| |
|
 Beach Meetings
Making a Splash
by MARLENE GOLDMAN
· From the Caribbean islands to the Florida shores, new beachfront properties are targeting groups large and small that are looking to host meetings in idyllic surroundings. All feature event spaces at the water’s edge.
W Retreat & Spa-Vieques Island
W Retreat & Spa-Vieques Island opened in March in Puerto Rico’s Vieques Island. Vieques is a former U.S. Navy testing ground that is now a national wildlife refuge. Its numerous beaches include Red Beach, Green Beach and Blue Beach, which is especially known for its snorkeling. Vieques is also home to two bioluminescent bays.
click here for more…
|
 |
|
Sponsor
Beaches of South Walton
When you’re choosing the ideal location for your next meeting, look no further than the rejuvenating 26 miles of Beaches of South Walton along Northwest Florida’s Gulf Coast. From sugar-white sands and emerald green waters to world-class accommodations, award-winning dining and endless activities, groups of six or 1,600 enjoy memorable meeting experiences at any of the Beaches of South Walton meeting and convention venues. To create your next memorable meeting, allow our staff to assist. Whether you’re planning a large convention or a small corporate retreat, Beaches of South Walton is the perfect coastal venue for your next meeting.
For more information, visit www.beachesofsouthwalton.com.
|
|
|
Government Meetings
Reliable Sources
by KATIE MORELL
· Economic woes may have adversely affected several segments of the meetings industry, but government is not one of them.
"Government has remained steadfast," says Vernon Spears, Chicago-based space management specialist for the U.S. Department of Labor and president of the Chicago chapter of the Society of Government Meeting Professionals . "There are meetings that still have to occur [regardless of the economy]."
click here for more...
|
|
|
Sponsor
Radisson Our Lucaya Resort
Just 55 miles off the coast of South Florida, Radisson Our Lucaya Resort is situated on 7.5 pristine oceanfront acres steps from Port Lucaya Marketplace and Count Basie Entertainment Square. Here you will find a choice of sparkling pools, an abundant selection of restaurants, entertainment venues and an idyllic oceanfront setting. Explore Grand Bahama Island’s cities, villages and cays, which offer lasting evidence of the many different peoples and cultures that have inhabited the island.
For more information, visit www.ourlucaya.com.
|
|
|
Change of Focus
· Just 25 minutes outside Atlanta in Stone Mountain, Ga., corporate meetings were the biggest market segment for the high-end Evergreen Marriott Conference Resort until two years ago. After the market crashed, the 336-room property decided to drastically switch its focus.
"We were a very corporate-oriented hotel, but when the economy went down, we started fishing in different ponds," says Warren Woodard, director of sales and marketing for the resort. "We ramped up our government business. In 2008, it was 6 percent of our total business and it went up to 12 percent in 2009.”
click here for more...
|
|
|
Sponsor
Lago Mar Resort & Club
Situated on 10 lush acres on the oceanfront in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Lago Mar Resort & Club offers 12,000 square feet of flexible conference facilities. Four separate meeting rooms open onto the Fountainview Lobby, a 5,000-square-foot prefunction area with a relaxed, airy ambience. With 204 guest accommodations, which include 160 suites, the area’s largest private beach, manicured gardens and two tropical pools, Lago Mar Resort & Club welcomes your group to an unforgettable meeting.
For more information, call (800) 524-6627 (LAGOMAR) or visit www.lagomar.com.
|
|
|
Industry News
Gaylord Opryland Closes Due to Floods
· Flooding from the rising Cumberland River, swollen by two days of thunderstorms, led to the closure of a major meetings hotel and shut down a total of about 5,000 rooms in the Music Valley area, located about 20 minutes from downtown Nashville, Tenn.
complete story...
Fort Worth Hotels See Record Demand
· The Fort Worth [Texas] CVB announced that through the end of first quarter 2010, Fort Worth’s hotels experienced the highest first quarter occupancy and demand in the city’s history.
complete story...
CC and Hotel Plans Move Forward in Kerrville, Texas
· A committee tasked with proposals to build a convention center and adjacent hotel in Kerrville will make its recommendation to the city council sometime in June.
complete story..
ASAE Sets New Dates for Tech Conference
· ASAE & The Center for Association Leadership announced that its Technology Conference & Expo will take place Dec. 13-15 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C.
complete story...
Stay Connected
Meetings South Hot Deals
Mobile, AL
Mobile Riverview Plaza Hotel
$100
6/6/2010 - 6/11/2010
Point Clear, AL
Grand Hotel Marriott Resort, Golf Club & Spa
$159
8/29/2010 - 9/3/2010
|
|
