I have a great job. No, it’s more than that. I have a fantastic job.

 
On the surface it consists of three parts; my company, The Cramer Collection, markets the best luxury hotels from around the world to meeting and incentive planners throughout the US.  We consult with those planners as to what destinations best fit their current needs and then find them the best options (and deals) available.  We also introduce those planners to all of the best resources on the ground in whatever destination they finally choose.  Consider us a Global Convention and Incentive Bureau.

But that’s just the official version.  What I really do is travel around checking out all of the best places and the most reliable and creative suppliers.  My official rationalization for doing that is so I can be educated enough to share my experience and professional opinions with my clients and my staff.  Important?  Absolutely.  (Note- I am humble enough to know that I can never know enough, so I also rely on a wonderful network of staff and colleagues to keep me informed of what is new, cool, not-so-hot, and all of that).

At the heart of it, however, is the reason why I got into this business in the first place more than 32 years ago.  And it’s a simple reason.  I love to travel everywhere.  Going to someplace I’ve never been still gives me the same thrill now that I got when I was a kid.  And working with people all over the world with the common goal of providing our clients with the best experience possible is not only gratifying, but continually provides me with a global perspective often inaccessible through the media filter here at home.

That’s why I have a fantastic job.

Oh, and another great thing we do at The Cramer Collection?  We are continually organizing familiarization trips for our meeting and incentive clients to destinations and hotels around the world.  My staff tells me to “blog” about those trips, giving those who could not attend a chance to learn about what we experienced.  Readers would have an opportunity to share their thoughts and wisdom about the particular destination.  My reaction was to say that we have been to so many places, where do we start?  They said, start with the latest one and move forward from there.  So here goes, my foray into blogdom....