Dear Presidents, Dear Friends

I have been wanting to touch base with all of you!  I hope most of you have had a couple of weeks off during the Summer months and have recharged you weak batteries for the next twelve months, for those who are on the Winter months I can tell you that your turn is coming!

I would like to share with you what your International Board has been up to during the last two months:

I have personally attended a Fund Raising Golf tournament in Niagara on the Lake in Canada, I was able to sample the Hospitality of our Canadian Colleagues which we will receive when we attend the International Congress in Toronto in 2011.

Just about two weeks ago I visited our HeadQuarters on Rue Cambon and met with our International Treasurer Jean-Roland, the French National Secretary Cyril and Esther the Office administrator.

On my travels in Europe I had a wonderful dinner with Christian Netzle the German Vice-President in Munich, was warmly received by Claudio Caser President of Switzerland in his lovely property in Ascona and finally had the honour of attending a Dinner hosted by over 20 members of the Geneva section of Les Clefs d’Or.

In late October I will once again be traveling to Europe to visit the venue of our next International Congress: Lisbon January 2010, at the same time I will be visiting Dubai to coincide with the “Dubai Concierge of the Year” award ceremony hosted by the Dubai Tourist Ministry.

All the Zone meetings which have taken place so far have been attended by a member of the Executive Board, for example the Asia Zone meeting was attended by Colin Toomey, the Western Europe and Scandinavian zone meetings by Aldo Giacomello and the Eastern Europe Zone by Michael Romei our International Secretary as well as Emmanuel Vrettos our Second International Vice President.

I would like to sincerely thank every one for your commitment to our Association by either hosting or attending these meetings, this is a very effective way of networking and getting to know each other better.

On Sunday the Executive Board will be holding its second Conference Call. All national Presidents will receive the minutes and we hope you share them with your members.

The word in the street is that the Worldwide Economy is slowly improving however the recovery this time is going to be slower that in previous crisis, I urge all our members to be as flexible as possible during these difficult times, after all we will come out of it stronger in the long run.

Dear Friends until we speak or meet again I wish you Good Health and Happiness together with your family and friends.

In Service Through Friendship,

Robert Watson

International President UICH