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Welcome to Issue 13
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Dear Reader,
As we draw to the end of 2009 - a difficult year for many - we would like to take this opportunity to wish you and your loved ones a very happy festive season while looking, positively, towards 2010.
With this issue of our newsletter, we are pleased to welcome two new members into Travel Contacts, both representing European destinations. JC TOURS will be offering their fantastic DMC services for Portugal, while OPEN DOOR INCENTIVES & EVENTS have brought us their wealth of experience from Germany. Further information about their expertise may be found on each of their member pages within our website www.travelcontacts.com.
Our website continues to generate more and more 'hits' each month confirming that it is meeting the needs of those in the Industry. Should you have any comments on the workings of our website please do not hesitate to contact us as we value any feedback received.
Please take the time to visit www.travelcontacts.com for more information on each of our exclusive members or to email me directly on jo@travelcontacts.com.
That's all for now from us! We wish you a very Happy and Healthy Holiday Season!
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Portugal, our newly represented destination, is introduced by JC TOURS.
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The Pearl of Atlantic ... The Madeira Archipelago, discovered by the Portuguese in 1418, is made up of the islands of Madeira, Porto Santo and the uninhabited islands of Selvagens and Desertas. Events such as The Flower Festival, the Atlantic Festival and The Madeira Wine Rally attract tourists from many different places.
Oporto the Old & New combines ... Set in the famous Douro port-wine region of Portugal, Porto is the country's second-largest city and strikingly different to the capital. Whilst Lisbon is elegant and showy, Porto is hard working and down to earth. Events as the Fantasporto (Cinema) and The Wine & Gourmet's Essence make it worth visiting.
Lisbon a City with History ... Lisbon, a city of contrasts, offering so much to discover and surprise, still maintaining the marks of its early history along with a rich cultural heritage, is one of the most beautiful capitals of Europe. Two of the greatest events will be Rock in Rio 2010 (www.rockinrio-lisboa.sapo.pt) and also the Lisbon Marathon.
Algarve Coast ... The Algarve is the most southern area of Portugal. Every year the Algarve welcomes millions of visitors who are attracted to this region by its pleasant Mediterranean climate as well as the natural local hospitality. Events like FIESA (the international sand sculpture festival) and the Algarve International Race Circuit (Formula 1 and Superbikes race) make it an unforgettable place.
For more information please contact: info@jctours.pt.
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Leading German DMC, OPEN DOOR GbmH,
joins Travel Contacts and present their fascinating team building ideas
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On our Husky-Workshop, dog-sledges will be waiting for you with loud and welcoming barks. We have double or five-person sledges for you to ride as part of the course. Guests are given a short briefing and information about the dogs and their habits.
After the sledges are prepared by the mushers, it's be your turn! We can include other games as well, to ensure that the waiting time is shorter. Games include: snowshoe-running, a giant ski course and biathlon shooting. It gives an Alaska feeling all the way!
Alternatively, why not stop by for the Big Final of the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup 2009/2010! "Who will win the big crystal ball?" The decision on who is the best ski-athlete in the world cup 2009/2010 will be revealed in the final from 10th - 14th March 2010 in Garmisch-Partenkirchen!
This is a must for ski-lovers! We would be happy to organise your stay during this period, as well as excursion to the World Cup Final, different activities, a nice typical Bavarian evening or a wonderful visit to the highest mountain of Germany: the "Zugspitze". We look forward to working with you!
For more information contact info@opendoor-events.de.
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Welcome Touristic Vienna bring us news of their merger in Austria!
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Imperial Tours and Welcome Touristic Vienna will operate together under the new name COLUMBUS WELCOME MANAGEMENT as of January 1, 2010. "New name, same company, same team, same outstanding service," explains Roswitha Mayer-Plaichner, Managing Director, Welcome Touristic Vienna. "It all began in 1932 with a single coach….Columbus Welcome Management belongs to the Dr. Richard Group founded in 1932. Welcome Touristic, started as Austrobus, is specialised in Incentives & Events since 1977. The company Imperial Tours was bought in 1988 and handled Events, Incentives and Conventions.
"This merger guarantees a solid financial background and immediate access to more than 700 coaches, four hotels, 35 travel agencies throughout Austria as well as additional three COLUMBUS WELCOME MANAGEMENT offices in Salzburg, Budapest and Prague. COLUMBUS WELCOME MANAGEMENT will stand for creative Event Management, extraordinary Incentives and successful Congress Organisation.
"Quickly developed and tailor-made programmes combined with individual service makes COLUMBUS WELCOME MANAGEMENT a reliable partner for your Event, Incentive or Convention."
Find out more about the complete history and our long experience in business ... Log on to www.columbus-reisen.at.
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FELIX EVENT MANAGEMENT, our member for Switzerland, presents the beautiful city of Zurich.
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The recent renovation of the 240 superior rooms in the south wing of the CP Hotel in Zurich can be considered a tremendous success. The guest rooms designed by the world famous New Yorker Tony Chi, are elegant and classy at the same time. The biggest auditorium, "Gottfried Keller", covers an area of 476 m2 and is 5.2m in height, making it suitable for all kinds of major events.
Whether you wish to hold a conference with a stage, a special exhibition or a general meeting, this conference hall adapts itself to your requirements. The possibility of subdividing the auditorium in two smaller rooms, Romeo and Juliet, is also highly valued by many event planners. With a separate foyer for coffee breaks, aperitifs and buffets, the Gottfried Keller ticks all the boxes for a successful event in Zurich.
In addition, back projections are readily available for events of up to 220 people.
Best of ideas for a stay in Zurich:
- Treasure hunt in the old town of Zurich
- Street car Party
- Evening function at the zoo in Zurich with a personalised visit
- Beer or Whisky seminar
- Evening function at Chicago 1928, revival of the prohibition time
- Old timer flights across the Alps, followed by a meal in the air force centre
- Visit to St. Gallen & Appenzell and, of course, to the cheese factory
We would love to create your own Zurich experience and are looking forward to receive your specs.
Contact us now on info@felixevents.ch.
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Regina Tours Ltd, our Israel member, explains why the Holy land is also a music hotspot.
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In recent years, Israel has taken its place within the world of music. There are several international music festivals taking place in Jerusalem, Safed, Haifa, Eilat, Tel Aviv and other towns. At Regina Tours Israel, we would be happy to reserve your hotel via www.go2israel.co.il and to sort your transportation, and tickets to the event of your choice.
Here is a list of some of the important music festivals taking place in Israel in 2010:
- The Red Sea Classical Music Festival : Featuring conductor Valeri Gregiev, will be held from 14-17 January, 2010, in Eilat on the southern tip of Israel.
- The Israel Festival was founded in 1961 by Aaron Zvi Propes as a summer music festival held in the ancient Roman theatre in Caesarea. The Festival takes place annually for a few weeks in the spring. Throughout the festival, audiences are also able to enjoy a large selection of free performances by artists from all over the world, as well as premieres of Israeli works and tributes to leading Israeli artists. During the festival there are many performances of street theatre, children's shows and a nightly jazz music.
- The Red Sea Jazz Festival is the major jazz event in the Middle East. A programme of international performers appear alongside the best of the Israeli scene in Eilat each year. The festival attracts around 25,000 people and features three concerts a night, staged in three outdoor arenas, with the Red Sea and the surrounding mountains as a magnificent backdrop.
- The Tzfat (Safed) Klezmer Festival is held in one of the most spiritual cities in Israel. The surrounding beautiful green mountains of the Upper Galilee, are a perfect decoration for the athmosphere needed for this special spiritual Jewish music - the Kliezmer. A combination of solo and group performances offers devotees of this unique style of music a variety of entertaining events from which to choose. Concerts take place in the Red Mosque as well as outdoors.
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Romania member, Premier Destinations, introduces the beauty of Romanian culture and explains why it could benefit your next event.
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Romanian culture has its own ethos, generated by the geographical and historical framework of its evolutions.
The year 2010 is regarded as a year of cultural events in Romania. In the music field, Sighisoara Blues Festival (25-27 of February) and EUROPAfest in Bucharest (7-13 of May) are two events that will gather around international performers from blues, jazz, pop and classic music.
The Sibiu International Theatre Festival the most important annual theatre and performing arts festival in Romania and the third in the world, taking place at the end of May, proposes a program that brings participants from 70 countries and presents 350 events from all performing arts during 11 days.
The film industry will also be well represented, Romania hosting numerous international and national festivals, like the TIFF in Cluj (28 May-6 June) or the unconventional and acclaimed Anonymus (9-15 August) in the Danube Delta.
But leaving aside the cult arts, 2010 prepares also numerous representative festivals of traditions, customs and history. An international acclaimed festival is Sighisoara Medieval Festival (end of July) which begins with a medieval parade, followed by 3 days of medieval and modern music concerts, shows, theatre and art exhibitions.
In 2010 Romania awaits you to enjoy a taste of its cultural richness.
Contact Premier Destinations for further information via www.premier-destinations.eu.
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ESSENCE OF BALI presents a unique incentive possibility in the heart of stunning Indonesia.
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Java have some unique features for incentives: why not take an old steam train ride through the Javanese plantation and rice fields, followed by a visit to the Famous Borobudur temple before taking a flight to Bali?
Imagine sitting at the train station while you are welcomed by a local orchestra that escorts you and your incentive group aboard a private Kind Steam Train to take you steaming towards the mountains and high hills of Java for 45 minutes.
Enjoy a cocktail while your journey takes you through the breath-taking sights of this region.
Upon arrival, you will be transferred to the famous 7th wonder on the world (the Majestic Temple of Borobudur) during evening sunset and escorted by local monks. Later you will be flown back to the Island of the Gods: Bali.
Contact us today for a unique incentive programme on incentives@essenceofbali.com.
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MINDSTREAM brings news of a successful tender from Brussels, Belgium.
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Brussels (Belgium) is hosting the most important European institutions (European Commission and Council of the European Union), as well as International companies and associations.
From July to December 2010, the presidency of the European Council will be taken over by Belgium. This is a real opportunity for DMC's and PCO's to respond to European Tenders.
To respond to one of these tenders, MindStream benefits from being part of the DMC's and PCO's associations by creating a consortium with other experienced members.
The submission for a European Commission tender is complicated and requires a lot of administration, but the size of the contract (€ 7.000.000 in 4 years) certainly justified the hard work.
This is an opportunity for us to thank the members who participated. Having such reliable partners enabled our consortium to react quickly, efficiently, and professionally.
This was our first collaboration, but certainly not the last one, and we hope this will bring further opportunities between members.
The decision will be taken by the European Commission at the beginning of the year 2010. In the meantime, we hope Santa Claus will not forget our consortium!
For more information contact the team via www.mindstream.be.
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First Incentive Travel, Florida, send news of their fresh branding, a new hotel and the return of an airline!
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First Incentive Travel recently announced the launch of its new branding and website as part of its overall digital strategy for the coming years. This strategy involves making full use of innovative communication tools that will support client services. First Incentive Travel is the first company within the meeting and incentive planning industry to adopt mobile services as part of its portfolio.
"The new company's branding plus adopting latest communication tools such as a mobile site and integration with twitter sends out a message to our clients that we are on top of the latest innovations that can benefit them in motivating their people and thereby optimising revenue." said Joost de Meijer, Chairman & CEO of First Incentive Travel.
In other news from Florida, the newly built Waldorf Astoria® is now open, commanding a stunning location on 482 emerald-green acres, surrounded on three sides by Walt Disney World® Resort. The stately lobby draws guests to its centrepiece, a magnificent clock handcrafted by master artisans. It is certain to become revered, much like the iconic lobby clock that has stood in the lobby of The Waldorf Astoria in New York since 1931.
"A wealth of exquisitely delightful amenities and impeccable personalised service await Waldorf Astoria's distinguished guests," continues Joost. "Unprecedented in countless regards, Waldorf Astoria Orlando stands destined to make history."
Additionally, he added: "Martinair's return to Orlando is good news for Orlando International Airport and all of Central Florida. Martinair is the long haul leisure carrier within the KLM Group. Martinair flies since mid October direct, non-stop three times a week from Orlando to Amsterdam as well as to over 98 cities worldwide through its KLM network."
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STUDIO INTER, Southern Italy, present some of the major events for the coming year.
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Ravello (Amalfi coast) - Classical Music Festival
Dates: see www.rcs.amalficoast.it
The Ravello Festival wishes to allow total immersion in an atmosphere which enjoyably caresses for the spirit. Serenity in the landscape, sweetness of climate and courtesy in encounters all contribute to creating this. A perfect combination of Latin antiquity and Arabic grace, in the heart of the Mediterranean, makes a pause refined, reflection creative and encounters pleasurable.
Perugia (Umbria) - Umbria Jazz Festival
Dates: 9/18 July
The final European jazz festival. All the big names of jazz, blues and other fusion genres must have passed through the wonderful cities and villages of Umbria. During the festival days, they are animated by major shows in big halls and jam sessions at the corner of the streets, "'round midnight" events and daily seminars taught by professional musicians. Either in its main long summer version, or in the winter four days edition, definitely not to miss.
Verona - Opera Festival
Dates: June to end of August - see website
Over the years the Arena has become one of the biggest lyrical theatres in the world and, the way in which the Arena is being used, i.e. in a noble way and maybe the most in tune with the present time, satisfies the general need to conserve the atmosphere for popular performances and protects, at the same time, the dignity of the monument.
2010 edition will be superb.
Brescia - Rome MILLE MIGLIA (1,000 MILES VINTAGE AUTOMOBILE RACE)
Dates: 5/9 May
The historic automobile race (the first edition took place in 1927) was banned in its original form after the fatal accident that killed Spanish driver the Marquis of Portago and a number of spectators. It was revived as a kind of regularity competition, with cars from 1957 or earlier. Some 275 cars from 35 countries participate, and their drivers including captains of industry, movie stars and personalities from other sports.
Contact us for information about how to incorporate any of these fantastic events into your next incentive programme! www.iterweb.it.
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More Information
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