Museums & Attractions
- A memorial honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. debuted on Washington, D.C.’s National Mall, adjacent to the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial and between the Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials. Inspiration for the design of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial stemmed from a line in King’s “I Have a Dream” speech, which he delivered on the National Mall: “Out of a mountain of despair, a stone of hope.” The “Mountain of Despair” is a large rock split in two, and at the center of the memorial stands the “Stone of Hope,” with a statue of King on the far side. Surrounding the monument stand marble walls on which 14 of King’s most famous quotes are etched. For more information, call 888.484.3373 or visit www.mlkmemorial.org.
- A second section of the High Line, Manhattan’s public park built 30 feet above the streets on a 1930s-era elevated freight rail line, debuted earlier this year. The opening of the second section doubles the length of the public park. The High Line is now one mile long, running from Gansevoort Street to West 30th Street, connecting the Meatpacking District, West Chelsea and Midtown West. The new section runs in close proximity to historic buildings and warehouses, and offers views of architectural landmarks, including the Chrysler Building and the Empire State Building. For more information, visit www.thehighline.org.
Programs & Packages
- The Omni Bedford Springs Resort in Bedford, Penn., launched a new list of incentives for meeting planners. Through the resort’s new Meetings Special Offer, any group that contracts a minimum of 20 guest rooms can select one of followings complimentary services: one-hour group reception of beer, wine and passed hors d’oeuvres, one room for every 25 paid rooms or one group activity for one hour. Contracts must be signed prior to Dec. 31 for arrival dates up until March 12, 2012. For more information, call 814.623.8100 or visit www.omnihotels.com.
Destination Dispatch
- New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg earlier this year helped launch a marketing campaign designed to promote Lower Manhattan to visitors, encouraging people to stay in the area’s hotels and explore what the neighborhood has to offer, from eating in Chinatown to visiting Wall Street. The promotion coincided with the Sept. 12 opening of the 9/11 Memorial to the public. The campaign, which was designed by NYC & Company, features Lower Manhattan travel itineraries, with the goal of highlighting the revitalization of the neighborhood. The number of hotels in Lower Manhattan has tripled over the last decade, including recent additions the Andaz Wall Street and W New York Downtown. The National 9/11 Museum will open in the area in September 2012. For more information, call 212.484.1200 or visit www.nycgo.com/meetingplanners.
Kudos
- The Westin Boston Waterfront recently partnered with Clean the World to reduce global disease by recycling hotel soap products. The Clean the World program recycles bar soap, shampoo, conditioner, lotion and bath gels discarded by hotels, which are re-milled into new amenity products and distributed to developing countries. The hotel has also partnered with Conservation International, with a plan to drastically reduce energy consumption by 2020. For more information, call 617.532.4600 or visit www.westinbostonwaterfront.com/green-choice.
- Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts is offering a new, complimentary program for planning a green meeting or event. Greening Meetings is now available at all the company’s 85 hotels and resorts around the world, and offers a menu of flexible options to conserve energy, reduce waste and support sustainability. The new program is available at no additional cost. Available options cover a wide spectrum of initiatives, from food and beverage to meeting services and accommodations. In addition, each hotel has a Green Team that can assist planners with everything from booking zip-line eco-tours of surrounding forests to agritourism experiences. For more information, call 416.449.1750 or visit www.fourseasons.com.