Dateline Monday 25th November 2024

Good morning OMG was it cold last week or was it FREEZING cold? Once again the popular headlines from the red tops “Winter Blast” “Cold or what”? “First taste of real winter” “UK Freezes” as so on

It was a perfect week for me to go to Barcelona to attend IBTM, it was 19 degrees C,  and sunny only wore a light jacket even in the evening yummmmmm. Shock and horror when I landed back in the UK late afternoon on Thursday walking off the plane onto the Airport Jetway was like walking into a freezer with no jacket with me to keep warm. By Friday morning I had caught a cold which banjaxed my weekend big time.

OMG PANIC !!! It’s the 25th November which means it’s only one month till the big day and we all know how quickly a month disappears.

As advertised in the subject line of my Monday morning e mail this is the first time I have ever, and I mean ever done this in the 20 years plus since I started blogging on Monday morning, I like to think I invented blogging and gave it FOC to the World 😊 

We at MM and Company are co hosting a business development trip (aka FAM trip) to Abu Dhabi where the current temperature is 31degrees C, the trip leaves London Heathrow Terminal 4 at 7.20PM on Thursday yes THIS Thursday and returns on Tuesday 3rd December arriving into London Heathrow at 18.25

One of my guests sadly has had to cancel for personal reasons, she is disappointed not to be able to join us and I am very disappointed also as this client is on the list of my very favourite clients. Anyway as a good friend always says “it is what it is” so I HAVE ONE SEAT available to Abu Dhabi for four nights saying at three top quality five star hotels, everything is included air fare, hotel accommodation, breakfast, lunch and dinner with I am certain quite a lot of cocktails and wine, plus and here is the kicker it is the United Arab Emirates National Day whilst we are out there so there will be lots going on, a city wide parade, street theatre, an air show and fly past, fireworks the lot, the only cost is a £75 participation fee. So if Abu Dhabi is a destination you have proposed in the past or you have the potential to propose Abu Dhabi in the future or if you want to know more about Abu Dhabi and TRAVCO DMC who have offices in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Oman please let me know by the end of the day today MONDAY if you would like to be considered for the last seat on what will be an awesome experience in Abu Dhabi.

Soap box time

Today is ONE YEAR and 56 days since Israeli babies, toddlers, children, teens, women, men, seniors, and other nations’ citizens were wrenched violently from their homes, streets, fields and places of work and leisure in Israel taken to be hostages as pawns of war and held in squalid conditions in the terror tunnels in Gaza by a group of evil, blood thirsty, barbaric terrorists called Hamas.

Off the soap box now

This Thursday is Thanksgiving, it is a national holiday celebrated in the United States, Canada, Saint Lucia, Liberia, and unofficially in countries like Brazil, Germany and the Philippines. Thanksgiving began as a day of giving thanks for the blessings of the harvest and of the preceding year. Various similarly named harvest festival holidays occur throughout the world during autumn. Although Thanksgiving has historical roots in religious and cultural traditions, it has long been celebrated as a secular holiday as well. Wishing everyone celebrating Thanksgiving a wonderful day

Cop 29 is over it seems that the richer nations are glad it is done and dusted. the poorer nations feel hard done by saying that $300 billion dollars was nowhere near enough FFS!

My IBTM Barcelona few days last week were brilliant, I met up with lots of DMCs MM and Company represent and recommend, saw a number of great clients as well as a few strategic partner friends oh and not forgetting a few of MM and Company’s competitors

Max Verstappen has won the Formula 1 championship with two more races to be run is it now a lame duck Grand Prix?

And finally, one of my lovely FRIENTS (friend and client, a David word) sent me this so I just had to include it in my Monday morning e mail 

That is about it from a David point of view for this week at least.  As I will be in Abu Dhabi next Monday there will not be a Monday morning blog next week ☹

 MM and Company news update

Mexico

Manuel, Lilana and The EPIC Group DMC team have told us that the SLS Playa Mujeres, the brand’s first ever all-inclusive offering, has opened its doors on the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico. The resort has 498 rooms and suites. Set across Delight, Captivate and Euphoria categories, the guestrooms have fully furnished balconies and terraces. Captivate Swim Out rooms feature private gardens that sweep down to river pools.

SLS Playa Mujeres features 18 culinary and mixology experiences including Mediterranean-inspired dining destinations Fi’lia and Cleo; Caracol, offering grilled seafood; Union, channelling the classic spirit of a New York steakhouse; Lotus, offering Asian fusion flavours; Hudson Tavern, which serves up modern American comfort food; Bungalow, which offers casual bites perfect for families; Privilege seamlessly slinks from sun-dappled daytime lounging to nightlife hotspot, buzzing with cocktails and DJ beats; Smoke & Mirrors offers craft cocktails served alongside a curated cigar collection; and beach club Twiggy.

At the heart of the resort is the 20,000-square-foot Ciel Spa, featuring thermal baths, an outdoor pool, and 20 treatment rooms. Wellness facilities include two state-of-the-art gyms, an outdoor gym, TRX training zone and fitness program led by Nike-sponsored trainer Julio Bustelo.

SLS Playa Mujeres features nine versatile spaces and a nearly 10,000-square-foot ballroom that accommodates up to 920 guests. The hotel is set within an exclusive gated community and located just 30 minutes from Cancún International Airport.

And that is about it, you are now totally up to date, wishing you a terrific week ahead.