N R 6 – d e c e m b e R 2 0 1 1

C O N N E C T I N G F A C E S , P L A C E S & C A S E S

• A rAinbow

gAthering At

PlAcA reiAl

• revolution in

Mice industry?

• dAncing with

wAves

C O N T E N T S

ShArE TOdAy | 06.2011 3

05 e d i t o r i A l

By yolanda & Kim06 s h A r e +

It’s raining Members08 s t o r y

A rainbow gathering at Placa reial10 c h e c k i t o u t

ready for unbelievable encounters?14 e y e w i t n e s s

RevolutionInMICEindustry?18 s u s tA i n A b i l i t y d i y *

Sharing & Caring, the other site of the hotel industry22 o n c e i n A l i f e t i M e

dancing with Waves26 c o l u M n

The Travellers Twilight Zone28 g r o u p s s -x x l

An XXL circus30 c l o s e & P e r s o n A l

A designer tool for the dMC of tomorrow32 s n A P s h o t

34 z o o M i n

From CEO to professional writer36 c o l u M n

Knocking On 40 f y i

Eventsecurity;conflictcontrolisthe name of the game43 l e t M e e n t e r tA i n y o u

45 f o o d f o r t h o u g h t

c o v e r P h o t o

FrontiersNorthAdventuresCape Churchill, Canada

40

10

34

- advertisement -

E d I TO r I A L

ready for 2012?At the end of the year a lot of us take time to look back and re-evaluate. We of course don’t ignore our ups and downs but prefer to look forward.

Time for some research. We asked the industry to give us feedback on trends in the market. Our article ‘Revolution in MICE industry’ shares the outcome. A healthy dose of optimism is visible. Event Professionals are positive, not laying back but facing the future with new challenges to overcome and lots of ideas to answer the industry developments. We like this attitude and love challenges, which we will certainly face in 2012. Not ignorant that we may encounter them but confident that we will have ideas to conquer them.

Curious? Let us trigger your curiosity by revealing some of our plans for 2012.

We are busy setting up a pool of Xperts representing various disciplines that help the Event Professional in areas of expertise other than their own. Furthermore we will start creating tailor made e-magazines to enable a destination or the DMC to show their MICE possibilities to their network in a digital way.

Our blog will be more dynamic and alive next year; our magazine will be issued quarterly. Last but not least we have great plans for more SHARE TODAY events.

Personally we have created a new bucket list again for the New Year. And lucky us! The next destination we both are able to explore very soon will be Buenos Aires.

We say never a dull moment in our company, stay tuned and certainly keep SHARING!

Happy holidays, Kim & Yolanda

ShArE TOdAy | 06.2011 5

- advertisement -

And win the autobiography of Chinese liu ping!

S h A r E + S h A r E +

ShArE TOdAy | 06.2011 7

In only one month time we have gained 6 new members. We were thrilled every time we

opened our email to find another event professional confirming their membership for 2012.

Whotheyare?Hereabriefintroductionofeachof the new ShArE+ members:

linda BenmammarVanadoo Czech Republic

Girl power exists and here is the proof. An entrepreneurinourmarket,startinganewtool for the future dMC. read more in Close & Personal.

patrizia rapisardaPR Incentives Italy

Proof one can change. her biggest change was transformingfromscientisttoeventprofessional.Achoicesheneverregretted.Goodinchallengingclients since her added value is experience and emotioninevents.

Joost de MeyerFirst Incentive Travel USA

A veteran in the event industry wishing he was younger. he sees a great future for our MICE industry with upcoming markets as Brazil, russia, India, China as well as South Africa and Turkey andanimportantroleforassociationssuchasSITE, MPI and ICCA.

Malte KluetzUniquely Northwest USA & Canada

FromGermanytoSeattle,nochallengebigenoughforthisGermancowboy.Identifyingtherightmeanstoeffectivelycommunicatewithclientsinaworldwherenumerousoptionsandpersonal preferences rule, is one challenge he’s going to tackle in the next years.

Karina FurstAuthenticore Norway

Astrongbelieverofauthenticitywholovesherlife and found her dream in Norway. Likes to involvethelocalcommunityinherincentivestocreate social engagement.

ola KastenssonRusskie Prostori Russia

Personal judgement and proved experience are the most important things these days especially since everything is available to everyone. That’s howOlamakesadifference.Withlovefromrussia…

Want to know more? Our ShArE+ partners are all visible on our website. Some of them are sharing their faces, places & cases too. Curious? We invite you to take a look.

Together with the ShArE+ members of 2011 who all prolonged their membership ShArE+ has expanded to a total of 11 members. Are you also ready for some serious sharing in 2012? ShArE TODAYcanbecomeyourplatformtoo.

FormoreinformationabouttheShArE+ membership, please contact us at info@sharetoday.com

6 ShArE TOdAy | 06.2011

ShArE TOdAy | 06.2011 98 ShArE TOdAy | 06.2011

S TO r y

sHArE ToDAY launched a breakfast session at EIBTM in Frankfurt this year. Quite challenging for a start-up company. Can we trigger enough MICE personalities? Are we able to share relevant information? The answer was YEs! We felt confident enough to create a tradition after our successful meeting during IMEx.

SETBAwastheplacetobe.Acreativeandarty venue on the Plaça reial, just behind the ramblas. Why here? Well, we felt the need to surprise our guests with hidden gems during our face-to-facemeetings.Hotelrooms,seenit,beenthere, done that! And we are convinced that an inspiring venue does contribute to the open discussions.

We had never been at a ‘UN’ gathering (of course not) but we were sure this morning the table looked quite similar. A group of 20 MICEpersonalitiesallovertheworldjoinedourbreakfastandthepresentation.Linda& Sam Benmammar of Vanadoo in Prague launchedtheirdesignertoolfortheDestinationManagement Company of tomorrow (read more at page...). A lot of delegates this morning came from the dMC side of the business. The dMC takes a very important but also changing place in todays event industry. It will not surprise you that they all had mutual interest to share their thoughts.

Ourjustrecentlylaunchedtraditionofbreakfastswillbecontinued.DuringupcomingIMEXwemight even take this session to the next level; moretime,moretopicsandmoreguests.Moreon these plans in our next E-mag.

T E X T K I M A L d E r d E N P h O T O S y O L A N d A L O G T

A rainbow gathering at Plaça reial

Special thanks to Abreu, A-travel and SETBA

to make this event happen.

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C h E C K I T O U T

Is your client looking for an ultimate incentive experience in nature, other than an African safari? We asked our sHArE ToDAY followers to share some suggestions. read the top 5 safari ideas that are a sure ticket for a thrilling ride!

Tiger patrol! TrackingtigersinIndiaisoneofthegreatestandmostexcitingwildlifeexperiencesontheplanet.Imaginesittinginonopenvehicleoronthe back of an elephant enjoying the sight of this incredible creature with their cubs or even hunting,ifyou’relucky.Severalwildlifeparksofferaccommodationcombinedwithsafaris.Notethattheenvironmentisquitedifferentfromthe density of Africa and not to compare, but for sureit’sauniqueexperience!Besttimetotraveldepends on the wildlife park. www.toftigers.org

Meet Mr Jaws!Every one knows the movie Jaws but encountering the Great White yourself is a differentstory.SouthAfrica,tobepreciseGansbaai, is the place to be for shark encounters. If you have the guts, you can hop into one of the cages moored to the side of a boat and go diving with the Great White sharks to get a very close view.Ascubadivingqualificationisnotneeded,as air tanks are not used.

Thecageisofthefloatingvarietyandmadewith12mm galvanised steel mesh. It allows you to enter the sharks’ environment safely and enjoy theexhilarationofbeingonlycentimetresawayfrom these mighty beasts. If you can’t bear the thought—surface viewing is almost as thrilling but from experience I can tell you: go for it!www.white-shark-diving.com

Howling WolfsTelltale tracks, chilling howls in the moonlit night and the chance of a rare glimpse of the wolf are all just what you came for when going wolf tracking in Sweden. The tension rises when walking into wolf territory. ®

T E X T y O L A N d A L O G T P h O T O S y O L A N d A L O G T, F r O N T I E r S N O r T h A d V E N T U r E S A N d d I S TA N T F r O N -T I E r S

ready for unbelievable encounters? Check-it-out takes you around the globe to meet extra-ordinary places.

Freshtracksmakethethrillevenmoreexciting,indicatingthesesleekanimalsareinthevicinity.Tobeinawolf-huntinggroundaddsextraspiceto life, to stay overnight, knowing the pack is in the neighbourhood, will be an experience you never forget.

how to track wolfs? www.nordicsafari.net

Black vs WhiteEveryone loves bears! Feel the excitement oftakingpartinaprogramthatofferstheopportunity to see both polar bears and black bears on the same adventure! Polar bear watching in Northern Canada is a unique adventureandanexperienceofalifetime.

you have the chance to view the Lords of the Arcticupclosefromspecialtundravehicles,overnightinginanexclusivegetawayinthemiddle of the land of ice and snow. during October and November, the polar bears of ChurchillmigratetowardtheHudsonBay,waitingfor freeze-up so they can go out and hunt seals. WakeupatthefringesoftheArcticandwatchtussling polar bears through your window…

It is now possible to experience wild polar bears in their natural habitat as part of your high-end incentiveprogram.Foralimitedtimeandalimited number of visitors only, this once-in-a-lifetimefivedayincentiveprogramisofferedinOctoberduringthebestpolarbearviewingtimeof the year.

12 ShArE TOdAy | 06.2011

C h E C K I T O U T

Want to have a peek?

More info: www.frontiersnorth.comwww.uniquelynorthwest.com

gorillas in the MistUganda, rwanda and Gabon are the countries to track gorillas. Face to face with this huge, human-like, black-furred animal must be scary but at thesametimeanunforgettableexperienceonlya few people will ever have. Part of the fun of tracking gorillas is trying to follow them through the dense foliage, especially when looking for the mountain gorillas in Uganda and rwanda. Justthinkofwhatarewarditwouldbetofinallyencounter these world primates, sit in the grass with them and feel their presence. √www.worldprimatesafaris.com

See this extraordinary gorilla encounter:

ShArE TOdAy | 06.2011 13

C h E C K I T O U T

Important note: please make sure to use the

right partner, those that put conservation as

one of their major concerns. If you need help

feel free to contact us.

Special thanks for those replying to our

questions in order to write this article.

ShArE TOdAy | 06.2011 1514 ShArE TOdAy | 06.2011

E y E W I T N E S S

sHArE ToDAY decided to further examine the TrENDs & CHAllENgEs of today’s global MICE industry by asking Event professionals to our 3 statements.

AfterreadingtheresultsofseveralglobaltrendssurveyslookingattheissuesaffectingtheMICEtravel market, we asked ourselves; are you telling us anything we don’t already know? Event numbersremainedflat,budgetswereloweredandthehotnewdestinationturnedouttobewhateverwasaffordablewiththoseloweredbudgets,evenascostscontinuetorise.Well, we were more curious about how Event Professionals were feeling about these changes and how they planned to adapt to these trends. Wewerehappytodiscoverthatourmarketstillhasstrengthandoptimism.

here are the results:

I. What does today’s customer expect from a DMC compared to 10 years ago?DestinationManagementCompany(DMC)trendsare changing.

Statements:· The conversion rate on proposals is much lower than in the past· An increased pressure on event budgets· A call for transparency · Aninformationoverloadviainternet· dMCs are no longer the key knowledge partner foradestination

Answers:Dependingonthedestination,thecustomerstillneedstheknowledgeandexpertiseofaDMC,especially in places like China or India. however; creativity,flexibilityandpro-activityarekey,especially when combined with the personal touch of a dedicated project manager.

DMCsalsoinvestintoolstooffersolutionswhenfaced with unique problems like clients who try tobuildtheirowneventsbyusinginformationontheweb.Interestingtonoteisthatmostclientsdo book their own hotels. One responder, a dMC told us how he tracks thetimehespendsoneachofhisprojectsinordertooffertransparencytohisclientsaswellasprovidingacompetitiveedgeevenwhentheclient insists on using his own human resources.

Suppressedbudgetswerehardlymentioned,butit seems apparent that transparency is key. No wonder. It was us who spoiled our customers by giving them ‘free labor’; later trying to cover all of our costs with mark ups. Today’s client stillexpectsfreelabor,butnowinsistsontransparency. A dMC should remember that their services should be price-worthy rather than cheap.

Still,aprofessionalDMCcanmakeadifferencewithdedication,offeringconsultationaboutlocation-specificinformation,beingabudgetkeeper rather than a salesman, and last but not least, taking care of their liability. ®

T E X T y O L A N d A L O G T P h O T O I N T E r N E T

MICEIndustryRevolution?

II. What will be the ‘x factor’ for successful MICE hotels or venue in the future?hotel trends are also changing.

Statements:· Procurementofficersareking,howlowcanyou go?· Today’s hotel chains are the key MICE contacts of tomorrow· ‘Middle of the road’ hotels are out of style. Classicandboutiquehotelsarein· Hotelsarenolongerthefirstchoicefora meetingspace

Answers:The most important factors are excellent service andaffordability.Consideringdecreasedbudgets,this could be an opportunity for average hotels of good quality to prosper. Clients are also choosing hotels with 4 stars instead of 5 in order to free up money in their budget for the rest of their incentiveormeetingprogram.Moreandmoreoftenmeetingspacesarebeingbookedoutsideof the hotel; venues which are less formal but moreinspiring,whilestillofferingtechnicalpossibilitiesanduniqueopportunities.

Flexibilityandvalueformoneywerementionedby almost everyone. however, hotels shouldn’t giveuptheiridentitybasedonshort-termthinking. The client who appreciates quality and is willing to pay for it will not appreciate thisattitude.Eventhoughclientsaremorepricesensitivethaneverbefore,hotelsshould

rememberthattoday’smosteffectivemarketingtools are the power of the internet and word of mouth.

III. What is the secret of continuing to be a successful Event professional?Last but not least, customers are changing.

Statements:· Loyalty is old school· Clients want to speak to consultants instead of story-tellers· The internet is their number one supplier· Theyareconnectedincommunities;Wisdomof the Crowd brings them valuable info

Answers:Clientsaren’tasloyalastheyusedtobe,oftenpitchingtomultipleagenciesanddiscussingmultipledestinationsinordertogetthebestdeal. As a result you need to constantly monitor developments and react with dynamic pricing (especiallyifnegotiatedseasonalgroupratesareapplicable).Personalattention,knowledgeandcreativitystillscorehigh.Onerespondentmentionedhavingcreatedadestinationknowledge centre as a way to keep ahead of competitorswhilestillbeatingthegeneralsupplier on the internet.

Anothergoodtipistostayauthentic-actmorelike a consultant, even if that has to be via partnerships.Understandingandsupportingthecorporate philosophy behind a clients’ event will

16 ShArE TOdAy | 06.2011

E y E W I T N E S S

helpyousetobjectivesandmeasuretheresults;something most clients struggle with when planning an event on their own. you have to be there with support and advice every step of the way.

It’s more important than ever to be able to provideinformation,detailsandreferencesaboutpreviousprovencreativeprograms.It’snot about showing a client what you can do, but rather what you have done. A legacy and proven professionalprovenexperiencearestillmajorreasons for being chosen.

have we said too much? Well at least we know that our market is conscious of these challenges, but more importantly sees the need to change. Wow, it seems that inspiring and adventurous timesareaheadofus.

Please share any comments you may have via e-mail.

Specialthankstoeveryonewhofilledoutourquestionnaire.√

ShArE TOdAy | 06.2011 17

E y E W I T N E S S

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S U S TA I N A B I L I T y d I y

Hotels play an important role in the tourism and travel industry, which contributes to the economic development of local communities around the world. We all know you don’t have to sacrifice comfort or convenience to realize a responsible event or meeting. But what do those hotels or chains with Csr itself?

When clients ask you to come up with an event ormeetinginacompletelysustainableway,you might think, “here we go again.” Not only isthisquestionsubjective-whatissustainablein the eyes of your client? - but what makes an event sustainable, exactly? Avoid using planes? drink water from the tap? Use electronic communicationtosavepaper?Orstartatthebasicsbyonlyusingaccommodationsthathave already adapted CSr into their company’s strategy instead of just green-washing their products for more business. Time to check out those hotels that understand what CSr is all about!

The other day I came across the Facebook page of Mark Mosselman, showing a picture of Mark inshortssweatingalloverahometrainerinthelobby of his previous hotel in Liege (Belgium). Even though there were some jokes about his sexy legs, it appears the event was not for fun butseriousbusiness.Forthe8thtimeduringtheResponsibleBusinessActionMonth(RBAM),hotels of the rezidor Group made an extra efforttocontributetotheirlocalcommunitybyorganizingsocialandenvironmentalactivities,

and to raise funds to support their corporate charityorganization,theWorld Childhood Foundation.

“We want our hotels to be good neighbours and responsiblecitizensintheirlocalcommunity.Throughout the year and especially in September they are working with other businesses and residentsaswellascharities,parks,schools,hospitals, shelters, orphanages, care homes andotherworthyinstitutions.Wetakeourroleseriously;facilitatingthepreservationoflocaltraditionsaswellassupportingtheprotectionof cultural heritage sites and the natural environment,” says Inge huijbrechts, director responsible Business The rezidor hotel Group. Everysinglehotelofthe260thatparticipated,contributed in its own way, for example by a cycling campaign or by SMS fundraising.

The rezidor hotel Group stretches even further. As huijbrechts puts it, “Our responsible Business program was introduced in 2001 in response to increasing demands from guests, corporate clients, employees and owners. An environmental program has however been in place since the mid 1990s. Within the responsible Business program, we are dedicated to three main areas of responsibility. First, taking responsibility for the health and safety of employeesandcustomers.Second,respectingsocial and ethical issues in the company, as well asinthecommunity.Third,reducingournegativeimpact on the environment.” ®

T E X T y O L A N d A L O G T P h O T O T h E r E Z I d O r h O T E L G r O U P

ShArING & CArING the other side of the hotel industry

In 2010 over 100 radisson Blu, Park Inn and RegenthotelsparticipatedinEarthHourandturnedofftheirnon-essentiallightsandotherelectrical appliances for one hour to raise awarenessoftheneedtotakeactiononclimatechange.

Joining households and businesses across 125 countriesworldwide,theRezidorpropertiesusedEarthHour-anenvironmentalinitiativesupported by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) - as an opportunity to engage guests, employees and business partners, and organize special events in the dark.

do I read a business opportunity here?TheseareonlyexamplesoftheinitiativesTherezidor hotel Group has taken, which shows clearly CSr is a serious part of their business strategy. Chapeau!

In the next issue: another company that knows CSr…√

Tips for responsible travel

Tips for responsible meetings can be found on

their website or by clicking on the items.

Special thanks to Mark Mosselman and Inge

Huijbregts of The Rezidor Hotel Group

S U S TA I N A B I L I T y d I y

ShArE TOdAy | 06.2011 21

- advertisement -

With regional offices in Orlando | New York | San Francisco | Miami

"Your partner in creating motivation!" www.firstincentivetravel.com

O N C E I N A L I F E T I M E

ShArE TOdAy | 06.2011 2322 ShArE TOdAy | 06.2011

A long wished for dream came true when I had the privilege of stepping on board the Star Clip-per.Withits4mastsand16sailsitstilllookedlike a bathtub toy next to 2 big cruise ships in the harbourofStMaarten.Ournicelittlecabinhadadoublebed,plentyofstorageroomandatinybathroom. I’m always surprised how much com-fortyoucanfindinonlyafewsquaremeters,where there’s room for all the clothes (too many!) and toiletries you brought. I really should meet the guy who designed it so he can show me how to set that up at home.

Anyway, I was thrilled with my porthole because I could see the ocean while underway. how igno-rant I was. When you set sail the ship is, depend-ingonthewind,leaningtoeitherportside(left)orstarboard (right). Our cabin was on starboard so our porthole just above sea level ‘moved’ likewise. ThefirstnightIdidnotsleepwell.Lyingonmyback (thinking I would fall out of bed if I would lay on my side), I listened to the cracking of the ship, the water pumping against the sides. In the morning I opened the curtains and looked right into the sea! No, not looking for Nemo, but simply because the ship was leaning to starboard. That’s why everyone was asking, “did you have a washing machine in your cabin last night?!”

Afterthatfirstexperiencetherealenjoymentstarted.Theatmosphereonboardisveryintimateand cosy. you make lots of new friends, many who sailed before, real sea life lovers who talk about their adventures of that day. No gala dinners, no dressingup.Smartcasualdoesjustfineatnight.

Youenjoyanopen-seatingdinnerwhereeveryonesitsdownatthesametimeattheonlyrestaurant;there is only one shop selling Star Clippers items andsomeamenities,andonebarhalfinside,halfoutsidefacingthedeckanddancefloorwheremusic is played at night. ®

When creating a concept for an incentive, your mind does not immediately go to cruising. When I say cruising I don’t mean the big floating luxury hotels with lots of entertainment like shows and casinos, at least 2 restaurants for a 24/7 food experience and many shopping galleries. on those ships, even with a group, you still are anonymous. No, I’m talking about the real thing: sailing… the experience of flapping sails, sailors screaming orders, a washing machine outside your window (I will explain later) and a captain on deck behind the wheel. Can you imagine the authentic experience this will bring to your client when setting sail exclusively for his group? I’ll tell you…

Dancing with WavesT E X T & P h O T O S y O L A N d A L O G T

slide show

24 ShArE TOdAy | 06.2011

O N C E I N A L I F E T I M E O N C E I N A L I F E T I M E

ShArE TOdAy | 06.2011 25

The two swimming pools are only open in port due to the movement of the ship when sailing. All watersportfacilitiesandgearareavailableatnoextra cost: water skiing, scuba diving, sailing, snor-kelling or canoeing. But for a more relaxed mood, thereisamassagelady,whodefinitelycantakeyou to another world.

The crew mingles easily with the guests and is willing to explain everything regarding sailing, the ship and the stars. you can even join them if you wish.Greatforgroupactivitiesliketeambuildingor leadership programs.

due to its size the Star Clipper is able to visit ports that are untouched by larger cruise ships. Noherdsofpeoplebutprivatebeachesandlittlespots to discover. That’s how I entered Anguilla, NormanIsland,JostvanDyke(namedafterafemale dutch pirate) with the famous Soggy dollar bar serving the dangerous ‘painkillers’ and Virgin Gorda.ThebiggerislandslikeStBarthandStKittswere entered via a private spot rather than the harbours.

Another advantage: you can simply rent out the ship exclusively for your groups. Some years ago I actually did so for a Japanese electronic com-pany.140salesstaffweretheluckyoneswhoconquered the Greek and Turkish waters the way it might have been done in the past: by a real tall shipwiththecompanyflagontop!Thecompleteprogram was tailor-made: from sailors in ‘all hands ondeck’activitiestoastunninggaladinneronshore to having the Greek ruins of the famous library of Ephesus (Turkey) as décor, accompanied by a string orchestra.

The sky - or should I say the sea - is the limit. No wonder 65% of all passengers return and become repeaters. Will you or your groups be next? √

Star Clippers operates three of the world’s

largest and tallest sailing vessels:

the Star Clipper, the Star Flyer and the Royal

Clipper. Star Clipper and Star Flyer are modern

cruise ships in every way, created for luxury-

loving passengers who also love the traditions

and romance of the legendary era of sailing

ships. Star Clipper and Star Flyer are both 360

feet long and each carries just 170 guests in

pampered comfort. For connoisseurs of sail

cruising, the 439-foot Royal Clipper offers the

ultimate sea-going experience. Royal Clipper

carries just 227 guests in luxurious style.

The ships currently sail throughout the

Caribbean, Mediterranean and Costa Rica.

In my category, FAQ, it is by far the number one question: “What is your favourite country to travel to Ellen?” And my answer is as simple as it is stupid: Nobodyland. I do not have a particular destination; I’m always looking forward to going to some far away, rather unknown and preferably comfy (read: luxury) place on the planet.

Question two is also quite predictable: ‘Where is Nobodyland?’ Anywhere, dummy! In every country where there is an international airport.

Nobodylandstartsinthatareaaftercustomsand security-check in the airport and ends at the entrance to the plane. The traveller’s twilight zone.Thisdelightfulandenergeticworldisfullofmysterious vibes and unexpected grooves. And I simply love it.

Ialwaystrytoplanenoughqualitytimetospendthere-unlessIhaveacrazytimetablelikeaflighttransfer. Nobodyland is where you meet the world.Allnationalitiessaunteraround.Agreatgame to play when I am bored: guessing what passportaparticularmanorwomaniscarrying.

It’s where you feel sorry for the backpackers who sleepontheflooraftertheir(ofcoursecheap)flightcancellation.Yousympathizewiththeslightlytipsybusinessman,inabarat7inthemorning,becauseyouunderstandheisinadifferenttimezone. your heart jumps up because you realize the awesome looking man next to you in the coffeecorneristhathotter-than-hotfamousactor,attemptingtodrinkhisespressoasanonymouslyas possible. And in Nobodyland you can even meet your future ex in the airline lounge...

It’s heaven for a shopping addict like me, which means hell for my credit card balance. All the big brandsarenearby.IshoptillIdropexhaustedinmyfirst-classseat,gettingangrylooksfromthepurser because I dO need lots of space in the locker. I can have bubbles, fresh sushi, a hairdo, a neck-massage, even a manicure just before take-off.Andforleavingsinsbehindorprayingforasafeflight,Icanevenmakeaquickvisittoaspiritual center.

In Nobodyland, I am the queen!

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C O L U M N

At the age of 10, she already won first prize

in a writing competition for a Dutch news-

paper and fell in love with writing. Ellen van

Ree works as a freelance journalist/editor for

a variety of magazines, mostly related to the

travel industry. Her passion for writing, as

well as for other cultures, traveling and life

are apparent in her features. SHARE TODAY

welcomes Ellen as one of its columnists. She

will lead you through a world of experiences

written with humor, creativity, inspiration

and sometimes provocation. Just read and

experience it for yourself!

The Traveller’s Twilight ZoneMore About ellen

ShArE TOdAy | 06.2011 2928 ShArE TOdAy | 06.2011

GROUPS S -XX L

preparing this article on an xxl group I enjoyed a flashback. It’s August, 24th 2008 and I am sizzling of excitement on my seat in the olympic stadium in Beijing. The closing ceremony is about to happen....

The Major of London together with david Beckham enters the stadium in a red double deckercoachtotakeoverdeflagforthenextSummer Olympic Games in 2012. Now, at the threshold of 2012, London is preparing itself for an XXL event.

What does it mean when an olympic circus settles in a city? Well, I consider myself absolutely no expert but since the Sydney Olympics in 2000 I haven’t missedawinterorsummereditionofthegamesand know a bit about this special circus. From an eventspointofviewvisitingthegamesisagreatincentive,right?Butherearethechallenges.

Let’s start with the easy part, hotel rooms. There are more than enough hotel rooms in London butfromthemomentadestinationischosentobecome the next Olympic city a local organizing committeetakescharge.InLondonthisisLOCOG. Thiscommitteeblockshotelroomsandwhatisleftiseitherextremelyexpensive(twicethenormal price is quite common) or not appropriate foranincentivegroup.Thantransportation:forsure no piece of cake. during the games a city uses Olympic Lanes for which each car or coach needs to have a permit. And these are not the

only permits you need. Permits to park at a hotel to pick up guests, permit to stop and deliver guests at a restaurant and certainly no access to main gates of the stadiums or other Olympic venues. Access to these is available only to the partner sponsors of the event.

Security is a hot topic at any games but especially in London. It may take you an hour to pass security in a stadium. Oh yes and make sure you buyticketsfromofficialsuppliersinsteadofsomeshabby reseller and don’t be surprised if you stand in line for the opening ceremony and your entranceticketsbecometwiceoreventripletheprice for those resellers who need to help out agencies who trusted the wrong supplier. But hey these are the Games!

There is a treat though. Global bonding with all kinds of supporters and sports friends and intenseemotions;anOlympicmedalisworthmore for some athletes than winning a European or World Championship. There are major celebrationswhereworldfamousartistsjoinin,scheduled all over town. So mark your diaries; theworldunitesfromthe27thofJulytillthe12th of August 2012 in London. √

T E X T & P h O T O K I M A L d E r d E N

An XXL circus Note; SHARE TODAY will be following the 2012

Olympic Games closely. In August we will

be right in the heart of the Olympic city and

share our XXL adventures with you.

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U P, C L O S E & P E r S O N A L

Linda started her career 17 years ago. In 2000 she launched her own company with life partner Sam and business partner Magdalena. Today Vanadoo is one of the major players in Prague. But for Linda, success is no reason to sit back and relax. With seismic change part of the daily landscape in our industry, she knows a dMC must adapt. here is what she did to give her clients a boost and turn change to her advantage.

Destination pro: A self-service tool for the client who thinks answers are only a click away on the web.

Was it that easy? Linda: “No. It started with a simpleideabutwehadtotweak,refineandengineer it for more than a year before it was readyforthefirsttrial.”Lindaisapersistentlady with an eye for detail, no surprise when youarerunningaDMC.Inshort,DestinationProsupports clients by pairing 24/7 web services with access to concierge advice from senior Vanadoo consultants.

DestinationPraguewasthesoft-launch.Aswith any new product, Linda and her team encountered challenges. Where they only had to pitch a client before, they now had to convince their local network and suppliers to join, too. Enter the entrepreneur with focus (and, we assume,morethanalittletouchofgirlpower)who took her tool to the next level. Linda and herteamwereinvitedtoshareDestinationProaround the ShArE TOdAy breakfast table during EIBTM Barcelona last december.

Agroupof15internationalDMCpersonalitiestookpartintheexhilaratingsession,listeningcloseandgivingfeedback.“Itwasexcitingtofinallystageourselves.Afterafullyearofemotionalhighsandlowslaunchingournewbaby, it was absolutely great to share our thinking with industry colleagues.

Every single piece of feedback was valuable. We keeponlearningeveryday.AfterourShareTodayround-table, we’re more encouraged than ever.”

T E X T K I M A L d E r d E N P h O T O y O L A N d A L O G T

A designer tool for the dMC of tomorrow

Destination Pro is in Phase One. Expectations

are high. Vanadoo believes it could make the

difference for DMCs - both for full service pros

with specialty portfolios and for niche play-

ers with a specific markets and destinations.

As soon as Destination Prague is 100% road

tested, new opportunities will open. Vanadoo

is looking for partners who are willing to invest

and co-invent the DMC future together. Well,

what do you think? Linda is anxious to hear

your feedback. Click here to email her.

In the past year, those of us in the destination management field have been busy as hell. Today’s clients have changed dramatically: in the know and able to run part of the show, they have often become our main competitors. Hotel suggestion? They booked already. Insider tip for a new restaurant? They just googled it.

linda and sam Benmammar from Vanadoo, prague are finding an innovative way to change the rules of the game, get back in the driver’s seat and give their clients even more bang for their buck.

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S N A P S h OT

P h O T O y O L A N d A L O G T

Creative minds discover the faces, places and cases of Buenos Aires. read more in our next mag.

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Z O O M I N

It all started by coincidence. A dutch group hired Liu Ping to recruit a keynote speaker on Chinese life and history. When the speaker cancelled at the last minute, the client convinced Liu Ping to do the honours herself. That day at the podium, a ‘star’ was born and Liu Ping found her new passion in life.

Buildingbridgesandcreatingunderstandingis behind Pings new book. “I never felt I had enoughtimetotellinternationalfriendsaboutour Chinese culture, life and habits. Of course, every country has pros and cons - it’s the same for China. But if I am able to help others understand certain issues more clearly or to share in-depth background on Chinese history, it will create more understanding. This is my hope.”

IttookLiuPingseveralyearstofinalizeherscriptandfindapublisher.ChinaInternationalPublishing Group (CIPG), the country’s largest foreign-language publisher/distributor, has taken her book on. “I was almost in tears

when I heard to good news. CIPG publishes a lot ofbiographicalbooksforcelebritiesandChinesestate leaders.

I am one of a very few ordinary Chinese citizensselectedtohaveabookpublishedbya government publishing house. They believe publishing my book will give foreigners access to adifferentvoice.”

From CEO to professional writer

In our first issue of sHArE ToDAY, we

interviewed liu ping, CEo of China

star. At the time, ping told us she was

very busy writing her autobiography.

Certainly no story about today’s China

can be ordinary, and liu ping’s upcoming

book promises much more…

T E X T & P h O T O S K I M A L d E r d E N

In addition to being CEO of China Star and now

a professional writer, Liu Ping is on the board

of SITE this year and was a key player behind

Beijing being chosen to host next year’s SITE

International Conference. She is also an active

member of MPI and ICCA and has promised

to become a regular contributor of the SHARE

TODAY blog in 2012.

hardly a week goes by without someone somewhereinvitingmetocomeandgiveapresentationonGenerationY(broadlyspeaking,people in their 20s) and what they want from the conference industry. Quite rightly, many ConventionBureaux,venuesandmeetingsplanners are desperate to know how they can adapt their products to match the needs and tastesofthislatestgenerationofpotentialconferenceattendees.Inanutshell,theirpreferencesandvaluesaresodifferenttothoseoftheBabyBoomergenerationofdelegatesthatradical changes in the way we do everything in thisindustrywillberequired,orGenerationYwillsimply vote with their feet and stay away from face-to-facemeetingsofallkinds.

ButI’vealreadywritteninSHARETODAYontheissueofGenerationY.I’dliketofocusonanotherdemographic segment now: those at the other end of working life altogether - people in their 60s and 70s. According to a recent survey from theTransamericaCenterforRetirementStudies,almost four in ten workers said that they were planningtoworklongpastthenormalretirementage. Of those surveyed, 39 percent of people said they’ll work past the age of 70 or simply never retire.54percentsaidtheyplannedtoretirebetween 60 to 69 years of age.

Amajorreasonforstillclockingonwhileknockingonwasfinancialnecessity.Asignificantnumberof people said that it was the recession that was making them resign themselves to working longer inlife.Butevenformanyofthemorefinanciallysecure, a longer working life seems to be a lifestyle choice. There is a happy band of workers who simply love what they do for a living, and will keepondoingitasamatterofchoice-maybeonapart-timebasis,butstillkeepingtheirhandinand exercising their trade or profession as long as they are physically and mentally able.

I know that I belong to that category: I’ve always saidthatI’llprobablyshuffleoffthismortalcoilinthemiddleofsomePowerPointpresentation.Well, there are worse ways to go. But the point is, if people are working longer, that means that more people will also be going to conferences into their 60s and 70s and beyond.

What does that mean for the way we organize meetings?Whatcanwedotoensurethatthisagegroupgetsvalueandsatisfactionfromtheconferencestheyattend?

A few things to consider: older people, even when they are 100% mentally sound, clearly have simple physicalneedsthatmeetingplannersneedtotake

into account. For example, for those with failing eyesight,tinyprintonconferenceprogramsandon conference badges will be a challenge. Use bigger fonts. Hearingtoocanbealotlesseffectivefortheolder delegates at your events. So pay more attentiontotheacousticsintheroom;andgoeasy with the background music (beloved of GenerationY)duringnetworkingsessions-thatcan prevent some older delegates from following conversations.

It’s also a fact of life that many older people also need more ‘comfort breaks’ than your twenty-something delegates. So avoid marathon sessions ofspeakerafterspeakerwithnobreaksinbetween.Andallowenoughtimeforolder,lesssprightly delegates to get from the plenary session to the breakout rooms, for example.

Remember,manyofourconventioncentresarehuge buildings, with long distances between rooms. Fine for nimble, gym-toned youngsters, but something of a physical challenge for those who are 40 or 50 years older than your youngest delegates.

Finally, technology: sure, your Gen y delegates willenjoyonlineregistration,tweetingquestions®

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C O L U M N

More About rob

C O L U M N

Knocking on

to the speakers, blogging on your conference’s website etc etc. But those in their 60s and 70s maywellhaveapreferenceformoretraditionalmethods of engaging with the event - can they do that,forthemeetingsyouorganize?

It’sgoingtobeatoughbalancingact:satisfyingalldelegateagegroups.Butaneffectiveconferenceisonethatmeetstheneedsofallattendees,andwhere no one feels excluded on any grounds. And inaworldwherewe’llsoonhavefourdifferentgenerationsworkingside-by-side,asanindustrywe’re going to have to meet that challenge as well as we possibly can.

ConferenceswillbeenrichenedbythecontinuingpresenceofolderdelegateswithalifetimeofexperienceintheirchosenfieldanddifferentperspectivestothoseofourBrightYoungThings.Let’snotmakethemfeellikesecond-classcitizens.√

Let us introduce you to another columnist, Rob Davidson. Rob Davidson is a Senior Lecturer at the

University of Greenwich, in London. He specializes in research into business events and also runs

his own consultancy in this field. One of his principal clients is EIBTM. He prepares an annual study

called the EIBTM Industry Trends and Market Share Report, which he launches each year at the show

in Barcelona.

C O L U M N- advertisement -

ShArE TOdAy | 06.2011 39

F y I

Alittlebitofbackgroundontheman.Frombeingapain-in-the-asstohismomatage13,tofightingwith friends on the street a year later, to lessons in karate to create more balance, to a career as professional goal keeper in the Netherlands, Bertus holkema has served the Commandos in the army and was a doorman at several bars and discotheques.

Without really knowing it, he created a certain image: a hospitable security guy with good manners and no fear. Then there came the phone call:themultinationalPhilips,assponsorofthe Fats domino event in the Netherlands, was looking for a security expert. There and then his security career began. Touring the world with major bands such as dire Straits and The rolling Stones was a boy’s dream came true. But there wasmore.Publicfestivalevents,bodyguardsecurity to famous football players and eventually he was in charge of security for major sports events worldwide. hey, what else do you need to become a real pro on the subject?

What is the secret? holkema: “We always focus onconflictcontrol.Thismeansthatwevalue

three important pillars in our day-to-day work: we try to create a friendly atmosphere, an open communicationlineandhospitablebehaviour.Furthermore we are working on the look and feel of our teams. Working in a tailor-made suit is creatingabetterpicturethananoversizedjacketor pair of trousers. And we try to build up our teams with a diverse group of persons, preferably with one or two women in each team on the job.”

Today an all-round security company has various disciplinesandemploysagreatvarietyinstaff.Because client focus and hospitable behaviour play such an important role, training and coachingaredisciplinesHolkemaoffersclients.

“Wetraincateringstaffandlogisticstaffwithourknowledge,andsowehopetocreateanbetteroverall environment for events,” says holkema.

Taking care of security around sports events is one of the major pillars in his company. It’s no surprisethatalotofhisyoungrecruitedstaffcomes from several sports academies. We learn that a sports event is used as sales tool as well. ®

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Event security: Conflictcontrolisthename of the game

T E X T K I M A L d E r d E N P h O T O S E d W I N S M U L d E r S & K I M A L d E r d E N

Who is in charge of event security? Does the project manager of the agency have full responsibility or are the various local suppliers each responsible for their own part? And what about public transportation in, for example, london, which is sometimes referred to as a risk due to historical facts. Why separate a group between two airplanes, and then put them the next moment on scooters through the buzzing city centre of, say, Bangkok? Event security is a subjective issue. We tried to find some answers though and had a chat with Bertus Holkema, a no-nonsense Dutchman with 30 years of experience in all sorts of global events.

F y I

“Edwin van de Sar, the well known dutch goal keeper played his farewell match at the

Amsterdam Arena stadium. The match was filledwithcelebrities,mediapoweranddecisionmakersatthesametime.Weofferedourserviceson a complimentary basis, which resulted in very positivefeedbackandnewleads.Itmaysoundunconventional,butformeitisthebestsalestool ever.”

Afinaltip:Securityhasmanyfacesbutonethingisveryclear,itisessentialnottotakeitforgranted.Payattentionandneverhesitatetoevaluate the security issues around your next event with a professional. √

42 ShArE TOdAy | 06.2011

In 2009 the activity of the Holkema Group

was sold to ICTS Europe Group (In the Nether-

lands the company operates under the brand

name CTSN (Consultants on Targeted

Security Netherlands) – Holkema Group.

A bit of name dropping in the end… references

come from Champions League Final for

Mastercard, events for the Johan Cruijff

Welfare Foundation, Delta Airlines Schiphol

airport Amsterdam, MTV Awards ceremony

and the University HQ of Madrid.

Interested contact Bertus Holkema, feel free

to e-mail him directly.

L E T M E E N T E r TA I N yO U

The Big Apple NewYorkCityisthetopdestinationin the United States, but there’s more to New york than you might think. The state of New york extends all the way from the Canadian border to the AtlanticOcean.NewYorkisthethirdlargestproducerofwinein the US. New york has more downhill ski areas than any otherstate.Thereareover230stateandnationalparks,withAdirondack Park as the largest protected nature area in the continentalUS.Perfecttoaccommodateanygrouporevent.Want to know more? www.iloveny.com

World Travel guide We were wondering if we should place this under websites or books…Thewebsiteoffersplentyofinspirationalinformation,either digitally or through their books, on all kinds of destinationsaroundtheglobe.Worthascrolltodiscoverforyourself. www.worldtravelguide.net

Interactive floor plans, iplanWiththisapp,lifegetseasierfortheMeetingPlanner.Usingcrisp,clean,interactivefloordiagramsyoucan

evaluate and preview guest rooms and event spaces with your iPhone or iPad. Simply select a hotel from the list.

The InterContinental Kitchen CookbookThefirstfoodandbeverageappfromaninternationalhotel chain allows hotel guests to freely download 32

InterContinentalrecipesandpreparetopdishesintheirownkitchen.

w e b s i t e s & A P P s oksbooksBest in Travel 2011 What more to say? The Best in Travel 2011, an issue of Lonely Planet, is almost a must for those who love to explore the world; a year’s worthoftravelinspirationtotake you out of the ordinary andintosomeunforgettableexperiences. Just read it!

The M Factor Lancaster and Stillman,consultantsand coauthors of When GenerationsCollide,giveaDavidAttenborough-worthydocumentationofthe lifestyle and habits of theMillennialNation,thegenerationbornbetween1982 and 2000.Lively stories illustratethegenerationgapandgeneralcommunicationfailuresbetweenTraditionalists,Boomers,GenerationX-ers, and Millennials. The authors do an earnest job of encouragingthegenerationstoattempttounderstandeach other.

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F O O d F O r T h O U G h T

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