Transform Awards announces MENA finalists

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The MENA edition of Europe’s annual Transform Awards has revealed the names of the regional finalists. Those shortlisted for the 2014 Transform Awards MENA include Commercial Bank of Qatar and Industry, du, Mey (Diageo) and Landor Associates and Toyota Al-Futtain and Bellwether Brands in the ‘Best brand evolution’ category. In addition to this, entries shortlisted for ‘Best strategic/creative development of a new brand’ are; Abu Dhabi Technology Department Committee and Brand Union, Al Mutawakelah and Omnia, ARN and Brash Brands, Fundo Soberano de Angola and Grayling, Mubadala Petroleum and Omnia and The Supreme Council of Health and Agency222.

The winners will be announced at a gala dinner for the inaugural awards, which will take place on June 2, 2014 at the JW Marriott Marquis Dubai. The awards will bring together professionals from the regional branding, advertising, digital and communications sector to celebrate the most successful rebranding, repositioning and brand transformation projects in the Middle East and North Africa. The event also includes a full day conference where industry experts will talk about the implications of multi-marketing branding, the effect of Gen-Y on employer branding and the challenges and opportunities of building brands in the Middle East.

3 days left to vote for VIVA Beauty Awards 2014

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Voting for the 7th annual VIVA Beauty Awards will close May 10, 2014. This year there are 21 VIVA Beauty awards, which will be presented across 12 overall categories in the prestige and mass market respectively. These include – Best Foundation, Best Perfume, Best Mascara, Best Nail Polish, Best Hair Salon, Best Nail Spa, Best Anti-Ageing Product, Best Hair Product, Best Face Moisturiser, Best Lipstick, Best Body Product and the Editor’s Choice Cult Classic. The shortlist for each category was handpicked by the VIVA team, along with a beauty panel that included make-up artist Sophie Leach, presenter Gabriela Miloda and blogger Zahra Lyla Pedram.

The VIVA Beauty Awards will be held on May 22 at the JW Marriot Marquis Dubai, and the winners will be picked by readers who can see the shortlist and cast their vote at www.vivabeautyawards.com.

Sarah Jacotine joins Logistics Middle East

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Sarah Jacotine has joined ITP as Editor of Logistics Middle East. Sarah previously worked in public relations as Account Manager at Aziza Communications, and prior to this as Communications Officer with Norwich City Council in the UK.

As Editor of the B2B magazine, Sarah will report on all aspects of the logistics industry in the region, including IT, warehousing, distribution and transportation.

Harper’s Bazaar to launch first Arabic edition

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Leading fashion publication Harper’s Bazaar Arabia, part of ITP Publishing, is to launch Harper’s Bazaar: The Season – its first ever definitive guide to the fashion season in Arabic. Launching in late September this year, the oversize book will showcase the best of both international and regional A/W14 collections, from couture and ready-to-wear to accessories and beauty, and will become a coffee table essential that engages readers for the first time in the national language.

“Over the last seven years, Harper’s Bazaar Arabia has established itself as the Middle East’s leading luxury fashion title, blending regional style with international influence,” says Louise Nichol, Editor-in-Chief, Harper’s Bazaar Arabia. “Retaining a regional voice and ensuring that content engages directly with a Middle Eastern reader is a central pillar of the magazine. It is therefore a natural step for Harper’s Bazaar to launch this bi-annual Arabic language publication, which will enhance the existing monthly product.”

With a comprehensive overview of key trends, iconic moments, regional designers to watch and top buys, combined with the unparalleled authority of Harper’s Bazaar, this new book will reach out to affluent and high-net-worth individuals across the GCC. The Season will be the ultimate Arabic language luxury fashion publication, offering Arabic-speaking readers a reference product in their own language, with the longevity of a six-month shelf-life that enhances the monthly magazine currently available in English. With an initial print run of 10,000 copies The Season will have a targeted distribution that includes all previous attendees and winners of the Arab Woman Awards in Qatar, Kuwait, UAE and Saudi Arabia, plus main newsstands, ladies clubs, five-star salons and spas.

 

Seeing stars

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After the official launch last month, Team TMN were invited to try out what is rumoured to be the most exclusive new dining destination in Dubai. But would the restaurant live up to the world-renowned reputation created by its two Michelin-starred Italy-based outlet? We wasted no time in finding out…

What: Don Alfonso 1890

Where: 2nd floor, Shangri-La Hotel, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai

When: Open Monday-Saturday for lunch and dinner, 12 – 3pm and 7pm – 11.30pm

The promise: “Don Alfonso 1890 will draw on its impressive pedigree to serve authentic yet contemporary Mediterranean cuisine. A multitude of global accolades for Don Alfonso 1890’s ‘living off the land’ approach to five-star dining, including the Five Star Diamond Award from 2000 to 2013, confirm Don Alfonso 1890’s reputation for culinary excellence.”

Did it deliver? A warm welcome from the restaurant hostess won us over instantly as we entered the large marble-clad restaurant, while the long, imposing bar proved the perfect prop to start the evening with a pre-dinner cocktail.

With an extensive menu teeming with Italian favourites, we were spoilt for choice by the number of classic dishes, each given a twist that is signature to Don Alfonso’s recipes. We began with an amuse bouche, thoroughly enjoying the curious yet delicious combination of warmed Pumpkin Puree, with Caper and Cream Cheese on Toast.

Next came the Antipasti, with the Lobster and Mozzarella skewer with Lemon flavoured Lettuce Coulis and fresh shaved Black Truffle being a firm favourite among the TMN Team. As to be expected from traditional Italian cuisine, the courses kept on coming. A signature dish of Don Alfonso, the Homemade Potato Gnocci with Cherry Tomatoes and Smoked Scamorza Cheese was the perfect blend of an Italian staple with a tangy kick, and the Baked Bread Wagyu Beef Tenderloin with Sautéed Spinach, Salsa Verde and Spicy Tomato Dip was a clear winner for the Secondi Piatti course, perfectly cooked with exceptional flavour.

While the dessert choice was slightly unusual, the Basil Infused Minestrone with Fresh Fruits and Green Apples Sorbet was a delicious surprise, and the Signature Concerto of Lemon Fritters and Yogurt Cream was Don Alfonso using the combination of citrus flavours at its best – definitely one to come back for!

A live Italian singer accompanied the evening using a set list that ranged from soft opera to Adele – a nice addition, although the strange stage set up didn’t fit well with the otherwise classic decor.

The verdict: If you’re a fan of authentic Italian cuisine, this new addition to the Dubai dining scene is anything but your typical spaghetti house. A Michelin star menu with a pleasantly affordable price tag, Don Alfonso 1890 is one that we certainly won’t be saying ciao to for very long…

Middle East Event Show 2014

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With the Middle East Event Show remodelling for 2014, Team TMN caught up with Exhibition Director Richard Brook, to find out what we can expect from the region’s most anticipated events industry exhibition…

When is the Middle East Event Show 2014, and where will it be held?
This year the Middle East Event Show will be taking place at the JW Marriott Marquis Dubai, and it will run from May 20 – 21, with the seventh annual Middle East EVENT Awards taking place on the evening of the May 21.

Tell us a bit about the concept behind the Middle East Event Show…
The Middle East’s event industry is ever expanding, basing its foundation on entertaining and bringing new and innovative concepts to the region to cater for the masses. With this in mind, this year we’ve decided to take the show and give it a whole new look, feel and focus. We’ve listened to what the industry has to say and have put together an event that focuses on knowledge sharing, education and networking. For the first time, the event will consist of six different, dynamic zones each addressing a specific business objective:

The Link offers a dedicated meeting space and is made up of meeting rooms, corporate hospitality and networking lounges. The dedicated areas can be used to not only showcase products, but to invite and host top clients for the afternoon.

The Showcase is the events main floor space, where visitors can come and see an impressive list of exhibiting companies showcasing their products and services. This year we have a wide range of industry sectors represented such as venues, technology providers, AV/equipment rental, as well as entertainment and event agencies.

The Know encompasses our conference programmes, and has been rebranded this year for the first time as MKTG Live. It provides marketing professionals with the platform to learn, deliberate and debate amongst the most influential industry leaders.

The Deck is a dedicated outdoor space, and something that we are introducing for the first time ever. With so many events in the UAE happening outside during the cooler months, we thought it made sense to offer the industry somewhere they could promote their products in the environment that they’re designed to be used in. The products being showcased on The Deck will vary from outdoor furniture and temporary structures to the truly wild n’ wacky. Definitely one to watch.

The Hub and EVENT Central is a Middle East Event Show take on ‘mingling with the industry’. It is a fully operational restaurant where the industry can take a break, grab a bit to eat and some drinks, network with industry leaders and work on building further connections (and ultimately solid business leads) with fellow industry peers.

How does the event differ from other event-industry related exhibitions in the region?
The Middle East Event Show is one-of-a-kind in the MENA region. There are other shows that focus on meetings, and meeting space, but the Middle East Event Show is the only one dedicated to Event Management, AV Rentals, Event Rentals, Event Technology and Catering Solutions, among others.

This will be the first time the Middle East Event Show is held in the JW Marriot Marquis. What was the reason behind the move?
The show was previously held at the Dubai World Trade Centre. We felt that holding it in a space that is not only trade focused, but has a trade feel to it, did not work with the essence of the show. The decision to move it to the JW Marriott Marquis allows us to be more flexible with the way that we connect our visitors with the product and service suppliers that they want to meet. At the end of the day it is not an exhibition, it’s an event created solely for the event industry, and not only will people be able to see products and services in action, the move means that they can also benefit from expanded content sessions and informal networking.

What can we expect from MKTG Live?
MKTG Live’s digital marketing conference, DIGICONF, will have a heavy focus on social media this year, and also deliberate on the trends expected to pop-up throughout 2014. It will also cover a wide range of topics from content and cross-channel marketing, to CRM and gamification.

The conference is set to welcome some of the region’s most prominent industry experts, such as Nicolaas Langereis, Director Social Media, MENA, Starcom Media Vest; Ibrahim Ahmed Elbadawi, Managing Director, Exantium and Former Senior eGovernment & Social Media Consultant, e-Government; and Tom Burrell, Head of Social, CRM & Analytics, LBi MENA.

Another new feature to take the stage at this year’s MKTG Live is the Digital Marketing Training Course. Allister Frost, Founder of Wild Orange Media and former Head of Digital Marketing Strategy at Microsoft, is known for his high energy, visually impactful talks and presentations. He will lead a concentrated two-day course that will focus on digital marketing knowledge and skills. The course covers a broad range of topic areas from how to develop your overarching strategy to hands-on implementation techniques for business success.

What can you tell us about the Middle East EVENT Awards 2014?
Hosted this year by Phil Jupitus of Never Mind the Buzzcocks (a popular UK panel show), the awards will take place at the JW Marriot Marquis.

The awards are our way of giving back to the industry. The deadline for nominations has actually just passed and we received a record amount of submissions this year for the 20 categories, each designed to showcase the diversity and excellence of the events and suppliers operating in the Middle East’s event industry. The categories range from Best Exhibition – Trade or Consumer, Best Events Venue, Best Meeting or Conference, Best Festival to Employer of the Year, Young Achiever and Outstanding Contribution to the Middle East Event Industry. As you can see we try to cover all aspects of the event industry to ensure that everyone gets a fair chance to be rewarded for their efforts.

We have also introduced a new category this year – Outstanding Brand Activation Event. This award is designed to recognise an outstanding brand activation event that created effective touch-points between the brand and consumers.

How can we attend the Middle East Event Show 2014?
The event is free to attend and is open to the public. Visitor pre-registration is open and can be found at – www.me-eventshow.com/register

What do you think the future holds for the events industry in the region?
With EXPO 2020 firmly in sight the regions event industry is going to be in the spotlight. Suppliers of products and services will be challenged to push the boundaries to deliver some of the most spectacular and successful events in the world! The Middle East Event Show is here to help – introducing local and international suppliers with the buyers that need to impress.

 

For further information, visit www.me-eventshow.com

Are bloggers true journalists?

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With an ever-increasing list of bloggers appearing on the PR radar, we ask, should bloggers be viewed with the same legitimacy as traditional journalists?

“NO” says Camellia Bojtor, Senior Account Manager, FleishmanHillard

CamelliaBojtorAny Joe Bloggs (excuse the pun) can post a blog today… they need not adhere to any of the rules governing journalism

Bloggers have become a central element to be considered in the majority of public relations campaigns rolled out today – they have a very specific role to play in influencing public opinion, and as such they must be incorporated. Do they however offer the same authority as a journalist would on a specific subject matter? The simple answer – well – that depends on the blog!

As a general rule of thumb, bloggers are not bound by the same rules of reporting as a traditional journalist. A journalist’s ‘Code of Ethics’ requires each news article that is written and published to be objective, accurate and impartial. Blog articles on the other hand, and perhaps more prominently in the region, are none of the above.

Most professional media houses will have rules in place to ensure that these values are not compromised among their journalists. Impartiality and objectivity for example, will be governed by a rule that prevents journalists from accepting bribes, or more relevantly gifts, which above a certain value could be construed as a bribe. One of the UAE’s publishing houses for example collects all gifts provided to media and auctions them off for charity, since media gifts can sway journalists to unfairly provide positive reviews. Accuracy too is governed by the requirement that a journalist uses reliable sources in any story. They are required to double-check all facts and print corrections when required.

There are no such rules governing a blog. Any Joe Bloggs (excuse the pun) can post a blog today, and by their very nature they are based on an individual’s opinion, laying it in bare opposition to a traditional journalist writing an article say, for a daily newspaper. They need not adhere to any of the rules governing journalism, and there is nothing to say that this is wrong. Of course however, the blogger that does follow these rules will be more respected in their respective field, and will often be viewed as a greater authority.

There are many bloggers in the region as most PR’s will attest (most of the time so called ‘fashion bloggers’ – sorry don’t mean to bash), who often ask for freebies (we are sometimes hounded for these), and publish their reviews on this basis. This does not make for an impartial blog. There are on the other hand, food bloggers for example, who only review restaurants on an anonymous basis, paying for all their meals, to ensure that their review accurately reflects a paying customers experience.

On a final note, there are many great bloggers out there who are an authority on their subject matter – but many on the other hand who are not. Bloggers certainly hold a key role in the media field, however since they are not bound by the same standards a journalist, we cannot consider them one and the same. As such, a blog should always be treated with caution.

 

“YES” says Farah Ibrahim, Senior Media Relations Manager, TRACCS UAE

FarahIbrahim

With the acceleration of the 24/7 news cycle, bloggers have introduced a more flexible, freewheeling approach to information gathering

Content is king and always has been. Blogger-developed content often scores hits not only because it’s not driven by deadlines and word counts, but often by a genuine interest in a topic and a voice that sparkles with both passion and wit.

Bloggers today are some of the most zealous producers of content, the most successful self-promoters and the most vocal – so yes, they need to be considered a force to be reckoned because they shape opinion.

True, there is a fair share of blagging that passes for blogging, but unfortunately that could be said of many unethical journalists too. Taken at its best, blogging often expresses points of view that are popularly held but not regularly expressed by publications due to a variety of constraints – some editorial, some monetary and some ethical.

Blogging offers an insider’s view on a variety of topics such as fashion, food, technology, art and travel, all driven by a personal interest and knowledge developed from a lifetime of living, as opposed to academic fact-collecting and a desire to share something that stirred or struck.

Blogging also offers immediacy and a touch or irreverence – and who can deny that they would rather read something that tells it like it is? The fact that a number of mainstream publications run blogs corroborates the fact that today’s audience like their facts with a dash of opinion. A blog allows you to combine the best of all the popular elements of journalism – reportage, editorialising and multimedia – all handily packaged by topic for today’s time-poor reader who wants it all.

Bloggers today have already earned a legitimacy and influence that is impossible to ignore. The better bloggers work hard at setting down ethical guidelines and sticking to them to build greater credibility. As blogging becomes increasingly incorporated into mainstream media, there will inevitably be more regulation, for better or worse. With the acceleration of the 24/7 news cycle, bloggers have introduced a more flexible, freewheeling approach to information gathering, rapidly curating and posting content at a pace that matches and sometimes beats their counterparts in print and broadcast.

Some bloggers are like columnists, preaching on issues that interest them. Others disseminate news and information. Others entertain. They either do it well or they don’t. But that’s true of regular journalists too, isn’t it?

Khyara Ranaweera joins Expose Communications

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Khyara Ranaweera has joined the Expose Communications team as PR and Digital Executive. Khyara joins Expose Communications from DABO & CO, where she worked with the boutique consumer team on a range of clients, such as Jumeirah Restaurants and ARTE Madrid.

“I am thrilled to be joining Expose Communications; with some great new additions and the growing demand for digital it’s an exciting time,” says Khyara. “I look forward to bringing my digital experience to the table and helping create targeted, creative campaigns for a diverse range of clients.”

Dana Abdelhadi, Co-Founder and Director of Expose Communications adds, “We are delighted to have Khyara join our team, and we believe her talent and experience is a great asset to the growth of our business.”