“Around Town” Column – June 2010

Editor’s Note: Here’s a collection of newsworthy items happening recently “Around Town” from our industry members and South Florida community. JWF

Southeast Florida:

Jay H. Guttveg has been awarded the prestigious South Florida Meeting Professionals International (SFMPI) 2009-2010 "Supplier of the Year" Award.
In MPI, he has held various committee and VP positions, most recently as VP of Leadership Development (2009/10). This year he will serve as VP of Administration (2010/2011). In addition, Jay is currently serving on our HSMAI-South Florida Board as our “official” photographer and on our Communications Committee. Congrats, Jay!

Wayne Gales, DOS for Embassy Suites Deerfield Beach and a member of the GFLCVB’s Marketing Advisory Committee, is also an author. His new novel “Doorstop on A Houseboat in Key West” has received great reader feedback. He will have his first book signing at the Doubletree Grand Key Resort in Key West on Wednesday, July 21. If you’re in the neighborhood, drop by. For more info and a sample chapter, visit his website at: http://www.keywestdoorstop.com/

The GFLCVB is promoting: “VACATION LIKE A V.I.P. IN GREATER FORT LAUDERDALE THIS SUMMER”. They are highlighting major savings, innovative packages, and indulgent extras. Consumers are directed to visit www.sunny.org/VIP for their "Vacation like a V.I.P." card and dozens of "two for one" offers from luxury spas and championship golf to Scuba diving, kayaking, and cultural events, to museums, unique attractions, etc. If they
book a value-packed hotel vacation package with JetBlue Getaways (it started 6/16) June 16 at www.jetblue.com/vacations, they will receive a free, customized "Beach Chic" vacation starter kit complete with beach towel, flip-flops, beach ball; a "Vacation Like a V.I.P" card; a $25 travel credit per booking for future travel, plus exclusive free room upgrades and much more at participating hotels. The GFL’s Lauderdale Luxe Collection of properties group include The Atlantic Hotel; Harbor Beach Marriott Resort & Spa; Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort; Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina; Hyatt Regency Bonaventure Conference Center & Spa; Hyatt Regency Pier Sixty-Six Resort & Spa; Lago Mar Resort & Club; The Pillars at New River Sound; The Ritz-Carlton, Fort Lauderdale; Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino; W Fort Lauderdale; The Westin Beach Resort, Fort Lauderdale; and The Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa.

The Holiday Park Hotel & Suites in Deerfield Beach is facing foreclosure according to an article in South Florida Business Journal.

The Fairmont at Turnberry Isle will be the site of Taste of the Nation-Miami on Thursday, July 29, 2010 at 7 pm.

In February, Myles Chefetz, owner of restaurant Prime One Twelve opened the 14-room Prime Hotel adjacent to his eatery in Miami Beach's South of Fifth neighborhood. The first floor of the hotel is a lounge extension of the restaurant's dining room. Each guest room has views of the ocean or South Beach, a private balcony, an iPod dock, high-speed wireless Internet, and a 46-inch flat-screen TV. There are also fold-out desks that can accommodate six for a meeting or private dining experience.

The Daddy O Hotel opened in March, just blocks from the Bal Harbour Shops. The 46-room property has been renovated since its days as the Bay Harbour Inn & Suites hotel and now boasts Wi-Fi, bamboo floors, and Skype phones in each room.

VISIT FLORIDA is planning for the 30th Annual Florida Encounter to be held at the Fontainebleau on Miami Beach, November 14 – 17th. Florida Encounter is the premier appointment-based tradeshow showcasing all the Sunshine State has to offer meeting and incentive professional. Florida suppliers, have you reserved your booth already? Space is filling up fast. Go to FloridaEncounter.com to reserve yours. Also, there are available sponsorship opportunities and an overview on their website.

Southwest Florida:

The Paradise Coast (Naples, Marco Island, Everglades CVB) is promoting “Find Your Summer Paradise”. This promotion offers visitors dozens of ways to save during a trip including resort credits, low nightly rates, free golf, fabulous packages and more. On top of listing great deals, discover the Summer Fun Guide and the Days of Summer events calendar, along with the VIP - Value in Paradise card is offering thousands in savings at shops, restaurants, tours and attractions.

Dolphin Transportation Specialists of Naples has unveiled a new trolley voyage, The Historic Naples Trolley Tour, which takes passengers from Baron's cattle drives and Flagler's raw conquest of the Everglades to Glen Sample's dogged creation of Port Royal, the area's first enclave of the rich and famous.

Marco Beach Ocean Resort announced the completion of the resort's renovation project of the guest suites, corridors, fitness center and lobby. Each of the resort's 98 suites received a full makeover, including new décor, new suite and patio furniture, i-Pod docking station, flat-screen LCD televisions and wireless internet technology. Additionally, new state-of-the-art exercise equipment has been installed in the Resort's Fitness Center. The resort has also been named to the Florida Green Lodging Program by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).

The Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club recently completed its all-new $5 million beachfront pool complex. The new pool area features two new whirlpools, a new pool bar with food service, new restrooms, new locker facilities and a new pool shop. The pool renovation is on the heels of the multi-million dollar renovation and remodeling of the hotel's guest rooms and suites in January. The club is offering two incentive offers to groups for meetings or programs booked and held by Dec. 31, 2010. The "Check In Meeting Offer" enables groups to receive up to $5,000 toward their program at the club. Additionally, the "Meeting Stimulus Package" includes no attrition for qualified meetings, free daily meeting room rental, a complimentary afternoon break, one complimentary guest room for every 25 paid, free entrance for attendees to the fitness center (with use of the exercise room, whirlpool, sauna and steam room), free wireless Internet access in all guestrooms, 25 percent off audio/visual services and 25 percent off golf greens fees.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To submit items for future editions, send to jwfranklin1@gmail.com
Best, Julie Wernick, HSMAInsider