We surveyed our travel clients and Cuba was their top pick!
Cuba has been under U.S. embargo since 1960, and traditional vacations to Cuba have been (and still are) forbidden by the U.S. government. But now the U.S. and Cuba have announced plans to reopen embassies in both countries this summer, travel restrictions have relaxed, and Americans are eager to learn more about Cuba's people, culture, and economy — the land of Che Guevara, Fidel Castro, Salsa dancing, Afro-Cuban culture, rum, Cuban cigars, Caribbean beaches, and vintage American cars.
Join Us for a Pre-Tour Briefing and Presentation on Tuesday, December 15, 5:30-6:30 PM, at the Chamber, 904 East Shore Dr., Ithaca NY 14850. Presentation and Q&A led by Chamber staff and a representative from our tour trusted partner, Central Holidays West. Pre-registration is appreciated but not required. Free, open to the public
The Tour: Tour the island by private, deluxe air-conditioned motor coach and experience People-to-people discussions, interactions and unusual visits illuminating Cuban events and issues. You’ll visit the seaside town of Caibarien, the Sugar Mill Museum, the colonial town of Remedios, the Che Guevara Museum and Mausoleum, a Cigar Factory, Hemingway’s Farm, the beautiful Viñales Valley, Old Havana, and you’ll meet with artists and a Cuban baseball player, all with the assistance of a professional, specialized, bilingual Cuban guide. Bottled water on the coach each day. 7 hotel nights: MIami (1), Cayo Santa Maria (2), and Havana (4).
Tour Fee Includes: all of the above, plus RT air from Miami International Airport; 1st class hotels; 6 breakfasts, 5 lunches and 3 dinners; Baggage handling for one piece of checked luggage outside of the airport upon arrival in Cuba; Cuban travel visa; Required Cuban health insurance is included; Pre-paid gratuities for hotel porters, waiters for included meals, all people to people visits, discussions and interactions; Hotel & City taxes and service charges; U.S. air departure taxes. Not included: Cuba Departure Tax ($32); meals paid for on your own; hotel charges such as laundry, mini bar, room service; gratuities for Tour Director, Cuban Guide, and Motor Coach driver.
FEES: $3749 Chamber Member* $3949 non-members
*The Chamber member fee extends to members in good standing, their staff, retirees, and immediate family members traveling with them. Non-members may qualify for the Chamber Member tour price with a 'Friend of the Chamber' (FOTC) membership for $150. Entitles you (and an immediate family member traveling with you) to member pricing for all Chamber events and workshops for one year, a $200 value for just $150. The FOTC membership is to be paid separately in advance of registration for this tour. It extends to any tour in the calendar year of the membership.
Ready to Book? Download the Itinerary / book online
www.centralholidayswest.com/booking
Enter the Group Booking Number B001943. From here you may download the Tour flyer with detailed itinerary and prices. Visa/MC/AMEX accepted, or print the registration form to pay by check/mail.
The Chamber trips are tremendous fun, everything is made easy and comfortable for us, and the tours are an extraordinary value with beautiful hotels, excellent meals, knowledgeable and courteous guides, and well-organized and efficiently run.” —Suzanne P.
$3949 Non-member
*Non-members may qualify for the Chamber Member tour price with a “Friend of the Chamber” membership for $150. Entitles you to member pricing for all Chamber events and workshops for one year, a $200 value for just $150, plus potential to save more. With the Friend of the Chamber membership and a trip registration, immediate family members traveling with you also qualify for the member price.
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Recurring Events
Business After Hours
Business After Hours is our premier networking event where you can connect with dozens of Chamber members, community leaders, and potential clients. Network with professionals across the region to exchange contact details, discuss current industry trends, and generate sales leads in an informal setting.
Networking at Noon
Each month, members enjoy lunch with Chamber members while meeting new people, expanding their networking, and learning more about our diverse base of businesses and organizations in Tompkins County. Our goal is to enhance opportunities for our members to share what’s new and exciting in their workplace, discover new customers, and create meaningful connections that lead to lasting business relationships.
Community Conversations
Tompkins Chamber hosts community-specific conversations throughout the county, offering a space for businesses and leaders in our smaller municipalities to convene for hyper-local networking, conversation, mentorship, and advocacy. These events will serve as a forum for the Chamber to engage businesses who rarely attend Ithaca-based events and allow us to better understand and support the unique needs of each community.
L.E.A.R.N.
The L.E.A.R.N. professional development series is designed to give Chamber members access to tools and resources that will help them grow and strengthen their businesses. The series is made up of workshops relevant to the themes of Leadership, Equity, Action, Resilience, and Navigation.
Participants in this series enjoy the following benefits:
- Access to qualified, knowledgeable, and experienced presenters
- Clearly defined course objectives
- Relevant and timely topics
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Training Series
To aid Chamber Members’ desire to cultivate diverse, equitable, and Inclusive (DEI) workplaces, a group of experienced facilitators are partnering with the Tompkins Chamber to host a webinar series. The series has the added benefit of introducing Chamber members to local consultants and facilitators who can assist their respective businesses and organizations to develop strategic DEI plans, conduct follow up workplace trainings, and assist in recruitment/retention strategies for a diverse workforce.
Roundtable Series
Roundtables are free & for Chamber Members only.
Women in Business Roundtable
Open to all women and those who identify as female from within the Chamber’s membership base, this group includes small business owners, nonprofit leaders, managers, and women in all types of roles discussing work-life balance, gender in the workplace, and more through facilitated discussion and activities, or open sharing.
Small Business Roundtable
All Small Businesses with less than 50 employees from within the Chamber’s membership are welcome to join our Small Business Roundtable discussions. A mix of topic based and speaker facilitated discussions are blended with general roundtable sharing, mentorship, and brainstorming to result in connections and deliver information to keep moving area small businesses forward.
CEO Roundtable
CEO level discussion including leaders from the area’s largest employers and institutions, as well as area nonprofit executive directors, meet quarterly to provide important updates and discuss key community and economic concerns.
Featured Annual Events
Economic Summit
The Tompkins Chamber presents key local issues impacting local businesses and developers, policy issues impacting the business community, and local insights from participants in a national economic outlook survey. Partnering with Ithaca Area Economic Development (IAED), the event includes important updates about our economy, workforce, upcoming projects, and strategies to move forward and achieve a sustainable economic recovery.
Annual Dinner & Awards
One of the premier business community events of the year, the Annual Meeting highlights the Chamber community and previews the goals and initiatives for the coming year. Come and celebrate the success of our business community and economic development with hundreds of local leaders and elected officials! Join us as we raise a glass to the companies, not-for-profits, and volunteers who partner with us to help our community thrive.
Golf Tournament
This day on the green combines top-notch golf with valuable networking and advertising opportunities. Held at one of the County’s finest and professionally-rated golf courses. Staggered start golf tournament with several prizes, including skins. Lunch and beverages provided.
Great Big Chamber Auction
See and be seen by the region’s top business executives and small business owners. The Great Big Chamber Thank You & Auction holds tremendous value to our sponsors, donors, and attendees as it is one of our most highly publicized and attended events. The Great Big Chamber Auction portion helps underwrite the events and programs that support our Chamber members. Traditional silent and live auction, networking, and nonprofit recognition awards.