WesternEuropeZoneMeeting

7thOctober2017-RandolphHotel,Oxford,UK

Belgium–MarianoVanCleve–President-MVC

France–ThierryRevel–President-TR

GreatBritain–AntonyLynch-President-ALPaulStill–WesternEuropeZoneDirector–PS

Ireland–MartinMulholland–InternationalDelegateMM

Luxembourg–SimonDelcomminette-President-SD

Morocco–SamirAtalouie–VicePresident-SA

Netherlands–BrianMackenzieVicePresident&InternationalDelegate-BM

Switzerland-MarcPierrain-President–MP

SimonThomas-InternationalPresident-STBurakIpecki–AssistantInternationalGeneralSecretary–BIApologies–DenisO’Brien-Sage

Agenda

IntroductionsEveryonehadattendedazonemeetingpreviouslyandeveryonekneweachothersotherewasnoneedforanyformalintroductions.PSthankedSTandBIforattendingandalsocongratulatedMoroccoforwinningthebidtohostthenextEuropeanCongressin2018MinutesofpreviousmeetinginHelsinkiSomeoftheagendapointsfromHelsinkiwerebeingrepeatedthisyearbuttherewerenomattersoutstandingSectionreportsPleasefindthesectionreportsattheendoftheminutesExcoreportSTSTsaidhehadalreadydistributedanExComeetingupdatetoeveryone;thisisalsoincludedattheendoftheminutesSeoul–Isitsafetotravelthere?SDSTsaidthathewasarrangingariskassessmentbyaprofessionalcompany,theresultsofthiswouldbecirculatedoncecompletedandnogovernmentswerecurrentlyadvisingagainsttravellingthere.Whathappensifmembershaveregistered,paid,andboughtflightticketsandthecongressiscancelled?SD

STsaidthateveryoneshouldbeadvisedtotakeoutinsurance;thiswouldbethesameforattendinganycongress.Isthereanalternativehostcountrybeinglookedat?MMSTsaidintheunlikelihoodofthecongressnotgoingaheadtherewerenoalternativecongresslocationsbeingplanned,buttherewouldhavetobeaBoardofDirector’smeetingsomewhereIsanythingbeingdonetoensurethesafetyofmembersifanythinghappenedinSeoul?MMSTsaidthatthesafetyofmemberswasparamountandthatwaswhytheriskassessmentwasbeingundertaken

China–Whatisthelatestupdate?BMSTspokeabouttheExCo’srecommendationandsaidadecisionwouldbereachedinSeoul

CommunicationsCommittee–Howdowekeep/saveourNationalidentityasindependentcountries/sectionsregardingtheactionsoftheCommunicationsCommittee?Doanyothersectionshavedifficultiesregardingidentity?BMBIsaiditwasnottheintentionforsectionstolosetheiridentityandsaidthat“YourKeytotheCity”wasoneofthewaysinwhichidentitywouldbepreservedBranding–Whyisprogressrepetitiveandslow?ALBIsaidthatitdidappearfrustratingbutitwasimportanttogetitrightasitssuccesswouldhelptheweakersections.HesaidthatthenewwebsitewouldhaveasoftlaunchinSeoul.ALquestionedwhyithadtobeasoftlaunchafterallthistime,andsaidthathissectionhadalreadyproceededwiththeirwebsiteandbranding.SAmentionedthattheInstagramlinkwasmissingfromthenewsite,BIsaidhewouldrectifythis

PROfficer–isitnecessarytohaveaPROfficerforeverysectionasitseemstoberequested?MVCPSsaiditwasnotnecessaryaslongasoneoftheboardwasresponsibleforPRduties,MVCsaidhehadalreadydonethatandwasalsoworkingwithaPR

company.ALsaidtobecarefulwhenworkingwithPRcompaniesastheyhaddifficultyunderstandinghowweoperateandaremuchdifferenttotheirnormalclients

PositionofInternationalAssistantTreasurer–DoallthesectionsinourzoneagreewithSwitzerland’sproposalbeforeaskingalltheothersectionsworldwide?MPMPexplainedthatSwitzerlandhadproposedthisforthelasttwoyearsandthattheyhadbeenadvisedtoproposeastatuechangewhichwouldneedthesupportoftensectionsinordertoproceed.Allsectionspresentindicatedtheirsupport.MPwouldnowsendaproposaltoallthesectionsworldwideaskingfortheirsupport

EuropeanCongress2018-Isthereapossibilitytoincreasethefunding?SASTaskedSAtoprepareabudgetandaP&Lstatement,healsosuggestedhecontactedtheSponsorshipCommitteewhocouldpossiblyassistEuropeanCongresssupport-AmsterdamwouldbeunabletohostanaffordableEuropeancongressduetothecurrentpopularityofthecity,andhaddiscussedthepossibilityoffinanciallysupportinganothersection.WhowillnowbetakingovertheroleofsavingtheEuropeancongressnowthatTamasUngarisnolongeraconcierge?Whichothersectionssupporttheideaofsponsoringacongressifitcan’tbeheldintheirowncitiesforeconomicreasons?BMFollowingonfromtheprevioustopicBMofferedagenerouscontributiontotheMoroccansectionwhichwasverygratefullyacceptedbySA.ALsaidtheGBsectionwerehappytohelpinotherwaysandwouldbeintouchwithSA.PSsaidhewouldreachouttotheotherEuropeansectionsviatheirzonedirector’stoseeifanyoneelsewouldconsidercontributingfinancially.PSsuggestedthatallfourEuropeanzonedirector’sshouldtakeoverfromTamasandwouldsuggestthistothemExcoattendanceatCongress-WhyaretheynotfundedfromtheInternationalbudget?AL

STsaidthatthishadtraditionallybeenthecaseforthepastfewyearsbuthewasopentoideasandthiscouldbeconsideredinthefutureBoardofDirector’sMeeting–Howcanitbemademoreinteresting?ALSTsaidagainthatthiswasinhandandhewasopentoideas,thingshadalreadyimprovedandhewasawarethattheExCo,BOD,andGeneralAssemblymeetingswererepetitive.ALsuggestedthatsomethinglike“speeddating”beintroducedattheBODmeetingTunisia–HowcanwehelpourTunisiancolleaguesbuildtheirownsection?SAPSexplainedthattherewerealreadyguidelinesonthistopicontheInternationalwebsiteintheVirtualParisOffice,itwasalongprocessandcouldtakeseveralyears.TherewasnothingwrongwithhavingmembersfromanothercountrywithinasectionZonemeeting2019-PSPSsaidthatalthoughthiswastwoyearsaway,meetingssuchasthisdorequireplanningandaskedallthosepresenttoconsideriftheywishedtohostit.BMsaidHollandwouldbehappytohostitNextZoneDirector–PSPSsaidthathistenurewouldexpireattheCannescongressin2019andsuggestedthatthosewhomeettherequirementsshouldstarttoconsideriftheywereinterestedintheposition.BMandALsaidtheywerebothinterestedsoavotewouldtakeplacenearerthetimeandtheresultannouncedinCannes

ZoneCommunication–PSPSsaidthatsomesectionsrepliedmuchquickerthanotherswhenhesentoutrequestsforinformation,andaskedwhatthepreferredmethodofcommunicationwas.Allthosepresentagreedthatemailwasbest,andthenfollowedupbyWhatsAppApplicationFormsfornewmembers–PSPSaskedeachsectiontosendhimablankmembershipapplicationformasthishadbeenrequestedby1stVPRoderickLevejac

ZoneNewsletter-PSPSsaidthathehadthoughtaboutproposingthatwehaveazonenewsletter.WhilsthewasinMumbaimeetingwiththeotherzonedirector’severyonedecidedthatallzonesshouldproduceone.WhilstintheExComeetingallZoneDirector’sweretoldtheyshouldpublishonetwiceeveryyear,justbeforetheInternationalcongress,andagainshortlybeforetheExComeetingAnyotherBusinessPSaskedeveryonetoletBIknowofimportanteventssuchasAGM’sandAnniversaryCocktailpartieswerescheduledforsotheycouldbepostedonthewebsite.MPsaidifthishappeneditwouldmaybeappearasanopeninvitationtoeveryone.PSsaidthatthiscouldbemadeclearbyadding”byinvitationonly”MPsaidhewouldshortlybeleavingtheBeauRivageinGenevaandwouldbeintouchnearerthetimeSTcommendedSDonthedecisionhehadmaderegardingtheLuxembourgsection,hesaiditwouldsetanexampletoothersectionsinthesamesituation,andofferedassistancetothemgettingfullsectionstatuesagaininthefutureSAaskedifitwouldbepossibletohavethecongresseducationalvideospostedYouTubeorotherformsofsocialmediasoeveryonecouldviewthem.BIsaidthatbecauseofpotentiallegalissuesthiswouldnotbepossiblebutwouldlookintolivestreaminginthefutureBMaskedforanupdateonthetrademarkprotection,BIsaidthatanydelaywasduetothefactthatthelawyersworkingonthis,asafavour,werenotchargingtheirusualfeesthereforeitwasnottheirmainpriority

CorrespondenceEveryonehadreceivedacopyofthecorrespondencefromAldoGiacomelloandDenisO’Brienwishingeveryoneaproductivemeeting

12.00Sponsorpresentation

GoldKeyMedia.ChrisHornspokeabouthowthecompanywasstartedandthecloselinksthattheyhadwithLesClefsd’Or.HeandSallyIngramexplainedabouttheproductsthattheyoffered,thecountriesthattheywereavailablein,thenewdigitaloptionsthatwereavailable,andanideaoftheveryreasonablepricestheycouldoffer

12.30Lunch

13.30Sponsorpresentation

BenedictandAnnafromBigBusspokeabouttheirexpandingcompany,theservicesthattheyofferedandthecountriesthattheyoperatedin.BenedictthengaveaveryinformativetalkaboutOxfordwhichwasappropriategiventhemeetingvenue

14.00PresentationsandDiscussions

Clefsd’OrHistoryBIBIranthroughthelatestPowerPointpresentation,healsorequestedthatanyphotographsordocumentsofinterestbesenttohimsotheyaddedtothearchives

CommunicationandBrandingBIBIupdatedeveryoneonthenewCommunicationsCommittee,wheretheywere,andwhattheywerehopingtoachieveMarrakech2018SASAshowedapresentationofthecongressandspokeabouthowproudhissectionwastobehostingit,andhowtheylookedforwardtowelcomingeveryone.HeansweredvariousquestionsaboutitMembershipCommitteeBM,MM,PSPSoutlinedwhatprojectstheCommitteehadalreadycompletedwhichwereawaitingExCoapprovalbeforebeingcirculatedtotheBODforcompliance,theywerecurrentlyavailableontheinternationalwebsite.Hethenspokeaboutthecurrentprojectsthattheywereworkingon,BMwasworkingonthecriteriaofnominationsforMembred’Honneurawards,STsaidthatfromnow

onallnominationswouldhavetobeapprovedbytheExCo,andallcertificatesnumbered.MMandPSwereworkingonthedifferentcategoriesofmembership,reducingthenumberofcategoriesandpossiblyrenamingsome.PSandSTspokebrieflyabouttheapproachfromMarriottHotelslookingforsomeformofassociationwithLesClefsd’Orwithregardstotheirprivateapartmentsandresidencies,therewassomediscussionaroundthetable;PSaskedeveryonetosendhimtheircommentsbothforandagainst,thesealongwiththosefromtheMembershipCommitteewouldbeforwardedtotheExCowhowoulddecideifthisissomethingtheyshouldlookintoBestPracticesThroughoutthecourseofthedaymany“BestPractices”hadbeensharedbetweenthesectionsbriefly.OnethatkeptoncroppingupwasFundingandSponsorship,soitwasdecidedtogointoalittlemoredetail.Afewsectionshadgreatdifficultyinfindingsponsorship,somehadnoproblems,andotherswerecomfortablebutdidnotknowwhatthefutureheld.Eachsectiontalkedaboutthetypesofsponsorstheyhad,whattheyreceived,butmoreimportantlywhattheycouldofferinreturn.Hopefullythelessfortunatesectionsgainedsomeideas.

SectionReports

Belgium

PleaseherefindenclosedourreportofactivitiesfortheBelgiansection,year2017.

WestillincontactwiththeBelgianauthoritiesconcerningthepositionoftheconciergeinthehotelindustry,theresumeofourdiscussionisjoinedtothecurrentdocument.

Wehad4different gatheringwithourpartners and thepresentationofourbrandnewmagazinewashostedbyoneofthem.

Wehave3talksandpresentationdoneinto3hotelsschoolsinBelgium,inoneofeachregionofourcountry.

Wewillhaveverysoonapresentationoftheconciergejobaswellastheclefsd’orassociation,toabusinessmenclubinBrusselsscheduledforthenextmonth.

Wehadourgeneralassemblythisyearwiththeelections

President:MarianoVanCleve

Vice-president:FranciscoNieto

Accounting-secretary:AntoineCuypers

DelegateinchargeofcommunicationandP.R.:StephaneLooze

DelegateinchargeofsocialnetworkandITsupport:CelinedeScheuteneer

Delegateinchargeofcoordinationandassistance:SahinHaluk.

Comitedessages:Jean-PolDeSardeleer,AlainVanderauwera

Differentvisitsofprovidershavebeenorganizedaswell.

AcharityoperationisscheduledaswellforDecember.

BelowisasmallresumeofwhatwearediscussingwiththeBelgianauthorities.

Toclarifytheaction,weareawareabouttheprojectofourgovernmenttorevisetheconditionsandtermsofthehotelclassifications.

Thereforwetookthechancetosecurebylawthepositionoftheconciergeandhisfunctionsinthisclassification.

“DearMrs.Rigodanzo,

IamwritingthisemailtogetanappointmentwithMinisterRudyVervoortandyouaboutthedevelopmentofthehotelclassificationordinanceandtoknowtheintentionsoftheMinisterregardingthequalityoftheBrusselshotelindustryanditsimpactonemployment.

Youwillfindbelowasummaryofthestepsthathavealreadybeentaken.

Inyourmailof6/12/16inresponsetomyemailof17/11/16,youwritetomethis

"Thankyouforyouremailandforyourattentiontothehotelclassificationissue.

Forthesakeofefficiency,mayIaskyoutocontactoneoftherepresentativesofthehotelsector(BHAorHO.RE.CA)whoserepresentativesreadusincopyandwhoaretheprivilegedinterlocutorsfirm/administrationintheframeworkfordiscussionsonthisfile?Inthisrespect,theycentralizealltheremarksofthesector.Ihavenodoubtthattheywillbekeentohearyourremarksandyourpointofviewandrelaythemtousasaccuratelyaspossible."

Wewerecontactedbythetworepresentatives(BHAandHO.RE.CA)Aninterviewwiththesetwoassociationstookplace.Wewouldhavelikedtoworkwithboth,butyouarenotwithoutknowingtherivalrybetweenthedifferentassociationsanditwasveryclearthatforeachofthem,achoicehadtobemadeandthereforeworkingwithbothwasimpossible.We(LesClefsd'OrBelgium)havemadethechoiceoftheBHA.Verywelldonesofar,Mr.RudolfVanWeyenberghhelpedusandguidedusonthevariouspointsthatinvolvedusandwhatyouareinformedsincethisinformationwasrelayedtoyoubytheBHA....Unfortunatelytothisdayandwedonotknowwhy,thedialogueiscutbetweentheBHAandtheGoldenKeysBelgium

InaninterviewwiththeBHAMr.vanWeyenberghtoldusthatforthe5starsaconciergeriewasobligatory.Weremindedhimourrequestofthebeginningofthenegotiationstoknowthatitwasnecessaryintheorder,orinthenoticeofexecution,definethehoursofservicesinthevariouspositionsoftheconciergesothatthehotelstowhichpointshavebeenawardedfortheservicesofaconciergeserviceareonthesamefootingasthe5starsandcanprovidebenefitsequivalenttothenumberofstarsawarded.

Isupposeyouwereinformedofourpointofviewatthemeetingheldon30/01/17.Wealsoaskedhowtoadaptorhavespecificexceptionsfor"boutiquehotels"(Hotelless100roomsinouropinionand60roomsaccordingtotheopinionMr.vanWeyenbergh).AtameetingonMarch7wesuggestedschedulesandrecalledtheproblemof"HotelShops".Wealsopointedoutthatifexemptionsforroomsizeandbedshavebeenallocated,thenintermsofreceptionservice,qualitativestandardsshouldbewelldevelopedandnotdowngraded

RelationswithBHAstoppedasweapproachedandfinalizedthefollowingpoints:

-Criteria29(HSU)Valetservice:Thevaletserviceisnotincludedintheparityagreement.Itshouldberenamed"Valet"andindicateintheorderofexecutionorinthetextoftheorderschedules.

Criterion30(HSU)Porter:Thisitemshouldbediscussed(andthenumberofpoints)whichisnotincludedintheFrenchstandardsandnotincludedinthedifferenthotelsinBrussels

-Criteria31(HSU)Concierge:Itshouldindicatetimessothatthecustomerknowswhenthereisaconciergeavailableandthatthehotelthattargetsthe15pointshasthesamechargesasa5stars

-Criteria33(HSU)Luggageserviceonrequest.....itwouldbenecessarytodevelop

Criterion34(HSU)Luggageservice.....Itshouldbespecifiedthatserviceistobecarriedoutbyportersandspecify(ownstaff)

-Howcantheconsumerknowifina4-staror4-starhotel+thehotelhasobtainedthenumberofpointsbyofferingthedifferentservicesinreception?

Canyouletusknowifyouexpecttosupervisethisdepartmentintheordersothattheinstitutionshaveadirectivelineconcerningthisdepartmentinordertosustainthesejobsinthehotelindustryandtokeepjobs.

IftheMinisteroryouareunabletoreceiveuscanletusknowbyemail,ifthroughtheorderitistheintentiontosustaincertainpositionsinthehotelandgivethehotelclassificationstandardsofquality.

Wearewaitingforyourresponsesothatwecanevolveourprofessioninaccordancewiththenewordinance.

Lookingforwardtohearingfromyou,Mrs.Rigodanzo”

Verybestregards,infriendship

MarianoVancleve

France

PleasefindtheimportantmomentsoftheFrenchsection:AfterthegeneralassemblyofMarch,andinternationalcongressinBerlin,nothingspecial.InSeptembercocktailderentreeinParisofferedbyGalleriesLafayetteformembersandpartnerships11thyearofthefpeToulouseschoolwith12studentsPreparationofthenationalcongressinChantillyonNovember3,4and5thwithsomeproblemswithmembershipstofollowandhelpusduetotheeconomicsituationDiscoveringoflasttropezfortheCoted’AzuresectioninMay,around20personsDinnerandshowwithdiscoveringofthenewJimmyzinMonacowiththechiefconciergesNofinishlinecharitableraceinNovemberofMonacowithClefsd’OrteamNewwebsitetobepresentedinNovemberPreparationwithmeetingwithRogerBastonifortheinternationalcongressinCannes2019

ThierryRevel

GreatBritain

TheGBsectionisundertakingamajorBrandingexercisethisyearwhichincludedwrappingahoponhopoffbusfor2months,lightingtheLondonEyeforouranniversary,engagingaPRcompanytopromoteourawards,developingaclientfriendlywebsite,creatingPRfileandloggingallourexposure.Wehavehostedthefollowingeventsforourmembersontopofourmonthlymeetings,associateandmonthlyexecmeetings

• Anniversarycocktailparty(wemadea£9000donationtoHospitalityaction)• Awardsnominationevent(wehave6categoriesthisyear)• Retiredmemberslunch• Honorarylifememberscocktailevening• CharityGolfday(raised£1650forHospitalityAQtion)• Tradeshow(forprospectivemembers)

Thecommitteehasworkedonhavingpanelinterviewsfornewmembersandhowtoengageournewmembersmore.WewillbehostingourAnnualGoldenKeysConciergeawardsonthe11OctoberandtheScottishRegion’sStAndrew’sBallonthe26thNovember.

AntonyLynch

IrelandTheIrishSectionarethisyear42innumber.OurmonthlymeetingsareregularandverywellattendedwithmembersregularlytravellingfromacrossIrelandNorthandSouthtoattend.Membersareencouragedtonominatetheirhoteltohostthemeetingeachmonth,thisgivesthemtheopportunitytoshowcasetheirpropertyandalsoallowsourGMstoseeandifinclined,participateinourmeetings.WealsotaketheopportunitytoinviteourAssociatestothemeetingtopresenttothememberstheirlatestproductsorservices.AtleastonemeetingperyearisaProvincialmeetingtofacilitateourmemberslivingoutsideofDublinwhodonothavetheopportunitytoattendmeetingsregularly.ThisyearwehadtwoProvincialmeetingsDerry(NorthernIreland)andKillarney(SouthernIreland)bothmeetingsprovedagreatsuccessandgaveourregionalmemberstheopportunitytofullyparticipateintheSociety.InAugustwehadournowannualAssociatesBarbecue.Thiseventisgettingbiggereachyearandwasattendedbymanyofourretiredmembersalso.Wehavealsohadaverybusysocialcalendarwhichincludedvisitstorestaurants,theatresandsportingeventscourtesyofourAssociates.ThisweseeasveryimportantinbuildingrelationshipswithourAssociatemembersaswellasgivingourmembersfirsthandexperienceofthetypesofservicesandproductsourAssociatessupply.ThefinancesoftheSectionarehealthy.Withmembershipnumbersfluctuatingduetoretirement,individualsleavingtheindustryetc,wearestillabletomaintainaconsistentnumberandcontinuetoenjoysupportfromcoreAssociatesaswellasaddingnewones,thiscanbeattributedtostellarworkfromPresidentPaul,SecretaryLaszloandourdiligentTreasurersDenisandKrishna.Wearecurrentlyintheprocessofarrangingour2018AGMwhichwillbeaspecialeventmarking65yearssinceoursectionsfirstAGMandwearelookingoptimisticallyforwardtoasuccessfulyearahead.

Martin Mulholland

Luxembourg-NewmoremodernwebsitefromLCDLuxembourginprogressbyEditionPathinBelgium-NeweditionofCONCIERGE.TheannualbookofLCDLuxembourg5thedition.Theeditor,EmileCUKIERhasbeengreatPRforLCD.-Meetingfollowedbyadinerevery6weeks-WeinvitedINYT(Vivek)toourannualCrystalNighttothanktheINYTfortheirlongsupport.-WehostedAndersRuggieroandPaulStillforthesiteinspection.-Luxembourgwillprobablybeattachedtoaneighbouringsectionasnotallmembersarenotabidingbythemembershiprulesinarticleivofthestatutes.Themembers’firstandmaintaskmustbeasaConcierge.AllwillremainthesameexceptassistingsomemeetingsoftheBoardofDirector’sandwithnovotingrights.SimonThomasindicatedhewillhelpLCDLuxembourgtobecomeafullyindependentsectionofTheUICHoncewehavethetenconciergemembers.-SimonD.Made2presentationsofLCD.OnetotheBelgium-LUXEMBOURGassociationwith50guestsandasecondonefortheHelptoVietnamwithabout30people-LCDLUXEMBOURGisactiveincommunication:radio,press,andtheLCDblog.-Duetobudget,therewillbenoannualweek-end.MaybeadayouttoAlsace.-SimonD.isplanningapresentationtoallhismemberofthehistoryandtheorganizationoftheLCDinternationaltomakesureeverybodyunderstandsthetitlesandtheresponsibilities.-SimonDwillnotbeinSeoul.Oneyoungermemberwillbethere.ItisagoodopportunitytohaveyoungermembersLearningabouttheUICH.

SimonDelcominnette

MoroccoForthemomentwearehelpingayoungassociationtomaketheSUNFESTIVALforits10thedition,linkbelow.Itisanewkindofcollaborationthatwearemakingforanothernonprofitorganization,

ontheothersidewetrytomakeourassociationknowmore.

http://sun-festival.org/services/releases

https://www.facebook.com/sunfestival

Atthemoment,weareworkingaswellontheAGMof2018;itwillbeon13thand14thJanuary2018inAgadir(ifthehotelpartnerwillhostus).

RegardingtheCharityaction,wehaven’tyetthoughtaboutthelocationandfunds,obviouslywewillworkonitjustaftertheAGM.

WearefocusingmostlyontheEuropeancongress,workingtofindpartnersandsponsorsinordertobewellorganisedandhaveagoodeyefordetails.

Thepriorityisforthenewwebsiteandregistrationsiterenderingitoperational,Iamworkingwithayoungteam(thesameforSUNFESTIVAL)forthewebsiteandPayPaloption.

SamirAtalouie

NetherlandsCurrentlytheDutchsectionhas55activemembers.AfterBerlincongresstheDutchsectionhadthecontinuationofthemonthlygettogethers.Thisishostedbyoneofourassociates.Duringwhichweareabletonetworkwithalllocalassociatesandmembers.Shortlistofwhohostedanevent:April-AmsterdamCastleApril-HardRockCafeAmsterdamMay-HeinekenmuseumJune-HollandCasinoAmsterdamJuly-GassanDiamondsAugust-charitygolftournamentgolfcourseNaardenSeptember-BijenkorfOctober-RoyalDelftblue,DelftDuringthecharitygolftournamentwecollectedanamountof€3500forPlasticWhale.PlasticWhaleisthefirstprofessionalplasticfishingcompanyintheworld.Asocialenterprisewithamission:maketheworld’swatersplastic-freeandcreatevaluefromplasticwaste.Itstartedfiveyearsagowithasinglechallengetobuildaboatmadeofplasticwaste.Today,theyhaveafleetofsixdesignboatsmadefromAmsterdamCanalPlastic.Itistheirgoaltogo‘outofbusiness’:overfishingisapositivephenomenonintheircase.BOATSMADEFROMPLASTIC‘WASTE’Plasticwasteisagrowing,worldwideproblem.Partoftheproblemisthatpeopleperceiveplasticasavaluelessdisposableproduct.Useitonceandthenchuckitaway!PlasticWhalewantstotacklethisproblembyshowingpeoplethatplasticisnotwaste,butvaluablerawmaterial.That’swhywebuildbeautifuldesignboatsfromplasticthatwefishoutthewater.InNovemberwewillhostourAGM.Dateissetforthe21stofNovember.AlsoinNovemberwewillgoonourannualClefsd’Orweekend.Thisweekendisputtogetherbyacommitteeof5members.Thelocationiskeptsecrettotheboard,sowehavenocluewherewewillendup.Theweekendisplannedfromthe3rdtothe5thofNovember.AlliswellintheDutchsectionandwearestilllookinghealthyfinancialwise.WehaveaneducationalcoordinatorforguestlecturesatseveralHotelschools,thisyearalready6lecturesgiven.

LastAprilweorganizedaconcierge(member)onlyeducationalinthePulitzer.Weinvited3importantcompaniesfromthetouristindustrytotellabouttheirvision,strategieandhospitalitylevel.NationalRijksmuseum,Tours&TicketsandanfamousinfluenzeraboutthepowerofGalleriesandtrends.37participantswhichis70%ofourmembers.

RonStovelaar

Switzerland

Switzerlandisholdingnow149members.ThenewelectedPresidentfortheZurichsectionisMrJan-LucaFunck,fromTheDolderGrand.WehadourtraditionalJournéedesClefsd'OrSuisseinBernonthe3rdofSeptemberItisadayduringwhichweallmeetforlunch,discoveradifferentcityandhaveasmallinformationmeeting.OurnextnationalcongresswillbeinSanktMoritzfromthe13thuntilthe15thofMarch2018(reservetoSwissmembersandinvitedpersonsonly)Finally,wehavemetwiththelocalauthoritiesinVissoie,andtheyhavegivenusaspacefortheSwissMuseumLesClefsd'Or,whichwewilldevelopoverthenextfewmonths.

MarcPierrainExCoReport

2/10/17DearFellowmembers,Dearfriends,

GreetingsfromLondonwheretheseasonisrapidlychanging,thetreesaregettingmoreandmorenakedbytheminuteandthedaysaregettingshorter.

IamhappytoprovideastatusreportafteraveryfruitfulSeptemberwhereIhadtheopportunitytospendsometimewithmanyofyou invariouspartsof theWorld.ThemonthstartedwiththeLesClefs d’Or USA congress in Washington DC where under President Marks’ leadership and ZoneDirectorKhan’sguidancewehadthejoyofseeingourdearfriendJeffWielgopolan,VicePresidentofLearning&DevelopmentofForbesTravelGuide,toreceivehishonorarymembershipfromtheUSsection. Themonth finishedwith the Scandinavian Zonemeeting hosted by theDanish section inCopenhagen. This alsowas the80th anniversaryof the foundingofDeGyldneNøgler and after averyfruitfuldayofmeetings,ourScandinavianfriendsheldanamazingbirthdaypartyhostedattheNimbHoteltomarktheoccasion.Thankyouallforyourincrediblehospitality…

Themostimportantandproductivepartofthemonthwasthemiddleofit.I,alongwiththerestofthemembersoftheExecutiveCommitteeandtheZoneDirectors,flewouttoMumbaitoattendthe10th Pan-Asian Congress, hosted by Les Clefs d’Or India under the leadership of President EdwinSaldanha.WehadtheopportunitytonotonlyattendthePresidents’Meeting;thewholecongresswasfilledwitheducationalworkshopsandpresentations. Inmyeffortstohaveagentlertouchonthe planet and reduce our carbon footprint, I am continuing to attach our Executive Committeemeeting to a Multi-Section Congress. This enables us to not only participate and meet manymembers at one time; it also enables members to meet the executive committee. We held ourExecutiveCommitteeface-tofacemeetingtofollowuponthedecisionsmadeinBerlinandalsolookatthedaysaheadofus.Themaintopicsdiscussedwere:

• TheSeoulCongress:StatusreportreceivedfromKoreanPresidentStefanKim.Everythingisgoing ahead as planned and the Executive Committee is committed to the success of thecongress. To answer some of the concerns raised by various members, the ExecutiveCommitteedecidedtocommissionaprofessional riskanalysis.Thecontentsof that reportwillbesharedwiththeBoardofDirectorswhenavailable.

• Zone Directors: The Zone Directors are now taskedwith enhanced duties to aidwith therunningofourgrowingorganisation.Otherthanthegroupmeeting,eachZoneDirectoralsohad an individual meeting with the Executive Committee members on zone specificexpectanciesandduties.

• Elections:Othertopicsofdiscussion includedtheneedfortransparency innominationandelection process of those who hold office within the organisation. There’s a need for allelections beingmodelled after the Executive Committee elections both for recordkeepingandprofessionalism.

• Branding:Weareabouttotakefullhandoverofthenewwebsitefromthedevelopers.TheWebsiteTeam,underthedirectionofDirectorofCommunicationsandCanadianPresidentCarolinaAvaria,aregoingfullsteamaheadtoprepareeverythingforthemembership.

• Go-Concierge: Immediately after the US Congress the news of Alice’s purchase of Go-Concierge made the news. As Alice was financed by Expedia, somemembers voice theirconcernsabouttheirdata.AdamIsrowwas invitedtoattendthemeetingonaconferencecall to answer some pressing questions. As a follow up, upon our return to London, ourAssistant General Secretary Burak Ipekci and I had a comprehensive face-to-facemeetingwithAlexShashou,theCo-FounderandPresidentofAlice.Asyoucanseefromhisattacheddetailed letter,wewentoverall theconcernsandhappytoreportthatatthis timewedonot see any issues with this merger. We will continue to keep the channels ofcommunicationopenwiththemandcontinuetoobservetheirintegrationwithoneanotherandallrelateddevelopments.

• BODInvolvement: Ithas longbeenabeliefofminethatmore isachievedwhena lotdoalittle rather than a few doing a lot. The Executive committee will now task projects,commissions and committee’s to the Board of Directors. I believe that we have a verytalentedBODthatcanbringtheirskillsandexpertiseintorunningourorganisation.

• Sponsorshipcommittee:Ihavelongfeltthatwebringsponsorsinwhenweneedthem,thenallcontactceasesoncewehavewhatweneed.Inordertoavoidthisscenarioandprovidebettersponsorshipandpartnershipplanningforthefuture,Ihavesetupacommitteeleadby JeanneMills (HeadConcierge, BeverlyWiltshire LosAngles. FormerPresident Les Clefsd’OrUSA)andothermembers(tobeselected)worldwidethathavehadsomeexperienceinsponsorrelations.Eitherintheirownsectionsororganisingacongress.Thiswillallowustocoordinatepartnershipswithaclearvisionforthefutureandcultivatelongtermrelations.AswithallcommissionsandcommitteestheywillreportintotheExecutiveviaoneofVicePresidents.

Wehavealotofworktodotoensurethelongevityandsuccessofourbelovedorganisation.But,wecanonlydoitifwestandtogetheranddoourpart.

YoursinFriendship,

SimonThomas

InternationalPresidentofLesClefsd’Or