HOT DEALS!

Book a cruise by the end of May to the Arctic or Antarctica aboard the all-suite 114-passenger Sea Spirit for 2024 from Poseidon Expeditions and receive up to 20% off regular rates. Poseidon Expeditions focuses on remote polar cruise exploration in the high latitudes. From June through the end of October, these discounts will be reduced by five percent, still a considerable savings for polar adventurers. The trip includes airfare between Oslo, Norway and Longyearbyen, Svalbard, where the cruise begins and ends. The Sea Spirit has two multi-purpose lounges for educational programming and entertainment, a restaurant that can accommodate all passengers in one seating, a well-stocked polar library, and ample outdoor deck space to enjoy the polar landscapes and wildlife. Activities on and off the ship are directed by a team of experienced, bilingual polar guides, scientists, and educators. Shore landings provide the chance to explore and to partake in guide-led interpretive walks and photography workshops. Optional Sea kayaking and Zodiac cruising are offered in both polar regions and optional camping can be arranged in Antarctica. The ship’s expedition staff-to-passenger ratio of 1:9 is one of the most generous in the business. There are lots of packages and destination events.

https://poseidonexpeditions.com/; SalesUSA@poseidonexpeditions.com; (347) 801-2610. In Germany, Austria and Switzerland: Anfrage@poseidonexpeditions.com; +49-40-7566-8555. In the UK and elsewhere on the globe, Sales@poseidonexpeditions.com; +44-870-068-9142.

“Fall in Love on Fifth”, a new two-night romance package at the iconic Inn on Fifth in downtown Naples, FL is available through the Spring. In addition to the Club Level stay in a King suite with a spacious verandah that overlooks the Avenue in the AAA Four-Diamond, Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star property, you receive a bottle of champagne with rose petal turndown, romantic dinner for two on private balcony or in the privacy of your suite, a couples massage at Spa on Fifth, and an engraved keepsake. Club Level amenities automatically include deluxe continental breakfast each morning, chef-driven hors d’oeuvres, artisan cheese and charcuterie boards, full bar and desserts each evening in the Club Level lounge, a personal concierge, and secluded rooftop retreat.

www.InnOnFifth.com/naples-hotel-special-offers; (239) 403-8777

Stay three nights and receive the fourth night free or stay five nights and receive the sixth and seventh nights free at the One&Only Palmilla resort, just a short distance from the Los Cabos (SJD) international airport. The resort is located on a secluded stretch of Los Cabos´ dramatic coastline between the Sea of Cortez and beautiful tropical gardens. This promotional package is good for use through December 18, 2023. The luxe resort has a 27-hole Jack Nicklaus golf course, 13 private spa treatment rooms, and multiple restaurants, including signature Seared restaurant, created by Michelin-star chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, indoor-outdoor cliffside dining at Agua, casual poolside menu at Breeze, and modern Japanese cuisine at Suviche.

www.pueblobonito.com;  (800) 990-8259

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

OPEN AND COMING SOON!

Thirty minutes from the Cancun Airport along the beachfront in Riviera Maya is the newly redesigned 72-room Maroma, a Belmond Hotel. Remodeled by designer Tara Bernerd, the reopening of the luxury property is slated for May. Next up will be 10 brand new waterfront suites, a nature-focused wellness experience, and new sustainability initiatives. The property will have five restaurants and bars serving Mexican favorites and international woodfired cuisine.

https://www.journeymexico.com/hotel/maroma-resort-spa?

When I have thought about river rafting my first thoughts are of wild rides down rapids and me ending up at the bottom of the river, splayed against jutting rocks. Apparently, I am quite mistaken about river rafting always being quite so volatile and Holiday River Expeditions has taken on the challenge of guiding river rafting journeys specifically geared towards camping newbies or scaredy-cats like me. The Salt Lake City, UT-based company has a new Intro to Overnight Rafting on the Colorado River tour that pays particular attention to easing all those anxieties. “Whitewater rafting looks exciting but can feel intimidating if you’re new to it. We designed our Intro to Overnight Rafting trip to welcome individuals or families to the river lifestyle. Expert guides and the casual pace of this trip make it accessible and fun, even if it’s someone’s first time rafting, camping, or both,” explains Trip Leader, Liz Hall, who helped design this new program. There are two 2023 departures for this tour: July 18-20 and August 8-10. Children welcome from age 5. The journey covers 25 scenic river miles. The expedition travels through red sandstone cliffs, dubbed Ruby and Horsethief Canyons, on the border of Colorado and Utah. This stretch of river offers stunning wilderness and teems with wildlife such as bighorn sheep, river otters, cliff swallows and bald eagles. Guides will point out sections of metamorphic Vishnu Schist (black) and Zoroaster Granite (pink) while floating Horsethief and Ruby Canyons, the only places on the Colorado River outside of the Grand Canyon where these Precambrian rocks are exposed. Guides will also share their knowledge of the river and the human history of the canyon. This region is the traditional homeland of the Núu-agha-tʉvʉ-pʉ̱ (Ute) people who still occupy small portions of these ancestral lands.

For a copy of the 2023 catalog, (800) 624-6323; info.holidayriver@gmail.com; https://www.bikeraft.com/family-rafting-trips/intro-to-overnight-rafting/

YOU NEEDN’T BE IRISH TO DRINK THIS GREEN MARGARITA!

National Margarita Day is February 22 and in Los Cabos, Mexico at Pueblo Bonito Resorts, it’s almost a sacred celebration. The tequila-based cocktail allegedly originated in Tijuana, Mexico, in the 1930s. With or without a salt rim, margaritas contain no carbohydrates or sugar. Mixologists say if 100% blue agave tequila is used there won’t be a headache afterwards. Each year, Pueblo Bonito Resorts turns to their mixologists to create a signature margarita to mark the occasion. This year Gustavo Eduardo Estrada Ortiz, mixologist at Pueblo Bonito Los Cabos Beach Resort, shares his Emerald Green Margarita recipe, which can double as the drink of choice on St. Patrick’s Day (March 17). I will share his recipe, but if you want all the directions, contact me directly (my info is below in the bio box). 2 oz Reposado tequila (Reposado tequila has “rested” in oak barrels for several months, mellowing the sprit and giving it a pale straw color); 1 oz fresh lime juice; 1 oz natural simple syrup; 1 oz Triple Sec; 1 piece of kiwi and one of cherry; 1 tsp Tajin spice; and ice. Oh, be informed that two toasts are appropriate when drinking Pueblo Bonito’s Emerald Green Margarita: Salud (Spanish for good health); and Slainte (pronounced SLAN-cha, Irish Gaelic for cheers).

www.pueblobonito.com

ARCHES NATIONAL PARK REQUIRES ADVANCE RESERVATIONS

No, you can’t just decide on the spur of the moment to go camping or hiking through any of the 2,000 arches in the Arches National Park (Moab, UT), but that does not stop you from visiting.  Initially a 2022 policy to upgrade the visitor experience by eliminating overcrowding worked so well that now it is a permanent plan. From April 1 through October 1, visitors must have a timed entry reservation made three months prior to date of choice to enter Arches National Park between 7 am and 4 pm. Reservations are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis at www.Recreation.gov. A single booking of a timed entry ticket covers each registered visitor. The only cost visitors incur is a $2 Recreation.gov processing fee to obtain the ticket as well as paying the standard park entry fee. Missed registering? No worries. The timed entry program does not apply to tour operators such as Moab Adventure Center who have concessions contracts. Moab Adventure Center is a division of Western River Expeditions, an adventure travel company headquartered in Salt Lake City, UT with operations and offices in Moab and Fredonia, AZ.

https://www.moabadventurecenter.com/arches-national-park; https://www.moabadventurecenter.com/; http://www.westernriver.com/

APPLICATIONS OPEN

Calling all Speakers! The 29th Annual Florida Festivals & Events Association Conference (August 22-24) in Bonita Springs, FL at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point is seeking speakers. They want inspiration and actionable insights for our attendees.” The audience ranges from Municipalities to non-profits to Independent Event Planners. Successful past topics have included sponsorship recruitment and retention, marketing and social media strategies, event operations and logistics, volunteer management, technology and professional development. FFEA event attendees are event management professionals and industry suppliers. Members attend to both improve their careers through professional development and to gain fresh perspective and new ideas for their events. There are three types of sessions: Breakout Session – 75 minutes (can be presentation, case study, panel, etc); Learning Roundtables – 30 minutes; and Microsessions – three slides, three minutes per slide. February 22 is the deadline for speaker applications. March 12, speakers are notified of acceptance.

https://www.ffea.com/p/convention/call-for-speakers; https://cdn.saffire.com/files.ashx?t=fg&rid=FFEA&f=Speaker_Agreement_Terms_and_Conditions(7).pdf; https://www.ffea.com/p/convention/agenda-registration. (407) 203-1334; info@ffea.com

Calling all entertainers interested in showcasing to more than 300 event professionals during the Annual Florida Festivals & Events Association Conference (August 22-24) in Bonita Springs, FL at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point. The attendees represent events, festivals and fairs, as well as industry suppliers and sponsors. The conference hosts are seeking music, dance, visual and novelty acts. There are options for smaller stage acts, roving acts, and video showcases. Deadline to apply is April 2.

https://www.ffea.com/p/convention/entertainment-showcase; 407.203.1334; www.ffea.com

Calling all event-oriented students. You may be eligible for one of two scholarship programs offered by the Florida Festivals & Events Association. Winning may provide free attendance at the Annual Conference at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point in Bonita Springs, FL, August 22-24, and the chance to learn with the FFEA Community. The Harvey Franklin Campbell Student Scholarship Award is open to current students at who are studying in an event management related program. The Emerging Leader Scholarship Award is open to first-time conference attendees who have been employed in the industry for less than three years and have demonstrated a strong desire to positively affect the future of the event planning profession. The deadline to apply for either of these is March 31.

https://www.ffea.com/p/convention/scholarships/student-scholarship; https://www.ffea.com/p/convention/scholarships/emerging-leader

Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®), producers of the Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference (HITEC®), has opened the application process for the North American Entrepreneur 20X (E20X) start-up pitch competition that will be held June 28, 2023 at HITEC North America in Toronto, Canada. Deadline to apply is March 15. Established in 2015, E20X gives innovative hospitality technology startups an opportunity to pitch their cutting-edge ideas to a room full of HITEC attendees and a panel of expert judges. Two awards will be presented to the top competitors: the Judges’ Choice Award, selected by the panel of judges, and the People’s Choice Award, selected by popular vote. The application asks potential participants for company details including a business description and history; as well as how their solution relates to hospitality and its competitive landscape. Applicants are also asked to submit a three-minute pitch video. There is a $200 USD application fee. Selected participants will have access to a team of mentors before the competition. Additionally, 2023 competitors will be given space in the E20X pavilion in the HITEC exhibit hall June 27–29 to demonstrate their solution to HITEC attendees. HFTP will also hold an E20X competition in 2023 at HITEC Dubai at The Hotel Show Dubai, May 23-24, located at the Dubai World Trade Center. HITEC North America will take place on June 26–29 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in Toronto. HITEC is the world’s largest hospitality technology exposition and conference. It offers a unique combination of top-notch hospitality technology education, led by industry peers and experts, and an unparalleled trade show showcasing the latest hospitality technology products and services.

www.hftp.org.

Call for entries for the 2023 Esprit Awards. Presented and owned by the International Live Events Association (ILEA) to recognize and award the most outstanding live events in the industry each year. The 2023 Esprit Awards include 16 categories recognizing all aspects of live events, from planning to production, from design to event. Deadline to apply is May 31.

https://ileahub.com/EspritAwards

Call for speakers and trainers for the LDI Conference 2023, from November 30 – December 5 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, West Hall. Be a part of the LDInstitute (full day or two-day classes, from hands-on training on lighting consoles, media servers, or the latest software, to rigging, projection, pixel mapping, and more. Application deadline April 3. Speakers needed for the Conference (December 2 -4). Sessions are usually 30-90 minutes long and can range from a solo talk to a panel discussion on entertainment design and technology subjects. We are especially open to sessions led by an ETCP recognized trainer or with ETCP credits, so certified riggers and electricians can attend LDI to obtain renewal credits. LDI will be co-located with our sister show, DSE (Digital Signage Experience), so please consider sessions that would appeal to both audiences (projection on large LED screens; content creation; pixel mapping, etc…) Submission deadline is April 17.

https://questex.surveysparrow.com/s/LDI-2023-Call-for-Speakers/tt-5MqBmKcFSpyW7ifkyS5NkC?utm_source=email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=LDI-Show-LDI+Show

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.

HEAVY SNOWFALL INSPIRES WHITEWATER RAFTING

January’s heavy snowfall over the Colorado River watershed resulted in the Upper Colorado River Basin getting 122.81% of the Feb. 13 average. This represents the second-highest recorded snowfall in the past 10 years. “While we still have a few months to go, this initial snowfall bodes well for a robust rafting season ahead on Utah rivers,” underscores Brandon Lake, co-owner and CMO of Western River Expeditions. The twofold benefits of the snowpack are high water for river rafters and possible drought mitigation. High water makes some rapids more exciting and gives rafters more time for side canyon hikes and exploring the terrain around their river camps because they get to the camps faster. The early season snowfalls and anticipated spring snow accumulations impact Utah’s Cataract Canyon on the Colorado River, as well as Desolation Canyon on the Green River. The potential high water gives Western River Expeditions greater flexibility to match up the craft it uses depending on the water’s intensity.
(866) 904.- 160 (Local: (801) 942-6669); http://www.westernriver.com/

FESTIVALS

February 24-26: Pensacon is the Gulf Coast’s premier pop culture convention celebrating the worlds of science fiction, fantasy, horror, comic books, cosplay, animation, video games, books and more. The three-day event takes place across multiple venues including the Pensacola Bay Center, Pensacola Cultural Center, Rex Theatre, Pensacola Museum of Commerce, and the De Luna Event Space.

https://www.visitpensacola.com/events/pensacon/; (850) 454-8741

April 27-30: Pensacola, FL is the last stop for the Tall Ships. A fleet of five ships available for onboard tours, sail-aways, private parties and more.

May 25-29,: 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

May 30–July 18: The 54^th annual World Series of Poker ^® (WSOP^®) will be held for the second consecutive summer at its new home of Paris Las Vegas and the future Horseshoe Las Vegas.  The 54^th annual edition of the tournament builds onto the legacy of Caesars Entertainment’s WSOP, as the first tournament was played at the original Horseshoe Las Vegas in 1970. “The historic debut of the WSOP on the Las Vegas Strip delivered in a big way, and we’re excited to announce our Summer 2023 dates in time for the holidays,” said World Series of Poker Senior Vice President and Executive Director Ty Stewart. The 2023 WSOP schedule will feature the always anticipated $10,000 No-Limit Hold’em World Championship, best known as “The Main Event^®,” along with new events and the return of timeless classics. The flagship opening event is being billed as “Mystery Millions,” a $1,000 buy-in No-Limit Hold’em tournament featuring mystery bounties from $10,000 to $1 million for each knockout and a $1 million guaranteed first prize through the traditional prize pool. Last summer’s first mystery bounty event was a stunning success with a total of 14,112 entries and a $1,000,000 bounty won by poker pro Matt Glantz.
www/wsop.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.