The UK Leads the way……
I have just read the results of a recent survey by Conference & Incentive Travel, which reveals that London has been named the best conference destination in the world, with Manchester also ranking well in third place.
This is the fourth year running that London has topped the poll and with the benefits that the ‘Olympic effect’ will undoubtedly bring to the capital city, it is hard to see the title being challenged in the near future – which is great news for the UK events industry.
Manchester’s position is also a very encouraging sign for the UK, as the city has spent a lot of money investing in its conference infrastructure and I’m delighted that these developments are starting to be recognised.
Aside from the British successes in the poll, I must confess to being a little surprised to see that Athens has dropped out of the top 5 all together, as we have produced many events there and always found the venues and facilities to be excellent. However, if these results really are a true reflection of the standard of these conference destinations, it can only be a good thing for the industry.
Hong Kong Highlights
One of the best things about being an event producer is the travel. Having the chance to visit so many different cities around the world is fantastic, although unfortunately, we rarely have the time to visit the tourist attractions. Spare time is limited on our trips, but that means that when we do have a free moment, we like to make the most of being in a foreign city.
We were recently in Hong Kong to produce a major medical conference and we managed to find some free time to sample a few of the delights this city has to offer. We’ve been to Hong Kong many times over the years and it truly is an incredible city, with no shortage of things to do, but one of the best things has to be the food.
One of our favourite restaurants is The Peak Lookout. This restaurant is in a beautiful setting, located at the top of The Peak and offering spectacular views. It is the perfect place to enjoy a nightcap or share one of their huge desserts!
While in Hong Kong, something you must experience is the Ngong Ping cable car. Covering a total distance of 5.7km, the cable car provides a great way to see the city. All the seats face forwards though, so you can enjoy the views on the way up the hills, but experience the surreal feeling of travelling backwards on the way down!
We’re always up for trying new places, so if you have any recommendations, why not share them with us?
Media Firm is Number One for Hong Kong
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Far East Tonic for Events Firm
Free Keypad Training - Tuesday 18th November 2008
We’ve been using audience response keypads for many years and are always impressed by how much they add to an event, so much so that earlier this year we purchased 1,000 of them. The keypads are a fantastic way to increase audience participation and understanding, but currently the keypads are only being used to a tenth of their potential!
Media 1 is therefore launching a new, free training service for event organisers to help them find out more about what the keypads are really capable of. As well as providing organisers with the opportunity to become familiar with the system the course will also demonstrate the wide range of uses they can have – from assessing audience feedback on debates, to managing AGM voting, and more.
Our first free training session is scheduled for Tuesday 18th November, so if you are interested in taking part or would like any further information, please email info@media1productions.co.uk
Media 1 says ‘crunch, what crunch?’
Seeing The Greener Side of Business
These days a small carbon footprint is becoming an increasingly important business credential. Global warming is a hot topic, but for anyone involved in international conferences and events, how do we go about strengthening our green credentials?
Even for the hardiest environmentalists amongst us, it isn’t always possible to use the most eco-friendly products or equipment all the time - when we have a conference to produce in Hong Kong, a bicycle is going to be of little help, but in addition to the necessity for travel, think of all the wastage that occurs with everything from the stage carpets being skipped to complete exhibition stands being thrown out after a single use, not to mention energy for traditional lighting.
But we can make things better, by working together to look at new ways to minimise the impact of every event we do and by carbon offsetting those unavoidable flights.
For example, Media 1 has a stock set that has been used for all kinds of events since 1999! Constructed primarily from wood, not only has this set prevented the wastage of a huge amount of materials by avoiding continuous rebuilding, but it has also saved our clients money. The set is neutral in colour, meaning we use lighting to maximum effect – and if you’re worrying about energy, LED lights use a fraction of the power and enable an infinite array of colours to be displayed.
It just goes to show that being green doesn’t have to be a huge drain on your time and finances…it can be quite the opposite in fact!
If you have any green event tips why not tell us about them?
Finger on the Button? - Get Keypad Training
Media 1’s Got the Answers
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