CommuniQuest Incentive Travel Digest - April 2017 (Semimonthly)

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Year 10 Vol. 1, Issue 141 Jose-Manuel GARCIA, CDS jmgarcia@ividmc.travel Visionary, Founder, & Master Coach Jose-Manuel (Manolo) GARCIA, CIS, CMS manolo@ividmc.travel Second Generation, Innovator & President

Cover Subject:

Teeing Off in Paradisiac Golf Courses Mexico Pages 4-9 Caribbean Pages 10,11 Central America Pages 12-15

• • •

Karla JIMENEZ, CMS kjimenez@ividmc.travel Executive Vice-President Trinidad SANCHEZ tsanchez@ividmc.travel General Comptroller

Dominican Republic Page 16, 17

Francisco BAEZA, DMCP fbaeza@ividmc.travel Corporate Marketing & Product Development Director

Quick Hits: Pages 18,19 • •

Julia ORTIZ jortiz@ividmc.travel Quality Director

•

Alejandro PECH apech@ividmc.travel Electronic Publishing

News from Cabos The Customer’s Always Right Advertise with CommuniQuest

Pages 20, 21

Let’s Cook:

Omar GALLEGOS ivicorp@ividmc.travel Content & Editing

How to Prepare an Arnold Palmer

Fernando ROSAS corp.image@ividmc.travel Design

Dr. Travel’s

Page 22

Travel Tip: Don’t Eat the Nuts Page 23

Jorge OROZCO, DMCP jorozco@myday.travel Managing Director - MyDay Travel

© Copyright 2017. All Rights Reserved.

Destination Offices Mexico

Caribbean

Central America

South America

IVI DMC² Los Cabos Yazmin ELOSEGUI Destination Managing Director yelosegui@ividmc.travel

IVI DMC² Cuba Alejandro DEBASA, CMS Regional Managing Director adebasa@ividmc.travel

IVI DMC² Costa Rica Sonia VARGAS Destination Manager svargas@ividmc.travel

IVI DMC² South America Jorge OROZCO, DMCP Regional Managing Director jorozco@ividmc.travel

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

Our Objective

Our Vision

Always aim for 100% overall customer satisfaction.

Associates: Keep the ideal place to work, where our multicultural staff give their best, every day Customers: Offer an innovative high-quality service that exceeds expectations Partners: Consolidate our network of honest and successful partners Utilities: Maximize the return of investment to shareholders

Our Mission

Planet: Inspire responsible resource management by means of our work

Serve customers through our international certifications ISO 9001 and ADMC; ensuring 100% customer satisfaction of incentives, conventions, and special events; providing memorable experiences in each of the destinations in which we operate; maximizing return of investment to shareholders.

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TEEING OFF IN PARADISIAC GOLF COURSES

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LOS CABOS Los Cabo’s Tom Fazio Design Voted Top Private Golf Course in Mexico

by Golfweek Opened in 2000, the Fazio design traverses 300 acres of deep arroyos, high desert plateaus and jaw-dropping Sea of Cortez vantage points. A challenging, yet playable golf experience that both daunts and delights players, this course offers harmonious transitions throughout, with natural fairway contours and subtle breaks on its immaculate putting surfaces.

This prominent showing in Golfweek’s annual rankings also displays Querencia as the top private golf course in Mexico and the third best in the country – placing it in elite company alongside some of the most exclusive layouts in this category.

The Caribbean and Mexico rankings originate from Golfweek’s annual compilation of America’s Best Courses, published since 1997. More than 350 raters evaluate courses on the basis of 10 criteria, providing a final score calculated through a statistically rigorous process.

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PALMILLA GO

Considered by experts to be the

green is laid down on the natur look a great deal longer than its

Golf Course still holds its own a

Koll and Jack Nicklaus set the

unique blending of desert and picturesque golf destinations.

Palmilla is the most classic of Me

Designer: Greg Norman & Jack Nicklaus Holes: 18 Club Type: Public & Private

PUERTO LO

Overlooking the Sea of Cor

development before the comforts

to rugged, unspoiled coastline, th

will take you on a journey you w

opportunity since the opening 18 consisting of 9 holes from Jack Norman.

CABO D

This ocean course, designed b

more than a mile along the dra

outcroppings and sun-washed b

16, 17 and 18 as "the finest th says too that Cabo del Sol was

Beach." It was at Cabo del Sol

the course that 10 years ago, ele

little fishing village� to a world-cl

course at Cabo del Sol put Los

remains the crown jewel of Los C 6

desert golf course designed by th

OLF COURSE

e Grand Dame of Los Cabos, the

ral slope of an arroyo, making it documented 401 yards. Palmilla

against all the newcomers. Don

Designer: Jack Nicklaus Hole: 27 Front 9: 3,602 Par 36 Back 9: 3,512 Par 36 Area: 10,445 YDS Class: International Par 72/36 Rating: 74.3 Slope: 144 Course Record: 6 Courses: Ocean, arroyo, & mountain.

e scene for the creation of this

d sea, one of the world’s truly Palmilla, now the One&Only

exican resorts in Los Cabos.

OS CABOS

rtez, at the last outpost of

s of modern civilization give way

he Puerto Los Cabos golf course

will not soon forget. It’s a unique

8 holes are a composite design Nicklaus and 9 holes from Greg

DEL SOL

by Jack Nicklaus, stretches for

amatic coastline of craggy rock

beaches. Nicklaus refers to holes

hree finishing holes in golf" and his chance to design a “Pebble

Course ocean designer: Jack Nicklaus Par: 72 Holes: 18 Course desert designer: Tom Weiskop Par: 72 Holes: 18

l where Jack Nicklaus designed

evated Los Cabos from “a sleepy

lass golf destination. The ocean

s Cabos on the golf map, and it

Cabos’ golf. A bedazzling, classic

he master of desert courses.

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PUERTO VALLARTA & RIVIERA NAYARIT Although Puerto Vallarta, compared to other Mexican cities, is relatively small, it definitely is a place to be considered for the organization of corporate events, conventions, congresses and incentive trips. Puerto Vallarta & Riviera Nayarit feature 10 first-class golf courses such as Vista Vallarta Club de Golf by Jack

Nicklaus, and their second one by Tom Weiskopf, Marina Vallarta Golf Course, the world renown club at Punta de Mita by Jack Nicklaus, the great course at Playa Mita, and the two extraordinary courses at Vidanta, one by Jack Nicklaus and the brand new one by Greg Norman. It is worth mentioning that Puerto Vallarta is one of the best destinations for vacations, and also to celebrate your group events here. Golf as an extra activity at one or more of these incredible courses around Puerto Vallarta & Riviera Nayarit is something you do not want to miss!

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CUBA

VARADERO GOLF CLUB Varadero Golf Club, the first 18-hole golf course in Cuba, was designed by architect Les Furber, President of the Canadian company “Golf Design Services LTD” (GDS). It covers a narrow 3.5 km strip located along these properties: • •

• • • • • •

Breezes SuperClubs LTI Tuxpan Bella Costa Meliá Las Américas Golf & Suites Resort Meliá Varadero Sol Club Palmeras and Sol Club Sirenas hotels

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Habana Golf Club is located at carretera de Vento km. 8, Capdevila, on the way from the international airport JosĂŠ MartĂ­ in southern Havana to the city downtown.

The access way to arrive to the golf club is by Rancho Boyeros Avenue. The 9hole course provides golfers with comforts such as: lockers, club rental, caddy and cart services, and shops.

Its wide and undulated fairways adapt to all handicaps. Its greens, surrounded by bunkers, constitute a real challenges even for seasoned players. The surrounding areas of the course are populated by slender palm trees and hundreds of big leafy trees. Having a par 35, this golf course is the only one of its kind on the captivating island of Cuba.

HABANA GOLF CLUB

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COSTA In Costa Rica the phrase “Surf and Turf”, besides being a delicious plate of lobster and

steak alluding to the sea and to the pasture, can also be used to describe a unique activity you can do and enjoy in one single day: So to speak, you can have your surf (or paddleboard, kayak, waverunner, etc.) in the morning, and just a few steps away from the shore, have your turf or “green” in the afternoon!

Many of Costa Rica’s finest golf courses are located within five-star hotels, and many of such hotels are beach front properties so you can have, as in the delicious dish we mentioned, the best of both worlds.

Carefully tucked into the natural surroundings, Costa Rican courses vary from rolling fairways, lined with rare tropical hardwoods, to open links nestled between mountains and flowering valleys with challenging greens overlooking sandy beaches and ocean. Most of

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them are designed by renown golf architects such as Mike Young and Arnold Palmer. So besides a good game, you will also get a well designed and daring course. Another wonderful perk is that even at the top courses in Costa Rica, you rarely, if ever, have to worry about speed of play or booking a tee time months in advance!

Some of the best golf courses in Costa Rica are: •

Four Seasons Peninsula Papagayo, Guanacaste (Designed by Arnold Palmer)

•

Hacienda Pinilla, Guanacaste (Designed by Mike Young)

•

Reserva Conchal, Guanacaste (Designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr.)

•

Los Sueños, Jacó (Designed by Ted Robinson)

So now you know that besides its beautiful surroundings, you can also come to Costa Rica to enjoy some golf. Imagine playing your favorite sport while being immersed in natural beauty, exquisite design and perfect weather. We also provide many other wonderful activities for your kids or non-golf loving peers.

RICA

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PANAMA No matter whether you are in Panama City for business or leisure, you'll always find

upscale golf course for your participants at this destination. So close to Playa Bonita are

where Dreams Delight and The Westin are located, and 20 minutes away, you can find t

Tucan Country Golf available for matches everyday. And if you travel to our beaut

Pacific Ocean where resorts such as JW Marriott, RIU, Sheraton are located, then t

Buenaventura Golf Course with its 18 holes is a perfect option for your attendees. Swing

hole in one at the Summit Golf Course, only 5 minutes away from the Gambo Resort in t

heart of rainforest, nested in the former Panama Canal zone, and at a short 30-minute dr

from top hotels and brands in the capital such as Trump Hotel, Las Americas Gold Tower, Hilton, Le Meridien, Marriott, among many others.

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DOMINICAN REPUBLIC The Dominican Republic is located in the eastern part of the island of Hispaniola, occupying two thirds of the island, which it shares with the Republic of Haiti. After Cuba, it is the second largest country in the Caribbean region, both in population and area. Its surface area is 48,442 km2 (18,704 sq mi). The Dominican Republic is located in the heart of the Caribbean, surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the north, and to the south by the Caribbean Sea or the West Indies, to the east by the Mona Channel, which separates it from Puerto Rico, and to the west by Haiti.

Inhabited by Tainos since the 7th century, the territory of the country was discovered

by Christopher Columbus in 1492 and became the site of the first European settlement in America, named as Santo Domingo, the current capital of the country and the first capital of Spain in the New World. Spanish is the official language of the

Dominican Republic, English is widely spoken, and many tourism industry employees speak fluent Italian, French, German, Russian and other languages as needed.

The Dominican Republic has become a major tourist attraction in recent decades due to its beauty, atmosphere of tropical paradise, its location, the charisma of its people, among other things. Amid its main tourist areas are Punta Cana, Bávaro, Uvero Alto, Puerto Plata, Bayahíbe, Sosúa, Cabarete, Rio San Juan, Samana, Las Terrenas, Santiago de los Caballeros, Santo Domingo, Juan Dolio, Boca Chica, Jarabacoa, Constanza, La Romana, Bay of the Eagles (Pedernales), Barahona, to mention some.

Did you know?

•

The first university of America was created in 1538 in Santo Domingo.

•

Baseball is their national sport having given some of the best players in history.

•

It is the tenth most populated island in the world.

•

It is the most visited destination in the whole Caribbean.

•

They are the creators of the musical genres of merengue and bachata.

•

The original (indigenous) name of this island is "Quisqueya" an aboriginal word (presumably Mayan-Taíno) meaning “mother of the land"

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LOS CABOS WINS IAGTO AWARD Los Cabos wins IAGTO award as the 2017 Latin America & Caribbean golf destination of the year. This award is a tremendous accolade to Los Cabos’s

golf industry – Furthermore it strengthens Los Cabos’s reputation as a top-class sporting resort. Los Cabos is renowned as a world- class resort destination, with breathtaking surroundings, two bodies of water, and golf courses designed by the world’s best golf architects and players – including Tom Fazio, Robert Trent Jones, Jack Nicklaus, and Tiger Woods.

Therefore, it comes as no surprise that the International Association of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO), a global trade association of the golf tourism industry, has named Los Cabos, Mexico as the ‘Latin America & Caribbean Golf Destination

of the Year’ for 2017 in recognition of its exceptional golf courses and unique geographical setting. The announcement of this benchmark accolade was done at a gala awards dinner at the International Golf Travel Market (IGTM) held this year in the city of Palma, Mallorca.

Approximately 180,000 rounds of golf are played each year in Los Cabos by visiting golfers who generate significant revenues for the destination. Only in Los Cabos do rolling, verdant fairways make players circulate from rugged desert foothills to the turquoise-blue sea.

The Customer’s Always Right Mariana was fantastic throughout the proposal stage, very informative and helpful to me. Rebecca Ramos was also fantastic and always made me feel comfortable as she had everything under control. Fernando is just brilliant! His

knowledge, enthusiasm, and organization does not go unnoticed. He is very punctual and a pleasure to work with. Thank you!

Ms. Nicole Unsworth Event Manager

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Advertise with CommuniQuest Incentive Travel Digest Advertising

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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.

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IVI DMC² World Headquarters: Ave. Acanceh #1-01, SM 15 Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mx Phone: +52 (998) 287-1700 Email: ivicorp@ividmc.travel Serving the meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions industry since 1986.

Find us in over 40 destinations throughout: • • • • • •

Mexico Cuba Dominican Republic Costa Rica Panama South America

For further information on the fine hotels, deals, activities, and group packages mentioned in this travel digest, please contact: Francisco BAEZA fbaeza@ividmc.travel

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How to Prepare anArnold Palmer Arnold

Palmer,

a

retired

American

professional golfer, is recognized as one of the greatest players in golf history. He won several prizes at both PGA and Champions Tours. In

the 1960’s, Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, and Gary Player were known as "The Big Three", who were important figures in commercializing golf around the world. Now that you know a bit about him, let us tell you how to prepare the famous refreshing drink that was named after him, the Arnold Palmer.

Ingredients: •

1 black tea bag

•

1 cup boiling water

•

1 cup cold water

•

1 lemon

•

2 tablespoons of sugar

•

Ice

Preparation: Bring 1 cup of water to boil, turn off, and add one black tea bag. Allow to steep for 4 minutes.

Remove the tea bag and stir in 1 tablespoon of sugar. Squeeze the lemon into the cup of cold water and add 1 tablespoon of sugar. In a big enough cup add the ice and then pour in the

sweet tea and lemonade. Add a slice of lemon to the cup as decor if you so desire, and enjoy!

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TravelTip: Don’t Eat the Nuts Peanuts are high in fat grams. In addition, the salt on nuts increases dehydration in an already dry atmosphere. Instead of the peanuts, pack your own snacks. Here are some suggestions for lightweight, nutritious, and easy-to-carry foods to take with you.

•

Fresh fruit (oranges, apples and bananas travel well)

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Fruit strips or dried fruit

•

Protein or Granola bars (sugarless/fat free)

•

Whole grain rolls, crackers, or unsalted, unbuttered popcorn

In addition to being healthier, these snacks can be used as a supplement if your special meal wasn’t boarded or when your eating times are altered and time-zone changes. In any case, the snacks will tide you over until a real meal comes along.

(Taken from page 169)

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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