RENOVATED AND COMING SOON
Bobby Flay to open Brasserie B in Caesars Palace by late 2023
Award-winning Chef Bobby Flay will introduce a new French concept at Caesars Palace. Brasserie B by Bobby Flay’s menu will be an intersection of French cuisine. “I’m thrilled to create my vision of a classic French brasserie for my long-time partners at Caesars Palace,” said Bobby Flay. “The design of Brasserie B by Bobby Flay will entice that classic Parisian feel. The energy will be bustling with casual professionalism, and the food will be a mix of brasserie staples and, of course, some flavor surprises I’ve become known for over the years.” Designed by Olivia Jane Design & Interiors, Brasserie B will feature an L-shaped, 20-seat bar with weathered marble, fluted wood and zinc accents. The main dining space will includes a raw bar with a lit canopy that spills over the tables below. The intimate, 140-seat dining room features blown glass chandeliers, cane-backed cafe chairs and handmade subway tile. Brasserie B is set to open in late 2023 in the Old Homestead space near Montecristo Cigar Bar and Nobu Hotel and Restaurant & Lounge.
Www.caesars.com/caesars-palace.
JourneyMexico, which conducts tours and provides access to luxury private properties across Mexico, has a plethora of just-opened and coming-soon properties. The just-debuted St. Regis Kanai Resort sits on a beachfront mangrove reserve between Playa del carmen and Cancún. This summer, also in the Kanai development, look for the opening of Riviera Maya Edition at Kanai, with six bars and restaurants, swimming pool and beach club, destination spa, and a penthouse suite. Inland, look this year for Soho House CDMX, a restored private residence in Mexico City´s vibrant Juárez neighborhood. French and Baroque influences, vintage furniture and more than 100 pieces of artwork by Mexican artists. The Pacific Coast expects 2023 to be resplendent with openings. Xala covers 3,000 acres of white sandy beaches and agricultural hillsides on the Costa Alegre, south of Puerto Vallarta. Developed with a socially and environmentally-conscious approach, Xala will have residences, a handful of hotel brands, beach clubs and community facilities, with a skate park, culture and learning centers, and reforestation and agricultural projects already in place. Chalacatepec Airport is also underway, just five minutes from the development. The Ritz-Carlton Reserve, Costa Canuva, is set within the beachfront Nauka development, a private community designed by world-renowned architect, Olson Kundig. There will be 90+ luxury hotel rooms, 14 suites, 20 luxury residences, a spa, a private beach club, and access to the community´s signature 18-hole golf course. Before the 2023 New Year’s Eve ball drops, four new properties are set to open in Baja California. Banyan Tree Valle de Guadalupe debuts this summer in the wine region with 30 ultra-luxe villas, spa, and a winery. St. Regis Los Cabos at Quivira, in the residential community of Quivera in Cabo San Lucas, will have more than 140 guest rooms, luxury residences, and fine dining restaurants. Four Seasons Resort and Residences Cabo del Sol is the second property for the luxury chain in the area. There will be 142 guest rooms, suites, and private villas. Also debuting will be Casa Velas Los Cabos, an adults-only boutique hotel, located between Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo. The property will have 80 guest rooms and gastronomic offerings created with organic ingredients from the sea and the hotel´s gardens.
HOT DEALS!
Garden tower at Villa Lilly in Italy has special pricing for four-night stays throughout May.
Rentyl Resorts has an extensive inventory of resort homes with as many as 13 bedrooms in many countries. I can’t list all their packages, but here are a couple to entice you to check their site out for yourself. Enjoy a discount for a four-night stay at Villa Lilly in Italy or maybe use booking code TIXCREDIT at The Bear’s Den Resort Orlando, for which you’ll get $200 towards two tickets to the theme park of your choice. Book 60 days in advance of your stay at Grand Solmar at Rancho San Lucas Resort Golf & Spa (Mexico) and get 28% off your price or maybe you’d like to check out Cambodia. Get one night free with a minimum 3-night to 5-night stay at One on The House at Koh Russey Villas & Resort. (There are blackout dates the week of Christmas and late January).
One of the private dining rooms at Mohegan Sun.
Summer is arriving and with it comes special promotional prices, such as this package by Mystic Country, CT’s Mohegan Sun. The resort has 275K sf of meeting space, 1,600 guest rooms, 40 restaurants, and 16 private dining rooms under the roof of a 5.5-million sf of space. free parking, free high-speed Wi-Fi, and coffee for just $51 a gallon. Book a mid-week group of at least 50 rooms for a stay from June through September and receive complimentary opening night reception with open bar & hors d’oeuvres, one suite upgrade per 20 rooms booked, and 10% off in-house AV equipment (but not labor).
https://meetings.mohegansun.com/
Dolphin Resort at Walt Disney World in Orlando, FL
Book any group meeting or event by June 30, 2023 and used by December 31, 2024 at the Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin Resort Hotels and receive triple Marriott Bonvoy points on eligible meetings, complimentary board meeting for up to 12 guests, and receive a VIP Fantasy Fireworks Yacht Cruise for up to 12 guests (restrictions apply). There are 2,619 guest rooms on the property, 348,711 sf of meeting and function space, 23 restaurants and lounges, and more than 128,000 sf of outdoor space. All guests have full access to amenities on both properties.
www.SwanDolphin.com/meetings; meetings@swandolphin.com; (407) 934-4290
One possible dish on the menu at The Garden Villa.
Book the Garden Villa in Winter Park, FL any day of the week in June, July, or August for only $1,000. (New clients only.) The Garden Villa at Florida Federation of Garden Clubs features a banquet hall, chef-presented food, spectacular gardens, professional planners onsite, and a relaxing ambiance. 125-person max. Weddings and corporate events.
Events@TheGardenVilla.com; (407) 745-5718
Wyndham Grand Orlando Resort Bonnet Creek has a great promo going for group stays.
Visit Florida hotel/resort members have many promotional packages available. You can see the whole list here: https://www.orlandomeeting.com/plan/meeting-offers/?utm_term=Learn%20More&utm_campaign=TEST-Orlando%20is%20the%20%5Cu201CNatural%5Cu201D%20Choice%20for%20Meetings&utm_conten. But one example would be at Wyndham Grand Orlando Resort Bonnet Creek. With this offer, which must be booked by May 31 and which is valid from June 1 through September 30, you get a choice of one reward with 25-5- peak room, two rewards with up to 75 rooms, and three rewards if you book more than 76 rooms. You also get double Wyndham Rewards points for hotel stays, gift cards or charitable donations; 3% rebate to the master account; one roundtrip VIP airport transfer; and up to 20 complimentary welcome drink at Bar 1521 or Back Bay. New bookings only. Get all the details. Use offer code VOSUMR23
salesleads@wyndhamgrandorlando.com; (407) 390-2480.
Plano Foodie Pass is free!
Through September 30, Visit Plano (TX) has a FREE and limited-time foodie pass! Accumulate points for checking-in at participating restaurants and redeeming coupons. Points can be cashed in for prizes. Once you check-in to 20 restaurants, you are automatically entered into the “Fit for a Foodie” sweepstakes, which includes a Chef’s Table Dinner Experience, amazing hotel stays, and up to $500 in restaurant gift cards!
www.visitplano.com/tasteofplano to register.
YOUR WELLNESS CAN WIN IN CAESARS ENTERTAINMENT GLOBAL WELLNESS DAY
Join the Challenge!
It’s not too late to participate in Caesars Entertainment Global Wellness Day. The contest runs from June 9 through June 10. Engage in wellness activities, earn bonus points, and be entered into three separate prize packages. Participants who place in the Final Top 10 can win a two-night stay at Caesars Palace, which will include a stretch limo to and from the airport, access to Qua Baths & Spa’s with a 50-minute massage, a Maverick Helicopter’s Neon & Nature tour of Las Vegas and Red Rock Canyon, and dinner for two ($400 Limit) at Chef Nobu Matsuhisa’s Nobu Restaurant. Exceed 25,000 points and be entered for a drawing at Lake Tahoe Retreat for a two-night stay at Harrah’s Lake Tahoe, the stretch limo ride to and front the airport, and a 50-minute massage at Reflections the Spa. The Atlantic City Getaway prize may be won by someone who exceeds 15,000 points during the Challenge. This prize includes a two-night stay in a King room at Caesars Atlantic City and a 50-minute massage at Qua Baths & Spa. The top prizes are valid through December 30, 2024 and are non-transferable. Didn’t earn enough cumulative points to be eligible for one of the grand prizes? You can still be entered into a drawing for Caesars Swag Bags by exceeding 7,500 points. The swag bag includes a tote filled with Caesars Entertainment branded baseball caps and water bottles. There are many ways to earn points, from donating to Meeting Professionals International to writing in a journal, to sharing your story. Check out all the possibilities.
https://www.hekahealth.com/caesarswell23
STOVA INTRODUCES NEW EVENT TECHNOLOGY SELECTION GUIDE
Event Technology Selection Guide cover
Stova introduces their new Event Technology Selection Guide and invites you to download it. By using the Guide, Stova says you can save time and effort by focusing on the most relevant and suitable technology solutions for your specific event needs. Also, enhance attendee experiences through the strategic implementation of innovative event technologies and optimize event operations, increase efficiency, and reduce costs by leveraging the right tools and platforms.
https://stova.io/the-2023-event-technology-selection-guide/
GIVING BACK IN COSTA RICA
Planting seeds to create forests in Costa Rica to support the Bosque Vivo Foundation’s reforestation efforts.
The Bosque Vivo Foundation is the first, and to date, the only high-altitude reforestation project in Costa Rica. This independent initiative began at a family-run organic dairy farm with sustainable practices, located on the hillsides of Barva Volcano in the country´s northern region. About 20% of the farm was natural forest, but the owners wanted to convert more so they began planting seeds. They went from 1,000 trees to 6,000 trees, discovering that people wanted to participate. To date, their farm is the first and only nursery that offers tree species for altitudes over 1,700m. Journey Costa Rica supports this meaningful sustainability project by contributing to the Journey Forest, where their team planted 150 trees to reforest a vanished wetland. The company also charges each of our travelers a 100 USD conservation fee that goes directly to Bosque Vivo to support their invaluable work. There are three possibilities for tourist experiences. Visitors can plant seeds, plant a tree in the forest. The seeds are not always available. Another is to work on the farm to understand how climate change impacts a working farm. The third would combine the first two experiences to understand the importance of forests and how to run a carbon neutral farm.
PLANNER APPLICATIONS FOR BOISE, ID FAM
Visit Boise invites planners to apply for their next introduction-to-Boise familiarization, July 12-15.
https://visitboise.com/meetings/fam-application/
APPLICATIONS FOR EXPERIENCE KISSIMMEE (FL) GRANTS PROGRAMS
June 16 is the deadline to apply for The Tourism Enhancement Grants Program. This grant by Experience Kissimmee (FL) is to provide funding assistance to organizations conducting special events and projects in Osceola County that increase room nights and revenue for Osceola County, or enhance Osceola County’s appeal to visitors, or support the TDC mission to “Promote Tourism for Osceola County”.
To apply, complete the application form (https://www.experiencekissimmee.com/partners/article/grants-application-form) and email it to Melissa Vallejo at grants@experiencekissimmee.com. For questions: (407) 840-1105.
APPLICATIONS FOR EVENT MARKETER’S 2023 IT LIST
Event marketing agencies from across North America are invited to enter (for free) Event Marketer’s 2023 Top 100 IT List by the June 30 deadline. The magazine’s Editors will gather intelligence about the applicants, review case studies, make their selections, and mesh the data into a special report out in September that will showcase the who’s-who and the what’s-what of the experiential marketing agency landscape. IT List agencies will be covered in Event Marketer magazine and online at eventmarketer.com with detailed coverage of each agency’s core capabilities.
Questions: Kait at kshea@accessintel.com; https://itlist.secure-platform.com/a
APPLICATIONS FOR EVENT MARKETER’S top 50 FABRICATORS
You have until June 30 to submit your free application to be named one of the Top 50 Fabricators serving corporate North America. Fabricators and exhibit builders should apply for the 2023 List.
Questions: Contact Kait at kshea@accessintel.com
PROMO DISCOUNT FOR MPI ORLANDO MEMBERSHIP
Use Promo Code: MPIOrlando23 to receive 20% off any New Preferred or Premier level membership only (No Renewals, Essential, Student or Retired), from May 11 through June 11, 2023. Meeting Professionals International promotes education and leadership in the hospitality, meetings & events industries.
CALL FOR SPEAKERS & JUDGES
The Florida Festivals & Events Association (FFEA) Sunsational Awards Committee is seeking qualified individuals to judge this year’s award entries. Judging is done online anytime between June 19-25 and all that is required is a computer with internet access. Judges do not need to be FFEA members. Any judge who is affiliated with an event can be excluded from judging the categories that the event would apply in so as to eliminate any possible bias. These are the areas of expertise needed: Graphic Design, Social Media, Photography, Broadcast Media, Public Relations, Advertising, Event Programming, and Virtual Events.
To be considered, please complete the form at https://www.ffea.com/f/38
Seeking Speakers for Catersource + The Special Event 2024. February 12-15 in Austin, TX at the Austin Convention Center. The Call for Speakers portal will be open until June 16. Submit your proposal per event to the link below. You will be notified of acceptance or denial sometime in September.
ARE YOU ELIGIBLE FOR EVENTENY’S NON-PROFIT PROGRAM?
501c3 organizations are eligible for Eventeny’s Non-Profit Program to get one year free of Eventeny Pro with a three-year contract (worth $2,800). Offer only valid for new customers. Deadline to apply is June 23.
BEST U.S. SUMMER TRAVEL DESTINATION SURVEY RESULTS
The latest WalletHub survey for the top U.S Summer Travel Destinations surprised me with results. The financial software company compared 100 metro areas across 41 key indicators of budget- and fun-friendliness. The data set ranges from the cost of the cheapest flight to the number of attractions to the average price of a two-person meal. What surprised me most (because I am based in the Orlando, FL hot spot for tourism), is that the Los Angeles, CA metro area ranked as the most attractive destination on the West Coast and the Washington D.C metro area is the most attractive on the East Coast. Florida did get mentioned as, like Texas, having multiple top destinations. Houston, TX metro area has the lowest nightly rate for a three-star hotel, which is 9.1 times less expensive than Portland, OR. The company took the question of summer travel to experts from across the country. Dan Plunkett, Ph.D. – Director, UWL Tourism Research Institute; Associate Professor, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, believes summer travel will exceed the numbers for 2022, with the most popular destinations being beaches and national parks. To avoid huge crowds, he suggested your trip be planned for early June or late August. Max Starkov – Adjunct Professor, New York University says domestic travel for shorter trips will be prevalent, while Europe will still be favored this summer for international destinations. He said, “Selected countries like Japan in Asia will also see significant increases in outgoing travel from the U.S. Once again, people will be taking shorter trips internationally but will be traveling.” Whatever you do and wherever you go, advance planning is necessary warns Michael Pretes, Professor and Chair, Department of Geoscience, University of North Alabama. “Book in advance to avoid disappointment! Another mistake is not taking advantage of various credit cards and points promotions. Many airline mileage plans and credit cards allow you to collect points that can come in very handy. Some higher-end credit cards offer valuable perks such as travel and rental car insurance, hotel elite status, airport lounge access, and travel discounts.” Justin Taillon, Professor and Department Head, Hospitality & Tourism Management, Highline College, agrees with Pretes and adds, “Prices mostly rise. Next, it is important to research destinations and learn your options. This includes everything from visa and vaccination requirements to hotel options. Third, the airlines make approximately $5 billion annually on baggage fees. I believe many Americans are overpacking. Overpacking is likely to cost billions. Fourth, I am against most forms of travel insurance. Yet, there are times when it is wise. I recommend a credit card that includes travel insurance if you are a frequent flyer. I have been saving thousands in recent years by only booking flights and hotels with a card that includes great travel insurance.” The extra expenses may mean a family vacation may not happen this year,” said Mary Jo Ross, Ph.D., CSEP, CPCE, Associate Professor, Slippery Rock University. “The best advice is to be creative and try some new adventures. Do not let where others go or what’s trending affect your choices and budget. Visit national and state parks, historical museums, and educational locations along with local hospitality fare, and support regional attractions; you may be pleasantly surprised!” Pent-up demand for travel since the pandemic could still be impacted by an economic downtown, cautions Ara Pachmayer, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Cal Poly Humboldt. “Those who have already planned their travel will probably still take the trip but may cut down their daily spending, spend less on accommodations, or perhaps end their trip a day or two earlier to reduce the overall cost of a trip.” If travel is not possible, he suggests being “A tourist in your community. Much like we saw in the financial crisis of the late 2000’s the staycation provides an alternative to a costly vacation. Head to your local visitor’s center and explore what your area has to offer instead.” In a separate survey on summer vacations, WalletHub found “38% of Americans would stop dining out for a year to earn a free summer vacation. Cutting out one expense to make room for another is a very good idea, but it’s easier to talk about eating in for a year than it is to actually do it,” said Jill Gonzalez, WalletHub analyst. “In addition, 38% of people are planning to use credit card rewards to make ends meet this summer. Regularly redeeming credit card rewards is a wise move, particularly since stockpiling points and miles can lead to devaluation or expiration.”
https://wallethub.com/edu/best-summer-travel-destinations/3792
FESTIVALS
Now through July 18: The 54th 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 54th 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.