ITP Consumer to re-launch VIVA magazine

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ITP Consumer is to re-launch VIVA magazine to become the region’s only handbag sized magazine specifically targeting working women aged 25 years plus. After 10 years in the region, the home-grown title will tackle issues relevant to the modern women in the Middle East. The new look will be revealed in the March issue and celebrated with its International Women’s Day event on March 6, 2014.

“We are excited about the new-look VIVA, which will be now available in convenient handbag size and is the perfect accompaniment for the woman on the go,” says Anita Quade, Editor, VIVA magazine. “It is a big year for VIVA, which celebrates its 10 year anniversary in September and what better way it mark this milestone than with a modern makeover.”

Gareth Lloyd-Jones, Publishing Director for VIVA, commented, “We’re bringing the same quality content the VIVA readers have come to expect, but giving the magazine a whole new look. The magazine is now bolder and brighter and the team have really brought to life the new strapline “All about you”.

Please don’t ditch me!

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In the world of PR, the client/agency relationship can sometimes be a rocky road. PR Guru Sophie Toh attempts to decipher the encrypted relationship, while outlining her dream client wish list… 

Is it them or us? Has the relationship stalled? Like an insecure lover, we live in constant fear of being dumped

Running a PR agency is a tricky business. Not only do you have to worry about dazzling prospective clients with your proposals, networking day and night and being a whizz at team and time management, but you also have to keep your clients happy.

The thought of keeping up with the spoken and unspoken expectations of a healthy stable of clients, all with vastly different characters, backgrounds, specialisms and from such a rich range of nationalities is enough to make even the toughest of us lose a wink of sleep. We agencies worry constantly about the quality of our client relationships, constantly picking them over and needing to dissect and analyse them. Is it them or us? Has the relationship stalled? Like an insecure lover, we live in constant fear of being dumped.

So imagine our consternation when we read the latest body of research from the Public Relations Consultants Association (PRCA) that reveals a fascinating gulf between agencies and clients in what they feel matters most in their relationships. Perhaps the biggest agency misconception is that personal chemistry matters. Over half (51 per cent) of agency respondents thought it was the key ingredient, whilst just less than one quarter (19 per cent) of clients agreed. Meanwhile, 17 per cent of agencies thought ‘regularity of communication’ mattered, but only six per cent of clients did. It seems that agencies think they are having a relationship, while clients think they are having a transaction.

Even more puzzling is the business of effectiveness. Almost half of those from agencies thought ‘demonstrating ROI’ was key, but in contrast only 34 per cent of clients agreed. On the other hand, only 27 per cent of agencies thought value for money was key, compared with 38 per cent of clients.

So where does that leave us?  Simply put, it seems that agencies are trying to prove the payback on each and every project, examining the micro over the macro and living in danger of over thinking ourselves out of the picture. The reassuring take away from this study is that overstretched clients simply do not have the time for such detail – they just want to know their PR budget has been well spent. So we should calm down and avoid obsessing over the detail and the volume of correspondence we exchange each and every day. Time to take a breath.

Crossing over the fence, we did an informal straw poll at TOH Towers about what qualities we love in our clients.  Here’s our dream client list:

 

  • Trusts you and lets you get on with your job
  • Understands PR, but equally understands we are the experts
  • Is clear about what they want, so we can over deliver
  • Tells us when we’re wrong and voices their concerns
  • Might challenge our ideas, but will allow us to debate them openly
  • Looks forward to our meetings
  • Doesn’t make us feel inferior – we’re their partner

 

For more news and insights, follow Sophie on Twitter @teamtoh 

Assistant Account Executive, Danielle Ferns

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Name: Danielle Ferns
Age: 21
From: Mumbai, India
Job Title: Assistant Account Executive, Edelman 

When did you first arrive in the UAE?
I’ve lived in this beautiful city for as long as I can remember. Dubai has an excellent education system that I have been a part of in school and university, and I have watched this city grow with me into a strong and determined leader.

Where did you work prior?
I recently graduated from Manipal University, Dubai in July 2013 and Edelman is the first to give me my break in the media industry. 

What were your first impressions of the media industry in the Middle East?
The Middle East media industry is one that’s very forward thinking and constantly evolving. It is quite impressive to see the industry welcome young talent with open arms.

Tell us about your new role…
My role as Assistant Account Executive is quite exciting. I get to work across a range of accounts, meet interesting people, form some valuable work relationships and gain tremendous experience as I move along.

How do you plan to make your mark?
I believe hard work, determination and most importantly initiative are my key focus points to succeed and create a mark for myself. But most importantly I plan to ‘Show up differently’.

Have you managed to meet many PRs yet?
I’d have to say no. When you’ve just started out, you can never meet ‘many people’ or enough people. Public Relations is one of the most diverse industries and everyone has a uniqueness about the way they work and put their best foot forward. It will be quite interesting for me to meet new PRs during the course of my career.

You interned for sometime in Dubai, how valuable an experience was this?
Very. I can’t stress enough the importance of an internship to kick start ones career. Internships give you the opportunity to learn from the experienced and find your niche.

What do you think of the quality of media publications in the region?
I can safely say that no matter our language or interests, the Middle East has something for each and every one of us and that in itself says a lot about the quality of media publications.

What sets you apart from other PRs?
At 21, I’m glad to say some things, including this, are still a mystery.

Work calls via landline, mobile or both?
Mobile! It’s the quickest and easiest way to get a hold of me.

Describe yourself in five words…
Passionate, fun, inquisitive, determined and talkative.

What’s your most overused saying?
I’m in it to win it!

Five things you can’t live without?
Ha! Five is too much. I’d say my mum, her food, my dog, music and my friends.

If you weren’t a PR, what would you be?
Some test I took a while ago based on random choices of magazines I read and movies I liked, said I was meant to be an astronaut or a teacher. Thanks, but PR works just great for me.

Noon Art Boutique Hotel Apartments

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As Dubai’s latest hotel prepares for launch, Team TMN caught up Managing Director, Rasha Al Mutawa to find out what’s in store…

The grand launch of Noon Art Boutique Hotel Apartments is set for February 10, 2014. What can we expect from Dubai’s newest hotel?
We are extremely excited for the launch of Dubai’s first completely art-inspired hotel, as it’s the first of its kind in the UAE. It has been bought to life by three Arabic artists; Dr. Najat Meky, a recognised Emirati female artist, Mr. Ali Hassan, a resident of Qatar and Mr. Khaled Ben Simane, a Tunisian national. All three artists are not only contemporary painters, but also highly skilled in sculpture and ceramics.

Where is Noon Art Boutique Hotel Apartments located?
It’s in a very central location, which was important to us – Al Barsha. We wanted to make sure Noon was accessible from most places in Dubai like the Mall of the Emirates, Dubai Marina and Downtown Dubai.

What is the basic concept of the hotel?
The concept is ‘art of hospitality’ and the entire hotel is inspired by the art of Dr. Najat Meky, Mr. Ali Hassan and Mr. Khaled Ben Simane. It’s a refreshing concept that we hope will be a creative spot for like-minded people to come together and encapsulate the importance of art and culture in this ever-expanding city.

Where did the concept for Noon Art Boutique Hotel Apartments originate?
The concept came to life when founder Khalid Almutawa decided to combine his love for art with his real estate business. The idea was to create a space where people live in an artistic environment and leave with a full understanding of the art.

The hotel includes an art gallery. Will this be open to the public?
Noon Art Gallery is located on the first floor of the Hotel. It will be open to public visitors and home to a variety of artists. Noon Art Gallery also has a restaurant and café, which will allow customers to relax and experience their surroundings whilst enjoying international cuisine.

Tell us about the Noon Art Gallery.
A wide range of art will be featured on a regular basis along with exhibitions that will be hosted throughout the year. From the opening, there will be a rotation of different artists work in the gallery, to give guests a variety as well as art workshops and other art-related events.

What crowd are you expecting to attract?
We’re expecting to attract art lovers in the region and from around the world – we’ve experienced great interest from media in Dubai, the UK and South Africa. However, we are also aiming to spread the Arab art industry further and bring it to the attention of people who are not in the industry.

What makes Noon Art Boutique Hotel Apartments stand out ahead of Dubai’s vast hotel offerings?
It is the only hotel in the region that is completely art-inspired – there is artwork throughout the hotel from the lobby, suites and even the elevators. We have kept a similar theme throughout the hotel and each artist has three or four floors each. If you look carefully they’ve added their own artistic touch on each floor – in the cushions and curtain details, every piece of furniture, and even the lights.

Is this the company’s first launch in the UAE and is there any plan to expand the hotel concept in the future?
This is the first in the UAE and there are definite plans of expanding. We are already working on further projects, which will be revealed in the next 12 months.

 

For further enquiries relating to Noon Art Boutique Hotel Apartments, contact Chloe Geake at chloe@dpq.ae / +971 (0)50 913 0060

BBC Good Food winners announced

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The fourth annual BBC Good Food Middle East Awards took place on Wednesday evening at The Address, Dubai Marina. New category winners included Best New Restaurant, Doha, which was awarded to Market by Jean Georges, W Doha Hotel & Residences, Best Seafood Restaurant, which went to Bice Mare, and Best Experiential Dining, which was awarded to The Act Dubai.

“This year’s awards were a resounding success, with everyone who attended – not just the winners – having had a great time,” says Sudeshna Ghosh, Editor of BBC Good Food Middle East magazine. “The results were a mix of some surprise winners as well as some long-time favourites coming out on top.”

For a full list of winners, visit http://www.cpievents.net/bbcgf-awards-2013/2013-award-winners/