UNICON'S professional conferences present discussions of specific interest to providers of executive education and offers networking and development opportunities.  Similar to UNICON's conference mission, Mr. Giblin explained, that Dolce, a global hospitality company specializing in meetings, is committed to enhancing the learning and leisure experience by providing an atmosphere that will stimulate, motivate and encourage interaction.  Mr. Giblin presented some of the most dramatic innovations of room and conference design in the industry. Building on the success and innovation of Dolce Sitges, the presentation went on to include layouts and CAD/CAM as well as photo representations of the new designs for Dolce properties in Austin, Texas, Brussels, Belgium and Aspen, Colorado. This new thinking has been implemented successfully in Lakeway and Sitges to overwhelming customer approval and customer success. 

Additional guest speakers included representatives from MercerDelta Consulting, ExperiencePoint, IBM, Creative Centre for Learning and Steelcase Inc. (IDEO). The Richard Ivey School of Business (The University of Western Ontario) ran the conference with sponsorship support from VIA Rail Canada, Steelcase, Inc, Duocom and Columbia Sportswear. Erich Almasy, the conference host and Executive Director of Ivey's Executive Development organization observed, "Steve's presentation helped our university-based members appreciate the changes taking place in the broader conference business. Unlike our degree program colleagues, we work exclusively with executives who expect a different learning experience, a comfortable setting, and great food."  

UNICON, formed in 1972, is comprised of more than 70 leading business schools worldwide, and is a non-profit global organization with a mission to help members continue to remain current with developments in executive education while enhancing member services to corporate clients.  Two-thirds of the business schools participating in UNICON are in the United States.

About Dolce International:
Dolce International is a global hospitality company specializing in the meetings experience for its customers. The company has a collection of 21 unique properties in the United States, Canada and Europe.  Each property features a different style ranging from a historic castle, to an authentic alpine village, to a New England-style country resort, to a French chateau, to a traditional corporate learning center.  All Dolce Destinations meet the high standards of the International Association of Conference Centers (IACC).  While Dolce International specializes in the meetings niche of the hospitality industry, the company also caters to leisure travelers, individual business travelers and offers a variety of venues for events.  Headquartered in Montvale, New Jersey and Paris, France, the company has approximately 3,000 employees.  Dolce is currently celebrating its 25th Anniversary.  Visit the web site at www.dolce.com.  

About Ivey:
The Richard Ivey School of Business at The University of Western Ontario (www.ivey.uwo.ca) offers full-time undergraduate (HBA) and graduate degree programs (MBA and PhD), and Executive MBA programs in addition to non-degree programs in Entrepreneurship and Executive Development. Ivey has campuses in London (Ontario), Mississauga, Toronto, and Hong Kong, where it was the first North American business school to establish a campus in Asia.

Barbara Rogers
 Director of Marketing & Public Relations
Phone: (201) 505-4413 
 e-mail: [email protected]