carolpatterson

media type="custom" key="7999210" align="right"conversations / Carol Patterson
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 * If you have been lucky enough to visit the Faroe Islands you know it is one of the world's most unique tourism destinations. Voted the No. 1 Ecotourism Island destination by National Geographic in 2007, it is a country of spectacular beauty and unique culture.

Now the islands need the help of travelers. With a small population (less than 50K) and an even smaller tourism budget, the Faroese Trade and Tourism Council is turning to grassroots marketing strategies. They want people who have been to the Faroe Islands to talk about their experience and encourage people to visit. They created a Facebook group called Faroe Enthusiasts and Ambassadors which swelled to 100 members within 48 hours of its launch.

It appears that the Faroe Islands has many fans. I'm biased as I'm one of them but let's support them during these challenging times. Check them out on Facebook. It may be a concept other destinations will want to watch.

Carol ||   || ||
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 * Sounds great! Can you share the URL of the group on Facebook?

Also, I'm just getting into reading Reinventure. It's fantastic! ||  || Traveler
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 * **Carol Patterson**

Joined: 05 Aug 2004 Posts: 47 Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada ||  ||   ||   || ||
 * Hi Ron

The url for the Faroese ambassadors is [|http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=53434330247]

I'm glad you are enjoying the book, Reinventure. I loved sharing my funniest stories and my ideas on how travel changes each of us. Can I use your comments on my website?

Congratulations as well for reaching your 15th year with Planeta! The tourism industry is a better place for having your site as a conduit for information and best practices. I hope the next 15 years bring you even greater success and more opportunities for all of us to benefit from your expertise.

Carol ||  || Site Admin
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 * **planeta**

Joined: 14 May 2003 Posts: 6349 Location: Oaxaca, Mexico ||  ||   ||   || ||
 * Many thanks, Carol. You are certainly welcome to use my comments.

Bringing us up to speed ... do you have any upcoming speaking engagements or publications in 2009? ||  || Traveler 4 Joined: 05 Aug 2004 Posts: 47 Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada ||  ||   ||   || ||
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 * **Carol Patterson**
 * Ron, I've started gathering stories for Reinventure II, but progress on that has slowed as I focus on public speaking for the next few months.

If anyone is interested in hearing one of my talks, they can catch up with me at the following places. More details can be found on my forum at []

**Using Birds in Trees to Put Heads in Beds**, Texas Coast Bend Regional Tourism Council, Corpus Christi, Tuesday, February 24

**Tourism in an Uncertain Economy**:Tourism Calgary, Thursday March 5

**Tourism in Iceland**: Icelandic Society's Distinguished Speakers Series, Calgary, Friday, March 20

**Greening Agricultural Tourism**, Manitoba Agricultural Conference, Brandon, April 24

**The Road Less Traveled: Finding Unconventional Work/Life Strategies**: University of Calgary, Wednesday, April 29

**Reinventure Travel Can Change Your Life**: The Calgary Zoo, Thursday, April 30 ||  || Site Admin
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 * **planeta**

Joined: 14 May 2003 Posts: 6349 Location: Oaxaca, Mexico ||  ||   ||   || || Traveler
 * What do you look for in the events where you speak? Do you have minimum criteria judging what makes an effective event for yourself? ||  ||
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 * **Carol Patterson**

Joined: 05 Aug 2004 Posts: 47 Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada ||  ||   ||   || ||
 * My criteria are pretty flexible. I love to share what I've learned with people in the tourism industry (or just keen travelers) and I enjoy public speaking so it's usually pretty easy to convince me to come to an event [[image:http://forum.planeta.com/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif caption="Very Happy"]]

That said, I have to make a living as well so I turn down most unpaid speaking engagements. I am able to make an exception once in a while for selected non-profit groups or if the event is an incredible professional development or marketing opportunity for my company.

It is also important to me that the people attending have an interest in sustainable travel practices; groups with government representatives and/or resource managers can be especially good as there is always the possibility to influence tourism development policies. ||  ||

Carol, I just learned about your new book - Reinventure: How Travel Can Change Your Life. Can you tell us about this new title?

Ron, as you know, travel has created big changes in my life, including the creation of Kalahari Management 19 years ago. In the book **Reinventure: How Travel Adventure Can Change Your Life**, I share a few of my travel stories and those of the people I've met along the way.

One of the wonderful things about being a tourism consultant is visiting places before they are 'discovered' by tourists and getting behind-the-scenes tours. I think people will find these stories entertaining and get them thinking about a possible reinventure in their lives.

People can take the Reiventure Quiz at my new website [|www.loseyourluggagefindyourself.com,] find some suggestions for their next trip and share their own stories of transformation.