In This Issue

Cruising: A Planner’s Perspective
Cruising: An Appealing Incentive
Good Times to Have a Good Time in Europe
From the Field: Fairmont Turnberry Isle, Aventura, FL
Have you been to Europe lately? Take our poll...
Around the Industry
Krisam & GEP News

 

Cruising: A Planner’s Perspective
An overview from an expert on all manner of ships

"For meeting professionals cruises are easy, you don’t need to think of a darn thing," says Stephen Bloss, sales director of Worldwide Cruise Associates. Everything is taken care of, he explains, and the major concerns with land-based programs simply don’t exist.

You don’t need to worry about people going off property; you always know where to find them. You can plan custom menus on board, replacing the more difficult dine-around. Attrition isn’t an issue because all the rooms are in one place. And, if you charter the whole ship, it can be totally tailored to your event.

Whether chartering an entire ship or reserving private space on a larger vessel, the cost is surprisingly competitive. Cruise meetings have the highest repeat performance of any segment of the industry, Steve reports. Here are some of the reasons why.

Cruising: An Appealing Incentive
Advice from a seasoned cruise professional

“Nothing motivates people to work harder than the thought of not having to."

With these words, Regent Seven Seas Cruises sums up the irresistible appeal of an incentive cruise.

A veteran of nearly 25 years in the cruise field, Mario Villalobos, director of charter and incentive sales, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, still waxes eloquent on the romance of a ship. “I tell clients to stand on shore as their people arrive for the cruise. Get close and watch the excitement in their guests’ eyes and the spring in their step as they walk toward the ship. Here is this beautiful white thing about to take them aboard, pamper them and sail away.”

What happens next...

Good Times to Have a Good Time in Europe

The America’s Cup in Spain. The Cannes Film Festival in France. Oktoberfest in Germany. Schedule a meeting or incentive in Europe during an appealing annual event and inspire heightened interest before and greater tales and memories afterwards.

GEP’s onsite local partners have special access to the newsworthy seasonal happenings in their countries that can add that extra insider’s appeal to your program. Sports. Films. Beer. Races. Literature. Music. Here’s a sampling of some well known and some lesser known events throughout Europe, mostly in the balmy summer months. Take a look at these inviting choices you can make a part of your next European venture.

From the Field: Fairmont Turnberry Isle, Aventura, FL
With guests like Elizabeth Taylor and Oprah Winfrey, Bill Clinton and Billy Crystal, Elton John and Michael Jordan, the Fairmont Turnberry Isle Resort must be something special. And it is. Secluded on 300 tropical acres in South Florida, the stunning Mediterranean-style hotel promises to exceed expectations one guest at a time. Thanks to a recent renovation, even long-time fans of the resort will find their high expectations surpassed. Here’s the latest on the new golf courses, rooms, and more at the Fairmont Turnberry Isle Resort.


Have you been to Europe lately? Take our poll...

In recent years, the imbalance between the Euro and the dollar had planners shying away from meetings and incentives in Europe. In our cruise story in this issue, Steve Bloss calls Europe “a real bargain” as viewed from the decks of a barge or cruise ship. Our world events feature offers some great happenings in Europe that would add to any program. A better monetary ratio also makes the continent a better value. Have you been there lately? Take our poll and let us know where.

Last month's poll results: Here’s how you shop. Being able to see and touch, and maybe try on, holiday gifts seems to be the favorite as 44% of respondents say they do most of their shopping in local retail stores. Shopping online came in second at a modest 19% tied with “I don’t give many gifts.” No one admitted to hiring someone to shop for them or to giving money. The details are below.

Which best describes your holiday shopping approach?

• I shop mostly in local retail stores...44%
• I don’t give many gifts...19%
• I shop almost exclusively on line...19%
• I mostly give gift certificates...15%
• Someone else in the family does it...4%
• I hire someone to do it...0%
• I mostly give money...0%

Around the Industry

 

• Homeland Security to Launch Redress Program
  On February 20, The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will launch the DHS Traveler Redress Inquiry Program (DHS TRIP), an easy to use, single point of inquiry for travel-related issues. DHS TRIP was developed to provide a central gateway to address watch list misidentification issues, situations where individuals believe they have faced screening problems at immigration points of entry, or have been unfairly or incorrectly delayed, denied boarding or identified for additional screening at the nation's transportation hubs. More details will be available before the launch.
• Passport Requirement for Air Travel Began Jan. 23
  As of January 23, 2007, citizens of the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Bermuda are required to present a passport to enter the United States when arriving by air from any part of the Western Hemisphere. As early as January 1, 2008, the same requirement may apply to land and sea travel.
• Put Your Mark on M&Ms
  M&Ms is currently promoting personalized M&Ms for Valentine’s Day. But businesses can use them anytime for events, gifting, employee recognition, or thanking customers. You can imprint your logo only, logo and a message, or message only. The sweets can be presented in a variety of packages and in your choice of 22 colors. Get the scoop on personalized M&Ms.
• East Asia and Pacific tourism projected to outpace Americas
  The World Tourism Organization projects that by the year 2020 the top three receiving regions for tourists will be Europe (717 million tourists), East Asia and the Pacific (397 million) and the Americas (282 million), followed by Africa, the Middle East and South Asia. Currently the Americas hold the No. 2 spot.

Krisam & GEP News
Get updates on Krisam member properties & GEP partners here. For more information on any of the Krisam members or GEP partners below, contact your Krisam or GEP representative directly or email us today.

New Krisam Hotels
* French Lick Resort & Casino - French Lick, Indiana
* Hard Rock Hotel Casino – Las Vegas, Nevada
* Loews Lake Las Vegas – Las Vegas, Nevada
* Trump Marina – Atlantic City, New Jersey
* Trump Taj Mahal – Atlantic City, New Jersey

New GEP Partners
* Drakos Travel – Cyprus
* Leron Turism in Bucharest
* Kintetsu International - Japan

Loews enters Lake Las Vegas
Wish you were here...where the desert meets the mountains and the lake meets the sky.

The warm wish above is one change Loews has made since they acquired the Lake Las Vegas Resort property from Hyatt in December. The wish can be found in ads and e-mails and ties in with Loews’ corporate campaign “You are here”. The latter is designed to help customers imagine themselves in the various paradise settings the company offers.

As David Ryan, director of marketing, describes it, Loews Lake Las Vegas Resort fits perfectly into the Loews style. “It is individual. It is uniquely local. It feels like an independent hotel, not a cookie cutter,” he explains. Yet, it offers the Loews superb service and touches.

“I can’t believe this is Las Vegas,” customers often exclaim when they first see the resort, David says. Though a convenient 17 miles from the Las Vegas strip, the resort sits in a relaxing setting with magnificent sunrises and sunsets over desert and lake.

A self-contained destination for meetings and incentives, Loews Lake Las Vegas can provide the best of both Nevada worlds. Excursions can easily be arranged for groups who want to see a show or go gaming on the strip, David explains. However, when it is time for meetings, planners needn’t worry that some of their attendees have chosen a casino over a conference, he continues.

For meetings, the property can handle up to 1,200 guests with 45,000 square feet of indoor function space and 55,000 square feet of outdoor function space. The outdoor area is quite popular, David reports, for receptions that allow guests to enjoy the incredible colors of the desert.

The resort is also so family friendly, David says, that you often can find youngsters having fun in the Kids Club program while Mom or Dad is in a meeting.

For golfers, Lake Las Vegas presents the incredible choice of Reflection Bay designed by Jack Nicklaus or The Falls, a Tom Weiskopf creation. Diners can choose from four restaurants including the acclaimed Marssa featuring Asian fusion with a particular focus on sushi.

Situated on 21 acres of lakefront property, Loews Lake Las Vegas Resort is nestled adjacent to Reflection Bay Golf Course overlooking the tranquil waters of the 320-acre private lake. The hotel’s branded services and amenities exceed AAA Four Diamond standards. The resort offers 493 guest rooms including 46 suites, and a 9,000 sq. ft spa. The architecture and interior design reflect a warm Mediterranean style.

Loews plans to invest $5 million into property upgrades in the course of the year.

New Appointments
* Channing Daniel will join the Krisam Group Washington, DC office as National Sales Manager. Channing starts on Feb. 1.
* Tim Barrett, CMP and Jenny Munn recently joined Atlanta Arrangements as sales managers.

Caribe Royale Orlando Celebrates 10th Anniversary with Major Improvements
Last year marked the 10th anniversary of the all-suite Caribe Royale Orlando and saw the completion of major renovations throughout the property.

Caribe Quick Facts:
* Over 150,000 square feet of space
* 1,218 one-bedroom suites
* State-of-the-art fitness center
* 120 renovated two-bedroom villas (October 2006)
* Four richly appointed, newly renovated Executive Suites (September 2006)
* Preferred Partnership with Grand Cypress Golf Club, just 5 miles from the hotel with complimentary transportation

Fontainebleau Renovation Continues
In early 2006, the original 51-year-old landmark Fontainebleau resort closed its doors and is now undergoing a $500 million renovation and expansion project. The renovations will restore much of the vision of its original architect, Morris Lapidus, bringing back such features as the marble floors and columns and the grand staircase, while creating one of Miami's most stimulating and sizzling interior design treatments. Renovations will be complete in mid-2008.

All of the Fontainebleau Resort meeting and conference space will be remodeled and the resort will again be able to host the largest events in Miami Beach. Function space will include 107,000 square feet of meeting space, over 40,000 square feet of meeting pre-function space and over 50,000 square feet of outdoor function space.

When complete, the Fontainebleau will boast 1,504 committable guest rooms and suites. Almost 700 rooms will be available as studio, one-bedroom or two-bedroom suites in the two luxury hotel towers. The remaining guest rooms and suites, in the original Fontainebleau, will be completely renovated and represent the most contemporary accommodations in Miami Beach.

The renovated resort will offer a total of eleven eateries and late night entertainment venues, re-designed upscale retail space, innovative poolscape, and a 40,000 square foot luxury spa.

When totally complete in mid-2008, the legendary Miami Beach resort's rebirth will mark the culmination of a $1 billion renovation/expansion plan conceived by Fontainebleau Resorts and a team of world-renowned architects and designers.

Upcoming Industry Events - 2007