Eventful Sept Edition 6

EVENTFUL
Inspiration for events of every kind Autumn 2015
MEET M
BY MONTCALM
LOOK SHARP!
THIS NEW
VENUE HAS
SERIOUS EDGE
POWER TRIP
WESTMINSTER
WOW FACTOR AT
ONE WHITEHALL PLACE
ADRIATIC
ADVENTURE
TEAM BUILDING IN
CROATIA
HAVING A
BALL
HAVE IT ALL
AT LONDON’S
CONTEMPORARY
GRAND
BALLROOM
LUXURIST EVENTS
THE ONE-STOP SOLUTION FOR
UNIQUE EXPERIENCES

A change of
scene for when
you’ve seen it
all before
If you had to spend the day in a
meeting room, wouldn’t you rather
it be somewhere like nowhere else?
And if you had to spend the
day team-building, wouldn’t you
rather be doing something that
didn’t involve a flip chart?
There’s no escaping the fact
that meetings and events can be
a little, well - lifeless. And in an
era when every penny of your
MICE spend counts, a roomful
of disinterested delegates isn’t
ideal for ROI.
Allow us to help make
your meetings more
memorable than
most, with a diverse
collection of venues
like nowhere else -
each with spaces that
can stimulate even the
most seen-it-all-before
industry pros.
And for events that are
altogether more eventful, we’ve
created a concierge service
that transforms ideas into
experiences - whether for a
corporate event, extraordinary
incentive or statement-making
social occasion. It’s called
Luxurist Events, for everything
more than just the venue, and it’s
featured on page 18.
In this, the first issue of Eventful,
we showcase a small selection
of the venues in our eclectic
collection. Like all Luxury Hotels
Group properties, what sets
them apart is what brings them
together. Individuality.

4 6 14
INSPIRED BY HISTORY:
ONE WHITEHALL
PLACE, LONDON
SHOWING OFF IN
SHOREDITCH:
M BY MONTCALM,
LONDON
GRAND ENTRANCE
THE GRAND
BALLROOM AT THE
MONTCALM, LONDON
10 8
ALE AND HEARTY:
THE MONTCALM AT THE
BREWERY, LONDON
SHORE THING:
LAFODIA SEA
RESORT, CROATIA
16
GULF DREAM:
JA RESORTS &
HOTELS, DUBAI
12
INTO AFRICA:
ZANZI RESORT,
ZANZIBAR

Inspired by
history:
One Whitehall Place
Great for
♥ ♥A sense of history
♥ ♥Lavish interiors
♥ ♥Natural light
♥ ♥River views
London, United Kingdom
Few venues come with a more
illustrious history than One Whitehall
Place. A London landmark with the
heart of government on one side and
the river on the other, this prestigious
venue has played host to the great and
the good since Prime Minister William
Gladstone walked its halls in the 1880s.
Like the adjoining Royal Horseguards
Hotel, history seeps from every stone
of this Thameside grand dame. The
first building in the UK to be illuminated
throughout with electric lighting, it’s still
ahead of its time today with inspiring
spaces that tick every tech box - this
is Victorian elegance for the Instagram
generation.
All rooms contain high speed internet
hard wire and are interconnected for
advanced data and AV for linked-up
and seamless film, audio, broadcast or
translation services.
With six sensational spaces for up to
300 delegates, bathed in natural light
and brimming with character, this is a
true original in a location that couldn’t
be more central.
FIND OUT MORE
Book your
table: dinner
in the elegant
Gladstone
Library at
One Whitehall
Place
4

“The event space worked
brilliantly and the staff
have been incredible. I
have NEVER been so
well looked after”
- Kirsty McCall, Senior Event Executive
Chill Out! Event Management
5

Showing
off in
Shoreditch:
M by Montcalm
Great for
♥ ♥Unique design
♥ ♥Progressive tech
♥ ♥Innovative menus
♥ ♥City views
London, United Kingdom
As the capital’s cradle of creativity
continues its evolution from down
at heel to desirable, the streets of
Shoreditch bristle with all that’s avantgarde.
Throw in the start-ups of Tech
City, London’s answer to Silicon Valley,
and it’s no exaggeration to describe
this as one of the world’s most dynamic
districts.
A short stroll from ‘Silicon Roundabout’,
the new M by Montcalm is an arresting
sight. An angular, futuristic tower
piercing the sky, it’s London’s most
strikingly original new hotel, and with
the booming Tech City scene at your
feet, meetings and events here are
more inspirational than most.
Six statement-making spaces are
designed to stimulate, with natural light
flooding through distinctive diagonal
windows, contemporary finishes and
intuitive tech. There are serious culinary
credentials with Great British Menu
chef Paul Welburn providing the food,
and the inventive apothecary-inspired
menus of Tonic & Remedy are already
causing a stir among London foodies.
A soon-to-open seventeenth floor
show-stopper, with panoramic views of
the City, will take destination dining in
Shoreditch to a new level.
Naturally, WiFi is fast and free
throughout, and the Business Hub is
a quiet, fully equipped workspace that
also offers flexible private office space
to rent for as little or as long as you
need.
FIND OUT MORE
6
Another level: Tonic & Remedy’s lobby
and mezzanine bars buzz with life
after meetings

“The food was truly
excellent, and the event
team were incredible -
flexible, efficient and
professional”
- Matt Carr, UK Marketing & Press, France Montagnes
7

Shore thing:
Lafodia Sea Resort
Great for
♥ ♥The great outdoors
♥ ♥Unique team building activities
♥ ♥Flexible spaces
♥ ♥3D AV
Dubrovnik, Croatia
It may not be the first place that comes to
mind for meetings or corporate events,
but its alluring images and enviable
amenities are quick to convince. This
easy-going island retreat offers almost
endless possibilities for the event
planner with an eye for the original.
Lafodia Sea Resort is a little-known
Mediterranean marvel in an impossibly
picturesque setting. A short hop
from Dubrovnik, Croatia’s picturepostcard
must-see, it’s secluded, quiet
and completely car-free (save for
the occasional passing golf buggy),
making time here a restorative release
from the everyday.
It’s the sheer scope of the resort’s
incentive options that stands Lafodia
apart. An experienced events team
takes full advantage of the island’s
natural assets to offer everything from
sea kayaking, sailing and cycling to an
operation D-Day experience, based on
the eponymous event of June 1944,
where intrepid teams of up to 10
embark on inflatable rafts and paddle
back to nearby beaches.
For statement-making presentations or
cinematic treats meanwhile, Lafodia’s
large meeting room, Avatar, converts
into a 3D-ready screening room.
FIND OUT MORE
Vision in
white: popular
for weddings,
Lafodia is
equally good
for corporate
events and
incentives
8

“As bibendum auctor, nisi
elit consequat ipsum, nec
sagittis sem nibh id elit.
ipsum, nec sagittis sem
nibh id”
- James Franco, MICE Event Planner
9

Ale and
hearty:
The Montcalm at
The Brewery
Great for
♥ ♥Period charm
♥ ♥Character in the City
♥ ♥Parties and private dining
♥ ♥Public transport links
London, United Kingdom
Grade II listed and sensitively restored,
the Montcalm at the Brewery stays
faithful to its storied past as an
eighteenth century brewery (this is the
erstwhile base of Whitbread & Co). It’s
also every inch the modern meeting
venue expected of a super-central City
of London location.
A characterful enclave amid the glass
and steel of the City, its six private
rooms are an authentic mix of Georgian
paneled walls, high ceilings, vintage
distressed mirrors and handcrafted
oak flooring, some overlooking the
brewery’s cobbled courtyard. Period
details at every turn add idiosyncrasy
to the area’s corporate orderliness, but
the hotel’s facilities are suitably stateof-the-art.
The last beer was brewed here in
1976. 40 years on, it’s fitting to find a
gourmet gastropub on site, buzzing
with regulars and serving the best of
British speciality ales. Resplendent
with original features, The Montcalm at
the Brewery makes for inspiring events
of every kind, for parties of 10 or 250.
FIND OUT MORE
Thinking
space: high
ceilings and
natural light
add to the
appeal of the
Montcalm at
the Brewery
10

“As bibendum auctor, nisi
elit consequat ipsum, nec
sagittis sem nibh id elit.
ipsum, nec sagittis sem
nibh id”
- James Franco, MICE Event Planner
11

Into Africa:
Zanzi Resort,
Zanzibar
Great for
♥ ♥Swoon-worthy weddings
♥ ♥Romantic getaways
♥ ♥Authenticity and adventure
♥ ♥Wellness retreats
Zanzibar, Tanzania
There’s something uniquely satisfying
about discovering somewhere different.
True, it gives you bragging rights, but it
also adds another layer of experience
to your trip - that often elusive sense
of place. Zanzi Resort, a little-known
retreat on Tanzania’s tropical isle of
Zanzibar, offers authenticity in spades
- and for adventurous event organisers,
a host of tantalising possibilities.
Its secluded villas, most with private
pools, have already made it a wedding
and honeymoon hotspot - with lush
tropical gardens and the sun-warmed
Indian Ocean as a backdrop, there
are few finer places to say “I do”. But
Zanzi’s six hectares of gently swaying
palms and private beaches offer ample
scope for unique events or incentives
of a less romantic nature.
There’s a brand new, two bedroom
African Eco Villa ideal for small groups,
with access to the resort’s main
swimming pool, spa and restaurant -
and its purpose-built outdoor gym with
traditional makuti grass roof. Group
yoga is taught here, while water sports
are available at the adjacent beach.
And for an unforgettable incentive, a
sunset cruise on the resort’s own Zanzi
boat is a soul-stirring experience.
FIND OUT MORE
Vid quae
vollibus velitat
emquati ut
estorunt
apereped
minus
12

“As bibendum auctor, nisi
elit consequat ipsum, nec
sagittis sem nibh id elit.
ipsum, nec sagittis sem
nibh id”
- James Franco, MICE Event Planner
13

Grand
entrance:
Grand Ballroom at
The Montcalm
Great for
♥ ♥A prestigious setting
♥ ♥Gala dinners
♥ ♥Cocktail receptions
♥ ♥Cutting edge AV
London, United Kingdom
There are certain events that demand
a sense of occasion. The West End
address. The grand entrance. The
soaring ceilings. The sweeping
dimensions. At the aptly named Grand
Ballroom, the list goes on. Despite
its classically elegant exterior, on a
Georgian crescent near Marble Arch,
this is a cutting edge event space where
interiors strike just the right balance
between opulent and understated.
From its dedicated street entrance
and dramatic marble staircase to the
contemporary crystal chandeliers and
Ebony wood finishes within, everything
about The Grand Ballroom whispers
prestige. And unlike some of its fussier
competition, the clean lines and smart
simplicity of this plush, pillar-free space
make it supremely flexible.
Naturally, AV is state-of-the-art and
Wi-Fi is super-fast. There’s also a selfcontained
reception space with private
bar. It’s a spectacular setting for events
of every kind, from press launches to
parties and receptions to grand gala
dinners.
FIND OUT MORE
14

“This unique venue had
a massive impact on
our guests and helped
us to create something
memorable”
- Alin Lazar, Sales Manager Europe, eRevMax
15

Gulf dream:
JA Resorts &
Hotels, Dubai
Great for
♥ ♥Unique events
♥ ♥Inclusive deals
♥ ♥International conferences
♥ ♥Exclusive hire options
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
As a futuristic playground where the
sun always shines, Dubai’s reputation
precedes it. But as an international
travel hub, the Middle East’s world city is
also a compelling place to do business.
Something of a Dubai institution,
JA Resorts & Hotels’ venues in and
around the city offer everything from
Bio-Garden productivity workshops to
marina-side mocktail masterclasses.
The brilliantly central Oasis Beach
Tower, in Dubai Marina, has spacious,
sea view meeting rooms flooded with
natural light, while the nearby Ocean
View Hotel’s al fresco banqueting
terrace overlooks the marina. For
something unmistakably Middle
Eastern, head to the desert – the group’s
breathtaking Hatta Fort Hotel is an
hour’s drive away but feels like another
world, with eighty acres of immaculate
manicured gardens against the rugged
backdrop of the Hajar Mountains. Here,
delegates are just as likely to mingle in
intimate hillside enclaves as mountainview
meeting rooms. The 51 room
property can be booked exclusively,
with complimentary client branding.
Back in town, with an 800 metre
beach and its own PGA golf pro, the
award –winning Jebel Ali Golf Resort
is an enticing option for incentives.
Unusually, JA Resorts & Hotels includes
most activities in the Day Delegate
Rate, so this is one meetings package
with a serious benefits list.
FIND OUT MORE
16

“As bibendum auctor, nisi
elit consequat ipsum, nec
sagittis sem nibh id elit.
ipsum, nec sagittis sem
nibh id”
- James Franco, MICE Event Planner
17

For everything
other than
just the venue
It’s one thing finding the ideal venue,
quite another organising everything
that goes with it. It takes know-how,
a little bit of know-who, and a lot of
imagination to elevate an event into an
experience everyone will want to talk
about.
Luxurist Events is a concierge service
for events of every kind – your goto
guru for transforming ideas into
experiences – however outlandish.
And it doesn’t stop there. Bringing all
the elements of a successful group
or incentive experience together, from
getting there to getting the most out of
the destination, Luxurist Events is the
essential one-stop solution for luxury
MICE or group travel planners.
Whether a corporate event, incentive
or social occasion, Luxurist Events
are always bespoke, always brilliantly
executed, always exceptional.
18

ROOM WITH A QUEUE
We secure stays in the most sought-after spots; for groups,
corporate or extended leisure travellers.
Whether for a short or long stay, we negotiate the very best
hotel rates on your behalf. For group travel, the options are
just as extensive, and organisers enjoy exclusive benefits -
VIP privileges come as standard with Luxurist Events.
HOME FROM HOME
Apartments offer the privacy of your own space, with the
services of a luxury hotel.
Entertain clients and colleagues, or simply escape in a
high-spec, beautifully designed living space. Perfect for
longer stays.
DREAM TICKET
Exclusive access to the best facilities at the world’s
most sought-after sporting events means we can create
peerless VIP corporate hospitality packages.
From grand prix racing to grand slam tennis, there’s no
better way to experience the sporting calendar’s most
iconic occasions.
JET’LL DO NICELY
Travel as it should be; no queues, no questions, just privacy,
convenience and comfort. This is truly tailored travel –
from light jets for short hops to VIP airliners with office
space and cinema; we fit the flight around you.
SCREEN THERE, DONE THAT
Pre-release previews of Hollywood movies and the best
British cinema in London’s plushest private screening
rooms.
ARTISTE IN RESIDENCE
Acclaimed artists from the West End stage swap treading
the boards for your next corporate party or dinner with a
difference. An exclusive performance, perfectly cast.
Find out more or call 020 3750 6029 to
make your next event extraordinary
19

Tales...
WE ASK SOME OF THE UK’S MOST SEASONED MICE PLANNERS AND
BUYERS WHAT MAKES A VENUE STAND OUT
Q: What’s the first thing you look for in an upscale venue?
“One dedicated contact”
“A venue that’s taken care of -
flawless in terms of decoration
and maintenance”.
“The unexpected”
“the wow factor”
“Flexibility and attention to detail”
Q: How important is individuality or
uniqueness in a venue?
“it’s the most important part
of our business”
“Very! There’s so much choice in
London, so once the quality on all levels
is reached, uniqueness will make the
difference”.
20

Q: What, specifically, are you prepared
to pay a premium for?
“5 star service, both in pre-planning and on-site”
“more of a say over food choices”
“Anything bespoke!”
“Something different”
“Extra technology”
Q: What venues have really stood out from the
crowd in your experience, and why?
“The Natural History Museum – for the sheer
volume and unique design”
“Skyloft, for the views”
WITH THANKS TO…
Lee Jones, Project Manager, First Protocol Event Management Ltd
Bruno Coué, Project Manager, Smoozy Ltd
Jennifer Pasquier, Senior Project Manager, Smoozy Ltd
Ebony Smallman, Associate - CIO Advisory | Financial Services, Management Consulting, KPMG LLP
Sonia Samson, Founder, E2E Events Ltd
21

Up next...
Luxury Hotels Group launches
a new meetings and events portal, putting over
150 one-of-a-kind venues at your fingertips.
T: +44 (0)20 3540 9971
F: +44 (0)20 3006 8646
info@luxuryhotelsgroup.com
www.luxuryhotelsgroup.com