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Year 8 Vol. 1, Issue 104 Visionary, Founder, & Master Coach
Jose-Manuel GARCIA, CDS jmgarcia@ividmc.travel
President
Jose-Manuel (Manolo) GARCIA, CIS manolo@ividmc.travel
General Comptroller
Trinidad SANCHEZ tsanchez@ividmc.travel
Corporate Marketing and Business Director
Francisco BAEZA fbaeza@ividmc.travel
Corporate Quality Director
Julia ORTIZ jortiz@ividmc.travel
Electronic Publishing
Alejandro PECH apech@ividmc.travel
Content and Editing
Omar GALLEGOS ivicorp@ividmc.travel
Contents:
Page
Tejuino, a Typical Drink from Jalisco
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Cover Subject:
We Will, We Will Rock You in Puerto Vallarta
The New Sanctuary at Hard Rock Hotel The New Grand Fiesta Americana
Managing Director —MyDay Travel
Jorge OROZCO, DMCP jorozco@myday.travel
Corporate Headquarters:
Av. Acanceh 1-01, SM 15 Cancun, Q. Roo, 77500 Mex. Ph. +52 (998) 287-1700 www.ividmc.travel
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MyDay Travel: Spotlight Destination—Venice
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Banyan Tree MayaKoba Riviera Maya
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Quick Hits:
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TripAdvisor Extends Kudos American Airlines New Flight Golf Cup Melia Cuba
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DQuest Travel
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Travel Secret: For Safety Sake
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Destination Offices: Mexico
Caribbean
Central America
South America
IVI DMC² Cancun & Riviera Maya Jose-Manuel (Manolo) GARCIA, CIS President manolo@ividmc.travel
IVI DMC² Dominican Republic Genaro ALMONTE, CIS Regional Managing Director galmonte@ividmc.travel
IVI DMC² Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, & Honduras
IVI DMC² Mexico City, Central Mexico, Puerto Vallarta, & Riviera Nayarit Jaime NELO Destination Managing Director jnelo@ividmc.travel
IVI DMC² Cuba Alejandro DEBASA Regional Managing Director adebasa@ividmc.travel
IVI DMC² Costa Rica Sonia VARGAS Destination Manager svargas@ividmc.travel
IVI DMC² Brazil Andrea MAJELA Regional Managing Director amajela@ividmc.travel
IVI DMC² Panama Ligia VARGAS Regional Managing Director lvargas@ividmc.travel
IVI DMC² Argentina & Chile Leila GOROSITO Regional Managing Director lgorosito@ividmc.travel
IVI DMC² Puerto Vallarta & Riviera Nayarit
Alexandra GONZALEZ Destination Manager agonzalez@ividmc.travel IVI DMC² Los Cabos Mario FOSTER Destination Managing Director mfoster@ividmc.travel
Jorge LAZO Regional Managing Director jlazo@ividmc.travel
IVI DMC² Colombia Carolina CALDERON Regional Managing Director ccalderon@ividmc.travel
Follow us on... © Copyright 2015. All Rights Reserved. 2
September 2015
Tejuino, a Typical Drink from Jalisco The Mexican state of Jalisco is by far one of the most famous states in Mexico due to its culture and traditions. Destinations such as Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara represent the grandeur of this place. To know more about Jalisco, let us tell you about a traditional and delicious drink, the pride of Jalisco people - the tejuino. What is its origin and how it is served? It is a handcrafted beverage made from corn which origin dates back a long time ago. Archeologists have found evidence of the tejuino processing in archeological sites in Jalisco. This delicious drink can be found throughout the state. In almost every corner, there are small wooden carts dedicated to the sale of this drink. Experts say that the word tejuino is of Nahuatl origin, as it derives from the word tecuin, which can be translated as beating. From the foregoing description, the tejuino is considered the "drink of the gods�. It is made with masa dough, brown sugar, and then fermented in a clay pot for 2 to 3 days. It is later served in a clay pot with ice to serve chilled. Some add cinnamon powder to enhance its flavor. When visiting Mexico's Pacific coast do not miss the opportunity to enjoy this refreshing and delicious ancient beverage. A delight to the senses!
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 IVI DMC2, 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, IVI DMC2 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, CIS President
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Cover Topic:
“We Will, We Will Rock You� in Puerto Vallarta
The New Sanctuary at Hard Rock Hotel Feel what is like to be a rock n' roll star, stay with style, and with all the very best at your fingertips. Escape to the legendary beaches and azure waters of Banderas Bay in the heart of Riviera Nayarit, Mexico. Hard Rock Hotel Vallarta is a deluxe, all-inclusive resort just 20 minutes from the excitement of Puerto Vallarta ambiance. This iconic city will indulge your senses. Feel your spirit soar as you experience a Nuevo Vallarta resort destination where you are free to relax, play, eat, love, and explore. With mesmerizing views, a gorgeous beachfront setting, and a fusion of traditional and modern design, the Hard Rock Hotel Vallarta is the essence of coastal luxury and tranquility, and a true sense of retreat.
Mexico: Puerto Vallarta & Riviera Nayarit 4
Mexico: Puerto Vallarta & Riviera Nayarit
September 2015
Here, we work behind the scenes so that you focus on your event, and nothing else. Leave the rest to us. In fact, we dial it up with experiential dining and unlimited banquets, top-shelf cocktails, and themed events. And yeah, it’s always all included. Meetings that rock... Welcome to the first all-inclusive Hard Rock Hotel. All the coolness you expect from a Hard Rock venue, now with the enchanting Pacific warmth and all-inclusive meeting and incentive pricing. When we say all-inclusive... we mean all-inclusive. With no cost overruns for food, snacks, beverages including alcohol, meetings, parties, banquets, receptions, room service, phone calls or even lightning Wi-Fi. Planning a meeting, an incentive trip, a conference or an event at a new Hard Rock all-inclusive is a breeze. Planning that rolls with it... Just tell us what you need and we will impeccably do the rest. With all-inclusive Hard Rock Hotel events services, meeting planning has never been easier! You can add food and beverages or throw a reception, and the master bill doesn't change. Even better, guests need never reach into their wallets at your corporate event. We will make you look like a rock star planner. Your attendees will never want to leave our hotel! Up the WOW-factor at your next meeting or incentive event by holding your event at a Hard Rock all-inclusive. It will be for less than you expect! Unlimited dining, cocktails, & banquets 6,317 square feet of event space Outdoor conferences & breakout rooms World class audiovisual capabilities Free, lightning Wi-Fi Complimentary calls to the U.S. & Canada Business center
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The New Grand Fiesta Americana Located on a spectacular beachfront with a view to the crystal waters of the Pacific Ocean and the tropical forests of the Sierra Madre Mountains, emerges the Grand Fiesta Americana Puerto Vallarta – an all inclusive resort. This adults only concept is perfectly located, just five minutes from the historical downtown and only 20 minutes from the airport. This strategic location gives guests a taste of Puerto Vallarta's traditional lifestyle. It is also close to the famous “malecon” or boardwalk, which is replete with a wide range of shops, galleries, unique restaurants, and vibrant nightlife. It's also a great place to catch one of the breathtaking and unique sunsets that characterize Puerto Vallarta.
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Mexico: Puerto Vallarta & Riviera Nayarit Grand Fiesta Americana Puerto Vallarta is an all inclusive adults only hotel that has 443 spacious, modern, and luxurious suites. Admire the natural beauty of the beach from inside your elegant and stylish room and enjoy the incredible ocean views and relaxing coastal breeze from the comfort of your private balcony. These exclusive romance-themed rooms are perfect for honeymooners and couples getaways. They are located on three floors of Tower I & II and have their own lobby with private check-in and rooms with Jacuzzi tubs and other special amenities for couples. Restaurants The hotel offers a variety of dining options sure to please the most refined palates. Enjoy the flavors, aromas, colors, and textures of sophisticated regional and international cuisine. SPA You will crave the intimate and relaxing ambiance of the hotel's beautiful day SPA, designed to restore your spirit and rejuvenate your body to a healthy balance. The colors, delicate flavors, and soothing aromas provide a sensory journey into your own soul, helping you to transcend the hurried pace of a busy life. At the Grand Fiesta Americana Puerto Vallarta there is always something more to experience. After a day of rejuvenation and relaxation, try the spa's steam room and sauna, or enjoy a moment of peace in the hydrotherapy pools, Jacuzzis, or the series of temperature-controlled showers that give your body just what it needs. FITNESS CENTER You can stay fit and keep your body tuned up at the hotel Fitness Center, featuring modern workout stations and a professional instructor. With a natural paradise surrounding you and an access to our world-class facilities, your business meeting, conference, or social event will be a great success. Our 10 meeting rooms can hold up to 1,300 people in an auditorium, 800 in conference seating, and 800 in a banquet. They are designed to offer you the perfect set-up for success, with audio-visual systems, individual air-conditioning, noise-control, and sound systems for music, smoke detectors, and a special registration area for guests.
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Spotlight Destination: Venice, Italy This idyllic island city is part of 118 small islands in the Adriatic sea - including the Murano and Burano Islands. This archipelago is joined by 455 bridges. You get to Venice from land through the Ponte della Libertá, accessing from the Piazzale Roma. In the inner city, there are no cars. Public transportation consists of ferry boats known as Vaporettos. Venice is famous around the world for its 150 channels. Its channels are part of a quaintly intricate structure of streets starting at the Big Channel, which is a big avenue where a bunch of boats, big and small navigate. The gondolas are the smaller ones, but the most iconic of Venice.
Did you know?
Saudi Arabia is the only country in the world with no rivers in its territory
The city with the most amount of Rolls Royce's per capita is Hong Kong
Honolulu has a real palace and it is the only official state residence of royalty in the U.S.
There are not clocks in the casinos in Las Vegas
Mexico City is sinking 10 cm per year, 10 times faster than Venice.
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September 2015
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TripAdvisor Extends Its Kudos To Riviera Nayarit Hotels The Riviera Nayarit’s hotel infrastructure is considered among Mexico’s best thanks to its wide variety of services. Very recently, four major hotel chains in our destination were included in the new eco-friendly GreenLeaders Program created by TripAdvisor, the largest travel site in the world. A number of other important resorts received the unique distinction of excellence, which is granted by appreciative and seasoned worldwide travelers. It is very important to mention that the hotels and resorts in Puerto Vallarta & Riviera Nayarit will deliver quality services for your groups and events. Ask us, we will recommend what best suits your requirements!
American Airlines to Start Los Angeles - Cuba Flights in December As the U.S. and Cuban governments prepared to re-establish normal relations earlier this year, American Airlines officials said they were eager to begin scheduled flights. Recently, American reiterated that it plans to launch scheduled services as soon as the two governments allow those flights. “We are excited to expand our partnership with American to include flights from Los Angeles to Havana,” said Michael Zuccato, Cuba Travel Services’ general manager. “We will continue to deliver a high-quality travel experience, and opening up new West Coast access to Cuba will bring a convenient, affordable option to authorized travelers.” “American is the premier carrier in Los Angeles and throughout the Caribbean, and this new charter flight shows how we continue to expand our reach by offering new routes and services our customers want,” said Art Torno, American’s senior vice president of international and cargo. “We stand ready to offer scheduled service as soon as the United States and Cuba allow commercial flights.”
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VII GOLF CUP MELIÁ CUBA October 21 – 24, 2015
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. Price per Person for the Entire Event: Adults only (Legal age: 18)
Find us in over 40 destinations throughout:
4 nights/5 days Melia Las Americas Hotel - Standard single room: $616 USD / per person - Standard double room: $445 USD / per person - Standard triple room: $425 USD / per person
Registration Fee: $150.00 USD per person Includes: Welcome kit, hospitality desk services, all green fees, a bucket of practice golf balls, shared golf cart for the days of the competition, refreshments during the two rounds of competition (not included for the day of practice), trophies, gala dinner, and awards ceremony. Categories: Men: Handicap 0-14 / Handicap 15-26 Women: Handicap 0-14 / Handicap 15-36 Program Day 1: 19:00 hrs. Welcome cocktail, rules, and etiquette Day 2: 06:30-07:00 hrs. Practice on the driving range 08:00 hrs. Practice round 15:00 hrs. Long drive competition Day 3: 06:30-07:00 hrs. Practice on the driving range 07:00 hrs. 1st round of stroke play competition DAY 4: 06:30-07:00 hrs. Practice on the driving range 07:00 hrs. 2nd round of stroke play 19:30 hrs. Awards dinner
Mexico Cuba Dominican Republic Belize Guatemala El Salvador Honduras Costa Rica Panama Colombia Brazil Argentina Chile Coming soon...Peru!
For further information on the fine hotels, deals, activities, and group packages mentioned in this magazine please contact Francisco BAEZA: fbaeza@ividmc.travel
Awards: The best net and gross scores in each category will receive a free week-long stay along with a companion at one of the all-inclusive Melia hotels in Cuba. The second places in each category will win trophies and golf articles. Other category awards are in store! 11
Destinations • Mexico • Cuba • Dominican Republic • Belize • Guatemala • El Salvador • Honduras • 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.
About Us... Our Vision: To run a world-class destination management company that sets fresh trends and establishes new standards for best practices in the M&I industry by exceeding customer expectations. Our Mission: To bear exceptional product knowledge, therefore, enabling us to provide creative solutions, cost-value and effectiveness in every measurable way. To earn and maintain our clients’ trust at each one of our IVI DMC2 destinations by assuring them that their goals are our goals too, and by delivering services that exceed industry standards and customer expectations. To maintain a smooth-operating and efficient business organization that utilizes streamlining management systems with ISO quality standards, and pride and belief in the remarkable abilities of our people. Our People: IVI DMC2 has more than 150 year-round full-time employees throughout our branch network in Latin American. Extraordinary personalities, willingness, knowledge, commitment, service-oriented attitude, and experience in groups and conventions are what characterize them. “Yes, since 1986, we are those neatly attired people in the turquoise blue and white uniforms. Many people call us "Smurfs" since we are knowledgeable, witty, fun to have around, and beautiful or handsome (not necessarily in that order).” 12
September 2015
Travel Secret: For Safety Sake
Make your luggage look different. Bags frequently go astray because they look like someone else’s
and someone walks off with one that looks like yours. You can consider buying bright-colored luggage, putting a colorful luggage strap around your bag or, using DayGlo stickers to make your suitcase stand out in a crowd. Brightly colored luggage also makes your bag a less-likely candidate for theft. After your flight lands, pick-up your luggage as soon as possible. Items left circling on the baggage
carousel can go astray. Lock your bags. No guarantee exists that a lock will keep the contents sage, but a good lock is a good
deterrent against thieves. I always carry plastic cable locks in my luggage. Available at any large hardware store, these ties have teeth on one end, so when you insert one end into the other, the tie is locked together. The only way to remove the plastic tie is to cut it off. While these ties do not prevent a thief from opening your bag, they do give you an instant indication someone has broken into your luggage. Use luggage straps. Luggage straps are another hindrance against pilferage and insurance for faulty
locks.
(Taken from pages 92, 93)
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&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.
Jose-Manuel GARCIA, CDS Visionary, Founder, & Master Coach IVI DMC²
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The Customer is Always Right Francisco was very helpful and patient, answered all my questions in a timely manner – even during the Xmas Holiday. Raquel has the patience of an angel, and made all the changes we sent her way and provided a very professional service, she was always there for us and hope to work with her again. Our guests enjoyed their experience in Cancun; they were able to experience the warm Mexican hospitality and learn more about its people and their ability to please customers. IVI DMC2 is an A+ team; we are so happy to have selected your company. France LaFlamme LaFlamme Consulting
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