Meetings Venues in London

by Pádraic Gilligan, Managing Partner, SoolNua I won’t lie, I wasn’t looking forward to the trip to London. It was a short 2 night trip sandwiched between two long transatlantic journeys but I could easily have done without it. I was also flying BA to London City airport and staying in the Docklands area around… Read more »

Innovation in the Meetings Industry: Firmdale and Sundial

by Pádraic Gilligan, Managing Partner, SoolNua Scale The sheer scale of London as a destination makes it the perfect crucible for trying out new ideas and concepts in hospitality and MICE. Consequently it’s a rich source of inspiration for those of us, like Patrick and me, whose livelihood is derived from dispensing advice to destinations,… Read more »

Hey MeetPie – don’t bite the hand that feeds!

by Pádraic Gilligan, Managing Partner, SoolNua I have had occasion already to engage in on-line debate with James Lancaster, a member of the team at CAT publications and editor of their magazine, Association Meetings International. He’s relatively new to our industry but brings us a fresh perspective and some great writing. Last week James posted a… Read more »

Should Meetings be categorised with Travel and Tourism?

by Pádraic Gilligan, Managing Partner, SoolNua James Lancaster of CAT Publications’ Association Meetings International (AMI) hates “annoying inconsistency” and “an excess of meaningless verbiage” (see his excellent recent article here). I’m with him on both counts although now I’m second guessing whether hating an “excess” of meaningless verbiage means that we both actually tolerate small amounts… Read more »

48 hours in London – beyond the tourist trails

by Padraic Gilligan, Managing Partner, SoolNua An unusual trip This was an unusual trip. 2 nights R&R at an iconic hotel in Knightsbridge, the delectable delights of London available on your doorstep, followed by a night with your daughter in remote suburbia, several tube stops, a commuter train and a car journey from the excitement. In… Read more »

Ethics in the Meetings Industry – let the debate begin

by Padraic Gilligan, Vice President, Industry Relations MCI On Boycotting Since August there has been a sustained campaign calling on sponsor corporations of the Winter Olympics in Sochi, like Coca Cola and McDonald’s, to boycott the games in protest at the host country’s appalling treatment of the LGBT community. The meetings industry press has picked… Read more »

An ICCA Virgin in Shanghai

by Padraic Gilligan, Vice President, Ovation Global DMC and Vice President, Industry Relations, MCI Distant Love For over 20 years I’ve had an arms length relationship with her. From afar, like a courtly lover, I could appreciate her unique appeal –  petite and svelte, friendly and smart – but I couldn’t quite find the time,… Read more »

London Calling: M&IT Awards, CONFEX and the Irish back at ExCel

by Padraic Gilligan, Vice President MCI and Vice President, Ovation Global DMC Ole, Ole, Ole London’s Convention and Exhibition Centre, ExCeL, is etched in the hearts of most Irish people. For a period last summer it often appeared that the entire facility had been colonised by the Irish such were the ubiquity of tri-colours and… Read more »