18th New Zealand AGM 2012

Australia and New Zealand have a bond that was forged on the battlefields of Gallipoli, it was there in 1915 that the ‘Spirit of the Anzac’ (Australian New Zealand Army Corps) was forged. The connection was further cemented on the Rugby field, when in 1931, The Bledisloe Cup was named after then New ZealandGovernor-General Lord Bledisloe, following the completion of a match that same year between the All Blacks and Wallabies at Eden Park, Auckland.

Les Clefs d’Or New Zealand was born by the then Australian Executive, headed by the iconic Tony Facciolo 18 years ago, the bonds forged then, endure to this day. The 2 countries make up the smallest of the 7 UICH Global Zones, that being Oceania. The connection is reforged every year when the Australian Executive travel to New Zealand, as invited guests/observers to their Annual General Meeting.

This year the AGM of Les Clefs d’Or New Zealand was held at the newly renovated Rendezvous Grand Hotel Auckland, having just undergone a 10 million dollar refurbishment, the hotel was a wonderfully inviting venue.

Showing their desire to embrace innovation, the kiwis hosted an event Friday afternoon, called ‘Meet the Region’. The event runs as a mini trade show, with 30 suppliers of tourism from around the greater Auckland region present. The assembled members of Les Clefs d’Or spend 6 minutes at every supplier table, the aim of the event is to increase the intellectual property of the members present and to promote going networking opportunities.

Humpty Dumpty

On the 23rd of May members of NSW Les Clefs d’Or got together to present the Humpty Dumpty organisation with the funds that Les Clefs d’Or members from Sydney & Perth raised through-out the first two months of 2012.  Mr Paul Francis OAM, Chairman and founder of the Humpty Dumpty organisation was present to meet and thank members for their efforts and also the suppliers who once again graciously contributed.

Mr Francis spoke about what the money raised will mean for Humpty Dumpty and the difference Les Clefs d’Or have made to Humpty Dumpty over the last two years.  Mr Francis also expressed his sincere thanks to Les Clefs d’Or members for what they have done for Humpty Dumpty to date.

This year, members of Les Clefs d’Or will be looking at the type of equipment they can assist in purchasing with the raised funds.

I am very pleased to announce that members in Sydney & Perth raised $6,257.10 which is almost double what we raised last year!  Now that we have got the foundations set with the process of how the funds are raised, I will look to branch out to more suppliers next year and hopefully we can continue to increase the amount we all raise for the Humpty Dumpty organisation across Australia.  Finally, I would like to sincerely thank Andre Burford who drove this by himself in Perth with limited resources. Thank you very much Andre, great stuff.

– Peter Brown, Chief Concierge, Four Points by Sheraton