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Trump SoHo New York Debuts In April
Trump SoHo New York, the hotel in Downtown New York, will open its
doors on April 9, 2010. Located at 246 Spring Street, the 46-story
building boasts views of the city's skyline, the Hudson River, Statue
of Liberty and Empire State Building. The Trump SoHo's 391 guest rooms
and suites feature floor-to-ceiling windows, furnishings by Fendi Casa
and custom bedding by Bellino. Meeting space totals 12,000 square feet
of customizable function space. Amenities include dining at Quattro
Gastronomia Italiana and The Spa at Trump. The Bazaar lounge, seasonal
Bar d'Eau on the 6,000-square-foot pool deck and The Library, outfitted
with Taschen books, will each provide a unique space to enjoy
cocktails. www.trumpsohohotel.com
Van Dyke Named President Of Incentive Research Foundation
The
Incentive Research Foundation (IRF) announced that Melissa Van Dyke was
named president of its organization. She will be responsible for
overall management and operation of the IRF, whose primary mission is
to develop usable and actionable incentive research to raise the
awareness and knowledge of incentive practices to the industry and
business community at large. Van Dyke succeeds Frank Katusak, who is
leaving the IRF at the end of March. Prior to her IRF appointment, Van
Dyke was managing consultant, employee engagement practice, at Maritz. www.theirf.org
Hyatt Regency Curacao Readies For April Opening
The new Hyatt Regency Curacao Golf Resort, Spa and Marina will welcome
guests for the first time on April 20, 2010. The 350-room beachfront
resort features 38,000 square feet of function space, which ranges from
small breakout rooms to the Arawak Ballroom and prefunction lobby.
Amenities include the Old Quarry, Pete Dye's newest golf course, the
Atabei Spa, multiple pools, a private beach and three restaurants. www.curacao.hyatt.com
Cancun 'Exceeds Expectations' During MPI MeetDifferent
MPI
MeetDifferent 2010, which was held for the first time in Mexico,
welcomed more than 1,200 meetings and incentive industry participants
from the U.S. and Canada February 20–23. Fernando Cervantes, director
of groups and conventions for the Cancun Convention & Visitors
Bureau, said that the more than 30 inspection visits that were
generated by the MPI event will result in more international events
this year. The Cancun CVB is also looking to bring MPI's World
Education Conference (WEC) to Cancun in 2015, an event that should
include more than 4,000 event organizers from North America. Bruce
MacMillan, MPI president and CEO, said, “Cancun is a world-class
destination. Coming here was the best decision we could have made. It
has very much exceeded our expectations." www.cancun.travel
NCL Adds Tampa And Rome A Homeports
Norwegian
Cruise Line recently announced that its 2011–2012 winter/spring
deployment includes two new seasonal homeports: Tampa, FL, and Rome
(Civitavecchia), Italy, marking the first time Norwegian has initiated
voyages from these cities. Guests cruising from Tampa on Norwegian Star
will sail a seven-day Western Caribbean itinerary beginning October 16,
2011 through April 8, 2012. In Europe, Norwegian Jade will sail from
Rome (Civitavecchia) on 11-day Mediterranean and Holy Land cruises,
along with 10-day Eastern Mediterranean sailings, from October 15, 2011
to April 11, 2012. In the Caribbean, Norwegian Pearl’s seven-day
Western Caribbean cruise from Miami now includes Ocho Rios, Jamaica as
a port of call. The company also announced new sailing dates for Pride
of America in Hawaii. Norwegian is presently building Norwegian Epic,
the company’s largest and most innovative Freestyle Cruising ship to
date, for delivery in June 2010. Norwegian Cruise Line is the official
cruise line of Blue Man Group, debuting for the first time at sea on
Norwegian Epic. www.ncl.com
Eventi Opening Soon In NYC
Eventi,
A Kimpton Hotel, will open in spring 2010 in New York City’s North
Chelsea neighborhood. Managed by Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, the
292-room hotel represents the company’s fourth hotel in New York City.
Adjacent to the outdoor public plaza is a 20-foot-wide multimedia art
screen to be used for events. Eventi offers more than 15,000 square
feet of multifaceted meeting space, including three outdoor terraces. www.eventihotel.com
The Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa Merges With Diplomat Golf Resort
The
Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa in Hollywood, FL, recently merged with
the Diplomat Golf Resort & Spa, a member of the Starwood Luxury
Collection. Together, as one destination, The Westin Diplomat Resort
& Spa now offers golf, spa and beachfront accommodations and
amenities, including the Troon Golf-managed 18-hole golf course, tennis
center with 10 clay courts, full-service spa, teambuilding program,
infinity-edge pool, Westin’s Kid Club, Westin Destination Club and
several onsite dining options, such as the Hollywood Prime signature
seafood and steakhouse. The resort offers 952 guest rooms and 106
suites. Total meeting facilities include more than 220,000 square feet
of meeting and convention space with an unobstructed,
50,000-square-foot Great Hall, six ballrooms, 41 breakout rooms and
ample outdoor venues. westin.com/diplomat
Incentive Research Foundation Pulse Survey Results
The
Incentive Research Foundation (IRF) has released findings from its most
recent Pulse Survey "Incentive Industry Trends 2010." "Cautiously
optimistic is the term I would use to describe the overall message in
the data from the survey," said Mark Peterman, chairman of the IRF
Research Committee. "Our sense is that companies may have been sitting
on budgets for the past 10 months or so waiting to see how things were
going to play out and whether there was going to be more pushback from
the media and community regarding incentives." Key findings on
incentive travel include: 44 percent of respondents anticipate no
change with regards to incentive travel program destinations in 2010,
while 47 percent anticipate a switch from international to domestic
destinations. A combined 16 percent of respondents indicate that they
expect budgets for incentive travel programs in 2010 to increase, while
30 percent say they expect budgets to remain unchanged. For more
information go to www.theirf.org. For a complete copy of the survey results, contact Lois Russo at lrusso@sellingcommunications.com or 212-736-0797
Site International Foundation Releases Technology Study
In
support of its mission to improve the effectiveness of the incentive
travel and motivation industry, the Site International Foundation has
released the findings of its study "Site Index: Focus on Technology."
The report reveals technology usage and viewpoints in the motivational
events industry today as it relates to business operations,
motivational programs and online resources. Among the surprising
results, 28 percent of respondents want more technology but are
restrained by the lack of funds. Findings demonstrated that
approximately 44 percent of investment is made in response to the
market — either direct demand from clients (19 percent) or based on new
product development (25 percent). "We knew technology was important,
but were surprised that just 8 percent of respondents indicated
satisfaction with their current technology," said Fay Beauchine, CITE,
Site International Foundation president and president, engagement and
events, Carlson Marketing. "The report...suggests that the greatest
area for technology growth rests with cross-organizational
collaboration using social media tools with interactive online groups."
The complete report is available at www.siteglobal.com.
InterContinental New York Times Square To Debut In July
Opening
this summer, the InterContinental New York Times Square is one of the
closest hotels to the Javits Convention Center and a short walk to the
Broadway theater district and Fifth Avenue shopping. The hotel offers
607 oversized guest rooms each averaging 350 square feet and including
an oversized bathroom with walk-in rain showers. The property boasts 10
meeting rooms totally 10,000 square feet of flexible meeting and events
space, inclusive of a 4,000-square-foot ballroom. Additionally, there
are 25 flexible suites that can be utilized as event space. "Opening
the largest new-build hotel in the New York City market since 2002 —
especially in this economy — is a tremendous milestone," said Jim
Abrahamson, president, The Americas, IHG. Upon completion, the hotel
will be the largest new-build hotel to achieve LEED (Leadership in
Energy and Environmental Design) certification from the U.S. Green
Building Council. www.intercontinental.com
NBTA, ISM Summit Attendance Grows 25 Percent
The
National Business Travel Association (NBTA) and the Institute for
Supply Management (ISM) welcomed 170 corporate travel, meetings and
procurement professionals to the second ISM and NBTA Summit on Travel
& Meetings in Tampa, FL, January 27–28, 2010. With more than 25
percent growth in attendance over last year, despite a down economy,
the Summit offered its attendees a unique forum for travel and meetings
managers and those in procurement with supervisory oversight of travel
and meetings to collaborate and share insights. Attendees were split
evenly between buyers and suppliers — making the summit unique among
industry events. Craig Banikowski, CCTE, C.P.M, CMM, NBTA president
& CEO, said, “Economic changes of the last 18 months have
heightened the importance of cost containment, transparency, and
supply chain management. The better we understand each other as
procurement, travel, and meetings, professionals, the more we can meet
these challenges on behalf of our companies." www.nbta.org, www.ism.ws
JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort Opens
The
new 1,002-room JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa,
San Antonio, TX, welcomed its first guests January 22. The first JW
Marriott resort in Texas is set on 600 acres of rolling hills,
meandering creeks and Live Oak trees, minutes from San Antonio. JW
Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort features more than 140,000
square feet of convention and meeting space, including the
40,000-square-foot Grand Oaks Ballroom, 21,000-square-foot Cibolo
Canyon Ballroom, the 40,000-square-foot Nelson Wolff Exhibit Hall,
20,000 square feet of space in 19 breakout rooms and three outdoor
event venues. www.jwsanantonio.com
American Express Extends Loyalty Services
American
Express recently launched LoyaltyEdge from American Express. The
program will work with strategic business partners and merchants to
create, implement and/or enhance their customer loyalty programs to
help attract and retain customers. Long-time strategic partner Delta
Air Lines is the first to utilize LoyaltyEdge. "Our expertise and
success in the rewards program business spans two decades from our
award-winning Membership Rewards program to our cobrand cards," said
Ralph Andretta, executive vice president, cardmember services, American
Express. "We know that effective loyalty programs help drive customer
loyalty and deepen customer relationships. Through the launch of
LoyaltyEdge, we are helping business partners build and manage
customized rewards programs that will resonate with their customers and
give them an edge over the competition in an increasingly challenging
and competitive marketplace." For more information, e-mail loyaltyedge@aexp.com.
Hilton Worldwide Posts Record Year For Openings
Hilton
Worldwide recently announced that, building on the record year the
company had in terms of development in 2008, the next best year in the
company’s 91-year history was 2009. In 2009, Hilton Worldwide added 302
new hotels and more than 45,000 rooms to a total count that is now more
than 3,500 hotels and 585,000 rooms. In 2008, Hilton Worldwide opened
327 properties. For the fourth consecutive year, Hilton Worldwide
opened more newly constructed guest rooms in the U.S. than any other
company, according to Smith Travel Research’s “U.S. Pipeline Report,
December 2009.” Additionally, Hilton Worldwide’s pipeline includes more
than 900 hotels with more than 129,000 rooms scheduled to open. www.hiltonworldwide.com
Disney Names New Destination Resort On Oahu
Walt
Disney Parks & Resorts has announced the name of its new Hawaii
resort: Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa, Ko Olina, HI. It is
scheduled to open in 2011. Aulani (pronounced aw-LAH-nee) means "the
place that speaks for the great ones" or "the place that speaks with
deep messages." Adjacent to historical sites on the western side of
Oahu, Aulani will be located on 21 acres of oceanfront property in the
Ko Olina Resort & Marina development. It will feature 350 guest
rooms and 481 two-bedroom-equivalent villas, a full-service spa and
extensive recreation amenities. The resort will offer more than 50,000
square feet of ballroom/meeting space and event lawns, including a
14,000-square-foot conference center. www.disneymeetings.com
Kalahari Resort-Virginia Project Gets New Life
The
state of Virginia jump-started financing for the much-anticipated
Kalahari Resort in Fredericksburg, VA, with $25 million in bonds. The
$260 million, 2,400-acre project has been on hold since 2007 due to
financing challenges. Plans for the Kalahari Resort-Virginia include an
832-room hotel, America's largest indoor waterpark (200,000 square
feet), 100,000-square-foot indoor theme park, 100,000-square-foot
convention center, four restaurants, spa and fitness center and 10,000
square feet of retail space. Said Todd Nelson, president and owner of
Kalahari Resorts, "Although there is still work to be done to secure
the remainder of our financing, these bonds demonstrate a strong
commitment to this project from both the city of Fredericksburg and the
state of Virginia and we consider this a victory." The bond application
states that Kalahari Resorts must begin construction by June 30, 2010.
The grand opening is projected for March 2012. www.kalahariresorts.com
Sundance Breaks Ground On Redford Conference Center
Robert
Redford's Sundance Resort in Sundance, UT, has broken ground on the new
Redford Conference Center, which will provide nearly 3,500 square feet
of meeting space featuring reception areas, wrapping patios, large
group fireplace, full-service catering kitchen and design elements
consistent with the natural surroundings. In addition, Sundance is
currently undergoing a multimillion-dollar lodging room renovation.
Situated at the base of 12,000-foot Mount Timpanogos, Sundance offers
95 guest cottages, 10,000 square feet of meeting space, the Spa at
Sundance, nature center and unlimited mountain recreation options. www.sundanceresort.com
Makena Beach & Golf Resort Offers New Event Venue
Makena
Beach & Golf Resort, Makena, Maui, has introduced its newest
outdoor special occasion venue, Makena Vista, situated nearly 600 feet
above the Pacific Ocean on the slope of Mt. Haleakala. The new venue
features sweeping views of the ocean and neighboring Hawaiian islands
from near the signature 14th hole of the Makena Golf Course. A short
shuttle ride from the resort, the landscaped area provides seclusion
for up to 150 guests. The onsite events staff provides full-service
setup including lighting, tables, chairs and cocktail seating and
accessories. For bookings from February 1, 2010 to October 31, 2010,
guests can receiv up to a 50 percent introductory discount on the site
fee for Makena Vista, including transportation for events of 50 people
or more. www.makenaresortmaui.com
New Beach Debuts At The Ritz-Carlton, Cancun
The
Ritz-Carlton, Cancun has recently added a 300-foot-deep beach as part
of Cancun's $71 million beach recovery project. "It has been a truly
unique experience to witness first hand a project of this magnitude and
we are extremely happy to begin the new year with what probably is one
of the world's best beaches. Guests will find new programs designed to
bring back to life the lively ambience of vacationing on the beach
which will make the travel experience to Cancun even more memorable,"
said Hermann Elger, general manager. The hotel offers 365 guest rooms
overlooking the sea, a full-service spa, award-winning restaurants and
27,000 square feet of function space. www.ritzcarlton.com
Naples Grande Beach Resort Tailors Spa Experience For Groups
The
Naples Grande Beach Resort, The Waldorf Astoria Collection, Naples, FL,
now offers custom spa services for groups and meetings. Planners can
select from massages, wraps, facials, manicures, pedicures and more in
the private Golden Door spa pavilions, host a private after-hours event
amidst the spa's gardens with outdoor whirlpool, sauna and steam
chambers, or arrange a custom spa break. The spa team also can create
welcome amenities that reflect the meeting theme or goals, provide spa
gift certificates or gift baskets as incentive gifts or offer pre- or
post-event spa services as added recognition. Contact Vanessa Carter,
Golden Door Spa director at vanesssa.carter@hilton.com or 239-594-6013. www.naplesgranderesort.com
Royal Caribbean Names Traveling Partner Of The Year
Royal
Caribbean International announced the cruise line's 2009 Travel
Partners of the Year. For a second time, Miami-based America’s Vacation
Center/Avoya Travel received the year’s top honor, the President’s
Award for Overall Achievement. Cruises-N-More (Lake Mary, Fla.) was
named the Online Partner of the Year and Cruise Planners (Coral
Springs, Fla.) picked up the Home-based Partner of the Year for a third
consecutive year. Additionally, Buy the Sea (Plantation, Fla.) won its
second consecutive award for the Corporate Incentive category. www.royalcaribbean.com
Palm Springs Touts Hotel Collection
Palm
Springs, CA, has introduced a new marketing campaign showcasing its new
“Better, Bolder, Beautiful” hotel and convention center collection. The
campaign is focused on meeting planners across the country and
informing them about the $180 million dollar investment in new hotels,
property renovations, and the 300,000 square feet of meeting and
convention space available. "Planners and attendees will experience new
facilities, new amenities, and competitive rates and incentives,” said
Jim Dunn, General Manager of SMG Palm Springs. “The transformation of
the Wyndham into a Renaissance, and the renovated Hyatt Regency Suites,
will join a number of other recently renovated or transformed
properties to greatly enhance the experience for large conventions and
meetings.” www.visitpalmspringscc.com
Tradewinds Island Grand Updates Guest Rooms
The
TradeWinds Island Grand Resort, St. Pete Beach, FL, is currently
undergoing a $10 million facelift. The interior renovation, which began
in December, will be completed in phases to avoid any disruption to
guests. Renovations to all beachfront accommodations in the 288-room
Jacaranda building will be completed in March 2010. All 584 of the
TradeWinds Island Grand's guest rooms are expected to be updated and
completed by late 2011. The updated tropical décor will complement the
$2.5 million meeting space renovation that was completed at the end of
2008. www.tradewindsmeetings.com
Fairmont To Open Seven New Hotels In 2010
Throughout
2010, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts will open seven new hotels in
growing markets around the globew. While most are newly developed
properties, Fairmont also will newly restore two of the world's most
celebrated addresses: The Savoy, A Fairmont Managed Hotel in London and
the Fairmont Peace Hotel in Shanghai. The new hotels are Makkah Clock
Royal Tower, A Fairmont Hotel in Saudi Arabia; Fairmont Pacific Rim in
Vancouver, BC; Fairmont Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, PA; Fairmont Bejing;
and Fairmont Zimbali Resort in South Africa. www.fairmont.com
Millennium Broadway Hotel New York Upgrades Wi-Fi Service
The
Millennium Broadway Hotel New York announced an update to its amenities
and services for meetings and conventions guests with the introduction
of a new state-of-the-art Wi-Fi system by Transbeam. With an onsite
meeting facility approved by the International Association of
Conference Centers (IACC), 110,000 square feet of meeting space and 750
guest rooms, the Millennium Broadway Hotel New York is one of the first
hotels in New York City to offer such a fast and large-scale Wi-Fi
system. Wired throughout for high-speed and wireless Internet access,
the Millennium Broadway Hotel New York has 45 mbs of bandwidth for its
rooms as well as 45 mbs of bandwidth for events, totaling 90 mbs of
secure access. With Transbeam’s Wi-Fi system, more than 1,500 people
can concurrently access the Internet. www.millenniumhotels.com
Paradise Point Resort & Spa Set To Unveil Renovations
Paradise
Point Resort & Spa, San Diego, CA, will complete an extensive $20
million renovation of its 462 bungalow-style guest rooms and bayfront,
35,000-square-foot meeting facilities by late February 2010. Guest
rooms will feature new color schemes with an Asian motif, including
South Pacific-style furnishings. The refurbished meeting facilities
also will reflect an Asian-infused, contemporary style. www.paradisepoint.com
Viking River Cruises Garners Top Ratings
Viking
River Cruises was recognized with top ratings from multiple consumer
and trade awards in 2009. "We are honored by all of the recognition and
accolades we have received over the past year," said Viking Chairman
Torstein Hagen. "As we continuously strive to exceed the expectations
of our guests and travel agents alike, we are gratified to know that
these awards are the highest form of positive feedback anyone can give.
Viking River Cruises, the world's largest river cruise company, offers
scenic cruising along the rivers of Europe, Russia, China and Egypt. www.vikingrivercruises.com
The Fairmont Pittsburgh To Open March 2010
Scheduled
to make its debut in March 2010, The Fairmont Pittsburgh will feature
185 guest rooms, 12,000 square feet of meeting space and a
6,000-square-foot health club. The new Fairmont will be housed in Three
PNC Plaza, the largest high-rise construction project in the City of
Pittsburgh, PA, in the last 20 years, and one of the largest mixed use
buildings to be certified by the U.S. Green Building Council in
accordance with the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
(LEED) rating system. Included in the 12,000 square feet of meeting
space are a 6,000-square-foot main ballroom, three additional meeting
rooms and one boardroom. www.fairmont.com
Ritz-Carlton Dove Mountain Opens
Southern
Arizona's newest luxury property, The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain,
celebrated its opening with an official ribbon-cutting that featured
the release of 72 white doves symbolizing the property as the 72nd
within The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company. Situated northwest of Tucson in
the scenic town of Marana, the 250-room resort is spread over 850 acres
of Sonoran Desert in the Torolita Foothills. In addition the 250-room
hotel, the property features a Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course,
destination spa and luxury homes at The Residencees at The
Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain. There are a variety of meeting spaces to
choose from, including three ballrooms of 9,000, 5,000, and 2,100
square feet and five individual function rooms; plus three outdoor,
scenic lawn areas, which offer 360-degree views of the Tortolita
Mountains. www.ritzcarlton.com/dovemountain
Aria Resort & Casino Celebrates Grand Opening Gala
Under
a canopy of fireworks illuminating the night sky, Aria Resort &
Casino opened its doors December 16. Aria is the centerpiece of the
urban resort destination CityCenter on The Las Vegas Strip. Its debut
signifies the official grand opening of this city-within-a-city,
following two weeks of celebrations for the reveals of Vdara Hotel
& Spa, Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas and Crystals retail and
entertainment district.
“Aria and CityCenter reflect a combination
of innovation, energy and visionary design that we believe will reshape
how the world views the destination resort experience and attract
visitors from around the globe as a landmark of taste and style,” said
Jim Murren, chairman and CEO of MGM Mirage, which developed CityCenter
in partnership with Infinity World Development Corp. At 18 million
square feet, CityCenter is the largest private sustainable development
in the world, having received six LEED Gold certifications for its
buildings. The 4,004-room gaming resort offers approximately 300,000
square feet of meeting and convention space. Aria also will feature
Cirque du Soleil's Viva Elvis spectacular. www.citycenter.com
Groupe Aeroplan Completes Acquisition Of Carlson Marketing
Groupe
Aeroplan Inc. announced the completion of the acquisition of Carlson
Marketing, a privately owned marketing services provide headquartered
in the U.S. Groupe Aeroplan, which owns Aeroplan, Canada’s premier
loyalty program, also announced that its existing businesses and
Carlson Marketing will continue to operate separately and
independently. Jeff Balagna, president and CEO of Carlson Marketing,
and his executive team, will continue the management of Carlson
Marketing. Jeff has also been named executive vice president, Groupe
Aeroplan. www.groupeaeroplan.com, www.carlsonmarketing.com
Las Vegas Meetings By Harrah's Entertainment Launches New Reuse Program
Las
Vegas Meetings by Harrah’s Entertainment has announced the launch of a
new program benefiting the Teacher Exchange, a reuse and recycle
resource center for all Southern Nevada public school teachers that
offers learning tools to enhance in-class projects and curriculum.
Seven Las Vegas properties — including Bally’s Las Vegas, Caesars
Palace, Flamingo Las Vegas, Harrah’s Las Vegas, Imperial Palace, Paris
Las Vegas and Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino — have installed bins in
meeting areas where conference attendees can deposit name badges, tote
bags, giveaway items and just about any other useable items they don’t
want or need. Additionally, meeting organizers can work with the
property to easily donate their leftover building materials, carpeting,
furnishings, office supplies, sample items, plants and décor, and much
more. This allows planners and their attendees to responsibly “dispose
of” things they might otherwise throw out or have to bear the cost of
shipping back home, all while helping the local Las Vegas community.
For more information visit http://www.ccpef.org/programs_exchange_participate.html
Downtown Los Angeles Welcomes New Hotels In February
Downtown
Los Angeles will welcome two new headquarters hotels supporting the Los
Angeles Convention Center in February 2010: The JW Marriott Los Angeles
at L.A. Live and The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles. Both hotels are part of
the $2.5 billion downtown Los Angeles revitalization project known as
L.A. Live, which offers many dining, sports and entertainment venues
including the Staples Center, Nokia Theatre, the Grammy Museum, the
Lucky Strike Bowling Center, ESPN Zone and the Conga Room. Both the
878-room JW Marriott and the 123-room Ritz-Carlton will offer direct
access to 77,000 square feet of meeting space on three levels called
The Gallery Collection, which comprises three ballrooms and nine
ancillary meeting rooms. The hotels are within a short walking distance
of the convention center. www.lalive.com, www.ritzcarlton.com, www.marriott.com
Silversea Announces Silver Spirit's Inaugural World Cruise In 2011
In
2011, for the very first time, Silversea's new Silver Spirit will
embark on a full World Cruise traversing both hemispheres. Themed
"Spirit of Discovery," the voyage begins in Los Angeles on January 19,
when Silver Spirit is set to welcome no more than 540 privileged guests
for a 119-day odyssey exploring 60 destinations in 25 countries — with
11 overnight port visits — before concluding in Southampton on May 19.
Silversea is hosting four complimentary World Cruise Events ashore for
guests sailing the full 119-day itinerary. In
addition to these benefits and a 5 percent Extended Voyage Savings, the
following complimentary amenities will also be available to guests who
book the full 119-day cruise: an overnight stay on January 19 on board
Silver Spirit, including a Bon Voyage Gala cocktail reception and
dinner; eight Silversea Experiences ashore (one per voyage segment);
baggage handling service between guest's home and ship in Los Angeles
and Southampton; a $2,000 Onboard Spending Credit (per double-occupancy
suite); roundtrip Business Class Air and private car transfers
(airport/ship/airport); and special commemorative gift. Fares start at
$61,924 per person, based on double occupancy. Guests may also travel
on shorter segments. For complete details, visit www.silversea.com.
Laguna Cliffs Resort & Spa Completing Renovation
The
AAA Four Diamond Laguna Cliffs Resort & Spa is nearing completion
of its full-scale, multimillion-dollar renovation that will transform
the venerable ocean-side resort with enhancements to the interior
design, exterior structure and amenities. Guest rooms and will be
completely refurbished, and meeting and banquet space will be expanded
to 20,000 square feet.
The renovations also include a new porte cochère entrance and marble
lobby with waterfall, a new pool and Splash Zone activity area for
families, and new, lush, eco-friendly landscaping. www.lagunacliffs.com
Dan Young Named FICP President
At
the 2009 Financial & Insurance Conference Planners Annual
Conference, recently held at the Sheraton Centre, Toronto, Ontario, the
board of directors elected Dan Young, CMP, CLU, ChFC, LLIF, director of
event planning for Thrivent Financial for Lutherans of Minneapolis, MN,
as the 2010 FICP president. Todd Zint, CMP, CMM, NFP Insurance Services
of Austin,TX, was named the FICP president-elect. Zint will
automatically become FICP president at next year’s Annual Conference in
Miami Beach, FL.
New board members include Florine Edwards, CMP,
CMM, FM Global, Johnston, Rhode Island, vice president, regions; Koleen
Roach, Securian Financial Group, St. Paul, MN, vice president,finance;
Jana Stern, ING, Minneapolis, MN, serving as vice president, education.
Continuing
on the board are Nancy Farmer, CMP, The Hanover Insurance Group, vice
president, sponsorship; Jan Hennessey, CMP, CMM, Jan Hennessey Events,
LLC, vice president, communications; Kelli Livers, CMP, ForeThought
Financial Group, vice president, membership; Cindy Wheaton, CMP,
Nationwide Financial Network, immediate past president and chair of the
2010 Annual Conference Design Team; and Steve Bova, CAE, FICP executive
director. www.ficpnet.com
Dittman Incentive Marketing Receives MarCom Awards
Dittman
Incentive Marketing, New Brunswick, NJ, a leading innovator in the
incentive and performance improvement field, has taken top MarCom
Awards honors for the third consecutive year.
Dittman received a
Platinum Award, the highest honor, for the winner's fulfillment
materials for its Great Escapes individual incentive travel product and
a Gold Award for TotalPRO, its industry-leading performance improvement
Web platform. Gold Awards and an honorable mention were also given for
Dittman’s product advertising on the Web and in print. The MarCom
Awards is an international competition that recognizes creative
excellence (copy and design) in marketing materials. Organizations of
every type and size from around the world compete each year. www.dittmanincentives.com
Harrah's Entertainment Aims To Acquire Planet Hollywood
Harrah's Entertainment plans to purchase and manage Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on The Las Vegas Strip, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide currently manages the property.
Harrah's new subsidiary, PHW Las Vegas LLC, filed an application to
purchase with the Nevada Gaming Control Board the week of November 23.
Viking River Cruises Honored
Viking
River Cruises has been named "World's Leading River Cruise Operator" by
the 16th Annual World Travel Awards voted on by thousands of worldwide
travel professionals. Described as the "Oscars" of the global travel
and tourism industry by the The Wall Street Journal, nearly
3,000 travel companies were nominated in more than 200 categories. In
related news, Viking won "Best River Cruise Line" at this year's
British Travel Awards ceremony. www.vikingrivercruises.com
Silversea's Sean Mahoney Installed As International Site President
Silversea
Cruises announced today that its global vice president of corporate and
incentive sales, Sean J. Mahoney, was formally installed as the
international president of Site, the global organization dedicated to
connecting motivational experiences with business results. Mahoney
assumed the role at Site's 2009 International Conference in Aruba
October 30–November 2. He will serve as Site president in 2010 and will
be responsible for the overall governance, stewardship and strategic
direction of the organization. In his remarks following the
installation at Site's Annual General Meeting, Mahoney said, "It is an
honor and privilege to serve Site as we bring people together from
around the globe that buy, supply and support motivational experiences
to drive business results. Site is committed to delivering the programs
that contribute to your personal development and professional growth,
including relevant regional events, activities, tools, and resources
that will make your career and business more successful." www.silversea.com, www.siteglobal.com
Incentive Marketing Association Announces 2010 Leadership Team
Jimmy
Beyer, Vice President Business Development for Helix Global Solutions,
Miami, FL has been elected to serve as the 2010 president of the board
of the Incentive Marketing Association, the leading voice of suppliers
in the incentive marketplace. Beyer’s goals for 2010 include helping
members from the diverse incentive marketplace take advantage of the
latest tools and techniques in the industry, while continuing to raise
the corporate community's awareness of the bottom-line effect of
incentive programs, especially during challenging economic times. The
IMA’s board also elected a full slate of officers for the 2010 term.
They include: President Beyer; Executive Vice President Barbara
Hendrickson, CPIM of Design Incentives, Livonia, MI; Vice President
Spencer Toomey, IP, of The Corporate Marketplace, Westport, CT,
Treasurer Dave Peer, CPIM of Hinda Incentives, Chicago, IL; Secretary
Mike Arvelo, CPIM of Paramax., Red Bank, NJ; and Past President Norma
Jean Knollenberg, CPIM, of Top Brands, Inc., Oshkosh, WI. www.incentivemarketing.org
The Broadmoor Awarded Five Stars For 50th Consecutive Year
Forbes Travel Guide Five Star Awards (formerly Mobil Five-Star Award by Mobil Travel Guide)
announced its list of Five Star winners for 2010 and honored The
Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, CO, for a record 50th consecutive year.
The Broadmoor is the only property to ever achieve this status.
Additionally, the historic resort has the distinction in 2010 of
becoming a triple Five Star winner with the addition of both Penrose
Room restaurant and The Spa at Broadmoor. “The Five Star designation
for The Broadmoor for an unprecedented 50 consecutive years is a
phenomenal achievement by our staff and those staff members that
preceded them,” said Stephen Bartolin, Jr., president and CEO of The
Broadmoor. “What an honor it is to work with a group of people that can
realize this record of success. I have been here 18 of those years and
not a day goes by that our staff doesn’t amaze me in some way. I am so
immensely proud of them. Having our Penrose Room restaurant and our Spa
also receiving a Five Star rating absolutely knocks it out of the
park." www.broadmoor.com
SMM Certification Course Sells Out
The
National Business Travel Association (NBTA) recently offered the
inaugural Core Week One in the new Strategic Meetings Management
Certification (SMMC) professional development program. More than 20
meetings and travel professionals attended the sold-out education event
at Emory University in Atlanta, which focused on the theory and
practice of Strategic Meetings Management Programs (SMMP), an approach
to managing corporate meeting and event activities and processes. The
SMMC program consists of two core weeks and elective classes. The
curriculum is designed to drive further development of accepted best
practices, lead to creative new “next-practices,” and enhance
communication and leadership skills in developing and implementing
global meeting policies, workflows and technologies. Upon completion of
the course, graduates will earn the SMMC designation, indicating a
proficiency in strategic meetings management. NBTA pioneered the body
of thought around strategic meetings management with a series of papers
launched in 2004. The NBTA Groups & Meetings committee that writes
the papers continues to publish new installments in the Framework for
Success: Strategic Meetings Management Programs series. The papers are
available at www.nbta.org.
Oasis Of The Seas Makes A Splash In Fort Lauderdale
Royal
Caribbean International's newest and "most revolutionary" cruise ship
Oasis of the Seas will make her U.S. debut into her home port of Port
Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, FL, on November 11.
Oasis of the Seas, offering 2,700 staterooms, is the first ship to tout
the cruise line’s new neighborhood concept of seven distinct themed
areas, which include Central Park, Boardwalk, the Royal Promenade, the
Pool and Sports Zone, Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness Center,
Entertainment Place and Youth Zone. Among the neighborhoods' features
are the first park at sea, a zipline ride, an aquatic amphitheater that
serves as a pool by day and an oceanfront theater by night; 28
multilevel urban-style loft suites with floor-to-ceiling windows and
more.The inaugural sailing is on December 5. www.oasisoftheseas.com
NBTA Praises Pro-Business Move By USDA
The
National Business Travel Association (NBTA) applauded the decision of
the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to withdraw the plan for a 10 percent
increase of fees paid by incoming travelers to the United States. NBTA Executive Director & COO, Michael W. McCormick, said, “Business
travel decisions — particularly those related to meeting planning — are
more price-driven than ever. So as companies turn to business travel to
help drive economic recovery over the coming year, it is important that
governments don't pile on to the already overbearing tax burden faced
by travelers.” www.nbta.org
Eduardo Chaillo Ortiz Receives Kevin Forde Spirit Award
During
the Site International Conference, which took place October 30–November
2 in Aruba, the association presented the Kevin Forde Spirit award to
member Eduardo Chaillo Ortiz, regional director USA & Canada of the
Mexico Tourism Board in recognition of his integrity, strength and
leadership. Ortiz is an advocate and ambassador for his destination and
is a respected leader in the global motivational experience industry.
Ortiz rose to meet challenges during a time when Mexico has been tested
by world heath warnings, un-balanced media coverage, and natural
disasters. Ortiz's response to these challenges was to stand firmly and
continue to be a collaborative leader and champion of his destination,
Mexico, by honoring commitments and keeping business moving. www.siteglobal.com
Stonewall Resort And Turtle Bay Resort Earn Top Golf Resort Status
Two golf resorts within Benchmark Hospitality International’s portfolio have achieved a place on the recently released Golf World
Readers Choice Top 50 Golf Resorts in America List for 2010. The
properties include Stonewall Resort with its Arnold Palmer Signature
Course, located near Weston, West Virginia, and Turtle Bay Resort with
its Arnold Palmer and George Fazio courses, located on the North Shore
of Oahu, Hawaii. Stonewall Resort placed at No. 22 and Turtle Bay
Placed at No. 43 in the Top 50. The 208-room Stonewall Resort
offers 22,000 square feet of indoor meeting and event space. Turtle Bay
Resort offers 448 accommodations and 31,000 square feet of meeting
space. www.stonewallresort.com, www.turtlebayresort.com
New Airlift To Jamaica
This
winter Jamaica has more flights from the U.S. than ever before. With
service from all major U.S. carriers and new service from JetBlue,
AirTran and US Airways, travelers from across the U.S. will have added
access to convenient flight options. US Airways will introduce nonstop
service from Phoenix (PHX) to Montego Bay (MBJ) on December 18, 2009.
On October 30, 2009 JetBlue Airways launched its service from New York
(JFK) to Kingston (KIN). This past May, JetBlue Airways began service
to Montego Bay (MBJ). JetBlue will add two new gateways to Jamaica:
Boston (BOS) to Montego Bay (MBJ) on January 9, and Orlando (MCO) to
Montego Bay (MBJ) on February 8, 2010. AirTran Airways is also set to
begin serving the island’s tourist capital, Montego Bay. New nonstop
service departs from Atlanta, Baltimore and Orlando gateways to Montego
Bay on February 11, 2010. www.visitjamaica.com
ACTE Executive Director Susan Gurley Resigns Post
Association
of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE) President Richard Crum has
announced that Susan Gurley will leave ACTE. Gurley informed ACTE’s
board of directors of her desire to return to Government service
earlier in the summer. Megan Costello, currently deputy executive
director, will become interim executive director on December 1, 2009.
Gurley has agreed to remain in an advisory capacity with ACTE through
January 1, 2010. Crum said, “She has been a tremendous asset to ACTE,
with her vision and insight, and will assist the association through a
period of transition.” An executive director search committee has been
formed and will begin the candidate review process in conjunction with
the board. www.acte.org
IACC Announces New North America Chapter Name
The
Global Board of Directors and the Board of Directors of the North
American Chapter of the International Association of Conference Centers
(IACC) both agreed to change the name of IACC North America to IACC
Americas to reflect the association’s goals to consolidate chapters
around the world, and to expand in Central and South America. According
to Neil Pompan, IACC global president (vice president, Thayer Lodging
Group), “The repositioning of IACC North America is in keeping with the
primary mission of IACC: to expand awareness of the conference center
concept. It is critical, as we expand globally, to build an
organization that is inclusive of all countries and cultures. This is
the first step in a worldwide restructuring of IACC that will include a
consolidation of all members and chapters in continental Europe and
then in Asia Pacific. Consolidation will help us grow membership
throughout the world, improve communications among members, build
greater member value and, significantly increase awareness among
meeting decision makers." www.iacconline.org
Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas On Schedule To Open In December
Mandarin
Oriental Las Vegas is set to open in December at the gateway of
CityCenter, the new urban resort destination on the Las Vegas Strip.
Featuring more than 12,000 square feet of function space with
floor-to-ceiling windows and technologically advanced amenities, the
new hotel can accommodate gatherings as intimate as 20 guests or as
grand as 600 attendees. The non-gaming hotel will offer 392 guest rooms
and suites, a 27,000-square-foot Spa at Mandarin Oriental, the
signature Sky Lobby, Pierre Gagnaire's first U.S. restaurant, and more.
The hotel's function space includes the 7,650-square-foot Oriental Ballroom, the
only event space in the center of Las Vegas to feature views of The
Strip. The ballroom is complemented by a 3,000-square-foot prefunction
area with views of CityCenter. www.mandarinoriental.com/lasvegas
NBTA Report Outlines The 'New Normal' For U.S. Business Travel
The
National Business Travel Association's (NBTA) "2010 U.S. Business
Travel Buyers' Cost Forecast" reports that with air travel and car
rental costs expected to remain nearly flat and hotel rates expected to
decline, businesses expect to travel more. That growth in travel is
expected to lead to increases in travel expenditures. The report also
reveals that nearly seven in 10 (69 percent) of travel managers
responding to an NBTA survey expect business travel volume to grow in
2010. Also, 56 percent of travel managers project their total travel
spend to increase in 2010; another 31 percent expect their total travel
spend to remain flat year over year. Travel and meetings buyers also
expect to see an easing of travel and meeting reductions in 2010.
Compared to the previous year, the percentage of travel managers
expecting to see cuts has gone down in the following areas: number of
meetings (-27 percent), nonessential travel and conference (-20
percent) and event attendance (-15 percent).
Said NBTA President
and CEO Craig Banikowski, CCTE, CMP, CMM, "The uptick in business
travel in 2010 will take place within the framework of a new corporate
culture in terms of travel. In the 'new normal,' we see stronger travel
mandates, greater use of the pre-trip approval and audits, tighter
restrictions on premium class travel, more focus on travel ROI, and
enterprise-wide strategic meetings management." www.nbta.org
Trump SoHo New York To Open February 2010
Trump
SoHo New York, its first hotel in Downtown New York, will open its
doors on February 1, 2010. Located at 246 Spring Street in the
fashionable SoHo (South of Houston) district, the dramatic, 46-story,
391-room glass tower designed by Handel Architects neighbors numerous
art galleries and chic boutiques. In addition to views of the city’s
spectacular skyline, the Hudson River, Statue of Liberty and Empire
State Building, cutting-edge design by Rockwell Group, and spacious
suites, Trump SoHo will offer world-class dining at Quattro Gastronomia
Italiana, The Spa at Trump with New York’s only luxury hammam, and the
signature services of the Trump Attaché. The 12,000 square feet of
meeting space includes event spaces with 15-foot floor-to-ceiling
windows showcasing city views, the Hudson River and the Statue of
Liberty. www.trumpsohohotel.com
CityCenter's Spa At Aria To Begin Accepting Reservations
The
Spa at Aria is opening with Aria Resort & Casino this December in
the heart of CityCenter, Las Vegas' new urban resort destination on the
Las Vegas Strip. The two-level Spa will feature 62 treatment rooms, a
full-service salon, an advanced fitness center, boutique, poolside spa
cabanas and Las Vegas’ first co-ed spa balcony, featuring an outdoor
therapy pool and views of Aria's spectacular poolscape. In addition to
skincare and massage rooms, The Spa will feature ashiatsu, couples’
massage, thai massage, hydro-therapy and vichy rooms, as well as three
exclusive spa suites. The Spa and Salon will begin accepting
reservations Novembewr 9 via 877-312-ARIA (2742). The Spa will be
exclusively available to guests of CityCenter's hotels; the Salon will
be open to the public. www.arialasvegas.com
Real Resorts Supports Beach Restoration Efforts
The
Mexican
national beach restoration program is getting underway October 15th to
help restore the beach erosion caused by Hurricane Wilma in 2005. Real
Resorts has worked with government officials to get the beach
restoration process underway and to work towards full beach recovery.
Fernando Garcia, the managing director of Real Resorts said, “We were
fortunate that at our two Real Resorts in Cancun beach erosion was at a
minimum, but we recognize the ecological and tourism importance in
restoring the entire coastline along the south side of Cancun. We are
delighted that the government is working with the hotels to restore the
beaches, and we are proud to be a part of this significant effort which
will improve our beaches and those of all our neighboring hotels,”
added Garcia. In celebration of the expanded beach, Real Resorts is
offering guests who make a reservation by October 30th for travel in
2010 a 30 percent early booking discount. www.RealResorts.com
Disney Updates Hotels In Anaheim And Orlando
The Grand Californian Hotel, the flagship of the Disneyland Resort in
Anaheim, CA, has opened a new wing that includes 200 additional guest
rooms and 50 new two-bedroom villas. The addition gives the hotel a
total of 948 rooms, villas and suites, and offers convenient access to
the hotel's 20,000-square-foot convention center. Disney's Contemporary
Resort in Walt Disney World Resort, Orlando, FL, has opened a new
15-story tower with 295 two-bedroom villas. The resort, which is home
to a 115,000-square-foot convention center, now offers a total of 951
rooms, suites and villas. Disney's Coronado Springs Resort, the largest
of the six dedicated convention resorts at Walt Disney World Resort has
"reimagined" its 1,921 guest rooms and introduced a new Business Club
Lounge. www.disneymeetings.com
American Express Releases 2010 Global Business Travel Forecast
According to the recently released American Express Global Business
Travel Forecast, pent up trip demand coupled with supply base changes
are likely to cause rates to slightly increase in most travel
categories by the end of 2010. Business class airfares in particular
are expected to increase in line with reduced capacity and ongoing
business demand for international travel. The Forecast was produced by
eXpert insights, the newly created research practice of American
Express Business Travel's Global Advisory Services. "Considering
airfare, hotel, and ground transportation, we expect the average
domestic business trip to increase 1.2 percent, or $13 USD, to a total
of approximately $1,080 USD," said Hervé Sedky, vice president and
general manager, American Express Business Travel. "An increase of 2.4
percent, or approximately $67 USD, is expected for international
business trips to bring the average cost to $2,818. However, as
unbundled and ancillary fees continue to add to the cost of trips,
businesses should expect to add up to an estimated 15% to the total
trip cost for air, hotel, and ground transport elements alone." To
obtain the full report visit www.businesstravelconneXion.com.
The Greenbrier Breaks Ground On New Casino
Jim
Justice, chairman/owner of The Greenbrier resort, recently broke ground
on the property’s new casino, retail and dining areas, slated to debut
in April 2010. The elegant casino will feature approximately 320 slot
machines and 38 full-variety table games. The casino will be open to
overnight guests, members of The Greenbrier Sporting Club and members
of other on-property clubs and attendees of an event or convention with
more than 400 rooms sold. Beginning on October 1, Greenbrier guests and
members will be able to enjoy this new amenity, including slot and
table games in a temporary casino located in the resort’s Virginia
Wing. The Greenbrier offers 635 accommodations and 85,000 square feet
of meeting space. www.greenbrier.com
Aruba Offers New Tax Incentives For International Groups
Aruba was elevated to "White List" status by the Organization for
Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) on September 10, 2009.
Aruba's Minister of Finance, Nilo Swean, signed into effect nine
additional Tax Information Exchange Agreements (TIEAs) this month,
which allowed Aruba to surpass the OECD's requirement for "White List"
status, based on the number of tax agreements signed. "We are extremely
pleased with this excellent news," stated Myrna Jansen-Feliciano,
managing director of the Aruba Tourism Authority. "These new tax
incentives will tremendously benefit the group and meetings/incentives
markets." The new TIEAs were signed with the Nordic Alliance including
Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Greenland and the Faroe
Islands, along with the British Virgin Islands and Nevis & St.
Kitts. Aruba signed a TIEA with the U.S. in November 2003 and also has
a tax agreement with the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The island is
currently negotiating additional TIEAs with Canada, Australia, New
Zealand, Germany and Mexico. Aruba will play host to the Site
International Conference from October 30–November 2, 2009, with more
than 400 participants expected to attend. For more information on Site,
visit www.siteglobal.com. For more information on meetings in Aruba, please visit online at www.meetaruba.com or call 1-877-ARUBA4U.
Waldorf Astoria Orlando And Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek Open
Hilton Worldwide's
much-anticipated dynamic duo made its debut October 1 in Orlando: the
Waldorf Astoria Orlando and Hilton Bonnet Creek offer a combined 1,500
guest rooms and 150,000 square feet of meeting space. The date of
October 1 holds historical significance by marking the debut of the
original Waldorf Astoria property, The Waldorf=Astoria in New York, 78
years ago to the day. Known as Bonnet Creek, the 482-acre vacation
destination is conveniently surrounded by Walt Disney World on three
sides, yet secluded by a private nature preserve. Themed “A Day of
Firsts,” the ceremony celebrated the opening of the first property to
share the name Waldorf Astoria with the original New York hotel, which
remains the only property with the unique equal sign in its name, The
Waldorf=Astoria. The Waldorf Astoria Orlando offers 497 guest rooms and
28,000 square feet of meeting space; the Hilton Bonnet Creek offers
1,000 guest rooms and 122,000 square feet of meeting space. The two
properties share The Waldorf Astoria Golf Club's 18-hole championship
Rees Jones-designed golf course, the 24,000-square-foot Waldorf Astoria
Spa by Guerlain, the 4,000-square-foot fitness center and theme park
transportation. Visit www.waldorfastoriaorlando.com and www.hiltonbonnetcreek.com
Landry & Kling Launches First Web Portal For Cruise Meetings And Events
Landry & Kling has announced the worldwide debut of Seasite.com,
the first online cruise portal dedicated solely to serving the cruise
meetings market. Planners can find ship meeting facilities online and
compare departure dates, itineraries and cruise brands all on one site,
eliminating the need to phone multiple cruise lines or search multiple
Web sites. Features include the first group cruise RFP online supported
by Seasite's Cruise Advisors, who are trained by Landry & Kling,
credited with being the first distribution channel between the cruise
industry and corporate America. One single RFP is sent to multiple
cruise lines, generating electronic bottom-line quotes for a quick and
accurate “apples to apples” comparison. There is no cost or membership
fee to use Seasite.com. For more information visit www.seasite.com.
Driving Results With Behind-The-Wheel Teambuilding
The Bondurant School of High Performance Driving, Chandler, AZ, is
adding a new off-road desert trail program to its menu of group
experiences that include racing challenges, ProKart lapping, lead and
follow and accident avoidance. Groups can choose from Bondurant's
popular courses or customize a program to accommodate time and budget
parameters. "Our corporate programs range from two hours to two days
with typical group sizes starting at 10 people all the way up to 500
people," said Matt Williams, corporate sales manager at the Bondurant
School, who added that their teambuilding activities are among the
school's most popular. To check availability and schedule an event,
call 800-842-RACE (7223) or visit www.bondurant.com.
Disney Resort To Open In Hawaii In 2011
Construction is underway on a new Disney resort that will open on the
Hawaiian island of Oahu in 2011. The 21-acre, oceanfront resort will be
located at the Ko Olina Resort & Marina development on the island’s
western side. It will feature 1,066 guest rooms, suites and villas, a
full-service spa and extensive recreation amenities. The resort will
also feature 63,000 square feet of ballroom/meeting space and event
lawns, including a 14,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art conference
center. Disney Hawaii resort will offer groups Hawaiian cultural
learning programs onsite that are suitable for attendees and spouses
alike. Planners
will
have access to the Florida-based Disney Event Group and The Disney
Institute for content
including teambuilding programs, keynote presentations, workshops and
more. Group sales for Disney's Hawaii Resort begin October 1, 2009. For
information, contact the resort sales team at 321-939-7129.
Hilton Hotels Changes Name To Hilton Worldwide
Following the recent relocation of its global headquarters to McLean,
VA, from Beverly Hills, CA, Hilton Hotels Corporation has announced
that it is changing its name to Hilton Worldwide. The name change
reflects the hotel company's international reach, with more than 3,300
hotels in 77 countries. Hilton Worldwide's 10 brands include Waldorf
Astoria Hotels & Resorts, Doubletree, Embassy Suites Hotels and
Hampton Inn & Suites. www.hiltonworldwide.com
HSMAI's 2009 Affordable Meetings A Success
The Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International’s 20th
annual Affordable Meetings National capped a successful year for the
trade shows that saw solid meeting planner attendance and steady
exhibitors at all three shows in 2009. Across the three shows,
including HSMAI’s Affordable Meetings Mid-America and HSMAI’s
Affordable Meetings West, almost 2,700 meeting professionals and more
than 800 exhibiting companies took part in 2009. HSMAI’s Affordable
Meetings start up again in 2010 with Affordable Meetings Mid-America,
April 14-15, 2010, Chicago’s Navy Pier, Chicago, Ill.; Affordable
Meetings West, June 16-17, 2010, Long Beach Convention Center, Long
Beach, Calif.; and Affordable Meetings National and the Event
Technology Expo, September 8-9, 2010, Walter E. Washington Convention
Center, Washington, DC. www.affordablemeetings.com
Strategic Meetings Management Certification Program To Launch
The National Business Travel Association (NBTA) announced that
enrollment is now open for Core Week 1 of the Strategic Meetings
Management Certification (SMMC) education program, an industry-first
certification program in strategic meetings management. After a year of
development and a successful beta test at the 2009 NBTA International
Convention & Exposition in San Diego in August, NBTA is accepting
applications for SMMC Core Week 1 to be held November 2–6 at Emory
University in Atlanta. “The business community has enthusiastically
adopted the concept of strategic meetings management, first developed
by the NBTA Groups & Meetings Committee more than five years ago,”
said NBTA President & CEO Craig Banikowski, CCTE, CMP, CMM. “When
NBTA members and meeting planners came to us seeking a professional
development program to help advance this maturing concept, we listened
and got right on it. Now, after much dedication from the SMMC task
force and industry thought leaders, the program is complete and ready
for its first registrants." www.nbta.org
CityCenter Announces Grand Opening Schedule
This December the Las Vegas Strip will welcome the glittering new
hotels and retail and entertainment destinations that are part of the
massive CityCenter multiuse development. The grand opening schedule: Vdara Hotel - December
1, 2009; Crystals retail and entertainment district - December 3, 2009;
Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas - December 4, 2009; Aria Resort &
Casino - December 16, 2009; The Harmon Hotel & Residences - Late
2010. www.citycenter.com
Dream Come True: Carnival's Newest, Largest Ship Sets Sail
In
a traditional maritime handover ceremony at the Fincantieri shipyard in
Monfalcone, Italy on September 18, Carnival Cruise Lines officially
took delivery of its newest and largest ship, the 130,000-ton Carnival
Dream. Representing a new class of vessel for the line, the
3,646-passenger Carnival Dream offers a host of innovations, including
Ocean Plaza, a stunning indoor/outdoor café and live music venue; The
Lanai, an outdoor area featuring a wraparound promenade and
cantilevered whirlpools that are suspended over the ship's side; a host
of new accommodation categories, including two-bath, five-berth
staterooms that appeal to families and cove balcony cabins located
closer to the water line; a sprawling Carnival WaterWorks aqua park
featuring the longest water slide at sea; and a 23,750-square-foot
Cloud 9 Spa, the largest in the fleet. Carnival Dream is the 23rd
vessel in Carnival Cruise Lines' fleet, which operates three- to 16-day
voyages to The Bahamas, Caribbean, Mexican Riviera, Alaska, Hawaii,
Canada, New England, Bermuda and Europe. www.carnival.com
CityCenter's Aria And Vdara Achieve Las Vegas' First LEED Gold
CityCenter has received three Leadership in
Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold Certifications from the
U.S. Green Building Council for: 1) Aria Resort’s hotel tower; 2) Aria
Resort’s convention center and theater; 3) Vdara Hotel. Aria and Vdara
will open in December on the Las Vegas Strip and are the first of
CityCenter’s developments to be LEED certified. CityCenter anticipates
Gold or Silver LEED certification for its remaining developments which
include Las Vegas’ first Mandarin Oriental; Crystals, a
500,000-square-foot retail and entertainment district; Veer Towers, the
community’s only strictly residential buildings; and The Harmon
(opening late 2010), a 400-room luxury boutique hotel. Visit www.citycenter.com for more information.
Landmark Study Reveals ROI Of Business Travel
New
research conducted by global research firm Oxford Economics establishes
the first clear link between business travel and business growth as
American businesses are planning their 2010 budgets and federal
policymakers are looking to stimulate the American economy. For every
dollar invested in business travel, businesses experience an average
$12.50 in increased revenue and $3.80 in new profits, according to the
study.
Both executives and business travelers estimate that 28 percent of
current business would be lost without in-person meetings. Roughly 40
percent of prospective customers are converted to new customers with an
in-person meeting, compared to 16 percent without such a meeting.
Executives cited customer meetings as having the greatest returns,
approximately $15-$19.99 per dollar invested, with conference and trade
show participation returns ranging from $4-$5.99 per dollar invested.
"Business travel IS economic stimulus," said Roger Dow, president and
CEO of the U.S. Travel Association, which commissioned the study. "In
order to grow, businesses have to invest. This research shows that
face-to-face meetings and incentive awards to top performers are among
the smartest investments companies can make." For a copy of the full study and additional resources, visit www.meetingsmeanbusiness.com/value-meetings.
IHS Global Insight Study: Business Travel Linked To Higher Sales And Profits
Research conducted by IHS Global Insight and previewed during the
National Business Travel Association (NBTA) International Convention
& Exposition held August 23–26 in San Diego explores the link
between changes in business travel and sales and profits. The research,
commissioned by NBTA and American Express Business Travel, used data
spanning 10 years from 1998 to 2008 and across 15 industries and 9,500
U.S. companies. Findings include: an incremental one percent increase
or decrease in travel spend yielded in aggregate a corresponding 1.7
percent increase or decrease in sales; looking at 2008 data —
economy-wide corporate profits would be maximized at a point where
business travel spending is increased by 5.3 percent or about $14
billion; increasing travel could result in increased total industry
sales of 3.7 percent or $894 billion; gross operating profits for U.S.
business in aggregate would increase by $224 billion or 4.4 percent. www.nbta.org, www.globalinsight.com, www.americanexpress.com/businesstravel
American Express Reports Q2 Business Travel Monitor Results
At
NBTA's International Convention & Exposition in San Diego, American
Express Business Travel released its Q2 2009 Business Travel Monitor
data, indicating that domestic and international airfare rates are the
lowest since Q2 2005 and hotel rates show a modest decrease in Q2 2009,
compared to Q1 2009. Additional Business Travel Monitor findings for
the hotel and car industries show: Average domestic booked hotel rates
remained flat year-over-year, but decreased 2 percent from Q1 to Q2;
car rental rates posted a slight decrease of 3 percent in Q2 2009 both
from the previous quarter and the prior year. The Business Travel
Monitor, the industry’s pricing benchmark published by eXpert Insights,
the newly created research arm of Global Advisory Services, tracks a
variety of travel expense categories including published and purchased
airfares captured across hundreds of domestic and international routes.
www.americanexpress.com/businesstravel
Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club Renovation
The Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club in
Southwest Florida expects to complete the multimillion-dollar
remodeling of all 319 guest rooms and suites by November. In addition,
the oceanfront resort is relocating and enhancing its pool. The new,
much larger, beachfront pool area will feature two pools, two new
whirlpools, eight new cabanas, new restrooms, new locker facilities and
a new pool shop. The resort features 34,000 square feet of meeting
space, and many outdoor venues for meetings and receptions. The 22,000
square feet of meeting space in The Clubhouse provides a view
overlooking the resort’s championship golf course. Meeting rooms
include the 6,283-square-foot River of Grass Ballroom and the
2,457-square-foot Mangrove Ballroom. www.naplesbeachhotel.com
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