International Meetings: Preparation Is Key
Original Air Date: Wednesday, August 31, 2011 View this webinar online now! |
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| Calgary TELUS Convention Centre |
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The Calgary TELUS Convention Centre is conveniently located in the heart of downtown. We offer 122,000 square feet of flexible space, 47,000 square feet of exhibit space, 36 meeting rooms, one multipurpose hall, five pre-function areas and one ballroom. There are 1,100 guest rooms connected utilizing three four-star hotels.
The Calgary International Airport offers over 1,800 flights with daily scheduled nonstop flights from major North American cities. It is the third-largest airport in Canada.
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World Affairs
by ZACHARY CHOUTEAU
While organizing a conference close to home can be challenging enough, the task of planning one thousands of miles away in a foreign-speaking destination with very different customs and cuisine can really put skills to the test.
With the increasingly global nature of business, international meetings are on the rise—and so is the likelihood that planners will need to know how to facilitate them. To get some perspective on trends, as well as planning tips, Meetings Focus spoke to some key players in the international meetings arena.
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| Fiesta Americana Grand Meetings Mexico |
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We feature three distinctly different meeting hotel brands, Live Aqua, Fiesta Americana, Grand and Fiesta Americana, in three spectacular settings, including Cancún, Los Cabos and Puerto Vallarta.
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For more information click here. |
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| Starwood Hotels - Mexico |
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Book your next group on Mexico´s Caribbean or Pacific coast at a participating Sheraton, Westin or St Regis Resort, and take advantage of our special All Inclusive group offer. The offer includes deluxe accommodations, private or leisure meals, open bar, coffee breaks, fitness center access, Wi-Fi and more! With many direct flights to each of our resort destinations it is easier than ever to have a meeting in Mexico. |
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International Meetings: Preparation Is Key
Speaker: Charles Massey
Wed., August 31, 2011
1:00pm EST |
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Planning to take a meeting outside of the familiar environment of the U.S. presents a raft of logistics, cultural and political challenges, so being on top of your game is even more critical. And with the global economy growing by leaps and bounds, there's no better time than now to start getting prepared. Even if you don't currently plan meetings internationally, that time may be fast approaching.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
• Identify the similarities and differences between domestic and international meeting planning procedures
• Understand the impact of cultural differences as they affect conducting a meeting in another country
• Understand how to manage the needs and expectations of international inbound delegates
• Identify specific challenges and "opportunities" that may occur during the pre-planning process and on-site
• Develop guidelines for choosing the appropriate overseas venue, based on your specific group demographics
• Develop tools to assist your domestic delegates with outbound international travel and when they return home |
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Sustainability: Basic Green Techniques
Speaker: Nancy J. Zavada
Wed., September 28, 2011
1:00pm EST |
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Is my meeting really 'green'? The meetings industry can finally answer that question. The Accepted Practices Exchange (APEX) has launched the standards for best practices for green meetings, and by using basic green techniques you can now call your meetings green and sustainable just by following some relatively simple guidelines.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
• Understand terminology and goals related to green meetings
• Have the resources to make informed choices
• Know how to save their organization money by the choices they make
• Share the story of their success with key shareholders
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| Fiesta Americana Grand Coral Beach Cancun |
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Nestled on Cancun’s finest stretch of beach, our award-winning resort offers relaxed luxury in a gorgeous setting. 602 ocean-view suites, six restaurants and a new 40,000-square-foot gem-inspired spa complete the experience. Our renowned meetings team is driven by the belief that every occasion requires expert customization. Myriad options for a meeting or event designed for individual needs awaits you within our 85,000 square feet of meeting space, which can accommodate guests from 12 to 1,700. |
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| Charles Massey |
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1. Begin the planning process earlier
2. Keep your attendees informed
3. The rules are different, especially concerning attrition
4. Try to develop a profile of your group (veteran vs. novice international travelers)
5. Use the online tools that are out there
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International Meetings:
Preparation Is Key
Available Online Now!
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![Meetings Focus Forum]() |
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Q: Are there any websites that have “quick hit” things to let people know about subjects such as currency, cultural considerations, etc., so we don’t have to reinvent the wheel?
A: For currency, I think the best is www.oanda.com. They update the exchange rates in real time and their conversion figures are generally relatively accurate. As for cultural considerations, here's the link to the Lewis Model (which I referenced in my slides). This link will also allow you (and your attendees) to sign up for a trial version of the Culture Active tool.
Q. Can you please repeat your advice on credit card payment offshore?
A. Generally, credit payments are subject to a 3 percent service charge from your provider, and in many cases, even hotels will resist taking credit cards for the master account and rather require a wire transfer up front for full payment of the master account. Venues and other vendors are also resistant to accepting credit cards, and when they do they often also charge a service charge ranging from 3 percent to 5 percent.
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