Programs & Packages
- For off-season sports excitement, the recently renovated Plano Sports Authority Star Center Preston Meadows offers indoor basketball courts and turf fields for team-building games and competitions. Additional meeting space and Wi-Fi is available. The PSA is a nonprofit organization that provides year-round recreational opportunities to local youth. For more information, call 972.208.5437 or visit www.psaplano.org.
Destination Dispatch
- Salamander Hotels and Resorts unveiled the Grand Golf Resorts of Florida Collection, which unites Innisbrook Resort near Tampa, Reunion Resort in Orlando and Hammock Beach Resort in Palm Coast to create a 162-hole Sunshine State golf powerhouse. Together, the resorts feature 1,250 guest suites with kitchens and large balconies, in addition to 200,000 square feet of function space. The Legends of Golf Trail links the multicourse properties, which are all within a 90-minute drive. For more information, call 540.687.3710 or visit www.grandgolfresorts.com.
- Malaysian developer Genting Group unveiled plans this fall for the behemoth Resorts World Miami. At an estimated construction cost of almost $4 billion, the complex would have four hotels with 5,200 rooms, 8,500 slot machines, a lagoon the size of 12 Olympic swimming pools and more than 50 restaurants and bars. The project would also include a 200,000-square-foot, column-free ballroom with oceans views, bringing the total meeting space to 700,000 square feet.
Gambling is currently illegal in Florida, but developers are trying to push through legislation to allow it. If passed, the law could generate millions in tax revenue for the state, but would take money away from Florida Native American groups, who currently have exclusive casino rights.
New Releases
- The upscale travel flash-sale site Jetsetter produced Bon Voyage, a glossy coffee table book featuring high-quality photography and vivid descriptions of 24 global journeys. The 227-page book retails for $199 and describes travels ranging from a motorcycle trek across Iceland to an eco-adventure in Honduras and a cultural tour of London. The price includes personal Jetsetter travel planning for one trip, and the book is available online at the Jetsetter and Gilt sites, as well as at the Standard New York’s hotel gift shop and select Club Monaco and Flight 001 stores. For more information, visit www.jetsetter.com/bonvoyage.
- The free Memphis Travel smartphone app debuted in October. Created by the Memphis CVB, the app contains photos, helpful articles and discounts for lodging, excursions and food. A list of current events helps visitors discover major goings-ons in the city. Destination suggestions range from famous Memphian attractions to hidden gems. Memphis Travel is currently available for Apple iOS devices and soon will be released in an Android format. A clean interface and crisp graphics make the app easy to use. For more information and to download, visit www.memphistravel.com/app.
- The Plano CVB launched a mobile website this fall that will allow users to quickly access directions and local points of interest, and view the CVB’s social media feeds for up-to-the-minute information about events and attractions. The site is visible on any mobile device with Internet access. Visit www.planocvb.com on your mobile device to access the mobile site.
Kudos
- Badgetec recently announced a new line of environmentally friendly name badges that work without adhesive, pins, metal clips or a plastic case. The name badges are 100 percent recyclable and the patented Contour Clip is reusable and doesn’t damage clothing. For more information, call 877.403.7797 or visit www.badgeteconline.com.
- ATL Cruzers, one of Atlanta’s newest small tour companies, operates a fleet of four five-passenger electric vehicles that are available for up to 20 people and can be booked as private shuttles between venues or for city tours. The environmentally friendly cars are 100 percent battery powered. For more information, call 877.497.4774 or visit www.atlcruzers.com.