ONOMO Hotels’ Post

Inspired by the upcoming festivals in Edinburgh, I recently posted three of ‘7 Rules of the Stage for Presenters’ - a reminder that it's all about the audience, being in command and finding your light. Here are another 3; I hope you find them useful: ❤️ Stay open ‘Staying open’ is another term used in the theatre; it is about keeping your body open to the audience. Be careful not to ‘upstage’ yourself which means that you have positioned your body on a slight diagonal angle towards the back of the stage. This happens to actors when they are doing a scene with someone who is positioned behind them on the stage and they are trying to speak directly to them. It can happen to presenters when they are indicating towards slides on a screen behind them and also if they are being interviewed by the host or MC for the event who might be unknowingly upstaging them. So angle your body out towards the audience, use open gestures and if you have to turn full circle always turn in the downstage direction (towards the audience). Remember that people generally pay to see your face, not your behind! ❤️ Show your personality The best way to really connect with your audience is to allow your personality to shine through. In one performance I saw that inspired me to write about these 'rules', this was demonstrated beautifully by a pianist when, after struggling with an uncomfortable set up, he eventually acknowledged that the microphone was in an awkward position and made a wee joke about it. He then told a personal story about the next musical piece to be played and what it meant to him. This gave the music a whole new perspective and made it even better to listen to. After a clumsy beginning, I definitely warmed to the performance after getting to know the performer better. ❤️ Showmanship To display great showmanship is to be able to present something in a manner that will appeal to an audience or aid in conveying the message or theme of the performance. Rather than thinking of the typically cheesy razzle dazzle ‘showman’, showmanship is more about being aware of every element of a performance or presentation – both the delivery and the technical aspects – reading the audience and adjusting your approach to ensure that they have a great experience. Whenever you are presenting, whilst you should aim to come across as naturally as possible, it is important to remember that it is still a performance and your audience deserves the best you can offer. They probably won’t even be aware that you are incorporating these stage tips into your presentations to give your ‘performance’ an edge, but you can be pretty sure they’ll notice if you don’t. What do you think? Who do you know who does these things well when they're presenting? #presentation #presentationskills #publicspeaking

When it comes to creating authentic experiences for guests, nothing beats local talent. Hearing live music from a local musician makes the experience feel more connected to the community and gives guests a real taste of the local culture. Hotels that support local musicians aren’t just providing entertainment but also investing in the community and creating a more unique and memorable experience for their guests. It’s a win-win! Guests get to enjoy live performances that reflect the local vibe, and musicians gain exposure and support from a broader audience. I think more hotels should explore partnerships with local artists such as live performances in the lobby to special events featuring regional sounds. There are so many ways to incorporate local music into the guest experience. Plus, it’s a great way to stand out in a competitive market. When hotels embrace the local music scene, they’re offering something that can’t be found anywhere else. Have you ever experienced live music from a local artist during your travels? How did it change your experience? #LocalMusic #GuestExperience #HTM #Tourism #LiveMusic #HTM #SupportLocalTalent

Well, the 68th #UKCoachRally and #nationalcoachweek 2024 are both over. Our thanks in all directions to all CPT members who came to participate and to our #BCH partner ABTOT Limited. But we can't miss the chance here to stress that for CPT's coaching members, every week is coach week. One high profile illustration of this is how, in just over a month, nearly 20K festival goers will enjoy convenient and affordable travel to #Glastonbury Festival by coach (20% more reaching the summer’s biggest music festival travel this way than they did last year). Official coach travel partner of the festival, National Express LTD has added 34 more departures this year to meet demand, taking the total number of locations served to 109. Tickets include a generous luggage allowance of 20kg in the hold, plus one piece of soft hand luggage. National Express also sets up a pop-up coach station within 100 metres of the festival gates, so revellers haven’t got far to go with their festival gear to secure the best spots to pitch-up. Alongside regional coach services, there will also be a fleet of double decker electric buses on a high-frequency shuttle #bus service between #Bristol Bus Station and Worthy Farm. As we've said here many times, coach is good for the environment as the least carbon-intensive public transport option. So it's encouraging to learn that John Boughton, commercial director at National Express can say, “Demand for affordable and reliable public transport has never been greater, and that includes travel to the summer’s hottest festivals and events." Visit https://lnkd.in/ePDtzkHw for more information about coach travel to Glastonbury.   #AccessAllAreas #DrivingBritainForward

The 'Festival Cities and Regions Workshop' at the European Festivals Association Arts Festivals Summit 2024 on Usedom brought together festival makers and city and region representatives to engage in a meaningful dialogue about the arts, festivals and their territories. Key conclusions included: 🌟The need to facilitate the conditions for more cooperation and dialogue between the cities, regions and their festivals. 🌟 The notion of ‘experiment’ and how festivals can be considered organisations and laboratories for new thinking that are building knowledge on the people and the territory. Festivals offer their local authorities insights about their inhabitants that go beyond statistics. 🌟The need for arts and culture to be more assertive on cultural policies to distinguish festivals’ artistic value from just touristic revenue and highlight their broader contribution to their communities. Sustainability stays high on the agenda also for the cities: what are local policies and measures that address sustainability in festivals? More on these findings later. This workshop was organised in partnership with “A Soul for Europe” and is embedded in the EFFE Seal for Festival Cities and Regions Initiative which aims to offer a platform for cities, regions and festivals alike to discuss knowledge, practices and policies from local to European level and back.

Taylor Swift’s brand has been transformed into a lucrative venture by AEG, with her six sold-out concerts in Singapore potentially bringing in up to $500 million for our city-state. This equates to about $83.3 million per night, significantly surpassing the economic impact of Lady Gaga’s 2012 Born This Way Ball concerts in the Philippines, which netted around US$9.4 million a night from 20,000 fans. But it should be noted that hosting large-scale concerts involves considerable risk and requires careful planning. Promoters and tour booking agents must navigate ticket pricing, merchandise sales, promotional tie-ins, and sponsorship deals to ensure profitability. The financing must cover various costs, including production, manpower, marketing, venue rental, and more. Record companies and sponsors, sometimes including subsidies from host nations, help mitigate these risks. The competitive nature of concert tours and pop culture promotion is often underestimated by national tourism agencies, to their loss. However, our players in the Singapore Mice (meetings, incentives, conventions, and exhibitions) industry, as well as the local promoters and authorities who secured Taylor Swift, are well aware of these dynamics and have capitalized on her global stardom successfully. IMO, governments have long incentivized businesses to woo over foreign direct investments. One European nation was said to have offered $15 billion to attract a chip maker for obvious economic gains and other spillover benefits. By winning over Swift to perform here, MCCY has similarly and cleverly enabled Singapore to gain from an infusion of economic and cultural capital, with spillover benefits for the region. Subscribe to read this op-ed by RSIS’ Dr. Alan Chong in The Straits Times: https://lnkd.in/gAgdSr5G

Last year 36 festivals cancelled in total. This year 28 Festivals have now cancelled, postponed or are making 2024 their last edition. We've not even made it to the end of March. High supply chain costs - which in some areas remain unpredictable - combined with lack of liquidity post pandemic - means many festivals cannot ride the bumps they used to be able to pre-pandemic. Until the supply chain settles (and that's a way off - they have their own complex problems to battle) the silver bullet solution is for the UK Govt to temporarily lower VAT on ticket sales from 20% to 5%. Every single festival at risk that we've surveyed confirms a VAT reduction would turn the dial from 'at risk' to 'not at risk'. Go to https://lnkd.in/djz-4qv5 to write to your MP and ask for action.

I can't think of anything worse than having guests check into FIVE Hotels and Resorts, only to be bored out of their minds. 😵💫 The way I see it, hospitality cannot exist without entertainment. It’s interesting to me because so many of our industry peers don't see it this way. It’s one of the reasons I make entertainment my priority at FIVE. - From scouting new DJs on social media, - To researching and anticipating the next music trends, - Testing new soundtracks using our unique algorithms, - Conceptualising the most elaborate one-of-a-kind parties, - Regularly visiting every concept myself to gauge the engagement of the crowd, to - Hosting world-class musicians at our FIVE Music Studio at The Penthouse Dubai, FIVE Palm Jumeirah - Ensuring that everyone, including our guests and fellow FIVE Tribe members, is enjoying themselves is always at the top of my list. I firmly believe that the only way people are introduced to new music these days is through playlists or by coming to FIVE - And that's because we are at the forefront of musical trends, and that's the way I want to keep it. My philosophy for hospitality has always been simple: Give customers great value, a great time, and a memorable experience - And they’ll keep coming back. 👊🏽 #Entertainment #Hospitality #DiscoverFIVE

Lagos and Accra ranked among the world's best cities for nightlife Do you agree? --- According to Time Out's latest rankings, Lagos and Accra have earned their place among the world’s best cities for nightlife. Lagos, Nigeria’s lively commercial hub, ranked 6th, outshining popular cities like Rotterdam and Manchester. Its nightlife scene thrives on Afrobeats, which has taken the global music scene by storm. Lagos scored high with an 80% rating for nightlife quality, boasting iconic venues such as Freedom Park and The House on Victoria Island, where events range from salsa nights to afro house clubbing. Accra, Ghana's capital, also made the list, ranking 10th. Known for its vibrant yet laid-back atmosphere, Accra's nightlife offers rooftop bars, beach parties, and art festivals, earning a 66% quality score. Popular spots include Osu’s energetic bars and Labadi Beach’s all-night parties. Since the pandemic, Accra’s nightlife has embraced more outdoor venues, giving party-goers a refreshing and dynamic experience. Both cities' rankings highlight their unique blend of culture, music, and fun.

From corporate gatherings to musical festivals, event planning is a substantial task. We understand your time constraints due to work, family commitments, and personal activities. At AMW, we simplify the process for you. Beginning with an initial consultation, we meticulously review budgets, themes, and logistical details. Continuous communication ensures your satisfaction every step of the way. We handle venue bookings, catering, entertainment arrangements, and guest invitations with precision. When the event day arrives, rest assured, we'll ensure a seamless and memorable experience. 💯 Learn more 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gin7PNRH #EventPlanning #Efficiency

Exciting Announcement: Launching the Festival Connect Fund in 2024! This year, we're thrilled to introduce the Festival Connect Fund, designed to foster new and innovative connections, mobility, and showcases across festivals in Africa and around the globe. Our mission is to support the vibrant tapestry of festivals spanning various art forms, including Creative Technology, Dance, Film, Literature, Music, Theatre, and multi-disciplinary arts. We celebrate the rich diversity of festivals, whether they're held annually, triennially, biennially, face-to-face, or online. Festivals are more than events; they're the heartbeats of communities, encapsulating traditions, values, and aspirations while driving social and economic vibrancy. Objectives of the Festival Connect Fund: - Foster creative collaborations and partnerships across continents. - Amplify festival impact with a focus on community engagement and economic benefits. - Encourage experimentation in creative technology to create novel experiences. - Build cross-regional collaborations to enhance market access and cultural exchanges. - Support the professional growth of festival management and increase mobility for key festival personnel within Africa. Anticipated Outcomes (2024-2027): - Strengthened and new partnerships between African festivals and international counterparts. - Enhanced public engagement with regional and international artists. - A network of festival curators and managers promoting collaborative endeavors. - Valuable, data-driven insights into the festival sector for continuous innovation and stronger collaborations. We invite festivals with at least two biennales or three editions (including digital formats) to apply for grants. This is an unparalleled opportunity for festivals in Africa to collaborate internationally, increase audience access to diverse artists, and experiment with showcasing innovative works. Let’s connect, create, and celebrate the enduring spirit of festivals together! For more information on how to apply, visit https://lnkd.in/eRXfdadR. #FestivalConnectFund #CreativeCollaborations #AfricanFestivals #ArtsFunding #CulturalExchange Brenda Fashugba Rasheeda Nalumoso Farai Bayai Ncube Veronica Mantiziba