JAKRALTA INC.

ASSIGNMENT #6 –
GROUP REPORT
“JAKRALTA Inc., Annual Staff Morale Conference Research Report”

By: Alison Childs, Jackeline Kirby, Tamra March, Krista Weir

Business Writing Strategies

32812-COMM-2710-P01
 1

Introduction
The Annual Morale Boosting Conference for JAKRALTA Inc. will be held this year on May 4,

2018 to May 9, 2018. These dates will allow for 2 days of travel, 2 days for the conference

and 2 days of sightseeing. The purpose of this report is to aid in the decision-making

process of choosing our next destination.

The main factors that drive the decision is tourism, transportation, accommodation and

conference facilities. There are 3 options available to accommodate 25 people for this

conference. The first location looked at is Milan, Italy with breathtaking views and readily

available transport. The second location is Sydney, Australia with ocean views and plenty of

tourism opportunities. The final location to choose from is San Francisco, California with an

amazing downtown area, sightseeing opportunities for everyone and an abundance of

transportation around the city.

 2

City 1: Milan, Italy

The Navigli, (Canals), Milan, Italy (turismo Milano, 2015).

The flight to Milan, Italy is approximately $1414/person for a round trip ticket, economy

class as found on Air Canada on April 10, 2018. These prices vary depending on the day

the flight is booked and include taxes, fees, carrier surcharges; additional baggage fees

may apply. The flight length to Milan Italy, from Pearson International Airport is

approximately 9 hours and 45 minutes with a 45-minute layover (Air Canada, 2018).

Hotel Amenities and Conference Facilities (Marriott International Inc., 2018)

Hotel: The Westin Palace, Milan

Address: Piazza della Repubblica 20, Milan, 20124 Italy
Phone Number: (39) (02) 63361
Cost/Night/Room: $290.95 CDN/night (x5 nights)
Total = $1,454.75 CDN (XE Corporation, 2018)
Hotel Services: Spa Fitness Center
Laundry Services Roof Terrace
Panevo Restaurant The Lounge Bar
Room Features: Air Conditioning Mini Bar
In Room Safe Wifi / Internet
T.V. Desk
Disability accessible rooms In-Room Spa Services
Conference Spaces: 13 modular rooms 24 meeting spaces
Capacity: up to 450 guests Sustainable meetings
 3

Transportation and Transit

 Milan’s 2 airports, Linate and Malpensa, and Garibaldi and Central railway stations

are both close to The Westin Palace hotel (Marriott International Inc., 2018)

o Linate airport: 15 minutes away

o Malpensa airport: 50 minutes away

 Metro, (subway), bus and tram routes readily accessible around and connect across

the city (Cirpriett, 2013)

o Same ticket system for all 3 systems with many places to purchase tickets

(Cirpriett, 2013)

o System in place for helping those with disabilities (ATM, n.d.)

o Night service available on some subway and tram lines; night service is

extended to more lines on the weekend (ATM, n.d.)

o Hotel has good access to the public transportation system (Marriott

International Inc., 2018)

 BikeMi Bike Rental/Sharing service (BikeMi, n.d.)

o Available 7 days a week, 365 days a year from 7am to 1 am, with longer

hours possible during spring and summer and special events

o Traditional and e-bikes available

o Daily and weekly subscriptions available

 Taxi (GowithOh, 2018)

o Available but are expensive

o All taxis are registered with the local council except a few private services
 4

Sightseeing
 Close to The Westin Palace (Marriott International Inc., 2018)

o The Duomo, Cathedral of Milan

 The Duomo is Italy’s largest church, measuring 108 meters high, 160

meters long and 92 meters wide and holds 40,000 people. The Duomo

also contains Italy’s largest organ featuring 15, 350 pipes. (Tiqets,

2018)

 8-minute subway ride from the hotel or a 26-minute walk (Google,

2018)

 Tickets prices: $34.39 Canadian (Tiqets, 2018)

 This package offers access to the Duomo di Milano, Rooftop

and Museum (Tiqets, 2018)

o Sforzesco Castle

o Pinacoteca of Brera Art Gallery

o La Scala Opera House

o Church of Santa Maria Delle Grazie, (home of Leonardo’s Last Supper)

 Around Milan (turismo Milano, 2015)

o The Navigili, (Canals)

o Porta Nuova and Corso Como

 “State-of-the-art architecture and vibrant nightlife” (turismo Milano,

2015)

o Basilica of Sant’Ambrgio, Romanesque architecture Christian Church

o The ‘Leonardo da Vinci’ National Museum of Science and Technology

 5

City 2: Sydney, Australia

(PARKROYAL Darling Harbour Sydney, 2018)

The flight to Sydney, Australia is approximately $1850/person for a round trip ticket,

economy class as found on Air Canada April 9, 2018. These prices vary depending on the

day the flight is booked and include taxes, fees, carrier surcharges; additional baggage fees

may apply. The flight from Pearson International Airport to Sydney, Australia is 22 hours

long (Air Canada, 2018).

Hotel Amenities and Conference Facilities (ParkRoyal Hotel and Resorts, 2018)

Hotel: ParkRoyal Darling Harbour, Sydney

Address: 150 Day Street
Sydney NSW 2000
Australia
Phone Number: +61 2 9261 1188
Cost/Night/Room: $357.70 CDN/night (x5 nights)
Total = $1788.50 CDN (XE Corporation, 2018)
Hotel Services: Parkroyal Club Lounge Arrival Tea and Coffee
Breakfast Buffet and Lunch ABODE Bistro & Bar
Room Features: Executive Work Desk Wifi
40” LCD T.V. Mini Bar
In-Room Movies Coffee and Tea
Conference Spaces: Conference Concierge Water, Coffee, Tea
Data Projectors and Screens 30 delegate maximum
 6

Transit/ Transportation Options (PARKROYAL Hotels & Resorts, 2018)

 Airport Shuttles

o Airport shuttles to PARKROYAL Darling Harbour, Sydney are available from

both the Domestic and International terminals at Sydney Airport. On arrival,

please see the Sydney Airport Travel Concierge for more information

regarding shuttle transfers.

 Taxis

o Taxis from the Sydney airport to PARKROYAL Darling Harbour, Sydney take

between 20–30 minutes.

 Trains

o Trains depart every 15 minutes from both the Domestic and International

terminals at Sydney Airport. Our hotel is just a two-minute walk from the

Town Hall Station.

Sightseeing Opportunities
 Sydney Aquarium at Darling Harbour (Darling Harbour, 2018)

o Experience an underwater shipwreck while being able to view the only pair of

dugongs on display in the world

o Open from 9:30 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

o Walk-up adult admission price of $40

 Cockle Bay Wharf (Cockle Bay Wharf, 2018)

o Harbourside and Pitt Street Mall shopping centres

o Wildlife Sydney Zoo

o The Rocks
 7

City 3: San Francisco, California

(Getty Images, 2018)

The flight to San Francisco, California is approximately $529/person for a round trip ticket,

economy class. This price varies depending on the day the flight is booked and includes

taxes, carrier surcharges; additional baggage fees may apply. The flight to San Francisco

from Pearson International Airport is around 5 and a half hours long (Air Canada, 2018).

Hotels Amenities & Conference Space (Park Central Hotel San Francisco, 2018)

Hotel: Park Central, San Francisco

Address: 50 3rd St.
San Francisco, CA
94103
Phone Number: 1 (415) 974 6400
Cost/Night/Room: $406.98 CDN/night (x5 nights)
Total = $2034.90 (XE Corporation, 2018)
Hotel Services: Valet Parking Health Club
Multi-Lingual Staff Concierge Desk
Worry-Free Transport
Room Features: Executive Work Desk Wifi
40” LCD T.V. Mini Bar
In-Room Movies Coffee and Tea
Conference Spaces: 23,000 sq feet of event space Complimentary AM Coffee
(including perks) Double Rewards Points Waived Room Rental, 1 per
Upgrades Available 30 rooms
 8

Sightseeing opportunities
 Ghirardelli Square (Francisco, 2018)

o Something for everyone, even those who do not love chocolate

o Open 6:00am –– 2:00am Daily

o Rates

 First hour $5.00, each additional hour $8.00

 Maximum up to 12 hours $35.00

 Maximum per 24 hours $40.00

 Other Sightseeing Opportunities (Park Central Hotel San Francisco, 2018)

o Metreon shopping centre

o Alcatraz Island

o Union Square Shopping – luxury and major department store shopping

Transportation (Theory, 2018)

 The Park Central hotel is located near Union Square making it easily accessible by

both public transit, (street cars and cable cars) and car, (taxis or private car)

 Ride-Sharing Apps (Lyft or Uber)

 Shared Van and Shuttle service

 Taxis or Limousines

 Sam Trans Buses

 9

Conclusion/Recommendation
The findings of this report give detailed information as to what will be the best, average and

worst choices to hold our conference. San Francisco will be the recommendation to move

forward in planning the Morale Boosting Conference. Of the three destinations it is the most

cost effective, user friendly city. The flight length is more efficient without stop overs and the

hotel choices are mostly available in the downtown area, close to an abundance of

transportation and tourist attractions.

Milan is the second choice for recommendation, providing memorable attractions of historic

cathedrals and beautiful scenery. The transportation is accommodating but not so readily

available as other options available to us. The language barrier could pose a challenge in

local venues, without access to an Italian-English translator, not listed above.

The worst choice for our conference is Sydney, the flight is 22 hours non-stop leaving us

with less time to hold our conference and attend morale-boosting venues. Although

transportation is abundant it is not so readily available as San Francisco. It is the costliest of

the 3 destinations although this could be a potential place to visit if there was more time

available to us.
 10

References
Air Canada. (2018, April 9). Retrieved from Departing Flights:
https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/home.html#/faredriven:1

Air Canada. (2018). Retrieved April 7, 2018, from Air Canada:

https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/home.html#/faredriven:0

Air Canada. (2018). Select Your Dates. Retrieved April 10, 2018, from Air Canada:
https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/home.html#/ffcr:0

ATM. (n.d.). Night Service. Retrieved March 29, 2018, from ATM:
https://www.atm.it/en/ViaggiaConNoi/Pages/NightService.aspx

ATM. (n.d.). People with Disabilities. Retrieved March 29, 2018, from ATM:
https://www.atm.it/en/ViaggiaConNoi/Disabili/Pages/ATMperidisabili.aspx

BikeMi. (n.d.). How It Works. Retrieved March 29, 2018, from BikeMi:
https://www.bikemi.com/en/service-info/info/how-it-works.aspx

BikeMi. (n.d., March 29). What's BikeMi. Retrieved 2018, from BikeMi:
http://www.raileurope.ca/place/milano-centrale

Cirpriett, E. (2013, October 2). How to Take Public Transportation in Milan. Retrieved March 29,
2018, from Walks of Italy: https://www.walksofitaly.com/blog/milan/public-transport-milan

Cockle Bay Wharf. (2018, April 9). Retrieved from Wildlife Sydney Zoo:
http://www.cocklebaywharf.com.au/things-to-do/wildlife-sydney-zoo

Darling Harbour. (2018, April 9). Retrieved from Do Like a Dugong:

http://www.darlingharbour.com/things-to-do/sea-life-sydney-aquarium/do-like-a-dugong/

Francisco, S. (2018). Ghiradelli Square. Retrieved April 9, 2018, from Ghiradelli Square:
https://www.ghirardellisq.com/plan-your-visit/

Getty Images. (2018). Getty Images San Francisco. Retrieved April 15, 2018, from Getty
Images: https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/photo/aerial-view-of-san-francisco-and-
oakland-bay-bridge-royalty-free-image/482365792

Google. (2018). The Westin Palace, Milan, Directions. Retrieved April 6, 2018, from Google
Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/XpyV2vmPFRm

GowithOh. (2018). Transport around Milan. Retrieved March 30, 2018, from GowithOh:
http://www.gowithoh.com/us/guide-milan/public-transport/

Marriott International Inc. (2018). Retrieved March 30, 2018, from The Westin Palace, Milan:
http://www.westinpalacemilan.com/

Marriott International Inc. (2018). Classic Room. Retrieved March 30, 2018, from The Westin
Palace, Milan: http://www.westinpalacemilan.com/en/rooms/classic
 11

Marriott International Inc. (2018). Explore Milan. Retrieved March 30, 2018, from The Westin
Palace, Milan: http://www.westinpalacemilan.com/discover-milan

Marriott International Inc. (2018). Meetings at The Westin Palace, Milan. Retrieved March 30,
2018, from The Westin Palace, Milan: http://www.westinpalacemilan.com/meetings/en

Marriott International Inc. (2018). Sustainable Meeting Practices. Retrieved March 20, 2018,
from The Westin Palace, Milan:
http://www.westinpalacemilan.com/meetings/en/page/green-meeting

Park Central Hotel San Francisco. (2018). The San Francisco Hotel. Retrieved April 3, 2018,
from Park Central Hotel: www.parkcentralsf.com

PARKROYAL Darling Harbour Sydney. (2018, April 12). Retrieved from Plan Your Stay:
https://www.parkroyalhotels.com/en/hotels-resorts/australia/darling-harbour-sydney.html

ParkRoyal Hotel and Resorts. (2018). Executive Residential Meeting Package. Retrieved April
3, 2018, from PARKROYAL Darling Harbour Sydney:
https://www.parkroyalhotels.com/en/hotels-resorts/australia/darling-harbour-
sydney/stay/offers/executive-residential-meeting-package.html

ParkRoyal Hotel and Resorts. (2018). ParkRoyal Darling Harbour Room. Retrieved April 11,
2018, from ParkRoyal Darling Harbour Sydney:
https://www.parkroyalhotels.com/en/hotels-resorts/australia/darling-harbour-
sydney/stay/rooms/darling-harbour-room.html

ParkRoyal Hotel and Resorts. (2018). Welcome to Park Royal Darling Harbour, Sydney.
Retrieved April 3, 2018, from Park Royal Darling Harbour Sydney:
https://www.parkroyalhotels.com/en/hotels-resorts/australia/darling-harbour-sydney.html

PARKROYAL Hotels & Resorts. (2018). Our Location. Retrieved April 9, 2018, from
PARKROYAL Darling Harbour, Sydney: https://www.parkroyalhotels.com/en/hotels-
resorts/australia/darling-harbour-sydney/stay/destination/our-location.html

Theory, C. a. (2018). How to Get Around San Francisco: Transportation Basics. Retrieved April
3, 2018, from San Francisco Travel: http://www.sftravel.com/article/how-get-around-san-
francisco-transportation-basics

Tiqets. (2018). Milan Cathedral - The Duomo. Retrieved April 6, 2018, from Tiqets:
https://www.tiqets.com/en/milan-c71749/milan-cathedral-the-duomo-
l145637?gclid=Cj0KCQjwtZzWBRD2ARIsAIPenY1kGQaJoT6MOLEwgHX1o7bEOYYlw
SGZTuJI4h1ibFbCFLYnc5imI5saArm0EALw_wcB

turismo Milano. (2015). Not to be missed: Top 12 tourist attractions in Milan. Retrieved March
30, 2018, from turismo Milano:
http://www.turismo.milano.it/wps/portal/poc?urile=wcm%3Apath%3ATUR_EN_ContentLi
brary/sitecontent/organizzailviaggio/dieciragioniperesserci/Top_imperdibili_attrazioni_Mil
ano
 12

XE Corporation. (2018, 04 10). XE Currency Converter: AUD to CAD. Retrieved 04 10, 2018,
from XE Currency Converter:
https://xe.com/currencyconverter/convert/?Amount=1&From=AUD&To=CAD

XE Corporation. (2018, April 6). XE Currency Converter: EUR to CAD. Retrieved April 6, 2018,
from XE Currency Converter:
https://www.xe.com/currencyconverter/convert/?Amount=1&From=EUR&To=CAD

XE Corporation. (2018, 04 10). XE Currency Converter: USD to CAD. Retrieved 04 10, 2018,
from XE Currency:
https://xe.com/currencyconverter/convert/?Amount=1&From=USD&To=CAD