In days gone by, the format in which lodges would organise a ladies’ festival comprised a dinner dance at a local hotel, with a toastmaster and some tasteful gifts. Nowadays, lodges are more and more planning weekends away, either in holiday and other resorts in the United Kingdom or, increasingly, at continental or Irish resorts. Many lodges are unaware how easy such an undertaking is to organise. The hotels and events industry is, it seems, more than ever geared up for these events, and there are a host of professionals who will plan the event and shoulder much of the burden. The ideal, of course, is to be able to do it with one phone call – and that is often all that is needed.
    We spoke to three representative organisations – Perfect Weekend, Holiday Inn and Black Tie Events. The Manager of Perfect Weekend, Bournemouth, Chris Perrett, has eight years experience organising ladies’ festival weekends. His expertise is in choosing, in conjunction with the Master and the Festival Secretary, the hotel which will suit the individual lodge and its members. He and his team are there to help and advise, not only with the planning beforehand, but on the weekend itself. They will send out the invitations to the lodge members and their guests on behalf of the lodge. Their service, apart from providing the venue itself, the accommodation and the banqueting facilities, covers custom-printed menus, table decorations and flowers, ladies’ gifts, place cards, the toastmaster, music during dinner and the band afterwards, and they present a table plan in A2 format to the Master at the end of the evening as a souvenir of the occasion. Chris will meet with the Master and Festival Secretary at the chosen venue to discuss final details. The longer lead time can be given, the better – shorter times can be accommodated, but 18 months is ideal. For a party of, say, 80 people, the minimum charge would be in the region of £130 per head for a full weekend, and the maximum can be whatever the lodge chooses to make it.
    Sarah Morgan and her team at Holiday Inn are undaunted by tasks set by the lodge or the venue – they will adapt to anything, although she prefers to have at least 6 months notice of a lodge event. Ideally, for the event to be planned with the care it demands, 18 months notice is needed. For a price of £150 per head she can arrange a 2-night stay with dinner, bed and breakfast, the banquet, a band and flowers, but ladies’ gifts would be extra. Where the lodge wish to provide a band of their choice and to arrange flowers, this can be done at a lower cost. The Master or Festival Secretary is invited down to stay the night so that he can gauge the quality of the service, and Sarah is ready to advise what arrangements would work best for the individual lodge. The Holiday Inn group offers a service which, they say, goes beyond the call of duty – a pillow menu is one example, where guests can pick the quality of pillow which suits them best. They believe that, as a group, they have a service the quality of which is well-known, and they have a range of 5 hotels in Hampshire, all but one with its own leisure club.
    We spoke with Renzo Navon of Black Tie Events. This company organises weekends on the continent and Ireland, providing door to door travel by luxury coach with reclining seats. They will see to all the hotel arrangements, comprising two nights accommodation at the hotel, in double or twin rooms, buffet breakfast each morning, welcoming four-course dinner on Friday night, pre-dinner reception on Saturday night followed by four-course dinner and dancing to a live band. A Black Tie Events representative is in attendance the whole time. A toastmaster is provided, together with menus, place-cards and table plan. The following day there is a half-day guided city tour with an English speaking guide. Their prices are very varied, depending on which one of the 27 destinations is chosen, but the range is £190 – 250 per head for a full all-inclusive weekend. The most popular destinations seem to be those nearest home, namely the French, Belgian and Irish venues, but lodges are becoming more adventurous, every year going farther afield. The company has 15 years experience organising such events and is specialised in running lodge weekends. Tour parties have the opportunity of visiting popular European destinations at prices that could not be matched if visiting these places independently. Once the lodge has chosen a venue, they produce a personalised colour leaflet advertising the event and supply them with sufficient numbers to circulate to all their members, and they also take the Master and Festival Secretary to see the venue. Over 65% of their business is repeat business.

AVON

Corus Hotel, Bristol WWW
Beggars Bush Lane, Failand, Bristol BS8 3TG Tel: 0870 609 6144 Contact: Vicky Kilby Web/Email: www.corushotels.com/bristol / bristol@corushotels.com Bedrooms: 112 Banqueting: 220 Facilities: Gym, pool, tennis, squash, badminton.

BERKSHIRE

Holiday Inn WWWW
Manor Lane, Maidenhead, Berkshire SL6 2RA Tel: 01628 506060 Contact: Masonic Coordinator Email: maidenhead.meetings@ichotelsgroup.com Bedrooms: 193 Banqueting: 320 Facilities: Swimming pool, whirlpool, gym, sauna, steam rooms.

BUCKINGHAMSHIRE

The Bull WWW
Oxford Road, Gerrards Cross, Bucks SL9 7PA Tel: 01753 885995 Contact: Kim Aird Web/Email: www.sarova.com / bull@sarova.com Bedrooms: 123 Banqueting: 110

CHESHIRE

Ramada Chester
Whitchurch Road, Christleton, Chester CH3 5QL Tel: 01244 332121 Contact: Louise Harris Web/Email: www.ramadajarvis.co.uk / csales.chester@ramadajarvis.co.uk Bedrooms: 126 Banqueting: 220 Facilities: Sebastian Coe Health Club, indoor leisure pool, childrens pool, spa bath, steam room & sauna, 2 fitness rooms.

DEVON

The Grand Hotel WWWW
Seafront, Torquay, Devon Contact: Jacklyn Payne Tel: 01803 206106 Web/Email: www.grandtorquay.co.uk / jacklyn.payne@grandtorquay.co.uk Bedrooms: 128 Banqueting: 300 Facilities: indoor & outdoor pool, sauna, jacuzzi, gym.

Barnstaple Hotel WWW
Braunton Road, Barnstaple, Devon Contact: Keith Grant Tel: 01271 376221 Web/Email: www.barnstaplehotel.co.uk / info@barnstaplehotel.co.uk Bedrooms: 60 Banqueting: 250 Facilities: Indoor & outdoor swimming pool, solarium, spa, gym, weights room, sauna, snooker tables.

DORSET

Hotel Piccadilly WWW
Bath Road, Bournemouth BH1 2NN Tel: 01202 298024 Contact: Tracy Pettigrew Web/Email: www.hotelpiccadilly.co.uk / enquiries@hotelpiccadilly.co.uk Bedrooms: 45 Banqueting: 120

Heathlands Hotel WWW
Grove Road, Bournemouth BH1 3AY Tel: 01202 553336 Contact: Geanette Wright Web/Email: www.heathlandshotel.com / sales@heathlandshotel.com Bedrooms: 115 Banqueting: 270 Facilities: Outdoor pool and health suite.

The Cliffeside Hotel WWW
East Overcliff Drive, Bournemouth BH1 3AQ Tel: 01202 652424 Contact: Kirsty Ryan Web/Email: www.bluemermaidhotels.com / enquiries@bluemermaidhotels.com Bedrooms: 62 Banqueting: 130 Facilities: Outdoor swimming pool.

Tralee Hotel WWW
West Hill Road, Bournemouth Tel: 01202 556246 Contact: Carl Manners Web/Email: www.tralee.co.uk / tralee@bluemermaidhotels.com Bedrooms: 68 Banqueting: 140

Ocean View Hotel WWW
East Overcliff Drive, East Cliff, Bournemouth BH1 3AR Tel: 0500 432165 Contact: Michael Read Web/Email: www.brh.uk.com / enquiry@oceanview.uk.com Bedrooms: 52 Banqueting: 160 Facilities: Outdoor pool, games room.

Bay View Court Hotel WWW
35, East Overcliff Drive, East Cliff, Bournemouth BH1 3AH Tel: 0500 432165 Contact: Michael Read Web/Email: www.brh.uk.com / enquiry@bayviewcourt.uk.com Bedrooms: 70 Banqueting: 135 Facilities: Indoor heated pool, spa bath, steam room, snooker & games rooms.

Cottonwood Hotel WWW
East Overcliff Drive, East Cliff, Bournemouth BH1 3AP Tel: 0500 432165 Contact: Michael Read Web/Email: www.brh.uk.com / enquiry@cottonwood.uk.com Bedrooms: 32 Banqueting: 80

De Vere Royal Bath WWWW
Bournemouth, Dorset Tel: 01202 555555 Contact: Sandra Bond Web/Email: www.devereonline.co.uk Bedrooms: 140 Banqueting: 270 Facilities: Swimming pool, gym, beauty salon, sauna, steam room.

Belvedere Hotel WWW
14 Bath Road, Bournemouth, BH1 2EV Tel: 01202 297556 Contact: Andy Tallant Web/Email: www.belvedere-hotel.co.uk / andy@belvedere-hotel.co.uk Bedrooms: 100 Facilities: Indoor pool, sauna, jacuzzi, gym, beauty therapist.

The Connaught Hotel WWW
30 West Hill Rd, Bournemouth, Dorset, BH2 5PH Tel: 01202 248028 Contact: Nikki Smethurst Web/Email: www.theconnaught.co.uk / events@theconnaught.co.uk Bedrooms: 56 Banqueting: 120 Facilities: Leisure club, gym/pool/salon/solarium.

The Cumberland Hotel WWW
East Overcliff Drive, Bournemouth BH1 3AF Tel: 01202 652424 Contact: Kirsty Ryan Web/Email: www.bluemermaidhotels.com / enquiries@bluemermaidhotels.com Bedrooms: 102 Banqueting: 250 Facilities: Outdoor swimming pool.

The Trouville Hotel WWW
Priory Road, West Cliff, Bournemouth BH2 5DH Tel: 01202 652424 Contact: Kirsty Ryan Web/Email: www.bluemermaidhotels.com / enquiries@bluemermaidhotels.com Bedrooms: 77 Banqueting: 60 Facilities: Indoor pool, jacuzzi, sauna.

The Queens Hotel WWW
Meyrick Road, Bournemouth BH1 3DL Tel: 01202 652424 Contact: Kirsty Ryan Web/Email: www.bluemermaidhotels.com / enquiries@bluemermaidhotels.com Bedrooms: 109 Banqueting: 400 Facilities: Pool, gym, sauna, steamroom, jacuzzi.

EAST SUSSEX

Royal Victoria Hotel WWW
Marina, St. Leonards, Hastings, East Sussex TN38 0BD Tel: 01424 445544 Contact: Julia Baker Web/Email: www.royalvichotel.co.uk / sales@royalvichotel.co.uk Bedrooms: 52 Banqueting: 150

Cumberland Hotel WWW
34-36 Grand Parade, Easbourne, BN21 3YT Tel: 01323 730432 Contact: Chulin Xia Web/Email: www.hotelcumberland.co.uk / reservations@hotelcumberland.co.uk Bedrooms: 72 Banqueting: 60-120

LANCASHIRE

The Chadwick Hotel WWW
113/115 South Promenade, St. Annes, Lytham, St. Annes, Lancs, FY8 1NP Tel: 01253 720061 Contact: Miguel Canado Web/Email: sales@thechadwickhotel.com Bedrooms: 75 Banqueting: 180 Facilities: Indoor pool, sauna, turkish bath, jacuzzi, cardio vascular gym, children’s soft play area. Email/web station and wifi LAN. Table tennis & pool tables.

The New President Hotel WWW
320-324 North Promenade, Blackpool, Lancs. Tel: 01253 624460 Contact: Alan French Web/Email: www.thepresidenthotel.co.uk / goldenthistle@aol.com Bedrooms: 68 Banqueting: 150 Facilities: Sauna/Showbar.

LONDON

Browns Courtrooms
82-84 St. Martin’s Lane, Covent Garden, London WC2N 4AA Tel: 020 7395 6091 Contact: Lulie Murray Web/Email: Lulie.murray@mbplc.com. Banqueting: 10-150 Facilities: Private dining, conferences & weddings.

The Rembrandt WWWW
11 Thurloe Place, London SW7 2RS Tel: 020 7589 8100 Contact: Natalie Jennings Web/Email: www.sarova.com / rembrandt@sarova.co.uk Bedrooms: 195 Banqueting: 180 Facilities: Aquilla Health & Fitness Club: gymnasium, pool and beauty rooms.

The Best Western Lodge Hotel WWW
52-54 Upper Richmond Road, SW15 2RN Tel: 020 8874 1598 Contact: Keith Povah Web/Email: keith@thelodgehotelondon.com Bedrooms: 65 Banqueting: 150

The Bonnington WWW
92 Southampton Row, London WC1B 4BH Tel: 020 7242 2828 Contact: Daniela Manevska Web/Email: events@bonnington.com Bedrooms: 247 Banqueting: 20 to 150 Facilities: Fitness room.

Kingsway Hall WWWW
Great Queen Street, London WC2B 5BX Tel: 020 7309 0909 Contact: Jon Child Web/Email: www.kingswayhall.co.uk / jon.child@kingswayhall.co.uk Bedrooms: 170 Banqueting: 20 to 150 Facilities: Fitness room and spa.

HAMPSHIRE

Lyndhurst Park Hotel WWW
High Street, Lyndhurst, Hampshire, SO43 7NL Tel: 02380 283923 Contact: Jon Gettings Web/Email: www.lyndhurstparkhotel.com / lyndhurst.park@forestdale.com Bedrooms: 59 Banqueting: 400 Facilities: Outdoor heated pool, tennis court, sauna.

De Vere Grand Harbour WWWWW
West Quay Road, Southampton, SO15 1AG Tel: 02380 633033 Contact: Cindy Page Web/Email: Cindy.page@devere-hotels.com Bedrooms: 173 Banqueting: 350 Facilities: Full leisure facilities.

Macdonald Botley Park Hotel Golf & Country Club WWWW
Winchester Road, Boorley Green, Southampton, Hampshire, SO32 2UA Tel: 01489 780888 Contact: Gill Luckie Web/Email: www.macdonalds-hotels.co.uk / gill.luckie@macdonalds.hotels.co.uk Bedrooms: 130 Banqueting: 330 Facilities: 18 hole golf course, pool, gym, steam room, sauna, jacuzzi, aerobics studio, beauty treatment rooms, driving range.

Holiday Inns (Basingstoke, Southampton, Fareham, Portsmouth and Eastleigh) WWW/WWWW
Tel: 0780 8098981 Contact: Sarah Morgan Web/Email: www.holiday-inn.co.uk Bedrooms: 86/130/125/167/120 Banqueting: 150 Facilities: Full leisure facilities except Basingstoke.

MIDDLESEX

Crown Plaza London-Heathrow Hotel WWWW
Stockley Road, West Drayton, Middlesex UB7 9NA Tel: 01895 867751 Contact: Kim Nugent Web/Email: www.crowneplaza.com / kim.nugent@ichotelsgroup.com Bedrooms: 458 Banqueting: 150 Facilities: Spirit health and life swimming pool, sauna, whirlpool, beauty therapy room, solarium and gym, 9 hole golf course.

KENT

Swallow Lonsdale Court Hotel WWW
51-59 Norfolk Road, Cliftonville, Margate, Kent CT9 2HX Tel: 01843 231027 Contact: John Hammond Web/Email: www.swallowhotels.com Bedrooms: 60 Banqueting: 120 Facilities: Leisure facilities.

Swallow Kent International Hotel WWW
Harbour Parade, Ramsgate, Kent CT11 8LZ Tel: 01843 588276 Contact: Tracey Cribbens Web/Email: www.swallowhotels.com / swallow.kent@swallowhotels.com Bedrooms: 58 Banqueting: 100 Facilities: Swimming pool, sauna, jacuzzi.

Ramada Hotel & Resort Maidstone
Hollingbourne, Maidstone, Kent Tel: 01622 631163 Contact: Tracy Wainwright Web/Email: c.sales.maidstone@ramadajarvis.co.uk Bedrooms: 126 Banqueting: 400 Facilities: Swimming pool, jacuzzi, steam room, sauna, 2 fully equipped gyms, pool tables, beauty salon, hair salon, clay pigeon/archery/air-rifling.

Ramada Tunbridge Wells Hotel WWW
8 Tonbridge Road, Pembury, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN2 4QL Tel: 01892 823567 Contact: Ruth Kemp Web/Email: www.ramadajarvis.co.uk / c.sales.tunwells@ramadajarvis.co.uk Bedrooms: 84 Banqueting: 120 Facilities: Indoor pool, sauna, spa bath, steam room, health & beauty salon (pre-book).

Smiths Court WWW
21-27 Eastern Esplanade, Cliftonville CT9 2HL Tel: 01843 222310 Contact: Robert Smith Web/Email: www.smithcourt.co.uk / infoc@smithcourthotel.co.uk Bedrooms: 45 Banqueting: 100 Facilities: Gym. Planned 2006 indoor swimming pool.

SURREY

Holiday Inn London WWWW
Gibson Road, Sutton, Surrey SM1 2RF Tel: 020 8234 1127 Contact: Elaine Bridgnell Web/Email: elaine/bridgenell@ichotelsgroup.com Bedrooms: 115 Banqueting: 120 Facilities: Spirit Health Club inc. indoor pool, spa, gym, sauna, steam, beauty treatment rooms.

Selsdon Park Hotel & Golf Course WWWW
Addington Road, Sanderstead, South Croydon, Surrey CR2 8YA Tel: 020 8657 8811 Contact: Tracy Montgomery Web/Email: www.principal-hotels.co.uk / sales.selsdonparkhotel@principal-hotels.com Bedrooms: 200 Banqueting: Up to 200 Facilities: Golf, tennis, spa, indoor & outdoor swimming pool, gym and squash courts.

The Berystede Hotel & Frimley Hall Hotel WWWW
Bagshot Road, Sunninghill, Ascot, Berkshire SL5 9JH Tel: 0870 4008111 / 07949 684047 Contact: Mathew Turvey Web/Email: www.berystede.com / www.frimleyhall.co.uk / matthew.tunney@macdonaldshotels.co.uk Bedrooms: 125 Berystede / 98 Frimley Banqueting: 250 Facilities: Frimley Hall – Spa with pool, beauty treatment rooms etc.

WARWICKSHIRE

Brandon Hall Hotel WWWW
Main Street, Brandon, Coventry CV8 eFW Tel: 0870 400 8105 Contact: Kirsty Griffith Web/Email: www.Brandonhall.co.uk / Events.brandonhall@macdonald-hotels.co.uk Bedrooms: 120 Banqueting: 5 to 200 people. Facilities: Vital Health and Beauty. 18m lap pool, techno gym, sauna, steam room, sensation showers, beauty spa, 8 treatment rooms, nail bar, sun showers, relaxation suite.

The Chace Hotel WWW
Toll Bar End, London Road, Coventry Tel: 02476 303398 Web: www.corushotels.com/thechace Bedrooms: 66 Banqueting: 90 Facilities: Use of nearby health club.

The Corus Warwick WWW
Meer End Road, Honiley, Warwick Tel: 01926 486129 Web: www.corushotels.com/warwick Bedrooms: 64 Banqueting: 160

The Plough & Harrow Hotel WWW
135 Hagley Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham Tel: 0121 410 2535 Web: www.corushotels.com/ploughandharrow Bedrooms: 44 Banqueting: 100

The Himley Country Hotel WWW
School Road, Himley, Dudley, West Midlands Tel: 01902 356802 Web: www.corushotels.com/himleycountry Bedrooms: 71 Banqueting: 130

Brownsover Hall Hotel WWW
Brownsover Lane, Old Brownsover, Rugby Tel: 01788 555360 Web: www.corushotels.com/brownsoverhall Bedrooms: 47 Banqueting: 80 Facilities: Use of nearby health club.

Corus Hotel Solihull WWW
Stratford Road, Shirley, Solihull Tel: 0121 745 0404 Web: www.corushotels.com/solihull Bedrooms: 111 Banqueting: 140 Facilities: Indoor pool, sauna, gym.

Corus Hotel Birmingham South WWW
Redditch Road, Hopwood, Birmingham Tel: 0121 445 7818 Web: www.corushotels.com/birminghamsouth Bedrooms: 58 Banqueting: 160

WALES

Holiday Inn WWW
Cardiff City Centre, Castle Street, Cardiff CT10 1XD Tel: 0870 400 8140 Contact: Jannie Kingma Web/Email: www.holiday-inn.co.uk Bedrooms: 155 Banqueting: 120

WEST SUSSEX

Ramada Chichester Hotel WWW
Westhampnett, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 7QL. Tel: 01243 817433 Contact: Shelley Castle Web/Email: www.ramadajarvis.com / Csales.chichester@ramadajarvis.co.uk Bedrooms: 77 Banqueting: 160 Facilities: Poolside Leisure Club with an indoor pool, children’s pool, sauna, spa bath & solarium. A Health & Beauty salon is available (pre book in advance.

WILTSHIRE

De Vere Swindon WWWW
Shaw Ridge Leisure Park, Whitehill Way, Swindon SN5 7DW. Tel: 01793 878785 Contact: Rachel Ewen Web/Email: rachel.ewen@devere-hotels.com Bedrooms: 158 Banqueting: 300 Facilities: Full indoor facilities, including health and beauty suite.

Milford Hall Hotel WWW
206 Castle Street, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP1 3TE. Tel: 01722 424116 Contact: Ali Drew Web/Email: www.milfordhallhotel.com / alidrem@milfordhallhotel.com Bedrooms: 35 Banqueting: 130 Facilities: Use of local LA Fitness Club.

WORCESTERSHIRE

The Abbey Hotel WWW
Great Malvern, Worcestershire WR14 3ET Tel: 01684 892332 Contact: Joanne Haynes Web/Email: www.sarova.com / abbey@sarova.co.uk Bedrooms: 103 Banqueting: 200 Facilities: Complimentary use of local health club.