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2003 International Resource Guide

Feb. 1, 2003 RCM Staff Report | MEETINGSNET

Use this comprehensive selection of Web sites, publications, associations, and U.S. agencies to help plan your international religious meetings.

Travel Services/Destination Information

  • U.S. Passport Services: Nationwide list of where to apply for a passport; how to get passports the easy way; downloadable, printable passport applications; and a section with answers to frequently asked questions: www.travel.state.gov/passport_services.html

  • Destination Management Companies

    American Passport Express: U.S. passports expedited in 24 hours: (800) 841-6778; questions@americanpassport.com; www.americanpassport.com

  • Expositions/Exhibiting

    U.S. Customs Know Before You Go has specific information for U.S. residents returning home, including duty regulations and customs exemptions: www.customs.gov/travel/travel.htm

  • International Show Management Companies/Publications

    Background Notes, a valuable source of information on specific destinations around the world, can be found on the Web under “Countries and Regions” at www.state.gov, or call the State Department's public information number: (202) 647-6575.

  • U.S. Representatives of International Shows

    U.S. Embassies abroad offer a range of information. See a list of “U.S. Embassies and Other Diplomatic Missions” online under http://usembassy.state.gov/. Americans who register in the consular section of the U.S. Embassy in foreign countries can obtain up-to-date information on travel and security in that country. The Overseas Citizen Services 24-hour travelers' emergencies hotline is for overseas travelers to leave with people who may need to contact them in an emergency: (202) 647-5225. For links to Services and Information for American Citizens Abroad: http://travel.state.gov/acs.html

  • Shipping/Customs Freight Forwarders

    The International Trade Administration home page is a good source of government data on various countries and hyperlinks. See trade events at www.trade.gov/td/tic.

  • Safety, Security, and Medical Services/Information

    Trade Compass, a Web site on international business, can be used by planners free for three days for information such as updates on business regulations: www.tradecompass.com/guest/index.asp. Get free daily briefings on dollar rates, breaking overseas news at https://registration.tradecompass.com/freetrialonline/fto_dailybrief_signup.asp. Questions on Trade Compass services may be directed to (800) 598-3220 or (202) 266-2000 (outside U.S.).

  • VAT/Tax Reclaim

    World Weather Forecasts lists weather information and satellite images for cities and regions around the world. National and international 10-day forecasts: www.intellicast.com/LocalWeather/World/

  • Currency Information and Services

    Travelocity, the mother of all travel Web sites, has detailed site and travel information on a huge destination database: www.travelocity.com

  • Publications on Cultural Protocol

    Event Planner provides country by country information, including many meeting-specific and event-specific services: www.eventplanner.com

  • More Organizations and Associations

    Excite Travel Guides has information on 14,000 destinations, including each country's culture, lodging, maps, transportation, weather, and yellow pages, plus travel tools such as currency converter, airport survival guide: http://travel.excite.com/index.html?PG=home&SEC=feat

  • Business Travel Net has news and information on business travel products and services worldwide, including airlines, hotels, and car rental companies: www.business-travel-net.com

  • U.S. Department of State Travel Warnings and Bureau of Consular Affairs Information Sheets show listings of the latest headline warnings for every country of the world, including such information as the location of the U.S. Embassy or Consulate, unusual currency and entry regulations, and crime and security facts. The site also has information on conversion to the euro, passport and visa information, lists of attorneys, doctors and hospitals abroad: www.travel.state.gov

  • International Dialing Codes provides information on phone codes, electrical plugs and codes worldwide, plus direct-dial prefixes for destinations, worldwide facilitates for mobile computing anywhere, and world television guides. It also has an explanation of how to make calls to and from foreign countries, and how to hook up your laptop anywhere: www.kropla.com

  • Euromic, founded in 1973, is a consortium of more than two dozen European DMCs. Contact Euromic Inc.: 333 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60601; (800) 621-8045, (312) 845-9734; fax (312) 845-9739; marketing_usa@euromic.com; www.euromic.com

  • DMC Global Events Partners is an alliance of full-service DMCs from around the world. Its Web site offers contact information, creative themes, online RFPs. DMC Global Events Partners, 2501 M Street, NW, Suite 515; Washington, DC 20037; (800) 206-9055, (202) 775-5800; fax (202) 775-8150; feedback@globaleventspartners.com; www.globaleventspartners.com

  • Destination Management Companies lists more than 1,000 companies in 70-plus countries: www.dmcnet.com

  • The Department of Commerce's Trade Information Center provides information on countries, tariffs, taxes, and trade events: (800) USA-TRADE (872-8723); fax (202) 482-4473; tic@ita.doc.gov; www.trade.gov/td/tic

  • The Department of Commerce produces catalog exhibitions that display product catalogs to potential agents, distributors, or buyers in selected world markets. Contact Export Promotion Services: (202) 482-3973; fax (202) 482-2718

  • Canada Customs and Revenue Agency publishes a helpful booklet “Welcome to Canada — Your Guide to Bringing a Convention, Meeting, Trade Show, or Exhibition Across the Canadian Border.” For info: (613) 946-0237; www.ccra.gc.ca

  • The National Trade Data Bank is a compilation of export promotion and international trade data from 17 U.S. government agencies. The International Trade Library is a comprehensive collection of more than 40,000 documents related to international trade. To order, call (800) STAT-USA, (202) 482-1986; fax (202) 482-2164; statmail@mail.doc.gov; www.stat-usa.gov

  • The International Association of Professional Congress Organizers can put you in touch with member PCOs in specific countries. Contact IAPCO Secretariat: 42 Canham Road, London W3 7SR, United Kingdom; +44-20-87496171; fax +44-20-87400241; iapco@xs4all.be; www.iapco.org

  • The International Association for Exposition Management offers worldwide daily news and information about the exhibition industry, a show search database, industry reports, career center, industry links. 8111 LBJ Freeway, Suite 750, Dallas, TX 75251; (972) 458-8002; fax (972) 458-8119; www.iaem.org

  • The Center for Exhibition Industry Research, a nonprofit organization, represents the entire exhibition industry. Founded in 1978 as the Trade Show Bureau, CEIR's mission is to generate research and communications programs that promote the value and benefits of exhibitions. CEIR provides marketing and research reports as well as statistics and hard data about the industry. Contact CEIR: 2301 S. Lake Shore Drive, Suite E-1002, Chicago, IL 60616; (312) 808-2347; fax (312) 949-3472; www.ceir.org

  • TSNN.com is an online resource for the trade show and exhibition industry. Its database contains data on more than 15,000 trade shows and conferences, and through a strategic partnership, more than 30,000 seminars. TSNN.com offers resources, solutions, and a forum for exhibitors, producers, designers, marketers and attendees. Contact info: 58A W. 15th St., New York, NY 10011; (212) 924-9300; fax (212) 924-8989; info@tsnn.com; www.tscentral.com

  • E.J. Krause & Associates Inc., a long-established marketing and marketing research company for international business and trade shows: (301) 493-5500; fax (301) 493-5705; info@ejkrause.com; www.ejkrause.com

  • Knowledge Industry Publications Inc., part of PBI Media, a B2B information and marketing solutions provider: PBI Media, LLC Corporate Office; 1201 Seven Locks Road, Suite 300, Potomac, MD 20854; (301) 354-2000; www.pbimedia.com

  • Schenker International Inc. (630) 860-3332; fax (630) 860-9166; info@schenker.com; www.schenkerusa.com

  • Green Gander specializes in exhibit building and staffing around the world. Representatives from associated exhibit services firms are available to provide any trade show need. Green Gander, LLC, Takoma Park, MD 20912; (301) 270-1411; mail@chrisfrain.com; www.chrisfrain.com

  • TWI Global Exhibition Logistics provides online downloadable international shipping guides to air freight, hand carry/courier shipping, ocean freight, insurance, etc.; (702) 691-9000; fax (702) 691-9065; www.twiglobal.com

  • D. Hauser Inc. (customs brokers); Michael J. Bonvissuto Sr., VP; 182-23 150th Ave. Springfield Gardens, NY 11413; (718) 656-7767; www.loglink.com/customsbrokerprofile

  • Panalpina Inc. handles freight forwarding on six continents, including West and South Africa and Kazakhstan. Panalpina Inc.; 800 Arthur Ave., Elk Grove Village, IL 60007; (847) 545-1500; fax (847) 545-5599; www.panalpina.com

  • ATA Carnet. For a list of ATA Carnet member countries and copies of ATA Carnet forms, contact: U.S. Council for International Business; 1212 Avenue of the Americas; New York, NY 10036; (212) 354-4480, fax (212) 944-0012; atacarnet@uscib.org; www.uscib.org

  • International SOS Assistance Inc. provides medical clinics worldwide, as well as emergency assistance and insurance plans. A plan called Global Premier provides individual and group medical coverage, death and disability insurance, emergency evacuation, 24-hour access to multilingual operators, and monitoring of medical problems abroad by SOS specialists. Contact headquarters in Philadelphia: (215) 245-4707, (215) 244-1500; fax (215) 244-2227; corpcomm@internationalsos.com; www.internationalsos.com

  • Global Hotspot Information is available free on the Web site of Sheldon Little, a UK-based firm specializing in security and crisis management. Country by country information includes details on severe weather, flash medical reports, transport-related strikes likely to cause delays, and demonstrations and security incidents of concern to travelers: www.sheldonlittle.com

  • MEDEX Assistance Corp. offers medical assistance; insurance including evacuation, repatriation coverage, trip cancellation with direct payment to foreign providers; and 24-hour professional multilingual assistance with medical, travel, and personal emergencies, including medical transportation. MEDEX services range from doctor referrals to the coordination of complex medical evacuation assistance anywhere, anytime; (800) 527-0218, (410) 453-6300; fax (410) 453-6301; info@medexassist.com; www.medexassist.com

  • International Association for Medical Assistance to Travelers is a nonprofit organization whose aim is to advise travelers about health risks, geographical distribution of diseases, and immunization requirements for all countries, and to make available to travelers around the world competent medical care by Western-trained doctors who speak English. Membership is free, but fees are charged for services. Doctors are U.S.-;, Canadian-, or British-trained. IAMAT publishes a directory listing of 850 English-speaking doctors in 130 countries. (716) 754-4883; iamat@sentex.net; www.iamat.org/index2.htm

  • Worldwide Assistance Services Inc. This is the North American subsidiary of Europe Assistance Holding S.A., headquartered in Paris. It provides medical assistance around the globe. Corporate memberships or event-specific coverage are available. 1133 15th St. NW, Suite 400; Washington, DC 20005; (800) 777-8710; fax (202) 828-5892; www.worldwideassistance.com

  • InHouse Physicians is a group that offers on-site medical care for meetings and events worldwide. 25 W. 273 Concord Road, Naperville, IL; (800) 356-3627; fax (630) 369-7657; www.inhousephysicians.com

  • GlobalCare and Global Emergency Medical Services Inc. GlobalCare offers the MedPass program. Its Web pages offer an overview of the medical services and support provided by this company, including a help desk staffed 24 hours a day by registered nurses, who are able to provide telephone assistance in medical situations and make referrals to English-speaking providers or to arrange medical evacuations. An online enrollment form is included. GlobalCare Inc., Attn: Customer Service; 2001 WestSide Pkwy., Suite 120; Alpharetta, GA, 30004-7408; (800) 860 1111; fax (770) 677 0455; customer.service@globalems.com; www.globalems.com

  • MedicinePlanet.com is a health site that features a pre-travel checklist, global food and water precautions, information on insect avoidance and altitude illness, country profiles, lists of travel medicine providers, and pointers on traveling with medications. A large site with many links and much information. (415) 362-1444; fax (415) 834-9554; info@medicineplanet.com, www.medicineplanet.com

  • The U.S. Department of State Citizens' Emergency Center issues travel warnings, health precautions, and other safety information for those traveling abroad. The Web site includes a long list of publications on various aspects of foreign travel, from “A Safe Trip Abroad” to “Foreign Entry Requirements: travel.state.gov/travel_pubs.html

  • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's International Travelers Health Site offers health information on specific countries, including vaccinations, health risks, infectious diseases, health requirements, emergency preparedness. Information for special needs travelers and safe food and water instructions are available. The CDC no longer responds to individual travel questions: www.cdc.gov/travel/index.htm

  • The Universal Currency Converter is an interactive chart that lets you convert U.S. dollars into a selected currency, and vice versa: www.xe.com/ucc/

  • Foreign Exchange Currency Converter view currency exchange rates for any of 164 currencies for any date; provides interbank rates, currency codes, currency trading game: www.oanda.com/convert/classic/

  • Ruesch International: Contact (202) 408-1200; fax (202) 408-1211; www.ruesch.com

  • Travelex Financial Services provides a comprehensive range of corporate and commercial payment services for companies doing business internationally. (800) 535-4681; fax (800) 235-2544; www.travelexusa.com

  • CNN's Financial Network Currencies Market provides charts of currency values compared to the U.S. dollar, showing the latest trade dates. www.cnnfn.com/markets/currencies

  • Visa Expo. Click on the ATM Locator on Visa's Expo site to pinpoint the exact locations of ATM machines in cities and airports around the world. Site includes safety tips for using ATMs and credit cards worldwide. http://international.visa.com/main.jsp

  • Do's and Taboos Around the World, 3rd ed., edited by Roger E. Axtell, John Wiley & Sons Inc., 1993

  • Do's And Taboos Around the World for Women in Business, by Roger E. Axtell, Tami Briggs, Margaret Corcoran, and Mary Beth Lamb, John Wiley & Sons Inc., 1997

  • Do's and Taboos of Hosting International Visitors, by Roger E. Axtell, John Wiley & Sons Inc., 1990

  • Do's and Taboos of Preparing for Your Trip Abroad, by Roger E. Axtell and John P. Healy, John Wiley & Sons Inc., 1994

  • Do's and Taboos of Using English Around the World, by Roger E. Axtell, John Wiley & Sons Inc., 1995

  • Gestures: Do's and Taboos of Body Language Around the World, by Roger E. Axtell, John Wiley & Sons Inc., 1998

  • Russian Etiquette & Ethics in Business, by Drew Wilson and Lloyd Donaldson, NTC Business Books, a division of NTC Publishing Group, 1996

  • Japanese Etiquette & Ethics in Business, 6th ed., by Boye Lafayette De Mente, NTC Business Books, a division of NTC Publishing Group, 1996

  • Korean Etiquette & Ethics in Business, 2nd ed., by Boye Lafayette De Mente, NTC Business Books, a division of NTC Publishing Group, 1994

  • Kiss, Bow or Shake Hands: How to Do Business in 60 Countries, www.getcustoms.com, by Terri Morrison et al., 1995 (U.S. $19.95, Adams Media, 800/872-5627)

  • Multicultural Manners: New Rules of Etiquette for a Changing Society, by Norine Dresser, John Wiley & Sons Inc., 1996

  • Going International: How to Make Friends and Deal Effectively in the Global Marketplace, by Lennie Copeland and Lewis Griggs, NAL, 1990 (out of print, but still available from www.amazon.com)

  • The Traveler's Guide to Latin American Customs & Manners, by Nancy L. Braganti and Elizabeth Devine, St. Martin's Press, 1989

  • The Intercultural Press offers many cross-cultural communication guides. For more information: (207) 846-5168, (800) 370-2665; fax (207) 846-5181; books@interculturalpress.com; www.interculturalpress.com

  • Brigham Young University and the Millennial Star Network (MSTAR.NET) publish four-page CulturGram briefings that cover greetings, dining customs, courtesies, gestures, lifestyles, and attitudes of a nation's people. CulturGrams, which are available for 175 countries, are updated annually. (800) 705-4200; Fax (801) 705-4300; www.culturgrams.com

  • United Nations Publications — Sales Section, Room DC2-853, Dept. I004, New York, NY 10017; (800) 253-9646, (212) 963-3489; www.un.org/Pubs/sales.htm; publications@un.org

  • Europublic does intercultural consultations toward understanding Europe: books; training courses; speakers; lecturers; and trainers for the private, business, institutional, academic, and association sector: www.europublic.com/

  • ExecutivePlanet.com provides online, up-to-date information on international business culture, customs, and protocol, gift-giving, negotiating tactics, business entertainment, cross-cultural communication, and more.

  • Digital Passport has with lots of helpful information, such as currency exchange, time zones, embassies, international deliveries, and international airports: www.rubicon.com/passport.html

  • The Society of Incentive & Travel Executives holds educational conferences and workshops on international business challenges. SITE constituents in key international destinations can be consulted or linked into a developing incentive program. For more information: 21 W. 38th St., 10th Floor; New York, NY 10018-5584; (212) 575-0910; fax (212) 575-1838; hq@site-int.org; www.site-intl.org

  • International Meetings and Marketing Inc. is a specialized organization that serves the international trade, investment, and meetings marketplace. It also publishes online The Globe newsletter of international meeting travel. Members are decision-making executives of associations or corporations with ongoing global programs: 1110 N. Glebe Road, Suite 580, Arlington, VA 22201; (703) 908-0707; fax (703) 908 0709; Sgramm@internationalmeetings.com; www.imminetwork.com

  • The International Association of Convention & Visitor Bureaus publishes a directory listing 1,000 cities and member bureaus around the world. The member CVBs can help plan a meeting, often free of charge. 2025 M St. NW, Suite 500; Washington, DC 20036; (202) 296-7888; fax (202) 296-7889; info@iacvb.org; www.officialtravelinfo.com

  • For Asian destinations, the Asian Association of Convention and Visitor Bureaus can provide information and contacts: Contact the association c/o Macau Government Tourist Office; 2/F Tourism and Conference Centre; Rua Luis Gonzaga, Gomes, Macau; (853) 798-4156/57; fax (853) 703 213; secretariat@aacvb.org; www.aacvb.org

  • L'Association Internationale des Palais de Congrès publishes the AIPC and ICCA prepared “General Conditions for Contracts with Congress Centres,” which have been adopted by nearly 200 congress centres worldwide, which are members of the two organizations. It also defines keywords and offers quality standards for congress, conference, and convention centers worldwide: 1060 Brussels, Belgium; 32.2.534.5953; fax 32.2.534.6338; secretariat@aipc.org; www.aipc.org

  • For meetings and events in Australia, get contacts and information from the Meetings Industry Association of Australia, a national industry association with 1,600 members in Australia and the Asia/Pacific region. Members work in areas such as meeting and events management; event and technical production; convention, visitors and tourist organizations; venues; meetings industry suppliers and services: MIAA, Suite 6, 9/17 Young St., Neutral Bay NSW 2089, Australia; +61 2 9904 9922; fax +61 2 9904 9933; miaa@miaanet.com.au; www.miaanet.com.au

  • The European Federation of Conference Towns offers many services to U.S. meeting executives, including a free directory of more than 100 European convention destinations in 34 countries that have proven ability to handle a minimum of 300 delegates: EFCT Secretariat, PO Box 182; 1040 Brussels, Belgium; 32 2 7326954; fax 32 2 7354840; www.efct.com

  • The International Congress and Convention Association has about 450 members in 76 countries representing the main specialists in handling, transporting, and accommodating international events. ICCA also has an extensive database with information on more than approximately 7,300 international meetings, some of which can be purchased by non-ICCA members. Entrada 121, 1096 EB, Amsterdam, Netherlands; 31 20 398 1919; fax 31 20 699 0781; icca@icca.nl; www.icca.nl

  • Tourism Offices Worldwide. This directory contains a comprehensive database of official government tourism offices and similar agencies around the globe, with links to those that have Web sites: www.towd.com; admin@towd.com

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