NEWLY OPENED AND COMING SOON

Nobu at Paris Las Vegas has opened. It’s the second Nobu restaurant on the Las Vegas Strip that Chef Nobu Matsuhisa has opened with partner Caesars Entertainment to showcase the Chef’s signature New Style Japanese cuisine. Natural wood elements add to the relaxing atmosphere of the 140-seat restaurant that features fresh fish and seafood in the form of nigiri and sashimi. This restaurant opening follows the recent redesign of 182 guest rooms and suites at Nobu Hotel Caesars Palace, the luxury boutique hotel within the larger destination resort. Caesars Entertainment continues to expand its partnership with Nobu Hospitality – the global lifestyle brand founded by Nobu Matsuhisa, Robert De Niro and Meir Teper. At Caesars Atlantic City, Nobu restaurant is scheduled to open in the late summer of 2022, followed by the anticipated debut of Nobu Hotel Atlantic City by the end of 2022. Additionally, Nobu Hotel and restaurant in New Orleans are planned as a part of the transformation of Harrah’s New Orleans into Caesars New Orleans.
www.caesars.com/paris-las-vegas/restaurants/nobu.

Eight new dining and entertainment venues open this summer at Tropicana Atlantic City (Atlantic City, NJ) as part of Caesars Entertainment’s commitment to invest $400 million into its Atlantic City resorts by 2023.
The plans for Tropicana join the game-changing enhancements that are taking place at Caesars Atlantic City and Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City, including $170 million in room and suite enhancements across all three properties. NOBU Atlantic City and Gordon Ramsay Hell’s Kitchen arrive later this year and a brand-new show by Spiegelworld arrives next year at Caesars Atlantic City. New arrivals this year include the 5,000 sf BBQ restaurant, Wild Honey Smokehouse and Tavern; Ossu Japanese Tavern; Hash House A Go Go; and Purple Zebra, a daiquiri bar which pops up for July 4. There will also be Gin Rickey’s, a sing-along bar with dueling pianos in a 4,000-sf space in The Quarter. Debuting this fall, The Royce Social Hall is an American beer hall meets an adult rec room, except the rec room is a 10,000-sf entertainment destination. Hungering for Italian food? After 40 years of serving up fresh house-made pasta, Il Verdi has a new, beautiful beachfront location and design. Hawthorne & Cork also opens this fall. It offers an intimate and refined new signature bar and lounge experience.

www.tropicana.net; www.CaesarsMeansBusiness.com; www.CAESARSFORUM.com.

The Inn on Fifth & Club Level Suites (Naples, FL) has been around for 25 years, but for the ninth consecutive year, it has received Forbes Travel Guide’s prestigious Four-Star rating. It joins The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Naples as one of just four hotels on Florida’s west coast to make the list (ForbesTravelGuide.com). Effective May 11, Pebblebrook Hotel Trust has acquired the property, which will be managed by Noble House Hotels & Resorts.

www.InnOnFifth.com.

Pueblo Bonito Golf & Spa Resorts (Las Cabos, Mexico) has expanded their offerings with a new upscale brand. Pueblo Bonito Vantage is designed for experienced travelers who are looking for a high-end experience. The first property to represent the new brand—the Pueblo Bonito Vantage San Miguel de Allende, is under construction and slated to open by the first half of 2023. The quaint colonial town is marked by sloping cobblestoned lanes and colorful, well-preserved 17^th– and 18^th-century Spanish colonial buildings. San Miguel’s historic core is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city is tucked away in the central highlands roughly equidistant from Guadalajara and Mexico City and an hour’s drive away from both Leon and Queretaro airports. The prime location overlooks the city’s historic quarter and the iconic Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel (Church of Saint Michael, the Archangel). The hotel will have a gourmet restaurant, rooftop bar, and grassy outdoor area for events. There will be 111 rooms and suites, plus 45 full ownership residences. Next in the planning stages is the Pueblo Bonito Vantage Los Cabos and the Pueblo Bonito Vantage at Punta Maroma, the latter which fronts the Caribbean Sea on Mexico’s Riviera Maya.

www.pueblobonito.com

Margaritaville Beach House Key West (FL) is stirring up more than a shaker of salt. The resort has added a new line-up of unique add-ons and extras for overnight guests, from early check-in and late check-outs to signature chocolates, snacks and maybe even some champagne. Topping the list is the Jimmy Bucket Suite, a one-bedroom king, pool-view suite featuring a custom bar-to-balcony pulley system, allowing guests to reel in treats, such as warm muffins, afternoon snacks, and liquid refreshments, right to their balcony in a wooden Jimmy Bucket. This option includes a keepsake Margaritaville cutting board and two branded shot glasses. The suite features a Margarita Frozen Concoction Machine, limes, a shaker of salt, and bucket of LandShark lagers. Opened in November, 2021, the resort sits oceanfront along Smathers Beach. There are 186 suites, lagoon-style pool, and lounging hammocks throughout the grounds. There is the lively Tin Cup Chalice Bar & Chill, as well as indoor banquet space and outdoor gardens and courtyards, complete with a 1,500-sf Tiki space for smaller events. The resort is one mile from Key West International Airport, and provides complimentary shuttle service to the airport and the Downtown Seaport Harbor.

www.MargaritavilleBeachHouseKeyWest.com; (855) 288-7744.

HOT DEALS!

Receive a free sequin photo booth backdrop when you rent a photo or GIF booth from Pixilated. Getting the promotion is easy, especially when you provide my PSYCHICLADY promo code with your order. The hard part will be choosing which color sequin backdrop: gold, silver, champagne, navy, white or black. The rental is for a 24-hour time frame and comes with everything needed, including instructions for easy set-up and round-trip label. The backdrop and stand rental ship in their own box with a pre-paid return shipping label.

www.pixilated.com

PROVISION PARTNERS LENDS EXPERTISE TO ENTREPRENEUR 20X ORLANDO

There’s a wise saying that goes, “When the student is ready, the right teacher will come along.” In this case, PROVision Partners has been announced as the exclusive sponsor of Entrepreneur 20X Orlando. The June  29 pitch competition in Orlando, FL, is run by Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®), producers of the Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference (HITEC®). PROVision Partners is an established business advisory and consulting firm focused exclusively on the hospitality sector, helping organizations in the hotel, travel and technology industries grow their brands and increase revenue by leveraging a powerful combination of strategy and execution. HFTP’s Entrepreneur 20X, established in 2015, provides hospitality technology start-ups with a career-boosting opportunity, exposing them to top industry mentors, investors, leaders and executives. The start-ups compete for two separate awards: The Judges Choice award with a cash prize and the People’s Choice award, a popular vote selected by HITEC attendees. Participants are showcased in the E20X pavilion located within the HITEC exhibit hall. HFTP CEO Frank Wolfe, CAE, FIH said, “This exclusive sponsorship with PROVision Partners will serve as an additional benefit to our Entrepreneur 20X participants, as the company’s objective is to navigate hospitality companies along a successful and strategic business path.” Gregg Hopkins, CEO at PROVision Partners, added, “As travel returns with a vengeance, hotel organizations have a greater need than ever before to implement integrated technology solutions to help them streamline their operations and revenues, while optimizing available staff resources and enhancing the guest experience. We look forward to hearing from the companies participating in E20X and learning about the latest innovations in our evolving market.” Applications to compete in E20X Orlando are accepted through May 1.

www.hftp.org; https://www.provision-partners.com/

FFEA SUNSATIONAL AWARDS PROGRAM APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE

Do you have what it takes to be recognized for innovation, individuality, and creative collaboration in any of the following categories: Community Outreach Program, Educational Program, Sponsor Partnership, Social Media Ad Campaign, Green Program, Volunteer Program, or Multi-Agency Collaborative Program? If so, you might consider applying for the Florida Festivals and Events Association’s SUNsational Awards Program. New this year: no mailing requirements! MOST categories will no longer be required to mail their items to us for display. To be more sustainable, there will be digital displays at the conference for most categories. Application fees are waived for FFEA members. Check out the categories of your interest. June 1-15, $35 per category application. Final deadline is June 15 at midnight.

https://www.ffea.com/p/convention/awards

WALLETHUB SURVEY’S 2022’S BEST AIRLINES

Airlines are not what they were pre-COVID shutdowns, but that does not mean business and leisure travelers aren’t returning to the skies. WalletHub conducted one of their indepth surveys to see what attracts people to invest their travel dollars. These are some of the highlights revealed for 2022’s Best Airlines. After three years of placing second for Best Overall, Delta Air Lines has soared to the front, followed closely by Hawaiian Airlines. Consistency matters, so that same lineup took first and second for Most Reliable (meaning lower rate of cancellations, delays, mishandled luggage, and denied boardings). Who do you most trust with your safety? The answer is Alaska Airlines. With the lowest number of incidents and accidents per 100,000 flight operations and fewer than 15 people injured between 2016 and 2021. The runner up is Envoy Air.  There was a three-way tie for most pet-friendly: Delta Airlines, SkyWest Airlines, and Envoy Air. Who do you think provides the Most Comfortable seats, legroom, complimentary snacks and beverages, and of course, WiFi? JetBlue takes the prize, with Alaska Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and Delta Air Lines all vying for a three-way tie into second place.

https://www.wallethub.com/edu/best-airlines/20916/

TWO HOSPITALITY ORGANIZATIONS PARTNER, STRENGTHENING BOTH

For the past 60 years, The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) has represented the interests of national hotel and tourism associations and the region’s private sector. Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®). established in 1952, is an international, nonprofit association, headquartered in Austin, TX, is recognized as the spokes group for the finance and technology segments of the hospitality industry. The two powerhouses have signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding that enables members to access finance and technology-related education on topics such as upscaling workforce automation and staffing, cryptocurrency, non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and cybersecurity. These master classes are being developed by CHTA, while experts are to be supplied by HFTP. CHTA members also will benefit from complimentary exhibits registration for HITEC North America, the world’s largest hospitality technology conference, to be held in Orlando, FL from June 27 – 30. CHTA President Nicola Madden-Greig said that being technologically astute in today’s rapidly changing and challenging business environment is central to a robust tourism rebound in the Caribbean. “We must be au courant in leveraging technological tools in driving operational efficiency, executing strong marketing campaigns as well as delivering new customer experiences.” Vanessa Ledesma, acting CEO and Director General of CHTA, described HFTP as a hospitality industry authority in the areas of finance and technology. “This is such a great fit for CHTA,” she said, adding that more of the Caribbean can now be on the cutting-edge when it comes to implementing solutions to pressing challenges. Like CHTA, HFTP leverages its experts, networks, research, certification programs, information resources and conferences and events to benefit its members. HFTP also owns the world’s only hospitality-specific search engine, PineappleSearch.com, which centralizes highly fragmented industry information into a single, free-to-use platform. Sanovnik Destang, CHTA’s 2nd Vice President and Chair of the Technology Task Force, said the Memorandum of Understanding between two organizations will bring many exciting benefits to members, including access to HITEC’s Entrepreneur 20x pitching competition. “For the first time ever, Caribbean-based hospitality tech entrepreneurs will get to participate in this competition with the application fee waived. This is a great opportunity for our members and we look forward to more opportunities like this through our partnership with HFTP,” he said.

membership@hftp.org; www.hftp.org; www.caribbeanhotelandtourism.com

GET BACK WITH THE BEATLES AND FRIENDS!

Twenty years after Abbey Road on the River debuted its family-oriented music fest honoring The Beatles in Cleveland, OH before finding a permanent landing spot in Jeffersonville, IN in 2017, the celebration continues Memorial Day weekend, May 26-31. More than 50 bands, including Tommy James and the Shondells, The Cyrkle, and The Fab Four, will sing as part of the world’s largest tribute to The Beatles. Topping off the celebration, the festival is offering free admission for any guest 20 or under when accompanied by a matching adult ticket. More than 50 bands will perform 200 concerts on six stages. Big Four Station Park has an all-ages playground, loads of lawn space and shade, close-by parking, and diverse food options. Over the years, bands such as The Beach Boys, America, Jefferson Starship, The Zombies, ELO II (The Orchestra), The Grass Roots, Felix Cavaliere, Peter Asher and many more have performed at the event to celebrate and honor the music of The Beatles. Close friends and family members of The Beatles who have participated include original drummer Pete Best, John’s sister Julia Baird, George’s sister Louise Harrison, long time secretary to The Beatles Freda Kelly, former Apple Records Exec Tony Bramwell, sound engineer Geoff Emerick, and the inspiration behind one of The Beatles most recognized songs from The White Album Dear Prudence, Prudence Farrow. Abbey Road on the River is presented by WAVE 3 News and sponsored by the City of Jeffersonville Parks Department, Southern Indiana Tourism, The Radisson Hotels, The Walcott, Geico, Budweiser, Seagram 7, Fidelity Investments, Clark Memorial Health, Oak Street Health, The News & Tribune, and WAKY radio.

Single and multi-day tickets are now available online. Use promo code “WAVE” to save 15% on tickets. 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 20121-2022 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.