Hotel Healthy Eating

A Week Away used to mean indulgence and relaxation, enjoying all the good things about life, the weather and of course the sumptuous food in the hotel restaurant. Not anymore. Although the stress relieving aspects of a week away are still there hotels are introducing new tasty, healthy eating programs in their restaurants.
We are all becoming increasingly aware of the nutritional content of our food and the importance of healthy eating as well as an active lifestyle. Hotels have realised this and have got onboard with encouraging their guests to eat healthily. Hyatt is one of the large luxury hotel chains heading the campaign to get healthy options onto hotel menus.
Hyatt and others following their example are working towards implementing these changes and by 2016 a reduction in the calorie, salt and sugar content of meals should be achieved. Hotel restaurants will be offering portion-controlled, nutritional options on their menus which mean that a week away does not have to mean a break from the diet.

However does this mean a general increase in price for smaller portions? The aim is to provide at least two healthy meal options that are equivalent or lower in price than the other options available. It is questionable whether this is possible, as we all know organic and quality produce costs more!

The introduction of healthier options is not only good news for the diet and our waistlines but also for the environment. As well as providing balanced healthy food for the diners, hotel restaurants aim to source their ingredients in an ethical and sustainable way that benefits the environment and the farmers such as “cage free eggs, all natural beef and sustainable seafood”. Sounds delicious!



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La Mamounia – Palace of Bliss

Recently MSE’s Managing Director Nina Johnson-Bennett visited Marrakech on a much anticipated short break from the grim rain and cold English weather. While there Nina graced the luxury hotel, La Mamounia with her presence. She received a wonderful Morrocan welcome and began her 6 days of bliss and a tailor-made stay in the Mamounia Palace, located a 5 minute walk from the tranquil Khatabia gardens, the hubbub of the souk and El Fnaa Square.
Jacques Garcia’s stunningingly designed hotel recounts its mythical history as a palace with 17 acre gardens given by an 18th century Sultan’s as a gift to his son whilst creating an overall atmosphere of grandeur . An air of royalty pervades the opulent gardens, chic and sweeping décor, well laid out bedrooms, and five star amenities. The fact that every detail was considered created a deluxe environment that you never wanted to leave. It is no surprise that the myriad of celebrities and dignitaries, including Winston Churchill who stayed at the hotel on many occasions, visit each year and keep coming back.

The nature gardens and swimming pool were a beautiful place to relax during the day, the addition of colourful birds singing emphasised the calm serenity of the hotel.

The pool restaurant served the most amazing hot and cold buffet with an expanse of salads, grilled meat, sweets and, if you have room, a fantastic cheese board. Don’t expect to be able to eat dinner the same day!

Lunch was regularly taken on the Italian terrace which offered mouth watering salads and tasty sandwiches, then back to the pool for coffee and a siesta.

The Moroccan restaurant prepared and served traditional Moroccan dishes with a contemporary flair and each meal was enjoyed with a huge choice of delicious local wines. The service was ‘par excellence’ by people who really enjoyed their work and made you feel genuinely welcome.

Nina comments: “The time we spent there left us pampered, relaxed and wanting to return as soon as we could!”



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Concept Hotels

Recently it has been announced that plans for a hotel and leisure facility to be built in Dubai that is half submerged in the water and the rest towering above sea level is taking shape.

Amazingly, this is not the first of its kind. The Poseidon is a luxury underwater hotel and resort in the waters of the South Pacific Ocean surrounding Fiji. It offers panoramic ocean views from the clear acrylic pods that also serve as luxuriously decorated rooms. 

However this is not the only incredible and seemingly unfeasible idea for a hotel. The Ice Hotel in Swedish Lapland is an awe inspiring structure of ice and snow, the extreme architecture has to be rebuilt each winter. Their website advices on how to dress and sleep in the freezing temperatures, and with the possibility of seeing the northern lights the experience is once in a lifetime. 

From spectacular to the surreal, a French hotel is offering its guest the experience of living like a rodent in its Hamster hotel...

 

Think you have seen it all? Check out this list of unusual and creative hotels, from the prison hotel in Germany to a sand hotel in Dorset (can’t quite believe that one!) there are some unfathomable and certainly interesting concepts!

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Voluntourism

Part of a travelling experience can be volunteering and contributing to ongoing projects and charities in countries that may be poverty stricken, without educational institutions or clean water. Voluntourists can get involved in many projects from providing medical aid or helping to clean up an area that has been affected by natural disasters.

The basis of voluntourism is good intentioned; it is even a dream of many people to visit a beautiful, new country and make a difference while they are there. However it must be done responsibly and address the actual issues rather than thinking building something pretty will bring the real changes needed.

It is undeniable that voluntourism is a great initiative; it inspires a charitable work ethic, encourages people to give back and provides resources to vital projects worldwide. It is also crucial for promoting sustainability, increased awareness of our planet and the consequences of our actions. However exploitation is not unheard of in the regions where the work is supposed to be of benefit to the people; fraudulent behaviour such as keeping orphanages in terrible conditions purposefully to attract more charitable visitors even though they have more than enough funds to improve conditions for the children . This puts vulnerable people at risk and can even exacerbate the exiting problems.
The most important result of voluntourism is that the receiving community is involved in initiatives and developments that are crucially necessary. It may not always be obvious and speaking directly to the people it will effect is a very important step in providing sustainable giving. For example funding to train teachers and to purchase school equipment might be more important than building an oversized and unneeded commercial school in a village of 500 people.

Volunteer abroad sensibly is the message. Do research into the country, culture and the history before jetting off to gain an understanding of how social and cultural factors influence poverty. Fundamentally travellers need to be made aware of the short- and long-term implications involved with voluntourism.


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Rebranding: Trials and Tribulations

Recently Facebook have faced animosity towards their new changes, the time line has been met with the most unfavourable reaction yet. Past changes have been disagreeable however they were eventually accepted by the social networking community. This time the heat is being felt.

Are changes, in particular rebranding, always a good idea?

The following examples suggest that sometimes listening to the public is the best idea for your brand.

Even giants like coca cola can make dire mistakes. Coke launched New Coke in 1985 to combat Pepsi’s latest campaign and the fear that Pepsi would over take them in the market. The CEO changed the formula of coke and this disastrous decision was short lived, after three months Coke Classic was reintroduced, outselling Pepsi.

Gap similarly made a mistake that had its customers tweeting with rage. The clothing brand didn’t predict such an adverse reaction when it changed its logo to simple black lettering on a white background and a small blue square in the right hand corner. The new logo was pulled only a few days after the launch and the disgruntled public won.

Not all rebranding results in outrage and a swift U-turn. When the chocolate bar Marathon Americanised its name to Snickers in 1990 it was a move that made sense as Snickers was its global name. The name change didn’t diminish UK sales, and the chocolate bar was recently named the all time best-selling chocolate bar in the world, quite a title.

A brand new palindrome was bought to our attention when Norwich Union rebranded itself as Aviva in 2008. This change was smooth due to it already being known as Aviva in overseas markets. The renaming was a success after a wide-reaching advertising campaign featuring celebrities who had changed their names before they were famous and polls following the name change also suggested it had boosted brand recognition.

There are many more examples in the vaults of bad business decisions, can you recall any other disastrous changes or rebranding?

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The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment

We are all preparing ourselves for the exciting summer ahead with both the Olympics and the Queen’s diamond jubilee celebrations to look forward to.

There are many events and visits planned for the long weekend in June that will celebrate the monarch’s 60th year on the throne. This includes the Epsom Derby and the Thames Pageant consisting of 1000 boats and the royal barge which will make quite a sight on the Thames, on 3rd June. However the sight we are anticipating the most at MSE is the royal procession on 5th June.

The Royal Household Cavalry are going through extensive training in preparation for the celebrations and have recently had a dress rehearsal. 116 men and horses of the mounted regiment will travel alongside the Queen through London starting at Westminster Hall to Buckingham Palace; ablaze with colour and pageantry. There are some impressive and amusing characters in the parade this year with one of the ‘mane’ events being Thomas the kissing horse who will affectionately kiss you if you offer him his favourite minty treats. Amongst the other playful equines is a moustachioed horse with the rank of Major, another who likes to shake hooves with visitors and other talented individuals that can sweep the floor and bed themselves down in their own stables.

To learn more about the history and role of the household cavalry why not visit the museum for an interesting and fun day out.

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Easter and all the rest

The Easter break is soon upon us and with the news that airlines will be under-staffed there is panic and concern over severe delays for those travelling on the busy bank holiday weekend. It is questionable whether going away for a long weekend is really the best thing. However it doesn’t seem to have deterred the thousands hitting the road, tracks and the skies this Easter.
Today Heathrow and other airports have expressed concerns over UK Border Agency Staff shortages which will in turn cause delays for passengers. With 200,000 people expected to pass through Gatwick and 370,000 departing from Heathrow, the increase in demand over these busy periods will put extra strain on travel operators.

Forecasted snow, airline gridlock, strikes, rail closures and busy bank-holiday roads; is it just scaremongering? It is certainly a terrifying prospect for the long weekend as half the country travel from one end to the other in order to visit family and friends or make the most of a few extra days off.

The weather reports are not helping matters. The horror at what might happen over Easter if it snows and the effect this will have on travel is immeasurable. The snow that has already hit Scotland and North- East England causing road closures and power cuts in 40,000 homes, is reportedly heading south. The fact that the country experienced the hottest recorded days of March only a week ago makes it all seem slightly mad.

The only way to avoid the inevitable jams and delays, miserable weather and irate passengers is to stay at home and enjoy a quiet relaxing break. There are plenty of other activities to engage in over Easter; why not visit a city farm, take a stroll to Hampstead Heath, finish that book you’ve been reading for the past 3 months….

What ever it is you plan to do here are some excellent tips in keeping the stress of Easter break to a minimum.

Have a wonderful Holiday!



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Garrard and The Prince's Trust

 Garrard, the World’s oldest jewellers gained its first royal commission from Frederick Louis, Prince of Wales (1707 to 1760) and in 1843 it officially became the crown jeweller. Garrard (pronounced Gerrard) has a very long and well established history, founded by George Wickes in 1735 and later given the name Garrard when Robert Garrard took control over the company. Today it continues to create divine pieces desired by many and often seen on the elegant hands and swan necks of celebrities; Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell and Rihanna to name but a few and all who have donned beautifully designed diamond creations by the esteemed jeweller.

The latest collection has limited edition pieces of exquisite black gold, and were recently viewed by MSE’s Managing Director, Nina Johnson-Bennett a member of the Prince’s Trust Women’s Leadership Group at an exclusive reception celebrating Garrard’s partnership with the Trust which included a private tour of their new Diamond Jubilee exhibition. As a  sponsor they hosted the Princes Trust Diamond Jubilee Event in London on the evening of 29^th March, featuring many of their new pieces including the special diamond jubilee pendant specifically for this year’s celebrations in June, each pendant has a birthstone set in the crown and is being launched in gold, white gold and rose gold. The evening was a resounding success as purchases were made throughout the night. An as yet unspecified however evidently substantial amount was raised for the Prince’s Trust Charity, 10% of purchases went directly to the charity as donations.

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Unemployment on the Rise

Needless to say if you are currently employed you are incredibly lucky. UK unemployment increased by 28,000 in the last 3 months to 2.67million and even though this is the lowest increase in almost a year it is still a huge amount.

In this economy and the ‘doom and gloom’ news across Europe with Greece and Italy in dire straits it is easy to understand people’s frustration and desperation. Those who find themselves unemployed, whether that is due to staff cuts within companies, redundancy or liquidation of a business, can be facing long term periods of unemployment. One jobseeker claims to have applied for 1,639 jobs over the course of a year and has had no luck so far.

Most media coverage of mass unemployment focuses on the impact it has on young people and graduates between 16-24 years old. The figures of unemployment in this age group rose by 16,000 to 1.042 million since January. However a huge amount of people over 50 are part of the figures and reports of ageism are increasing. Those who have contributed for years and gained experience are particularly affected by becoming suddenly unemployed and the ability to get back into work is increasingly difficult. With retirement age forecasted at 75 in the future it begs the question how are these people going to find work.

But the message is to keep going; although being unemployed can be dispiriting and even ‘mind numbing’ seeking work is a ‘full time job’. Taking on volunteer work and other activities to build on skills gives a reason to set the alarm clock and dress presentably. Having some kind of purpose is helpful to avoid getting stuck in a mindset where unemployment becomes wearisome and even depressing.

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Sport Relief

With the combination of endurance, hilarity and celebrations of Sport Relief coming to a close it is apt to consider what has been achieved and the “distance” still needed to go to reach the ultimate goal. Every year it seems that the deprivation of the needy including young children, often orphaned and living in unimaginable conditions, the majority concentrated in under-developed countries is worsening across the globe. The success stories are few and far between compared to the tragic and dire conditions in which many still live. It is incomprehensible that this continues in 2012 and despite Sport Relief reaching over £52 million from donations and celebrity endeavours that such a monumental amount will not touch the tip of the iceberg to help many who continue to suffer.

How are all these millions spent? Obviously huge events like Sport Relief cost money to organise, and there is also the cost of flights, aid and a significant amount in between that needs to be taken into account. So only a fraction of the money raised goes to those who need it most. These large celebrity-saturated charities do some good such as providing vaccinations, mosquito nets, education, food, clean water and further measures to prevent the spread of disease.


Does the vague descriptions on the Sport Relief site about how money is spent merely highlight and accentuate the severity of the issues that need to be tackled rather than showing how they have been resolved?

After more than 20 years of Sport Relief and other large events like Comic Relief, few “goals” have been reached in that time and the question that must be asked is; how much is needed to really make a difference?

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Up in the Clouds

Businesses develop with technology. The increasing implementation of cloud computing is revolutionising the work place in many ways. The greatest advantage of cloud computing is that it allows unprecedented flexibility within a business; effectively the office is wherever you are, employees can remotely access their systems from any device or laptop anywhere in the world. This allows them to make real time decisions and keeps the team connected and in sync with each other. It is allows businesses to combat the disruption caused by bad weather, family challenges and broken limbs. The cloud could also be put to good use during the Olympics when travel is expected to be difficult.

Further advantages are found in the choice of how we work and what we use to work on: tablets smart phones, PCs and Macs all can be utilised through cloud computing. The offer of choice it presents encourages companies to hire recently graduated tech savvy talent who will no doubt contribute to the company’s development; BBC found that "globally 40% of college students and 45% of employees would accept a lower paying job with a choice of device, than a higher paying job with less flexibility".
An obvious positive in implementing cloud computing is cost. Revenue is important in any business, whether a start up or long established brand and the greatest advantage of having cloud computing is the amount it saves. It is no longer necessary to buy expensive hardware and software licences, and manage IT in-house. Also employees can use their own laptops and devices so businesses can get more out of employees without the cost of additional equipment.

The down side is the security concern that rises from everything being in a central location on the web and it means that information is harder to protect from hackers and viruses, nevertheless it can be protected. Other pitfalls include possible problems with the internet, if connection is lost then access to your remote server will be down and therefore all the data you have in the cloud too; this new technology is not without its shortcomings. Developments are ongoing meaning support is crucial for when things go wrong with cloud computing which is why it is useful to employ someone that can help with IT support. The significance of cloud computing is related in this article. Tweet

Tesco's trouble and what it means for the rest of us

The news that Richard Brasher, the CEO of Tesco has ‘stepped down’ may not come as much of a surprise; considering that the biggest supermarket in the UK has recently suffered a drop in market share - following profit warnings and disappointing sales prior to Christmas. In addition the controversial “price drop” campaign which Brasher spear headed has failed miserably. Tesco’s struggle is representative of the UK’s economy and shows there is still a long way to go before the economy returns to a more stable level.

Brasher stepped down on the 15th March after only a year in the job the actual reasons have not been announced and it is most likely will not be published; it is a well known fact that there has been a clash of egos in the boardroom. Brasher and the Group CEO, Philip Clarke did not get on well and Tesco’s latest campaign failure in an attempt to increase revenue may have contributed to Brasher’s resignation.

The last few months have also been turbulent for the group given Tesco’s handling of a government scheme for employing young people in work placements. The stores have also seen decreasing in popularity with the desertion of regular customers turning to cheaper supermarkets such as Morrison’s for their weekly shop. The recent developments pose questions about the strategy of UK’s biggest retailer.

According to reports Tesco has been underperforming, and the supermarket giant has hit hard times raising concerns for other businesses throughout the UK. It highlights that we still need to be concerned about the continuing recession and how smaller businesses are faring in this climate. The CEO of fashion chain French Connection Stephen Marks has said that ‘the economic situation hampered trading’ and that ‘clearly the state of the UK economy is not helping the position’ this is following French Connections fall in sales, with an 8.2 million loss in their UK stores.
With significant events happening in the UK this summer the hopes are that things will improve

The next step for Tesco is a plan to revamp their stores, spending millions on this and focussing on product detail and their online business instead of building more giant supermarkets.
Let us know how the continuing recession has affected you.

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The Debate. Quotas: Women and the Big Bad Boardroom

Following the celebrations of International Women’s Day and the ensuing media coverage on prime time television it is interesting to reflect on how far women have progressed at senior level in the business world.

With the increasing talk of quotas and the mixed opinions toward them there is a general sense of support for achieving equality and balance of gender at board level. Superficially it seems we are heading in the right direction however if we are to see more women in top executive positions it might mean the introduction of the quota system. Statistics detailing the percentage of women holding senior officer roles show an increase of less than one percentage point from 2008 to 2010; 16.9 per cent in 2008 against 17.7 per cent in 2010. In addition women only make up 12% of directors at Europe's largest firms a clear indication that change definitely needs to happen. The need for quotas and the debate surrounding them highlights the distance to go before adequate female representation is achieved.

However the pros and cons of quotas have caused significant debate particularly the discriminatory aspect of quotas and the belief that women will be depreciated and be awarded roles not because they are qualified to hold them but to meet the quotas set for the company. Studies have suggested that companies with women among their directors are more successful than those whose boardrooms are men only.

The lack of progress in the last decade raises some questions as to why the gender gap hasn’t been closed. Could it be that women simply don’t want to take these high powered, time consuming executive roles? Is the pressure to choose between a family or career or the stress of juggling both too much of a sacrifice?

If this is the correct conclusion then quotas will not be met; the 40% increase of women at director level across Europe will not be achieved and quotas are therefore redundant and self defeating. Women should be hired on their own merit and achieve positions of power through their own capability and ambition and not to meet a statistical target or to realise a political statement.

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Kids at The Ritz

Hotels will make every effort to draw in customers, from providing free goldfish with each room to a personal child butler service. The niche hotel accelerated the trend in creating unique guest experiences, identifying what the customer’s own interests are and meeting their expectations. Whether that is relaxing in a state of the art spa hotel, peaceful adult only hotels or enjoying specialised health and fitness programmes in the EVEN hotel.

The Ritz Hotel has recently launched a new campaign that they hope will improve occupancy rates. This is appealing to families, particularly the younger generation. Their new feature is to indulge children with their own mini bathrobes, free unlimited ice cream, cookies and warm milk before bed. On arriving children are given VIK passes (Very Important Kid) for access to the under 16’s lounge which caters to the younger palate. Family friendly facilities mean the children can be looked after, entertained, made to feel welcome while their parents relax. This initiative affords the Ritz a competitive edge and other hotels such as the Athenaeum, Omni and Trump are now following suit.

Is it necessary to spoil and pamper young children and does it open up the hotel industry to a wider market?

Child friendly hotels appeal to families however may put off adults looking for a quiet stay without excitable children running around. On the other hand people who do have children can still enjoy luxury holidays that meet the expectations of both the younger and older generations.

The campaign will certainly be rewarding in terms of business, the theory being that customers who enjoyed experiences in hotels as a child are more likely to return as an adult. Comforting, family friendly features are therefore an investment for future business

Here is a list of top hotels for kiddies and the rest of the family to enjoy:

http://www.travelmamas.com/wordpress/top-luxury-hotels-for-children/


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The Olympics and the Hospitality Sector

This summer brings some important historical events with the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee (4-5th June), the Farnborough International Air show (9-15th July) and of course the much anticipated Olympics (27July- 12th August) and Paralympics Games (29th August- 9th September).

This will undoubtedly have a huge effect on the hospitality, leisure and retail industries in Britain.

Debates and discussions with regard to the hospitality sector have been ongoing since the UK won the bid to host the games in 2005, a monumental achievement as we last hosted the Olympics in 1908 and 1948. It is believed that the influx of people during this memorable summer will have a largely positive effect on London with optimism in the Hospitality Sector up to 53.5% according to HotStats Hotel confidence Monitor.

The positives include the chance to revamp Britain’s global reputation as a fast-food eating, loutish and unwelcoming nation. The aim will be to challenge, change and improve these views.

In terms of the hospitality sector, notably hotels in and around London, there is a concern in keeping the price right during and after the Olympic period. The key is to look at past international events, their successes and pitfalls and retrospectively learn from them. Booking hotel rooms, overbooking and attracting clients who will stay on post Olympics if possible are all major issues facing the hotel industry.

The London 2012 organising committee (LOCOG) ensures fair pricing by hotels, taking the average rate of the past three years and adjusting these prices according to inflation. However not all hotels have signed up to this scheme. By not signing up hotels are leaving themselves more open and independent to control their room bookings. This highlights one of the pitfalls of LOCOG in that hotels do not necessarily know where the business is coming from, the guest list and whether people will continue to stay on after the Olympics.

Very recently LOCOG released 120,000 of the 600,000 rooms it had reserved for the Olympics, the explanation for this is simply these rooms are being returned because they will not be needed.

LOCOG claim they are merely returning any surplus rooms for resale however there is concern that the rise in hotel prices would deter people from the capital, such as regular tourists that would visit the UK. Despite this hoteliers are remaining positive.

Overall the Olympics are undeniably a major event in the exposure it brings, promoting and creating improvements to the city. Approximately 11 million visitors are expected to descend on London this summer and there are new hotels opening in London specifically built for the Olympics, such as Holiday Inn, Stratford and Staybridge Suites, Stratford. Travelodge are also scheduled to open 11 more properties across the capital this year.

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Keen on Green

At MSE we are keen to be as environmentally friendly and eco conscious as possible. We recycle and have used minimal paper to reduce waste to ensure we maintain a paper free environment. We reduce energy costs and carbon footprint in every way we can. The hospitality industry across the board is demonstrating concern for the environment and working towards a better future for all. Recently the Hilton Heathrow Hotel has installed a waste2water digester which is an innovative system that turns wasted food into grey water that can then be recycled. This is a much needed change in light of recent statistics such as two thirds of people leave food on their plate because they are full and the fact that on average every person in the UK throws away their own body weight in rubbish every seven weeks.

The Hilton Hotel at London Heathrow airport will save “in excess of £30,000 per annum in waste management costs” due to this new innovative system. This is very significant move for a large multi national  hotel company and is cost effective, as disposal of waste is becoming more expensive: “food waste collection and disposal costs are increasing at an alarming 20 per cent per year”. The aim is to reduce this and to become  landfill free. Landfills are unsustainable and an inefficient way of disposing of waste and possibly one of the most environmentally damaging things we do.

There are many websites that offer practical and free advice for businesses and the hospitality sector on getting rid of waste efficiently, recycling and reducing the amount of waste they produce, including-

http://www.wrap.org.uk/hospitality/

http://www.nisp.org.uk/

http://www.zerowastescotland.org.uk/

It is certainly worth implementing some of the suggestions found here and investing in systems such as waste2water as the savings in the long term are major, not just in terms of money but also the environment.

The Hilton Hotel at London Heathrow airport is also planning to install light sensors and LED lights to save on energy costs and reduce their carbon footprint; they are setting a trend that hopefully many will follow.

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Government’s £4m campaign to encourage ‘staycations’ a flop?

It seems that the Government’s attempt to encourage UK holiday makers to stay at home and holiday in the UK has not had the desired effect according to a recent poll by Holiday Extras. It suggested that 53% of those going on holiday prioritise a vacation abroad rather than one at home.

The campaign is focussed on the positive impact of staycations, and encourages holiday makers this year to take advantage of what the UK has to offer. This will play a part in boosting the UK’s tourism industry and hopefully have a positive effect on the economy. 

Following the global economic crisis whilst support is required in all economies including the UK’s, staycations yield positive results in terms of their effect on tourism, hospitality and the UK economy.

This campaign caused slight controversy as it discouraged holidaying abroad and for resorts that rely on tourism for their economy this could have detrimental effects. However it is the current economic situation that has caused this increased trend in holidaying at home and people wanting more value for their money. Simply the campaign suggests that adventure, activities and relaxing breaks can be found in the UK and that in fact “Holidays at home are GREAT”.

With major historic events as the Olympics and the Queens Diamond Jubilee happening very soon hopefully we don’t need to worry too much about drumming up popularity for staying in the UK!

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Relocation, Relocation, Relocation: Moving Abroad for Work

In the last few years there has been an unprecedented rise in professionals relocating to different continents, despite the international economic crisis.

So, why is this big move such a good idea?

With the exception of the obvious positives of working abroad such as being in a new and exciting city, improving your standard of living and, of course, the better weather there are significant advantages to working abroad.

Money is certainly an incentive; "nearly half of employees around the world would think about moving abroad for a pay rise". But the reasons to relocate go beyond just the financial aspects.
Undeniably the export and import of high calibre individuals has a positive effect on a country. Hong Kong is a particularly interesting case. A recent report by The Daily Telegraph has shown that due to its ageing population and low birth rate Hong Kong is in desperate need of workers of a wide range of skills and calibre: "The Government of Hong Kong is speeding up plans to lure skilled foreign workers as it predicts a massive labour shortage".This refers to a huge range of jobs, not just executive positions however it is still no less important to note. Other countries seeking skilled workers from abroad are Brazil, Mexico, Turkey, India and Russia. Although in many cases this could apply mostly to construction and engineering specialists it does play a significant part in the development of a country and its economy. In addition it supports other industries such as leisure, hospitality and tourism necessitating the need to import experienced executives in these sectors.
Employees with international experience is of value to potential employers, it provides a distinctive edge and can open up other possibilities and opportunities and improve an individual’s reputation and employability.

Despite the obvious pros it is not a decision to be taken lightly. It is certainly something you need be sure of, get support from family and get the family involved as it is likely they will be moving too. Seek practical help and importantly have a clear understanding of what you are moving to, not just the new job but also the language, cost of living, culture and laws of the new country. And of course it does not have to be permanent, as Colin Smith, the general counsel in Hong Kong for hedge fund managers Orchard Capital Partners Limited commented; "I often wonder why people don't take the opportunity to move abroad more often - if you don't like it you can always go back" .
The BBC news article gives tips on up heaving your life and how to make the process as smooth and stress-free as possible.

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Counter Offers

In Executive Search we see shocked companies making counter offers all the time. Counter Offers are to be expected, especially at Executive Level. No company wishes to lose their top players. Almost half of all employees recieve a counter offer when they hand in their resignation and as such throughout the interview process we always ask our candidates how they would react to a counter offer, as it is usually the case that a company will try to keep them, at least as an interim step. However, in our experience acceptance of a counter offer is never a good idea.

You will feel flattered or pressured (or both!) by your company pulling out all the stops to keep you. These are colleagues you will have known potentially for many years, some of them will be your friends, you will feel emotionally invested in accepting their counter offer or you will feel guilty if you do not. Remember why the new position appealed to you, and the opportunity you might be missing by taking a counter offer. When you accept a job offer after a lengthy interview process you go through the pyschological motions of leaving your current role. You will already have weighed up the pros and cons of leaving your current company and your resignation is the culmination of that decision.

The Counter Offer is usually a reactive step which sadly doesn't work. An increased salary or new title is usually your next promotion and pay rise early, and if you were worth this to your company they would have paid you this much and raised your profile without you having to quit first. Despite treating you very well in the immediate future your current company will consider you a risk and in our experience they are usually making contingency plans. It is easier and cheaper to keep you for more money for now. In 4 out of 5 cases, counter offered employees still leave within 12 months. It buys the company time ie: longer than your notice period to find a replacement. The company ultimately will view you as an untrustworthy employee. Your commitment will be in question and any company cutbacks are likely to begin with you. You will have to prove yourself again, as if you were a new employee.

If you decide to take the counter offer, you must remember that your resignation will not be forgotten. If you decide against the counter offer aim to leave on good terms and thank the company for the opportunities that they have offered you whilst in their employment. Tweet

Celebrating the Diamond Jubilee

February 6 marks the 60th anniversary of the Queen’s accession to the throne. We are certain that everyone is as excited about the Queens Jubilee as we are, and we think that there is plenty to be excited about! This is MSE's round up of the events surrounding the Jubilee, and our favourite? Not everything has even been announced yet!

To get you in the mood to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Elizabeth II on the throne, thats nearly longer than Queen Victoria, the previous longest serving monarch and (Elizabeths Great Grandma!) you might want to read 60 facts you never knew about our queen!

The Governmenthas announed an extra bank holiday for the nationwide celebration, planned for the first weekend in June to mark the Jubilee. Lord Mandelson said it would be a "truly historic occasion" which would allow the British people to show their "pride and affection" for The Queen.

The borough of Greenwich is set to recieve royal status. The honour recognises Greenwich's global significance as the home of the Prime Meridian, Greenwich Mean Time and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are at present just three Royal Boroughs: Kensington and Chelsea, Kingston, and Windsor and Maidenhead. All reflecting longstanding Royal associations.

Spice girls reforming? During an interview on the Australian TV show "Sunrise," Mel B dropped a major hint that the '90s girl group is reuniting for Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee celebration.

The Duchess of Cornwall has challenged schoolchildren to come up with the modern equivalent of Coronation Chicken for the queen. Representatives from the top four winning schools will be invited to Buckingham Palace in June to see their recipes turned into canapes by royal chef Mark Flanagan.

Planting of 1 million trees across the UK by the Jubilee Woods project. The Woodland Trust – the UK’s leading woodland conservation charity – has set itself the ambitious task of planting the million trees to celebrate the Queen’s accession to the throne as part of a year of tree planting that will see six million planted across the UK in the trust’s Jubilee Woods project. Tweet