Dear Colleagues,

My first applause will go to our outgoing President Robert Watson;  he has led our UICH to another level and I look forward very much to work closely with him as I have done over these wonderful past two years.  Our Executive Team remains strong and needless to say, our General Secretary and communication expert Michael Romei will achieve new heights with the assistance of Shujaat Khan.  Our dynamic team of Vice Presidents: First Emmanuel Vrettos , Second Colin Toomey and our newly elected Third Simon Thomas are energized and will rejuvenate our  next mandate.  Our treasurer Jean-Roland Boutillé and French President Lionel Lorans will also keep a tight order in our Paris office as well as Roger Bastoni who will remain as Sages and of whom we can always count on his precious legacy.

Secondly my congratulations goes to President Toni Daoud and the entire Canadian Organizing Team of the Toronto 2011.  His vision and courage to attempt such a difficult task and deliver a most successful event will mark in a grandiose way a page of our UICH history.  Among all the organizers, I need to point our International & National Honorary Member, Gerald Parent, who delivered such an outstanding educational portion and who will bridge this  to the next congress in London 2012.  Madame Roberta Nedry, from Hospitality Excellence who collaborated on this portion, will also help in promoting our good name in the tourism industry.

My platform as I mentioned in my speech, is Education, Social and Media development, Sponsors and Hotel Corporate relationships.  All our gratitude goes to our long time partners, American Express, Herald Tribune and Chabé Limousine.  Over the next month, we will be sending letters to all major hotel chains to announce the London congress in January.  We will offer them meeting space to have their own hotel meetings during our UICH event.  This should stimulate a larger number of attendees since we will combine Les Clefs d’Or business with our respective hotel programs.

Welcome to India as our newest member section of UICH, congratulations and keep up the growth… a long awaited dream. Good luck to Poland who has officially applied and to other observing countries which have shown much interest.

Congratulations to Anabella Peling, the first woman who won the 4^th Andy Pongco Award this year from the Four Seasons in Buenos Aires, Argentina.  May this also stimulate more women to step forward in our Clefs d’Or society, remember Ladies; my presidency is dedicated to you and your contribution is needed in UICH.

Wishing you all to return to Canada or come and discover it one day… all the best wishes from Montreal.

I remain always yours in Service through Friendship,

Virginia Casale
President UICH, Les Clefs d’Or
Sofitel Montreal Golden Mile, Canada