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Year 8 Vol. 1, Issue 99 Visionary, Founder, and Master Coach
Jose-Manuel GARCIA
President
Jose-Manuel (Manolo)
jmgarcia@ividmc.travel
Contents:
GARCIA manolo@ividmc.travel Marketing Vice President
Alicia ASTUDILLO, DMCP
aastudillo@ividmc.travel
General Comptroller
Francisco BAEZA
Julia ORTIZ
Alejandro PECH
apech@ividmc.travel Content and Editing
Omar GALLEGOS
ivicorp@ividmc.travel Managing Director —MyDay Travel Corporate Headquarters:
Interview with Sonia VARGAS IVIDMC2 Costa Rica
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The Significance of IVIDMC2
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jortiz@ividmc.travel Electronic Publishing
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“Walking on Sunshine” with These Irresistible Parks & Cultural Activities “And Don’t It Feel Good!”
fbaeza@ividmc.travel Corporate Quality Director
How to Prepare Fruit Popsicles
Cover Subject:
Trinidad SANCHEZ
tsanchez@ividmc.travel Corporate Business Director
Page
Jorge OROZCO
jorozco@myday.travel Av. Acanceh 1-01, SM 15
Cancun, Q. Roo, 77500 Mex. Ph. +52 (998) 287-1700 www.ividmc.travel
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Water & Theme Parks Mariachis National Parks Cenotes Museums & Much More...
Quick Hits: Friends of the Maya Foundation’s Community Development Initiatives
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Travel Tip: Upgrade or Play Musical Chairs
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Destination Offices: Mexico
The Caribbean
Central America
South America
IVIDMC² Cancun & Riviera Maya Jose-Manuel (Manolo) GARCIA President manolo@ividmc.travel
IVIDMC² Dominican Republic Genaro ALMONTE Regional Managing Director galmonte@ividmc.travel
IVIDMC² Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, & Honduras
IVIDMC² Puerto Vallarta & Riviera Nayarit, Mexico City, & Central Mexico
IVIDMC² Cuba Alejandro DEBASA Regional Managing Director adebasa@ividmc.travel
IVIDMC² Costa Rica Sonia VARGAS Destination Manager svargas@ividmc.travel
IVIDMC² Brazil Andrea MAJELA Regional Managing Director amajela@ividmc.travel
IVIDMC² Panama Ligia VARGAS Regional Managing Director lvargas@ividmc.travel
IVIDMC² Argentina & Chile Leila GOROSITO Regional Managing Director lgorosito@ividmc.travel
Jaime NELO Regional Managing Director jnelo@ividmc.travel IVIDMC² Puerto Vallarta & Riviera Nayarit
Alexandra GONZALEZ Destination Manager pv.planning1@ividmc.travel IVIDMC² Los Cabos Mario FOSTER Regional Managing Director mfoster@ividmc.travel
Jorge LAZO Regional Managing Director jlazo@ividmc.travel
IVIDMC² Colombia Carolina CALDERON Regional Managing Director ccalderon@ividmc.travel
Follow us on... © Copyright 2015. All Rights Reserved. 2
June 2015
How to Prepare Fruit Popsicles Summer is here and it’s hot! A refreshing way to cool down is with the childhood tradition of eating popsicles. Who didn’t love hearing the ice cream truck go by the block! Well here’s a way to save some pennies and cool down at the same time. Making your own home made natural fruit popsicles is cheap, easy, and yummy!
Ingredients: (about 5 popsicles)
Preparation:
1/2 a pineapple
4 cups cold water
1/4 cup sugar
Popsicle trays (or disposable cups)
Popsicle sticks
Cut off the skin and cut out the core of the pineapple. Cut the meat into cubes. Put the cubes into your blender with the water and sugar and blend away! Pour the liquid into your popsicle trays, put in the popsicle sticks, and then place them in the freezer overnight and they´ll be ready by tomorrow´s mid-day heat wave. (Note: If you don't have popsicle trays you can improvise with disposable cups and popsicle sticks. When they are ready place them upside down under running water and they will pop right out.)
expectations by going the extra mile so to speak in regard to superlative service. A satisfied client is our ultimate goal. With these lofty standards in mind, we strive to choose and only work with suppliers that meet our criteria in order to render an out-of-the-ordinary service.
Message From Headquarters As President of IVIDMC2, I deem it an honor to run this prestigious company and continue its positioning as one of the best in the market. The canons assertively say that the customer is first, and I concur. I also agree that our associates are the strong backbone of our company, and I consider them as my extended family. Without them we would not be where we are today.
After 29 eventful years in the business, IVIDMC2 is proud of the relationships we have forged with thousands of satisfied customers. We invite you to enjoy the pleasure of doing business with us and see for yourself that an unforgettable and successful event is feasible. You have my unfailing commitment to make you and your group look great!
Our company is recognized in the M&I industry as being down to earth and having an outstanding service-minded attitude. Our unchangeable commitment is to exceed our customers’
Sincerely, Jose-Manuel (Manolo) GARCIA President
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Interview with Sonia VARGAS IVIDMC2 Costa Rica CQ: In your opinion, why is Costa Rica a top destination for the M&I industry? SV: I think that these four words describe why Costa Rica should be your top M&I destination: convenience, expertise, nature, and safety. Please allow me to explain why I say this. Whether you’re coming from the United States, Canada, or Europe, flying to Costa Rica has never been easier! Visitors can arrive here in only 2.5 hours from Miami and just 5 hours from Toronto. Costa Rica’s two international airports serve 15 foreign airlines with an estimated 378 flights per week at Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) and 53 at Daniel Oduber International Airport (LIR).
Costa Ricans have formed a democratic and peaceful society (the oldest in Latin America), which includes social security and health care benefits and a high literacy rate, factors that you will see reflected in the hospitality and customer service that their guests receive.
Costa Rica offers high standards for one-of-a-kind meetings, conventions, and events. The destination offers modern facilities that accommodate everything from executive retreats and special interest groups to incentive travel and corporate meetings with first-class service.
CQ: What developments have been made locally to cater to the M&I industry needs? SV: The industry is in full development and more hotels have been added to the list of deluxe facilities and are prepared to receive incentive travelers. For instance, just recently a new luxury hotel opened its doors: Dreams Las Mareas, located in the beautiful El Jobo beach on the northern coast of Guanacaste. This deluxe resort features 447 luxurious suites filled with amenities for your comfort and convenience.
As a destination, Costa Rica offers a wide range of activities including natural experiences like walks along national parks, volcanoes, and reserves; floating on the rapids of a river, canoeing, or enjoying the therapeutic effects of hot springs. Other options of interest include learning about the farming, milling, and preparation of coffee; visiting gardens to enjoy an amazing variety of butterflies; playing golf on a modern first-class course; or simply soaking up the energizing effects of the tropical sun. After a busy or relaxing day, you can finish it off with a delicious dinner under the stars to the rhythms of calypso.
CQ: What are some of the most popular activities on your agenda for clients? SV: Tours, transfers, and parties are what our clients seek most often from us. We offer many adventure and leisure tours that cater either to the client who wants to relax or those
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June 2015 looking for an adrenaline rush. One of our most popular tours is the Sunset Catamaran Cruise, where clients enjoy a premium open bar, a breathtaking view and unforgettable sunsets, sometimes even whale and dolphin sightings. Jet skies, canopy, and full day Hacienda tours are at the top of the list as well.
The most popular theme parties in Costa Rica:
Costa Rican typical party with folkloric dances, marimba music, and a traditional Costa Rican mascarade. (A great theme for a welcome party)
Calypso party with "Under the Sea" theme
Latin music & dance party with Salsa dance show
Rain forest decoration with a marvelous show
Cocktails and games at the beach with DJ
Gala dinner, classical music, & jazz band
Neon theme and cocktail show with live band for dancing
Some nice add-ons we can fit on to many themes: Body paint performers, cigar rollers, artisan and flower markets, comparsa band, carnival style shows such as stilt walkers and jugglers, and much more. We also have a great variety of giveaways, amenities, and gifts according to your needs.
The Significance of IVIDMC2 What is the significance of our name, IVIDMC2? Allow us to introduce our company’s recharged vision, from a traditional DMC to a whole new level as a DMC2 (DMC to the second level). With this new initiative our company has upgraded its business’ focus and approach as a Destination Management and Marketing Company that favors the promotion of destinations in Latin America for the M&I niche. Our aim is to orchestrate trust and teamwork where all involved are ready to deliver a great performance. We strive to maintain high standards of quality and, by and large, exceed customers’ expectations by working hard to achieve that goal. We do not settle for less. IVIDMC2 takes things to a whole new level!
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Cover Topic:
“Walking on Sunshine” with These Irresistible Parks & Cultural Activities “And Don’t It Feel Good!”
Cancun & Riviera Maya EarthCheck Gold Certificate: The First Two Eco-Parks to Ever Obtain this Award! IVIDMC2 proudly shares this important news, the achievement of one of its strategic suppliers. On this year’s edition of Earth Day, the Experiencias Xcaret family is celebrating a big achievement. After years of sustainable work, eco-parks Xel-Ha and Xcaret have been granted the international EarthCheck Gold Certificate for their commitment to the environment. EarthCheck is an international leader in scientific benchmarking and environmental management that certifies sustainable procedures in tourism firms around the world. Elizabeth Lugo, Experiencias Xcaret’s head of operations, stated proudly that Xel-Ha has set a record to be the first eco-park in the world to receive this award, thus setting the bar for future certifications of theme parks worldwide. Elizabeth also highlighted how both of these Mexican parks have achieved this commitment for 5 years in a row. During this timeframe, the group has succeeded in achieving the following goals:
70% of solid waste has been reduced with its environmental management program. 30% of electric consumption has been reduced. 2,500 tons of compost have been produced at the organic treatment plants. 250,000 of native plants and trees have been donated for reforestation, with 60% of them having been grown in the parks. 674,000 baby turtles have been released into the ocean. 16,000 children have attended the parks’ environmental education programs.
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Mexico
June 2015
Mexico City The main plaza of Mexico City is commonly known as the Zócalo (Constitution Square.) This emblematic place became the center of the world so to speak, as nearly ninety diplomatic representations, including the Mexican Hosts, were present for the 7th edition of the Fair of the Friend Cultures. From May 15-31, this historical scenario displayed the cultural traditions of many countries; amongst these were Argentina, Cameroon, Germany, South Korea, Japan, Honduras, Uruguay, Nigeria, Ireland, Pakistan, Russia, and India. Last year’s event set an attendance record as it exceeded a count of 2.3 million visitors! This annual event is an ideal option to include in your agenda for your next program. Would you like to receive more information? We invite you to contact your IVIDMC² representative.
Puerto Vallarta The Festival Gourmet International Vallarta, the annual food and wine event that has been tempting the most demanding bon-vivant residents of the bay of Banderas and visitors from all over the world for years, returns to Puerto Vallarta every November. Throughout the 10 day event, selected restaurants host special chef's tables and winemaker dinners for a limited number of guests. This festival is memorable for its magnificent gourmet menus paired with excellent wines. The best part of this 10-day event is that each participating restaurant hosts a guest master chef to create a festival all of its own - and that means you'll have a multitude of unique opportunities to savor inspired world-class menus! Of course, Puerto Vallarta & Riviera Nayarit want you to attend – so, how about creating your own gourmet festival? Contact IVIDMC² to arrange a private cooking class with expert chefs at extraordinary locations! Just as the great Parisian Chef Gusteau used to say: “Anyone can cook!”
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Belize Blue Hole National Park IVIDMC2 Belize has within its array of options a visit to one of the most important parks in the country, Blue Hole National Park, which is surrounded by nature and adventure.
This place has an area of 500 acres of pure nature where you can also find two spectacular caves, Crystal and St Herman’s Caves. After the walk and caving, you can enjoy a refreshing swim in a natural pool of blue crystal clear waters. The pool is surrounded by trails and exotic plants. And for animal lovers, this place doesn’t stay behind, the park has more than 200 types of birds to watch! Chocolate Festival of Belize Every Commonwealth Day Holiday Weekend (late May), Belize celebrates the Chocolate Festival. The purpose of this festival is to discover what's new in the world of chocolate and at the same time, prolong the tourism season in the country. This celebration lasts three days. Here tourists and locals alike enjoy various activities such as concerts, visits to factories, and especially food. This festival makes it possible to raise funds for community projects. In Belize, life is like a box of chocolates, so be ready for pleasant and delicious surprises!
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Central America
June 2015
Guatemala
Xetulul and Xocomil Both parks offer visitors many leisure activities. One thing is surely guaranteed in these parks: Entertainment and diversion. They are considered the most beautiful and fully equipped in Latin America. Xetulul is an amusement park that features a variety of activities for children and adults. It has a capacity for 12,000 visitors. It has 9 stations which include electronic games, theater, shows, and more. Xocomil is a water park with over 15 attractions to enjoy. It has capacity for 8,500 visitors. Xocomil received an award for being the best water park in the world in the innovation category .
Guatemala celebrates a new Guinness World Record for having created the longest sawdust carpet in the world during Easter (or Holy Week.) In 2014 Guatemala had received the same award for a carpet of 3,733.60 feet long (1,138 m.) Remarkably, this year Guatemala by far surpassed their previous record by creating a carpet 1.42 miles long! (2,300 m.) To achieve this record the carpet had to be uninterrupted. There were more than 3,000 volunteers involved. This rug is made of a single material, sawdust. Guatemala is known for the beautiful and artistic designs created especially for the processions during Easter.
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El Salvador Royal Decameron Salinitas’ New Attractions This amazing all-inclusive hotel is located in Salinitas, El Salvador. Besides having already a fabulous variety of breakfasts, lunches, dinner buffets, and unlimited drinks, it recently made available 6 new attractions for tourists, thus making a stay here even more pleasurable! Among these new attractions are paintball, HD cinema, water slides, archery, arcade, and unlimited snow cone stations! These new stations will be available throughout all the hotel’s facilities. During the day, the hotels organizes fun activities in the pool area. From sunset till 2 am, the hotel throws live shows at its disco! Akwaterra Natural Adventures Akwaterra is a park with various activities tailored to all ages. Adventure is the main theme at this place. Akwaterra describes its amazing tours according to the four classical elements. For example: Earth - Activities include horseback riding, mountain bike riding, and treks through the woods. Water - Visitors can take a crash course at the Surf school. After the training you will ride the waves like a pro! Air - Enjoy a paragliding trip soaring around the mountains of San Salvador. Fire - An amazing hike to the active volcanoes in the area.
Besides these adventurous tours, there are plenty of more activities in the natural reserve near the park.
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Central America
June 2015
Costa Rica Exploring other cultures and customs is a real highlight of traveling. In our agenda for the M&I industry, cultural activities is a common request. Hence, our “Costa Rican Typical Fiesta” was created. It is such a success that it always receives good reviews from our guests, who learn a lot about our folklore in a magnificent party environment. First, the set up: Lush plants and sounds immerse you into the tropical rainforest. Then, the music: Marimbas sing with their wooden voices and dancers dressed in the Costa Rican typical costume glide in harmony with the rhythms. The girls’ costume consists of a colorful, long, full skirt that. As the skirt it undulates it resembles the beautiful flying macaws which by the way, fly free in our wonderful land. Next, the flavors: Savor the many regional dishes! Learn about the typical flavors of Costa Rica with a menu that is catered to your taste buds while introducing you the bounty of our blessed land. And last but not least: End the night with a traditional masquerade… a surprise of fun costumes and music that will surely make you rise from your seat!
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Panama There are plenty of things to do in Panama culturally or otherwise. In the city the possibilities are numerous and so close by! One section of the city has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and it is known as Casco Antiguo in Spanish (Old Quarter). Both Casco Viejo and La Ciudad del Saber (City of Knowledge) have some of the best convention centers in Panama. There are many prestigious cultural activities taking place in these surroundings: The International Jazz Festival, the Afro-Caribbean Festival, the Annual Arts Festival, and the International Film Festival. Panama also boasts amazing museums, some of them being interactive such as the Panama Canal Museum.
Among the cultural activities not to be missed, is a visit to some of the autochthonous communities of the Embera or the Kuna. With them the visitor shares in their food, dances, and partakes of other aspects of their culture that for sure will be a highlight of your visit! Take home with you exquisite handcrafts and souvenirs made by these fascinating people.
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South America
June 2015
Brazil
The Rio Art Museum opened in 2013. Its design is exquisite: Three buildings are united under an undulating roof, thus joining the new art museum and the school of arts. The concrete canopy resembles a flying object and it has been described as an extremely light and fluid structure. On the rooftops you will find outdoor bars and ample event space. The Rio Art Museum space promotes a cross-reading of the history of the city, its social fabric, its symbolic life, challenges, and social expectations. We invite you to consider this venue as an original location to be included in your next event
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Friends of the Maya Foundation’s Community Development Initiatives Children’s books for the Vida y Esperanza school donated by The Ritz Carlton Hotel through its Community Footprints Program
For further information on the fine hotels, deals, activities, and group packages mentioned in this magazine please contact Alicia Astudillo: aastudillo@ividmc.travel
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June 2015
Hotel Banyan Tree Mayakoba starts off its community awareness program in the Vida y Esperanza Community IVIDMC² 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 Belize Guatemala El Salvador Honduras Costa Rica Panama Colombia Brazil Argentina Chile Coming soon...Peru!
For more information contact: Friends of the Maya Foundation A.C. Mariana García Solana Managing Director Email: mgarcia@friendsofthemaya.org Website: www.friendsofthemaya.org Facebook: Friends of the Maya Foundation A.C. Twitter: @AmigosDeLosMaya
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Destinations • Mexico • Cuba • Dominican Republic • Guatemala • Costa Rica • Panama • Colombia • Brazil • Argentina • Chile This portal was created to assist Meeting Planners in easily locating ideal destinations, hotels, services, and activities within the group market in Latin America. On this site you will find a large collection of photographs and videos of selected hotels, tours, and activities that fit the needs of the M&I industry, as well as a RFP engine that will directly connect you with the hotel of your interest.
Easy to use
Go to the menu on top of the home page and click on the destination(s) of your interest. For instance, if you want to know more about Dominican Republic for a possible group follow these steps:
From “Destinations” select Dominican Republic. Immediately you will be on the Dominican Republic home page. As with each destination, you can see 10 reasons that make each destination stand out above the rest. You can click on each photo to see even more images.
To the right side there is a submenu showing airlines, hotels, restaurants, what to see, and what to do, etc. The content of each submenu includes: property description, amenities, location (Google map), photos, videos, pdf downloads. Some properties have 3600 photos.
You can use this site for your own presentations; feel free to use the photos and videos. From the home page menu you can easily access videos, sample programs, change the language, get connected through our social media, & contact us.
About Us... Our Vision: To run a world-class company that sets fresh trends and establishes new standards for best practices in the M&I industry by exceeding customer expectations. Mission Statement: To earn and maintain our clients’ trust at each one of our destinations by convincing them that their goals are our goals, and by delivering services that exceed industry standards and customer expectations. We also will meet client needs by providing exceptional product knowledge, creative solutions, cost-value and effectiveness in every measurable way. We pride ourselves on our efficient business organization that relies on strong management systems, ISO quality standards, and belief in the remarkable abilities of our people. Our mission also features an infinite commitment: "To make you look great!" Our People: IVIDMC2 has more than 150 year-round full-time associates within the entire Latin American network with great personalities, knowledge, a caring attitude, and vast M&I business experience! “Yes, since 1986, we are those neatly attired people in the turquoise blue and white uniforms. Many people call us "the Smurfs". We are knowledgeable, witty, fun to have around, and beautiful or handsome (not necessarily in that order).”
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June 2015
Travel Tip: Upgrade or Play Musical Chairs Try to get the flight attended to upgrade you once you board the plane. This used to be easier than it is today due to the high number of upgrades required by the frequent flyer participants. Offer to have a coach meal. The airline may not have boarded extra First Class meals because the seats were empty. Just because you are assigned a seat, doesn’t mean you have to sit in it. The moment the door of the plane is closed, seek out a more desirable seat and move to it. Make your move quickly though. Others are making the same plans. Please return your seat to its upright and most uncomfortable position. Later, you may lean back and break the knees of the passenger behind you. – Flight attendant (Taken from page 68) 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&I 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 magazine is a valuable tool that brings you the timely information and analysis that you need, with a lair for what's hot, relevant, and interesting. I wish you the best of success in your quest, whatever it may be.
Jose-Manuel GARCIA Visionary, Founder, & Master Coach IVIDMC²
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The Customer is Always Right
The IVI team working our program was an absolute pleasure to work with. We had many last minute changes and requests. The team handled them well and always with a smile and “can do” attitude. We would absolutely love to work with you again. Great job! You made our job easier. -Kristen Early
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