Destination Dispatch
- Stone Brewing Company in the San Diego area is planning to invest more than $26 million into major projects over the next several years. The new Stone Brewing World Bistro & Garden-Liberty Station will include a 22,000-square-foot restaurant and brewery with 40 taps, gardens, bocce courts and event spaces. A 50-room specialty hotel is planned to open in late 2014 with two acres of outdoor event space. For more information, visit www.stonebrewing.com.
Programs & Packages
- Victoria, British Columbia launched a new incentive package for planners, offering an $150 spa card for planners submitting a qualifying RFP by March 31, 2013. The reward is valid at more than 2,000 spas across North America that are members of the WaySpa.com network. Victoria can accommodate meetings of up to 1,200 delegates requiring up to 73,000 square feet of space. For more information, visit www.tourismvictoria.com/greatmeetings.
- Marriott International announced that it will begin a test of the Workspace on Demand program, which allows users to find and reserve flexible work environments from their mobile phones. Spaces range from communal lobby worktables to private executive boardrooms. Marriott partnered with LiquidSpace to allow users to book space in select regions, at properties including Fremont Marriott Silicon Valley, Courtyard by Marriott Chevy Chase and Westfields Marriott Washington Dulles. For more information, visit workspaceondemand.marriott.com or www.liquidspace.com.
Tech Update
- Fairmont Pacific Rim in Vancouver has added new technology offerings for guests. There are virtual concierge services available via iPad in all 377 guest rooms and digital communication devices in kitchens that can send diners recipes for dishes they enjoyed. Cameras placed within the Oru restaurant’s open-concept kitchen will provide guests with a live-stream feed of food being prepared. For more information, visit www.fairmont.com/pacificrim.