2007 sees the 20th anniversary of The Meetings & Incentive Travel Industry Awards, and also the 20th anniversary of organisers, Meetings & Incentive Travel magazine – hence the theme 20/20 vision. Due to popular demand, BBC TV and radio presenter, Jeremy Vine, returns as Master of Ceremonies.

AND...it has just been announced that Highpoint is one of three finalists for the Best Disabled Facilites Award in this years M&IT Industry Awards. This award sponsored by Conference Centres of Excellence was created to raise industry awareness of the amendments to the Disability Discrimination Act and to reward excellence of service for those organisations who are already making a big difference.

Joining Highpoint in the final shortlist are Holiday Inn London Bloomsbury and Radisson SAS Hotel London Stansted Airport. Highpoint is the only Midlands-based venue and we are honoured to be in the final.

The name of the gold winner will be kept secret until the M&IT Industry Awards Gala Presentation Dinner - attended by more than 650 industry professionals - on 19th February 2007 at the Novotel London West. We all have our fingers crossed! Watch this space for future updates or subscribe to the newsletter.

Highpoint Staff & Visitors say Goodbye to the CAR(bon)

Leicester conference centre Highpoint, has been working with White Young Green to develop and implement a Travel Plan to encourage staff and visitors to travel to the centre by sustainable modes of transport.

Highpoint was converted from St Catherine’s Chapel back in March 2002. Planning permission was granted subject to the implementation of a Travel Plan, to curb traffic congestion and pollution and to overcome concerns about the impact of parking on the neighbouring residents.
Located over a mile from the city centre and with the capacity to accommodate up to 200 conference delegates a day it was essential that White Young Green develop a number of initiatives to enable Highpoint to operate successfully with only 80 car parking spaces.

A Travel Plan handbook has been developed for Highpoint’s 25 staff, with information about walking; cycling and public transport which encourages them to use alternative methods of transport to cars. In addition personal journey planners have been produced for all staff demonstrating the travel options available. There is a regular bus service from the city centre; with a bus stop outside the Conference Centre and secure cycle parking and shower / change facilities are provided.

But it’s not just staff that are affected by the plan. It is essential that conference organisers using the venue are encouraged to adhere to the centre’s travel policy. There are discounts for delegate s arriving by coach, which will help Highpoint reduce the levels of car usage at the site. In addition information on buses and taxis are on display. Long term White Young Green has recommended that a car sharing database is set up to encourage staff and visitors to car share to the site.

The work undertaken on the travel plan shows the commitment undertaken by the team at Highpoint to promote and encourage alternative means of transport to and from the conference centre. Following the submission and acceptance of the Travel Plan, Highpoint and White Young Green are delighted at the results achieved. The report not only conforms to Leicester City Council standards and requirements but the council were delighted, with its ease of references, its 12% reduction in SVO and the description of work carried out throughout the year.

The Travel Plan at Highpoint has produced very positive results, helping to reduce single vehicle occupancy at their site quite dramatically," said Leicester City Council's travel plans officer, Lisa Guest. "We're delighted by what the management and staff have achieved and hope that their success will be replicated at other organisations across the city."

White Young Green and Highpoint have achieved a great deal, and continue to recognise what’s needed in order to reduce the number of single occupancy cars and encourage staff and delegates for use sustainable modes of travel. White Young Green will present further monitoring reports in 2009 and 2011

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