CIMPA Conversations

Hello Everyone,
 
Summer is over. Time to plan for our winter meetings. Please save the dates.
 
January 31 – February 3: Pre-conference Cruise of the Yangtze River (Optional). Cruising  on the Yangtze River allows our meeting attendees a little extra time to see the wonders of this region before the completion of the Three Gorges Dam at which time this cruise will no longer be available. Daily shore excursions provide a closer look at life along this ancient waterway changed little by time.  
 
FEBRUARY 3-6  – ITMIC AT  IMPERIAL BEIJING � Meet at an  ancient, mysterious and beautiful land, Explore an ancient civilization while discussing the present and looking forward to the future; Race to save the Planet on the Great Wall of China
 
February 6-9 � POST CONFERENCE TOUR TO VIETNAM AND CAMBODIA (Optional) – Downtown Saigon is the most popular tourist destination in Vietnam � frequently referred to as “Paris of the East” The streets bustle with pedestrians, cyclos, bicycles, motorbikes, taxis and SUVs. Foreign businessmen and tourists share the walkways with noodle soup vendors and pajama-clad Vietnamese women. Get a manicure, facial, shampoo or foot massage for US$3 with a cup of tea.
 
Located in Northwestern Cambodia, Angkor, the Capital of the Ancient Khmer Empire was possibly founded around the Ninth Century AD by King Jayavarman II. The most beautiful and most famous monument in the city, Angkor Wat, lies about one kilometer south of the Royal town of Angkor Thom. With the decline of the Ancient Khmer Empire, Angkor Wat was turned into a Buddhist temple. In 1992, the UNESCO World Heritage Committee declared the monument, and the whole city of Angkor, a World Heritage Site. It is listed among the new 7 Wonders of the World published in 2006
 
February  9 -  BACK TO THE USA OR TRAVEL TO THE PHILIPPINES – When Magellan came upon the island of Homonhon in 1521, he claimed these islands in the name of king Philip II of Spain and named them Felipinas, the Philippines. Little did he know then the treasures of those yet unexplored isles, a bounty of verdant mountains rich with gold and ore, of emerald islands ringed with meandering beaches, of forests alive with wondrous flora and fauna, of fertile lands, spectacular sunsets and temperate climes which have bred a warm, smiling people who would be known the world over for their overwhelming hospitality.
 
Indeed, the early Filipinos were accustomed to welcoming visitors to their shores. When the second wave of Spanish conquistadores started converting and colonizing these islands, they found well-developed settlements conducting trade relations with the Chinese, the Arabs, and other seafaring merchants. The Americans introduced the democratic process, public education and infrastructure. World War II interrupted the course of events, and the Japanese captured the Philippines. The Americans liberated the islands in 1945, and recognized Philippine independence on July 4, 1946.
 
Dubbed as the “Pearl of the Orient Seas”, the Philippines consists of 7,107 islands. The capital of the Philippines, a grouping of twelve cities and five municipalities, is technically known as Metro Manila but usually referred to simply as MANILA, home to 9.5 million people.
 
February 9-12 – HELPING HANDS MISSION – Marinduque, Philippines. In cooperation with Marinduque International, Philippine Department of Tourism and Philippine Department of Health.
 
The smallest province in the Southern Tagalog region, Marinduque has the shape of a human heart floating on a clear, blue sea. The island province is characterized by undulating hills, picturesque valleys, sheer seaside cliffs, interspersed with patches of flatland on different parts of the island. The heart-shaped island rests on the Sibuyan Sea and is located south of Manila .
 
February 14-15:  Tours around Manila
February 16- Departures
 
COST? A bargain – I thought, as I read an email from a friend and mentor.  �How to Spend a Million Dollars in a Weekend� – the subject was intriguing. Allow me to digress and talk about this interesting million dollar weekend first. But if you do not want to be confused and just want to know how much to set aside for 1-2 weeks in Asia, here�s the info:
 
For costs and other details: http://www.cimpa.org/itmic2008.htm
To register: http://www.cimpa.org/register_print.htm
 
Now � if you have a million dollars left over, you might consider a weekend in Djibouti.
 
“If you truly want to be lavish, come to the Djibouti Palace Kempinski. We are here to chauffeur-drive you in one of the hotel�s fleet of chic black Lincoln Navigators to the Hotel’s imposing marble entrance, where you will receive a warm African welcome”.
 
“Your personal butler is waiting for you with plenty of delights. A 24-karat golden iPod on Egyptian cotton sateen luxury bedding in your Presidential Suite. Cold Chateau dYquem with superior Almas Caviar in real-gold-covered egg shell. Fritz Knipschildt�s world famous Madeleine, the most luscious truffle chocolate, will melt your six senses while your personal butler unpacks your luggage for you.”
 
“Your Special 24-Karat Welcome Kit -This Welcome Package includes 2 glossy iPod plated in authentic 24-carat gold and a Thuraya SO 2510, the world�s smallest telephone. With a little spare cash you can have a Vertu�s new $90,000 handset, dotted all over by tiny diamonds, and a keypad that carries eight carat�s worth of diamonds. The phone�s body in constructed from the finest platinum, underpinned with ruby bearings and equipped with a similar ceramic composition originally intended for the space shuttle!!!”
 
“Ask for a diamonds encrusted tea-bag! Sun is slowly coming down! Enjoy the gorgeous view of the Red sea on the sunset cruise. In the middle of the ocean, on a private Fisherman�s boat, while an unbelievable orange-purplish sky is setting down, with the splish�splash of the Dolphins, enjoy your private orchestra: 25 pieces Violin and Harps , in a black Suit”
 
“We are sorry to disturb your dreamy moment � but our Chef has prepared cozy tea time for you! Sip your afternoon Makaibari Silver Tips Darjeeling tea which has particularly pale leaves and is picked as buds from the oldest garden in India. Tea will be served together with Almas caviar in a 24-Karat gold tin. Please help yourself with Petite Caviar spoon, Mother of Pearl, spread on whole-wheat �Russian Blinis� with real Smetana, chopped onions and egg yolks.  The diamond teabag worth $14000 has been hand-crafted using 280 diamonds. The Almas caviar comes from Iran making it extremely rare and extremely expensive, worth $25,000. The whole Orchestra at Sun Set is worth $50, 000.00″.
 
“The Billionaire Breakfast in a Volcano Crater� – Excuse the shiny sunlight in Djibouti to wake you up from good sleep. Your private helicopter ride will end on a top of a dormant volcano crater, around the Ocean of the �Le goubet � plage. You will be breathing cool mountain air of this wonderful, simple and peaceful area, quietly enjoying the sunrise while the Chef from the unexpected Live Station will prepare a Billionaire’s Omelet with a lobster on the top�.�
 
“Dinner will not be handed over by your average delivery boy. The Djibouti Palace Kempinski put a whole new spin on expensive take-out when we organize your Italian Meal Delivery in the Bush with hundreds of Pink Flamingoes chirping in melody around you. Near Taormina, a small town on the island of Sicily in Italy, there is a fantastic Italian Restaurant, which has agreed to deliver the expensive take-out Spaghetti alla Caprese, Lobster with Citrus Sauce and the real �Granita di Caffe� con panna�. Chef Tiziano Rossetti agreed to deliver the meal personally. And he will be going to the Italian Market in Catania, to choose the best ingredients, will escort from sunny Sicily to Djibouti. Book your � Godfather Dinner� in the middle of Africa for $50,000.00″
 
“Magic Moments under the African Stars� – A fireworks display designed specially for you, accompanied by a Classic Piano private Concerto…”
 
And so on and on it goes. Those of you who have a million dollars to spend on a luxury weekend in Djibouti, please contact me. Those who want to spend a few hundred dollars for  1-2 weeks in Asia, please contact me as well. We will not have diamond encrusted gold ipods to give away but 5-star accommodations, all delicious scheduled meals, registration at a conference where we engage you in thought provoking conversations, an opportunity to participate in a medical and educational mission to help the needy and tours of 2 of the worlds seven wonders as well as other unforgettable sceneries on the other side of the world are included.

Yes, butler service can be arranged if you want someone else to pack and unpack your bags. Massage service to relieve the stress of travel and other services can be arranged.  And oh, yes � where else will you have the experience of a lifetime participating in a race to save the planet on the Great Wall of China? Take home a certificate. You would have earned bragging rights.
 
For costs and other details: http://www.cimpa.org/itmic2008.htm
To register: http://www.cimpa.org/register_print.htm
 
The best value in airfare is Cathay Pacific�s All Asia Pass at $1399 for 23 cities in 21 days. http://www.cathayusa.com/offers/AllAsiaPass/subdefault.asp
 
You might want to save all your vacation days and spend 2-3 weeks exploring Asia. Even if you just go to 5 countries, it is still a good value. However, we are negotiating for special conference rates with United Airlines, China Airlines and Philippine Airlines. So far, the best we have is $905 plus tax anywhere from the USA (non-stop from Washington Dulles) to Beijing on United. Please visit : http://www.cimpa.org/itmic2008.htm often for updates.
 
CALL FOR PRESENTATIONS: If you would like to give a keynote or make a presentation at this conference, please hit reply to send me an email.
 
HELPING HANDS NEEDED: If you live in the metropolitan Washington DC area, please lend a hand packing  up books and loading them into a container for shipping to needy schools in the Philippines. October16, starting at 3:00 pm at the McLean Community Center. For more info, please call Tessie or Pablito Alarcon, Tel 703 618 0345 or 571 333 5327.
 
QUOTE FOR THE MONTH: Life consists not in holding good cards but in playing those you hold well. – Josh Billings
 
I look forward to seeing you in China, Vietnam, Cambodia and the Philippines.
 
All the best,
Andrea
 

 I was cleaning up my desk and stumbled into this letter of apology from Jetblue. I was one of the thousands of customers stranded by Jetblue and was furious at the time it happened.

But a good letter of apology goes a long way. Here’s an excellent example: 

Dear JetBlue Customers,

We are sorry and embarrassed. But most of all, we are deeply sorry.

Last week was the worst operational week in JetBlue’s seven year history. Following the severe winter ice storm in the Northeast, we subjected our customers to unacceptable delays, flight cancellations, lost baggage, and other major inconveniences. The storm disrupted the movement of aircraft, and, more importantly, disrupted the movement of JetBlue’s pilot and inflight crewmembers who were depending on those planes to get them to the airports where they were scheduled to serve you. With the busy President’s Day weekend upon us, rebooking opportunities were scarce and hold times at 1-800-JETBLUE were unacceptably long or not even available, further hindering our recovery efforts.

Words cannot express how truly sorry we are for the anxiety, frustration and inconvenience that we caused. This is especially saddening because JetBlue was founded on the promise of bringing humanity back to air travel and making the experience of flying happier and easier for everyone who chooses to fly with us. We know we failed to deliver on this promise last week.

We are committed to you, our valued customers, and are taking immediate corrective steps to regain your confidence in us. We have begun putting a comprehensive plan in place to provide better and more timely information to you, more tools and resources for our crewmembers and improved procedures for handling operational difficulties in the future. We are confident, as a result of these actions, that JetBlue will emerge as a more reliable and even more customer responsive airline than ever before.

Most importantly, we have published the JetBlue Airways Customer Bill of Rights—our official commitment to you of how we will handle operational interruptions going forward—including details of compensation. I have a video message to share with you about this industry leading action.

You deserved better—a lot better—from us last week. Nothing is more important than regaining your trust and all of us here hope you will give us the opportunity to welcome you onboard again soon and provide you the positive JetBlue Experience you have come to expect from us.
  
Sincerely,

David Neeleman
Founder and CEO
JetBlue Airways 

Trade shows usually leave me inspired, invigorated and refreshed. So – why did the Destinations Showcase sponsored by DMAI and held at the Washington DC Convention Center yesterday, March 1. leave me unispired and tired?

Was it just me or did anyone else feel the same way?

Nobody is born a bigot. But it sure has set in a lot of people in the CVB community. I will explain what I mean in a later post. Right now, I just want to concentrate on more pleasant tasks.

Prague’s best kept secret is not a castle. It is neither a museum nor a clock. It is a hotel.The President Hotel Prague is a meeting planner’s delight. No, it does not have a flamboyant lobby or sleek, colorful brochures. What it has are what matter most to conference planners and attendees:

1. Great location. On the right bank of the Vitava River, within walking distance to most tourist attractions.

2. Beautiful, spacious rooms – some with terraces overlooking the Vitava River and the Prague Castle

3. Most importantly, a well-trained, truly hospitable staff. I had a thoroughly enjoyable, totally stress-free interaction with both sales and service staff during the International Technology, Meetings and Incentives Conference heled at this hotel on November 10-13, 2006. Truly a meeting planner’s dream.

I was surprised, nay, shocked to have received no major complaints from any conference attendee. Starting from the Director of Sales and Marketing to the last banquet staff and housekeeper, we had pleasant, competent service, a “Can Do” attitude and an eagerness to please we seldom encounter outside of Asia. It certainly helped that the hotel was the right size for our meeting.

I strongly recommend this hotel for small meetings. . Call me if you want more information.

Hotel President*****
N�m.Curieov�ch 100, Praha 1 – 110 00
tel: +420 234 614 143
fax: +420 234 614 117
http://www.hotelpresident.cz/

Hello Everyone,
 
As winter wraps its snowy blanket around us, I wish you warm mornings, little miracles, good health, prosperity, joy and love in 2007.
 
I wish you a meaningful start to a new year full of challenges. Welcome to an exciting world of great possibilities! We all have 365 mostly blank pages on our new 2007 calendars. Please save these dates:
 
Spring Event: June 4-5 – Asian Academy Hall of Fame Awards in the Capitol and the White House
Summer Camp: August 11-13 – Camp Diversity
Fall Conversations: October 15-17 – International Technology, Meetings and Incentives Conference. Last year, it was in beautiful Prague; this year, it will be in amazing Asia – China, South Korea, Vietnam and the Philippines.
Online conversations on the certification programs currently being revised.
 
Let us continue our conversations – as partnerships and friendships begin with ordinary conversations.
 
PRAGUE COMMENTS: I am still getting wonderful letters about our conference in Prague. Here is a sampling but the complete file will be at http://www.cimpa.org . Credit goes to our fantastic speakers, sponsors and participants for the success that it was. I cannot thank them enough.

“Excellent educational program combined with a great opportunity to learn about international destinations to host your events.  A must attend event for the experienced international meeting planner.” -   David Williams,  Executive Director, International Association for Energy Economics

“I had a wonderful and fun trip of a lifetime! Dining at beautiful castles and chateaus is wonderful, I highly recommend it!  It was very interesting and I enjoyed the conference presentations and meeting such interesting people”. – Margaret Lickteig
 
“I had a fabulous time in Prague and I met wonderful participants coming from such interesting backgrounds”.  – El Cid Butuyan, World Bank
 
“Again thank you for a wonderful, unforgettable trip to Prague and Vienna.  You are the WOMAN when it comes to planning meetings”. – Cathy Gonzales, Vice President, Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce
 
“WOW!  Nestor and I thoroughly enjoyed the CIMPA conference and the Awards Ceremony!  Thank you so very much for the wonderful venue, the great conference, the many side fun trips and most of all the great people who came”. – Edith M. Ardiente, Vice President, International Truck and Engine Corporation
 
“Thanks so much for another great conference. It was excellent! The President Hotel was great and the speakers were the best!” – Dr. Ken Webster, Executive Director, American Osteopathic Association
 
” am sorry I missed John Bell and Kathy Loveless. I heard they were fabulous. I will check out their websites and join you in Asia in October.” – Linda Steinberg, Independent Planner
 
“The conference in Prague was terrific. We met many interesting people and we learned a lot from the great speakers. Also, the Hotel President was perfect”. – Margaret Gonzalez, President, International Association of Hispanic Meeting Professionals
 
“A very thought-provoking forum.”  – Pepi Stunkel
 
We will try to make our meeting in 2007 an even better one. Please suggest a timely, provocative theme. (In Prague, it was “Planning Meetings in the Google Age and the Era of Terrorism). Please join the Conference Committee which Dr. Sonny Lee has agreed to chair and I hope to see y’all in Asia in October.
 
E-BROCHURES: If you liked our state of the art brochure on the Prague conference, I am happy to announce that Tat Leong Sweeting (remember her brilliant presentation on distribution of conference materials?)  has agreed to give all CIMPA members a very special discount. You can have your own ebrochure that loads fast, does not crash the recipient’s mailbox  and expands to fill the full screen at more than half the price. No distribution cost. Also, if you are a CIMPA member, we will distribute your brochure. Here’s a sample:
http://www.epage-international.com/clients/c/cimpa06/index.html
 
CERTIFICATION: The beginning of a new year is also a good time to make an investment in your career. Ask us about CPPM (Certified Planner of Professional Meetings and CGMP (Certified Global Meeting Professional) programs. We are currently revising these programs. If you are a member, you may participate in the revision and get grandfathered into the program.
 
MEMBERSHIP: Get connected. I am personally inviting you to be a member of CIMPA. Email me and I will send you a unique gift I picked up from my travels with your membership credentials. We are also running a membership promotion until February 14, 2007. You get a 25% discount on gold membership and a chance to win a great vacation. It’s a good time for emerald members to experience the privileges of gold membership. Hit reply to request the coupon code.  
 
If you are already a member, other active members and I want to get to know you better and explore how we can do business together. I am inviting you to serve in one of our committees. Do please email me so we can start a conversation on this. I would love to chat with you.
 
For details, please visit us at http://www.cimpa.org or just hit reply.
 
All the best,

Andrea Sigler, PhD
President, CIMPA

Here’s what our attendees told us:

“I want to familiarize myself with – international meeting venues and opportunities. How to plan a convention in other countries; what are local resources, government assistance and/or interference potential, how is business “done”? What is accepted practice?

“I would like to hear about experiences of other US attendees that have held meetings in various countries”.

“Let’s be honest. We attend international meetings to see and enjoy the country. What’s wrong with that? Of course, we want to do business as well. Making new friends is a good start – isn’t it?”

“I think informal meetings are better than formal meetings. But in most cases, we don’t know the people enough to arrange informal meetings. “

If you would like to make a presentation on your destination at this conference, please email me. We invite presentors from all countries. Special invitation is extended to emerging destinations

Please – let me hear from you.

These issues will be addressed at the 16th International Technology, Meetings and Incentives Conference.

Don’t forget the dates – November 10-13, 2006 at the 5-star President Hotel Prague. On the right bank of the Vitava river. Close to the Prague castle and Old Town – where most of the tourist attractions are.

This conference is hosted by Connected International Meeting Professionals Association (CIMPA), International Association of Hispanic Meeting Professionals (IAHMP), Orbisun International and Asian Leaders Association (ALA).

You will find most of the information at www.cimpa.org/itmic2006.htm

Please post your comment.

All the best,
Andrea and the ITMIC TEAM

First the terrorists turn airplanes into missiles, now we are told that lipstick, hand cream and mouthwash can be life-threatening. Fear now comes in a bottle of water.

Meanwhile travel and meetings, especially international meetings, are thrown into chaos. How do we cope? How do we promote the excitement of travel, seeing new places, meeting new people amidst the fear of terrorists? How do we calm down these fears?

WANTED: Presenters to talk about real life stories, ideas, plans and others to put our lives as planners of meetings and travel back to normal – more or less.

If you are a supplier, what are you doing to help make our attendees more secure?

If you are a planner, what keeps you awake at night and what are you going to do about it?

If you are a speaker, please share your ideas.

The topic of the 90-minute panel is “Planning Meetings & Travel in the Era of Terrorism”.

Please – let me hear from you.

These issues will be addressed at the 16th International Technology, Meetings and Incentives Conference.

Don’t forget the dates – November 10-13, 2006 at the 5-star President Hotel Prague. On the right bank of the Vitava river. Close to the Prague castle and Old Town – where most of the tourist attractions are.

This conference is hosted by Connected International Meeting Professionals Association (CIMPA), International Association of Hispanic Meeting Professionals (IAHMP), Orbisun International and Asian Leaders Association (ALA).

You will find most of the information at www.cimpa.org/itmic2006.htm

Please post a comment.

All the best,
Andrea and the ITMIC TEAM

Hello, Everyone!

Wheww! Summer in Washington DC is sooooo hot. So it is in most parts of the world, I understand. Not to worry – autumn is just around the corner – and yes, our 16th Fall Conference in beautiful Prague.

Don’t forget the dates – November 10-13, 2006 at the 5-star President Hotel Prague. On the right bank of the Vitava river. Close to the Prague castle and Old Town – where most of the tourist attractions are.

This conference is hosted by Connected International Meeting Professionals Association (CIMPA), International Association of Hispanic Meeting Professionals (IAHMP), Orbisun International and Asian Leaders Association
(ALA). The theme is “Planning Meetings and Travel in the Google Age”.

At this conference, we will formally launch the Federation of Minority Organizations, an international network of associations serving the minority market. You are invited.

You will find all the information at www.cimpa.org/itmic2006.htm 
 
Here is the schedule at a glance:
November 9 – Orbisun International Board of Directors Meeting November 10 – Tour to Karlovy Vary
November 11-12 – Joint International Conference of CIMPA, International Association of Hispanic Meeting Professionals, Asian Leaders Association &
Orbisun Intl
November 11 -Luncheon hosted by the Philippine Convention and Visitors Corporation.
ALA Advisory Board Meeting, Vitava River Boat Tour with Dinner, IAHMP Board of Directors Meeting
November 12 – Luncheon hosted by Orbisun International
November 12 – Dinner hosted by Corinthia Hotel. 
November 13 – Bohemian Paradise Tour.
Asian Academy Hall of Fame Awards; CPPM Awards; Distinction in Diversity
Awards
 
November 14-16 – Tour to Vienna, Austria. Happy 250th Birthday, Mozart!
November 14-16 – Poland Tour 
November 17 – 18 – Mission to a SOS Village in Brno

Certification exams will be given online, via email or onsite. Please hit reply for more information.

CONVERSATION TOPICS
We will continue the conversations we have started in previous meetings. Suggestions are still welcome. What keeps you awake at night? We would like to get a global perspective of the challenges you and your colleagues are
facing. Please hit reply to email me.

PLANNING MEETINGS AND TRAVEL IN THE GOOGLE AGE
In his book,  ” The World is Flat,  Tom Friedman, Pulitzer Prize Winner and author of  “The Lexus and the Olive Tree: Understanding Globalization”, confirms what most economists have been saying all along – that the global
economic playing field is being leveled.  We are seeing a global, Web- enabled playing field that allows for collaboration without regard to size, geography or distance – or  even language. What he really means is that the world is connected.

Anybody can now compete or collaborate with anybody – no matter what your size or where you are in the world. Cheap, ubiquitous communication tools have finally obliterated all barriers to international cooperation or
competition. The ‘flat world’ is a level playing field where  ‘Goliaths’ and ‘Davids’ play side by side – not one on top of the other. What are the implications for our industry? Let’s talk about that.

CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? BLOG AND BE HEARD
We’re at a media crossroads. People-powered information is surging, from blogs to podcasts to videocasts to open-source browsers with a million user-created plug-ins to open-access academic journals. Information will be
free, as never before.
 
Blogging is a publishing revolution Because of their simplicity and ease of use, blogs are proliferating across the Web, and there are now an estimated 6 million of them. Blogs democratize the media. No longer do you have to rely solely on industry magazines. Blogs are being used as a new millennium cyber soapbox.  Hotels are using them as a resourceful way to speak to customers and to find out what customers are thinking. It is powerful media because it is connected into what people call the “blogosphere.” Bloggers read one another and link to one another, creating a giant spider web of connected sites. The blogs are where you find the answer to “What are
people on the Net saying?”  Again, what are the implications for our industry and how can we take advantage of it?
 
COUNTRY CONVERSATIONS
Here’s what you told us:
“I want to familiarize myself with – international meeting venues and opportunities. How to plan a convention in other countries; what are local resources, government assistance and/or interference potential, how is business “done”? What is accepted practice? “I would like to hear about experiences of other US attendees that have held meetings in various countries”.
“Let’s be honest. We attend international meetings to see and enjoy the country. What’s wrong with that? Of course, we want to do business as well. Making new friends is a good start – isn’t it?”
“I think informal meetings are better than formal meetings. But in most cases, we don’t know the people enough to arrange informal meetings. “

Ok – let’s get those folks down to the conference and let’s have a conversation.  We invite participants from all countries – particularly the emerging destinations which are just now targeting the meetings and incentives industry. Visit www.cimpa.org/register_print.htm to register.

CONVERSATIONS OF COURAGE AND INSPIRATION FROM THOSE WHO HAVE SURVIVED CANCER AND OTHER DISEASE BUT MUST CONTINUE TO WORK.
What is this topic doing in a conference of technology, travel, meetings and incentives professionals. I will tell you. Conferences are about people. You never know who you are meeting at these conferences if you just sit down in a darkened meeting room watching powerpoint presentations. Last year, I was sitting with a woman and as the lights went out, she dropped a bottle of medication that rolled to my feet. I picked it up and saw that it was the same medication I took a few months back. “Do you have cancer?”, I asked. Tears welled in her eyes “Yes.”

That was the beginning of a close friendship. Myself, a survivor and she, terrified and hopeless, comforted each other. Since then, this talented woman had worked with me on several projects.

Bottomline: We are all human. We all have our burdens and our struggles. They become easier if they can be shared. The bonds that result from this are very strong, indeed. In the process, we can help support each other personally and perchance help each other professionally.

More Conversation Topics:

Diversity and Multiculturalism
War, Travel and Meetings
Marketing to Ethnic Markets
” Wisdom of the Crowds”
Certification
Tips and Strategies: Ideas You can immediately use
Strategic Alliances
International Site Selection
Fundraising
Working for Yourself
Security Issues
All about Negotiations

ABOUT THE PLACES WE WILL VISIT

Karlovy Vary – Carlsbad

In the exact words of our hosts: “The biggest and most prominent spa town in the Czech Republic with more than 650 years old tradition of  using of hot mineral springs for improving of health. Clientele from 87 countries from the whole world, 9000 beds in hotels, health and spa resort, wellness offer, anti-aging spa. Karlovy Vary became a much frequented social center for the European aristocracy for centuries, you can meet  many celebrities here even today. It is a town of arts with a big choice of cultural, artistic and sporting activities. The beauty of romantic architecture
attracts also the film makers: “Last holiday” with Gerard Depardieu and Queen Latifa, “James Bond” with Daniel Craig and Eva Green. Since 1946 the International Film Festival of category “A” visited a.g. by Leonardo di Caprio, Robert Redford, Sharon Stone etc. Traditional  outstanding products
of Karlovy Vary are sold under  world famous brand names: Moser-crystal, Thun-porcelain, Becherovka Liquer, Mattoni mineral water etc.  More information at: www.karlovyvary.cz “

Got that? It’s a haven for stressed people. It is known for its anti-aging treatments and products. (Yeah – I desperately need some too).   During the last century the town has been a popular meeting place for European royalty and high society. Among the famous figures who stayed here were Goethe, Schiller, Beethoven, Chopin, and Karl Marx. Today, if you’re lucky, you can still bump into some famous people there. The city center has been recently completely renovated. A few km long colonade on the Tepla river bank is lined with shops, hotels and springs and offers a memorable walk. More than 60 hot springs have been found here and 12 are used in spa treatment. The springs, which vary in  temperature from 34 to 73 degrees C, are used ” for baths and drinking cures”  (not the same water

The town is also renowned for the production of fine engraved glass from Moser Glasworks established in Karlovy Vary in 1857. THUN Karlovarsky porcelain. Karlovarska Becherovka liquor since 1805 contains 40 herbs and is supposed to be medicinal.

The City of Karlovy Vary will host  lunch and the visit to the Regional Museum. Please join us.

BOHEMIAN PARADISE – Designated a UNESCO Geopark. 24 castles and ruins of the castles, 8 chateaus, 13 rock towns, museums, historical towns. Biggest underground lake. GARNETS! Only one company in the entire country mines and
sets the garnets, so whatever isn’t produced by them is a fake. That factory is GranᴠTurnov located in Turnov. We will visit this factory and you will have the opportunity to see how garnets are mined and then made into stunning jewelry. You will also have the opportunity to buy the genuine products at factory savings. We will also visit the Bohemia crystal and glass factory. Many come to Prague specifically for this famous product. 

It being so close to Christmas, we will head for the historical town of Jicin to visit a factory of Christmas glass decorations. Make your Christmas tree sparkle with some of the world’s most beautifully crafted d飯r. A spectacular Christmas tree for a memorable Christmas! In between sightseeing and shopping, we will head for rock town Hruboskalsko to have
lunch at the beautiful Chateau Hrub᠓kᬡ nestled against a backdrop of green forests and blue mountains.

We will end the day and the conference with the Annual Awards Ceremony at a royal reception with the Duke and Duchess of Turnov at their chateau. How’s that for a royal ending?

PRESIDENT HOTEL, our home for the duration of the conference,  is a 5 star property offering world-class hospitality and services.

CORINTHIA HOTEL – Experience the warmth, colour and vitality. From the island of Malta, influenced by cultures, ideas and experiences from all points of the compass, comes the Spirit of Corinthia.  5- star.

CZECH AIRLINES – Our official airline. $380 roundtrip plus tax from JFK nonstop to Prague. 15% off the lowest fare from European and other countries.

MISSION TO A SOS VILLAGE IN BRNO – One of the things that sets our conference apart is that it is a conference with a mission. Since 1994, we have included quality time for caring and sharing with underprivileged children in our destination. This year is not going to be any different.

VIENNA – Most people visit Vienna with a vivid image of the city in their minds: a monumental vision of Habsburg palaces, trotting white horses, ladies in fur coats and mountains of fat cream cakes. And they’re unlikely to be disappointed. What makes this year special is that it is the 250th birthday of Mozart and Austria is celebrating.

POLAND – All over the world, Auschwitz has become a symbol of terror, genocide, and the Holocaust. It is an important part of world history. Also visit Wroclaw’s Japanese Gardens, the stadium in which Hitler intended to hold the Olympic Games, an enormous wooden Church of Peace listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. End the trip with a cheerful evening in the oldest restaurant in Europe (founded in 1274).

THE PHILIPPINES, OUR NEXT HOST. The Pearl of the Orient. An archipelago of 7,107 islands, the Philippines stretches from the south of China to the northern tip of Borneo. The country has over a hundred ethnic groups and a mixture of foreign influences which have molded a richly unique Filipino
culture.

Before the Spanish explorers came, Indo-Malays and Chinese merchants had settled here. In 1521 the Spaniards discovered the islands. After ruling for 333 years, the Spaniards left in 1898 and were replaced by the Americans who continued to colonize the country for another 48 years. The Americans brought over their educational system, their legal system, and their democratic form of government. On July 4, 1946, the Americans gave the Philippines its independence.

The Philippines is home to about 77 million people. Considered as the third largest-English speaking country in the world, the Philippines has world-class meeting facilities.

There will be post conference trips to China and Thailand.

For info:www.cimpa.org/itmic2006.htm
To register: www.cimpa.org/register_print.htm

Allow me to end with a provocative thought:
The future is not a result of choices among alternative paths offered by the present, but a place that is created. Created first in the mind and then created next in activity. The future is not some place we are going to, but one we are creating. The paths are not to be found, but MADE, and the activity of making them, changes both the maker and the destination. – John Schaar

All the best,
Andrea and the ITMIC TEAM