bigger+betterThe UWE Exhibition and Conference Centre (ECC) Your own versatile and dynamic 4000 sq metre space...from large exhibitions and conferences, training programmes and wedding celebrations, the ECC is big enough to cater for your needs.We're ideally situated with excellent transport links for mainline train stations and the M4/ M5 motorways, we're fast becoming the ideal Exhibition and Conference Centre in the South West.To book or find out more www.uwe.ac.uk/ecc Telephone 0117 32 83568CONTACT01904 328431 conferences@york.ac.uk www.yorkconferences.com @yorkconferencesHost a memorable event in the historic city of YorkCentrally based UK location just two hours from London and EdinburghImpressive and inspiring architecture promoting interaction and creativityAward winning caterers able to provide fresh and tailor-made menusDedicated, professional team to support you throughout your eventyorkconferenceswww.yorkconferences.com

LIVEWIRE18 . www.conference-news.co.uk . February 2012February Q: How will wireless technologies be developed in the future to provide seamless communication?Deborah Jones, QEIICC Conference CentreA: Operators are working on this at the moment; already many of the larger mobile carriers are working in partnership with providers such as The Cloud and BT OpenZone to bundle wireless access with contracts. However, this is far from seamless at the moment.Over the next few years we should begin to see operators being able to automatically offload large amounts of their traffic that would traditionally be carried over the cellular backhaul onto a local wireless network. This should result in users gaining a higher level of service and more consistent access to data services, especially when travelling. People are now better connected than ever.Richard Hughes, Technical Director, Max Wi-FiCorporate Doctor Wi-Fi answers your tech questionstravel 2012The 2012 Laureus World Sports Awards Ceremony comes to Central Hall Westminster on 6 February.The Laureus World Sports Academy, which includes Lord Sebastian Coe, Sean Fitzpatrick, Daley Thomson, Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson and Boris Becker, votes the winners in a variety of categories. Nominees for 2012 include athletes and teams from rugby, football, athletics and motorsports. Proceeds from the event will underpin work of the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, which supports 89 community sports projects globally. Paul Southern, Central Hall MD, tells CN: "My staff are very excited to host these awards. The guest list of international stars from every sport is incredible." The Great Hall at Central Hall will be designed to host a special set for the 900 VIPs. Winners of previous year's awards have included Roger Federer and Lewis Hamilton. Up for Laureus World Sportsman of the Year 2012 are sprinter Usain Bolt, tennis world number one Novak Djokovic and F1 champion Sebastian Vettel.The neighbouring Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre will provide the official media centre for the event. Central Hall Westminster to host World Sports AwardsBusiness travel management company, ABT UK, reveals its top five predictions for the corporate travel market this year (2012):Safety never takes a day off!Following a turbulent year dominated by uprisings in the Middle East, riots across the UK and unrest throughout Europe due to the Eurozone crisis, safety concerns will be the number one priority for business travel in 2012. The airborne offi ce takes fl ightThis year will see infl ight mobile phone and wireless internet connectivity become a reality. 24-7-365 service expected as standardTime is the most valuable commodity for business travellers. As a result, clients expect to be able to call and speak directly with a knowledgeable travel consultant at anytime from anywhere in the world. In-house IT innovation slowdownAs internal resource cuts bite deeper, businesses will be looking to external suppliers including travel management companies to deliver ever more creative ways of doing business. Budgets, People, Planet - in that orderThe relentless squeeze on travel budgets will ensure that, for the fi rst time, cost will override staff and green travel considerations.