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Year 8 Vol. 1, Issue 97 Visionary, Founder, and Master Coach
Jose-Manuel GARCIA
President
Jose-Manuel (Manolo)
Contents:
jmgarcia@ividmc.travel
How to Prepare a Chelada
GARCIA manolo@ividmc.com Marketing Vice President
Alicia ASTUDILLO, DMCP
Trinidad SANCHEZ
Francisco BAEZA
fbaeza@ividmc.com Corporate Quality Director
Julia ORTIZ
jortiz@ividmc.com Electronic Publishing
Alejandro PECH
apech@ividmc.com Content and Editing
Omar GALLEGOS
ivicorp@ividmc.com Managing Director —MyDay Travel Corporate Headquarters:
Be in the Swim of Things in Latin America
tsanchez@ividmc.com Corporate Business Director
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Cover Subject:
aastudillo@ividmc.com
General Comptroller
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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Catamaran Sailing Diving Jungle Tour Kayaking Snorkeling Surfing Swimming with Dolphins White Water Rafting
Interview with Francisco BAEZA IVIDMC2 Cancun & Riviera Maya
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Quick Hits: Citrix’s Generous Donation
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Travel Tip: Get an Advanced Seat Assignment
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Destination Offices: Mexico
The Caribbean
Central America
South America
IVIDMC² Cancun & Riviera Maya Jose-Manuel (Manolo) GARCIA President manolo@ividmc.com
IVIDMC² Dominican Republic Genaro ALMONTE Regional Managing Director galmonte@ividmc.com
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.com
IVIDMC² Brazil Andrea MAJELA Regional Managing Director amajela@ividmc.com
IVIDMC² Panama Ligia VARGAS Regional Managing Director lvargas@ividmc.com
IVIDMC² Argentina & Chile Leila GOROSITO Regional Managing Director lgorosito@ividmc.com
Jaime NELO Regional Managing Director jnelo@ividmc.com IVIDMC² Puerto Vallarta & Riviera Nayarit
Alexandra GONZALEZ Destination Manager pv.planning1@ividmc.com 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.com
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May 2015
How to Prepare a Chelada When it’s hot there is almost nothing more refreshing than an ice cold beer. Why not try this chelada recipe next time you reach for a cold one? The chelada drink is a variation of the Mexican famous michelada drink. The difference being that the michelada has a kick to it, whereas the chelada is only beer with lime. So zest up your beer and try this recipe.
Ingredients: (1 serving size)
2 lime wedges
1 tablespoon of salt for rimming the cup
2 ounces of freshly squeezed lime juice
1 can of beer
Preparation: Take one lime wedge and wet the rim of your cup. Place the salt on a small plate. Dip your cup upside down into the salt and spin the cup to fully rim the cup with salt. Flip the cup over and add the lime juice and then the beer. You could add a slice of lime to the cup as decor if you so desire, and enjoy!
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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Cover Topic:
Be in the Swim of Things in Latin America IVIDMC2 Cancun & Riviera Maya brings you the professionalism and expertise of our team to offer you the most comprehensive water activities that your achievers will love and remember forever.
Jungle Tour The Caribbean Sea and the crystal clear waters of the lagoon are the perfect scenario for the Jungle Tour. It features a journey through the mangroves and the reefs. Along the ride you’ll be amazed by the wide variety of birds, plants, and marine life. Admire all this from your vantage point: Your own speedboat!
Sailing & Snorkel Catamaran Or if you prefer solace, then we suggest a silent and smooth sailing aboard a modern Catamaran. Cancun has the best fleet of Cats in the Mexican Caribbean. They are all equipped with an on board bar, music, snorkel gear, and of course, a fun and seasoned crew which will guarantee you an unforgettable sailing and snorkeling experience.
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Dominican Republic
May 2015
Sailing Chavon - Catalina Admire the beautiful shoreline of Casa de Campo. Start your journey by navigating through Chavon River upstream to Altos de Chavon Amphitheater. From here, join the ocean and sail away to the charming Catalina Island. Once on the island, enjoy snorkeling in this natural outdoor aquarium. We will dock at our private beach in Catalina and feast on a delicious VIP buffet, and enjoy alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Come and enjoy the adventure this isolated island can offer. The tour also includes trekking through a lush tropical forest.
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Snorkeling & Diving Belize snorkeling is indeed pretty fantastic. Enjoy our snorkel boat trips that will take you to the barrier reef, all around Ambergris Caye, and continuing out to the outer atolls of Lighthouse & Glover's Reef. The tour can include a visit to the famous Great Blue Hole, a large, circular submarine sinkhole over 984 feet across and 407 feet deep! Belize is a laid-back tropical haven. Here is found the world’s second largest barrier reef and you can get there in only 15 minutes by flight from Belize City. Everything in Belize is within walking distance, however, you are welcome to rent golf carts or bicycles at your leisure.
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Guatemala
May 2015
White Water Rafting Guatemala has an abundance of white water rafting rivers. Some of these rivers are runnable all year round, i.e. the Cahabon, and others during the rainy season, such as the ones in the southern coast and central region. Rain season is usually from June to October.
Kayaking Kayaking in Lake Atitlan, Guatemala is a relaxing, amazing experience! The views you will see are simply amazing. Come and enjoy the calm, crystal clear waters of this gorgeous lake.
Surfing Guatemala’s Pacific Ocean shore is indeed a wonderful feast to the senses. Surfing here is a delight that we invite you to experience. Due to the prevailing all year round winds, surfing can be practiced virtually any day. Come and ride the challenging waves having the black volcanic beaches as the perfect backdrop crowning your adventure!
Diving There are lots of dive sites to choose from when diving with us. They range in difficulty level from easy sites for everyone to some more challenging sites for more experienced divers.
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Kayak in La Libertad Kayaking here is the perfect way to see the impressive Salvadorian Pacific coast dotted with astonishing beach villas that sit on the tall cliffs. While kayaking, you will see up close intrepid surfers. You can also practice snorkeling, or fishing from your kayak. The perfect season for kayaking is from November through March, when the southwest swells are soft and the tide level is extremely low.
Surfing in La Libertad La Libertad is to El Salvador what the north shore is to Hawaii. Located only 30 minutes away from San Salvador and from the airport, this charming port is home to one of the best surfing spots in the world. Thousands of surfers that flock to La Libertad testify to the surfing suitableness that this destination can offer.
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Honduras
May 2015
Snorkeling Roatan’s reef is known for possessing the largest variety of marine life in the Caribbean, especially colorful fish, coral, and sponges. The coral is found so close to the shore that it resembles an aquarium. Needless to say, snorkeling in these calm, clear, and warm waters will be a delight to your senses.
Diving Only a short boat ride away and you will find yourself surrounded by amazing, pristine dive sites such as drops and underwater canyons. Dive on while enjoying the Caribbean’s largest variety of coral and sponges. Enjoy valet diving and get the most out of your diving day!
Dolphin Encounter Immediately following the 30minute Dolphin Encounter, this activity allows you to swim and snorkel with our friendly pod of dolphins on their terms and with no trained behaviors, which allows you to experience what it would be like to be a “part of the pod” in the wild. It’s a thrill you’ll remember for years to come!
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Snorkeling & Diving Costa Rica’s vast and beautiful rivers, waterfalls, beaches, and lakes certainly give notoriety to this incredible island country. Costa Rica is blessed with terrain and water that is teeming with life! The tepid ocean waters allow marine life to flourish everywhere. Because of its incomparable beauty and seemingly endless shapes and forms, it almost seems that nature chiseled the great reefs. This unique underwater world is ideal for diving or snorkeling. As you plunge int the water, be amazed as this scenario unveils before your very eyes. If you have a passion for fishing, we have virtually the best fishing in the world! Or if you prefer the excitement caused by riding the waves at full speed, then try our fast jet skis. However, if you would rather enjoy a calm, yet fun day, then consider a relaxing kayak trip along the estuary, where you will also be able to spot amazing critters such as monkeys, iguanas, and birds. Whatever you choose, one thing is for sure: Fun in the sun awaits you!
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Brazil
May 2015
River Rafting Adventures at Iguassu Falls Experience the adventure of a lifetime as you navigate the rough waters of the Iguassu River. Part of the rafting experience calls for a coordinated teamwork effort. Needless to say that your group participants will have a blast and come off up built. Raft your way down to the Iguassu Falls National Park and enjoy
magnificent views right from the heart of the river itself. A breathtaking view indeed! We include a seasoned and professional guide, as well as all the necessary equipment. This river rafting adventure is for beginners and professionals alike!
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Interview with Francisco BAEZA IVIDMC2 Cancun & Riviera Maya program information, representing them in sales calls and expos, as well as in getting them acquainted with our internal processing and data system. For a year or so now, I have been also in charge of the social media postings such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Google+ for branding purposes.
CQ: How long have you been working for IVIDMC2? FB: A total of 7 years. CQ: What is your role in the company, and what does this entail? FB: I have two roles in the company. One as part of Cancun’s roster, and the other one as part of the corporate board. I am the head of the Business & Planning Department, meaning that I am in charge of all the incoming leads. I then assign them to a corresponding follow up team. I give support to the Business side of the company in product development, proposals, site inspections, and closings. On the Planning side, I offer my support in supervising and evaluating program development and closing techniques. As a detailed-oriented individual, I am very much involved in the development of the programs and in solving contingencies. The Corporate Business & Planning Director role that I have involves working together with our different teams in Los Cabos, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico City, the Caribbean, Central, and South America. I offer them full support with
CQ: We know that you travel often, what are some of things you enjoy when traveling? FB: What I like the most is that I get to meet amazing people, their point of view on the ever-changing industry of tourism and to talk to them about the beauty and interesting facts of the gorgeous country I live in. CQ: What accounts for IVIDMC2’s continual expansion? (i.e. Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, Honduras &, Cuba). FB: Its experience and fine reputation. Whenever a client sees the smurfs in blue, to him this represents a guarantee of superb service. When we expand to a new country, our clients confidently look for our experience and our well-known customer service standards in handling groups.
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May 2015
Citrix’s Generous Donation to a School in Need in the Riviera Nayarit Citrix, a leader in mobility, virtualization, networking, and cloud services, recently held an unforgettable event in Riviera Nayarit. Citrix decided to make a long-lasting difference in the community by giving a generous donation: A playground, soccer goals, backpacks, uniforms, and stationary supplies to a school in a community of little means. The backpacks had inspiring words for the kids inscribed on them. This lofty gesture was orchestrated by Tiempo de Dar, a non-profit organization focused on offering assistance to less favored communities in the municipalities of Puerto Vallarta and Bahia de Banderas. If you too are interested in making a difference to a community in need, please contact your IVIDMC² Puerto Vallarta & Riviera Nayarit representative. We will be glad to assist.
For further information on the fine hotels, deals, activities, and group packages mentioned in this magazine please contact Alicia Astudillo: aastudillo@ividmc.com
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IVIDMC² World Headquarters: Ave. Acanceh #1-01, SM 15 Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico Phone: +52 (998) 287-1700
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!
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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May 2015
Travel Tip: Get an Advanced Seat Assignment When you book your flight, ask for your seat preference. If you wait until you check-in at the airport, you are less likely to get the seat you want. Most airlines, though, will not assign a seat more than 30 days before a flight. If you are a member of the airline’s frequent flyer program, seat assignments, and even certain seats, are assignable well in advance as another perk for becoming an important customer. A lady said she did not mind being put on standby for a flight. If they couldn’t find her a seat, she would go to the gift shop and buy a little stool.– Doc Blakely (Taken from page 63) 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.
The Customer is Always Right
Everything went exactly as planned. I was pleased with the service and would recommend. Thank you. Alison Taylor Matrix Resources
Jose-Manuel GARCIA Visionary, Founder, & Master Coach IVIDMC²
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