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Excel Travel – outing August 23 and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
Though mainstream in most western societies, CSR in Egypt is still in its early stages. Excel Travel, one of Egypt 's top destination management and travel agencies, is among those companies, which have made CSR a part of their corporate identity.
Corporate social responsibility is simply the company's obligation to achieve sustainable development on economical, social and environmental levels for everyone involved.
It all started when Excel Travel's MICE department repeatedly received requests from its international clientele asking for the implementation of social projects and activities, which would leave a positive impact on the local communities, into their existing incentive programs.
The MICE department, headed by Mrs. Laila Imam, at once recognized the tremendous benefits of the concept, that would secure business, enhance the company's ethics, and the staff's spirits. Experts in the field of motivation, the MICE team innovatively put the plan into practice by creating awareness of the CSR concept throughout the company.

Finally Excel Travel's outing day scheduled on August 23 offered a perfect occasion to pass on the importance of CSR and Excel Travel's commitment to give back to community and to invest in its employees to all of the staff members throughout the different departments.    Hence, the outing day featured CSR, teambuilding and some fun.

Seventy Excel Travel employees started the day in good spirit. The first and challenging stop was the non-governmental Association for the Protection of Environment (APE) located in Manshiet Nasser at the foot of the Muqattam Hills and home to 30000 residents, known as the garbage collectors, the zebbalin.
APE representatives, Hanan and Adel, gave a brief overlook of the different projects and an in-depth presentation of their exceptional recycling skills.
Enthusiastically, they answered the many questions with keen insight. Hanan explained: “The living conditions are very poor in Manshiet Nasser, people live on the fringe of society. We as an NGO want to send out the message, that recycling is a respectable job and an important industry. We are proud of our work. We provide notably the women and young girls with the tools to better their living conditions by fighting illiteracy, which is still high here, we run awareness programs and provide vocational training.”

In workshops, paper is recycled and transformed into awesome recycling products. Natural ingredients like leaves of flowers and trees from the garden add color and texture. A final touch and some embroidery and the artwork is ready and can be sold in the in-house bazaar or to fair trade shops in Cairo and abroad. In other workshops women meticulously design colorful patchwork and beautiful woven rugs and throws of all sizes.

Excel staff had collected a donation prior to the visit, which was handed over by Vice-president Mrs. Amani Fouad. Mrs Fouad was very impressed:    “APE is a community project that we fully support. We will encourage the individuals in the company to participate voluntarily. I am in contact with one of the founders and we are in discussion about different options. But as a start we will definitely offer these wonderful recycle products as pillow gifts for our MICE clients.”

Atlas Voyages accompanied the 10th edition of “La Course Féminine de Casablanca” the prestigious road race made especially for women who come to Casablanca to Run for Fun and sponsored by Nike, Samsung… just to quote a few among many other major multinational Companies.
It happened on Sunday 18 may 2008 in Casablanca, Morocco.
That sunny day, more than 30,000 women came from all over the world to share this unique experience with the Moroccan girls and ladies: champions, politicians, VIPs and road race fans trotted on the streets of Casablanca that Sunday morning.
Atlas Voyages has renewed its partnership with the organizing association AMSD (Moroccan Association for Sports and Development), firstly experienced during the 9th edition.
100 girls studying in Grade and Technical Tourism schools came to run for fun under the colors of Atlas Voyages. The girls were invited and totally taken in charge by Atlas Voyages: this invitation included hotel overnight, transfers, food and beverage and entertainment, not to forget the main objective: Run for Fun!
And that was not all, Atlas Voyages has the chance to have among its staff a former triathlon champion, Mrs. Fatima Ez Zahra Racham-Fries, multiple Triathlon champion in the Lorraine area in France and Atlas Voyages Business Travel Consultant.
Fatima Ez Zahra run also for fun, but with the top runners, and was ranked 13th with less than 41 min in her record!
This is serious!!!
When ladies were running, men were not only watching the race, a team of highly trained professionals made sure that the Atlas Voyages guests have full fun that Sunday morning, nothing was left apart, every single detail was accurately treated.
Meet you there next year
 

By Amine Nasser, WATA-SAAD TOURS, Beirut :
Following the negotiation conference between all Lebanese political leaders that was held in Qatar few days ago, a full agreement on all pending matters was reached. Immediately after the declaration of the positive results, the opposition ordered the protestors in down town Beirut to end their demonstration with immediate effect after more than 18 months. Yesterday, all the roads leading to down town Beirut were opened again, restaurants, shops and businesses in the same location are preparing for their reopening in few days. This coming Sunday we are expecting the elections of a new president of the republic and by end of next week a new government will be formed. Since the declaration of the agreement, we have been receiving requests from different markets interested to visit Lebanon and we can say that we are expecting a very good summer.

Between June 10 and 14, SAAD Tours will be sponsoring the “Authentic Lebanon Section” at the “Garden Show” – local show meant for the promotion of Lebanese garden specialists, handcraft and outdoor activities. During the show SAAD Tours’ will concentrate on the Responsible Tourism in Lebanon with the following message:

Written by Virginie Grimault :  Ognian Blagoev and Christine Fournier paid Lisbon (and myself!) a visit.
 
I was very happy to meet and greet Ognian Blagoev at the airport when he arrived on last April 28 with Daniela and Mina, his wife and daughter. They were here to visit Lisbon as they got curious about our city: all their friends seemed to love Lisbon. Needed to be checked definitely!    Read more