contents SUMMER 2010 | VOL/12 | NO/2
Features 12 |
The International Association of Hispanic Meeting Professionals celebrates its 15th Anniversary
What began as an idea is today a globally diverse association with members in the USA, the Navajo Nation, Mexico, South America, Spain, Portugal and the UK. From the first organizing meeting to the annual conferences and the establishment of the Mexico and Iberian chapters IAHMP has become an important group within the meetings and hospitality industry.
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The Hotel St. Francis is one of the oldest and most beloved hotels in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
It's listed on the national register of Historic Places and the Historic Hotels of America. The Hotel St. Francis is a fusion of old world romance, mission trail, Spanish colonial revival and beloved hacienda. A stay at the Hotel St. Francis will simply amaze you.
Departments 4
Cover Story
06 | Albuquerque Has It All! The city of Albuquerque is rated among the 10 top cities to live in America. It is a city that values its history and has many museums to tell its story. Explore what makes Albuquerque unique and a special place to visit.
ON THE COVER: Sculpture at the Albuquerque Museum Sculpture Garden
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Editor’s Comments
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Exhibitors Corner
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Guest Editorial The Arizona Law and the Boycott of It
The Arizona law has divided the nation on immigration issues and how to deal with them. In this guest editorial the writer describes her own take on this controversial legislation. She concludes that all people of social conscience must stand together to boycott Arizona in all its industries. Arizona and any other state with a similar law are not acceptable destinations for international meetings.
www.hispanicmeetingstravel.com | HM&T 3
EDITOR’S COMMENTS PUBLISHER
HispanicMeetingsTravel.com GVR Public Relations Agency, Inc. www.gvragency.com
EDITORIAL EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Margaret Gonzalez
EDITOR Steven Gonzalez
L/R Michael Smith, CDMP, Vice President, Portland, Oregon CVB, Charmaine Lindsay-Engdahl, CDMP, Event Planner, San Diego, California, Linda Pereira, CDMP Instructor, President of the IAHMP Iberian Chapter, Lydia Ramon, CDMP, Senior Manager, Events and Logistics, National Society of Hispanic MBAs, Dallas, Texas, Griselda Zarate, CDMP, Sales Manager, Convention Sales Department, Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority, Chicago, Illinois, Viviana P. Matasaru, CDMP, Conference Coordinator, US Tennis Association, New York, NY
Sgonzalez@hispanicmeetingstravel.com
I
CREATIVE DIRECTOR - Margil Villarreal
t's been a long summer and the entire nation is caught up in the sweltering heat. As hot as it is, the meetings industry has been busy organizing events and promoting travel to insure the success of the industry. The US Travel Association issued some travel facts you should know:
Travel and tourism is one of America's largest industries » $704 billion in direct travel spending by domestic and international travelers. » $1.2 trillion in direct, indirect and induced tourism-related output. » $111 billion in tax revenue for local, state and federal governments generated by direct travel expenditures. » Each U.S. household would pay $950 more in taxes without the tax revenue generated by the travel and tourism industry. » Direct spending by resident and international travelers in the U.S. averaged $1.9 billion a day, $80 million an hour, $1.3 million a minute, and $22,300 a second. However, the industry has also been affected by the Arizona law. When Gov. Jan Brewer of Arizona signed the nation's toughest bill on illegal immigration with an aim to identify, prosecute and deport illegal immigrants, it unleashed immediate protests and reignited the divisive battle over immigration reform nationally. President Obama strongly criticized Arizona calling their law a violation of federal law. Most Hispanics around the country Railed against the law as a recipe for racial and ethnic profiling and the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund issued a statement predicting that the law would create "a spiral of pervasive fear, community distrust, increased crime and costly litigation, with nationwide repercussions." And Arizona Representative Raúl M. Grijalva, a Democrat, called for a convention boycott of his state and major Hispanic organizations called for an immediate boycott of all meetings and travel to Arizona. Leaders in the industry have called for an end of all Arizona travel boycotts and urged Washington policymakers to address the complex issue of immigration. Some have called Arizona boycotts counter productive …Most of these 4 HM&T | Hispanic Meetings & Travel
industry leaders call the issue of immigration a complex issue that should be resolved on the merits of various proposals, not by holding an industry and it's over 200,000 employees hostage to politics. Since many of the workers in the hotels are Latinos a boycott may affect them adversely. In fact, Phoenix may be on the verge of losing hotel and convention center business worth about $90 million over the next five years because of fallout from Arizona's new immigration law, a top city official said. As reported by Jahna Berry - The Arizona Republic -May, 11, 2010 12:00 AM.
Read more: http://www.azcentral.com Please see Guest Editorial on the Arizona law on page22. In this issue we recognize the International Association of Hispanic Meeting Professionals on their 15th Anniversary. This group is the only international association representing Hispanics in the Americas and in Hispanic Europe. Membership in the association is open to anyone interested in working with the Hispanic Travel, Meetings & Events Markets. In the US the Hispanic Travel, Meetings & Events market is estimated to be over $50 billion annually. IAHMP has members in the USA, the Navajo Nation, Puerto Rico, Mexico, South America, Spain, Portugal and the UK. The association strives to bring an awareness of the economic value of Hispanic meetings and has also teamed up with the National Society of Hispanic MBA's and the National Association of Hispanic Publishers to work together to setup internship programs in the industry for Hispanic students. IAHMP has also successfully implemented the Certified Diversity Meeting Professional (CDMP)program for industry professionals. See photo of recent graduates of the CDMP program on this page. In the next issue we will present the IAHMP Mexico Chapter and its new president Armando de la Garza and his team of professionals that are working with their colleagues in the USA to bridge borders and to work collectively to promote travel and meetings between the two nations. Enjoy the summer as winter will soon be here.
Margaret González Margaret González, Founder & Editor-in-Chief
DESIGN & PRODUCTION MARGIL VILLARREAL DESIGN
ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR - Iris Villarreal www.margilvillarreal.com
ADVERTISING STEVEN GONZALEZ sgonzalez@hispanicmeetingstravel.com
MARIA GONZALEZ mdgonzalez@hispanicmeetingstravel.com
LIZBETH ZAMUDIO Mexico Sales Representative Lzamudio@hispanicmeetingstravel.com
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Amadeo García, Margarita Rodríguez, María de la Luz González, THE ALBUQUERQUE CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU, National Hispanic Cultural Center, Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, Albuquerque Museum Sculpture Garden, Steven González, the Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce.
PHOTOGRAPHY THE ALBUQUERQUE CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU, National Hispanic Cultural Center, Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, Albuquerque Museum Sculpture Garden, The Hotel St. Francis, the International Association of Hispanic Meeting Professionals, Jose Galvez, Fernando Pena, Jesse Lujan of DigPicPhoto, GVR Public Relations.
ADVERTISING SALES OFFICE GVR Public Relations Agency 2600 South Shore Harbor Blvd., Suite 300 League City, Texas 77573 Telephone - 281-245-3330 Fax - 281-668-9199 Cell - 281-808-5152
W E B PA G E www.hispanicmeetingstravel.com WEB MASTER - Margil Villarreal Hispanic Meetings & Travel ISSN #1527-8387 is owned and published by the GVR Public Relations Agency, Inc., at 2600 South Shore Harbor Blvd., Suite 300, League City, Texas 77573 C 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 permission of the publisher. Subscription rates: $30.00 per year within the USA, $52.50 in Canada, and $75.00 elsewhere. All subscriptions must be paid in U.S. currency. Single copies: U.S. $5.00, Canada $8.75, and $12.50 elsewhere. Produced in the USA.
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Albuquerque, New Mexico has it all!
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lbuquerque, New Mexico has it all! Year-round sunshine, a distinctive style of architecture that is immediately evident when your
plane arrives at The Albuquerque International Sunport, a world-renowned, full-service facility that welcomes more than six million travelers per year. The Sunport serves as the gateway to the diverse cultures, rich history and breathtaking landscapes that make up Albuquerque, New Mexico. This is a city with a deeply embedded blend of cultures that includes Native American culture, Spanish culture and the spirit of the Old West which makes Albuquerque a notably different and unique place to live -- a fact that residents of the region often take pride in. In 2009, U.S. News & World Report ranked Albuquerque among the top 10 Best Cities in America. SCULPTURE
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MUSEUM
SCULPTURE
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A N D E R S O N - A B R U Z ZO A L B U Q U E R Q U E I N T E R N AT I O N A L B A L LO O N M U S E U M LO C AT E D AT B A L LO O N F I E S TA PA R K - C R E D I T: W W W. I T S AT R I P. O R G
When you go to Albuquerque head to any of the numerous museums where you can lean all about the city and New Mexico. A good place to start is the Albuquerque Museum of Art & History, located in the heart of historic Old Town. The museum features art of the Southwest as well as 400 years of Albuquerque history and the Rio Grande Valley through permanent displays and traveling exhibitions. (505) 243-7255 www.cabq.gov/museum Also located within walking distance of the Old Town Plaza, the New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science features a Journey through Time, eight permanent exhibit halls that take guests through the formation of the universe, the age of the dinosaurs, and geologic changes including volcanoes and ice ages. The Extreme Screen DynaTheater is the largest movie screen in New Mexico and brings guests face-to-face with the film. The museum's planetarium is the only one in the world to project high-definition digital imaging over an entire domed screen while a second imaging system, Digistar II, creates a sense of motion through space. The museum also features a comprehensive exhibit about the evolution of the personal computer called "Startup: Albuquerque and the Personal Computer Revolution," which overviews Albuquerque's role in the beginning of the personal computing era. (505) 841-2800 www.nmnaturalhistory.org Albuquerque is also the "Hot Air Ballooning Capital of the World" and is home to the Anderson-Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum. The museum, located at Balloon Fiesta Park, houses engaging exhibitions and informative programs on the history, science and art of ballooning worldwide. (505) 768-6080 www.cabq.gov/balloon No visit to the area is complete without a trip to the National Museum of Nuclear Science & History located in a new 30,000 square foot facility with 18 exhibitions on nuclear history and technology. The new facilities also include a Heritage Park, a nine-acre outdoor exhibition area for aircraft, missiles, railcars and nuclear submarines. (505) 245-2137 www.atomicmuseum.com www.hispanicmeetingstravel.com | HM&T 7
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Albuquerque Loves Its Museums
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G AT H E R I N G O F N AT I O N S BY D E R E K M AT H E W S Âť
Albuquerque is a city that recognizes and honors its Hispanic history at the National Hispanic Cultural Center (NHCC) which is the only national cultural institution dedicated to the study, advancement and presentation of Hispanic culture, arts and humanities. The center is also home to a restaurant and indoor and outdoor performing arts spaces. (505) 246-2261 www.nhccnm.org Albuquerque also treasures and respects the Native people of New Mexico through its Indian Pueblo Cultural Center located minutes away from historic Old Town. The Indian Pueblo Cultural Center is dedicated to the preservation and perpetuation of Pueblo Indian culture, history and art. The museum displays feature the Pueblo Indian cultures from prehistoric times to the present through a variety of fascinating exhibits and artifacts and represents all 19 pueblos found in New Mexico. The center also features a recently expanded restaurant, which serves meals throughout the day and special weekend brunches accompanied by Native American music. (866) 855-7902, 505-843-7270 www.indianpueblo.org. A visit to the Archeology & Material Culture Museum follows America's first inhabitants through a 12,000-year timeline, ending in 1890 at Wounded Knee. The museum is located in Cedar Crest along the Turquoise Trail National Scenic Byway. www.byways.org/explore/byways/2094/places/3069
In Albuquerque you can find a museum for almost anything you may be interested to learn about. These include the Maxwell Museum of Anthropology that features a reconstructed cave setting complete with Ice Age drawings and sculptures and a spectacular collection of prehistoric pottery. The museum is world-renowned for its holdings of art and artifacts from this region. (505) 277-4405 www.unm.edu/~maxwell. The Institute of Meteorites - Meteorites Museum (IOM) is a premier research institution for the study of early solar system and planetary evolution. IOM research focuses on a wide variety of extraterrestrial materials and the IOM meteorite collection now totals more than 600 different meteorites, including one of the largest meteorites in the world. Both museums are located on the University of New Mexico campus; visitors can also take a virtual tour online. (505) 277-1644 http://epswww.unm.edu/iom/MeteoriteMuseum.htm
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I N D I A N P U E B LO C U LT U R A L C E N T E R CO N T E M P O R A R Y A R T G A L L E R Y - C R E D I T: W W W. I T S AT R I P. O R G Âť
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N AT I O N A L H I S PA N I C C U LT U R A L C E N T E R P E R M A N E N T CO L L E C T I O N E X H I B I T - C R E D I T: W W W. I T S AT R I P. O R G »
In Albuquerque you can learn about the Holocaust, genocides and other forms of bullying that have affected people around the world at the New Mexico Holocaust & Intolerance Museum and Study Center. Exhibits include the Holocaust, Native Americans, Armenian genocide, Black Slavery and the Bataan Death March. Content is not limited to one religion, culture, geographic area, or time. The museum is located downtown next to the KiMo Theatre. (505) 247-0606 www.nmholocaustmuseum.org For those interested in biblical history the Museum of Archaeology & Biblical History examines 3,000 years of evidence for the historical authenticity of the Biblical text displayed through ancient near Eastern artifacts. (505) 217-1330 www.mabh.org Your visit is not complete until you visit the American International Rattlesnake Museum where you will learn about snake bites, venom and fangs at the world's largest collection of live rattlesnakes. Dedicated to animal conservation and preservation through education, the museum also offers a large array of snake-related artwork, artifacts and memorabilia. (505) 242-6569 www.rattlesnakes.com At the Turquoise Museum you can adventure through a mine tunnel replica and see rare and spectacular turquoise specimens from around the world and learn the truth about turquoise before purchasing jewelry. (505) 247-8650 or (800) 821-7443.
T I N K E R TO W N CO L L E C T I O N O F B I C YC L E W H E E L S AT T I N K E R TO W N - C R E D I T: T I N K E R TO W N »
Unser Racing Museum and the Tinkertown Museum One of Albuquerque's most well-known families, the Unser family, is prominent in the world of car racing. The museum lays out the history of the Unser racing legacy from the early days at Pikes Peak to the dynasty they have carried on at the Indy 500. Changing and permanent exhibits provide a look at the technology and design of race cars. www.unserracingmuseum.com. Ross Ward spent more than 40 years of his life carving, collecting and constructing what is now Tinkertown Museum. During the 1960s and 1970s, his miniature wood-carved figures traveled to fairs and carnivals around the country. Tinkertown is located in Sandia Park on Sandia Crest Road. (505) 281-5233 www.tinkertown.com 10 HM&T | Hispanic Meetings & Travel
N AT I O N A L H I S PA N I C C U LT U R A L C E N T E R P E R M A N E N T CO L L E C T I O N E X H I B I T C R E D I T: W W W. I T S AT R I P. O R G »
The International Association of Hispanic Meeting Professionals Celebrates 15 Year Anniversary IAHMP is A Globally Diverse Organization
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ince its founding in 1995, IAHMP membership has grown throughout the USA, the Navajo Nation, Mexico, South America, Spain, Portugal and the UK. This year, professional chapters will be established in Costa Rica, Panama, Guatemala and Spain. In the USA, IAHMP is establishing chapters in the states and major cities where members have requested to have chapters at the local level. The state of New Mexico has the first state chapter and San Diego, California is establishing a Southern California Chapter. Student chapters are also being developed with the first chapter at the Harrah School of Hotel Administration at the University of Nevada in Las Vegas. The IAHMP Annual Conference is a training ground to help groom young professionals to become the future leaders in the industry. The educational programs at the conference are designed to accomplish the goal of empowering our community to succeed as executives within the meetings and hospitality industry. Speakers at the conference are always diverse and bring years of experience to share with young professionals. IAHMP has also introduced the Certified Diversity Meeting Professional (CDMP) for industry professionals. The CDMP is the industry's only certification program which focuses diversity and sustainability issues as key skills and attributes in meeting planning. The CDMP distinguishes holders as career professionals who have demonstrated a high level of experience, skill and knowledge in this field. In a Global Economy the CDMP skills help enhance career goals for professionals within the industry. To further CDMP goals the association will partner with the International School of Hospitality in Las Vegas, Nevada to offer the CDMP at the school and online where professionals will be able to earn their CDMP along with other certification programs offered by the school. IAHMP's leadership has built strong relationships in the Americas and in Europe that will benefit our members and the industry in the United States. The IAHMP State organizations and local chapters are at the heart of IAHMP goals to help develop Hispanics as leaders within the industry. Advocacy and special initiatives complement the work of the membership and IAHMP is able to improve opportunities for Hispanics throughout the Americas and Europe. To further its goals IAHMP has entered into strategic partnerships with top Hispanic Associations among them are the National Society of Hispanic MBA's and the National Association of Hispanic Publishers. 12 HM&T | Hispanic Meetings & Travel
The IAHMP Mexico Chapter was inaugurated in Mexico City in 2007 with over 200 people in attendance. Today the Mexico Chapter has a very strong presence with top industry professionals representing the Visitors & Convention Bureaus, Hoteliers, the Mexican Chambers of Commerce, Travel Agencies and DMC companies throughout the nation. Additionally, IAHMP Mexico has been recognized by Mexico Tourism and the Secretary of Tourism at the federal level as a recognized organization within the nation. Please see http : / / www.sect u r. g o b . m x / w b / s e c t u r / s e c t _ A s o c i a c i o n e s _ d e _ Tu r i s m o _ d e _ N e goc ios IAHMP membership is very diverse and is open to corporate and association executives, meeting planners, and suppliers, within the meetings and hospitality industry. A meeting planner is defined as a professional who plans, coordinates and organizes special events, meetings and conferences. IAHMP Membership Benefits Include: • Professional Development Opportunities • Career Development Training presented at conferences held in Europe, Mexico and the USA. • Opportunities to work with colleagues through international chapters • Networking and Information Sharing to benefit your professional career in the industry • Opportunity to establish local chapter and develop leadership skills • Hosted Events for Meeting Planner Members by Supplier Members • 3 nd Anual Conference -León, México - July 8-11, 2011 • 15 th Annual Conference -Albuquerque, New Mexico- December 6-9, 2011 • CDMP Training - In partnership with the International School of Hospitality, Las Vegas, Nevada • Complimentary Subscription to Hispanic Meetings & Travel Magazine • Opportunity to utilize Hispanic Meetings & Travel Magazine Calendar to post their meetings and events • Hoy! E Newsletter where members can post information on their meetings monthly
IAHMP's First Annual Conference was held on August 18-20, 1995 at the Fontainebleau Hilton Hotel in Miami Beach, Florida with the support of Hilton Hotels and American Airlines.
1995 First Organizing Meeting is held at the
Fontainebleau Hilton Hotel, Miami Beach, Florida
1996 First Conference is held at the Fontainebleau Hilton Hotel in Miami Beach, Florida
1997 2nd Annual Conference is held at the Airport Hilton Hotel in San Antonio, Texas www.hispanicmeetingstravel.com | HM&T 13
1998 Hyatt Regency Hotel in
Albuquerque, New Mexico
1999 Condado Plaza Hotel in San Juan, Puerto Rico
2000 Meliá Cancún Resort & Spa, Cancún, México 14 HM&T | Hispanic Meetings & Travel
2001 Disney's Contemporary Resort -
Walt Disney World, Orlando, Floridao
2002 Riviera Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada 2003 Hilton Hotel
,
Hartford, Connecticut
2004 Ritz Carlton Hotel, Phoenix, AZ
2005 Capital Hilton Hotel, Washington, DC
2006 Atlanta Marriott Marquis, Atlanta, Georgia
2007 Hotel Albuquerque, New Mexico 16 HM&T | Hispanic Meetings & Travel
2008 Town & Country Resort - San Diego, California
2009 Hyatt Regency Tech Center - Denver, Colorado
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I A H M P L E A D E R S M E E T I N S A N TA F E
The Hotel St. Francis, Santa Fe, New Mexico
BY AMADEO GARCIA
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hen is a hotel just lodging for the night and when is it something much more perhaps your own "Santuario" calling you? If your travels are like mine you've spent many a night in countless cookie cutter hotels, one room key to the next - and most all the same until you don't think it could ever be any different. Then finally you arrive at the doorstep of a special place and you discover something that breaks through the mold - different at last, something that simply amazes you. That my friends is the unique atmosphere and experience of staying at the Hotel St. Francis in Santa Fe, New Mexico - site of the 2010 International Association of Hispanic Meeting Professionals Leadership retreat early this year. Situated on Don Gaspar Avenue, steps from the historic Santa Fe Plaza and the miraculous Loreto Chapel, the Hotel St Francis has become an icon of grace and simplicity. This is in part due to the hotel's legacy and a more 18 HM&T | Hispanic Meetings & Travel
recent multi-million dollar renovation. The latest incarnation of the Hotel St. Francis is a setting right out of Santa Fe's historic past, a time when Franciscan missionaries first settled New Mexico in the late 16th and early 17th century. The resulting transformation is a fusion of old world romance, mission trail, Spanish colonial revival and beloved hacienda. The hotel interiors have been artfully cast in the monastic style and mission decor so perfectly suited to Santa Fe's unique history
and barren landscapes. Stone walls, tile flooring, the soft glow of candlelight sconces and furnishings of carved wood, soft leather and forged iron embrace the hotel's new persona. A place where retablos, nichos and milagros are lovingly included in the mix of spare and devotional design elements. Here the simple values and virtues of its Franciscan namesake are at last realized in the new spirit of the Hotel St. Francis.
Noted at the Hotel St. Francis is an extraordinary culinary experience in the Tabla de Los Santos led by Chef Estevan Garcia. Interestingly enough Chef Garcia immersed himself for four years in the culinary secrets of the Franciscans and his current quest is to simply elevate and educate the palates of his dining guests. His dishes draw upon the naturally occurring flavors of the southwest, especially the signature red and green chiles of New Mexican cuisine. Chef Garcia searches daily and weekly for ingredients from area farms in New Mexico and Santa Fe's own farmers market where vendors reserve their finest harvests and freshest meats for the Tabla de Los Santos. On our first night in New Mexico, we were but a weary band of dedicated IAHMP travelers from Washington DC, California, Houston and Mexico, who had treked through a winter storm to the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and the front steps of the warm and inviting Hotel St. Francis. Seated cold, hungry and humbled by our travels, Chef Garcia quickly surveyed those who had arrived at the Tabla del Los Santos and sent out his kitchen's best cuisine to revive and nourish us. Platters of Chef Garcia's own interpretations of classic southwest dishes such as the chile relleno appeared before us. In Chef Garcia's version of the dish the body of the chile relleno is filled with a delicate duxelles of mushroom and shal-
lots and then served simply unadorned and naked in a warm pool of pinto bean sauce. Is a naked "Chili Relleno del Cielo" a sin? At the Tabla de Los Santos it's a thankful revelation! This simple but soul satisfying meal accompanied by a prickly pear margarita from the Secreto Bar, and later a warm peaceful night in one of the Hotel's Franciscan style rooms quickly revived this weary traveler's spirit and signaled something else: un signo de dios. Clearly I had found a sanctuary in New Mexico at the Hotel St. Francis. Later I would marvel the reproduction of a 17th century Friar's chair in my room and then by contrast enjoy a nod to modern luxury appointments in fine bedding, an above counter porcelain wash basin, rain style shower head, flat screen TV and wireless internet. A pair of casement windows quickly opened up to the fresh New Mexican air and mountainscapes. Think back to the last time you were able to open a hotel window in your room? From my window I could see the outline of the lovely and famous Loreto Chapel and beyond the dusky hues of the Jemez Mountains. Meeting space at the Hotel St. Francis is available and suitable to host executive meetings, small group events, intimate banquets and receptions of up to 75 people. The Tabla de Los Santos serves all occasions. In nice weather guests will enjoy a reposo at the seasonal garden patio or outdoor loggia. Afternoon tea, sherry and coffee service occurs on select afternoons and most evenings buzz lightly with both locals and guests enjoying the temptations of the lobby's Secreto Bar. It's easy to imagine the hotels unique interiors as a dramatic backdrop for couples seeking a memorable and romantized setting for their weddings and receptions. During winter both
the lobby and the Tabla de Los Santos glow from the warmth of two enormous wood-fire burning hearths. And so my friends this is the Hotel St Francis in Santa Fe, New Mexico - consider hosting a meeting or event there, your participants will bless you for it. As my travels take me elsewhere I will long remember the gentle glow of the Hotel St. Francis and the hearty offerings at the Tabla de Los Santos and I hope to return again soon ‌ for apart from the Hotel St. Francis, how many other Hotels will actually stay with me long after my stay? Perhaps this too is un Signo. Gracias Hotel St. Francis. The Hotel St. Francis 210 Don Gaspar Avenue Santa Fe, NM 87501 Phone 505-983-5700 Phone 1-800-529-5700 www.hotelstfrancis.com email: HSFinfo@hhandr.com
The History of the Hotel St. Francis The Hotel St. Francis is one of the oldest and most beloved hotels in Santa Fe and bears the distinction of being listed on the National Register of Historic Places as well as the Historic Hotels of America. In the beginning it was the Palace Hotel built in 1881 and was Santa Fe's most elegant destination - the site of balls, inaugurals and fine festivities. A decade into the 1900's it became the De Vargas Hotel and suffered a blow in 1922 when it burned to the ground in the largest fire Santa Fe had seen in 300 years. The hotel was resurrected and continued on as the De Vargas Hotel until 1986. In 1987 it reopened as the Hotel St. Francis. Today the hotel once again has new owners. It is now part of the Heritage Hotels and Resorts collection of hotels in New Mexico and Arizona. If you go you will be fascinated to learn and experience first hand the history of the Hotel St. Francis. On display at each floors landing are black and white historical photos of Santa Fe, many featuring exterior shots of the Hotel. Also on display you will discover original hotel ledgers from years gone by documenting the stays of previous patrons. Culturally distinct hotels such as the Hotel St. Francis are ideal locations for meetings and special events. They provide you a more genuine experience of the location visited. www.hispanicmeetingstravel.com | HM&T 19
EXHIBITORS
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WA LT E R E . WA S H I N G T O N C O N V E N T I O N C E N T E R
Open for More Meetings The Walter E. Washington Convention Center Gets Spacious New Facelift Expanded capacity of 48,000 square feet meets increased demand
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he Washington Convention and Sports Authority (WCSA) announced today that the $14 million retrofit project at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center is complete and open for more meetings. The expansion created an additional 48,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, which includes two new glass-walled meeting rooms overlooking the Grand Lobby, an exceptional area for executive meetings, presentations and receptions. It also included the installation of state-of-the-art Skyfold Walls in East and West Registration as well as relocation and conversion of staff offices into meeting space outfitted with custom carpeting, upgraded lighting, electrical and sound systems. The new flexible spaces created through the retrofit integrate seamlessly with the Center's existing design and finishes. "We saved millions of dollars by retrofitting within our existing Center instead of building new, additional meeting space," said WCSA President and Chief Executive Officer Gregory A. O'Dell. "This also improves our ability to host larger simultaneous or overlapping events." The Skyfold Wall provides a unique and dramatic approach to subdividing space. Skyfold partitions are fully automated and fold vertically into the ceiling. With a simple turn of a key, the innovative Skyfold Walls retract down from the ceiling to quietly transform the area within two minutes into nine different meeting room configurations. "We applaud all of the staff and construction workers who helped bring this project to fruition," said O'Dell. "The on-time and under budget expansion could not been done without dedicated team work." 20 HM&T | Hispanic Meetings & Travel
Additionally, the Authority stayed true to their sustainable commitments by using 90% of the existing ceilings and walls diverting 17,200 cubic feet of waste from landfills. The retrofit project increases the Convention Center's product offering, creating highly flexible space that can be used for meetings, exhibits or banquets, all steps from the Grand Lobby. Currently, the Center boasts 198,000 square feet of meeting space, 703,000 square feet of exhibition space and 52,000 square feet of ballroom space. Columbia | Forrester Joint Venture, a Certified Business Enterprise that includes Washington-based Columbia Enterprises and Forrester Construction Co. of Rockville, MD performed the construction. Editors Note: If you're interested in a customized tour, please call (202) 249-3217.
About the Washington Convention and Sports Authority (WCSA) The Washington Convention and Sports Authority creates economic and community benefits for the District through the attraction and promotion of hospitality, athletic, entertainment and cultural events. The Authority owns and manages the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, an anchor of the District's hospitality and tourism economy that generates over $400 million annually in total economic impact for the city. The Authority also owns and manages the Stadium-Armory campus, which includes Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, the DC Armory and the surrounding Festival Grounds, and serves as the owner and landlord for Nationals Park. For more information, please visit www.wcsa.com.
guesteditorial A R I Z O N A
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Arizona law and the boycott of it I
take offense on how mainstream travel, meetings and hospitality industry leaders are responding to the new Arizona law and the boycott of it. I take offense to their statement that this law has nothing to do with the tourism industry - who do they think service the travel industry in Arizona and the rest of the country? Hispanics, Latinos and other minority people make up a huge pool of those employees. Historically, they are the people who service the industry, cleaning and making up hotel rooms, cooking and serving meals, gardening and building maintenance and other service jobs within the industry. I also find no merit to their opinion that the boycott of the state of Arizona should end because it will adversely affect 200,000 families that rely on the tourism economy. It is true 22 HM&T | Hispanic Meetings & Travel
they may suffer but didn't the whole people of South Africa suffer when the world boycotted their country? Yes, and thanks to that apartheid ended, Nelson Mandela was freed from jail and became president and now in 2010 it has become the first African nation to host the World Cup. Did the people of India suffer when Gandhi asked them to boycott against the British? Yes they suffered but India won its independence and now it is a force to be reckoned with on the global economic spectrum. Did the people of Alabama suffer when Martin Luther King Jr. called on blacks to boycott public transportation, state laws and even their jobs? Yes but this led to the enactment of the Civil Rights act, a gradual change in the American psyche and the ability for Barack Obama to become the first black president of the United States. Boycotts
are hard for all involved but they are a necessary way for a people to show their power and in our industry we minorities have a tremendous power - billions of dollars worth of power. Hopefully this boycott will not only repeal the law but also help empower the people of Arizona to rise up against their legislatures and bring about change and justice in their state. The "leaders" of the travel industry do not understand that we are not only boycotting the law which we feel is unconstitutional and specifically targets people of color but we are protecting our attendees by not meeting in Arizona. How can we guarantee our attendees' safety knowing they could be pulled over by the police once they step outside the perimeter of our meeting space? We cannot. As a result our attendees would be prisoners of the conference hotel. And how can we travel comfortably from airport to hotel and vice versa? We cannot. This scenario is unacceptable to those associations that have diverse and international members, such as the International Association of Hispanic Meeting Professionals (IAHMP). Plainly spoken, at this time, Arizona and any other state that adopts a similar law is an unacceptable destination for the meetings and tourism industries. Some industry leaders are making it sound like the tourism industry is the only one being boycotted - well it's not. We minorities and all people of social conscience must stand together to boycott Arizona in all its industries. I believe IAHMP should stand opposed to this law and support the boycott of Arizona!! Thank you for the opportunity to express my own opinion on this divisive Arizona Law which is in violation of current federal law. Maria de la Luz Gonzalez, President IAHMP Midwest Region
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