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Short Takes - West December 2009

Museums & Attractions

  • To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 1960 Winter Olympics at Squaw Valley USA, The Resort at Squaw Creek is offering groups the opportunity to add on-mountain tours with one of several past World Cup and Olympic athletes. Tamara McKinney, Bill Hudson, Bob Ormsby, Hansi Standteiner and Kristin Krone are among the many options for Olympian-led tours or team-building events. Additionally, Tamara McKinney is available for inspirational and motivational speaking engagements. Resort at Squaw Creek-based meetings can be created with an Olympic theme as well. Resort at Squaw Creek offers 360 luxurious rooms and suites, 33,000 square feet of meeting space, a full-service spa and a year-round pool and hot tub complex.  For more information, call 530.583.6300 or visit www.squawcreek.com.

Programs & Packages

  • Santa Monica’s "Sun, Sea, Save" package is now extended to business travelers and corporate groups, who can take advantage of a third night free, as well as a variety of free offers and activities, when booking with participating Santa Monica hotels through Dec. 31. Program perks include bicycle rentals and free rides on Pacific Park’s solar-powered Ferris wheel and the historic Carousel, located on the 100-year-old Santa Monica Pier. Planners can take advantage of one of a number of offers from the destination, including complimentary open-air transportation to any Santa Monica off-site meeting venue, complimentary breakfast, a free group yoga session on the beach, 10 percent off the group’s master account to be used for airport transfers, audiovisual needs, spa services and more. For more information, call 310.319.6263 or visit www.santamonica.com/savemeeting.

Kudos 

 

  • The Peppermill Resort Spa Casino, in Reno, Nev., recently committed to investing $8.1 million in harvesting geothermal energy. The resort drilled a well that taps into the geothermal aquifer, with the hopes it could find water at the correct temperature that could be captured and converted to energy. The Peppermill succeeded, and will be able to harness geothermal energy that will heat 100 percent of the resort’s water and mechanical heat, with a projected January 2010 starting date. Peppermill’s endeavor was showcased at the Geothermal Resources Council Annual Meeting and Geothermal Energy Expo held at the hotel in October. For more information, call 775. 826.2121 or visit www.peppermillreno.com.