Women-aware meetings campaign

A new campaign encourages meetings to become more ‘women-aware’. The initiative by LateMeetings.com argues that paying more attention to gender could increase the overall productivity of business events.

The project responds to evidence* of hard-wired contrasts between male and female brains, the consequent differences in thinking and behaviour, and the implications for the workplace.

Comments Chris Martins, director for LateMeetings, ‘it may at first appear non-pc to infer such variables. However, research suggests that women are measurably less individualistic, hierarchical and status-conscious than men, and more empathetic, democratic and relationship-oriented. Such issues clearly affect the dynamics of meetings,’ he suggests.

Examples propose how organisers could pay more attention to female motivational factors:
· women’s surer feel for empathy and their people skills may make them better team leaders and relationship-builders for group projects
· women’s nutritional preferences might place emphasis on lighter meals and less- sugary, lower-fat refreshments
· women’s keener sense of fashion aesthetics might value events where attendees are more smartly dressed
· women might prefer a coaching rather than a chairing style of meetings leadership
· women might prefer a venue selected less for impression, and more for practical reasons
· women are often more sensitive to good causes and might prefer conferences that are carbon-balanced and venues that are more socially responsible
· women-only syndicate discussions might guarantee a contrasting perspective on key issues

‘LateMeetings.com does not envisage that male-female attitudes during meetings should become more polarised, but merely better integrated,’ Martins adds.

* * *
* See Inside Her Pretty Little Head (Cunningham, J., and Roberts, P. 2006).

European venues on display
There are now around 50 venues in half-a-dozen European and Nordic countries displaying short-notice availability and prices on the LateMeetings site.

These now include over 30 Sol Melia and Tryp hotels in Spain (Barcelona, Madrid, Mallorca, Seville, Tenerife etc.); the Ramada Encore, Geneva, and the Montreux Convention Centre in Switzerland; Château la Chenevière, Normandy, and the Country Inn and Suites, Paris, in France; the Hotel Freizeit in Lower Saxony, Germany; the Melia Milano and the Chedi Milan in Italy; and the Grand Hotel, Reykjavik in Iceland. More coming soon!

‘Team-building through Art’ at Matfen Hall
The Art of Art is a new form of team-building course at Matfen Hall in Northumbria that encourages delegates to discover their creative skills whilst contributing collectively to the painting of a single picture. www.matfenhall.com.

Reduced carbon footprint in Edinburgh

An energy consultant has been appointed by the Edinburgh International Conference Centre to reduce its carbon footprint. Energy saving initiatives to date include the introduction of new technology that makes for greater flexibility in lighting, and also replacing all computer monitors with LCD screens. www.eicc.co.uk

Added conference space at The Village Hotel, NewcastleGateshead

Developments costing £2.2m have increased conference facilities at the Village Hotel, NewcastleGateshead to 11 suites, and a maximum capacity of 350 delegates. A further 30 bedrooms brings the total to 157. www.village-hotels.co.uk

New purpose-built events centre @ Forest Pines

A recently-opened Events Centre at Forest Pines, the Q Hotel in North Lincolnshire features a main meetings suite for up to 370 plus another for 250. The Golf and Country Club-style property now offers 188 bedrooms. www.qhotels.co.uk.

No-smoking at Crown Hotel, Bawtry

The Crown Hotel, Bawtry, has introduced a ban on smoking in all public areas ahead of the government legislation taking effect in July. The 75-room venue offers meetings space for up to 200. www.crownhotel-bawtry.com.

Conference facilities planned at Glasgow town house hotel

‘Extensive conference facilities’ are proposed for the new 88-room Blythswood Square Hotel in Glasgow when it opens early next year. The largest suite at the town house property could seat 150 or more, although plans are not yet finalised. www.blythswoodsquare.com.

Early discounts at Durham hotel
The newly-opened Bannatyne Hotel, Durham offers bigger discounts for those booking earliest. The 50-room property is one of five being developed by entrepreneur Duncan Bannatyne. www.bannatyne.co.uk.

Holiday Inn to operate Tussauds Hotel at Chessington

The 150-room hotel being developed at a cost of £15m in the centre of animal land in Tussaud’s Chessington World of Adventures will be run by Holiday Inn. High-specification conference facilities are planned at the venue which is opening this summer. www.tussauds.com.

£1.3m meetings facility in St. Andrews
Costing £1.3m a new meetings suite at Rufflets Hotel in St. Andrews will seat up to 170. It will be completed by the end of 2007. The property is a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World. www.rufflets.co.uk.

Defining moments
Supermarket group Asda has appointed a ‘wind energy consultant’ to plan green energy projects at a number of its stores … the 50+ age group is considered the least eco-minded because their carbon footprint (travel, holidays, central heating etc.) is so high (but they do worry most about the planet) … www.meetingsnews.co.uk was targeted by a US pr agency with details of a new enriched oxygen product in a canister. The O+ stick from Oxygen Plus is said to be a solution to tired delegate syndrome and a burst of four times the normal dose of 02 will boost meetings performance! (www.oxygenplus.com).

p.s. Initiative of the Month
Newcastle Civic Centre has launched the concept of carbon-neutral events (www.carbonneutralnewcastle.com). A brochure advises organisers how to calculate the travel-related emissions of each delegate, and also offers to help promote the CarbonNeutral status of each event.

Jo Springford, Apex Hotels environmental director.

LateMeetings.com has teamed up with www.safetravel4women.com to provide women business travellers with an additional resource when planning their business trips.

This useful website provides tips, advice and recommendations includng accessories, women-aware accommodation and special offers that appeal to women.

for details visit:

wwwsafetravel4women.com

Rezidor Country Inn & Suites, Charles de Gaulle Paris

The Chedi Milan

November 2006

According to the annual Ethical Consumerism Report of The Co-operative Bank, the total UK expenditure on ethical products had risen to £26 billion by the end of 2004 (an increase of 15% in a year), and now represents possibly close to 5% of overall spending in this country.

Within this figure, growing proportions were directed by consumers to help offset climate change … support Fairtrade and organic food suppliers .. display their feelings by opting for ethical clothing … and select more environmentally-friendly transport.

Ten responsible considerations that might discreetly be put to the venue of your choice will help event organisers and delegates to participate in future in altogether more ETHICAL MEETINGS:

* what is the policy of the venue towards recycling, waste management, and efficient use of energy?
* are coffees, teas, and chocolate drinks sourced from Fairtrade suppliers? (Other Fairtrade products include fruits, wines, honey, juices, biscuits, cereals etc.)
* does the venue support sustainable farmers and organic producers?
· does venue management direct a proportion of profits towards good causes and charities?
* are venue-owned cars as fuel-efficient as possible; and low in emissions?
* are venue furnishings and staff uniforms selected from renewable sources?
* does the venue place a promotional emphasis on environmental visitor attractions and outdoor pursuits that adopt a conservation theme?
* is the venue involved locally with Fairtrade Town initiatives, and/or with Fairtrade Fortnight (February 26-March 11, 2007)?
* does the venue (where appropriate) avoid purchasing materials that are damaging to the environment?
* is the venue sufficiently proud of its responsibility-mindedness to be judged by and therefore promote this set of values as being integral to its marketing activity?

Notes to editors:

Please ask for details of the new ethicalmeetings award from LateMeetings.com. Coming shortly

Tony Carey

Our resident meetings 'guru' Tony Carey supplies regular tips and ideas for more successful meetings management.

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Research insights into late meetings trend

September 2006

The Frankfurt-based IMEX meetings and incentive travel exhibition offers research
insights into why MICE bookings are happening at shorter and shorter notice. A table of results from their current Barometer of Business Tourism Confidence is featured below (with permission).

1st August 2006 |

Our sister site, www.responsiblemeetings.com has contributed on a voluntary basis to the excellent CSR campaign of Conference and Incentive Travel magazine (www.citmagazine.com/csr.sfm).

A shortlist of our tips for more environment and social responsibility-minded events can be found there. See also the extended (100 points) manual on our site.

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17th March 2006 | Tony Carey

Our friendly meetings 'guru' Tony Carey supplies regular tips and ideas for more successful meetings management.

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