contents SPRING 2010 | VOL/12 | NO/1
Cover Story
Features
8 | Florida Meetings
16 | Texas Meeting Destinations Laredo and Fort Worth are highlighted in this meeting destination feature.
Visit Florida new meetings industry stimulus program is designed to educate companies about the benefits of holding their meetings in Florida.
Departments 4 4 6 14 20
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Editor’s Comments Credits Industry Briefs Travel Destinations International Meetings
EDITOR’S COMMENTS
HispanicMeetingsTravel.com PUBLISHER GVR Public Relations Agency, Inc. www.gvragency.com
EDITORIAL EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Margaret Gonzalez
EDITOR Steven Gonzalez Sgonzalez@hispanicmeetingstravel.com
DESIGN & PRODUCTION MARGIL VILLARREAL DESIGN CREATIVE DIRECTOR - Margil Villarreal ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR - Iris Villarreal
Hello Everyone!
S
pring is finally here! In Washington, DC the cherry blossoms are bringing thousands of visitors to the nation's capitol. Visitors are in for a treat as the DC area is beautiful this time of year. In Texas, the Hill Country is covered in the state flower the Blue Bonnet. Miles and miles of blue rolling hills make this a perfect time to visit the Lone Star state. In the west, the desert is abloom in Arizona and New Mexico. There is no better time to see the desert than in the spring with its abundance of cacti and saguaros that cover the country side with colorful flowers found only in the desert. All across our beautiful country spring makes the long winter a faint memory and brings a time for renewal to the land and all of us. Yes, spring makes everything great! The US economy and the meetings industry are looking forward to a better year. And our government moved quickly to pass the Travel Promotion Act which creates a government agency to promote tourism. This is the first time the government gets involved in promoting travel to the USA and this initiative is expected to create several thousand new jobs that will have a positive impact on the economy and the meetings industry. The Sunshine State is featured in this issue to encourage our readers to take their meetings to Florida. The state of Florida is beautiful to visit and great from hosting meetings for corporate and SMERF events. Tourism officials have unveiled a new campaign "Destination Matters" to emphasize the benefits of choosing Florida for travel and meetings. Featured are the Greater Fort Lauderdale area, Kissimmee and Pensacola Beach. See page 8-13. Also featured are Albuquerque, New Mexico's Golf destinations on page 14-15 and Texas 4 HM&T | Hispanic Meetings & Travel
The 2010 National Cherry Blossom Festival® marks the 98th celebration of the original gift of 3,000 cherry trees by the city of Tokyo to the people of Washington, DC in 1912. Americans from throughout the nation and tourists from around the world go to see the magnificence of the Cherry Blossoms during the months of March and April.
Meetings featuring Laredo and Fort Worth meeting destinations on page 16-19. The International Association of Hispanic Meeting Professionals hosted their annual conference in Denver, Colorado and although it was snowing and bitterly cold the attendee's barley noticed. Participants came from throughout the USA and the Navajo Nation, with Mexico, Panama, the UK, Spain and Portugal all sending delegations. A post conference tour took the group to Beaver Run Resort and Convention Center in Brackenridge, Colorado. Also, this group has introduced the Certified Diversity Meeting Professional for industry professionals. The CDMP is a welcome addition to the meetings and hospitality industry as its focus is the value of diversity from a global perspective. Visit their web site www.IAHMP.org to learn more about this important certification program. Hispanic Meetings & Travel is introducing a new web site guaranteed to bring great value for advertisers. Be sure to check out www.hispanicmeetingstravel.com to learn more about the new program. Enjoy this issue and pass it on to your colleagues and help us expand our readership. Have a blessed spring time.
www.margilvillarreal.com
ADVERTISING STEVEN GONZALEZ sgonzalez@hispanicmeetingstravel.com
MARIA GONZALEZ mdgonzalez@hispanicmeetingstravel.com
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce, Fort Worth CVB, Greater Fort Lauderdale, Laredo CVB, Laredo Energy Arena, Margaret Gonzalez, Steven Gonzalez, Visit Florida
PHOTOGRAPHY Albuquerque Hispano Chamber, Fort Worth CVB, Greater Fort Lauderdale, Laredo CVB, Visit Florida
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Hispanic Meetings & Travel, ISSN# 1527-8387 is owned and published quarterly by the GVR Public Relations Agency, Inc. at 2600 South Shore Blvd., Suite 300, League City, Texas 77573, ©19992010 All rights Reserved. Hispanic Meetings & Travel cannot by held responsible for unsolicited material. The publisher does not assume any responsibility for any unsolicited material and will return only those accompanied by stamped self-addressed envelope. We reserve the right to edit all copy. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior
Margaret González
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industrybriefs
N E W * F R E S H * P R O G R E S S I V E
TOP INTERNATIONAL AWARD FOR YOUNG CORINTHIA HOTELS' MANAGER
T
hirty-three year-old Maltese national Roderick Micallef, acting general manager and director of finance at the CHI Hotels & Resorts (CHI) operated five-star Corinthia Hotel Lisbon in Portugal, was proclaimed winner of the prestigious International Hotel Investment Forum (IHIF) Young Leader Award 2010. The award, cosponsored by IHIF and the International Society of Hospitality Consultants (ISHC), was presented to Roderick Micallef by Jonathan Worsley, chairman Bench Events, co-organizers of the Forum, and ISCH chairman Angelos Loizou, during a special plenary session of the 13th edition of the IHIF held in Berlin, Germany on 8-10 March 2010.
Now in its second year, the Young Leader Award was created by IHIF, in conjunction with ISHC, to celebrate the excellence of young emerging leaders in the hospitality industry and to reward an outstanding individual with the title of IHIF Young Leader of the Year. The IHIF Young Leader must be under 35 years of age, currently work in a hospitalityrelated field, have completed a significant project for his or her hotel or organization and be recognized by leaders of his or her own hotel or organization as an emerging leader. He must also be based in a European country. The judging panel for the Young Leader Award 2010 included no less than 15 top professionals from the leading hospitality brands worldwide. 6 HM&T | Hispanic Meetings & Travel
"Following the success of last year's Young Leader Award, we are delighted to again reward another deserving young leader in the industry," said Bench Events chairman Jonathan Worsley, "It's extremely important to look for the rising stars in the industry to acknowledge their contributions and encourage them to even greater achievements. It is more important than ever before to focus on the leadership of the future in a time of economic uncertainty." Congratulating Roderick on his achievement CHI Hotels & Resorts CEO and managing director Tony Potter commented "We entrusted Roderick with the dual role of acting general manager and director of
finance of Lisbon's largest hotel and spa at such a tender age because we strongly believe that he has the potential to become one of the best leaders in the Industry. With his energy, positive attitude, personality and knowledge, Roderick is fast developing our Corinthia Hotel Lisbon into one of the world's greatest MICE and spa destinations. He has introduced innovative hotel products and marketing initiatives, while constantly focusing on customer service excellence and employee motivation. Corinthia is driven by a central belief that if we treat our team members well, in return they will deliver exceptional service to our guests, and that will bring success to Corinthia, and great satisfaction to each one of us that works for this remarkable company." An elated Roderick thanked the co-sponsors for the unexpected recognition. " I feel honoured to be following in the steps of last year's winner, Leslie McGibbon, senior vice president of corporate affairs for InterContinental Hotels Group. Corinthia Hotels, for whom I work and without whom I would not be here, is of course a much smaller organisation, but no less concerned with the development of its young people. So I'd like to dedicate this award to all the young people who work in the seven Corinthia hotels, and in the wider family of hotels which are managed by CHI Hotels & Resorts. It's often said that young people are the life-blood of an industry. Corinthia turns this saying into a reality, but with respect for the contribution that all its team members bring. Any number of hotel companies could have helped me grow into a competent hotelier, but Corinthia trained me to become an expert in hospitality, which means much, much more. Corinthia is constantly on the look-out for those young men and women who will take pride in their own ability to go beyond what is strictly necessary to achieve a true masterpiece of hospitality service. My message to young hoteliers is to come and join Corinthia and one day, they too could be standing here, holding a trophy such as this"
V
ISIT FLORIDA new meetings industry stimulus program is designed to educate companies about the benefits
of holding their meetings, conventions and trade shows in Florida and to provide incentives and support at the statewide level to encourage planners and corporate executives to bring their business to Florida. The program includes electronic and print marketing, industry incentives and public relations efforts to further spread the word that “It’s good business to do business in Florida.” The initial launch of the stimulus program featured a full page ad in USA Today with a new messaging campaign “Destination Matters” to showcase Florida and the attributes available for the meetings market. Destination is a primary factor along with other meeting components for attendees since the destination provides opportunities for creative thinking and motivation to inspire attendees to re-energize and become more productive on their return to their business. Choosing to hold business-related events in the Sunshine State provides a wise return on investment - Destination Matters. Another key resource VISIT FLORIDA has created to support the Florida meetings industry is the City-Wide Meetings & Convention Grant Program. This is an annual matching grant program to attract new business to the state with the Florida Convention & Visitors Bureaus/Tourist Development Councils to provide marketing support for meeting attendance. The grants will be awarded annually through 2016. VISIT FLORIDA continues to offer their Cover Your Event (CYE) Insurance which provides supplemental insurance for meetings displaced in Florida due to a named hurricane. This insurance is offered during the months of August (sold out), September and October 2010 and pays for room rate differential and any extra expenses of rescheduling their meeting. The event must be rescheduled at same or nearest available venue within 12 months. To apply and get more details, go to cye.VISITFLORIDA.com. This year will be the 30th anniversary for Florida Encounter, the original meeting planner appointment-based tradeshow showcasing all the Sunshine State has to offer meeting and incentive professionals. It will be held at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach, November 14-17, 2010. Planners have the opportunity to meet with Florida destinations, service companies and dozens of meeting properties. Go to FloridaEncounter.com for more details. According to the U.S. Travel Association, U.S. business travel is responsible for $246 billion in spending and 2.3 million American jobs. More than
$100 billion of this spending and nearly 1 million American jobs are linked directly to meetings and events. Of the 84.2 million visitors Florida welcomed in 2008, business travel represented nearly 17 percent – including more than 6.8 million travelers tied to meetings, conventions and training events. “Now, more than ever, taking the time to meet customers face-to-face, sharing best practices and incentivizing employees can strengthen a business and speed recovery,” explains Chris Thompson, VISIT FLORIDA President and CEO. “Given Florida’s exceptional tourism hospitality, impressive array of convention centers and meeting accommodations, unparalleled activities and attractions, convenient air accessibility and unsurpassed value, choosing to hold business-related events in the Sunshine State provides a wise return on investment.” The Destination Matters campaign is now complemented by “Face Time. It Matters!“ a public information campaign developed by the Convention Industry Council in conjunction with the industry’s leading associations to identify and promote the unique benefits associated with face-to-face meetings. Their research revealed: • Face-to-face meetings build trust and relationships • Both education and training are more effective in a live setting • Live meetings actually save time and money • Live meetings facilitate problem solving through a more effective exchange of ideas Organizations and businesses that book meetings in Florida also have the assistance of the VISIT FLORIDA Meetings and Convention team at meetings.VISITFLORIDA.com. Here you will find continuously updated resources that support the business of meetings, conventions and incentive travel to the Sunshine State. For further information please contact: Joyce Stillwell Director of Sales VISIT FLORIDA 850-205-3831 jstillwell@VISITFLORIDA.org Steven Bonda Sales Manager, Meetings & Conventions VISIT FLORIDA 850-205-3856 sbonda@VISITFLORIDA.org VISIT FLORIDA is the official tourism marketing corporation for the state of Florida. VISIT FLORIDA promotes tourism to Florida through sales, advertising, promotions, public relations, new product development and visitor services programs.
www.hispanicmeetingstravel.com | HM&T 9
Greater Fort Lauderdale Shifts Into High Gear for 2010 after hosting the Super Bowl and Pro Bowl with Simply SUN-Sational: Memorable Meetings
Greater Fort Lauderdale began the first quarter of 2010 hosting the Super Bowl and Pro Bowl along with all of South Florida. Greater Fort Lauderdale officials estimate that Super Bowl and Pro Bowl events generated upwards of $350 million for Broward County home of Fort Lauderdale. Among the activities in Greater Fort Lauderdale, the Broward County Convention Center hosted the NFL Commissioners Party, the Taste of the NFL and the media center for more than 4,000 North American and international media outlets. The NFL Super Bowl Saturday Night took place on Fort Lauderdale Beach and the Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa hosted the NFL Alumni Player of the Year Awards. The NFL Alumni Golf Tournament was held at Grande Oaks in Hollywood. The Westin Beach Resort, Fort Lauderdale was the official NFL headquarters, with assistance from the nearby Sheraton Fort Lauderdale Beach Hotel, The
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Ritz-Carlton, the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort and the Atlantic Hotel & Spa. The Super Bowl AFC team and all players for the Pro Bowl stayed at the Harbor Beach Marriott. The area is also welcoming new air service from Virgin Atlantic and Jet Blue, the expansion of the destination's Port Everglades to receive and home port the largest cruise ship in the world and new hospitality industry developments destined to build a strong foundation for 2010. "The challenges of this economic transition have spurred us on to more ambitious goals and harder work, and we're already beginning to see results," said Nicki E. Grossman, president of the GFLCVB. "In the months to come there will be marketing campaigns and new developments that are guaranteed to create tremendous buzz among visitors and, equally important, bottomline benefits for our businesses and residents."
Educational excursions in Greater Fort Lauderdale combine learning with leisure What do deck shoes, protective headphones, a sand wedge, camera, wetsuit and a butcher's block have in common? All can be part of an engaging and enriching vacation experience in Greater Fort Lauderdale. Travelers increasingly combine learning with leisure. Greater Fort Lauderdale offers visitors a variety of participatory learning opportunities, whether this means studying a fascinating native culture or pursuing a personal hobby.
Las Olas Boulevard - Where the Beach Meets Chic Translated "the waves" in Spanish, Las Olas Blvd. has historically been the road that connects the beach with the city. Today it's known as Greater Fort Lauderdale's "style mile," lined with independently owned boutiques featuring couture, jewelry, home dĂŠcor, art galleries and specialty gifts. Acclaimed restaurants like Johnny V make up a virtual restaurant row, while lively lounges and cafĂŠs with sidewalk seating provide laid-back people watching and colorful nightlife. Las Olas also is the starting point for canal tours in authentic Italian gondolas, as well as a major stop along Greater Fort Lauderdale's water taxi system - two ways to discover Greater Fort Lauderdale's Intracoastal Waterway.
Come play on our beaches! Most destinations have only one beach to brag about. Greater Fort Lauderdale has eight, with their own unique personalities and surrounding communities which incorporate hundreds of restaurants, shops, attractions, hotels and superior small lodgings. From singles and families to affluent couples, to a rainbow experience and a destination that caters to a multicultural audience, Greater Fort Lauderdale offers more to do than most destinations in southern Florida.
A family-friendly experience - come see Greater Fort Lauderdale's natural wonders Greater Fort Lauderdale offers a variety of other nature experiences. Butterfly World features the largest indoor butterfly aviary in North America. Flamingo Gardens & Wray Botanical Collection offers 60 acres of diverse native plants and trees, a Bird of Prey Center with a freeflight aviary, and the chance to view alligators, flamingos, bobcats and Florida panthers. At Anne Kolb Nature Center in Hollywood, kayak through narrow canals where mangrove trees create a tangled canopy. Look out for spiders!
Pet friendly GFL The "pet set" will have no problems keeping Fido happy in Greater Fort Lauderdale. With 73 pet-friendly hotels, recreation areas, and even spas and restaurants that welcome pets with open paws, Greater Fort Lauderdale is proving that every dog (and other pet) does indeed have its day.
Simply SUN-Sational: Memorable Meetings From its signature SUN-Sational Service program to free convention center floor space when booking large groups for August and September meetings, Greater Fort Lauderdale continues to be an innovative leader in the meetings industry. The 600,000-square-foot Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center and the destination's 30,000 hotel rooms are just the start of the story. Meetings venues in Greater Fort Lauderdale are as diverse as the destination itself: a sprawling flamingo garden, a renowned performing arts center, a beachfront boardroom. Meeting professionals are encouraged to visit www.sunny.org/meetings to order a free Meeting Planners Guide. Stay tuned for more news on the planned 1,000-room, waterfront hotel serving as the new anchor hotel for the Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center. More to come soon! Take a tour of our unique beach communities and see why we're able to change may to many different audiences. Fort Lauderdale Beach is the epitome of beach chic style, yet with a refreshingly low-keyed friendliness that appeals to all walks of life. Lauderdale-By-The-Sea is most famous as the "shore dive capital of south Florida. Pompano Beach is popular with fans of picnicking, sun-worshiping, surfing and sport-fishing. Or Hillsboro beach, home to the most powerful lighthouse on the eastern seaboard. Deerfield Beach has casual beachfront eateries - popular with locals and visitors for lunch, dinner, drinks and dancing. Dania beach is home to John U. Lloyd Beach State Park, a favorite destination for recreation enthusiasts. And at the southern tip, Hollywood beach has a retro-cool Broadwalk where you can dine in open-air cafes, bike or blade along the brick promenade or swim in the pristine waters.
www.hispanicmeetingstravel.com | HM&T 11
Fort Lauderdale CVB Launches iVisitLauderdale The Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau (GFLCVB) introduced the iVisitLauderdale application. The free app is part of the GFLCVB's continued marketing efforts to reach visitors through a variety of social media platforms. The iVisitLauderdale application leads the way to an enhanced visitor experience with up-to-date information and the latest GPS mapping technology, video, images and other features. iVisitLauderdale is downloadable on iTunes or from Greater Fort Lauderdale's website, www.sunny.org/iphone. Some useful features include the iGuide, which provides an overview of area attractions and ways to play, including scuba, shopping, dining, nature, and more. It also provides easy access to area weather updates, transportation information, events and The Ritz-Carlton, Fort Lauderdale
special deals.
Lauderdale Luxe: Upscale Hotels Highlight the New Luxury Story Greater Fort Lauderdale's upscale hotels have arrived, placing a luxury stamp on an already casually sophisticated destination. In 2007, the 373room Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort with a zero-entry pool, grocery and beach concierges arrived. In May 2007, the $240 million, 166room The Ritz-Carlton, Fort Lauderdale opened with a stylish gourmet restaurant and a wine room featuring more than 1,000 different bottles. In 2009, the W Fort Lauderdale added another 346 luxury rooms to Greater Fort Lauderdale, as well as a signature Stephen Starr restaurant and renowned Bliss速 Spa. And "The Donald" brought a new luxury property from the hotel mogul, the Michael Graves-designed Trump International Hotel & Tower Fort Lauderdale.
Greater Fort Lauderdale Launches New Multi-lingual Website The Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau (GFLCVB) launched a new multi-lingual version of the destination's website, www.Sunny.org. In addition to the English version, the site can now be viewed in Spanish, French and German to create a more welcoming and convenient experience for international visitors planning their trip to Greater Fort Lauderdale. Visitors to Sunny.org can access the multi-lingual versions of the site simply by clicking on the language selector in the upper center of the website's homepage. The three language website addresses
Greater "Fork" Lauderdale: Re-discover the top restaurants that make dining here so Lauderlicious The new luxury hotels are bringing a windfall of elegant eating to Greater Fort Lauderdale. Featured restaurants such as the soon-to-open Todd Emglish eatery, da Campo Osteria, at il Lugano Suite Hotel (November 2008) and Cero at The Ritz-Carlton join instant successes like Trina, a "New Mediterranean" masterpiece at The Atlantic Resort & Spa - and Council Oak steakhouse at The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood. However, visitors looking for other exciting, eclectic options won't stay hungry for long. Floribbean (think Florida fresh +Caribbean spice) hot spots such as Johnny V, a "dock and dine" dinner at Blue Moon Fish Company, and a burger that's been voted America's Best at the funky Le Tub (what else do you call a place with pastel bath tubs everywhere?) are just a few of the possibilities.
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are www.es.sunny.org, www.fr.sunny.org, and www.de.sunny.org. The Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau partnered with MotionPoint Corporation, the leader in website translation and globalization, to translate the website into the multi-lingual version. MotionPoint's proprietary technology makes it easy to add any language to any website. The company serves U.S.-based and international clients from its headquarters in South Florida. For more information about MotionPoint, visit www.MotionPoint.com. For more information on Greater Fort Lauderdale, visit www.sunny.org.
TRAVEL
destinations ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO
Albuquerque, New Mexico Golf Courses Four Hills Country Club, Four Hills Course 911 Four Hills Rd SE Albuquerque, NM 87123-4337 (505) 299-9555 Los Altos Golf Course, Executive Course 9717 Copper Ave NE Albuquerque, NM 87123-1132 (505) 298-1897 Championship Golf Course at University of New Mexico 3601 University Blvd SE Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001 (505) 277-4546 Puerto Del Sol Golf Course 1800 Girard Blvd SE Albuquerque, NM 87106-3141 (505) 265-5636
Albuquerque Golf Courses are Affordable and a Best Value
Isleta Eagle Golf Course, Mesa Course 4001 Highway 47 S.E. Albuquerque, NM 87105 (505) 848-1900
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Isleta Eagle Golf Course, Lakes Course 4001 Highway 47 S.E. Albuquerque, NM 87105 (505) 848-1900
lbuquerque's public golf courses are among the best in the country. With forested mountains, lush river valleys and high desert plains they combine to make central Albuquerque arguably the most diverse golf experience available anywhere. Albuquerque offers a variety of inexpensive golf vacations that may seem too good to be true. That's the reason Albuquerque is listed by AAA as the 2nd most affordable destination in North America and, according to Golf World's Readers' Choice Poll, has the 3rd best public golf course in the USA. The Paa-Ko Ridge Golf Club was one of only 17 courses in America to be awarded a five-star rating by readers of Golf Digest (April 2006). This dramatic course was also voted No. 4 on "America's 100 Best Courses for $100 or Less" by Travel & Leisure Golf Magazine. Paa-Ko Ridge sits on the eastern side of the Sandia Mountains at elevations ranging from 6,500 to 7,000 feet. The club takes its name from nearby ruins which date from the 14th century. If you haven't played golf in the Albuquerque area, you may be missing out on one of the sport's best-kept secrets. The area's unique scenery combines with affordability to provide unbeatable value. Albuquerque is one of the most talked-about golf destinations in the country. With more than 300 days of sunshine, you can enjoy year-round golf at any of Albuquerque's golf venues. And you'll be amazed at how affordable the regions worldclass courses are with discount golf packages for every budget! The result is an ideal locale for golfers of every skill level. 14 HM&T | Hispanic Meetings & Travel
Isleta Eagle Golf Course, Arroyo Course 4001 Highway 47 S.E. Albuquerque, NM 87105 (505) 848-1900 University of New Mexico North Course 2201 Tucker Road North East Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001 (505) 277-4146 Arroyo Del Oso Golf Course 7001 Osuna Rd NE Albuquerque, NM 87109-2955 (505) 884-7505 Arroyo Del Oso Golf Course, Dam Nine Course 7001 Osuna Rd NE Albuquerque, NM 87109-2955 (505) 884-7505
Albuquerque Country Club 601 Laguna Blvd SW Albuquerque, NM 87104-1020 (505) 243-7156 Tanoan Country Club, Acoma Course 10801 Academy Rd NE Albuquerque, NM 87111-7342 (505) 822-0433 Tanoan Country Club, Sandia Course 10801 Academy Rd NE Albuquerque, NM 87111-7342 (505) 822-0433 Tanoan Country Club, Zia Course 10801 Academy Rd NE Albuquerque, NM 87111-7342 (505) 822-0433 Ladera Championship Course 3401 Ladera Dr NW Albuquerque, NM 87120-1440 (505) 836-4396 Ladera Executive Course 3401 Ladera Dr NW Albuquerque, NM 87120-1440 (505) 836-4396 Sandia Golf Club 30 Rainbow Rd NE Albuquerque, NM 87113-2156 (505) 798-3990 Desert Greens Golf Course 10035 Country Club Ln NW Albuquerque, NM 87114-4201 (505) 898-7001 Kirtland Tijeras Arroyo Golf Course Building 28054 Kirtland Afb, NM 87117-0001 (505) 846-1169 Paa-Ko Ridge 1 Golf Club Course 1 Club House Dr Sandia Park, NM 87047-8531 (866) 898-5987 Paa-Ko Ridge 2 Golf Club Course 1 Club House Dr Sandia Park, NM 87047-8531 (866) 898-5987 Paa-Ko Ridge 3 Golf Club Course 1 Club House Dr Sandia Park, NM 87047-8531 (866) 898-5987
s g n i t e e M Laredo L
aredo is the second fastest growing city in the U.S., second only to Las Vegas, and has been since the signing of the North American Free Trade Agreement in 1995. Known as the 'Gateway City' - the largest, most efficient port of entry on the U.S./Mexico border - Laredo currently is home to 220,000 citizens and expects to keep growing faster than the national average for years to come. Nuevo Laredo, a short walk across the border boasts 700,000 citizens, with 17.6 million vehicles crossing the border in 2000. Additionally, thousands of tourists visit Laredo each year to shop across the border in Nuevo Laredo, to participate in festivals and enjoy "Los Dos Laredos". 16 HM&T | Hispanic Meetings & Travel
The Laredo Civic Center The Laredo Civic Center offers modern, spacious facilities for conventions, stage shows, trade exhibits, and social events. The complex consists of a large auditorium, a 24, 470 square foot banquet and exhibit hall, and four meeting rooms. It is centrally located, accessible by I-35, and then minutes from historic downtown Laredo, the two international bridges, and Laredo International Airport. The auditorium has seating capacity of 1, 979 with a permanent stage, orchestra shell, four group dressing rooms and two star dressing rooms. The auditorium lobby has box office accommodations and a refreshment area. The banquet and exhibit hall accommodate 1,200 to 1, 500 people with 24, 470 square feet of exhibit space. The air-conditioned hall has full kitchen facilities, a public address system, light control equipment, and direct lighting. Four meeting rooms are also available at the Center and can be rented separately. Each room can accommodate up to 65 people. Two of these rooms can also be converted into one larger area.
MEETING ROOMS » Four Rooms: 24 ft X 32 ft » Capacity 65 per room (class room style) » Portable stage » Air conditioned » Public address system » Folding door converts four rooms to one large room totalling 4,140 sq.ft. It seats 250 people banquet style, 300 auditorium style. » Lighting-overhead » Chalk boards » Projection facilities » Screen » Paved Parking 1,000 car capacity » Facility offers internet access BANQUET & EXHIBIT HALL » 24,470 sq. ft. » Main hall-120ft.X80ft. » Ceiling 17ft. 10in. » Capacity 1,500 Auditorium style 1,200 banquet style » Portable stage » Receiving doors-10ft.X10ft. » Public address system » Light control equipment » Indirect lighting » Unlimited floor load capacity » Electrical outlets » Tables » Chairs » Lecterns » Movable platforms » Dollies » Restrooms » Utility units » Microphone connections » Full-service kitchen AUDITORIUM » 1,979 upholstered chairs » Stage size-81ft.X44ft. » Loft-73ft. » Orchestra pit 48ft.X16ft. » 4 carpeted aisles » Excellent acoustics » Air conditioned » Public address system » Spacious lobby » Box office » Concession sale area » Receiving doors-10ft.X10ft. » Four group dressing rooms » Orchestra shell » Microphone connections » Office space » Spotlights » Piano » Risers
The Laredo Energy Arena The Laredo Energy Arena opened its doors to the public in October 27, 2002, and has proudly held a wide variety of concerts, shows and family entertainment for all the citizens of South Texas and Northern Mexico. The Laredo Energy Arena is at Loop 20 and Jacaman Rd. The Laredo International Airport and Texas A&M International University are less than a mile from the site. Facility at a Glance: Concert End Stage -9622 Capacity; Concert 3/4 House -- 6780 Capacity; Concert 1/2 House -- 4144 capacity; Ice Hockey -- 8065 Capacity; Arena Football - 8067 Capacity; Basketball -- 8665 capacity. Amenities: Over 2,000 well-lit parking spaces, Two food courts TV monitors in concession areas, Team store, Six box office windows, Six spacious meeting rooms, Custom made, adjustable scoreboard weighing 10,500 lbs. Ice
Rink -- 200 ft. x 85 ft. Did You Know . . . ? You can fit 261,327 hockey pucks on the ice floor; 480,000 on the event floor. The square footage of the building is equal to 88 two-thousand square foot houses or 2,816,000 hockey pucks. It would take 3,192 hot dogs (end to end) to encircle the perimeter of the building. If you stacked 640 hockey pucks on top of each other, you would reach the bottom of the truss; 986 to reach the top of the truss. You can hang 48 (4,000 pound) pickup trucks from the roof at the same time. There are 30 rows of seats. The large roof trusses span 280 feet (1,120 pucks end to end, 3,584 stacked pucks, or 560 hot dogs). The building houses more than 1,000 tons of steel. If you sat each block end to end, they would stretch nearly 35 miles. Thirteen miles of piping lie under the ice slab. The facility was constructed in 16 months.
Fort Worth s n o t a n i t s e Meeting D
ort Worth is now the 17th largest city in the United States (population: 703,073). Fort Worth is booming, with tourism bringing approximately 5.5 million visitors staying 10.2 million days annually and contributing nearly $1.3 billion in direct spending annually to the city's economy. Named the #4 value-friendly destination by Hotwire.com, the City of Cowboys and Culture's major developments include new attractions, facilities and infrastructure improvements. Additional developments are in the works as well.
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Hyatt Place Fort Worth Historic Stockyards Opened January 2008
Hotel Developments Omni Fort Worth Hotel - Convention Center Headquarter Hotel Opened January 2009
Holiday Inn Express Fort Worth Downtown Opened August 2008
The Omni Fort Worth Hotel, Fort Worth's new convention center headquarter facility, is now open. Located across the street from the Fort Worth Convention Center and the Fort Worth Water Gardens, this luxury property offers 614 rooms and nearly 68,000 square feet of meeting space. In addition, the Texas-themed hotel features three restaurants, a wine bar, a ballroom, a spa, and other first-class amenities. Web: http://www.omnihotels.com
Sheraton Fort Worth Hotel Opened June 2008 The Sheraton Fort Worth Hotel and Spa is now open following the completion of an elaborate $46 million transformation of the former Ramada property. The first Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. property in Fort Worth, the Sheraton is ideally positioned at the southern edge of Fort Worth's vibrant downtown business district. The 430-room Sheraton Fort Worth Hotel and Spa offers a warm and welcoming atmosphere and is less than a block from the expanded, state-of-the-art Fort Worth Convention Center and beautiful Water Gardens. Web: http://www.sheraton.com/fortworth 18 HM&T | Hispanic Meetings & Travel
A $7.1 million Hyatt Place hotel property opened in the heart of the Stockyards National Historic District, adjacent to Stockyards Station and the Visitors Information Center on East Exchange Avenue. The five-story, 102-room hotel is constructed in a Western architectural style. Web: http://www.hyatt.com/hyatt/place
This brand new InterContinental Hotels Group product is one of the first to feature the new brand rollout expected to be completed by 3,000 hotels over the next 3 years. The interior decorations consist of an "updated retro" look punctuated with colors of green, gold, teal, orange and white. These colors appear in lively carpet patterns, fabrics covering curvilinear seating, and room dividing Plexiglass mosaics. The wood standard to complement these fresh colors is walnut throughout. The property features 132 guest rooms. Web http://www.ichotelsgroup.com
Dallas Fort Worth Marriott and Golf Club at Champions Circle Reflagged Spring 2008 Overlooking a pristine, 18-hole Jay Moorish golf course, the Dallas Fort Worth Marriott Hotel & Golf Club features newly renovated guestrooms that offer a stylish blend of sleek design and cool colors accompanied by first-class service. Located across the street from Texas Motor Speedway is close to all major attractions and shopping. The property also features special Stay 'n Play golf Packages. Web: http://www.marriott.com
International Meetings
::
HUNGARY
Hungary's 2010 Year of Festivals From the National Gallop to the Sziget Festival - with Mamaison Hotels & Residences to the major cultural festivals and events
C
ulture, sport, music, culinary delights or folklore - anyone embarking on a city break to Budapest will be spoiled for choice by a unique range of events of all kinds in Hungary's 2010 Year of Festivals.
The National Gallop The Mamaison Hotels & Residences hotel group (www.mamaison.com) sponsors the National Gallop, a public festival with parades and equestrian competitions. "Mamaison Hotels & Residences maintain close contact to the world of art and culture; for that reason, we attach great importance to our support of cultural events such as the National Gallop," explains Petra Deuter, Head of Sales and Marketing at Mamaison Hotels & Residences. The impressive spectacle with a historic theme takes place from 2 to 6 June 2010 and is very popular with locals as well as visitors to Budapest. Entrance to the
20 HM&T | Hispanic Meetings & Travel
shows and races on Heroes' Square, Andrássy Avenue and '56 Square is free of charge. For further information, please visit www.vagta.hu. The Mamaison Hotel Andrassy Budapest (www.mamaison.com/andrassy), built in 1937 by Alfréd Hajós in the Bauhaus style, is located in Andrássy Avenue, within walking distance of the locations of the National Gallop. The boutique hotel offers superior category individual accommodation with a modern interior and first-class service. 24 hour room service as well as free Internet and WIFI connection are offered as standard. Guests can enjoy top cuisine in the hotel's own "Baraka" restaurant. Equally close to the main action is the Mamaison Residence Izabella Budapest (www.mamaison.com/izabella). The original 19th century building with an enchanting interior courtyard has recently been renovated. The upmarket hotel offers 38 spacious and well-equipped suites and a warm and welcoming atmosphere right in the heart of Budapest.
with unique cultural treasures from its 2000year history: centre pieces are the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of the Early Christian Necropolis, dating from the 4th century, and the Turkish Mosques from the 16th - 17th century. However, other impressive monuments to the city's past include the historic cathedral, the magnificent synagogue and the world-famous Zsolnay pottery and ceramics manufactory. Top class is the "Museum Mile" which gives centre stage to unusual artists such as Victor Vasarely, the father of Op-Art, or Tivadar Csontváry Kosztka, the visionary self-taught painter.
Free nights at Mamaison 3 nights for the price of 2 are available, it you book a stay at the Mamaison Hotel Andrassy Budapest. This offer applies to visits up to 30 June 2010. 4 nights for the price of 3: book a stay at the Mamaison Residence Izabella Budapest before 13 April and get 4 nights for the price of 3. This offer also applies to the Mamaison Hotel Andrassy Budapest for visits in July and August. Free nights offers (http://www.mamaison.com/de/special-offersfree-nights.html) also apply to the Mamaison Hotels and Residences in Bratislava, Ostrava, Prague and Warsaw.
The Year of Festivals in Budapest and surroundings
race above the roof tops of the city (19/20
Highlights for lovers of classical music
on three events in autumn: the 25th Budapest
include the Jewish Summer Festival (30/08/-
Half Marathon (05/09/2010), the 25th
07/09/2010) and the Budapest Autumn Festi-
Budapest Marathon (26/09/2010) and the 15th
val (07 - 18/10/2010). Rock rules supreme at
Budapest Women's Run (17/10/2010).
August 2010). Running will dominate the city
the internationally renowned Sziget Festival (11 - 16/08/2010) on Old Buda Island. Tradi-
Pécs - European Capital of Culture
tion and folklore are on offer at a number of
Particular attention is paid this year to events
events outside of Budapest, for example the
in and around Pécs, the 2010 European Capi-
Hortobágy Bridge Fair, the Magic of Baroque
tal of Culture. Highlights include the Pécs
(both in August) or the International Palace
Dance Marathon and International Youth
Games in Visegrád (09-11/07/2010). Sport,
Convention and Folk Workshop from 26
too, is celebrated in Budapest: Lovers of air
April to 1 May (www.pecs2010.hu). The uni-
shows will have a good time at the large air
versity town in Southern Hungary is blessed
About Mamaison Hotels & Residences: Mamaison Hotels & Residences are an independent hotel chain in Central and Eastern Europe. The company has 10 years of experience in the hotel industry. Mamaison Hotels & Residences offer their guests a portfolio of ten selected hotels from midscale to upscale deluxe category, classified as three hotel types - "Mamaison Boutique Hotels", "Mamaison Business & Conference Hotels" and "Mamaison All-Suites Residence Hotels". The hotels are located in the heart of the attractive cities of Budapest, Bratislava, Moscow, Ostrava, Prague and Warsaw. This unique hotel concept is distinguished by its design, buildings true to their original surroundings, personal style and first-class service and is a winner with both business and leisure travellers. The company employs 480 people. The Orco Property Group (www.orcogroup.com) is the holding company of Mamaison Hotels & Residences. More information can be found at w w w. m a m a i s o n . c o m . www.hispanicmeetingstravel.com | HM&T 21
BeyondBorders
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EUROPE
Maximizing the Hispanic European meeting experience H
aving managed meetings in North America and throughout Europe it always intrigues me how the cultural differences can have such a profound impact on participant satisfaction and ultimately the return on investment of each meeting. One of Europe's greatest assets is its cultural diversity within a relatively small geographical area and in the area which I refer to as Hispanic Europe (Portugal and Spain) these differences are surprisingly strong. Whilst for the leisure market this presents fantastic opportunities, yet for meetings it is certainly a challenge. Comfort is of the utmost importance to an international meeting participant, and it's easy to understand why. In addition to the standard heavy work and information load included in the meeting itself, participating in meetings overseas more often than not involves complex long-haul flights, language barriers and altered dietary regimes. While the travel distances for delegates attending meetings in North America may even be similar, the common language, culture and perhaps more importantly service levels and operational standards make this an undoubtedly simpler process. Professional life in general has many differences when one compares Hispanic Europe and North America. Hispanic Europeans tend to be more formal in communication styles, workplace hierarchies are more rigid and the dress code is tighter. On the other hand, North Americans generally begin their business day earlier, work longer hours, have less time off and are much more willing to drastically relocate or become an airport road warrior for professional reasons. Of course all of these observations are generalizations; nonetheless they can be useful knowledge for the meeting planner. So how does this all translate to organizing meetings in Europe? For a start, in Spain and Portugal frugality is the norm, with comfort taking a secondary position. For example, the savvy planner may want to double check that the European hotel sleeping rooms have air conditioning regardless of the star rating. On the topic of hotel rooms, bed sizes and room sizes may not necessarily equate to what North American travelers are used to, even in 22 HM&T | Hispanic Meetings & Travel
some of the major chain hotels. Meals also have certain small details worth noting. For example, alcohol is often served for lunch, even in quick working lunches. Also, ice is used much more sparingly, and bottled mineral water is the norm. When it comes to financial considerations, the differences can be even more complex. Apart from the different currencies, payment procedures and options can be very different in Europe. For example, payment by credit card may not be an option with many European suppliers. It's not all bad news, however, as pricing may in fact provide some pleasant surprises making European hotels and venues more reasonable in price than they may first appear. In most situations local taxes, service charges and mandatory gratuities are included in the quoted prices, with the sole exception of VAT (Value Added Tax), the rough equivalent of state or provincial sales tax. Voluntary gratuities are welcomed but in general the expectations are lower than in the US. Unfortunately this also means that extra attention is not always given to service levels which in some situations fall below North American standards, meaning that the old adage "the customer is always right" may not necessarily apply. Now you may be thinking "is it worth it" to hold your meeting in Spain or Portugal? I believe so, but much of the success of your European meeting will depend on properly managing your participant's expectations - in other words, "educating" your attendees in
advance as to what to expect. I believe that the simple act of experiencing a foreign culture is the best and most satisfying way of acquiring experience and knowledge. Each time I travel to a new destination I feel more confident and genuinely wiser. I am aware that not all meeting participants share my sense of adventure and thirst of cultural experiences, but I do think that the large majority can enjoy and feel enriched by attending events abroad. From the meeting planner's perspective, ensuring the success of European meetings will certainly require hiring a qualified DMC (Destination Management Company) or local Meeting Management Company. In my view good communication between all parties and a clear understanding of participant expectations are the keys to reaping benefits from holding meetings in Europe. An informed and engaged participant will certainly feel the rewards of a European meeting experience. Miguel Neves, CDMP (SYNAXIS Meetings & Events) Email: miguel@synaxismeetings.com Twitter: @miguelseven Bio: Miguel is based in London where he heads the European headquarters of SYNAXIS Meetings & Events. Miguel also serves as Director of Marketing for the MPI United Kingdom & Ireland chapter and holds a Masters degree in Conference and Events Management from Westminster University. Miguel is a passionate apprentice of Meeting Architecture and seeks to gain and share knowledge on improving the effectiveness of communal human experiences.
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