The team discussed their busy schedules and the use of a new meeting link. They also shared personal updates and condoled with Demetra on the recent loss of her mother-in-law. The conversation then shifted to travel and adventure, with discussions about climbing mountains and a potential nature walk in Malaysia. Mateusz, who has not been to Malaysia before, expressed his eagerness to visit.

The team, including representatives from WFTGA, Demetra, and Grace, waited for Roger and Sebastian to join their meeting. With Roger unavailable, the team proceeded without him. The Training Committee of WFTGA held a meeting with Grace from the Saba Tourist Guide Association to discuss a proposal for the Trainer Convention to be held in Saba in February 2025 and the Saba Hot course accreditation. Grace presented a detailed proposal for the convention, which the Training Committee hoped to enhance by combining it with a strategy meeting for trainers. The team also discussed budgeting for an upcoming event with the support of various government bodies and the Malaysian Ministry of Tourism.

The WFTGA and Grace discussed the scheduling of upcoming training matters, including two days for the Training Committee and a Training Division strategy meeting, and a third day for a trainer convention. The plan was extended to four days for the Training Committee and five days including a pre-tour for the Training Division, with the aim of making the most of travel costs for trainers. The Training Committee and Grace agreed that the Training Committee meeting should ideally take place before the convention, and that it would be beneficial to combine the events with the International Tourist Guide Day, which falls on the 21st of February. However, there were concerns about the coincidence of the New Year and the International Tourist Guide Day, and the potential difficulties it might pose for colleagues in the region. The decision was left to Grace, who has more knowledge about the local guides' availability.

The team discussed the Chinese New Year's impact on their plans, with Grace providing information on the 15-day celebration period. They agreed to consult their teams for preferred dates and to provide a date by the following Monday for publicizing and planning training sessions. The possibility of an after-party celebration was suggested, and the potential for online streaming facilities for their upcoming event was discussed. The addition of two extra days to the event and the need for no interest to be taken away from the courses at the ITC in Cyprus were also addressed. Lastly, the postponement of a planned hot course to November and the replacement with a separate convention were discussed, citing reduced costs and maximum capacity of 30 participants for the November course.

Grace shared her plan to train tourist guides in Saba and Malaysia, with the aim of obtaining ministry approval and providing further education certifications. WFTGA supported her vision and suggested that the international trainer should cover their own travel expenses to save costs. The plan is for international trainers to initially lead the courses, with local trainers shadowing and eventually becoming qualified to lead the courses themselves. Two hot courses were originally planned for August but were postponed to November due to low participant numbers. There was some confusion over whether one or two hot courses would be held in November, but Grace confirmed it would be a single course.

Grace proposed that the WFTGA training be conducted in English with a practical component in other languages. She offered to translate for international trainers to ensure better participation. The WFTGA agreed to consider this proposal and asked Grace to further develop it, including details on the course structure, roles of trainers, and potential Mandarin-speaking course. They also discussed the possibility of a combined language course for trainers and the potential for Grace to become an international trainer. The WFTGA requested a draft of the proposal by the following Monday for review and budget considerations.

The team discussed concerns about the government's budget for two upcoming projects, including the convention, and the need for progress reports and local strategy. They agreed to continue planning for the convention while seeking a budget and local sponsorship. The roles within the training committee were clarified, with Demetra representing trainers, the speaker handling external training matters, and Hussein serving as a liaison between area representatives and the committee. The team also planned a training briefing for area representatives and discussed the purpose and future of regional meetings, with a focus on strengthening cooperation with area representatives and providing training.

The team discussed upgrading training materials, with Matthias proposing a session led by Mateusz. They considered a "trainers' CPD" for sharing ideas, but raised concerns about workload and disagreement. WFTGA shared their journey as an Austrian trainer, emphasizing skills coaching over basic training. They prefer in-person, hands-on sessions. Mateusz agreed on flexibility. Both stressed the need for broader WTGA training discussions. Facilitators discussed empowering participants, but were unsure of trainers' needs. They deferred decisions to a future meeting and reflected on a past Sicily session, desiring more focus on strategy.

The WFTGA and Demetra discussed the discrepancy in fees between trainers and guides, with Demetra noting significant differences in countries like France and Cyprus. They agreed to address this issue in an upcoming meeting with the trainers, aiming to benchmark trainer fees to guide fees and understand the variations across different countries. The WFTGA also raised concerns about the high fees charged by the organization for trainer courses and scheduled meetings to discuss these issues further. Additionally, the president mentioned an upcoming meeting with the Pope during an international ITar boys' pilgrimage to Rome.

The World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations (WFTGA) discussed the potential closure of the International Training Center (ITC) in Armenia, with plans to continue offering open courses in the country. The team also addressed the need for funding and support for international training centers, with a focus on Cyprus and the possibility of opening courses in other regions like Latin America and Africa. Lastly, the team deliberated on three cases involving training division members and agreed to conduct another informal Zoom meeting, with a preference for real-time interactions over emails.