How to plan corporate hospitality at London 2012 - Act now or miss out!

Olympic fever has most certainly started and represents a very exciting corporate hospitality opportunity. But don’t leave it any later to start thinking about what your company would like to get out of it as you could be left out of the running.

Our own research on behalf of a blue-chip client wishing to provide hospitality for what is considered a small group of between 10 and 20 people, revealed that most of the hotels are already booked and transport options limited.

Our event organiser and hospitality guru Joanne Fahey spoke about the Olympic frenzy that greeted her when she made some calls last week:

“I contacted 50 hotels in London and found that LOCOG (The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games) have block booked many of the first choice hotels, meaning we had to move fast to develop relationships and secure room options with new suppliers. Some hotels will release additional rooms in late April, so we are now poised and waiting.

“The hotel situation wasn’t as surprising as trying to arrange transport though. Pilots have been booked by the sports channels for coverage, making helicopter transfers out of the question, and pushing up the prices of other transfer options by at least double.

“As London 2012 will be the greenest Olympics LOCOG has purchased hundreds of buses to transport fans onto and around the Olympic park. Each bus will need a driver making it less likely that our regular coach drivers will be available.

“However, we have ample rooms on hold for our clients and drivers ready to ensure all transfers will be 5*. If you want to ensure your hospitality maintains the same high standards we can help so do get in touch – literally as soon as possible!”

To pick Jo’s brains about your corporate hospitality aspirations call her on 01509 815026.

Joanne Fahey
The Phoenix Partners

T: +44 (0)1509 815026
F: +44 (0) 1509 815427
M:+44 (0) 7850 279276
joanne@thephoenixpartners.com

How to get more out of your photography

We like to do things differently around here – as you might have guessed. With creativity oozing through our every pore, and our people being the lifeblood of the agency, our head of design and eminent photographer Roger, was given the brief to do some new team and individual pics – “but no boring head and shoulders shots” he was told (in the strictest terms).

We duly arrived in what we regarded as being on the smarter side of our work wear: we can suit and boot with the best of them but if not meeting clients we have a wonderfully relaxed approach to our attire in the office. And also adhering to the ‘limited black’ rule Roger had imposed, giving significant stress to all of us wanting to minimise any pre-Easter bulges – they really shouldn’t put Mini-eggs in the shops so early.

Thus followed a fun session as everyone adopted poses according to the suggestions of fellow team members – some of which are printable, some are not – and, well here is one of the group shots for you to see for yourselves!

For inspiration behind your photography contact the man himself Roger on 01509 815026

Roger Bradshaw
The Phoenix Partners

T: +44 (0)1509 815026
F: +44 (0) 1509 815427
M:+44 (0) 7778 389 999
roger@thephoenixpartners.com

How to motivate people at work?

Motivation to do the jobs we do day in day out is down to our natural personas and lifestyle choices but who we work for and how much thinking they put behind keeping our spirits soaring has a huge part to play too.

It’s a curious thing though and it’s not always about fast cars and luxury holidays. Little things count such as being thanked and or being part of a team count for just as much.

Through our Incentivise-Me campaigns we help other businesses to motivate their employees towards short term and long term success. It’s a points based reward system that gives staff the opportunity to choose how they’d like to reward themselves from an array of gifts, vouchers and opportunities.

Choosers fall into two categories – the ‘practical, money-saving person who decides to get something they need for free’ or the ‘I’ll indulge and treat myself with something I couldn’t otherwise afford’ person. The pre-Christmas Incentivise-Me campaign we ran on behalf of Sequel, the distributor of Guess Watches in the UK, brought many unusual choices from the 300 items available, including a flurry of requests for tents, swimming pools, irons and electric toothbrushes as well as the more usual iPods and iPads. Staff responded in their hundreds boosting sales significantly, paying for the campaign many times over.

We asked team members here at the agency what they would choose as an incentivisation reward. Results showed we’re all 'treat' people wanting beauty vouchers, shiny things, meals out and travel experiences. Not a practical choice in sight. And it’s worth remembering that incentivisation works on many levels – even a ‘double lunch hour reward’ or a ‘get in an hour late pass’ could be just the thing to boost morale – give it a try and see what happens.

Meanwhile we need to prepare the next campaign for Sequel – if you find something that works and works well, stick with it!

For more information on how to incentivise your team contact:

Justine Smith
m.07811 447 621
e.justine@thephoenixpartners.com

t.+44 (0) 1509 815 026
f.+44 (0) 1509 815 427
w.www.thephoenixpartners.com

http://www.incentivise-me.com/

Rachel and her Kilimanjaro ambition

Our very own Rachel Hargrave is in training for a mammoth task - to scale the world’s highest freestanding mountain - Kilimanjaro - in September and raise funds for Leicester Charity Link.

Rachel will be heading off to Tanzania to carry out a twelve day climb and wants to raise £1,500. It's been her lifetime ambition to take in views from the Uhuru Peak which is the highest point in Africa at 5895m.

She's following a plan of exercise which includes running, cycling, swimming and light weights. She did have one setback when a fall off her bike damaged her knee, but thankfully she's now on the mend! Speaking to Rachel she is extremely determined, so we can't see anything detering her from this huge challenge.

The itinerary is not for the faint hearted. The Lemosho route Rachel will be taking, is one of the least trekked. It approaches Kilimanjaro from the west and crosses the caldera of Shira Volcano before traversing beneath the southern icefields of Kibo, Kilimanjaro's highest volcano.

At Easter, there's no rest for Rachel as she's also fitting in a training trek up Mount Toubkal in Morocco. Phew! She must like walking... This is all on the back of a 2007 trek to Everest base camp in 2007 and then further ambitions of completing another of the world’s seven highest summits in 2012 when she wants to take on Aconcagua in Argentina.

If you would like to support Rachel in her Kilimanjaro quest and help Leicester Link, please go to www.justgiving.com/Rachel-Hargrave or for more information about Leicester Charity Link please call 0116 222 2200 or visit www.charity-link.org.

Glorious Gleneagles

Everyone at The Phoenix Partners does like to get out and about meeting people, organising events and seeing new venues that might be the perfect match for one of our clients in the future.

Our friends at Perception Marketing who represent Gleneagles, invited us and a select group of guests to enjoy a weekend of activities and luxury at the prestigious hotel – well who could resist such an opportunity?

We arrived on Saturday and experience falconry (see pic of Jo getting to grips with a feathered friend!), gun dog handling, clay pigeon shooting and archery before having a tour of the bedrooms and function rooms. The day was completed in style with cocktails and dinner in Strathearn. On Sunday we had a tour of the equestrian school and a lesson at the golf academy before heading home. The weekend was far too much fun to call work, the weather was fantastic and the venue wonderful. The staff made us very welcome and ensured a relaxed atmosphere while retaining the luxury 5* feel.

If you ever get the chance to go there do. And even better if you’d like us to organise an event for you there we’ll be delighted to go again! Get in touch with Jo for more information.

Joanne Fahey
m.07850 279 276
e.joanne@thephoenixpartners.com

t.+44 (0) 1509 815 026
f.+44 (0) 1509 815 427
w.www.thephoenixpartners.com

EMIN workshop helps young entrepreneurs

Three of our members ran a workshop at De Montfort University for young entrepreneurs on the subject of ‘Working with and Understanding the Media’.

The attendees had all been receiving support through EMIN, the not-for-profit organisation run on behalf of all the universities in the East Midlands including Derby, De Montfort, Leicester, Lincoln, Northampton and Nottingham Trent, for current students and graduates who have started their own businesses.

It was an interactive and fun session full of tips and secrets including how to spot opportunities and utilise photography to help bring their businesses into the media spotlight.

We were delighted with the feedback we received about it being “Really relaxed and fun” and that “It’s helped me with how to approach publications and build relationships.”

If you are part of an organisation which would like to run a similar workshop with the help of The Phoenix Partners, do get in touch.

Rachel Hargrave
m.07976 806 578
e.rachel@thephoenixpartners.com

We've expanded!

We've appointed two new executives as part of our ambitious five-year programme of growth.

The agency is on target to comfortably achieve our 2011 projections and we've brought in Jennifer Manning-Ohren as marketing communications executive, and Gita Bhatt as executive assistant to support the existing team both internally and help to deliver projects on behalf of new clients.

Jennifer joins the agency having previously worked in marketing and communications on behalf of a regional accountancy firm in Nottingham, while Gita worked in Operations at Premier Music International Ltd.

Jennifer is the central point of contact for public relations and marketing activities within the agency. In her spare time she enjoys swimming, cycling and running and takes part in triathlons, half marathons and marathons, raising thousands of pounds for charity in the process.

We know how to do events....

Canon Europe’s annual Tuxedo recognition programme represents the pinnacle of achievement in the company and the Member Weekend is a big part of the programme!

The brief for the Member Weekend is basically to blow the members and their partners away with a once in a lifetime experience as a thank you for their contribution to the business and be a truly memorable weekend of luxury, excitement and recognition.

It takes place in a different location every year and is designed to recognise and inspire both the company’s European sales team and their partners. This year, Berlin was chosen and with over 350 guests arriving from eighteen different countries, an inclusive approach to all nationalities was paramount.

The Hotel De Rome provided superb accommodation and guests were transferred to the Zeughaus for the Gala Awards Dinner where Tuxedo Members received their Awards and fifth year Members were presented with their Tuxedo Rolex watch.
Leisure time was followed by a less formal dinner and party night on the second evening at Axica, featuring the sounds of JCB.

With a light but effective business touch, the Tuxedo Member Weekend achieves an array of corporate objectives for Canon Europe and our team looks forward to playing a key role again next year.

For more information on how The Phoenix Partners can make your event of whatever scale, international dimension and budget, just as special and memorable, give Rachel or Jo a call.


Rachel Hargrave
m.07976 806 578
e.rachel@thephoenixpartners.com

Joanne Fahey
m.07850 279 276
e.joanne@thephoenixpartners.com