 |
 |
Sands Macao Set to Open Phase II
Sands China Ltd., a subsidiary of Las Vegas Sands Corp., has announced September 20, 2012 as the opening day for the second phase of its Sands Cotai Central integrated resort... Read more >>
New Chinese Hotel Group Opening Beach Resort
Ahn Luh, China's most ambitious new hotel management company, signed a deal this month to manage a 100-room, island hotel on Xunliao Bay near Shenzhen. Ahn Luh and the hotel's owner, Huidong County Daya Bay Delta Island Club, expect to open the resort in 2016... Read more >>
Crowne Plaza Opens 10 Properties Across China
InterContinental Hotels Group is continuing to expand its upscale Crowne Plaza brand in China with the addition of 10 new hotels in the country between August and December 2012... Read more >>
Sydney, Australia Property Redoes Meeting Space
The Novotel Sydney Manly Pacific has unveiled a significant refurbishment of the 213 room property, including the rejuvenation of its events center... Read more >>
|
Australia
For Australia's successive original settlers—from the indigenous Aboriginals to the first convict arrivals into Port Jackson in 1788 (discovered by British explorer James Cook in 1770, and today, Sydney Harbour), and the pioneers, prospectors and immigrants that followed—life was no cup of tea... Read more >> |
Panama
With its shimmering high-rise buildings and coastal location, Panama City in some ways resembles Miami. But it's more often called the Dubai of Latin America, thanks to its attention-grabbing architecture and economic strength... Read more >> |
Spain
With all of the accomplishments and accolades Spain has been celebrating recently, you'd never know the country was going through an economic crisis... Read more >> |
Singapore
Guilty as charged. Upon recently relocating to Singapore, my first impressions were of a sparkling-clean city that had sold its soul to consumerism. There were shopping malls at every turn and a large population with expendable income to fill them at all hours of the night... Read more >> |
|
Do you plan international meetings?
To receive Meetings Focus International, update your profile
indicating where your international meetings are held. |
| Visit Scotland |
 |
Scotland is an inspirational setting for any meeting, conference or incentive trip. This is a country steeped in history, which has a distinctive culture with many exclusive and unique venues. It also prides itself in being The Home of Golf and the next European host of the Ryder Cup. VisitScotland's Business Tourism Unit is an ideal first point of contact for any planner.
|
|
| Plan your trip to Scotland today! |
 |
 |
Flexibility is the key to survival when planning across time zones
by Charles Chan Massey
Working across time zones can be interesting, to say the least...
Years ago when I went out on international business travel (before I even knew how to create an "out of office" message) I used to proactively send out an e-mail to associates and clients with a link to a "time-zone-checking website" along with a "disclaimer," if you will, that defined "urgent" as "life as we know it in the Alpha Quadrant will cease to exist if you don't speak to me live and on the phone right now." That didn't always do it, but it certainly helped.
Even with that, I remember one time my phone rang at about 3 a.m. in Hong Kong and the caller asked, "What time is it there? I didn't wake you up, did I?" Then of course proceeded directly into the reason for the call—and I had to play catch-up without caffeine. Luckily, I'm a quick study.
Read more >>
|
Exiting the Comfort Zone
Planning a meeting on one's home turf can be tricky enough, but when it comes to facilitating an event overseas, U.S.-based planners face a veritable minefield of pitfalls—whether they commit a minor faux pas or a disastrous violation of protocol. The very setup of the meeting is likely to be different, and even the simplest act, like shaking hands, sharing a smile or exchanging business cards, may very well be a whole new ball of wax in your host destination as compared to the experience on American soil... Read more >>
All in the Planning
Even the most experienced planners of large meetings can feel like a fish out of water when organizing their first major overseas convention, where even some of the most basic assumptions and contract terms are vastly different than in North America.
Outside of North America, planning a large convention can be daunting for a newbie. When going worldwide for the first time, the dynamics are intensified because—depending on the host destination—logistics will transpire differently, sometimes even in the way registration is handled... Read more >>
|
 |
 |
Tag, You're It
Cute and quirky Retro Luggage Tags will make your suitcase stand out on an airport carousel and put a smile on your face... Read more >>
|
Munchy Multitasking
If you've ever been trapped in your office or a lunchtime meeting without silverware, stashing Dineink Pen Cap Cutlery in your desk or purse may help stave off future hunger pangs... Read more >>
|
Wire Tamer
Tired of headphone cords getting trapped and tangled while you're on the road? Spooled–Wound for Sound will keep musical accessories tidy and organized... Read more >>
|
Flexible Fitness
Yoga mats are difficult to stuff into suitcases for long-haul travel, but Yoga Paws can be easily stashed in a purse or carry-on and are perfect for yoga and Pilates, so globe-trotting planners and attendees can practice their downward dog from Denver to Delhi... Read more >>
|
|
IBTM Debuts First Report on American Planners' Buying Habits
The IBTM’s global meetings industry research arm presented its first report on the Americas June 20 at AIBTM in Baltimore, with highlights showing that while the majority of U.S. business tends to stay in the U.S.—albeit spread throughout different states—over 40 percent of survey respondents organized events in Europe, 22 percent in Asia and the remainder of planner respondents took business to the regions of MENA, the Gulf, Africa and Australasia... Read more >>
Site Scene
The Ritz-Carlton, Okinawa, the first Ritz-Carlton property in Japan, opened this spring. Set in the city of Nago in northern Okinawa and surrounded by an 18-hole championship golf course, the property offers 97 guest rooms, three restaurants and a spa overlooking the East China Sea... Read more >>
Short Takes
Turkey's luxurious Ciragan Palace Kempinski Istanbul operates a number of social initiatives benefitting local women's shelters, animal shelters and nearby village schools. Kempinski has its own energy consultancy, KREEN, which works to optimize the company's energy management and establishes environmental protection standards for its properties... Read more >>
|
| Be on the lookout for our next issue of Meetings Focus International in October, which will feature timely destination stories on Scotland, India and Korea, plus a close-up look at Columbia's colorful capital, Bogota. This upcoming issue will also include handy tips on partnering with a local destination management company. |
|
| August 31, 2012 |
|
|
|
|
 |
Marla Hannigan
Conventions and Incentives
Mutual of Omaha; Omaha, Neb.
What did your attendees enjoy most about Australia?
The amazing weather, for starters. Our guests loved 'just being' in Sydney, with so much flexibility to explore. All our activity offers—the Bridge Climb, seaplane tour, sailing regatta, Manly Beach bike ride, zoo pass and Blue Mountains tour—were well attended and received great reviews...
Read more >>
|
|
 |
Hoffman Chu
Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong
Hong Kong, China |
What service can you provide to groups that they normally might not receive?
We offer teambuilding and charity-related activities ('Volunteaming') for group guests. For example, we can arrange an educational dolphin watching tour which offers a great opportunity for them to see and learn about the natural habitat of the lovely Chinese White Dolphins who live in the western waters of Hong Kong...
Read more >>
|
| View All Insights >> |
|
|
 |
|
