Events, inspired thoughts, creative moments, or whatever comes to mind…to inspire you to action.
l 5 e 6 Aprile a Roma c’è Expo della Sposa International Il 5 e 6 Aprile arriva a Roma Expo della Sposa International, la Chermesse internazionale dedicata all’incontro tra Buyer internazionali e Operatori italiani del settore Wedding e Events. La prima edizione di Expo della Sposa International, l’International Wedding Trade Show, è a Roma il 5 e 6 Aprile al SET -Spazio Eventi Tirso. La Chermesse è finalizzata all’incontro tra le eccellenze nazionali del settore wedding, provenienti da tutta Italia, con buyers esteri specializzati in destination wedding, nasce con l’intento di incrementare il “turismo nuziale” in Italia senza distinzione di territorio. La convention nasce con l’idea di creare un network tra gli esperti di tutte le categorie del settore Wedding, superando i confini nazionali e offrendo la possibilità di internazionalizzare prodotti e servizi, scelti tra il meglio del “Made in Italy”, a partire dalle location ma anche l’artigianato, la moda e l’enogastronomia, grazie ad una forte sinergia in particolare tra Usa ed Europa. Wedding Trade Show si compone di tre le sezioni tematiche: Area Trade, Area Convention e Area Factory. L’Area Trade è dedicata all’incontro tra i buyers internazionali, che desiderano intraprendere rapporti commerciali con gli operatori italiani: boutique, wedding houses, wedding planners e wedding professionals che vogliono proporre l’Italia come wedding destination e i professionisti italiani del settore wedding intenzionati ad espandere il proprio business oltre i confini nazionali e ma che necessitano di strumenti per muoversi nel mercato, in incoming ed outgoing e che vuole partecipare nella crescita dell’Italia come wedding destination. L’Area Convention è dedicata ai seminari rivolti alle aziende partecipanti per affacciarsi al mercato estero ed hanno il preciso scopo di fornire gli strumenti idonei per svilupparsi. Rivolti a tutte le categorie merceologiche, senza distinzione di settore, spiegheranno come trarre vantaggio dai diversi strumenti di comunicazione, come trovare nuovi clienti e cosa cercano questi in Italia. Oltre agli aspetti puramente pratici saranno affrontati anche quelli burocratici per assistere il cliente nel voler convogliare a nozze in un paese diverso dal proprio. Relatori dell’Area Convention saranno: Bianca Trusiani, Ambasciatrice del “Italy Destination Wedding” nel mondo; Milena Santoro, relatrice delle sessioni interattive “Building your Destination Weddings Market” e “Legal aspects of getting married in Italy and US”; Michelle Turner (Manager e Proprietario della ”Italy Bride & Groom Weddings”), curerà il seminario “Aspetti tecnici nell’organizzazione dei matrimoni di stranieri in Italia”; Joann Ferraro-Gregoli sarà la speaker del seminario “Aim high and maximize your profits”. L’Area Factory è la sezione dedicata alle aziende artigiane che desiderano far conoscere il loro processo creativo ed è dedicata alle aziende di qualunque settore merceologico del wedding che ritiene limitativa la semplice esposizione dei prodotti in uno stand ma che vede nella dimostrazione delle proprie capacità artigianali il reale valore aggiunto dei suoi prodotti. Ad accogliere il progetto Wedding Trade Show c’è una Location funzionale dal design moderno ed accattivante nel cuore di Roma, a pochi passi dalle più belle aree verdi romane, Villa Borghese e Villa Ada. Siamo entusiasti di questa prima Edizione di Expo della Sposa International, unica nel suo genere” ha dichiarato Milena Santoro, organizzatrice dell’Evento -“questa è una opportunità unica di Business B2B tra il mercato italiano e quello internazionale. L’Italia sta diventando sempre più una meta ambita e desiderata per sposarsi da parte degli stranieri”. Se sei...
read moreSome of the most difficult times in your life also represent the greatest opportunities for your growth if you choose to see it that way. I know this is a very difficult time for you. Perhaps you are feeling alone and that no one understands what you are going through. You may even feel as if those closest to you have not showed up the way you expected them to. Today, live with 100% acceptance in all areas of your life. Change the way you have been looking at things. Send love and gratitude to the ones that you feel have wronged you the most. See them now in a new light as your greatest teacher and as your catalyst for a new level of growth. Recognize that they needed to be exactly what you needed them to be. This is the greatest time for you as you are starting to become aware of a new way of being, one that does not require any external validation. When your inside voice becomes more profound than the outside, you will have mastered your life.This is your time and you know deep inside that you are not alone and somethings have to shift so you can become who you are now focused on being. We are all here to lift you up, no one is ever...
read more5 Tips for Flawless Destination Events By Milena Santoro, Expo Della Sposa International – Destination Italy Destination weddings are becoming very popular. According to Huffington Post Weddings, “More than 2 million American couples wed every year and just under 25 percent plan destination I do’s”. That means almost 500,000 newly betrothed couples in the U.S have destination weddings each year, but the question is: are you tapping into that market? If you’re a wedding planner interested in this growing market, here are some tips you should be mindful of when planning destination weddings in Europe. CSI Destination! Know the destination inside and out! Yes, that’s right. You should be as knowledgeable about the area as the locals. Your expertise about the destination, including its venues, vendors, hot spots, and in’s and out’s, will not only set you apart from the competition, but give you the extra insight you need to make your client’s dreams come true. Show me the money! What are the realistic costs involved with destination weddings? Airfare, accommodations, transportation, food & beverage – these are all important factors that will help you determine your budget and keep you on track with your wedding expenditures. Is that legal? Getting married in your local state can sometimes be confusing for many couples, but getting legally married in Europe is another maze in itself. Marriage requirements may vary according to the couple’s nationality and can take up to 6 to 9 months to obtain all documentation. Some couples opt to skip the red tape and bureaucracies, deciding to instead marry legally in their hometown and afterward host a blessing ceremony elsewhere. Before this happens, know the legal requirements and be prepared to inform your client couple of such procedures. I recommend you contact your local Consulate as well as the Tourist Boards for more information. Relationships, relationships? In other words, who are your service providers? When you’re working with a local market, you tend to work with people you like and trust, right? Well, this is no different. In order to ensure your destination planning goes as smoothly as possible, you need to make sure you are working and communicating with destination service providers. After all, you’re relying on them to execute your vision based on a mutually agreed upon contract. However, if they don’t deliver, what do you do? Who do you turn to? In this case, it’s always important to maintain your service provider relationships because at the end of the day, it’s all up to you and whoever you have on your speed dial. Are we speaking the same language? English is the most common international language. However, not everything translates in the same manner. Things such as event lingo, acronyms, sizes, measurements, currency, and contract vocabulary (just to name a few) may vary. Make sure you are on the same page with every verbal detail. It could mean the difference between a successful event and a “play on...
read moreLeadership and Management for the Volunteer Manager We get so involved with the work that must be completed, we are often not aware of our leadership or management approach. Have you ever asked yourself ‘what type of leader am I and what is my leadership style’? How would your volunteers, clients, staff and vendors answer that question? In this interactive workshop, you will: • Define leadership versus management – leadership entails more than managing • Learn the difference between effective and ineffective leadership • Discover how your leadership style contributes to your success. • Learn how to approach and motivate people, provide direction and implement plans. • Identify the most common styles of leadership and their impact • Discover your leadership style • Implement your leadership style Time: 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM Location: Baker Centre #400, 10025-106 Street Date: March 11, 2014 Cost: $110.00 Method of Payment: Online through Paypal If paying through Paypal is not an option, please contact Volunteer Edmonton at 780 732 6649 to make arrangements for other methods of payment. Note: You will not be registered until payment has been made in full. Cancellation Policy While Volunteer Edmonton strives to ensure there are no disruptions in our workshop dates there may be occasion where issues arise that are out of our control. As a result we are committed to re-scheduling the program as soon as possible and providing options to participants Refund Policy All cancellations and requests for refunds must be received in writing. Refunds will be made on the following schedule: Full refund up to one week out No refund – less than one week out or no shows Disclaimer Volunteer Edmonton reserves the right to alter information including requirements and fees and to cancel at any time a course or program; to change the location and/or term in which a program or course is offered; to change the program curriculum as necessary to meet current competencies in the job market or for budgetary reasons; or to withdraw an offer of acceptance both prior to and after acceptance by an applicant or student because of insufficient registrations, budgetary constraints or for other such reasons. In the event Volunteer Edmonton exercises such a right, Volunteer Edmonton’s sole liability will be the return of monies paid by the participant to Volunteer Edmonton. Instructor Profile – Milena Santoro The VMC was developed, and will be delivered in part, by Milena Santoro, CMM CMP PIDP. She is an author, international professional speaker, educator, award winning certified meeting and special events professional who has earned many accolades managing events for corporations, international associations, social clients and non-profit agencies. Milena is President and CEO of MS Productions Inc. She is an active member of the volunteer community, serving in various leadership roles: facilitator for the Alberta Culture Board Development Program, President of Volunteer Management Group Edmonton Chapter and Chair of Standards for CAVR. To...
read moreThe ones we most admire ALL reinvented themselves during the most challenging chapters of their lives. Today, use your discomfort as your inspired catalyst to re-examine what means most to you and the impact that you want to make on others. Your reinvention is your new driving force and accelerator of your greatest legacy...
read moreQ: Marriage is not something I take lightly and when I think of the importance of it, I can’t help feeling nervous and a little sad at times. I am in love and happy to be engaged and really believe I’m making the right decision to get married. I’m just wondering if it’s normal to feel happy and worried at the same time? A: In every other major life transition, feelings of happiness and sadness are not only expected but are also understood and supported by those closest to us. When you started middle school, when you reached a milestone in a hobby or sport, or when you took a job away from your hometown, those around you could relate and understand the varying emotions you faced. Did those nervous feelings, sadness or loss stop you from following through with your plans? Probably not. You were allowed by others and yourself to work through your thoughts and emotions and feelings of discomfort to make the transition. Engagement is also the time where you should be doing exactly what you have done in every other life transition. It is a vital time to recognize and process anxiety and sadness as normal, allowing yourself the time and space to feel these feelings and discuss and analyze them with your fiancé and others who can be supportive and sympathetic to what you are going...
read moreIn a recent survey conducted by the knot, 85% of couples are interested in implementing as many eco-friendly options into their wedding day as possible. Since heating, cooling, and lighting can play a large role in energy use; consider asking your wedding planner or venue manager for ways to minimize the amount used at your reception. Inquire about efficient lighting, heating, and cooling systems, and don’t be shy about making suggestions or requests to reduce or eliminate energy that will not be of use to anyone on your Big Day.For more information on creating an earth-friendly wedding; Kate L. Harrison’s, The Green Bride Guide(available through Amazon) is full of simple and easy to implement ideas for reducing your Wedding Day carbon...
read moreOver the past few months you have found yourself on an incredible journey, perhaps the most significant chapter in your life is now unfolding. You are starting to live the life that you’ve imagined. You have attracted the relationships that you were seeking both externally and internally. The people that no longer serve you have drifted away. There will always be guides, mentors and teachers along your path, but it is you that continually decides to turn the wheel and head into that direction. You will always be the one that decides what you want most, takes action and goes after it. Be the driver of your extraordinary...
read more