Friday, 30 April 2010

New BBQ packages for RCP’s enhanced ‘Physic Garden’

The Royal College of Physicians has launched new Summer Barbecue packages for one of London’s most distinctive locations: its recently enhanced physic garden, now the largest in the country.

It’s a genuinely unique and memorable setting, which has become increasingly popular with event organisers. The garden includes many exotic and historic medicinal plants from all over the world, including some dating back before the dinosaurs. Exciting new additions during last year include eight new individual garden beds to provide even more spectacular variety. The garden is located in a secluded area to the side of the main RCP building, surrounded by magnificent Nash terrace buildings, quaint cobbled streets and the modern façade of the award- winning College building.

The latest all inclusive packages start at £75 per person. They include a full barbecue, beverages, benches, gazebos and poseur tables, picnic blankets, lanterns and candles.

The Royal College of Physicians, London NW1 - Conference Centres of Excellence

Katharine Armstrong, Sales Manager for the Conference Centres of Excellence Hotline, interviewed by Michael Kennedy at International Confex 2010

Ashorne Hill expands meetings capacity

Ashorne Hill’s commitment to continued improvement has once again been underlined by the opening of a brand new meeting room at the Warwickshire based training and conference centre.
The Kenilworth Room is now open for business; the recently refurbished office space has become a superb meeting room with capacity of up to 40 people theatre style. On the second floor the room has five large windows allowing vast amounts of natural light to enter. The room also boasts the Juliet balcony and offers stunning views of Ashorne Hill’s delightful grounds. The Kenilworth Room also offers use of the adjacent Broadway syndicate room.

Accommodation at Ashorne Hill has also recently undergone refurbishment. Rooms now boast flat screen TVs and new ipod docking stations.

Ashorne Hill, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire - Conference Centre Midlands

More demand for serviced offices at Missenden Abbey

Since Christmas, three more companies have taken up the opportunity of serviced offices at Missenden Abbey, the Buckinghamshire venue. There are now a total of six organisations renting space at the Abbey. “All the companies all have commented how basing their businesses in a customer-focused environment has helped their business,” said Missenden Abbey’s CEO Steven Crawford: “They also say that their visitors all comment on the ‘wow’ factor of the building.”

The residential venue has recently introduced flat screen TVs in all bedrooms, and has been awarded the Chiltern District Council Gold Award for its high standard of Food Safety for the third consecutive year.

http://www.cceonline.co.uk/our_venues/our-venues/Missenden_Abbey_Conference_Centre

Conference centre business beats the trends...!

The Conference Centres of Excellence ‘Hotline’ venue finding service managed to defy the recession in 2009 – posting an increase in the value of business that it referred to member venues.

It was a particularly notable achievement because the team wasn’t in operation for the whole of the year. Conference Centres of Excellence only decided to bring its sales operation in house in January of 2009, to
provide a better, more focused service to event organisers. It came into operation in the spring

“The concept of having an in-house team, marketing our venues more aggressively and focusing all its efforts on generating new business within the group, has quickly exceeded our expectations,” says Executive Director Anthony Lishman:“For both our client base and our membership, it is paying real dividends.We also have no doubt that the in house team is providing a better service to organisers: it's well in advance of
the service provided by most other venue-finders.”

BVEP reviews three main Party Manifestos ahead of election

Industry body prepares to publish its own manifesto and issue to new government and newly elected MPs.

Conference Centres of Excellence are among the members of the Business Visits & Events Partnership (BVEP), the umbrella organisation for the UK business tourism and events industry.

The BVEP has reviewed all three of the main political party manifestos and is set to issue its own industry wide document to the new government and parliament following the forthcoming elections on May 6th.

Chairman of the BVEP, Michael Hirst OBE, said the contents of the party manifestos were “encouraging” with “a recognition that the importance of events to the economy and the community is beginning to gain some political traction and the creative industries, of which Events are a part, should be further supported.”

The BVEP’s own ‘Manifesto for Business Visits & Events’ which has been created by a separate government affairs group within the BVEP after extensive consultation with all of the major UK industry associations in membership of the Partnership, is to be published at the end of May and distributed to all incoming Ministers and MP’s following the general election.

Michael Hirst concludes; “Whilst we still have a long way to go to establish business visits and events firmly in the minds of politicians, the three main manifestos are certainly encouraging, and demonstrate that the work we have done over the past 12 months has, at the very least, caught their attention. The publication of our own manifesto will continue to push forward that message and ensure the industry receives the recognition and support it deserves”.

The publication of the ‘Manifesto for Business Visits & Events’ comes ahead of the event at the House of Commons on 20th October, during National Meetings Week, where all new MP’s are being invited to attend a reception and presentation on the sector.

National Meetings Week 2010 Set for Launch

Business Tourism PR specialist, Davies Tanner, will shortly be launching this year’s National Meetings Week (NMW) campaign alongside VisitBritain.

The campaign is extending even further into the year with the focal point undoubtedly being the Business Visits & Events Partnership (BVEP) hosted event at the House of Commons on 20th October.

"BLT" Open Days at Latimer Place Conference Centre, Bucks

Latimer Place “BLT” Open Days - Thursday 6th May and Thursday 17th June
Experience our views while we listen to yours !

Join us at Latimer Place for Breakfast, Lunch or Tea and revel in the beauty of this accessible rural idyll with the flexibility to provide a solution for any brief.

We really are BUCKINGHAMSHIRE BEST KEPT SECRET …………For more details please click here!

RSVP: latimersalesteam@devereveneus.co.uk Call: 0844 9802312

For bookers we will guarantee to show you a good time !

Showtime is our way of giving you a round of applause every time you make an enquiry or place a booking with us.

Join Showtime Rewards and you’ll earn rewards faster than ever before. You can earn £1 every time you make an enquiry, just by quoting the word ‘Showtime!’ For bookings that confirm and take place, you can earn up to £400 for a single booking.

Latimer Place, Buckinghamshire - Conference Centres of Excellence

Thursday, 22 April 2010

New views from Latimer Place, Buckinghamshire

Latimer Place is three venues co-located on one parkland site. The 30 acres of grounds are ideal for teambuilding activities and outdoor events.


Latimer House occupies a commanding position overlooking the Chess Valley. It combines traditional character with bright, professional, purpose-designed training rooms.

http://www.cceonline.co.uk/our_venues/our-venues/Latimer_Place

Win 2 places to attend the Singapore Race Day at RBS Williams F1 Conference Centre

Day Delegate rates from £50 + VAT per person

**PLUS** every Event Organiser running an event in May or June 2010 will be entered into a prize draw to win 2 places to attend our Singapore Race Day on Sunday, 26 September 2010.

Day Delegate Rate to include:

* Hire of main meeting room and private catering room from 08:30-17:30
* 3 servings of tea, coffee, fruit infusions & biscuits
* Light hot and cold finger buffet lunch with Orange Juice
* Data projector & screen or a Plasma Screen
* Flip chart & pens
* Free secure car parking on-site
* Free Wifi for all guests
* Walk through of the private Williams F1 Grand Prix Collection

£50.00 plus VAT per person

(Rate offer is subject to availability at the time of booking for events taking place in May and June 2010. Alternative Delegate Rates are available with alternative catering options.
The prize draw will be held in July and the winner notified.
The prize draw has no cash alternative and is not transferable or able to be resold)



RBS Williams F1 Conference Centre, Oxfordshire

Latest Offer for Team Building from Missenden Abbey

At Missenden, we've teamed up with Morale Solutions to offer a diverse range of teambuilding activities, both indoor and outdoor. Designed to improve team dynamics and interaction as well as increase productivity and efficiency, our teambuilding exercises could be just what you need to advance your team.

This month, we're offering you free use of the teambuilding equipment when you book a residential conference! Simply quote the code TMB01 when you book.

Missenden Abbey Conference Centre, Buckinghamshire

The FREE HRD Exhibition ends today - don't miss out!

Don't miss your chance to explore the latest products and services in L&D, OD, coaching, training, e-learning and more...

http://www.cipd.co.uk/cande/hrd/exhibition/exhibitors/_exhibitors/3521.htm

Wednesday, 21 April 2010

Conference Centres of Excellence widens choice of Training Venues - HRD 2010

Conference Centres of Excellence, the UK’s leading consortium of specialist conference and training venues, comes to HRD 2010 with yet another choice for training organisers. Its latest member is 76 Portland Place, the successful venue in the centre of London.

Conference Centres of Excellence currently has more than 40 members, spread across the country. Together they provide a complete spectrum of venues, residential and non residential, town/city centre and rural, traditional and purpose built. The group includes many of the country’s best recognised and most successful specialist locations for training and development. To achieve membership, a venue must achieve stringent standards of quality and service across all aspects of its activity, from facilities to on-site support and overall customer support.

As a significant support for training organisers, the consortium offers a completely free venue-finding service, called ‘Hotline’. Brought in-house in the spring of last year, the service provides a comprehensive, personal and completely free ‘one-stop-shop’ service, linking organisers with member venues. The team can provide immediate guidance on facilities, availability and rates (usually obtaining quotes within two hours), and can arrange visits. It can also help identify appropriate venues for specific events, obtaining proposals and progressing negotiations up to and beyond the point of exchange of contracts.

While parts of the venues sector have been significantly affected by the recent downturn in demand for off-site training, Conference Centres of Excellence members have in general resisted the trend. “ Organisations still know that there is no better guarantee of totally effective training than locating it in a specialist venue with no ambient distractions,” says Executive Director Anthony Lishman: “We are pleased to see that, while of course there has been downward pressure on rates, the pure focus that our members provide has helped sustain their business in the sector.”

The Hotline team can be contacted on 0845 230 1414, email info@cceonline.co.uk  . Details of the consortium’s services, and of each of its member venues, can be found on http://www.cceonline.co.uk/  .

Further information
At HRD Anthony Lishman Stand 330
General media inquiries Michael Kennedy 0121 605 4048
michaelkennedy@talk21.com

Conference Centres of Excellence widens choice of Training Venues

Tuesday, 20 April 2010

Celebrating a record start to 2010 - Cotswold Conference Centre Midlands

Cotswold Conference Centre (CCC), Broadway are celebrating a record start to 2010.

Head of Sales, Nick Akerman explained: “Throughout last year we stuck to what we know we are good at, kept faith with the full-time staff, and have retained all our regular clients. In the current climate it is such good news that the corporate training world seems to be active again. New bookings have almost quadrupled compared to the same period last year and we’ve just had our busiest three months for enquiries on record. New clients have been won based on our service promise and the facilities rather than just price and, at last, quality seems to be back on the agenda.”

Cotswold Conference Centre, Midlands - Conference Centres of Excellence

Thursday, 15 April 2010

CCE membership - what it means for you and your delegates

No venue is accepted into Conference Centres of Excellence unless it meets our very exacting criteria. We also listen to our clients - and they tell us that they need staff with professional and proven skills who understand the stress on delegates and organisers. Our experience in delivering productive and professional environments will enable you to deliver excellent events with real results for your business.

Request a copy of our latest Meeting Planner detailing our 40 venues nationwide http://www.cceonline.co.uk/contact/request-brochure

Pre register here for HRD 2010

Visit us at HRD 2010 - preregister for free today !
Pre-register now for HRD 2010

The CIPD's free training and development exhibition 21-22 April 2010 at London Olympia offers you the chance to meet all the leading suppliers in learning and organisational development under one roof.

The Conference Centres of Excellence team will be there as well as representatives from the following CCE member venues
Come and see us on Stand 330!  Visitors to the stand will have the chance to win a selection of fantastic prizes including a bottle of champagne, a £300 Jimmy Choos voucher or a Chocolatier's Table from Hotel Chocolat.  You can also find out more about a special offer on team building days from £75 per delegate.  

Wednesday, 7 April 2010

Latest special offers from Aston Business School Conference Centre, Birmingham

10 DELEGATES FOR 9!

Book your next conference, meeting or event within any of Conference Aston’s city centre hotel and event venues and for every 10 delegates booked, you’ll only pay for 9!

Conference Aston offers Birmingham City Centre’s premier group of award winning hotel and event venues, purpose built to meet the needs of the conference, meeting and training industry.

• Over 30 dedicated meeting rooms seat up to 235
• 162 luxurious en-suite bedrooms
• Located minutes from the M6 Junction6 and 3 mainline rail stations

Whether you’re working to a tight budget and short deadlines or you’re planning well in advance with no expense spared, our team will help you create the Aston-ishing event experience that will meet all of your needs.

Take advantage of this fantastic offer from 1st February 2010 until 30th April 2010.

Call us to discuss your needs on 0845 230 1414 quoting “2009for10”

Or email info@cceonline.co.uk


SUMMER BONANZA

Day Delegate rates from £30 and 24 Hour Rates from £99 inc VAT!

Looking for the perfect central location with purpose built residential and non-residential venues for your next conference, meeting or training programme?

This summer, take advantage of Conference Aston’s bonanza rates from £30 Day Delegate and £99 24 Hour!(including VAT)

The Summer Bonanza rates are available for all new enquiries and bookings from 1st March 2010 and events held from 1st July – 4th September 2010 inclusive.

Offer is subject to availability and cannot be used in conjunction with any other promotion or offer*, rates include VAT.

Last Minute rate includes:

Purpose built main meeting room;
3 Servings of fairtrade tea, coffee and biscuits;
3 Course buffet lunch in our contemporary restaurant;
Meeting room stationery including flipchart, pens and paper;
LCD projector and screen;
Classic Bedrooms (24HourRate only)
3 course dinner
Full English breakfast.
Offer is subject to availability.

Call us to discuss your needs on 0845 230 1414 quoting "Summer Bonanza”

Or email info@cceonline.co.uk

Aston Business School Conference Centre, Birmingham

THE MØLLER CENTRE BECOMES AN ACCREDITED IT TRAINING VENUE

After a rigorous and comprehensive assessment, The Møller Centre in Cambridge has achieved national accreditation from the Institute of IT Training (IITT). The accreditation is recognised as the gold standard for venues offering facilities for the training of IT specialists.

The IITT’s assessment involved a thorough audit of the Centre’s technical facilities, technical support and service to clients. The accreditation process also examines related factors, including business integrity, client perception and procedures and quality of staff.

Stuart Websdale, General Manager of The Møller Centre said ‘We are delighted to have received this accreditation. We have a programme of continuous reinvestment in all our facilities, but particularly in our technical capabilities to ensure that we can offer our clients the widest possible range of solutions for their event. We hold a significant quantity of AV/IT equipment on site which allows us to keep costs down for our clients and react quickly to changes they may require.’

‘For example,’ he continued, ‘during the poor weather in January, several delegates were unable to reach the Centre. Rather than cancel the event we facilitated the transmission of the presentation as a live webinar, with delegates logging in from their homes, offices and motorway service stations! A video conference was run alongside to enable those at remote locations to participate fully in the meeting.’

The Institute's Accreditation is emerging as the de-facto standard in the IT training industry today and is becoming a requirement for the majority of training tenders in Government and blue-chip corporations. The widely recognised accreditation gives clients the assurance that a venue’s facilities conforms to the Institute of IT Training’s Code of Practice and offers facilities and technical services of the highest standard.

Mark Carberry, Sales and Marketing Manager of The Møller Centre said ‘We are absolutely delighted to gain this accreditation. It is a testament to the dedication and quality of our staff, and that we have dedicated technical specialists on-site at all times.’

The Learning Facilities Accreditation scheme is a critical element in the Institute’s mission to raise standards within the IT training sector and provides the standard of excellence against which organisations are benchmarked. As part of its drive to improve standards, the Institute focuses considerable attention on this programme.

In February, The Møller Centre was awarded Silver for ‘Training Venue of the Year’, by the Institute of IT Training based on its ability to offer clients the technical facilities and support they require, including its recent extensive investment in additional AV/PA; video recording and relay, video conferencing, and web- conferencing and casting.

Mark Carberry, Sales and Marketing Manager for The Møller Centre, said ‘We are delighted to receive this award in recognition of our service and facilities. Service is at the core of what we do, starting from the first point of contact with a client and working with them every step of the way to ensure a successful outcome for their event, and our staff are at the very heart of this process.’
Image Caption: The Møller Centre meeting rooms are designed to be highly flexible, and can be set up to suit the client’s requirements.


Note to editors

The Møller Centre is a purpose designed, dedicated management training venue owned by Churchill College, University of Cambridge.

Built through a donation by the A.P. Møller & Chastine Mc-Kinney Møller Foundation in 1992, the benefactor’s vision was to create a centre of excellence where links between commerce and academia could be forged to provide continuing professional development to the managers and leaders of tomorrow.

The unique building and interiors, with emphasis placed on natural light, flexibility and good design provides a stimulating and creative environment for learning and development. The recently expanded Study Centre is designed as a collaborative learning environment, continuing the tradition of creating buildings that put the needs of users first, by ensuring natural day light, state of the art technology, flexibility of use, supported by a highly trained, professional team.

The Centre has 23 meeting rooms, 71 bedrooms, restaurant, bar, leisure facilities and ample free parking on site. It is located close to the centre of Cambridge in 42 acres of parkland which provides a tranquil environment for delegates. The site comprises a Main Building, with a tiered lecture theatre, seven meeting rooms, Tower Lounge Bar, restaurant and bedrooms and a Study Centre with large flat-floored flexible training space consisting of 15 meeting rooms and networking/refreshment areas.

The M11 motorway is less than a mile away, Cambridge rail station 15 minutes, and Stansted airport 40 minutes.

The Møller Centre draws clients from a wide range of FTSE 100 and international corporates, SMEs, the public and academic sectors. We serve local, national and international organisations with delegates (generally, middle to senior executives) coming from around the globe. Not only do we offer meeting space we also develop overseas and cultural educational programmes.

We offer a dedicated event planning service to help organisers achieve the outcomes for their event, and can assist in providing extras such as teambuilding, leisure, cultural or sporting activities. To ensure that all meetings receive the same level of business focus, we do not accept non-business related functions, such as weddings.

For further information visit http://www.mollercentre.co.uk/  or contact:
Alice Noyes, Marketing Executive 01223 465500 Alice.noyes@chu.cam.ac.uk
Further images are available, please contact Alice Noyes.

CIPD update - Essential reading for HR and development professionals

Free HRD Exhibition, 21-22 April, Olympia, London

 
Visit the new Professional Development Zone at this year's free exhibition and see how to update your own knowledge and skills. Sessions include:

 
  • maximising your own learning, and
  • using your head at work: the hard case for soft skills.

 
Come along and meet Conference Centres of Excellence on Stand 330.

 
Pre-register for the HRD Exhibition here

 

 

 

Tuesday, 6 April 2010

Hand dived Scallops on Pea and Tomato Risotto

Dining with Conference Centres of Excellence - recipe for the month of April from Henley Business School -
http://www.cceonline.co.uk/about_cce/April2010

Green Venues and Greener Business with Conference Centres of Excellence

I am delighted that Conference Centres of Excellence members are leading the way with environmental and sustainability initiatives that puts us in the forefront of our industry.

 
In my experience our members have always had good housekeeping policies which have developed into environmental and ecological good practice whether it is saving energy by turning the lights off to the investment in more significant projects such as Bio-Mass generators.

 
Examples are provided here of some of our venues initiatives, as we seek to provide a greener environment in which you can conduct your meetings, training and other events in.

 
This list is not exhaustive and each venue will be able to provide, in greater detail, their own information on green initiatives so please do ask if your venue of choice is not represented here.

 
Anthony Lishman
Executive Director
Conference Centres of Excellence

 
Green Venues and Greener Business with Conference Centres of Excellence

 
  • Arden Training & Conference Centre, Coventry
  • Ashorne Hill, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
  • Aston Business School Conference Centre, Birmingham
  • Cotswold Conference Centre, Midlands
  • Eynsham Hall, Oxfordshire
  • Henley Business School, Oxfordshire
  • imago at Burleigh Court International Conference Centre, Leicestershire
  • Maple House, Birmingham
  • Missenden Abbey Conference Centre, Buckinghamshire
  • Radcliffe Training & Conference Centre, Coventry
  • Roffey Park, West Sussex
  • Scarman House Training & Conference Centre, Coventry
  • Stirling Management Centre, Stirling
  • The Manor House, Godalming, Surrey
  • Woodland Grange Conference Centre, Leamington Spa

Afternoon tea anyone ? New special offer from the IET Birmingham: Austin Court

IET Birmingham: Austin Court continues to add further value to your experience at the venue with a brand new offer to run through April 2010.

The venue, found canal-side in the bustling city-centre location of Brindleyplace, is celebrating Spring and welcoming back the sunshine with afternoon tea delights to add to your event experience.

Why not break out in the Courtyard to enjoy this added-value, with love from your favourite city-centre venue.


Confirm a new booking in April 2010 and receive the following:

- Numbers of 2-20, complimentary afternoon tea/coffee/pastries

- Numbers of 21-50, complimentary tea/coffee/scones and preserves

- Numbers of 51+, complimentary tea/coffee/gateau selection


This offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer at IET Birmingham: Austin Court and is subject to availability. Valid for bookings made in April 2010 for April 2010 only.

IET Birmingham: Austin Court Conference Centre of Excellence, Birmingham

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