WITIA NETWORKS! is a bi-monthly newsletter where WITIA members can advertise their businesses. Distributed by email to our entire international database of around 3000 tourism professionals, WITIA NETWORKS! is an excellent place to let everyone know what you do, what sets you apart from your competitors, what specials you have on offer, what trips you are trying to fill, what staffing you need, what positions you are looking for, etc – and advertising in WITIA NETWORKS! is a free benefit for WITIA members.
Please send your submissions of up to 200 words to Editor Beverley Auerbach, no graphics or photos, PLUS complete contact information to marketingamericas@witia.org. Samples of previous issues can be found at www.witia.org under the NEWS tab. Beverley thanks you in advance for making her life easier.
KEY WITIA GOALS
To utilize the power of networking to promote and enhance international business opportunities between members.
To mentor and assist young people in the industry.
To speak out for peace and cultural understanding worldwide.
To support charitable causes that offer care and protection to women and children.
WOMEN IN TOURISM INTERNATIONAL ALLIANCE LIMITED ~ Linking Tourism Professionals Globally ~
FROM THE PRESIDENT'S DESK Anne Isaacson, President, WITIA It is somewhat of a tradition to want to tie things up before the end of the year, and this seems to put more pressure on us at a time when we should be slowing down and preparing to enjoy the Festive Season! Here in Australia we are also preparing to enjoy the start of summer holidays, so the thought of relaxation is quite welcoming!
December is also the time to look back on the past year, to celebrate our achievements and successes, and to take stock of the goals we still haven’t reached. Few would disagree that 2009 has been a challenging year. The objective for most of us has been to make the most of every opportunity and to remain positive throughout these difficult times.
At the beginning of the year we set in motion the planning for WITIA's 3rd Educational and AGM, held in Beijing, China. When the time finally came for the culmination of these plans in October, it was very exciting and rewarding. To have so many members travel to Beijing – for most, a great distance! - has been an unforgettable highlight of the year for me. Once again new friendships were forged and hopefully this will be beneficial in creating new business relationships as well. Read more>>>
ANNE ISAACSON
President
MEMBER PROFILE:KIRSTIN YELLAND, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Kirstin Yelland grew up on the island nation of Papua New Guinea where her father was a Medical Patrol Officer. He met Kirstin’s mother when she came to PNG on holiday. The result was two sons born on the PNG highlands and Kirstin arriving on the small island of Samarai, her childhood home that could be circumambulated in 40 minutes.
In 1974, the Yellands moved to the Gold Coast where Kirstin finished her schooling. She didn’t like school in Australia – apparently they didn’t have much homework in PNG and Australian schools were a revelation. Her first job, in 1981, was as a hostess at a theme park called Dreamworld. It was there that she developed an interest in tourism. She began to volunteer for the Gold Coast Tourism Bureau, a relationship that she has maintained for over 20 years. Read more>>>
WITIA member Lolo Wivesson and husband Mats are the founders & directors of British Vision / Salta Tours International, Ltd., a first rate London-based DMC (Destination Management Company). Through their British Vision branch, they offer incentives, special or themed tours, study visits and group travel, meeting and conference planning, ticket services, guides, accommodations at all levels, ground handling and travel-related services for the United Kingdom and Ireland. As Swedes living in Britain, they have an objective perspective on their adopted homeland as they see the destinations from both a visitor’s and a resident’s viewpoint. They have intentionally kept their company small and hands-on so that they can serve each client’s needs personally and optimally. Read more>>>
Lucky you if you came with us to Beijing for WITIA’s 2009 Educational! Because Beijing – like China as a whole – is transforming itself at such a rapid pace, every trip brings new delights, new WOW factors and sadly, new nostalgia for the cultural/architectural losses chalked up to progress…
Beijing airport, now the largest in the world, has a dazzling new look since the 2008 Olympics. It soars to cathedral heights in marble, terrazzo, glass and steel. At 5 am, thousands of pinpoint ceiling lights sparkle down like stars in a man-made universe, an unexpected welcome for the weary traveler. Welcome too are the high-speed trains between terminals. Having learned a hard lesson from their inaction/denial in the time of SARS, the Chinese now proactively screen arriving passengers with fever-detecting sensors, looking for inbound H1N1. This is unnerving – what if they can’t differentiate hot flashes from the flu? Read more>>>
13 Witty WITIA Members on a 9-day Adventure in China
by Kirstin Yelland
After our fantastic WITIA Education in Beijing, 13 "Witty WITIAs" left on one of the post tours, a 9-day adventure put together by Imperial China Tours and Global Wise Travel. Our group of twelve Australians and one American was led by our Chinese guide Alan (who looked a bit like Yul Brynner) who would be with us for the whole tour. Alan was wonderful as he looked after all the luggage transport and all we had to do was survive the bus trips, flights, x-ray machines and people selling goods to us.
Xian, the home of the Terracotta Warriors, was our first stop. Our hotel, the New World Hotel, had a 30 x 50 foot marble carving of warriors just behind the reception desk - very impressive. We all had executive rooms, which made us feel important, overlooking the crazy intersection which some of us decided to cross to see what was on the other side of the street, but only after we had “blessed” ourselves. (As it says in the travel books - "When in Rome...") Read more>>> The following current newsletter issues are available: 4.4 and
The Executive and Members of WITIA send condolences and prayers to the victims of the Haiti earthquake which has devastated the island and caused unbelievable destruction. We hope the survivors will get speedy assistance from other nations in this time of dire need. Our thoughts are with them.
Please assist the people of Haiti by making a donation to either www.redcross.org or www.unicef.org or www.worldvision.org
Kirstin Yelland grew up on the island nation of Papua New Guinea where her father was a Medical Patrol Officer. He met Kirstin’s mother when she came to PNG on holiday. The result was two sons born on the PNG highlands and Kirstin arriving on the small island of Samarai, her childhood home that could be circumambulated in 40 minutes. 
WITIA member Lolo Wivesson and husband Mats are the founders & directors of British Vision / Salta Tours International, Ltd., a first rate London-based DMC (Destination Management Company). Through their British Vision branch, they offer incentives, special or themed tours, study visits and group travel, meeting and conference planning, ticket services, guides, accommodations at all levels, ground handling and travel-related services for the United Kingdom and Ireland. As Swedes living in Britain, they have an objective perspective on their adopted homeland as they see the destinations from both a visitor’s and a resident’s viewpoint. They have intentionally kept their company small and hands-on so that they can serve each client’s needs personally and optimally. 
