Many congratulations to Ovation for their recent SITE Crystal Award for Most Outstanding Travel Reward Programme at the Society of Incentive and Travel Executives (SITE) International Conference held in Barcelona. Ovation received the award for an event for SONY ENTERTAINMENT which was themed around The Da Vinci Code, Open Season and Casino Royale. The three day event held in Dublin last summer involved a treasure trail, guests in monk's costumes, casino games and Dry Martinis. Challenges such as sheep herding, wellie throwing and turf stacking were also enjoyed by over 70 guests. On accepting the award on behalf of Ovation, Partner and Marketing Director Pádraic Gilligan paid tribute to Suzanne Purcell, account manager at Ovation Group who planned the event for SONY ENTERTAINMENT.

Many more "wins" for Jean and her team as DCB members Conference Partners have been appointed official conference organisers to 21 st World Congress of the International Federation of Park and Recreation Administration from the 3 rd -6 th September 2007 to be held in the Royal Dublin Society. 1,000 Delegates will arrive for the Social Work in Mental Health Conference in 2010 which will be held at UCD, Dublin. New Radisson SAS Royal to open in Dublin City Centre in May this year, look forward to that!

DCB member Trinity Capital Hotel, located on Pearse Street, has just invested €25 million in an extension and refurbishment programme which nearly doubles their original room capacity to 158 and offers truly excellent three star accommodation in a great location coupled with two new intimate yet well equipped meeting/board rooms housed in the new gorgeous Georgian part of this unique development.

Jigsaw Management Ltd is currently looking to recruit a Senior Event . – Account / Business Development Manager to join their dynamic team. The successful candidate must have a minimum of 3 years full time experience in the event management or hospitality industry. The successful candidate should have 2 - 3 years events/marketing experience, along with the ability to persuade and influence clients.

The role will include responsible for building relationships with new clients, maintaining existing client relationships and handling all new business incl uding tender fulfillment. Jigsaw are looking for someone with excellent communication and interpersonal skills. They should have a strong admin and IT computer expertise, be hard working and proactive. In addition they will require highly developed planning and organisation al organization skills and excellent presentation skills.

The successful candidate will be responsible for delivering a varied and interesting programme of events to existing and new clients in both the Irish and international marketplace. Emailed applications to jobs@jigsawmanagement.ie before 15th of February.

Seasons, the executive dining division of Campbell Catering/Aramark Ireland won Best Catering Supplier of the Year Award at Hospitality Ireland's 2006 Conference and Awards Ceremony on Tuesday 21 st November last. Hospitality Ireland is a widely distributed monthly publication dedicated to all sectors of the hospitality industry. Commenting on the award, John Ferry, General Manager, Seasons said “At the core of our operations is the commitment to consistently deliver a high level of service to our clients; and developing unrivalled menus for each and every event that we manage our client venues in Dublin. This Award reflects that commitment”.

FCm has decided to brand and relaunch its already successful groups and incentives department as FCm Events. This new brand will allow FCm to increase its service and product selection to clients by including conferencing, events, sports travel to its highly successful Incentives and Group travel services. Cailin Keaney (who you may remember from the Stillorgan Park Hotel) is the business development manager with FCm, and she says "As some of you may be aware FCm Travel Solutions is one of the largest corporate travel management organisations globally and the Irish division is in partnership with Abbey Travel as a retail partner. So with all this vast experience, consolidated buying power and over 17 years experience in organising people locally and globally we though this would be the best time to re- invent ourselves onto the Irish corporate marketplace."

FCm Events has only been up and running since December 2006 in its present incarnation, and reception from their bank of clients has been brilliant and exciting for Cailin, as she now can open up new and innovative methods of servicing their clients events requirements every day. "Im very lucky in that our dedicated Events Team has a wealth of experience in destinations all over the globe and know the right people to get our clients the most innovative ways of achieving what they need out of an event or incentive." says Cailin, "Be it a conference in a castle or an incentive in an igloo let FCm Events help you make the most out of your budget with our creative spirit." Check out their new website at www.fcmevents.ie

First Annual AIM Awards
The AIM awards are, according to Marie Therese Campbell of the Marketing Institute "the nation's premier means of recognising business excellence. They were established by The Marketing Institute of Ireland to highlight the achievements of Irish marketing and sales professionals, and reward their major contribution to economic growth and competitiveness of our island. They also serve to promote excellence and best practice in all the marketing disciplines, especially highlighting the central relationship between good marketing and profit performance." For more information contact Marie Therese Campbell on 01 216 0150. www.aimawards.ie

National Tourism Networking Conference Announced
TourismNET is delighted to host the inaugural National Tourism Networking Conference 2007 in association with Fáilte Ireland. The conference takes place on Tuesday 27th February 2007 in Lyrath Estate Hotel in Kilkenny and will provide a unique opportunity to bring together members of TourismNET's Ireland and Wales Network and Fáilte Ireland's County Based Tourism Learning Networks to explore and plan for better, more effective, on-going networking. For more information, contact TourismNET directly at 01 7164319 and also tourismnet@ucd.ie.

Corporate Solutions Group Hospitality for 6 Nations Matches
I'm sure all you rugby fans out there have already got your tickets in your hot little paws by now, but if you're looking for a great day out besides the roar of the crowds as Ireland trounce both England and France in Croke Park, contact Grainne Quigley at CSL, 087 2311111 or email: grainne@corporate.ie. Doubt they've any tickets left at this stage, I believe they're like hot cakes...

BRAVO! Group Selected as Sole Irish Representative for Leading International PR Network
In a follow up to the recent launch of their Communications Division, Bravo! Group have announced that they have been selected as the sole ECCO representative for Ireland. ECCO is one of the world's leading international public relations and marketing services networks and ranks 4 th in Europe with a combined turnover of € 39,730,865 million euros in 2005 and over 400 consultants. The addition of Bravo! expands ECCO's membership to 30 PR agencies around the world.