Dear Friends,

We are pleased to present you with this end-of-Summer edition of what we call "Rob's Report," Schron Associates' quarterly e-mail newsletter of issues, events and offers we think may be of interest to you. Here we discuss the use of short, and very short, cruises for corporate group events, highlight a recent visit to Nassau and Paradise Island in the Bahamas, comment on the economy, and invite you to visit us at the IT&ME in Chicago. We also would like to remind you that the 4th quarter is almost here, and it's not too late to plan an incentive to motivate your people to reach their yearend goals.

Sincerely,

The Schron Associates Newsletter Team

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1. 4th Quarter Incentives: Finish the year on an upbeat note!

2. Take a Cruise, for the Week or Just the Evening: Dinner and long weekend cruises are great for corporate events

3. Destination Focus: Nassau/Paradise Island

4. Meetings and Incentives and the Economy

5. See Us in Chicago: IT&ME 2001

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1. 4th Quarter Incentives: Finish the year on an upbeat note!

With the summer drawing to a close and the 4th quarter approaching, there is still time to set up a 90-day incentive contest to build morale, boost your sales, and reach your yearend goals. We can help you design incentive criteria and promote the program, in addition to planning an exciting trip or event as payoff. Contact us and find out how we can help you end the year on an upbeat note!

2. Take a Cruise, for the Week or Just the Evening: Dinner and long weekend cruises are great for corporate events

People often think that you need a week or more to take a cruise, but we have had great success with incentives, meetings and other corporate events on cruises of shorter, and even much shorter, duration. For example, we recently arranged an incentive trip for a client who likes to take his top managers and their families away for a long weekend every year. This year's adventure: a five-day, four-night Carnival cruise to Key West and Mexico. We booked for them top-of-the-line suites with large balconies and they were treated to what the client described as "a first class experience" at "far less than it would have cost had I opted for an all-inclusive resort for the same amount of time." Don't have four nights? How about one? While it wasn't anything more than just a night out on the town - or should we say "sea?" - this summer we chartered the 70-foot motor yacht Mon Amour to take a client's top 50 salespeople on a private cruise around Boston harbor with drinks and dinner from one of the city's top caterers. The client said he felt like he "owned the boat," which at least for the evening he did! If having your own yacht for the night isn't your thing, you might consider something like the dinner/dance cruise we recently did for a client aboard Bateaux New York's Celestial, a Parisian-style glass-roofed boat featuring panoramic views, private rooms for group functions, and gourmet cuisine that is much more sophisticated than the average dinner boat. Feedback on this was highly positive too. The point is, whether you have one week or one evening, we can probably plan a cruise event for you that will be exciting, memorable, and cost-effective.

3. Destination Focus: Nassau/Paradise Island

Recently we had an opportunity to re-visit Nassau and Paradise Island in the Bahamas, and particularly the island's newest mega-resort, Atlantis. Paradise Island, a short ride from the shopping and nightlife of historic Nassau, has long been a popular meeting venue or incentive destination and has evolved over the years into a place that offers something for everyone.

Atlantis, the crown jewel of legendary developer Sol Kerzner's Sun International group of properties, was put together over the last few years by combining a couple of former stand-alone Paradise Island beach resorts into one complex and topping it off with the Royal Towers, two new luxury hi-rises built around an aquarium. Atlantis offers essentially three hotel experiences, with the Royal Towers at the high end and the two original buildings, now known as the Beach Tower and the Coral Tower, offering entry-level and midrange price points respectively. While the aquarium, water slides and other aquatic activities are the main attraction, there is also a large casino, a spa, a Discovery Channel Camp for kids and other facilities one would expect to find in a resort of this stature. Atlantis's 3 hotels share a variety of dining and entertainment facilities and all Atlantis guests can enjoy a totally self-contained resort experience. Given that it offers literally something for everyone, Atlantis is best suited to large meetings or incentives or groups bringing children along on the program.

For smaller, more exclusive groups, Paradise Island also offers the beautiful Ocean Club. Once the private estate of millionaire Huntington Hartford, this Colonial-style low rise property offers a relaxed and casual elegance on a par with the most exquisite beach resorts in the islands. Despite its secluded atmosphere, it's just a short shuttle or taxi ride away from the excitement of Atlantis. Quickly becoming a favorite of celebrities and business leaders, the resort features its own golf course, spa and a restaurant managed by the legendary Jean-Georges Vongerichten. The Ocean Club does not market itself to groups but makes a unique spot for a management retreat or an incentive trip for the best of your best people.

Between the sprawling Atlantis and the intimate Ocean Club, Nassau and Paradise Island offer a variety of properties in between, and we had an opportunity to visit some on our trip. Ideal for the business traveler, downtown Nassau offers the historic and newly renovated British Colonial Hilton, while at the opposite end of the spectrum are the all-inclusive Superclubs Breezes and Sandals Royal Bahamian. Sandals is a perennial honeymoon favorite while Breezes has more of a party atmosphere. The traditional big hotel chains are also well represented, with full-featured resort properties such as the Radisson Cable Beach, the Nassau Marriott and the Sheraton Grand Paradise Island, each with its own charms.

4. Meetings and Incentives and the Economy

The press has been debating the effects of the weak economy on meetings and incentive travel, so we thought we would discuss here our feelings on the subject. Having been in the business for as long as we have, we have seen many economic scenarios and have been with clients through good times and bad. Many of them agree with us that in times like these, when goals become more difficult to achieve, it's more important to motivate people to succeed and to recognize and reward outstanding effort. We see continued interest in incentives and especially unique venues such as Iceland and event-based programs such as a World Cup outing to Korea and Japan next year. With respect to meetings, there is no doubt that economic weakness is impacting the number that companies are holding. While videoconferencing and online meetings are of course cost effective, many clients agree with us that there is no substitute for person to person contact and the creativity that flows and the relationships that are built when people meet face to face in an enjoyable environment.

5. See Us in Chicago: IT&ME 2001

In celebration of our 20th year, Schron Associates will be exhibiting at The Motivation Show, IT&ME (Incentive Travel & Meeting Executives) Booth # 1634 at McCormick Place in Chicago, October 9-11. If you're attending, stop by and talk to us, get a copy of our new brochure, and enter to win a trip for two to Casa de Campo, the Caribbean's top golf resort and one of our favorites.

Other Editions

See current issue

Summer 2002: Schron saves you money, return of Concorde, representing NYC

Winter 2002: NYC & Co., on-site services, Italy, the Euro etc.

Holiday 2001-02: business as usual in NYC, closer to home, our 20th anniversary

Spring 2001: the economy, Lyon, theme cruises etc.

Celebrating 20 Years 1982-2002

American-Owned, Family-Owned, Global Experience, Based in New York City