Issue #6
April 2005
Finally, Spring is here! We’re happy to bring you our spring newsletter filled with exciting news and interesting information from the past few months. We’re looking forward to a productive and sunny spring!
General Wesley Clarke, former NATO commander
Giuliano Zaccardelli, RCMP Commissioner
Vince Poscente, Olympic Speed Skier
Excellence madame Lise Thibault, Lieutenant-gouverneur du Quebec
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Bart Meijers, Hyatt Regency Reston, Reston, Virginia |
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Zaher Shah, Hyatt Regency Reston, Reston, Virginia |
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Carol Antonelli, Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada |
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Yvonne Chang, Director of Catering, Sheraton Reston Hotel |
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SRO Conference GrowsThis year, Canada’s Self-Regulatory Organizations held its annual SRO Conference once again on January 27, 2005 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in Toronto. The Toronto conference was attended by over 200 delegates who experienced a full day of plenary and breakout sessions. New this year was a branch out to Western Canada by bringing the SRO Conference to the Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue in Vancouver. Over 100 delegates attended the conference on February 2, 2005 in Vancouver, making the new location a repeat option for next year. aNd Logistix Inc. partnered with the Investment Dealers Association, one of the SROs, to manage the on-line registration for both conferences this year. |
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Our Newest ClientsThe FAS Division of the Investment Dealers Association has recently partnered with aNd Logistix Inc. to manage their annual national conference. This year’s conference will be held at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver from September 20-24, 2005. As conference experts, aNd Logistix will be providing full conference management services including on-line registration, sponsor and exhibitor services, creative and unique spousal programs, audiovisual management and food and beverage management, including menu and event design. We look forward to working with the IDA once again and are excited to provide their delegates a new, fresh and productive annual conference! |
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SIMPLY THE BESTCompeting against 12 other submissions and 5 nominations, aNd Logistix was proud to receive the award for “BEST CONFERENCE” for last year’s Shoppers Drug Mart National Conference at the CEIA gala on April 1st in Toronto. The Canadian Event Industry Awards has become the event of the year for Canada's event & meeting planning industry. The CEIA is a national award program which recognizes outstanding achievements in Canadian special events, meeting management, conference planning and exhibition management. |
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Shawna and Beatriz at the CEIA gala after winning the award for Best Conference |
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THE WINNING COMBINATIONExcitement was high as Shoppers Drug Mart Associates and Front Store Managers traveled from all over Canada to Las Vegas, Nevada for their Annual National Conference. They landed in Sin City to rainy skies (Las Vegas had already experienced it’s total rainfall for the year by February 18th). The 3 day conference didn’t disappoint with its always exceptional speakers, workshops, and entertainment. Shoppers Drug Mart delegates had the opportunity to pre-purchase tickets to exciting Vegas shows, including Cirque de Soliel’s raciest show, Zumanity, and the legendary Elton John. The final evening event was held at PURE, the hottest new night club in Las Vegas. The weather cleared just in time for the exciting post conference tours that were offered for all levels of adventure, from visiting the Hoover Dam, to the experience of landing in a helicopter in the Grand Canyon. The team from aNd had a nice surprise, when, minding our own business whilst doing airport transfers, Elton John walked out to his car! He nodded hello and we are sure that he had his eye on our proudly Canadian hockey shirts that identified us as event staff! See picture below for us in our conference themed hockey shirts. Looking forward to next year’s conference in San Francisco! |
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Shawna, Beatriz, Jennifer, Tasha and Cynthia with our truly Canadian hockey shirts |
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THE LATEST IN LAS VEGASNo more long walks along the strip! The Las Vegas monorail is up and running, and aNd was there to help with the Grand Opening of Nextel Central Station. The champagne flowed freely as party-goers arrived on the Nextel monorail train from the MGM Grand to Nextel Central. Guests dined on sushi, seafood and even a mashed potato bar. While a live jazz band played in the background, guests were able to experience Nextel Central’s virtual car racing games, educational tools and the Nextel Store. This monorail station is worth the stop! |
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Three Great Reasons to Celebrate!On January 6, 150 of our clients, suppliers and friends got together to celebrate with us for some very exciting events. Not only was it the 10 year anniversary of aNd Logistix, but we were happy to honor STIR’s 1st anniversary and Dana’s 40th birthday! The night offered the perfect opportunity for clients and suppliers to meet and mingle. Mouth watering food was served, cocktails flowed, and live entertainment played until the wee hours of the morning. |
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Erin McBride and Colleagues from the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation celebrate the 10th Anniversary of aNd Logistix at STIR |
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THE BOOTH EXPERIENCEaNd Logistix, combined with STIR and deVan, was proudly represented at the recent Canadian Special Events and Meeting Expo trade show in Toronto. Surrounded by the “Beaver Tails” booth and the “Bacardi” display, our booth was the hot spot to visit. Richly decorated with deep reds and silver, deVan created a dazzling effect to showcase STIR’s event venue and aNd Logistix’s event planning services. The trade show ended with a New Orlean’s style parade through the “streets” of the trade show floor. aNd Logistix teamed up with the Toronto Special Events Directory and the Canadian Event and Meeting Expo to help out with the Street Party. aNd Logistix would like to say an extra THANK YOU to all the suppliers who generously donated products and services Bacardi, Party Extras, The Display Connection, Pizza Pizza, Envision Digital Photographer and Carlson Wagon lit Travel for donating the grand prize draw – a trip to New Orleans |
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SPIES BEWARE!The delegates at the Nextel HR Leadership had an exciting excursion to the Spy Museum in Washington, DC. The spy museum was filled with all sorts of spy paraphernalia as well as tips on how to make a homemade microfilm. The museum also offered advice on how to catch a spy in disguise and how to decode secret messages. Beware of those informed people that have visited the spy museum! Participants made their way through the museum to a closing reception with food stations and drinks. |
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STAY TUNEDBeatriz and Shawna are off to sunny Mexico at the end of the month for a familiarization trip. Look for reports of all to see and do in the Mexican Caribbean in our summer newsletter. |
Conference planning often includes negotiating and signing a hotel contract. If there are bedroom nights involved in the hotel contract, be sure to look for and answer the following questions.
What is the cut off date? Until what date is my room rate available? Will I still be able to book additional rooms after the cut off date at the conference rate? What percentage of my rooms am I able to release at this time if I can’t use all the rooms in my block?
What is the attrition? What kind of monetary penalties are involved if I don’t use all of the rooms that I have blocked?
What sort of deposit will be taken for guest rooms? Will each person on the rooming list be charged a one-night deposit beforehand? Will it be refunded if they cancel before check in? What is the individual cancellation policy where the deposit for the room is forfeited?
How many days before and after the conference is my contracted rate available? If delegates would like to extend their stay, are they able to receive the conference rate? If I book rooms above and beyond my contracted block, will I get the contracted rate?
At most hotels, answers to all of the above can be negotiated. Being aware of these questions before signing the contract can reduce stress on both you and the attendees as the conference gets closer.
With World Earth Day on April 22, we thought we’d give you a few ways to make sure your meeting is as “Green” as possible!
Instruct venue to place recycling bins in meeting rooms and hallways
Recycle toner cartridges and other items from your on-site office
Allow attendees to register on-line and confirm their registration by email wherever possible
Print marketing and registration material on recycled paper
Plan food and beverage events minimizing the use of disposable items
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May 3 — Hug Your Cat Day
May 8 — Mother’s Day
May 11 — Trust Your Intuition Day
May 18 — Visit Your Relatives Day
May 23 — Victoria Day
May 25 — National Tap Dance Day
May 30 — My Bucket's Got A Hole In It Day
May 31 — Speak in Complete Sentences Day
Look at a day when you are supremely satisfied at the end. It's not a day when you lounge around doing nothing; its when you had everything to do, and you've done it.
-Margaret Thatcher
1345 St. Clair Avenue West, Third Floor
Toronto, Ontario, M6E 1C3
Phone: 416 593 7744
Fax: 416 593 1805
Toll Free: 1 800 465 9670
www.andlogistix.com
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