Dec 2007 - Jan 2008

More work equals more stressContrary to popular belief, it is not the litany of “home”

problems such as aging parents, children and householdchores that are causing Canadians stress, it’s actually theirpaid jobs, according to a new Canadian study.

The type of work, timing of shifts or holding downmore than one job isn’t as important to “time-crunch”pressure as the sheer number of hours on the job.

The good news is this stress declines as people age,the authors say.

“We work more than most countries already. There isno indication the number of hours is going to drop,”said Robert Andersen, a sociology professor at theUniversity of Toronto and co-author of the study, published in the Canadian Journal of Sociology.

Among the highlights of the study:• Paid work is seven times more stressful for men than

“unpaid work” such as care of children and housework.• Women are five times more stressed by their day jobs

than by their household duties, but they report higher levels of “time crunch” from both sources than men.

• The traditional “breadwinner” model, in which the mandoes most of the paid work and the woman looks after thingsat home, is actually the most stressful for everyone involved.

This represents close to half of couples and it is a model indecline according to co-author Roderic Beaujot, a sociologyprofessor at the University of Western Ontario.

• Men are least stressed by the “gender reversed”arrangement whereby the woman brings home the baconand he does the laundry.

The study is based on responses from almost 6,000Canadians age 30 to 59.

How long will you live?Have you ever wondered when you will die? Many

people do if the number of online “life calculators” is anyindication. Longevity experts say that although no one hasa crystal ball that can predict when anyone will give up theghost, we now know enough about what makes peoplehealthy or ill that we can make some pretty good guessesabout how long someone will live.

One of the most popular of these life expectancy sightsis www.livingto100.com. More than a million peopleworldwide have answered the site’s roughly 50 questionsin return for a question of their life expectancy.

The site’s main purpose is to get people thinking aboutthe steps they can take to lead a longer, healthier life andrecognizes that genes play a major role in life expectancy.About 30 percent of our health is influenced by genes, andabout 70 percent is under our control, say experts.

Dec. ’07 – Jan. 08 3 THEPLANNER

> F.Y.I.

4 Dec. ’07 – Jan. ’08THEPLANNER

Time sure does fly

Another year has gone by, and despite theregular challenges I am sure most of us

can say it was a successful year. We some-times forget how well off we are in Canada,and we need to do whatever we can to help

keep Canada strong and gear up for an exciting 2008.As planners, we can certainly help the environment by making

efforts when planning events and encouraging hotels to do thesame. The other thing we can do is encourage Canadian suppliers.For example, you can encourage local Canadian beer and wineproducers at your next social event, encourage local Canadianaudio-visual companies, and so on. By encouraging local businessesyou help reduce transport costs, emissions and help stimulate oureconomy – all worthy endeavours, no doubt.

We’ve all heard the saying, “Out with the old and in with the new.” It’s a crystallization of a time-honoured thought thatbasically states that we need to discard our old way of thinking tobegin the necessary process of renewal.

And we’ve all heard the story of the woodsman who was busychopping wood. As his axe dulled, the amount of wood he couldchop decreased significantly. When his friend suggested that heshould stop and sharpen his axe, the woodsman replied, “I can’t– I’m too busy chopping wood.” We all need to stop and takestock from time to time.

So as 2007 comes to a close and 2008 begins, let’s sharpen ouraxes and reflect on what we can do to help Canada continuebeing the greatest country in the world.

Seasons Greetings to you all.

—Leo Gervais


> Ed. Note T H E S U P P L A N N E R E D I T I O N

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THEPLANNEREDITOR AND PUBLISHER Leo Gervais [email protected] EDITORS Nathalie Caron [email protected]

Jyl Ashton Cunningham [email protected] ARTIST Matt RiopelSALES James Paulson [email protected] Tania Joanis, Patricia LemusCONTRIBUTORS Mike Auctor, Anne Biarritz, Adrianna Concilio,

Jim Clemmer, Marie-Eve Laganière, The Quebec City Tourism Office

2105 de la Montagne, suite 100Montreal, Quebec H3G 1Z8

Telephone: (514) 849-6841 ext. 333 Fax: (514) 284-2282We welcome your comments: [email protected]

The Planner is a monthly publication distributed to professional meeting and event planners across Canada.

The Planner uses 30% recycled post-consumer paper.Poste-publication No. 40934013

Cool iceCanadians are pretty cool, and part of it isbecause we embrace winter. Consider theIce Hotel and ice sculptures, two things thatare intrinsically connected to winter but thatcan bring out the spirit of adventure.

Flying trends in 2008 Well-travelled Associate Editor Jyl AshtonCunningham discusses everything from luggage to on-board meals to redeemingfrequent flyer miles in this funny andinformative article that should help plannersfly right in the New Year.

Vancouver and CSPEPCanada’s third largest city has a mix ofAsian and Canadian influences as well asimpressive infrastructure. And on Page 22,we review the most recent CSPEP eventheld in Whistler, B.C.

Software overviewThe current business world cannot existwithout computers, and the event planningbusiness has plenty of software supportingit. We take a look at some of the most popular software and some tips about howto make a good buying choice.

A winter favouriteLong associated as the key ingredient of theclassic Screwdriver, vodka has an interestinghistory as a popular drink from eastern Europe.It is classified as a neutral spirit, making it perfect for blending with other flavours.

What change meansJim Clemmer is an expert when it comes totraining people. In this interesting piece,Jim explains why we always have to look atchange as an opportunity and not just apotential crisis that is affecting us.

Quebec City inspiresOne of North America’s great historic cities,Quebec City is also an incredibly fun-filledwinter destination, replete with plenty ofcold-weather activities including skiing andthe famous Quebec City Carnival.


Cineplex aims to change entertainmentlandscape in southern Ontario

Looking to provide more entertainment-relatedamenities and services to its clients in Southern Ontario,Cineplex Entertainment has announced several newofferings at its 12-screen, 45,000 square foot SilverCityOakville Cinemas that could be of interest to meetingplanners. Here’s some of the new features:

• Six bowling lanes, two party rooms and a gamesroom with the latest interactive video games and billiards

• VIP Experience (for ages 19 and over only) withthree auditoriums featuring reserved seating, in-seatservice and a licensed lounge with appetizer menuofferings, private box office, concession stand and premium seats

• Canada’s largest digital cinema system with ninecutting-edge projectors

Some events planners can hold at the complex: private functions for any special occasion, productlaunches, sales presentations, team meetings, trainingseminars, business planning off-sites, holiday parties,conferences, tradeshows, AGMs and private screenings(for staff and client appreciation).

On the Web: www.cineplex.com/silvercityoakville.

> Industry NewsNew column in The Planner

Tentative title: Ask the AV ExpertThe Planner is introducing a new regular

column: Ask the AV Expert: Philippe Kwon. Weinvite event planners to email us your audiovisualquestions.

Philippe Kwon from Inland AV will answeryour questions in upcoming editions of ThePlanner. Phil’s AV career spans over 20 years andhe is currently the only InfoComm Internationalapproved AV instructor. As a CSAE board memberand an MPI committee member, Phil is alsoinvolved in event planning.

Originally from England, Philippe Kwon currently resides and works in Winnipeg,Manitoba for Inland Audio Visual’s rental division.

Philippe started with Inland in 1991 as an audiovisual technician and has been an audio visualrental consultant for the company since 1999.

He assists clients with their audio visual needsfor meetings, conferences, conventions, annualgeneral meetings, trade shows, fashion showsand other events across Canada.

For more information: [email protected].

Dec. ’07 – Jan. ’08 7 THEPLANNER

Heathrow to get direct train service from London Passengers will have direct train services from central London when

Terminal 5 opens at Heathrow in March 2008. Heathrow Express will leavePaddington Station every 15 minutes, stopping first at Terminals 1, 2 and 3and then going on to Terminal 5. The journey to Terminal 5 fromPaddington is said to be only 23 minutes. Heathrow Connect, a stoppingservice that currently links Paddington Station with Terminals 1, 2 and 3,will be extended to Terminal 4 from March 2008. The Connect serviceleaves every 30 minutes and calls en route at Ealing Broadway, West Ealing,Hanwell, Southall and Hayes. It will offer a connection with HeathrowExpress at Terminals 1, 2 and 3. The journey time is only 25 minutes to thefirst 3 terminals and a total of 33 minutes to Terminal 4. The new trains areair-conditioned with interiors designed to accommodate luggage.

CSAE Ottawa-Gatineau Tête-à-Tête tradeshow tobe held February 13 at the Ottawa Congress Centre

Dr. Brian Little will be the keynote speaker for the 2008 Tête-à-Tête tobe held on Feb. 13 at the Ottawa Congress Centre. Dr. Little is an award-winning psychologist and university professor whose area of expertise ispersonality types. His presentations are a wonderful exploration of howspecific types of personalities react to certain situations, how differentpersonalities work together and how a better understanding of theseissues can improve and enrich all of the important relationships in ourlives. With 60 booths, 60 mini-booths and 80 tabletops, the 2008 Tête-à-Tête will be the largest one to date. It is an excellent opportunity to meetnew and existing suppliers — meet The Planner team at booth #506.

On the Web: www.csaeteteatete.ca

> Industry News Did you know...that according to a recent study bypsychologist George Gallup, thefirmer the handshake the more

socially dominant a man is supposed to be? But males with

firm grips reported moreaggressive behaviour and wereabout 10% more promiscuous.


The Ice Hotel and ice sculptures– part of Quebec’s winter charmBY LEO GERVAIS

As we watch the many inches of snow fall this winter, we usually only think of the months until

spring. As Canadians, weather is important to usbecause we have such extremes of it, and the winter inmost parts of Canada can be very unforgiving and trying. But perhaps we need to have a new outlook andembrace the chilly climes that Mother Nature brings ourway every December, and along with it snow and, ofcourse, ice. With that in mind, please read on about theimportance of ice in ways you probably have never considered.

QUEBEC’S ICE HOTELFrom January 4 to April 1, 2008, the Ice Hotel will be

in operation for its eighth winter. That may seem like asurprisingly long time, especially when we understandwhat it takes to construct this structure year after yearand considering that it lasts only 88 days.

Situated on the Duschesnay tourist site, 30 minutes fromQuebec City, the Ice Hotel begins its new cycle in mid-December. It is made entirely of ice and snow and stain-less steel moulds are used in the making of the Ice Hotel. Thewalls are approximately four feet thick at the base and twofeet thick at ceiling level. They are first put into place andthen wooden walls are fixed at a certain distance from thesteel moulds. Snow is blown between the moulds and thewooden walls, completely covering the steel moulds. Thenthey blow snow on the metal moulds in the form of a domewhich becomes the structure of the hotel.

Depending on the temperature, it will take from threehours to ten days to set, then the moulds are taken off andre-installed in a new location where a new section will bemade. It is a delicate operation to remove these mouldsand it has to be done very gently. The moulds have skatesat the bottom and this enables the crew to move them onthe snow. The walls easily stop the wind and provide thehotel with an ambient temperature that varies between -2°Cand -5°C no matter the temperature outside.

THE INTERIORIce blocks produced by Arctic Glacier are used for

interior structures, such as columns, the bar counter, theice glasses, the furniture, the rooms, the suites and thesculptures. Ice blocks are also placed at the extremities

of the hallways in a brick-like fashion. With a reneweddesign every year, the Ice Hotel has its own artisticdirector who develops new concepts for the variousrooms and supervises the team of crafters who developthe whole complex. Over the years, the Ice Hotel teamhas developed great expertise in ice and snow sculpture.The artistic director counts on a professional team to beable to fabricate various ice décors.

Since it was founded in 2001, the Ice Hotel has rap-idly become a world-renowned tourist landmark. Withan area of 3,000 m2, the only ice hotel in America fea-tures 36 guestrooms and thematic suites. The Ice Hotelalso has a discotheque, the N’Ice Club and a café namedLe Café Glacé (the ice coffee) where visitors can savourhot drinks, soups and aromatized coffee.

Besides the rooms, spas and a sauna, functioningfireplaces as well as a chapel – where couples fromaround the world come to say the famous ‘’I do’’ – canalso be found at the Ice Hotel.

Information on the ice hotel was provided by Marie-Eve Laganière,Communications and Media Relations Consultant for The Ice Hotel.She can be contacted at (418) 875-4522 or 1 (877) 505-0423 or visittheir website: www.hoteldeglace.qc.ca.

So is it cold or just cool sleeping in the ice hotel?

The Ice Hotel is in itseighth season.

Sculpturesbecome memories

Three feet of ice does not result from one day of coldweather.

– Chinese Proverb

Ice sculpting is a successful industry in Canada but isstill growing in Quebec. More and more, ice carvings areseen as valuable tools to enhance the attractiveness ofcorporate events and personal parties. Ice sculptures cando a lot more than simply look pretty – they can be corporate logos reproduced with 100 percent accuracy,food presentation pieces, liquor luges in a wide varietyof custom designs and sizes and so on; in short, they canbe designs that are fully functional.

In the last 20 years, we have seen ice sculpturesmove from an art involving a set of chisels and a chain-saw to an industry that takes advantage of theClinebelle ice block machines which offer crystal clearice (and make it possible to freeze items in the ice),exotic die grinder bits, constantly evolving computersoftware and high technology (and high cost) machin-ery such as the CNC machines and ice lathes.

Long gone are the swans and hearts in ice. In today’sice carving industry, trends come and go frequently. A year or so ago, it was the ice bar that became the hotitem at events, then it was the ice shot glass, followed by the ice luges. And now we are heading ina new direction with ice lounges which include walls,bars, chairs, tables and décor – all made in ice.

Some might be concerned that the art of ice sculptingis being lost as technology takes over much of the pro-duction of these ice components. In reality, what is likelyto happen is that there will be renewed interest in icesculptures as more and more people discover ice as amedium and realize what can be done with it.

Information on the ice sculptures was provided by AdriannaConcilio. She can be contacted at (450) 628-3013 or visit her website:www.sculpturesrain.com.

Dec. ’07 – Jan. ’08 9THEPLANNER

Ice sculptures can take on a life of their own

WINTER TERRACES...Enjoy the winter climate by embracing it. Have you

thought of organizing an event on a terrace betweenthe months of December and March? It is possible todo so in a few places in Montreal and Toronto. Hereare some interesting venues to consider:

Rosalie: Two years ago, I rented some heatingumbrellas; tables had been set with pine arrange-ments for decorations. Hors d’oeuvres and hot drinkswere served. Tel: (514) 392-1970

Garçon has transformed its terrace in an ice bar forthe last three winters. Will they renew the experienceagain? Time will tell. Tel: (514) 843-4000

The Winter Bar of the Quays of the Old Port isproposing a new concept offering an innovative barunder an illuminated canopy with carpet and floorsurrounded by outdoor space open for private eventsfrom Monday to Wednesday until early March. Morethan 400 people can enjoy the outdoor and indoorspace just a few meters from the skating rink.

Tel: (514) 582-8301 or www.quaysoftheoldport.comIn Toronto, my colleagues suggest This Is London,

Ki or C Lounge.– Nathalie Caron


Flying into 2008 – updates and trends

Air travel to changein the coming year

It doesn’t seem to matter what the airline industrythrows in the path of the long suffering traveller –

with no viable alternative to air travel, we just keep tak-ing it and 2007 has been no exception. As a frequentflyer myself, I never cease to be amazed at how resilientand patient people can be when faced with all kinds ofadversity, from strikes to weather delays to lost baggageand revolting airline food, that seems to be common-place for the most part. Lose your temper though, how-ever justified, and the options are few – be left behindand in some cases face prosecution!

Having had a couple of personal rude awakenings thisyear, both from a top airline and a holiday charter serv-ice, this article is intended to help others from encounter-ing similar situations and to ease the stress of an unavoid-able experience by following some simple instructions,thus making the journey as pleasant as possible.

PASSPORTSAs always, forewarned is forearmed and the wise

traveller will educate himself, sometimes to the point ofmild insanity, in an effort not to get caught out by somenew, rumoured, or possibly fictitious rule or regulationin the name of security, health and safety, etc.

A booklet produced by the Canadian Governmententitled, “Bon Voyage, But” is an invaluable referencetool for all Canadians travelling abroad and is availablefor download online.

On the Web: www.voyage.gc.ca. Planners who have dual citizenship and carry two

passports to save time at points of entry might be inter-ested in the following information from the booklet:

“If you travel with two passports, you could be subjectto increased scrutiny by immigration and security offi-cials. You could be questioned about missing entry orexit stamps, as well as your reason for having two traveldocuments. In some countries, possession of a secondpassport could result in its confiscation or a fine. Youmay even be prevented from leaving the country.”

On a recent trip to the United States, just before pass-ports became obligatory, I was travelling on a CanadianCitizenship card with an EEC passport as backup.

Not only was I required to fill out an extra form, I was also told by the customs officer to choose whichdocument I was travelling with, or risk losing them bothon the spot. Lesson learned.

BAGGAGE WEIGHT AND RESTRICTIONSThere has been a great deal of press coverage on

excess baggage charges over the last few months, as air-lines seek to cash in on travellers who choose not totravel light.

The restrictions are not always easy to find, they arerarely in printed travel documents or e-ticket informa-tion. Travellers booking through an agent are notalways given full details, and often forget to ask. Often,it is only when the bag is weighed at check in when theattendant looks up with a big grin and says, “You’re 10kg overweight madam,” (to which I always becomepretty defensive as I am DOING something about it,okay!) Then the calculator comes out and the dollarsigns roll in the attendant’s eyes to the tune of anywhere between $5 and $15 a kilogram for excessbaggage weight.

I had a particularly unpleasant experience this fall,travelling with Globespan. I knew the weight restrictionto be 20kg and had carefully weighed my luggage,packing all the papers and brochures collected on ajournalist FAM to Scotland into my hand luggage. Thesuitcase weighed in at just under 20kg and I gave some-thing of a smirk and a little cheer under my breath.Then the attendant reached forward and said, “Now putyour hand luggage on the scale please.”

Unknown to me, hand luggage was included in thetotal weight. I reasoned, argued and cajoled but to noavail – either pay $100 or don’t fly/leave somethingbehind. I even threatened to do my sister’s trick (whichis to unpack all the heavy items and put them on, giving her quite a strange profile), to which the replywas, “Go ahead, lots of people do that.” In the end, Ileft some items in the UK to retrieve at a later date.When I questioned the practice of charging for excessbaggage some days and not others, I was told it just“depends how we are feeling that day,” and “Youshould have read the Terms and Conditions on the web-site.” Quite right, I should have. Lesson learned, again.

Baggage weight can vary considerably between carriersand travelling charter flights (excluding private charters)can be up to half the allowance of scheduled airlines.Westjet and Porter Airlines both offer very reasonable bag-gage allowance, as do American Airlines and Continental.

BY JYL ASHTON CUNNINGHAM, CMP


Flying on points is a challenge for mostFor an excellent reference tool to check on all infor-

mation pertaining to flying with most carriers, check outwww.seatguru.com. Here you will find details onrestrictions, types of planes, seats, eligible frequent flyerprograms and so much more, by simply doing a searchon the airline name. Most major airlines are included onthe site, making the planner’s job so much easier whenrelaying information to delegates.

The United Kingdom now only allows one piece ofhand luggage on board, so purses, laptops, etc. all haveto be carried in one bag. The liquids rule for hand luggage will continue to be enforced through 2008, witha maximum 100ml container (half-full 200 ml containerswill be confiscated!) and all liquids are still to be packedin sealed baggies.

ON BOARD MEALSThere is no doubt that the quality of food service on

board most major airlines has deteriorated considerablyin the last year. Where British Airways used to offerthree choices, including a healthy option to WorldTravellers (economy class with a grand name), thechoice is now limited to two.

Globespan offer sausages and mash on all theirflights and the vegetarian option was sausages andmash without the sausage when I last flew. Charging fordomestic flight meals is now commonplace, howeverthe option is usually a sugary or starchy snack ratherthan a proper meal. Better to eat a healthy protein-richmeal before flying and decline on-board meals altogether.

FREQUENT FLYER REDEMPTIONAnyone trying to fly on points these days has a story

to tell. It seems that in some programs, the later thereservation is made, the more points are used or thewaiting list can be months or even years to fly to certainplaces. A colleague planning to go to Australia, havingsaved the required number of points to travel businessclass most of the way, was greeted with hystericallaughter by the call centre operator when she gave hertravel dates as being a year ahead. My advice is to usea program such as Avion, operated by the Royal Bankthrough Visa.

There are no blackout periods and as long as there isa seat on the plane, travel is guaranteed. The staff areincredibly helpful and courteous and once even got meon a flight on the same day of booking, in an emergency,although they generally require at least a week’s notice.

CHARTER FLIGHTSMany corporate travel companies prefer to use sched-

uled or private charter flights for several reasons. Holidaycharters, although generally cheaper, tend to go into incen-tive destinations on a weekly or ten-day basis, droppingpassengers and turning round with the returning group.Since the policy of large corporations is to separate theirtop people onto various flights, charters would not be prac-tical. However, when families are included in an incentiveprogram, delegates often select charters as they are gener-ally cheaper. Charters may also make one or more stops enroute to pick up additional passengers, which can add con-siderable time to an already long journey.

One advantage of some holiday charters is that theytend to use the smaller airports, which are much easierto navigate both in terms of distance between check-inand departure gate, as well as proximity to town cen-tres. The only disadvantage noted by some travellers isthe customs clearance wait time on arrival, usually dueto staff shortages or training programs.

A 2004 Regional and Small Airports Study byTransport Canada shows that over 55 percent of thetraffic at small airports is business related, with 50 per-cent of that movement being cargo. Small airports arethe lifeblood of communities, for so many reasonsincluding employment, accessibility and emergencyservices. The report also demonstrated that small air-ports play a vital role in the larger air network picture,providing essential feeder routes to international links.2008 will likely see smaller airports providing moretrans-continental links as in the case of HamiltonInternational, where several flights operate to up to fiveUK destinations on a daily basis. Don’t be misled intothinking that security is more lax in smaller airportsthan larger ones; if anything the opposite is true.

In 2008, let us all make a resolution to stand up forour collective rights as travellers, to demand impeccablecustomer service from reservation, ground and flightstaff of all carriers. Virgin Atlantic service has beenacclaimed as second to none and that which all airlinesshould strive to achieve. Westjet prides itself on firstrate service, even if the advertisements are a little far-fetched and the comedy routines a little wearing. I predict great strides forward for Porter, and AirCanada will have some fierce competition to live up to.

Jyl Ashton Cunningham, CMP is an independent meeting and

special event planner based in Oakville, Ontario, and Associate Editor

of The Planner, Ontario. Jyl welcomes your comments and can be

reached at [email protected] or [email protected].


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Nestled on Canada’sspectacular West

Coast, Vancouver is adynamic, multiculturalcity set in a spectacularnatural environment. Itconsistently rates as oneof the top 10 meetingand convention destina-tions year after year, hasbeen voted one of theworld’s most livablecities and is the proudhost of the 2010 Olympic& Paralympic WinterGames.

Home to approximately two million residents, MetroVancouver ranks as the third most populous city inCanada after Toronto and Montreal.

The outdoor lifestyle is prized here and the cityboasts an impressive array of parks and beaches withinthe city limits. Any visit to Vancouver would not becomplete without a tour of these popular getaways.

On the Web: www.vancouver.com

V a n c o u v e rInternational Airport hasconsistently been ratedas one of NorthAmerica’s top airports.Meeting and conventionfacilities are leading edgeand hotel accommoda-tions — which includetwo AAA Five-Diamondrated properties in B.C. —range to suit every need.

Vancouver’s hotels,restaurants and conven-tion facilities offer out-

standing levels of service and product quality. TheVancouver’s Service Edge commitment ensures you willexperience the very best in customer sales, service anddestination marketing support. Catering to any interestthroughout all four seasons, your delegates can enjoyworld class shopping to outdoor adventures, gourmetmeals to live entertainment, and outstanding sights andattractions. On the Web: www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/weaver/vcmpg107/

Vancouver: The City of Lights shines

Vancouver boasts an impressive skyline with mountains behind.Photo Thom Quine


Software is essential for plannersEd. Note: Long gone are the days when people would use a manual list to keep track of attendees and a word-

processor for planning. Today, we all need to keep abreast of technology. The trouble is, there is a myriad of hardwareand software we can use to presumably work more effeciently. On the next two pages are some software productson the market with some information supplied by the vendors themselves.

Name: Vivien SoftwareCompany: Cast softwareDescription: Vivien is an intuitive, 3D event designand sales software for the full spectrum of event professionals.

Using Vivien’s visually stunning 3D images, eventplanners, designers, venue sales teams, caterers, furniture rental specialists — all can design winningproposals, customize and brand to sell more spaces,quickly respond to RFPs, generate faster turn-around… do and sell more. Vivien will make youmore professional, more productive, more profitable.

Easy to use, Vivien is based on familiar Windowsfunctionality, with the same drag and drop, cut, copyand paste functions such as programs like MicrosoftWord. Great Feature: Layouts: Create custom proposalscontaining 2D/3D/Virtual View images, renderings,spreadsheet details, company logos, etc.On the Web: www.viviendesign.com

Name: MeetMaxCompany: The Wall Street TranscriptDescription: A lot of registration tools look like theywere designed by engineers, for use by engineers.MeetMax has intentionally stayed easy-to-use, with-out giving up functionality. This might sound unre-markable, but complex systems get mis-used, andmore sophisticated features get ignored. The keypoints of the software are its usability, powerful fea-tures, and flexibility and customizability. In terms ofsupport, most of our clients are corporate – doinghigh value corporate meetings or large financial con-ferences. They are busy people, who may want toshare the job of managing the registration site.MeetMax does a great job of making a registrationsystem that is exactly what our client needs. Great Feature: Private 1-on-1 meetings. MeetMax isa world leader in managing private scheduled meet-ings within an overall event. On the Web: www.meetmax.com

Name: Exposoft Solutions (various software)Company: Exposoft SolutionsDescription: Exposoft Solutions provides tailored web-based solutions to create powerful event experiences.Conference organizers constantly strive to create betterexperiences for their delegates while meeting their busi-ness objectives. At Exposoft our role is simple:

• Empower our clients by giving them the tools tostop “doing time” to making the most of it

• Improve access to information commonlyrequired at events (for both the attendees and eventmanagement). Our Internet application is a low costsolution allowing our clients to control the entireregistration process via the Internet. We incorporatetheir specific registration criteria and business rulesinto user-friendly on-line registration forms Great Feature: Conference organizers have pass-word-protected access to their event database 24/7via the internet. On the Web: www.exposoft.com

Name: Caterease Catering and Event ManagementSoftware Company: CatereaseDescription: Caterease Catering and EventManagement Software is a leader of the event management software industry. With a user-friendlydesign and state-of-the-art tools, Caterease is themost popular catering program on the market today.Features like the revolutionary Event Wizard allowyou to book a new event in less than ten seconds,walking you through the process from selecting aclient to printing a finished contract. The program’sremarkable Print Designer gives you complete con-trol over your company’s image, letting you createand modify limitless custom event prints.Great Feature: Book events in seconds, generateany number of custom prints and eliminate mun-dane, repetitive tasks entirely – all in an environ-ment that’s easy and fun to use.On the Web: www.caterease.com

*


There are many things to consider when buying software. Here are a few: 1. Price. Be sure to check if it ismulti-user or not. 2. Support. Is there adequate support for the product. 3. Is there a satisfaction guarantee?Can you get a refund if you are not satisfied? This is the most overlooked aspect of buying. 4. How often is thesoftware updated/do they fix bugs? Don’t be shy to contact users to see a company’s track record.

Software: Always try it first, then buy

Name: MarketingPilot Meeting and Event PlanningSoftwareCompany: MarketingPilot Description: MarketingPilot is designed for event,conference, meeting and trade show planners.MarketingPilot is a complete event managementsolution that helps users deliver superior results inaddition to streamlining operations and improvingproductivity and profitability.

RegistrationMarketingPilot provides completely integrated

web registration for your events. Unlike stand-aloneregistration systems, MarketingPilot provides a com-plete integrated solution for event management,planning and registration. It is quick to implementand highly customizable and is able to integrateevent planning and registration

Great Feature: It is browser-based, Mac and PC-compatible and accessible via the Internet. On the Web: www.marketingpilot.com

Name: ePly Online Event RegistrationCompany: ePly Description: You can save valuable hours every dayby utilizing a professional online event registrationlike ePly. Marrying the best in technology, serviceand human factors – ePly online event registrationservices allow you to focus on the event, rather thanensuring everyone gets registered, pays and has theevent information. ePly’s highly trained staff utilizesproprietary software that allows for a customizedand branded form that is exactly right for your eventbased on your input and criteria. They take care ofall of the testing and provide you with as much or aslittle support you need while you work to plan yourevent using the real time registration reporting andtracking. The end result is you have complete con-trol over the set up of your registration form and youget to focus on the actual event.

Great Feature: Download a FREE copy of the“Event Planners Guide” from ePly’s website. On the Web: www.eply.com

Name: Experient Inc.Company: Experient EventXL Description: Solve all the registration and housingneeds for your event with a single, integrated solu-tion created by Experient. Our innovative, propri-etary, .NET-based Experient EventXL™ softwareplatform offers a truly integrated, one-step processfor registration and housing. Everyone wins withthis fully configurable registration and housing solu-tion. With one log-on, attendees register to attend,select any special events or education sessions,reserve a hotel room, and pay for everything in oneeasy transaction. This intuitive system progressesattendees to the next logical step based upon theirdecisions, ultimately resulting in a single confirma-tion of the entire process. Secure financial manage-ment and advance and onsite registration.Great Feature: Real-time integration of your database and electronic confirmations. On the Web: www.experient-inc.com/ad/irah


A help desk application with a difference

www.zendesk.com

Your company’s IT staff and everyone who uses a computer

in the office will love Zendesk. People log on to Zendesk

when there is a problem which generates a trouble ticket

which can be integrated with email, complete with attach-

ments tracked via RSS or tracked on the Zendesk site in a

browser. All tickets can be edited or annotated with com-

ments and organized in a variety of ways for easy tracking.

All ticket activity is tracked and easily audited. There is

also a variety of report tools that allow you to track your help

desk efficiency. There is a free version of Zendesk for

personal use, but most companies will have to sign up for

one of the paid packages offered by the company.

And now presenting...

www.presentationzen.com

As a general rule, most of us could use a little work in

improving our presentation skills. And we know when we are

watching a good presentation: It is entertaining, informative

and a pleasure to sit through. Now there’s a site that is dedi-

cated to helping people elevate their own presentation style to

a higher level. The site is a companion to a soon-to-be-pub-

lished book of the same name by Garr Reynolds. He discusses

the creation of the book and points out examples of sample

presentations online that he singles out as being exemplary. he

provides analyses of what makes these speeches work.

The style and content differ for the presentations, so not

only do you get to study how the various presenters perform

but you also learn something as well.

If you have a Website you think fellow planners mightfind useful, send us a note at: [email protected].

DD AATTEEBBOOOOKK Websites of interest

Upcoming EventsJanuary 11-13, 2008Association for Convention Operations Management,Annual Conference, The Westin Seattle. Contact: (609)799-3712, www.acomonline.org.

January 13-16, 2008Professional Convention Management Association,Annual Meeting, Washington State Convention andTrade Center, Seattle, Wash. Contact: (877) 827-7262,www.pcma.org.

February 2-5, 2008Meeting Professionals International, ProfessionalEducation Conference-North America, George R. BrownConvention Center, Houston, Tex. Contact: (972) 702-3000, www.mpiweb.org.

February 5-8, 2008Religious Conference Management Association, WorldConference, Rosen Shingle Creek Hotel, Orlando, Fla.Contact: (317) 632-1888, www.rcmaweb.org.

February 20-24, 2008Association of Destination Management Executives,Annual Meeting, Sheraton New Orleans. Contact: (937)586-3727, www.adme.org.

March 9-12, 2008Association of Collegiate Conference and EventsDirectors-International, Annual Conference, RivieraHotel & Casino, Las Vegas. Contact: (877) 502-2233,www.acced-i.org

Have an event? E-mail us at [email protected].

You may have had it chilled or seen James Bonddrink his famous martini, shaken not stirred. In any

case, vodka is one of the world’s most popular spirits.Vodka is a clear liquid containing water and ethanol

purified by distillation from a fermented substance suchas potatoes, grain, sugar beet molasses or even hempseeds and an insignificant amount of other substancessuch as impurities and possibly flavorings. Except forvarious types of flavorings, vodka is a colorless liquid.

WHAT IT’S MADE OFVodka usually has an alcohol content of 35 percent

to 50 percent by volume. The classic Russian,Lithuanian and Polish vodka is 40 percent (USA 80proof). This can be attributed to the Russian standardsfor vodka production introduced in 1894 by AlexanderIII from research undertaken by the Russian chemistDmitri Mendeleev. According to the Vodka Museum inMoscow, Mendeleev found the perfect percentage to be38. However, since spirits in his time were taxed ontheir strength, the percentage was rounded up to 40 tosimplify the tax computation. The European Union setsa minimum of 37.5% alcohol by volume.

The word is a diminutive of “water” (voda, woda) insome Slavic languages (such as Upper Sorbian),although it is not clear whether this is related to wódka.

WHERE VODKA ORIGINATEDThe origins of wódka (and of its name) cannot be

traced definitively, but it is believed to have originatedin the grain-growing region that now embraces Poland,Belarus, Lithuania, Ukraine. It also has a long traditionin Scandinavia. Although vodka is traditionally drunkneat in Eastern European and Nordic countries of the“Vodka Belt,” its popularity elsewhere owes much to itsusefulness in cocktails and other mixed drinks, such asthe Bloody Mary, the Screwdriver, the vodka tonic andthe aforementioned vodka martini of 007 fame.

TYPES OF VODKASince vodka tends to be a neutral spirit, it lends itself

to blending with flavors and fortifying other beverages.In the 19th century, high-proof “Russian spirit” was heldin high esteem by Sherry producers in Spain, whoimported it to fortify their wines.

Neutral spirits are still used to fortify Port, Sherry,and other types of fortified wines, although the sourceof alcohol for such purposes these days tends to be thevast “wine lake” that has been created by EuropeanUnion agricultural practices.

Flavored vodkas have been produced from the start,originally to mask the flavor of the first primitive vodkas, but later as a mark of the distiller’s skill. TheRussians and Poles in particular still market dozens offlavors. Some of the better known types are:

Kubanskaya – Vodka flavored with an infusion ofdried lemon and orange peels.

Limonnaya – Lemon-flavored vodka, usually with atouch of sugar added.

Okhotnichya – “Hunters” Vodka is flavored with amix of ginger, cloves, lemon peel, coffee, anise andother herbs and spices. It is then blended with sugarand a touch of a wine similar to white port.

Vodka suits any occasion, goes with any food, and (ifyou believe certain advertisements) gives you less of ahangover than any other liquor. It’s no wonder that inAmerica, vodka outsells gin, rum, and tequila, as well asscotch, bourbon, and Canadian whiskey, according toSlate magazine.

On the Web:www.absolut.comwww.smirnoff.comwww.icebergvodka.comwww.tastings.com/spirits/vodka.html


Vodka: A winter favourite


Change can mean crisis or opportunityBY JIM CLEMMER

“Weep not that the world changes. Did it keep a stable, changeless state, it were cause indeed to weep.”— William Cullen Bryant, 19th century American poet,critic, and editor

“I hate all this change. Why can’t things just stay thesame?” Dirk shouted angrily at the TV news anchor. Hethrew a pillow at the TV screen and clicked it off witha snort. Suddenly a hissing noise arose from the cornerof the room and green, shimmering mist filled the air.Dirk stood in shock as a one-foot tall, wrinkled old manemerged from the glowing cloud. The tiny, grizzled fellow had a long flowing white beard and was dressedfrom head to toe in green. His eyes twinkled with mis-chief as he flashed a gap-toothed grin. “Hi, I am Mike.I can take you to a place where people don’t have todeal with change and things stay the same all the time.”

Before Dirk could say a word, the little elf drew ahandful of sparkling green dust from his vest pocket.With an impish smirk and a big wink, he threw thepowder at Dirk. With the hissing sound filling his earsDirk was engulfed in the green, twinkling fog. Stillunable to see through the emerald haze, he heard Mikesay, “Here we are. Here’s a place where things stay thesame and people don’t have to deal with change.” Theelf blew away the mist. They were standing on the lushgreen grass of a well-trimmed graveyard. Neat, polishedgravestones stretched far out to the horizon.

“Life is change,” the aged elf said with a chuckle ashe leapt to the top of a headstone. “It’s one of nature’smighty laws. Eons ago, I had this conversation with myold buddy, Heraclitus, and told him that change is theonly thing that's permanent. Of course, he took thecredit for saying that,” the elf playfully grimaced. “It’s atimeless principle. People who aren’t changing andgrowing aren’t living. Growth is one of nature’s vitalsigns. It shows you’re alive. Once you stop changingand growing, you’d better check your pulse.”

We can’t manage change. The single biggest “changemanagement” failure of the 20th century was the oldSoviet Union. With highly centralized planning, thepolitburo tried to tightly control the lives of an entireblock of nations. There were to be few surprises andactivities that weren't in the official plan. Bureaucraticorganizations often try to do the same thing. So domany static, low growth individuals. We need to be onguard against our own rigid thinking and “hardening ofthe attitudes.”

CHANGE FORCES CHOICESThe faster the world changes around us, the further

behind we fall by just standing still. If the rate of exter-nal change exceeds our rate of internal growth, just asthe day follows night, we will surely be changed. To thechange-blind with stunted growth, it will happen sud-denly and seemingly “out of the blue.”

Change forces choices. If we’re on the grow, we’llembrace many changes and find the positive in them.It’s all in where we choose to put our focus. Evenchange that hits us in the side of the head as a majorcrisis can be full of growth opportunities — if wechoose to look for them.

We don’t always get to choose the changes that comeinto our lives. But we do get to choose how to respond.In my workshops and speaking engagements, whenworking with people who feel under siege by negative,unwanted change, I often show the Chinese symbol forcrisis. It is a stark example of the timeless wisdom ofchoices. Apparently, the top character in the two-partsymbol reads as darkness, disaster, and danger (it couldbe a lot of swearing for all I know. But I have had thisinterpretation confirmed by a few people who can readChinese).

The bottom character reads as opportunity, renewal,and rebirth. Many people or organizations — who didn’t give in to the dark forces of despair and Victimitis— and successfully weathered a serious crisis, lookback years later and say that was a significant turningpoint. Most would rather not go through that painagain, but it was a key part of their growth. Crisis canbe a danger that weakens or destroys us. Or crisis canbe a growth opportunity. The choice is ours. Whicheverwe choose — we’re right about that crisis. We make itour reality.

Change is life. Successfully dealing with changemeans choosing to continuously grow and develop.Failing to grow is failing to live.

• • •

Excerpted from Jim's fourth international best-seller, Growing the

Distance: Timeless Principles for Personal, Career, and Family

Success. Jim Clemmer’s practical leadership books, keynote presenta-

tions, workshops, and team retreats have helped hundreds of thousands

of people worldwide improve personal, team, and organizational lead-

ership. Visit his web site, www.clemmer.net, for a huge selection of free

practical resources including nearly 300 articles, dozens of video clips,

team assessments, leadership newsletter, Improvement Points service,

and popular leadership blog.


Canadians love MexicoBring on the tacos and tequila... Canadians took more

trips abroad than ever before last year and made Mexicotheir favourite foreign destination after the United States,according to Statistics Canada.

The federal agency reported that Canadians made anestimated 842,000 overnight visits to Mexico last year. Itwas part of a surge in outbound travel that saw Canadianstake 22.7 million overnight trips, spending $20.1 billion inthe process. The United Kingdom, France Cuba and theDominican Republic also ranked high as popular international destination choices for Canadians.

London named destination of the yearLondon has capped an amazing 2007 by being named

Destination of the Year at the World Travel Awards.Facing competition from city destinations including

New York and Sydney as well as the island destinationsof Barbados and the Maldives, London beat 12 others tobe named Destination of the Year at a glittering celebra-tion last night.

2007 has been an exciting year for London, with ahost of openings and events including:

• Wembley Stadium (March)• London Zoo’s Gorilla Kingdom (March)• The O2 (June)• Royal Festival Hall (June)• The Tour de France Grand Départ (July)• India Now! (July)• China’s Terracotta Army at the British Museum(September)• American National Football League (October)• St Pancras International (November)• Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs(November)• London Transport Museum (November)

The World Travel Awards are the most comprehen-sive and prestigious awards program in the travel indus-try. They recognize excellence in the world’s travel andtourism industry and are voted for by travel profession-als from 167,000 travel agencies, tour and transportcompanies and tourism organizations across the globe.

Visit London is the official visitor organization forLondon. Its role is to promote London as the world’smost exciting city, targeting domestic and overseasleisure and business visitors as well as Londoners.

On the Web: www.visitlondon.com.

Carnaval de Québec ramps upFor Quebec City’s 400th anniversary, the Carnaval has

created a totally new, zany and original concept for its2008 Parades… all-new and exciting allegorical elements,interactive lighting, a unique sound track, numerous multimedia projections and 1,200 new costumes for the extras!

Presented next February 9 and 16, the 2008 Mr.Christie’s Night Parade will surprise and awe spectators –fresh and exciting allegorical elements, such as two 24-foottall marionettes with moving joints and a common themethroughout the sequences.

GROUP PASSESFor groups of 25 persons and more, you can have the

2008 Effigy for only 9,40$ / person by ordering it on theCarnival Virtual Boutique.

On the Web: www.carnaval.qc.ca.

> Industry News

Green thought of the monthIf you think leaving your computer on saves more

energy than shutting down and restarting that’s... bull.Computers use about two seconds’ worth of powerto start up, according to the U.S. Office for Energy

Efficiency and Renewable Energy.


AAA FOUR DIAMOND AWARD FOR HILTONWHISTLER RESORT & SPA

The American Automobile Association (AAA) has award-ed the Four Diamond Award to the Hilton Whistler Resort& Spa for 2008. After undergoing a $52 million refurbish-ment in 2006, the resort joins the ranks of North America’sexceptional accommodations offering upscale facilities,attentive service, and a high standard of hospitality.

According to a recent press release from Hilton, AAArecognizes a Four Diamond property as being upscaleand refined in all areas. Accommodations are progres-sively more refined and stylish. The physical attributesreflect an obvious enhanced level of quality throughout.The fundamental hallmarks at this level include anextensive array of amenities combined with a highdegree of hospitality, service, and attention to detail.The Diamond Rating Requirements reflect the basicexpectations of AAA/CAA members as establishedthrough surveys and continuous feedback.

On the Web: www.hiltonwhistler.com

UPSCALE HOTELS MAINTAIN HIGH NET FEESThe importance of the Internet has pushed hotels to

provide in-room access for business travellers on a per-room basis. Interestingly, most midprice hotels andextended stay properties include Internet access in the over-all rate.

A study last year by the American Hotel & LodgingAssociation indicated that 82 percent of all hotel rooms hadwireless capabilities, a growth from 35 percent in 2004, andmore than 95 percent of hotels in the mid-price tier andhigher had some form of high-speed Internet access.

According to PricewaterhouseCoopers hospitality andleisure group, it’s largely low-tier and independentproperties that lack the amenity, and it’s nearly ubiqui-tous among branded hotels.

The proliferation of personal digital assistants also ischanging the idea of internet service at hotels. It mightstill be a necessity for those constantly working on theroad, but most PDAs let executives stay connected,respond and give direction via email.

IPOD TRAINING FOR EMPLOYEESHomewood Suites by Hilton, the national brand of upscale,all-suite, residential-style hotels is proud to announce thatall 204 properties across the United States and Canada havebeen outfitted with video iPods for use with the brand’snew Mobile Training program. Mobile Training with videoiPods is the latest evolution at Homewood Suites and is aninnovative method used to reinforce training content as aculture and allow the brand’s 5,000 to 6,000 employees tobe empowered in their own learning.

One goal of Homewood Suites’ iPod Mobile Training isto offer employees the opportunity to train directly in theirown work environment as training content is organizedefficiently into playlists to allow for stronger informationretention. The on-demand functionality of iPods supportsthe spontaneity of a unique style of on-the-job coachingand guidance, empowering team members to take chargeof their own learning styles.

Homewood Suites recognized the need for a pioneering,new training technique when the brand was deciding howbest to train its team members regarding different aspectsof new brand-wide F&B standards. The Mobile TrainingiPods were acknowledged as a great supplement toHomewood’s already-existing training curriculum due tothe flexibility and adaptability of the device itself, whichallows the brand to update each phase of training on a continuous basis.

On the Web: www.homewoodsuites.com

STARWOOD TOP OPEN HOTEL IN ALBANY, NYThe Albany, NY Convention Center Authority hasannounced the developers for the city’s $325 million hoteland convention center project. Starwood Hotels & ResortsWorldwide will operate the 400-room hotel under theSheraton brand, while convention center managementcompany SMG will operate the 244,000-square-foot con-vention facility.

Ground will be broken on the project next summer, withthe opening scheduled for late 2010 and the project isplanned for the vicinity of Broadway, South Pearl Street,Hudson Street and Madison Avenue.

On the Web: www.starwoodhotels.com

Hotel News Hilton Whistler Resort & Sparanks as one of North America’sexceptional accommodations.

Photo courtesy of Hilton

DID YOU KNOW ...

WHISTLER RECEIVES MORE THAN

33 FEET FOR ITS AVERAGE SNOWFALL? BOTH BLACKCOMB AND WHISTLER

MOUNTAINS HAVE MORE THAN 100 RUNS.


BERMUDA RAMPS UP DEVELOPMENTScout Real Estate Capital, with political support from theisland’s premier, Dr. the Honourable Ewart F. Brown, haslaunched an initiative to build a 150-room, five-star propertycalled the Southampton Beach Resort, on the site of theexisting Wyndham, which is being demolished. The hotel,set to open in 2010, will have a spa, a gym, restaurants,shops and more.

On the Web: http://bermuda-guide.info/accommodations

NEW HYATT IN MISSISSAUGAHyatt will manage a new 500-room hotel being built nextto Toronto’s Pearson International Airport. Ground will bebroken on the project in 2008 and the property will openin 2010. The project will include office and retail space, aswell as convention facilities. The Hyatt Regency TorontoAirport is the final element in the airport’s $4.4 billion redevelopment.

On the Web: www.hyatt.com

MONTREAL HOTELS TO CLOSEThe Ritz-Carlton Montreal, the oldest luxury hotel in thecity, will be closed for 18 to 24 months to complete theaddition of 35 luxury condos, 15 condo suites and major$100 million redevelopment previously mentioned in thePlanner (October, 2007). In other news, another unnamedMontreal hotel has apparently been sold to a downtownuniversity. The school plans to convert the hotel into student residences.

On the Web: www.ritzcarlton.com

GERMAIN IN QUEBEC CITYAfter the opening of the first ALT Hôtel in Quartier

DIX30, this chain owned by the Germain Group willalso be installed in Quebec City at the current Germain-des-Prés hotel. This establishment will soon change itsname and be reorganized to offer the same services asthe Brossard branch, with the same rate of $129 or$169, depending on room category, in 2008.

Info: (418) 658-1224 or (514) 790-1245.

VIVA 5 STARS IN CUBA!The first 5-star hotel in Cuba, the Hotel Saratoga, has

opened after a total reconstruction behind its listedfaçade. The Saratoga faces the Capitolio and is a shortwalk from the historic Opera House. It occupies a colonial-style building on one of the grandest streets inHavana. It was famous in the 1930s as the haunt ofartists and socialites from all over the world. The hotelhas been recreated to combine style and sense of placeas well as state-of-the-art technology. There are fivefloors of 96 rooms, including seven suites. It was recentlygiven positon 24 in Condé Nast’s Hot List 2006, among60 best hotels worldwide, based on how hotels careabout their guests rather than how the hotel looks.

Hotel News

ANSWER EASYSUDOKU FROM PAGE 12

ANSWER MEDIUM SUDOKU FROM PAGE 12


CSPEP scaled the heights in Whistler

The 11th CSPEP Annual Confer-ence was held in the beautiful

resort village of Whistler Blackcomb,BC November 15 – 18.

As one would expect of a conference run by profes-sional meeting planners, the event was voted a greatsuccess by all attendees.

The 2007 Conference theme focused on GreeningYour Meetings and on the industry technology availableto planners to assist in accomplishing the goal of goinggreen. Networking played a very important part in theweekend’s activities, more so than in previous years. A pre-conference familiarization session in Vancouverenabled delegates to network with colleagues and suppliers from across Canada, share ideas and buildnew friendships in a fun and exciting city before head-ing through the mountains to Whistler.

Unfortunately no-one from The Planner was able toattend the Conference, and this article has been compiledwith significant input from Rose Timmerman-Gitzi, SandyBiback, CMP, CMM and Karen Eluck, CSEP, CMP with thanks.

WELCOME AT THE FAIRMONT CHATEAU WHISTLERThe welcome event was held at Fairmont Chateau

Whistler, a 550-room property located at the base ofBlackcomb Mountain. Delegates were treated to a spec-tacular evening sponsored by Quebec City Tourism,with a wonderful menu served family style, comprisinga myriad of locally-themed savoury and sweet dishes.Included in the selection were West Coast SalishBouillabaise, Roast Turkey with Sage and Black WalnutBread Pudding, Cedar Roasted Birken Quails with WildRice Pilaft and Sun-Dried Cranberries. Desserts soundedas good as they tasted, with Cloudberry and Peach Pie andSaskatoonberry Crumble being just two of the items onoffer. Entertainment was provided by The Eagle SongDancers and Drummers from the Squamish and Lil’watNations Spo7ez Cultural Centre and Community Society,to enthusiastic applause. CSPEP donated $1,500 to theSociety’s fundraising efforts to establish the SquamishLil’wat Cultural Centre to preserve and protect the culture and traditions of their respective nations.

As a token of appreciation, a bench with the CSPEPlogo will be installed at the Centre.

Tuesday Johnson-MacDonald, CMP CMM, of TAPResources, gave a traditional gift of tobacco as thanks tothe Squamish and Lil’wat Nations performers.

FIRST NATIONS PERFORMERS DURING OPENINGDINNER

The following morning, the opening session began witha warm welcome from Whistler Mayor Ken Melamed. Greenand Sustainable practices were topics for discussion and theVANOC (2010 Vancouver Olympic Games and ParalympicGames Organizing Committee) team also spoke about thehousing challenges for 2010 and what plans are in place toresolve those issues. David Crawford, VANOC’s Director,Accommodations and Cleaning & Waste, and his team,explained that sustainability was a major focus in theplanning stages of the Games. Sharon Fugman and JohnRae of the Municipality of Whistler were also on the dis-cussion panel.

Olympic committee panel of speakers DavidCrawford, Sharon Fugman, John Rae and Ken Melamed,Mayor of Whistler

ROUNDTABLESA supplier specific roundtable session was facilitated

by Laura Holliwell of the Carlson Group of Companies,Christine Taylor of Tourism Whistler and Barb Eastman-Lewin of Tourism Hamilton. Topics included ways ofobtaining business leads, emergency preparedness andthe right questions to ask when working with the inde-pendent planner. Questions arising from this roundtablewere brought forward for discussion at the Planner/Supplier Risk Management session that followed.

Collaboration and team work was evident during anenergetic roundtable discussion on Risk Management,highlighting how planners and suppliers can worktogether to build logical, well-thought-out RiskManagement plans for targeted events. The session,expertly facilitated by CSPEP senior planner memberSandy Biback, CMP CMM Imagination+ MeetingPlanners Inc, was praised as a great opportunity toengage fellow planners and suppliers, foster relation-ships and provide a sense of inclusion in the Society.

Heidi Wilker, CMP of Blessed Events, Hélène Mobergof Destination Halifax and Catherine Paull, CMP ofCatherine Paull Meeting Management, facilitated a valu-able session on ethics. Using various scenarios present-ing ethical dilemmas, the audience provided anony-mous responses to often controversial questions withthe use of an Audience Response System.

The session, open to both planners and suppliers,lead to several important satellite discussions includingcontract negotiations with fellow planners and vendors,accepting commissions and other points of ethicalbehaviour within the industry.

BY JYL ASHTON CUNNINGHAM, CMP


Hamilton to host next year’s conferenceCLOSING DAY AND “BONDING”

Closing day was highlighted by two phenomenal andhighly informative learning sessions, The World Caféand Greening Your Meetings. The World Café was facil-itated by Gale Gingrich CAAP, CMP of The GingrichGroup Inc and Carol J. Sutton, Cert. ConRes, APR of CJSManaging Conflict Positively. An open discussion andanalysis took place on how independent planners runmeetings; how future meetings may look and what canbe done to prepare for changes in the industry.

The session was well managed, culminating in a storywall of thoughts and ideas on priorities and future plansfor individual entrepreneurs and as a Society as a whole.

In the closing keynote session, Shawna MacKinley,CMP shared how simple strategies can be implementedto make meetings “greener.” Points of note includedwhat to look for in a host city and property when plan-ning a green meeting. MacKinley also provided usefultips and resources in assisting planners to move closerto greening meetings and conferences. She also gave areport card on how green the CSPEP conference wasand the results were very impressive.

Closing day session on Greening your meetings withShawna MacKinley, CMP, Meeting Strategies Worldwideand Sandy Biback, CMP CMM Imagination+ MeetingPlanners Inc.

On a lighter note, a fun filled evening of ‘Bond’ andbonding was the theme for a Dine Around event spon-sored by Pan Pacific and Hilton Hotels. Teams wereformed to compete in the MI6 search for the next 007.Delegates were hosted in various local restaurants asthey discovered and deciphered each important clue intheir mission to become a 00 agent.

CLOSING DINNERThe closing dinner was titled Denims and Diamonds,

however it had more of a celtic accent, being sponsoredby Destination Halifax. Everyone rose to the spirit of theoccasion in both fashion and voice. Present at the eventwere Jeremy Tyrrell of the new Caesar’s Palace inWindsor, scheduled to open in 2008 (watch this spacefor more information), Michael Welsh of Atlific Hotels &Resorts, Régis Fleury of Quebec Tourism, Rob Mingayof Rocky Mountain Production Services and ElizabethMurphy of Vancouver Island Conference Centre, toname a few.

Andrew Walker and Gail Gingrich tied for first place in thefancy dress competition, with the prize going to Andrew.

The closing breakfast traditionally is hosted by the nextyear’s conference city and Hamilton, Ontario came

through with flowering colours as opposed to flyingcolours. Each delegate was given five packets of seeds,and asked to plant them in the spring, then take a photo-graph of the blooms at their best. Photographs will thenbe submitted to the 2008 Conference Committee who willhave them judged by the staff of the Royal BotanicalGardens in Hamilton. The winner will be announced atthe conference and the prize is to be determined.

Laura Holliwell of the Carlson Group of Companies,summed the CSPEP conference up perfectly:

“Attending the CSPEP Conference in Whistler provid-ed an excellent opportunity to mix, mingle and learnwith a most welcoming “supplier friendly” group ofplanner entrepeneurs! The sessions were very interest-ing, the meals just great, however I always benefit fromand enjoy the most, just being immersed in great con-versation with colleagues, both planners and suppliersabout our industry, away from our everyday jobs.Thanks to the committee and we hope to participateagain next year in Hamilton!”

Jyl Ashton Cunningham, CMP is an independent meeting and

special event planner based in Oakville, Ontario, and Associate Editor

of The Planner, Ontario. Jyl welcomes your comments and can be

reached at [email protected] or [email protected].

Quebec City: You inspire meBY THE QUEBEC CITY TOURISM OFFICE

Quebec City offers conference-goers and businesspeople all of the advantages of a choice destina-

tion: state-of-the-art conference centres and meetingfacilities, first class hotels, well-organized transportationnetwork, access to professional services, combined withthe authentic charm of one of the highest-rated andmost popular tourist destinations in North America.

Vieux-Québec (Old City) exudes old world charm with its narrow, winding streets and profusion of shops,museums and attractions. This sector alone boasts over100 coffee shops, bistros and gourmet restaurants, where visitors love to relax at the end of a fun-filled day. Thecity’s 12,000 lodging units, including 2,000 or so world-class rooms, are mainly located in or near the old city.

THE WARMEST WINTER DESTINATION Quebec City is worthy of its reputation as the

“warmest winter destination.” As soon as the first snowfalls, the city and its surrounding area turn into animmense playground with something for everyone:Snow rafting, carriage rides, ice climbing and more.There are countless unforgettable winter activities tochoose from.

From Vieux-Québec you can glimpse ski slopes locat-ed less than 30 minutes away. If you are a snowshoe orcross-country skiing enthusiast, the region rolls out its 2,000 kms of trails when the snow arrives. The U.S.cross-country ski team named the internationallyacclaimed Mont-Sainte-Anne cross-country ski centre thesecond most beautiful in North America in the 2006issue of the prestigious Forbes Traveler magazine. Those who prefer downhill skiing and snowboarding areinvited to discover international-calibre ski resorts,

hitting the slopes of Mont-Sainte-Anne, Stoneham and LeRelais.

The Quebec City area is also one of the largest snowmobiling destinations in North America. This activity,as well as dog sledding and tubing, is a wonderful wayto spend time together and make lasting memories.Looking for something a little different? The Ice Hotel,the only one of its kind in Canada, and the Quebec CityWinter Carnival are definitely worth seeing.

Finally, in the heart of the city, at Place D’Youville,the Dufferin Terrace or the Plains of Abraham, skatingrinks, sledding hills and cross-country ski trails willentice you to enjoy the great outdoors.

History is omnipresent in Quebec City. Visitors arefascinated by the fortifications, the cannons lined up onthe ramparts, the old city’s architectural treasures andthe careful way the past has been preserved. Businesstravelers can enjoy the city at their leisure, knowing thatit is quite safe. You can stroll the streets as you wishwithout taking any special precautions.

If you prefer to stay indoors, there are a number ofcultural activities to explore, from museum exhibits toplays and various shows. Explore the new Saint-Rochdistrict, featuring rue Saint-Joseph with its trendy storesand restaurants. Winter is jam-packed with events.

In the end, visitors love Quebec City because it is different. A true French-speaking oasis in NorthAmerica, it is celebrated for much more than the lan-guage of Molière. Its friendly and approachable popula-tion is known for its warm welcome, greeting you withopen arms and a smile on their lips.


On the Web: www.theplanner.ca

City gears up for 400th anniversary2008: CELEBRATING 400 YEARS OF HISTORY!

In 2008, Québec City will be hosting the ultimate year-long party in celebration of its 400th anniversary. The cityis looking its best and its citizens are beaming with prideand bursting with joy, eager to start the festivities. Tripsto the city will be enlivened by shows, exhibitions andastounding surprises you will remember for years tocome. Best of all, you will have a front row seat!

THE HEART OF THE PARTY: ESPACE 400E

Espace 400e will offer an original combination ofartistic creation, science and technology. Intimateshows and once-in-a-lifetime encounters under the cov-ered site, animation on the docks, official or informalconferences and gatherings will take place throughoutthe winter season. Visitors can relax, enjoy a light mealor take a tour of the Louise basin thanks to the newpromenade. They can also admire the artistic gardens,which will complement the newly revitalized site.

“PASSENGERS” EXHIBITION A remarkable interactive exhibition will be presented

in the themed pavilion. Using codes and mechanismsunique to places of transit (such as airports), visitorswill discover 400 years of history and much more: a magical universe of human movement in which indi-viduals and families cross paths and destinies.

A UNIQUE CREATION: THE IMAGE MILLEspace 400e will also present the Image Mill (Le

Moulin à images), an outdoor multimedia show. FromJune 20 to July 29, 2008, this uncommon portrayal ofthe city will be projected on a giant 600-metre tallscreen. Drawing inspiration from its site, in the heart ofport activities, the show will illustrate the city’s

evolution and its ever-changing relationship with theworld, in larger-than-life images.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, QUEBEC CITY!To properly commemorate July 3, the anniversary of

Quebec City’s founding by Samuel de Champlain in1608, a jam-packed four-day celebration is planned.

On July 3, the day will begin with a solemn mass fol-lowed by a traditional salute to Champlain and the free-dom of the city ceremony. In the afternoon, a specialshow will celebrate 400 years of history through projec-tions, dances and songs produced by the most imagina-tive minds. In the evening, the party will continue with ashow to kick off the Quebec City Summer Festival, whosetheme this year is the 400th anniversary, of course!

On July 4, the summer festival will put on anothermemorable show in the spirit of the 400th anniversary.

On July 5, an urban opera featuring hundreds ofartists and extras will get the city moving. The “artisticpopulation” will join up with large street art companiesand stars of the performing arts in an unforgettableevent. It will be a novel display of talent that is sure tobe a treat for both the spectators and participants.

Finally, the four-day celebration will end with a bangon July 6 with a massive gathering on the Plains ofAbraham. Aerial photographs will be taken of this hugefamily get-together to create a “portrait” of the city thatwill be offered to the committee in charge of organizingQuebec City’s 400th anniversary.

For details about the city’s 400th anniversary celebra-tions in 2008, visit www.myquebec2008.com.

QUEBEC CITY TOURISMVisit www.quebecregion.com to discover cus-

tomized getaways and package deals.



Did your company have a Christmas Party this year? Yes: 82%No: 18%If not, has anything replaced it?Yes: 63%No: 37%

Comments from planners:“(We had a) food pairing/wine tasting workshop.”

“One large party (about 1,000 people) replaced by three smallerparties of about 400 each.”

“We do a company lunch, we’re a small association.”

Does your company pay a hotel for employees or transport toand from the party venue?Yes room: 10%Yes transport: 46%No to both: 44%

Comments from planners:“Will pay for taxis if needed for drive home.”

“(Room paid) if cab ride is over $100. Transport paid there and back.”

“Taxi coupons provided at the end of the evening.”

“Yes, transport only.”

At the party, are gifts exchanged or given?Yes: 44%No: 56%

Comments from planners:“Only to employees with 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 years of service– milestones.”

“Instead of exchanging gifts, we support a local charity and purchase gifts for charity.”

“There are gifts for everyone and names are selected from a hat.”

“We do a dollar value (pre-determined) gift exchange.”

Has your company already reserved a venue for next year?Yes: 22%No: 78%

Comments from planners:We only do that in:The New Year: 11%January: 11% July: 6%February: 8% August: 11%March: 0% September: 19%April: 1% October: 12%May: 3% November: 13%June: 2% December: 3%

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Dec 2007 - Jan 2008

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