After the long summer, C&IT's Brand Book Live was a welcome chance to catch up with more than 70 event professionals from brands including AstraZeneca, AXA PPP Healthcare and Porsche, as well as agency colleagues from BSI, Smyle, Crescendo and Euro RSCG Skybridge.
As well as sharing fabulous views over London from the Penthouse Leicester Square, there was plenty of unhindered chat about the state of the industry, before a relaxed evening of drinks and music from Young Guns, including a masterclass in beatboxing. Good to see C&IT staff mastering the art...
Barely was the event over before it was time to fly over to Malta, where Swedish cosmetics firm Oriflame was holding its annual sales incentive conference.
It couldn't have got more star-spangled, with Oriflame's event stretching over several days and venues. Arriving at the hotel, the lobby was filled with excited Oriflame consultants brandishing their prizes from a gala evening at The Granaries in Valletta.
Sadly, I missed the company's figurehead Natalia Vodianova, but was instead privy to an intimate dinner in Mdina, where German minister of foreign affairs Guido Westerwelle was trying to escape the maddening crowds.
He looked quite nervous when the sound of gunfire rocked the ancient city, and the burly minders hanging around certainly appeared ready for action, but thankfully it was simply a historical recreation of French military on the island. Phew.
The gunshots were over in time for an exclusive seaplane flight over to Gozo with a spot next to the pilot. Speaking of flights, wondering where Willie Walsh is going to get the cash to go ahead with more mergers and acquisitions after BA's big losses this year? And with BA flight attendants meeting to debate loss of benefits today, looks like there could be another strike on the cards....
Perhaps C&IT's Brand Book Live keynote speaker Hamish Taylor - former head of brand management at BA - could give Willie a few tips....
