Welcome to the first DMS e-newsletter for 2009 which includes destination highlights on our DMC business partners in North and South America. DMS Workshops Kick-starting the year, DMS held their Annual Workshop in Sydney and Melbourne in the days before AIME. We were thrilled to welcome more than 25 of our overseas business partner DMCs, and pleased with the brilliant response from the industry. It was encouraging to see there are still lots of groups travelling in 2009, and a focus on 2010 business and beyond. With the revised dates for AIME 2010 announced - Tuesday 2-3 March, the dates for the 2010 Workshops have now been set: DMS Sydney Workshop - Thursday, 25 February 2010 DMS Melbourne Workshop - Monday, 1 March 2010 Special Offers and Hot Deals Our DMCs are committed to working with the Australian and New Zealand market and many have put together special offers for incentive and meeting groups, to show that even on a reduced budget, their destination is still a viable option. Take a minute to look through the destination updates from some of our American DMCs - and you can see that many rates are coming down. Nearly all the suppliers in the North and South America destinations (both DMCs and Hotels) are now a lot more "negotiable" to suit your budget with some careful planning! If you've got a budget for your program, advise the DMC in the first instance so they can ensure they are getting the very best value for money, to fit within your budget.