Groups and Events e-Newsletter Second Quarter 2008

  

Medway Leisure Travel and the Marriott Tudor Park Hotel, Bearsted (Nr Maidstone)

invite you to attend their Luxury Travel Fair
on Thursday 15th May 2008 at 6.30pm.

Come and meet some of our exclusive specialist travel partners to learn more about the wonderful and exciting areas of the world for which we can tailor-make your ideal holiday.

A complimentary glass of wine and buffet is included and there will be a prize draw with some very special prizes.

Entry will be by complimentary ticket only. There will be limited availability so please

contact us on 01622 608265 or email astra@medwaytravel.co.uk to claim your free tickets now.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marrakech Magic

Location

Known as the Pearl of Morocco, Marrakech is located on a large plain at the foot of the snow-capped Atlas Mountains. It is also close to Lake Takercoust, providing the perfect playground for a mixture of activities.

There are very few places you can visit which offer such a unique mixture of culture and ambiance making Marrakech a magical and exotic setting for any event.

Accommodation

You can stay in the 4 and 5 star modern hotels with every luxury that you would expect from a hotel of this standard. They have swimming pools surrounded by terraces and set in beautiful gardens. There are conference facilities, spa treatments, lounges, restaurants offering a mixture of food from traditional Moroccan recipes to dishes with a more international feel. They also have their own bars and some even have their own night club. If you want to experience something a little more traditional then we can organise your stay in a Riad with a beautiful courtyard in tranquil surroundings and Moroccan décor.

Activities Available:

4x4 Safari

You will set off on an off road trip in 4x4s. Each one has a local driver and holds up to 4 guests to discover the Atlas Mountains, the Berber Villages and the magnificent natural landscapes. You will stop for lunch at a restaurant in the mountains before returning to your accommodation.

Camel Ride

Everyone should have the chance to experience a camel trek. You will meet the camels and receive tuition before setting off – don’t forget your camera! The trek can vary in duration depending on the size of the group and their requirements.

Jet Skiing and Canoeing by the lake

There is a large lake about 30 minutes from Marrakech where you can enjoy some activities on or in the lake. Try jet skiing or canoeing and we can add some teambuilding challenges if you prefer.

Tea Ceremony at Café de France and tour

Your guide will give you a tour of the Medina and when all that bartering has made you thirsty you can enjoy some mint tea on the terrace of this famous café that overlooks the main square where you can people watch while the sun goes down.

Pacha Nightclub

Spend the night in one of the coolest clubs in the city. You can have dinner there first then enjoy the rest of the night soaking up the great atmosphere.

Tented Restaurant with Entertainment

If you want to sample some traditional cuisine with local entertainment you should try an evening at a tented restaurant. A Moroccan welcome awaits you, where you are shown to your table under the canvas of this beautifully decorated restaurant. You sample traditional food in a wonderful setting and then finish with some local entertainment – a great evening!

Golf

There are several great golf courses in and around Marrakech. We can organise a round of golf at any of them including transfers, green fees and provision of any equipment you need.

Moroccan Cookery Lesson

For those who want to savour the local cuisine, why not try a cookery lesson held in a private riad. The group will split up and prepare different parts of the lunch while they learn about the Moroccan way of life and traditions. Everyone will sit down together and enjoy what they have created.

Marrakech by horse and carriage

A great way to see the sights and take in the ambience of this destination. The carriage can take up to 4 people and there are many of them so bigger groups can also enjoy this experience. We can also arrange for a treasure hunt where the group are split into smaller teams of 4 and they learn about Marrakech whilst being driven around the city in a carriage as they look for clues.

These activities are an example of what is available in the area. There are many other options so please contact us to discuss your requirements.

Winter Teambuilding in Ruka

Location

Ruka is situated in the Oulu Province of North East Finland and offers the ideal solution if you want to combine traditional Nordic activities with skiing and snowboarding.

The area is renown for its natural wilderness beauty characterised by lakes, rivers, fells and forests. The best recommendation we can give is that it is extremely popular with the Finns themselves as an outdoor activity centre.

Accommodation

The hotel that we would suggest enjoys an enviable location at the foot of the ski slopes in the very heart of Ruka. There are 180 rooms in total all of which have en suite shower rooms, air conditioning, TV, mini bar, hair dryer and clothes drying cupboards.
The hotel has 2 restaurants serving international cuisine but with local produce very much to the fore. There is evening entertainment, 3 saunas, bars and a sound proofed basement nightclub.

Of course, you can also spend a night in an igloo to complete the perfect trip and don’t worry we keep your room free so that you can always go back to it if you don’t like the experience!

Arctic Beach Party

If you have a large group we can even organise an Arctic Beach Party - Everyone will be wearing their thermal outfits and then they walk down a path marked with burning torches where they arrive at the open air disco with bars made from snow and ice. There will be outdoor fires to keep them warm and reindeer skins to sit on. They will receive a 3 course meal using local produce and enjoy a selection of drinks from the ice bars.

Life on the Trail

Another way to experience the Finnish landscape is to take a longer snowmobile or dog sled safari and stay in widerness cabins where your evening meal is prepared over an open fire by your guides.

Activities available: 

Dog Sledding

After meeting the dogs and receiving instruction on how to handle your sled you will be given your own team of 4 or 5 huskies to begin your safari. Lunch is taken next to an open fire on the trail and en route you will cross frozen rivers, pass through snowy forests and traverse the wide open landscapes of Finnish Lapland . Quite simply, this is a never to be forgotten experience.

Snowmobile Safaris

With some 600km of snowmobile trails around Ruka there are few more exciting locations in Finland to try this exhilarating winter sport. You will receive tuition on how to ride your snowmobile before setting off with your guide to explore the stunning landscape of this beautiful and unspoilt country.

Ice Rallying

Ever wondered why the Finns are so good at rally driving? - then take part in this activity and find out. You can either spend your day receiving tuition at the rally school or you can be the navigator for one of the instructors and see how it is done! - something that you won’t forget in a hurry.

Ice Climbing

You will receive an introduction to ice climbing on a 20 metre ice wall in Ruka. You will be firmly secured with ropes and receive full instruction and supervision from fully qualified instructors.

Northern Lights

The Northern Lights never give the same performance twice but whenever you see them it is something quite breath taking - sadly we can’t guarantee that you will!

Overnight in an Igloo

When in Finland, do what the native Sami have done for centuries. This is the real thing with reindeer skins to lie on and thermal sleeping bags to keep you warm.

Sample a Sauna

The Finns are well known for their saunas and it is an expereince that you should try so you can understand what makes it the perfect way to relax after a busy day of activities.

Skiing and Snowboarding

Skiing and snowboarding are also possible on Ruka’s 28 slopes providing something for everyone. The pistes are well groomed and 16 routes are floodlit providing skiing until 11pm almost every night.

These activities are an example of what is available in the area. There are many other options so please contact us to discuss your requirements.

Warwick conferences won the gold award for ‘best academic venue’ and 'best management training centre’ and silver for the ‘best value for money conference venue’ at the Meetings and Incentive Travel Awards. This is the second year running they have scooped the two Gold awards.

A new 100 seat Lecture room is currently being built in the Felden Building at Arden. The room with feature the latest audio visual equipment including digital data projection, wi-fi internet access, laptop computer, DVD player, flipcharts, whiteboard and screen. It will be complemented by five syndicate rooms each seating 10 people. The lounge area will be further enhanced with space for additional seating. The project has seen an investment of £500,000 and will be available to book from July 2008.

Saviles hall has brought a new scale to conferences, banquets and events to Leeds. The purpose built hall is located in the heart of the newly completed £250M water front development and has been successful in attracting clients such as Hyundai, Lancome, Yorkshire Forward and HBOS.

Saviles is located opposite the Royal Armouries Museum at Clarence Dock and opened to a blaze of publicity in June 2007. The venue can accommodate dinner dances for up to 1000 guests and conference delegates in excess of that number.

Are you taking a group abroad? Why not include Lounge passes in the itinerary! With over 130 lounges available worldwide and with prices starting from £13.00 per head you could impress your clients with a little bit of luxury, peace and calm before they fly.

Looking for a large venue or big room, then De Vere Venues can help. They have over 30 venues around the UK and below are some of the larger capacity venues. With prices from £20.00 per delegate they are definitely worth considering.

Holborn Bars	London	Capacity 200
West One	London	Capacity 250
Devonport House	Greenwich	Capacity 120
Canary Wharf	London	Capacity 200
Theobolds Park	Cheshunt	Capacity 190
Denham Grove	Uxbridge	Capacity 160
Harben	Newport Pagnell	Capacity 200
Daresbury Park	Warrington	Capacity 300
Sunningdale Park	Ascot	Capacity 250
Wokefield Park	Reading	Capacity 350
Whites	Bolton	Capacity 1500

Medway Leisure and Groups department can provide you with group tickets for numerous events and shows. From West End blockbusters through family attractions, festivals and music to sporting events we can help you.

Why not entertain your clients in style with VIP passes including champagne and canapés before the show or take your staff on an outing for the day to one of the many theme parks.

Please contact us for further details.

The £4 million pound refurbishments for Mosborough Hall are in their final stage. Meeting rooms overlooking the Derbyshire Countryside and the Moss Valley offer an impressive venue for any meeting and with the mix of modern and 12th century features you can create an excellent atmosphere.

Tailor-made training and Team building can be arranged in the grounds of Mosborough Hall and at the end of the day why not try a Cocktail Masterclass, Wine Tasting, Masseur or Food Tasting.

Day delegate rates start from £39.00 per head, 24 hour delegate rates are from £125.00 per person and room hire from £250.00 per day. Private dining with menu’s from £30.00 per person.