Summer’s in full flower—well, at least here in the Northern Hemisphere—and our second issue of Meetings Focus International is ready to open its petals.
We certainly hope you enjoyed our inaugural issue in May, and now the second installment is expanding its horizons with a new set of colorful international destination sections, along with feature stories that explore the differences and distinctions of planning overseas, from protocol to handling convention-size groups.
In this issue
As always, our departments section explores some of the macro trends happening in major meetings destinations throughout the world. Short Takes covers enticing Programs & Packages, Destination Dispatches, Tech Updates and recognizes those deserving of a few Kudos, while Site Scene details the latest international meeting facility news.
Other highlights of the second issue of Meetings Focus International include the following:
Destinations
Close-Up > Berlin A European cultural capital is a study in transformation, from the repurposing of former West Berlin facilities to new projects such as the mammoth Berlin-Brandenburg International Airport and the reinvention of ICC, Europe’s largest convention center.
Australia Regular contributor Jeff Heilman ventured Down Under with several U.S.-based meeting planners before penning the Australia section, which is filled with details about the country’s unparalleled experiences for groups, from cuddling a koala and bridge-climbing in Sydney to being immersed in the Great Barrier Reef.
Panama City The big-city sophistication, growing business scene, ever-expanding infrastructure and nearby natural riches of Panama City are profiled by Latin America travel expert Mark Chesnut.
Spain Lori Tenny, our managing and destinations content director, has hopped across the pond to Spain numerous times, and in this issue she captures the essence of the country’s magnetic appeal for planners, including vibrant metros like Madrid and Barcelona, dreamy coastal locales, Old World paradors and cutting-edge cuisine.
Singapore For our Singapore section, former Meetings Focus editor Marlene Goldman draws upon first-hand experience in the Lion City, where she currently resides, to paint a portrait of the destination’s thriving arts and cultural scene, as well as its growing list of venues and attractions.
Features
Exiting the Comfort Zone Don’t create an “international incident” with a serious breach of protocol abroad! Everything from salutations and negotiating to the very set up of meetings changes along with the scenery when meeting overseas. Get some tips from cross-cultural experts so you don’t end up red-faced on the road.
All in the Planning The stakes are considerably higher when hosting a convention-hall-sized group far from home. Even the most basic assumptions and contract language can be vastly different than in North America, from ADA-compliance-type laws to the very notion of allowing slippage. Major convention center happenings are also explored.
So enjoy the read and the rest of the season, no matter what hemisphere you’re in!
