Feb 25: “Table of Eight” February dinner

Hats off to our members who ventured to South Beach for our HSMAI South Florida chapter meeting! The venue, O Asian Grille, is in transition. It’s being transformed into a lounge/nightclub featuring sake cocktails, DJ’s, and dancing.

Thanks to American Coach Lines for providing bus transportation from Dania. How nice not to have to drive nor search for a place to park. Too many topics were discussed to relate to you both on the way there and back between Larry Rodkin (Lawrence of Florida), Linda Sue Marsh (Days Inn Bahia Cabana), Gail Spier (City & Shore/Sun-Sentinel), and me, Julie Wernick (JW Franklin & Associates). Enjoyed the company as well as the conversation guys!

Welcome to our new official photographer for our chapter: Jay Guttveg, President/Owner of Creative Focus. Jay was snapping pictures galore at the meeting. Check out our website, soon, to see some of his work.

We enjoyed a buffet “Asian” dinner. Then, as our originally scheduled speaker had a last minute emergency, our evening became a networking event where each attendee took the mike to showcase their company or product.

Got to meet Ellen Cohen (Media 17); Found out that Christine Greenley, our student chapter rep, has just started doing her internship as an account manager for the Wedding Salon. You’ll be hearing more about their new wedding show coming in November.

Dined with Bertha Morales (Director of Marketing-Holiday Inn Express- Plantation); She’s been there just over a year now and mainly works with the corporate and SMERF markets. Monica Herrera (Couples Best) told me her company is starting up a new website featuring the “best” destinations, attractions, restaurants, resorts, etc. not only in south Florida, but worldwide. She said that their website (www.couplesbest.com) will be launched this fall.

Arnoldo Ramirez (Water Fantaseas) told us how he used to live in the Las Olas isles area but had moved to south beach. Now he’s doing half his business back up in Broward. On the horizon for him is a new boat he’s just bought for mucho bucks that is being transformed to host small corporate groups of about 40+ people.

Sigfrido Varela (Wyndham Miami Airport) was telling me that his property was the recent recipient of several awards. He’s looking for help with linked-in, so if anyone has this information please call him; Met the charming Leila Amorim (Orbitz); And made the acquaintance of Andrea Hoff-Domin (Florida Services and Information) and learned she is new to Florida – only 3 months now – and is catering to prospective German tourists. Their website is in German (soon to be in English as well) and provides a source of information. They are also developing individual tours which they hope to book in the near future.

See you at our March meeting!