Oyster's celebrate Summer Party success

Around 370 corporate, agency and association event planners and NTOs came together for the recent annual Oyster Summer Party organised by Beyond Certainty at Kensington Roof Gardens.

Attendees, who included HSBC, Goldman Sachs, FT, Black Tomato, CL events and  Banks Sadler enjoyed a variety of entertainment, food and activities linked to the 24 Oyster destinations who  participated in the event, which has been heralded a great success.

Activities took place in a variety of themed areas and included a truffle making demonstration from Flanders and a cow stacking game to win a trip for two to Switzerland. While entertainment included Can Can dancers from France, The Human Beat Box on the main stage and a Kylie impersonator with Britain's Got Talent act Stavros Flatley courtesy of Cyprus rounding off the lively evening.

"We were thrilled with the response to the evening and to be able to meet with so many new and familiar faces." comments Oysters representative Sarah Mathews, from The Belgium Convention Bureau - Flanders Brussels.  

"The Oyster's Summer Party really represents an opportunity for buyers to meet a number of international destinations in a fun and vibrant party atmosphere and it's great that so many could join us during a busy events week for the industry."

An informal survey on the evening was also conducted to find out whether buyers were holding the same, more or less overseas events.  Guests were encouraged to put a pearl into jars labelled with up, down and the same.  'Up' seemed to receive the most number of votes with a jar full to the brim, whereas the jar labelled 'same' received the next number of votes. 'Down' received the least number of votes with the jar half empty.

Sarah adds; "It was encouraging to see that a large number of buyers were looking to hold more overseas events. We see The Oysters and our events as a real opportunity to change perceptions and showcase the potential of our destinations and I look forward to the next Oyster party in 2011."

Notes to editors:

About the Oysters

The Oysters are a collection of international tourist boards and convention bureaus from popular overseas destinations. Each Oyster is specifically dedicated to providing UK-based event planners with inspirational, up-to-date and impartial advice for their next event, meeting, conference or incentive programme.

For further information, images or to arrange an interview please contact:

Karolina Throssell

T   01892 619100

E   karolina.throssell@daviestanner.co.uk

Some links to our convention bureaus:  Lene Corgan, Flanders-Brussels Convention Bureau Belgium, Belgium – Flanders, Belgian Convention Bureau for Brussels & Wallonia, Belgium – Wallonia, Cyprus Tourism Organisation & Lillian Panayi.