July-August 2007

F.Y.I.

The three hour lunch... in Mexico Accustomed as we are to the one-hour power lunch, it seems almost impossible that there exists a tradition that is three times as long to share lunch and impress business or political associates. In Mexico, specifically in the important business centres of Mexico City and Monterrey, it is a longtime custom that hails from Spain, where lunch is the main meal of the day usually followed by a restful siesta. It is not uncommon for businesspeople to hold a marathon lunch meeting, beginning with tequila followed by a three-course meal with at least one bottle of good wine.

Americans and Canadians especially find the transition difficult. Rosalind Wilson, general director of Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd. in Mexico, recently noted how the entire business day there can be “very drawn out. It is a difficult adjustment.”

Go green – rent a hybrid Looking to do more as a planner to keep the planet healthy? You’ll soon have greener options when you rent a car as Hertz Global Holdings Inc. announced recently that it will spend US $68 million to add 3,400 Toyota Prius hybrids to its fleet by 2008. And Avis plans to add 1,000 Prius vehicles beginning in July.

Devouring the Competition Tasty insights on the independent hotel food & beverage experience with Katherine Ross of Metropolitan Hotel’s Regional Sales Team.

By Joseph Schmau Gone are the days of lukewarm buffets featuring uninspired ham sandwiches, limp vegetable trays and ubiquitous platters of sliced melon… and meeting planners couldn’t be more thrilled. I recently sat down with Katherine Ross of the Metropolitan Hotel’s Regional Sales Team in the swank environs of Senses Restaurant to chew on the why and how.

Tell me Katherine, is it true that your colleagues call you the Martha Stewart of the Met’s Regional Sales Office? [laughs] On more than one occasion, yes. I’ve always had a natural flair for hosting. That flair comes alive when welcoming and tending to the needs of my clients here at the hotel.

That being said, you probably don’t want to try my baking.

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Enterprise Rent-A-Car also operates a fleet of more than 3,000 hybrid vehicles, in addition to 41,000 flexfuel cars and light trucks that run on ethanol-based fuel.

Hertz said its hybrid vehicles will be available for rent at 50 of the company’s U.S. airport locations with 100 of them reserved for its New York City fleet. NYC is an ideal place for hybrids, with its stop-and-start traffic that will allow hybrids to run mainly off their electric motors, and NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg said the availability of hybrid cars is in line with the city’s goal to reduce its emissions by 30 per cent by the year 2030.

Is the iPhone heaven or hype?

Macintosh computer and iPhone ads are ubiquitous these days – it is hard to live in North America without seeing these innovative products being flogged on TV, in newspapers or on billboards.

Critics, and there are a few (one recent column in the Globe and Mail was titled “I’m iFedup”), point to several things that make iPhones and other Apple products as being much more imperfect than their slick advertising would suggest. First, there are several reports about the short life of batteries in iPods and many fear a similar situation with the new iPhones. Secondly, some point not only to the high price tag of Mac products, the iPhone in particular, but connecting to the AT&T network to use the iPhone. Still, Mac enthusiasts seem willing to overlook any Apple transgressions and buy their products anyway.

In your experience then, does a high-calibre lunch or afternoon break really matter all that much to today’s group meeting planners?

pick-me-up is essential. And of course, it gives our clients a chance to look like stars to their clients!

Definitely. Competition can be quite fierce for our clients. By offering them and their clientele a superior F&B product, we are able to ensure a truly unique event experience.

Ok, you’ve tempted my tastebuds. Can you give me an example of this extra effort?

Granted, our lunch here at Senses Restaurant is fabulous. Let’s be honest though, isn’t there a big difference between a restaurant meal and food served during a meeting or event?

Bite your tongue! At the Met, ALL of our food & beverage offerings are crafted in the hotel’s restaurant kitchens [Senses, Lai Wah Heen, Hemispheres, Diva at the Met] rather than in some mass-production banquet facility. Our dedicated Conference Services team customizes the F&B offering to meet and surpass each client’s needs. The result is a one-of-kind culinary experience that our group guests deserve.

I am intrigued by your choice of words – why do you feel such extra effort is “deserved”?

It comes from what meeting planners have known for years. The effort put into the food and beverage offering can drastically elevate the success of a meeting or event… especially during those long meetings when a sensory THE

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Oh, where to begin! The current favourites are feasts of mini tastings, such as venison burgers the size of a looney or a Montecristo that can be eaten in two bites. These delicious morsels are then superbly plated so that they are as pleasing to the eyes as there they are to the mouth. Of course, our traditional and contemporary offerings get the same creative attention.

One final morsel for our readers… why spend the last 10 of your 13 years in the industry at the Metropolitan Hotels?

I’d say it’s the same reason I have such a long list of dedicated clients… the Met’s food & beverage is just too spectacular to ever want to leave. It’s quite simply the best!

Metropolitan Hotels (www.metropolitan.com) operates three luxury properties in Toronto and Vancouver, including the Metropolitan Toronto, the SoHo Metropolitan and the Metropolitan Vancouver. With more than 815 rooms, Metropolitan Hotels is committed to providing luxury accommodation for business and leisure travellers seeking an independent choice.

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THE INTERNATIONAL EDITION

Ed. Note

Meetings, meetings and more meetings an you guess the theme for this month’s edition of The Planner?

Harvard Business School Press has a great little book on running meetings. The book starts by asking the question “Why have a meeting?” It goes on to tell us that before you do anything else, you must figure out what we want to accomplish in the meeting. Then decide whom you need to help run the meeting (AV company, DMC, etc.). Once you have what and who figured out, go on to the when and where. These trusted Ws – what, where, when, who and why – will serve as the basis of planning any meeting. Throw in your own knowledge and know-how and you’re in business. This month, The Planner looks at meetings focusing on knowledge from courses, seminars (such as the ones coming up at MPI and ISES in Montreal) and books to help you better yourself. The articles we have prepared will provide insight to help you continue becoming a more effective planner.

Our stated goal is to provide you with information you can use to make your life easier and more productive. To that end, we would like to hear from all experienced planners about tips you have to hold successful meetings. The tips should be things you have tried, refined and can be passed on to others. All participants will be eligible for great book prizes (some from our very own contributors!) so just fax or e-mail us one tip (or more) on how planners can improve the quality of their meetings and events. And as always please keep your other comments and suggestions coming.

The busy fall season is just around the corner, but make sure to take time to enjoy what’s left of the summer. Cheers!

In this Issue 8 Face-to-face with e-mail There’s no getting around it: We use e-mail

> everyday as much as we use a pen.

Columnist Stacey Hanke provides sound advice on how to better master the “killer application” of the modern business world.

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10 Business centers > With only 25 per cent of businesspeople travelling with laptops, a good business center can be a lifesaver to a planner away from their office who needs to work. Sergio Laurant provides some insight on the topic.

16 Find booth personnel > Companies spend billions each year marketing their company and services, but how do you pick the right people to man the booth at tradeshows? Barry Siskind examines ways to figure that out.

18 Saint Maarten > With air travel becoming more difficult and many destinations getting that “been there, done that” tag, perhaps it is time to do a site inspection on a fabulous island close to home that features lots of sun but that also has facilities and activities for groups.

26 Lifelong learning > Everyone knows a good education is

Leo Gervais

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A SSOCIATE E DITORS G RAPHIC A RTIST S ALES C IRCULATION C ONTRIBUTORS

paramount to success in this world. But how many of us make lifelong learning a career goal? Sharon Worsley makes a great case for keeping up with your studies at any age.

28 Resorts

Leo Gervais lgervais@theplanner.ca Camille Lay clay@theplanner.ca Jyl Ashton Cunningham jashton@theplanner.ca Matt Riopel James Paulson jpaulson@theplanner.ca Tania Joanis, Patricia Lemus Mike Auctor, Vanessa Baudry, Anne Biarritz, François Charuau, Jim Clemmer, Savika Fowsar, Stacey Hanke, Sergio Laurant, Barry Siskind, Sharon Worsley

> Many business meetings take place during the off-season at resorts. Associate Editor Jyl Ashton Cunningham looks at ways to maximize the potential of resorts to accommodate your meetings.

36 Look your best

2105 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

> Planners work hard, long hours and it is often difficult to look great after a tough day. The Planner interviewed renowned makeup specialist Annie Young about ways to put your “best face forward.”

The Planner is a monthly publication distributed to professional meeting and event planners across Canada.

The Planner uses 30% recycled post-consumer paper.

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Toronto’s hotels provide planners with lots of choice Incentive venues

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Hotels With hundreds of hotels to choose from in Toronto, the hardest decision may be where to stay. Stay in the south end of the city for convenience and quick, easy access to Lake Ontario, VIA Rail and highway connections. The Intercontinental on Front Street has 586 rooms, including the exclusive Club Intercontinental for the perfect incentive experience in a boutique style environment. The hotel is attached to the Metro Toronto Convention Centre (the largest conference and trade show space in Ontario), so booking for large groups is required well in advance. The Fairmont Royal York remains as elegant as ever, together with Le Royal Meridien King Edward Hotel, two of the original hotel properties of the city with their gorgeous architecture and “back in time” auras.

Moving up the city and for a more family-oriented incentive in the heart of the shopping and museum district, the Delta Chelsea is ideal, with one of the best indoor water activity centres in the city. Delta Meadowvale, although a little west of the city in Mississauga, deserves a mention, being a perfect blend of resort and conference facilities.

In addition to the above, all the major hotel chains are represented in downtown Toronto; Hilton, Marriott, Accor (Novotel) and Sheraton, each having their own brand of perfection, service and attraction. Heading to hotels in the north perimeter of the city will provide faster access to golf clubs and country pursuits. Hilton Suites in Markham is a popular conference facility, with a tropical open-plan atmosphere and great service. The Sheraton Parkway, conveniently located near the main route into Toronto, has excellent meeting facilities and elegantly renovated guest rooms.

While planners quite justifiably stay with a hotel name that has given them great service in other cities, in Toronto it always pays to keep options open, largely because the competition is so great that each hotel chain may offer extra incentives to use their property.

Although hotel rooms can typically cost more than elsewhere in Canada, don’t be afraid of negotiating, especially during low season. Check with Tourism Toronto for a list of upcoming conventions (usually available for about three years ahead), to make sure that any plans are not upset by lack of hotel space.

When the choice is simply too overwhelming, or time is of the essence, it makes sense to turn to a company such as Conference Direct, who will do all the hotel sourcing for you, at no cost to planners. Contact Julie Epplett by e-mail at julie_epplett@conferencedirect.com for more information on how to use this valuable service.

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The CN Tower is still Toronto’s major tourist attraction and lunch or dinner in the revolving restaurant a highlight of any incentive event. Be sure to ask for a block of tables close to the windows. For exceptional service, exclusive use on weekends (by previous arrangement) and outstanding food, Canoe maintains its deserved reputation as one of the best restaurants in the city. Other venues with a view have been covered in past articles and may be re-visited on our Web site at www.theplanner.ca, in the archives section.

Toronto is famous for its cosmopolitan cuisine and Taste of Toronto has been a mainstay theme for thousands of events, bringing amongst others, Indian, Chinese, Greek, French, Italian and Portuguese food together as buffet or food station events. From the myriad of international cuisines available, arose the fusion cuisine that Toronto is so famous for, using unusual combinations in delectable tasting experiences, with wine pairings for the ultimate gastronomic sensation.

Try Susur or the partner restaurant, Lee, on King Street for a very high end incentive group. Buy guests the namesake book on the story of Chef Susur Lee, for the perfect complement to a fabulous evening. For catered events, look to fusion experts 10Tations (www.10tations.com), preferred caterers to many Toronto venues, or west of the city, Trident Catering (www.tridentcatering.ca), a definite rising star based in Mississauga/Oakville.

Nightlife Toronto’s nightlife is arguably the best in Canada with new clubs springing up almost daily, and for a private event many clubs will be happy to accommodate groups on otherwise quiet nights during the week. This Is London is arguably the most eclectic night club venue in the city, combining contemporary nightlife with the oldworld charm of a British gentlemen’s club. Antique furniture, gilded mirrors and a ladies washroom to die for, this two-story club is ideal for dining and dancing events.

Nicole Murphy, a delightful and effervescent lady, is the contact for This Is London (nicole@ink-00.com), as well as for Koolhaus, a fabulous blank canvas, easily made stunning by furniture and accessories from Contemporary Furniture Rentals (info@cfrentals.com).

Peter Somers, the owner, is a pleasure to work with and his design concepts and installations succeed and excel in just about every major venue in the city, including Liberty Grand and The Distillery District.

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What ever happened to face-to-face dialogue?

BY STACEY HANKE

Using e-mail more effectively as a planner ver the past several weeks I’ve received numerous questions from senior executives on best practices for sending e-mails.

E-mail has become the substitute for creating and maintaining interpersonal relationships. We’ve become lazy.

How many of you have sent an e-mail to someone sitting next door to you or a few steps away within the past hour?

CEO Magazine recently reported on a study that said 60 percent of employers rate high-school graduates’ skills in basic English as fair or poor. This poor use of the English language is smattered throughout e-mails – a prevalent way for workers to communicate.

“E-mail continues to be the “killer app(lication)” of the Internet," says the Pew Internet & American Life Project, Washington, D.C. “More people use e-mail than do any other activity online.”

When choosing e-mail as your communication medium, the success of your message will depend on the following components: • The message is not time-sensitive or urgent • The message is simple and the stakes are low • You have a strong, influential relationship with the recipient • Negotiating is not the purpose of the message • Conflict between you and the recipient does not exist

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Before you hit the send button, take the time to plan: • Your purpose and objective • Actions you want your recipient to take and the level of influence your message will have • Possible interpretations the recipient may have based on your writing style • The results your message will have based on who will be receiving it When deciding if e-mail is the BEST way to communicate your message and influence your recipient, consider the advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages • It’s a quick way to communicate a message and in some cases receive a response.

• E-mail is universal.

• It’s cheap and easy.

Disadvantages • Since e-mail is impersonal and does not express emotion, it can be a trap for misinterpretations. You don’t have the opportunity to add emphasis or importance to words and to soften the message with your tone and facial expressions.

• Anyone with the right technical skills can gain access to your account.

• Because e-mail is quick and easy, we’re too relaxed with the messages we send. *

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E-mails require discretion • We’ve become impersonal and hide behind e-mail, which begins to control our life. Suddenly the majority of your day-to-day interactions are through e-mail and you jeopardize the relationships that you could enhance during a face-to-face or phone conversation.

10 Best Practices 1. Enter the recipient’s address last.

You don’t want to accidentally press send when you have a half-written e-mail or if you have not completed the editing process.

2. When in doubt, don’t send Take the time for a face-to-face or phone conversation to create and maintain a relationship. Remember, when you send an e-mail message, it’s there forever.

3. If you’re sending an attachment, complete this step first.

How many times have you received a message from a sender without an attachment when the intention was to send one? Then seconds later you receive another message from the sender saying, “Oops, here you go.”

Avoid damaging your credibility.

4. Grab recipient’s attention.

The subject line is what will prioritize your message above many others received. Keep it very short, specific and to the point.

5. Who’s your recipient?

Avoid using CC for the entire office.

Design your message to meet the needs of the recipient.

6. Never negotiate or discuss confidential information over e-mail.

If a question is raised that changes

the tone of the message to a more critical or urgent response, do not send another e-mail. The dialogue needs the attention that can only be conveyed through a face-to-face conversation.

7. Be concise and to the point.

E-mail is a quick medium for communication. If your message resembles a dissertation, chances are the recipient won't read it. Keep e-mails to one subject and include no more than three key points per e-mail.

8. Always use spell check.

E-mails with misspelled words and no commas are difficult to read and change the meaning of the text.

9. Take action.

To encourage a recipient’s response, ask open-ended questions and set specific deadline dates if action is required. This is one of the most important methods of reducing the number of e-mails you receive.

10. Answer all questions By not answering all the questions in the original e-mail, you'll receive another one regarding the unanswered questions, and that likely will create frustration and wasted time.

Just because the Internet offers a fast way to communicate, doesn't mean you should shoot off an e-mail without taking the time to make sure it's free of spelling or grammatical errors and that your message is clear.

If you want additional information on e-mail etiquette, please contact me and I’ll send more your way.

Stacey Hanke is an executive consultant, author, coach and speaker with 1st Impression Consulting, Inc. in Chicago, Ill. Contact her at: stacey.hanke@1stimpressionconsulting.com or (773) 209-5970.

On the Web: www.theplanner.ca July 07

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Did you know...

Burt Lancaster’s surfside smooch with Deborah Kerr in From Here to Eternity topped a Sky Movies poll of 1,000 film fans for the most memorable onscreen kiss. Second place went to the spaghetti-eating scene from the Disney cartoon Lady and the Tramp.

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Reliable hotel business centers are valuable for meeting planners

BY SERGIO LAURANT eeting planners, along with their event attendees, are among a steadily growing mixed segment of travelers expecting reliable, Internetrelated technology services from hoteliers. According to a survey done by the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) E-Business Committee in 2005, travelers ranked High-speed Internet access (HSIA) as the most important technology amenity among the surveyed travelers. The survey was done among 5,000 U.S. travelers, of which 84 percent had stayed in a hotel within the previous 12 months.

Another popular technological trend, that has not received as much coverage in the media as HSIA, is the growing demand by travelers, especially conference attendants, for access to business center services and Internet-connected guest computers. One explanation for this increased demand is the revelation from a study done by the Travel Industry Association and Synovate last year that revealed that still less than 25 percent of American leisure travelers carry a laptop computer with them when traveling.

Even business travelers think twice these days before carrying a laptop computer with them while traveling.

One factor that discourages some road warriors to take their portable computers with them is the increasingly rigorous and often harsh anti-terrorist airport controls.

Another factor that discourages travelers to travel with their laptops is the substantial increase of theft of laptop computers in recent years. According to Safeware Insurance, the largest provider of insurance for laptops in the U.S., over 600,000 laptop thefts occurred in 2004, totaling an estimated US $720 million in hardware losses and US $5.4 billion in theft of proprietary information.

Add to this the fact that many corporations offer their traveling employees the option to use any Internet-connected computers to securely check their e-mail inboxes anywhere in the world. This means that most business travelers only need access to an Internet-connected

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computer, three or four times per day, to check their email and respond to time-sensitive requests. With each e-mail session typically lasting no more than 15 minutes, for the majority of travelers the next best alternative to hauling an expensive laptop computer containing invaluable data is to have access to reliable business center computers with HSIA. For years, many hoteliers have realized the need to have some form of business center services available for conference attendees. And what is happening lately is that many hotels are adopting a business center as a standard amenity. A good example is the Hilton hotel chain, which promotes itself as “America’s Business Address.” Back in 2005, Hilton issued a property-wide memo instructing all their international hotels to adopt an onsite business center as part of the standard amenities offered by their properties. And many other hotel chains and independent hotels have or are following suit. Many of these hotels have realized that a considerable number of reservations coming from both business and leisure travelers, estimated to be roughly 20 percent, are made or cancelled depending on the availability of business center computer services at their hotel.

However, one factor that merits the attention of meeting planners is that many hotel guests perceive that often the hotel’s business center services are provided and promoted as just another bait to attract business to the hotel. Some travelers point out that although you can easily find out whether a particular hotel has a business center by simply looking at their site, often the details related to the business center services are limited to a very short statement declaring that “business center services available.” In many cases, no specific facts of the business center services are mentioned. This widespread practice of limiting publication of the details pertaining to hotel business centers makes many road warriors wary that some hotels consciously are omitting specifics about their business centers in an attempt to sell the sizzle, instead of the steak. *

And what is happening lately is that many hotels are adopting a business center as a standard amenity.

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Sell the sizzle but also deliver the steak Therefore, many technology-minded travelers share the opinion of James A. Martin, contributing editor of the Mobile Computing column for PC World magazine who wrote: “The problem is, you can usually find out from a hotels Web site if there’s in-room Internet access; but details offered online about a hotel’s business center can be sketchy.”

As a meeting planner, you know that your job is not only to sell the sizzle, but also to deliver the steak to the largest percentage of your meeting attendants possible.

This certainly includes your customers traveling with a laptop computer whom require availability of broadband Internet access. But you should also consider the technological needs of your guests that consciously leave their computers behind, which more often than not still accounts for the majority of your customers (of course dependent on the type of group you are dealing with). This is also why it is important that whenever you have influence over which hotel or conference center will host the meeting, you also inquire about the business center services available.

Although many hotels claim to have business center services available, you should be mostly interested in getting a list of the specific services offered. Road warrior/editor James Martin says the devil is in the details.

“Hotels can vary in the equipment they offer guests. I’ve seen some that provide only a single, woefully outdated PC and a rickety printer; others look like a small copy shop.”

Because there exists such large variance among hotels with regard to the business center equipment available, there are some specific questions for which you want to know the answer while doing your site survey.

How private is the business center? Many hotels don’t have a dedicated business center room. They just have a PC and a printer in the lobby or in some other public area that they call the “business center.”

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These types of setups can be noisier and more distracting to work in than those hotels that have a dedicated business center. Also, if there are several guest computers available, how is the privacy of each guest protected when multiple guests are using the business center services? Is the business center available to all guests or only for VIP guests staying on the club or concierge level?

What are the hours of operation? Is the business center available only during standard office hours and week days or 24 hours per day, seven days per week?

If the business center is not around the clock, is the business center available after hours?

How much does it cost? Many motels don’t charge but some business-oriented hotels charge their guests to use their business centers. What are the costs for using the business center equipment? Is their a price list available that can be e-mailed or faxed? What are the payment options?

Does the hotel have a support person on staff for guests? Is the business center attended or unattended?

Is technical support available?

Aside from the conference experience itself, the other major factor that can have a big impact on the success or failure of an event is the quality of the lodging experience. By looking after the various needs of the majority of your customers, including their basic technological needs, you will increase the likelihood that your upcoming events will be rated as successful by the majority of your attendants, including your more technological-minded guests.

Sergio Laurant is a Hotel Business Center Profitability Consultant with more than 14 years of experience providing service to the lodging industry.

During the last seven years, Sergio has successfully consulted with both independent and brand properties, including market leading hotels such as Hilton, Marriott and Sandals Resorts, assisting them in providing better business center services for more than 250,000 hotel guests. Sergio can be reached at sergiolaurant@suitekiosks.comr through www.suitekiosks.com.

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Superior venues offer planners large meeting spaces CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6

These two outstanding venues both offer incredible raw space (although Liberty Grand also comes fully equipped with banquet and meeting furniture if required) for pretty much any function imaginable.

For an entertaining venue, which although widely used by Toronto planners, still remains a hidden gem for outsiders, the Academy of Spherical Arts combines friendly if sometimes a little casual service, good food and three outstanding event spaces complete with antique billiards and pool tables, built on site in the former Brunswick manufacturing company. The venue completely belies the austere warehouse exterior in a shabby, soon to be newly revitalized area in Toronto, known as Liberty Village. Celebrity snooker players such as Cliff Thorburn are regular visitors to the Academy and can be hired to perform exhibition shots and teach guests a few tricks of the trade.

Meeting venues outside hotels Whilst incentive travel and special events play an important role in the Toronto tourism market, meetings and conventions of all shapes and sizes are also a mainstay of venue use. Since many hotels justifiably prefer to sell their meeting space with bedrooms, the Toronto market has seen a rise in purpose-built or easily adaptable space without overnight accommodation, for local groups or single day meetings. Some are fully equipped and state of the art, for example the beautiful new Ivey UWO facility in the heart of the Business District downtown. For more information on renting one of their two amphitheatres (max capacity 65 each) contact Janice Matthews at jmatthews@ivey.uwo.ca.

For a fabulous venue with a view, the St Andrews Club and Conference Centre is the ultimate in service, mid-size meeting rooms and exciting cuisine. www.StAndrewsClub.ca. Down by the lakeshore, The Rostie Group on 20 Bay Street offers space, technical staff and training facilities (www.rostiegroup.com).

The CBC Centre, the Hummingbird Centre, Roy Thomson Hall and The Canadian Opera Company all offer meeting venues with a musical or entertainment option, and Graydon Hall Manor, The Estates of Sunnybrook work equally well as places to meet as they do wedding venues.

While the Metro Toronto Convention Centre is most centrally located for downtown, there are several other convention and trade show spaces available throughout the city. Just west of downtown, in Exhibition Place, the Direct Energy Centre houses several huge and 12

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The Direct Energy Centre in Exhibition Place has several huge and adaptable event spaces for all manner of exhibits.

adaptable event spaces for all manner of exhibits.

North of the city, the stunning Toronto Congress Centre is convenient to the airport and 401 highway, has free parking, wonderful food, a beautiful atrium ideal for cocktail or food station receptions, and is close to many airport hotels including the Hilton Doubletree right across the street.

To the west, The International Centre also has free parking and huge event space in several adjacent halls.

Toronto is home to some beautiful private clubs, many of which are opening their doors to meetings and events, in order to maintain the premises as self-sustaining businesses. These will be covered in another article, however for more details in the meantime, contact the writer.

It would be impossible to mention every venue in Toronto, much as we would love to give acclaim to all the city has to offer. However, by offering a taste of the fabulous venues and top suppliers who complement their spaces, we can only suggest that you visit the city for yourselves, to see what all the fuss is about.

Without a doubt, Toronto competes with any major city worldwide as a vibrant, gastronomic and entertaining city which has to be experienced to be truly appreciated.

••• Jyl Ashton Cunningham, CMP, is president of JAAC Meetings, Incentives and Special Events based in Toronto and can be contacted at info@jaacevents.com for further information on Toronto. Please mention that you read The Planner if you contact any of the venues or suppliers mentioned in the above article.

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The unexpected value of German wines

BY VANESSA BAUDRY

hen most people hear about Germany, they think of beer and not wine. However, even though Germany has a great appreciation for beer, which it has adopted as its national beverage, wine is gradually gaining in popularity among its citizenry. Everyone knows that the basis for a good wine is good grapes. Germany is richly blessed with different varieties of grapes and the vines are meticulously maintained with special care.

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A cherished land The geographic location of Germany, and more specifically, the favourable climate throughout the sundrenched valleys (Rhine, Moselle, Ahr, etc.), allows the grapes to ripen slowly and to thrive in the mild climate.

The fact that the wine harvest is later in Germany than in other regions (October to November) is of great benefit, because it allows the grapes to develop a more refined and original flavour.

When it comes to the quality of wine, German knowhow is also very important, and should never be underestimated. Only the best plots of land are selected in the quest to produce nectar of a pure and rare quality.

A little wine typology There are several varieties of German wine that are generally well-suited to all types of events, from the most casual to the most sophisticated. Germans emphasize the distinction between table wines and quality wines. Basic wines are used for everyday consumption, while top-quality wines are reserved for special occasions, and are produced using the ripest grapes, which is a sign of quality. These wines are classified according to six levels of maturity and quality.

Kabinett: elegant wines with a low alcohol content Spatlese: balanced wines made from ripe grapes Auslese: noble wines

Beerenauslese: rare fine wines Eiswein: unique wines Trockenbeerenauslese: the crowning glory of German viticulture

Wines and accompaniments Matching the wine with the food is very important if you are seeking to create a successful and elegant meal.

More than just accompanying the dish, the wine helps to digest long and copious meals, and to create a friendly ambience. German wines, which come in many varieties, are ideally suited to an equally wide variety of dishes. One may consider a young white wine, a ripe spatlese, a simple rosé, a fruity red wine, or a noble auslese. It is also important to consider the alcohol content of the wine and the fat content and acidity of the associated foods. In this respect, the website of the German wine information office, which is located in Belgium, offers access to a great deal of useful advice and tips for successfully combining meals with wines.

German wines: The road to discovery The German wine information office organizes wine tours that are designed to give you an opportunity to appreciate the beauty and richness of German vineyards and the quality of their products. They are available to help you to organize your trip, and will advise you on the right places to go. Two types of trips are offered in 2007: • September 8 to 15, the “steep-site viticulture” allows you to discover Riesling, Silvaner, Pinot, Rheingau, Mittelrhein, Mosel, Nahe, and Rheinhessen.

• From September 23 to 29, the “steep-site viticulture” allows you to discover Riesling, Pinot Noir, Franken, Baden, Wurtemberg.

These two programs feature tours and wine tastings for groups of 20 people, at a cost of 1,400 euros.

“All-inclusive” tourism trips are also available in the area of Mosel-Saar-Ruwer viticulture, providing those who are curious and those who love wine with an opportunity to sample wines from the various producers in the region during a six-day tour. For more information concerning these trips, contact the German National Tourist Office at (416) 968-1685, or visit their Web site: www.cometogermany.com.

Germany boasts wines of exceptional quality, but very few of us are aware of them. Isn’t it time to go and see what they have to offer?

Vanessa Baudry is a freelance writer living in France.

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An overlooked source of booth personnel

BY BARRY SISKIND

o parody the old joke, “How many customer service people does it take to handle a question?”

The answer: Lots. You need at least one to find the right person to handle the call, one to transfer the caller to another extension, one to look up the most recent rules and regulations, one to hem and haw and try to think of a solution, one to say “it’s our policy” and one to finally say, “I hope that we have answered your question today.”

Customer service people, no matter how well-intentioned and trained, have a distinct disadvantage. They rarely get to see the people they profess to be serving.

That’s like working on your computer with a broken screen. You can hear the problem but you can’t fully appreciate it because there is so much information missing. One way to rectify this problem is to expose your customer service people more exposure to the public and one of the best places to do this is a trade show.

Before you say shows are just for salespeople, remember that when you expand the opportunity of face-to-face communication throughout your organization you add depth to the experience your exhibit

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program brings to your public. Your customer service people might welcome an opportunity to put a face to the voices they deal with day in and out.

However, as willing as they might be, it’s important that they understand the challenge of working at a show booth. Here are some things to consider: 1. Make the offer to be involved with the exhibits program a reward rather than a punishment. The opportunity to work in the booth can be a terrific break from everyday activities. It gives them a chance to travel, see the company in a different light and learn more about customers. That’s an enviable reward.

2. Clearly outline what’s expected. Let them know what you are trying to accomplish and give them a chance to add a few objectives that will help them enhance their own job.

3. Give them the background information including a description of the show, facility, audience and your booth.

4. Show them the big picture. Knowing how their time at the booth will complement the sales and marketing efforts is important.

5. Build the bridge. Help them bridge what they will learn at the show back to their daily job on the telephones. Mention such things as greater understanding of customer feedback, an appreciation of customer’s problems or the ability to develop empathy.

6. Make them part of the team. If you are planning any post-show activities or special events during the show, treat your customer service people with the same regard as your other booth staff.

7. Ask for feedback. After the show ends and they are back on the job, take the time to ask for feedback on their show experience. Specifically see if they were able to relate the experience with what they do daily.

Customer service people need to get away from the phones occasionally. When you use your exhibit program as an opportunity for your staff to learn and grow you will add considerable value to your investment in the show as well as in your human resources.

••• Barry Siskind is author of Powerful Exhibit Marketing. He is also President of International Training and Management Company who offers a number of services to exhibitors including the creation and implementation of a mystery-shopping program. Contact Barry at barry@siskindtraining.com for more information.

BEFORE WE BLAME, we should first see if we can’t excuse

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St. Maarten: Add the spice of Creole to your meetings and conventions The Planner proposes a number of locations where professionals like yourself, who organize meetings and events, can take your groups for a relaxing stay this winter. Our journey begins not too far from home: St. Maarten in the Antilles, a fabulous getaway destination where you can easily combine work and pleasure.

BY ANNE BIARRITZ

A rich and colourful culture on’t get confused: you may have heard of St. Maarten or St. Martin (in Dutch it’s Sint Maarten), but it’s all the same island, which is commonly referred to as “The Friendly Island,” and for good reason. Ed. note: The article will refer to the island as St. Maarten to be consistent.

As soon as you land, St. Maarten’s uniquely relaxed atmosphere begins to wash over you. This little speck of land, measuring slightly more than 100 sq. km, is the smallest island in the world that is governed by two countries: the Netherlands and France. Although the people of these two nations have coexisted since 1648,

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the approximately 80,000 people who live on the island today comprise a virtual mosaic that includes some 80 nationalities. St. Maarten, which draws upon the strengths of both its bi-cultural heritage and its pervasive Creole character, is located at the northern end of the Lesser Antilles archipelago, between the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. One after the other, this colony’s resources have been exploited. First it was salt (the Amerindians, who were the original inhabitants, called the island Soualiga, which means “Land of Salt”), followed by tobacco, cotton, and finally, sugar. By the late eighteenth century, the population of St. Maarten was predominantly black, as a result of successive waves of immigrating slaves who were brought to work there. These forms of commerce gradually gave way to tourism, to the extent that the tourism industry is now the main source of income for the island, which remains a central commercial hub in the Antilles.

St. Maarten has emerged from its colonial past with great strength, and today, it is proud to demonstrate its primary Antillian identity. The Dutch, French, and British all contributed their form of European culture, while the slaves brought their language and West African traditions. Today, these diverse influences can be seen in the island’s variety of languages. French and Dutch are the official languages, but English is commonly spoken, along with several patois dialects, such as Creole and Papiamiento (from the French and Dutch Antilles, respectively), as well as Spanish.

For visitors, however, the sense of being in an altogether different land is not only attributable to the variety of languages that are heard. The diversity of people has influenced St. Maarten culture in many areas, including the island’s ever-present art; Gospel-based religion, characterized by a multitude of Christian practices; the typical Caribbean music and dancing; and the striking European-based but tropically influenced architecture.

As you can tell even from this short description, St. Maarten is a wonderful place for those who are seeking a complete change of scenery, and of course, sunshine. On the other hand, in our industry, simply providing a destination filled with beauty does not satisfy the needs of a demanding clientele.

St. Maarten: a welcoming haven for groups The warm hospitality of St. Maarten is the perfect solution for meeting the expectations of leisure tourism clients.

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Infrastructure improvements make St. Maarten very attractive Americans constitute the largest tourist group, with 246,000 visitors in 2006, followed by France, with 63,475, and according to the St. Maarten Tourism Office, Canada is the island’s third largest tourist market. Over the past few years, extraordinary investments have led to improvements in St. St. Maarten’s tourism capacity in many respects.

New infrastructure A US $90 million investment led to the construction of a new 27,000 m2 terminal at the Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA), which was completed in 2006. The total area and passenger handling capacity have both been doubled, with the additional space making it possible to accommodate 2.5 million passengers per year. In addition, a number of international travel services are now offered (easy baggage check-in and pick-up, air conditioning, restaurants, duty-free shopping, etc.). The PJIA serves all travellers arriving at or departing from both the Dutch and French sides of the island. This prime example of growth is followed closely by urban development, offering visitors clean and easy-to-access downtown areas that are rich in attractions.

Meeting and convention facilities are improving St. Maarten offers a wide variety of destinations. However, despite their charm, very few hotels and resort centers are equipped with top quality meeting and event facilities.

The Sonesta Maho Beach Resort & Casino (Dutch side) is one of the island’s largest convention centers, with 16,038 sq. ft. of meeting and event space, an 11,000 sq. ft. theatre, and seven additional locations for receptions and dinners.

The hotel also recently invested July 07

The Marigot Seaside Pier is a popular spot for visitors to St. Maarten.

$US 2.5 million to renovate 110 of its 537 rooms and to upgrade its infrastructure, which has a sophisticated tropical flavour. The centre is near casinos, shopping, and the village of Maho. The Sonesta also offers advantages that are rare on the island: a private check-in counter for groups and free wireless Internet access throughout the property!

Useful information: Liaise with their experienced event staff. The hotel offers regular promotions aimed at groups, along with rewards for meeting planners.

Contact them at 1-800-223-0757 or www.sonesta.com/stmaarten.

Atlantic shore, the Westin offers virtually everything onsite: a club, a restaurant, a spa, a casino, and more.

Staff members undergo continuous training, and some speak English or French.

Useful information: In the event of a hurricane, the centre will suggest that you relocate your event to the Westin Cayman, or that you reuse your credit at one of the two properties within the following 12 months. Contact them at www.westin.com, or call 1-800-4756341 (North American sales office).

The Westin St. Maarten Dawn Beach Resort & Spa (Dutch side) was opened in December 2006.

With 310 rooms and more than 20,000 sq. ft. of meeting and reception space, this facility (which fully meets Westin standards, as regular guests of the hotel chain will be happy to know) responds to the needs of planners, both in terms of space and services, and can accommodate events for up to 1,000 people. Nestled on the island’s

Many planners do not like to coordinate long-distance group travel, especially when multiple connections are involved. The comfort of your customers is paramount, and a direct flight will be greatly appreciated by all. St. Maarten boasts easy access, with regular flights from Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary, and Halifax (via Air Transat or Air Canada).

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A tropical jewel only hours away

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An America’s Cup-style race is a great idea for teambuilding CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19

A direct flight minimizes the chances of misdirected baggage and lost time, and ensures the satisfaction of participants, who can be on the beach in a matter of hours.

It’s a duty-free destination and regular participants at foreign events know that customs procedures do not always encourage planners to organize more meetings and conventions abroad. St. Maarten is one of the few places in the world where there is no duty charged on either incoming or outgoing goods. As a result, no charges will be applied to the supplies and equipment that are required for your event.

Getting around on the island can be an experience. It is best to use local drivers and a mini-van, which can carry up to 20 people to a restaurant, a site you want to visit, or your hotel. Most hotels have their own shuttle service, or deal with specialty firms that they will recommend. This option is less expensive than a regular taxi service.

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Boredom is unheard of!

Take part in traditional water sports, especially at the famous Orient Bay beach, which is a corner of the island where you can hop on a jet ski or go parasailing without a reservation. However, there are other activities that may prove even more memorable for your group: • Team spirit: A real America’s Cup-style regatta will delight the sportiest and most competitive types and the budding sailors, who will take the helm of these legendary 12metre racing boats. This shared adventure is sure to boost team spirit, tighten the bonds among your participants, and provide everyone with a breathtaking experience!

(Info: 011-599-542-6419) • Entertainment for your participants and/or their spouses: With the prices of certain items sold on the island reduced because of St. Maarten’s duty-free status, the temptation to shop is hard to resist.

The shopping streets in Phillipsburg (on the Dutch side) and downtown Marigot (French side) feature luxury stores that offer European fashions, fine spirits, refined works of art, high-quality jewellery, and much more. Local daily markets eloquently attest to the rich Creole traditions.

Those who are eager to try their luck will find no fewer than 13 casinos on the Dutch side of the island.

Reminder: Canadian citizens who are outside of the country for at least seven days are exempt from paying duty on purchases up to a value of $750. Those who are outside of the country for at least 48 hours have a $200 exemption limit.

• Culture for all: Visitors can immerse themselves in the history of this territory, which has been divided between two nations, at either the Sint Maarten Museum or at Fort St. Louis. The Fort was built on a hill to protect Marigot from an THE

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English invasion in 1767. The Butterfly Farm (www.thebutterflyfarm.com), a rarity in the Caribbean, is an enchanting destination for nature lovers. The island’s plantations are also a must-see.

Discover the secrets behind the production and trading of rum, coffee, and the famous indigo (www.plantationmontvernon.com).

For the gourmet Grand Case (on the French side) is the culinary district on the island, where French and Creole restaurants share the spotlight. The many bars, restaurants, and bistros across the island, whether traditional or modern, can accommodate groups of all sizes, and offer a warm, professional welcome as they serve excellent food and beverages that incorporate the many cultural influences of the island.

For many years, St. Maarten has been a sun destination where travellers have been enchanted by the charms of the island’s atmosphere and the friendliness of its inhabitants. With its new infrastructure and recent investments, it now has lots to offer planners. The French and Dutch tourism offices await you with open arms!

St. Maerten in brief Interesting feature: Only a welcome sign separates the Dutch side of the island from the French side!

Currencies: Florin (Dutch side); and euro (French side). US dollars are accepted at all businesses.

Electrical system: 110 volts AC on the Dutch side; 220 volts AC on the French side.

On the Web: www.st-maarten.com www.st-martin.org St. Maarten Tourist Office Tel: (416) 236-0439 Pictures courtesy of St. Maarten Tourist Office.

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Cordon Bleu connects with Carleton U.

Cutting the critics Down Under

Le Cordon Bleu International recently signed a memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Carleton University in Ottawa.

Le Cordon Bleu, famous for its classical French techniques and dynamic culinary programs will collaborate with Carleton university on the development of Academic and Research programs in the related areas of gastronomic health and well-being, as well as hospitality management.

The outcome of this partnership will be the launch of a Le Cordon Bleu Institute within Carleton in 2009 and offering a bachelor’s Degree in Food and Nutrition Science and a Master of Arts in Gastronomy.

Le Cordon Bleu has schools all over the world, including the U.S., Japan, and Mexico. These schools employ a total of 450 chefs, including 80 Master Chefs.

It has been said a critic is one who inflicts his inability on others. Food critics in Australia recently learned they may not even be able to do that after the High Court ruled that an unfavourable appraisal of a Sydney restaurant was defamatory.

Critics say it could lead to a stifling of true reviews of not just restaurants but theatre, concerts and art.

The story revolves around the long-running legal case of a bad review of Coco Roco restaurant carried in the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper in 2003 in which the reviewer, matthew Evans declared, among other things, that the chicken was “outstandingly dull” and pronounced the food overpriced.

Coco Roco closed within months of the review and its owners, who had spent $2.7 million refitting its riverside premises, claimed they lost 2,700 customers immediately after it was published.

The High Court released its 6-1 decision June 14 and found that the review was an attack on the restaurant as a business.

Veteran critic Leo Schofield was unimpressed with the ruling.

“If a poor review leads to diminished returns at the box office of the theatre, are we now going to say that it is due to the review and not the quality of the work?” he asked.

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Looking for a free lunch breakfast Approximately 50 percent of hotel guests, whether vacationing or on a business trip, expect a free breakfast as part of their room rate, recent study data indicates.

The data, from Ypartenership, an Orlando-based advertising agency specializing in travel and leisure clients, was recently released as part of their National Leisure Travel Monitor.

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Begin with the end in mind...

BY SHARON WORSLEY

est selling author Stephen R. Covey offers the advice of ‘beginning with the end in mind’ as being one of the seven habits of highly effective people. I would like to use this piece of advice in relation to the topic of continuing education.

In last months’ issue, I spoke to the consideration of working towards an industry certification or taking courses to improve your current knowledge. This month I would like to go further with this topic and offer some specific thoughts you might consider making.

First of all, making the decision to further your education should be a carefully considered one, factoring in what is involved, versus what you can expect from undertaking such a venture. In other words, what is the return on investment (ROI) of your time, money, resources and perhaps most importantly your expectations.

Are you willing to take on a new life style of education, even if it is only on a temporary basis? If you don’t take the time to evaluate why you want this and what this course of action will garner you upon its completion you may disappointed in the end.

Ask yourself why you want to do this – begin with the end in mind.

Before making any commitments, including paying for a course, it is vital to examine why you want to pursue this path of action. If you are doing this for the wrong reasons you may regret moving in that direction.

Have you considered that you might just be keeping up with other people’s expectations of you, and maybe you have no interest in taking on any more commitments at this time?

It is better to take time to consider your motives before taking any action.

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Is your employer asking you to take up some instruction to advance your role in the company? Will this open up some doors to you in the future or allow you to take on additional job functions that would be rewarding either personally or financially?

By taking further education courses, do you believe that this will assist you in advancing your career even if this is not company mandated training? Will this position you for a higher role within in your current company, improve your business if you are self employed or give you more options later on?

Will you receive some type of designation at the completion of your studies that is highly regarded within the industry?

It is better to take time to consider your motives before taking any action.

Consider some of the following: Are you contemplating taking a course because you are just plain old bored, and at least this will give you something to do? If so, then I don’t suggest you go any further because it is likely that you won’t continue, and instead will be unhappy and disappointed plus out a few dollars.

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How much time will be required?

Given the fact that you probably work full time either for an employer or have your own business (and hopefully a life outside of work), where will you find the time to attend classes and complete the required work involved?

What changes in your schedule will you need to make so as to accommodate this new change in your life? Who in your life will you want to enlist to aid you in making this a successful experience?

So what direction do you take?

Will you undertake a course at a local community college, university, private institution or through an association? What are the benefits of each of these?

Does your personal schedule allow you to attend one or two nights a week, Saturdays or can you take something online? More and more, I see opportunities to study through distance education, which can fit into a busy lifestyle.

What about the cost?

What are the costs for this course of study and all the other associated costs such as text books, transportation, baby sitting (if required)? Will your employer subsidize the cost or does the institution offer scholarships, bursaries, or payment plans? Is the tuition a tax deductible expense? *

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No matter the age, we all need to have goals Which institution/school/seminar will you choose?

Here are some questions to ask: • How long has the school or institution been in business?

• What is the success rate of past students gaining employment or advancement in their field and how long did it take?

• What is the length of the course?

• How many hours per week do you need to attend and how many hours per week are recommended for studying and preparation?

• What assistance is given in finding employment or co-op experience?

• Can they put you in touch with current or former students so you can interview them?

• Are teaching staff accessible so that you can speak to them if you have any questions?

Sometimes we think we are too old…

Maybe you are holding back from going ‘back to school’ because you feel that you are too old now and have missed the chance. Instead you have resigned yourself to stay at the level you are currently at.

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Maybe you feel trapped in your current work situation because of lack of updated or advanced training.

Age has nothing to do with education, as it doesn’t matter how old you are More and more, classes are being filled with adults who are eager to improve themselves either for personal fulfillment or to improve their employment prospects. Recently, I worked with a 64 year old woman who felt that her time had passed and there was nothing new for her to aspire to.

After working together for a couple of months, she came up with a list of 106 life goals she still wants to attain. Many of those goals were related to education.

So if you are younger than 64 years old, don’t be outdone by her! And if you are 64 or older, just believe that you still have options.

Remember when making your decisions on furthering your education consider the end result, what is it you want to achieve, what is your heart’s desire?

Sharon Worsley, CEO of Live With Intent, is a personal leadership coach and motivational speaker. Her signature keynote ‘Live By Choice, Not By Chance’ assists individuals and organizations to become clear on how they can ensure the quality of their life or organization. Sharon can be reached at: sworsley@sympatico.ca.

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Ontario resorts can be meeting destinations

BY JYL ASHTON CUNNINGHAM

How planners can take advantage of offseason use hile using a resort property during off-peak or low season has the obvious advantage of being cheaper, there is good reason for having an “off” season in the first place. During the early spring months, appalling weather, blood sucking flies and subsequent impossible pursuit of outdoor activities would be anyone’s deterrent to visiting a normally idyllic property in the heart of the countryside or on a lakeshore. Likewise, once the golf season is over, the foliage colours have faded and the holiday season not quite in top gear during late fall, what would anyone reasonably find to do?

Before resorts nationwide cry out in despair at such a city-based writer’s detrimental description of all things country, read on to see what makes resort destinations appealing during low season in so many other ways than price.

Choosing a resort doesn’t have to be difficult, even in low season. While remote properties have their own charm, the option of a resort close to amenities and sight seeing may be a viable option. Talisman Resort, west of Barrie is in a convenient location to many interesting walks and sites, making it perfect for low season.

Blue Mountain, a popular ski and golf destination, is also a haven for meetings.

Convention and Tourism bureaus are always a great resource, as you may simply write pertinent questions for them to submit to local resorts and then receive a synopsis of responses. Resorts Ontario is also an excellent resource for the province. Word of mouth and publication recommendations go a long way to helping planners make the right decisions, although the ultimate decision should always be made after a thorough site inspection at the same time of year the event is being planned for.

Once a couple of resort options have been selected, the next action item is pitching the idea to the client, committee, boss, etc. Pull out all the stops, bring in the resort sales contacts, complete with a presentation of every appealing indoor amenity their respective properties have to offer. Promote health and wellness, pampering and exquisite food alongside educational sessions, top keynote speakers, teambuilding and

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original entertainment, with everything taking place inside insulated walls and screened-in, double glazed windows. Once you have sold the idea, hold good on every promise made and soon the outdoors will become a distant memory to be revisited when the weather cooperates. For those groups determined to venture outside, provide interesting survival kit bags with bug repellent, bee keeper hats and waterproof jackets, budget permitting.

Health and wellness Focus is high on employee retention these days, with health and wellness being a top priority. Stress can be alleviated by massage and spa treatments, so although most do, should the resort not have in-house facilities find out if some bedrooms or hospitality suites can be converted into temporary spa spaces. Then bring companies like Massage On Wheels (www.massageonwheels.ca) or Spa Party (www.spapartyevents.com) to pamper your guests for a half or full day. Be sure to sign people up in advance on the registration form to avoid disappointment. Element Oxygen Bars (www.elementoxygen.ca) will have your guests feeling on top of the world in no time.

Teambuilding While a little more challenging, physical teambuilding exercises can be just as effective indoors as out. Most resorts have indoor sports facilities – Deerhurst Resort has two indoor tennis courts, two indoor swimming pools and several squash/racquetball courts. Set up sports competitions for any indoor activity, complete with judges and have an awards gala on the last evening to celebrate the winners and achievements of all participants.

Gourmet cuisine During the low season, resort chefs may like to experiment with new dishes and wine pairings, so take advantage of their creativity and ask to be the guinea pigs for innovative menus. Have chefs create food stations or tasting banquets for the ultimate gastronomic experience. Theme cooking around different seasons rather than nationalities, for an interesting take on providing variety in cuisine.

Cooking classes have become a huge favourite as teambuilding and incentive exercises, especially if everyone gets to eat their creations at the end. Taboo Resort (www.tabooresort.com) has gone one step further, with an innovative Culinary Theatre where Chef Jay Scaife entertains small groups on some secrets of their fabulous food. *

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Low resort season coincides with many corporate meeting times Entertainment and theming Summer may not be quite around the corner during your event, so cheat a little. Oftentimes, the corniest themes bring out the best in people for little cash outlay and a beach or garden party using summery yellow lighting provides an ideal opportunity to network, drink daquiris, dress in outlandish shirts and sing Jimmy Buffet songs.

For mid to high-end budgets, bring in interactive entertainment such as an ever-popular casino night, or transfer guests to an available nearby casino if real betting is allowed.

Companies like Hart Entertainment (www.hartentertainment.com) in Toronto or Nuit Magiques (www.casinonuitsmagiques.com) in Montreal have everything you need for Texas Hold ‘Em or Black Jack parties, complete with staff, gaming tables and play money.

Indoor Virtual Golf is becoming increasingly popular with several companies equipped to bring top international golf courses into the meeting space.

Interactive entertainment in a relaxed atmosphere continues to be ever-popular with illusionists such as Anthony Lindan (www.anthonylindan.com) who builds corporate branding into extremely clever tricks.

Anthony is also a professional speaker, combining his talent with motivational and educational content, which may be pre-scripted with the client or all his own work.

challenges well in advance. Wireless or hi-speed Internet access is often not available in remote areas and most cell phones have limited reception in mountain resorts. Also be aware that many remote or country resorts rely on a local workforce, who may act in a more casual manner with delegates, than they are accustomed to. A pre-conference meeting with hotel management should clearly outline the expectations on both sides, thus alleviating potentially embarrassing situations.

With careful planning and a lot of imagination, low season resort meetings can be equally if not more productive and interesting than any during peak outdoor activity time. Simply be aware of potential challenges, overcome them with the help of experts and make your next resort event the best ever!

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It is important to understand the limitations of some resorts.

Jyl Ashton Cunningham is owner of JAAC Events in Oakville Ontario, and Associate Editor (Ontario) to The Planner. Jyl welcomes your comments and can be reached at jashton@theplanner.ca or info@jaacevents.com.

That pesky work thing While resorts denote an air of recreation, low resort season is often the time when corporate meetings are at their peak. It is important to ensure that the selected resort has sufficient and efficient meeting space to accommodate plenary sessions and breakouts. If being outside is not an option, the resort atmosphere should still be incorporated into the meeting as much as possible, otherwise the whole event might as well be held in a city or suburb. Bring in interesting speakers who are experts on the environment around the resort, to explain how the local eco-system is conserved and why. Speakers who specialize in green topics are also perfect for resort meetings.

As mentioned in a previous article, it is important to understand the limitations of some resorts, whatever the season, so be sure to inform your delegates of any July 07

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FY.I.

More money really does make you happy, says report Money can’t buy happiness, the saying goes. A new report challenges that notion.

Economics researchers in England examined the spending habits and personal finances of 600 “high net worth” individuals worldwide, each with investable assets of more than CAN $213, 000 (100,000 British pounds). The report was drawn up by the Economist Intelligence Unit.

The survey found that the bigger the bank balance, the bigger the smile. They were asked about their attitudes towards money, the impact wealth has had on their lives and their motivation for saving and spending.

Eighty percent of women with cash assets over $1 million agreed that money had brought them greater personal happiness, compared with 78 percent of the men.

One interesting footnote: Only 12 percent of the men said that they regularly enjoyed going shopping, compared with 37 percent of the women.

BlackBerry connects with China The world’s most populous country will soon see the arrival of the BlackBerry, the ubiquitous handheld

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device invented by Canada’s Research in Motion (RIM).

After eight years of lobbying, RIM won permission from China’s Ministry of Information Industry to launch its e-mailing gadgets. The news sent RIM’s shares up by four percent on NASDAQ to $216.02 the day it was announced.

According to the Globe and Mail, RIM already has 5,000 advance orders and intends to have BlackBerrys in Chinese shops by the end of August.

U.S. Congress puts brakes on border I.D. Breathe easy fellow Canadians – passport-less Canucks driving to the U.S. and Americans returning home will still be welcomed at the border until mid-2009, if the U.S. Congress seals a tentative deal passed recently that delays by 16 months tough new border controls designed to deter terrorists.

The delay, passed overwhelmingly by the House of Representatives, must still clear the Senate and be signed by President George W. Bush before it becomes law, which won’t happen before the fall.

The development was applauded by the Canadian travel and tourism industry, which has suffered a sharp decline in cross-border visits by Americans who are confused about what documents are needed to cross the border.

The era of casual cross-border travel between the U.S. and Canada came to an end with the so-called Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative passed after 9/11.

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CREDIT CARD DEBT Ed. note: This excerpt is from The Pocket Encyclopedia of Aggravation

by Laura Lee. ou pay the minimum balance on your MasterCard bill with a handy Discover Card check. You have just enough to make the minimum on your other MasterCard.

You’re left with so little cash that you need to use your Visa to buy groceries. Forget it. You will never, ever, ever get out of debt. By that I mean never, not ever. Pigs will fly first.

Make no mistake, the credit card issuers want you to be in debt. They make profits from revolving balances.

Since the early 1990s, banks have upped credit limits on their customers’ credit cards by more than a third, filling mailboxes with 3 billion offers in 1997. We may complain about ATM fees, but few of us complain about the fees we pay for our plastic.

Studies by economist Lawrence Ausubel of the University of Maryland show that consumers underestimate how much they borrow on their cards. On average, you’re carrying twice as much debt as you think.

If you carry a credit card balance of $1,750 on a card that charges 18 percent interest and you pay just the minimum and buy nothing more it will take you 22 years and $4,000 in interest to pay it off.

In the early 1980s, U.S. households had 70 cents of debt for every dollar they spent in a year. By 1990, it had risen to 90 cents. today, according to American Demographics, we are carrying almost 99 cents of debt for every dollar we spend.

The only costs we really understand are annual fees and introductory interest rates. Credit card issuers have responded by lowering both. Don’t worry, they more than

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make up for it. Late fees have gone up about 50 percent since 1990.

Grace periods have shortened.

Some cards penalize you for being a day late.

It will take 22 years and $4,000 to pay off a credit card debt of $1,750 at 18 percent interest if you pay just the minimum each month.

BOOK EXCERPT

Reprinted with permission from The Pocket Encyclopedia of Aggravation by Laura Lee, originally published by Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers. On the Web: www.bdlev.com/ Price on www.amazon.com: US$10.

If you get in trouble, don’t expect your creditors to help you out. Once your card is close to its limit and the minimum payment is equal to your monthly paycheck, the issuing bank may raise your interest rates. They can do that if you pay late, exceed your credit limit or have a deteriorating credit report.

A team of Ohio State University researchers came to the shocking conclusion that all this debt-stress is bad for our health. They conducted two telephone surveys of 1,036 Ohioans and discovered that those who reported higher levels of stress about their debt reported worse health than those with lower levels of debt.

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Why hire an independent travel planner when organizing a trip?

BY FRANÇOIS CHARUAU

hether the occasion is a motivational getaway, a conference or meeting, a performance bonus or simply a leisure trip, companies are increasingly offering their employees trips and getaways to the south and elsewhere. The idea of leaving the office far behind is very appealing, and statistics show that more and more companies are relying on this idea as a way to demonstrate their gratitude, to show recognition and to increase loyalty among their employees. In order for this type of trip to be perfect and to unfold without a hitch, using the services of a travel planner may be your best course of action.

W

The role of the travel planner A travel planner is not a travel agency, a travel guide, a representative for a tour operator, or a hotel manager.

In fact, a travel planner takes on all of these roles, working before, during, and after your trip. A large portion of the work of a travel planner is carried out long before the trip, starting with an initial meeting, which is very important. The role of the travel planner is to immediately pinpoint your company’s identity, and to develop a profile of the employees who will be travelling,

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including their motivations, their objectives, and their personalities. All of these elements will determine the type of trip that is best suited to your company’s needs.

There are many factors that must be taken into consideration, and therefore, it is crucial that you convey your wishes and desires effectively.

The travel planner wears many hats The “travel agent”: A good travel planner is familiar with many countries, has travelled extensively, has seen many countries, and usually speaks several languages.

This experience is very useful when it comes to identifying the best destination for your company. If you are just beginning to organize your trip, the travel planner will help you to choose the destinations that are best suited to your needs, by recommending a variety of hotels and resorts. If the countries have already been decided, the travel planner will enhance your decision by recommending interesting elements that fit with your itinerary, such as countries, hotels, destinations, meeting and conference rooms, on-site activities, excursions, sports, and weekly programs.

The “travel guide”: The travel planner acts as a guide at several levels. Aside from providing you with advice pertaining to the countries and hotels to choose,

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A travel planner wears many hats and must know his clients well the travel planner also accompanies you on your trip, ensuring that everything is in place with respect to the programs that you chose before your departure. The travel planner is there to manage every aspect of your trip, including hotel accommodations, sports, excursions, activities, and entertainment, acting as liaison with the hotel and its services, the tour operator, and any external activities.

The “hotel manager”: Your travel planner must know how a hotel operates, understanding the functioning of the reception desk, the relationship between the various services that are available to hotel guests (sports, bar and restaurant, meeting and conference rooms, etc.), and what is required in order to satisfy the needs of its clients. In short, the travel planner “speaks the language” of the hotel industry, understands the ins and outs, and knows where to turn in order to obtain information and cooperation. Your travel planner will ask the right questions, and more importantly, will get the right answers.

All of these aspects must be taken into consideration when choosing the right travel planner. Ask the following questions during your first meeting with your potential travel planner: • Where did you acquire your experience?

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• • • •

What is your educational background?

Have you travelled for pleasure in the past?

What languages do you speak?

How do you design and coordinate a trip?

The answers to these questions will allow you to move forward with confidence as you organize your trip.

So why hire a travel planner when it might be simpler to just leaf through a travel brochure and whisk your group far away from the office? More importantly, why pay more when everything seems so simple?

There are a number of benefits to using the services of a travel planner: First, most organizers feel an enormous amount of pressure during events that are held in their own city or region. The element of stress is part of any project, and by taking advantage of the experience of a travel planner when visiting a foreign country, you can avoid additional stress caused by culture shock during negotiations with suppliers, by a language barrier, by unfamiliar ways and customs, etc.

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33

Tips for planning your trip effectively

A travel planner can save time CONTINUED FROM PAGE 33

Second, logistical management during a corporate trip is a very demanding task. The travel planner will ensure that no detail is overlooked, from arranging a warm welcome and reception for participants to confirming reservations for meeting rooms, and even seeing that everyone is properly taken care of during refreshment breaks.

Finally, a travel planner knows how to negotiate the best rates and to obtain the best service during each activity (flights and packages, agency benefits, excursions and tours, restaurants, private reservations, etc.).

The rates charged by travel planners vary according the type of trip the company is planning. In addition, the organization and implementation of the trip will differ depending on the size of the group. Trip organizers are usually paid on commission. By working with a travel planner, you can avoid stress, loss of money, ineffective programming, and managing unforeseen factors (weather, health, etc.) while you concentrate on the benefits derived from the preparation, impact, and success of your event.

When you use the services of a travel planner, the only things you have to add to your to-do list are postcards – don’t forget about them! Bon Voyage!

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1. Choose the destination for yourself: Don't strike a country off your list simply because others didn’t like it.

2. Choose 2 or 3 different countries. Make suggestions instead of insisting. Hold a vote among the people involved (employees or committee).

2. Ask for estimates from several agencies.

3. Ask about the benefits that the agency offers (discounts, complimentary items or services, upgrades, etc.).

4. Identify the purpose of the trip: motivation, performance bonus, pleasure, etc. The program for the trip will depend on the purpose.

5. Identify points of interest near the hotel or elsewhere in the region: excursions, golf courses, beaches, outdoor activities, carnivals, local festivals, etc.

6. Determine whether you are traveling in high or low season. The quoted rates often depend on the season.

7. Ask your travel agency what measures will be offered (refund, postponement, etc.) in case of an unforeseen event (illness, repatriation, weather, etc.).

8. If the trip involves a large group, your budget should include a week for you to spend at the site in order to inspect the facilities and meet with the people who will be responsible for hosting you.

••• François Charuau was an activity director at Club Med for 12 years, and has been a specialist in organizing incentive, corporate, and pleasure trips for five years.

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!

Jargon Buster Techno babble demystified

What is Facebook? sponsored by Avtec Professional A/V Services

Facebook is a social networking website. When launched on February 4, 2004, Facebook was restricted to students of Harvard, membership was subsequently expanded to all Ivy League schools (within two months), and many individual universities were added in rapid succession over the next year. Eventually, anyone with a college or university(.edu) email address could join, and there was a separate network for high schools. Since September 11, 2006 it has been made available to any e-mail address. Users can select to join one or more participating networks, such as a high school, place of employment or geographic region. As of July 2007, the Website had the largest number of registered users among college-focused sites with over 30 million members worldwide. This makes Facebook the second most visited website on the World Wide Web. It is surpassed only

by MySpace. It is also the seventh most visited site in the United States. The name of the site refers to the paper facebooks depicting members of the campus community that colleges and preparatory schools give to incoming students, faculty, and staff.

SOURCE: WIKIPEDIA

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PLANNER

F.Y.I. Fuel consumption made simple Have you ever wondered what is the simplest way to gauge how much fuel you will use on a trip? Perhaps the simplest way is to use the litres per 100 km method.

For example, if your car uses eight litres per 100 kilometres and you plan to travel 1,000 kilometres, you can anticipate using 80 litres of fuel. Now if we can only get gas down to $1 per litre to make it really easy to calculate the cost for that trip...

Cellphones to eclipse land lines Superman better forget about changing in phonebooths – there may not be any around in a few years.

There were 18 million wireless subscribers at the end of 2006 – about the same number of fixed access lines. Over the past four to five years, annual subscriber growth has exceeded 12 percent. The wireless industry saw its operating profits grow by 41 percent last year to $4 billion while wireline earnings declined 14 percent to $3.5 billion.

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Skin care for planners is important

BY LEO GERVAIS f you are a meeting planner, you know how difficult it is to keep looking fresh after long days at tradeshows or meetings. But looking good is like anything else in life – it takes some effort. We recently talked with Annie Young of Annie Young Cosmetics who has been helping Montrealers “put their best face forward” for more than 25 years with her personalized makeup consultations and exclusive line of cosmetics. She provided some sound advice on how to look your best.

I

Leo Gervais: I’d like to talk to you today about skin care and make-up for planners – the day before and during an event.

Annie Young: It starts with your habits at home. It shouldn’t just change in the three days of an event. Skin care would be a program given to you by an esthetician or if you can’t get to an esthetician, then try a skin care specialist who works at a cosmetics counter. It’s a lifestyle choice – if you’re 25 years old and you want to keep going like that until you’re 60 years old you’re going to look okay because you’re taking care of yourself. Educating yourself on skin care would be a good start.

Learning to do eye makeup properly is a must for planners.

well and exercise, and get plenty of sleep. Those three things will definitely make you look and feel better for your whole career – these are the basics. And vitamins!

LG: How many times a month should some one see an esthetician, say for a facial?

AY: A facial once a month is very good. Every 4-6 weeks is a great idea, and the cost would be somewhere around $80.

LG: What about makeup and foundation?

AY: She should get educated in makeup applications and follow the trends. So twice a year she would be going to a reputable makeup counter learning what is happening, what’s new, etc. There’s a lot to learn at a makeup counter. So if you know how to do your makeup properly – you’ll learn that from a professional makeup artist – you will look better. And if you look better you’re going to feel better.

LG: What else should a planner focus on?

AY: Now that you’ve taken care of your skin, you have to take care of your eating habits. You’re going to eat

LG: Any recommendations on the kinds of makeup to use?

AY: Well, you have to buy higher-end products because they have better ingredients in them. Hypo-allergenic,

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Moisturizing is one of the keys to always looking good non-comogenic (not tending to clog pores)… and a lot of people are working these days with mineral makeup.

It comes in loose powders, sheer-tinted moisturizers… they all have a natural source of SPF, anti-oxidants and vitamins for your skin, it’s long wearing, very natural and gives you a nice, healthy look.

LG: Are there any new products you like?

AY: There’s something I just got two weeks ago from L.A. It’s airbrushing makeup you can do at home, makeup in a can. Airbrushing is done at the salons by professional makeup artists and is used for TV, film, photoshoots, etc. The line is called Classified and the ladies would spray it on in the morning and it will last until midnight. It’s waterproof – they could even go swimming in it. Your face is flawless, there’s excellent coverage, it’s long lasting and your skin will not get oily. It will also hide any imperfections on your body with this spray – you can even cover tatoos, if necessary. It’s a fabulous product.

LG: What other tips would you give to planners?

AY: After they moisturize their face, there are all sorts of primers to use before they apply the foundation. The primers will keep the makeup on longer and keep it look-

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ing better. Just like when you prime your walls before you paint them. We never do a makeup without using primer. Secondly, always keep a compact with powder in it and always keep a blotting sheet for excess oil.

LG: What about when you attend an event like MPI’s World Education Congress (in Montreal this year from July 28-31) and you need to socialize, including eating and drinking larger amounts than you are used to?

AY: Well, try to avoid alcohol because it will make you puffy, or try to drink a glass of water between each drink. Perhaps bring your own snacks like energy bars and fruit. And try to avoid salty foods. And if you do wake up puffy there a few tricks you can learn at a makeup counter like taking a fan brush with a darker powder and gently brush underneath your cheekbone to create a contour and then add some colour with a blush brush. Also, using a mineral mist to hydrate your face during the day to refresh your makeup. The key is to build a rapport with a makeup expert or esthetician because you can’t learn it all in one day.

Annie Young has done makeup for thousands of women for almost 30 years, and is available for consultation at Avanti le Spa and West Spa. She can be contacted at (514) 739-8880 or (514) 626-8881.

On the Web: www.annieyoung.com.

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Sudoku The object of the game: 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

LEVEL: INTERMEDIATE

> INDUSTRY NEWS

ATA Carnet is an international tool In 1961, in order to facilitate world trade, the World Customs Organization (WCO) adopted the “Customs Convention on the ATA Carnet for the Temporary Admission of Goods”. ATA is an acronym of the French and English words “Admission Temporaire/Temporary Admission”. The Convention oversees three main categories of goods traded internationally: • commercial samples; • goods for presentation or use at trade fairs, shows, exhibitions or similar events; • professional equipment.

The Customs Conventions corresponding to these three main categories of goods are: • the International Convention to facilitate the importation of commercial samples and advertising material of the GATT (Geneva, 1952); • the Customs Convention concerning facilities for the importation of goods for display or use at exhibitions, fairs, meetings or similar events, of the CCC (Brussels, 1961); • the Customs Convention on the temporary importation of professional equipment, of the CCC (Brussels, 1961).

Solution, page 41.

Carnets are issued and guaranteed by national organizations. They administer the ATA Carnet System under a set of conditions established by the World Chambers Federation (WCF), sponsored by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) in Paris. Customs authorities in over 58 countries and territories accept the carnet as a guarantee that all duties and taxes will be paid if acceptable proof of timely re-exportation cannot be provided.

Over the last 35 years, the carnet system has spread from just a few Western European countries to most of the industrialized world, including a growing number of developing nations. In 1998, some 194,986 carnets were issued worldwide, covering goods valued at almost US$ 12 billion.

Since 1972, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce has been authorized to issue carnets in Canada. Carnets are issued at five locations across Canada: Ottawa, Toronto, Kitchener, Montreal and Vancouver.

In Canada the sale of carnets has increased dramatically from 693 in 1980 to over 2,800 in 1999. Carnet sales are expected to double in the next few years, as the business community comes to know more about the carnet benefits and the carnet system expands to include more countries.

On the Web: www.chamber.ca.

Solution, page 41.

SOME SUDOKU RESOURCES ON THE WEB: www.websudoku.com www.sudoweb.com www.dailysudoku.com www.sudokupuzz.com

SOURCE: THE CANADIAN CHAMBER 38

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COMMERCE July 07

D AT E B O O K Upcoming Events July 28-31 Meeting Professionals International, World Education Congress, Montreal, Que. Contact: (972) 702-3000, www.mpiweb.org.

August 6– Civic Holiday (Ontario only)

Aug. 11-14 ASAE & the Center for Association Leadership, Annual Meeting & Exposition, McCormick Place, Chicago. Contact: (888) 950-2723, www.asaeannualmeeting.org.

Aug. 16-18 ISES Eventworld 2007, Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth Hotel, Montreal, Que. Contact: (312) 321-6853, www.ises.com.

Aug. 23-25 Financial & Insurance Conference Planners, Canadian Chapter Meeting, Four Seasons Hotel, Toronto, Ont. Contact: (312) 245-1023, www.ficpnet.com.

Sept. 3– Labour Day

Sept. 5-6 Hospitality Sales & Marketing, Affordable Meetings National, Washington (D.C.) Convention Center.

Contact: (914) 421-3270, www.affordablemeetings.com.

Sept. 25-27 Incentive Travel & Meeting Executives, The Motivation Show, McCormick Place, Chicago. Contact: Hall-Erickson, (800) 752-6312, www.motivationshow.com.

Have an event? E-mail us at info@theplanner.ca.

Hotel tipping

According to Pete Post, Director of the Emily Post Institute, guests may want to tip a bellhop $2 for the first bag and $1 for each additional bag the bellhop handles. If a guest wants to tip the housekeeping staff, it’s best to leave a little something each night insted of a larger amount prior to checkout because several different workers may be attending the room during the week.

On the Web: www.emilypost.com.

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Websites of

interest

Organize your meetings www.timetomeet.info Trying to organize a meeting between two people can sometimes be a chore, and it only gets more complicated as people get added to the list. Time to Meet is a site that makes it easy to match everyone’s availability and agree on a suitable time to meet. Best of all, you don’t even need to log on to the site to use it. Simply press the “try-it-now” button and enter the e-mail addresses of all the people you want to invite to your meeting. Mark on the calendar the times and dates that you are available and send a message to everyone on the list. They will get a common URL (website link) that will take them to the page where they can add their own availability on the calendar. The site will calculate which times are best for everyone. Signing up for a free account gives you the ability to store an address book and manage your meetings in a centralized calendar. They also offer a premium service that costs $5 U.S. for six months that lets you synchronize your offline Outlook or iCal calendar programs with the site.

Outsourcing on the Web www.domystuff.com Time is the only resource that once used does not come back, in any form. So, how much is your time really worth? If you value your time, take a look at Do My Stuff, a site where you can post tasks that need to be done and people bid on them.

Sign up is free and you can then start listing tasks that you want to delegate to someone else. You can set the time period (15 minutes to 30 days) and the budget. You can also limit the geographical area, but there are few Canadian listings at the moment, but the site is aiming to go international. You may also go on the site to bid on jobs.

Copy this www.copyscape.com Almost everyone who uses the Web has copied and pasted text they found on the Internet. It’s an easy and often useful thing to do, but problems arise when you are the creator of content that gets copied with no recognition. Copyscape is a site that will help you track down people who are copying your Web content and using it on their own sites. Simply type in the URL into their search engine and it will spit out sites that are duplicating your content. If your material is copyrighted, you could then take action to have those sites remove it if it’s being used in a way in which you don’t approve. You are only allowed to make 20 free searches for your site each month and each search only yields a maximum of 10 search results.

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Hotel News

HILTON MERGES WITH BLACKSTONE

The Yotel prides itself on being a “solution to boring and expensive hotels” by offering good amenities at a lower price.

Photo courtesy of Yotel.com

YO! HERE’S THE YOTEL...

Finally, a new dawn is arriving on the hotel scene – a place to sleep and wash without costing a fortune.

The concept of the Yotel, which officially opened a few weeks ago at Gatwick airport in England, is to offer customdesigned cabins which mimic first-class plane accommodations. There are premium, standard and accessible cabins, with plans for an economy class with shared bathrooms.

A second Yotel will open in the fall at Heathrow's terminal four, and Amsterdam Schiphol airport has also expressed an interest.

You can stay overnight or for as little as four hours and pay accordingly. You can also book online, by phone or just turn up at the “reception” which is basically a glass booth with three machines like e-ticket terminals. You punch in a reservation code, previously sent to your cel phone and get your cabin key card.

Beyond the booth is The Galley, where Yotel staff in grey Chinese jackets dispense meals (which are automatically charged to your credit card because Yotel is cashless).

The premium cabin is best described as a very nice box.

The lighting can be set to mimic daylight, for reading, or to moody purple. The bed has stowage beneath and it retracts by remote control to make a giant sofa. A “technowall” houses a clothes rail, mirror, pull-out table and chair, and a TV screen on which you can write e-mails (or WiFi is free), select a radio station, or pick from one of 10,000 music tracks, everything from the Beatles to Zamfir. You can even create your own playlist for future stays.

There is a small shower room with seaweed shower gel in pump dispensers.

The standard cabins are just as private, but if you have space issues they might not be for you.

You can buy Muji products like toothpaste packs and 50ml plastic containers for hand luggage and there is an on-screen menu to order in-room dining.

The man behind the concept for the Yotel is Simon Woodroffe, the man who gave the world Yo! Sushi – the Japanese food-on-a-conveyor-belt chain back in 1997.

On the Web: www.yotel.com.

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Hilton Hotels Corporation has announced that it has entered into a merger agreement with The Blackstone Group's real estate and corporate private equity funds in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $26 billion.

Under the terms of the agreement, Blackstone will acquire all the outstanding common stock of Hilton for $47.50 per share. The price represents a premium of 40% over yesterday's closing stock price.

It is anticipated that the transaction will close during the fourth quarter of 2007; completion is subject to the approval of Hilton's shareholders, as well as other customary closing conditions. A special shareholders meeting will be scheduled at a later date.

The acquisition brings together a leading global hospitality company with Blackstone's extensive portfolio of hotels and resorts. Blackstone currently owns more than 100,000 hotel rooms in the U.S. and Europe, ranging from limited service properties such as La Quinta Inns and Suites to LXR Luxury Resorts and Hotels.

Over the last fifteen years, Blackstone has been the largest private investor in hospitality worldwide and it has a strong track record of reinvesting in its hotel properties.

Blackstone views Hilton as an important strategic investment; no significant divestitures are envisaged as a result of this transaction.

On the Web: www.hilton.com

SAVOY GETS A FACELIFT The Savoy, one of Britain's most internationally recognized hotels, will benefit from a program of restoration that will include upgrading of the magnificent suites overlooking the Thames, renovation of guest rooms, corridors and all public areas and the reopening of the renowned River Restaurant.

The estimated cost of the program, in excess of $200 million USD, makes the restoration of The Savoy, on a per room basis, one of the most ambitious in the history of London.

The date when the hotel will cease taking guest reservations is currently set for December 2007 when the restoration process is scheduled to begin. Following the unprecedented refurbishment, The Savoy will reopen in 2009.

On the Web: www.fairmont.com/savoy.

PLANNER

IF I KEEP A GREEN BOUGH IN MY HEART, THE SINGING BIRD WILL COME.

CHINESE PROVERB July 07

Hotel News

AN INCONVENIENT ROOF More travelers than ever

STARWOOD AND ACCOR ACTIVE IN DUBAI Starwood Hotels & Resorts and Accor Hotels are in talks with authorities in Dubai to open a $4.2 billion hotels and offices complex planned for the new Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) district.

The DWTC, the state-owned business and trade organization, has started construction work for a 1.1 million sq. metre site at the heart of Dubai city that will include three hotels, serviced apartments and five or six skyscraper office blocks covering 230,000 sq. metres.

One source said that talks with hotel operators for the leisure part of the scheme – larger than the Broadgate complex in the City of London – “are now at the stage of between memorandum of understanding and hotel signings.”

DWTC is understood to be talking to both Starwood and Accor. “We are talking to very high-end five-star operators,” one source said.

The apartments are likely to be sold as a “club concept” which will involve investors buying into a share scheme.

The plans for the DWTC District form only 30 percent of the area in and around Dubai earmarked for development in the next few years.

are living amid construction zones with U.S. hotels spending a record US $5.5 billion on renovations this year.

Among the inconveniences: gutted lobbies, awful smells, dust, closed restaurants, closed pools, sounds of jackhammering at unfortunate times and constricted room choices.

Hotels across the price spectrum are going through renovations – usually while continuing to operate – to appeal to younger travelers who prefer sleek design and airy public spaces. But the makeovers can be painful for guests.

Travelers can resent paying full prices for a work in progress and can be miffed by work-related disruptions.

WORLD HOTEL INDUSTRY BREAKS RECORDS • With 150,000 new rooms opened by hoteliers in the year 2006, the world supply of corporate chains posts heretofore unattained growth. On Jan. 1, 2007 the worldwide supply of the top 200 groups reached 43,000 hotels and 5.5 million rooms.

• This movement is sustained by a record year in terms of activity: the recovery of demand generates solid improvement in the RevPAR (+9.4%). The turnover in the hotel industry worldwide posts double-digit growth (+12.4%) and it has never been so high (CAN $332 billion).

ANSWER EASY SUDOKU FROM PAGE 38

ANSWER MEDIUM SUDOKU FROM PAGE 38

U.S. CHAIN LAUNCHES ITS BRAND IN THE UK The U.S. hotel chain Wyndham Hotel Group has launched its brand in the UK by reflagging the Conrad hotel in London’s Chelsea harbour.

Wyndham has taken over management of the five-star, 160-suite hotel, formerly run by Hilton, under a 20-year agreement with owner Blue Harbour 2.

The new name is the Wyndham London-Chelsea Harbour.

On the Web: www.wyndham.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 July 07

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Canada Quiz

8. Which Canadian City of more than one million inhabitants is the snowiest large city in the world?

anada has long been a symbol of peace and freedom around the globe and is envied the world over as one of the greatest coun tries to live in.

Take this quiz to see how much you know about the land of the maple leaf. Answers can be found at the end of the quiz.

9. How many lakes are in Canada?

1. The Stellar’s jay is its provincial bird; the dogwood its provincial flower. Name this province.

2. Samuel Cunard, son of the founder of the famous shipping line bearing his name, was born where?

3. Who was Canada’s first female licensed doctor?

4. Where did she receive her medical training?

5. Where did Alexander Graham Bell invent the telephone?

6. What was the highest temperature ever recorded in Canada?

10. What city is at the confluence of the St. Charles River and the St. Lawrence River?

1. British Columbia 2. Halifax, Nova Scotia 3. Emily Howard Stowe, born in 1831 in Norwich, Upper Canada. She practiced in Toronto.

4. No Canadian medical college would accept her so Dr. Stowe graduated from the New York Medical College for Women and received her license to practice in 1880.

5. Scottish-born Bell said he developed the idea in Brantford, Ontario in 1874, but actually built the first telephone in Boston the following year.

6. 45º C at Midale in southern Saskatchewan.

7. The Prairies 8. Montreal shares the dubious honour with St. Petersburg, Russia. Both cities average more than 250 cm of the white stuff each year.

9. It is estimated that Canada has two million lakes.

10. Quebec City

C

Canada’s Wonders Contest

Answers

7. The Great Plains in the United States are called what in Canada?

What would you say are the Top Ten must see/do things in Canada?

Here then were the Top Ten choices: 1. See Niagara Falls 2. Tour Quebec City 3. Visit Lake Louise 4. Ski/visit The Rockies 5. Shop/walk Montreal and Old Montreal 6. Experience the top of CN Tower 7. Tour Whistler Mountain resort 8. Walk/drive Cabot Trail 9. See Percé Rock in Gaspé 10. Visit the Bay of Fundy 42

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This most recent contest, sponsored by the Deerhurst Resort in Huntsville, Ontario, was very popular with our readers.

The winner of the contest is: Ginette Martel of Novartis Pharma Canada in Dorval, Quebec Next month, we will provide the Ten Runner-Ups. Thanks to everyone who participated!

PLANNER

July 07