Pope Benedict XVI, Westlife and the Orient Express

West London is a hotbed of excitement today, with Pope Benedict XVI heading for Twickenham later after spending last night in Wimbledon. Over at C&IT towers in Hammersmith, we may not have seen the Pope but were thrilled to hear that event agency WRG is helping ensure the visit runs smoothly during the Birmingham leg of the tour. Apparently they are working their socks off – bit of a far cry from the usual client list.

Around 55,000 people are expected to attend a mass in Birmingham, the second time this week the city has hosted a major event after Sainsbury’s annual colleague conference at the NEC. Apparently Jamie Oliver couldn’t make it because he’s on paternity leave, but around 4,500 of the supermarket’s staff enjoyed the Narnia-themed product showcase.   

Aslan might not have been in attendance at Sainsbury’s event, but there were more than a few wild animals prowling around London Zoo’s client evening, to showcase its event spaces. Coca-Cola, Ernst & Young, Tesco and Cap Gemini representatives all seemed quite taken with the lions and tigers, although the zoo tour was cut short by torrential rain.   

Meanwhile, over in Dublin the launch of the brand new convention centre was given an extra frisson of excitement with the promise of those lovely Irish lads from Westlife. It is really quite disturbing what a pop star or two can do to a crowd. They might have turned up late following a footie match and a few drinks, but even the most seasoned event planners were reduced to a screaming pre-teen state.

Celebs aside, the HBAA annual forum in Stratford upon Avon was a chance for hotel booking agents and others in the sector to catch up on the latest issues, while Grass Roots persuaded HSBC’s chief economist Dennis Turner to give his view of the financial mire at the Meetings Industry Forum.

Now, must dash, off to join Sol Meliá for a luxurious trip aboard the Orient Express…..