Spice up your Christmas !

Spice up Christmas 2011 at The IET London: Savoy Place

Your all-inclusive package:

• Cinnamon and Spice Christmas theme – we’ll add flavour to your party with table centres, room decorations, twinkle lights and 10ft Christmas tree – all following the colours and feel of ‘Cinnamon and Spice’

• Mulled or sparkling wine pre-dinner reception

• Three course Christmas menu – choose from a selection of starters, main courses and deserts for your event as well as optional extras for that added wow including creative canapés and cocktails (see menu)

• Half a bottle of wine per person during the meal
• Unlimited water
• Dance floor
• The Riverside Room exclusively from 18.00 - 00.00

* You can add a DJ to the above package for just £4 pp (+VAT) extra – ask us about this when you enquire.

For further details call 0845 230 1414 or email info@cceonline.co.uk

Social Media Buzz: IET Venues reveal Social Events Survey results

Social media most useful for creating buzz prior to events 
Most event organisers use social media, according to IET Venues research

Almost nine in ten event organisers are currently using social media platforms in relation to events with almost three quarters using it to generate buzz and publicity in the lead up to them taking place, according to new findings released today.

The Social Events Survey, carried out by IET Venues, the premier family of venues across the UK, reveals that only 14 per cent of event organisers aren’t using social media platforms for their events, with Facebook the most popular platform, used by 65 per cent of organisers. Unsurprisingly, Twitter and LinkedIn were the next most popular with 61 per cent and 55 per cent respectively using these platforms.

In findings that demonstrate the importance of word-of-mouth and a multi-channel approach to physical events, the research also found that social media is considered most useful in creating buzz and publicity leading up to events with 68 per cent of respondents using it for this. In addition, 41 per cent consider social media a useful platform for people to pass on interesting discussion from events, 35 per cent cited post-event discussion and word-of-mouth, with 33 per cent using it for getting people to attend.

“Social media is a great compliment to other forms of event marketing, and while our research shows that it is not necessarily a great driver of footfall, it can be very useful for facilitating word-of-mouth and building awareness of your events and brand,” says Lucy Wright, Sales and Development Manager, IET London: Savoy Place. “Social media will hopefully enhance and prolong the event experience and venues themselves can also help facilitate this with their own twitter feeds and services like live streaming of events. Like any other form of marketing though, it’s important to know your audience and identify the correct channel before launching any activity.”

Other social media channels are used by event organisers, but are not nearly as widespread as the main three. Location-based social network, Foursquare is used by six per cent and a further six per cent also use other social media platforms, including YouTube, Xing and Minglemore. Only 2 per cent of respondents feel that social media isn’t useful for events.

The Social Events Survey surveyed 130 event organisers in March 2011.

Spice up Christmas 2011 at the IET London: Savoy Place

Sumptious summer parties at IET London: Savoy Place

Discover the IET London: Savoy Place

IET London: Savoy Place is by far one of London's most interesting and versatile venues. Located in the heart of Central London and boasting uninterrupted views across the Thames from St Paul's Cathedral to the Houses of Parliament, Savoy Place retains all the character of a famous Institution, fused with modern, plush furnishings and state-of-the-art audio-visual technology. 

Click here to watch the online video

For more details visit www.cceonline.co.uk or call 0845 230 1414

IET Venues ranked top event venue provider in the UK

IET Venues ranked top event venue provider in the UK

IET venues has been named as the number one UK venue brand in the 2010 BDRC Continental VenueVerdict Awards, in its first year in the programme. Two of its three venues, IET London: Savoy Place and IET Birmingham: Austin Court are members of Conference Centres of Excellence.

Recent research from IET Venues revealed that 51 per cent of event organisers now consider cost and value for money to be the deciding factor when booking an event and IET Venues has taken a number of actions throughout the last year to meet customers’ cost requirements while still providing the highest level of service to both organisers and attendees. This has included venue refurbishments, hiring new dedicated customer service staff, reducing rates to absorb the VAT increase and providing virtual 360 venue tours online.

These measures, coupled with attentive at and post-event service, have led to all three IET Venues achieving ‘Gold Standard’ accreditation by receiving average scores of 90 per cent or more across the year. With no other brand featuring as many venues at this level, IET Venues has also achieved the ‘Gold Standard Brand Award’.

For more details about IET London Savoy Place or IET Birmingham Austin Court visit the Conference Centres of Excellence website or call 0845 230 1414.

Latest Chefs Challenge underlines quality of food in dedicated venues

Martin Thliveros, sous chef at The Beardmore Conference Centre in Clydebank near Glasgow, has won the 2010 Conference Centres of Excellence/IACC Chefs’ Challenge.

The Chefs’ Challenge was first established in the 1990’s. It invites entries from members of the Conference Centres of Excellence consortium of specialist venues, and from members of IACC, the International Association of Conference Centres. Finalists are selected on the basis of written menus, and then compete in an ‘against the clock’ cook-off.

The purpose of the Challenge is to underpin the exceptional quality of food now served in specialist conference and training venues: “In fact, there are two objectives,” explains Anthony Lishman, Executive Director of Conference Centres of Excellence: “To elevate the standards of food within the UK’s dedicated conference venues to the highest possible levels, whilst allowing the chefs to develop their skills even further.”

Martin clinched the Gold Medal with a varied three course menu which placed great demands on his culinary skills and his ability to work against a very tight schedule. His starter was ballentine of sea trout with caviar crème fraiche, shallot and radish salad and aioli. His main course was breast and thigh of chicken with celeriac puree, wild mushroom and bacon, with a roasting jus and truffle foam. His dessert was terrine of apple and cinnamon, apple sorbet and cinnamon cream with toffee apples and caramel custard.

The Silver Medal went to Gajraj Sharma of IET: Savoy Place in London, who also won the award for ‘best main course’. The Bronze Medal was clinched by Victor Chin Fai Chan, of the Woodside in Kenilworth. The ‘best starter’ award was won by Gavin Kellett of Barnett Hill near Guildford, who also won the ‘best wine selection’ award. Ben Morris of Nottingham’s National College for School Leadership won ‘best dessert’, while the ‘best hygiene’ award was taken by Jennifer Goff of Birmingham’s Maple House.

The awards event took place at Scarman House conference venue, part of the Warwick Conferences group. “Despite the demands of this prestigious competition, this year’s finalists once again produced exceptional results,” said Richard Harrison, chairman of Conference Centres of Excellence and organiser of this year’s Challenge, who presented Martin with his winner’s trophy: “All of them worked tremendously hard and there were some amazing and ingenious creations: it was a perfect illustration of the standards of cuisine that are now available at leading conference venues.”

Latest Chefs Challenge underlines quality of food in dedicated venues

IET London: Savoy Place - Conference Centre of Excellence, London WC2

IET London: Savoy Place is by far one of London's most interesting and versatile venues. Located in the heart of Central London and boasting uninterrupted views across the Thames from St Paul's Cathedral to the Houses of Parliament, Savoy Place retains all the character of a famous Institution, fused with modern, plush furnishings and state-of-the-art audio-visual technology.

Consisting of 19 impressive rooms, that can accommodate 462 theatre style, 250 for a banquet or just 8 for an intimate meeting, Savoy Place will surpass all your events expectations.

Call 0845 230 1414 or visit IET London: Savoy Place - Conference Centre of Excellence, London WC2 to enquire

Free meeting room hire at Savoy Place, London

Alison Hardy at the IET announces that, with the agreement of the Trustees, there will be a twelve month trial period during which TPN members will be provided with a suitable room at Savoy Place (subject to availability) to run small (up to 50 people) events such as lectures and small scale seminars.

Read more at http://kn.theiet.org/communities/powergen/blog/free-room.cfm

TVMole: How to Pitch Seminar 11th June, 2010 at IET London Savoy Place

The BECTU Freelancers’ Fair is being held on Friday 11th June in central London. The event is free for members and just £10 for non-members. There are five seminars to help you progress your career and make your programme ideas reality:

1.File-based acquisition and post-production (morning session repeated in the afternoon), presented by the Televisual Roadshow;
2.50 Ways to Get Funding Before You Die! Chaired by Steve Hewlett from Radio 4’s The Media Show with Christo Hird (End of the Line) and Chris Atkins (Starsuckers);
3.How to Pitch with author of Greenlit: Developing Factual/Reality TV Ideas from Concept to Pitch (and tvmole) Nicola Lees;
4.Ethical Film-making Explored: a session linked to the BECTU/DV Talent Short Film Competition. Watch the screenings and join the debate.
Venue:

Savoy Place
2 Savoy Place
London WC2 OBL. (Embankment and Temple tube stations)

How to Pitch Seminar at BECTU Freelancers’ Fair 11th June, 2010

For details about Savoy Place or request a brochure call 0845 230 1414 or visit http://www.cceonline.co.uk/our_venues/our-venues/Savoy_Place

My Event World - Anna Clover, IET Venues Venues & Facilities Manager

Read more from Anna Clover, venues and facilities manager of IET Venues on swapping a career in fashion for one in events and chilling out on her allotment here

For more information about IET venues and members of Conference Centres of Excellence visit http://www.cceonline.co.uk/ or call 0845 230 1414

Summer DDR offer at IET London: Savoy Place

In celebration of the long-awaited British summer, our London venue is offering a DDR of just £59+vat on events from May - August inclusive.

Our DDR at IET London: Savoy Place includes:

• Room hire from 08:00 to 17:00
(see the rooms page of our new website to choose from our 18 stunning spaces)
• Audio Visual support
• Complimentary Wi-Fi
• Catering rooms and inclusive AV equipment (with hire of the Lecture Theatre or Council Chamber)
• Finger buffet menu - options depend on room hired
• Tea, coffee and a choice of biscuits and cakes throughout the day from our onsite catering team
• Projector, screen and flipchart
• Bottled water throughout the day
• Writing pads and pens
• Sweets

Further information
Visit our website www.ietvenues.co.uk/savoyplace to download our brochure or submit an enquiry through our Contact Us page. You can also call 0845 230 1414 to speak to a member of the Hotline team.

However, if you would like a show-around of the venue or wish to discuss your future events and venue requirements, we would love to help.

IET London: Savoy Place - Conference Centre of Excellence, London WC2

Special Events Awards Ceremony 2010 at CCE venue Savoy Place

The londonlaunch.com Special Events Awards Ceremony 2010make an enquiry »…the only awards celebrating the Special events industry!

Date: Tuesday 2nd February 2010
Location: IET London: Savoy Place
Nearest Tube/BR Stations: Embankment, Charing Cross or Temple

The londonlaunch.com Special Events Awards Ceremony 2010: Events - londonlaunch.com - Event Management London, Venues, Catering, Party Ideas: the London events community

Get the inside track on tricks agents are using to negotiate rates with venues!

"Venue Negotiation - how everyone can win" - a half-day M&IT Masterclass seminar on venue negotiation takes place on Friday 11th December 09 at CCE venue Savoy Place [The home of the IET], London, WC2R 0BL from 09.00 - 13.30 hrs.    For more details see the Events page at http://www.meetpie.com/