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HOTEL HAPPENINGS & PROGRAM PROMOTIONS – JANUARY 2022

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Dive at Plate Reef in Freeport, Bahamas.

HOT DEALS!

From cruises to hotels, book Freeport (Bahamas) now and get up to 50% off. Book Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line through Mar. 31 and get $200 OFF per cabin ($100 off per person), plus five free drinks, free cabin upgrade, and $25 onboard credit. The Cruise Line also has four- and six-night getaway packages that combine a fun 2-night cruise with a luxurious resort stay in Grand Bahama. Four beachside resorts have special promotional discounts through Dec. 23 (so book now!) The resorts are Viva Wyndham Fortuna Beach, Pelican Bay Hotel at Lucaya, Lighthouse Pointe at Grand Lucayan and Flamingo Bay Hotel & Marina.

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HOTEL HAPPENINGS & PROGRAM PROMOTIONS – LATE DECEMBER 2021

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‘Mingo Mocha Cocktail, part of the holiday festivities honoring the Flamingo’s 75 years in business.

HOT DEALS!

Seventy-five years after Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel and business partner Meyer Lansky opened the Flamingo Hotel, the first resort-style hotel on the Las Vegas (NV) Strip, the neon city has never been the same. To celebrate the big 75, The Flamingo is offering anniversary-themed offers. For instance, use promo code FL75V and get two nights in a Flamingo Garden View, City View, or High Roller View room for $75. Use FL75P and you can stay in GO Mini Suite or Renovated Flaming Premium room for $75 a night. Getting married? Here are two offers to consider. The Fabulous Vow Renewal begins at $750 and includes a dedicated wedding coordinator, 12-rose bridal bouquet, groom’s rose boutonniere, 30 minutes of professional photography during and after the ceremony, photo prints, music playlist, six decorated cupcakes, a bottle of Champagne and branded toasting glasses. Couples can also get $75 off select wedding packages for ceremonies occurring through January 2022. (702) 733-3232. Or maybe you just want to experience the Sparkling Diamond Body Polish treatment. Don’t forgot the hotel’s reputation for handcrafted cocktails. The LINQ Promenade and some of the Flamingo Las Vegas restaurants and bars has holiday cocktails that will be offered through Jan. 2, 2022. These include Mingo Mocha, a divine sounding mix of Crème de Cacao, Godiva White Chocolate Liqueur, Ketel One vodka, vanilla syrup, and graham cracker rim.

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HOTEL HAPPENINGS & PROGRAM PROMOTIONS – AUGUST 2021

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The Saints go marching in to newly-renamed Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, LA.

RENAMED, RENOVATED AND THE BRAND NEW

The kickoff won’t be until February 2025 for the New Orleans Saints and Caesars Entertainment rebrand of New Orleans’ iconic downtown stadium as the Caesars Superdome. The 20-year, exclusive naming-rights partnership means the Caesars Superdome will host all Saints home football games, and Super Bowl LIX to be played in February 2025. The building will also host the 2022 NCAA Men’s Final Four, the annual Sugar Bowl and College Football Playoff contests, a variety of concerts and hundreds of other annual events including Essence Festival, the Bayou Classic football game between Grambling State and Southern University, the New Orleans Bowl and the Louisiana State High School Athletic Association Football Championships. Caesars Superdome will stand as testament to Caesars’ commitment to the New Orleans Saints and to the city of New Orleans as it embarks on a $325 million renovation to transform Harrah’s New Orleans into Caesars New Orleans. “This partnership sends a strong message about the positive future for the New Orleans Saints, Caesars Entertainment, and the entire state of Louisiana,” said Saints Owner Gayle Benson. “

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HOTEL HAPPENINGS & PROGRAM PROMOTIONS – JULY 2021

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Sexual Discrimination in golf packages? You’ll have to read on to see which resort chain only thinks men golf. Venue alert: new hotels and renovated properties are vying for your business. The Galapagos say, “Welcome back”!

OPEN AND READY FOR BUSINESS

The new Crystal River Rapids ride is an exhilarating way to cool off in Gaylord Palms’ Cypress Springs Water Park.

The two-year, $158 million renovation and expansion of the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center (Kissimmee, FL) has been completed. More than 100,000 sf of meeting space and 306 guest rooms in the new Gulf Coast Tower have been added. Gaylord Palms has 482,745 sf of meeting space, with 76 event rooms and 10,000 sf in the largest space. Florida Exhibition Hall, Florida’s largest in-hotel exhibition facility has 178,500 sf of flexible space. The new meeting spaces add 30,000 sf of breakout space and 30,000 sf of pre-function space. The expansion includes the 306 additional guest rooms, 13,000 sf outdoor terrace and function space, parking garage, and expanded pool offerings. Added fun for adults and youth: the new Crystal River Rapids ride has twists and turns through varied currents amid limestone rock walls in the Cypress Springs Water Park.

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HOTEL HAPPENINGS & PROGRAM PROMOTIONS – JUNE 2021

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Argentinian Grill now at Caesars Palace Bacchanal Buffet in Las Vegas, NV.

If you are new to my Hotel Happenings & Program Promotions monthly (or more often) blog series, then welcome. I began this originally because I worked for a hospitality, meetings & events magazine that focused on events, destinations, technology, food, wine etc. Life had other plans in store, and soon after I created this blog to further and expand my audience, from just “industry” folk to some leisure travel readers. Pre-Covid-19’s global disruptions, I wrote about my personal travel experiences with the intent of telling you what you might experience and to show off my husband Russ’ fabulous photography that captures destinations’ assets. I am a foodie who isn’t snooty. I love to cook and bake, so my blog site has a Tasty section for restaurant reviews, my recipes, and reviews of cooking shows I have judged. I’ve missed the sharing and now that the world is steadier on its healthier direction, I intend to present as many relevant events, resort deals and openings, new technology and other news of this nature as I can. Share your news. Share your comments.

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HOTEL HAPPENINGS & PROGRAM PROMOTIONS – NOVEMBER 2020

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Bobby Flay opens his new Amalfi Restaurant at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, NV

HOT DEALS!

The Cromwell is back. The hotel and casino is the last of Caesars Entertainment properties on the Las Vegas Strip to reopen. What makes this property unique is “In addition to The Cromwell being the only standalone boutique hotel, it is now the first adults-only hotel and casino on the Las Vegas Strip,” said Senior Vice President and The Cromwell General Manager Ken Janssen. Guests of all ages are welcome at GIADA, the award-winning restaurant of notable chef Giada De Laurentiis. Book The Cromwell by November 23 for select travel dates through September 2021 and receive up to 30 percent. Use code FALL20

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HOTEL HAPPENINGS & PROGRAM PROMOTIONS – JULY 2020

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A second chance at new life for the Springmaid Pier in Myrtle Beach, SC. This was how she looked in 1953 when first erected. Look below for the newly rebuilt pier.

The most difficult job I have ever had as a writer is to get the first sentence written. That one simple idea encapsulates my path for where the remainder will follow. It’s like taking a journey, with one foot in front of the other, but until you take that first step, you will only idle in place and never move forward. So it is today, as I begin this next post.

Globally, we are still entrenched in Covid-19 or in the aftermath for those nations fortunate enough to have had strong leaders and the backbone to do what was strictly necessary to flatten that darned curve. Many of us though, are still seeing deaths soaring, jobs and businesses being lost (perhaps permanently), and entire industries having to reinvent themselves (and we thought online sales were outshining brick & mortar stores before Covid). My first attempts to begin this post all seemed too depressing, sad, and without hope. It is not what I want to convey.

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HOTEL HAPPENINGS & PROGRAM PROMOTIONS – JUNE 2020

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Journey Mexico and friends have been raising money to feed families.

Life as we knew it pre-COVID 19 is starting to reappear as far as travel, hotels, restaurants, gyms, hair salons etc go. As this blog is globally read, it makes no sense to tell you which places are reopen or will soon. What is of more value, is what they are doing to assure your safety as much is humanly possible, such as how the majority of theme parks worldwide will check temperatures at the entrance and anyone with a temperature of 100.4 or higher will be denied entry (as well as their family). As you all may be aware, how to safely reopen differs from city to city, state to state, and country to country. For instance, I just heard from a woman that a particular airline is not requiring masks for staff or travelers and that people were packed in to all seats (thanks to fewer flights). I have seen pictures of businesses, including restaurants, not requiring masks or social distancing. What do you think? Is that something we should discuss?

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HOTEL HAPPENINGS & PROGRAM PROMOTIONS – FEBRUARY 2020

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No, you can’t ride this turtle during this Glapagos cruise

Booking a cruise for your meetings or social group, or maybe for family members and friends? Check out the promotional packages being offered by AdventureSmith Expeditions. Booking dates vary, as do the promotional incentives. For a Feb. 28 deadline, many packages are available. 1* Save up to $350 per person on the Hawaiian Seascapes cruise aboard the luxurious 36-guest Safari Explorer small ship. Snorkel among coral gardens and a sea turtle habitat, stand-up paddleboard, kayak and sightsee on skiff tours. 2* Grandparents paying two full adult fares can save 25% on rates for grandchildren by booking Exploring the Sea of Cortez: A Living Sea & Desert Isles cruise. The ships are the 100-guest National Geographic Venture and National Geographic Quest. 3* Save $500 per person on Alaskan family cruises: Alaska’s Glacier Country, Alaska’s Glaciers & Whales, Alaska Fjords & Glaciers and Whales, Wildlife & Glaciers. The ships are 90-guest S.S. Legacy and 84-guest Safari Endeavour. 4* Save $400 per person on the Belize & Guatemala Wonders—Rivers, Reefs & Cultures aboard the 66-guest Safari Voyager. 5* Save $1,250 per person on an Inside Passage Sojourn small ship cruise aboard the sleek 76-guest Chichago Dream. This experience focuses on Alaska’s nature, history and First Nations culture.

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HOTEL HAPPENINGS & PROGRAM PROMOTIONS – AUGUST 2019

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Brocket Hall at Christmas

HOT DEALS!!

The holidays are fast approaching, which means you only have until August 31 to book a vintage holiday celebration at one of the main venues at the 543-acre Brocket Hall Estate in the United Kingdom. There are special menus and amenities for each venue. Brocket Hall’s butlers cater to up to 150 guests in the ballroom, Billiard room and library. With this booking by August 31, the planner receives a complimentary bedroom in Brocket Hall on the night of the party. Book the Oak Room and the planner gets a complimentary bedroom in Melbourne Lodge on the night of the party. Or, join in with your group of Read more