The perfect hide-out for your corporate meeting

Ever thought about a special treat for the Executve Board meeting? Here it is:

Zephyr Palace
Central Pacific
Costa Rica

Zephyr Palace is located within the grounds of Hotel Villas Caleta on the central Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. This spectacular mountaintop location affords truly panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean, the dramatic mountains and coastline, and each evenings tropical sunset.

After arriving on the hotel grounds, the dramatic approach to the villa is through a series of stone arches lined with urns to arrive in a paved courtyard set with a fountain. From the courtyard guests may enter a reception area with access to the formal foyer, concierge reception area with elevator to bedroom suites, and the living and dining areas.

It features 7 Suites, 9 Bathrooms, discoteque, spa, pool, an art gallery and much more... Check it out.

Oh, the price? Well does it really matter? In case you wonder, it is approx. USD 6550 per night, excl. 17% VAT of course...

In 80 days around the world

In March 2007, Condé Nast Traveler sent writer Mark Schatzker around the world. The conditions of the trip were as follows: He could not take a plane or helicopter, he could not travel more than 100 miles per hour, and he had to complete the journey in precisely 80 days. The intention was to rediscover "slow travel," the way humans moved across vast distances back when Jules Verne wrote his famous book about Phileas Fogg. Instead of taking off at Point A and then landing at Point B, he saw, smelled, felt, and tasted the multitude of points in between. He cruised across the Pacific Ocean, rode horseback across Mongolia, and sea kayaked Italy's Amalfi Coast. In short, he experienced geography.

Read his blog here: Mark Schatzker's Blog

MPI Belgium Rocks

Just getting back to Switzerland from the MPI BE Educational day where I have been invited as a speaker to present the hot topic "Second Life, MICE blogs and social online networking for the meetings industr" I must say I was extreamly impressed by the entire MPI BE team and their hospitality!

Upon arriving, MPI Belgium President Yvo Van Der Tol (from Marriott) drove me himself to the conference venue. And when I've arrived there, I have been welcomed by Evelien Aernaudts (from Abbitt Meeting Support - they cary this name absolutely deserved!). Evelien, you did an outstanding job.

Everything was ready and deliberate. Peter, a technician of Abbitt Meeting Support, took excellent care of my little tech problems I had my laptop crashed(!) but thanks to a presentation back up on my USB stick the presentation was safe.

The venue, yes the venue... Dolce La Hulpe Brussels! I knew it was the former IBM center just outside Brussels but I was astonished to see how beautiful day have redesigned the house.

Great conference facility in a absolutely quite and green surroundings. It was very nice.

Once more a big thank you to all the Belgium MPI members and conference participants whom I met!

I will be speaking at MPI Belgium Chapter

Dear Meetings Industry blog readers

I would like to announce a special treat to you:

The MPI Belgium chapter is organizing on May 10, 2007, a one day conference called "Belgium education day for meeting professionals". The most important thing: I will be talking about online communities for the meeting industry and how you can profit out of it e.g. making money! ;)

Details about the education day and how you can attend you will find here: MPI Belgium Chapter

Sign up for this intersting learning day and start to profit from the various workshops and talks.

Cruise Holidays combined with MICE meetings

Why not combining a corporate meeting with an outstanding beautiful and relaxing cruise at the same time?

If you have ever asekd yourself about trends in cruise holidays, then I found some answers, published by Peter D. Thomson, Vice President and COO of Cruise Holidays:

Emerging Destinations
1. South America
2. (tie) Europe - Baltic
2. (tie) Australia/New Zealand
4. (tie) Croatia
4. (tie) Greek Isles

Which of the following do you hear most often from your customers regarding their reasons for taking a particular cruise vacation?

2007
1. Particular itinerary 92.4%
2. Particular cruise line 77.2%
3. Price 67.2%
4. Particular embarkation point 40.5%
5. Particular cruise ship 24.2%
5. Accommodations - i.e. type of stateroom 24.2%
7. Group space 19.0%
8. Amenities - i.e. spa, gym or fitness classes,
dining, onboard activities 13.9%
9. Excursions 7.6%
10. Other - "time of year" 1.4%


Regarding 2007 bookings to date, what trends have you noticed?

1. Europe bookings are up over last year 64.6%
2. Clients are feeling more confident about
traveling farther from home 59.5%
3. Mexico bookings are even with last year 51.9%
4. A majority of my bookings include airfare 50.6%
5. Clients are spending more per vacation 49.4%
6. A majority of my bookings include arranged transfers 48.1%
7. Caribbean bookings are even with last year 43.0%
8. (tie) Alaska bookings are up over last year 34.2%
8. (tie) Alaska bookings are even with last year 34.2%
8. (tie) Caribbean bookings are up over last year 34.2%

A meeting space in the sky

I am sure you all know the Taj Hotel Group. With 12 Taj properties belonging to the Leading Hotels of the world (LHW) and Leading Small Hotels of the World (LSHW), this company has surely a high level of standards.

But do you also know that they own their own little Executive Airline called TajAir which is for charter?

Instead of a boring Executive Board room in a boring location, take your Executives for a meeting with dinner amongst the stars. And in case your Executives would require special meal, here is what TajAir is offering in terms of catering:

Special meals
Bland Meal
Diabetic Meal
Fat Free Meal
Fruit Platter Meal
Gluten Free Meal
High Fibre Meal
Low Sodium, No Salt Added Meal
Low Calorie Meal
Low Fat/Cholesterol Meal
Low Fibre/Residue Meal
Low Purine Meal
Low Protein Meal
Non Carbohydrate Meal
Non Lactose Meal
Soft Fluid Meal
Semi Fluid Meal
Ulcer Diet Meal

Vegetarian meals
Raw Vegetarian Meal
Asian Vegetarian Oriental
Asian Vegetarian Indian
Indian Vegetarian
Western Vegetarian (dairy)
Western Vegetarian (non-dairy)

Religious meals
Jain meal
Muslim meal
Hindu meal

Child and Infant meals
Baby Meal
Post weaning Meal
Child Meal

The world's most sexiest MICE venues, part III

my next suggestion goes to one of the most beautiful spots on earth, to the

The Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa

Yes, I know, it is not one of the typical MICE resorts, but the luxurious Hotel lies where earth, sea, and sky meet, poised above Atlantic rollers and flanked by the majestic Table Mountain and her Twelve Apostles mountain range in glorious Cape Town, South Africa.

It features 5 different (small) meeting rooms, but the real highlight is the terrace. Why not holding a workshop where heaven touches earth?

Enjoy the photos of the Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa.