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May / June 2007
In This
Issue
 An
Island for Lovers
Winning
Events On A Modest Budget
From
the Field: Jumeirah Carlton Tower,
London
Poll:
What’s the most you’ve spent?
Around
the Industry
Krisam
& GEP News
An
Island for Lovers of Sun, History, and
Action
Not to mention memorable incentives
and meetings
Marc Anthony was so taken by the beauty
of the island, the legend goes, that he
presented it to his love Cleopatra as a
gift. With 10,000 years of history,
Cyprus has hundreds of stories to tell
of various legendary visitors who fell
in love with its charms.
Today it hosts meetings and incentives
for clients from Europe, the Mid-East,
Asia and Australia. Yet it remains a new
territory to explore for most North
Americans. Beyond the appeal of being a
new experience, Cyprus offers the appeal
of being ancient and modern, sunny and
Mediterranean with all the warmth that
the name implies.
Here are some of the pleasures of Cyprus
- a place fit for Cleopatra, Richard the
Lionheart, and Aphrodite.
Winning Events On A Modest Budget
How to cut costs but not impact
Big Budget. Big Bash. No problem. It’s
when the budget is tight that the real
creativity kicks in and DMC Atlanta
Arrangements says “No problem, we can
arrange that.” They sure lived up to
their slogan when they won the 2006 ADME
Achievement Award for the Best
Innovative Event in the $25,000 and
under category.
The event was called “Turning up the
Heat” and was hosted for a most critical
audience – professionals in the meeting
industry. Susan Henderson, president and
CEO of Atlanta Arrangements, explains
how her team created an
award-winning event on a modest budget.
From
the Field: Krisam Group’s Newest Member,
Jumeirah Carlton Tower, London.
Meet in a room with a waterfall. Stroll
to Harrods, Harvey Nichols or Gucci in
minutes. Take the elevator to the second
floor to play some of the world’s most
famous golf courses. Enjoy five star
luxury in London’s convenient and
fashionable Knightsbridge neighborhood.
The sumptuous surprises at the Jumeirah
Carlton Tower in London make it an
elegant choice for VIP meetings and
receptions.
Learn more about Jumeirah Carlton Tower.
What’s
the most you’ve spent? Take our poll...
In the ADME Achievement Awards, the Best
Innovative Event category has three
budget levels: $25,000 and under,
$25,001 to $50,000, and $50,001 and
above. In this issue Atlanta
Arrangements describes how they saved
money and spent creativity to win the
$25,000 and under trophy. How realistic
are those categories for most event
planners? If you were to enter one of
your events, where would it fall?
Take our poll and let's see.
Last month's poll results: Sinful
Foods
Readers of The Event Insider appear not
to have much of a sweet tooth as candy
was tied with hot dogs for last place on
the list of foods you could least give
up. Beer/wine, though technically
probably not a food, received by far the
most votes with French Fries a distant
second. It would seem that the business
generates a desire for some uplifting
spirits now and then.
The one sinful food I would miss if
banned is:
- Beer/Wine 36%
- French Fries 14%
- Ice Cream 12%
- Doughnuts 12%
- Hamburger 10%
- Chips 10%
- Candy 2%
- Hot Dogs 2%
- Other 0%
Around
the Industry
- Italy liberalizes tour
guide laws
The European Tour Operators
Association (ETOA) issued a
statement welcoming the recent
passage of laws by the government of
Italy liberalizing many aspects of
the economy, including "tourist
guides and tour escorts".
Until now, using laws dating back to
the 1930’s, anyone addressing a
tourist had to be an “official”
guide, accredited by the local
authority. This effectively meant
that teachers, university lecturers,
ministers and guides from outside
Italy could not conduct tours. “Many
companies had to resort to using
locally qualified guides as ‘silent
escorts’” Tom Jenkins, Executive
Director, ETOA said: “This is
tremendous news for the tourism
industry.”
“For bordering countries such as
Switzerland, Austria, Germany and
France this is a great relief as we
all have very knowledgeable guides
and in the past were forced to use
Italians,” commented Rudy Alofs of
GEP partner Conventus, Switzerland.
“Obviously, nothing can replace
those Italian guides that have a
major in the Italian history and the
Roman Empire.” he continued.
- U.S.A. and Vienna once
again top ICCA report
As in 2004 and 2005, the U.S.A. and
Germany are the number one and two
country respectively, measured by
the number of international meetings
organized in 2006, according to the
International Congress & Convention
Association (ICCA).
As in 2005, Vienna tops the charts
as the most popular city. Paris
jumps four places to number two
followed by Singapore, Barcelona,
Berlin, Budapest, Seoul, Prague,
Copenhagen, and Lisbon.
In the country rankings The United
Kingdom is now third and France
fourth, followed by Spain, Italy,
Brazil, Austria, Australia, and The
Netherlands.
The ICCA rankings cover meetings
organized by international
associations which take place on a
regular basis and which rotate
between a minimum of three
countries.
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.
Krisam salutes two 30-year staffers
Congratulations to Dick Calgaro,
vice president of the DC sales office,
and Marcia Gerard, executive vice
president of the New York sales office,
as they each celebrate 30 spectacular
years with Krisam Group. Dick's
celebration was kicked off in DC last
month when an American flag was flown in
his honor over The Capitol on the day of
his anniversary. Soon after our DMC
Partner in New York, Empire Force
Events, helped with our celebration for
Marcia by posting the message shown below on the Reuters & Nasdaq buildings (the largest LED screen in the world) in the heart of Times Square. Thank you to both Dick and
Marcia for 30 years of good times,
laughs, and dedication!
New Krisam Group Members
* Kingsmill Resort & Conference
Center – Williamsburg, VA
425 renovated guestrooms, 3 championship
18-hole golf courses, and 16,000 square
feet of meeting space broken into 16
total meeting rooms (grand ballroom is
10,050 square feet).
* Grand Bohemian Hotel (Kessler
Hotels) – Four-Diamond hotel,
downtown Orlando, FL
Approximately 20 minutes from Orlando
International Airport and 20 miles from
the Convention Center. 250 guestrooms
decorated with elegant Bohemian-themed
artwork. A total of 9,600 square feet of
meeting space with a 2,500 square foot
ballroom (meet & feed 120). Voted T+L’s
Top 500 Greatest Hotels in the World for
2006 and their fine dining restaurant (Boheme
Restaurant) was awarded Wine Spectator’s
Award of Excellence in 2005 and 2006.
* Empire Hotel – New York, NY
across the street from Lincoln Center
416 guestrooms that will be available
late August / early September 2007 when
hotel officially opens. Meeting space
available late October / early November
2007.
* Jumeirah Carlton Tower (Jumeirah
Hotels) - Cadogan Place in
London, England
220 total guestrooms including 58 suites
and 1 Presidential suite. 16 miles from
Heathrow Airport and 5 meeting rooms,
including a ballroom that can hold 250
classroom / 400 dinner reception.
* Grand Hotel Parco Dei Principi
- Rome, Italy, approximately 21 miles
from the airport.
180 total guestrooms and 10 meeting
rooms totaling 16,145 square feet of
meeting space in their Congress Centre.
Empire Force president featured in
Corporate Incentive Travel
Jaclyn Bernstein, DMCP, president and
partner of Empire Force Events, New
York, graced the cover the of the March
issue of Corporate Incentive Travel
magazine. The cover story: New York:
Everything You Need for a Successful
Meeting quoted Jaclyn and other New York
City meeting professionals on the latest
meeting trends in the area. Empire Force
celebrates its 25th Anniversary this
month.
AZA grants accreditation to Atlantis,
Paradise Island Resort in the Bahamas
The Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA)
has granted accreditation to Atlantis,
Paradise Island resort in The Bahamas.
“Only the very best zoos and aquariums
can meet tough Association of Zoos and
Aquariums accreditation standards,” said
AZA President and CEO Jim Maddy. “The
leadership and staff of Atlantis are to
be congratulated for the hard work and
commitment that they put into the
accreditation process.”
To be accredited, Atlantis underwent
thorough investigation to ensure it has
and will continue to meet ever-rising
standards, which include animal care,
veterinary programs, conservation,
education, and safety. “We are thrilled
that our aquarium and marine mammal
staff, our facilities and habitats have
been recognized by such a prestigious
association as the AZA,” said Frank
Murru, Chief Marine Officer, Kerzner
International.
Atlantis is the home of world’s largest
open-air marine habitat with over 50,000
marine animals in lagoons and displays
and Dolphin Cay (pronounced “key”), the
new, state-of-the-art dolphin
interaction and education center.
Dolphin Cay is also the new residence of
the sixteen Katrina Dolphins, some of
whom were swept to sea during Hurricane
Katrina from their previous habitat at
the Marine Life Oceanarium in Gulfport,
Mississippi.
In 2005, Kerzner International, the
parent company of Atlantis, Paradise
Island, agreed to invest more than $5
million over five years to support
Kerzner Marine Foundation (KMF), a
non-profit foundation that seeks to
foster the preservation and enhancement
of global marine ecosystems through
scientific research, education and
community outreach.
Atlantis, Paradise Island features a
variety of accommodations, all built
around a 97-acre waterscape comprised of
over 20 million gallons of fresh and
saltwater lagoons, pools and habitats.
Bixel & Company launches Boots in LA
Bixel & Company, Los Angeles DMC, was
featured in BizBash LA for producing an
event to showcase a range of UK-based
Boots health and beauty products that
will now be carried by Target stores and
select CVS pharmacies. The high profile
celebrity event was attended by Paris
Hilton, Emmy Rossum, Ali Larter, Kelly
Osborne and about 10 other young
20-something celebs, according to Dabney
Bixel, president of the DMC.
Fontainebleau Miami Beach names chef
for new steakhouse restaurant
James Beard Foundation's Most
Outstanding Chef in the Nation in 2006,
Alfred Portale, will open Gotham Steak
at the new Fontainebleau Miami Beach.
The Fontainebleau Gotham will feature a
breathtaking two-story design off the
lobby level of the resort with
additional seating down a staircase to
the lower lobby and pool area.
Since 1984 Chef Portale has been the
inspiration behind Gotham Bar and Grill
in New York City. Within eight months of
joining the New York Gotham, Portale
received a three-star rating from the
New York Times, becoming the youngest
chef ever to receive that distinction.
A Miami Beach landmark since opening in
1954, the Fontainebleau is undergoing a
$1 billion expansion/renovation that is
scheduled for completion in mid-2008.
Other recent Fontainebleau announcements
include:
* The appointment of Executive Chef Sean
O'Connell, an internationally renowned
chef who has worked in some of the
world's leading hotels and resorts. Most
recently, as Executive Chef at Mandarin
Oriental, Hong Kong, he was responsible
for a kitchen brigade of 135 operating
ten restaurants and food outlets and
recently oversaw the entire kitchen
operations and development during the
hotel's multi-million dollar renovation
program.
* PURE, the Nightclub that
revolutionized nightlife on The Las
Vegas Strip, is coming to Miami Beach.
PURE opens at the Fontainebleau Miami
Beach in 2008.
Reserve now for 2008 US Open Golf at
Torrey Pines
Group and VIP reservations are now being
accepted for the USGA U.S. Open Golf
Championship at Torrey Pines from June
9-15, 2008. The La Jolla, California
course is only the second municipal golf
course ever selected to host the
prestigious event.
GEP Partner PRA can assist with
reserving corporate and hospitality
suites, play on other San Diego courses,
transportation, including logistics to
and from Torrey Pines, and local
activities, venues, and restaurants.
They can also secure group tee times
before and after the U.S. Open at Torrey
Pines.
Krisam Group member the Lodge at Torrey
Pines has been selected as the official
host site of 2008 U.S. Open. The only
AAA Five-Diamond destination resort in
San Diego, the luxurious California
Craftsman-style Lodge overlooks the 18th
hole of the Torrey Pines South Course.
Santa Fe’s El Dorado begins guestroom
and meeting space renovation
Now celebrating its 20th anniversary
year, Eldorado Hotel and Spa, Santa Fe’s
premier four-diamond luxury hotel, is
investing $2.2 million in renovations to
its 219 guestrooms, and $1.9 million in
meeting room renovations during 2007.
The sleeping rooms will all be completed
by June 1 and the meeting rooms by
December 9, according to Matthew Del
Pizzo, CHSP, new senior sales manager at
the El Dorado.
These follow the completion of several
enhancements during 2006. The
award-winning restaurant, The Old House,
unveiled a revamped lobby entrance,
furnishings and artwork at the beginning
of 2006. Also last year, the property’s
lobby received a facelift creating a new
sense of arrival and the fitness center
was updated and doubled in size. A new
4,300 square foot spa was added in 2005
Global Events Partners announces new
DMC office in Seattle
GEP partner Alaska, Logistics LLC, has
opened an office covering the greater
Seattle area. The new Seattle-based DMC,
Logistics, LLC, began operations on
March 15, 2007.
Toni Walker, president of Logistics LLC,
Anchorage, and president of
Logistics, LLC described the new
region as “ripe with opportunity for
Logistics LLC and Global Events
Partners. Having established Logistics
as #1 in the Alaska market, we look
forward to similar success in Seattle.”
Since its inception eleven years ago,
Logistics, LLC has coordinated hundreds
of programs for a variety of clients and
has established itself as the leading
DMC in Alaska.
Micato Safari named best value by T&
L Readers
In their annual World's Best Awards
survey, Travel & Leisure asked readers
to rate travel providers for value.
Micato Safaris came out on top for tour
operators and safari outfitters. Micato
is now the four time World’s Best Tour
Operator and Safari Outfitter and two
time Best Value winner according to
readers of Travel & Leisure.
Hersheypark celebrates its centennial
in a big way
Fireworks, a new boardwalk, new water
attractions, and special packages from
the Hotel Hershey and the Hershey Lodge
form a part of the 2007 celebration of
Hersheyparks 100th year. The Boardwalk
at Hersheypark will serve as the
centerpiece of the celebration of 100
Years of Happy.
New for 2007 are five distinctive water
attractions, including East Coast
Waterworks, the largest waterplay
structure in the world. The $21 million
enhancement is the biggest financial
investment Hersheypark has ever made.
Hershey Resorts will provide special
packages, activities and benefits to
guests of the Hotel Hershey and the
Hershey Lodge. Among these benefits,
Resorts guests get the best price on
Park tickets and early access to select
rides and attractions. In addition, the
Hotel and Lodge will offer a dessert
created especially to honor the Park’s
Centennial, the 100th anniversary of
Hershey’s Kisses brand chocolates and
the 150th anniversary of Mr. Hershey’s
birth. Even the Spa At the Hotel Hershey
is joining the fun by offering two new
nail colors, “100 Years of Happy” (red)
and Happy Anniversary” (silver).
Hersheypark has been the place for
company events and social group outings
for 100 years offering groups 110-acres
of fun, rich in history and tradition!
Meeting attendees can relax and recharge
with over 60 rides and attractions,
including 10 world-class coasters, 6
drenching water rides, all-new
entertainment, and ZOOAMERICA North
American Wildlife Park.
National Harbor Resort to open April
2008
During a festive topping off ceremony
last month, Gaylord Hotels announced
that April 25, 2008 will be the official
grand opening date for its 2,000-room
Gaylord National Resort and Convention
Center at National Harbor, MD. More than
900,000 room nights have already been
booked in the new hotel.
Soon to be the largest convention resort
on the Eastern Seaboard, the new Gaylord
property will be the cornerstone of the
300-acre National Harbor waterfront
development. National Harbor is located
along the Potomac River in Prince
Georges County, Maryland, just eight
miles south of the nation's capital.
During the topping off ceremony, a
15-foot-tall Gaylord Hotels signature
"G" logo was raised to the top of the
hotel, commemorating the fact that
construction has reached the highest
point of the project. Now standing at 20
stories tall, the Gaylord National
Resort towers over the National Harbor
complex and offers stunning views of the
river, nearby Old Town Alexandria and
Washington D.C.
Plan now for SuperBowl 2008
Glendale, Arizona, approximately 20
minutes west of Phoenix, will be the
host city for Super Bowl XLII and will
showcase its brand new, state-of-the-art
University of Phoenix Stadium. Game day
is Sunday, February 3, 2008 with
kick-off at 6:18PM EST. Show Me Arizona
reports that resources are going fast
and encourages those considering
programs coinciding with the game to act
now. The DMC is ready to assist will all
facets of programs and Super Bowl fun.
For more information contact your GEP
representative.
Upcoming Industry Events - 2007
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June 14 |
Krisam Group Client Dinner
following ASAE's 2007
Springtime Expo
The Crystal Ballroom,
Willard InterContinental,
Washington, DC |
|
June 25 - 27 |
Krisam Group Chicago Road
Shows
Kansas City, Lexington,
Milwaukee, Minneapolis,
Columbus |
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June 28 |
Krisam Group Chicago Trade
Show & Reception
Chicago Cultural Center -
Chicago, IL |
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July 18 |
Blue Chip Event
Pleasantdale Chateau, NJ |
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July 28 - 31 |
Krisam Group & GEP Shared
Booth - MPI World Education
Congress 2007
Montreal, Canada |
See the
Calendar of Events for
more information. Or if you
are interested in attending
one of these events, please
send an email to
newsletter@theeventinsider.com.
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