Hawaiian hospitality

HAWAII IS HEATING UP WITH AUSTRALIAN GROUP TRAVEL
      BUSINESS!

Sue Gaddes recently visited Hawaii, and was fortunate to experience why Hawaii is one of the hottest destinations for Australian groups at the moment. And its no wonder why:

- Accessibility is so much easier now - with Qantas, Air Canada,
  and new Hawaiian Airlines flights
- The Aussie Dollar strength
- A great team at the Hawaiian Convention & Visitors Bureau in 
  Sydney
- An exciting range of activities and things to see and do

Our DMC in Hawaii is USA Hosts, and they aim to make each proposal something special - and take pride in their involvement from beginning to end of every programme. The feedback we've had from this "new team" the site inspections they've done, and groups they've handled has been just sensational, and I'm thrilled to report that Esther will be visiting Australia to attend AIME in February 2005 to say Aloha to all her Aussie and New Zealand friends.

In terms of group activities - Hawaii has so much to offer for meeting and incentive groups:
- Snorkelling and swimming off Diamond Head
- Rainforest tours and treks
- Kualoa Ranch
- Movie Tour (it’s where they filmed Jurassic Park, and more recently “50 First Dates”. What a
   perfect theme for an event! )
- Flying Fox (or “zip-lining” as they call it), ATVs, Horse riding – for very active groups
   And there's a "Secret Island" to finish off your day with a wonderful beach party!

Whether you plan everything for your group, or give them lots of time to themselves, whether they're a pure incentive group, or a meeting group who just want to have a great time - Hawaii is an ideal choice.

For more information on what Hawaii can offer email sue.gaddes@dms-dms.com.au

COOK ISLANDS - ISLAND HOPPER VACATIONS JOINS THE DMS PORTFOLIO
 

Sparkling Cook Islands

The Cook Islands are a picturesque tropical dream with 15 islands scattered over the sparkling Pacific Ocean, blending a unique culture of Polynesian song and dance, turquoise lagoons, long white sandy beaches, tropical coral reefs and welcoming native hospitality.

Bringing this all to the Australian & New Zealand conference & incentive market is Island Hopper Vacations – a full-service, professionally staffed Destination Management Company who recently appointed Destination Marketing Services as their representation office.

Only a 7 hour flight from Sydney (via Christchurch) The Cook Islands remain relatively undiscovered by the Australian conference market, with Island Hopper Vacations Groups, Events and Incentives Manager, Nikki Hutchison predicting, “The Cook Islands will be the next South Pacific destination for the incentive travel market due to the new airline services starting in 2005”. Hutchison said, “The Islands offer stunning locations, an excellent choice of accommodation options, restaurants and leisure facilities – all essential ingredients for creating memorable events”.

Discover The Cook Islands today with islandhoppervacations@dms-dms.com.au 
                                                                                                                                            

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Watch The All Blacks perform a haka dance

NEW ZEALAND - TE MATATINI FESTIVAL

The biennial Te Matatini Festival gives visitors to New Zealand an opportunity to experience live Maori performance at its best. The next festival, to be held in Palmerston North from 24-27 February 2005, will bring together 1500 performers from all over the country.

The national event showcases the ‘best of the best’ and culminates in the coveted kapa haka competition. Thirty groups compete in waiata (song), haka (dance), and poi (a dance using balls on strings), and performances are physically demanding, mentally challenging, and very emotive.

The 2005 festival will introduce several new attractions. Visitors will be able to explore Maori traditional and contemporary fine arts, including drama, story telling, oratory, poetry, dance, music, carving, weaving, painting and ceramics.

Be impressed by beautiful New Zealand with NZDestinations. Contact them at nzdestinations@dms-dms.com.au.

The 2005 Formula One Grand Prix is being held in beautiful Malaysia from the 18-20 March 2005 so celebrate the F1 spirit with Destination East in Kuala Lumpur. Kuala Lumpur boasts the Best Grand Prix circuit that is recognised as the world's fastest track and most beautiful circuit 2000.

LATEST  HOTEL OPENINGS IN 2004
Malaysia is a rapidly growing country with two new hotel openings:
1. KL Hilton (5 Star) - [510 Rooms] opened on 22 Sept 2004
2. Le Meridien (5 Star) – [425 Rooms] opened on 08 Oct 2004

For more information contact Destination.East@dms-dms.com.au
                                                                                                                          

SINGAPORE -NEW HOTEL UPDATES

Contact Pacific World Singapore on pacificworldsingapore@dms-dms.com.au

PRAGUE -  SCHWARZKOPF AUSTRALIA IN PRAGUE

INVENT Meetings + Incentives recently designed and coordinated an outstanding and memorable 4 day program for 100 participants from Schwarzkopf Australia & New Zealand.  Participants had the most fabulous time under the warming sun and clear blue sky.

The participants enjoyed a historic tram ride to the Castle, lunch in the worlds only Art Nouveau Beer Hall, and a casual evening at Seven Angels, a restaurant within a building dating back to 1411.

One of the highlights of the trip was the Dracula Night. All participants dressed up in costume and spent an evening in the stunning Gothic New Town Hall, decorated with garlic, crosses, spider webs and coffins. Entertainment for the evening was showcased by The Black Magic Ballet and a Classical Quartet.

Contact INVENT at invent@dms-dms.com.au or click here to view their portfolio.

Sumptuous Spanish cuisine

HOFMANN COOKING LESSONS IN SPAIN

IberoService Incentives are offering a fantastic new group activity - Hofmann Cooking Classes. The group will meet the teacher/chef de cuisine from cooking school Hofmann at the Boqueria Market. During this visit to the Boqueria Market the experienced chef will buy ingredients and explain to the group other typical Spanish and Catalan dishes.

From the Boqueria Market the group will take a small walking tour to the Hofmann school, with different stops being made at emblematic gastronomic shops where the teacher will explain the use of different ingredients. Groups will cook a variety of Spanish cuisine from Tapas, to Paella and Catalan cuisine.

Consider Spain, the year-round destination, for your next group. For more information contact Iberoservice@dms-dms.com.au 

UNITED KINGDOM- NEW LONDON HOTELS

London Bridge lights up at night

London has seen so many changes on the London hotel scene recently and this seems set to continue. Recently opened hotels include the Marriott Docklands, a grade 1 listed warehouse with modern 32 storey tower and within easy distance to Excel; the Courthouse Hotel Kempinski with its 116 rooms and sister to the already successful Bentley Kempinski is a five star hotel oozing flamboyant sophistication and occupies a prime position opposite Liberty’s of London; the Baglioni, a predominantly suite hotel with butler service and contemporary Italian flair, located opposite Kensington Gardens. Anxiously awaited is the four star, Riverside Park Plaza with its 396 bedrooms, a 16-storey new build and conference facilities for up to 780 guests and scheduled to open in May 2005 – more to follow soon!
From January 1, 2005, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts will take over the management of the Savoy.

Let SPECTRA organise your adventure. Contact them on spectra@dms-dms.com.au

EXPERIENCE IRELAND THE ODYSSEY WAY

Odyssey, Irelands' premier DMC, is always inundated with fantastic feedback, yet recently received some truly special feedback from a recent program for The Independent Liquor Group.

“Each year since 1988 it’s been my responsibility to find and organise a suitable destination for our annual conference. When we identified Ireland as the 2004 venue, I knew it would be good but you and Kevin and the rest if the team at Odyssey turned it into a fabulous event. Members of ILG who have been on almost all our tours since 1988 have praised Ireland as the best ever.

It will probably be 2006 before I have the opportunity to return to Ireland but be rest assured Kevin and yourself will be my first point of contact on my return.”
John Raymond
The Independent Liquor Group

Let Odyssey show you the real Ireland, Odyssey@dms-dms.com.au