HOT DEALS!

Maybe the name of iconic Inn on Fifth & Club Level Suites’ new “To the Nines” package should have had the word “opulence” included in the title. If you are seeking to have a vacation that is “to the moon and back” luxurious, check out this offer that is available until May 31, 2023. The Naples, FL boutique property is offering luxury experiences that showcase the best of the Naples lifestyle. Designed for two, the package centers on a three-night stay in either the King Supreme Suite or the elegant Presidential Suite, both with spacious verandahs overlooking Fifth Avenue South. Club Level amenities include deluxe continental breakfast each morning, chef-driven hors d’oeuvres, artisan cheese & charcuterie boards, full bar and desserts each evening in the Club Level lounge, as well as a personal concierge, secluded rooftop retreat, turndown service and more. The “To the Nines” package includes an hour-long  private helicopter tour of the Florida Gold Coast; a two-hour sunset cruise aboard Sweet Liberty, a sleek 53-foot catamaran; dinner ($300 dining credit) at Ocean Prime Naples; and use of a luxury car for a self-guided day tour of the area. The package also includes chauffeured transportation to and from Southwest Florida Regional Airport or Naples Airport, and an array of Club Level amenities. The Inn on Fifth & Club Level Suites is a AAA Four-Diamond, Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star property.

www.InnOnFifth.com; (239) 403-8777

2022 hasn’t yet had the final ball drop and already time is running out to book Grand Canyon rafting vacations for 2024! You read that correctly. 2023 guided raft trips with Western River Expeditions are already booked out. “People ask us why we are taking reservations now for 2024; why not just focus on 2023?” said Brandon Lake, co-owner and CMO. “Due to these high-demand trips, we have to look two years ahead. Western’s 6 and 7-Day Grand Canyon trips for 2023 are sold out, and space is very limited in the upcoming season for shorter departures of 3 and 4 days.” The Colorado River rafting trips through the Grand Canyon run April into September. Longer six- and seven-day trips with the thrills of class III-V rapids are open to guests as young as 12. The minimum age is nine for three and four-day trips that come with class II-III rapids. Rafting trips include hiking in the Grand Canyon and access to waterfalls, slot canyons, native ruins and geologic wonders that the 5 million or so casual hikers from the rim will simply never see.

https://www.westernriver.com/grand-canyon-rafting; (866) 904.1160 (Local: (801) 942.6669)

I haven’t used PhotoTap but I like what the Hollywood, FL company promises to do and if you want to check them out, there are two Hot Deals! available. PhotoTap delivers branded event photos with a simple tap. Attendees receive their photos in six seconds or less via email or text. No forms to fill out. No waiting. No inconvenience. Book their service by November 30 and receive 7% off all 2023 events. Book by December 31 and get a 5% discount for all 2023 events.

https://phototap.com

You have until December 31 to save on Pixilated’s two festive photo booth packages, including the Holiday Essentials Bundle and the Company Holiday Party Booth. Both include a photo booth rental kit, your choice of one of our merry holiday themes, and a set of Christmas photo booth props. Choose between the Base 8MP camera (budget-friendly) or the Pro 18MP camera for crisp, clear high-resolution pictures. A choice of holiday themes, and each includes a set of three digital holiday overlay frames. The Company Holiday Party Booth adds your brand logo on the photo booth screen and to the festive borders applied to your photos! After guests snap a photo, they’ll be able to swipe through the frames and apply their favorite. Tell them Karen Kuzsel or Hotel Happenings & Program Promotions sent you!!!

https://pixilated.com/products

December 18 is the final day to save 22% for booking one of Mainsail Vacation Rentals’ new luxurious condominiums at The Maison, for use by February 28, 2023. The Maison is a private enclave on Islamorada in the Florida Keys. Each four-bedroom, 4½-bath residence is more than 3,200 sf and has pool and ocean views. Through a strategic partnership with Homes & Villas by Marriott, guests can earn and redeem points with Marriott Bonvoy.

www.MainsailHotels.com

JOIN THIS VIRTUAL HOLIDAY SOCIAL!

Meeting Professionals International (MPI’s) Small Business Owners Community invites you to their holiday virtual networking event!  SBO is a community made up of small business owners in the meetings and events space. Our holiday event is a great way to meet our members and have a little bit of holiday fun! I am encouraging you to attend because in addition to our networking chat to get to know one another, I, in my non-costumed persona of Natasha, The Psychic Lady, will be leading you in a fun Lip Print reading. As I am the originator of this style of reading, I can guarantee it’s a 30-second to minute long personality reveal that has been a hit for corporate and social events. Anyone (and this includes men) can participate. Here’s what you need. Lip stick and a white napkin or piece of paper. Instructions: Pre-kiss the paper (preferably) or do so immediately. (Feel free to wipe off after doing so.) Either kiss the paper when in a flat position or it can be folded and then kissed. Hold it up to the camera with the top lip on top when I tell you to. The registration link is in the graphic. Contact me if you have any questions.

BEST U.S. CITIES FOR THANKSGIVING

I try not to eat my way into oblivion on Thanksgiving, but according to personal finance website WalletHub, many American males (who responded to their survey) spend an average of 9 hours  27 minutes on a treadmill to burn the 4,500 calories consumed at the average Thanksgiving meal. That is just one of the fascinating facts revealed in WalletHub’s Best Places to Go for Thanksgiving 2022 report, which compared the 100 largest U.S. cities across 20 key metrics. The metrics range from the cost of Thanksgiving dinner and share of delayed flights to volunteer opportunities per capita and forecasted precipitation. Here are some other fun facts: The average person spends $301 over the five-day weekend. Americans sped an estimated $835 million on turkeys, with 46 million killed for this holiday dinner. One statistic both surprised and alarmed me: about $26 million in property loss is caused by residential building fires each Thanksgiving. Without further delay, Atlanta, GA came in first, with Orlando, FL close behind. From #3 Las Vegas, NV, the list continues to Raleigh, NC; Gilbert, AZ; Tampa, FL; Plano, TX; Durham, NC; Irving, TX; Miami, FL; Boise, ID; Scottsdale, AZ; Dallas, TX; Pittsburgh, PA; Fort Wayne, IN; Norfolk, VA; Charlotte, NC; Chesapeake, VA; Lexington-Fayette, Ky; and finally, #20 is Seattle, WA.
https://wallethub.com/edu/best-places-to-go-for-thanksgiving/67603

MOAB, UT DOESN’T REST EVEN IN THE QUIET SEASON

Guided hikes and airplane tours of Moab Arches National Park are still available during the park’s “quiet season”, but Moab Adventure Center also encourages DIY activities for independent explorations, for which the guide company can lend expertise. Rent a jeep, explore hiking trails with provided maps, walking sticks, and gear, or rent one of their mountain bikes. Off-season visitors do not need timed-entry permits.

https://www.moabadventurecenter.com/

PUEBLO BONITTO IS OVER THE MOON FOR PREGNANT MOMS-TO-BE

Pueblo Bonito knows expectant women need a pampering vacation before the realities of sleepless nights and free time fly away to the tune of lullabies and the drone of The Baby Shark song. The Los Cabos, Mexico deluxe all-inclusive, couples-only Pueblo Bonito Pacifica Golf & Spa Resort has a soothing solution. They are offering a Blissful Babymoon Package. “We’ve created this package to cater to millennials, a key generation roughly 26 to 41 years of age, who have a tendency to spend money on experiences rather than material possessions,” said René Virgilio, general manager of Pueblo Bonito Pacifica. The four-night, five-day package features the option of a deluxe guest room at Pacifica or a private pool suite in The Towers, the luxury accommodations within the resort hotel. Included in the package of amenities are private transportation from and back to the Los Cabos International Airport (arrival and departure), an all-inclusive guest room and food & beverage program, including specialty ‘mocktails’; welcome signage (in room and with amenity); and a special gift (baby booties, logo onesie newborn pajamas). There will also be an expectant mother massage and couples massage at the wellness inspired Armonia Spa, spa man-pedi for the mother-to-be; access to cabana beach beds, with butler service; and a private chef’s dinner for two on the beach. Additionally, there will be exclusive access to Quivira Golf Club, a Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course (one tee time); mini-maternity sunset photo shoot (15 fully edited images); and all taxes and gratuities. The package is available through April 2023.

FESTIVALS

Nov. 18 – Jan. 1: Gaylord Hotels sparkle with the gleam of fresh ice carved into memorable movies and characters. If you’ve never been, dress warm from head to toe, head toe first down the ice slides, drink hot chocolate, and see all the amazing entertainment. Truly these are family events that resonate. The ice cast of A Charlie Brown Christmas is at Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center in Aurora (CO) while Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer shines his nose at Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville, TN. The Polar Express toots its whistle at Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center in Grapevine, TX; The Christmas Story is retold at Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, MD; and Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center in Kissimmee, FL displays Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The dates may change by a day or two so check each Marriott Bonvoy resort for details.

May 25-29, 2023: The world’s largest tribute to The Beatles, Abbey Road on the River returns to the Big Four Station Park in Jeffersonville, IN. Already scheduled

are Legends Live! Felix Cavaliere’s Rascals (“Good Lovin,” “I’ve Been Lonely Too Long,” “Groovin,” “A Beautiful Morning,” “A Girl Like You,” and “People Got to Be Free.”) and Micky Dolenz of The Monkees (“Daydream Believer,” “Last Train to Clarksville,” “I’m a Believer,” and many more.) The 2023 line-up also includes Tony Kishman, creator and band leader of Live and Let Die, a full multimedia experience with five multi-talented musicians paying tribute to the music of Paul McCartney. Other headlining acts include Colombia’s Classicstone performing hits from Queen, The Beatles, and more, and Chicago’s BritBeat: A Tribute to the Beatles.  More than 50 bands from around the world will perform at event, including homegrown Kentuckiana acts Erin Hill, Laren Rapp and Co., DoorWay, Nick Peay, The Rigby’s, Mary’s Dad’s Band, CMN Trio and The School of Rock. Abbey Road on the River is sponsored by the City of Jeffersonville Parks Department, Southern Indiana Tourism, WAVE, The Radisson Hotel, The Sheraton Hotel, Budweiser, Seagrams 7, Clark Memorial Health, The News & Tribune, and WAKY radio. www.arotr.com

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 International Live Events Association, Meeting Professionals International and the Society of Professional Journalists. She is now serving on the 2022-2023 MPI Independent and Small Business Owners Advisory Board. 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. Karen@KarenKuzsel.com; www.karenkuzsel.com; www.ThePsychicLady.com; @karenkuzsel; @thepsychiclady.