HOTEL HAPPENINGS & PROGRAM PROMOTIONS – LATE JANUARY, 2019
SoundWaves brings music to Gaylord Opryland swimmers.
HOT DEALS!
The party possibilities just got hotter at Gaylord Opryland with SoundWaves, the nation’s first upscale indoor and outdoor resort water attraction. The four-acre park on three-levels, kept at a comfortably warm 84 degrees year-round, has 111,000 sf of indoor attractions, dining and amenities, as well as 106,000 sf of outdoor water attractions. The natural setting of nine acres of garden atriums in the hole are enhanced by rides intertwined with living walls and plant beds. Book your corporate function by August 16 at the Nashville, TN resort, using promotional code NCL.
https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/bnago-gaylord-opryland-resort-and-convention-center/?corporateCode=NCL; (800) 228-9290
Book The Towers at Pacifica at luxurious Pueblo Bonito Pacifica by February 16, travel by December 23, and you get some sweet incentives, other than being steps from the Pacific Ocean, 24-hour British Butler Institute-certified butler service, and upscale dining experiences. Included in this booking are sparkling wine and chocolate-covered strawberries upon arrival, $100 credit towards a private dinner on the beach, and a $100 credit towards a couple’s massage. Use Towers19 promotional code when booking.
What has a $100 million renovation done for the Diplomat Beach Resort (Hollywood, FL)? Book your next event by February 28, use by March 31, and find out for yourself. When you book a minimum of three-night programs with 25-1000 cumulative nights consumed on peak in the Curio Collection by Hilton, you can choose one of two new Winter Break programs. Start the day of the Diplomat Mornings Winter Beach Break with fresh Florida orange juice, continental breakfast and morning yoga. Maybe the afternoon option of the Diplomat Afternoons Winter Team Building Beach Break would be more to your attendees liking.
groupsales@DiplomatResort.com; (954) 602-8607.
Teambuilding outdoor activities at the diplomat beach resort in hollywood, fl
HOMETOWN PRIDE CAUSES RENAMING OF AIRPORT
This is one title Muhammad Ali did not have to box his way into. Louisville, Kentucky’s city airport has been renamed the Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport after its native son. The airport’s three-letter International Air Transport Association (IATA) Location Identifier – SDF – remains unchanged. “This is a historic day for the airport and our region,” said Jim Welch, Chair of the Airport Authority Board. “By choosing to rename the airport for Muhammad Ali, a world-renowned humanitarian honored as a United Nations Messenger of Peace and an athlete honored as Sports Illustrated’s Sportsman of the 20th Century, we as a community are honoring his legacy and celebrating this global icon who is a fellow Louisvillian.”
REDOS MAKE FOR TASTY TREATS AT RESORTS
The multimillion-dollar capital improvements phase 1 of the Winston-Salem Marriott is now complete. “As the largest full-service hotel in Downtown Winston-Salem, we’re a hub of activity for meeting and leisure guests alike,” said Richard Brooks, Area Director of Sales & Marketing for Twin City Quarter. The all-new M Club includes complimentary services such as a daily hot breakfast and evening service with hors d’oeuvres; Starbucks coffee; and a variety of cold beverages. Phase 1 includes a new 2,500-sf Health Club on the third floor, with 270-degree exterior views and a glass ceiling that enables natural light. All 319 guest rooms received new wood flooring, 55-inch mounted TVs, contemporary furnishings, and walk-in tiled showers. Also included is the redesigned restaurant under the culinary direction of award-winning Chef Richard Miller. The North Carolina has more than 15,000 sf of flexible meeting space, a complement to the 105,000-sf Benton Convention Center, which recently completed a $20 million reinvention.
www.Marriott.com/INTMC; (877) 888-9762.
North Beachat Scrub Island Resort, Spa and Marina
Two newly-branded restaurants enhancing eateries at Scrub Island Resort, Spa & Marina, a private-island, AAA Four Diamond resort in the British Virgin Islands, are specializing in Caribbean and Southern-influenced flavors. Cardamom & Co. goes Caribbean from fresh seafood specialties such as 10 spice seared snapper, or a Cardamom roasted duck break, or a fig glazed rack of lamb. I could make a meal of sides such as toasted sesame rice, coconut and peanut whipped potatoes, or coconut Calabaza soup. Open-air restaurant, Donovan’s Reef Marina Bar & Grill, offers such yummy-sounding delights as Caribbean shrimp & grits, nutty banana pancakes, and hand-crafted breakfast cocktails, such as the Caribbellini, with Domaine de Canton Ginger Liqueur, Cointreau, Peach, Orange, Prosecco and Cherry
www.scrubisland.com.; (888) 678-8912
COMING SOON TO A CITY NEAR YOU
Yo Ho Ho and a pirate’s resort life can be for you. At least if you’re looking to book the First LEGO® Pirate Hotel in North America, which opens in spring 2020. Connected to the existing LEGOLAND® Hotel and next to beautiful Lake Eloise, Pirate Island Hotel will be the third on-site accommodation at LEGOLAND Florida Resort. The hotel will have 150 pirate-themed rooms, an expansive pool and pool deck, hundreds of LEGO models and numerous character experiences. The new five-story hotel will also house a pirate-themed restaurant, an entertainment area for kid-friendly nightly programming, LEGO play pits and a lobby bar for adult buccaneers. Also, with every hotel reservation, guests will enjoy a free family-style breakfast for ye’ entire crew. Prior to the hotel’s opening, the LEGOLAND Florida Resort’s continued park expansion includes the 2019 openings of THE LEGO® MOVIE™ WORLD (March 27) and a miniature golf course.
Caesars Republic Scottsdale, first of one of their new brands without a casino.
This a first. Caesars Entertainment Corporation, known for their diversified casino offerings, is opening Caesars Republic Scottsdale (Scottsdale, AZ), its first non-gaming hotel in the United States. Located at the Scottsdale Fashion Square, the 11-story glass structure with 266 rooms is developed by HCW Development and operated by Aimbridge Hospitality, but Caesars Entertainment will license its brand, advise on design elements and integrate the industry’s leading loyalty network, Total Rewards. Additionally, the expected guest rooms, there will be a bridal suite and five luxury entertainment suites on the 11th floor. Five breakout rooms on the second floor can accommodate up to 40 people each and expand for up to 200. A second-floor executive board room is capable of seating 16 at a permanent table. Caesars Republic Scottsdale’s 7,000-sf column-free ballroom with 34-foot sliding glass doors will open out onto the adjacent lawn and able to accommodate up to 600. The ballroom is divisible into four sections and can accommodate banquets up to 500. The ballroom’s LED lighting system will allow event organizers to customize the ceiling color. On warmer nights, the 7th floor rooftop pool and bar – the only rooftop pool in Scottsdale, offers views of Camelback Mountain. Adjacent to the pool will be the hotel’s state-of-the-art fitness center. The Caesars Republic brand hotels will be individually styled, from the décor to the culinary offerings are inspired by local traditions and tastemakers. No two hotels within the brand will be exactly alike. They will each reflect the unique flavor of each host city.
NOW THIS IS A WAY TO SAY THANKS!
Saying thanks to the dedicated travel community who has made their company, Austin Adventures, successful has become a February tradition. For the second consecutive year, the Billings, MT-based tour company is raising the standard agent commission to 15% for all reservations and has scheduled a variety of programs specifically for the travel trade. Additional bones and incentives can include Amazon gift cards, a complimentary pre-trip accommodation night, or even a $250 flight voucher for each individual traveler (based on specific itineraries). Book a group of 10 and two additional guests will go for free (to be passed on to the client).
https://www.austinadventures.com/travel-resources/travel-professionals-appreciation-month/; https://www.austinadventures.com/; (800) 575-1540
CAESARS ENTERTAINMENT AND IMPACTNV UNITE TO FIGHT HUMAN TRAFFICKING
Fighting human trafficking alone would be overwhelming, so entertainment giant, Caesars Entertainment, and ImpactNV, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Southern Nevada dedicated to mobilizing cross-sector leadership to address pressing social needs and building a better community, have partnered to create the Shared Future Fund. “The formation of The Shared Future Fund underscores Caesars Entertainment’s belief that every human being deserves an equal opportunity for a bright future and fulfilling life. In our inaugural year, The Shared Future Fund will prioritize solutions centered on human trafficking, which is an issue that particularly affects women and children,” said Jan Jones Blackhurst, Executive Vice President of Public Policy and Corporate Responsibility at Caesars Entertainment. “As the first social impact fund for Nevada, we hope that our new venture can be a model for companies and communities collaborating to end systematic inequity.” The inaugural Spring fundraiser will support women and children affected by trauma associated with human trafficking. The Shared Future Fund has three intersecting priority areas: human trafficking, homelessness and immigrant integration. Nevada ranks second for highest number of sex trafficking cases per 100,000 residents in the country with more than twice the national average. The state has the third-highest rate of unsheltered individuals in the nation; more than 300 families with children are homeless every night. The fund will design and develop a plan for long-term impact by 2020. Immigrants comprise 20 percent of Nevada’s population and a quarter of its workforce. More than 100,000 U.S. citizens in Nevada live with at least one family member who is undocumented. The Shared Future Fund will develop an approach to provide new Nevadans with pathways to crucial community connection, education, employment, language access, naturalization and healthcare.
www.CaesarsMeansBusiness.com; www.caesars.com; www.impact-nv.org.
Brand Memories program at Museum of Brands.
BRAND MEMORIES OFFERS HELP FOR DEMENTIA
One of the more interesting venues I write about is in London, United Kingdom. The Museum of Brands is not only colorful in the background and displays throughout the rooms it rents for private and corporate functions, but they also present some direct-focused lectures that I’d attend even if not in my field, such as the February 4 lecture on Neuroscience and Consumerism. Nielsen’s Sandra Murphy will explain the psychology behind consumer actions and how those judgements are made on a subconscious level. With 250 events held last year, the Museum is constantly looking for new ways to benefit the community. Their new Brand Memories two-year project is just one such way. They will be providing activities, education and volunteering opportunities for people living with dementia, their families, care givers, and healthcare professionals.
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 – 2020 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.
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