HOT DEALS!
Moms are celebrated at Discovery Cove (Orlando, FL)
Pamper Mom on Mother’s Day at Discovery Cove (Orlando, FL) with special packages from an all-day food and beverage packages, snacks, towels, swim gear, and swimming with dolphins for snorkeling among thousands of tropical fish and rays. The deal is available to use throughout 2023 but must be purchased by April 16. Of course, there are upgrade packages as well, from reserving a private cabana (which includes more amenities), upgrading the beverage selections, or adding in the Animal Trek, an immersive animal tour which brings Mom up close and personal to various bird species and animals such as an anteater, armadillo, kinkajou, or sloth.
www.DiscoveryCove.com.
Chable Maroma Temazcal in Rivieria Maya, Mexico
Book one of the 70 energy-efficient villas at the Chablé Maroma (Riveria Maya, Mexico) through Journey Mexico by April 30 and use by October 31 to receive the following amenities and upgrades: daily breakfast for up to two guests per bedroom; $1—USD equivalent resort or hotel credit; complimentary WiFi, and more. Additionally, book two nights and get a third free for those dates. The property sits on a 650-foot stretch of beach. Two upscale restaurants and a 1,700-ft spa and gym.
Poseidon Expeditions has a hot deal for cool cruises to the Arctic and Antarctic.
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.
Couples massage is part of the Inn on Fifth romance package.
“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
One&Only Palmilla in Los Cabos offers luxury in a promo-package.
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
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.
APPLICATIONS OPEN FOR SPEAKERS AND CONTEST ENTRIES
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
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.
WHO OFFERS BEST FREQUENT FLYER PROGRAM?
Travel by airplane has increased across the globe; hence, personal finance website WalletHub’s “Best Frequent Flyers Programs” survey is always one of the most anticipated for the year. The company ranks the 10 largest domestic airlines based on 21 key metrics, ranging from the value of a point/mile to blackout dates for reward flights. Upsetting last year’s Alaska Mileage Plan for best frequent flyer program of 2023 is United MileagePlus. “It offers the best airline coverage and it has consumer-friendly policies, such as no blackout dates and no short-notice booking fees,” said Jill Gonzalez, WalletHub analyst. “The United Airlines MileagePlus program’s redemption policies, rewards value, geographical coverage, partner-airline coverage, and other features all rank in the top 5 among major frequent flyer programs. No other airline is quite as well-rounded.” She added, “The best frequent flyer programs offer a lot of miles as a reward for every eligible purchase, plus free checked bags, seat upgrades, priority boarding, higher priority on overbooked flights and more. The average frequent flyer program saves members more than 9% on airfare.” What’s new in 2023 is that seven of the 10 largest airlines are offering less rewards value in 2023 than in 2022, reducing their rewards an average of 20.89%. Six of the 10 allow program members to earn and redeem miles with partner carriers. JetBlue Plus Card was rated the best airline credit card, who noted the best way to save on airfare is to “join your preferred airlines’ loyalty programs and apply for a credit card with good rewards on airfare, both of which you can do for free.” Gonzalez did warn about a program’s extensive terms and conditions, and the fine print often contains some key limitations regarding when you can earn and redeem rewards as well as what happens if you don’t follow the rules. For example, the rewards you earn may expire after 12-36 months of account inactivity, which means not earning or redeeming any miles. Plus, some airlines won’t let you use miles to book flights with partner airlines.”
https://wallethub.com/edu/best-frequent-flyer-program/25943/
ARCHES NATIONAL PARK REQUIRES ADVANCE RESERVATIONS
Hiking through Arches National Park.
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/
PUEBLO BONITTO IS OVER THE MOON FOR PREGNANT MOMS-TO-BE
Blissful Babymoon package is offered by Publlo Bonito Golf & Spa Resorts.
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
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 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.