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HOTEL HAPPENINGS & PROGRAM PROMOTIONS – OCTOBER 201

Even the lemurs like the pumpkin giveaway at Safari Wilderness in Florida.


HOT DEALS TO WARM UP COLDER WEATHER
Book three-nights at Paradisus Cancún by October 31 and stay before December 22 to get 35% off the stay, plus added amenities for taking advantage of other promotional offers, such as booking a Royal service room and getting a $100 in MeliáRewards points that you can exchange for services at Cocos Beach Club, fine & prime cut, exclusive brand bottles.
www.melia.com

ME Cabo


Book and stay at ME by Melia Cabo by December 22 and receive $500 in US credits that can be used to pay portion of goods and services during your stay including Yhi Spa Services, room upgrade, dinners at BMI Restaurant and Read more

HOTEL HAPPENINGS & PROGRAM PROMOTIONS – JUNE, 2018

 

Vineyard Tower is a $120 million expansion to Gaylord Texas Resort & Convention Center

FEED CENTRAL FLORIDA YOUTHS THIS SUMMER

Orlando, FL area restaurants and the Central Florida chapter of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA) are partnering to make the Summer of Dreams come true for homeless Central Florida youths. The annual “Round Up For Kids” fundraiser for the Orlando After-School All-Stars initiative will provide meals, academic enrichment, tutoring, mentoring, and a backpack filled with school supplies for the upcoming school term. Last year, the Summer of Dreams program served 1,151 Central Florida homeless students. Diners can help just by letting participating restaurants know you want to support the cause by Read more

HOTEL HAPPENINGS & PROGRAM PROMOTIONS – APRIL 2018

Hard Rock Hotel Daytona Beach’s guitar-shaped pool. photo by Architectural Photography Inc


CSR TOUCHES YOUNG LIVES IN PROFOUND MEASURE
April is World Autism Month. In honor of the month, LEGOLAND® Florida Resort, which already offers entertainment for children with a wide range of physical and cognitive disabilities, as well as food allergies and other dietary restrictions, has their carousel alight in blue. The theme park’s Guide for Guests with Disabilitie, available in printable PDF form, lists ride-by-ride safety requirements, including LEGOLAND Water Park, Read more

HOTEL HAPPENINGS & PROGRAM PROMOTIONS – JANUARY 2018

Swim with the Manatees? It’s a popular package at Plantation on Crystal River, located on Florida’s Nature Coast.


BEGINNINGS AND FRESH LOOKS
Parents and business visitors to Gainesville, FL will have a new reason to yell “Go Gators” when the AC Hotel Gainesville (by Marriott) opens its doors early this year. This college town has always been known for rousing spirit and Read more

HOTEL HAPPENINGS & PROGRAM PROMOTIONS – SEPTEMBER, 2017

Villa Casa Del Mar, a new private property for rent by Journey Mexico


HOT DEALS!
Seabourn celebrates its 30th anniversary and you get the gift of special luxury-cruising offers. Book select voyages by November 14th, and are some of the incentives that may be included: Three Veranda Suite Category Upgrade; Veranda for Ocean View Category Upgrade; 300-Minute Internet Package per Person; $300USD per Person Air Credit; $300USD per Suite Shipboard Credit; 50% Reduced Deposit; and up to 30% Savings on Select Combination Cruises. There are also special offers for Penthouse and Premium Suites bookings.
www.seabourn.com; (800) 929-9391
Book and stay at the contemporary new INNSIDE New York NoMad, the first of its brand in the United States, by December 31, 2017 and get 15% off. The Melia property is located in Chelsea and convenient to the Garment District, Greenwich Village and Union Square. The hotel has two meeting rooms with capacity for up to 70, a fitness center, and outdoor terrace. Within walking distance to the Empire State Building, Madison Square Garden, Flatiron Building, Madison Square Park, and Times Square. Read more

HOTEL HAPPENINGS and PROGRAM PROMOTIONS – JUNE 2017

IN THIS ISSUE: GROUP DISCOUNTS AT RESORTS ACROSS THE WORLD; ORLANDO PULSES WITH LOVE AND FOOD; SUMMER ACTIVITIES FOR THE FAMILY; CORPORATES GO SHOPPING!
HOT DEALS!

Paradisus Punta Cana Resort in the Dominican Republic


Book one of six Dominican Republic Meliá properties and receive 35% off and two free passes to Swim with the Dolphins. Pick one of these resorts: Paradisus Palma Real Golf & Spa Resort, The Reserve at Paradisus Palma Real, Paradisus Punta Cana Resort, The Reserve at Paradisus Punta Cana, Meliá Caribe Tropical All Inclusive Beach & Golf Resort, and The Level at Meliá Caribe Tropical.
Book a Meliá resort in one of these locations before September 17th and travel by October 31 to receive a 35% discount. Locations include nine hotels in Tenerife; 23 in Mallorca; nine in Malaga; four in Benidorm; six in Alicante; 4 in Menorca; two in Marbella; and two in Ibiza.
Book a stay at ME Miami in Biscayne Bay, Miami, FL by June 30 and stay before December 21 to Read more

HOTEL HAPPENINGS & PROGRAM PROMOTIONS – MID-MARCH, 2017

The Whitby, a stylish new hotel in midtown Manhattan, NY

HOT DEALS!

Time is running out to book a stay at Gran Meliá Nacional Rio de Janeiro and receive both a 20% discount with MeliáRewards, plus $200 in resort credit. Stay by August 31 at this beautiful São Conrado beach location.

www.melia.com ; 1-(844) 425-9969.

Whimsically-colorful, cozy and being within walking distance to Central Park and Broadway, are just a few factors that make The Whitby, a new hotel and one of the latest additions to Design Hotels’ Collection, a charming treasure for small groups. It’s one of the few midtown Manhattan hotels with numerous balconies, several private event rooms, and its own and a 130-seat state-of-the-art cinema. The Whitby has 86 rooms and suites spanning 16 floors. The rooms range from 330 to 1,845-sf. Contemporary interior design is by Kit Kemp. The Whitby is the second New York property owned by Firmdale Hotels. Book now Read more

HOTEL HAPPENINGS & PROGRAM PROMOTIONS – FEBRUARY 2017

Crew Café in Canada offers dedicated co-working space for rent

Crew Café in Canada offers dedicated co-working space for rent


Whether you reside in the United States or anywhere else in the world where there are newspapers, magazines, radio, television and access to social media, you are likely aware of the turmoil that has beset America since the 2016 presidential election. As an active participant in the hospitality, entertainment, meetings and events, and yes, even in the world of journalism, the discussions have been pervasive as to the ramifications on travel, meetings, and tourism.
I know how recent upsets affect me personally. I find myself more assertively political, whereas before I sat back on the sidelines and strove to be merely objective as I covered events. As an entertainer, I am concerned events will be smaller, less frequent, or hosted last minute while planners survey how visas will be honored or rejected for international attendees or whether the unstable nature of business will create havoc on budgets and extraneous expenditures. I live in the Orlando area, so tourism and conferences are huge to the area’s bottom line. I’m near the bottom of that trickledown effect, but nonetheless, personally impacted.
I want to know about you. Are you impacted? How? How do you see our future industries evolving to cope with current and future Read more

HOTEL HAPPENINGS & PROGRAM PROMOTIONS – JANUARY, 2017

Hotel Zoo Berlin has been redesigned and is offering 15% off for bookings.

Hotel Zoo Berlin has been redesigned and is offering 15% off for bookings.

I don’t make resolutions at the start of each year. I know for many people that’s a ritual, a way of motivating themselves to work out more, be more accessible, lose weight, shop less, be more loving. I don’t have to motivate myself to do those things because they are a daily inspiration. Note I didn’t say goal. Goal would imply I am trying to reach a point. I simply do. What I do realize though, is that no matter how great the intentions, some days one simply cannot be all things to all people or accomplish all that one expects. Some days one simply has To Be. My wish in this New Year is for you to decide who you want to be, even if that Read more

HOTEL HAPPENINGS & PROGRAM PROMOTIONS – DECEMBER, 2016

Northern Lights are visible during the Southern Iceland Tour, led by Big Chill Adventures

Northern Lights are visible during the Southern Iceland Tour, led by Big Chill Adventures


Some of the most interesting gigs I’ve had as my alter-ego personality, Natasha, The Psychic Lady, have come without forewarning. Don’t laugh. I know the irony of not predicting the phone calls. I may not have used my tea leaf reading or tarot card abilities to see into those future bookings, but I actually asked the Universe/higher power… whatever name is used when one puts out call for an exciting opportunity, for both of the situations that popped up within a few days of my “Hello, it’s me and I’d like…” call outs.
Natasha, The Psychic Lady when I was the dancer for the Eastern Gypsy Band, Tzighantzi, at EPCOT

Natasha, The Psychic Lady when I was the dancer for the Eastern Gypsy Band, Tzighantzi, at EPCOT


The first memorable time was me asking to be a featured performer in a Disney World spectacle. I particularly wanted to dance. Mind you, at that moment I was already working as a psychic for the Disney theme parks and corporate events and had been belly dancing for Morocco promotional events even before the Morocco pavilion was erected at EPCOT, but no dance or big show opportunities loomed in the horizon. Within a few days of my thoughts transmitted to the universe, I received a call asking if I’d like to be the dancer for a new Eastern gypsy band forming at EPCOT. Would I? For the months that followed, I was the dancer for Tzighantzi. Looking like and dancing like the embodiment of Esmerelda (at least all the girls holding their Esmerelda dolls and watching me thought so). I also was backup musician/singer/and co-emcee. Six shows a day, rain or hot summer sun. Loved it!
Most recently, I pondered that several of my entertainment friends had been getting TV and press coverage and it had been a while since that happened to me. I wasn’t jealous of their largesse. It just pointed out that my life had transitioned from a higher profile to one less noteworthy of media attention. Less than 24 hours later, I got a call asking if I was available to be on a TV program, analyzing handwriting of the news team’s anchors. Did I mention it would be early the next morning or that this would be live? I also needed to be available to work during the Pen & Inc Fair that the Channel 35 Good Day Orlando’s show was promoting for Sam Flax’ art store that Read more