Dateline Monday 18th March 2024

Good morning, happy Monday from a rather soggy London W10 I hope all is well. The weather over the weekend was a bit “och and vey” Saturday was OK ish Sunday started out very wet with rain all morning, so my Sunday morning walk was washed out.

Another busy week just gone, belated Happy St Patrick’s Day to all Irish people everywhere and to people who have Irish heritage throughout the world including President Biden, St Patrick’s Day was yesterday, it is bank holiday in Ireland today.

Last Friday 15th March it was World Sleep Day it seems my teenage daughter takes that day very seriously; in fact, I think for most teenagers World Sleep decade is between the ages of 10 to 20 years old. A few weeks ago, it was World Margarita Day, then there was Pancake Day, I have a question what World Day would you like to see apart from World Peace Day of course. How about World Liquorice Day? or World Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich Day.

Mother Nature is again at her best, her worst and most spectacular in Iceland, the footage of the volcanoes erupting in Iceland is frightening yet amazing. I have been to Iceland several times over the years, we work with am amazing DMC in Iceland I would go again tomorrow it’s an awesome destination populated by very warm and generous people, plus I would love to see mother nature in action.      

Ramadan continues, week two of the four week festival.  If Ramadan applies to you may I wish you, your colleagues, family and friends Ramadan Kareem.

Today is the 164th day Israeli babies, toddles, children, teens, women, men and seniors have been held hostage in the Hamas terror tunnels in Gaza.

It was good to see on the news that the Spanish ship has finally arrived off the coast of Gaza and offloaded the supplies.

On Sunday the Festival of PURIM is celebrated by Jewish people around the world. The story behind the festival of Purim is a lot more complicated but in a nutshell it all began in Ancient Persia in the fourth century BCE. The Holy Temple that had stood in Jerusalem was destroyed more than 50 years earlier, and the Jews were subjects of the mighty Persian empire that extended over 127 lands. Three years after King Ahasuerus ascended the Persian throne, when he felt secure in his new position, he celebrated by throwing a grand 180-day-long party for all his subjects. Following this extravagant gala, Ahasuerus hosted a smaller week-long party for the residents of the capital city of Shushan. In the palace’s women’s quarters, Ahasuerus’s wife, Queen Vashti, hosted her own party for the Shushanite womenfolk. On the seventh day of this party, Ahasuerus’s heart “was merry with wine,” and he commanded his wife Vashti to appear before all the partying men; he wanted to show them all her exquisite beauty. Vashti balked at this request, and at the advice of his adviser, Memuchan, Ahasuerus ordered Vashti’s execution. Haman the Prime Minister of the time plotted to kill all the Jews, and the king agreed without a second thought. The king chose Esther as his new queen to replace Vashti, Esther adamantly refused to divulge her identity. When the Jews knew they were in danger, Esther asked them to fast and repent. She then won the king’s favour, disclosed her Jewishness and asked him to save her nation. Outraged at the decree against his queen, the king had Haman hung, and allowed the Jews to take revenge on their would-be killers.  Mordechai, Esther’s uncle, was appointed as prime minister instead of Haman.  

Jewish festivals can be summed up in one short sentence “they tried to kill us, they failed, let’s eat” 😊 If Purim applies to you may I take this opportunity to wish you your colleagues family and friends a wonderful Purim, chag samayach.

And dear reader that is about it from a David point of view for this week at least.  

MM and Company news update

Amsterdam

Alexandra, Andreas and the team at DELTA DMC have told us that Minor Hotels will introduce its Avani Hotels & Resorts brand to the Netherlands within the next three months. The rebranded 163 room hotel has seven floors, some with floor-to-ceiling windows giving views of Amsterdam’s Canal waterways. On the hotel’s ground level, an open-floor lobby lounge will share space with The Pantry coffee shop. hotel is centrally located in Amsterdam's near Avani Museum Quarter Amsterdam and the cultural hub, near landmarks like the Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum. The bustling PC Hooftstraat shopping district and the De Pijp neighbourhood are within a five-minute stroll. Amsterdam Central Station is 10-minute drive away. The RAI Exhibition and Convention Centre is a short tram ride away.

IMEX Frankfurt May 2024

The build up to IMEX in Frankfurt has started, I have booked my hotel and flight; I have asked our DMCs if they will be attending IMEX so far declare are;

Pascal and Enrica of NACARA DMC France they will be there only on the Tuesday.

Stephane of Hello Islands DMC Mauritius will be on the Euromic Stand G500

The J Team DMC Japan will be on the Tokyo City stand