Caribiz gets ready to blend business with pleasure
Sheldon Forte, WG'07
Issue date: 10/16/06 Section: Insider
- Page 1 of 1
In Jan 2007, the Wharton CARIBIZ club will host the fifth annual Caribbean MBA Trek. Each year the trek goes to a different Caribbean island; this year's trek will travel to Jamaica. Approximately 60 students from Wharton and Harvard Business School are expected to participate in the Trek.
The goals of the trek are as follows:
1. To highlight business and investment opportunities in Jamaica and the Caribbean.
2. To showcase the vibrant and diverse nature of Jamaican and Caribbean culture
3. To provide broad exposure to prominent companies, organizations, and key industry sectors in Jamaica and the Caribbean.
4. To connect MBA students and alumni, and the business and political leaders of Jamaica.
5. To expose the student body to opportunities in Jamaica and the broader Caribbean.
Highlighting the Opportunities
The first objective will be covered by two half day sessions of panels, meetings and company visits. Panels include Entrepreneurship, Tourism, Capital Markets, and Trade. Panelists include some of the country's most prominent entrepreneurs and business leaders. The keynote speaker is Jamaican Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller. PM Miller is the first female PM of Jamaica. Other noteworthy speakers include Mr. Michael Lee Chin, self made billionaire and founder of Canadian mutual fund AIC ltd.
The Fun Stuff
After spending the first two days in Kingston Jamaica, trek participants will be transported to Montego Bay, Jamaica. Mo' Bay, as it is affectionately called by locals, is the tourist city of Jamaica and is located on the Northeast coast. From there, Ocho Rios and Negril are two more towns which participants will have the chance to visit. Mo' Bay, Ocho Rios and Negril provide a plethora of fun activities. The following is just a sample of the optional social activities.
The Bob Marley museum: The former home of the late great King of Reggae, Robert Nesta Marley. It is also the grounds on which the Tuff Gong Recording Studio (where Bob spent most of his time) and Tuff Gong Record Shop were situated. The Museum portrays the life and achievements of this phenomenal Rastaman through artifacts, memorabilia, numerous writings and photographs, and other head turning mementos.
Kingston nightlife: Asylum nightclub (the name speaks for itself), Quad nightclub, Margaritaville, Rick's Café, Jungle Nightclub, Risky Business. Rick's café is the infamous place where spring breakers traditionally have a margarita and then jump off a cliff into the sea below.
Negril Beach: with 7 miles of clean white sand, tons of water sports, Negril beach is consistently rated as one of the best beaches in the world.
Water sports: Parasailing, Waterskiing, Jetskiing
Dunn's River Falls: located in Ocho Rios, this series of small waterfalls will take a few hours to climb without the help of a guide, and just over one hour with a guide.
Golden Eye Resort: Golden Eye is an 18 acre seaside retreat nestled among tropical forests and lush gardens on a seaside bluff overlooking the Caribbean. The lifestyle is pure Jamaican in rhythm and tempo, "easy". Goldeneye is also historic. This is where Ian Fleming crafted all his James Bond novels. What Fleming loved most about Goldeneye was the out of doors, nature, the sounds and colors, the peace and drama of living by the sea. He delighted in "the blazing sunshine, natural beauty and the most healthy life I could live."
History of the Trek
The first CARIBIZ MBA Conference was held in Kingston, Jamaica in January 2003. Barron Channer, founder of the Caribbean Business Initiative Club (CARIBIZ) wanted to expose the Caribbean as an emerging market with abounding opportunities amidst the risks - going beyond the popular image of "sun, sea and sand". Student teams from the Wharton School and Harvard Business School collaborated for several months to organize the conference and it was a major success. They met with corporate and government leaders from across the nation and the forty-five conference participants were exposed to the region as a viable pre-emerging economy that rewards entrepreneurial ideas. Subsequent treks in chronological order went to the Dominican Republic, Trinidad, and Barbados.
FAQ
Q: Is it a trek or a conference?
A: The CARIBIZ trek has evolved over time to incorporate more social events and down time. In the past there were 3 or 4 days of panels and company visits. However participants started to demand more free time to explore the local culture. So, we shrank the serious stuff into two half-day sessions, allowing more time for fraternization with the locals.
Q: What are the advantages of the participating on the Trek versus arranging my own trek to a Caribbean island?
A: There are several advantages:
1. The pure cost advantage. Through partnerships with airlines, hotels and local businesses we are able to offer a package at approximately a 50% discount over what it would cost to DIY. The Caribbean is a premier destination in the winter, and flights and hotel costs can be high.
2. The guided tour. There is no better way to experience a culture than to be guided by someone from that culture. This year four Jamaican students from Wharton and at least 3 from HBS will be on the Trek.
Q: What is the cost?
A: It depends on your level of participation
Tier 1: $1400 - Includes airfare, hotel accommodations, ground transportation, conference attendance, and most meals (closed)
Tier 2: $1000 - Excludes airfare, includes hotel accommodations, ground transportation, conference attendance and most meals (only a few spots left, so hurry!!)
Tier 3: $700 - Excludes airfare, excludes Kingston hotel accommodations, includes Negril hotel accommodations, ground transportation, conference attendance and most meals
Q: Is it too late to sign up?
A: Due to the overwhelming number of sign ups for Tier 1, this package is now closed. However, Tiers 2 and 3 still have a few slots. Email Julian Moore julianta@wharton.upenn.edu to find out.
Q: What have past participants said about the Trek?
A: Comments from past participant
"The Caribbean is absolutely GOOOOORGEOUS!!! I spent a week in Barbados with students I had never met before and made a lot of good friends. I spent the afternoons on the beach drinking pint after pint of the local beer, and spent the nights haunting various clubs drinking glass after glass of the local rum. The food was a bit weird, but where else can you savor grilled dolphin? Overall, I had a great experience and hope you can experience the delights of the Caribbean as well."
The goals of the trek are as follows:
1. To highlight business and investment opportunities in Jamaica and the Caribbean.
2. To showcase the vibrant and diverse nature of Jamaican and Caribbean culture
3. To provide broad exposure to prominent companies, organizations, and key industry sectors in Jamaica and the Caribbean.
4. To connect MBA students and alumni, and the business and political leaders of Jamaica.
5. To expose the student body to opportunities in Jamaica and the broader Caribbean.
Highlighting the Opportunities
The first objective will be covered by two half day sessions of panels, meetings and company visits. Panels include Entrepreneurship, Tourism, Capital Markets, and Trade. Panelists include some of the country's most prominent entrepreneurs and business leaders. The keynote speaker is Jamaican Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller. PM Miller is the first female PM of Jamaica. Other noteworthy speakers include Mr. Michael Lee Chin, self made billionaire and founder of Canadian mutual fund AIC ltd.
The Fun Stuff
After spending the first two days in Kingston Jamaica, trek participants will be transported to Montego Bay, Jamaica. Mo' Bay, as it is affectionately called by locals, is the tourist city of Jamaica and is located on the Northeast coast. From there, Ocho Rios and Negril are two more towns which participants will have the chance to visit. Mo' Bay, Ocho Rios and Negril provide a plethora of fun activities. The following is just a sample of the optional social activities.
The Bob Marley museum: The former home of the late great King of Reggae, Robert Nesta Marley. It is also the grounds on which the Tuff Gong Recording Studio (where Bob spent most of his time) and Tuff Gong Record Shop were situated. The Museum portrays the life and achievements of this phenomenal Rastaman through artifacts, memorabilia, numerous writings and photographs, and other head turning mementos.
Kingston nightlife: Asylum nightclub (the name speaks for itself), Quad nightclub, Margaritaville, Rick's Café, Jungle Nightclub, Risky Business. Rick's café is the infamous place where spring breakers traditionally have a margarita and then jump off a cliff into the sea below.
Negril Beach: with 7 miles of clean white sand, tons of water sports, Negril beach is consistently rated as one of the best beaches in the world.
Water sports: Parasailing, Waterskiing, Jetskiing
Dunn's River Falls: located in Ocho Rios, this series of small waterfalls will take a few hours to climb without the help of a guide, and just over one hour with a guide.
Golden Eye Resort: Golden Eye is an 18 acre seaside retreat nestled among tropical forests and lush gardens on a seaside bluff overlooking the Caribbean. The lifestyle is pure Jamaican in rhythm and tempo, "easy". Goldeneye is also historic. This is where Ian Fleming crafted all his James Bond novels. What Fleming loved most about Goldeneye was the out of doors, nature, the sounds and colors, the peace and drama of living by the sea. He delighted in "the blazing sunshine, natural beauty and the most healthy life I could live."
History of the Trek
The first CARIBIZ MBA Conference was held in Kingston, Jamaica in January 2003. Barron Channer, founder of the Caribbean Business Initiative Club (CARIBIZ) wanted to expose the Caribbean as an emerging market with abounding opportunities amidst the risks - going beyond the popular image of "sun, sea and sand". Student teams from the Wharton School and Harvard Business School collaborated for several months to organize the conference and it was a major success. They met with corporate and government leaders from across the nation and the forty-five conference participants were exposed to the region as a viable pre-emerging economy that rewards entrepreneurial ideas. Subsequent treks in chronological order went to the Dominican Republic, Trinidad, and Barbados.
FAQ
Q: Is it a trek or a conference?
A: The CARIBIZ trek has evolved over time to incorporate more social events and down time. In the past there were 3 or 4 days of panels and company visits. However participants started to demand more free time to explore the local culture. So, we shrank the serious stuff into two half-day sessions, allowing more time for fraternization with the locals.
Q: What are the advantages of the participating on the Trek versus arranging my own trek to a Caribbean island?
A: There are several advantages:
1. The pure cost advantage. Through partnerships with airlines, hotels and local businesses we are able to offer a package at approximately a 50% discount over what it would cost to DIY. The Caribbean is a premier destination in the winter, and flights and hotel costs can be high.
2. The guided tour. There is no better way to experience a culture than to be guided by someone from that culture. This year four Jamaican students from Wharton and at least 3 from HBS will be on the Trek.
Q: What is the cost?
A: It depends on your level of participation
Tier 1: $1400 - Includes airfare, hotel accommodations, ground transportation, conference attendance, and most meals (closed)
Tier 2: $1000 - Excludes airfare, includes hotel accommodations, ground transportation, conference attendance and most meals (only a few spots left, so hurry!!)
Tier 3: $700 - Excludes airfare, excludes Kingston hotel accommodations, includes Negril hotel accommodations, ground transportation, conference attendance and most meals
Q: Is it too late to sign up?
A: Due to the overwhelming number of sign ups for Tier 1, this package is now closed. However, Tiers 2 and 3 still have a few slots. Email Julian Moore julianta@wharton.upenn.edu to find out.
Q: What have past participants said about the Trek?
A: Comments from past participant
"The Caribbean is absolutely GOOOOORGEOUS!!! I spent a week in Barbados with students I had never met before and made a lot of good friends. I spent the afternoons on the beach drinking pint after pint of the local beer, and spent the nights haunting various clubs drinking glass after glass of the local rum. The food was a bit weird, but where else can you savor grilled dolphin? Overall, I had a great experience and hope you can experience the delights of the Caribbean as well."
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