St. Petersburg, Russia had been selected for 2001, but due to concerns about reliability and stability of services, we were accelerated by a year, Spelts explains. Announcement of a host location is a major event, Spelts adds, because members are required to attend, and since most own smaller properties, they schedule vacations and property closures around the International Congress. When the Charleston announcement was made in Naples, The Plantation Singers, flown over for the occasion, marched in singing This Little Light of Mine. Planning for the November 2001 event is already well underway, according to Holliday. The Preservation Hall Jazz Band is being imported from New Orleans for the evening.
Cuisine is especially important.
The International Congresses tend to be food and wine fests, Spelts explains.