November 2005

A MONTHLY DIGEST TO INFORM, ENLIGHTEN AND HUMOUR MEETING PLANNERS

Ethics: There is no free lunch

BY JUDY ALLEN

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ack of ethics in business is at an all-time high. In the event planning industry, business ethics are crossed frequently — sometimes inadvertently and other times with deliberate intent. Event planners today are navigating a minefield of potentially sticky situations that can easily blow up in their face.

Without a personal, professional and company code of ethics, lines of acceptable behaviour are easily crossed.

Ethical employers want to ensure that their employees are above reproach, and that receiving personal perks and favors have not swayed their

decisions. And employees want to ensure that they are not being perceived as having allegiances that can be purchased by a lunch, a gift or a getaway weekend. If a destination is selected, it is not payback for being invited on a fam trip or having had a personal vacation hosted, but because it is the right destination for the client. The same applies to the selection of a venue, hotel and airline, and the contracting of other industry suppliers such as caterers, decor companies, entertainers, photographers and rental companies.

We have all heard the saying that there is no such thing as a free lunch, and it’s true.

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IN THIS ISSUE Influence with Ease

2

Sudoku

8

Resiliency

10

Book review

14

The mighty cranberry

16

Ask Stacey & Denise

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The missing ingredient

21

Argotism

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Hotel News Laugh a little VOL. 3 ISSUE 8 November 2005 Edition

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CIC study demonstrates industry’s economic clout M

eetings, conventions, exhibitions, and incentive travel generated $122.3 billion in direct spending in the United States last year.

According to the Convention Industry Council’s Economic Impact Study released in September, corporate meetings and events comprised onethird of that, or $40.3 billion and association events accounted for the rest.

CIC’s president and CEO, Mary Power says this study is an indication of the resilience of the industry, enduring the devastating effects of 9/11, “and now it’s coming back strong again.”

Conducted by Veris Consulting LLC, Reston, Va., for CIC, the study was com-

piled from various sources, including the ExPact Study by Destination Management Association International and statistics from the Center for Exhibition Industry Research and the Travel Industry Association.

Major findings: • The industry employs 1.7 million people on a full-time basis • Conventions and exhibitions account for $67.9 billion (55.5%) • Corporate and association meetings generated 48.1 billion in spending (39.4%)

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

INFLUENCE WITH EASE

®

Grand Intentions to Greater Sales

By Jeff Mowatt

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learned a powerful lesson about selling from a 15 year old. My wife and I had just picked up a dog from the humane society. On the way home, we stopped at a pet store to pick up some dog food, a dish, and a leash. I’m figuring this stop will take eight minutes. That was before we met the store’s teenaged employee, ‘Tina.’

“Anything in particular you’re looking for?” Tina asked. My wife replied that we’d just picked up a dog from the SPCA and needed a few supplies. The teenager’s response: “Really? You adopted! That is so sweet. You know, I’m working here because this is more than just a job to me. I’m doing this because I love animals. So, no matter where you buy your pet supplies from, I want to make sure that we get all of your questions answered, so that your little dog gets the best possible care.”

I glanced over at my wife and notice that she’s looking at Tina with the kind of expression that says, “You-are-achild-of-God-who-this-world-needs-moreof-and-of-course-we’re-going-to-buy-allof-our-pet-supplies-here-and-let’s-noteven-dicuss-anything-as-petty-as-price.”

Fifty-eight minutes later, I’m pushing a cart out the door with over two hundred dollars worth of pet supplies.

The dog was only seventy five.

We get it!

That part-time teenaged employee had done something refreshingly unique and convincing. She expressed what I call a “Grand Intention©.” She shared that she was there not simply to make a commission or sell dog food but to help people take better care of animals. By expressing her Grand

Intention, Tina demonstrated that she cared about our big picture. In other words she proved to her customers that she gets it. The good news is that you can have the same impact when you bring this approach to your company.

Crafting your own ‘Grand Intention’ I’m sure that you care about your customers. Hopefully your employees do as well. The problem is, do you consistently tell your customers that you care? That’s why one of the goals of our Influence with Ease® training sessions is to help employees to clarify their “Grand Intention.” Usually, it involves expressing to the customer that you understand not only their immediate need but also their larger desire. An insurance adjuster, for example, might acknowledge the pain and hassle the customer is going through to get a claim settled. So, the adjustor might start the conversation with something like, “First of all, I want you to know that I understand what a hassle and inconvenience it is to be involved in accident. One of my goals is to make this part of the process as easy as possible for you and to ensure that you get every penny of coverage that you are entitled to.”

The Grand Intention can be used in other non-sales-type scenarios. An attendee of one of my training sessions, a manager of collections for a utility power company, said that he would urge his employees to use the Grand Intention for collections. So, rather than starting a conversation with a late-paying customer with a negative like, “We need to do

something about your outstanding bill,” instead, using the Grand Intention, they would begin with, “Our goal is to help you to reestablish your good credit.”

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Grand Intentions also work well for enhancing trust and cooperation with internal customers. Picture being in the Information Technology Department and receiving a call from a stressed co-worker who’s having computer problems. Early in the conversation, you say something like, “I understand how frustrating it is when you are in the middle of dealing with a customer and the darned computer crashes. I want to get you back up and running as fast as possible so that you can get back to those customers that pay all of our wages.” Again the Grand Intention proves to the customer—in this case internal customer—that you get it.

Disarming the cynical customer You’ve probably noticed that today’s consumer is better educated, streetwise, and, frankly, more cynical about other people’s motives than ever before. Consumers seem to be taking the advice that parents give their children: “Come straight home, and don’t talk to strangers!” Beyond telling employees to be friendly with customers, managers need to equip their staff with tools for establishing trust. Expressing your Grand Intention is an easy way to break through the barriers. Not a bad lesson from a 15 year old.

This article is based on the critically acclaimed book, Becoming a Service Icon in 90 Minutes a Month by business strategist, consultant, and international speaker Jeff Mowatt. To obtain your own copy of his book or to inquire about engaging Jeff for your team, visit www.jeffmowatt.com or call 1-800JMowatt (566-9288).

NOVEMBER 2005

NOTE

FROM THE EDITOR

Attention Planners: We need your help

Published by: 2105 rue de la Montagne, suite 100 • Montreal, Quebec • H3G 1Z8 Telephone: (514) 849-6841 ext. 333 • Fax: (514) 284-2282 We welcome your comments: info@theplanner.ca

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e are finishing up our second full year, here at The Planner, and as we look at where we stand in relation to where we wanted to be and we find the following: In terms of the number of planners we wanted to reach through first-class mailing of the publication, we have attained our goal. There are now 12,000 qualified planners who read our digest nine times a year, more than any other Canadian publication of its kind. Verified certification of this number will be completed in 2006. We believed from the outset that the only way to gain our readers’ trust and become the best in the business was by doing it the old fashioned way: earn it.

To that end, we spend a lot of time looking for and writing material to inform, enlighten and humour meeting planners.

We have received a lot of positive feedback from our subscribers, for which we thank you.

Where we have not made our projected numbers is in advertising sales, and by extension educational donations. We will have given out only $5,000 by the end of the year, about half our goal of $10,000. On the bright side, we have finished the year pledging to give the MPI Canadian Foundation $5,000 in 2006.

As a planner, you can help us achieve our goals by telling advertisers you have seen their ad in the Planner. The other way you can help us is by completing the enclosed form stating you want to receive the Planner. This is important for our audit certification process as it proves that our readers want to receive The Planner.

We believe ours is a symbiotic relationship: you need us to inform you of trends, news and happenings in the planning industry. We, in turn, need you planners to tell people we do indeed provide a service to you.

So thanks for reading us and giving us your feedback.

Editor: Leo Gervais Associate Editor: Camille Lay Assistant Editor: Nathalie Caron Proofreader: Keith Motton Translator: Marc Levasseur Administration: Patrick Galvin, Julie Boisvert Sales: James Paulson Contributors: Judy Allen, Mike Auctor, Michael Ballard, Anne Biarritz, Thomas Chalmers, Peter De Jager, Stacey Hanke, Arlene Kravitz, Jeff Mowatt, Mark McGregor, Stacey Robinson & Denise McDonald, Carolyn Rickey, Matt Riopel, Unni Soelberg-Claridge, Barry Siskind, Harriet Wezena The Planner is a monthly publication distributed to 11, 500 professional meeting planners across Canada and the U.S..

Poste-publication No. 40934013

Our Mission and Goal Our mission is to inform and enlighten meeting planners.

Each edition will have no more than 30 to 35 per cent advertising (all of which will be informative) with the rest of the publication dedicated to articles to help meeting planners in their dayto-day activities. Our goal is to give out the accumulated profit as educational grants to planners.

GIVING BACK EDUCATIONAL GRANTS

Coming in December • Luggage -buying it -travelling with it -finding it • Conference centres • Cruise lines

What would you like to read about?

Please e-mail me at: lgervais@theplanner.ca

• Bread

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NOVEMBER 2005

Trends No more hot meals with Air Canada

Harry Gow, co-founder of lobby group Transport 2000.

The airline says its “buy on board” program boasts a “popular, innovative menu of reasonably priced items featuring brand, quality choice.”

When flying Air Canada next time you’ll have a hard time getting free hot meals.

The country’s largest airline has stopped offering complimentary meals on its long-haul flights within Canada and the Continental United States.

In place of free breakfast, lunch and dinner service, Air Canada is charging a loonie to $5 for a selection of snacks and cold sandwiches.

Some consumer advocates are not happy about this development. “As a passenger I’m saddened. Paying for cold food on a long trip is inadequate. It doesn’t cut the mustard,” said

50 % of U.S. workers see ethical misconduct More than half of U.S. workers have witnessed at least one type of ethical misconduct in the workplace, but 45 per cent of them did not report violations because they feared retaliation or felt nothing would be done, according to a new study.

Recognition from government is giving event planning more credibility CONTINUED FROM CIC,

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• Incentive travel generated 6.2 billion in spending (5.1%) • The largest share of the convention and exhibition dollar, 35 percent is spent in hotels, 24 percent on air transport, 14 percent in restaurants and 12 percent on business services.

One of the primary purposes of the report is to gain recognition from government of the value of the meetings and exhibition industry. CIC is sharing the information with all member organizations for their use in dealing with all levels of government.

NOVEMBER 2005

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The cost of extra profit may not be worth it food not purchased, should they not receive some other form of credit, or did they legally own the rights to the food to do with as they chose?

CONTINUED FROM ETHICS, PAGE 1 That free lunch can be costly if an event does not come off as planned or fails to meet and exceed the client's objectives and deliver return on investment. Knowing company policy and having an answer at the ready helps to prepare those on the receiving end of a questionable request or offer.

What will it cost?

What is the cost of the extra profit — gained in what could be perceived as unethical means — against future business?

And is it unethical if cancellation terms and penalties are clearly laid out in the contract, and no one bothers to do the math before the cancellation took place? One event planner negotiates food & beverage prices by piggybacking on the menu of the group going in before his, hoping to take advantage of lower food costs based on the hotel placing bulk orders with suppliers. If the event planner's negotiations result in the hotel then having to pay a higher cost for food because of a reduction in quantity in the food order, this fact would need to be taken into consideration. But it still would not justify the hotel charging in full for food that had not been purchased or consumed. In either case, had the event taken place, the venue would only have recognized revenue from the profit — the difference between the actual cost of the food and the labour, and the menu price being charged.

Some suppliers take very ethical stances. For example, some hotels, while they may charge a cancellation penalty for rooms released from a group booking, offer to credit back the cost of any room resold. They do it as part of how they choose to do business. Rather than reap the reward of extra profit made by receiving money for a cancelled room and then reselling it, they choose to reap the reward of being known as an ethical supplier. If the room remains unsold there is no credit, but that is fair — the hotel needs to recoup monies for lost business and having placed the rooms on block hold. The hotel may have turned away other group business during the time between contracting and canceling because they had insufficient rooms available at the time. Neither the client nor the event planning company would have any dispute with that.

Not this time In contract negotiations and contract disputes, clients need to take care not to wave the carrot of future business in exchange for compromises and concessions “just this time.”

“Just this time” can you waive the cancellation penalty? “Just this time” can you change the date to show that we called to cancel before the higher penalties kicked in? Before making a request on behalf of a client, employer or colleague, do an internal check to see if what you are asking of others is something that is reasonable or would violate your own personal ethics. There is a difference between negotiating terms, conditions and concessions, and doing something under the table.

Employees are balking at being asked to lie to suppliers or clients. They know their own credibility and reputation are on the line. One event planning company wanted an employee to lie and cover up the fact that a $100,000 mistake had been made in costing an event. The person who had originally done the costing had neglected to factor union labour costs in for an elaborate move-in, setup, rehearsals, tear-down and move-out, as well as for crew meals. The event company owner wanted the employee to call the client and blame the increased cost on the hotel, absolving the company from any responsibility. The employee said no, preferring to walk away from a company that displayed a lack of ethics.

One hotel was discovered to be charging the full cost of the meal as a cancellation penalty — well outside the dates when the actual food would have been purchased or staff would have been assigned to work — as opposed to charging on the revenue they would have received had the event come to fruition. Had the food actually been purchased, there would have been no dispute. But if the client was paying in full for

CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

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NOVEMBER 2005

ethics and respect for one another.

Professionals in the event planning industry will be seeking to position themselves as leaders in ethical business practices.

They will be establishing stringent guidelines with regard to whom they associate with, how they do business and what expected business behaviour will be — from themselves, their peers and even their clients. Working with a preferred list — with clients and suppliers who have clearly defined and demonstrated ethical behavior — will become an industry standard.

As an industry, if we want to be perceived as professional, be able to charge and receive fair compensation for our expertise, knowledge, contacts in the industry and results, we must hold ourselves to ethical standards and practices. We need to prepare ourselves for what to expect and decide how we are going to handle unethical requests and behavior, and how to do it with business finesse. We have to ensure that we avoid putting ourselves, our companies, our clients and our suppliers at personal and professional risk by refusing to condone or partake in unethical behavior. Each one of us has to take a professional and personal stand on what is and is not acceptable business behavior.

Editor’s note: This article first appeared in Special Events Magazine, and is reprinted with kind their permission. Visit them at : www.specialevents.com.

What is acceptable?

CONTINUED FROM ETHICS, PAGE 6 Event planning is an industry that has been hit hard by the events of 9/11, terrorist attacks, war in Afghanistan and Iraq, airline bankruptcies, cruise lines plagued with unexplained illnesses, SARS and corporate event and entertaining budgets on the chopping block due to the sour economy and corporations' fear of appearing wasteful to shareholders and employees. The competition for business is tight. Many ethical boundaries are being crossed by suppliers and event planners as each tries to gain a bigger piece of the pie.

Means to demean Some hotels are going directly to clients of planners who have booked their client at the hotel for many years, offering the client a better rate or concessions if they book through the hotel instead of going through the planner. Planners are cutting out their DMCs and requesting quotes directly from destination management suppliers that they have met on site inspections. Some suppliers are billing themselves to clients as event planners when in fact their only experience may have been handling the centerpieces or invitations. There are clients who have no compunction about showing another supplier's quote to a competitor or who contact vendors for ideas they turn around and use without contracting the services of the company that supplied them. This type of behaviour is demeaning to the industry and demonstrates a lack of professional business

NOVEMBER 2005

••• Event planner Judy Allen is president of Toronto-based Judy Allen Productions and the author of several books on event planning. This article is based on topics covered in Allen's newest book in the event planning series published by John Wiley & Sons — “Event Planning Ethics & Etiquette: A Principled Approach to the Business of Special Event Management.” For more information, visit www.wiley.com.

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How to Sudoku Sudoku (which loosely means “single number” in Japanese) is a deceptively simple yet addictive game of logic that consists of a nine-by-nine square grid, broke into three-by-three square cells. The object: fill each square with a number from 1 to 9 so that every number appears only once in each row, column and cell.

Level:Easy

More on Sudoku, Page 27.

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NOVEMBER 2005

Preparing your Christmas party?

Plan ahead for a safe event A

s an event planner, you have a legal responsibility to take care of your guests and you must take all the precautions necessary to do so. Some companies have been sued recently, so be sure to offer to offer ethical solutions to your guests.

Did you know, for example that 17,419 people were killed in 2002 in alcohol-related crashes, comprising 41 percent of all traffic deaths? ( Source: MADD Canada ). You must make sure that all guests get home safely. Many people can’t really feel it when they exceed the legal limit. Are they at 50 mg , 80 mg or 110 mg ? Hard to say... Statistics tell us that 40 per cent of people tested in December, 2004 were over the legal limit. At least 50 of those were not aware and were going to drive their car.

A few tips to be responsible : • Offer non-alcoholic beverages • Close the bar 90 minutes before the party ends • Arrange for discounted rooms when a party is held at a hotel You can also offer breathalyzers to your guests. The breathalyzer provides an accurate measure of the blood alcohol level in a person’s body. By offering this breathalyzer service, you can protect your company against lawsuits and you will impress your customers or employees. Moreover , you can personalize the breathalyzers with your logo and a corporate message like “Don’t drink and drive.” You can either give the breathalyzers at the beginning of the day or put them on the plate at dinner time .

The breathalyzer is an ISO 9001-certified product and has been marketed for more than five years. The test is confidential and finished within 2 minutes. It is a unique and innovative product manufactured by a company that has been the official supplier for many provincial governments and police departments around the world. For more information, call : 1-800361-1771 or 450-666-2500 or visit the web site at. www.alcotestquebec.com •••

A LITTLE HUMOUR:

When did the Stone Age begin?

A: When Mick Jagger was born.

NOVEMBER 2005

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Resiliency and self awareness are tools to survive a changing world

BY MICHAEL BALLARD

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e live in an age that changes at a rate that even the most pliable and skilled of us can have a difficult time keeping up. Not all of the changes are ones that we enjoy or that help us. Resiliency is the ability to overcome life’s inevitable obstacles and deal with the large heartbreaks in our life in the healthiest possible manner. Being resilient means that you are more likely to land on your feet after a major upset in your life than on your head. To stay resilient takes skill and courage.

Learning how to bounce back with less down time takes practice. However, we can all learn how to be more resilient.

Becoming more resilient So, where do we start to be more resilient? I suggest a personal inventory.

Have you noticed any patterns in your life? Do things always start to unravel at a certain point in a project? Do you get stuck with the same type of role in your career or volunteer work? Does life far to often appear unfair? Perhaps it is time for an honest evaluation of yourself, your skills and your attitude towards yourself and others.

I came across the four levels of awareness several years ago. I have boldly adopted and added to these. I hope that you get as much out of them as I have.

If we are to grow in our lives, it is vital to understand what the steps, skills and issues are that block or build our career.

So, as you read, these consider what it takes to work in your industry…a worldclass attitude, an upbeat communications style, excellent grooming, highly effective planning skills, the ability to execute the plan and, oh yes, change many of the details the day of the program and still make it look and be perfect in the client’s eyes.

The Six Levels of Awareness © 1. YOU DON’T KNOW YOU DON’T KNOW – Unconscious incompetence.

Ignorance is not bliss. Life keeps giving you lemons. It often causes serious hurt.

We don’t know how to turn these lessons into lemonade and wonder why it keeps happening. But we don’t ask for help.

We can feel unworthy. “Stop the world I want to get off!” is a frequent feeling.

2. YOU KNOW YOU DON’T KNOW – Conscious incompetence. A time of being drawn into a higher level of understanding and development. We can choose to resist and stay with our pain and discomfort (staying with what we know even if it hurts frequently – the alleged comfort zone?) – or choose to

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grow through and out of our discomfort and unease into levels three, four or five.

This does take energy, focus, commitment, and asking for and accepting the help offered.

3. YOU KNOW YOU KNOW — Level One : Slow – Conscious Competence.

We start the journey of gaining the insight, skills and strategies to ensure a higher level of success. We are awkward with the skills and strategies, but start to MIP (memorize, internalize and personalize) the insight, skills and strategies, growing in the process. You will start to find some very interesting and uplifting people in your life. You are able to share some newfound knowledge and wisdom with others that makes life better.

4. YOU DON’T KNOW YOU KNOW Unconscious Competence. You are unaware of all of the awareness, skills and strategies you use to “perform” at this high level of expertise. You are above average at what you do and are at a partial loss to explain it i.e. you can’t explain all of the steps it takes to get something done. For example moving a project from A – Z. Life is certainly moving along nicely most days.

5. YOU KNOW YOU KNOW — Level Two : Fast – Conscious Competence.

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NOVEMBER 2005

A personal inventory is always worth doing CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10

perhaps a mental health issue or malaise on your part has taken hold of you?

However, if you are surprised to find yourself in this category start talking to You know the labels, your health care provider, family and or the steps and have the friends about depression and/or awareness, skills and burnout. Perhaps it’s physical. Get a strategies required to medical/mental health check up or tuneperform at a high level up. Life is far too short to stay stuck. of competence. You So to do a personal and professional are also aware of your inventory based on these levels could be level of confidence. as simple as asking for input from You can coach, train friends and co-workers, or as complex as and explain the total seeing a psychometrist and getting tested process. You are on to see where your skills and attitudes are the path of the dediaccording to the mental health experts.

How resilient are YOU? cated life long learner.

Then use that to create a call to action. As You have most likely you read through the six levels do not forget to consider your read more than 40 books on the topic(s) of your passion/expertise. You have attained professional status with or without a pro- health, happiness, sense of security, and interaction with family and friends. That should give you much to consider as you start fessional designation. Life is very interesting. to grow your resiliency.

•••

6. YOU THINK YOU KNOW YOU KNOW – Partial unconscious incompetence. Your level of competence is shrinking as your core competencies in this area of expertise stagnates or shrinks. Perhaps due to lack of use, upgrading, technological change, new expanded areas of knowledge in this area and/or

NOVEMBER 2005

Michael Ballard specializes in coaching and training individuals, teams and organizations to become more resilient across North America. He is a recognized professional speaker, workshop leader, trainer and coach. You can reach him at: mballard@resiliencyforlife.com or www.resiliencyforlife.com

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You undress holiday stress sauces for pizza! Every Christmas Eve my family and Once a year, many people don’t secret now our children has a good chuckle when we hear the story enjoy what for most is a happy about ketchup on our pizza. time filled with joy and laughter Exercise:

BY MARK MCGREGOR

I

t’s supposed to be the most wonderful time of year. For many people, the holiday season is a time to celebrate and rejoice. There are social events, gift exchanging, time away from work, mall shopping, and let’s not forget visiting family and maybe even in-laws! However, in light of all of these seasonal events, many people become overwhelmed during the holidays which leads to unhealthy stress.

How things have changed. As children, many of us grew up with boundless enthusiasm as the holiday season neared, believing that Santa would visit us and we would get a few weeks off of school. Now that we have morphed into adults, we have become part of the season’s commercialized system.

Adults must plan the holiday schedules, purchase the gifts, and then return back to a heavy work load. All of these factors contribute to our holiday stress.

Winter holidays happen but once a year; therefore we need to get the most out of it. It is imperative that we take action to undress the stress. The best way we can do this is to take a“HEADS up” approach to overcome holiday stress:

Humor: Humor is the best medicine for reducing stress! Share funny Christmas stories from the past that make co-workers, family, and friends laugh. If you don’t have your own story, you can always rent one of the many comical Christmas stories available on video and DVD. The story I often share is about our family’s annual Christmas Eve pizza night. Each Christmas Eve, my mother baked us homemade pizza. One year, she forgot to purchase the pizza sauce. With my four younger sisters and brothers anxiously awaiting pizza, my mother made an executive decision and substituted the pizza sauce with ketchup. It was a valiant effort; however ketchup never made the top ten list of

With all those yummy holiday treats and reduction of workrelated physical activities, we need to look for practical ways to include some form of exercising. I’m not suggesting for you to undertake a daily two-hour workout if that is not already part of your daily routine! By participating in several smaller physical activities on a daily basis, we can help reduce holiday stress. Our bodies will feel better, releasing positive energy, and the activities will help clear our minds.

One of the easiest types of activities to participate in is walking. Walk to the coffee shop, family visits, and practice parking your automobile away from the mall’s front doors so you force yourself to walk a longer distance. For a light upper body workout, consider brushing off the walkway a few times with a broom during a light snowfall before it requires a major plowing with a shovel.

Avoid: Please pay very close attention to this tip! Avoid bringing unfinished work home. The holiday season is a time of celebration and to visit family and friends; it is not unfinished work catch-up time. Do not allow other people’s stress become your stress during the holidays. If I find you have been naughty and spent more time on work related tasks than with family and friends – you will find a lump of black coal in your fireplace stocking!

Delegate: People at work delegate things to you. Why not delegate at home during the holidays? Reduce your stress by sharing some of the holiday season workload. For example, look at shopping online to save time and traveling to busy malls. Most online orders can be mailed directly to your front door so you

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NOVEMBER 2005

Delegating can always be useful CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12

Warning signs to watch for that are related to holiday season stress:

never have to wait in congested store lineups. Call retailers and ask if they have free deliver services. If you manage to catch the flu or a cold, ask the pharmacy to deliver your prescription while you keep warm and cozy at home. If you have children, put them to work. Delegate activities so they become involved with the holiday clean up. This can be cleaning dishes, vacuuming, and taking down holiday ornaments.

◊ Depression ◊ Lack of focus and energy ◊ Consistent headaches ◊ Drastic changes in your daily food intake ◊ Exceeding acceptable alcohol levels ◊ Sleeping patterns change ◊ Becoming easily irritated around people

Seek: Seek comfort at this time. Soon enough you will be back to work juggling tasks and commitments. While on holidays, find a nice quiet place to relax and reflect. Reward yourself for a job well done. Purchase a small meaningful gift for yourself. Treat yourself to a CD that you have been waiting for, take in a movie, or splurge by taking a trip to the sunny south! If you notice that any of the warning signs listed above have become a regular routine to you, it is time to seek professional assistance.

You are encouraged to use and share our HEADS system year round.In doing so, we can help reduce our personal and corporate stress levels so we can enjoy more of what the holiday season offers. All the best for a happy and prosperous new year!

Audiences across North America benefit with Mark McGregor’s proven insight and experiences. SpeaKing of Hearts replaces stress with success for individuals and corporations. Training programs are available to reduce personal and executive stress. Ask them about our business programs on how to successfully negotiate, network, and deliver presentation without the stress. Visit his Web site at www.speaKingofHearts.com and phone us at (905) 679-9546.

A LITTLE HUMOUR: What detergent is best for washing Christmas stockings?

A: Yule Tide.

NOVEMBER 2005

13

BOOK REVIEW What not to wear

by Trinny Woodall & Susannah Constantine

BY HARRIET WEZENA

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f there is one thing I’m sure of, it’s the fact that there are countless women out there who currently share the daunting daily task of what to wear or not wear to either showcase their best features or hide the unattractive parts.

With the simplicity of the book What Not to Wear by Brits Trinny Woodall and Susannah Constantine, you will have a better sense of your body and what suits it.

The book which is fashioned into 10 chapters themed by body shape – “big tits,” “flabby tummy,” “short legs” and so on – provides visuals and written instructions on how to choose flattering, fashionable cuts and colours. Here’s some pointers: Those of us with big breasts who don’t know how to showcase our natural assets without the risk of looking tartly are advised to wear “a well-fitting bra” that has under-wires and strong straps for good support. Avoid high neck, sleeveless or high round-neck t-shirts that makes breasts look like balloons. The best bets will be wide-open neckline and V-neck sleeveless t-shirts and wrap blouse/dress because a low, wide neckline breaks up the chest and prevents your mammaries from looking like they are an extension of your chin.

The reverse applies to the small-breasted ladies who need a change Now to the big arms and big bums. If you have big arms, opt for fluted sleeves – the more exaggerated the better, puff at the shoulder or floating cuffs. What you don’t want to wear is spaghetti straps. The authors advise that, if dressing a bum, “think about how a pregnant tummy looks best.” It is best to wear tight clothing that is more flattering as opposed to wearing loose ones. You want to avoid the situation of having your bum and thighs molded into one mass. A better choice for you will be pencil- or flared-shape clothes and wide-legged trousers.

In chapters five and six, the authors focus on “no waist” and “short legs” and their clear, no-nonsense style is ever-present.

If you possess the former, it is recommended that you avoid wearing baggy clothes, which tend to give you a block look and instead go for corset-style and wrap clothes. For the latter, ditch the high-waisted pants for low-waisted and wide flared pants, dresses and skirts and wear your hem to the ground.

Ladies! Even if you don’t have a “six-pack” you can still wear clothes that give you style. Slim-fits, mid-length tops tight over your bust do the fantastic job of hiding your flabby tummy. Dump your gathered-waist and skin-clinging clothes for flattering front tops and skirts.

To make your short neck work for you, you have to avoid polo and round necks. To give the illusion of a long and slender neck, the authors picked deep V-shaped or wide scoop necks, turned-up shirt collar and chandelier/long earrings.

The authors also give tips for thick ankles and calves. It is better for you to wear flared as opposed to tight pants, a kneelength skirt that doesn’t cling to your calves. And for shoes you might want to consider ankle strap on the ankle, high ankle boots and pull-on tight around the ankle.

It’s time to get adventurous, dump the clothes that don’t suit you because “looking stylish” as the authors assert, “is as much about knowing what not to wear as it is about knowing what suits you.” After reading this book, I couldn’t agree more with the writers when they state, “it’s about dressing to show off what you love and hiding what you loathe about your body.”

Book: What not to wear Authors: Trinny Woodall & Susannah Constantine Publisher: Weidenfeld & Nicolson ISBN: 0297843311 Price: $18.95 on www.chapters.ca ••• 14

NOVEMBER 2005

Auctor à propos recently overheard a senior planner telling a group that he thought Harry Rosen in Montreal was the best clothing store he had ever been to. He had flown into Montreal the night before (probably through Toronto) and his luggage didn’t arrive. He checked into his hotel at 4:45 p.m.and asked the Concierge for a men’s clothing store. Five minutes later he was in the store buying a suit and at ten to six the suit was being delivered to his hotel room with all the alterations done. He wore his new suit that night for the opening reception. Planners, when happy or unhappy with a supplier, will usually tell at least a dozen others. So a word to the wise: planners are usually like to share.

Speaking of planners, one was overheard talking about a Quebec City hotel that was seriously overbooked for meetings and decided to close the exercise facility for two days and use it as a meeting room. Not only was it not adequate, but hotel guests kept walking into the facility wanting to exercise and some actually walked in as the meeting was in progress and started exercising! Needless to say, the hotel ended up not charging the client, but this still should never have happened – not only for the meeting but also for all the guest who were staying in the hotel and were expecting to be able to use the exercise room and couldn’t. And this was a major American chain. That reminds me of the hotel that used to open and close its restaurant based on room occupancy, regular clients gave up as they could never be sure when the restaurant would be opened. Might have been good for the hotel's labour cost but service wise it sure wasn't a great way to keep clients.

While we’re on the subject of superior service, many Planners have told me how they love working with the Fairmont hotels, because of the quick turnaround time getting called back and receiving quotes. The chain does have a policy

I

NOVEMBER 2005

COMMENTARY BY

MIKE AUCTOR

of returning calls within an hour.

On a related topic, I hear that the Westin Bayshore Hotel in Vancouver is also quick – that is quick to find ways to charge planners who do not use their in-house AV supplier. Creativity is alive and well in that hotel. So remember: read your contacts carefully before signing them. Anything can be negotiated before you sign, but once you've signed it’s a whole different matter.

Speaking of matter, age is a matter of mind– if you don't mind it doesn’t matter. As I get older, I become more and more conscious of my health. Recently, while in the UK, I discovered vitamins which are promoted as being for “hectic lifestyles,” advertised as a formula to help you stay sharp and free of artificial stimulants. So I figured hey, these are for me. So I bought some and have been using them every day (almost) since (I brought back quite a few as I’d never seen or heard of them in Canada. They’re called Berocca – surf to www.berocca.co.uk to check the company out. Since I’m almost running out I tried to find them or the equivalent in Canada, and I did.

Same product different name – here it is called Redoxon-B Stress Formula! Speaking of which, do you know what is the best Vitamin to improve you sight? Vitamin see... On that note see you next month.

Mike Auctor is a senior meeting planner with more than 20 years of experience in the event planning business. He can be reached at: auctor@theplanner.ca

15

Food Trends

The cranberry: A wonder fruit?

It has some cancer-fighting properties

I

f cranberry is not on your daily menu, it’s time to reconsider your relationship with this virtuous fruit or you are missing out on its huge health benefits.

Current scientific research is pointing to some stellar attributes of cranberries while confirming the long existing advice given by generations of women that the fruit prevents urinary tract infections.

At a recent conference on the health benefits of cranberries, scientists presented research on these berries. Data presented indicated that cranberries protect against other microbes that may cause such adverse effects as ulcers and tooth decay. The antioxidant properties of cranberries may also provide a defence against a number of other diseases.

It was initially believed that the acidity in cranberries was responsible for the prevention of urinary tract infections until researchers from Rutgers University isolated the active components, proanthocyanidins. These components are responsible for maintaining urinary tract health by inhibiting the E. coli bacteria, which causes 80 to 90 per cent of urinary tract infections, from adhering to urinary tract cells.

So what makes the proanthocyanidins in cranberries so exceptional though these components are found in fruits including grape and apple juices, green tea and chocolate? Researchers found that cranberries possess a very unique structural feature, which may account for its microbial anti-adhesion property absent in other fruits containing the same components.

To help prevent urinary tract infections, which affect as many as 11 million women a year, and contributes to the problem of antibiotic resistance worldwide, one should consume cranberries twice a day in small doses, Professor Amy B. Howell, a research scientist at Rutgers University recommended. The effects may begin within two hours of consumption but last for only 10 hours, making the morning and night serving the most effective way to consume the berry for the anti-adhesion effect.

You can also have a total daily serving of 8 to 10 ounces of cranberry cocktail, one and half ounces of dried cranberries or even half a cup of cranberry sauce which all provide the same dose of pronathocynanidins. Research has shown regular cranberry consumption reduces up to 40 per cent of recurrent infections.

In addition to preventing urinary tract infections, the same anti-adhesion effects have been demonstrated with H. pylori, the microbe now known to be a major culprit in the development of stomach ulcers and a risk factor for gastric cancer.

With regards tooth decay, cranberries are proving to be indispensable in our diet. The investigation in ongoing since they are caused by a bacteria adhering to cell surfaces on teeth, which create plague.

In the area of antioxidants, researchers say, cranberries like other berries may offer heart health benefits, anti-cancer action and perks for brain functioning.

They can be used fresh daily in season, frozen, dried and in beverage form. They can also be used for desserts – pies, quick bread, compote and in salads.

Go for low-calorie beverage choices since they offer the benefits of cranberries without the additional sugar and calories.

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NOVEMBER 2005

Industry Trends Holiday? A conference more appealing The transatlantic divide is widest over the amount of holiday that people take. While Europe is slowly getting back to work after the long summer break, the US has its brief two weeks vacation a year standard entitlement. Yet many Americans don’t even take it.

In the 1960s, Europeans worked longer annual hours than Americans. Now the European working year is anything up to 30 per cent shorter, leading to debates about the impact of European levels of taxation, and whether Americans would - were they able to - like to trade some of their income for more leisure.

The overall tax take and the number of hours worked seem to be related. Have higher taxes and people will choose to take a greater proportion of their wage in untaxed leisure rather than taxed money. Higher-tax France works fewer hours than lower-tax America, with middle-tax Britain in between.

There is however some surprising evidence that Americans would be happier taking longer holidays, even at the cost of lower take-home pay, but for cultural and other reasons don’t feel able to do so.

A new Harris poll underlines how little time US adults take off work. One-third will have no summer vacation at all. The largest single type of holiday is visiting friends and family, and the proportion going abroad so small that Harris did not bother to ask the question.

One thing that remains constant is the work ethic. The largest single item that people said they would pay more for in a hotel was business services, and high-speed internet access.

And for one percent, the “vacation” was going to a convention or conference.

High cost of goofing off American workers are goofing off for two hours a day, trawling the Internet or jawing with co-workers, costing their employers US$759-billion a year.

A poll by America Online and salary.com found that 44% of 10,000 respondents said the most popular way to while away time in the office was through personal Internet use, including

NOVEMBER 2005

e-mail, instant messaging and chat rooms. Another 23% preferred to kill time by socializing with co-workers.

Other ways of frittering time away included personal phone calls, running errands and an activity described as “spacing out.”

The biggest time wasters were young people born since 1970.

Saving you money?

Business travelers may just be getting a break from paying $9.95, a standard per day charge for in-room internet access in the industry for years.

In recent months, a number hotels have begun offering the service free, while others have cut fees.

There is however confusion among travelers as some hotels are adopting different technologies in various parts of the hotel. For instance, Wi-Fi in the lobby and broadband in guest rooms and this is forcing professionals to travel with loads of cords and gadgets. Some high-end hotels have maintained the per-day charge.

Record high room prices and occupancy rates accounts for the current changes as hotel companies no longer have to squeeze extra dollars from surcharges that annoy travelers. The average U.S. room is expected to hit $90.49 this year, up from its previous peak of $85.28 in 2000 according to industry experts.

Intense competition is also a contributing factor. In an attempt to attract and retain customers, hotels have recently made efforts to upgrade their rooms with everything from flatscreen television sets to pillow-topped mattresses and 350thread-count sheets. Free high-speed Internet access is just the industry’s treats to entice guests.

Some hotels have extended their free internet access to lounges, restaurants, hallways and by the pool and in the case of the Hilton Hotels Corp.’s higher-end and Doubletree Hotels brand since last june. So does the Peninsula Beverly Hills in its guest rooms (broadband) and free WiFi by the pool.

To avoid paying for something that you didn’t budget for, you might want to get some clear-cut answers from the front desk of a hotel regarding their policies pertaining to the service and what type of cords and gadgets you will need.

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THE PLACE TO MEET. Trends Pen ideas • 2-Hour Response Guarantee

It started as an answer to the leaky pens carried by U.S. soldiers during the Second World War, was perfected and made popular by an Italian-born baron and has written its way into history as the world’s biggest-selling pen.

More than half a century after honing a cheap version of the ballpoint pen, Societé Bic SA, the French firm that built an empire out of making things to be thrown away, announced recently it had sold its 100 billionth disposable ballpoint.

The group started small after the war and now has annual revenue of about US $2.05 billion, including sales of razors and lighters.

• Crowne Meetings Director • Daily Meeting Debrief Ask us about Meeting Options SM Pick-A-Perk Program

16,000 sq. feet of flexible meeting space.

Fisher bullet space pen with MAG-LITE The most dependable pen and the most dependable flashlight are now available in a combination package. An ideal gift for anyone looking to find two reliable products for reliable and recreational use.

Fisher Space Pens Write Invisible 1250 Eglinton Avenue East, Toronto, Ontario M3C 1J3 (416) 449-4111 E-mail: sales@cptdv.com 1-877-474-6835 www.cptdv.com

Wisdom is the reward you receive for a lifetime of listening when you’d rather have been talking.

Aristotle

After years of research, pressurized Space Pen refills are now available in a “SEE THROUGH” – ultra violet-activated option. Under regular lighting the ink appears transparent, however when using a black light the ink glows like neon. It could be used for secret messages or security markings.

You can order a Space Pen, add engraving and refills and have the order sent to someone in Canada. Check it out on www.spacepen.com.

For those of you who keep losing your pens, help has arrived – there are now neck chain pens available.

Great Meetings.

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• 25,000 sf. meeting space (groups to 1000) • Complimentary guestroom hi-speed internet • Restaurants, Pub, Lounge, Beer & Wine Store • Heated Pool, Hot Tub, Fitness Centre, Business Centre • 389 newly renovated guest rooms

FREE 24 HR

Airport Shuttle

1-800-663-0299 email: reservations@richmond-hotel.ca

www.richmond-hotel.ca

18

NOVEMBER 2005

Contest winners Sudoku winners:

Is it the media or the message?

Claudine Dugas Nestlé Purina Petcare Yinka Egberongbe Financial Planners Standards Council Sarah Ewles Playdium Corp.

“A mind

once stretched by a new idea, never regains its original dimensions.”

We are inundated with new technology in magazines, on television, the sides of passing buses and street cars and even on the wheels of taxis. Technology is advancing faster than most of us can follow. When used in the appropriate circumstance, technology is remarkable.

However, we need to ask ourselves what is more important – the medium or the message? We believe the message is key, especially in these times when companies are tightening their belts.

Once your objectives have been identified and your message has been developed, the creative development begins.

And it begins with an idea.

An idea can be a goal or an objective, a thought or an inspiration, a belief or an opinion. You can only gain from an idea.

We have a tremendous wealth of ideas and a pool of creative resources. Remember, whether you choose to use slides, video, multimedia, animation, interactive, or even the web, the media is merely a tool. For example, reality TV-based meeting themes are all the rage and heavily staged. However, if there is no relation to the meeting theme, the overall message may disappear in the entertainment.

Getting your message across is vital. With the right orchestration, you can bring people out of their seats!

And it all begins with the message.

August-September English contest winners: Ms. Carol Patterson Cognos Inc

October French contest winners: Marie-Josée Riendeau Servier Canada Inc. Gracieuse Bujold Barreau du Québec Martine Huard Groupe TVA D.C. Beaulieu Banque Royale

October English contest winners: Andrew Walker Advance Group Conference Managements Inc. Stacey Gray Calgary Real Estate Board

Need to change your address? info@theplanner.ca

NOVEMBER 2005

19

DATEBOOK

W eb sit es of in te re st

Upcoming Events November 29-December 1 European Incentive & Business Travel & meetings Exhibition, Fira Gran Via, Barcelona, Spain. www.eitbm.com, (011) 44-208-910-7711.

November 29-December 1 International Association for Exhibition Management, Expo! Expo!, Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta. www.iaem.org, (972) 458-8002.

December 5-8 International Luxury Travel Market, ILTM 2005, Palais des Festivals et des Congrès, Cannes, France. www.iltm.net, (011) 44-208-910-7910.

January 8-11 Professional Convention Management Association, Annual Meeting, Pennsylvania Convention Center, Philadelphia. www.pcma.org, (877) 827-7262.

January 22-24 Meeting Professionals International, PEC-North America, Charlotte, (N.C.) Convention Center. www.mpiweb.org, (972) 702-3000.

Holiday

Applies to

Date

Thanksgiving

U.S.A.

November 24

Christmas Day

All provinces

December 25

Boxing Day

All provinces

December 26

!

Jargon Buster Techno babble demystified sponsored by Avtec Professional A/V Services

Hotels worldwide www.kayak.com If you have been looking for a hotel and couldn’t find it anywhere on the internet it might just be in here…Kayak.com. A travel search engine which aims to list every hotel on earth. The web site currently lists over 91,000 hotels of an estimated 300,000 world-wide. To get the remaining properties into its system, Kayak is inviting consumers and hoteliers to stop by electronically and update its inventory.

American Hotel & Lodging Assoc. www.ahla.com The AHLA’s home page has a wealth of information on postHurricane Katrina initiatives. Click on the message board to access “opportunities for Employees Affected by Katrina.”

••• Do you have a website you want to share with other planners?

Email us at: info @theplanner.ca

What is a teleprompter?

Teleprompter: A teleprompter is a display device that prompts the person speaking with an electronic visual text of a speech or script. Using a teleprompter is similar to the practice of using cue cards. The screen is in front of the lens of the camera, and the words on the screen are reflected to the eyes of the speaker using a one-way mirror (Note that this is only true in principle – when the space behind the lens is covered in a shroud, an ordinary glass pane will work as a one way mirror). As the speaker does not need to look down to consult written notes, he or she appears to have memorized the speech or be speaking spontaneously, and he will look directly into the camera lens. Cue cards, on the other hand, will always be placed away from the lens axis, making the speaker look at a point beside the camera, which leaves a “distracted” impression.

Source: Wikipedia.

20

NOVEMBER 2005

Finding the missing ingredient

BY BARRY SISKIND

Y

ou have prepared well for your show. You have thought of everything.

You planned a workable budget, got senior management support, created a knockout booth, trained your booth staff, did lots of pre-show promotion and yet your results were less than spectacular.

This is the dilemma that leaves many exhibit managers scratching their heads.

For many, the answer comes down human resources. There are three components needed to effectively get the most from your people: selection, training and management. With the first two taken care of that leaves only management.

Working in a show environment is tough and requires specialized skills and an above average level of motivation to get the job done. This latter ingredient is where good management skills come in.

Every general understands that you don’t send your troops into battle without some sort of ground support. Every athletic coach understands the same. Your booth staff has the same need as the soldiers and athletes. They need the support of an onsite coach who can mentor, help, cajole, facilitate and, mostly, provide a positive role model.

NOVEMBER 2005

Coaching for many exhibitors is the missing factor that defines the success of an exhibit program.

Your on-site coach’s responsibilities should include: 1. Being available on-site throughout the show. Sure it’s tough work and a long day, but your coach needs to be there when the troops need them.

After the show if over your coach will receive some well-deserved R & R. 2. Providing constructive advice.

This means they support the skills the booth staff learned in their pre-show briefing. The coach will not just focus on what boothers are doing wrong but also what they are doing well. Booth staff need to hear both.

3. Respecting the team’s efforts.

Not everyone is going to be a superstar. But if you have selected and trained well then the coach should understand and respect each person’s individual efforts. Comparing one person to another by saying, “Why can’t you be more like....”, is destructive.

4. Respecting privacy. Feedback should not be given in front of colleagues but off in a quiet corner where comments can be discussed in private.

5. Giving feedback that is specific.

Saying, “That’s a great job” is nice to hear but useless information. Saying, “That was awful,” is equally useless.

Your suggestions and advice need to be specific. Relate your feedback to specific comments, actions and reac-

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tions. This gives the person a frame of reference to apply your advice and improve specific behaviors.

6. Listening. Remember that old saying, “You have two ears and one mouth”? This implies that you should be listening twice as much as you are speaking. This old adage is a coach’s best tool. I’m not talking about listening to excuses about why things happened. I am talking about you soliciting and listening to positive feedback that will help you make decisions on the spot as well as in your future exhibit programs.

7. Bring the team together regularly.

Leaving your updates until after the show is over means losing a valuable opportunity. Bringing them together throughout the show gives the coach a chance to reinforce the efforts of the entire team and gives them the inspiration to get out there and tackle the next day with the same energy they had at the beginning of the show.

These are some of the few essential responsibilities of the coach. For many exhibitors, good coaching spells the difference between success and failure.

••• Reprinted with kind permission from the author. Barry Siskind is North America’s foremost trade and consumer show expert, president of International Training and Management Company, and the author of several books.

Visit his website: www.siskindtraining.com or e-mail him at: barry@siskindtraining.com.

Watch out for argotism

BY PETER DE JAGER

T

he IT industry is afflicted with a brain eating virus for which there is no known cure. The medical term for this highly contagious disease is argotism.

The incubation period of the disease ranges from one to eight hours, at which time the subject becomes highly, and permanently, contagious.

The primary symptom of this incurable malady is the ability to speak for hours at a time without uttering a single comprehensible sentence. A secondary symptom is the uncontrollable desire to display incredibly complex visuals using the most sophisticated technology available.

At first it was thought these visual manifestations of the disease, were the patient's failed attempts to overcome the impaired ability to speak plain English. However, extensive content analysis of more than 10,000 visuals has uncovered no evidence to support this hypothesis.

While medical experts admit to similarities between argotism and certain aspects of Tourette Syndrome – in particular the uttering of coprolalia – they have, as yet, found no biological connection between these two conditions.

Scientists are baffled by the contagion vector. The primary methods of disease contagion are inhalation, ingestion and physical contact. Argotism ignores these vectors and is instead, spread

through the auditory and visual systems. The World Health Organization (WHO) headquartered in Atlanta, Ga. admits that this method of infection will lead to a global pandemic unless a cure, or at least a vaccine, is found.

Early onset of the disease is identified by a subject’s inability to raise a hand above their head and voice the words “I don't understand what you're talking about. Could you please explain it to me?”

In the advanced stage of the disease, subjects repeat the phrases which first infected them, but which they still don’t clearly understand.

(In the interests of not spreading the disease further, this author does not wish to represent any of the “active” phrases in this article. Luckily there is one phrase which has lost most of its ability to infect, which will serve as an example of the virus. Please read it carefully and if you sense the urge to use it in conversation in the next 24 hours, please report immediately to your nearest medical facility. The phrase is “New Economy”).

While it is possible to become infected after a single exposure to Argotism, it usually takes repeated exposure before the subject demonstrates full blown argotism and becomes a carrier.

A recent WHO study found that being in the presence of a superior when first exposed to argotism, greatly increased the risk of infection. This increase in the risk factor is assumed, though not yet verified, to stem from out natural reluctance to admit ignorance.

While there is no known cure for the disease, there is evidence to suggest that those already infected with curmudgeonism, or those equipped with a technological advance known as a “BS Detector” (origin unknown), are highly resistant to all known strains of the Argot virus.

An additional finding which has researchers puzzled, is that all the inhabitants of, and everyone from, the state of Missouri are immune to the disease. While stumped by this finding, researchers do believe this anomaly could eventually lead to a cure for argotism. The researchers are currently herding thousands of Missourians into medical facilities for extensive testing.

Citizens are warned the most likely places to contract argotism are at technology conferences. The most virulent strains of this disease are usually found in the keynote presentations. Members are urged, if they must attend these breeding grounds of pestilence, to bring blindfolds and earplugs to reduce the chance of infection.

There is another home remedy proving useful in isolated cases.

Prepare a small tape recorder loaded with the sentence, “I'm sorry, I don't understand what you just said. Could you explain what you meant by that?” When a presentation drops into incomprehensibility, you know the presenter is falling into an acute attack of Argotism and is entering their most contagious stage. Before you lose consciousness, press the PLAY button on the recorder and hopefully this will jolt the presenter back into a temporary state of comprehensibility, perhaps long enough for you to escape into the hall.

••• © 2003, Peter de Jager – Peter is an inoculated Keynote speaker and Management consultant, contact him at pdejager@technobility.co

22

NOVEMBER 2005

FIVE-MINUTE LIFE COACH

Are you searching for the summit?

BY THOMAS CHALMERS

I

f life is pushing you in the wrong direction, a good way to get back on track is to have a close look at your values.

Wandering around in a fog of confusion can be frustrating until you take a compass bearing to re-orientate your direction. Such a bearing is normally taken from a landmark; a constant; something on the map which has existed almost since time immemorial.

And on life’s journey, those points of reference, those landmarks or constants are our values. Of course we can often relate to traditional values such as family values but the values to which I am referring run broader, deeper and will be found at the core of your being. In this context your values represent those interests or qualities which have always intrigued you or to which you have always been naturally drawn. Your values are essentially unique to you: an intangible but indelible fingerprint.

Think about it for a moment. How many people do you know who have found their true vocation in life – their ideal life? How many people do you know who have followed their heart?

Our values determine who we really are, and until we acknowledge who we are, we will probably never be content with what we have or where we are going. Consider the creative type who works on a mundane production line,

NOVEMBER 2005

the born adventurer confined to an office or the salesman who loves solitude and despises socializing. When we work solely for money rather than for the love of our work, we will rarely find fun or fulfillment in what we do. Dennis Waitley advises ‘Chase your passion, not your pension!’

Be true to yourself A value is something that you must do to be yourself – something that you truly value or love to do with your time.

For example, some people are and have always been naturally creative; some crave and have always craved action and adventure; others search for spiritual nourishment, perhaps solitude; many are drawn to the contentment and security of home and family life. The list is almost endless . . . desire to achieve, contribute, influence, lead, teach, attract, support . . . In order to identify the collective core of your true values you must become introspective for a moment and identify those interests which ignite the passion within. Remember – the key is that when you are engaged in these activities you feel most like yourself: connected, energized, effortless. Your values combine to form the trigger mechanism of your success.

You may already be conscious of your values or, until now, perhaps you have only had an inkling of their existence at a subliminal level.

23

The problem is that our needs and our ‘should do’s’ push us off course. The burden of responsibility weighs heavy on our shoulders and we lose sight of our bearings – our true values. Then one day we reach the top of the ladder, career or otherwise, only to find that we are leaning against the wrong wall – the wrong values - and we fall off into a well of despondency. There is that rueful feeling of wasted time and squandered opportunity. If only . . .

But the good news is that it is never too late to double back - to re-orientate your life around your values and get back on track.

Once you have identified your values, you can set goals which are in line with those values. Roy Disney observed, ‘It's not hard to make decisions when you know what your values are.’ And when your values and goals run together like the parallel lines of a railway track, the next stop is fulfillment.

Revisit your values and realign your goals. You will then re-orientate towards your true North and your life will become an expression of your values. Do not doubt your natural compass: the fog will eventually lift to reveal a clear path to the summit.

Look after yourself and look into yourself!

Website: www.idealife.co.uk

Hotel News from around the world New hotel program pairs up Toronto visitors Feeling lonely in T.O.? The SoHo Metropolitan hotel has launched a program that co-ordinates dining and entertainment excursions for guests who want to explore Toronto in the company of likeminded travelers.

The Solo at the SoHo Met program- which, according to the hotel, is not a dating service, but rather a social activity guide – can include dinner for two or more at the in-house Senses Restaurant, wine tastings at the Senses Bar, theatre outing, city sightseeing tours, trips to city festivals shopping expeditions, golf rounds and tennis matches.

For more information, visit www.soho.metropolitan.com or call 1-800-668-6600.

Starwood selling assets Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc., owner of the Sheraton and Westin chains, plans to sell hotels valued at as much as $4 billion as real–estate prices soar and it shifts to managing properties.

Talks are in progress with essential parties to shed $2 billion to $4 billion in assets over the next year. Proceeds will be spent on share bybacks and reinvestment, according to White Plains, N.Y.-based company.

Starwood and Hilton Hotels Corp. are selling assets as a surge in travel boosts prices for lodging properties.

The Starwood sales would unwind the strategy of founder Barry Sternlicht to build the company through real estate acquisitions.

The company owns, manages or franchises about 750 hotels worldwide, including the St Regis on Fifth Ave. in New York.

Novotel setting up in Technoparc Property development firms Accor North America and Realstar Hospitality Corp. will build a prototype hotel for Novotel in Montreal’s Technoparc.

The hotel, scheduled to open next fall, will be a five-storey, 120-room building designed by the Canadian architectural firms WZMH Architects Ltd. and II by Design Associates.

Firms that were the brain-power behind the CN Tower and the Canadian Space Agency building.

Realstar president Irwin Prince described the venture as “the perfect marriage of leading-edge boutique-style design and a great upper-mid-market brand.”

Blue Mountain Conference Centre offers expanded facilities for planners Conference planners have a new choice in full-service venues as Blue Mountain Resort offers the new Village at Blue Mountain Conference Centre for bookings.

Located 90 minutes north of Toronto, Ontario in Collingwood, this $11.5-million, 45,000-gross-square-foot facility expands on Blue Mountain’s existing 30,000 square feet of conference space, putting the resort into a leadership position within the Ontario marketplace.

“This new centre gives conference attendees a state-of-theart facility complemented by the new accommodation, dining and recreation options provided by The Village at Blue Mountain and all the recreational opportunities of our fourseason resort,” said Mark Rich, Director of Sales at Blue Mountain Resorts Limited.

The conference centre will host groups of 8 to 900 with interior connections to the Monterra Dome for trade shows and large group dining. Additionally, the building is serviced by a central kitchen boasting 700 square feet of cooking surface, 3,000 square feet of refrigerators and 20+ cooks per shift. Its Huron Grand Ballroom is 8,200 sq. ft. and it has advanced audio-visual and technical support services. In partnership with Intrawest Corporation, Blue Mountain has built the Village at Blue into a vibrant gathering place for shopping, dining and entertainment.

For more information, visit www.bluemountain.ca

CONTINUED ON PAGE 29

24

NOVEMBER 2005

Hotel News CONTINUED FROM PAGE 28

Cold comforts abounds While they may not see snow, three Gaylord properties in the southern U.S. will become winter wonderlands when the snow comes (figuratively speaking, of course). The Gaylord Palms in Kissimmee, Fla., the Gaylord Texan in Grapevine, Texas, and the Gaylord Opryland in Nashville, Tenn. will be transformed into winter landscapes as part of Gaylord Hotels’ Ice Attraction, which runs from November through January.

More than six million pounds of ice – two million at each resort – will be carved into sculptures, monuments and holiday scenes.

Each indoor attraction will be created by teams of 40 sculptors who will travel from Harbin, China to chisel away at the massive ice blocks.

For details, go to www.gaylordhotels.com.

And it’s chilly in Great Britain...

In London, England, a new bar seems to be the coolest drinking spot. Located on Heddon Street near Piccadilly Circus, the Absolut Icebar has an interior made entirely of ice made from water from the Torne River in Sweden, so pure that it is crystal clear. The 1,000 square foot bar, can hold up to 60 people and a timed booking system is used to limit guests to 45-minute stays. Patrons are provided reindeer skins, silver capes and gloves to protect them from the below zero temperatures. The entrance fee is is about $25 and covers the first drink.

Website: www.belowzerolondon.com/icebar

NOVEMBER 2005

Hotel of the Month

H

aving recently had the pleasure of working at The Centre Sheraton Hotel in Montreal, I must say what a difference it makes working with experienced people who like what they do.

I worked on a three-day event for a group of professionals from across the country. The Main Room was for 600 and had quite an elaborate set-up, and this is where we started noticing the quality of the personnel. From Carlos Ortez and his staff of housemen who were pleasant and helpful throughout our many requests and room changes, to the Maitre D’ Ivica Unic and his service staff. All this probably looked easy because of the professionalism of Linda Conte, CMP, Directrice, Banquets et Congrès at Le Centre Sheraton Montreal who was present throughout and who did a great job of conducting the pre-con.

It must be noted that she is a CMP, and I firmly believe that that makes a difference as she is better able to understand and relate to planners needs because of her training.

If you’re a hotelier reading this the three above-mentioned people are definitely the kind of employees you would want on your staff. Michel Giguire, the long time general manager of the Sheraton, obviously has an eye for good employees and knows how to run a tight ship. It’s also worth noting that the Centre Sheraton has gone through renovations in the past year. The only negative – it’s not really as you have a choice – is that they have followed the lead of other Starwood Hotels and brought in an AV company that has no office in the city, other than in the hotel, which basically means that they can only handle break-out rooms (staging is definitely out) and even then must cross-rent gear and hire freelance employees. No one has ever explained to me why so many hotels have a company as their in-house supplier which is not local and can’t fully handle clients needs. But like I said, it really didn't matter as we had a choice and brought in our own local supplier.

– Mike Auctor

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Trends New Orleans update

Ah, there’s the rub

Mardi Gras officials said that the annual celebration would go on as usual this winter, though the parade might be smaller than in year past. Fat Tuesday, the night before Lent starts and the culmination Mardi Gras festivities, is Feb. 28 next year.

Massage therapy is on a roll. A new survey found that 12% of adult Americans got a massage last year, a number destined to go up as the population gets increasingly creaky.

The reason for laying on of hands: stress relief (27%), pain relief (27%), relaxation (25%) and injury (11%). Ten percent didn’t know why they came.

Perils of the no-fly zone With fuel prices shooting through the roof, airlines are institutionalizing the long suspected practice of canceling flights with light load.

Delta Air Lines announced last month that it will cancel flights with few days notice and rebook travelers if passenger bookings are too thin to make the flight financially viable.

Delta later said, it’s ending the fuel-cancel program.

American Airlines, however, is stripping 15 daily flights – all historically with weak passengers counts – from its schedule in October giving travelers more prior notice of change.

According to Delta, early morning and late-night flights are the most likely to be canceled, flights that business travelers prefer for convenience.

In this situation, travelers have to be wary of what airline they are traveling with. Choose more reliable airlines. With the fuel crisis, this winter might be a crucial test of customer service for carriers, and one’s loss is going to be another’s gain.

Sin City rocks at Halloween Las Vagas ranks as the most popular spot for Halloween getaway, according to the latest ORBITZ INSIDER INDEX, a monthly survey of travel trends by the online travel company.

Exciting features include the “Haunted Vegas Tour and Show,” a tour of the city that includes stops where “legendary” murders took place.

Second on the list was Orlando where Universal Orlando stages “Halloween Horror Nights,” and coming in third was Washington, where visitors can hike through Markoff’s Haunted Forest, a “haunted horror trail” just outside the city in Dickerson, Md.

Asian Flu websites you need Travellers who have visited a farm in an affected country should ensure that clothing and footwear is disinfected immediately after arriving back in Canada.

Travellers planning to visit affected countries can monitor the following websites for up-to-date information: www.voyage.gc.ca www.phac-aspc.gc.ca www.hc-sc.gc.ca www.immunizecanada.com.

New flexibility for changing flights American Airlines is the latest carrier to offer a way to change your flight time on the day you’re scheduled to travel. For $25, you can get a confirmed seat on a flight leaving within three hours of the time you call or check in. So if there’s a seat available on a flight when you call or go to the airport earlier, you pay the fee, and get on that flight.

The new $25 option is for same-day travel changes and is only allowed on flights in the Unites States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islamds and Puerto Rico.

iPods are playing a happy tune According to the Daily Express in London, 6.15 million iPods were sold in the three months leading up to June 25.

To check out these irresistible music players, visit www.apple.com.

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NOVEMBER 2005

FACTOIDS FOR FUN Raise or not?

Sixty-six percent of working women say they are too scared to ask for a raise.

Only 24 percent of men say the same, according to a recent study.

Michelin crosses the pond to NYC The Michelin Guide crosses the Atlantic next month with its firstever comprehensive guide to New York hotels and restaurants.

What does al dente mean?

Al dente means “to the tooth” and indicates the pasta should be cooked until tender but firm. Never rely on package for cooking times.

Just keep checking, which means pulling out a strand of pasta and tastinguntil the center of the pasta to be sure it is is no longer hard and floury, but the strand itself retains some firmness. Pasta keeps cooking slightly after its been drained, so boiling pasta until soft means mushy pasta a few minutes later.

SUDOKU ANSWER FROM PUZZLE ON PAGE 8

Health Trends How to avoid kidney stones Our friendly colleague Keith Motton recently had kidney stones.

But he missed the train on how to avoid them. So here’s how to avoid those nasty little stones...

• Drink enough water to ensure that your urine remains pale yellow.

• Drink coffee and tea: both are associated with a reduced risk of kidney stones.

• Most kidney stones are made of calcium oxalate, so avoid oxalate –rich foods such as spinach, rhubarb, chocolate, nuts and strawberries • Keep your diet plant-based.

Animal protein can increase calcium levels in the urine, which appear to be associated with kidney stones. Fruits, vegetables, beans, lentils, nuts and seeds are all good.

• Cut back on salt. It increases calcium excretion the urine.

• Take daily supplements of magnesium (300mg) and Vitamin B6 (25-50mg). These transform oxalate into other substances in the body and reduce the risk of stone formation.

• Take the South American herb quebra pedra. It’s traditionally used to dissolve kidney stones.

•••

NOVEMBER 2005

27

Education, was when you read the fine print. Experience is what happened if you didn't.

Pete Seeger

To all the kids who survived the1930s, 40s, 50s, 60s, and 70s!

F

irst, we survived being born to mothers who smoked and/or drank while they carried us.

They took aspirin, ate blue cheese dressing, tuna from a can, and didn't get tested for diabetes.

Then after that trauma, our baby cribs were covered with bright colored leadbased paints.

We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, doors or cabinets and when we rode our bikes, we had no helmets, not to mention the risks we took hitchhiking.

As children, we would ride in cars with no seat belts or air bags.

Riding in the back of a pickup on a warm day was always a special treat.

We drank water from the garden hose and NOT from a bottle.

We shared one soft drink with four friends, from one bottle and NO ONE actually died from this.

We ate cupcakes, white bread and real butter and drank soda pop with sugar in it, but we weren't overweight because WE WERE ALWAYS OUTSIDE PLAYING! We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back

when the streetlights came on.

No one was able to reach us all day.

And we were O.K. We would spend hours building our go-karts out of scraps and then ride down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes. After running into the bushes a few times, we learned to solve the problem.

We did not have Playstations, Nintendo's, X-boxes, no video games at all, no 99 channels on cable, no video tape movies, no surround sound, no cell phones, no personal computers, no Internet or Internet chat rooms..........WE HAD FRIENDS and we went outside and found them!

We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth and there were no lawsuits from these accidents.

We ate worms and mud pies made from dirt, and the worms did not live in us forever.

We were given BB guns for our 10th birthdays, made up games with sticks and tennis balls and although we were told it would happen, we did not put out very many eyes.

We rode bikes or walked to a friend's

28

house and knocked on the door or rang the bell, or just walked in and talked to them!

Little League had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who didn’t had to learn to deal with disappointment. Imagine that!

The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law was unheard of. They actually sided with the law!

This generation has produced some of the best risk-takers, problem solvers and inventors ever!

The past 50 years have been an explosion of innovation and new ideas.

We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we learned HOW TO DEAL WITH IT ALL! And YOU are one of them!

CONGRATULATIONS! You might want to share this with others who have had the luck to grow up as kids, before the government regulated our lives for our own good. and while you are at it, forward it to your kids so they will know how brave their parents were.

Kind of makes you want to run through the house with scissors, doesn't it?

NOVEMBER 2005

TAKE THE

Vancouver voted Number One by Condé Nast readers

QUIZ....

1. Which three Canadian provinces are most visited by American tourists?

A: The top three provinces in order are: Ontario, British Columbia and Quebec.

This is becoming a delightful trend.

For the second year in a row, readers of Condé Nast Traveler magazine have voted Vancouver the best city in the Americas. And for the sixth year running, they have named Vancouver Island as best island in North America.

“Condé Nast is probably the most respected travel magazine.

They have a huge readership.” said Rick Antonson, president and CEO of Tourism Vancouver. “ It is very much a notch of credit to the way Vancouverites have become hosts to the world.”

The 2005 readers’ choice awards are featured in the November issue of the magazine.

On the web: www.condenast.com

2. Americans visit us most. What countries send the second and third most visitors to Canada?

A: A distant second is United Kingdom, followed by Japan.

3. What city is the most popular Canadian destination for American tourists?

A: Toronto 4. In what season do most tourists come to Canada?

A: More people arrive in the summer than all the other seasons combined.

“I read The Planner cover to cover...”

“Excellent and informative...”

Planners see us. Don’t you need them to see you?

To advertise, call (514) 849-6841 ext. 328

“I always take time to read The Planner...”

NOVEMBER 2005

29

MPI update M

eeting Professionals International (MPI) is supporting meetings industry recovery in the Gulf States region in the wake of Hurricane Katrina by covering dues for local chapter members, keeping its 2007 annual meeting as scheduled in New Orleans, and hosting a special Web/Audio conference.

MPI’s International Board of Directors passed a recommendation at its fall meeting, Oct. 16-17, that effective immediately, MPI will waive dues for one year for members of the Gulf States Chapter who have lost their home or employment and/or business due to Hurricane Katrina. Affected members must apply for this waiver of dues by e-mailing Sharnette Jackson, MPI Member Services Manager at sjackson@ mpiweb.org, to report if they have lost their business, job or home due to Hurricane Katrina, and MPI will immediately extend the offer of one year free dues.

MPI headquarters will continue to extend rebates for each chapter member to ensure that the chapter maintains most of its operating budget without member dues revenue.

“As we collectively rebuild the meetings industry in the Gulf States region, MPI is here to support our members as they begin to put their lives and livelihoods together again,” said Colin Rorrie, Jr., Ph.D, CAE, MPI president and CEO. Additionally, MPI confirms that it will hold its 2007 Professional Education Conference-North America (PECNA) in New Orleans Jan. 21 – 23 as scheduled. “We will definitely be bringing our 2007 PEC-NA to New Orleans,” said Rorrie. “MPI looks forward to working with the local host committee on bringing our members back to the region to see that New Orleans is indeed open for business.”

In related news, the 1.1 million-square-foot Morial Convention Centre is undergoing what Stephen Perry, president and CEO of the New Orleans Metropolitan Convention and Visitors Bureau has called a “hospital level” cleanup, which means the highest degree of cleaning and sanitation possible. Every carpet and wall covering is being resurfaced to make the facility brand new. Perry predicts the centre will reopen in March and noted that the Phase 4 expansion is on schedule.

Not all the airlines are losing money A

pparently, raising prices can actually help you gain more customers.

Southwest Airlines Co., the most profitable U.S. carrier, said third-quarter earnings increased 91 per cent as passenger traffic and fares rose and the company benefited from protection against soaring jet-fuel prices.

Profits, in fact, have risen nine of the past 11 quarters.

Net income rose climbed to US$227-million from $119-million a year earlier (or to 28¢ from 15¢ a share) the Dallas-based airline said in a recent statement. Southwest is the only major airline to have a profit every quarter since 9/11.

Southwest, which offers customers low fares by keeping its expenses down, raised prices twice in the quarter as more people flew. Hedge contracts limited the increase in its per-gallon cost of fuel to 18 per cent, even as the average price of jet fuel climbed 51 per cent from the same quarter a year ago. Hedging reduced what Southwest would have spent on fuel by US$295million in the quarter. The airline expects its fuel cost to climb to $1.25 a gallon in the fourth quarter, up from 89¢ a year ago, because of the effects of hurricanes that hit the U.S. Gulf Coast in August and September.

Southwest increased the number of airplane seats filled and revenue rose “with only modest fare increases,” chief executive Gary Kelly was quoted as saying. “Our goal for next year is to increase our profits by 15 per cent.” “...(the quarter) certainly highlights the revenue turnaround we’ve been expecting since the summer,” said Susan Donofrio, a Fulcrum Global Partners analyst in New York.

Another analyst noted that Southwest excels at controlling their non-fuel costs, but pointed out that will become harder to do as “...all the easy fruit has been picked. It will reach a point where they have to raise prices.”

On the web: www.southwest.com

357 guestrooms and suites 18 meeting and function rooms that can accommodate up to 350 people Connected to the Montreal Convention Centre

Inquire about Meeting Options™ reward program... extras that you deserve.

360 St-Antoine Street West Montreal, Quebec H2Y 3X4 514-987-9900 www.montreal.intercontinental.com 30

NOVEMBER 2005

Venues that are worth a look Fort Gibraltar–Winnipeg, Man.

Luxury Motor Coach–Calgary, Alta.

Did you know there is a hidden treasure minutes from downtown Winnipeg, yet can transport you 200 years into the past? It’s Fort Gibraltar and it is a replica of an authentic 19th century fur trading post. It was originally built at the forks of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers in 1809 by the North West Company, and was once a bustling site of the northwest fur trade.

Now located in historic St. Boniface, Fort Gibraltar is made up of a number of buildings that include: a maison du bourgeois, blacksmith shop, trading store, engagé’s cabin, canoe shed, fur cabin, artisan’s cabin, lookout towers, and a walkway.

Open all year around, it can accommodate 20 to 2,000 guests for various events, such as banquets, weddings, conferences and meetings. The main building is also wheelchair accessible.

World famous Festival du Voyageur is held in Fort Gibraltar annually.

As an added bonus, you may want to hire actors to teach your guests how to throw a hatchet, clog a reel, or tell you a story about living on the prairies in the early 1800’s. You can also hire fiddlers to enhance your event.

One that came immediately to mind when I was asked to write on this topic, is one that is literally “in and around” …. because it’s a motor coach. Strange choice for a venue? Maybe, but just wait till you have read the description of it, if I can do it justice, that is. When I was invited to experience this luxury motor coach a few months back, I expected the “usual” type – one with comfortable bucket seats, TVs for the passengers, coffee station and washroom at the back, and so on. Well, was I in for a surprise!

This is a motor coach like no other I have ever experienced.

In fact, I would hardly call it a motor coach. It’s more like a lounge with a boardroom cum living room cum media room at the back. It can accommodate about 20 persons …. perfect for a small board retreat or high-level business discussion, or to take that special group of international visitors on the ultimate day trip to the mountains.

Submitted by Carolyn Rickey, Winnipeg E-mail: rickey@cedars.mb.ca

Capilano–Vancouver, B.C. You pulse quickens as you step onto the swaying planks of Vancouver’s most popular visitor attraction. Breathe in the cedar-scented rainforest air, as mists drift through the canyon below and you make your way across Vancouver’s famous landmark. Pause and marvel at this feat of engineering, surrounded by a 300 year old West Coast rain forest.

In 1888, George Grant Mackay, a Scottish civil engineer and land developer, arrived in the young city of Vancouver in Canada. He immediately became involved with many projects and as City Park Commissioner, purchased 6,000 acres of dense forest on either side of Capilano River. Assisted by two local natives and a team of horses, Mackay suspended a hemp rope and cedar plank bridge across the river. In 1903, a wire cable bridge replaced the hemp rope bridge. In 1983, Nancy Stibbard turned the Capilano Suspension Bridge and Park into a very popular destination attraction.

Capilano Suspension Bridge is the perfect venue for spectacular events, from champagne breakfasts to salmon barbecue dinners.

The MPI BC Chapter held their June Gala at Capilano. A light rain was falling as more than 100 members and guests were served a delicious dinner under a large event tent. The atmosphere was surreal.

Submitted by Arlene Kravitz, CMP Director of Communications – Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society, VP Communications – MPI BC Chapter E-mail: development@foodbank.bc.ca

NOVEMBER 2005

Is this really a motor coach?

As you enter, you step onto a curved marble staircase and see in front of you soft, leather hi-back swivel chairs on one side and a leather sofa on the other facing an elegant bar counter in rich dark wood, glass and steel! As you move further into the coach, there is a roomy wood-paneled (and this is no plastic laminate wood look-alike) executive washroom to one side and a coat closet opposite. And then, you’re at the back. This is the pièce de resistance if you weren’t overwhelmed yet. Here you’ll find a comfortable sofa on either side with small tables in between and a large LCD screen taking up almost the entire back wall. Window screens move up and down with the push of a button, tiny spotlights illuminate feature details, and task lighting is provided over the tables. Wow … is this really a motor coach? Yes, but wait – that’s not all. While the coach is super comfortable and roomy as it travels the roads, it’s when the coach is parked that you really experience the uniqueness of this “venue”. That’s when the sides literally slide outwards and expand the inside to almost double! You could tango in the aisle if you wanted to….

Imagine driving to your favourite mountain view spot discussing business or watching the latest movie on the big screen, then sitting back to consume the gourmet box lunch accompanied by the Chablis that’s been chilling in the pantry fridge. Or, going outside and enjoying the slide-out barbecue and entertainment system under a 23 foot awning! Hard to beat, but in time, rejuvenated after some fresh mountain air, you return to this cozy cocoon for the onward journey. And at the end, I guarantee it – this is one motor coach you’ll hate to leave!

The cost? You can have all this for probably no more than about $150 per person. And where do you get it? In the Calgary area of course, and by contacting Ian Hipkins at ian@luxurymotorcoach.ca Unni Soelberg-Claridge, CMP E-mail: usclaridge@eventplan.net

31

Canada’s landmark icon expands its meeting and event space The CN Tower is becoming a trendy venue for planners T oronto’s most unique event venue is preparing to launch its newest meeting space at the base of the CN Tower presenting a number of exciting new event options.

Plans are well underway to complete construction late Fall 2005 and launch 1,100 sq. ft. of new meeting space adjacent to the 144-seat Maple Leaf Cinema, providing the ultimate in meeting flexibility. Equipped for audiovisual presentations, a variety of room layouts can accommodate up to 100 people for meetings, breakout sessions, working lunches, and more. Full food and beverage services will be available in-room, or, preand post-meeting meals and receptions can be enjoyed in Horizons Cafe or the award-winning 360 The Restaurant at the CN Tower. “We have experience hosting over 300 events a year from theatre launches to corporate parties, political announcements to film screenings. And we have a diversity of venues within the Tower to meet the needs of groups of 2 to 2000 with environments that are sophisticated or funky and everything in between,� said Jack Robinson, general manager at the CN Tower.

A variety of unique venues, award winning cuisine and ambiance make the CN Tower Toronto’s ultimate event venue and the perfect choice, for formal dining, receptions, casual meetings, product launches, corporate parties, festive season events, intimate gatherings and more from 2 – 2000. The CN Tower has recently won its eighth DiRoNA Award for excellence in food and ambiance and a Wine Spectator Award for its wine collection putting the food and wine selection at the Tower is in a class with a select few.

About the CN Tower CN Tower, Canada's National Tower, defines the Toronto skyline and at 553.33m (1,815 ft., 5 in.) it is the World’s Tallest Building, an architectural triumph and engineering Wonder of the Modern World. With breathtaking views from three observation levels including the Glass Floor Look Out and SkyPod, theatre, rides, arcade, shopping and a first class awardwinning dining and event centre, Toronto’s must see attraction celebrates 30 years in 2006.

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