LS Consulting

Feedback on the flawless organization of the seminar in Istanbul, for a famous group of large retailers

Monday 13th to Friday 17th June 2011, I’ve been pleased to arrange a great seminar in Istanbul for a leading European supermarkets, with the complicity and efficaciency of our Turkish correspondent: ODS I’ve known for over 30 years!

A stay at the magnificent Ciragan Palace Kempinski, ideally located on the Bosphorus, a program of high quality including the private visit of the famous Topkapi museum, the Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern where we could see a show of whirling dervishes. A visit to the great Blue Mosque where we were greeted by the Imam. A private tour of the Orthodox Church Chora and the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, a wonderful cruise on the Bosphorus. Various gourmet lunches and dinners served all along this beautiful journey that, in the opinion of all participants, was of a very high quality.

And a special thanks I adress to ODS, our Turkish correspondant!

Dear Friends,
I want to thank you and congratulate you and your team pour a perfect job well done!
The program went absolutely flawless, it’s content was perfectly chosen, from the hotel Ciragan palace, to the various restaurants,the program itself by having the opportunity to visit so many venues on a private basis, the excellent quality of the two guides who accompanied us from start to finish!
The participants’s comments were excellent and they not so easy to please and impress, so made us look good and after all this is what counts in our business partnership!
So the only thing I can say again is: THANK YOU!!!
I wish you all a great summer and look forward to working with you again!

Wednesday 8th June 8 was held at the Basilique Notre dame du Bon Voyage in Cannes an unforgettable concert performed by employees of member companies Andantino.

More than 450 people had attend at the preamble to the Concerto for Organ and Orchestra by Francis Poulenc and the Mozart Requiem performed by the Orchestre Regional de Cannes and the chorus of companies Andantino led by Jean-Pierre Gregoire and of course under the direction of Philippe Bender.

A masterful performance as regards the choruses are mostly amateurs who, through hard work, have largely matched a professional interpretation.

An evening to mark in the annals of our association which has welcomed 4 new members since the beginning of the year!

I just take some time before the week end to share with you a good address in Cannes: The Sparkling. A felt-lounge’s atmosphere, gourmet snacks and drinks for lunch or for dinner. You are welcom at Thierry Clement’s restaurant.

Next to the political events that have occurred in recent months in some countries of the Maghreb and Middle East, the impact on tourism has been considerable!

Within weeks, Egypt and Tunisia have lost over 80% of their income from tourism. In Egypt, three quarters of the vessels in Upper Egypt remain in port, the hotels have experienced a drop in the same proportions. The Egyptian Destination Management Companies had to lay off half of their staff. Although the situation appears to be stabilizing, it is undeniable that, once again, Egypt will keep in mind 2011!

Fortunately, consumers’ memory tend to fade quickly and Egyptian providers hope to recover in 2012.

Regarding Tunisia, the situation is substantially different. Closer to Northern Europe, Tunisia is a lowcost destination highly dependent on tour operators. If the political situation stabilizes, we can expect a quicker return to growth at the fall of 2011. The new Minister of Tourism of Tunisia, recently interviewed by French radios, seemed relatively optimistic.

Morocco, next the attack in Marrakech, lost nearly all of its reservations in a few days. Moreover, Marrakech was already over-capacity regarding demand, with significant investments in building high-end hotels and the opening of large international hotel chains. The occupancy rate of 4 and 5 stars hotels did not exceed 40% in 2010. The opening of these new hotels in the coming months will certainly not improve the situation. The year 2011 will be a very difficult year for Morocco in general and Marrakech in particular. Last year I wrote a note to the Moroccan authorities about the development of business tourism in Marrakech. This document is available upon request by e-mail: [email protected].

I bet that the situation will improve. These serious political crises in Muslim countries are behind us and all these countries will recover a political stability and a strong rebound in tourism, of which their economy is totally dependent.

LS Consulting has been charged with the organisation of a business trip for a large company, from the 13th to the 17th of June 2011. Istanbul, the mythical capital of the Byzantine and Ottoman empires, has been chosen. For this trip, we have opted for a mix of private visits of the most beautiful sites and monuments, dinners in the best restaurants, but also conversations with charismatic personalities. This original format meets a great success: our customers are now expecting greater authenticity.

Program

• Visit of  Hagia Sophia
• Private tour of the Basilica Cistern with private show of whirling dervishes
•  Dinner at Karakol (Tokapi Palace)
• Visit of the Hippodrome and Blue Mosque, meeting with the “Imam”
• Lunch at the Green House (Ye he Ev)
• Visit of the Topkapi Palace
• Visit of the Egyptian Bazaar
• Private tour of the Chora Church
• Visit to the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople
• Lunch at Zeyrekhane
• Cruise on the Bosphorus
• Walking tour of Pera
• Cocktails and dinner at the Ulus 29

During almost 40 years, I thought I had entertained extraordinary and privileged relationships with hundreds of from all kind of origin.

Those relationships, that where in my mind real and sincere, where, in fact, for most of them, issued by what I represented and from I could bring to those people.

After more than 2 years dedicated to another life I had chosen, after having spent all those years receiving and giving, after having enjoyed wonderful experiences providing me with the greatest pleasure and happiness in providing a job well done, I wanted to spend more time in transmitting what I had learned by teaching at the University, participating in several associations that I personally cherish, in accompanying some friends and clients in the organization of their events. This is what i spend most of my time today.

I must, however, today ask myself with some bitterness about the true human nature?

Some month ago, I read again “The Prince” from Machiavelli and I published here on my website some lines which seemed to correspond to what I have encountered.

Fortunately, the true friends have remained, they will recognize themselves!

The greatest satisfaction I keep today are my fast growing two boys who I can see more often and more important support them more effectively in their studies. They are both the real joy of my life!

The challenges of life are nothing compared to how you can help your children to become successful and to enrich yourself with true and sincere friends.

Life is beautiful!!!

Eventives, a division of Creative Spirit and LS Consulting, organized last week a seminar of an exceptional quality in Barcelona for 50 alumni of the “Harvard Business School”.

Professor Dick Vietor made a remarkable presentation on the U.S. economy and the economic crisis Greek.

Three studious days, some visits of the capital of Catalonia and dining experiences made this a memorable event that will certainly be repeated in the next few years.

For more than two years, I have had some real pleasure to help my clients and friends in the organization of their professional and individual travels.

After many successes in 2010 and beginning of 2011 (cruise along the Amalfitan coast, cruise on the Nile, vacations in the Maldives and in Mauritius, seminar in Istanbul, musical program in Vienna, discovery travels in South Africa and on the American west coast), I am now working on some exciting projects for original programs in Burma, Cambodgia, Vietnam and Mongolia.

I remain at your entire disposal to help you in creating some exciting future projects: [email protected] or +33 (0)607 326 216.

I have been involved lately in the promotion of two spectacular properties in the south of France:

• The Hotel du Cap Eden Roc, one of the best resort in the world, located on the Cap d’Antibes.
•  The Chateau St Martin & Spa, member of the Relais & Chateaux, located on the hill above Vence.

Both hotels are owned by the Oetker Collection group (Hotel Le Bristol Paris, Brenner’s Park Hotel & Spa).

What we are looking for is to optimize the shoulder or low seasons in the  future, specially during the months of April, May, June, September and October.

Those two hotels, fully renovated, will also be willing to privatize their properties before the opening (March, early April) and after the closing (end of October, November) with extremely attractive rates.

Should you have an opportunity for a meeting, product launch or an incentive program, please contact me at the following email address : [email protected]

Should you wish, we would be pleased to send you  a presentation of both resorts.

Hotel du Cap Eden Roc

Chateau Saint Martin

MICE courses at the Nice Sophia Antipolis IUP start again this week!

It’s always a great pleasure for me to share my 35 years of knowledge and experience with these students in Master 1.