Ankeny and Urbandale Chambers Join Greater Des Moines Partnership in 2014 Cultural Exploration Tour to Cuba
The Greater Des Moines Partnership will lead a cultural exploration tour to Cuba with the Ankeny Area Chamber of Commerce and the Urbandale Chamber of Commerce as partners. The six-day, five-night cultural exploration tour is scheduled for October of 2014, and will include visits to the 500-year old Habana Vieja (Old Havana), the famous Museum of the Revolution, and Nobel Prize winner Ernest Hemingway's Farm, Finca La Vigia. This tour is managed by Chamber Explorations, which has been issued a specific license by the Department of the Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control, authorizing registered guests to visit Cuba legally.
Cuba is home to one of the largest collections of Spanish-Colonial architecture. Tour participants will meet with a local architect to learn about Havana's unique architecture, the current challenges of restoring the city's historic buildings, and the future of the city's restoration effort. They will take a walking tour of Old Havana with a local historian, and visit the fishing village of Jaimanitas to visit the incredible home and work shop of world famous artist, painter, and ceramicist Jose Fuster.
In addition to the many cultural and historic sites on the tour, participants will gain a better understanding of how the Cuban people live and work. Participants will visit the Cuban Literacy Museum to learn about a national effort to educate rural farmers and families, the San Jose Craft Market and Art Center to meet and interact with the local artists to learn of the importance of art in Cuban culture, and they will meet a former Cuban baseball player to discuss the history and love of the game in Cuba and the U.S.
"As the workplace in Iowa continues to diversify each day, we want Iowans to be educated on different nationalities, cultures, and religions," said Hilary Dunn, Events Coordinator at the Ankeny Area Chamber of Commerce, who took an exploratory tour this fall. "By offering opportunities for people to experience firsthand life outside of the United States, our wish is they return with a better understanding and respect for others,"
"Seeing Cuba first hand can be an experience of a lifetime," said Becky DeVries, President of the Urbandale Chamber of Commerce. "You will have a much better understanding of Cuba's history and of the challenges and opportunities for its future. I'm thrilled our Chamber of Commerce is involved in promoting economical group travel opportunities to anyone interested."
The cost of the trip is $2,999 per person/double occupancy, and includes round trip airfare from Miami (MIA), five nights of first class hotel accommodations, ground transportation in Cuba, and a professional bilingual Cuban guide. Additional information on the cultural tour, including detailed information on the itinerary, is available online at: DSMpartnership.com, ankeny.org, or uniquelyurbandale.com.
For more details and to make reservations: in Ankeny, please contact Hilary Dunn, Events Coordinator, at (515) 964-0685 or hdunn@ankeny.org; in Urbandale please contact Tiffany Menke at (515) 331-6855 or tmenke@urbandalechamber.com; or contact Meg Fitz, Senior V.P. of Regional Business Development, at (515) 286-4934, or mfitz@DSMpartnership.com.
Media inquiries should be directed to Susan Ramsey at (515) 286-4954 or sramsey@DSMpartnership.com.
About the Greater Des Moines Partnership
The Greater Des Moines Partnership is the economic and community development organization that serves Greater Des Moines (DSM), Iowa. Together with 23 Affiliate Chambers of Commerce, more than 6,100 Regional Business Members and more than 320 Investors, The Partnership drives economic growth with one voice, one mission and as one region. Through innovation, strategic planning and global collaboration, The Partnership grows opportunity, helps create jobs and promotes DSM as the best place to build a business, a career and a future. Learn more at DSMpartnership.com.