Martin Randall, head of planning and public protection at Brighton & Hove City Council, said: “This is good news for coach drivers as it will provide them with a much more convenient area to park and alleviate coach parking problems in other parts of the city.

“The planning permission is temporary for two years as in the long term, the site is earmarked for the indoor arena and ice rink.”

As a DMC for the area organising inbound events, groups and conferences, this offers welcome news for us. For further information on booking events in Brighton please contact us

Last week in Meetpie News a study by the World’s Leading Conference Organisers (WLCO) found that associations and non-profit organisations such as the charity sector are increasingly wanting more support from their PCOs and conference organisers. They want a conference organiser that can roll up its sleeves and get properly involved.

We love this – it’s how we like to work. We’re PCO for a large non-profit conference coming to Brighton September 2011 and it’s been exciting to be involved at some of the key decision making points and strategic meetings. As conference organisers it helps us to build a close working relationship with our client, but also gives them real confidence in terms of their event content and the support we can offer.

The development of our online registration and conference IT development services mean that we can create bespoke online registration and submissions sites which give associations and conference groups a vital event portal, not only for communicating efficiently with their existing members, but by helping to increase that membership and promoting the client.

Conferencing methods are really changing, and we’re working well to stay ahead of the game. Contact us to see how we can help with your conference or event? If you’re looking for a PCO that can add significantly to your conference or event, or assist with advice on improving ROI, we could be exactly what you’re looking for

Accommodation

Brighton and the South East area has an excellent range of hotels, including big names such as Hilton or Holiday Inn through to independent boutique venues and beautiful country house hotels. Excellent sea views are available and styles range from ultra modern to classical and traditional. We offer a free venue search service for all your events and can negotiate excellent rates on your behalf

Activities

From team building events to historical tours we have exciting choices for your event activities. The sea, beaches and breathtaking countryside offer fantastic opportunity during the summer months, and during the winter we have exciting indoor activities.

Gala dinners

Brighton and the nearby areas offer a breathtaking range of venues for gala dinners. Ranging from ancient castles to inflatable venues, there is an option for every group, whatever the sizes. Menus and entertainment are diverse and exciting, and themes and entertainment one of our specialities

Full itinerary

Acting as PCO for the destination, DMC Brighton is accustomed to all ground handling procedures, including inbound and return transportation, leisure itineraries, interpreters and specialist requirements for groups of every size

FAM trips

We arrange regular familiarisation trips to the city. If you would like to be included in our next fam trip to see the city and the area for yourself, please email us by return and we will extend you an invitation to our next trip!

I aim to start as I mean to go on and thought I would share a couple of our resolutions with you as they tie in very neatly with some great events we have developed ready for 2010.

· Think about the environment – we think the way forward is all about cutting carbon emissions, reducing the amount of miles travelled for delegates, recycling points and recycled products. Every little helps!

· Give a little back – We are really excited with the new CSR events that we have been developing. There are so many communities out there that need our help and here at Pretty Clever we have the ability to make it all happen. It really is a fabulous opportunity to team build, can be creative and is a fun day out of the office, it doesn’t break the bank AND gives something back to the community.

· Make more time – by investing in others you will raise morale and boost productivity. The same goes for building real relationships and rekindling those that have been in the background. It’s all about the people.

· Don’t spend unnecessarily – but what about the January sales?!!! Lets keep it real, I mean there can’t be that many people out there that hate shopping…can there?! (my business partner assures me there is). Me, I just love the sales and I love a bargain so with that in mind I’ve been working out ways of how we can extend this to our clients. We’ve got some great sales of our own going on, reductions on team building events, FREE venue finding and if that’s not enough what about our Open House Dining = little money, lovely locations and lots of fun. What’s more it will guarantee you a slap up dinner at a fraction of the cost AND you get to make new friends.

And you say you never find anything good in the sales…c all us and grab yourself a bargain!

Your intrepid globe-trotting event planner here, reporting from EIBTM which is a show with not an unreasonable amount of upbeat attitude this year. It’s been a weird 2009 for the global meetings and events industry but having spoken to many people here, the feeling is one of quiet optimism, and many have even said it’s been a great show for them.

I’m here looking at lots of destinations around the world. With the weak pound versus the strong euro this year, we’ve had a rise in in-bound MICE business, something our sister company DMC Brighton (www.dmcbrighton.co.uk) handles, but inevitably this will swing back at some point so I want us to be well placed for this change. I’m trying to find new destinations, with interesting activities. Montenegro is grabbing me today, with its incredible scenery and great hotel rates. But there are exhibitors from every corner of the world here

You can now also follow us on the move with twitter – follow Pretty Clever www.twitter.com/prettycleverltd

View of the lake at Ashbourne House

I have just spent the most delightful day at a spectacular private 85 acre estate in East Sussex. Situated near Battle and set amidst rolling hills the Ashbourne Estate really did take my breath away and is one of those ‘best kept secrets’ that I am simply dying to tell you all about!

This venue provides exclusive corporate and private hospitality and allows you to both experience and enjoy the popular sports of clay pigeon shooting and flyfishing for trout.  If I’m honest I have to say I was a tad sceptical, I mean it was pouring with rain for starters so all in all not the prefect day to do any site visit outdoors, let alone one in the deepest depths of the English Countryside. Surprisingly though from the second I arrived I thoroughly enjoyed myself. Ashbourne is an oasis and can accommodate everything you need! So my mobile phone was out of range (not such a bad thing to happen from time to time!) but if you did need to make contact with the outside world fear not there is a landline in the log cabin. The charming Dougie Chalmers greets all guests near the shooting lodge, then once briefed it’s time to test your skill, put the theory into practise and challenge your opponents. Lunch is simply divine, a beautiful marquee, a steady flow of fine wines and bubbly, delicious cuisine and good company all compliment the scenery perfectly.

The afternoon is about flyfishing and in my experience is something many have wanted to try in their life time but few have. Tie your own fly and catch yourself some fresh water trout to take home for your supper – it really is a super prize and don’t worry – it’s gutted, and packed nicely so all you have to do is season and pop in the oven! If this floats your boat (it did mine) and you fancy a day in the countryside that is special, different and healthily competitive then please, pick up the phone and I’ll happily tell you all about it and point you in the right direction! This is easily as fun as a box at the races and will probably save you a few pennies in the process!