Dear Friends,

We are pleased to present you with this first 2002 edition of "Rob's Report," Schron Associates' quarterly e-mail newsletter of issues, events and offers we think may be of interest to you. As we celebrate our 20th year, we discuss below our new affiliation with NYC & Company, New York City's official Convention and Visitors Bureau. We also discuss why now, as much as ever, you should have us on-site for your meeting or incentive travel program. Next, we resume our series of "destination focus" highlights, featuring a recent visit to three cities in Italy, and conclude with some comments on the long anticipated introduction this year of the Euro, the new common currency for a dozen of Europe's major countries. We hope, as always, that you enjoy this newsletter and if you have any questions or comments about any of the subjects covered, please feel free to contact us.

Sincerely,

The Schron Associates Newsletter Team

------ CONTENTS ------

1. Schron Associates joins NYC & Company

2. Why you should have us on-site at your next event

3. Destination focus: Italy (Rome, Milan and Naples)

4. The Euro: making European travel easier than ever

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1. Schron Associates joins NYC & Company

We are pleased to announce that Schron Associates is now a member of NYC & Company, the official Convention and Visitors Bureau for New York City. As we celebrate our 20th year as a meeting/event planning and incentive travel company based here in NYC, we decided it would be natural to make official what our clients have known all along; that we have a particular expertise and special resources for handling groups here in our fabulous hometown. In fact, while we are also known for our international experience, all of our staff was born and raised right here in the five boroughs. More information about NYC & Company and about visiting New York City in general can be found on its website at www.nycvisit.com.

2. Why you should have us on-site at your next event

The success of an incentive trip or meeting often relies upon the performance of a vast array of vendors, including airlines, hotels, cruise lines, ground transportation companies, restaurants, audiovisual suppliers, entertainment companies, activity venues etc. While we make the best possible effort to identify and select only reputable vendors when putting together a proposal, if you, the client, have to deal with so many of them throughout the course of your program, it can be inefficient and time-consuming. That's why we offer you on-site management and supervision of your meeting or incentive trip by one or more members of our own management team. This means that you have a professional on hand dedicated to assuring that your program proceeds as planned and to take care of any last minute changes or special arrangements you might wish to make. By having a member of our team on-site, you are free to spend your own valuable time attending to the business of your meeting or interacting with your incentive program participants. Should you wish to have us on-site, we will not send you a tour escort but a member of our own management, who is not just a travel professional but a business professional as well. He or she will be knowledgeable not only about your travel and event arrangements, but also about your organization and the purpose of your meeting or incentive trip. We are confident that you will not only find our on-site services extremely helpful, but more affordable than you may think.

3. Destination focus: Italy (Rome, Milan and Naples)

We recently had the opportunity to visit three of Italy's major cities: Rome, Milan and Naples. Rome, the capital, remains one of Europe's must-see cities, offering something for everyone. History buffs and shopaholics alike will be amazed at the variety of attractions, ranging from ancient imperial ruins like the Colosseum to the Vatican City to the fashionable boutiques of the Via Condotti. With a relatively mild climate compared to most other major European cities, Rome can best be seen on foot, whether you're seeking to visit the city's many historical attractions, or just strolling by the luxurious hotels and cafes of the Via Veneto. Note that Rome is much cleaner today than those who haven't been recently may remember it being in the past.

Milan, in the north, offers a different flavor of Italy. As the country's commercial center, it is best known as home to the fashion, furnishings, and design industry, as well as Italy's stock exchange and many banks. While primarily a business city, Milan does have some other attractions as well. It is home to the world-renowned opera house called La Scala, and also the imposing Duomo, one of Europe's most impressive Gothic cathedrals. Also, at the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, one can find Leonardo da Vinci's masterpiece, the "The Last Supper." For those whose taste is more di Caprio than da Vinci, excellent designer shopping can be found in the area around the Via Montenapoleone, and nightlife in the Navigli and Brera neighborhoods. Milan is also the gateway to the picturesque regions of Lake Como and Lake Maggiore, and the snow-capped Italian alps. Business travelers visiting Milan with limited time to see the sights can take advantage of an informative hop-on/hop-off tour aboard a 1920s era classic streetcar.

While Milan may be the capital of Italian business, and Rome may be the capital of Italian history and government, no city can rival Naples as capital of the Italian lifestyle. As host to the world's leaders at the G-7 summit of 1994, this scenic and busy port city in the shadow of Mt. Vesuvius has been revitalized and is a more compelling destination than ever before. Once the capital of its own Kingdom of Naples, and originally an ancient Greek colony conquered by the Romans, Naples has its own distinguished place in history. However, the modern visitor may be content to simply admire the views from St. Elmo's Castle, or take a stroll along the bay at Santa Lucia, or enjoy an espresso at the historic Gambrinus café, or seek out the original pizza margherita in its birthplace. One taste of the latter at any of the city's little restaurants that specialize in it will help you understand why so many pizzerias in America are called "Napoli!" In addition to its own many charms, Naples is the gateway to the nearby lost city of Pompeii, the beautiful Amalfi coast, the world-famous islands of Capri and Ischia, and the rest of the Campania region, including the magnificent royal palace and gardens at Caserta.

4. The Euro: making European travel easier than ever

On January 1, 2002, a dozen major European countries began officially using the long-anticipated common currency, the Euro. It replaces the individual currencies of Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Spain. The Euro is good news for travelers, for several reasons. The most obvious is that, as one travels from country to country, there is no need to keep exchanging money. No more running around on arrival looking to exchange your Deutsche Marks into Francs, or Francs into Lire, etc. No standing on long lines or time wasted seeking the place with the best exchange rate. Once you have Euros, they are good in any of the twelve countries listed above. This also means that, for example, if you visit Frankfurt on a business trip this year, you can use any money you have left over on your vacation in the Greek Isles next year. If you don't visit the same country frequently, there is no need for your leftover foreign cash and coins to end up in a jar in the back of your closet! Another benefit of the Euro is that, at least for now, it is not difficult to convert prices into U.S. Dollars. Gone are the days of figuring out how much 16,000 Lire is worth! As of right now, one Euro is worth a bit less than one Dollar, specifically, about $0.87 at the end of February. Euro notes are issued in denominations starting at 5 Euros, and there are 1 and 2 Euro coins; below 1 Euro the new currency is divided into cents, of which, of course, 100 cents = 1 Euro. So, for several reasons, travel in Europe is easy with the new Euro!

Archive of Past Editions

See current issue

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

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

Summer/Fall 2001: 4th quarter incentives, short cruises, Nassau/Paradise Island etc.

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

Celebrating 20 Years 1982-2002

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