This is to invite your company to become a sponsor of the upcoming U.S. - Cuba Travel Summit to be held from March 24-26, 2010 at the Gran Melia Cancun Hotel in Cancun, Mexico.
The U.S. - Cuba Travel Summit will bring travel and tourism officials and executives from Cuba to meet directly with travel and tourism executives from US companies and organizations.
As a sponsor of the U.S. - Cuba Travel Summit, you will be recognized by Cuban officials and all concerned as a leader in the U.S. travel industry and you will have special access and time with the Cuban officials who make the decisions about doing business in Cuba.
The Summit is being organized by Alamar Associates (www.alamarcuba.com) in association with NTA and sponsored by the United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA). Cosponsors include Marazul Charters, The Americas Group and Vigilant Worldwide Communications.
Background
Since 1992, there have been 11 major public conferences in Mexico dealing with business in Cuba. Alamar Associates has been involved in the organization of all of these events. The first two were organized by Alamar Associates in 1992 and 1993 in conjunction with Euromoney Magazine. In 1998, Alamar organized the first of the series of five U.S.-Cuba Business Summits which brought more than 400 U.S. firms together with Cuban officials. In January 2002 and February 2003, Alamar organized two Cancun conferences on agricultural and food sales to Cuba. In October, 2003, Alamar Associates was an organizer and co-sponsor of the U.S.-Cuba Travel Conference held also in Cancun (for additional information on previous Summits, visit www.alamarcuba.com and click on Summits).
Objective
Under current U.S. regulations, it is not possible for companies involved in the travel sector in the U.S. to obtain licenses from OFAC of the U.S. Treasury for its executives to travel to Cuba to learn about and investigate the potential for business with Cuba in this sector.
This event will provide a unique opportunity for executives of U.S. firms to meet face-to-face with their Cuban counterparts to exchange information about what might be possible should the U.S. laws change to allow such business.
Rationale
It is logical to ask why any company should participate in such a conference if business can not be undertaken now. The same could have been said in the months and years prior to December, 2001, concerning business in general and agricultural and food in particular. It was just because some firms engaged in business development efforts, attended similar Summits, made the effort to understand the business potential, and established the personal relationships with their Cuban counterparts that they were best positioned to conduct the first business when the surprise announcement was made in late 2001 to allow the sale of agricultural and food products.
"A real opener for us to doing business with Cuba was to participate in one of the Kirby Jones-facilitated business summits when it was not fashionable to do so. This helped us understand how business was being done between the Cuban government and other trading partners. It gave us as a company the opportunity to meet and talk with the business executives of today's Cuba - the ministers of the Cuban government."
Michael Hopkins, |
For U.S. companies in all aspects of the travel sector, The U.S. - Cuba Travel Summit in Cancun presents the unique opportunity to begin this process and to make those initial contacts so necessary for any future business.
Program of Conference
Since U.S. regulations do not allow U.S. executives to travel to Cuba nor Cuban officials to travel to the U.S., this gathering will bring Cuba to the U.S. executives in Mexico. Just as in all previous Summits, Cuba will send a delegation of officials and specialists to the Summit to discuss the travel sector in Cuba, to answer the specific questions of all U.S. participants, and to provide the practical information of interest to the participants.
We will also invite representatives of the many foreign firms already doing business in Cuba.
Topics to be covered include
What is business potential…practicalities about how to prepare for such business…what it is like to deal with Cuban business executives…case studies…what about longer term investment opportunities…what does Cuba offer…what is available in Havana, Varadero, in the interior, on the surrounding island keys, specialty destinations, cruise ships…what are prospects for change in U.S. laws…how you can help open up travel.
But most important, you will have the chance to meet personally with those Cuban officials and specialists responsible for doing business in Cuba.
As a sponsor you will have additional and more personal access and time with your Cuban counterparts.
More than 20 Cuban officials participated in the previous 2003 Cancun event including the Minister of Tourism; senior representatives of the leading Cuban tourism entities including Havanatur, Habaguanex, and Cubanacan; and senior officials from Ministries of Trade and Foreign Investment, Transportation, and Foreign Relations. In addition several representatives of foreign firms already doing business in Cuba made presentations.
Since there is current legislation pending in Congress, Members of Congress and staff will also be invited. Senator Byron Dorgan, sponsor of S.428: Freedom to Travel to Cuba Act, has been invited to make the keynote address on Friday, March 25 and will attend if Senate obligations permit. In previous Cancun Summits several Members have attended including Senators Maria Cantwell, Blanche Lincoln, and Kent Conrad as well as Rep. Jo Ann Emerson.
Trade Show
The Summit will have a special section devoted to those companies which wish to promote and exhibit their products and services during the Summit. The cost per booth will be $950 and includes a 6’ x 10’ booth with skirted table, two chairs, one sign, and waste basket.
Costs for Sponsorship and Participation
The regular fee for regular participation is $2,950 per company representative. This fee will cover all meetings in Cancun including the arrangement of your private meetings with counterpart Cuban officials; receptions, briefing materials; simultaneous translation services; and the arrangement of all meetings with Cuban officials. Additional costs not covered will be transportation to and from Cancun, hotel rooms, meals and other personal expenses.
Click here to download our available sponsorships and benefits.
For more information or to sign up, contact:
Karla DiNardo
800-682-8886 ext. 4232, or
859-226-4232
Karla.DiNardo@NTAstaff.com
