South America is hot…and in Argentina, City Service is your perfect DMC partner to ensure your event is a success.  With five day/four night programs from just AUD1395, it is a great option for companies looking for somewhere a little beyond the Pacific Rim!

Park Hyatt Mendoza Hotel has been distinguished by Travel & Leisure magazine in their “World´s Best Awards 2006” as the #11 hotel in the ranking of two categories: Top 25 hotels of Central & South America and Top 15 hotels in the World under USD250.00 per night.

NEW Migration Taxes have been introduced by Argentine authorities: USD2.00 per person leaving by land or river ports and USD10 per person if leaving by sea, including cruises or other sea ways. The tax is to be paid at the time of boarding and not that children under two years are excluded. Passengers with accommodation in Puerto Iguazu or Foz Iguazu, up to 50km away from the border, are excluded from paying this tax upon presenting their accommodation voucher. Those travelling to inside Brazil or Paraguay will be required to pay the U$S2 tax. The same tax applies for passengers undertaking the Lake Crossing from Bariloche to Puerto Varas, and the border crossing in Mendoza and Calafate.
 

Hotels
NEW FASANO HOTEL IN RIO, a Leading Hotel of the World designed by Philippe Starck, will open in Rio in April 2007 overlooking Ipanema beach. The decor will be elegant and discreet, and inspired by art and furnishing from the fifties and sixties. All 92 rooms will have a terrace and 32” plasma TV/DVD.

The COPACABANA PALACE SPA in Rio will open in December and will offer the best beauty treatments in a relaxing atmosphere. Situated over three floors, it will include a fitness centre, sauna and seven rooms tol house different treatments, such as a jacuzzi overlooking the garden.

Activites
CITY OF SAMBA has opened in Rio. The attraction is open from 12.00 noon to 8.00 pm and on Thursday evenings, visitors can watch a mini Carnival Parade, with the option to participate in a mini-parade. City of Samba was built on the site of an old railway station in the port area. The complex will house workshops for the 14 best samba schools, which compete each year at Carnival for the prestigious title of “Carnival Champions”.

Rio by Night at a Gafieira with Dinner
A "GAFIEIRA", (guy-fee-air-a) is a Brazilian dance hall, one of the country's most beloved and popular forms of entertainment. Visit the oldest dance hall in Rio, a simple place located on a historic downtown square, and sway to the Brazilian Big Band sounds of mache, bossa nova, samba, lambada and more. For those seeking some dance guidance, there is the opportunity to undertake some dance lessons with qualified teachers.

Carnival Dates!
Not to be missed! Carnival in Rio runs from 16 to 21 February 2007 . The Carnival parade will take place on Sunday 18 February and Monday 19 February.

What’s New in Canada
The Orca Spririt – Victoria BC
Imagine zooming from Vancouver to Victoria aboard a 30 metre luxury catamaran while whale watching en route. The new Orca Spirit II boasts seating for 150 people and large outdoor viewing decks. Cruise the seas on the Orca Spirit from March 2007.

Bison Courtyard on Bear Street (Banff, Alberta)
The new heart of Banff is an environmentally sustainable complex of shops, restaurants and services. Here you will find Banff’s newest dining hot spot: Bison Mountain Bistro. The food is fresh and locally grown, the view is stunning and the décor predominantly features reclaimed Douglas Fir. 

Whistler Mountaineer – Whistler BC
Enjoy a relaxing  three hour picturesque train ride from Vancouver to Whistler while enjoying the stunning scenery in comfort and style.

For more information, please contact Cantrav on Cantrav@destinationmarketing.com.au

Thank You Cantrav – Testimonial from The Forum Group
Feedback from Paula Nolan of The Forum Group who worked with Cantrav on a very successful program to Canada earlier this year:
“I cannot thank you enough for everything you did for myself and the group when we were in Canada. The execution of the group tour in Vancouver, Victoria and Whistler was second to none. Everything ran on time, the guides were great and Leanne was one of the best tour desk guides we have had. Her knowledge and willingness to go above and beyond was exceptional and everyone was so grateful to her for her patience and efforts. She really did make everyone's stay enjoyable and recommended some fabulous restaurants, places for people to visit and shopping areas away from the normal tourist haunts. Thank you for putting your best staff on this trip.
The client is wrapped with the event and how it went and this is for the most part due to the great staff we had and your overall management of the programme, so thank you so very much for everything that you did.
I have told my entire team what a great place Canada is and how wonderful the Fairmont Hotels are so if anyone has an inkling to go - they should - and take 500 people with them! Cantrav is a very professional outfit and I would recommend them to anyone who asks.”

Cuba - IBEROservice

ETM Travel in Melbourne recently took an incentive group of 74 delegates to Havana, Cuba and Las Vegas.  Cassandra Buckley gives her thoughts on her visit to Havana….

“Upon arrival in Havana we were transferred via coach to the NH Parque Hotel. Welcome drinks, canapés and a trio of Cuban musicians greeted our group at the hotel.

The following day we split into two touring groups - one group visited Las Terrazza's - a UNESCO village located approximately 90 minutes from Havana.

Here the delegates visited a cigar factory, were educated in the hand-rolling production of Cuban Cigars and purchased a few to try!  After the cigar factory visit we went to the Village, where the group explored a coffee plantation, enjoyed some local Cuban food and a few Mojitos!

The other group enjoyed a tour of Havana and surrounds.  This included a visit via coco-taxi to the Revolution Square (where Fidel Castro has delivered his epic seven hour speeches!);   El Morro Castle for a scenic look across the bay at the entire city; the Revolution Museum  for a very thorough lesson on the Cuban Revolution and the Cuban Missile Crisis; lunch at El Patio in one of the four main squares; a visit to the Havana Rum Factory and a taste test!

Company branded Cuban Cigars, Mojitos and a trio of musicians welcomed the group as they arrived at Cafe Del Oriente via horse drawn carriage for our Welcome Dinner.  After dinner, the evening was spent meandering back down Obispo Street to experience some local cafes, culture, music and salsa dancing.

Day two - the groups reversed tours

In the evening, we rode in "Old Timer" cars from the NH Parque Hotel to the Tropicana Show.

This is an event that must be seen to be believed!  Over 200 dancers, an outdoor theatre, a 60 piece orchestra, rum, champagne, cigars! The show is full of excitement, dancing, acrobatics, singing, and energy! A MUST SEE!

Day three - the group transferred via coach back to the airport for our flight to Las Vegas!

 All in all - a wonderful incentive and in particular, many warm thanks and regards to the wonderful team at Iberoservice”.
 

What’s New in Los Cabos

LA BODEGA - Steak & Wine House
Contemporary dining in unique atmosphere – broad menu choices with international wine list.  La Bodega is a concept that arose after several years of living in San Jose del Cabo and realizing the need for a Mexican contemporary dining alternative. With  unique architecture, the customer has the option to enjoy dining in air-conditioned comfort, or an open-air patio under a marvellous rubber tree, surrounded by relaxing music.

La Bodega offers a menu with assorted appetizers either for one person or to share, made of high quality meat, fresh seafood, a variety of salads and the soup of the day.

La Bodega enjoys a great selection of domestic and imported liquors and a controlled temperature wine cellar offering wines mainly from South America, Mexico, North America, France, Spain and Italy.

CASA DEL MAR BEACH GOLF & SPA RESORT ANNOUNCES $2 MILLION DOLLAR RENOVATION

Casa del Mar Beach Golf & Spa, an intimate hacienda-style luxury resort located in the trendy Tourist Corridor of Cabo San Lucas, has undergone a spectacular US$2m+ renovation and refurbishment. The Resort is under new ownership and management of Grand Heritage Hotels Group, one of North America's premier owner-operators of independent luxury hotels specialising in preserving, maintaining and promoting the unique legacy of each of its jewels.

Boston is proving to be a new firm favourite with the Australian and New Zealand companies who have visited over the last few months and we are thrilled with the feedback on our DMC in Boston – Ally O’Connor of NXT Events!  This is what Libby Peisley of CiEvents Sydney  had to say after her program of 180 people earlier this year:

 “It really was a joy working with you.  Your attention to detail, your excellent network of suppliers and contacts and your obvious connections in the city meant that we created experiences for our clients that went well beyond their expectations. Your ability to put us in contact with not only great events suppliers but also superb speakers and contacts at Harvard and MIT, was an invaluable addition to our client’s business program.  It was especially nice for us having the “Australian connection” in that you had an understanding of our delegates needs without it always having to be spelled out.
The feedback from the event has all been so positive and I get tingles when I see the footage of Paul Barrett out on the pitch at Fenway Park!  Our clients have had nothing but praise for Boston and the management of the program and a large portion of that praise is attributable to you and NXTevent.
Boston proved to be such a great city for this incentive and I really would have no hesitation in recommending this destination or NXT Events to any company planning a program there”.
 

Where else can you spot the Statue of Liberty (New York New York) from the top of a pyramid or travel from Monte Carlo to Venice - all without leaving your zip code? With 15,000 miles of glittering neon to guide you as you wind your way down the Boulevard of Dreams known as The Strip, North, South, East or West is serendipity - all sorts of surprises.

 Updates:

• Cirque du Soleil officially announced that a new Elvis-themed show would hold residence in the upcoming MGM Mirage CityCenter project.
• The Beatles LOVE show, a collaboration between Cirque and Apple Records, the license holders of the original Beatles recordings used in the show, opened to great success!
• What's vintage is new again! Centred on Fremont Street north of the world famous Las Vegas Strip, Downtown Las Vegas is currently undergoing a multi-million dollar facelift.
• The Entertainment Capital of the World has evolved to be one of the most exciting destinations for golf with more than 60 challenging public and semi-private courses throughout the region.
• Las Vegas has 135,000 hotel rooms (right now, but sure to be more on your next visit!)

Las Vegas – New Resort
For visitors wanting to experience the luxury of a Las Vegas resort without the non-stop action of the Strip, Red Rock Station, is a cosy, intimate casino retreat located 15 minutes west of the city at Red Rock Canyon It is the first billion-dollar resort with a contemporary, desert-modern design, to be built off the Las Vegas strip. Red Rock Station has 414 rooms with an additional 436 to open by the end of the year. It also has one of the biggest spas in Las Vegas, nine restaurants and a food court, a three-acre pool in which to cool off in and a 16-screen movie theatre with private viewing boxes.

The Skywalk at the Grand Canyon
The first ever 4,000 foot glass cantilever-designed bridge is scheduled to open by the end of this year.
 

New Orleans – Her music is sweet, the food divine and the atmosphere unequalled!

New Orleans Old World Charm remains intact, with streetcars still clanging along Canal Street, just as they did at the turn of the century, and a promising New World sophistication in the repatriation of a world-class city!

The Central Business District; French Quarter; Warehouse and Arts District; Faubourg Marigny; Audubon Zoo; Garden District; Magazine Street and St Charles Avenue are bustling and back to business. The historic and cultural experience that attracts more than 10 million people to New Orleans each year is as rich, charming and welcoming as ever. There are more than 25,000 hotel rooms available and the famed restaurants and music clubs are humming.

LOUIS ARMSTRONG INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
As of 7 August 2006, the airport reported 111 flights serving 33 cities (64 % the number of daily departures and 77% the number of destinations; 13,185 seats or 59% of pre-Katrina level of seats per day).

HOTELS

• 111 of 140 metropolitan area hotels are open - 90 of which are located in downtown New Orleans.
• 28,000 of the 38,000 metropolitan wide hotel rooms are back in service.

DINING

• There are over 700 restaurants open, including the restaurants in the French Quarter, downtown and the Warehouse Arts District. 
• 18 major new restaurants have opened in the metro area and are enjoying success.
   

Shackman has launched its new corporate identity with a newly designed logo and enhanced corporate website both underlying their continued commitment to New York City.

Some of Shackman’s recent guests have enjoyed private dinner cruises on the Hudson River – a must if you are coming in the warm weather months. Taking in the swells and sights of New York’s waterways, a private cruise is the perfect way to relax in the city that never sleeps.

The New York Yankees and New York Mets baseball teams continue their struggle to win the hearts of fans, New Yorkers and non-New Yorkers alike. The Yankees broke ground recently on a new multi-million dollar stadium to be completed for the 2009 baseball season. The VIP suites at Yankee Stadium are the perfect way to remind your guests that they are the tops! 

Even after 100 years, Central Park continues to draw visitors and New Yorkers alike to its serene landscapes. Featuring activities and tours for even the most urban guests, Central Park is the perfect place to start biking the Big Apple, learn how to rollerblade, or take a horse-drawn carriage ride.

Carole Parsons of Call Incentives said of her recent incentive to New York: “I thoroughly enjoyed working with the Shackman team,” and guests from a recent CiEvents’ group called their time in New York “the best trip ever.”

Contact shackman@destinationmarketing.com.au