Cirucci To Moderate Panel On US/Cuba Relations

Don't miss this exciting program next Tuesday

presented by the Philadelphia Public Relations Association!

Tuesday, August 25, 2015

"Restored Relations: The End of the U.S./Cuba Enmity"  For more than 50 years, the United States and Cuba have had severed diplomatic ties. However, the tides are beginning to shift. On July 20, 2015, diplomatic relations were restored between the two countries. Since December 2014, U.S. President Obama and Cuban President Castro announced the beginning process of normalizing relations between Cuba and the United States, which media sources have named "The Cuban Thaw." Join us for an interactive discussion at Cuba Libre Restaurant & Rum Bar on the opening of the embassies and the resumption of diplomatic ties between the United States and Cuba. As this opens up a new chapter of the relationship, we need to ask ourselves, "How will this affectPhiladelphia's tourism, and when?" Furthermore, what opportunities does this provide to PR professionals in our region?  Confirmed speakers leading the conversation: Dan Cirucci, Moderator, PPRA Hall of Fame Member and Past-President. Bill Iezzi, a former Philadelphia Inquirer staff writer who has been writing stories about Cuba since 1997 for The Philadelphia Inquirer and national magazines.  He has visited Cuba more than 60 times in the last 18 years and is becoming more involved with the culture. He is writing his first novel, a historical fiction romance that takes place in Havana, Cuba in 1952. Chef Guillermo Pernot,Chef-Partner of Cuba Libre Restaurant & Rum Bar and two-time James Beard Award Winner for Best Chef, Mid-Atlantic Region; and Best Single Subject Cookbook. Chef Pernot will lead his second culinary and cultural excursion to Cuba in the fall, with a third trip planned for March 2016. Pernot is one of the many prestigious chefs who make up the American Chef Corps, a State Department partnership with the James Beard Foundation - one of the foremost culinary organizations in the United States.   Brian Said, Executive Director, Tourism Division at the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau (PHLCVB). He works with the PHLCVB team and its international representatives to promote Philadelphia to international markets. He also works to grow Philadelphia's domestic group tour business nationally with key tour operators representing the city at major international and domestic trade shows and events.

Walk-in and Cancellation Policy

Cancellations must be emailed to info@ppra.net by August 21, 2015. No-shows who have registered by fax, mail or via the web, who have not cancelled their reservations will be charged the registration fee.  No refunds after August 21, 2015.

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