March is here and spring has sprung (NOT (yet)).
I’ve called this blog “catch me if you can” because I’ve been going all over the place: what I mean specifically is traveling.
Early March my traveling began:
Started with an annual congress in Mexico City (it’s my second visit and WOW) … This Metropolis never ceases to amaze me. On the request of my friends and colleagues; Eleonora and Marcella of the Mexican Tourism office, I was asked to stay on a few extra days to get a personalized tour. Boy did they spoil me rotten (as any proud Mexican would). I was brought to discover the WONDERFULLY colorful artisanal outdoor markets and a tucked away secret place smack in the middle of this grandiose city called Xochimilco (it’s the Mexican Venice) OMG really OMG!!
I was invited to a familiarization tour of Trois-Rivières, hosted by Tourisme Trois-Rivières it was awesome to discover the incredible history. The few days spent there we learnt another morsel of our province’s complex history… simplement MERVEILLEUX!!
Was asked to par-take in on a last-minute trip to New York City (love it there!) Stayed at the uber chic and sexy CONRAD Hotel just across the street from the FREEDOM Tower and the 911 Memorial … all I can say about this is INSPIRATIONALLY HUMBLING!!
I worked (YES I actually DO WORK ) on a few day long conferences/workshops for my clients; they are the usual “lunch and learns” with “whole-day conferences” these took place at some of Montreal’s most beautiful venues; the Hyatt Regency and the Ritz-Carlton.
I also took some time to attend a local annual Industry symposium always held at the Centre des Sciences; “Momentum” this was for the corporate side of the meeting industry. I also had time for some ‘self-education’ and attended the newly formed M+IT University in Montreal at the Sheraton Center downtown regarding meeting industry’s future trends and the top 10 trends for the Incentive Market. (a planner’s got to be up to date with all this)
Every year Board of Trade of Métropolitain Montreal “Opération Retour à l’école” invites “ENTREPRENEURS” to go speak to some High Schools. These conferences are for the up-and-coming students that want to be future entrepreneurs. We go to sharing why they should all keep going to school and pursue their dreams. This is something that I do to give back to the community every year … hence my
catch phrase: “I aspire to inspire”
For my upcoming Incentive Programs I had the wonderful opportunity to meet a few people from out of town properties:
TopNotch in Stowe Vermont Hotel PUR in Quebec City
It’s always great to connect with new vendors. (especially when I’m scouting new Incentive ideas for my client’s)
My classes at LaSalle College are slowly winding down – out of five classes two are finished and the rest are wrapping up by mid-April.
My class and I have had the honor of various speakers;
• Louis Sudano, from Intercontinental Montreal
• Patrick Lalonde, from Agence Apollo
• Randi Katz & Tony Picciuto, from The Directors Show Band
• Steve Merlin, from Event-ure
• Wedding set up at the Congregation Shaar Hashomayim; we where graciously invited by Jamie Silver from Celebrations
So at a glance one would think that March was busy?!?
WELL let me tell you April is looking even more hectic, especially when it comes to travel, but I’ll share that with you next month. Here is a hint: “je vais vous l’expliquer le mois prochain” wink wink – nudge nudge….