Imagine a ceremony in which lit paper lanterns are handed out to participants while the hostess makes this affirmation: "I give this to these friends of mine, my family members, my loved ones, who have been a beacon of light in the darkness."

No, it's not some new-age ceremony, but a "survival ceremony" and the hostess is a divorcee who officially acknowledges the support her loved ones have given her during a difficult time.

Divorce isn't something most people plan a ceremony around, but celebrant Charlotte Eulette believes that pain and triumph is all part of the human experience and that it's good. "It's not a failure," Eulette said. "It was a life journey - so take what you need from it."

Although new to America, celebrants are common in Australia where they have been officiating over ceremonies for the past 30 years. Eulette became a celebrant and opened the Celebrant USA Foundation & Institute (www.celebrantusa.com) six years ago in Montclair, N.J. Most of the ceremonies she does are spiritual and religious; most people come to her from different faiths to marry or to name a baby. "We're their oasis and that has been such a growing trend," she said.

Instead of trying to sweep what's considered a bad life experience under the rug, and not talk about it, Eulette explains, "These are the kinds of things that we want people to feel damn good about themselves and to realize how important they are."

Eulette performs ceremonies for people who feel disenfranchised, like divorcees; those who have been laid off from their jobs; or those who have survived an illness. The common thread is change, something that should be accepted and in these cases, commemorated. She plans same-gender weddings, as well as non-traditional weddings and funerals, and ceremonies each year for families of Sept. 11 victims.

"They need to be recognized and we, the celebrants, are recognizing them and helping people through this," she said.

There are about 200 celebrants across the United States and Canada. Eulette traces her growing referrals to a post-Sept. 11 culture, which recognizes the importance of family and friends. Add being in a war, rising prices, as well as growing health care costs, and you find people want to pull together, she said.

"What Was One of Your Most Fun Summer Vacations?"

Christina Marmor, director of meetings and conventions for the Amer-ican Political Science Association and PCMA member since 2003, had no problem answering this question.

For three summers she and some friends were part of a group beach house in Dewey Beach, Del.

"We faithfully made the trip across the Bay Bridge every Friday evening, preparing for what was always a fabulous weekend. Weekends in Dewey were spent having cocktails and barbeques with housemates, shopping at the outlets in nearby Rehoboth Beach, and of course, catching some rays and waves. Dewey Beach was where I could decompress, where I could forget about food and beverage minimums and attrition fees. I could kick back, relax, and most importantly, wear flip-flops! I cherish every weekend that I spent in Dewey. I met some of my closest and dearest friends during my summers at the beach. In fact, I ended up marrying one of my housemates!"

Cancun's Revitalization Continues

Hurricane Wilma is history and Cancun is on the road to recovery. Beach restoration is in full force. A dredging project is taking sand from the sea floor and is rebuilding the beach where needed. Despite the project, most of Cancun's beaches are open.

According to the Cancun Convention and Visitors Bureau, as of the end of April, 19,251 hotel rooms were operating; as of the end of May, 20,120 hotel rooms were operating; as of the end of June, 22,388 hotel rooms will be operating; as of the end of July, 22,740 hotel rooms will be operating, and between August and December 2006, 24,713 hotel rooms will be in operation.

Considering the 27,822 lodging units available in Cancun, the following reopening schedule is expected:

Cancun Hotels - Operating Rooms

Ambiance Villas 135 / Aquamarina Beach 172 AquaSol 45 / Avalon Bacará 15 / Barcelo Tucancun Beach 315 / Blue Bay Getaway & Spa Cancun 354 / Blue Lagoon Cancun 24 BW Cancun Clipper Club 142 Caribbean Princess 84 / Carisa y Palma 97 Casa Maya 224 / Club Carrousel Cancun 158 Club Internacional 201 / Club Regina 121 Club Verano Beat 94 / Crown Paradise ClubCancun 325 / Dos Playas 123 / Dreams Cancún 379 / El Pueblito 350 / Fiesta Americana Condesa 502 / Fiesta Americana Grand Coral Beach 602 / Fiesta Americana Vacation Club 183 / Flamingo Cancun 221 Golden Crown Paradise & Spa 214 / Gran Caribe Real 407 / Gran Costa Real 357 Grand Melia Cancun 700 / Gran Royal Lagoon 36 / Grand Oasis Cancun/ 232 Grand Royal Solaris 200 / Hilton 426 / Holiday Inn Express 72 / Hotetur Beach Paradise 142 Imperial Laguna 25 / Imperial las Perlas 120 Laguna Verde 47 / Le Blanc 260 / Le Meridien 213 / Maya Caribe 40 / Moon Palace Sunrise y Nizuc 2,103 / NH Krystal 325 Oasis Cancun 852 / Oasis Palm Beach 194 Oasis Playa 388 / Oasis Viva 216 / Omni Cancun 353 / Park Royal Piramides 284/ Presidente Intercontinental 299 / Riu Cancun 569 / Riu Caribe 506 / Riu Palace las Americas 368 / Royal Mayan 200 / Royal Caribbean 207 / Royal Islander 179 / Royal Sands 340 / Royal Solaris 200 / Royal Solaris Torre Royal 300 Royal Sunset 206 / Solymar 87 / Suites Costa Blanca 21 / Suites Sina 37 / Sunset Lagoon 107 / Torre Dorada 75 / Blue Bay Marina Club (Puerto Juárez) 167

Total Operating Rooms in Cancun 14,462

Puerto Morelos - Operating Rooms Azul Hotel 107 / Secrets Excellence Riviera Cancun 440 / Ojo de Agua 36 / Paradisus Riviera Cancun 496 / Paraíso de la Bonita 90 El Dorado Royale 300 / Hotel Marina El CID 350

Total Operating Rooms In Puerto Morelos 1,729

New Openings:

448- room JW Marriott, June 1 379-room Westin, June 1 450-room Marriott Casa Magna, June 1 365-room Ritz Carlton Cancun, June 15 143-room Sheraton, June 30 450-room Melia Turquesa, June 30 33-room Casa Turquesa, June 226-room Hyatt Cancun Caribe, July 126-room Ceiba Del Mar in Puerto Morelos, July 300-room Hyatt Regency, autumn / 560-room Cancún Palace, summer / 371-room Fiesta Americana Grand Aqua, summer / 237-room Sun Palace, summer / 205-room Beach Palace, December / 80-room Villas Tacul, TBA 119-room Avalon Grand, TBA / 426-room Club Mediterrane, TBA / 88-room Cancun Marina Club, TBA / 39-room Ocean Club, TBA 156-room Aristos Cancun Plaza, TBA 250-room Nichupté Holistic Spa, TBA

Additional updates are provided daily at www.cancun.info.

Road Warriors Have Their Say

As meeting planners know all too well, business travel can take its toll. In fact, with increasingly crowded airplanes, airport security screening hassles, flight delays, erratic meals, and unpredictable Internet access, life on the road appears to be increasingly stressful, according to the results of Yesawich, Pepperdine, Brown & Russell's (YPB&R) 2006 National Business Travel Monitor.

The report says that 41 percent of active business travelers expect to take more business trips in the year ahead than they did last year (average is eight business trips a year). At the same time, three out of 10 said they were "actively seeking ways to use new technology" in order to reduce their need to travel for business in the future. Here are the road warriors' chief gripes:

For more information on the YPB&R 2006 National Business Travel Monitor, visit www.ypbr.com.

A Vacation With Legs

When you sit on your behind every day affixed to a computer screen, you might be looking for a more energizing kind of vacation than one spent lounging in a chaise by the pool or ocean.

Look no further than your own two feet. A number of organizations offer a tempting variety of walking vacations, complete with expert local walking guides, exciting itineraries, diverse landscapes, and cultural attractions in the United States and abroad - plus great lodging and sumptuous regional fare.

In addition to choosing your destination, you can choose your vacation "theme," such as girlfriend getaways, outdoor and cultural trips for women over 40, family excursions, and architectural jaunts. Not athletic? No problem. You needn't choose an invigorating hike up a mountain. Leisurely strolls through quaint villages might be more your speed. Many of the trips are billed as "moderate" walks, with a support vehicle often on hand when travelers are ready for a lift.

Pesci's Picks

What book will we find on your nightstand right now?

Janine Pesci, managing director, programs, for the Urban Land Institute and a PCMA member since 1996, has a great love of reading. Plus, you can say she is a "mood" reader. She usually has two to three books on hand to read, which she chooses among based on how she is feeling.

Her two latest books include The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy. "It is a wonderful novel set in Kerala, India," according to Pesci. "It is the story of twins and their family during the 1960s when Communism was rattling the old Indian caste system. The author beautifully weaves a story of family drama against a backdrop of local Indian politics and social taboos."

You can get a sense of Pesci's diverse interests (and her range of moods!) by the second book she is reading, The One Thing You Need to Know About Great Managing, Great Leading, and Sustained Individual Success, by social science research and business consultant Marcus Buckingham. Says Pesci, "This book is an invaluable course on understanding achievement. It is a guide that captures the essence of what Buckingham feels are the three most fundamental areas of professional development."