Mexico Meeting & Incentive Planner 2014 - (Page 20)
MEETINGS
THAT MATTER
Giving back is swiftly becoming a norm in today's meetings.
Consumers expect corporations to participate in community
engagement that goes beyond just making financial contributions.
To meet this expectation, a growing number of companies are
adding corporate social responsibility (CSR) to their meeting and
incentive rosters.
"Corporate social responsibility is big," says Brad Williams,
senior director of operations for Carlson Wagonlit Meetings
and Events, an industry leader in corporate travel. "It's a way
for participants to have an emotional connection with the local
community and make a positive long-standing difference." Where
to go when CSR is on the agenda? Mexico is a top choice.
DMCs, CVBs, resorts, tour operators and community
organizations throughout Mexico have ready-made and creative
ideas for custom-crafted givebacks to match every client's focus,
financial resources and time. And Mexico's meeting pros make it fun
to give back. From bicycle building to beach clean-up and village
service to making pinatas, the time spent sharing the culture and
enriching the lives of local citizens is a highpoint for attendees.
"It was so beautiful to see the joy on the children's faces; and
to create an unforgettable memory for the participants," says Kitzia
Morales Torres, director of KGroup Incentive, a Cancun-based
DMC serving all Mexico.
Morales arranged for Emerson executives who were meeting
20
MEETINGS THAT MATTER
20-23-2014-Meetings-that-Matter.indd 20
at the JW Marriott in Polanco, Mexico City, to put together bicycles
for rural children who had to walk long distances to school. After
constructing the bikes in teams, Emerson participants raced each
other to the finish line. The school children then entered the room
and the clients shared the joy of giving a bike to each child.
Morales regularly includes CSR programs in her proposals,
which go to GATX, Heineken, HelmsBriscoe and other
corporations. "Companies are looking for giveback opportunities
and we make it easy for them," she added.
GIVING BACK
In Cancun, Morales often arranges givebacks with La Fundacion
Haciendas del Mundo Maya, a non-profit that helps rural Mayan
communities. Pinatas from scratch! This was the CSR challenge
enjoyed by 150 U.S. incentive winners on the Riviera Maya,
organized by Sylvie Phelis of 4 Worlds Expeditions, a DMC/
tour operator, serving United Allergy Services, California-based
Vendavo, Inc., CGS Consulting, Inc., Windward International
Corporation and Mentor Planning & Consulting.
Armed with all the necessary supplies and with the aid of a few
art teachers brought in by Phelis, teams of 10 incentive winners
created spontaneous pinata designs. Everyone was laughing and
| 2014
www.visitmexico.com
12/5/13 2:03 PM
http://www.visitmexico.com
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Mexico Meeting & Incentive Planner 2014
Here and There
Centers of Attention
Meetings That Matter
Valuable Partnerships
Meeting Resources
What to Do
Spa Days
Industry Destinations
Going Green
Baja California
North
Central
Mundo Maya
Mexican Caribbean
Gulf/Isthmus
Pacific Coast
Mexico Meetings Hotels
Mexico Meeting & Incentive Planner 2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/mexico/mmip2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/mexico/mmip2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/mexico/mmip2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/mexico/mmip2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/mexico/mmip2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/mexico/2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/mexico/2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/mexico/2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/mexico/mmip2011
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