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Musings From My Desk ...
 They say that a picture is worth a thousand words, and in keeping with a resolution mentioned in January's newsletter, I have been working hard at taking photographs that capture images as I see them and not simply as posed shots. Although my success at this is not even close to 100% (I am after all just getting the hang of it with my point and shoot digital), I am thrilled to share with you some of the images that I captured on a recent site inspection in Costa Rica. (Click on the above photo to see more)
And in this month's newsletter, you will discover a bit more about Costa Rica. Having spent five days traveling around the country with Liliana Bonilla, who in fact has her Masters in Ecotourism, I learned quite a bit about a country that I visited twice before but was really seeing for the first time.
With the ITME Motivation Show just around the corner, we are also looking forward to seeing many of you there. Our DMC partners from Antigua, St. Lucia, St. Kitts & Nevis, and Costa Rica will be on hand; so please contact us to make an appointment or visit with those exhibiting at their respective destination stands.
Simone
simone@sncdestinations.com
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Newsletter
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September 2007
In this issue:
Musings
Destinations
Newsworthy Tidbits
Cross-Cultural Communication Tips & Comments
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The Phenomena of Costa Rica
Rich coast aptly describes this country of only 19,730 square miles that sits on the isthmus that links North and South America. Yet, Costa Rica proves to be more than just a coast with its diversity of ecosystems and microclimates. Possessing 12 of the 18 global ecosystems found in the world, one can easily drive from the beach, through a dry forest (one of the last remaining in the world), to a cloud forest that sits in the mist. Such a phenomenon is not lost even on those who have little interest in the ecology, just as one can experience the extreme changes in microclimate within less than an hour of traveling.
In Costa Rica 4x4s are a must as the best way to get around both for sightseeing and adventure. In fact, Escapes Ecologicos (otherwise known as Golden Escapes), has been coordinating road rallies for corporate clients for the past few years. But whether along the well-paved roads to Arenal, skirting the Pacific coast, or through the forests of Montverde (for some true off-road exploration), the contrast in the lifestyle, foods, industries and even the physical features of people when moving from one area to the next is apparent, much similar to the diversity in its ecosystems.
 It becomes clear that Costa Rica is a land of endless phenomena. North Americans are for example quick to notice that there are very few road signs both in the city and around the country. In the city of San Jose for example, physical addresses are provided as directions in relation to major landmarks, such as a church or a shop. Addresses as they appear on newspapers delivered to homes will in fact state directions. And, it is a system that works for a population of almost 4 million.
The greatest man-made phenomenon of this country however is the fact that it maintains stability despite being the first country in the world to constitutionally abolish its army. Costa Rica does not have a military, but relies on its Public Security Forces for defense and instead invests such resources into social services such as health care and public education.
We again welcome Liliana and her team in Costa Rica, as they prepare to make your imagination go wild, serving you cocktails in a rainforest, lunch in the crater of a dormant volcano, or have you greeted by a musical surprise at the end of your rally.
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Something
Extra
 Describing the island of Antigua as "an enchanting destination", Jeannine Schaal of Ultimate Travel Meetings shares one of her favorite photographs taken at Hermitage Bay on our recent educational trip to the island.
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Newsworthy Tidbits
The 5-star 428-room Hyatt Regency Trinidad is expected to open in January with 43,000 square feet of meeting space. In an island that has long focused on its own oil and gas industries, the hotel is expected to draw international groups from manufacturing and financial sectors to the capital, Port of Spain.
Kudos to Rosecita at Island by Design, our DMC partner in St. Kitts and Nevis, on orchestrating the recent themed party that Cable & Wireless threw for its customers. The transformation of St. Kitts' Fisherman's Wharf into tropical fever created a relaxed atmosphere that, as reported in SKNVibes, one customer proclaimed as the best corporate event that St. Kitts has ever had.
With an anticipated opening in 2009, the luxury brand, Mandarin Oriental will make its presence known in Costa Rica with a 130-room resort. The resort will be a feature among beach and golf villas and exclusive private homes. Located on the Pacific coastline, the property will include an 18-hole Fred Couples Signature Championship golf course, 20,000 square foot spa, a natural beach, and 200 acres of protected tropical dry forest.
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Upcoming Industry Events
Meetings and incentives industry events in 2007 at which your team at SNC and/or our destination partners look forward to seeing you. To make an appointment to meet with our DMCs who may be exhibiting at ITME, WTM or EIBTM, click here.
- The Motivation Show - Chicago, IL, 25-27 September
- World Travel Mart - London, UK, 12-15 November
- EIBTM - Barcelona, Spain, 27-29 November
- SITE International Conference - Monterey, CA, 6-9 December * Antigua * Costa Rica * Dominican Republic * Jamaica * St. Kitts & Nevis * St. Lucia * Trinidad & Tobago
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Something
Extra
 Another find to make travel a little easier; a one-bottle insulated wine tote gives you the confidence to pack wine among clothes in your checked baggage.
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Cross-Cultural Communication Tips & Comments
Cultural differences in interpreting facial expressions
According to a study conducted by Masaki Yuki, a behavioral scientist at Hokkaido University in Japan, our culture has a significant impact on if we look someone in the eye or focus on the mouth to interpret a person's facial expressions. As part of the study, a group of American and Japanese students were presented with emoticons that they were asked to rate on the basis of their emotional status, whether it be happy, sad or neutral. The outcome was that the Japanese students were more likely to rate the emoticons based on those depicting eyes, while the American students seemed to rate those representing the mouth, rating them happy even if a smiling emoticon had sad-looking eyes. Visit our blog to read more about this study.
Tipping around the world
It is a subject we have explored in the past: in which countries does one tip and how much? On a recent trip to overseas, I asked how much a tour guide would earn in tips if leading a group on a full-day tour. When told the amount I naturally asked if that figure was per person, and was taken aback that what I might have handed the guide as an individual tip might be what was expected to cover the entire group. USA Today examines in this article how business travelers can become confused by tipping practices around the world and provides a chart of what to tip in restaurants, taxis and to porters in 77 countries.
Something
Extra from HSA
What does it take to break through service barriers and exceed guest expectations? Creating Memorable Guest Experiences takes an intelligent, thought-provoking look at the process of creating positive guest impressions that will ultimately bring about repeat business and word-of-mouth advertising.
Improving customer service from the inside out, this highly interactive workshop focuses on:
- The Triangle of Guest Services
- Building Blocks For Creating Hospitality
- Managing Upward, Outward, and Initiating Change
- Each Individual Participant's Commitment Statement
Contact us for more information on Creating Memorable Guest Experiences and similar training programs, or to request a proposal.
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