While it would be a mistake to lump together all Latin American nations, they do tend to share certain values and attitudes toward business that are not as common in the United States. For instance, Latin Americans have a different perception of...

When it's time to expand an organization's horizons — literally — and hold a meeting outside the United States, there is no need for a meeting planner to panic. While there are numerous issues unique to international contracts, many familiar...

Argentina native Haydee Pampel likes taking groups to her homeland, especially Buenos Aires. She has planned a number of medical meetings and pharmaceutical programs, bringing attendees from South and North American locations to the European...

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Several years ago, I accepted a familiarization trip invitation to visit Peru and Colombia. When I told friends and family where I was going, I could count on one of two reactions: “Awesome!” or “Why on earth would you want to go there?” ...

Even the most detail-obsessed planner can be hit with unexpected challenges while on site at meetings outside the United States. “It's the little things that are going to get you,” said Laurie Fitzgerald, meetings manager, sales support, Allstate...

Communicate, communicate, and communicate again. That's the message, loud and clear, from international meeting experts. We have a moral obligation to give attendees as much information as possible before they leave their homes for a meeting or...

Doing due diligence when selecting a site for an international program has never been so important. If it isn't political upheaval, then war or the threat of war, terrorist activity, anti-American sentiment, infectious disease, power outages, and...

For many U.S. organizations, Mexico and the rest of Latin America present a vast territory of untapped opportunity and unknown territory. But taking your meeting south of the border doesn't have to be a complicated mission. Keep an open mind, be...

The World Tourism Organization says it's inevitable: China will become the world's No. 1 travel destination by 2020. With SARS in check and a reputation as a safe destination, China is back in the economic forefront. According to an article in The...