HOTEL HAPPENINGS & PROGRAM PROMOTIONS – SEPTEMBER, 2017

HOT DEALS!
Seabourn celebrates its 30^th anniversary and you get the gift of special luxury-cruising offers. Book select voyages by November 14^th, and are some of the incentives that may be included: Three Veranda Suite Category Upgrade; Veranda for Ocean View Category Upgrade; 300-Minute Internet Package per Person; $300USD per Person Air Credit; $300USD per Suite Shipboard Credit; 50% Reduced Deposit; and up to 30% Savings on Select Combination Cruises. There are also special offers for Penthouse and Premium Suites bookings.
www.seabourn.com; (800) 929-9391
Book and stay at the contemporary new INNSIDE New York NoMad, the first of its brand in the United States, by December 31, 2017 and get 15% off. The Melia property is located in Chelsea and convenient to the Garment District, Greenwich Village and Union Square. The hotel has two meeting rooms with capacity for up to 70, a fitness center, and outdoor terrace. Within walking distance to the Empire State Building, Madison Square Garden, Flatiron Building, Madison Square Park, and Times Square.
www. Melia.com
I love it when I discover unusual hotels in unexpected places. Design Hotels never ceases to amaze me. Here are just a few additions to their collection, each offering discounts. Ion City Hotel in Reykjavik, Iceland will give you 30% off Bar and WiFi. The 18-room boutique hotel is described as having “luxuriously organic interiors defined by clean lines, Icelandic art, and a palette of gray and white, contrasted by warm-hued wooden floors.” How about staying in a former prison turned upscale hotel? Hotel Liberty in Offenburg, Germany will give you 15% off BAR, breakfast, WiFi, and exclusive hotel tour for bookings through December 31. Just read how exciting this place sounds. The38-room hotel doesn’t hide its past. It actually plays on it with a fine dining grill restaurant Wasser&Brot, which references the inmates’ typical diet of “water and bread.” Today, the eatery serves contemporary French cuisine under Michelin-starred chef Jeremy Biasiol. The hotel also has the Mezzanine Floor & Lounge (tapas and high tea); handcrafted furnishings by Knoblauch and local craftspeople; rooftop urban gardening; and a rooftop terrace with a dining table, library, La Cave wine space, and meeting spaces for up to 25 people.
www.designhotels.com

Think warm, sunny, and relaxing. Then consider that all that can be yours with the 50% off promotion offered by Meliá Hotels in Punta Cana (Dominican Republic) at the Paradisus Palma Real Golf & Spa Resort. You can get a 40% off discount for booking Me Miami and 35% discount for INNSIDE New York NoMad. The offer is valid for bookings before September 30, 2017 and stays before March, 31, 2018.
www.Meliá.com
Book four nights and receive the fifth night free at the five-master-bedrooms Villa Amara in Riviera Maya. Booking is available until December 1. The mid-century modern-design with an industrial twist has contemporary furnishings and includes a maid, cook, bathrooms with custom sink vanities crafted from concrete and wood, and private infinity pool overlooking the Caribbean Sea.
www.journeymexico.com; (800) 474-1629
Take 25% off your booking rate in Buenos Aires, Argentina at two Meliá Hotels properties. Meliá Buenos Aires has 209 guest rooms and a modern Convention and Congress Centre with nine meeting rooms, seven of which have natural light. Capacity: 600 people. Several dining venues, including the Azorín Restaurant, Machado Café and La Terraza. 24-business center and Spa. Meliá Recoleta Plaza, in the most exclusive part of Buenos Aires, was the first residence of Evita Perón. Located in La Recoleta, one of the most exclusive and prestigious districts in Buenos Aires, the hotel is near La Recoleta Cemetery, Avenida Alvear, la Recoleta Cultural Centre, the National Museum of Fine Arts, the city’s financial and business center, the Obelisk and Plaza de Mayo. The booking must be made before September 30 and is valid through March 31, 2018.
www.melia.com
Book your next 2017 or 2018 meeting at Sheraton Bay Point Resort, the only branded AAA Four Diamond Resort in Northwest Florida, before December 31 and receive $50 Resort Credit per room on peak night. The recently renovated property has 60,000 sf of indoor and outdoor meeting space, Serenity Spa, and the only Nicklaus Design course in NW Florida.
Sales@SheratonBayPoint.com; (850) 236.6033; SheratonBayPoint.com
OPENINGS
A nautical-themed hotel for an Oceanside community seems like a perfect fit, but the opening of Hilton’s Conrad Fort Lauderdale Beach in Fort Lauderdale, FL’s exclusive North Beach doesn’t just stop there. The luxury 290-all-suite property, opening this month, has four dining possibilities that include a neighborhood bakery and Terra Mare, the signature tapas-style restaurant that emphasizes full plate sharing and table side preparations. There will be a craft mixology program, spa, fitness center, and a 20,000 sf ocean-facing pool deck. Conrad Fort Lauderdale Beach has 10,000 sf of flexible meeting space and 10,000 sf of oceanfront outdoor space. Guests will have easy access to the Atlantic Ocean, parks, dining, family-friendly museums and attractions. “…Our vision is to provide intuitive service and tailored luxury by collaborating with locals to create programs and offerings that pay tribute to South Florida’s yacht and beach culture,” said Chintan Dadhich, general manager. Designed by the late renowned architect, Michael Graves, his inspiration was high-end cruise lines. Conrad Hotels & Resorts has 32 luxury properties worldwide, but “Conrad Fort Lauderdale Beach will be the first beachfront resort and residence for the brand in the region,” said John T.A. Vanderslice, global head, Conrad Hotels & Resorts.
https://www.conradfortlauderdale.com/

 

The recent opening of the 300-room Omni Frisco Hotel in Frisco, TX is giving the Dallas Cowboys something to cheer about. OK, maybe the cheerleaders for the Cowboys are actually the ones doing all the verbal cheering about the new luxury 16-story property that showcases the heritage of the Cowboys and the City of Frisco. The hotel is within the 91-acre complex, The Star, that hosts the Dallas Cowboys World Headquarters. Some of the property’s unique features include the Edge Bar on the fourth floor pool deck, views of the outdoor field at Ford Center, Cowboys Fit and the upcoming retail offerings at The Star. Inside the hotel, a unique shopping experience has been named after Dallas Cowboys Executive Vice President & Chief Brand Officer Charlotte Jones Anderson. Omni Frisco Hotel has 24,000 sf of meeting space, including a 13,000 sf ballroom.
www.omnihotels.com/frisco; (469) 287-0000.
Key International, a prominent real estate investment and development company specializing in hospitality, has opened not just one hotel, but a new Marriott^® dual-branded Residence Inn (140 suites) and SpringHill Suites Clearwater Beach (115 suites). Both Florida hotels feature oversized guestrooms with a coastal vibe, flexible living, working and sleeping space, stunning views of Clearwater Bay and many shared amenities, from mobile check-in/out, complimentary signature daily healthy-choice breakfast, swimming pool, 24-market and meeting space. The properties are pet-friendly and are part of the Marriott rewards loyalty program.
www.Marriott.com/tpays for Residence Inn Clearwater Beach; www.Marriott.com/tpays for SpringHill Suites Clearwater Beach.
Journey Mexico finds unique luxury villas that can host groups of friends or executive teams needing a retreat facility. Villa Casa del Mar in Rivoera Maya is one such property. The six bedroom, six bath 11,925-sf villa includes a maid, chef, 24-hour butler, wine cellar stocked with vintage selections.  Thatched roof entryway features a fountain and views of the Caribbean Sea just past it. Contemporary kitchen has dark granite countertops, rich wood cabinetry, natural stone flooring and high-end appliances. Four of the bedrooms have private terraces. The grand terrace has private pool and Jacuzzi and a wellness gym is equipped with machines and free weights. The award-winning Azul Beach Hotel by Karisma is nearby.
www.journeymexico.com; (800) 474-1629
This is an opening Lego fans worldwide will want to know about. New cutting-edge virtual reality (VR) technology combined with roller coaster thrills will heighten the excitement at three Legoland Resort parks in Florida, Malaysia and Deutschland by the end of 2017 or early 2018. The Great LEGO® Race was developed under the supervision of Merlin Magic Making, the company’s global creative and delivery division. Three existing “Project X” roller coasters will be transformed. The rides will pit riders in a rollicking race against wild, brick-built contraptions driven by Trendsetter, Pharaoh, Surfer Girl, Wizard and Pirate Captain, including a rocket-powered surfboard and a stylish scooter fueled by espresso. Wearing VR headsets, guests will experience the action from every direction – up, down, forward, backward and all points in between – in a dazzling environment where everything is made of LEGO bricks. Each coaster queue will resemble a pre-race space where pit crews for each of the five LEGO racers are preparing for the competition, plus interactive, hands-on elements to entertain waiting riders.
Guests can opt out of the VR headset. The ride is designed for children 6 and up.
www.legoland.com
The new Residence Inn Raleigh Downtown couldn’t have picked a better spot to service group meetings. The 10-story, 175-room property is adjacent to the Convention Center, Performing Arts Center and the Red Hat Amphitheater, as well as being within walking distance to the Central Business District. The Residence Inn Raleigh Downtown has rooftop bar, outdoor terraces and balconies; daily hot breakfast buffet, full-suites with kitchens, fitness center, and reserved parking in deck with keycard access.
www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/rdurx-residence-inn-raleigh-downtown
Now I know where to go ballroom dancing when in the Ormond Beach, FL area. The Ballroom has changed its name to Club Twelve Fifty and has added lots of dance classes, concerts and other events.
www.1250club.com; (386) 341-2800
PROPERTIES PRETTY UP FOR THEIR CLOSE-UPS
The Inn on Fifth & Club Level Suites in downtown Naples, FL is making lemonade from the watery lemons served up by Hurricane Irma. After the storm caused some flooding damage, the property has closed until the end of September to remodel some of the 119 rooms and suites, as well as some of the common spaces, such as the rear lobby, guest corridors, elevator vestibules and public restrooms. Upgrades and improvements will also be made to the hotel’s banquet rooms, banquet kitchen, spa and fitness center. Retail space and the Inn’s two restaurants – Ocean Prime Naples and Truluck’s Seafood, Steak and Crab House, on the property’s ground floor were unaffected and remain open, according to Phil McCabe, owner of the Inn on Fifth.
www.InnonFifth.com
YOU WON’T HAVE TO SPEAK 80 LANGUAGES IF YOU USE THIS
New on the market. Travis the Translator is a device that can be used by two or more people who are not familiar with the language of the country they’re visiting. You speak into the small, black unit and it repeats the words in the chosen language. Wish I’d had this unit on some of my recent trips.
www.travistranslator.com; magda@travistranslator.com; +31(0)6 47564304
MIAMI DESIGN DISTRICT OFFERS ART ENCOUNTERS OF THE FIRST KIND
Seven may be your lucky number. That’s how many times the Miami Design District (MDD), in partnership with Art Encounters, is offering free, twice-a-month guided art tours of the 18-block neighborhood. Locals and visitors are often familiar with the shopping, niche restaurants, and spicy cultural scene, but may not be as aware of the 30 contemporary art and one-of-a-kind building facades. Some of the curated public art pieces include John Baldessari’s “Fun (Part 1)” and “Fun (Part 2)” to Xavier Veilhan’s “Le Corbusier,” along with the iconic site-specific Buckminster Fuller Fly’s Eye Dome. Arts Encounters founder Margery Gordon (art critic, journalist and educator) will act as guide for the hour-long tours that showcases how art and design elevate and enhance public spaces. The free public art tours coincide with most MDD Family Day activities (Sundays) and MDD’s farmer’s market (Wednesdays). Walk-ins are welcome, but reservations preferred on the MDD website. Tours begin at 6 pm from Jungle Plaza for Wednesdays and 2:30 pm at the Moore Building for Sunday offerings. Here are the dates and times:
Wednesday, September 27^th
Sunday, October 15^th
Wednesday, October 25^th
Sunday, November 12^th
Wednesday, November 29^th
Sunday, December 3^rd
Wednesday, December 20^th
www.miamidesigndistrict.net/art-tours; www.miamidesigndistrict.net/; (305) 22.7100; MiamiDesignDistrict; @miamidesigndistrict; @designdistrict
GET READY FOR THE HOLIDAYS. THESE VENUES ARE!!!

I imagine celebrating holidays at Brocket Hall Estate in London, UK is like the stuff of fairy tales, princes and princesses, and happily-ever-afters. You don’t have to imagine what the three main venues on 543 acres of Hertfordshire countryside can offer. You just have to check out the promotions available for Christmas events at Brockett Hall Estate, The Golf and Country Club, or the more intimate Auberge du Lac. Events for the family or 150 of your clients, this luxury estate knows how to give party in an atmosphere of roaring fires, champagne toasts, and the traditional trappings of the holiday season. Promotion prices available.
christmas@brocket-hall.co.uk; 01707 368728; julie.appleby@brocket-hall.co.uk

Gaylord Palms Orlando in Kissimmee, FL has a spooky Halloween planned. From September 15 – October 29, you can show off your dance moves in the Monster Moves Bash and Costume Contests on Saturday nights or steel yourself for the Swamp Witch Escape Ghost Tour or Florida’s Haunted History Ghost Tour. Each of these events are available with specially-priced promotional overnights or weekend packages.
www. http://www.marriott.com/hotel-info/mcogp-gaylord-palms-resort-and-convention-center/gaylord-palms-

The London Cabaret Club in London, UK is offering 50% off to check out their new aerial shows during the month of September. Use code AERIAL 50. Of course, if you’re already planning a Christmas lunch or evening event and book the London Cabaret Club before the end of September, you will receive a full-scale holiday show. The venue will be outfitted as a festive pink-and-white winter wonderland. Santa’s little helpers will welcome you to experience a show packed with Christmas hits, aerial artists, Santas, elves, Scrooges and more. bookings@thelondoncabaretclub.com; 02072420002
CLEAN THE WORLD RUSHES TO AID HURRICANE VICTIMS
Even before Hurricane Irma struck with force on Caribbean islands, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Florida, Clean the World Foundation had partnered with Guest Supply, an industry leader in hospitality supply manufacturing and distribution serving the world’s top hotel chains and independent properties, to provide 60,000 hygiene kits and linens to Hurricane Harvey victims in Houston. Guest Supply is a subsidiary of Sysco, which is headquartered in Houston and employs 3,000 people in the area. Paul Xenis, president of Guest Supply said his company manufactures “Some of the most needed products by those impacted by Hurricane Harvey. Guest Supply is currently shipping towels, washcloths, blankets, soaps, bottled amenities, toothbrushes, toothpaste and other essential personal hygiene items that will be packaged into hygiene kits and sent by Clean The World.” Shawn Seipler, chairman of the Orlando-based Clean the World Foundation, said the organization’s greatest need to continue their mission is financial support and volunteers who can help package hygiene kits at their Orlando headquarters. Clean the World operates soap recycling centers in Orlando, Las Vegas and Hong Kong, and leads a “Global Hygiene Revolution” to distribute recycled soap and hygiene products from more than 5,000 hotel and resort partners to children and families in countries with a high pre-adolescent death rate due to acute respiratory infection (pneumonia) and diarrheal diseases (cholera) – which are two
of the top killers of children under the age of five.
www.CleanTheWorld.org
ARNIE PALMER’S CHARITABLE FOUNDATION SCORES WITH ITS GIVING 
Arnie’s Army Charitable Foundation (AACF), created to support golf legend Arnold Palmer’s lifetime mission of philanthropy, has expanded its reach to fight cancer. In addition to now being one of the signature fundraising events at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, presented by Mastercard, the annual PGA TOUR stop at Bay Hill Club & Lodge, Arnie’s March Against Children’s Cancer is a part of the weekly line-up of special events at three premier PGA Tour events. These include the recent World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone Country Club in Akron, OH; the Dell Technologies Championship at TPC Boston in Norton, MA; and the 2017 TOUR Championship at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, GA. The goal of each Arnie’s March is to generate significant, local philanthropic support for the children’s hospitals in unique ways that TOUR events provide. Arnie’s March Against Children’s Cancer was established in 2012 as a fundraising walk. The 2017 event raised more than $300,000 to support pediatric cancer research and clinical trials at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in Orlando, FL. The inaugural Arnie’s March Ohio, which took place during the recent Bridgestone Invitational in Akron, raised money to benefit the tournament’s signature charities, Akron Children’s Hospital and University Hospital’s Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital. The year’s final events were Arnie’s March Boston, which benefitted the MassGeneral Hospital for Children Cancer Center, and Arnie’s March Atlanta, which supports the Aflac Cancer & Blood Disorders Center of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.
www.arniesarmy.org.
Karen Kuzsel is a writer-editor based in the Orlando area who specializes in the hospitality, entertainment, meetings & events industries. She is an active member of ILEA and MPI and is now serving on the 2016 – 2017 MPI Global Advisory Board for The Meeting Professional Magazine for the second consecutive year. Karen writes about food & wine, spas, destinations, venues, meetings & events. A career journalist, she has owned magazines, written for newspapers, trade publications, radio and TV. As her alter-ego, Natasha, The Psychic Lady, she is a featured entertainer for corporate and social events. karenkuzsel@earthlink.net; www.ThePsychicLady.com; @karenkuzsel; @thepsychiclady.