The Providencia Award is Palm Beach County’s most important symbol of recognition for the local tourism industry that employs more than 50,000 people, and adds $2.8 billion annually to the local economy. The Public Relations Committee of the Palm Beach County Convention & Visitors Bureau bestows the Providencia Award annually to a local individual or an organization that has made an extraordinary and positive impact on local tourism.
Key Dates:
July 29, 2011 – Deadline for Providencia Award Nominations
August 10, 2011 – PR Committee Selects Three Final Candidates
September 2011 – Public Invited to Vote on Top Three Finalists
October 20, 2011 – Presentation of Providencia Awards and CVB Scholarship
Helpful Links:Providencia Award Application and Guidelines-->Providencia Award Application and GuidelinesProvidencia Award Press Release
Previous Providencia Award winners have included:
The Delray Beach International Tennis Championships, The Colony Palm Beach, The Morikami Museum & Japanese Gardens of Delray Beach, The Breakers Palm Beach, Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, Boca Raton Resort & Club, Norton Museum of Art, Burt Reynolds, Ritz-Carlton, Moroso Motor Sports, SunFest, Jack Nicklaus, Marathon of the Palm Beaches, Delta Airlines, Alex W. Dreyfoos, Jr., and the Palm Beach Kennel Club.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Monday, July 25, 2011
Around Town – July 2011- PART 2
(Editor’s Note: Here’s another collection of newsworthy items from our industry members and the South Florida community. HSMAInsider, Julie Wernick)
Southeast Florida:
Fort Lauderdale was the lowest tax burdened city in a recent study by the Global Business Travel Association. The study looked at 50 U.S. cities with the lowest and highest tourism taxes. Fort Myers was second and West Palm Beach was third. All are in both general sales tax and travel-related services such as car rental, hotel and meals. (Detroit #4; Portland, OR #4).The 5 highest-tax imposing cities on travelers were, in order, #1 Chicago, #2 New York City, #3 Seattle, Boston #4 and Kansas City, MO #5. This information is of extra special interest to all travel managers planning meetings and conferences.
Greater Fort Lauderdale has been marketing to the GLBT visitor for the last 15 years. Now that New York is allowing gay marriages, the GFLCVB is launching a new webpage featuring the area as a GLBT honeymoon destination. In addition, they are sponsoring a contest to win a gay honeymoon on Fort Lauderdale beach called the “Honeymoon with Pride”. Prizes include a five-night stay at the Royal Palms Resort & Spa, couples massage, candy, roses, and dinner for 2 or the “Preferred Pride” package at the Atlantic Resort & Spa with a couples massages, welcome cocktails. For more information and/or to enter to win, visit www.sunny.org/honemoonwithpride.
Hyatt Hotels & Resorts and Kolter Group LLC have broken ground on a new 134-room Hyatt Place hotel in downtown Delray Beach.
Florida Atlantic University will be offering a Hospitality Management Certificate Program. Dates are Saturdays April 14 thru May 12th, 2012 from 10 am to 4 pm, on their Boca Raton Campus, College of Business. The program will benefit participants from all segments of the industry who desire to move into a supervisory role, wish to move up within their organization, seeking formal training, are new to the industry, or have a formal education in another discipline. The 5-module program covers core components required for success as a hospitality professional. For more information, contact Sarah Gaffney at sgaffne3@fau.edu
Southwest Florida:
The Ritz-Carlton Resorts of Naples announced the appointment of George Fistrovich to the position of executive chef. Chef Fistrovich will lead more than 100 culinary professionals in overseeing all food and beverage operations and culinary services for the 10 dining venues and group banquets at The Ritz-Carlton, Naples beach resort and The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Naples.
Several members of the Collier County hospitality community have been accepted into the Leadership Collier Class of 2012. Congratulations to Jenny Foegen from the Naples Princess, Clark Hill from Hilton Naples, and Tom White from Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham Naples.
The Naples, Marco Island, Everglades CVB’s ad agency, Paradise Advertising & Marketing, announces the hiring of Scott Johnson as their new Creative Director.
Starwood Hotels has presented Four Points by Sheraton in Punta Gorda Harborside with its most prestigious award, the “Starwood North America 2010 Four Points Hotel of the Year Award”. Stephen Svecak, GM, and John Zaccari, CEO of A2Z Hospitality Management, accept the award on behalf of their hotel. In addition, the property had earlier in the year won awards for the “Highest Ranking Guest Service Score” and “2010 Overall TripAdvisor Ranking” for the four Points by Sheraton Brand. Congratulations!!
Charlotte County area residents are participating in a series of discussions about the future of tourism in their County. Teams have been formed on various tourism-related topics. Recommendations will be presented to the Charlotte VCB in late August/early September.
Renovations to the Holiday Inn Downtown Historic District in Fort Myers will start soon as part of a plan to focus on business travelers and corporate conferences. The project will renovate guest rooms, expand the business center, add retail lobby space, and reinvent the onsite restaurant.
Sanibel Harbour Marriott Resort & Spa in south Fort Myers is offering an Island Drive special savings package that comes with $25 in free fuel, a free rental car, and a free bike rental on Sanibel Island or kayak rental at the hotel. Available through Oct. 31, 2011, the package features a 15 percent savings, with rates from $126 per night.
Several Lee County Hotels are currently offering girlfriend vacation packages. These include the Casa Ybel Resort on Sanibel Island; Gulf Breeze Cottages on Sanibel Island; the Hyatt Place Coconut Point in Bonita Springs; the Outrigger Beach Resort on Fort Myers Beach; and the Sanibel Arms West on Sanibel Island
In its June 2011 issue, the Condé Nast Traveler magazine’s 2011 Spa Poll named the Gasparilla Inn Spa in Boca Grande as one of the Top 25 U.S. Hotel Spas. The spa operates now on its special summer schedule: Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. during July and August.
TripAdvisor has presented the Tarpon Tale Inn on Sanibel Island and the Edison & Ford Winter Estates in Fort Myers each with a 2011 TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence, an honor given to properties that consistently receive excellent ratings from the travel website’s members.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To submit items for future blog editions, please send to jwfranklin1@gmail.com
Best, Julie Wernick, HSMAInsider
Southeast Florida:
Fort Lauderdale was the lowest tax burdened city in a recent study by the Global Business Travel Association. The study looked at 50 U.S. cities with the lowest and highest tourism taxes. Fort Myers was second and West Palm Beach was third. All are in both general sales tax and travel-related services such as car rental, hotel and meals. (Detroit #4; Portland, OR #4).The 5 highest-tax imposing cities on travelers were, in order, #1 Chicago, #2 New York City, #3 Seattle, Boston #4 and Kansas City, MO #5. This information is of extra special interest to all travel managers planning meetings and conferences.
Greater Fort Lauderdale has been marketing to the GLBT visitor for the last 15 years. Now that New York is allowing gay marriages, the GFLCVB is launching a new webpage featuring the area as a GLBT honeymoon destination. In addition, they are sponsoring a contest to win a gay honeymoon on Fort Lauderdale beach called the “Honeymoon with Pride”. Prizes include a five-night stay at the Royal Palms Resort & Spa, couples massage, candy, roses, and dinner for 2 or the “Preferred Pride” package at the Atlantic Resort & Spa with a couples massages, welcome cocktails. For more information and/or to enter to win, visit www.sunny.org/honemoonwithpride.
Hyatt Hotels & Resorts and Kolter Group LLC have broken ground on a new 134-room Hyatt Place hotel in downtown Delray Beach.
Florida Atlantic University will be offering a Hospitality Management Certificate Program. Dates are Saturdays April 14 thru May 12th, 2012 from 10 am to 4 pm, on their Boca Raton Campus, College of Business. The program will benefit participants from all segments of the industry who desire to move into a supervisory role, wish to move up within their organization, seeking formal training, are new to the industry, or have a formal education in another discipline. The 5-module program covers core components required for success as a hospitality professional. For more information, contact Sarah Gaffney at sgaffne3@fau.edu
Southwest Florida:
The Ritz-Carlton Resorts of Naples announced the appointment of George Fistrovich to the position of executive chef. Chef Fistrovich will lead more than 100 culinary professionals in overseeing all food and beverage operations and culinary services for the 10 dining venues and group banquets at The Ritz-Carlton, Naples beach resort and The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Naples.
Several members of the Collier County hospitality community have been accepted into the Leadership Collier Class of 2012. Congratulations to Jenny Foegen from the Naples Princess, Clark Hill from Hilton Naples, and Tom White from Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham Naples.
The Naples, Marco Island, Everglades CVB’s ad agency, Paradise Advertising & Marketing, announces the hiring of Scott Johnson as their new Creative Director.
Starwood Hotels has presented Four Points by Sheraton in Punta Gorda Harborside with its most prestigious award, the “Starwood North America 2010 Four Points Hotel of the Year Award”. Stephen Svecak, GM, and John Zaccari, CEO of A2Z Hospitality Management, accept the award on behalf of their hotel. In addition, the property had earlier in the year won awards for the “Highest Ranking Guest Service Score” and “2010 Overall TripAdvisor Ranking” for the four Points by Sheraton Brand. Congratulations!!
Charlotte County area residents are participating in a series of discussions about the future of tourism in their County. Teams have been formed on various tourism-related topics. Recommendations will be presented to the Charlotte VCB in late August/early September.
Renovations to the Holiday Inn Downtown Historic District in Fort Myers will start soon as part of a plan to focus on business travelers and corporate conferences. The project will renovate guest rooms, expand the business center, add retail lobby space, and reinvent the onsite restaurant.
Sanibel Harbour Marriott Resort & Spa in south Fort Myers is offering an Island Drive special savings package that comes with $25 in free fuel, a free rental car, and a free bike rental on Sanibel Island or kayak rental at the hotel. Available through Oct. 31, 2011, the package features a 15 percent savings, with rates from $126 per night.
Several Lee County Hotels are currently offering girlfriend vacation packages. These include the Casa Ybel Resort on Sanibel Island; Gulf Breeze Cottages on Sanibel Island; the Hyatt Place Coconut Point in Bonita Springs; the Outrigger Beach Resort on Fort Myers Beach; and the Sanibel Arms West on Sanibel Island
In its June 2011 issue, the Condé Nast Traveler magazine’s 2011 Spa Poll named the Gasparilla Inn Spa in Boca Grande as one of the Top 25 U.S. Hotel Spas. The spa operates now on its special summer schedule: Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. during July and August.
TripAdvisor has presented the Tarpon Tale Inn on Sanibel Island and the Edison & Ford Winter Estates in Fort Myers each with a 2011 TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence, an honor given to properties that consistently receive excellent ratings from the travel website’s members.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To submit items for future blog editions, please send to jwfranklin1@gmail.com
Best, Julie Wernick, HSMAInsider
Monday, July 18, 2011
Around Town – July 2011
(Editor’s Note: Here’s a collection of newsworthy items from our industry members and the South Florida community. HSMAInsider, Julie Wernick)
Southeast Florida:
Congrats to Gail Spier who was recently appointed Ad Director at THINK Magazine and Lucky Fan. THINK Magazine is a regional lifestyle magazine direct mailed to 42,000 high end homes and found at local area businesses. Lucky Fan is a groupon like company featuring luxury amenities and services at value rates starting in August. Gail was formerly Account Manager at City & Shore. She currently serves as Advisor to the Board of HSMAI-South Florida and was also a past Chapter President.
Congrats to Tony LeFebvre recently appointed/promoted to Sr. VP and COO of Spirit Airlines. Best wishes on your new job!
Congrats to the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau. The Bureau won five 2010 National Association of County Information Officers (NACIO) Awards, including: Best of Class for Mild to Wild GLBT mobile site, Superior for Vacation Playbook, Excellent for Super Bowl, Meritorious for Sunny in the City campaign in NYC and Learn to Dive Month.
The Village at Gulfstream Park is continuing to offer its Wine Walk Wednesdays during the month of July. They take place the first Wednesday of every month from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., rain or shine. For $10, you receive a commemorative wine glass and the chance to sample 5 wines and hors d’oeuvres at various shops throughout The Village. The participation fee benefits a different charity each month. More info: www.thevillageatgulfstreampark.com
Greater Fort Lauderdale’s new “Super Summer Savings” package promotion is in effect through September 30, 2011. Visitors can receive more than 30 options. When combined with summer hotel value rates and low-fare air service from over 50 U.S. destinations, summer in Greater Fort Lauderdale is “super” easy and “super” affordable. More info is available at the GFLCVB’s website: sunny.org
The Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport reports that: Air Canada has begun using an Airbus330 plane for flights between Fort Lauderdale and Toronto. This is the largest aircraft (265 seats) of any scheduled airline operating from FLL on a daily basis.
The average hotel occupancy in the Fort Lauderdale market rose to 68.4 percent from 63.8 percent in May 2010. The average daily rate climbed 3.7 percent, to $105.68 from $101.92 per Smith Travel Research reports.
The number of passengers at Fort Lauderdale International Airport rose in May. Total passengers climbed 4.6 percent, year-over-year, to 1.91 million. The number of domestic travelers rose to 1.65 million from 1.58 million. International passengers increased 8.2 percent, to 266,745 from 246,616.
Urgo Hotels, an operator, developer/owner of upscale hotels, has acquired two landmark Miami Beach properties in a joint venture with The Carlyle Group. The hotels are the 75-room Blue Moon Hotel and the 71-room Winterhaven Hotel. Both properties are scheduled to undergo significant renovations over the next 6 months including upgrades to public spaces and guest rooms.
Miami’s only marina-front hotel has just reopened after a two-year, $31 million renovation. The Miami Marriott Biscayne Bay has 20,000 square feet of event space.
Welcome to the recently opened Dream South Beach (a sister to outposts in New York, Bangkok and Cochin, India). Two low-rise Art Deco buildings along Collins Avenue have been “fused” into one 108-room boutique hotel.
The Related Group sold the Viceroy Miami Hotel. The 148 unit hotel was located in the Icon Brickell project and was known for its water lounge and 2-acre outdoor park on the 15th floor.
In May, compared to Broward and Palm Beach, Miami-Dade County had the largest year-over-year hotel occupancy gain: to 73.4 percent from 67.3 percent. Average daily rate climbed 8.4 percent, year-over-year, to $144.52 from $133.35 (according to Smith Travel Research).
Miami International Airport ranked first in the nation for international passengers boarded on U.S. airline carriers per March 2011 data. Enplaned international passengers at MIA rose 5 percent, year-over-year, in March, to 446,100 from 424,700, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics at the US Department of Transportation.
Ground was broken on the new Hyatt Place in downtown Delray Beach last week. This is the first new hotel project in Palm Beach County in 2 years.
For a limited time, stay 3 consecutive nights and get a fourth night free at Palm Beach Marriott Singer Island Beach Resort. Offers end September 29, 2011.
Air Canada will add a seasonal daily flight from Toronto direct to Palm Beach International. These added 17,000 airline seats between December and April could bring up to $8 million in new spending to the Palm Beaches.
Good news! Hotel occupancy rates in Palm Beach County have been climbing for 17 consecutive months according the PBCVB.
Southwest Florida:
This summer, Florida Residents can stay at any of Sun Stream’s Hotels in Cape Coral, Fort Myers Beach and Naples and receive 15% off the best available rate with no minimum night stay.
Residence Inn Fort Myers Sanibel Beach Hotel is offering a new promotion called “Shop Until You Drop”.
----------------------------------------
To submit items for future blog editions, please send to jwfranklin1@gmail.com
Best, Julie Wernick, HSMAInsider
Southeast Florida:
Congrats to Gail Spier who was recently appointed Ad Director at THINK Magazine and Lucky Fan. THINK Magazine is a regional lifestyle magazine direct mailed to 42,000 high end homes and found at local area businesses. Lucky Fan is a groupon like company featuring luxury amenities and services at value rates starting in August. Gail was formerly Account Manager at City & Shore. She currently serves as Advisor to the Board of HSMAI-South Florida and was also a past Chapter President.
Congrats to Tony LeFebvre recently appointed/promoted to Sr. VP and COO of Spirit Airlines. Best wishes on your new job!
Congrats to the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau. The Bureau won five 2010 National Association of County Information Officers (NACIO) Awards, including: Best of Class for Mild to Wild GLBT mobile site, Superior for Vacation Playbook, Excellent for Super Bowl, Meritorious for Sunny in the City campaign in NYC and Learn to Dive Month.
The Village at Gulfstream Park is continuing to offer its Wine Walk Wednesdays during the month of July. They take place the first Wednesday of every month from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., rain or shine. For $10, you receive a commemorative wine glass and the chance to sample 5 wines and hors d’oeuvres at various shops throughout The Village. The participation fee benefits a different charity each month. More info: www.thevillageatgulfstreampark.com
Greater Fort Lauderdale’s new “Super Summer Savings” package promotion is in effect through September 30, 2011. Visitors can receive more than 30 options. When combined with summer hotel value rates and low-fare air service from over 50 U.S. destinations, summer in Greater Fort Lauderdale is “super” easy and “super” affordable. More info is available at the GFLCVB’s website: sunny.org
The Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport reports that: Air Canada has begun using an Airbus330 plane for flights between Fort Lauderdale and Toronto. This is the largest aircraft (265 seats) of any scheduled airline operating from FLL on a daily basis.
The average hotel occupancy in the Fort Lauderdale market rose to 68.4 percent from 63.8 percent in May 2010. The average daily rate climbed 3.7 percent, to $105.68 from $101.92 per Smith Travel Research reports.
The number of passengers at Fort Lauderdale International Airport rose in May. Total passengers climbed 4.6 percent, year-over-year, to 1.91 million. The number of domestic travelers rose to 1.65 million from 1.58 million. International passengers increased 8.2 percent, to 266,745 from 246,616.
Urgo Hotels, an operator, developer/owner of upscale hotels, has acquired two landmark Miami Beach properties in a joint venture with The Carlyle Group. The hotels are the 75-room Blue Moon Hotel and the 71-room Winterhaven Hotel. Both properties are scheduled to undergo significant renovations over the next 6 months including upgrades to public spaces and guest rooms.
Miami’s only marina-front hotel has just reopened after a two-year, $31 million renovation. The Miami Marriott Biscayne Bay has 20,000 square feet of event space.
Welcome to the recently opened Dream South Beach (a sister to outposts in New York, Bangkok and Cochin, India). Two low-rise Art Deco buildings along Collins Avenue have been “fused” into one 108-room boutique hotel.
The Related Group sold the Viceroy Miami Hotel. The 148 unit hotel was located in the Icon Brickell project and was known for its water lounge and 2-acre outdoor park on the 15th floor.
In May, compared to Broward and Palm Beach, Miami-Dade County had the largest year-over-year hotel occupancy gain: to 73.4 percent from 67.3 percent. Average daily rate climbed 8.4 percent, year-over-year, to $144.52 from $133.35 (according to Smith Travel Research).
Miami International Airport ranked first in the nation for international passengers boarded on U.S. airline carriers per March 2011 data. Enplaned international passengers at MIA rose 5 percent, year-over-year, in March, to 446,100 from 424,700, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics at the US Department of Transportation.
Ground was broken on the new Hyatt Place in downtown Delray Beach last week. This is the first new hotel project in Palm Beach County in 2 years.
For a limited time, stay 3 consecutive nights and get a fourth night free at Palm Beach Marriott Singer Island Beach Resort. Offers end September 29, 2011.
Air Canada will add a seasonal daily flight from Toronto direct to Palm Beach International. These added 17,000 airline seats between December and April could bring up to $8 million in new spending to the Palm Beaches.
Good news! Hotel occupancy rates in Palm Beach County have been climbing for 17 consecutive months according the PBCVB.
Southwest Florida:
This summer, Florida Residents can stay at any of Sun Stream’s Hotels in Cape Coral, Fort Myers Beach and Naples and receive 15% off the best available rate with no minimum night stay.
Residence Inn Fort Myers Sanibel Beach Hotel is offering a new promotion called “Shop Until You Drop”.
----------------------------------------
To submit items for future blog editions, please send to jwfranklin1@gmail.com
Best, Julie Wernick, HSMAInsider
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