CommuniQuest Incentive Travel Digest - Year 10 Vol. 1, 194

Vol. 1, No. 194

DIRECTORY Visionary, Founder and

INDEX

Master Coach: Jose Manuel Garcia, CDS jmgarcia@ividmc.travel President: Jose Manuel (Manolo) Garcia CIS, CMS, CCM, CES manolo@ividmc.travel Vice President of Marketing:

Corporate Quality Director: Julia ORTIZ, CES, CMS jortiz@ividmc.travel

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Keeping up with the Smurfs - warm wishes and Webinar Series Agenda

Raquel Mijares, CIS, DMCP rmijares@ividmc.travel

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6-7

11

Bicycle assembling, playground rehabilitation and more CSR projects in Puerto Vallarta

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C o sta R ica: Corporate Social Responsibility in the travel industry

12-13

A growing trend: CSR events in Cancun

IT Director: Alejandro Pech apech@ividmc.travel Content & Editing: Omar Delgadillo corp.news@ividmc.travel

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8-10

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Corporate Social Responsibility programs in Los Cabos

14-15

Panama: Floating Doctors Foundation, Esperanza Social Venture Club among other projects

Destination offices

Cover subject: M&E with cause

Follow us on:

Mexico:

Caribbean:

Central America:

IVI DMC Los Cabos

IVI DMC Cuba

Yazmin ELOSEGUI, DMCP, CIS, CMS

Alejandro DEBASA, CMS

IVI DMC Costa Rica Connie CARBALLO

Destination Managing Director

Regional Managing Director

yelosegui@ividmc.travel

adebasa@ividmc.travel

ccarballo@ividmc.travel

IVI DMC Puerto Vallarta & Riviera Nayarit

IVI DMC Dominican Republic

Jaime NELO, DMCP, CMS, CES

Bidia BISSUMBHAR, CIS, CES, CMM

IVI DMC Panama José Manuel (Manolo) GARCÍA, CIS, CMS, CCM, CES

Destination Managing Director

Planning & Events Manager

President IVI DMC Enterprises

jnelo@ividmc.travel

dr.planning2@ividmc.travel

manolo@ividmc.travel

Destination Manager

IVI DMC Cancun & Riviera Maya Ximena LOPEZ, CMS Marketing & Planning Director cun.planning2@ividmc.travel

© Copyright 2020. All Rights Reserved.

A WORD FROM OUR PRESIDENT. Dear reader, In today’s socially conscious environment, employees and customers place a premium on working for and spending their money with businesses that prioritize corporate social responsibility (CSR) as it has a positive impact on social, economic, and environmental factors. At IVI DMC we are mindful of the contribution to the communities and impact created alongside our clients through CSR projects. With actions that incorporate sustainable development into a company’s business model, we invite you to discover all that these wondrous destinations and its communities have to offer. Plan your extraordinary event with our leading quality of service. Our accomplishments and enthusiastic attitude are what upholds up our motto, in your business, “We make YOU look GREAT”!

Sincerely,

Jose Manuel (Manolo) GARCIA, CIS, CMS, CCM, CES President IVI DMC Enterprises

Our Objective: Always aim for 100% overall customer satisfaction.

Our Vision: 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 loyal, honest and successful partners maximizing the return on investment to shareholders.

Planet: Inspire responsible resource management by means of our work.

Our Mission: Serve customers through our international certifications ISO 9001 and ADMC ensuring 100% customer satisfaction to incentives, corporate meetings, conventions, congresses, special events and VIP vacations, providing memorable experiences that leave a mark in each of the destinations in which we operate; maximizing the return on investment to shareholders.

Keeping up with the Smurfs!

As you may already know the whole world is are currently going through tough times. However, at IVI DMC, we have always maintained a positive attitude towards adversity. In order to avoid COVID-19 infections we decided to spend the entire month of April and May working from home, getting our tasks done employing video conferences and online networking.

Of course, we miss seeing each other, collaborating and having fun in our offices. Nevertheless, we are aware that this small sacrifice may be crucial for the recovery of our society and our economy. With much love from IVI DMC, we wish that you all stay safe from the comfort of your home and to hang in there just a little longer. Soon enough we will be rejoicing again and traveling around the world! Please remember to avoid canceling your trips but rather reschedule them.

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This time at home has made us remember and miss the good times with clients and friends in our different destinations. We hope to meet again really soon, stronger, and healthier than ever to continue sharing adventures together.

This nostalgia inspired us to make a short video in which we share with some of these happy moments. In this video, we talk about how being apart now is the best way to stay safe so that return to normality everyone is present. In the same way, we are certain that these life-changing experiences will once again be awaited and that even finding ourselves in a complex situation, remembering these good moments always helps to uplift our spirits.

Watch video To make the most of our time we have been holding 30-minute webinars for our clients and business partners showcasing each of our destinations. These webinars have been presented by our Destination Managing Directors. They are centered around the best options for meetings, incentives, and events all of which we have been promoting on our social networks. Be sure to stop by to learn more about each destination. Here are the dates for upcoming webinars we will be carrying out in the upcoming weeks.

Guadalajara for M&E “The Mexican Silicon Valley”: Thursday, May 7th at 1:00 PM Central Time Join here!

Mexican Caribbean “The Triple Destination”: Friday, May 8th at 11:00 AM Central Time Join here!

Mexico City for M&E, “The Hidden Lake”: Thursday, May 14th at 1:00 PM Central Time Join here!

Dominican Republic “Has it all”: Monday, May 11th, at 11:00 PM Central Time Join here!

On behalf of the entire IVI DMC team, we send you our love and wish you a safe and healthy stay in your home and we motivate you to resist just a little longer. Maintain a positive attitude and endurance, we are confident we will get through this together and soon rejoin and be able to travel around the world! We encourage you not to cancel your trips, but to reschedule them. Once this is over, we will be more than prepared to welcome you to our destinations.

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CSR and foundations in Costa Rica Corporate social responsibility is one of the main business phrases of the 21st century, which is difficult to define, as each company that declares to be socially responsible, chooses diverse ways to demonstrate its commitment. The CSR is the way a company acts, not in terms of profits or the efficiency of its daily operations, but by committing to an activity or cause that contributes to the common good. Whether recycling, helping to rebuild houses destroyed by an earthquake, providing soccer uniforms to impoverished schools or cleaning beach litter, a socially responsible company is one that aims to improve something beyond its core function — in a way that is relevant for the whole society.

At IVI DMC we are mindful of our significant contribution to the perception of the CSR for our clients. Hence, we offer a variety of initiatives aimed at that objective. With actions that are, so to speak, symbols of the good corporate will, responsibility and solidarity.

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Giving back is a great way to connect with the community Our company is focused on supporting nonprofit communities and entities with the most demand in the country. We analyze together with our client, a structure aligned with their philosophy, community support approach and budget and in this way, we can support different entities throughout the country. On the other hand, we like to work shoulder to shoulder with participants in the programs that involve hands-on exercises, where participants offer their valuable time, as well as hard work, painting schools, orphanages, planting trees, and cleaning beaches. Since in our we are an eco-friendly country we support national parks, as well as all animal sanctuaries and new projects that promote the strengthening of essential members of the planet, such as bees.

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Los Cabos

Corporate Social Responsibility Meetings & Events with a cause: Under the proposal of Harvey K. Newman about how a foundation is capable to develop an area devastated by poverty and marginalization, the development of social assistance and capitalization are designed to evolve better cash flows for their clients. This is done by embarking within one social aid and that supports the unprotected sectors while enhancing their living standards, through cost-effective project investments. The result is an open door to a society where opportunities for education, employment are improved, not to mention the decrease in crime rates.

Therefore is highly important to encourage these sorts of projects and make it accessible for the community where Meetings and Events take place on a frequent basis. Giving back to the community is a sincere, heartwarming gesture that benefits the communities in Los Cabos. You can add a Corporate Social Responsibility aspect to any of our team incentive programs.

Beach Blast ( or any other programs ) As part of a fun and engaging experience for participants, your program will have a lot of activities that can be enjoyed, in addition to earning points that can be exchanged for “Baja Bucks�, which equates to a dollar donation to your desired charitable agency.

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Love on Wheels This splendid program offers the opportunity for a hands-on aid project that has an immediate and direct impact for elderly, disabled individuals or groups that truly need support just getting from place to place. It is truly satisfying to give others a chance to live better and enjoy a fabulous time as a team and as human beings.

Sarahuaro Foundation Dedicated to helping women and particularly focusing on changing a woman’s self-image through knowledge to break the cycle of an ingrained pattern culture. The Sarahuaro Center for Women’s Development is at the heart of what we do: empower women and help them make self- sufficient decisions that will lift them and their children out of poverty.

The “center” — as the women refer to it — offers classes in english, human development, physical health, fitness, craftsmanship, aesthetics, and woodwork in an effort to prepare women with the skills to support themselves and their families. It also provides safe children care for children of all ages while their mothers learn.

Mirtha’s Soup Kitchen This soup kitchen serves breakfast and lunch to 80 to 150 kids (approximately) per day, and over 500 children on special occasions such as Christmas or Children’s Day. This is a loyal initiative sponsored by a non-profit organization. This aid can be sustained with the help of outside contributions, we are sure we can count on you! The best part of it is that 100% of donations go to this charity and thus help more and more to the community of Los Cabos!

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Casa Club Los Abuelos San Miguel This is an incredible center in Cabo San Lucas that is helping more than 100 seniors in need.

They receive daily meals and other necessities that might otherwise go without.

The club de Los Abuelos San Miguel is a nonprofit, non-government organization that relies on the support of community members and visitors to make a difference in these people’s lives.

Kits for Kids Liga MAC created an educational support program 13 years ago, with efforts to help the children of deprived families stay at school.

Liga MAC provides uniforms, shoes, tuition fees, and school supplies to qualifying students to move forward through high-school, encouraging them to continue for a higher education or skill trade.

Dog Adoption Project Positively designed to give all of those dogs that are homeless a fighting chance, this organization provides aid to puppies with essentials such as food, shelter, water, vaccines, and other needed accessories.

They make this possible by setting up a standpoint downtown, allowing people to engage and fall in love with a dog by playing with him/her as they get to know each other.

Once the requirements are met by the family interested, a certificate is issued and the fun begins with the new family member.

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Puerto Vallarta & Riviera Nayarit

Corporate Social Responsibility Projects Throughout the years, the opportunity to demonstrate Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has been steadily rising in the travel industry. In the past years, Incentive Travel, Meetings, and Conventions have adopted social projects. We at IVI DMC are committed to promote and stimulate such projects, with our clients who would like to get involved in giving give back.

Some projects we have facilitated include: • Bicycle assembly • Classroom and bathroom construction with running water at rural schools for kids in need conditions • Playground rehabilitation • Food and hygiene goods assembling.

• Kids school supplies and clothes assembling • Donation to various local foundations, such One of the most remarkable projects came true as shelters for children, homes for kids with thanks to the Lonza Water Team & Pool Dealer 5th Annual PEACH™ Project. Classrooms special needs, homes for the elderly. were built using a sustainable system, consisting of walls made of PET and sand. The span life of these homes will be of 100 years – twice as much as bricks!

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Mexican Caribbean Executing CSR events has become a very popular practice in recent years. A responsible event is an innovative idea that involves a business strategy with the intent of producing social impact.

A few examples of CSR events in the Mexican Caribbean include:

Saving the Reef Oceanus A.C. is a nonprofit organization that generates information and strategies for the conservation of natural resources and promotes citizen participation among institutions and communities. Through its reef restoration program, it aims to promote and implement tangible actions for the conservation of marine coastal ecosystems in Mexico.

They do this by collecting fragments of elkhorn coral at reef sites, placing them on male PVC connectors, and finally coupling them into their female PVC connectors previously installed on special handmade bases on the reef.

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Organic Harvesting Program The sustainable food production program consists of helping a Mayan village learn permaculture techniques and increase the yield of their community crops and family backyard gardens.

The program aims to support families, and consequently communities so they can self-sustain their feeding requirements with skilled workers in the fields to grow their food, while controlling pests, fertilizing the soil with organic homemade tonics and maximizing the use of water.

In this activity, teams will support the program by helping make and place the compost in rows and installing a drip irrigation system in the first orchard at the Nuevo Durango community.

Rainwater Harvesting Program The Counting with a Friend foundation was designed to support people in vulnerable situations and encourage them to believe they can grow and gain better opportunities through education. The location where they live does not have access to essential services such as water, electricity or sewer system. The foundation has managed to install a septic tank and a small pump for providing basic needs for their school, however, sometimes this is not enough for the increasing number of students.

To achieve sustainability, we need to develop a water management and supply model that promotes a healthy connection with natural cycles and availability. There is a demand for solutions that can supply water more equitably without destroying aquifers, rivers, or the ecosystems that depend on them.

In this project, teams will help install a rainwater harvesting system to provide children with basic water needs.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is a new business trend that is becoming a part of the business models put into use by companies today. The basic explanation is that companies begin to take responsibility for their actions that foster a positive impact on the environment, consumers, employees, and communities.

Panama

Embera The Emberas live in remote areas such as the Darien Province and west of Gatun Lake and riparian areas of the Canal Zone.

Naturally, they live in areas with difficult access.

A coordinated donation of overboard engines to these indigenous communities would be very useful considering transportation is essential.

With good transportation, they can obtain food, education, medical attention and participate in tourism ventures. These people travel by canoe, so it is a must that they have an overboard engine so they can commute swiftly in case of any emergency.

Areas for opportunities: • The school in the villages lacks an adequate structure for the classroom, they teach on a ranch outdoors and don’t have appropriate chairs. • The development of a drinking water storage system is required to distribute to houses within the village.

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Floating Doctors Foundation While Panama is known for its incredible beaches and rich culture, there are also many people who need medical attention that lack immediate access to any public hospital to which they can be transferred.

This Foundation supports people that require transportation through the islands, serving residents in the most deserted islands. This is a non-governmental organization that only works with donations of medical time and donations from international organizations.

Areas for opportunities: • Medicine supplies • Dental health supplies • Monetary donations

Foundation “Esperanza Social Venture Club” Hope and change require continuous effort, which entails strength, especially if you want to be an entrepreneur. This is the path that the former “City of God” gang has taken. After going through an intense social program called Esperanza (for the Calicanto Foundation), this group has changed its name and identity to Fortaleza.

Now, guided by Casqueños members of the Esperanza Social Venture Club and the team of the Esperanza social program, they are taking their first steps towards the world of tourism. How? By sharing their story.

Areas for opportunities: • Fortaleza kitchen • Dining rooms for children • Sponsorship to complement the social project within the community (parks for children)

What our client’s have to say.

“

Yoan was wonderful from beginning to end. I appreciate having him involved in all aspects.

Melissa Swakow | Senior Manager of Meetings & Events

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I wanted to let you know how happy we were with the service that you and your team provided. Nicolas was amazing. He handled everything with grace and ease. He was an absolute pleasure to work with. The team enjoyed the activities and appreciated the ease in finding the transfers at the airport.Please share my feedback with your team! Looking forward to work with you in the future.

Barbara Siminerio | Event Marketing Manager

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“

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Jeremy was fantastic and professional. Everything was planned and executed well. The communication was great! All went smoothly and the service was outstanding. Thank you for being such great partners!

Emilee Dunn | Director of Events

Thanks for putting up with me. You’re my preferred DMC. As always PURA VIDA! Deven Crane | Director, Incentive Travel & Meeting Services Page 16

Doctor Travel’s cure for the common trip Don’t be afraid to wander Ever stumbled upon some of the most impressive spots by taking another route or getting lost along the way.

It could perhaps be the best way to make remarkable findings of a place. So on your next trip, don’t miss the chance to wander, it may just make your trip a whole lot more memorable.

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Click here to receive more information

Serving the meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions industry since 1986.

Find us in over 41 destinations throughout: • Mexico • Cuba • Dominican Republic • Costa Rica & • Panama • Colombia

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CONTACT:

Dear reader!

Thanks for reading Communiquest Incentive Travel Digest I hope you find in this newsletter a useful tool that will help you make decisions for your successful business.We would be delighted to know if there anything else you’d like to see or experience in this monthly newsletter. Your suggestions are more than welcome.

We wish you the best in your endeavors and business adventures, and please, don’t forget, working with us “Will make YOU look GREAT”.

IVI DMC² Corporate office: Ave. Acanceh #1-01, SM 15 Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mx Phone: +52 (998) 287-1700 Email:ivicorp@ividmc. travel

Sincerely,

For further information on the finest hotels, deals, activities, and group packages mentioned in this travel digest, please contact:

José-Manuel GARCÍA, CDS Visionary, Founder and Master Coach

Raquel MIJARES rmijares@ividmc.travel

Follow us on:

© Copyright 2020. All Rights Reserved.

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OUR CREDO (A company with a soul) We promise to be those neatly dressed people in white and turquoise blue uniforms. Many people call us “The Smurfs”.

We are an extension of your own business; and we are knowledgeable, witty, fun to have around, and beautiful or handsome (not necessarily in that order).

We can run faster than “Speedy Gonzalez”, and can be in two or three different places at once. We are also committed to doing everything in a legal and personalized way for our clients.

You can find us popping up at airports, historical and archaeological sites, deluxe resorts, charming hotels, golf courses, scenic beaches, and even at the best restaurants in town.

We enjoy “Smurf Team-work” because it’s fun and having fun while doing our job is our passion. We can do the impossible right away – miracles may take a little bit longer.

Since 1986 we’ve been working passionately with the sole mission to Make YOU look GREAT!

by José-Manuel García, Founder

CORPORATE OFFICE José Manuel (Manolo) GARCÍA, CIS, CMS, CCM, CES President of IVI DMC Enterprises manolo@ividmc.travel Calle Josefa Ortiz de Domínguez Lote 19, Mza 20, SM 308 Alfredo V. Bonfil Cancun, Q. Roo 77560 Mexico Tel. +52 (998) 2871700 Page 20