“Around Town” – May/June 2010

Southeast:

In the Everglades’ Big Cypress Swamp, more than 1,600 animals roam wild on thousands of acres in a park run by the Seminole Tribe of Florida. Best described as controlled chaos, the Billie Swamp Safari offers visitors face-to-face encounters. The goal is to immerse visitors in the wild, but sometimes these close encounters can mean trouble for people and wildlife. It’s up to the park’s director, Ed Woods, and his tough team of self-described Swamp Men to patrol the land, relocate animals from dangerous situations and rescue animals in need.
Nat Geo WILD’s new series "Swamp Men", premiered Monday, May 3, at 10 p.m. ET/PT, and rode along with Ed and his staff as they work to maintain safety at the Safari. They are considered among the best wild animal wranglers, and each day brings new tests of their skills with bears, alligators, wild hogs and panthers that inhabit the Everglades

Bal Harbour Resort has started a kids program. As part of its rebranding efforts after separating from the Regent hotel group, One Bal Harbour Resort & Spa celebrated its new children’s program with an afternoon of activities for 200 local kids and parents. The brand, and this hotel specifically, is going through an expansion, and they’re doing a lot of new programming to make everything work as one for a complete experience from arrival to check-in.

The 250-room Crowne Plaza at Sawgrass Mills was going to be auctioned this past month after losing a foreclosure lawsuit.

The Pirates Inn (Dania Beach) has been purchased by Hank Thomas/Green Hill Development. In addition, the company will be building the Hotel Indigo on Federal Highway in Dania Beach.

Port Everglades was selected as “best U.S. homeport” by Porthole Cruise Magazine. Port Everglades gets more than 3 million passengers each year.

The New Yorker Boutique Hotel (Miami) is offering an “oil spill special”. Gulf coast hotels that refer a cancelled booking to them can receive a 10% commission. Direct bookers can receive a 50% discount when they show a print out of their cancelled reservation booked prior to May 26th.

Bluegreen Corporation, best know as a timeshare company, has started hotel management of the Sandhurst Hotel in Ft. Pierce

Construction has begun on a 221-room Hampton Inn on SW 12th Street (Miami). The 15-story hotel is expected to open at the end of 2011.

“Moonlight, Sea Turtles and You!” at the Museum of Discovery and Science (Fort Lauderdale) will be held during the months of June and July. The whole family can participate in an evening of discovery while uncovering the natural history and myths of sea turtles. Information and reservations are available at 954-713-0930, or by visiting www.mods.org.

Smith Travel Research reported hotel occupancy up in Palm Beach and Broward and down in Dade for the week ending May 22nd. All tri-county average daily room rates for this period were down. Figures are compared to same week last year. For the prior week, ending May 15th, occupancy rose in all three counties with mixed average daily rates (Dade flat; Broward and Palm Beach down).

Southwest:

Newlyweds can win a 5-night/6-day honeymoon by entering the Paradise Coast “Heart & Soul” Honeymoon Getaway Sweepstakes. Valued at $2,000, the getaway includes luxurious 4-diamond resort accommodations at the Bellasera Hotel; a romantic dinner for two at Zizi Restaurant and Lounge; two rejuvenating spa treatments at Esterra Spa at the Bellasera. The couple will be whisked away in style on a 3-hour limo ride provided by Naples Transportation, Tours & Event Planning; as well as attend a stellar performance by the award-winning Naples Players. Contest runs through August 31, 2010.

The Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club recently completed its all-new $5 million beachfront pool complex. The much larger beachfront pool complex features two new swimming pools: a free-form pool as well as a secluded oval-shaped pool for adults. The area also features two new whirlpools, a new pool bar with food service, new restrooms, new locker facilities, and a new pool shop.

Doubletree Guest Suites Naples, Florida won four industry awards for its commitment for maintaining brand standards, performance and community involvement. The awards include the 2009 "Connie" Award; the 2009 CARE Cup, the Pride Award and Hospitality Award of Excellence from Hilton Hotels Corporation.

Naples Bay Resort Earned Triple AAA Four Diamond Designation. The resort, which is a member of Preferred Hotels & Resorts is Naples only property with a marina, which the resort gracefully envelops, lending the feeling of a relaxed Italian seaside village. The Marina at Naples Bay Resort features 97 slips and direct water access to Naples Bay and the Gulf of Mexico.

Best, HSMAInsider, Julie Wernick
Reminder to send materials for inclusion to: jwfranklin1@gmail.com