24-26 September, 2008, in Brussels, Belgium
'Creating Value Together'
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EPTDA has entered its 10th anniversary celebrations, starting on 1st January 2008. The 2008 Annual Convention (24-26 September) promises to be the climax of these celebrations with many special features, in addition to networking, education, MD-IDEX, Motion Control Showcase and unforgettable social events. Book these dates in your agenda and stay up-to-date by visiting our website regularly.
Themed 'Creating Value Together', the convention will welcome most sought-after guests to present unparalleled educational seminars about the value of branding and common growth, in a very unique environment at the Dolce Resort & Spa hotel in La Hulpe, a pleasant town only 15 km from the Brussels International Airport and city centre.
Confident of its success, EPTDA has reserved the venue exclusively for its guests. The team has been very active in bringing together some memorable moments come alive. This year, the official inauguration of the event will be done by Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Mr. Didier Reynders, Guest of Honour. Brussels Airlines proudly joins hands with EPTDA to serve as the official carrier of the event at preferential rates. The welcome reception features a sparkling Diamond Party offering the most beautiful combination of real diamonds and Champagne.
An authentic Belgian evening; charity donations to King Baudoin Foundation; top-level educational seminars; Manufacturer-Distributor Idea Exchange (MD-IDEX) programme; first ever Hydraulics & Pneumatics Showcase; exclusive Golf Tournament at the Royal Waterloo Golf Club; unforgettable Gala Dinner experience with the Charleston era setting and decor in the famous AutoWorld vintage car museum; and unique social tours programme for the delegates spouses & partners in Belgium's most exciting and charming cities; are just some of the highlights of what is going to be a spectacular celebration of the EPTDA's 10 year journey.
The association has invited the celebrated entrepreneur Simon Woodroffe, founder, owner and creative driving force behind YO! as keynote speaker. Simon will shed lights on ‘Creating Value Together', the main theme of this event, and share experiences from his world of hotel, resorts, restaurants and lifestyle. The line up of the following speakers is equally impressive, as the international branding expert, business leader and the winner of Credit Suisse's Outstanding Business Woman of the Year award, Ms. Rita Clifton, will address the "Value of Branding - How valuable brands are?" Dr. Isaac Getz, Professor of Idea, Involvement and Innovation Management, at the ESCP-EAP European School of Management (Paris), ranked N°6 in Europe by Financial Times, will also speak at the conference on the subject of "Common Growth - How to build value through mutual participation and collaboration?"
With a solid convention theme backed up by industry gurus as speakers, and an exciting social programme, the 10th anniversary celebrations at the 2008 EPTDA Annual Convention, are destined to write history and promote the creation of common values.
Founder, owner and creative driving force behind YO! Sushi
Simon Woodroffe left school at age 16 and spent thirty years in the entertainment business. Through the 1970s and 80s his production companies, based in London and Los Angeles, designed rock ‘n' roll stages for artists like Rod Stewart, The Moody Blues and Stevie Wonder and events like Live Aid.
A natural progression led Simon into television at the start of the 1990's. He spearheaded the development of television deals to show huge international rock concerts worldwide, organising the financing and distribution of the Nelson Mandela concerts, shows for Amnesty International and the Prince's Trust concerts. His television production deals included Japan's number one pop show ‘Hit Studio International.'
YO! Sushi is a lifestyle brand that has grown out of the initial restaurant concept where eating is turned into a complete entertainment experience. The company was two years in development before the first restaurant opened on London's Poland Street. Now the focus is on the international market where Simon is busy developing deals to take the YO! brand across Europe and into the United States.
Simon's current projects include YOTEL! which has been described as a cross between a Japanese capsule hotel and British Airways first class, Body YO! - a Japanese health spa, a YO! To wear clothing range and two new books. When he is not working he rides horses, climbs mountains and dreams of improving his tennis game.
In 2000 Simon won ‘Group Restaurateur of the Year' at the Catey awards and YO! Below was awarded the Design and Art Direction award in the Design for Leisure category. In 1999 Simon won Entrepreneur of the Year Award (Ernst & Young) and became part of the CBI / BCC Ambassador of Entrepreneurism campaign, with which he is still actively involved. He was also a finalist in the Real Business Awards Entrepreneur of the Year. For YO! Sushi he has received awards from Design Week (Best Restaurant), Marketing Week - Design Effectiveness Awards 1998 and Best Web Site for Hospitality Solutions 1999. In recognition for his contribution to hospitality, Simon was awarded an OBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours list this year, 2006.
The Book of YO! , published by Capstone was released October 2000 and became WH Smith Travel's best selling business book in the same month.
Simon tailors his talks to the client's precise needs, avoiding cliché and "business speak." He has a down to earth style which is both entertaining, inspirational and of practical use.
Speaking topics include: *Entrepreneurial culture within organizations* Team Building* Internet and Technology* Brands* Leisure and Entertainment* Exploiting the Spiritual Revolution*
International branding expert and business leader
Rita Clifton, a graduate of Cambridge University, is one of the most celebrated names in branding. She joined Saatchi & Saatchi's advertising team in 1986 and has worked with high profile clients like British Airways, Procter & Gamble, 3i, Campbell's Foods, Visa International, PowerGen, Schweppes and BT.
In 1997, she was invited to join Interbrand, the world's leading brand consultancy and pioneer of Brand Valuation, as CEO in London. In January 2002, she became Chairman.
Rita also features regularly on a wide variety of TV and radio programmes on business, brand, marketing and communication issues, including CNN and the BBC around the world. She has been a columnist for The Observer, Marketing Week and Retail Week and a reviewer for Management Today and the Financial Times. Her writing has included Interbrand's book 'The Future of Brands', the APG'S 'How to Plan Advertising' and most recently The Economist book 'Brands and Branding'.
She is a non-executive director of two FTSE companies, and is Chairman of Populus, the opinion pollster to The Times.
She has been very active in the environment and social issues and has been a member of the Government's Sustainable Development Commission, as well as
being a trustee of WWF. She has been voted one of the 75 Women of Achievement in the fields of advertising, media and marketing over the past 75 years, and has been named in the 'Power 100' list by Marketing magazine. Last year, she was nominated for the Credit Suisse 'Outstanding Businesswoman of the Year' award.
Professor of Idea, Involvement and Innovation Management
Isaac Getz is a professor at the ESCP-EAP European School of Management (Paris•London•Berlin•Madrid•Torino) Paris campus, France, ranked N°6 in Europe by Financial Times, and was Visiting Professor at Cornell and Stanford Universities and at the University of Massachusetts. He graduated in Computer Science, and then obtained a M.Sc. in Management Science, and PhDs in Psychology and in Management. Before becoming a professor, he worked for several years in the area of Information Systems.
Dr. Getz conducted and published research on diverse topics related to ideas, knowledge, innovation, corporate excellence, vision, and growth. In 2000, the leading French business review l'Expansion named him among the best 8 professors of Management in Europe.
Dr. Getz is an active speaker on the topics of idea and knowledge economy, growth strategy innovation management, and corporate strategy and change and gave keynote speeches and seminars for organizations such as The Lisbon Council, Aspen Institute, Association of European Regions, Ludwig von Mises Institute, Moroccan Employee Association, Moroccan Information Technology Association, Nobel Prize Winners for Economics Telecom Colloquia, Confindustria Italy, IIPM India, and in knowledge and innovation economy summits with the leading public authorities of the European Commission, USA, Holland, Italy, and Africa.
Dr. Getz gave also speeches to over one hundred companies in Europe, USA, China, India, Malaysia, Mauritius, Morocco, Thailand. In addition, Dr. Getz's work on the idea and knowledge management and his consulting on these issues brought him into dozens leading companies and organizations around the world.
His last book, co-authored with Alan Robinson, InnovationsPOWER (in German; also published in French, Italian, Dutch, and Spanish) details the key role of idea and knowledge management in improving corporate performance, innovation, and sustainable growth. It was one of the 3 finalists for the annual Manpower Best Book Award in France.
Dr. Getz's work has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Fortune, Financial Times Deutschland, Il Sole 24 Ore, Het Financieele Dagblad, De Gelderlander, Le Figaro, Les Echos, Entreprise, Nouvel Economiste, l'Usine Nouvelle, Stratégies, Il Tempi, RAI, Telequattro, TV5, TV MBC, BFM, Radio Classique and other media.
This year again, EPTDA has done its best to provide you with most user-friendly yet attractive registration tools. Contemporary and classy design, advanced technology, new features...all ingredients have been used to make the receipt a success!
This year's convention will be held from 24 to 26 September, 2008 at 'Dolce La Hulpe' resort in La Hulpe, Brussels.
This exclusive 4-star resort & spa hotel is located in the heart the Sonian Forest, only 15 km from the Brussels International Airport and the city centre. This green surrounding can not be more adequate for EPTDA to display how much it cares about environmental and ethical policies.
Look up more details here.
Brussels Airlines has kindly offered to be the official carrier of EPTDA's convention in Brussels. EPTDA has secured special rates - 25% discount - for convention participants.
Remember EPTDA's 10th Annual Convention in Monaco: click here
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