DATELINE MONDAY 17TH OCTOBER 2022

Happy bright and sunny Monday morning greetings from London W10 I hope you are well and that you enjoyed a lovely sunny quite a bit of the time weekend, well it was sunny here in London.

The October weather so far has not been too bad, the heating had hardly been on at all, well seeing as there is only me in the house with the occasional visit from Hannah, my almost 18-year-old daughter regardless of the fact that she still lives here full time but is hardly ever at home. If she is not at school, she is out at the gym or with friends or working at her part time job in a restaurant in Wardour Street London W1 I haven’t splashed out to heat the whole of the Marks mortgaged fantasy accommodation on the Martini belt of Swiss Cottage only on the one room I am working from

Pascal the MD of NACARA DMC France has told up that the French Government has decided to switch off the illuminations of the Eiffel Tower at 11.45PM instead of 1AM to save energy, that I think is a great idea, perhaps we in the UK should switch the lights out at Number 10 Downing Street, not only would it save energy and money it would save us in the UK a lot of grief.

How was IMEX Las Vegas? did you go? I have heard that not many UK agents went to IMEX perhaps I am wrong if you went do let me know what it was like.

The last of the season of Jewish Festivals started on Sunday night this one is Shemini Atzeret literally means "the assembly of the eighth" day in Hebrew. Followed by Simchat Torah which simply means "rejoicing in the Torah." Shemini Atzeret is the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles celebrating in temporary huts for Sukkot. This holiday is celebrated with immense joy, culminating on Simchat Torah, which is on Tuesday, Jews complete their annual, public reading of the weekly Torah law portion and we immediately start the Torah at the beginning again with the story of The Creation, Genesis 1. The purpose of a quick ending and beginning is to express the importance of the cyclical aspect of the Jewish year and the importance of Torah study.

The leafy streets of London NW6 and NW8 are getting ready for Halloween. In St John’s Wood there is a huge American School and a lot of the parents live close by to the School the Americans have totally taken ownership of Halloween so a lot of the houses are draped with cobwebs, giant spiders, pumpkins, witches and other Halloween paraphernalia that WH Smiths and Hallmark love to sell. It is also the season of fireworks going off most evenings, it has already started as soon as it goes slightly dark the cacophony commences.

Not only Halloween preparations are up and running so are the preparations for Diwali the festival of lights for Hindu, Sikhs, Buddhists is celebrated/ observed this year on Monday, October 24. Diwali is held on 15th day of the month of Kartika in the Hindu calendar

That’s it, you are up to date from a David point of view wishing you an awesome week ahead at the coalface of the conference and incentive industry.

MM and Company news update

World Travel Market 7th – 9th November 2022 ExCeL, London

I have just heard that Karl Braunecker of Hello Islands DMC Mauritius (formerly known as Connections DMC Mauritius) will be in town exhibiting at WTM on the Mauritius national stand

I will be going to WTM to see Karl hope to see you there.

A great friend of mine, as well as a friend of MM and Company will also be at WTM, Carlos Barros of Compass Brazil is launching his new Ground Operator and DMC company at WTM at Stand LA100

IBTM Barcelona 29th Nov-1st Dec 2022

Habib of Visit Morocco DMC will be on the Morocco Booth

Travco DMC Dubai and Abu Dhabi will be there, stand information to be confirmed

Erica and Douglas of Mi Malta DMC will be on the Malta Stand

Abu Dhabi

Jyoti, Christina, Jean Yan and the team at TRAVCO DMC Dubai and Abu Dhabi have told us that a venue specially designed for conventions, exhibitions and special events will open on 24th October in Abu Dhabi. The new multi-purpose Marina Hall will be a versatile space incorporating activities and showcases both on and off the water. It is connected to the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) – the largest in the MENA region - via a footbridge, it is easily accessible from Abu Dhabi International Airport and downtown Abu Dhabi.

Japan

James and the crew and The J Team DMC Japan tell us that Hyatt Hotels Corporation has announced the opening of Fuji Speedway Hotel in Shizuoka, Japan, the first property within The Unbound Collection by Hyatt brand in Japan. Set against the backdrop of Mount Fuji, about 80 minutes by car from Tokyo, the hotel is adjacent to the historic Fuji Speedway motor racing circuit. The hotel also houses the Fuji Motor Sports Museum, which showcases about 40 racing cars dating from the end of the 19th century. The Fuji Speedway Hotel has 120 guest rooms, including 21 suites, all with private balconies offering views of Fuji Speedway race circuit or Mount Fuji. The hotel has event space ranging from a board meeting for eight, to a conference for up to 310 people. The main attraction is Mount Fuji, an UNESCO World Heritage Cultural Site that is home to sacred venues of artistic inspiration over the centuries. These include the Fuji Sengen-jinja shrines, the Shiraito-no-taki waterfalls, and the Fujigoko five lakes that surround the foot of the mountain. Also close by is Mishima Skywalk, Japan’s longest suspension footbridge, and an open-air premium outlet shopping mall.

Cancun, Mexico

Manuel Liliana and the team at The EPIC Group DMC have told us that Kempinski Hotels has taken over the former Ritz-Carlton Cancun Hotel and renamed it Grand Hotel Cancún managed by Kempinski. This is Kempinski's first property in Mexico. With no planned closure, the property will undergo improvements and adjustments in the coming months. When the hotel is up to Kempinski's standards, the resort will be renamed the Kempinski Hotel Cancun. The property has 363 rooms and suites—all featuring private balconies or terraces with a view of the Caribbean. Located in Cancun’s hotel zone, the property is just 25 minutes from the Cancun International Airport or downtown Cancun.