Join IPATA

for their 34th International Conference in Montreal!

What's Happening in Montreal?  A special invitation from IPATA President Sally Smith

I'd like to invite you to attend this year's IPATA conference in Montreal.  We usually have between 100-120 attendees from over 30 countries so it is always a great place to network with other pet professionals around the world. 

If you are looking at ways to build your business, attending this conference is the perfect step in the right direction.  After all, when you need to ship a pet to another location, who is the first person you going to call?  Someone you have met in person or some one you've only met through emails?

Each year as we plan the conference, we take the suggestions from the previous year into consideration.   As a result, this year attendees will see more networking opportunities, more workshop training sessions and more options for the Sunday optional outside activities!

Saturday will feature an all day Basic's Workshop for Pet Shippers.  This workshop is presented for those new to pet shipping (new companies or new employees from long time pet shipping companies) or for those that want a refresher course in the basics.  It is presented as an interactive training session and is purposely kept to a small group to facilitate discussion. 

The Icebreaker Reception will be held on Saturday evening, but there is nothing "icy" about this event!  This event is open to all workshop and conference attendees and is the perfect time to begin catching up with old friends and meeting new members, guests and speakers. 

Sunday morning there will be a short AGM (Annual General Membership meeting) which is open to all conference attendees.  Following the AGM, attendees will have four different optional group activities from which to choose . . . from a kennel tour of Manoir Kanisha . . . to visits to the Montreal Tower, Biodome, Insectarium and Botanical Gardens . . . to a historic river cruise . . . to free time in Old Montreal.  Sunday evening, join other IPATA members for dinner at the historic Le Saint-Gabriel for exquisite but casual French and Quebian cuisine. So Sunday's activities are up to you. Montreal is full of wonderful sights, history, food, and shops.  So plan on joining whatever activities you wish and you can look forward to some quality networking time.

Monday and Tuesday's conference sessions will offer much for both the new and seasoned pet shippers.  The conference will open with Certified Speaking Professional, Martin Latulippe.  In his interactive, high-energy and touching keynote, "AWAKENING the Invisible to ACHIEVE the Impossible" you will discover the exceptional power of attitude, our ultimate legacy in life.

Other sessions on the conference will teach attendees about:

• Changes to the USA Veterinarians Accreditation requirements.
• How to Avoid Common Problems When Submitting Export Health Certificates for Endorsement
• Little Known Pet Shipping Requirements Can Jeopardize Your Shipment
• What the 8 Digit Harmonized Tariff Code is and how it can affect your shipments
• Promoting and Protecting Your Business

Training workshops will be offered on a variety of subjects that will enable you to build your business and sharpen your shipping skills.  The country profiles this year will focus on Islands - both big (like Australia, New Zealand and the UK) and small ones (like the Bahamas, Jamaica and many more).  All workshops will include only a short formal presentation to allow more time for interactive discussion with the attendees.  So that we can offer a wide range of workshops, different topics will be held during the same time periods.  Handouts will be offered for all training workshops and the sessions will be recorded so that you won't miss out on those that you were not able to attend.

The organizing committee is really excited about the program and activities planned for Montreal.  Please take a few minutes to check out the details on the entire program and plan to join us in Montreal this year! 





Sally Smith, IPATA President

Why should YOU attend?

"Once you decide to attend your first conference, just to see what it's all about, you will return year after year.

I know . . . just ask me!"

The conference provided me with the opportunity to get to know face to face those whom I am working with on the other end when coordinating a door to door shipment.  As you develop a closer relationship with colleagues around the world, your trust in their services grows and you gain their trust.  They learn they can depend upon you!  "Getting to know the IPATA members that you work with throughout the year, you find you are working with friends and this is so much easier!

At the conference you receive in-depth education and training. You learn about the business and received  so many tips about pet transportation!  You learn from colleagues about the requirements for shipping into specific countries, including tips that are only from those activitly involved in the business.

You learn . . . you network . . . and you even have fun!

Manuel Luenda, Las Lunas
Buenos Aires, Argentina