International Etiquette: How Not to Be an Ugly American
New Orleans Firsthand Update
Living with Rising Hotel Rates
From the Field: The Boulders
Poll: Your Background
Around the Industry
Krisam & GEP News

International Etiquette: How Not to Be an Ugly American

“If you are someplace with a line or queue, go to the end and wait your turn.” This was one piece of advice for business travelers visiting the United States given on an international etiquette web site. What may seem obvious to us may not be so when you are in another land.

With tensions what they are in this world, any effort to please while abroad is important not only for good business but also for our national reputation. Though the world has grown smaller through instant communication, sensitive cultural differences still exist. What’s acceptable in Australia may be the reverse of what’s right in China. Even within Europe, custom can vary significantly. Here’s a brief guide to general etiquette abroad and resources for country by country help.

New Orleans: First Hand Update
Honest answers to all your questions

What better way to assess the recovery of New Orleans than to mosey on down there to experience it for yourself. That’s just what a group of Krisam clients did in late March -- they toured the city, ate at the restaurants, slept in the hotels, and met with city officials. The tour was sponsored in part by the Krisam hotels in the city, GEP partner BBC, and Successful Meetings magazine. Here’s an easy and honest summary of how ready the Big Easy is for your meetings.

Living with Rising Hotel Rates

Nine out of ten hotel respondents to a recent Krisam Group survey said they believe group rates will continue to rise for the remainder of 2006. However, 75% of the respondents also reported recent or near-future renovations to their facilities, thus giving better value for the price. Here is more on the survey results and some advice for planners on how to cope with rising hotel rates.

From the Field: The Boulders Resort & Golden Door Spa, Carefree, Arizona

Never was there a drive more worth it than the 45 minutes from the Phoenix airport to the Boulders Resort and Golden Door Spa. The Boulders is nestled among 12-million-year-old boulders amidst the brilliant color and beauty of the Sonoran Desert. From the check in process in the lobby (no formal front desk) to the accommodations, to the spa to the meeting space, the hotel definitely lives up to its 5 diamond AAA rating. Prepare to be pampered at The Boulders.

Poll: International Concern

Often times people end up in careers they never imagined, while others seem to know from kindergarten what they want to be when they grow up. As the event planning industry matures and gains ever more respect, opportunities for tailored education grow. We thought it would be interesting to see the educational path today’s veterans took to their current career. Please take our survey and let us know about you. For more on education to inspire a new generation of professionals, stay tuned.

Last month's poll results: What do you want to learn?
International etiquette was the clear winner last month to the survey asking “Which of the following would you most like to learn more about? No wonder. Research shows that the image of Americans abroad is deteriorating while cultural differences remain vast and varied. See “How Not to Be an Ugly American” in this issue for some help.

Which of the following would you most like to learn more about?

• International etiquette - 42%
• International passport and VISA regulations - 21%
• Travel warnings - 17%
• Avian flu - 13%
• Latest in airport security and registration - 4%
• Safety abroad - 4%

• Sleep in an Airport
  Yotel is scheduled to open facilities inside Terminal 4 at Heathrow and in the South Terminal at Gatwick in late 2006. The 100 sq. ft. rooms will be booked in four hour blocks and are designed for people whose flights are delayed, for those leaving in the early morning who want to stay the night, and for early arriving passengers who may want a few hours rest before going to a meeting. Take a look at the new Yotel.
• Planners Report More Meetings, Bigger Budgets
  Of respondents to a survey from the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association (HSMAI), 67.2 % report they expect to plan more meetings in 2006 and beyond, 60.6 % have increased budgets, and 87.9 % are are looking for new resources, including 64.2 % who say they seek new venues.
• IAEM Reports on State of the Industry
  The meetings industry was responsible for $122.31 billion last year, two- thirds from association meetings, and the rest from corporate meetings and incentives. More than 11,000 meetings were held last year, 50% of them in 16 cities. The International Association for Exhibition Management (IAEM) State of the Industry Report (PDF format) contains lots of interesting yardstick facts compiled from surveys and studies from a wide range of industry publications and organizations.
• Domestic Air Travel Up
  Last year saw a 4% increase in domestic air passengers over 2004 and nearly a 3% increase in load factor according to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS). Airlines carried 660 million domestic passengers during 2005. Passenger load factor, passengers carried as a proportion of available seats, was up 2.7 points, from 74.5% to 77.2%. Bottom line is more middle seats used.