In the meeting, the team discussed their current activities and updates. Viola mentioned the formation of a training committee, while Kapi shared about her sailing experience. Iñaki and Sonya discussed their busy schedules, and WFTGA James shared about her time in Victoria, British Columbia. Ivana talked about her projects and the patron saint celebration in Serbia. Sebastian mentioned his busy month and the need for more guides. Sonya provided an update on the action items from the previous meeting, including the culture card, tech support, and association meetings. The team also discussed ongoing points such as the affiliate members meeting and the website updates. The most important topic discussed was the Japan convention, with plans to hold a meeting to align on the same page.

Sebastian and Viola discussed their concerns about the budget proposal and the website design. They expressed frustration with the PDF format and the lack of transparency in the bidding process. Sebastian shared his feelings about the association's intentions and the potential for abuse of sponsorship. Viola agreed with Sebastian's assessment and emphasized the importance of maintaining a close eye on the organizers. They concluded that the next steps involve finalizing the budget, signing the contract, preparing the registration form, and working on the website.

Sebastian discussed the progress of the Japan Convention, including the cancellation of tours to focus on website development and testing. He proposed a webinar to start the official registration process around May 20th, with a gradual promotion to avoid overwhelming the registration system. Sebastian also expressed concerns about the lack of a final program for the pre and post tours, emphasizing the need for training and guidance for the Japanese team. Kapi raised concerns about potential issues during the convention and suggested the need for more detailed planning and training. Sebastian agreed, highlighting the importance of regular meetings and online training sessions to improve the team's English and guide training.

Sebastian emphasized the need for a detailed program and website before going live with the registration. He also stressed the importance of clear outlines for the convention, including what's included and what's not. Kapi and WFTGA Ivana agreed on the need for a binding budget and price stability. Sebastian suggested that price increases should not exceed 2.5% inflation or 10% in total. WFTGA Ivana will insert a sentence in the new bidding document to clarify this. The team also discussed the need for delegate confirmation if prices exceed 10%.

In the meeting, Jamessaunders and Sebastian discussed strategies for dealing with the Japanese team, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a professional demeanor and avoiding confrontations. They also discussed the need for a social media team and the importance of meeting with them. The team agreed to focus on getting the contract signed with the Japanese team. Ivana raised concerns about deadlines for finalizing the budget and prices, and Sebastian acknowledged the need for clear deadlines. The team also discussed the importance of the convention and the potential for people to attend regardless of the pre and post events.

In the meeting, the team discussed the upcoming event in Japan, focusing on the importance of the destination and the need for well-organized programs. They expressed concerns about the limited time allocated for Kyoto and the potential loss of participants if the programs are not satisfactory. The team also discussed the need for a contract with milestones and the importance of verbal agreements. They agreed to work on the contract and consider defining price updates based on inflation rates. The team also discussed the need for the organizers to take responsibility and step up their initiatives.

Sebastian and Viola discussed the upcoming convention, including potential speakers and the need for a call for papers. They agreed to hold a webinar on May 29th to finalize the convention details. Sebastian also proposed smaller meetings to discuss experience design. In the membership portfolio, they discussed the need to update the constitution and policies and procedures. A draft of the constitution was shared, and a deadline of June 1st was set for finalizing it. The policies and procedures were also to be updated, with a draft expected by the following Monday.

Sebastian discussed the need to update the fee structure and budget for the Virtual Assembly, suggesting that the budget should be doubled. He asked the team to think about different options and what would be a fair price for the members. James suggested basing the fee on what the members charge their members, and Sebastian agreed to build a form to gather more data from the members. The team also discussed the need for a new constitution and the possibility of a tier system for membership. Sonya was tasked with creating a draft Excel sheet with information from the last members who joined.

Sebastian, Ivana, and Viola discussed the bidding documents, with Ivana seeking feedback on the new bidding instructions and application form. They agreed to finalize the documents within a day or two after receiving comments. A meeting was scheduled for mid-June to present the new bidding documents and explain the bidding process. The team also discussed the need for a presentation about WFTGA, which Viola and Ivana already have. In the membership portfolio, new area reps are active, and the team is awaiting payments from a few late applications.

Sebastian and Ivana discussed the upcoming events and partnerships. They decided not to attend the UN Tourism meeting in Spain due to budget constraints. They also discussed the possibility of attending the Imax event, but decided against it. Ivana mentioned two other opportunities: the Cell Summit and the Crafts Council project. They agreed to consider these options. Sebastian suggested focusing on UN Tourism and UNESCO partnerships in the future. They also discussed the need to update the website and send a new newsletter.

In the meeting, Viola discussed the progress of the training committee, including the election of a new trainer representative and the challenges of finding suitable dates. She also mentioned the need for better expectation management from area reps and the importance of recruiting trainers early for the Cyprus training. Viola also shared her concerns about the Luxembourg contract, which has been difficult to manage. Ivana suggested offering different prices for members and non-members for training courses. Sebastian announced plans to close the bank account at the end of the year and discussed potential partnerships with agencies for the development of a guide portal.

Sebastian discussed a potential partnership with a software operator, offering a portal for free to the World Federation of Tourist Guides Associations (WFTGA) in exchange for a commission on sold tours. The operator, who already operates exit rooms and human resource software, plans to offer a digital hotel concierge map and tour guides. Sebastian proposed that WFTGA could offer highlight tours in various cities, with the operator handling the booking process. The operator's vision is to offer tours at a 10% commission rate, with WFTGA receiving a revenue of €30,000 to €50,000 per year. Sebastian emphasized the need for a contract to ensure the portal remains under WFTGA's control. The team also discussed the need for a meeting with key guides and the potential for a digital culture card. However, the team did not finalize any decisions or next steps during the meeting.