Tag: event management

Environmental tips

Posted on by Al Slinn

Climate change is becoming one of the world’s major issues and talking points. The development of ski resorts creates significant pressure on the mountains and their eco-system, and it is an undisputable fact that the glaciers are retreating. We found some useful environmental tips in this article on seechamonix.com to help preserve the mountains for future generations.

  • Be aware of your environmental impact as skiers and boarders. Educate yourself about your environmental impact on the mountains, and what you can do to minimize it.
  • Leave no trace – do not litter the slopes. When the snow melts at the end of the season, litter left behind will remain. Bin it or take it home with you. Did you know it takes up to two years for an orange peel skin to be absorbed by the earth? While a cigarette butt takes up to five years. If you find litter on the slopes, be responsible, do the right thing – pick it up.
  • Do your bit to reduce global warming on holiday and at home. In hotels, re-use your towels each day, and where possible recycle your household waste. Many French ski resorts now have excellent recycling facilities for plastics, cans and paper, glass and other waste. Additionally, if you’re not in your chalet or hotel room, switch off electrical appliances. A TV can use more energy when left on standby than it does during the time is being watched.
  • Encourage tour operators to adopt green policies. Find out if your tour operator offers train travel as an alternative to flying; if they use paper from sustainable forests for their brochures; if they use low-wattage light bulbs in their chalets and bio-degradable detergents.
  • Investigate whether your chosen resort uses environmentally friendly practices. Many resorts now use bio-diesel fuel in piste-bashers, solar panels for heating, hydro-electricity/wind energy for power and a host of other initiatives. Some resorts use the International Standards Organisation (ISO) 14001 as a mark of their environmental credentials.
  • Reduce CO2 emissions. By flying fewer miles or switching from air to rail, you can help reduce the volume of greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. Whenever possible, use your bike instead of your car.
  • Respect the natural habitat of mountain animals and plants. If you ski through trees, you can damage them by knocking off branches and killing young shoots under the snow. Take care. Many areas are out of bounds to protect the natural habitat of animals and plants – not just safety reasons.

As mountain lovers, let’s all make an effort to follow these simple, impactful environmental tips and make the Alps a better place for those who will visit them in the future.

A perfect destination for corporate travel

Posted on by Al Slinn

Montenegro has become one of our favorite destinations for corporate trips during the past two years. In fact, we have just been spending a few days over there preparing for an upcoming corporate event.

Its breath-taking and varied landscapes, exquisite cuisine and wide range of outdoor activities make Montenegro a perfect destination for corporate travel. In this article, we have found even more reasons why Montenegro should be a top choice for conferences and corporate events.
 
First of all, Montenegro has experienced notable growth in the conference tourism sector over the past few years. There has been an accelerated construction, opening, and purchase of hotels equipped with conference rooms, and also workspaces that are intended for organizing various types of events.
 
Montenegro is also the perfect choice to surprise and astonish delegates and partners thanks to a combination of nature and breath-taking sites together with high-tech venues and conference halls. It is located only a two-hour flight from any European capital, which makes it a very easy destination to reach.


The National Tourism Organization of Montenegro has established the Convention Office Bureau in 2008, intending to promote Montenegro on international markets and develop the infrastructure of hotels, conference centers, and off-site venues. The Montenegro Convention Bureau includes hotels with convention facilities and agencies that can meet business event organization needs and special venues.
 
Montenegro’s conference facilities are expanding rapidly as more luxury hotels are opening. Most of them have modern equipment and many conference centers feature several halls, allowing simultaneous events to take place and capacities up to several hundred participants.

In sum, Montenegro really is a perfect destination for corporate travel, whether it’s conferences, team buildings or incentive trips. If you are curious to know more about our event destinations and projects, visit the “project” section of our website!

Replacement of the Grands Montets lifts

Posted on by Al Slinn

Back in 2018, the Grands Montets ski area in Chamonix was severely affected by a fire which destroyed its two cable car stations. The accident severely impacted access to the area and deprived skiers of lift access to glacier skiing, previously reached via the top Grands Montets station. The Compagnie du Mont Blanc has recently unveiled exciting plans for the replacement of the Grands Montets lifts.

The project has been entrusted to the famous Italian architect Renzo Piano. For those who don’t know him, his notable buildings include The Shard in London, the Georges Pompidou Centre in Paris and the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City.

The project is very big and will likely take some years, currently aiming for completion by the 2023/24 season. The current building will be replaced by a more compact cable car station in a better location for public transport users, to include direct access to and from Argentière village and train station.

The aim of this replacement of the Grands Montets lifts is to ultimately offer a “four seasons” access to an exceptional high-mountain location, whether it be for mountain professionals, hikers or sight-seers. The essence of the Grands Montets will be preserved.

As a Chamonix spokesman reported: “The Compagnie du Mont-Blanc is working with determination and passion to imagine and carry out a fully integrated project for the Grands Montets site. This large-scale project must respond to the challenges of ecological transition by collectively imagining mechanism for the next fifty years. It is with this in mind that we work and will keep you informed of the progress of the project”.

Upcoming events in Chamonix

Posted on by Al Slinn

After two years of pandemic, it is a huge relief to see events come back to life. And if we talk about events, there is no better place in the French Alps than Chamonix-Mont-Blanc. As a year-round resort, Chamonix offers all sorts of events, from sport competitions to film festivals and concerts. Here’s an overview of upcoming events in Chamonix for summer 2022.

14 to 19 June 2022. Second edition of the Chamonix Film Festival. Film projections, meetings & talks with some of the mountaineering world’s most prominent personalities. Five days devoted to mountain lovers and enthusiasts!

23 to 26 June 2022. Mont Blanc marathon. A trail running event comprised of 8 different races to suit every participant’s expectations and level of practice. The event includes the “flagship” 42km race, 23km, 10km, the “Duo under the stars” (duo race at nightfall), Vertical Kilometer, as well as races for children.

30 June to 3 July 2022. Arc’teryx Alpine Academy. The outdoor community will be gathering in Chamonix, at the heart of the Alps, to celebrate the biggest educational outdoor event in the world. Programme: clinics and workshops led by mountain guides and athletes, free Alpine village, DJ, film screenings…

8 to 10 July 2022. Climbing World Cup. Programme: Difficulty World Cup (Men and Women) and Speed World Cup (Men and Women).

3 to 22 July 2022. Baroque Festival. A series of exceptional concerts held in towns and villages of the Mont Blanc region as a tribute to Johann-Sebastian Bach.

24 to 30 July 2022. Cosmojazz Festival. Concerts at altitude take place during the day on sites chosen for their majestic scenery. From 5 to 9 pm., it’s time for concerts in Chamonix center! The Couttet Park becomes the focal point of the festival, hosting a large covered stage.

22 to 28 August 2022. Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc. An extraordinary adventure at the heart of the Mont Blanc Massif! The UTMB is a trail running event for runners from around the world.

We surely can’t wait to take part in all these exciting, upcoming events in Chamonix and we hope to bring some of our clients along to experience the magic.

Return to in-person events

Posted on by Al Slinn

As an event business we are constantly keeping updated on industry updates, especially after all the changes brought about by the pandemic. A recent article on sociatables.com highlights some key 2022 event industry trends, insisting on the return to in-person events. This is really great news for us, as we organize winter and summer corporate trips for our clients all over the world.

As the article explains, a recent 2022 Global Meetings and Events Forecast highlights a high anticipation of in-person events returning in 2022. 67% of respondents believe levels will return to their pre-pandemic numbers within one to two years. In-person event growth is also supported by the high number of event professionals who have increased their events budget for 2022: 64% of respondents. Due to the anticipation of the return of in-person events, some venues already have limited or no availability for events in 2022. Event venues, event staff, and other vital services will likely be in high demand. Booking the necessary vendors and services may prove more difficult.

We are thrilled to hear these good news and to start planning our live events again. In fact, the 2021/2022 winter season has already been surprisingly busy for us. We are already planning our summer events and winter corporate trips for next year.

We believe in creating unforgettable event experiences whether it’s ski trips, outdoor adventures, city escapes or other corporate event types. Being able to communicate closely with our clients and design the perfect, tailor-made trip is at the heart of our event philosophy. We typically start the planning process 4 to 10 months before the event and spend a lot of time finding the right venue, suppliers and activities on site.

Most of all though, we love seeing our clients have fun and enjoying the moment them, while making sure everything runs super smoothly. After these couple of difficult years, we are 100% ready to go back to in-person events!

New event venue: the Labrador hotel, Chamonix

Posted on by Al Slinn

Although we have been based in the Chamonix valley since 2004, there is always some exciting, new event venue to discover. And one thing is certain: we do love it when a property turns out to be brilliant for our clients! We recently took a corporate group to the Labrador hotel in Chamonix and they absolutely loved it. So much so that they are looking to come back next year already!

The Labrador Hotel is ideally situated on the prestigious Chamonix Golf course, designed by Robert Trent Jones Senior, facing Mont Blanc and located just 300 m from the Flégère cable car. The hotel is located only 250 meters from the Flégère ski lift and only 3 km from the centre of Chamonix and the Aiguille du Midi cable car, giving you access to the prestigious Chamonix ski area and its 163 km of slopes. The property benefits from an exceptional natural environment with a southern exposure facing the Mont-Blanc, at the gates of the Aiguilles Rouges natural reserve. The Labrador hotel welcomes you with a breathtaking view of the Mont Blanc and the Drus for a romantic getaway, a family stay or a professional seminar in the Chamonix valley.

After a strenuous day of skiing or hiking you can enjoy the wellness area from 4 – 9.30pm: Jacuzzi, sauna, steam room and multi-jet shower. Massages and treatments are available on appointment.

At the Labrador hotel you will find a professional team whose purpose is the smooth running of your stay. A warm and smiling welcome in an authentic and comfortable setting will make your stay an unforgettable experience!

Sounds great for your next conference or incentive trip? Contact the Ten80 team and we will arrange an amazing company event for you and your colleagues in this fantastic new event venue.

Expanding our event destination portfolio

Posted on by Al Slinn

Since we founded Ten80 Events in 2004, our event destination portfolio has grown significantly. We started out taking clients to the French Alps and especially in Chamonix, where we are based. Along the years, we started exploring other mountain resorts across France, Italy and Austria, diversifying our winter event offer. But we did not want to restrict ourselves to winter events or to a particular area of the world. So, with time and a lot of “recce” trips, we have built our expertise of several destinations around the world. To this day, Ten80 Events has taken clients to anywhere from Europe to the USA, from India to Cuba. Expanding our event destination portfolio allows us to offer the most diverse types of trips: urban escapes, rural retreats, adventurous team buildings, incentives in the sun and, of course, winter corporate trips on the slopes.

We have recently looked to add a new destination to our portfolio: Scotland. With its natural beauty and historical charm, Scotland has the perfect ingredients for a successful corporate trip. We have selected a few, stunning properties in the country offering great corporate facilties as well as spas, country clubs, golf courses and more. We are looking forward to taking our first groups of clients to this magical land for an unforgettable event experience.

Some of our favorite properties in Scotland are:

Peebles Hydro

Gleneagles

Atholl Palace

La Folie Douce – best après ski in the Alps

Posted on by Al Slinn

If you haven’t come across La Folie Douce on one of your trips to the Alps yet, you are missing out on the best après ski in the Alps. La Folie Douce, “the sweet madness”, is probably the most quirky, explosive après-ski bar you will ever see on the slopes.

Founded in the 1980’s in Val d’Isère by Luc Reversade, La Folie Douce (now spread across at least 7 ski resorts across France) was born as a sort of Ibiza on the snow. In the words of its very founder: “I said to myself, if tourists dance when they go on holiday to the seaside in summer, they should be able to dance when they come to the mountains in winter”.

The latest addition to La Folie Douce family is La Folie Douce Chamonix, the first hotel of the chain. Since its opening in 2019, we have taken several corporate groups to the hotel and everyone has fallen in love with it.

A few things you can expect during a typical après ski at Folie: champagne showers, cabaret dancers, live singers, fireworks, glitter, fancy dresses and a wild crowd. It’s not all sparkles and unicorns though: La Folie Douce bars serve amazing food and their hotel in Chamonix features great conference facilities and a relaxing SPA with outdoor pool.

When booking an event with Ten80, you can be sure we’ll include La Folie Douce in your agenda and you’ll have the best après ski of your life.

Read the full story of La Folie Douce here: https://www.ft.com/content/7f3769ca-2483-11e9-b329-c7e6ceb5ffdf

Can we make skiing sustainable?

Posted on by Al Slinn

As environmental issues are on the rise, we’re all aware that skiing as we know it will not be sustainable in the long run (pun intended). We can of course re-think the activities we do in the mountains and find alternative ways to enjoy them. However, as shown by French ski resort Sierre Chevalier, there is a big margin of improvement in terms of sustainable measures that can be implemented. We can only hope this kind of positive innovations will become the norm for ski resorts in the near future.

Full article by The Guardian here: https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2022/feb/17/future-proofed-piste-sustainable-skiing-in-the-french-alps

Chamonix among top 20 ski destinations in the world

Posted on by Al Slinn

We’re delighted, though not overly surprised, to see Chamonix make it to the 2022 Tripadvisor list of top 20 ski destinations in the world. There’s a reason why we chose this incredible, year-round resort in the french Alps as our base for Ten80 Events. Other popular destinations for our winter events made it to the list: Zermatt, Morzine, St. Moritz, Alpe d’Huez. Safe to say we take our clients to the best ski resorts on Earth!

Full list of top ski destinations here: https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/TravelersChoice-Destinations-cSki-g1