Hi… wait… hold on. I need to catch my breath.
This has been one WHIRLWIND of a month, especially when it comes to travel, and I’m just now starting to unpack (kinda…).
WOW, August was busy, busy, busy. My month started off with a trip to Minneapolis for an annual education conference for us Meeting Professionals; this was a duration of approximately a week.
Every year I find it educational, refreshing and a need to reconnect with my industry peeps; this is where we learn, share and strategized between colleagues from all over. Having said this, I am constantly exhilarated on how much we learn from each other at all levels starting from: new business practises / social media / trends so on and so forth. Not to mention the opportunities to partake in Keynote Speaker Conferences for instance this year we heard;
- Dr. Deepak Chopra, New York Times bestselling author of Reinventing the Body
- “WOZ” himself Mr. Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple Computer, designed both the Apple I and Apple II.
- Scott Schenker, General Manager, Events and Production Studio at Microsoft.
Just to name a few … need I say it was FANTASTICALLY inspirational to see/hear these GREAT ICONS of our times.
Once back, needed to catch-up with emails as well as (FINALLY) closed a few more deals on upcoming INCENTIVE programs (YUPPIE for me) and then, off to Panama for a semi-vacation as well some investigative site work. This is how we basically spent it:
* two days at a RELAXING at a resort called:
Intercontinental Playa Bonita Resort and Spa
* two days experiencing Panama’s urban living at the UBER CHIC:
Trump Hotel Panama
* two remaining days in the GLORIOUS rainforestat the:
Gamboa Rainforest Resort
* somewhere in between we had the PRIVILEGE to get a VIP Private Tour of the Panama Canal; it’s sited as the 8th wonder of the world (because it’s man-made) and I can see why!
All I can tell you is Panama is one HAPPENING MODERN city W-O-W!!
And as if that was not enough, with the fluke of life’s surprises I was able to re-connect with a High School friend and fellow basketball teammate there!! Sylvia Cesaratto (and family), she just so happens to be the Ambassador of Canada in Panama – double BOOM!!!
To resume it was quite spectacular … the trip of a lifetime really. Note: perfect place for a Corporate Incentives, VIP Retreats and/or Teambuilding. I do however, need to go back to see the Caribbean side; for Wedding Destinations.
Returning to Montreal, had one day to “rest” then was off to a site visit at a property (in cottage country) located in our northern Laurentians called Sainte-Adèle. The property was Hotel le Chantecler . It’s been renovated and looks really great. We also were treated to tasting of the new menu (OMG) once done we couldn’t move … it was just DELISH. Note: perfect place for a Corporate Incentives, VIP Retreats, Teambuilding and/or Destination Weddings.
Next few days we headed up in Manchester, Vermont. I was graciously invited, by Mr. Gerry McFarland Director of Sales & Marketing, to visit his prestigious and gorgeous property: The Equinox a Luxury Collection Golf Resort and Spa what a great weekend that was!
My husband and dog Max (yes they are pet friendly) came along, this is what we did: the Land Rover Extreme Driving Experience, then Orvis’s refined techniques of Fly-Fishing and lastly hiking to the Equinox Summit where we could see the four surrounding states; Massachusetts – New York – Connecticut and the rest of Vermont. This was amazing. Oh in-case you were wondering, YES we did rest along the pool side. Had no choice Lauren Meyers, Banquet and Events Manager had her team take very good care of us!! Note: perfect place for Corporate Incentives, VIP Retreats, Teambuilding and/or Destination Weddings.
Once back, I went straight into event execution mode: exactly 24hours later I coordinated and executed a client’s Annual Luncheon Summit meeting kickoff, at none other than Moishes Steakhouse, one of Montreal’s legendary steakhouse restaurants. David and his team where awesome!!
Few days later I went to the northern town of Chicoutimi, located in the Fjords of Saguenay (northern Quebec) for a couple days of scheduled site visits. Like I didn’t have enough adventure this month … the ladies Ingrid and Angelique from Promotions Saguenay prepared one HECK of a two day breath-taking adventure packed agenda:
Started with my evening arrival at the Bagotville Airport; quick fact it’s owned and operated by our own Royal Canadian Air Force (WOW). Note: easy travel experience
DAY #1
The morning, we started with a site visit where I was staying: Hotel Chicoutimi (did you know it’s the oldest Hotel there). Nice and centrally located, right in the middle of the action. Note: GREAT for AGM’s and/or Sales meetings
Then we visited an abandoned however very well maintained pulp and paper venue La Pulperie de Chicoutimi. Note: Very nice for a Employee/Client Appreciation Soiree, Corporate 5@7 Cocktail Reception, Wedding Ceremony and/or Reception.
Just before lunch they brought me to visit the Adventure Park Cap-Jaseux and boy what an adventure it was!!! Visited a ‘luxurious’ camping DOME and two suspended SPHERES in the trees, (YES suspended in the trees) all this in the name of experiential camping with SPECTACULAR views of the Fjords. As if that wasn’t enough to WOW me … we had a picnic lunch in a TREE HOUSE (YES a Tree House) how COOL is that!!! Note: GREAT for WELLNESS groups, TEAMBUILDING and/or ADVENTURE CHALLENGE seekers.
After an “adventurous” morning we came back down to earth to continue our visit of a few other properties:
l’Hotel la Saquanéene
l’Hotel le Montagnais
Once done, we returned to rest and refresh for a quiet chic urban supper at the newly opened: le Merlin, YUMMO!!
DAY #2
Well, the second day started with a Helicopter Ride along the Saguenay Fjord; SPEECHLESS was I. Amazingly Mother-Nature does it again. Basically spent the morning engorged in the splendor of the Fjord; flew over and visited the following sites: Saquenay National Park
——————Riviére-Eternité- Cap-au-Lest
——————Auberges des Battures
We wrapped up the day by visiting the newly renovated Delta Hotel Chicoutimi
Lastly we did a wine tasting at the infamous vineyard Domaine le Cageot
After all this, we headed back to refresh, only to have supper at the award winning l’Auberge 21 for a French fine dining cuisine experience. MIAM MIAM!!
OOHAA … August, how you consumed (and exhausted!) me, I AM GRATEFUL. THANK YOU UNIVERSE!!
Up next: September. See you all then!
