New eco retreat
Mawgan Porth
Cornwall
This get-away-from-it-all centre in north Cornwall is famous for its eco-friendly philosophy, its talking-point accommodation (Airstreams and yurts are just two of the choices), and new eco terraces sleeping 12 launched in July. This month sees the opening of a new centre at the resort that will hold up to 20 people for meetings in a tranquil West County setting – perfect for a bit of creative thinking!
Details at www.mawganporth.co.uk
New view
Park Plaza
Westminster Bridge and County Hall, London
With a bird’s eye view of the Houses of Parliament, the fifth London hotel in the Park Plaza group opened in the spring with 30-plus corporate rooms and suites for up to 225 delegates in boardroom or theatre-style. For a meeting near the corridors of power, it doesn’t get much closer than this!
Just down the road, sister hotel the Park Plaza County Hall recently switched the layouts of more than 30 suites to give the bedroom rather than the lounge amazing views over the London Eye. Its six business spaces specialise in training seminars and meetings for up to 100 delegates.
Both hotels are offering incentives for meetings held before 31 December 2010. Pick from a Nintendo Wii Fit-Plus, a personal training session, or even an Aston Martin driving experience, depending on the value of the booking. From £2,000.
Details at www.parkplazarewards.co.uk
New place to horse around
Coworth Park (pictured)
Berkshire
Impress clients, directors, shareholders... just about everyone, in fact, at this seriously luxurious new hotel 20 minutes from Heathrow. (It’s from the same stable as the Dorchester in London and Le Plaza Athénée’ in Paris, so say no more.)
And speaking of stables, it’s also the only hotel in the UK with its own polo field and equestrian centre, and it’s within easy striking distance of Ascot Racecourse if your corporate guests enjoy the sport of kings. Day delegate rates, from £95 per person. Rooms from £235.
Details at www.coworthpark.com
New spa
Lime Wood
Hampshire
Serenity is already a byword at Lime Wood in the heart of the New Forest national park (www.thenewforest.co.uk), and this month the bliss-factor reaches even greater heights. Herb Garden is a new five-star destination spa with a variety of packages ideal for reward and incentive days.
Business dining is also a big draw, with ‘forest food menus’ that feature venison, wild mushrooms and local organic produce. And if you don’t fancy entertaining clients in the Jacuzzi before dinner, there’s always the Cocktail Masterclass with head barman Max, or Wine Tasting with head sommelier Daniel to break the ice at corporate gatherings. Up to 20 boardroom or theatre-style, or 35 for drinks receptions. Day delegate rates, from £65 per person.
Details at www.limewoodhotel.co.uk
New fairytale location
Leeds Castle
Kent
The Maiden’s Tower in this picturesque castle island was originally a Tudor bake house and dates back to the 16th century. But as of October 2010, it’s been transformed into a 21st century business centre following a multi-million pound refurbishment.
Two conference rooms are available for seminars, presentations, meetings or product launches (40 boardroom, 100 theatre-style) and for all its AV equipment and broadband mod cons, flagged stone floors and spectacular views over the moat are a constant reminder of the venue’s heritage. Self contained and available for exclusive use with bedrooms both in the Tower and the main castle.
Details at www.leeds-castle.com
New rural retreat
Plas Cilybebyll
South Wales
It may only be 10 miles from Swansea and within striking distance of the M4, but this serene venue, tucked between the beaches of the Gower and the Brecon Beacons, is about getting away from it all.
Refurbished by the Amazing Retreats group, the house re-opened in September 2010 with a new pool, tennis courts and a variety of ideas for team building or incentive days, including turbo-charged, off-road challenge days and country gent pursuits.
Details on day events or exclusive hire at www.amazingretreats.com
New spaces
Convention centre
Dublin
This September, after more than three years in development, the Convention Centre in Dublin said ‘Fáilte’ and opened its doors for the first time, with a menu of 22 corporate spaces that can hold anything from eight to 8,000 delegates.
The tiered auditorium sits 2,000 comfortably – literally – as the Figueras seating provided is sometimes known as ‘the eight-hour chair’ with its own temperature control and a socket and port for a laptop.
For booking details and preferential rates for 2010, go to www.theccd.ie
New look
Savoy Hotel
London
One of London’s most famous landmarks on the Thames reopened last month to a fanfare of praise and flashbulbs. For the personal touch, nothing seals the deal quite like a champagne cocktail in the new art deco Beaufort Bar, or afternoon tea in the winter garden gazebo.
More details at www.fairmont.com
In the pipeline for 2011...
• Stirling Castle is restoring the 16th century palace using traditional crafts to give corporate events a flavour of the old royal court. Look out for medieval-style gala dinners with costumed guards and ladies in waiting in the new year. Details of developments at www.stirlingcastle.gov.uk.
• The Montcalm London City Hotel, London, is set to open its doors to delegates and business travellers as part of a new development at The Brewery at Chiswell Street in June, increasing the number of meeting rooms on the overall site to 12. Details at www.thebrewery.co.uk.
• The transformed Royal Shakespeare Theatres in Stratford-upon-Avon opened for preview events in November with official productions launching in April 2011. Private dining for up to 20 is available in the Round Room, part of the Rooftop Restaurant. Corporate partnership