Author: Ben Debski

South Africa’s best conference facilities

Posted on by Ben Debski

With panoramic views of the azure Indian Ocean, the East London International Convention Centre (ELICC) has placed East London and the Buffalo City region in South Africa’s beautiful Eastern Cape on a firm footing as a competitive conference and incentives destination.

In addition, the conference centre’s proximity to both the new Premier Hotel EL ICC and Premier Hotel Regent mean conference goers have on-site accommodation and top class hotel facilities to make for a seamless conference experience. With a geographic grandeur, the area presents a great travel escape after the meetings are over as the Eastern Cape province is filled with historical depth (it is the birthplace of former President Nelson Mandela), contains a variety of cultures and presents a landscape that traverses semi-desert plains and mountains to rain-forests and long, golden beaches.

The country’s only river port, East London itself is set on the estuary of the Buffalo River which begins its journey in the forested Amathole Mountains and cuts an eastward path across an attractive coastal plateau into the Indian Ocean.

Centrally situated in South Africa, several well-preserved examples of 19th-century architecture enhance East London’s ambiance with traffic snarls and overcrowded city streets an exception rather than the rule while jazz and great cuisine make for a generous nightlife. Along with its sub-tropical weather and sweeping golden beaches, East London is a charming access point to the tourist corridors of the Sunshine Coast and the Wild Coast.

Feet in the Sea
Positioned on East London’s Esplanade, the ELICC has magical views of the Indian Ocean and is only a 15 minute drive from East London Airport, the Industrial Development Zone and all major industries, presenting a fresh alternative to conferencing in South Africa.

Within less than 12 months, the ELICC has won an award as Best Conference Venue in the Eastern Cape, has hosted a boxing world title fight and major conferences from medicine to telecommunications and annual corporate conferences.

“I have always believed that East London makes for the perfect convention destination and the ELICC now presents the most up-to-date convention & meetings centre available nation-wide,” says Premier Hotels & Resorts MD Samuel Nassimov.

Managed by the Premier Hotels group, facilities at the state-of-the-art ELICC include a 600-seater auditorium, an exhibition floor of 1900sq m  and a major hall capable of seating 850 ball-room style and 2,100 cinema-style as well as board-rooms, restaurants and kitchens. The ELICC’s specialised services incorporate a range of technical services including state-of-the-art audio visual equipment, drop down screens, crestron touch panel interfaces, IT services and digital signage.

Interior décor and an award-winning architectural design, meanwhile, reflect both an African sense of place and the cosmopolitan style of international convention centres while a professional team will tailor-make packages specific to any conference, convention, exhibition or even a wedding. Fully secure, the complex also includes undercover parking and adjacent hotels. “In being connected to both the Premier Hotel Regent and the new Premier Hotel EL ICC, I believe the ELICC makes East London a highly competitive and desirable convention & exhibition destination,” adds Samuel Nassimov.

Next door to the ELICC, with panoramic views of the coastline – from sweeping beaches and forested dunes to the pier from which ships emerge from the Buffalo River into the Indian Ocean – the new luxury Premier Hotel EL ICC, has prime position on East London’s Esplanade.

The Premier Hotel EL ICC is also the city’s most luxurious hotel with facilities including a spa & gymnasium opening soon, rim-flow swimming pool, fine dining restaurant, Wi-Fi, business centre, public and VIP lounges, on-site parking and 16-hour room service (06H30 – 22H30)

Decorated in a contemporary style, the spacious hotel rooms – from Deluxe rooms to one-bedroom suites with their own lounges – offer unsurpassed sea views.

Apart from its own dedicated boardrooms and fully equipped business centre, the hotel  – and adjacent Premier Hotel Regent – present  themselves as the accommodation of choice for delegates attending conventions at the East London International Convention Centre.

And if relaxing at the hotel isn’t enough, guests can take a breath of air down to the nearby beaches or enjoying a round on superb golf courses, while museums, game reserves and spectacular scenery present an opportunity to explore both the un-crowded Sunshine and Wild Coasts like never before.

South Africa’s eco tourism destination
The success of the Eastern Cape’s Tourism sector as a happening international tourist destination have also seen it pitching to align its ‘Big 5’ game reserves with popular Cape Town and the self-drive Garden Route, affording visitors an African wildlife experience without having to fly to Kwazulu-Natal or Mpumlanga, traditionally the country’s wildlife destinations.

Only 30km from East London, the Mpongo Private Game Reserve is a luxurious and eco-friendly piece of Africa that has remained authentic, idyllic and wild. The malaria-free reserve is named after the Umpongo River, which has played an important part in Xhosa history and is also well known for its hippo tales, being close to where the world’s most famous wandering hippo, Huberta, ended her days after walking hundreds of kilometres down the coast in 1928-1931.

Apart from today’s free-roaming hippo, elephant, buffalo and leopard (lion are kept in a separate area) the reserve also contains giraffe, antelope, wart-hogs and all manner of African wildlife including significant bird sightings. With its rolling hills, plateaus and river valleys, the 3,500ha reserve appeals to the keenest eco-tourist and, being so close to the coast, offers a complete beach and bush experience in the Eastern Cape.

Indeed, Mpongo’s game rangers are expertly familiar with the breathtaking habitat, allowing close contact with the wide array of game on the reserve, taking guest on unforgettable nature drives, walks and horse-rides into the heart of the bush.

On the lodging side, Mpongo’s luxury accommodation offers various chalets and lodges, all equipped with private fireplaces, en-suite facilities, African décor and world-class service while guests are able to see even big game from their lodge decks, thanks to the new conservation-friendly boundaries the park has introduced.

A Premier African experience
Mpongo is also managed by the Premier Hotel group, which in itself offers a range of hotels and conference venues in regional business and travel destinations in South Africa. Apart from the ELICC, other properties include Premier Hotel Cape Manor on Cape Town’s Atlantic seaboard, Premier Hotel Knysna – The Moorings, Premier Hotel Regent and Premier Hotel King David and Premier Hotel ELICC in East London, Premier Hotel Pinetown and Premier Hotel Edwardian in KZN, Premier Hotel Pretoria and Premier Hotel OR Tambo in Gauteng.

“Our size as a group determines flexibility along with an ability to be very customer-orientated and is something, I believe, which makes Premier Hotels a force to be reckoned with. I believe the hotel & conferencing industry in South Africa is due to undergo unprecedented growth in 2011 and beyond,” adds Samuel Nassimov. As they say in the Eastern Cape: Wamkelekele. You’re welcome.

For more information please visit: www.elicc.co.za

Hospitality in Doha: Movenpick interview

Posted on by Ben Debski

Visible from afar in all its striking glory, the architectural identity of Mövenpick Tower & Suites Doha is shiny and futuristic in kind. Step inside, and you’ll find that the state-of-the-art identity also extends to the interior concept, while the latest technology is applied to the wide-ranging facilities in place.  But the aesthetic and general quality of the striking five-star hotel is secondary to its main agenda, which is to offer guests a high level of service and a warm and friendly atmosphere. “Our aim with Mövenpick Tower & Suites Doha is to provide guests with ‘a home away from home’,” says Shane Jameson, Director of Sales & Marketing. “Recognising the importance of personal service and carefully identifying the needs of each individual guest, we offer services beyond what many would expect.

If a guest expresses a craving for anything in particular, be it a home-cooked meal or a pot of Marmite, then that is what we will provide. Friendliness and good service are two things that tend to linger in the mind of guests long after they’ve left a hotel; while details such the quality of the bed will soon be a distant memory. One should not underestimate the power of good service based the need of each individual guest. What shines through in everything we do is our passion for people and doing everything we can to make them feel at home. ”

The essence of Mövenpick, the Doha way
The concept behind Mövenpick Tower & Suites Doha remains faithful to the group’s overall identity, which is a blend of corporate hospitality fused with service levels stretched as far as humanly possible. The location itself (Doha) might surprise some as the Middle Eastern market can be a tricky one to operate within.  Why did the Swiss heritage group decide to enter the Qatari market?  “Doha is an amazing and cosmopolitan city with incredible growth potential as a business destination. Several international companies have set up offices in town, and in terms of the visitor demographic, the area appeals to business people and leisure travellers alike. It’s not difficult to see why Doha is so popular- it boasts beautiful weather throughout the year and there is so much more to the city than its wealth of natural gas and its famous airline.”

Great things may be said about Doha, but with a melting pot of nationalities far and wide, it is important that the hotel diversifies itself with the various  cultures it plays home to. Jameson is in tune with that consensus and explains that the hotel has gone to great lengths to make sure that an enticing and varied menu is available at the hotel. “To tantalise our guests’ taste buds, we have established three particularly worthy restaurants within the hotel. Lime Café is a personal favourite, and its speciality is great lunch food such a freshly prepared sandwiches with the tastiest of fillings. Animato Restaurant, meanwhile, serves cuisine from all corners of the world, while the menu at Wok Mee Noodle House is based around Far East Asian food. Mövenpick heritage is rooted in the food industry, and this fact is very much reflected in the three restaurants present at the hotel.”

Speaking of Jameson himself, he joined the company this year and no doubt brought a breath of fresh air to the group. “My background is in the entertainment industry, and I might not come across as the stereotypical five-star hotel marketing director in my colourful socks,” says Jameson and laughs. “But I do have real passion for people, which is a characteristic I share with the Mövenpick Tower & Suites Doha. My most important asset is that I listen to people and take note, and manage a combination of work and play; life’s too short not too! With regards to my professional tactics, I see every new day in my role as director of sales and marketing as a new ‘gig’, and approach it with equal enthusiasm as I did any project on my former stages.”

A true people’s person, Jameson strongly believes in the power of keeping employees contented.  “If you treat your staff well and offer them support, they will perform so much better. It will also inspire them to be happier in the roles, something that guests will sense and appreciate.”

A wealth of high-tech and practical business solutions
While the ultimate emphasis of Mövenpick Tower & Suites Doha is service, it hasn’t overlooked other crucial aspects necessary to make the business traveller’s stay complication-free. The hotel, which encompasses 350 rooms and suites, conveniently nestles within the business district of the West Bay Area, located a 15-minutes drive away from Doha International Airport. Serving up anything a business gathering could call for,  no fewer than six meeting rooms form part of the facility round-up, each one featuring natural daylight, state-of-the-art audio-visual technology as well as a set of flexible configurations to help make meeting proceedings running  as smoothly as possible. The rooms are all located on the second floor, where they conveniently share space the well-equipped and professionally managed business centre, which in turn serves up two boardrooms and a multipurpose hall that can be divided into three smaller rooms.

Inherently flexible in their approach, the hotel employees are happy to arrange any manner of function, carefully shaping it to fit the guest’s criteria, be it a banquet for up to 140 guests or an intimate corporate presentation involving a handful of business associates.

Currently, a substantial portion of the bookings are made in countries such as Japan, Korea and Malaysia. But a shift is taking place, as more and more guest are flooding in from Brazil and Russia, and well as India. Indeed, the advance of the BRIC countries can’t be underestimated in the hospitality sector. The UK and Europe are other geographical markets that the hotel generates a lot of business from.

Doha’s appeal as a business destination is only set to increase, and the fact that it has been named FIFA World Cup city in 2022 only adds to its multi-faceted allure. In view of these positive developments alone, the future of Mövenpick Tower & Suites Doha is looking bright indeed.

For more information contact Tel: +974 4496 6610; Fax: +974 4496 6610; Email: tower.doha@moevenpick.com; www.moevenpick-doha-tower.com

Top stay in Austria: Hilton Vienna Danube

Posted on by Ben Debski

The Danube and Vienna – two inseparable partners in the heart of Europe. For a long time, the former imperial royal capital of the Hapsburg Empire was known as the most important city on the river Danube. Close to the riverbank, the recently renovated Hilton Vienna Danube offers more than a picturesque view.

In its unique location right next to the Danube near the exhibition and trade-fair grounds the famous Prater with the giant Ferris Wheel, the UNO city and the Austria Center Vienna, the Hilton Vienna Danube is the ideal place for business and holiday travel.

Guests enjoy the most spacious rooms in Vienna, conference organizers praise the capacities and state-of the-art meeting and event facilities. The unique facilities range from the elegant Hilton Meetings Boardroom for ten persons and nine light flooded Hilton Meetings Rooms to the newly erected, multi-functional Grand Waterfront Hall for up to 350 delegates. Professional and personal conference services and a perfectly equipped business centre make every event and function a pleasure.

All guest rooms are air-conditioned and fitted out with 37” flat-screen LCD TV, MP3 alarm clock with iPod function, kettle for making coffee and tea and wireless high speed internet access. The layout of the spacious 37m2 overall footprint is optimised, transitioning from the natural light and river views afforded by the French doors to the handsome flannel upholstered corner sofa in the relaxation area which uses a pony wall to help define it as a separate space. Adjacent to this is the working space; as a hotel with a large number of business travel guests, having a plan in which the desk faces the entry door and has a view of the room’s activities was especially important to the Hilton brand.

The Executive Floors and Lounge with breathtaking views offer separate check-in and check-out facilities as well as breakfast, drinks and snacks. In the entrance lobby, a red carpet runner leads the eye to columns which frame the sweeping panorama of the Danube. A chandelier hung from the triple-height ceiling is composed of “floating” Murano glass bubbles hand-blown in three different sizes, reminding guests of the watery currents outside and adding a sophisticated touch of whimsy. This, along with the open fluidity of spaces, transparent glass balustrades and reflective materials which capture the river views, celebrate in a unique way the location.

The Pier 269 Lounge & Bar, which is heralded by striking, backlit glass panels studded with the bases of multicolour wine bottles. Moving into the more residentially styled lounge, a two-way fireplace creates a warming focal point, while comfortable contemporary wingback chairs and dark timber joinery evoke an “old but new” feeling that blends Viennese Secession influences with modern touches. The right atmosphere to unwind and enjoy drinks and snacks.

At the light and airy “Waterfront Restaurant & Terrace” modern European and traditional Austrian cuisine is served. On fine days the terrace attracts many guests for lunch or dinner.

For relaxation a “Hilton Fitness by Precor” with Sauna, whirlpool and work out equipment as well as an outdoor pool is at your disposal. Jogging and cycling paths leading directly from the hotel along the Danube and the Prater.

The city centre, with its array of fascinating sights, is reached easily and quickly only 7 minutes away by underground.The Vienna International Airport is only 20 minutes away from the hotel via the Vienna Airport Lines buses.

For more information please visit www.hilton.co.uk/viennadanube; Handelskai 269, 1020 Vienna, Austria; +43 (0) 1 72 77 70

Five-star accomodation: Malta

Posted on by Ben Debski

This luxury five-star countryside resort is located in one of the picturesque valleys of the tiny Mediterranean island of Gozo. Described as ‘Malta’s little sister,’ Gozo is a charming island that enjoys life at a slower pace of life than its Maltese siblings. What Gozo has in spades is natural beauty and a rich heritage. Terrace-like hills, green vegetable fields and vineyards growing on yellow limestone cliffs make Gozo a romantic paradise.

The hotel is situated close to the Azure Window – one of the best diving spots in the Mediterranean, offers highest levels of service, comfort and style. Surrounded by vast gardens the resort offers elegantly decorated rooms and suites with natural stone floors and Mediterranean colour schemes ranging from golden yellow to clay red and warm brown. Their spaciousness and cool stonewalls are the perfect retreat from the blazing hot sun outside in the summer months. They offer guests the ultimate in comfort, privacy and relaxation.

Each room has a private balcony overlooking the beautiful valley of San Lawrenz, landscaped garden or pool areas. All rooms are equipped with individually controlled air-condition and heating, satellite TV, in-room safe, mini-bar, tea and coffee making facilities, direct telephone and Internet access (Wi-Fi in public areas and all guest rooms); an iron and ironing board are also installed in most rooms.

Delight your senses with a meal at the L’Ortolan or Trattoria San Lawrenz Restaurants, where fresh vegetables, fruit and herbs picked from the resorts own garden are prepared and served with great care and attention. Both situated within our walls, L’Ortolan offers exquisite Mediterranean tastes while Trattoria takes you to Italy and explore its splendid Italian cuisine.

There are also the Gazebo garden restaurant and a pool bar (both open in the warmer months only) and the Café & Lounge with a sundown cocktail terrace and the finest pastries on the island as well as 24-hour room service. All restaurants have terraces overlooking the garden and pool areas.

In the cooler months, you can enjoy the heated indoor pool, Jacuzzi and steam baths in the Kempinski Spa, one of Europe’s best Ayurvedic and Marine Care Centers. Treat yourself to a signature treatment to relieve stress and strain, bringing relaxation to the body and mind.

The Quintessence Spa is based on the natural changes of the five great elements in which water, fire, air, space and earth are in balance. Our spa treatments are designed to balance the senses and invoke lightness and clarity in your life, inspiring you to slow down and enjoy the journey. Our authentic Ayurveda Centre brings you a tradition of a 5,000 year old science in life through our Indian therapists from Kerala and also the Hotel’s Indian Chef will prepare a meal suitable for your dosha dietary.

A full range of activities is offered in the resort from swimming pools, tennis and squash courts, a well equipped fitness centre and the hotel’s own dive centre, where you can take the opportunity to discover the amazing crystal clear blue waters and magical underwater world of Gozo.

Furthermore the Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz is an ideal venue for business conferences and incentive groups, giving delegates a perfect setting to work and concentrate with the help of constant fresh air from the function space’s own open air terraces. The facilities accommodate small meetings to large conferences. The Kappella conference room with its high stone arches is spectacular, with the aura of a medieval banqueting hall, also an ideal venue to celebrate special occasions such as birthdays and weddings.

For more information please contact: Tel: 356 22 11 0000; www.kempinksi.com

Event hosting in Jordan

Posted on by Ben Debski

Located at the heart of the Jordan Valley by the Eastern shores of the Dead Sea at the lowest point on earth, the King Hussein Bin Talal Convention Centre is managed by global hospitality leader Hilton Worldwide. It was established in 2005 and quickly positioned itself as the business destination of choice, not just for major international organisations but also for many local and regionally based companies.

The facts speak for themselves. KHBTCC was designed to the most technologically advanced, user friendly convention centre ever built. It sits over 24,000sq m and its 25 halls are fully equipped with state-of-the-art facilities placing it as one of the leading and most convenient convention venues in the region. It is also ideally located only 40 minutes outside of Jordan’s capital Amman and for that all important leisure time the Centre is near to a number of historical tourist attractions such as Petra, Jerash and Madaba.
In 2010, the venue was rebranded under Hilton Worldwide management bringing the Hilton brand’s global expertise and innovative leadership in meetings and large scale events into Jordan.

Since opening, the KHBTCC has attracted major meetings, conferences and exhibitions, placing Jordan as one of the top MICE destinations in the region and as one of the high-end draws in the conference industry. The venue has hosted many events such as the World Economic Forum, United Nations, International Monetary Fund, ICT Forum, a Microsoft event, the World Rally Championship and the Arab House of Parliaments among many other international associations.

The centre is not only a major attraction for meetings, conferences and events; it also attracts social and private events due to its exceptional event offerings, client servicing and convenient location.

As a further development to its status, in 2013, the KHBTCC will also  be coupled with The Hilton Dead Sea Resort & Spa Hotel introducing a comprehensive complex that will offer a one-stop-shop for local, regional and international visitors as well as tourists interested to hold their business or social events at the Dead Sea. Once the hotel opens in 2013, it will serve as a five-star exclusive resort of choice for those seeking the perfect retreat to relax and be pampered whilst enjoying the therapeutic and healing benefits of the Dead Sea.

The convention centre will then extend Hilton’s offerings to business travellers with modern facilities that will add the business angle to their agenda.

The architecture of the hotel is traditional in its overall form, but contemporary in its look, detail and spatial experience. The hotel offers 177 deluxe rooms, 85 executive rooms, 20 junior suites, two executive suites and a full menu of services. It will also offer its clientele base a comprehensive client servicing system addressing every possible need ranging from security to advertising. This is in addition to high-tech services, luxurious accommodation and a fully fledged spa menu as well as being the perfect retreat to relax and be pampered while enjoying the famous therapeutic and healing benefits of the Dead Sea.

Naif Zuraikat, the General Manager of the King Hussein Bin Talal Convention Center managed by Hilton, said: “We have started construction work and planning is underway to create the biggest leisure complex in the region. We are currently undergoing a very active chapter in Jordan driven by Hilton’s values to provide our clients with the best service and superior experience. The convention centre is currently being renovated to install new flooring, carpets and curtains in different halls, lobbies and entrances… as for the hotel, we have initiated the construction work and the planning has started to launch the biggest business and leisure complex in the region”, Zureikat added.

When asked about the uniqueness of the convention centre, Mr Zureikat said: “The convention centre’s location at the Dead Sea gives it a great advantage, we are only a few hours flight from most European countries; our location falls within a closed zone which can be easily secured and we are surrounded by international fve star hotels. The Dead Sea waters possess unique medical characteristics, suitable for the medical treatment of skin and other diseases in addition to the fact that the east coast of the Dead Sea enjoys longer hours of sunshine giving our visitors a sunset delay of 45 minutes.

For more information, contact: Mrs. Farah Samawi; Marketing and Public Relations Manager; Amman Office: Al-Rabia Towers, 5th floor; P.O.Box 4434, Amman – 11953, Jordan

Email: farah.samawi@hilton.com; Tel: +962 (06) 556 3012; Fax: +962 (06) 556 3013
www.hiltonkinghusseinconventioncentre.com

Top stay in Oman: Millennium Resort

Posted on by Ben Debski

Built especially to host the 2010 Asian Beach Games, the Millennium Resort Mussanah is part of Millennium & Copthorne Hotels, one of the world’s largest hotel companies with more than 120 owned and managed hotels across 20 countries. Just one hour’s drive from central Muscat, and 45 minutes from Seeb International Airport, the Millennium Resort Mussanah is an international resort sensitive to its Omani environment; providing the rich culture and traditions and warm hospitality that Oman is famous for in its serene coastal setting.

Nestled against the Gulf of Oman coastline, between the pristine beaches and stunning Hajjar mountains, the resort offers spacious guestrooms and apartments designed in a sympathetic blend of Arabian and Asian themes. Accommodation ranges from deluxe king-size guestrooms to studio, one and two-bed fully serviced apartments, providing flexible options for travellers whether on a solo business trip or taking a family holiday.

The resort commands panoramic views over the unique Omani landscape from the sea to the mountains: guestrooms benefit from this dual aspect, with sea-view rooms including a balcony with views over the marina and sea beyond. Inside, every room and apartment is sumptuously furnished to ensure a relaxing stay, with high specification bathrooms and living areas, and full connectivity allowing you to stay in touch while enjoying the resort’s relaxing surroundings.

Modern interiors and state-of-the-art technology make the resort’s 300-seat ballroom, three meeting rooms and event plaza the perfect venue for holding corporate seminars, board meetings and special events. Located in the west wing of the hotel, this dedicated business and conferencing space allows for a calm and quiet business environment separate from the hustle and bustle of activity elsewhere in the resort. Each meeting and event space is fully equipped for business needs with LCD projectors and screens, LCD IPTV, WiFi and LAN broad band internet, and smart home automation systems for lighting and sound. From international conventions, to weddings and board meetings, the resort provides the scenery and service required for the occasion.

The coastline provides not only a stunning backdrop to the resort, but also a wide range of leisure activities for guests of all ages. The resort’s five pools – including two infinity pools – overlook the beach and private 54-berth marina, where partner organisation Oman Sail offer sea pursuits from sailing lessons to banana-boat rides. The pristine beach adjacent to the hotel is the ideal spot to relax and soak up the sun or take a dip in the temperate waters of the Gulf of Oman.

Once tired from the day’s activities the resort’s four restaurants are set to restore and replenish. The Mydan restaurant and Naseem Lounge give an easy retreat from activities at any time of the day, either to the comfort of the restaurant and lounge, or to the terrace overlooking the marina. For a more exotic taste, the Al Bahar restaurant serves a fusion of traditional and contemporary Moroccan and Far Eastern cuisine for guests to sample before moving through to The Deck – a modern and relaxed lounge bar offering cocktails and light snacks to live music with views out to the water.

For more information please contact: Email: sales@mill-mussanah.com; Tel: +968 268 71555; Fax:  +968 268 71556; www.millenniumhotels.com

Luxury accomodation: Algarve

Posted on by Ben Debski

Perched dramatically on a cliff top over-looking the white sand and aquamarine Atlantic Ocean below, Vila Vita Parc’s location alone will take your breath away and that’s even before you check into its stylish rooms or dine on its Michelin-starred food. Set in 53 acres of blooming sub-tropical gardens, this ‘Leading Hotel of the World’ member features 180 rooms, suites and villas with pool dotted through separate Moorish-¬influenced buildings like a traditional village, with winding cobbled paths leading between the white-washed houses. Each boasts chic interiors and hypnotic views; some feature their own private terrace complete with telescope for stargazing.

The food too is a draw for Michelin Star lovers, as the hotel’s signature restaurant “The Ocean” was voted Best Restaurant in Portugal this year. Head chef, Hans Neuner, is renowned for his intriguing amuse-bouches, homemade breads and an amazing array of delicate petit fours. Other options include rustic Portuguese cuisinne, international cuisinne, grilled specialties and the freshest seafood available at a selection of the hotels’ eight other restaurants.

Wine comes from the “Cave de Vinhos”, an impressive arched wine cellar with more than 11,000 bottles and 1,200 different wine references that will surely delight connoisseurs. It is the largest private collection in Portugal, and includes the spectacular reds and award-winning whites from the hotel’s own wine estate and farm, “Herdade dos Grous”.

When staying at Vila Vita Parc, the only way to be closer to the ocean is to actually sail it on an elegant 72-foot ultra-luxury yacht to go on private sailing trips, along the Algarve’s breathtaking beautiful coast of sandy coves, enchanted caves and dramatic grottos – recommended for couples looking for a romantic getaway. But parents haven’t been forgotten, as babies ranging from six months to three years can stay at the Natalie’s Crèche, and four to 11-year-olds can play all day long at Annabella´s Kids Parc, all closely monitored by highly-skilled professionals that will make these kids return forever.

The beautifuly manicured gardens set a relaxing mood to Vila Vita Parc, and for a more intense experience, you should visit the Vila Vita Vitel Spa, a world of well-being in a luxurious ambiance with one of the most extensive international menu of spa services. Ranging from beauty care and revitalising treatments to holistic naturopathy, preventive medicine, medicinal cosmetics and pre-aging/anti-aging therapies, there’s a treatment for every guest. The facility also comprises several whirlpools, saunas and steam baths. Besides the spa, health-seekers can find classes of Yoga, Pilates, TaiChi, Aquarobics and Stretching – or opt for a personal trainer to help you during your stay.

Explore the Algarve’s rich culture including the regions capital Faro, the art-stuffed city of Tavira and Silves, one of the Algarve’s earliest towns. Plus there’s a soothing spa, several pools for a refreshing dip or a plethora of activities to entertain. The mild Mediterranean climate is among the Algarve’s greatest attractions. The more than 300 sunny days per year makes it a year-round destination. Summers are warm and dry, tempered by cooling sea breezes; spring and autumn are pleasant and comfortable, ideal for enjoying the region’s many activities; while winters are mild and virtually all the rainfall occurs.

Couples will discover romance wherever they turn at this fantastic resort and families will enjoy all the extensive range of accommodations, dining options, sports, recreational activities, leisure facilities and special programs for guests of all ages. Vila Vita Parc is the perfect getaway for the entire family with something for everyone.

For more information contact: Tel: +351 282 310 100; www.vilavitaparc.com

Conferences at Wembley Stadium

Posted on by Ben Debski

If ever an anecdote served to illustrate the importance of business entertaining, it is surely the story of how Ted Weschler, the managing partner of a hedge fund from Charlottesville, Virginia, came to be appointed as Warren Buffett’s successor at the legendary financier’s insurance holding company, conglomerate and multibillion-dollar investment vehicle Berkshire Hathaway.

Last summer, at a charity auction, Weschler, 50, bid $2,626,411 for the privilege of a meal in the company of the great man. As the New York Times reported it, “The winner of the auction and seven friends [bought] the opportunity to break bread and chew the fat with Mr Buffett.” An extravagant gesture, certainly, but Weschler plainly made a good impression, and the punt paid off. He joins Buffett’s payroll in early 2012.

The importance in business of offering and accepting hospitality, of sharing food with clients, current and prospective, cannot be underestimated. Even Richard Alderman, director of the Serious Fraud Office, in stressing that it remains perfectly legal under the new Bribery Act, described it as “a feature of doing business: one of the ways in which you build up and refresh relationships”.

But restaurants are commonplace, accessible to anyone who can afford them and not invariably memorable. How much more special to entertain your clients and friends at Wembley Stadium, an unforgettable venue whether or not you combine it with a match, whatever the size of your party and however discriminating their tastes.

For though catering at stadiums may be associated chiefly with hot dogs, fish and chips and burgers, all of which, it goes without saying are available at the numerous food and drink service points in the stadium, there is also altogether classier fare to be found.

For instance, Club Wembley members have access to five restaurants, as well as two Champagne and Seafood Bars, the formal seated Venue (in the northwest corner) and Arc (in the northeast) restaurants and buffet-style Atrium between them – some of them offering the finest sort of dining. (It should come as no surprise that Wembley’s executive chef, Frank Coughlan, has cooked not just at Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle, but was once presented with an award for his services to cooking in his native Ireland by the Taoiseach himself, Bertie Ahern.)

At the sensational England-Ghana friendly last spring, Bobby Moore Club members dining in the exclusive Bobby Moore Room restaurant began their meal with Cromer crab and a rocket salad, citrus-soused cucumber and a crisp sour-dough croute, followed by a duo of Cornish lamb (garlic roasted rump and a shepherd’s pie of slow-cooked shoulder) or a supreme of halibut with clam chowder, and finished with a rose-and-raspberry “dome” or platter of English artisanal Shropshire and Lancashire cheeses, quince jelly, fruit chutney and sour-cherry loaf. Post match, there were open tartlets filled with red-onion mash as well as miniature Cumberland sausages to snack on before the journey home.

“A lot of the members eat regularly at top restaurants,” says Coughlan, acknowledging his duty to produce food of the very highest quality, both in terms of its provenance and his inventiveness as a chef. He describes his job as “the best in England” (even though the Manchester United supporter rarely gets to see a match), but his responsibilities are awe-inspiring. The Bobby Moore Room alone has 1,800 covers. And it’s not unusual for him to oversee the production of 10,000 meals on a match day. (“The ops side was impeccable, and the food was amazing,” one satisfied customer wrote to say after hosting an event here.)

Not that Coughlan actually does much cooking in any of the stadium’s 90 kitchens (excluding those in the concession restaurants). But in supervising 140 chefs – in addition to his regular brigade of 39, he can walk up to 15km during a single shift.

Of course, not all the hospitality at Wembley focuses on dinner. And nor is the catering operation restricted to match and concert days. For Delaware North Companies UK, which oversees the stadium’s catering operation, also caters for anything from sandwich lunches for two to cocktail parties for 3,250. For beyond its role as a sports stadium and concert venue, Wembley has the capacity to host all sorts of private events year-round.

Existing Club Wembley box-holders will already know that membership brings with it the right to use their box 364 days a year as an office or meeting room. “On one occasion, we had a client fly in from Dubai,” remembers one corporate box-holder, the sales director of an international lighting company in the East Midlands. He wasn’t going to be in the UK long enough to make the journey to the company’s headquarters in Nottinghamshire, “So we took him to our box. He was an electrical engineer, and the team at Wembley gave us a behind-the-scenes tour: all the wiring and everything, things the public would never get to see. This guy was fascinated.” The contract was in the bag.

But even non-members can hire parts of the stadium for conferences and meetings in the 166 luxuriously appointed and stylish boxes, which are furnished with tables that can set between 10 and 20, as well as sofas for break-out sessions, and indeed a balcony overlooking the pitch. Catering options range from sandwich lunches to buffets. It goes without saying that data projectors, screens, flip charts and so on are provided. Yet prices start at just £59 plus VAT a head.

For larger events, a range of other function rooms is available, none grander than the bi-level Bobby Moore Room, which has an area of 3,480sq m, panoramic views of both the pitch and the north London skyline and can cater for cocktail parties of up to 3,250.
But there are other such splendid, if not quite so spacious, rooms. The Great Hall, for example, has been used for events as various as cabaret evenings (in which case its capacity is 750), dinner dances for 1,000 guests and buffets for 2,000. Then there’s the Atrium, a little over half the size of the Great Hall, with about half its capacity. And finally, there’s the 616 sq m Wembley Suite for 250 to 500 people.

Since it opened it 2007, Wembley has hosted a range of events from product launches and exhibitions to team-building events, awards and graduation ceremonies. On a more a festive note, it’s become an ideal and original place to host a Christmas party. (The seasonal dinner package, from £60pp excluding VAT, for 20 to 1,000 guests, starts with cranberry fizz, includes a traditional three-course meal, wine, disco, a Powerleague five-a-side tournament and, if desired, celebrity lookalikes!)

Indeed it’s even licensed for weddings. The bridal couple can make their vows by the side of the pitch, their friends and family seated in the stands. Then after photographs on the hallowed turf, the wedding party proceeds to a champagne reception, followed by a three-course “breakfast” or buffet, dancing till 1am. There’s an in-house wedding coordinator to ensure everything runs smoothly and that everything’s perfect (they’ll even match the table linen and napkins to the bridal couple’s team colours). Oh, and as a special memento, the happy couple will receive tickets to an England match the following year.

Two unforgettable days for the price of one.

Morocco’s business reforms

Posted on by Ben Debski

The new government which takes over after parliamentary elections in Morocco this month may push through reforms to attract more private investment in the economy, but it is unlikely to have the will to fix troubled state finances.

The elections in November last year could provide Morocco’s most representative government to date, giving it a fresh chance to address deep-rooted economic problems. Under changes approved in a July referendum, King Mohammed will hand over some powers to elected officials while keeping a decisive say in strategic decisions.

Instead of the king, it will be the prime minister who names the heads of strategic state-run firms, such as the phosphate monopoly, the central bank and the national airline, as well as senior bureaucrats in ministries. The king will still vet these appointments but it is hoped that the new system will produce more coherent economic policy-making.

The change of government comes at a difficult time for the economy. Gross domestic product growth is running at an annual rate above four percent but that is not enough to bring down an unemployment rate of around nine percent, and the euro zone debt crisis could hit Morocco hard. The European Union is Morocco’s biggest source of foreign investment, tourists and remittances from some two million Moroccan expatriates who live there.

The International Monetary Fund spoke this month of challenges to Morocco “including the uncertain economic outlook in Europeand the region, the need for fiscal consolidation in the face of large popular demands, and the urgency to implement an ambitious agenda to boost employment and inclusive growth”. Credit rating agency Standard & Poor’s said Morocco faced high risks because its economy was imbalanced in some areas and credit quality was uneven.

The private sector
The Justice and Development Party (PJD), an opposition party of moderate Islamists which won the most seats in the elections and will lead the next government, says it wants to streamline regulations and bureaucratic procedures to attract greater involvement by private investors in big development projects.

Such projects include an extension of Tangier port, a national highway construction plan and electrification of villages. Lahcen Daodi, the PJD’s second-in-command and one of its economic experts, said private sector involvement was needed because the state did not have the resources to finance the projects on its own.

“You will see that the contribution of partnerships between the private and the public sectors to the financing of development projects will increase,” said Industry and Trade Minister Ahmed Reda Chami, from the Socialist Union of People’s Forces (USFP). If the PJD does well in the polls, it plans to form a ruling coalition with the USFP and two other parties.

There appears to be agreement in principle across most political parties on making it easier for the private sector to operate. The Coalition for Democracy, which groups eight parties competing against the PJD, also says it wants legal and bureaucratic reforms to reassure investors. Morocco “needs to tidy up the business climate”, said Coalition official Lahcen Haddad, noting that Moroccan courts took 500 days on average to solve a typical commercial dispute. Another broad area of agreement among the parties is the need to crack down on corruption.”Corruption costs the economy 15bn dirhams ($1.8bn) per year or two percent of our GDP. The budget deficit is expected to stand at 4 percent of GDP in 2012,” said the PJD’s Daodi.

The new parliament is expected to give more powers to the country’s anti-corruption watchdog and anti-trust authority to initiate investigations into improper behaviour. The agencies’ heads have been appointed by the king but will report to the new government.

Difficult decisions ahead
Some of the parties’ goals may be contradictory, however. Many of the parties say they are considering levying a percentage of the turnover of telecommunications firms and profits at banks, and increasing the tax on cement, to raise cash for a 2bn dirham fund to address the needs of 8.5 million destitute Moroccans. Depending on their size, such levies could alarm the private sector. And some reforms which parliament pushes are likely to run into stiff opposition. For example, politicians across the spectrum agree that reforming Morocco’s bloated and inefficient judiciary is vital to improving the business climate, but this will require taking on entrenched and powerful interests. “There are some people (in the judiciary) who benefit from the current situation,” said the Coalition’s Haddad.
Other reforms may be too controversial for parliament to tackle. Haddad said making it easier and cheaper for companies to lay off workers when necessary was key to improving the business climate, but would be the most difficult reform to achieve. Trade unions may oppose it through their representatives in parliament.

Similarly, tax reform is on the cards of many political parties; both the PJD and the Coalition propose raising income tax on high-earning Moroccans while lowering it for the middle class. But the parties acknowledge big tax hikes for the rich could hurt the economy’s savings rate, so there appears to be limited room for such reform.

The trickiest issue of all, which parliament looks unlikely to address decisively, is the government’s social spending. In response to this year’s uprisings in the Arab world, the government has tried to buy stability by boosting its subsidies in areas such as food and fuel; such spending has risen to an estimated 5.5 percent of GDP from an initially budgeted 2.1 percent. The IMF reckons that will raise this year’s budget deficit to 5.7 percent of GDP, the highest in a decade.

Financing a high budget deficit may become more complicated because Moroccan banks “are already highly leveraged” and their lending to the government could hurt liquidity elsewhere in the economy, said Liz Martins, senior economist at HSBC Bank Middle East.
Aid from international donors, mostly from the European Union, “cannot be relied upon, and external bond markets are likely to demand high yields amid what is happening in the euro zone,” she added. But cutting subsidies would be a controversial and risky act for the new parliament; parties worry they could lose public support just as political reforms are giving them more room to compete for power. The parties’ platforms include many steps that would actually increase government spending, such as ensuring better healthcare and raising the minimum wage.

There is a broad consensus on the need to cut the budget deficit to four percent by 2013 and three percent by 2016 at the latest, but for now, many parties are exploring opportunities for efficiency savings and changes to employment policy in the public sector rather than major cuts in public spending.Reforming subsidies “will have to be considered for the long term”, said Haddad.

The PJD appears to be focusing on ways to pay for the subsidies rather than on reducing them. Daodi said his party would raise half the funds needed, or 20bn dirhams, as early as in 2012 from higher taxes, such as an increase in value added tax on luxury products and a tax on barren land.

Luxury Amazon cruises

Posted on by Ben Debski

Synergy happens when 25 distinguished years of international business experience from a former senior banker who has a taste for casual yet refined travel is combined with the thoughtful, awe-inspiring artistic background of a creative and well-travelled interior designer. Embracing a belief in the power of experiencing the world from a beautiful new way, they have teamed up to bring an innovative and breathtaking travel experience and together they help build and support an experience uniquely unsurpassed. This remarkable perspective is based on recognising the value of sustainable communities living harmoniously with intimate river access to pristine canopies and the Amazon jungle; a sight believed to be a contender as one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

Imagine for a brief moment the smell of fresh cut grass after a misty afternoon, the sun is still shining bright and warm, the sounds of monkeys and tropical birds – maybe the sound of crickets chirping away. You find yourself in the protected portion Amazon Rainforest, the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve. This area is one of the world’s most important biodiversity reserves. It is the Porsche of ecotourism, the largest reserve in Peru; it encompasses 5,139,680 acres and lies 106 feet above sea level.  The reserve is meant to house and protect species native to the low-lying jungle. This preserve is inhabited by species on the verge of extinction, including the spider monkey, giant otter, manatee, and the harpy eagle. During the Rainy season (December- May) in the Andes, the water level rises in the Amazon, flooding 85 percent of the reserve making it only accessible by boat, allowing travel even deeper into the jungle.

As the largest tract of tropical rainforest in the Americas, more than 1/3 of all species recorded in the world are found in the Amazon basin, constituting the largest collection of living plant and animal species in the world. One in five of all the birds recorded, live in this extraordinary habitat. It also contains 3,000 species of freshwater fish and holds the largest freshwater fish in the world, the Paiche and Arapaima, attaining a length of up to 16 feet.

As part of the adventure guests are offered the opportunity to observe the pink and grey dolphins up close and if the animals feel friendly enough, they will allow guests to join them for a swim.

Delfin Amazon Cruises (DAC) has taken personalized boutique travel and services one step beyond the ordinary. Their first class service allows guests explore the beauty the area has to offer, and relax in the comfort and style guests deserve.  At DAC they have a long term commitment with the Amazon and with all their guests. They consider that from the minute guests set foot on Iquitos until guests depart back home, guests deserve top quality services.

Bringing together an encounter from the best of both worlds, guests enjoy the Amazon Rainforest as a magical place. Its sounds, aromas, and atmosphere will capture guests with awe. While staying true to the natural architecture and design of the local environment; the vessel manages to bring the comfort and style of a 5-star hotel.

In a setting of understated excellence and world- class hospitality this river vessel features Delfin Amazon Cruises as the pioneer upscale river cruise operator in the Amazon discovery aboard one of their two luxury vessels, the Delfin I & the Delfin II.

The Delfin I, the recently reconditioned vessel, offers four spacious and luxurious cabins. The beds are covered with linens made of the finest Peruvian Pima Cotton. Décor of each room is unique and created by the women of Puerto Miguel. All the suites have a private terrace, and two offer private whirlpools. The Delfin II offers 14 comfortable and authentic cabins: 10 Suites and four Master Suites. Four of which can be interconnected to accommodate families.

They offer five days / four nights and four days / three night programmess aboard both of their vessels, or private charter may be arranged. Guests may enjoy night safaris, piranha fishing, bird watching, swimming around dolphins, flora and fauna spotting as part of the nature experience. Both vessels have recently added Kayaking as an additional activity, ideal for fishing or paddling through quiet waters. And now, the Delfin I also offers Canopy Walks, enhancing guest experience by placing them right in the middle of the action in the attic of Amazon.

Peru is now known to be a culinary hot spot, and for years has been widely known as the melting pot of cuisines. Locals have crafted several regional cuisines that vary directly based on the resources available to their areas. Now if guests are looking for a taste of what the Amazon, as a region has to offer, prepare to be wowed. Peru may be culinary mecca. With famously exotic fruits and vegetables, and the tremendous variety of fine fish available, guests are sure to be satisfied.

The executive chef Isaac Saavedra, the best chef on the Amazon River, will surprise guests with the wonders of Amazon Creole Cuisine. He spoils guests with a unique culinary experience specifically catered to take them places guests have never been before.

A casually elegant setting creates a welcoming and peaceful environment for those who want to get away from it all, or those looking to relax after a day of fun-filled activities. Enjoy the opportunity to connect with nature while seated on soft and large sofas while seeing the breathtaking sights of the Amazon and brilliant star gazing at night. Both vessels are equipped with an entertainment center, library with an assortment of multimedia material, and wildlife presentations focusing on the Amazon rainforest. For children, the Delfin offers an Xbox to entertain them in-between the numerous activities that their guides have planned for their afternoons. For Adults they employ on staff a wellness specialist to offer relaxing massage sessions at a minimal fee. For those wanting to really unwind they have a superb mixologist aboard each vessel ready to take guests on a tour of tasteful cocktails; some mixes are distinctly native to Peru.

Delfin Amazon Cruises is committed to make a low impact on the environment and local culture, while helping to generate sustainable economy for the river people or “ribereños”, as they call them. They work very closely with the women of Puerto Miguel, a small river community with whom they have built a fantastic arts and crafts market with a variety of palm fibre, natural seeds and wood products. Currently there are about 45 women working together to provide for their families.

Delfin Amazon Cruises hopes that by supporting local economies and purchasing their goods they will empower these women to provide for their children’s well being and instill in their families community pride and moral values with opportunities for education. Part of the guest’s journey will be to this community where they can visit and see how the native locals live and if guests like they can purchase the goods and have them shipped to your home. Their influence and hard work can be seen all over the décor of the vessels and are available for purchase. All craft proceeds go to purchase school supplies for the local community schools.

The Amazon Rainforest has an unfortunate history as victim of “environmental abuse” due to the quest for Amazon treasures: minerals, oil, animal skins, precious stones and metals – to name a few. Aldo Macchiavello and Lissy Urteaga hope to conscientiously introduce the world through experiential education and are dedicated to entertain and enlighten guests who visit this paradise in style.

For more information please contact:
sales@delfinamazoncruises.com
Phone: (51-1) 719-0999
Fax: (51-1) 717-1682
www.delfinamazoncruises.com

ACTE hosts the Global Education Conference 2012

Posted on by Ben Debski

In October of this year the Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE) ran one of its most successful ever Global Education Conferences. The location was Europe – or to be more specific the French capital, and what is said to be one of the most beautiful cities in the World – Paris.

So how do you top that?  How do the ACTE conference organising team raise the bar when choosing a venue for their most prestigious convention of all – the North American Global Education Conference? Well how about looking to the city that is often referred to as “Paris in America”?

Yes, San Francisco, the city on the bay is to be the venue for ACTE’s 2012 Global Education Conference. The event, which is a must attend for those in the corporate travel management field, is to be held at The Fairmont, San Francisco on 22-24 April 2012.
It is fair to say that almost everyone knows something about San Francisco. Be it the Golden Gate Bridge or Alcatraz; the 1906 earthquake or that the city is said to be home to the Crookedest Street in the World – Lombard Street.

What is less known perhaps, and what makes for the synergy between ACTE’s recent Global Education conference in Paris and the Spring conference in San Francisco, is the relationship between the two cities – where one extends from the other – much the way the San Francisco event’s content and themes will extend from the Paris conference.
San Francisco has been described as the “Paris of the West” many times over the years, most recently by the Mayor of Paris itself when he arrived in San Francisco last November to commemorate the 10th anniversary of its “Sister Cities” agreement.  And back in the 1870’s, when San Francisco was rapidly expanding it was the home to more French people than any city in North America outside of New Orleans.

From architecture to culture, from pace of life to the local’s attitudes there are glimpses of Paris wherever you look in San Francisco. And the city itself is not referred to as “the most European of North American cities” for nothing.

Just walk to Lands End and the views give the famous statue of The Thinker plenty to contemplate from his seat outside the Palace of the Legion of Honor, a replica of Paris’ Palais de la Legion d’Honneur. The most beautiful of the city’s 65 museums it holds one of the world’s most significant Rodin collections.

So maybe the choice of San Francisco for the ACTE Global Education Conference next April is not such a surprise after all.

Business heritage
But the selection of the city for the convention gathering of ACTE members was for many other reasons also, most notably for the business heritage of the city. San Francisco is the home to the headquarters of businesses old and not so old; from the world famous (and perhaps one of the most historical names in US commerce) Wells Fargo to the more modern phenomena of EA Arts the electronic gaming company. The retail giant GAP was founded and flourished in the city while other world famous brand names ranging from food company Del Monte to financial services world leader Visa class the city as their home.

And let’s not forget the Internet. San Francisco is the home of the head offices of Twitter, social bookmarking websites Digg, Stumbleupon and Reddit and search engines such as Technorati and social networks such as Yammer and Bebo.

And if you cast the net a little wider to the San Francisco Bay area then it is plain to see that ACTE selected San Francisco for its corporate tradition as much as anything else. For the San Francisco Bay area is home to Apple Inc, Hewlett Packard, Cisco Systems, and entertainment companies Pixar, DreamWorks and Lucas films as well as clothing manufacturer North Face plus thousands of other organisations.

Clearly the city on the bay is a hub of corporate life and activity while also being a hive of business travel in and out of the area as the wheels of commerce turn. So attending the ACTE Global Education Conference is a must for anyone involved in business travel management or procurement. As ACTE’s Executive Director, Ron DiLeo says: “Now more than ever it is vital to keep abreast of the latest developments in social, technological and commercial trends; it is vital to network with fellow colleagues and exchange ideas and compare notes and that is what the ACTE Global Education conference is all about. In San Francisco, with its commercial backdrop of operating companies in technology and social interaction it clearly will be a conference designed to highlight all the forthcoming trends to be aware of. And all that against one of the United States most wonderful cities!”

And DiLeo isn’t wrong. For anyone considering attending the ACTE conference next April an additional day or two tacked on to the trip for some “business tourism” is something to seriously think about as there is so much to see and experience.

The sights to see
But with so much to see and, probably, so little time to see it what are the “must sees” when attending the ACTE Global Education conference next April? Well if it’s shopping you want to experience then it is Fisherman’s Wharf that tops the list. Shops, shops, and a plethora of great seafood restaurants line the Wharf, where you still see vestiges of the old fishing crafts used by the Italian immigrants who brought the Wharf to life after the Gold Rush.

For unique culture then China Town is a must. Home to the largest urban population of Chinese people outside China, Chinatown is so authentic; you’ll forget you’re in San Francisco. And can you really say you’ve been to San Francisco without a ride on a clanking cable car? And nobody thought they’d work back in 1873!

Other sights include Alcatraz the dark and foreboding prison island where notorious criminals did their time including Al Capone and George “Machine Gun” Kelly. And of course there is the Golden Gate Bridge, famous on so many post cards and the Golden Gate Park with its heard of American Bison. Then there is the shops of Union Street and Union Square and the 65 museums that are all in the San Francisco area.

So, given that the ACTE conference will be featuring some of the leading thinkers in industry presenting their thoughts during the convention, the opportunity to hear the latest trends in business travel management and to network with fellow business professionals in the backyard of some of America’s greatest commercial names and all this against the backdrop of a city described as the Paris of the West and one can see why it is a must attend event. Do yourself a favor and plan in to your budgeting and diary for 2012 a trip to the ACTE Global Education conference 2012 – it’s sure to be something you’ll never regret.

What lies ahead for Sino-American trade?

Posted on by Ben Debski

Your average Business Destinations reader likes to keep themselves informed as to the deep currents affecting the world economy, with recent Sino-American wrangling over trade doubtlessly gaining your attention. China has been accused of manipulating the value of the yuan over many years, with the goal of cheapening the cost of its exports – recently China overtook Germany as the world’s greatest exporter – and therefore giving its companies a competitive edge. This has rankled with the Americans, especially the historically protectionist Congress, the media and concerned public opinion.

While China has allowed some appreciation of its currency, from 2005 until the financial crisis hit in 2008, and – it has been reported in some media – from June 2010, ostensibly allowing for a seven percent rise in value against the dollar. This appreciation has, apparently, been controlled and artificially prevented from attaining its true, floating value; additionally, it illustrates the benefits of a fixed exchange rate underpinned by copious reserves. Indeed, critics claim that the yuan remains undervalued by 25-40 percent, giving an idea of the significant advantage accruing to Chinese exporters.

An America with a heritage of protectionism and, additionally, in the economic doldrums, has, naturally, exhibited concern over what Congress, the media and public opinion believe not only confers an unfair advantage, but also adversely affects American workers and the American economy. Last October the US Senate passed a bipartisan bill slapping tariffs on goods from countries that undervalue their currency, China being the most egregious offender.

Whilst, naturally, the Chinese have voiced opposition to the bill, and, additionally, President Obama has too, contrarily the House Speaker and Republican leader John Boehner has also joined those opposing the bill, which would require House ratification.

Given the internal politics of the Republican party, and the importance of good Sino-American trading relations at a time when the global economy is so fragile, it is likely that this is motivated by justifiable fear of a trade war at such a time and the realisation that this would be a worse evil than the lesser one of the corollary of unemployment affecting his constituents.

It is interesting to consider the strange bedfellows that the issue has created, the Chinese, the president and the republican leader favour obfuscating the issue. Conversely, the Democratic leadership in the Senate, in the form of Harry Reid, the majority leader, and Charles Schumer, chairman and member of a slew of Senate committees, including finance, have been outspokenly critical of Chinese trade policy and its impact, whilst Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke has said that China’s policy hindered a more balanced growth path. Given the centrality of the division of powers to American politics and how this is reflected in the debate over the matter, both within and outside of Congress and the executive branch, Chinese policy seems altogether less complex, even if, contrarily, more opaque. China will have a trade policy that suits itself and its interests, as framed by its political leadership and the People’s Bank of China, though admittedly WTO membership confers upon it certain responsibilities, as well as bolstering certain rights. It would seem that the Democratic leadership are grandstanding on the issue to bash the Republicans, not necessarily entirely undeservedly, but, given the context, hardly responsibly.

Sino-American trade relations have to be set into their proper context; indeed, consideration of any economic issue at the present time must have reference to the fact that the global economy has never been so fragile. Globally political and economic leadership is constrained, as a result of the poor choices made at the micro and macro levels by both governments and peoples. Most recently the fact that there was any growth in the global economy at all was owing to China, every other major economy either skirted, or actually entered, recession. It seems that the erstwhile leaders of the global economy, the US, perhaps ourselves, are locked into high taxes, less so for the Americans, and low-growth, consequently Chinese trade policy can infringe WTO regulations without there being much that can be done about it. However, the reality, as we have seen, is more complex than those wishing to make political capital at the expense of their opponents in Congress either wish, or appreciate. China’s currency has appreciated, to an extent, Obama and Boehner have publicly opposed a position likely to antagonise China and bring on an unnecessary trade war, at a time when America and the global economy can ill afford it.

The Economist has been analysing the economic case for a Chinese revaluation, as well as the politics of the issue. However, its findings and perspective are quite different to the way that the issue is more commonly reported, as we shall see. The impact of inflation in China on its currency and export policies has been taken into account. It has been found that from early 2009 to July 2011 in nominal terms the yuan appreciated by just four percent – but by a far more robust 17 percent in real terms. The question as to whether any new, or accentuated, appreciation would provide some, or a substantial benefit has also been considered. Yuan appreciation was also placed within the context of wider Asian currency appreciation. Consideration of these factors sets the central issue into broader relief. Mindful as we are of that global uncertainty it makes the idea of risking a trade war for a minor benefit seem absurd.

The tribunes of the people in Congress, however, seem to be ignoring the more complex reality, in part, at least. Considering the Democrat’s loss of control of the House of Representatives last November, and reduced majority in the senate, in the face of a republican house leadership and executive branch broadly allied on the central matter, it seems most likely that the position of Reid and Schumer, et al, is “full of sound and fury, signifying nothing”. It will exercise some airtime, column inches, record, but the essential reality – no critical mass of opinion within the organs of American government favouring a crackdown, global economic fragility, Chinese policy being more nuanced than certain partisans aver, what actual affect American pressure would have on amending Chinese policy – seems to preclude any major upheaval. This is a matter best resolved by trade negotiators in some anteroom in Geneva, or discussed quietly by Chinese and American trade delegations in Beijing or Washington. A public flair-up as a result of congressional pressure with the likely obloquy and unintended outcomes that would ensue is something to be avoided; it seems the president and speaker appreciate this, and that the Chinese appreciate they appreciate this, shame about the Senate majority’s leadership.