Messages A message from the ICCA President, Leigh Harry   Dear ICCA Colleagues, It gives me great pleasure as your ICCA President to invite you to the ICCA Research, Sales & Marketing Programme in Paphos, Cyprus from 19-21 June 2008.   ICCA is a dynamic association enabling its members to generate and maintain significant competitive advantage. From the feedback received from delegates from last year’s programme we therefore have made some changes this year.  We have extended the time for the Business Exchange to two hours, in addition to separating the time allocated into two time slots. For those of you who have already participated in a Business Exchange you already know that these can be intense, thus we hope this new format will allow participants to reap the rewards of attending: returning to the office with potential business! Another change to the programme is the inclusion of a welcome networking cocktail on the evening prior to the programme kicking off, allowing delegates to meet old friends whilst discovering new ones.  This year’s programme will include more educational contributions from association and corporate meeting planners, practical case studies, teamwork exercises, and detailed sessions on bidding for international association meetings. There will remain a strong core on the subject of research, which is the foundation that underpins effective marketing and sales activities. I am also happy to announce that ICCA Immediate Past President Christian Mutschlechner will be moderator for the programme! I urge you to make full use of the possibility to meet colleagues and clients, participate in the Business Exchange, find out what the competition is doing and to learn from this years education programme.  The programme will allow you to return to the office with a new set of tools and knowledge which should help you on a daily basis. Not only will you improve your business skills, the social programme will also allow you to network with your fellow participants from all over the world whilst enjoying the diversity of the island of Cyprus, mythical birthplace of the Greek goddess Aphrodite. Our hosts in Cyprus look forward to welcoming you to their beautiful island!  Leigh Harry President A message from the Local Host, Miranda Ioannou Dear all, It is truly a pleasure to welcome you to the sunny island of Cyprus for an exceptional combination of business and pleasure while attending the ICCA Research, Sales & Marketing Programme 2008! The jewel of the Mediterranean is an exciting blend of dramatic scenery, colourful mythology and rich archaeological inheritance coupled with the warm hospitality of its people, scrumptious food and all-year-round perfect weather in the crossroads of three continents. Cyprus is not just a one-off experience, but magic to be treasured for a lifetime. For the ICCA Research, Sales & Marketing Programme 2008 we have prepared an inspiring, refreshing programme that will enable you experience all these and more with all five senses.  May your Cyprus experience be one of the few to be treasured over the years to come, like it has been for so many others through time, to whom our island is a much loved destination. At the ICCA Research, Sales & Marketing Programme 2008 you will surely deal with business. We hope that the additions of pleasure, fun and relaxation or sporting will complete the notion of Cyprus to your individual taste when we say – “dare mix business with pleasure in Cyprus”! Miranda Ioannou Managing Director SCS Limited