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« Mark Whistler
The Trip of a Lifetime for Investors
Investors seeking to explore the investment possibilities in China might love this journey in April! If you like to travel in style - and you want to learn about investing in China, here’s a 16-day journey in April for you. (It’s more than a research expedition though, from what I gather, it sounds like a blast!)
Investors on this junket will travel with super-trader Keith Fitz-Gerald, who will help examine and digest China’s investment opportunities. The trip includes a visit to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and meetings with several Chinese companies and executives including:
Barbara, thanks for taking time out of your schedule… When you told me about the trip to China the other day, I was really blown away. It sounds like an incredible opportunity for investors seeking to gain a better understanding of China. From what I understand, this isn’t the first trip like this… How many times have you done this, and what do you think investors gain the most from the experience? Mark, I can't decide if it was the relaxing days spent cruising the Yangtzee… the luxurious hotels… the unbelievable shopping… or the exhilarating pace of change… but I can't shake my fascination with China. We met with several companies on the ground and received a power-packed crash-course in doing business there from Daniel Booth of ICS Trust (Asia) Limited. (ICS can guide and structure anybody interested in operating a business in China. For more info on this company, go to www.icstrust.com.) In addition, we met personally with the CEO’s of major companies and most investors from the last trip, paid for their entire trip, by investing in these companies. On my last trip I traveled with Lou Basenese, who is an editor for The Oxford Club. He was just as impressed as I with China (though his enthusiasm ran to the investment climate while mine veered toward the dining and shopping -- more on that in a moment). First, let me give you a quick snapshot from Lou: China Isn't Just Producing, It's Consuming... As he put it, "Flush with cash, an undervalued currency and much more acumen than the world is willing to admit, China's government is engineering a growth story of historic proportions. "'Mind-boggling' was easily the most often-used term on our trip. As we rounded corner after corner, skyscrapers were being erected like folding chairs in a lecture hall -- quickly, easily and side by side by side by side. "Similarly impressive, people were on the move, everywhere. And all of them had business on their mind (not political freedom)… This April, Keith Fitz-Gerald, investment director of “Money Map” will be traveling with me and his investment slogan is “Go global or go home.” Keith will be sending travelers home with inside knowledge about the country’s five-alarm economy. This two-week trip promises a bevy of “fortune” cookies. Here’s a taste of what investors will get:
• four profitable and can’t-miss Chinese companies with upcoming Wall Street IPOs Wow, sounds very exciting. Can you tell us a little more about the companies you will visit and can you give me an actual example of where a previous participant benefited from the journey? Well as I said, we will be traveling with Keith Fitz-Gerals throughout the entire two weeks and he will be on hand to personally introduce some companies in addition to speaking to you about China and other companies. He is what Keith has to say: “China is a complete enigma to most Americans,” said Fitz-Gerald, who had been in and around Asia for the past 20 years. “And there is absolutely no so substitute for personal experience.” The easy money has been made, Fitz-Gerald said. And now it’s time to focus on companies with real businesses that are profiting because of China, not just companies in China. This is especially important right now, as the U.S. economy is on the cusp of recession and investors are scrambling for a safe and profitable place to entrust their money. China’s economy is growing at a 12% clip despite government efforts to curb overheating. Unofficially, the economy may be growing as much as 25% faster if you take into account the millions of Yuan that trade hands daily as part of China’s undocumented and unregulated cash economy. Much of that growth is coming from two sources – the Chinese government and the 300 million-strong (and still growing) middle class. “Simply put, it’s one of the largest wealth creations the world has ever seen and companies at the nexus where these two groups meet stand to take home billions in the next few years,” Fitz-Gerald said. Past trip goers are already profiting, reaping as much as 116% in only three weeks. I’m ready to pack my bags with you! Ha ha, just kidding… The trip sounds fun though, can you also tell us a little more about all of the places you will be traveling to? We begin our exiting sojourn in the Beijing, home of this summer’s Olympic Games and we will have the opportunity to visit the venues for the games. So always combining the old with the new…of course we will go to the Great Wall of China and all the highlights for the city. Then onto Xian to see the Terra Cotta Warriors – truly amazing. Then on to another highlight of the trip, our Yantzee River cruise on the Victoria Queen. We board in Chongquing, after an amazing dinner at the JW Marriott. (In fact, just entering Chongquing was quite astonishing for most of us as on the last visit. We all thought we were going to the agricultural part of China. We were amazed to learn that 33 million people live in this province. The city of Chongquing boasts skyscrapers and modern buildings, hotels, and restaurants.) The ship's staff delivered extraordinary service during our full three-day excursion, including excellent commentary from guides. It was amazing to hear about the engineering feats associated with China's Three Gorges Dam -- entire cities were moved brick by brick… even the soil from agricultural land was moved up the mountain before the water levels were allowed to rise. Then we head to Shanghai, I think my favorite city with the famous “Bund.” And the combination of the English, French, Chinese architecture…this is one of the most vibrant cities in the world. And then of course, no trip to China is complete without a visit to Hong Kong with it’s bustling harbor and tall skyscrapers. And we have even schedules some time for a hydrafoil to take us over the Macau for an evening to see the “Vegas” of the east! As you've no doubt gathered by now, we spent our time enjoying China, absorbing China, and learning about the opportunities there, too. In the marketing piece I received, you mention the aristocratic accommodations… So, basically, it’s first class all the way? The hotels are truly extraordinary. I think the Grand Hyatt in Bejing is one of the nicest hotels I have stayed in anywhere (and I travel for a living!). It all works… the five restaurants serve wonderful food (including the best sushi I've ever tasted, in the Red Moon Bar.) There's music in the lobby. The spa, pool, and fitness center are world-class. The service? Amazing! And it was the same in Xian, Shanghai, Hong Kong… we traveled in genuine luxury and we were treated like royalty. And, the trip is scheduled for early April, is there still time for readers to enlist if they’re interested? Yes but they really need to act quickly because hotel space in China is limited due to the high tourist/business occupancy in every city. What about visa and passports? Yes passports must have at least 6 months of expiry on them from date of travel and their must be at least four blank pages in the passport of the Chinese Visa. The cost of the Visa is included in the price of the tour but the participant will need to fill out the application, which I send to them online and then they need to send the application, their passport, and photo to New York but some type of mail service that is traceable. It take one-two weeks to get this done. Unless, they pay for it to be expedited in a day. Okay, so now that tough question, if readers are interested in traveling with you, would they need to mortgage a child or two to go? This Middle Kingdom sojourn costs $7,497 – and that includes five-star room, first-class meals and top-notch translators, all our meetings and transportation and all air flights for two weeks. Limited spots are available, and investors can reserve now by calling 800-926-6575 or 561-243-6276. For more information, including a day-by-day itinerary, visit www.agoratravel.com/china. As Sally from my last trip said, her investment in one of the Chinese Companies paid for her trip. Most of the people who do our trips come as referrals from friends and families. They love to travel with us because we arrange for everything and this is really an experience, and not just a tourist trip to China. Sounds very reasonable… With everything we’ve covered, is there anything else you think readers should know, or anything I haven’t covered? China, Today, is Downright Chic… Now, as I mentioned earlier, while Lou's enthusiasm ran to the profit opportunities, mine ran to dining and shopping. China has changed dramatically in the last couple of years. Today, China is chic. You may not think of it that way… but it's true. Sure, you can still find the traditional Peking Duck restaurants or Dim Sum… no problem. But these days you can also dine at restaurants like Green T in Beijing and Hong Kong or TMSK or T8 in Shanghai. They resemble art galleries as much as anything else. Dinner normally includes a show with local musicians. The chefs are world class. And the wine lists! Until about a year ago, I had a hard time finding wines in China…. the alcoholic beverage most preferred was locally produced Tsingtao beer. But now, all over China you can find the best wines from around the world. And the Shopping… The malls in China are magnificent. Shopping here isn't like shopping in a developing-world country. Let me give you an example: I spent the better part of one day in a five-story mall. I had a personal shopper who traveled with me. We started on the first floor, bought a piece of luggage, and she wheeled it around for me as we filled it with my purchases. At one point, I found a pair of jeans I liked, but they were too long. My shopper and guide whisked me to another floor where a tailor took my inseam measurement. We handed him the pants. Three minutes and fifty cents later, my jeans had been altered to fit! The silks and cashmeres are beautiful -- and while the clothes have an Asian flair, you can buy lovely western styles. (So you don't find yourself at home with clothes you realize you'll never really wear.) If you’re interested in speaking to Barbara more about possibly joining the expedition, please email, or call her at:
Barbara Perriello Mark Whistler 2/20/08
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