A Publication of New Castle County Chamber of Commerce
Photo by Tim Dunham
May 2016
w w w. N CCCC. com
Rodney Square Rides Again A
Renovation Project Underway
t one time or another we have all been at this place. It is the centerpiece of downtown Wilmington. It has hosted high profile events and famous people. It tells the story of Delaware’s economic and political history. It’s Rodney Square and it will be undergoing a major renovation so it will once again be the “front yard” of the City. Over the last few years, there has been a lot of discussion about how to reinvigorate R o d n e y Square and reduce a lot of the negative side effects of having a transit hub located there. Not to mention the issues about public safety. In March, a multi-year project was announced that would transform the existing bus
Caesar Rodney statue, will be restored. The goal is to once again make Rodney Square the vibrant centerpiece of downtown Wilmington and a regional attraction.
shelters into informational transit kiosks, provide improvements to the existing lighting, and add security cameras. In addition, historic features of the square, including the two fountains that flank the
To help increase business activity and attract more people to Rodney Square, Downtown Visions will be taking on a larger role in scheduling events and promoting activities. There are already a number of annual high profile events on Rodney Square, such as the Clifford Brown Jazz Festival in June, which brings world-class musicians to the stage; Caroling on Square in December, and the very popular “Rodney Square Summer Stage,” which brings great music from up and coming local talent for three consecutive weekends in July. In addition, the Downtown Farmers market is open for business every Wednesday and offers an array of fresh local produce, plants, herbs and cut flowers. (Continued on page 3)
This Edition 2 I Chamber Events Matter 3 I As a Matter of Fact Rodney Square Rides Again Renovation Project Underway 4 I Legislative Connection Revenue Projections Remain Flat Chamber Delivers Greetings and Congratulations from the State of Delaware to the Office of the Taoiseach in Dublin Legislation to Require Project Labor Agreements for all State Construction Work Sparks Concerns 5 I Economic Development Business Fundamentals New Castle County is Open for Business 6 I Calendar of Events - May 7 I Calendar of Events - June 8 I Membership Matters New Member Listing 9 I Ribbon Cuttings 10 I UD is For You! Addressing Workplace Safety 11 I Member Profile Mobius New Media Is International Travel on Your Bucket List?
CHAMBER EVENTS MATTER SpringFest Tabletop & Networking Expo
Visit www.NCCCC.com & click Events Calendar
Record attendee numbers were reached for this year's SpringFest Tabletop & Networking Expo at Cavalier Country Club.
Business Women’s Networking (BWN)
Thank you to our participating vendors and to Delaware ShoutOut, Sherm’s Catering and Get Life Coaching for sponsoring the event. Join us for the upcoming Health & Wellness Expo on June 15th at UD STAR Campus.
Policy Makers, Movers & Shakers
Rep. S. Quinton Johnson updated attendees on the latest activities in Dover from his vantage point as chair of the Joint Committee on Capital Improvement (Bond Bill).
Speed Networking
Over 80 professional business women gathered for the 2nd annual BWN, Busines Women’s Networking, at the Hilton Wilmington/ Christiana on April 27th to celebrate each other’s success and further build up their relationships! 2 I May 2016 I www.ncccc.com
Brooke Miles and Sherm Porter gave networking tips to the participants of Speed Networking. Members sat at a table of 5 where each got 2 minutes to stand and present their pitch. Join us for the next Speed Networking event on July 20th at the Chamber.
New Castle County Chamber of Commerce
AS A M AT T E R O F FAC T By Mark A. Kleinschmidt President New Castle County Chamber of Commerce
Rodney Square Rides Again Renovation Project Underway By 1937, the four sides of the square were completed and it was officially named after one of Delaware’s signers of the Declaration of Independence, Caesar Rodney. Adjacent to the square were four large buildings that represented different aspects of the Wilmington community: the public library, the post office, and a new court house. The crowning element of the Rodney Square project was a large statue of Caesar Rodney that was created by James E. Kelly. It stands on the DuPont Building side of the square and has become one of the leading symbols for the City and State.
The concept of a transit hub in Downtown Wilmington is not forgotten, in fact, the renovation project will seek out ways to expand downtown transit options, but avoid a large number of buses congregating at Rodney Square. Repositioning some bus stops and altering schedules should be able to improve the quality of DART services in and around Rodney Square. At the same time, the planned improvements will create a more welcoming public area for downtown employees and residents during the work week and on weekends. While we may have all been to Rodney Square, what do we actually know about it? How did it all get started? The history of Rodney Square dates back to the 1790s when land was assembled by the Borough of Wilmington for the purpose of establishing a reservoir, which was in use from 1827 until 1877. The former reservoir site was then home to the New Castle County Court House until 1919.
10th and Market Street showing visitor information, news kiosk and cafe terrace.
world headquarters in 1905, the company used their extraordinary vision, community influence, connections and financial investments to start a process When the DuPont Company started that would create a truly unique public to plan the construction of their new space that would be the centerpiece
Tenth Street
Eleventh Street
Market Street
N. King Street
of downtown Wilmington, and eventually end up on the National Historic Register. The old court house site was directly in front of the DuPont Company headquarters, so they were very interested in what would happen to the 1.5 acre site. They felt that the best use for the location would be to transform it into a special area of public open space with design features that would serve to unify the entire area. They wanted to build upon the City Beautiful movement that was popular throughout the country at that time, and sought to improve social order by including more beauty in the urban landscape. Pierre S. DuPont appointed his personal assistant, John Jacob Raskob, to implement the plans to develop the Square. Not only did Raskob wish to follow the principles of the City Beautiful movement, he also wanted to create a more impressive Wilmington. He did this by supporting the efforts to develop the other three sides of the square.
In the early part of the 20th century, the public and private sector came together to create the world class public space known as Rodney Square. It seems that history is repeating itself as the public and private sector are coming together again to re-create Rodney Square in the early part of the 21st century. Working together, DART, the City of Wilmington, Downtown Visions and the The Buccini/Pollin Group are spearheading an effort to breathe new life into the centerpiece of Wilmington by upgrading Rodney Square. A revitalized public space will offer desirable amenities and activities that will create a wonderful guest experience and create a destination for city workers and residents. Efforts are underway to maintain ongoing support to re-energize Rodney Square so that it will be a desirable place for the new downtown residents who are moving into the new apartment and condominium units that are being constructed. The movement to support Rodney Square will continue to grow as the private and public sectors work together to support the revitalization effort. The Chamber looks forward to working with the “Friends of Rodney Square” to ensure that this historic public space remains an important part of downtown Wilmington’s future.
www.ncccc.com I May 2016 I 3
LEGISLATIVE CONNECTION Legislation to Require Project Labor Agreements for all State Construction Work Sparks Concerns
H
ouse Bill 283 was introduced in March and released from the House Labor Committee. It requires that contractors and subcontractors on all state-funded construction, public works, improvement works, or improvement projects must draw 30% of their workforce from the Representative District
Revenue Projections Remain Flat
A
Visit www.ncccc.com & click Government Affairs
t the April meeting of the Delaware Economic and Financial Advisory Council (DEFAC), members projected another slight revenue reduction for the second month running. At the March meeting $4.6 million was trimmed from revenue estimates. At the Monday, April 18 meeting, a further reduction of $4.9 million was forecast. While budget writing legislators and the Markell Administration would no doubt like to have seen an uptick in revenue in the latest numbers, state finances remain on considerably better footing than they have been in recent years.
Chamber Delivers Greetings and Congratulations from the State of Delaware to the Office of the Taoiseach in Dublin
I where the project is located. In addition, contractors and subcontractors must draw 5% of their workforce from eligible Delaware veterans. The bill would also mandate that such projects are to be governed by a Project Labor Agreement. Some estimates place the additional cost to Delaware taxpayers for this practice at as much as 30% per project. The bill would also have the anti-competitive effect of essentially guaranteeing that state work will go to union rather than merit-shop firms. No one is against employing veterans; however, this is a very small aspect of what is an otherwise very problematic piece of legislation. In an environment where DMV fees and state borrowing increased last year to chip away at the substantial need for additional infrastructure funding, there is general acknowledgment that a gas tax increase will be inevitable. This is needed to to repair aging infrastructure and maintain our roads and bridges. This legislation will have an effect on organizing construction costs by as much as a third and is ill-advised. The bill was released from committee in March, it remains on the House Ready List, where the Chamber continues to monitor the bill. 4 I May 2016 I www.ncccc.com
At their December meeting, the panel forecasted that the state revenues would improve by $88 million during the remainder of FY 2016 (which ends on June 30, 2016) and would increase by $167 million for FY 2017 (beginning July 1, 2016). Going into the December meeting, many had predicted that legislators and Governor Markell would be facing a structural shortfall for the coming year for as much as $200 million. To the relief of legislators and the administration alike, this has not proven to be the case.
n recognition of the 100 anniversary of the Proclamation of the Irish Republic, the Delaware General Assembly passed Senate Concurrent Resolution 71, sponsored by Senators Harris McDowell, Nicole Poore and Bethany Hall Long, and Representatives Gerald Brady, Bryon Short, Michael Mulrooney and Larry Sullivan. Chamber Lobbyist Joe Fitzgerald delivered sealed copies of the resolution to the Office of the Taoiseach (prime minister) Enda Kenny, the Office of the President Michael D. Higgins and the Mansion House of the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Críona Ní Dhálaigh. The text of the resolution follows:
WHEREAS, Ireland is a beacon of civilization, toleration and the promotion of peace in a troubled world; and WHEREAS, Ireland has sought, with great success, to heal the wounds of the past where her own struggles are concerned and has contributed substantially to the fostering of peace elsewhere on Earth; and WHEREAS, the Irish Diaspora in America did no less than aid in the building of our nation; and WHEREAS, Wilmington, Delaware consistently ranks as one of the most Irish cities in America.
WHEREAS, the Irish nation and its NOW, THEREFORE: diaspora has had a profound effect BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate on the development of the modern of the 148th General Assembly of the WHEREAS, on April 24, 1916, world, exponentially out of proportion State of Delaware, the House of Representatives concurring therein, the Irish Republic was declared by with its size; and WHEREAS, Ireland was an outpost that the General Assembly of Delaware proclamation read outside the General Post Office in Dublin; and of learning, literature and the preser- extends warmest congratulations to WHEREAS, the Irish people, vation of ancient knowledge during the people of Ireland on the One Hundredth Anniversary of the Proclamation despite centuries of struggle, the Dark Ages; and WHEREAS, Ireland’s contributions of the Republic of Ireland and best occupation, war, famine and mass migration, successfully preserved to knowledge, letters and culture have wishes for many more centuries of their great and invaluable cultural persisted from the earliest days of peace and prosperity for an Phoblacht Western Civilization until today; and na hÉireann. identity; and
New Castle County Chamber of Commerce
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL
Business Fundamentals
New Castle County is Open for Business O
pen for Business saw a huge turnout this month. Check us out every Fourth Thursday of the month. Find multiple resources for your business in one place at one time in this free program to assist with start-ups or businesses looking to expand.
Alec Shekar from Gainwebsite.com presents on Google analytics and ways to get your website more traffic at the recent Business Fundamentals Workshop.
Visit the Chamber’s events calendar at www.ncccc.com to register for the upcoming New Castle County is Open for Business events at the Chamber of Commerce on May 26th and June 23rd from 9:00 to 11:00am.
Economic Development Council Member List AAA Mid-Atlantic • ab+c Creative Intelligence Bancroft Construction • Bernardon Christiana Care • City of Newark • City of Wilmington Commercial Industrial Realty Council • Committee of 100 Delaware BioScience Association Delaware City Refining Company Delaware Economic Development Office Delaware Health Science Alliance Delaware River & Bay Authority DelDot • Delle Donne & Associates • Delmarva Power DiSabatino Construction Emory Hill Real Estate Services Facility Services Group Greater Wilmington Convention & Visitors Bureau Harvey, Hanna & Associates • Info Solutions LLC Integrity Staffing Maritime Exchange for the Delaware River and Bay New Castle County Government New Castle County Board of Realtor PNC Bank • Setting Properties, Inc. Sonitrol Security Systems TD Bank • The Byrd Group The Commonwealth Group • University of Delaware Whiting Turner • WILMAPCO World Trade Center Delaware Contact Bob Chadwick at chadwickb@ncccc.com for info on joining the Economic Development Council. www.ncccc.com I May 2016 I 5
M AY E V E N T S C A L E N DA R !
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8:00 - 9:30 AM Fortune Referral Group
11:30 AM - 1:30 PM Annual Chamber Awards Luncheon Clarion Hotel – Noon -1:30 PM Chamber Orientation, The Belle, New Castle a FREE event (registration requested)
UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED All events are held at the New Castle County Chamber, 12 Penns Way. Call (302) 737-4343 for details.
5:30 - 7:30 PM Open House & Networking Mixer Colonial School District at William Penn High School
8:30 - 11:30 AM Finding Your Next Customer: Master Class on LinkedIn: Build Your Business 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM LNG Lunchtime Networking Group
Save the Date! Health & Wellness Expo - June 15
8:00 - 9:30 AM Fortune Referral Group
11:30 AM - 1:00 PM LNG Lunchtime Networking Group
11:30 AM - 1:00 PM Producer’s Lunch Networking Group
7:30 - 9:00 AM ChamberPro Referral Group
8:30 -11:30 AM Growth Wheel Noon - 2:00 PM Network at Noon Brickyard Grille at the UD Courtyard
7:30 - 9:00 AM ChamberPro Referral Group 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM Vendor Day – Learn How Delaware Purchases Products & Services
11:30 AM -1:00 PM Producer’s Lunch Networking Group 3:00 - 5:00 PM Young Professionals Networking (YPN) River Rock Kitchen 9:00 - 11:00 AM New Castle County Open for Business
3:00 - 6:00 PM W.I.N. Women Into Networking at Deerfield
CHAMBER CLOSED Memorial Day
To register for events, visit www.NCCCC.com and click ‘Calendar’
W.I.N. Women Into Networking at Deerfield Thursday, May 26, 3:00 - 6:00 pm It’s A Contest! Open call for Women’s Expo Workshop Presenters! Winner announced at this event. Enter by visiting the W.I.N registration page. 6 I May 2016 I www.ncccc.com
Finding Your Next Customer A Business Education Workshop
Master Class on LinkedIn: Build Your Business Like a Pro Tuesday, May 10 8:30 - 11:30 AM
Network at Noon at Brickyard Grille Courtyard Newark University of Delaware Wednesday, May 18 Noon - 2:00 PM
New Castle County is Open for Business Open House for Small Business Owners at the Chamber Thursday, May 26 & June 23 9:00 - 11:00 AM
New Castle County Chamber of Commerce
JUNE EVENTS CALENDAR !
!
8:30 - 11:30 AM Building a Better Business Plan using 8:30 -10:00 AM Census Data Chamber Orientation, (A business education a FREE event workshop) (registration requested) 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM Producer’s Lunch Networking Group
UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED All events are held at the New Castle County Chamber, 12 Penns Way. Call (302) 737-4343 for details.
8:00 - 9:30 AM Fortune Referral Group
8:00 - 9:30 AM Coffee Connections at Ivy Gables Senior Living, Wilmington; FREE for members
7:30 - 9:00 AM ChamberPro Referral Group
3:00 - 7:00 PM ChamberStar - Health & Wellness Expo at UD College of Health Sciences, STAR Campus, Newark; a FREE event
12:30 PM Shotgun Start Chamber Golf Challenge at The DuPont Country Club and Brantwyn, Wilmington
8:00 - 9:30 AM Fortune Referral Group
7:30 - 9:00 AM ChamberPro Referral Group
11:30 AM -1:00 PM Producer’s Lunch Networking Group
9:00 - 11:00 AM New Castle County Open for Business Open House for small business owners 3:00 -5:00 PM Multi-Chamber (4 Chambers) Networking Connections at The Wellwood Club
11:30 AM - 1:00 PM LNG Lunchtime Networking Group
To register for events, visit www.NCCCC.com and click ‘Calendar’ Chamber Golf Challenge DuPont Country Club Nemours Course
Health & Wellness Expo Coffee Connections Ivy Gables Senior Living Wilmington, DE Thursday, June 9 8:00 - 9:30 AM FREE Event!
Monday, June 13 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM
UD College of Health Sciences STAR Campus Newark, DE Wednesday, June 15 3:00 - 7:00 PM FREE Event!
Networking Connections Multi-Chamber Networking Event with 4 Chambers The Wellwood Club Charlestown, MD Thursday, June 23 3:00 - 5:00 PM www.ncccc.com I May 2016 I 7
MEMBERSHIP MATTERS
NEW MEMBERS
Abra Auto Body And Glass Automotive (888) 872-2272 www.abraauto.com
DejaVu Safety Solutions Safety Equipment/Training (302) 268-6650 www.DejaVuSafety.com
Jiffy Garage Doors Construction/Contractors (302) 691-9672 www.jiffydoors.com
Serpes Bakery Bakery (302) 994-1868 www.serpesbakery.com
Agera Energy Utilities (248) 408-8472 www.ageraenergy.com
Delaware Diamond Knives, Inc. Manufacturing (302) 999-7476 www.ddk.com
Kind to Kids Foundation Non Profit/Education (302) 654-5440 www.kindtokids.org
SNG Enterprises LLC Real Estate (215) 740-4979
Angel's Touch Cleaning Services Cleaning Service & Supplies (302) 669-7047 www.angelstouchcleaning.net
Delaware Division of Aging & Disabililties Non Profit (302) 255-9364 www.dhss.delaware.gov/dsaapd
Legal Shield - Schwartz Legal Services (302) 275-8898 www.mss65.com
Blue Heron Ent., Inc Advertising & Marketing (302) 834-1521 www.blueheroncards.com
Visit www.NCCCC.com & click ‘Directory’
Cooch and Taylor, P.A. Legal Services (302) 984-3800 www.coochandtaylor.com Courtyard by Marriott Wilmington/Brandywine Accommodations (302) 477-9500 www.marriott.com
8 I May 2016 I www.ncccc.com
Ellesor, Inc. Business & Professional Services (302) 324-5373 www.ellesorinc.com Health Insurance Associates Insurance (302) 292-0100 www.hiaofde.com Independence Mall, Inc. Real Estate (302) 656-2190 www.independencemallde.com
STAT Office Solutions Business & Professional Services (302) 573-2528 www.statofficesolutions.com
Luxia Suites Accommodations (302) 778-3000 www.luxiasuites.com
The Ed Acevedo Group / Keller Williams Real Estate Real Estate (610) 565-1995 www.edacevedo.com
Orth Financial Group Financial Services (302) 475-5105 www.orthfinancialgroup.com
Join the Chamber today to have your business listed here and enjoy the many benefits of Chamber membership.
Pack It Up! Travel Destination Travel (302) 345-0632 www. tonyafrazier.inteletravel.com
List complete as of April 18, 2016
New Castle County Chamber of Commerce
RIBBON CUTTINGS
Corporate Interiors is a customer-focused organization specializing in workplace environments. By weaving together people, process, product and place, they connect the dots between concept and execution. As your partner, Corporate Interiors takes the time to understand your needs and aspirations. Those insights help them develop innovative solutions that meet your business needs. Visit www.corporate-interiors.com.
www.ncccc.com I May 2016 I 9
UD IS FOR YOU!
Advertorial
Addressing Workplace Safety
D
o news stories of workplace incidents lihood of accident might lie. You can anmake you wonder if your company alyze key jobs and processes and analyze has its safety-related matters in order? risks with a view toward taking corrective Imagine that someone in your work- actions and preventing injuries and place experienced an on-the-job injury near-misses. tomorrow. Do you know what to do when someone gets hurt? Do you know what written programs you are required to have in place at all times? Do you know what OSHA will ask when performing an on-site inspection? Do you know what rights you have during an OSHA inspection?
There is no question that communication and training is key to any safety effort. Do you want to learn why employees violate safety rules even when they know it’s not safe to do so? Would you like to learn what it takes to set up an effective health and safety program, and how to present the information in a manner that employees will receive well? You need to know how to create and deliver effective safety training presentations and communicate corporate safety initiatives and goals.
changes can save the company thousands and Continuing Studies partners of dollars a year. with the Delaware Valley Safety And of course, regulation is important Council to offer this intensive oneas well. Would you like to learn more week course. about OSHA requirements, inspections, COSS is taught by an authorized OSHA citations, hazard recognition, how to Outreach Trainer and is designed to be read and understand OSHA’s federal suitable as an entry level course or as a refresher for a more experienced safety regulations? You may think of these issues as be- professional. As one participant comlonging only in the manufacturing sector. mented, “It’s a super class. Like a boot They certainly apply there, but the concerns camp in safety.” reach across industry lines. Engineering, government and municipalities, transportation, general and industrial contractors, energy and utility companies, security, and law enforcement can all benefit from having individuals on staff who are trained in a rigorous safety program.
Visit www.NCCCC.com & click Events Calendar
Perhaps more important, you need to know what you can do to prevent accidents before they happen. Each workplace is different, with different risks for acciWorkplace safety is also a matter of dents, but you can learn to All these issues, and more, are addressed search your company records dollars and cents. The true cost of an in the Certified Occupational Safety as well as public records to accident is often higher than meets the Specialist (COSS) program. The University assess where the greatest like- eye. On the other hand, a few simple of Delaware’s Division of Professional
Nicole Hetrick is a UD alumna and a graduate of UD’s Business Analyst Certificate.
Upon successfully completing the program, participants obtain the nationally recognized COSS designation, which is endorsed by the American Association of Safety Councils and the American Council for Construction Education. The course will be offered July 25-29 in Newark, Del. and more information is available at pcs.udel.edu/safety-coss or by calling 302-831-7600 or writing to continuing-ed@udel.edu.
Where do you turn for the new skills and knowledge to keep your edge? Professional development certificates give you • use-it-the-next-day skills and knowledge • a credential for job advancement
Get ahead in the workplace Career advancement is important to you. You’ve got the drive and focus to succeed. 10 I May 2016 I www.ncccc.com
You provide the drive. We provide the education.
UD is for you!
302-831-7600 • continuing-ed@udel.edu www.pcs.udel.edu/certificate BM050016
New Castle County Chamber of Commerce
MEMBER PROFILE ..
Mobius New Media
I
marketing, believing it to be pointless Wordpress, cusif existing business was strong. After tom theming watching the competition advertise and content inheavily and grow exponentially, Sellers tegration. The Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Search Engine Marketing (SEM) team provides inbound and outbound digital marketing strategies to ensure more traffic to clients’ websites and internet presence. The video and photography production team records on-location or in-studio for commercials, events, tutorials, and aerial sought assistance from Mobius. Re-branding, 20 years later within Mobius’ office, work, and edits on site in a state of the art creative brainstorming, multiple advertising campaigns, website and mobile developmultiple teams brainstorm and produce edit suite. Local gem, Hillside HVAC, is an ment, and seven years later, Mobius is now some of the area’s most innovative, engaging, and integrated marketing and technology endearing story of how Mobius was able to the sole creative agency producing all of solutions. Creative Design and Branding work with a 3rd generation family business Hillside’s highly visible marketing and adServices provide focus and consistency to and help them dramatically expand their vertising, and newly arrived social media client websites, advertising, social media, visibility and reach new customers. When force. By keeping all efforts within the Moand conceptual design. Web Development President, Jim Sellers, of Hillside came to bius office, Sellers could have constant teams are skilled in all modern Content the agency, he was seeking general marketing insight into why video and social media Management Systems such as Drupal and guidance. He hadn’t previously focused on blended together organically to support a n April of 1996, the founding partners of Möbius came together with a very different method of doing marketing at a time when not many were willing or saw need to shake the existing system of marketing and advertising – which often resulted in companies using many vendors for their various types of work. They wanted to approach marketing as a company offering a full package – web services, print, and branding, all done in house. Mobius was unique in showing precisely where the magic of web, mobile, social, and traditional media channels all came together. This hands-on approach with cross-media solutions allowed the client to use Mobius as their “one-stop shop” without sacrificing quality.
fantastic Google Adwords campaign, for example. The fact that Charlie, Sellers’ best friend and Bernese Mountain Dog, is the friendly mascot of Hillside only proves
that emotional connection is a firm belief by Mobius New Media. Today, Mobius can boast 20 years of unraveling and demystifying the internet and digital world, staying ahead of the technical and professional curve as the years accumulate. By appealing to how clients’ products or services positively impact the population, rather than how business is simply “done”, the return on investment is consistently positive, relevant, and satisfying.
Is International Travel on Your Bucket List?
M
Insider Knowledge
any of us have that special place we want to see and experience, and travel to far-off places provides memorable experiences from different cultures, food, customs, entertainment and landmarks. Exploring the destination on your own is always an option, but travelers often choose guided tours. These tours are incredibly popular worldwide, and for many good reasons, the biggest being the turnkey convenience.
meals are included with the group, and others on your own, so you may seek out special meals as desired. The tours take into account the visiting hours of the stops on the itinerary so you don't have to spend hours researching the information for each place you want to visit. Transportation is handled for you. You simply sign up and show up at the designated time.
Convenience
Visiting a foreign land can cause many travelers to feel nervous or unsure of where to go and how to act. This is particularly true for vacations abroad if you are not fluent in the local language. A group tour gives you a sense of comfort since the tour guide understands the culture. In some destinations, safety is an issue. The tour guide For the past six years, the Chamber has helps you avoid potentially dangerous areas offered international trips to members. In of the city and brings a sense of safety to 2016, we will be traveling to Italy on the “Best of Italy” tour, and to the exotic lands the trip.
A tour operator handles all the logistics and prep work. You save time and energy that you would normally put into planning all the details of your transportation, lodging, meals and tours. The tour operator plans an itinerary for visiting locations based on their proximity to make efficient use of the tour time. The itineraries maximize individuality and free time to avoid a “herd mentality,” allowing personal space. Many
Safety & Comfort
Tour companies operate frequent tours in the area and often hire locals to guide the tours. This provides an inside knowledge of the destination that you might not have. Insider knowledge of the area means you'll hit all the highlights.The tour may also allow you to uncover some hidden gems within the city that you wouldn't otherwise know about. Guides often share stories and bits of history about landmarks to give more depth to your experience.
of Thailand and Hong Kong. For more information on our travel plans, contact Barbara Weiss at (302) 294.2068 or weissb@ncccc.com. Or visit our website at www.ncccc.com. If these destinations are not on your “bucket list,” consider contacting one of our many excellent member travel companies for a customized trip. www.ncccc.com I May 2016 I 11
Monday, June 13th
DuPont Country Club - Nemours Course
11:00 a.m Registration/Box Lunch 12:30 p.m. Shotgun Start www.NCCCC.com to register