Why Ireland Makes You Smile
Hotel Hershey: Sweeter Yet
Giving Back at Holiday Time
The Insider Poll: What would you cut first?
Around the Industry
Krisam & GEP News

Why Ireland Makes You Smile

You can sing in an Irish pub. Dine in a medieval castle. Lift a glass to celebrate the 250th anniversary of Guinness. But, what you will remember most, says Pat Crowley, is the people.

As he describes it, there is an almost mystical connection between the Americans and the Irish. The end result is a universally high level of satisfaction from incentives and meetings held there, he says. But there’s much more to say about the joys of an Irish sojourn...and how to make genuine Irish Coffee.

More Luxury, More Choices in Convenient Hershey

Ah chocolate. The word. The scent. The taste. It transcends gender and age and place. It's an almost universal upper. And, they say that it is good for you.

Just about all the appeal and benefits of chocolate also apply to a magical place called Hershey where grand hotels and an amusement park welcome you for leisure or business or both. Now the “Sweetest Place on Earth” is even sweeter, and more luxurious, thanks to The Grand Expansion at the Hotel Hershey.
Among the exciting additions are some innovative new facilities for meetings.

Good Deeds: Holiday Events

It’s never too early to start planning for the year-end holidays. In fact, the earlier the start, the more time to enjoy the spirit of the season. Staffers at three DMC partners had a grand time while bringing some extra joy to those in need this past December. Here are three ideas that could be adapted for just about any group in any location.

The Insider Poll: What would you cut first?

Planners responding to our most recent poll, and to other industry surveys, agree that the chances are great that they will have to cancel some planned events. But there are other ways to save money while still saving your event. This issue’s poll lists some possible approaches. Which would you be most likely to use? Or have you already? Let us know. Take our poll.

Results of the Last Poll: Industry Feels Economy’s Affect
A significant majority of respondents to the last Insider Poll reported that they had in fact canceled some planned events for 2009 because of the recent down turn. While 59% said they had canceled meetings, 28% opted for “not yet”, while 14% of possible optimists simply said “no” they hadn’t canceled any. Here are the specific results:

Has the weakened economy caused you to cancel some planned events for 2009?

• Yes 59%
• Not Yet 28%
• No 14%

Around the Industry

Historic Trust Honors Fort Worth
The National Trust for Historic Preservation has named Fort Worth, Texas one of its 2009 Dozen Distinctive Destinations. Since 2000, the organization has annually selected communities across the United States that offer cultural and recreational experiences different from the typical vacation destination. Fort Worth was cited for its revitalized downtown, world-renowned cultural arts district and well-preserved Western heritage. “This unmistakable mix of historic resources and 21st-century city living appeals to both young and old, distinguishing it as one of the great southwestern urban centers,” the announcement stated. Other places on the list include Santa Fe, New Mexico; Buffalo New York; and Santa Barbara, California.

New Orleans Restaurants Are Back
Zagat Survey has just released the results of its 2009 New Orleans travel survey covering 704 of the city's finest restaurants, nightspots, attractions and hotels, based on the input from 3,877 local consumers. Among the findings of the survey are:

• New Orleans's renowned restaurant industry offers one of the lowest average meal costs in the United States – $28.52 vs. the national average of $34.31.
• In the three years since Hurricane Katrina, 97% of surveyors report their favorite restaurants are back in business. The French Quarter's Café Sbisa and Uptown's Charlie's Steak House reopened this year and Ruth's Chris Steak House returned to the city proper in new digs at Harrah's.

Krisam & GEP News
Get updates on Krisam Member Hotels & Resorts and GEP Partners here. For more information on any of these Members or Partners below, contact your Krisam or GEP representative directly or email us today.

New Krisam Group Member Hotels & Resorts
* Kissimmee, Florida – Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center - 1,406 rooms and 400,000 square feet of meeting space

* Landover, Maryland – Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center - 2,000 rooms and 470,000 square feet of meeting space

* Nashville, Tennessee – Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center - 2,881 rooms and 600,000 square feet of meeting space

* Grapevine, Texas – Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center - 1,511 rooms and 400,000 square feet of meeting space


GEP Acquires Atlanta Arrangements, Inc.
Global Events Partners has acquired Atlanta Arrangements, Inc., a 40-year-old DMC company based in Atlanta, Georgia, according to an announcement by Chris White, GEP chairman & CEO.

The company retains its key executives and will operate under the name Atlanta Arrangements, a GEP Company.

Atlanta Arrangements will continue under the direction of Susan Henderson as president & CEO and Michele Lend as COO. Both executives retain an equity position with the company.

Henderson, CMP, DMCP has over 20 years in the DMC industry and was recently awarded by ADME the 2007 Destination Management Professional of the Year. Atlanta Arrangements was the only DMC in Atlanta to be included in the Top 25 DMCs by Special Events Magazine and is a charter accredited DMC with ADME.

Lend also has over 20 years in the DMC industry and serves on the board of the Atlanta Convention and Visitor’s Bureau and won their Member of the Year award in 1999. GEP Atlanta will be the sixth DMC owned and operated by GEP. In addition to Atlanta, GEP owns and operates market-leading DMC offices in other important U.S. destinations, including Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Philadelphia, South Florida and Utah.


Cynthia Mitchell Named President & CEO of GEP Utah
Cynthia Mitchell has been named president & CEO of GEP Utah. GEP Utah is owned and operated by Global Events Partners and was founded in 2007. It is one of the leading DMCs in Salt Lake City.

In addition to Salt Lake City, GEP Utah recently opened a satellite office in Deer Valley-Park City and plans to expand with other satellite offices in Moab, Utah; Sun Valley, Idaho; and Jackson Hole, Wyoming. GEP Utah is a DMC specializing in high-end corporate meetings and incentive business.

Mitchell brings over 17 years of meeting planning experience in marketing, events and promotions to GEP Utah, where she will lead the office’s sales, marketing and operations activities. Her most recent position was with Agel Enterprises, where she was the senior director of global events & promotions.

Prior to Agel, her other positions included global meeting director with Unicity, corporate event manager at ACS Inc, and owner of her own DMC, Eventiv Inc. Before moving to Utah in 2000 Mitchell had her own events and catering company as well; she and her husband, David worked for OC Tanner to develop the Canadian recognition market.


Seven GEP DMCs Named to 5th Annual Special Events Magazine 25 Top DMCs
Calling them ‘the biggest in the business” Special Events Magazine published its list of the Top 25 DMCs in its December issue. GEP partners who made the list were:

• Atlanta Arrangements, Atlanta
• Baskow & Associates. Las Vegas
• Best Of Boston, Boston
• Bixel & Company, Los Angeles
• Destination Concepts, San Diego
• Destination Nashville, Nashville
• GEP Washington, Washington DC