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Year 10 Vol. 1, Issue 136
Cover Subject:
Jose-Manuel GARCIA, CDS jmgarcia@ividmc.travel
Cuba: The Time is Now
Visionary, Founder, & Master Coach
Page 4
Jose-Manuel (Manolo) GARCIA, CIS, CMS manolo@ividmc.travel
Second Generation, Innovator & President
Airlines Page 5 Golf Pages 6,7 Restaurants Page 8-10 Hotels Page 11
Karla JIMENEZ, CMS kjimenez@ividmc.travel
Executive Vice-President
Quick Hits:
Trinidad SANCHEZ tsanchez@ividmc.travel
General Comptroller
Francisco BAEZA, DMCP fbaeza@ividmc.travel
Corporate Marketing & Product Development Director
Cuba Reaches a Record National Geographic Awards Advertise with CommuniQuest The Customer’s Always Right Pages 12,13
Julia ORTIZ jortiz@ividmc.travel
Pages 14,15
Quality Director
Let’s Cook:
Alejandro PECH apech@ividmc.travel
How to Prepare Moros y Cristianos
Electronic Publishing
Page 16
Omar GALLEGOS ivicorp@ividmc.travel
Dr. Travel
Content & Editing
Travel Tip: Silencing Seatmates
Jorge OROZCO, DMCP jorozco@myday.travel
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Managing Director - MyDay Travel
© Copyright 2017. All Rights Reserved.
Destination Offices Mexico
Caribbean
Central America
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IVI DMC² Los Cabos Yazmin ELOSEGUI Destination Managing Director yelosegui@ividmc.travel
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IVI DMC² Costa Rica Sonia VARGAS Destination Manager svargas@ividmc.travel
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IVI DMC² Mexico City, Central Mexico, IVI DMC² Dominican Republic Puerto Vallarta, & Riviera Nayarit Ramon RIJO, CIS Jaime NELO, CMS, DMCP Regional Managing Director Destination Managing Director rrijo@ividmc.travel jnelo@ividmc.travel IVI DMC² Cancun & Riviera Maya Raquel MIJARES, CIS Marketing Director rmijares@ividmc.travel
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IVI DMC² Panama Ligia VARGAS, CIS Regional Managing Director lvargas@ividmc.travel
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Cuba: The Time is Now! Just as it was foreseen in the previous issue talking about Cuba about the airline partnerships and the airport expansion, today becomes a clear reality, new hotel chains that now are part of this beautiful Caribbean destination awarded by National Geographic Magazine as one of the most important exotic places in the world. We invite you to dive in what to Cuba has to amaze your guests.
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Regular flights between USA & Cuba Washington and the Havana accorded in February of 2016 to reestablish commercial flights, along with diplomatic relations that started in 2015. Washington still forbids tourism in Cuba but Americans can still travel in the other 12 categories the most common are intercultural Exchange or Educational. There's a lot of interest in Cuba as the hot place right now and trendy, throughout the next months flights will be increasing until reach 110 daily, 2 of them to the Havana. USA authorities have not yet decided what
companies will serve the capital, for now they will fly to nine airports, Airlines such as Jetblue, American, Silver, Frontier, Southwest and Sun Country. Departure will be from Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Chicago, Minneapolis, Philadelphia with arrivals to such Cuban cities as Camagüey, Cayo Coco, Cayo Largo, Cienfuegos, Holguín, Manzanillo, Matanzas, Santa Clara, and Santiago de Cuba.
Airport Expansion Under French Oversight del aeropuerto a cargo de franceses) The prestigious French companies Bouyges and Paris Airports got the concession from the Cuban government to extend and remodel and manage the “Jose Martí” International airport in Havana. The decision according the vice-president of transportation Eduardo Rodriguez, is the result of the evaluation of alternatives to Access the financing and practical upgrades in a global level, to elevate the quality in service and operations of their installations from which over 50% of international passengers arrive to Cuba, as a response to the great growth of arrivals from
outside. The select companies to manage the airport inder concession are of international renounce in this sector Bouygues Batiment has a vast experience as an operative entity, that manages important airports in France and other countries. 5
La Playa Golf / Resorts S. In June 20106 was announced by the Cuban Tourism office, indicated that was close to signing an agreement with the Spaniard consorce “La playa golf/ Resorts S. L to build the Cuban Gran Punta Colorada Golf Marina, in the Remote Punta Colorada y the Pinar del Rio Province, therefore closer to make another Golf development agreement with a Spanish Company at the west of the Havana the “Salado” the Spanish Urbas finance Group announced that in march they started to align finances for a 1500 house complex and 3000 apartments with several golg courses in Luna Pascaballos Ranch near Cienfuegos, with a 58 million Budget from USA.
Canadá 360 VOX Canadá 360 VOX is now associated with the hotel chain Gran Caribe to build a 1.2 thousand million Hotel in a 12.5 km² Land, from “el Fraile” to the boarder with “Memorias de Jibacoa” 69 km east of the Havana. In the Jibacoa town it’s programmed to build a 27 hole golf course and 4 hotels, villas and
apartments there will offer a total of 3474 rooms.
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CubaGolf Beijing Enterprises Holdings Ltd, sign an agreement memo with the Cuban government last year for “Bellomonte, a 462 million Golf—Condominium-Hotel project
in Guanabo beach east of Havana. It’s also foreseen a 570 million additional fund, investment opportunity, association with CubaGolf for the construction of two 18 hole golf courses a hotel and 2850 villas and apartments for sale.
UK property magnates London + Regional, signed an agreement along with Palmares de Cuba in February 2014 after have acquired in the UK the 49 % of interest in the project of the Esencia Group (Hotel / Golf / Villas Carbonera, 115 Kms east Havana y 3 kilometer east of Varadero.) Esencia wrote a plan in 2008 with the promise to start action in 2009 in land. Desmond Taljaard, CEO for L + R Hotels, plans to be the first to start construction of the Carbonera Resort with over 500 million in investment for development, “La Carbonera Resort” will have a 150 rooms hotel, an 18 hole golf course and 1000 villas and apartments.
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Paladares Paladar, its a popular name that has its origin in a Brazilian tv soap opera show where they called A chain of restaurants Paladares, Cuba started calling the new private restaurants this way.
Paladar Guarida Open since 1996 in a beautiful XX century classic construction , today is a multifamily building Printed in history, marked in the year 1993 because it was where they recorded the Movie “Fresa y
Chocolate� (Strawberry & Chocolate) transcended the countries barriers nominated to the Oscar’s awards, attracting the tourist attention that wanted to know the place where the movie took place and they longed to touch with their own hands that Little piece of history, but when they arrived they would find a home like of any Cuban family, that's when they had to do something to keep the tale alive of the movie , now a days fine dine us being served, not to tag with any country specifically, La Guarida mixes the best recipes and ingredients and flavors.
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Paladar– San Cristobal It’s location, downtown Havana, gives San Cristobal an additional charm and authenticity this paladar is in a first floor of an ancient 20th century palace building This jewel of Cuban cuisine offers you a surreal
ambient combined with professional waiters The dishes are definitely worth the price, The food is absolutely fantastic. Don't forget to check out the whole Restaurant when u dine there since u might find a treasure
The decor is stunning,
Breathtaking.
This
Restaurant
serves traditional creole food, with dishes such as “Yuca” bar-
becued pork, lobster, fresh fish, shrimp, or the delicious stake. Creole means fusion a mix in cultures or combined techniques and flavors, a clear example of what Cuban cuisine is, a perfect combination between European influences, with African and Asian. It all started with the Spaniard colonization that brought to Cuba be-
sides European ingredients the African slaves that brought their own gastronomy.
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Paladar Guarida Located in a quiet Street close to the Presidente hotel and Melia Cohiba Hotel. The Opera is a “paladar” that follow the principles of “Slow Food” a ecogastronimic trend founded in Italia on 1989 to counteract “Fast Food”, protect the gastronomic traditions and cultivation methods and impulse the responsible consumption. Constructed in 1920 the building was home to a famous Cuban doctor. The restaurant has tall ceilings and white walls decorated with contemporary Cuban art and antiques. In accord with the slow food trend Chef Claudio prepares dishes inspired in Italian food, creole and vegetarian composed with season products proceeding from local distributors.
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Arte Hotel Wilton Properties, part of VOX 360 from Canadá, plans to construct the “Arte Hotel” a modern building of 363 rooms by the end of 2017, besides the 1830 lake’s House, in a Company allied with Gran Caribe
La Manzana de Gómez The grand opening of Manzala Hotel, it will have 200+ rooms in what it used to be the ruins of the manzana de gomez (Gomez’s block) the once biggest commercial center of the by Kempinski Hotels.
The superb hotel chain will be in charge of the administration of it’s new 5 star hotel. Bringing it back to it’s glory it’s a building that takes up the whole block with its 5 tall ceiling floors. It will contribute to develop tourism in Havana.
The Four Points Hotel by Sheraton
in Havana was known as
the Quinta Avenida Hotel its located near
Miramar Trade Center. 18km.
From San Jose International Airport
and 10km from downtown and 12km from Havana's the colonial Zone. (old Havana) This Hotel us an ideal option for business travelers, and offers the option to take the busses that go from the hotel and Havana's historic center, free for users. Hotels in Havana are mainly bed & breakfast, and range from deluxe accommodations of five and four stars. All inclusive hotels to the cheapest Hostels. Havana is now a popular vacation destination, that combines a visit to the city with magnificent Cuban beaches.
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Cuba Reaches a Record of 4 Million Tourists in 2016 Cuba has a new 4 million record for foreign tourist in 2016, consisting mainly of European and Americans. This new record indicates the rising in this sector to elevate the quality in service and efficiency of the destination. In 2015 reached for the first time 3.5 million of tourists. With this growth it’s foreseen the building of 108,000 new rooms by the year 2030, of the 30,000 will be able thru foreign investments. The Caribbean country got in the first semester of 2016 over 1,200 millions of dollars with a growth of 15% compared to the same period in 2015. The opening of the
economy with USA has brought the visit of celebrities and international attention to the destination.
Did you know? Cuba as a Destination won first place
when nominated as “Exotic Destinations” in the annual National Geographic awards Traveler Magazine in 2016, the ceremony took place in Moscow, Russia. Agencies and airlines took part in the ceremony and the press too.
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Advertise with CommuniQuest Incentive Travel Digest Advertising and promotional opportunities are now available in CommuniQuest Incentive Travel Digest. Sponsorship placement opportunities are limited and are reserved on a “first come, first served” basis. We invite you to advertise in our vastly distributed Incentive Travel Digest which is already available to over 10,000 avid readers. These readers are dedicated members, stakeholders, and fine suppliers. The Incentive Travel Digest is an inviting 'cover to cover' read, ensuring eye-catching and successful advertising. Click here to receive more information
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The Customer is Always Right It’s always a pleasure to work with IVI DMC. From the program development to all the program planning and the execution/ operations, you help make our program seamless. Thank you! Ms. Holly McDonnell Event Marketing Manager
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Mexico Cuba Dominican Republic Costa Rica Panama Argentina
For further information on the fine hotels, deals, activities, and group packages mentioned in this magazine, please contact Francisco BAEZA: fbaeza@ividmc.travel
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How to Prepare Moros y Cristianos Moros y cristianos is a very popular Cuban dish. It is served at nearly every restaurant. It is a variant of the Caribbean dish, rice and beans.
Ingredients:
Black beans
Rice
Onion
Preparation:
Garlic
Boil and thoroughly cook the beans, adding
Salt
only the onion, salt, and oil when they are
Oil
almost done cooking. Separately cook the
Bell pepper
Oregano
Bay leaf
rice using some of the broth from the beans. Fry up the onion, garlic, bell peppers, oregano and bay leaf and add to the dish. Put the olives on top as a garnish.
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Travel Tip: Silencing Seatmates Chatting with the person next to you may be great, but when you want to read, sleep, or think, and the person next to you is a real talker, several ways exist to silence him or her. Comedy writer Bob Orben suggests one surefire technique to make someone stop talking. “ask them what they paid for their ticket. And no matter what they say, tell them that you paid half and also got a coupon good for two free drinks.” Orben
says, “For the next three hours, the only sound you’ll hear from them is the grinding of teeth.” Here are some other seatmate silencers:
Carry a baby’s pacifier with you. Pop it in your mouth and your neighbor’s mouth will probably remain shut.
Use the airline’s (or your own) headphones. Put them on, but don’t plug them in. Silence is assured.
(Taken from page 160)
James Feldman, (a.k.a. Doctor Travel) is a Certified Facilitator and internationally recognized professional motivator, author, television host, and radio personality. His company Incentive Travelers Cheque Int’l provides individual and group incentive travel awards for many Fortune 500 companies. His book “Doctor’s Travel Cure For The Common Trip” is an entertaining and invaluable travel guide whose purpose is not to tell you where to go, but rather to help you get ready for the adventure. CommuniQuest is pleased to share some of Mr. Feldman’s travel wisdom with our readers, who from time to time must deal with lines, cancellations, lost luggage, and a person in the adjacent seat making extensive use of the air sickness bag. Reprinted by permission from the Author: jfeldman@itcheque.com
THANK YOU FOR READING Like life in general, the M&E Industry seems to move at the speed of light. As a committed B2B partner, we aim to help you keep up with the latest industry news and opportunities. CommuniQuest Incentive Travel Digest is a valuable tool that brings you the timely information and analysis that you need, with a lair for what's hot, relevant, & interesting. I wish you the best of success in your quest, whatever it may be. Jose-Manuel GARCIA, CDS Visionary, Founder, & Master Coach
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