tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19412005413004350342024-09-05T05:47:13.036+01:00Chartridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04458380278673501073noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1941200541300435034.post-42185172928709012072013-01-11T13:26:00.000+00:002013-01-14T08:29:24.929+00:00

Whenever people are away from home, whether it’s on business or pleasure, a day visit or staying overnight, our customer research has shown that the major factor that makes a venue memorable is the food. It doesn’t matter how fantastic are the rooms, the facilities or the décor, if the restaurant is sub standard, then that’s the memory that lingers long after the visit is over. Silk purses and

Chartridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04458380278673501073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1941200541300435034.post-35549758022077536842012-11-05T11:39:00.001+00:002012-11-05T11:43:34.398+00:00

If you are a fan of consumer champion programmes like ‘Watchdog’ you will know that in many instances people aren’t complaining about an actual product or even the cost of it, but how they have been treated by the seller. ‘We give exceptional customer service’ is a boast that has been taken up and rolled out as a mantra by a whole host of different organisations. But how many of them

Chartridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04458380278673501073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1941200541300435034.post-52066259058464144502012-09-21T11:32:00.000+01:002012-09-21T12:37:13.655+01:00

Whether you love it or hate it, the summer has flown and THAT time of year is approaching fast, and I don’t mean the annual salary review. It’s only a matter of weeks away now until the Christmas Party becomes the talking point around the office! It can be great fun for those who come along to enjoy themselves. but quite a stressful time for the poor soul who has the responsibility for

Chartridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04458380278673501073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1941200541300435034.post-56857666680739466492012-08-28T10:29:00.000+01:002012-08-28T10:32:54.423+01:00

So, you are getting married.  Congratulations!  Organising your wedding can be a thrilling and exciting experience but it can also be extremely stressful if you don’t plan it properly.  Second only to finding ‘the dress’, your choice of wedding venue can make or break your big day. Before you even start to look at venues, you must decide what your wedding will look like. &

Chartridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04458380278673501073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1941200541300435034.post-55571163924873982342012-08-08T09:47:00.000+01:002012-08-08T09:47:42.293+01:00

No matter whether you love or loathe the fact that Great Britain is hosting the Olympic Games, there is one fact that you cannot deny – Olympic fever is taking the country by storm!  Every television channel, radio station and newspaper is full of the successes and failures of Team GB, and to a man we are watching with swelling pride as Great Britain steadily climbs up the medal board,

Chartridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04458380278673501073noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1941200541300435034.post-84743429989564317802012-05-15T11:11:00.001+01:002012-11-06T08:36:04.097+00:00

Your wedding day is one of the most important in your life. Of course you want it to be perfect, but it’s not only your Big Day, but a day that all your family and friends are looking forward to. There is so much to arrange, but get the main ingredients right from the start, and all the other things will fall into place so you can focus on the fine detail that make a good day into a

Chartridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04458380278673501073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1941200541300435034.post-26713810113934558482012-03-22T09:20:00.003+00:002012-04-24T10:10:21.946+01:00

For a business to succeed and grow the bottom line must show continual growth in efficiency, productivity and profitability, and this is even more important in difficult economic climates.  We all know that the greatest asset of our business is our staff so we must maximise this precious resource, not just to improve productivity and efficiency for the company, but to ensure job satisfaction

Chartridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04458380278673501073noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1941200541300435034.post-79043140876129134822012-02-23T09:54:00.003+00:002012-04-24T10:12:24.464+01:00

You don’t have to be an international economist to know we’re still facing difficult economic times but I wonder just how many businesses in the ‘service’ industry are using this as a convenient excuse for lower standards. We know that our customers have different requirements, and it’s not difficult to provide any specific requirements they may have, but we overlook the basics at our peril.

Chartridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04458380278673501073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1941200541300435034.post-30269549326435006982012-01-17T12:57:00.005+00:002012-04-24T10:16:11.430+01:00

I’m a firm believer in giving value for money and being the best there is in our hospitality industry. Quality is important, as are our peoples’ skills, and don’t forget the good food that really defines a great conference experience. AIM sets the standard for our team to build on with quality delivery and at the risk of repeating myself, excellent cuisine is the cherry on the cake. Not wishing

Chartridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04458380278673501073noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1941200541300435034.post-10605353112146369572011-12-19T11:19:00.003+00:002012-01-09T12:12:52.558+00:00

When you’re planning a meeting, how much thought have you given to the seating plan? There are loads of options, including theatre style, horseshoe, boardroom, cabaret, but which is the right one for you? Do you need to get as many people in as possible; is the comfort of the delegates paramount, or is it more important that the layout looks aesthetically pleasing? Most people believe that rows

Chartridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04458380278673501073noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1941200541300435034.post-1464555900643448492011-10-28T10:01:00.005+01:002012-04-24T10:19:08.387+01:00

How has the training market place been affected by the last 3 years of recession, lack of credit and general stagnation of the economy?  As one of the leading groups of dedicated conference venues, Chartridge Conference Company (CCC) has seen first hand how companies both large and small have tackled the issue of investment in developing their most valuable resource – their staff. Market

Chartridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04458380278673501073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1941200541300435034.post-24480685560475758012011-10-07T09:39:00.006+01:002011-12-21T11:46:23.907+00:00

The Bribery Act came into effect on 1st July 2011, with penalties of 10 years imprisonment and an unlimited fine for those caught acting like a politician! But is this a sledgehammer to crack a nut?  Will it be another example of the law of unforeseen consequences? What are the ramifications for the meetings industry where entertainment and hospitality have long been regarded as a legitimate

Chartridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04458380278673501073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1941200541300435034.post-86549615689937569332011-09-22T12:43:00.003+01:002011-11-25T09:55:01.901+00:00

Even in ‘difficult times’, the firm’s Christmas party can be one of the highlights in the annual calendar.  It’s an excellent way for the company to say “Thank You” to the staff for all the hard work they put in over the year, and a great way for the staff to develop team spirit and bond with colleagues.But the Christmas ‘do’ can be a daunting task for the person who has the task of

Chartridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04458380278673501073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1941200541300435034.post-7567980315483389252011-08-31T11:42:00.000+01:002011-08-31T11:42:19.838+01:00

The expression “You only get what you pay for” may be relevant in the manufacturing industry, but in the service sector it’s a misnomer, and often just an excuse for justifying inflated prices. By definition, ‘service’ is work done by a person or a group that benefits another, and if it’s done well it generates competitive advantage, and results in a successful business. But delivering a quality

Chartridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04458380278673501073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1941200541300435034.post-62375155870498908322011-08-30T10:36:00.001+01:002011-10-17T15:44:48.402+01:00

It  may be a sign of the times, but why is it that some conference centres rely so much on unnecessary ‘bells and whistles’ such as golf courses, swimming pools and fitness centres to sell their venues rather than concentrating on their core product – fulfilling the business needs of their clients? As far as I am concerned, simple is best.  What’s the point of trying to turn a sow’s

Chartridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04458380278673501073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1941200541300435034.post-49612162795793562092011-08-18T10:02:00.003+01:002011-08-25T15:19:20.709+01:00

It never ceases to amaze me why so many of the venues that service the meetings industry seem so focussed on the facilities they provide, yet overlook the real core of our business –people. Unless we have the right people on board, how can we possibly provide that friendly hospitality that underlines our business and keeps our customers happy? The hospitality industry has a reputation for a high

Chartridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04458380278673501073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1941200541300435034.post-85351632052034881742011-08-17T14:04:00.002+01:002011-10-17T15:44:21.407+01:00

When arranging meetings, there are so many options available, from an in-house meeting room to a generic business centre, from a hotel room to a dedicated conference venue. Even though we’re in difficult economic times, daily rate is not the most important consideration, especially if you have to pay for additional services such as IT equipment that you believed was included in the original price

Chartridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04458380278673501073noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1941200541300435034.post-48199150632472733002011-08-16T13:36:00.002+01:002011-10-17T15:43:59.877+01:00

Despite the need to tighten their corporate belts during this grim economic climate, many companies are still opting to hold their conference and training events at dedicated conference venues rather than take the cheaper option of renting a hotel room. So why is this? In the eyes of a customer, a successful meeting venue must be able to offer four key factors; environment, people, service and

Chartridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04458380278673501073noreply@blogger.com0