all now in the frame, and what you forget is how radical it is that it’s not in the frame”. The criticism doesn’t stop there, with outsourcing the hard graft to third parties having led many to question the legitimacy of such artists’ output.

Not all are opposed to the practice, however. “I do not think that business models such as an art factory are tainting the arts”, said McKenzie. “For centuries, artists and artisans have experimented with and employed different business models, from apprenticeships to highly paid employees working in a production or factory environment. There are many varied business models for the arts and it is up to the artist to choose the appropriate one based on their business and artistic goals, artist capabilities and financial resources. I tell my students that in order to ‘sell out’, one must first sell – something most artists struggle with.”

This assembly line-like approach, if nothing else, underlines the way in which business has spilled over into contemporary art – and yet, the artist’s margins, not to mention their marketing nous, are the envy of the business community. These are artists that could teach companies a thing or two about profit-making: in a period where businesses have struggled to keep ahead of the curve, art sales have risen hand over fist, due in no small part to the sector’s understanding and application of creativity.

Artist Takashi Murakami poses in front of New day: Face of the Artist
Artist Takashi Murakami poses in front of New day: Face of the Artist

Kudos for creativity
According to the annual TEFAF Art Market Report, global art sales last year reached a record $54bn, fuelled in part by a free-spending American market and budding online sales. Another report, authored jointly by Artprice and AMMA, noted that “the global fine art market posted a new record level of activity in 2014, with a total auction turnover of $15.2bn, up 26 percent compared with 2013 ($12.05bn) and more than 300 percent compared with a decade earlier”, again indicating that the market as a whole is on the up. Generous spending and digital channels aside, one of the key reasons why the market has remained so healthy can be put down to creative marketing. It’s in this department more than any other where businesses can take lessons from the arts.

“Artists can teach businesses that creativity is a skill and not a talent. It’s something you can develop, but you have to practice it. It’s about creating a space where it’s safe to experiment, so that you can develop new ideas and get unstuck”, Scalin told Business Destinations.

“For too long artists and their work have just been treated as a commodity. What’s exciting right now is that businesses are finally starting to recognise the value of artists like myself, as teachers of valuable skills that can really transform the world.”

In a corporate climate dominated by data and precise analysis, artists can hand companies an advantage when it comes to edging out the competition. Data-driven market research is undoubtedly a useful resource, but it unearths the same conclusions for all – creativity, meanwhile, is an imprecise and sometimes-illogical feat in short supply among struggling businesses.

Damien Hirst's New Spot Prints on display at the Tomio Koyama Gallery, Tokyo
Damien Hirst’s New Spot Prints on display at the Tomio Koyama Gallery, Tokyo

A fresh perspective
As competitive as any industry, the arts is home to some of the world’s brightest minds, whose success lies more so with creativity than it does with the cold, hard decision-making undertaken by business executives. It’s for this reason that businesses have been known to consult artists, often when a business is partway into a crisis and seeking a creative solution.

“Creativity starts with a desire to do something different, something that has impact or meaning, and a willingness to carry through on [those] ideas”, according to McKenzie. “Artists can teach businesses how to visualise a problem or product and come up with multiple approaches or ideas. Most importantly, artists can instil on businesses the idea that not everything works, and to be truly creative one must be willing to fail.”

Business leaders all too often lose perspective in the process of obsessing over one particular problem, whereas creatives might be more inclined to take a step back and contemplate the issue at hand from a distance. Traditional business practices have contaminated the arts, say some, but the two industries are not as separate as appearances would suggest. Despite what many assume to be true, not all the answers lie with rational, logical and scientific thinking, and drawing on some of the more abstract approaches practised by artists could hand struggling companies a lifeline.

Academics collaborate to rescue the world’s most endangered sites

Posted on by Charlotte Gill

In late May 2015, after days of fierce fighting, the Islamic State group (ISIS) captured the ancient city of Palmyra from the Syrian Arab Army and its allies. As Syrian Government forces withdrew from the area, the extremist group rolled in on its flatbed Toyota trucks and began to open prisons, round up alleged collaborators and establish a brutal rule.

Perhaps now accustomed to the inhumane atrocities that typically follow a territorial takeover by ISIS, much of the international concern that followed was specifically placed upon the fate of the city’s many historic temples and archaeological ruins, many of which date back thousands of years.

Prior to the Syrian Civil War, the city had been the country’s foremost tourist attraction: tourists could easily catch a bus from Damascus in order to explore Palmyra’s ancient ruins and the city was, in many ways, a source of pride for Syrians. It stood as a testament to the country’s impressive history and its status as the once-home of the Queen of the Palmyra Empire in the third century, who led a famous revolt against the Roman Empire. Centuries before the appearance of the Romans – and for some time after – the city had been a major trade route, giving it its unique architectural style.

The project should result in the recreation of any cultural artefacts that are destroyed in the future, but the marvel of seeing a structure that dates back thousands of years will be lost

Iconoclasts of Syria and Iraq
As was expected, and as the group had done many times before, ISIS soon set about destroying the city’s historic monuments. Although many of the city’s portable treasures had been hastily removed just hours before the group arrived, untold numbers of priceless artefacts remained – not least the ancient temples that had made the city so famous in the first place.

The first major site to be destroyed was the 2,000-year-old Baal Shamin Temple, which was shortly followed by the Temple of Bel. After reviewing satellite imagery, the UN confirmed the “destruction of the main building of the Temple of Bel, as well as a row of columns in its immediate vicinity”. After surviving for thousands of years and outliving its many occupiers, conquerors and empires, some of the city’s most famed historic monuments were reduced to nothing more than rubble.

Prior to this attack, ISIS had already destroyed untold numbers of monuments across the region: in Ar-Raqqah, the purported capital of the group’s territory, ISIS ordered the bulldozing of a colossal ancient Assyrian gateway; a lion sculpture dating back to the eighth century. The group has also released footage of it destroying ancient relics in the Iraqi city of Mosul.

History repeating
This is not the first time that a militant group sharing a similar world view to that of ISIS has destroyed sites of historical value: in 2012, following a military coup that plunged the nation into chaos, a group called Ansar Dine seized large swathes of northern Mali, taking with it the ancient city of Timbuktu and various other sites that had only recently been added to the UNESCO protection list. These included the mausoleums of Sufi Muslim saints that dated back to the 15th century.

Viewing the existence of these relics as encouraging idolatry, the zealous occupying force quickly moved to destroy them. At the time, Yeya Tandina, a local journalist, told Al Jazeera, “They have already completely destroyed the mausoleum of Sidi Mahmoud and two others. They said they would continue all day and destroy all 16”. Further destruction came when pick-axes were taken to the mausoleum of local saint Sidi El Mokhtar, as well as six other sites, it was reported.

After the group was routed following a French military invasion, the city was placed back under the authority of the Malian government and UNESCO soon got to work attempting to restore the historic monuments. Owing partly to the crude nature of Ansar Dine’s weapons, much of the destruction was not complete and some physical restoration could occur.

According to the Director-General of UNESCO, “There is still much to be done, both in the field of culture (to rehabilitate the mausoleums, save and digitise the manuscripts) and in the field of education (to ensure access to quality education for all Malians, which naturally remains a priority for UNESCO)”. It is the organisation’s goal that one day tourists will once again be able to marvel at the historic shrines of the still-beleaguered African nation.

Taking action
Many of the shrines that were destroyed will never be fully restored to their exact pre-Ansar Dine likeness. However, the Million Image Database project (MID) – a collaboration between the Oxford-based Institute for Digital Archaeology (IDA) and UNESCO – hopes to minimise the critical damage done by such onslaughts. Through distributing thousands of 3D digital cameras to warzones where historical sites are under threat, MID hopes that by recording every angle of the world’s most at risk archaeological ruins, they can be recreated through digital prints.

According to Erin Simmons, Director of Administration at IDA, the project “sprang out of a much older project in collaboration with ISAW [the Institute for the Study of the Ancient World] for a standardised, open-source epigraphy database”. As part of this project, they were “exploring cheap 3D camera options for some time” – however, once the nihilistic destruction of history by militant groups became more commonplace, the project refocused and stepped up a gear: “When it became apparent that the crisis of cultural heritage destruction in parts of the Middle East was going to continue, we re-focused the goals for the database and stepped up the timeframe for the 3D camera manufacture”, Simmons told Business Destinations.

Through working with many partners, from government cultural departments to individuals who live in affected areas, MDI has distributed around 5,000 digital cameras that will contribute to the study and, if required, 3D replication of destroyed sites. “Everyone who wants to be a part of the project [is accepted], provided we do not believe they will be in immediate danger”, Simmons continued.

Something lost
While the project, if successful, should result in the recreation of any cultural artefacts that are destroyed in the future, the original monuments themselves will still be lost. Ancient temples will be devastated and, while replicas may be created to replace them, the marvel of seeing a structure that dates back thousands of years will be lost. However, the project is still of vital importance: as Simmons explained, “The sites and artefacts themselves are important, but what they represent is much more important. Civilisation began in the Fertile Crescent; this isn’t just the history of the Western world, but of humanity itself.

“Unfortunately, in the world of art and archaeology, it is often true that out of sight is out of mind. Recreating these sites for future generations ensures the continued existence of our shared history”. While the real sites will be lost, once peace returns to Syria, people from the world over will at least be able to get a sense of humanity’s shared history in the Levant.

Tower Club at lebua is recognised for its world-class facilities

Posted on by Charlotte Gill

Occupying the 51st to 59th floors of Bangkok’s imposing riverside State Tower, Tower Club at lebua’s central location means that it is truly close to everything in the city. Its proximity to the expressway makes getting to and from the airport quick and painless, while the BTS Sky Train and Chao Phraya Express Boat just outside of the hotel’s doors make it easy to connect to the city’s nightlife, shopping centres and tourist attractions.

The hotel’s 221 expansive suites were designed with both business and leisure travellers in mind, ranging from one to three bedrooms and offering the services and amenities that are guaranteed to provide the ideal environment for working or relaxing. With separate bedrooms and living rooms, spacious bathrooms and kitchenettes, and exceptional views from more than 50 stories above the ground, Tower Club at lebua creates an environment that is perfectly suited to the needs of any traveller. As a result, the hotel has been named Best Luxury Hotel, Thailand in the Business Destinations Travel Awards 2015.

With exceptional views from more than 50 stories above the ground, Tower Club at lebua creates an environment that is perfectly suited to the needs of any traveller

Special touches
The carefully considered layout of the hotel is complemented by myriad thoughtful touches, which have each been designed to reflect the personalised, intuitive service offered on every floor of Tower Club: the complimentary in-suite check-in service, soft drink minibar, Wi-Fi and LAN connections, 24-hour concierge and front desk services, extensive pillow menu and in-room Nespresso machines that are included as standard with every booking each guarantee a smooth experience, from check-in to checkout.

Guests at Tower Club are also invited to visit the famed Café Mozu, which serves authentic Lebanese, Indian, Thai and Western dishes by the hotel’s poolside. The restaurant has become well known throughout the city for its exceptional daily breakfast buffet, which comprises more than 120 international specialities. Many guests are drawn to the pool itself, however, which provides a tropical oasis in the heart of bustling Bangkok. Overlooking its waters, guests can find the hotel’s fitness centre, which offers a range of first-rate cardiovascular and weight training equipment, along with the sauna and steam room. This area provides business travellers in particular with a dedicated space for focusing on their health and wellbeing so they are able to maintain their usual fitness regimes while abroad.

While all Tower Club suites are fully equipped to allow visitors to conduct business at any hour, the hotel’s own state-of-the-art business centre on the 51st floor provides additional solutions and support for visiting executives, including personalised secretarial facilities, mail services and the use of small conference rooms for up to 12 people. For meetings in a more relaxed setting, however, Tower Club guests may use the exclusive Tower Club Lounge, which is open daily and offers outstanding skyline panoramas in an intimate setting. With complimentary Wi-Fi access and meals served throughout the day, the lounge is able to accommodate any kind of social meeting, business lunch or post-conference drinks.

Dining in the sky
The golden dome that sits atop the hotel is home to The Dome at lebua, Bangkok’s highest and most coveted dining and drinking destination. At The Dome, guests can find the world’s highest alfresco restaurant, Sirocco, as well as Mezzaluna, Sky Bar, Distil and Breeze on nearby floors. All of these venues offer exceptional dishes and drinks, providing a luxurious and truly world-class destination for business gatherings as well as intimate dinners.

Breeze can be found on the 52nd floor. Offering innovative Asian dishes presented by the award-winning master chef Sam Pang, the restaurant is already making tracks across the rest of the world: a second Breeze by lebua opened its doors in Frankfurt in September 2015, while a third location in Philadelphia is currently being sourced. Sirocco, meanwhile, is The Dome’s signature Mediterranean dining venue, offering truly exceptional views and stunning cuisine from the hotel’s 63rd floor. Mezzaluna, lebua’s fine dining restaurant, boasts an unbroken halo of floor-to-ceiling windows, providing mesmerising panoramas of the city, along with masterful Japanese dishes with a twist of French haute cuisine, from the 65th floor.

Whether before or after dinner, lebua’s concierge will always recommend a drink at Sky Bar: with a post-modern, multi-hued island bar and its own signature cocktail, the Hangovertini – created specially for the cast of The Hangover Part II during filming in Bangkok – the bar is usually filled with guests late into the evening. However, the hotel’s Distil bar and lounge is where the real mixology magic happens: tantalizing new cocktails with unique flavours and textures are complemented by oysters, caviar, sushi, sashimi and Havana cigars for a truly first-rate experience.

Flexible meetings
With a wide choice of function rooms, ranging from daytime conference chambers to expansive ballrooms designed to be reminiscent of Imperial Europe, every event at Tower Club is guaranteed to be memorable and truly one of a kind. Exceptional event catering is on offer from the restaurants at The Dome, while spectacular city and river views, handpicked flower arrangements, winding staircases and lavish chandeliers help to create a timeless, elegant ambience. State-of-the-art technology, accompanied by the hotel’s dedicated and experienced event management team, round off each and every event to perfection.

The tower’s crowning glory is its State Room, located on the 67th floor. Its 360-degree ring of floor-to-ceiling windows provides sweeping views of the city that cannot be found elsewhere, creating a truly one-of-a-kind venue. The Pundarika Grand Ballroom, meanwhile, offers the perfect balance of luxury and flexibility through three spacious function rooms that may be combined or divided, providing tailor-made receptions and gala dinners that can host from 300 to 1,000 guests. Throughout these rooms, classical décor and warm colours create a venue that glows with grace and sophistication, while in the atrium a vast crystal chandelier takes centre-stage.

Other luxurious alternatives include Pushkara Ballroom, which may also be divided into three smaller units, each of which offers sweeping river panoramas. Padma Ballroom, meanwhile, is perfect for smaller seminars and more intimate business meetings once divided, and is ideal for larger conferences at its full size. Angarika Ballroom, with its stunning chandelier, provides charm and an old-world, European elegance, while the spacious and beautifully decorated Aravinda room is ideal for larger social celebrations.

Tower Club at lebua’s prime location in the heart of the city means that it is within close proximity of every form of transport in Bangkok, countless catering options and an array of first-rate event and meeting venues. With such an exceptional supply of facilities at its disposal, it is unsurprising that the hotel has become to go-to venue for many of the city’s events and incentives: every moment at Tower Club promises to be memorable, personal and truly exceptional, leading it to become a favoured destination for holidaymakers the world over, along with business travellers looking to be part of a world-class event.

Silversea Cruises enhances business travel

Posted on by Charlotte Gill

Meeting planners often disregard the cruise industry entirely when considering a venue for their next event. Underrated and underutilised, cruising has the potential to further bolster the European MICE sector, but many event organisers retain out-dated opinions on exactly what it involves. “Cruises are, in essence, horizontal, floating hotels. Whatever you can do in a hotel, you can do on a ship – and often better and cheaper”, according to Maarten Tromp, Corporate and Incentive Sales at Silversea Cruises, which has been voted Best MICE Cruise Company, Europe in the Business Destinations Travel Awards 2015.

Tromp has been working to integrate the European cruise and MICE industries for a number of years. His view is that cruises can be a prime choice for corporate events, and that too many people involved in the meetings sector are very much behind the times when it comes to realising the full extent of what cruises can offer them and their corporate clients.

Many people are behind the times when it comes to realising the full extent of what cruises can
offer them

A change in thinking
This is an issue that is unique to Europe, however. Tromp told Business Destinations, “In the US, cruising is an extremely attractive activity, and is often used for groups of executives. Companies reward their dynamic sales teams with exciting and enjoyable cruises, which at the same time provide an innovative venue for sales briefings, strategy planning and team building.” Some itineraries are even planned around the potential for meetings, with two of three consecutive days at sea allowing for some intensive brainstorming meetings and award ceremonies, followed by a relaxing day at port.

“The ship can sail between ports at night so that delegates wake up to an exciting new destination every morning. Days can be allocated to sightseeing, onshore excursions or teambuilding exercises on the beach – one day, delegates will work hard in a conference setting, and the next they are enjoying a golf tournament on a remote island”, said Tromp.

A single cruise can meet many different objectives, providing a constant change of scenery without the need to find new accommodation.

According to Tromp, the European reluctance to embrace the cruise industry in the same way that the US has is partially down to the British Government’s attitude towards the sector: “In the US, benefits in kind are not taxed, success is encouraged and rewarded, and cruising is an integral part of that reward process. In the UK, pure incentives and training on cruise ships are still regarded by HM Revenue as a holiday, and so are taxed as such. A change in the treatment of incentives and work getaways of this nature would give a crucial boost to corporate cruising.”

Unique expeditions
Silversea’s cruises have been expertly tailored to suit corporate itineraries in particular: “On Silversea, every guest has a suite, not just a cabin. Our cruises are all-inclusive, even allowing for champagne, and organisers will know in advance exactly how much everything will cost – from accommodation and fine dining to meeting rooms, excursions and port charges – in order to guarantee that their guests will have a fabulous time,” Tromp said.

The company’s ships are among some of the smallest and most intimate cruise liners in the world, making it possible for companies to charter entire vessels. Silversea’s classic fleet currently comprises six ships, the largest of which – the Silver Spirit – can accommodate 540 passengers.

Silversea also has a unique ‘expedition fleet’: its smallest vessel, the Silver Galapagos, accommodates 100 passengers and sails year-round exclusively in the Galapagos region. The Silver Explorer joined the fleet in 2008, becoming the first cruise ship in the world to combine expedition cruising (the ship has a specially strengthened hull that allows it to explore the Arctic and the Antarctic) with luxury accommodation.

Mexico’s meeting boom

Posted on by Charlotte Gill

According to the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), Mexico currently sits in third position in Latin America as a location for meetings and events. Furthermore, the country is also placed at number 21 globally. Such an achievement has been accomplished through years of hard work within the Mexican MICE industry, in particular driven by its professional conference organisers, convention centres, suppliers, convention and visitors bureaus, tourism boards and government authorities. Additionally, Mexico’s outstanding range of truly unique natural sites and venues also give it a competitive edge.

The Mexican MICE industry’s foremost priority is to bid for high-profile international meetings, conventions and incentives by promoting the country’s high-quality offerings and products. Drawing on features from the tourist industry, the creative sector and various technological innovations, Mexico’s supply of certified organisation specialists becomes more accomplished and able to host any kind of event each and every day.

On average, Profesionales en Convenciones has organised over 1,000 national and international events each year

When meeting and incentive planners are deciding on a location for their next event, there are several key factors that must be considered: for many years, the go-to Mexican destinations for such events were traditionally beach locations, such as Cancún, Los Cabos, Puerto Vallarta and Acapulco. While these destinations offer great infrastructure and stunning natural scenery, with white sand beaches and oceanic sunsets providing the ultimate backdrop for any business event, in recent years several other towns and cities have begun to take their place at the forefront of the MICE agenda.

The unique attractions, cultural experiences, hotels and meeting spaces that are available in cities such as Monterrey, Mexico City, Puebla and Guadalajara have brought them to the attention of every meeting planner in the country. These dynamic and cosmopolitan locations offer guests much more than a beach getaway, with the hum of city life and some of the finest transportation networks in Latin America perfectly suiting the needs of every travelling businessperson.

Specialist team
Profesionales en Convenciones is a travel management company that specialises in the planning, organising and operating of incentive trips, meetings and conventions both across Mexico and the globe. Since commencing operations from its head office in Mexico City in 1979, Profesionales en Convenciones has opened two further offices in Monterrey and Puebla, and has on average organised over 1,000 national and international events each year.

With the ambition of earning and maintaining a reputation as one of the most respectable travel management companies in the world, Profesionales en Convenciones has committed to organising an extremely diverse range of events. Those that have taken place in Monterrey have included the United Nations International Conference on Financing for Development 2002 and the Karate World Championship 2004, but the company also has an extended list of international successes to its name. Having organised everything from gala dinners on the Great Wall of China to VIP group tours in South Africa in aid of rhino conservation programmes, Profesionales en Convenciones’ impressive diversity has seen it named as Best Travel Management Company, North America in the Business Destinations Travel Awards 2015.

Even with such a brimming international repertoire, the company focuses part of its efforts on promoting the features and facilities of two major Mexican cities in particular: both Puebla and Monterrey have a great deal to offer meeting planners and business travellers, and Profesionales en Convenciones is committed to promoting them to the masses.

VIP access
Having lunch in front of a pyramid with the world’s largest base or enjoying dinner on top of the fort where the Cinco de Mayo battle took place in 1862 are just two examples of some of Puebla’s truly unique historical venues. The city has much to offer, ranging from historical tours to cultural events, and the organisation firmly believes that, as leisure tourists visiting the same destination will not be granted access to many of these world-class spots, business travel allows for an even greater level of enjoyment than one might expect.

Puebla was founded by the Spanish in 1531. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1987, and boasts the second largest number of buildings and monuments of significant historical value in the world. The city is also home to world-famous cuisine and a plethora of unique and culturally rich traditions that have seen it also named by UNESCO as a World Intangible Heritage site. Furthermore, the city also boasts a rich economy that is centred on the automotive industry, the largest exhibition centre in the country, over 6,000 hotel rooms, a location only two hours from Mexico City, and the title of the fourth largest city in Mexico.

Many new attractions are being built every day, with the city being due to open the largest Baroque art museum in the world in 2016. The Japanese Pritzker prize-winning architect Toyo Ito designed this stunning new building. It is this combination of old and new, traditional and innovative, that makes Puebla such a truly fascinating place in which to host a meeting or incentive.

Puebla is ranked as the third best destination in Mexico for meetings and incentives
Puebla is ranked as the third best destination in Mexico for meetings and incentives

Natural appeal
The northern city of Monterrey is another location that has been drawing the attention of the international MICE industry. Well known for its industrial developments, including in electronics, software, steel, beverages and specialist medical equipment, the city is thriving as an excellent business environment. Monterrey boasts several large and influential conference centres, along with a selection of high-quality hotels, parks and museums, and in general possesses a great deal of modern infrastructure, making it particularly easy to organise an event in the city. Monterrey is also the home of the most important airport in the north of Mexico, connecting the country to 32 national and 14 international destinations.

Having been named as the ‘city of mountains’, it comes as no surprise that some of Monterrey’s most popular sights are its stunning natural landscapes. Surrounded by high mountains that offer impressive views of the city, excellent outdoor activities and a selection of extreme sports packages, the city’s ideal location allows for work and leisure to be combined in truly unique and enjoyable ways. Understanding that creating a memorable meeting programme is one of the most significant ways in which to guarantee a successful event, Profesionales en Convenciones works alongside its clients and planners to produce meetings and incentives that are enjoyable, innovative and beneficial.

Rosewood Abu Dhabi impresses business travellers

Posted on by Charlotte Gill

Abu Dhabi is often overlooked in favour of its flashier cousin, Dubai. However, as the capital of the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi is undoubtedly a location that must be added to every traveller’s agenda – and with glorious winter sun, Formula 1 racing and construction underway on its own Guggenheim museum (designed by internationally renowned architect Frank Gehry), there has never been a better time to visit this stunning and dynamic part of the world.

Easily accessible from dozens of cities around the world, Abu Dhabi is an ideal location for those travelling on business or for leisure. From October until March, the temperature in the emirate cools to a relatively low 30 degrees, making it the ideal time to escape from the wintry chill that has begun to spread across Europe and see some of the city’s spectacular sights.

Easily accessible from dozens of cities around the world, Abu Dhabi is an ideal location for those travelling on business or for leisure

First of its kind
November 2015 saw the global stars of the racing world descend on Abu Dhabi for the F1 Grand Prix. The circuit was designed to be an Arabian version of the world-class Monaco track, with 21 corners twisting throughout Yas Island. The Yas Island development, which is situated about half an hour outside of the city centre, also comprises theme parks, golf courses and a wide array of shops. And, for those with a true need for speed, Abu Dhabi’s exclusive racing-themed park, Ferrari World, boasts the fastest rollercoaster in the world: Formula Rossa goes from 0-60 in four seconds, guaranteeing to impress even the most seasoned theme park goers.

With such an action-packed itinerary guaranteed, Rosewood Abu Dhabi is the hotel of choice for countless travellers. The hotel became the first Rosewood property in the UAE when it opened in 2013: located on Al Maryah Island, Rosewood Abu Dhabi has an impressive lobby that was designed by global design firm HOK and has been filled with stunning artwork from local and international artists. The hotel’s true defining feature, however, is its personalised butler service: each and every guest, regardless of room category or purpose of stay, is assigned a butler who acts as their personal assistant and concierge, 24 hours a day. Each room is also equipped with an iPad that can be used to request any hotel service, from dry cleaning and valet parking to simply sending a postcard home.

Authentic taste
Food lovers in particular can expect to be delighted by their stay at Rosewood Abu Dhabi: Aqua is an all-day dining destination that serves spectacular Mediterranean cuisine and is home to the newest Friday brunch in Abu Dhabi’s calendar. Guests can also sample delectable Lebanese specialties at Sambusek, which offers fresh seafood from the local market and outstanding views of the waterfront from the outdoor terrace. For after dinner, Smoke is the hotel’s exclusive shisha lounge, offering snacks, cocktails and aromatic Arabic coffee.

Rosewood Abu Dhabi boasts 154 spacious guestrooms, along with 35 suites that each include a private office, making them the perfect choice for business travellers looking to get some extra work done in the evenings. The Royal Suite in particular offers the ultimate in luxurious living, with a private gym that overlooks the spectacular skyline of Al Maryah Island. Warmth and sophistication resonate throughout the hotel’s 34 floors, guaranteeing guests an authentic experience of the Middle East with all the stylish décor and luxurious amenities that they have come to expect.

Madrid: a top destination for business meetings

Posted on by Charlotte Gill

The largest city in Spain and one of the continent’s most culturally rich capitals, Madrid is a place perfectly suited for doing business. A notably safe setting where taking time out and attending meetings are equally enjoyable, Madrid’s rich artistic background, enviable natural heritage, cutting-edge transportation network, quality accommodation, fine cuisine and local friendliness mean that guests are guaranteed to enjoy everything that one of the world’s most attractive destinations has to offer, day or night.

With a range of high-quality hotels that cannot be beaten across much of the European continent, the city of Madrid provides guests with modern infrastructure, excellent value for money and a workforce of devoted professionals, allowing clients to enjoy an unending supply of truly unique events.

Madrid provides guests with modern infrastructure, excellent value for money and a citywide workforce of devoted professionals

Peak season
While summer may be long over, its effects can still be felt throughout the city: Madrid’s leading cultural centres – CentroCentro at the Palacio de Cibeles, Matadero Madrid and Conde Duque – were in full swing during summer 2015. Each of these centres’ facilities provided spaces that enhanced and revitalised the city’s cultural calendar, providing the perfect setting for a series of innovative events during the city’s peak months.

The Glass Gallery at CentroCentro became a summer cinema for two months, featuring a programme that included classic films, cult movies and newly premiered box office hits. A total of 74 screenings were hosted between 1st July and 3rd September, where filmgoers were also able to attend an exclusive exhibition of film costumes that was catered for by renowned chef Juan Pozuelo. Meanwhile, Matadero Madrid ran its exclusive festival, the Square in the Summer, by holding numerous inclusive music events in architect Andrés Jaque’s structure, Excaravox. Consisting of two mobile devices based on the concept of watering systems, Excaravox was equipped with a sound system, projection screen, speaker platform, plants and even a water bed for guests and attendees to enjoy.

City beaching
Additionally, Conde Duque hosted the Urban Beach Cinema from 10th July until 12th September: this event was new to Madrid in 2015, giving visitors and locals the chance to enjoy open-air cinema, music, design and gastronomy in a breathtaking beach setting in the heart of the city. Replicating the urban beaches that can be found in several other European cities, including London, Paris and Berlin, two 4,500sq m terraces were set up in the city’s central courtyard. The minimalist site gives prominence to beautiful flora, thanks to a partnership with Madrid City Council’s environmental department, and, with terrace bars run by Café La Palma and Café del Río – two companies with a wealth of vital field experience to their names – Madrid’s urban beach project has been hailed as a massive success.

The Conde Duque’s south courtyard was the venue for the outdoor cinema, which offered a 300sq m cinema screen and seating for 800 people. Catering was provided by a series of food trucks, which parked up on a weekly rotation and delighted Madrid locals and tourists alike with their innovative and refreshing culinary offerings. The Urban Beach Cinema also featured attractions for music lovers, including concerts and sessions led by various DJs. Further music events, including an ‘electronic brunch’ and various activities for children, were held every Sunday throughout the summer.

On Saturdays and Sundays from 18th July to 9th August, the Urban Beach Cinema also held a pop-up event that hosted a series of international fashion brands. Through collaboration with the local arts and craft market, Nómada Market, this attraction accommodated fashion and accessory designers, illustrators, decorators and jewellery designers, all of whom used the innovative event to reveal their trendsetting ideas for the rest of the year.

For further information visit esmadrid.com/mcb