Museums & Events
Programs & Packages
- For the third consecutive year, September has been officially recognized as California Wine Month by Gov. Schwarzenegger. California’s Wine Institute, the association of 1,000 California wineries and affiliated businesses, initiated the California Wine Month campaign a few years ago during the annual harvest to showcase the state’s more than 20 distinctive wine growing regions and 107 different American Viticultural Areas. The Wine Institute is partnering with winery members, regional winery and grower associations, retailers and restaurants, and other organizations with a calendar of California wine events throughout September, including the Lodi Grape Festival and the Sonoma Odyssey of Food and Wine. For more information, visit www.californiawineevents.com.
Programs & Packages
- Vail Cascade Resort & Spa is offering its summer special Planner’s Choice meetings package to groups or for incentive programs. Through August, meeting planners have their choice of one incentive from two categories. In the first category, planners choose either 10 percent off the master account for rooms, audiovisual and food and beverage; a complimentary welcome reception for the group; or a $25 gas card for each group attendee. In the second category, planners choose either one American Express point for each dollar of program value; one complimentary day spa package to give away; or a gift certificate for a two-night stay that can be used as a giveaway. The Vail Cascade offers more than 35,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor spaces. For more information, call 800.781.1119 or visit www.vailcascade.com.
- Villa Del Sol in Zihuatanejo, Mexico, recently introduced group packages that include complimentary full breakfast, one complimentary room for every 10 rooms booked per night, a free one-hour cocktail reception, complimentary use of the hospitality suite, 20 percent off on spa treatments, and free use of meeting space. There is a bonus offer for meeting planners of 15 percent commission on the room night revenue or a 10 percent credit to the master bill if the planner is not organizing the booking. Packages apply to group bookings of 10 or more rooms per night for a minimum of three nights, with Sunday through Thursday arrivals only. The packages are valid until Oct. 31. For more information, call 323.930.3824 or visit www.hotelvilladelsol.com.
- Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa introduced the La Jolla Meeting Package to offer added value for groups this July and August. The package includes transfers to La Jolla Village or San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter; a reception for meeting attendees, an on-site golf clinic program hosted by Torrey Pines Golf Course or an Iron Chef culinary team-building event with Estancia La Jolla’s culinary staff. Rates start at $219 per room night, plus tax and hotel fees, and apply to groups requiring 50 rooms or more from Monday through Thursday. The property features 210 guest rooms, an 8,000-square-foot spa, private cabanas, and 25,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting and event space. For more information, call 858.550.1000 or visit www.estancialajolla.com.