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CESO and TIAC (Tourism Industry Association of Canada)
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What TIAC members should know
The Canadian Executive Service Organization (CESO) is honoured to join the TIAC family offering its members news and information about the exciting opportunities available with this unique Canadian volunteer-sending organization.
What is CESO?
Mission: To build capacity in governance and economic development through the transfer of knowledge and skills by Volunteer Advisers.
CESO is a volunteer-based, non-profit organization that helps to strengthen individual businesses, organizations and communities and enhances self-sufficiency and sustainability. It does so by drawing on its volunteers, many with senior executive and technical experience and expertise gained in a wide range of industries. Over 2,700 volunteers provide management, technical, and policy development assistance in Aboriginal communities in Canada, and internationally in countries in Africa, the Americas, Asia and Eastern Europe.
You could be one of these volunteers. To join CESO’s roster of experienced professionals, click here.
What are the qualifications of CESO VAs?
The backbone of CESO is its roster of volunteer experts with experience in government and industries such tourism, hospitality, and food and beverage industries. TIAC has partnered with CESO to provide its members with information on the exciting volunteer opportunities available.
Why volunteer with CESO?
What do you get?
- Exercise your skill sets in a unique setting
- Experience new cultures
- Help someone to learn how to help themselves
- Giving back “feels good”
What does your employer get?
- Enhance your corporate image (corporate social responsibility)
- Greater customer loyalty
- Engage employees
- Greater retention of talent
- International experience for employees
What does CESO pay for?
CESO will pay for the following items:
- Flight costs to/from the country of assignment
- Any in-country travel related to the assignment (not including personal travel)
- Accommodation
- Food
- Stipend
- VISAs
- Health Insurance
- Vaccinations
Ready to join CESO?
Whether you’re working full-time or retired you owe it to yourself to learn about volunteer opportunities within CESO. To become a volunteer or to learn more, please contact CESO Roster Manager Nicole Gold at 1-800-268-9052 ext. 223 or by e-mail at ngold@ceso-saco.com or visit the Become a volunteer page. | Tourism Executives and Entrepreneurs Sought for Rewarding International Opportunities
About Colombia
The second most bio-diverse country in the world, Colombia, situated in the northwestern part of South American, has seen a stable growth of the tourism sector (14.5% annually 2003-2006) after fifty years of internal armed conflict. With over 2.3 million visitors to Colombia in 2008, the figure is forecast to increase to 2.7 this year.
There are a number of popular tourist and eco-tourist attractions across Colombia. From the historic Candelaria district in the central part of the capital city of Bogotá to the popular ecotourist destinations along the Caribbean coast, the Tayrona National Natural Park in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountain range and Cabo de la Vela on the tip of the Guajira Peninsula.
Tourism is one of the national priority sectors for sustainable economic growth and employment generation. CESO is poised to help with this growth by responding to the demand of clients for Volunteer Adviser expertise.
Who is Robert G. Tuss?
Robert G. Tuss, a Delta, British Columbia resident and CESO Volunteer Adviser, is a proven strategic thinker and results driven marketer with a strong entrepreneurial spirit. He also has extensive experience in the tourism industry and is a founding member and president of the original TIABC or Tourism Industry Association of British Columbia, the development of which was key to setting the tone and guidelines for an umbrella association of all tourism related industries in the province.
A recent recipient of the William Van Horne Award for Visionary Tourism Development, Robert first heard about CESO from a friend who suggested he might be interested in working with First Nations in British Columbia on fundamental business programs.
Robert, a CESO Volunteer Adviser
He was interested and became a CESO Volunteer Adviser in 1999. During the past 10 years, Robert has continued to carry a full workload as Director of his own company and managed to complete three assignments in Canada with First Nations clients and 27 CESO assignments overseas.
At home, Robert has worked with clients in Masset on one of the Queen Charlotte Islands, Port Alberni on Vancouver Island, and North Vancouver on the mainland. Internationally, Robert has undertaken assignments in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bolivia, Colombia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Philippines, and Russia.
In Colombia, Robert worked with a cluster of clients in the tourism industry including two hotels, a restaurant, an agro-tourism park, a night club, and a municipality-owned and operated recreational centre. These partners approached CESO for assistance to develop a strategic plan for the development of the tourism industry in the region, and improve the operations and service quality of the existing businesses.
What did Robert do to meet the Colombian client’s needs?
In the course of the six-week cluster assignment, Robert:
- conducted workshops for the tourism industry operators on overall ‘best practices’;
- provided individual partner assessments and specific recommendations for improvement;
- conducted training in service culture, guest relations, and food preparation; and
- provided the operators with a written report outlining recommendations for the development of tourism in the region, including a marketing plan, website content, and ongoing training needs.
Robert also developed the innovative idea of an alliance between the local commerce and tourism sectors which has the potential for increasing the number of local and international visitors to the region.
When asked what were the most interesting, rewarding, frustrating, or successful parts of his assignments, Robert reflected on his experience dealing with cultural differences. He said, “A great attitude of sharing and learning overcame a multitude of differences such as variances in values, where they were clearly apparent.”
What was the impact of Robert’s work?
After Robert completed his work and returned to Canada, the partners continued their cooperation and partnership with the Chamber of Commerce in the framework of developing a Regional Tourism Development Plan. Additionally, each partner proceeded in implementing improvements in their operating efficiency and service quality.
The partners participated in both local and national tourism fairs, advertising their region as an agro-tourism, adventure tourism, and religious tourism destination. In cooperation with the Chamber of Commerce, municipal government and local commercial cooperatives, the partners initiated the creation of a promotional video, brochures and a radio commercial to raise awareness of the region’s tourism attractions.
Eighteen months after assignment completion and following extensive work by all stakeholders, the partners reported: improved operating efficiency with the implementation of best practices; enhanced service quality and customer satisfaction; development of new products and services; new employment with a cumulative total of 13 people hired; and 25% increased in sales totalling US $142,400.
What are Robert’s thoughts about the assignment?
My assignment in Colombia was a fascinating experience,” he explained. “Everything was natural, vibrant and happening in real time. Colombia is a rich and bountiful land. Its people, full of potential, are friendly, personable, and eager to interact. I feel I learned as much as I gave. It was a very life-modifying experience, all for the good!”
Volunteering with CESO
Whether you’re working full-time or retired you owe it to yourself to learn about volunteer opportunities within CESO. Contact Roster Manager Nicole Gold at 1-800-268-9052 ext. 223 or e-mail ngold@ceso-saco.com.
Also see the following article:
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