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Year 10 Vol. 1, Issue 138 Jose-Manuel GARCIA, CDS jmgarcia@ividmc.travel Visionary, Founder, & Master Coach Jose-Manuel (Manolo) GARCIA, CIS, CMS manolo@ividmc.travel Second Generation, Innovator & President
Cover Subject:
Panama, A Humming Destination A Rich Mix of Cultures Page 5 Panama’s Many Sides Pages 6-8 Carnival Page 9 Feria del Mar Page 9
Karla JIMENEZ, CMS kjimenez@ividmc.travel Executive Vice-President
Trinidad SANCHEZ tsanchez@ividmc.travel General Comptroller
Quick Hits: Pages 10,11
Francisco BAEZA, DMCP fbaeza@ividmc.travel Corporate Marketing & Product Development Director
World Golf Championship The Customer’s Always Right Advertise with CommuniQuest
Julia ORTIZ jortiz@ividmc.travel Quality Director
Pages 12,13
Alejandro PECH apech@ividmc.travel Electronic Publishing
Let’s Cook:
Omar GALLEGOS ivicorp@ividmc.travel Content & Editing
Geisha: Panama’s Superb Coffee
Fernando ROSAS corp.image@ividmc.travel Design
Dr. Travel’s
Page 14
Travel Tip: Sleep Page 15
Jorge OROZCO, DMCP jorozco@myday.travel Managing Director - MyDay Travel
© Copyright 2017. All Rights Reserved.
Destination Offices Mexico
Caribbean
Central America
South America
IVI DMC² Los Cabos Yazmin ELOSEGUI Destination Managing Director yelosegui@ividmc.travel
IVI DMC² Cuba Alejandro DEBASA, CMS Regional Managing Director adebasa@ividmc.travel
IVI DMC² Costa Rica Sonia VARGAS Destination Manager svargas@ividmc.travel
IVI DMC² South America Jorge OROZCO, DMCP Regional Managing Director jorozco@ividmc.travel
IVI DMC² Mexico City, Central Mexico, IVI DMC² Dominican Republic Puerto Vallarta, & Riviera Nayarit Ramon RIJO, CIS Jaime NELO, CMS, DMCP Regional Managing Director Destination Managing Director rrijo@ividmc.travel jnelo@ividmc.travel IVI DMC² Cancun & Riviera Maya Raquel MIJARES, CIS Marketing Director rmijares@ividmc.travel
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IVI DMC² Panama Ligia VARGAS, CIS Regional Managing Director lvargas@ividmc.travel
Message From Headquarters Dear reader, In this issue, we feature one of our jewel destinations: Panama. Several events of all kinds have taken place here and have been successful to the delight of the attendees. What accounts for this? It is the unique combination of breathtaking nature, tourism infrastructure, and a professional and seasoned staff backing our customers. Your professional partners in Panama cleverly use the wow factor to enamor our clients with the charming hospitality that characterizes our people. And since we know that a group is not all about business, but that there is also a need to relax, enjoy the culture, and give back to the community, we tailor events that have all of this in mind. This way your experience will be well-rounded. Please read on to see what your group can expect while visiting Panama. Sincerely, Jose-Manuel (Manolo) GARCIA, CIS, CMS Second Generation, Innovator & President
Our Objective
Our Vision
Always aim for 100% overall customer satisfaction.
Associates: Keep the ideal place to work, where our multicultural staff give their best, every day Customers: Offer an innovative high-quality service that exceeds expectations Partners: Consolidate our network of honest and successful partners Utilities: Maximize the return of investment to shareholders
Our Mission
Planet: Inspire responsible resource management by means of our work
Serve customers through our international certifications ISO 9001 and ADMC; ensuring 100% customer satisfaction of incentives, conventions, and special events; providing memorable experiences in each of the destinations in which we operate; maximizing return of investment to shareholders.
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PANAMA CITY This multicultural city full of contrasts has almost 1.3 million inhabitants. Panama City offers much more than the necessary visit to the canal. An ample offering of hotels and restaurants, cultural attractions and the best malls in the region, make Panama City a
modern, international place, ready to offer an unforgettable stay to all visitors.
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PANAMA UP-TO-DATE With the support of Panama’s Board of Tourism, the capital city is the digital hub of the region, capable of holding conferences and events using the latest in technology and trends. We use these commodities to cater to the way business is done today. In addition to its wide variety of tourist attractions such as
history,
culture,
nature,
extreme
sports,
gastronomy, and the Canal, Panama certainly offers a world class infrastructure: fast and reliable internet, recognized logistics, and global business services.
A RICH MIX OF CULTURES As a meeting point in the history of the countries of Latin America, Panama is a country forged by various cultures and traditions. These come together to create a unique complexity and exotic environment that will surely captivate you. The country’s ethnic diversity is reflected in the traditional
products,
such
as
woodcarvings,
ceremonial masks and pottery, as well as in its architecture, cuisine, and festivals. The various indigenous groups of Panama live harmoniously with the rest of the country as they add a touch of beauty, color, and the essence of a true exchange of races, which is of interest for our many tourists to appreciate this fact.
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PANAMA OLD QUARTERS The old town of Panama City, declared a Historical Monument by UNESCO, is not just
about history, it is also a area ideal to sample different foods and drinks in open-air cafés. It is a charming site where the restaurants and bars’ music fill the air and entertain with various shows. Casco is experiencing a renaissance. In 1997 the UNESCO declared it a World Heritage site and gave financial incentives for restoration projects. And while the historic district is still somewhat of a work in progress, that’s exactly what makes it exciting, so we invite you to discover Panama City’s best kept secret: The Old Town Of Casco Viejo!
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PANAMA’S PACIFIC OCEAN On Panama's Pacific coast, just outside of the capital's limits, lies a series of white sandy beaches and beautiful blue waters. This coastal area is home to a
variety of all-inclusive resorts and golf courses, features that make it ideal to the M&E industry.
PANAMA’S RAINFOREST Panama is a country where the concept of exotic is imbedded in its name. The indigenous language
describes the name Panama as a place with an abundance of fish and butterflies. The meaning of this unique name becomes true as visitors quickly discover it for themselves. An abundance of wildlife can be found in Panama’s many national parks.
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PANAMA’S CARIBBEAN Twenty years ago, the Caribbean coast of Panama was practically unknown. Nowadays travelers, surfers, and adventurers alike find crystalline waters, exotic flora and fauna, and a rich cultural heritage in destinations such as Bocas del Toro, San Blas, Portobelo, and many others.
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CARNIVAL Panama’s
Carnivals
are
celebrated for four
consecutive days, prior to Ash Wednesday. This Festivity ends Tuesday night with the burial of the sardine. The Panamanian Carnival begin in the morning with the "mojaderas" or "culecos" that are
performed
in
public
or
private
places.
Accompanied by popular music, tanker trucks splash water on people during the day and part of the afternoon; then in the evening, colorful parades take place with the queens wearing flamboyant costumes
aboard
floats
accompanied
by
comparsas and tunas (Typical dance troupes). These outdoor shows are performed in main parks and avenues. In the year 2010 Panama celebrated 100 years of carnival!
BOCAS DEL TORO’S FERIA DEL MAR Bocas Del Toro’s Feria del Mar, or Fair of the Sea, began as a festival to celebrate fishermen’s traditions. But over the last 50 years, the Feria has
evolved into a four-day event that draws thousands of people to the archipelago each September. With the perfect mix of sun, sand, thrill rides, sports, and local arts and crafts, people from all around Panama
join
thousands
of
tourists
from
neighboring countries to enjoy this incredible event. A vacation to Bocas during the Feria time will never be forgotten.
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WORLD GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP It is a fact! The PGA TOUR just announced that the World Golf Championships tournament held in Miami since 2007 will relocate to Mexico City and be renamed the World Golf Championships-Mexico Championship, starting in 2017. The purpose is to benefit golf and its development throughout Mexico. This achievement is the result of a seven-year agreement through 2023 with Grupo Salinas, a collection of companies based in Mexico City primarily involved in retail, television, and telecommunications. Four Mexican golfers will participate in the World Golf Championship. It starts with it’s first chapter in the Chapultepec Club de Golf from March 1-5. It will bring top golfers such as Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth, Rickie Fowler, Sergio García, Adam Scott (Defending Campion), Dustin Johnson, and Bubba Watson, among others. It’s expected to generate an attendance of 84,000 people in Mexico. It will be broadcast to 227 countries, thus reaching millions. There will be free admission for kids under 12 years old in order to instill a passion for this sport. It is one of the four World Golf Championships that take place around the world. (The other ones are: Dell Match Play in Texas, HSBC in China, and Bridgestone Invitational in Ohio.) “With this championship, Mexico will be recognized as a main Golf headquarter”, so stated Benjamin SALINAS, CEO of TV Azteca, in the PGA Tour Portal. The tournament has one of the highest purses in the international circuit: $9.75 million dollars; of which $1.57 million goes to the winner.
The Customer is Always Right Mariana was extremely helpful and responsive. It took us a little bit to make a decision and she was never pushy. Greg was great and was able to be flexible with our payment plan. All things planned turned out great. Ernesto was fabulous, easily accessible, and always said yes. All of IVI definitely made me look great and my job easy. Ms. Dawn Mogardo Freelance Meeting Planner 10
Advertise with CommuniQuest Incentive Travel Digest Advertising
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IVI DMC² World Headquarters: Ave. Acanceh #1-01, SM 15 Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mx
Phone: +52 (998) 287-1700 Email: ivicorp@ividmc.travel Serving the meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions industry since 1986. Find us in over 40 destinations throughout:
Mexico Cuba Dominican Republic Costa Rica Panama South America
For further information on the fine hotels, deals, activities, and group packages mentioned in this travel digest, please contact: Francisco BAEZA fbaeza@ividmc.travel
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Geisha: Panama’s Superb Coffee
Panama’s
coffee
has
received
well-deserved
international recognition in recent years. In fact, today it is considered one of the best coffees in the world. Popular domestic brands include: Kotowa,
Cafe Unido, Duran, and Cafe Ruiz. The soil and
Geisha began to call the attention of
climate of the Chiriquí highlands contributes greatly
judges
to a variety known as Geisha, originally from
coffee connoisseurs for the first
Ethiopia. This blend has proved to be one of the
time at the 2004 Best of Panama
world's best coffees. International tourists come
competition. It continues to surprise
every year to sample Chiriquí's Geisha and shell
ever since, with a flavor and an aroma
out hundreds of dollars for a pound of these beans,
profile so different from anything else
and
other
international
coming out of Central or Latin America.
a cause of pride for national coffee growers. 14
Travel Tip: Sleep When I asked Joseph Sugarman, founder of BluBlockers Sunglasses, how he made air travel more comfortable, more enjoyable, he said, “Sleep. Sleep. Sleep.” And Sugarman is not alone. The World Airline Entertainment Association, the organization responsible for what movies and videos are watched on planes, polled 3,697 passengers to find out what they liked to do in the air: seventy-nine percent answered they liked to sleep. “Those who enjoy being on the train (plane), and those who do not enjoy being on the train (plane), get to the same destination at the same time.” John-Roger and Peter McWilliams (Taken from page 164) James Feldman, (a.k.a. Doctor Travel) is a Certified Facilitator and internationally recognized professional motivator, author, television host, and radio personality. His company Incentive Travelers Cheque Int’l provides individual and group incentive travel awards for many Fortune 500 companies. His book “Doctor’s Travel Cure For The Common Trip” is an entertaining and invaluable travel guide whose purpose is not to tell you where to go, but rather to help you get ready for the adventure. CommuniQuest is pleased to share some of Mr. Feldman’s travel wisdom with our readers, who from time to time must deal with lines, cancellations, lost luggage, and a person in the adjacent seat making extensive use of the air sickness bag. Reprinted by permission from the Author: jfeldman@itcheque.com
THANK YOU FOR READING Like life in general, the M&E Industry seems to move at the speed of light. As a committed B2B partner, we aim to help you keep up with the latest industry news and opportunities. CommuniQuest Incentive Travel Digest is a valuable tool that brings you the timely information and analysis that you need, with a lair for what's hot, relevant, & interesting. I wish you the best of success in your quest, whatever it may be.
Jose-Manuel GARCIA, CDS Visionary, Founder, & Master Coach 15
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