Archive for March, 2016

Agency Client – West Midlands

Wednesday, March 30th, 2016

I have known Gill Talbot for many years from our event agencies days through to GTAssociates.  Gill is a highly motivated lady who is always highly professional and great to work with.

I have worked with GTAssociates since I joined Top Banana and truly value their destination knowledge. When we need destination ideas Gill & Alan are often first point of call on my list, and I can rely on them to give me valuable advice and insight into the locations where their DMC’s are based.

Gill & Alan ensure that we have timely proposals, updates and great value add-ons which help us produce destinations and programmes that can enable us to win pitches.

In addition the partners of GTAssociates have been very selective in the DMCs and destinations that they work with. This means we know we can rely on their DMCs and we are always open to working with GTA in their current and future destinations.

Agency Client – Manchester

Wednesday, March 30th, 2016

We first met Gill & Alan, at a dinner hosted by GTAssociates and some of their DMCs, in 2011. Since then Clarity have worked with them and a number of their DMCs on many briefs and confirmed events.

Alan & Gill are especially supportive when we have problems to solve in terms of finding destinations to match briefs where there are difficulties with access, budget and availability. This has often meant that they and we work with DMCs from their wider network. GTAssociates not only claim that they support agency clients from brief to delivery they actually do so and this can be invaluable to us and has helped build our relationship with them.

Their process of trialling DMCs, before agreeing to represent them, means that we can depend on GTAssociates and their DMCs to be able to deliver what we, as an agency, need.

Beyond that they have been great hosts for members of our team when team members were with them as Hosted Buyers.


Agency Client – Reading

Wednesday, March 30th, 2016

As a growing international event agency we realise the importance of partnering with DMC’s to extend our expertise across the globe.  There are a lot of DMC’s to choose from so to have a partner whose opinion and judgement we trust with regards to top quality DMC’s is essential to us and ultimately to our customers, that is why we work with GT Associates.

Alan and Gill are regularly in contact with us to introduce new and existing DMC’s when they are in the UK., the difference between GTAssociates and other similar companies is that they take the time to understand our business and the particular needs we have.  We have often met representatives from countries that we had no immediate need to work in and have then ended up working with them on an event!

All round good guys and glad to be working with them.

Agency Client – London

Wednesday, March 30th, 2016

They have also built up a useful network of DMCs in destinations that may be of future interest, so, when we need a DMC I don’t hesitate in contacting them for assistance.  We have the utmost respect for GTAssociates in terms of professionalism, integrity and destination knowledge. They will not take on a DMC just to add to their numbers.

I have known Gill Talbot since the 90’s when I was her client and she worked in hotels, our working relationship is based on complete trust in her abilities.

Gill has built up an enviable knowledge of people in the industry, partly as she has worked across most every MICE sector but also because of who she is, her personality, and how she works. 

When I moved agencies, to Statesman Travel, Gill was a valued contact so without hesitation I introduced GTAssociates to them.

Both Gill & Alan know exactly what an agency needs in terms of service and proposal presentation/quality and ensure that they only represent DMCs who will deliver what we need.                                                                                                                                     

We recently used a DMC in Croatia because of their introduction and are now looking to use them again for Italy this year.




Indian Buttered Chicken Makhani – Priya’s Favourite Recipe!

Tuesday, March 8th, 2016

Some like it hot! Other like it cool!!

This tasty 1950’s Delhi restaurant’s creation sits in the middle. Of course if you prefer your Indian dishes hotter you can always add a little more ginger and chilli. 

Priya from Tappas Voyages says the original recipe below is perfect for her!!

Preparation Time: 26-30 minutes

Cooking time: 31-40 minutes

 Serve: 4

 Level of Cooking: Medium

Ingredients

·         Boneless chicken cut into 1½ inch pieces – 400 grams

·         Lemon juice 1 tablespoon

·         Kashmiri red chilli powder 1 teaspoon

·         Salt to taste

·         Butter 2 tablespoons

For marinade

·         Yogurt 1/2 cup

·         Ginger paste 2 teaspoons

·         Garlic paste 2 teaspoons

·         Kashmiri red chilli powder 1/2 teaspoon

·         Garam masala powder 1/2 teaspoon

·         Salt to taste

·         Mustard oil 2 teaspoons

For the Makhani Gravy

·         Butter 2 tablespoons

·         Green cardamom 2

·         Clove 2

·         Black peppercorns 2-3

·         Cinnamon 1 inch piece

·         Ginger paste 1 teaspoon

·         Garlic paste 1 teaspoon

·         Tomato puree 1/2 cup

·         Red chilli powder 1/2 teaspoon

·         Salt to taste

·         Sugar 2 tablespoons

·         Kasoori methi 1/2 teaspoon (dried fenugreek leaves)

·         Fresh cream 1/2 cup

Method 

·         Step 1: Apply a mixture of red chilli powder, lemon juice and salt to the chicken pieces and set aside for half an hour in the refrigerator.

·         Step 2: Hang the yogurt in a muslin cloth for fifteen to twenty minutes to remove extra water. Add the ginger and garlic pastes, red chilli and garam masala powders, salt and mustard oil.

 ·         Step 3: Apply this marinade to the chicken pieces and place them in the refrigerator for three to four hours.

·         Step 4: Preheat the oven to 200°C/400°F/Gas Mark 6. String the chicken pieces onto skewers and cook in the preheated oven or a moderately hot tandoor for ten to twelve minutes or until almost done.

·         Step 5: Baste with the butter and cook for another two minutes. Remove and set aside.

·         Step 6: To make the makhni gravy, heat the butter in a non-stick pan. Add the green cardamoms, cloves, peppercorns and cinnamon.

·         Step 7: Sauté for two minutes, add the ginger and garlic pastes and sauté for two minutes. Add the tomato puree, red chilli powder, salt and half cup of water.

·         Step 8: Bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for ten minutes. Add the sugar or honey and powdered kasoori methi.

·         Step 9: Add the cooked tandoori chicken pieces. Simmer for five minutes and add the fresh cream. Serve hot with naan or parantha.

Look at Italy – Inspiring Rome!! Special Incentive & Conference Offers

Thursday, March 3rd, 2016

Rome, Italy, Incentives, Meetings, ConferencesCheck out Welcome Italy DMC Special Incentive and Meeting Offers for Rome

Simply download the PDF file below to view Welcome Italy DMC Special Offers for Incentives and Conferences

Rome Special Offer – Incentive Packages

Rome Special Offer Meetings and Conferences

When in Rome you can “do as the Romans do” or if it is for Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Events why not “do Rome” the Welcome Italy way??

Romantic Rome of where it is said “a lifetime is not enough” and “Rome is the world’s largest open air museum”. Rome, a place of fashion, food and fun: a filmmaker’s city: home to The Vatican: a photogenic city where ancient and modern meet. A city made for Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Events. Just add great Destination Management from Welcome Italy DMC.

Rome a city where hearts, minds, religion and business meet and interact with culture, history, fashion and art and do so with a Latin tempo and a real passion for life.