MICE & Events | Dec 2010 - Jan 2011

THE DEFINITIVE MIDDLE EAST PUBLICATION FOR MEETINGS INCENTIVES CONFERENCES EXHIBITIONS AND EVENTS www.memice.com

A MOTIVATE PUBLICATION

ISSUE 28 DECEMBER 2010-JANUARY 2011

EVENTFUL TIMES FOR YAS ISLAND

OLYMPICS COUNTDOWN

Race for London event business intensifies

EVENT SHOWCASE Bahrain ....................BD1.0 Kuwait..................... KD1.0 Oman ...................... RO1.0 Qatar ........................ QR10 Saudi Arabia ............ SR10 UAE ........................DHS10 International ........... US $3

Dubai Technology and Media Free Zone Authority

How to stage a film festival in 49 days

GREAT GADGETS

New models keep you connected

Where Business Begins Located at the heart of Dubai’s business district, the Dubai World Trade Centre provides the region’s leading purposebuilt complex which offers stateof-the-art facilities and services for exhibitions, conferences, meetings and entertainment events.

Since its inauguration in 1979, the Dubai World Trade Centre has played a critical role in the growth of international trade for the Middle East region. From the landmark 39-storey Trade Centre Tower to the region’s largest complex for events and exhibitions, DWTC has become the epicentre for business tourism in the region.

Dubai World Trade Centre annually hosts over 100 international mega-exhibitions and conferences, welcoming over 1.2 million visitors and tens of thousands of exhibitors from every corner of the globe, to the most acclaimed trade fairs, blockbuster consumer events, world-class concerts and prestigious international conferences in Dubai.

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LA O ON R R E GES LD M T IL V T LI EN R ON U A SQ E I DE .F NT C EE HE E T M N AN ID T D DL RE GR E OW EA IN ST G

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EDITOR’S LETTER

Issue 28 t December 2010-January 2011 A Motivate Publication Editor-in-Chief Obaid Al Tayer Group Editor and Managing Partner Ian Fairservice Group Senior Editor Gina Johnson Group Editor Catherine Belbin Contributing Editor Dominic Ellis Editorial Coordinator Concessa D’Souza Art Director Cris Domdom Senior Designer B Raveendran Photographers Vikram Gawde, Farooq Salik General Manager Group Sales Anthony Milne Senior Advertisment Manager Abraham Koshy General Manager – Abu Dhabi Joe Marritt General Manager – Production and Circulation S Sasidharan Production Manager C Sudhakar Published by

Head Office: PO Box 2331, Dubai, UAE memicee@motivate.ae, motivate@motivate.ae www.memice.com Tel +971 4 282 4060; Fax +971 4 282 0428

This issue Concerns over how Abu Dhabi would promote Yas Island for the other 362 days of the year, beyond the F1 weekend, have now been comprehensively dispelled: half of it is shaping up as a vibrant leisure centre, hosting concerts and thrill-seekers at Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, and the other half is a more fluid mix of business and leisure – a place to come and meet in the on-site hotels or clubs, incentivise staff or clients, or combine work and play.

Such is the diversity of the MICE sector that it has a foot in both camps – and so it’s little wonder that the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority has highlighted the industry as a key area for future growth.

Yas’ all-encompassing offering is an intriguing development as it breaks down conventional boundaries and illustrates how the ‘leisure business’ and the ‘business of leisure’ are now two sides of the same coin.

But is the MICE industry, which is still quite traditional with its distinct sub-categories, ready for such integrated changes? Can roller-coasters and silver coasters, suits and shorts, concerts and conferences all co-exist in commercial harmony? It promises to be a fascinating year ahead.

Turn to page 20 to see our lead feature on Yas Island.

Another destination for whom 2011 will be a pivotal year is London, as all the planning and preparation for the Olympics enters the home straight.

We’ve cast our eye over all the business-related developments and see how the race for hospitality and event business could be the most competitive of all.

Our Event Showcase turns the spotlight on the Doha Tribeca Film Festival, which managed to pull all the impressive staging and event requirements together in just seven weeks, and our regular contributor column shows how you can convert powerpoint files to your iPad, so your presentations can always be to hand.

Motivate Publishing FZ LLC 5th Floor, Office 508, Building No 8, Dubai Media City, UAE. Tel +971 4 390 3550; Fax +971 4 390 4845 Abu Dhabi: PO Box 43072, UAE, Tel +971 2 677 2005; Fax +971 2 677 0124 motivate-adh@motivate.ae London: Acre House, 11/15 William Road, London NW1 3ER, UK. motivateuk@motivate.ae

Motivate Publishing takes care to ensure that all facts published herein are correct. In the event of any inaccuracy, please contact the editor. The publisher does not accept responsibility for any error, omission or claims made in the magazine. Any opinion expressed is the honest belief of the author based on all available facts.

Comments and facts should not be relied upon by the reader in taking commercial, legal, financial or other decisions. Articles are by their nature general, and specialist advice should always be consulted before any action is taken.

Printed by IPP, Dubai

Cover: Cipriani Yas Island is a classy addition to Yas’ thriving events scene.

Please send letters, comments and suggestions to memice@motivate.ae MEMICE.COM 5

Contents

DECEMBER 2010-JANUARY 2011

NEWS AND EXHIBITIONS

8 Yas’ event wheels firmly in motion 10 Flash in marketing attack for FIFA Club World Cup 12 Regional news 13 International news FEATURES

20 26

20 On the right track Yas Island is racing into the MICE arena 26 Final run in for 2012 Olympics Competition for Olympic hospitality business hots up REFERENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

18 Event showcase Behind the scenes of the Doha Tribeca Film Festival 32 How to guide Transfer old PowerPoint files onto your new iPad CALENDAR

34 Exhibitions calendar Your essential guide to the coming season

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33 MEMICE.COM 7

NEWS

IN BRIEF Magical time at The Walk

Yas’ event wheels firmly in motion

Fred Fogherty is performing two magic shows every Friday at Sofitel Dubai Jumeirah Beach, The Walk between December 10-March 31. Shows start at 4pm and 8pm.

Afternoon prices range from Dhs225-Dhs350, depending on whether you book VIP, Category 1 or Category 2 seating, and the evening meal packages simlarly range between Dhs540-890 (under 16s cost 100dhs for the afternoon show, 200dhs in the evening).

Those looking for a magical start to 2011 can book the New Year’s Eve Gala Dinner (Dhs1,800 per head), which includes a six-course set menu, half bottle of bubbly and select beverages as you watch the 90-minute show, followed by live DJ.

Hotel round-up

tJumeirah Group has signed

a letter of understanding with Souria Holding to manage Jumeirah Abraj Souria, a fivestar hotel in the Baramkeh area of central Damascus. Jumeirah Abraj Souria will be part of Abraj Souria, a mixed-use development covering 300,000sqm that will also contain commercial and retail components, including a shopping mall and an office tower.

It is expected to take 4-5 years to complete. The 350-room property will also contain 100 luxury serviced apartments, along with a Talise Spa, several restaurants and extensive conference and banqueting facilities.

tAbu Dhabi International

Airport Premier Inn – the airport’s first branded property – is due to open in two years’ time. The AED120m hotel will be located opposite Terminal 3, and linked to Terminals 1 and 3 by a retail corridor and will feature several meeting rooms, all-day restaurant and bar, and coffee shop. Managing Director of Premier Inn in the Middle East, said the hotel will offer “reasonable pricing, even during periods of high demand.”

8 DECEMBER 2010-JANUARY 2011

The roll out of the Yas Islands Show Weekends – hot on the heels of the launch of Ferrari World Abu Dhabi – illustrates Abu Dhabi’s intentions to mould Yas Island into a year-round events venue that extends far beyond Formula 1 motor racing.

NBA Jamfest Abu Dhabi basketball event (December 2-4), the Creamfields Abu Dhabi music festival (December 9) and Guns N Roses (December 16) are the acts lined up in December, and follow concerts by Nelly Furtado and Jonas Brothers in November.

The entertainment for each weekend has been carefully selected to reflect each headline artist and their respective audiences. Fans spending the

weekend or just visiting for the day can enjoy a range of free events and activities.

Ossama Khoreibi, Chairman of Flash Entertainment, said the weekends primarily target GCC visitors and are designed to encourage repeat visits while at the same time, bolster the island’s reputation as a venue for events and entertainment.

John Lickrish,Managing Director of Flash Entertainment, said the diverse progamme was important to attract a cross-section of people — whether you’re a live music addict keen to see international superstars or a family looking to enjoy a leisurely day out.

“The best thing is we’re only just getting started; there’s going to be even more to come from Flash and the Yas Island Show

Weekends in 2011,” he said.

Guests buying a weekend package at one of the Yas Island hotels receive a complimentary Golden Circle Ticket to that weekend’s concert, providing access to the front of Yas Arena, and can then unwind in one of the hotels.

A ‘convenient and affordable’ transport service is available for Dubai residents with a range of collection and drop off points available throughout the city, and across Yas Island.

Yas Island Show Weekends is supported by Aldar, Yas Island, Ferrari World, Yas Links Abu Dhabi, Yas Hotel, Radisson Blu Hotel, Yas Island Rotana, Yas Marina Circuit, Park Inn Abu Dhabi and Crowne Plaza Hotel.

Turn to page 20 for more on Yas Island

NEWS

Have a break — have a head massage at Pullman Pullman Dubai Mall of the Emirates’ nine meeting rooms occupy 850sqm and span the whole of the fourth floor – but amid the weighty corporate offering is a ‘chill out space’, complete with 50-inch Sony flatscreen and four Wii handsets, designed to relax and energise delegates.

Accor Group hopes the use of “innovative breaks” within its upscale Pullman brand – the first in the Middle East – will steal a march on the competition.

Presentation-weary corporates can receive a head or shoulder massage, for example, or the chance to escape on computer games – in short, something a bit different from the standard coffee and croissants.

Only one of the nine rooms, Firefox, is without natural light too, another selling point, since the eight other rooms offer expansive views of Burj Al

Arab and Jumeirah district.

Another novel service is the presence of a dedicated IT solutions manager, on hand to resolve any techno glitches.

General Manager Laurent Chaudet said the IT doesn’t work “in around 50% of meetings” and invariably delays occur as executives turn to

banqueting managers to iron out problems.

“In Pullman, we decided to take a different approach,” he said. “We have an IT Solutions Manager who reports directly to the Events Manager and they can sit in on your event. Organisers need to be reassured that all the

connectivity is going to work.”

Its three main rooms are modular, and can cater for up to 300 people. Mosaic 1 contains a large drop-down screen and rooms feature large connectivity panels designed to serve delegates’ disparate communication needs. The hotel offers free wireless internet, although charges are applicable if clients need extra bandwidth.

Christophe Landais, Managing Director, Accor Middle East, said there will be no cannibalisation of business with Pullman Jumeirah Lake Towers, due to open next year.

“It will be similar in terms of product offering but the emphasis on MICE will be less than this one,” he said.

The rapidly-expanding group aims to manage 50 hotels across 10 countries regionally, including around 10-15 Pullman properties, by 2013.

Kuoni strengthens regional MICE profile with twin buys The Kuoni Group has bought two UAE-based companies, Gulf Dunes and Reem Tours & Travel, for an undisclosed price, providing it with a stronger foothold in the region’s MICE sector and South America. Kuoni is acquiring the companies in full, in collaboration with a local partner.

All Gulf Dunes and Reem Tours & Travel employees will be retained, as well as their brands. Both companies will also remain under the management of its previous owner, Gamal Fathy.

Gulf Dunes, founded in Dubai in 1995, is one of 10 DECEMBER 2010-JANUARY 2011

the leading organisers and providers of MICE services regionally and maintains a branch operation in Muscat.

Reem Tours & Travel, established in 2003, is a strong leisure provider mainly for South American market.

Both companies will be incorporated into the Kuoni Group’s Destination Management Arabia/Africa organisation, and their managing director will report to Yasser Noman, CEO Middle East & north Africa.

He said the deals enable Kuoni to develop further the MICE segment and its DMC

credentials regionally.

The Kuoni Group is already home to Desert Adventures Tourism,

one of the UAE’s leading destination management companies, which was acquired in 2008.

Flash in marketing attack for 10-day FIFA Club World Cup Flash Entertainment has been added to the line-up of national supporters for the forthcoming FIFA Club World Cup UAE, which will be held at Zayed Sports City and Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium between December 8-18.

The company has successfully delivered the Abu Dhabi Tennis Championship, the first Ultimate Fighting Championship event in the Middle East and wakeboarding events such as Wakestock.

John Lickrish, Flash Entertainment Managing Director, said the company was perfectly positioned to provide resources to support their partners.

“We’re very pleased to be working with the Local Organising Committee and FIFA to support such a great tournament which is further adding to Abu Dhabi’s position as a world-class host for major

sporting events,” he said.

“As a National Supporter we will be looking to create engaging fan experiences at the Football Village on the Corniche and at the stadiums on match days. Our aim is to heighten tournament

awareness and excitement around the city in the run-up to this prestigious event.”

Flash joins Marina Mall, Abu Dhabi Media Company, Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority, Etisalat and Mubadala on the national

promotional sidelines.

FIFA has teamed up with five global Partners – adidas, Coca Cola, Emirates, Sony and Visa – for the tournament and selected one presenting partner, Toyota.

On the pitch, Mexican club Pachuca FC will represent CONCACAF for the third time at the tournament, UEFA Champions FC Internazionale Milano will hope to continue Europe’s domination while CONMEBOL representatives, Brazil’s SC Internacional, will aim to replicate its 2006 success when the team won the title.

The Fifa Club World Cup UAE 2010 brings together the club champions from six continental confederations: Asia, Europe, Africa, North America, South America and Oceania, as well as the winning team from the host city’s national league.

Hotel JAL Tower Dubai enters MICE fold with Origami look Planners looking for something beyond the standard meeting offering will soon be able to book an origami-shaped conference room at Hotel JAL Tower Dubai, which is due to open before the end of the year.

Located on the ground floor, the structure makes a bold visual and corporate statement and ties in with the property’s strong Japanese theme.

The towering 471-room hotel, conveniently located opposite Dubai World Trade Centre and DIFC, has also pulled out all the corporate stops on the sixth floor, providing 600sqm of modular meeting space, seven boardrooms ranging from 40-

80sqm and high-speed wireless internet, as well as a central communal area designed to foster networking before and after meetings.

A 24-hour business centre

with private work stations and full secretarial services will also be available and an Executive Lounge is located on the 42nd floor.

General Manager Laurent

Rigaud said: “Our location on Sheikh Zayed Road means we are surrounded by corporate companies – this is our business, we are here for them – and our strategy in the immediate future will be to focus on regional markets.”

He added around 250 rooms will open at launch, and the remainder gradually phased in.

Diners will be treated to sushi, Tappan grills and authentic Japanese specialities in a triple deck of venues spanning the 49th, 50th and 51st floor, while the classicallooking Indo Thai and Al Muhallab Arabic seafood will cater for regional and international tastes.

MEMICE.COM 11

NEWS

ExCeL London scoops WTA global meetings award

ExCeL London, the UK venue owned by Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company, was chosen ‘World’s Leading Meetings and Conference Centre,’ at the World Travel Awards ceremony recently, beating 11 other short-listed nominees to the prestigious title.

Since it was inaugurated in 2000, ExCeL London has staged more than 2,800 events, attracting more than 5 million visitors from 200 countries. In 2012, ExCeL will host seven events during the 2012 London Olympics (see page 29).

H.E. Ali Saeed Bin

Harmal Al Dhaheri, Managing Director of ADNEC, said: “This latest award follows a number of other industry accolades for ExCeL since it was acquired

by ADNEC two and a half years ago, and underscores the effectiveness of the ADNEC board’s strategy for

the growth and development of our venue portfolio.”

Pointing to positive feedback to ExCeL London’s Phase Two expansion, which was inaugurated earlier this year, Al Dhaheri stated that the venue had secured business well into 2017.

“ExCeL London competes very effectively with the very top-tier among conference and exhibition centres internationally”, he said.

The award was received

by Humaid Al Dhaheri, ADNEC’s Director of Finance and Human Resources, who is also a Member of the ExCeL Board, and David Pegler, ExCeL’s Managing Director.

The World Travel Awards were held prior to the start of World Travel Market (WTM), which attracted 5,000 exhibitors from 187 countries.

Jumeirah’s first Maldives resort opens in January Jumeirah Dhevanafushi, an exclusive all-suite resort and the Dubai group’s first property in the Maldives, is scheduled to open in January and likely to prove a hit with unwinding corporates and companies seeking indulgent water-oriented incentives. Situated in the Gaafu Alifu Atoll, 400km south of the capital city of Malé, the resort is located in an area surrounded by unspoiled coral reefs.

Alongside 22 island villas is an exclusive water village, the Hermitage Collection, containing 16 ocean villas, that are separated from the main island, which target discerning travellers wanting to experience remote luxury.

The villas, named Revives 12 DECEMBER 2010-JANUARY 2011

and Sanctuaries, range from 200sqm-600sqm and offer striking sea views, direct beach access and 24-hour butler service. The design of the bountiful bedrooms is inspired by traditional Maldivian

architecture. The resort features three restaurants and a bar with a variety of culinary options, as well as a Talise Spa with imaginatively designed over water treatment rooms and extensive sports and leisure

facilities. The group’s second property under way in the Maldives, the five-star deluxe family resort Jumeirah Vittaveli located in the South Malé Atoll, is scheduled to open in March.

NEWS

Region’s largest toy exhibition centre opens Billed as the Middle East’s largest toy exhibition centre, China’s Chenghai Toy Exhibition Center was inaugurated in Dubai on November 28.

The 35,000sqft center, located at the Business Village near Clock Tower, will store over 50,000 toy samples from 110 Chinese factories.

“As China has become the leader of the toy industry in the world and Chenghai the hub of the toy industry in China, a visit to the center is equal to a trip to China,” said Ji Huilin, General Manager of BS International, the trading arm of China’s Shantou Chenghai Government.

“Customers can receive real time price quotation and relevant information from

Chinese companies and factories, carry out online discussions and acquire services from both Exhibition Center and China-based companies and factories at the same time.” Products will be

updated each week and prices on a par with those in China.

“This project aims to create awareness and serve as an information exchange and service center in the Middle East,” added Huilin.

“We want to establish this centre as a platform for Chenghai’s toy industry and provide benefits to both buyers and toy manufacturers and thereby reduce the cost for all parties.”

Flash Forum lights up

Meet you at The Ivy

Johannesburg based In 2 Structures – part of the Gearhouse South Africa Group of Companies – has sold one of its Supa (SP) Dome structures to Flash Entertainment. The 8-bay 84 metre long by 36 metre wide SupaDome structure, known as the Flash Forum, will

One of London’s bestknown restaurants is coming to Dubai, with the Gulf offshoot of The Ivy aiming to recreate the same standards of food, ambience and service when it opens in The Boulevard, Jumeirah Emirates Towers, next spring.

The Ivy Dubai will serve lunch and dinner and welcome guests who just want a drink at the bar, accommodating 172 covers and up to 16 guests in the private dining room, making it suitable for high-level corporate meets.

The new restaurant will offer a brasserie-style menu with a selection of The Ivy classics, such as its shepherd’s pie and Scandinavian iced berries with

14 DECEMBER 2010-JANUARY 2011

provide a multi purpose venue with up to 5,000 capacity on Yas Island, for at least the next three years. The first event staged in the Flash Forum took place during the weekend of the final race of the 2010 Formula 1 Championship, when it was managed by Beirut club,Skybar.

hot white chocolate sauce.

It will be the first of the Caprice Holdings’ restaurants to open since the announcement in August of a deal that will see Jumeirah Restaurants roll out the Caprice Holdings’ brands in the Middle East. It will join sister restaurant, the Rivington Grill, which opened in December 2008.

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Wakeboarding event makes a splash in Qatar The Pearl-Qatar recently hosted a daring display of ‘wakeboarding’ in a series of high-octane events scheduled at Porto Arabia.

Hosted by The Pearl-Qatar, sponored by Ronautica Middle East (RME), Alison Nelson’s Chocolate Bar and powered

by Red Bull, The Pearl-Qatar Wakeboarding Day served up a day of aquatic thrills and spills.

International wakeboarder Duncan Zuur, renowned for hits daring tricks, showed off his skills to the Doha crowd and led a tutorial covering ‘tricks’ and ‘kickers’ for local wakeboarders.

“There are a number of locals who are interested in the sport and others who are keen to try it out,” said Jaume Marcó, General Manager of Ronautica Middle East. RME provides wakeboarding and many other water activities, such as ‘donuts’ and banana rides, every day from Porto Arabia.

Early doors for ATM 2011 as sales fly high Arabian Travel Market has sold 70% of exhibition space for its 2011 show and will open a day early on Monday May 2 next year to accommodate an additional business focus day on the last day.

So far confirmed exhibition space for the 18th ATM, which will be held at Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre between May 2-5, stands at around 15,000sqm, a 5% increase over the same marketing period last year.

Despite a fragile global economic recovery, retention rates for Arabian Travel Market have averaged 16 DECEMBER 2010-JANUARY 2011

63.6% during the last three years, rising to an average 72.6% for companies who have participated for two consecutive years or more.

The dedicated consumer session will be held between 3pm-5pm, after the business focus on Thursday May 5.

The 2010 show attracted 2,236 exhibitors, occupying 20,000 square metres, and attracted more than 22,000 visitors.

To drive overseas interest, all participants who preregister for Arabian Travel Market 2011 will be eligible for a 10% discount on their airfare with Emirates.

Swim Burj Al Arab raises more than Dhs200,000 for MSF

The 550 swimmers who took to the water for Wild Wadi Waterpark’s ninth annual Swim Burj Al Arab raised more than Dh200,000 for Médecins Sans Frontières. The 1km swim around the iconic hotel, organised by Wild Wadi Waterpark, the Red Crescent Society and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), raised money for the medical charity which conducts aid work globally. This year’s winner, Velimir Stjepanovic from Serbia, completed the swim in seven minutes 25 seconds.

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EVENT SHOWCASE

Doha Tribeca Film Festival The second edition of the Doha Tribeca Film Festival (DTFF) showcased 51 feature films from over 35 countries and attracted a stellar line up of directors including Abbas Kiarostami, Rachid Bouchareb, François Ozon, Julian Schnabel and Robert Rodriguez. The Katara cultural village served as the main hub and among the features of the five-day event was Doha Talks at the Katara Festival Centre, a series of panels, masterclasses and industry events aimed at fostering greater collaboration between local and international delegates. The after party for the Opening Night Gala, held at The Pearl, attracted more than 1,000 guests.

Event: Doha Tribeca Film Festival – Katara Open Air Theatre Event Management Company: Doha Film Institute & Tribeca Enterprises CEO and artistic director: Amanda Palmer, Executive Director of the Doha Film Institute (DFI) Client brief: To create an amphitheatre venue (the Open Air Theatre) with fabulous aesthetics, in keeping with the topography of the immediate environment, accommodating a performance stage, a 23-metre cinema screen and 2000 invited guests.

Length of time to organise: seven weeks Number of employees involved: 76 List of suppliers: Al Laith Events Services (structures & seating), Boston Sound and Light (35mm & digital projection), PRG, UK (lighting) & CCG, Qatar (audio).

The challenges: Designing and installing clearspan arches over an 80-metre-wide audience grandstand.

Building from the ground up on a 18 DECEMBER 2010-JANUARY 2011

“brown-field” site with no existing facilities. Incorporating all technical areas including a completely isolated, vibration-free platform for the projection equipment.

What worked best?

The people involved from all teams involved in the creation of the Open Air Theatre – Doha Film Institute, Tribeca Film Festival, Al Laith, PRG and CCG – were all united in their passion, commitment and hard work.

The 14-arch design of the structure (by Jeremy Thom) was a unique and striking piece of architecture.

What would you use again in future events? All elements Did you have to do any last-minute trouble shooting? If so, what were the problems and how did you handle them?

Every event has its own surprises but for this one it was definitely the challenge of lifting an 84 metre arch (the central one) into position, because it is inherently unstable until landed and secured. Arches under gravity are completely solid but when they are fighting against gravity they behave in the exact opposite way.

Other comments: Building the Open Air Theatre was a truly collaborative effort involving local and international designers, engineers, experts and technicians and crews. Approximately 1,200 tonnes of steelwork and kit were transported from Al Laith’s HQ in Dubai, overland via Saudi Arabia in 62 trucks to Doha. The incredibly short lead time for executing the entire project – just seven weeks from signing off the design to the venue being completed and ready for Press Night – was the result of impressive teamwork and close communications and understanding between all involved, without which it would not have been achievable.

MEMICE.COM 19

YAS ISLAND ABU DHABI

20 DECEMBER 2010-JANUARY 2011

On the right track As the newly opened Ferrari World Abu Dhabi attracts leisure visitors in droves, Yas Island is simultaneously reaching out to the corporate sector and looking to accelerate into a first-class MICE destination, writes Helga Jensen–Forde.

I

mpressively slick and with an offtrack programme as exciting as the title-deciding race itself, the 2010 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix went perfectly to script. But now the hard work starts; filling the Yas Marina Circuit when the world’s best drivers and some of the biggest names in music are in attendance is one thing, but promoting it consistently for the other 364 days a year is quite another – and that’s where the adjacent hotels and their facilities now come into play.

On the face of it, Yas Island is tailor-made for meetings, incentives, conferences and events. What could be more impressive to clients, or employees, than a day out hurtling around a Formula 1 track – and not just any track, but one that recently brought the curtain down

on one of the most exciting seasons in living memory, and whose facilities have received widespread acclaim?

For those who cherish the ‘work hard, play hard’ philosophy, Yas Island is the place to be. “One thing we do offer is entertainment,” says Faisal Al Sahlawi, Business Development Officer, Yas Marina Circuit. “With the corporate driving experience you can come, work and have fun all at the Yas Marina circuit.”

But it’s not just fun in the sun. The circuit’s Events Manager, Peggy Legrand, said it is targeting two events per day until the end of this year, and 300 conferences for 2011. “Naturally, car manufacturers are our main customers, although there isn’t a particular sector that we are targeting,” says Sahlawi. “We

have had many car launches so far, and have had most of the car manufacturers holding events including Bentley, Porsche and Mercedes Benz.”

But for all its glamorous appeal, is Yas Island’s edge-of-city location a drawback?

Sahlawi disagrees. “It is very easy to get here, especially with the new Saadiyat highway,” says Sahlawi, adding that its “very competitive rates” are comparable with other first-class venues.

With facilities that include the Paddock Club and the first floor conference area – transformed into a 408-station Media Centre during F1 week – Sahlawi is bullish about the future, believing that the venue’s facilities, sprinkled with Abu Dhabi’s customary ambition, will enable it to compete with any other world class venue globally.

MEMICE.COM 21

YAS ISLAND ABU DHABI

Although the venue has the capacity for up to 5000, team building is one of Ferrari World Abu Dhabi’s most obvious attributes.

The leitmotif for this ambition thus far has been Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, billed as the world’s largest theme park. It may seem the last place you would associate with business events – but not now the commercial roller-coaster is in full flow.

“Ferrari World Abu Dhabi is a completely unique attraction which offers a diverse range of experiences not available anywhere else in the world,” explains Troy Lindquist, Director of Sales and Marketing, Ferrari World Abu Dhabi.

“The Park has been designed to appeal to individuals of different ages, interests and nationalities, making it the perfect setting for a corporate event. It has eight different function rooms, accommodating 15-250 guests, and some individual attractions can be booked for corporate events or large parties of 50–1,500 guests.”

With its prestigious name and stateof-the-art facilities, which have already attrached global media interest, it is 22 DECEMBER 2010-JANUARY 2011

hardly surprising corporate interest is now on the rise.

“We have a number of enquiries and bookings from corporate groups seeking a ‘supercharged’ conference experience, particularly as we are entering the peak period for the MICE industry,” claims Lindquist.

Although the venue has the capacity for corporate groups with numbers of up to 5000, team building is one of Ferrari World’s most obvious attributes.

“The nature of the attraction lends itself very well to school activities, award ceremonies and team building days,” suggests Lindquist. “The park contains a number of attractions which can be enjoyed as a group. The Pit Wall, for example, allows you to pitch your decision making and judgment skills against your colleagues in a realistic racing scenario.”

While Ferrari World will play an important role in the local MICE

industry, one place that has already made its mark is The Yas Hotel. Although cutting edge product launches are highly popular given the hotel’s contemporary design and impressive technology, so too are international summits. But the hotel recognises that favourable impressions only go so far, particularly as a slew of new hotels are coming onto the market.

One point of difference that Yas Hotel has developed is incorporating a spa element to their Conference and Events packages following the opening of ESPA at The Yas Hotel – which could lead to a sea-change in the way delegates view conferences and events.

As for incentives, where could possibly have more to offer? With the Yas Marina Circuit, Ferrari World and neighbouring 18-hole Yas Links Golf course, incentive groups are big business.

Patrick Martinez, General Manager of Yas Island Rotana & Centro Yas Island, said with the new attractions opening and more events planned, it is expecting a better year than 2010.

“MICE Business relies not only on the property’s offering but also on the destination itself. In Abu Dhabi, the increase will be very significant, up to

THE YAS HOTEL 30%, and this is due to the initiatives taken by the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority to promote the destination for MICE.” Hosting important exhibitions such as GIBTM assists hugely in the overall tourism development taking place and plays a major role in nurturing further growth in this sector. “This segment is increasing tremendously and the destination is certainly playing a big role in this increase,” he added Clearly, Yas Island is already much more than a oneday-a-year venue.

But with increased competition, organisers know that they will need to work hard to keep its MICE offering in pole position.

AL LAITH ON SONG FOR EVENT-PACKED F1 WEEKEND UAE-based Al Laith Event Services supplied a huge steel stage and roofing system for the Formula 1 Championship Abu Dhabi’s after event concerts headlined by Kanye West, Linkin Park and Prince respectively, and attended by capacity audiences of 40,000.

Working for event producers Flash, the company.also designed and built all of the relevant and related production metalwork infrastructure needed on site including an extensive FOH mix area, side screen supports and wide wings, delay and spot towers, wheelchair access platforms, as well as all the Mojo barriers and even the concession stand framework.

Flash promoted the entire “Yasalam” weekend of F1 connected events in and around the city, which included appearances by 64 leading international artists across several venues. The project was managed for Al Laith by Ross Cameron, working closely with Flash Events’ project manager, Jean Carl Saliba.

Jo Marshall, director of Al Laith Event Services comments, “The big challenge was the scale of the project - it involved a massive amount of kit, approximately 30 of our top crew and enormous amounts of pre-planning, which all paid off with an extremely smooth delivery”.

The 35 metre wide by 30 metre deep

The headline attraction for meetings and events with its unique through-track design and marina-side location. With 13 entertainment and dining options along with a total of 1,760 square metres in conference and banqueting space, including a ballroom, six meeting rooms, four boardrooms, and outdoor terraces, its facilities are second to none.

Meeting Rooms

Area Sqm

Banquet

Theatre

Classroom

Reception

U Shape

Ballroom

504

300

480

225

600

100

Ball Room 1

163

100

160

75

200

45

Ball Room 2

163

100

160

75

200

45

Ball Room 3

163

100

160

75

200

45

Meeting Room 1

54

30

30

18

40

14

Meeting Room 2

52

30

30

18

40

16

Meeting Room 3

67

40

45

24

60

20

Meeting Room 4

67

40

45

24

60

20

Meeting Room 5

67

40

45

24

60

20

Meeting Room 6

67

40

45

45

60

20

Boardrooms have fixed boardroom set up.

Boardroom 1

53

14

Boardroom 2

50

14

Boardroom 3

38

10

Boardroom 4

39

10

Outdoor lawn area Palm Garden

2469

700

-

-

1000

RADISSON BLU HOTEL, ABU DHABI YAS ISLAND The Radisson’s Galaxy Ballroom’s 445 square meters of banqueting space can accommodate larger gatherings, and seven meeting spaces can be customised to suit individual needs.

Meeting Room

Area (Sq Mtrs)

Banquet

Theatre

Classroom

U Shape

Andromeda

43.95

N/A

40

18

15

Indus

41.80

N/A

40

18

14

Cetus

42.05

N/A

40

18

14

Hercules

36.60

N/A

40

18

14

Fornax

39.21

N/A

40

18

14

Corvus

56.15

N/A

60

24

18

Lyra

17.73

N/A

12

06

NA

Galaxy 1

145.04

120

144

54

60

Galaxy 2

137.15

120

144

54

60

Galaxy 3

152.66

120

144

54

60 MEMICE.COM 23

YAS ISLAND, ABU DHABI

YAS ISLAND ROTANA This four-star deluxe hotel, situated just minutes away from the Yas Island Marina offers fully equipped and flexible meeting rooms. A spacious ballroom with a modern and sophisticated dĂŠcor, coupled with the very latest communication technology, makes this the ideal venue for most events.

Meeting Room

Area (Sq Mtrs)

Banquet

Theatre

Classroom

Boardroom

Reception

U Shape

Pearl Ballroom A

17x9 =153

96

156

81

60

140

44

Pearl Ballroom B

17x7=119

96

141

72

54

126

40

Pearl Ballroom C

17x8=136

96

141

72

54

126

40

Pearl Ballroom A,B C

29x17=493

336

448

235

178

402

134

10x6=60

32

54

28

20

48

15

Jade I Jade II

10x6=60

32

54

28

20

48

15

Jade I & II

13x10=130

70

112

60

46

100

36

Emerald I

8x6=48

26

44

22

15

40

12

Emerald II

8x6=48

26

44

22

16

10

12

Emerald I & II

12x8=96

56

90

46

36

82

28

Sapphire I

8x6=48

26

44

22

16

40

12

Sapphire II

8x6=48

26

44

22

16

40

12

13x8=104

56

94

50

36

84

26

Theatre

Classroom

Boardroom

Reception

U Shape

Sapphire I & II

CROWNE PLAZA ABU DHABI YAS ISLAND A prime location for business travellers, the Crowne Plaza Yas Island boasts the resplendent 500 square metre Diyafa Ballroom, which can be subdivided into four sections and can cater for various functions simultaneously.

Meeting Rooms

Total Area Sqm

Banquet

Diyafa Ballroom Whole

500

400

540

300

96

600

100

Diyafa Ballroom Section 1

125

80

120

63

30

150

30

Diyafa Ballroom Section2

125

80

120

63

30

150

30

Diyafa Ballroom Section 3

125

80

120

63

30

150

30

Diyafa Ballroom Section 4

125

80

129

63

30

150

30

Boardroom

80

40

40

30

24

80

24

Jamaal

50

20

50

24

15

40

15

Al Waha

50

20

30

24

15

40

15

Sakina

50

20

30

24

15

40

15

Al Dorra

59

20

30

24

15

40

15

24 DECEMBER 2010-JANUARY 2011

YAS ISLAND, ABU DHABI

stage used is now a standard stage/roof product available from Al Laith, built from Serious Stages Space Truss, offering significant weight loading capacities and 17 metres headroom.

One of the initial criteria for the roof was to hang a 16 metre wide by 10 deep Lighthouse R7 LED screen upstage, weighing just over 11 tonnes.

The stage, positioned just in front of one of the graceful triform arches of Ferrari World, included 32 metre wide wings each side to accommodate two Lighthouse L7 side IMAG screens, plus three columns a side of low res Martin LC Plus LED, and plentiful lighting, which was integral to the overall stage production design by Steve Shipman (who was also the lighting designer).

The concept involved an industrial cityscape look sweeping across the width of the stage, below the spectacular curvature of the Ferrari World building designed by Benoy Architects. The side wings featured areas clad in different textured metallic roofing materials which complimented the LED screens.

The cityscape idea was completed with the placement of specific lighting fixtures including 8-way Moles, PixelLine LED battens, PARs and LED moving lights producing a panoramic urban illumination effect.

Steve Shipman had plenty of room onstage for his creation that catered for all the headliners, including the striking upstage LED screen, multiple roof trusses and six trussing pods with fabric infills, forming an upstage ceiling.

The stage featured large technical areas both sides for monitors, dimmers and power distribution, and was finished in silver skins to enhance the metallic environment.

Al Laith’s crew of 30 including a team of roof specialists started the site build 12 days ahead of the first show, with the actual stage build commencing further 5 days later. They were joined by six riggers from UK-based Serious Stages for the main stage construction, all coordinated on the Yas Island site by Al Laith’s Ross Cameron and in the office

by Freya Downton.

BEATS ON THE BEACH KEEPS CITY FANS IN TUNE WITH YAS In addition to the Yas Island concerts, Al Laith also supplied an 18 metre Orbit stage erected on the Corniche for “Beats On The Beach”, four free concerts tied into the nearby F1 fanzone area run by Carlo Boutagy. Artists playing here included Kelis, Sean Paul, The Beat and a selection of leading Middle East performers, and the events were enjoyed by up to 45,000 people each night.

The new Flash Forum structure, located about a kilometre down the road from Ferrari World, was run as a 1500 capacity premium lounge/nightclub running 11 p.m. - 4 a.m. for the duration of the F1 festivities by the legendary Skybar from Beirut.

Al Laith supplied all the internal staging and decking for this international jet setter’s paradise. Highlights included a Friday night ‘secret’ gig by Prince which helped kick the F1 weekend of knife edge car racing, dynamic live performances and serious socialising off to a rocking start.

Mubadala designed and installed a four-sided scaffolding structure, 35 metres

wide, made from Space truss, complete with a clearspan roof, which served as a popular edutainment zone, filled with a myriad of simulators, interactive exhibits, games and F1-related elements for young people keen to learn about motorsport and other subjects in a fun environment.

CIPRIANI ADDS NEW ALLURE FOR HIGH SOCIETY EVENTS Cipriani Yas Island is striking a chord with the UAE capital’s high society with its classy Allure by Cipriani nightclub offering two indoor bars, and an outdoor lounge terrace with shisha overlooking the marina.

Alongside the penthouse nightclub, the chic facility contains a signature Italian restaurant, Wine and Bellini Room, Yotto Japanese restaurant, cigar lounge, private member’s yacht club and catering facilities for hosting royal events, weddings, concerts, public and private occasions.

A Private viewing Lounge & Bar spanning two floors appeals to predinner drinkers or those simply looking to unwind. Despite its exclusive aura, bookings are open to the public. ■

MEMICE.COM 25

LONDON

Final run in for

2012 Olympics

With under 600 days until the start of the 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic Games, the eyes of the world are turning towards London. Stuart Derrick surveys the Olympics’ pre-opening plans and sees how the race for hospitality and event business could be the most competitive of all.

26 DECEMBER 2010 - JANUARY 2011

F

ew international visistors make their way to East London, many choosing to stay in the attractionstudded west end. But next year, that’s all set to change with the hosting of the 2012 Olympics and the once-neglected side of England’s premier city will be the leisure, sporting and entertainment quarter for years to come.

The 80,000-seater athletics stadium is the main focus, but the Olympic Park site will also benefit from an aquatic centre, a multi-use arena and media centre. Premiership football clubs West Ham and Tottenham are already vying to play in the stadium after 2012, however, like events planners, we won’t know its long term use until after the Olympics.

Tracey Halliwell, business tourism director of VisitLondon, the capital’s convention and visitor bureau said that while

the new venues would not be available for post-Games use until about 2013, £11 billion of investment across the city was already having an effect on MICE infrastructure. “It includes everything from new business venues, hotels, transport as well as more basic offerings like bars and restaurant openings,” she said. “All of these make London an attractive business destination and the amount of investment really does reflect a long-term confidence in a city.”

That confidence is reflected in venues such as London’s first International Convention Centre (ICC), which opened

Across the capital, 17 large scale hotel developments and redevelopments are set to come on stream by 2012, adding around 13,000 new rooms. at the Excel complex in June (see box).

Across the capital, 17 large scale hotel developments and redevelopments are set to come on stream by 2012, adding around 13,000 new rooms and swelling the overall inventory to around 120,000.

Works include the £220m redevelopment of the recently opened

Savoy, whose 268 rooms have been restored to their Edwardian and Art Deco character. Marriott’s restoration of Gilbert Scott’s St Pancras station hotel is due to be complete in May 2011. As well as 245 rooms, the St Pancras Renaissance will have eight meeting rooms with a largest capacity of 550 seated. Across the MEMICE.COM 27

LONDON

London’s first six-star hotel is set to open in two years in Knightsbridge. The 36-room Wellsley is being developed by Arab Investments at a cost of £36m. city, London’s first six-star hotel is set to open in two years in Knightsbridge. The 36-room Wellsley is being developed

by Arab Investments at a cost of £36m.

Rooms will cost upwards of £1,000 a night with each having a dedicated butler.

Such developments reflect a relatively buoyant market, says Halliwell. “London has seen a definite upturn in enquiries for business events coming in to the capital both pre-Games and post. We’ve seen a lot more confirmations of conventions in 2010 and 2011 which is very encouraging.”

It’s not just hotels that are benefiting from the Olympics effect. The capital’s 28 DECEMBER 2010-JANUARY 2011

venues are also on the up, especially in East London. New arrivals include such unusual premises as Forman’s Smokehouse on Fish Island. The venue is a real life salmon smokery, that was displaced from the Olympic site and has established itself as an event space and art gallery which can host conferences of up to 300 and receptions of up to 600.

The area adjacent to the Olympic park is also benefiting from investment ahead of the Games. Europe’s biggest shopping centre Westfield Stratford City is due to open in September 2011 with 300 stores. The site will include two hotels – a 267-bed Premier Inn which will be

trading by Summer 2012, and another 350-bed hotel yet to be announced.

Rob Ellwood, business tourism officer at London Eastside, which markets the area’s venues says Olympics fever is catching. “We are starting to have lots of expressions of interest from companies ahead of the Olympics, especially sponsors and national Olympic Committees which have to find a venue for six to eight weeks over the Games to run hospitality, hold press conferences and so on.”

The German Olympics team has announced the Museum of Docklands in London as its base for the Olympics and Paralympics. Around 3,000 people will be hosted at events in the Georgian warehouse.

There are plenty of other venues on offer. The recently refurbished and extended Whitechapel Art Gallery hosts contemporary exhibitions and provides

The Address Marina, pool area.

a number of event spaces for up to 300. The Chainstore is a restored 19th century docks building that incorporates London’s only lighthouse – it can cater for receptions up to 500 – and for a more modern event, The View is a 15th floor suite overlooking the Olympic site and providing stunning views.

“It’s a great place for visitors and executives to orient themselves to the surroundings in East London,” says Ellwood. “We’ve had sponsors, sporting federations and national Olympic committees use it. It would be a stunning venue for a broadcaster during the Games, given the backdrop.”

For visitors looking to get up close and personal to the Olympics site, View Tube is a venue built from recycled shipping containers and sitting on the Greenway, a public footpath that runs along the side of the site. Short of taking one of the bus tours around the development, it offers one of the best views of the Olympic site and has a room for about 40 people, plus a viewing platform.

Simon Mogford, business development director at London event management agency, First Protocol, notes a growing interest in planning activity around the Olympics.

“Hospitality provider Prestige is taking expressions of interest from November and to secure allocations of tickets they require 40 per cent payment from April 1 2011. People have to think seriously about accommodation, travel and complementary events. If they haven’t Lobby area, Marina. advanced that far, then they will need to get moving.”

Although there is a huge amount of choice in London in terms of hotels and meetings venues, the capital position as a key business destination and its ease of access means that demand will be higher than the Beijing Olympics, says Mogford.

However, although ticket and hospitality providers have block booked properties, plenty of boutique options area available which can mop up demand. One example is the Town Hall Hotel in Bethnal Green. Sited in

EXCEL PREPARES TO HOST SEVEN OLYMPIC SPORTS

Opening in 2000, Excel London has established itself as the capital’s biggest event space and home to such exhibitions as World Travel Market, the International Boat Show and Grand Designs Live. It is also one of the most flexible, hosting events as diverse as 2009’s G20 conference to the exuberant X-Factor auditions.

In 2008 the venue was bought by ADNEC (Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre). James Rees, director of conferences and events says the purchase has allowed ExCeL to pursue its aim of becoming a globally significant player in the conference and exhibition market. The plan was furthered in June with the opening of ICC London, the capital’s first international convention centre.

The auditorium seats 5,000 with access to 90,000sqm of exhibition space and the venue also has the largest banqueting space in the UK, which can seat 3,000 diners served from a £5m kitchen fitted for caterer Leiths.

“The plan for the ICC was in place but when the economy got into trouble, the opportunity disappeared. With ADNEC’s backing we were able to pursue the policy and build the new centre. ADNEC strengthened ExCeL because they have their own venue and understand the business.”

Although ExCeL had won corporate conferences in the past, clients had to convert one of the venue’s halls for the occasion making it an expensive and time-consuming effort. With the ICC, clients now have an option that makes more sense.

“We can now compete with the best convention centres in the world,” says Rees. “We have been successful with the association market, but the ICC allows us to tap into the corporate

market. In the past it has been cost prohibitive for them to come here.”

Corporate clients have since included Barclays, Nokia World and Cisco, which is bringing its Cisco Live conference to the ICC in January. In 2015 it welcomes the International Orthodontics conference.

Rees says that the facilities will help to build a more international base for business. At present, around 30 per cent of business is from overseas, but this could go as high as 40 per cent. As well as corporate markets, associations are returning to the ICC in greater numbers.

“Usually you see a return cycle for association events of once in ten years, but it’s now becoming every five to seven years. Partly it is the London factor. When events come here, organisers see more delegates, greater sponsorship and their events do better. People want to come to London.”

This is ever more the case with the Olympics around the corner. ExCeL will host seven sports including boxing, judo, weight lifting and table tennis. It expects to welcome around 100,000 visitors a day and will be the only venue that operates across the Games fortnight.

Plans are also afoot for a new Starwood Aloft on the ExCeL campus, adding to the existing five hotels and 1,500 rooms. The 252-room property is only the second Aloft hotel in Europe and will have oversized rooms, complete with three metre high ceilings, walk in showers and multiple electronic gadgets including 42 inch TVs. Rees says that ExCeL is in a very exciting place as East London becomes the events district of London. “You’ve got ExCeL, the O2 and the Olympics stadium and park.

Siemens is building a research park here.

London is growing East.”

With a 50m high cable car set to straddle the Thames at ExCeL by next year, the sky really is the limit.

MEMICE.COM 29

LONDON

an ornate, refurbished Edwardian town hall, the property opened in April with a mix of 98 rooms and apartments. Just a few miles from the Olympic Park, the five-star property combines a modern designer feel with period touches, such as the retention of the council chamber as an 80-person event space.

Only 15 minutes from the City’s financial hub, the property also includes Viajante restaurant by award-winning chef Nuno Mendes.

It is just one of many venues that is coming on stream to help London plan for a Golden future, up to and beyond 2012. ■

GET ON YOUR BIKE! Visiting executives who want a travel experience beyond the conventional cab, bus and tube can now hire one of the numerable “Boris Bikes” – named after the cycle-promoting Mayor – which are now scattered across the capital city.

Since its summer launch, users of London’s Barclay’s Cycle Hire scheme have clocked up 1.5 million journeys and membership has exceeded 100,000.

The scheme works through members registering to receive an electronic key which unlocks the secure docking stations. Following the success of the scheme’s introduction, Mayor Johnson has announced an extension of the scheme in East London.

A string of docking stations and bikes will be introduced leading to the Olympic Park, allowing riders to avoid the inevitable traffic chaos by getting there under their own steam. When complete, the expanded scheme will cover 65sqkm of the capital 30 DECEMBER 2010-JANUARY 2011

NEW LONDON HOTELS 2011 Hilton Heathrow T5, Poyle http://www.hilton.co.uk City Inn, Tower of London http://www.cityinn.com/toweroflondon Premier Inn Stratford http://www.premierinn.com Renaissance Marriott Hotel, St. Pancras Chambers, Kings Cross http://www.marriott.co.uk/hotels/travel/ lonpr-renaissance-london-st-pancras/ InterContinental, Westminster http://www.45parklane.com

and around 8,000 hire bikes will be available from 14,400 docking points. At present visitors to London are prevented

2012 Shangri-La, London Bridge Tower http://www.shangri-la.com/en/property/ london/shangrila The Regent Palace Hotel, Regent’s Street http://www.regentstreetonline.com/ crownestate/quadrant.asp 10 Trinity Square, Clerkenwell http://www.10trinity.com/tour.html Apex Temple Court Hotel http://www.apexhotels.co.uk/hotels/ new-openings

from using the bikes unless they register in advance. However plans are afoot for docking station to accept card payments.

LONDON

CAPITAL INCENTIVES â—? Relax, unwind and be pampered in

Radisson Edwardian’s The May Fair Hotel, the official hotel of London Fashion Week.

â—? Visit Historic Royal Palaces

Enchanted Palace exhibition where the latest London fashion designers have created displays against the backdrop of king’s and queen’s apartments. � Have a makeover in a London Eye

� Try London’s most fashionable tea at

The Berkley’s Prêt-a-Port-Tea. Fashion ranges in miniature cake form are served up on Paul Smith china. � Rub shoulders with celebrities by

taking a bespoke shopping treasure hunt through world-famous shops such as Harrods, Selfridges, Harvey Nichols and Fortnum & Mason. â—? Hold a meeting and stay at The

Wyndham Grand London where specially created fashion rooms have been inspired by designers such as Vivienne Westwood.

capsule courtesy of the Fifties-clad Powderpuff girls.

QUIRKY SHOPPING The Spitalfields area offers a plethora of quirky and independent shops as well as the Old Spitalfields covered market. A Sunday itinerary can include a walk through the Columbia Road Flower Market in the morning taking in its independently owned shops and boutiques.

Lunch at any of the new eateries in the Old Spitalfields Market complex, including Scarlet Dot, Canteen and St Johns Bread & Wine. Alternatively, head to Brick Lane for an authentic curry.

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MEMICE.COM 31

HOW TO GUIDE

From PowerPoint to iPad Follow these five steps and your presentations will always be to hand

Transfer PowerPoint to PDF files This is another option, since PowerPoint 2010 allows you to save your presentation as a PDF. View PowerPoint presentations on iPad via presentation sharing sites The lack of Flash support is an obstacle for many presentations sharing websites that use Adobe’s technology for multimedia clips will be preserved when displaying Export PowerPoint slides as support to show the presentation on the presentation. Fine if you have a static pictures iPad, but there are some sites features PowerPoint but not very rich media. iPad is equipped with a slideshow photo compatibility for the iPad, such as viewer, so converting your PowerPoint authorSTREAM.com and DocStoc.com.

Convert PowerPoint presentation slideshow to pictures is a good way to view AuthorSTREAM.com is a free webto video formats it on iPad. The most commonly supported based platform that offers the new edition for Playing it on iPad image formats on the new device are .jpg, for PowerPoint presentation sharing I think this is the best way to play .bmp, .gif, and .png. The following steps service compatible with iPad for sharing PowerPoint presentation on iPad. Many let you save your slideshow as pictures: 1.

PowerPoint presentations.

PowerPoint to video converters provide Open up your PowerPoint slideshow. 2.

When you open the URL provided the smart feature to convert PowerPoint Export the slides using File > Save As… by authorStream on iPad, you can view presentation to iPad supported video formats your presentation normally that has 3. At the pop-up, select the ‘Save as type”, (.m4v, .mp4, and .mov) that retain all the and choose “*.jpg”. 4. When PowerPoint been converted to the iPad compatible features of the original PowerPoint files like format. You can also download your asks whether you want to export all slides, animations, transitions, audios, and video choose “Every Slide”. Then your slides are presentations as video, and view them on clips. PowerPoint 2010 allows you to save now exported. PowerPoint will tell you iPad – ideal for presentations that do not your presentation as a WMV and this video include videos and audios files that are where the still pictures have been stored. file can then be converted to an iPad format. larger than 50,000KB. It will retain the By default, they are named “Slide x.JPG”.

This method will display the presentation on animations of the presentation but not After that, you can transport the pictures iPad as the same as the original presentation all the audios and videos. to the Image folder of iPad. The limitation file, and you can pause the video as you move of this solution is that no animations, through it as you would in PowerPoint. no transitions, and no sound and video Convert your PowerPoint to a Keynote presentation Keynote on the Mac allows you to open a Hands On with the Apple iPad VGA Adapter PowerPoint file which can then be saved The Apple iPad has a big screen for a portable device, but there are plenty of times when you as an iPad compatible Keynote file and might want an even bigger display. The official Apple iPad Dock Connector to VGA Adapter played natively on the iPad. This is the best lets you do that, piping the iPad’s 1024×768 screen into anything with a VGA port, whether method as it preserves all your animations it’s a TV, projector, or computer monitor. and content.

The iPad VGA adapter cable costs $29 and can be purchased from Apple retail stores or All these methods can help you play online. The adapter looks just as you would expect—a bright white cable with a VGA port on your PowerPoint presentation on iPad one side and an iPad connector on the other. though we’d recommend the second or Unfortunately, the adapter doesn’t work with all of the iPad’s apps; Apple says the VGA fifth method. adapter works with Keynote (when playing a slideshow), Videos, YouTube, Photos (when playing a slideshow of photos), and Safari (when viewing video content from YouTube, Vimeo, FunnyOrDie, and other video sites). The iPad’s speakers are too weak to fill a large room, so you’ll probably also want to pick up a separate cable to connect the iPad’s headphone jack to your HDTV’s audio input.

32 DECEMBER 2010-JANUARY 2011

Contributed by John Quinn of SatelliteVisual Communication.

GADGETS

United response Integration and convenience remain prevalent in the world of mobiles, cameras, camcorders and laptops.

Motorola doubles up Motorola’s two latest smartphone models, Flipout and Defy, further pile on the lifestyle gadgetry and merge the business and leisure boundaries.

Flipout’s palm and purse-friendly square pivot design opens up to reveal a five-row QWERTY keypad, while the slim Defy features a 3.7-inch highresolution screen, 5-megapixel camera and is scratch and water resistant.

Always connected with Lifebook Light and featuring trendy twist-to-touch tablet screens, the new Lifebook T730 and TH7000 models from Fujitsu score well on their aesthetic appeal and connectivity. The T series models are packed with all features for on-the-go execs, including embedded 3G/UMTS, WLAN and Bluetooth and optional built-in GPS, which can pinpoint the notebook’s exact location globally.

The tablet PCs are also fast, featuring the latest powerful 2010 Intel® Core™ Processor Family, combined with optional SSD hard disk drives and ample memory to run even the most-complex applications.

Thieves should also beware of the pervasive emphasis on connectivity – both systems offer a subscription-based Advanced Theft Protection which enables a lost or stolen notebook to be remotely locked, data to be erased, and the machine’s current location to be identified.

Focus on functions Samsung’s NX100 features an i-Function button which allows users to scroll through manual settings, and a focus ring which can be used to easily change parameters for each setting.

It enables photographers to hop between shutter speed, aperture, EV, WB, and ISO – which has been raised to a maximum of 6400 for action shots – more easily and quickly. The camera provides a ‘Smart Filter’ whereby, in playback mode, users can apply seven different effects to the picture, and the NX100 supports HD movie recording at 720P and a ‘Sound Picture’ mode that can record audio when a photo is taken.

The NX100 will come equipped with a range of lenses and accessories including a compact zoom 20-50mm lens, which will be followed by a small and light 20mm wide angle Pancake lens. Two additional specialist lenses will be available in the first half of 2011 – a 60mm Macro lens and 18-200mm Super Zoom lens – and three more lenses will be introduced by the second half of 2011, (16mm, 85mm, and 16-80mm).

Wider view from Sony Sony’s new PMW-F3 camcorder is designed for TV, commercials, music promos and budget features and aims to bring digital shooting to a wider audience.

It complements the F35 and recently announced SRW9000PL models.

The new PMW-F3 camcorder is based on Sony’s XDCAM EX workflow and uses Sony’s SxS™ ExpressCard-based recording media format.

Its Super 35mm CMOS imager delivers shallow depth of field, with high sensitivity and low noise levels.

The camcorder offers a wide range of image creation options, as well as the ability to inter-cut PMW-F3 footage with content shot on Sony’s F35 or SRW-9000PL cameras through the use of an HD-SDI dual-link output for external recording.

Sony plans to introduce a compatible SR Memory Portable Recorder for the PMW-F3 camcorder. Two configurations of the PMWF3 will be available (PMWF3L body only and PMWF3K with PL lens kit) with first deliveries scheduled for January.

MEMICE.COM 33

EXHIBITIONS

EXHIBITION & EVENTS CALENDAR GCC REGION December 2010

Organisers: M.I.C.E Arabia Exhibitions and Conferences

Motor Show 2010 Dec 1-4, 2010 Venue: Oman International Exhibition Centre, Muscat Organisers: Omanexpo LLC

Oman Construction Summit 2011 Jan 30-02 Feb 2011 Venue: Grand Hyatt Muscat, Oman Organisers: IQPC Autumn Fair 2011 Jan 26-03 Feb 2011 Venue: Bahrain International Exhibition & Convention Centre Organisers: Arabian Exhibition Management WLL

EPEX Expo Dec 2-3, 2010 Venue: Madinat Arena, Dubai Organisers: Eton Events Ltd Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby Sevens 2010 Dec 2-4, 2010 Venue: The Sevens Organisers: Promoseven Sports Marketing Electrix Power 2010 Dec 4-7, 2010 Venue: Cairo International Convention Centre, Cairo Organisers: Egytec Engineering Company Riyadh Motor Show 2010 Dec 5-9, 2010 Venue: Riyadh Exhibition Centre Organiser: Riyadh Exhibition Company Middle East Natural and Organic Products Expo 2010 Dec 6-8 Venue: Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre Organiser: Global Links MEBA – Middle East Business Aviation Dec 7-9, 2010 Venue: Airport Expo, Dubai, United Arab Emirates Organisers: Fairs and Exhibitions Abu Dhabi International Motorshow Dec 7-11, 2010 Venue: Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre Organisers: Reed Exhibitions FZC LLC Saudi International Boat Show Dec 8-11, 2010 Venue: Al Furusya Marina & Yacht Club, Jeddah Organiser: Dubai World Trade Centre Cityscape Riyadh Dec 12-14, 2010 Venue: Four Seasons Hotel, Riyadh Organisers: IIR Middle East

34 DECEMBER 2010-JANUARY 2011

Sportex Middle East 2010 Dec 12-14, 2010 Venue: Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre Organisers: International Expo Consultants ESTATEX Dec 12-15, 2010 Venue: Dhahran International Exhibition Centre, Dhahran Organisers: Dhahran International Exhibition Company Abu Dhabi Aerospace Summit Dec 12-15, 2010 Venue: Abu Dhabi National Exhibtion Centre Organisers: Streamline Marketing Communications Dubai International Film Festival Dec 12-19, 2010 Venue: Dubai Media City Organisers: Dubai International Film Festival MMS-Media & Marketing Show 2010 Dec 13-15, 2010 Venue: Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre Organisers: Domus Communications IFJA & IWCF –- The International Fashion Jewellery & Accessories Fair and International Watch & Clock Fair Dec 13-15, 2010 Venue: Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre Organisers: Al Fajer Information & Services 25th International Autumn Trade Fair (IATF) 2010 Dec 13-15, 2010 Venue: Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre Organisers: Al Fajer Information and Services

Chinese Commodity Fair Dec 13-16, 2010 Venue: Expo Centre Sharjah Organisers: Expo Centre Sharjah The National Fair for SME 2010 Dec 16-19, 2010 Venue: Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre Organisers: Al Hader Exhibitions & Conferences

January 2011

February 2011 Bride Abu Dhabi 2011 Feb 2-5, 2011 Venue: Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre Organisers: IIR Gulf International Industry Fair Feb 8-10, 2011 Venue: Bahrain International Exhibition & Convention Centre Organisers: Al Hilal Conferences & Exhibitions

Health & Wellness Bahrain Expo 2011 Jan 12-14, 2011 Venue: Bahrain International Exhibition & Convention Centre Organisers: Bahrain Exhibition & Convention Authority

Food & Hospitality Expo 2011 Feb 08-10, 2011 Venue: Bahrain International Exhibition & Convention Centre Organisers: Bahrain Exhibition & Convention Authority

Intersec trade fair and conference January 16 - 18, 2011 Venue: Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre Organisers: Epoc Messe

Brazil Trade Show 2011 Jan 12, 2011 Venue: Riyadh International Convention & Exhibition Center- RICEC Organisers: International Fairs & Exhibitions

Steel Fab 2011 Jan 17-20, 2011 Venue: Expo Centre Sharjah, United Arab Emirates Organisers: Expo-Centre Sharjah Arab Health Jan 24-27, 2011 Venue: Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre Organisers: IIR Middle East ArabPlast 2011 Jan 08-11, 2010 Venue: Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre Organisers: Al Fajer Information & Services The Agencies and Franchise Trading Exhibition Jan 16-19, 2011 Venue: Jeddah International Exhibition Center

World Future Energy Summit 2011 Jan 17-19, 2011 Venue: Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre Organiser: Reed Exhibitions Tawdheef Recruitment Show 2011 Jan 25-27, 2011 Venue: Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre Organisers: Turret Middle East Bahrain International Garden Show Feb 25-27, 2011 Venue: Bahrain International Exhibition & Convention Centre Organisers: Bahrain Exhibition & Convention Authority

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