Museums & Attractions
- South Carolina’s Charleston Art Tours, founded in 2009, is offering visitors behind-the-scenes tours of Charleston’s flourishing visual arts community. Working artists guide groups of up to eight guests through some of Charleston’s top galleries and shows. The guides share the background information on the artists, including their influences, connections within the community and other details. There is also an option of visiting a working artist’s studio or meeting an artist. In addition to the tours, the company offers a variety of customizable options, such as painting demonstrations, painting instruction in the studio or at the guests’ hotel, and group offerings that include wine tastings. The tour company can accommodate larger groups using multiple guides. For more information, call 843.860.3327.
Programs & Packages
- Trump International Beach Resort, in Sunny Isles Beach, Fla., recently added to its group offerings the Rejavanation breakout session, which treats attendees to a specialty java bar and coffee-infused spa treatments. Group members can choose from several coffee treatments with natural ingredients that can work on the skin in a variety of ways, including as an exfoliant, vasoconstrictor, antioxidant and diuretic. Treatment choices include the Latte Stress, a coffee bean aromatherapy upper back and neck massage; Little Boost & Grind, a body scrub and exfoliation with fresh coffee grounds and honey; Espresso Infusion, a caffeine-based facial with exfoliating coffee grounds; and Brewed Awakening, a hand and foot reflexology treatment focusing on stress trigger points with oil from coffee extract. Group members are also treated to a gourmet coffee bar presentation, featuring a selection of coffees, teas and other caffeine-infused specialty drinks. For more information, call 305.692.5613.
- Florida’s Jacksonville Ice and Sportsplex is offering a special discount to nonprofit organizations that book an event at its recreational facility. The discount is available until the end of the year and is also offered to meeting and event planners working with nonprofit organizations. The facility will give up to 15 percent off the rental fees for its event facilities, which feature flexible meeting spaces and recreational areas including a regulation-size ice arena. Organizations may rent limited space or rent the entire facility. Also available is a variety of unique event packages that may be customized for any size group. The facility features 20,000 square feet of meeting space plus three individual breakout rooms. It also has five multipurpose ball courts for basketball, volleyball or dodge ball; 1,800 square feet of multipurpose fitness space; and 9,000 square feet of indoor turf space, suitable for soccer, lacrosse and football. For more information, call 904.399.3223.
Kudos
- The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte, which opened in Charlotte, N.C., last October, was recently presented with LEED Gold Certification, awarded in the New Construction category. It represents the first LEED designation attained by a Ritz-Carlton hotel or resort. The hotel features a vegetated, energy-conserving roof, which is home to 18,000 sedum plants, a chef’s herb garden cultivated for hotel culinary purposes and the hotel’s two new fully contained bee hives, which will assist in pollination and provide all-natural honey for the hotel. Seventy pounds of chemical-free raw honey are expected to be generated by each hive this year. The hotel will seek LEED Gold Existing Building certification in 2011. For more information, call 704.547.2244.