CPA EMEA 2018 Annual Conference

Your Invitation

15—18 November 2018

JW Marquis Marriott

Dubai

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An invitation from the host firm

Welcome to the EMEA regional conference in Dubai

Dubai hosted the last regional conference almost a decade ago. In these last 10 years,

a lot has changed and evolved in this country and it has become one of the largest

trading markets in the world. Today it has some of the largest and biggest

infrastructure landmarks in the world.

We have been working with an event company to formulate a fantastic programme of

events for us to experience. I do hope that you, your colleagues and spouses are able

to join us.

I look forward to seeing you in Dubai.

Regards

Piyush Bhandari Managing Director

Intuit Management Consultancy piyush@intuitconsultancy.com

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An invitation from the Directors

We are delighted to share with you our new look conference programme. This year we

have a keynote speaker, Bernard Savage from Size 10½ Boots, a specialist business

development agency. You’ll learn more about him later.

The other change is that we are introducing interactive knowledge sharing sessions.

The intention is that we will be selecting interesting practice management topics and

through small workgroups we’d like to see our members sharing and working together

to exchange ideas and best practice.

The topics highlighted for this year are:

• Tools and apps used on a daily basis: such as Google forms, ToDoist,

TeamViewer, Zoom

• Revenue management and collection: how you charge your clients, how do you

collect payments, by instalments or all at a time

• Productivity and time management: sharing your experience, do you use any

resources or concepts such as Franklin Covey’s “Helping Clients Succeed” or

“Getting things done”

We will be expecting you to get involved to get the most out of your time attending the

conference. You will receive some pre-conference emails from Nicki asking you to

make some small preparations in advance.

This year we will also see members of the International Board as they will be holding a

meeting on the Sunday to agree the next steps to develop the Association. We have

achieved so much in the last 12 months such as the Client Database and the Preferred

Suppliers List and you can expect more in the coming months.

Our invitation extends to all CPAAI members and we are looking forward to welcoming

you and your colleagues in Dubai.

Kindest regards

CPA

EMEA

Board of

Directors

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About Dubai

Dubai is located on the Eastern coast of

the Arabian Peninsula, in the south

west corner of the Arabian Gulf. It is

extremely well known for its warm

hospitality and rich cultural heritage,

and the Emirati people are welcoming

and generous in their approach to

visitors. With year-round sunshine,

intriguing deserts, beautiful beaches,

luxurious hotels and shopping malls,

fascinating heritage attractions and a

thriving business community, Dubai

receives millions of leisure and

business visitors each year from around

the world.

Cultural and religious sensitivity

Dubai is tolerant and cosmopolitan and

all visitors are welcome. However, Islam

is a way of life in the city, and therefore

tourists should adopt a certain level of

cultural and religious sensitivity for the

duration of their stay. While dress codes

are fairly liberal, swim wear should only

be worn on beaches or at swimming

pools, and when visiting shopping malls

and other attractions, tourists should

wear clothing that is not too tight or

revealing.

Certain attractions, such as mosques or

religious sites, usually have stricter

dress codes, requiring both men and

women to cover up bare shoulders,

arms and legs, and women to wear

headscarves.

Languages

English is widely spoken in Dubai, and

as all restaurant menus, road signs and

other information is usually presented

in both English and Arabic, visitors who

speak English will have no trouble

making their way around.

Population

The estimated population of Dubai is

approximately 2.7 million people.

Around 80% of those are expatriates

who are attracted by the tax-free

working conditions and the relatively

crime-free lifestyle.

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Useful information

Currency

The local currency is the dirham. Dubai

offers a sophisticated network of banks,

currency exchanges and ATMs, making

it easy to access money across the city.

Safety information

Dubai is one of the safest cities in the

world, with very low crime rates

meaning travelling around the city is

very safe. That said, Dubai is a big world

city and common sense precautions

should be observed. Women should

have little trouble exploring the city

alone. However, a modest sense of

dress will ensure less unwanted

attention in the more traditional parts of

the city.

Insurance

All foreign visitors to Dubai should take

out some kind of travel insurance to

cover the loss, theft or damage of

belongings. It is advisable to also make

sure that your insurance covers medical

treatment, and possibly dental

treatment. Always check your existing

policy to avoid paying out unnecessarily.

Electricity

The electrical current in Dubai

is 220/240 V, 50 Hz AC. British-style 3-

pin electrical plugs are used (Type G or

13 amp plug).

Shopping

Between Dubai’s grandiose malls

including The Dubai Mall, Mall of the

Emirates and City Walk to traditional

souks such as the Gold Souk and

Perfume Souk, you’re practically

guaranteed to find a souvenir to

treasure from your visit to Dubai.

Weather

Dubai is hot, dry and windy year round,

but the cooler November temperatures

of around 18°C to 31°C mean there's

very little humidity. There's also very

little rainfall, just 0.2 inches expected

over the entire month. Weather-wise,

November is considered one of the best

times to visit Dubai.

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Travelling to Dubai

Airport

Dubai International Airport is world-

renowned, handling around 30 million

passengers annually and connecting

over 160 destinations with more than

110 airlines.

The Airport has three terminals, with

Terminals 1 and 2 handling both

international and domestic flights from

airlines around the world, and Terminal

3 being for the exclusive use of

Emirates Airlines and its passengers.

Airport Transfer

If you’d like to pre-book an airport

transfer you can use the weblink below.

They offer certified drivers, no hidden

costs and free cancellation up to 24

hours before pick up.

The transfer from the airport to the JW

Marquis hotel is around 20 minutes

and prices start from €30 one way.

https://www.emirates.com/english/

transportation/book-an-airport-

transfer.aspx

Visa Requirements

Citizens from the UK, USA, Australia,

New Zealand and most Western

European and Far Eastern countries are

entitled to a free, 30-day extendable

visit visa on arrival.

You can find out more about the visa

requirements on the Government of

Dubai website:

http://www.dubai.ae/en/Pages/

Default.aspx

Please note

We advise that you take the appropriate

measures to check whether you are

required to apply for a visa to enter

Dubai.

If you require any information to

support your application, please contact

Nicki Lynn (nlynn@cpaai.com).

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Conference Theme

This year’s conference is all about how greater focus will drive profit. It is a theme we will

continue at our conference next year in Milan as well as in a supporting webinar we’ll host

between the two events.

Across all 3 events our keynote speaker will be Bernard Savage from Size 10½ Boots, a

specialist business development agency that works solely with professional service firms.

Since it was founded in 2005 Tenandahalf have helped a huge number of accountancy,

law and intellectual property firms all over the world grow. They look at the fundamentals.

What new business development or marketing strategies could you employ? How do you

win more new clients? What do you need to do to improve the way you cross-sell your

services? How could you improve your pitches, tenders or marketing collateral? How can

you increase client retention by improving the level of service you offer your existing

clients?

Whatever the project Tenandahalf believe success is ultimately linked to one thing -

confidence.

Tenandahalf help professional service firms cultivate that confidence by providing

practical, straightforward suggestions based on the extensive business development

experience their directors have built up both within the professional services and within a

more traditional blue chip environment at Procter & Gamble, Shell and Informa.

So what will Bernard speak about?

The key components of Bernard’s talk will be:

• Why your clients are now looking for specialists not generalists and how

organisations in every professional walk of life are using that demand for specialism

to their commercial advantage.

• What this demand for specialism means for accountants and business advisers and,

more specifically, how you can focus your marketing and business development to

take advantage of these changes and make your practice more profitable.

• How you can strip out costly, time hungry but ultimately unproductive marketing

initiatives to free up your time and resources to drive more focused and more

profitable business development activity.

• Why applying a sector focus is the most effective way to focus your business

development and practical ‘how to’ showing you the easiest way to kick off your own

sector focus.

The session will also include a breakout session before finishing by pulling together the

audiences’ conclusions so Bernard can suggest those all-important first steps you need to

take to increase your focus and drive your profitability.

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Keynote speaker: Bernard Savage

Bernard Savage’s career is a game of two halves and then

Tenandahalf. In the first half he worked in blue-chip

companies Procter & Gamble and Shell. The second half

led to Tenandahalf when after an in house role at

Eversheds Bernard saw an opportunity to help ’smarter’

professional service firms. Such firms understand that just

having good technical practitioners isn’t enough to be

commercially successful.

As a specialist Business Development agency helping law

firms, barrister chambers’, patent and trade mark

attorneys, architects and accountants grow, Tenandahalf

has worked over the last 13 years with practices

throughout the UK, Ireland and Channel Islands. Tenandahalf help such businesses of

all sizes to improve the ‘top and bottom line’ through strategic and tactical support,

group training, 1on1 coaching and client research.

In the accountancy sector Bernard has delivered projects for Mazars, Armstrong

Watson, BDO, Alliotts, RDP Newman, Duncan & Toplis and Cooper Parry and delivered

talks at EMEA conferences for DFK, Alliott Group, Morison KSi and MSI. Bernard is

also an avid follower of Mansfield Town Football Club and listens to Trojan music when

he is travelling the length and breadth of the UK for business or pleasure.

Testimonial from Alliott Group, Chief Executive, James Hickey

“Without exception, the feedback from delegates to Bernard’s

presentations have been very positive….Tenandahalf really understand

the issues facing professional service firms looking to run their

business better, to differentiate themselves and provide these firms

with a defined approach to win and retain new clients.”

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The venue

JW Marquis Marriott Sheikh Zayed Road, Business

Bay, Dubai 121000 UAE

Tel: +971 4 414 0000

Website

Immerse yourself in the 5-star

sophistication of JW Marriott Marquis

Hotel Dubai. Located within two iconic

towers in Business Bay on Sheikh

Zayed Road, the hotel provides

everything you need for a truly special

stay in the United Arab Emirates.

Find a restful oasis in the meticulously

appointed accommodation, which

features plush bedding, modern

technology and a marble bathroom.

Many of our rooms and suites also

provide views of the water or of the

Dubai skyline.

Enjoy a swim in the outdoor pool or a

workout in the fitness centre, followed

by a relaxed treatment at SARAY Spa.

Our hotel offers delicious cuisine to suit

every taste - from Indian classics to

flavourful steaks. Conveniently located

near Dubai Mall, the Burj Khalifa and

the Dubai Opera.

Facilities

Barbers

Saray Spa and Health Club

Car Rental

Bookstore

Gift/newsstand

Coffee/tea in-room

Shoeshine

Cash machine/ATM

Concierge desk

Foreign exchange

Laundry on-site

Room service, 24-hour

Safe deposit boxes, front desk

Valet dry-cleaning

Virtual Concierge Available

Golf

Arabian Ranches Golf Club (6.2 miles)

The Desert Course

The Montgomerie Dubai (On-site)

Emirates Golf Club/ Dubai Creek Golf

and Yacht Club (On-site)

The Els Club (On-site)

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Timetable

Wednesday 14th November

Optional CPAAI golf Tournament. Details to follow. If you are interested to take part please

indicate on your booking form.

Thursday 15th November

13:45 to 14:00 Registration

14:00 to 15:30 Welcome, EMEA AGM and Regional / International Update

15:30 to 16:00 Networking coffee break

16:00 to 17:30 Knowledge sharing interactive sessions

17:30 to 17:45 Round up

19:30 to 23:00 Welcome drinks and dinner at the hotel

Friday 16th November

09:00 to 10:45 How to drive profit through focus

Bernard Savage, Tenandahalf

10:45 to 11:30 Networking coffee break

11:30 to 13:00 How to drive profit through focus

Bernard Savage, Tenandahalf

13:00 to 14:00 Lunch break

14:00 to 15:30 How to drive profit through focus

Bernard Savage, Tenandahalf

15:30 to 16:00 Coffee break

16:00 to 17:30 Working group sessions, more detailed information will be provided

17:30 to 17:45 Round up

19:00 to 23:30 Experience the pleasures of yachting in the calm Arabian waters. A

silent cruise along the coast to see the 7-star Burj Al Arab, Jumeirah

Palm and the three hundred man-made world islands.

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Timetable

Saturday 17th November

15:00 to 22:00

A private collection of museum

quality Land Rover vehicles will

collect us from the hotel and we will

embark on a wildlife drive in Dubai

Desert Conservation Reserve.

The Dubai Desert Conservation

Reserve is the largest conservation

project in the UAE.

We will be guided by an expert tour

guide to discover some of the rate

animals that the barren landscape

has to offer including the stunning desert monitors, gazelle, Arabian Oryx or the Arabian

Wildcat, amongst other wildlife.

We will witness first-hand the companionship between a falcon and falconer while

learning about techniques that were used centuries ago and how they compare to

falconry today all while in the natural surroundings of the beautiful desert.

When we arrive at Bedouin Camp for dinner we will discover a fine dining experience

nestled inside the exclusive grounds of a Royal family member’s private desert retreat,

constructed using natural materials like stone, wood and goat hair for an authentic

heritage styled camp. This is the only desert safari in Dubai to cook authentic Emirati

cuisine fresh on site by a Chef.

There will be a demonstration of authentic cultural activities such as camel rides,

henna tattoos, traditional drumming and Yola dance, Arabic bread and coffee making

before enjoying a scrumptious lunch accompanied by Emirati music.

The group drumming transcends all boundaries. Suddenly it doesn’t matter anymore

who you are, where you come from, or what you do for a living, everyone communicates

through the language of rhythm. Anyone can take part, everyone becomes equal and it

quickly becomes apparent that what you can achieve together is far greater than what

you can do alone.

Sunday 18th November Guests depart for a safe journey home.

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Accompanying Persons Excursion

Friday 16th November

09:30 to 14:30 (timing subject to change)

A visit to Dubai Old Town with a Bedouin Breakfast

Taste traditional Emirati food, and learn more about life in the United Arab Emirates at

a cultural breakfast where one gets to experience local culture by interacting with the

locals.

After breakfast you will visit the old town of Dubai, by the Creekside and explore its

many kept secrets.

Each experience is as unique as the questions you might want answers to. You will be

able to learn about the local cultures and religion in an informal and relaxed

atmosphere.

The tours include an English-speaking guide, water, refreshments and lunch.

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Board Meetings

Thursday 15th November

EMEA Regional Board of Directors 09:00 to 12:30

If you would like to sit in on the board meeting to understand how it operates and the

projects the directors are working on please let Nicki (nlynn@cpaai.com) know.

Board Members:

Sunday 18th November

International Board of Directors 09:00 to 17:30

The International board will be holding another strategy style meeting whilst in Dubai to

continue to take the Association to the next level.

Board Members:

Michael Parness (President)

Ted Carnevale (Chairman) North America

Jim Holmes North America

Andreas Klier EMEA

To be confirmed as Malcolm steps down EMEA

Pepe Mota Latin America

Virrsing Ramdeny Asia Pacific

Paul Rudoy North America

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Booking information

Conference costs

The delegate rate includes all meals,

beverages, entertainment and social

programme including taxes is as

follows:

For bookings received before 31st

August 2018:

Delegate €1,325

Spouse €1,050

For bookings made after 31st August

2018:

Delegate €1,500

Spouse €1,050

Please note that this year the

conference fee DOES NOT include

accommodation.

Accommodation

You are required to book your own hotel

accommodation separately. A credit

card will need to be used to guarantee

your room reservation.

Room rates including all taxes:

AED Euros (apx)

Single occupancy 773 180

Double occupancy 836 195

The room block is available from now

until 5 October. Please use the link

below to make your reservation:

Accommodation Booking

How to book the conference

Please complete the online booking

form available on the EMEA members

only section of the association website:

Conference Booking Form

If you require any assistance with the

online booking system, please contact

Nicki (nlynn@cpaai.com).

Payment

Please ensure that payment for the

conference is made by wire transfer as

soon as possible and no later than 5

October. Details are available on the

website and your confirmation email.

Please book your places early and we

look forward to seeing you there!

Cancellation terms

As you can appreciate we have had to

enter into a contract with the hotel and

other suppliers for the arrangements of

our International Conference this

year. In order to protect CPA EMEA

from any financial loss and also to

encourage the commitment of our

members to attend the conference the

following cancellation terms will apply.

If you cancel your booking up to 5

October there will be a charge of 50% of

the delegate/spouse rate.

Cancellations after 5 October will be

charged the full delegate/spouse rate.

If we are able to waiver any cancellation

charges with the hotel and other

suppliers then we will obviously pass

this directly to the delegate concerned.

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We look forward to seeing

you in Dubai!