Dateline Monday 14th July 2025

Good morning, happy Monday I hope you are well and that you had a great sweltering weekend.

As you must know by now I love the hot weather, so Saturday was no bother to me, on Saturday night I went out for a drink and pizza with my pal Dexter. The restaurant was sooo cold, I dislike air conditioning at the best of times except when driving in the sunshine. When I got home to the Marks Mortgage Mansion of Marston Close I walked into the house it was sooo lovely and warm except the family room which consists of the kitchen, dinning area and lounge / TV room where the girls were sitting watching TV with the air conditioning on full blast, I walked in said “hello” and went to bed no way was I going to join them in near artic conditions.      

Today is Bastille Day in France it is a national holiday and it is on my bucket list to be there one day in Paris, so Pascal and Enrica of NACARA DMC you have been warned. Bastille Day marks the storming of the Bastille in Paris in 1789, a major event in the French Revolution. Formally known in French as Fête nationale française (French National Celebration), it is celebrated on July 14^th each year.

The Meetings Incentive Conference and Event industry is an awesome industry populated by extremely wonderful people of the female persuasion, I would say it’s the 80 / 20 rule 80% female and 20% male so as an “all inclusive” type person I felt it was really important TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION an e mail from a great FRIENT of mine at MM and Company, Charlie Hamilton-Brunsden, FRIENT is a David word for friend and client Charlie (a lady) is Managing Director of one of our awesome client agencies zky-rocket. I now must add a disclaimer I know nothing about this subject. I have done the copy and paste thing here it is complete and untweaked!

From: Charlie Hamilton-Brunsden <charlie@zky-rocket.com>

Sent: 11 July 2025 19:00

To: David Marks <david@mm-and-company.co.uk>

Subject: RE: A New Project to Support Working Women – Would Love Your Help

David

I’ve always read your Monday newsletter and I find it interesting and informative so please keep it coming. I hope the below is okay and feel free to tweak where you need to.

For the insert here we go.

We all know menopause is natural—but what we don’t talk about enough is how it can seriously impact women at work. Mood swings, brain fog, sleep issues, hot flashes… they’re not just uncomfortable—they’re career-disrupting.

In fact, according to the Fawcett Society, 1 in 10 women leave their jobs because of menopause symptoms, and a huge 77% say those symptoms are really tough to manage. That’s not OK—and it’s why Menonet was created.

👋 Say hello to Menonet—a brand-new, completely free platform designed to support women from their mid-30s and up as they prepare for and navigate perimenopause and menopause.

It was started by a group of women who, like so many others, were tired of feeling lost and unsupported. With full-time jobs and full lives, they came together to create Menonet—a completely self-funded, volunteer-led project built from genuine passion and lived experience. They didn’t have the resources they needed, so they built them—for themselves, and for every woman who deserves better.

🧠 Expert advice

🍽️ Nutrition & wellness tips

🏢 Work & career support

🌍 Travel, relationships & lifestyle

💬 A free forum to connect with others

📩 A weekly newsletter ‘The Flourish’ that feels like a chat with a wise friend

They quietly launched just two weeks ago and already have 400+ women signed up. But we know there are thousands more who need this.

Because here’s the thing: perimenopause can sneak up on you—often in your 30s—and the earlier you’re informed, the more supported you’ll feel.

👉 Join Menonet for free – weekly wisdom, zero cost, real talk

END OF E MAIL from Charlie

USA President TRUMP and Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu met a few times in Washinton last week but that elusive ceasefire that everyone wants, except perhaps the two warring parties seems to have slipped through the net. Let’s hope they can capture it (no pun intended) this week and bring it to fruition.

Soap box time

The bitter news AGAIN today, it is 647 days since Israeli and other nations’ citizens were on 7^th October 2023 wrenched violently from their homes, streets, fields, and places of leisure in Israel and taken to be held hostage as pawns of war imprisoned in squalid conditions in the Hamas terror tunnels in Gaza. A total of 50 Israelis are still being held captive by the group of evil, blood thirsty, barbaric terrorists called Hamas. Sadly out of the 50 people being kept in horrific conditions only 24 are still alive.

Here is a thought, GAZA is 25 miles long 3-7 miles wide with 2.1 MILLION people living there and not ONE PERSON in Gaza has helped to find the 59 Israeli hostages

Off the soap box now

So that’s Ascot done, British Grand Prix done, Henley done, and now Wimbledon 2025 is done and dusted another one of the UK summer season events is over.

Congratulations to Iga Swiatek who beats Amanda Anisimova to win the Grand Slam Ladies Wimbledon title

Congratulations to Jannik Sinner who wins his first Wimbledon title with four-set victory over Carlos Alcaraz to become the Men’s Wimbledon Grand Slam champion

That’s it from a David point of view for this week.

MM and Company news update

ISTANBUL

Muge, gonen, Hande and the team at Blue DMC Turkey have told us that Pegasus Airlines has launched a new direct service from Bristol to Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport

This thrice-weekly service operates from Bristol every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, with return flights from Istanbul scheduled on the same days.

JAPAN

James and the crew at The J Team DMC Japan have told us that Fairmont Hotels & Resorts has announced the opening of Fairmont Tokyo. The hotel has 217-room including 29 suites, it is the first Fairmont hotel in Japan. The Fairmont Tokyo occupies floors 35 to 43 of the newly developed Blue Front Shibaura Tower South. Just 13 minutes from Haneda Airport and six minutes from both the Tokyo and Shinagawa Stations giving access to Tokyo’s many attractions, the Shibaura district with its picturesque canals, gardens and landmarks such as the Zojoji temple.

The hotel lobby is on the 35th-floor the Chief Happiness Officer Serene, the Labrador Retriever welcomes guests a cool gimmick if you like dogs that is.

Fairmont Tokyo has seven F&B outlets: Kiln & Tonic on the 35th floor serves wood-fired pizzas, grilled seafood and brasserie fare; lobby lounge Vue Mer blends French and Japanese café culture through afternoon teas, seasonal cocktails and panoramic bay views; Migiwa and Totsuji offer sushi and teppanyaki, respectively; The Spa and Health Club on the 35th floor include a 65-foot indoor infinity pool, relaxation pool with outdoor sundeck as well as saunas.

The Fairmont Grand Ballroom is one of Tokyo’s largest on the 43rd floor, there is an outdoor terrace as well as additional flexible meeting and event spaces

Malta

Continuing my all-inclusive theme Douglas, Erica and Claudia of Mi Malta DMC have told us that Malta Pride 2025 will be celebrated on between 6^th -15^th September 2025.

And that is about it for this Monday you know as much as I know, wishing you an outstanding day and an awesome week ahead.