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Year 8 Vol. 1, Issue 96 Visionary, Founder, and Master Coach
Jose-Manuel GARCIA
Contents:
President
Jose-Manuel (Manolo)
IVIDMC2 Begins Operations in Cuba!
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Interview with Alejandro Debasa IVIDMC2 Cuba
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jmgarcia@ividmc.travel GARCIA manolo@ividmc.com
Marketing Vice President
Alicia ASTUDILLO, DMCP
aastudillo@ividmc.com
General Comptroller
Cover Subject:
Cuba Jumps on the Tourism Bandwagon Discover What’s Hot!
Trinidad SANCHEZ
tsanchez@ividmc.com Corporate Business Director
Francisco BAEZA
fbaeza@ividmc.com Corporate Quality Director
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Julia ORTIZ
jortiz@ividmc.com Electronic Publishing
Alejandro PECH
apech@ividmc.com Content and Editing
Omar GALLEGOS
ivicorp@ividmc.com Managing Director —MyDay Travel Corporate Headquarters:
Page
Jorge OROZCO
jorozco@myday.travel Av. Acanceh 1-01, SM 15
Cancun, Q. Roo, 77500 Mex. Ph. +52 (998) 287-1700 www.ividmc.travel
Architecture Beaches Nature Music Its People Resorts Cuisine Nightlife Rum Habanos
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How to Prepare the World Famous Cuban Mojito
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DQuest.travel
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Destination Offices: Mexico
The Caribbean
Central America
South America
IVIDMC² Cancun & Riviera Maya Jose-Manuel (Manolo) GARCIA President manolo@ividmc.com
IVIDMC² Dominican Republic Genaro ALMONTE Regional Managing Director galmonte@ividmc.com
IVIDMC² Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, & Honduras
IVIDMC² Puerto Vallarta & Riviera Nayarit, Mexico City, & Central Mexico
IVIDMC² Cuba Alejandro DEBASA Regional Managing Director adebasa@ividmc.travel
IVIDMC² Costa Rica Sonia VARGAS Destination Manager svargas@ividmc.com
IVIDMC² Brazil Andrea MAJELA Regional Managing Director amajela@ividmc.com
IVIDMC² Panama Ligia VARGAS Regional Managing Director lvargas@ividmc.com
IVIDMC² Argentina & Chile Leila GOROSITO Regional Managing Director lgorosito@ividmc.com
Jaime NELO Regional Managing Director jnelo@ividmc.com IVIDMC² Puerto Vallarta & Riviera Nayarit
Alexandra GONZALEZ Destination Manager pv.planning1@ividmc.com IVIDMC² Los Cabos Mario FOSTER Regional Managing Director mfoster@ividmc.travel
Jorge LAZO Regional Managing Director jlazo@ividmc.travel
IVIDMC² Colombia Carolina CALDERON Regional Managing Director ccalderon@ividmc.com
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May 2015
IVIDMC2 Begins Operations in Cuba! Cuba offers an amazing destination stopped in time. This unique location makes it ideal for M&I programs. The historic meeting in Panama with US President, Mr. Barack Obama and Cuba President, Mr. Raul Castro were the jump start to a new era for this island country. The M&I infrastructure will be improving as important investments and time pass. Small to mid-size groups can easily be accommodated, whereas, large ones will have to wait a bit. Services such as fast internet or credit card acceptance are fast improving. This is the right time to visit the island since it still keeps its vintage Caribbean taste. In the years to come, Cuba will continue embracing change for the better and it will look more modern and boast state-of-the-art tourism infrastructure. So, if you are putting together a small or medium size group you can find iconic hotels in the main cities and prime beach resorts, such as El Nacional. Some Spaniard brands have already been established, i.e., Barcelo, Iberostar, Melia, and Paradisus. IVIDMC2’s long standing expertise and local know-how will help you out with your planning and logistics for handling transfers, city tours, historic tours, water activities, dining at Paladares, special events, and more! IVIDMC2 Cuba invites you to come and enjoy this idyllic island, its history, charming cities, resorts, and above all, its vibrant and lively people! As Christopher Columbus once said, discover “the most beautiful land that human eyes have ever seen”.
expectations by going the extra mile so to speak in regard to superlative service. A satisfied client is our ultimate goal. With these lofty standards in mind, we strive to choose and only work with suppliers that meet our criteria in order to render an out-of-the-ordinary service.
Message From Headquarters As President of IVIDMC2, I deem it an honor to run this prestigious company and continue its positioning as one of the best in the market. The canons assertively say that the customer is first, and I concur. I also agree that our associates are the strong backbone of our company, and I consider them as my extended family. Without them we would not be where we are today.
After 29 eventful years in the business, IVIDMC2 is proud of the relationships we have forged with thousands of satisfied customers. We invite you to enjoy the pleasure of doing business with us and see for yourself that an unforgettable and successful event is feasible. You have my unfailing commitment to make you and your group look great!
Our company is recognized in the M&I industry as being down to earth and having an outstanding service-minded attitude. Our unchangeable commitment is to exceed our customers’
Sincerely, Jose-Manuel (Manolo) GARCIA President
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Interview with Alejandro Debasa IVIDMC2 Cuba CQ: Why is Cuba a trendy destination for the M&I industry? AD: The island country has a strong magnet to the M&I industry due to its incomparable beauty and candor of its people, its unexploited nature, and biodiversity. All the above produces the perfect combination for fine hospitality. Cuba boasts archeological sites, abundant fishing, sun and idyllic beaches, cruises, iconic hotels, and more! Cuba is a country that is growing in the tourism sector. As of just a few years ago, tourism has become an important income producing asset to the country’s economy. More and more foreign investments are flocking to Cuba due to its potential in rendering good results. The construction of golf courses, first class hotels, marinas, etc. have become a main priority for the local government. Cuba is indeed trendy amongst meeting planners! CQ: What progress is being made locally to meeting the needs of the growing groups and incentives niche? AD: Cuba is prioritizing the construction of new hotels in the City of Havana. The goal is to feature modern and fully equipped hotel rooms and high end auditoriums for meetings and events, Many important hotel chains have long been established here, such as the Melia Cohiba, Melia Havana, Parque Central Park, among many others. These are fully equipped to accommodate small to midsize events. Important historic events have been held at the iconic PALCO Convention Center, which is an institution of indisputable prestige in Cuba, specialized in events and congresses organization. It is located in one of the most beautiful residential neighborhoods of the city and covers an area of 196,850 square feet (60,000 sq. m.) The Center organizes, promotes and carries out conventions, congresses, symposia, conferences, national and international meetings, fairs, and exhibitions. For those who want to combine work with pleasure, as are big hotels in the area of Varadero and the Keys, all these same feature set halls and meeting rooms for events and incentive groups.
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May 2015
CQ: What are some of the most popular activities in your agenda for customers who visit Cuba for meetings and events? AD: One Cuba’s main attractions is its happy and hospitable people. Mingling with the locals in the beautiful Havana or at a beautiful beach while enjoying a refreshing mojito, will add to the joy of our visitors. Besides that, colonial sites, historic venues, water and beach activities, its famous night clubs and bars, complement each other and are ready to render a successful business meeting or congress.
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Cover Topic:
Cuba Jumps on the Tourism Bandwagon - Discover What’s Hot!
Architecture For those who enjoy architecture, Cuba offers a unique opportunity to discover a blast from the past. Have your camera ready as you are exploring because picturesque cars from the 1950’s can still be found on the road today as you are strolling by and admiring the beautiful colonial architecture on just about every corner.
Beaches Cuba is a country with a privileged coastline of 3,570 miles (5,746 km). The paradisiacal beaches washed by the Caribbean Sea in the South and the Atlantic Ocean and its huge coral reef in the North make Cuba a paradise that is considered among the 25 most popular and important beach destinations in the world.
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May 2015
Nature Cuba has the most important natural habitats in the Caribbean because of its biodiversity, numbers of endemic species, and conservation. Cuba shelters 4% of the world's terrestrial species, including 6,700 different plants, 14,000 invertebrate species, and 650 vertebrates. Cuba is also known for its rare varieties of orchids scattered across its lush tropical forests, as well as for its prehistoric cactus in the arid southeast, estuaries bordered by mangroves, and one of the most extensive coral reef systems.
Music The music of Cuba relies heavily on its European and African cultural backgrounds. The arrival of thousands of African slaves to the island over the course of three hundred years resulted in a variety of new musical forms. The country's distinctive and world famous music owes its melodic
rhythm to the fusion of its African and Spanish heritages. Even to this day, the cheerful and energetic Cuban cadence continues to exert a significant influence on the musical styles around the world.
Its people In Spanish a Cuban's way of speaking is very distinct. For example, instead of addressing someone in Spanish as "my brother", they say, “hey my brother�, which speaks volumes of their unity. Cubans are hard workers; they are very resourceful, witty, friendly, and loyal. Cubans are known for their enduring spirit under difficult times. They rely heavily on education and like to study hard. Cubans bear rhythm in their blood and are romantic by nature; this would explain why they were the originators of the famous dance, danzon.
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Cover Topic (continued‌)
Resorts Cuba offers iconic Spanish hotels, i.e., Barcelo, Iberostar, Melia, and Paradisus; located along fine golden
sand beaches and areas filled with pure nature. Diving, snorkeling, yacht rides, and a great number of attractions make Cuba the ideal place to relax and enjoy a good time.
Cuisine Paladar is a term used exclusively in Cuba referring to privately owned small restaurants. Their food is a fusion of the Taino customs, Spanish, African, and Caribbean cuisines. Cuban recipes share the wisdom of combining spices and techniques inherited by the Taino natives with the traditional Spanish and African cooking, and mixed with some Caribbean influence in spices and flavors.
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May 2015
Nightlife Cabaret Tropicana and Parisién in Havana are places you cannot miss. Music is playing just about everywhere. The famous Bodeguita del Medio and Floridita are the best known bars due to the personalities that have patronized, such as the famous American writer Ernest Hemingway. Countless nightclubs can be found all over the place.
Rum Throughout history the Cuban rum has been recognized worldwide for its superb quality. The long tradition of natural aging in oak casks, sugar cane of prime quality, and the Caribbean climate greatly contribute to the unique flavor of the popular Cuban rum. This unique combination results in a rum with an intense and unique flavor.
Habanos Cuba has an average temperature of 77 °F (25 °C) and 79% relative humidity. Rainfall mainly benefits the western region, where the greatest tobacco plantations are located. In addition, the rich and fertile soil greatly contributes to the success of the Cuban cigar.
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How to Prepare the World Famous Cuban Mojito Ingredients:
Preparation:
1 shot glass of white rum
Lime wedges (cut into quarters)
3 tsp sugar
10 peppermint leaves
1 cup of ice cubes
In a large glass add the mint leaves, sugar, and 3 lime wedges. Gently crush with a muddler to release the lime juice and mint oils. Pour in the ice cubes. Add the white rum and the
3 drops of Angostura
1/2 cup club soda
3 drops of Angostura. Top off each glass with the club soda. Lightly stir, garnish with the last lime wedge, and enjoy!
Fun Fact Ernest Hemingway’s two favorite drinks were daiquiris & mojitos. Come see his signed quote: “My mojito in the Bodeguita del Medio and my daiquiri in the Floridita.”
About Us... Our Vision: To run a world-class company that sets fresh trends and establishes new standards for best practices in the M&I industry by exceeding customer expectations. Mission Statement: To earn and maintain our clients’ trust at each one of our destinations by convincing them that their goals are our goals, and by delivering services that exceed industry standards and customer expectations. We also will meet client needs by providing exceptional product knowledge, creative solutions, cost-value and effectiveness in every measurable way. We pride ourselves on our efficient business organization that relies on strong management systems, ISO quality standards, and belief in the remarkable abilities of our people. Our mission also features an infinite commitment: "To make you look great!" Our People: IVIDMC2 has more than 150 year-round full-time associates within the entire Latin American network with great personalities, knowledge, a caring attitude, and vast M&I business experience! “Yes, since 1986, we are those neatly attired people in the turquoise blue and white uniforms. Many people call us "the Smurfs". We are knowledgeable, witty, fun to have around, and beautiful or handsome (not necessarily in that order).”
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May 2015
Destinations • Mexico • Cuba • Dominican Republic • Guatemala • Costa Rica • Panama • Colombia • Brazil • Argentina • Chile This portal was created to assist Meeting Planners in easily locating ideal destinations, hotels, services, and activities within the group market in Latin America. On this site you will find a large collection of photographs and videos of selected hotels, tours, and activities that fit the needs of the M&I industry, as well as a RFP engine that will directly connect you with the hotel of your interest.
Easy to use Go to the menu on top of the home page and click on the destination(s) of your interest. For instance, if you want to know more about Dominican Republic for a possible group follow these steps:
From “Destinations” select Dominican Republic. Immediately you will be on the Dominican Republic home page. As with each destination, you can see 10 reasons that make each destination stand out above the rest. You can click on each photo to see even more images.
To the right side there is a submenu showing airlines, hotels, restaurants, what to see, and what to do, etc. The content of each submenu includes: property description, amenities, location (Google map), photos, videos, pdf downloads. Some properties have 360 0 photos.
You can use this site for your own presentations; feel free to use the photos and videos. From the home page menu you can easily access videos, sample programs, change the language, get connected through our social media, & contact us.
THANK YOU FOR READING
The Customer is Always Right
Like life in general, the M&I 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 magazine is a valuable tool that brings you the timely information and analysis that you need, with a lair for what's hot, relevant, and interesting. I wish you the best of success in your quest, whatever it may be.
The group was well programmed and carried out. It is always great working with you. IVIDMC2 makes everything easy!
Jose-Manuel GARCIA Visionary, Founder, & Master Coach IVIDMC²
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Fabian Loso Sisel International
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