california meetings + events magazine

EPICUREAN ENTREPRENEURS:MEET THE DUO BEHIND SOCAL’S BIGGEST FOOD AND WINE EVENT

MEET + EAT: SMALL BITES ARE MAKING A BIG IMPACT

WHAT’S OLD is NEW

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M E E T I N G S M A G S . C O M // W I N T E R 2 0 1 2

Antique event rentals lend old-fashioned elegance

GREAT HAPPENS IN THREESAT HYATT REGENCY HUNTINGTON BEACH

Book your quali� ed meeting by March 30, 2012 and hold by June 30, 2012 and receive

a 4% rebate to your master account, triple Gold Passport Points, and complimentary

guestroom internet on paid room nights. Situated across from eight miles of

spectacular beaches with panoramic ocean views, the Hyatt Regency Huntington

Beach Resort & Spa is a must book venue. The resort features 517 newly renovated

guestrooms including 57 suites and a combined 100,000 square feet of function

space. Easily accessible from three major airports, enjoy luxurious accommodations,

four-diamond dining and the 20,000 square foot Paci� c Waters Spa.

For more information, please call us at 714 698 1234.

Visit huntingtonbeach.hyatt.com. Hyatt. You’re More Than Welcome.

714 698 1234

HUNTINGTONBEACH.HYATT.COM

O� er valid on select dates, subject to availibilty. Terms and conditions apply. Full terms and conditions can be found at huntingtonbeach.hyatt.com

2 CAM+E l California Meetings + Events » WINTER 2012

6Editor’s LetterBY KIRA COPLIN

18Meet + EatScaled-down servings at California’s newest dining spots are perfect for pairing and sharing. BY TAMARA SHAYNE KAGEL

20TablescapesA rustic chic tablescape comes to life.BY KIRA COPLIN

22Venue ReportOpulent settings and touches of elegance make for event spaces that stand out from the crowd.BY ASHLEY HEATON

26Destination With a thriving hospitality industry, world-class amenities and year-round sunshine, there’s no place like the Greater Palm Springs area. BY KIRA

COPLIN

56People ProfileBy fusing passion with practicality, Ken Loyst and Michelle Metter turned a ‘little’ event idea into one of the nation’s biggest culinary draws. BY ASHLEY HEATON

FEATURES

31Tech on DeckTechnology tips, tools and trends from A to Z. BY CATHLEEN HAGAN, JENNA NELSON AND ROBERT LUCE

39What’s Old is New AgainCatering to the growing demand for all things vintage, California vendors get creative with Old World touches. BY KIRA COPLIN

contents W I N T E R 2 0 1 2

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Los Angeles’ Casa de Perrin boasts a bohemian, eclectic collection of vintage tabletop decor.

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WINTER 2012 » www.meetingsmags.com l CAM+E 3

WINTER 2012

PUBLISHER

R . C R A I G B E D N A R

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Write to California Meetings + Events

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California Meetings + Events accepts no

responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts or artwork;

they will not be returned unless accompanied

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Published quarterly by

TIGER OAK PUBLICATIONS

900 South Third St, Minneapolis, MN 55415

Phone: 612.548.3180 Fax: 612.548.3181

Visit our website at

WWW.MEETINGSMAGS.COM

PRINTED IN THE U.S.A.


INDUSTRY UPDATE

48Regional NewsAwards, announcements, venue and people news from around the area. BY GERILYN MANAGO

54SnapshotsCalifornia Meetings + Events’ Best of Readers’ Choice Awards.

contentsMEETING NOTES

10Signature DrinkThe Cedar Room. COURTESY OF CHURCHILL

10ChecklistWhen it comes to promo-tional giveaways, make an impression. BY JERRY

MCLAUGHLIN

12Venue SpotlightThe Garland Ballroom, North Hollywood.

12Planning ToolsLinkedIn’s new set of tools makes posting your next conference a cinch.

17Tips From A ProThree ways ways to improve leadership skills in 2012. BY AMY K. HUTCHENS

Expert AdviceGet advice from the experts on hot trends, run-ning your business, getting certifications and accredi-tation and opinions on national industry issues.

Industry NewsWhich local venues are expanding, who has been promoted or hired, what companies have received awards and recognition and more updated daily.

W I N T E R 2 0 1 2

CalendarMPI, ISES, NACE, SGMP and more local chapter and national events are listed on our calendar.

meetingsmags.com

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WINTER 2012

EDITOR

K I R A C O P L I N

MANAGING EDITOR

M E G H A N M c A N D R E W S

WEB EDITOR

K A T E S M I T H

EDITORIAL INTERNS

L E A H L A N C A S T E R , K A T E T R E S C O N Y , J E N N A N E L S O N

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

G E R I L Y N M A N A G O ,

A S H L E Y H E A T O N , R O B E R T L U C E ,

T A M A R A S H A Y N E K A G E L ,

J E R R Y M C L A U G H L I N ,

A M Y K . H U T C H E N S

EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD

Patty Andersen, Corporate Image Yacht Charters

Carolyn Burns Bass, Site So-Cal

Judy Bijlani, Laguna Beach

Conference & Visitors Bureau

Sandi Cottrell, Art for People Inc.

Lisette Elhayani, Freshwata

Tracy Kwiker, Pivotal Events

Sylvia Lucier, Riviera Resort & Spa

Nicole Matthews, The Henley Company

Darlynne Menkin, Where You Want To Be Tours

Patti Roscoe, PRA

Mike Staples, Catamaran Resort Hotel

ART DIRECTOR

R A C H E L A N D E R S O N

ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR

C O U R T N E Y N I E L S E N

PROJECT COORDINATORS

H E I D I B R A N E S , L A U R I E W O O D

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS

H E I D I B R A N E S , E M I L Y B R E T Z E L , J A C Q U E L I N E H A G Y A R D

ADVERTISING DIRECTORS

J O H N S U L L I V A N

7 1 4 . 3 6 5 . 2 4 0 [email protected]

M A R G R E T S C O T T

4 1 5 . 2 1 5 . 0 4 8 [email protected]

COLORADO MEETINGS + EVENTS

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ILLINOIS MEETINGS + EVENTS

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MICHIGAN MEETINGS + EVENTS

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MINNESOTA MEETINGS + EVENTS

6 1 2 . 5 4 8 . 3 4 7 6

NORTHWEST MEETINGS + EVENTS

2 0 6 . 4 5 2 . 2 9 5 9

TEXAS MEETINGS + EVENTS

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Published quarterly by

TIGER OAK PUBLICATIONS

900 South Third St, Minneapolis, MN 55415

Phone: 612.548.3180 Fax: 612.548.3181

877-WIN-PALA (877-946-7252) PalaCasino.com

Located in Northern San Diego County From San Diego County & Riverside County: Take I-15 to HWY 76, go east 5 miles

From Orange County & Los Angeles County: Take I-5 south to HWY 76, go east 23 miles

Don’t Just Have A Great Meeting, Have A Great Time.

Whether your group is a few people, or a few thousand, all of Pala’s meeting

rooms are flexible, professional, and beautiful.

And of course, there’s the added bonus of our great amenities for the perfect

post-meeting gathering, such as a fabulous casino, 10 delicious restaurants

and an award-winning spa. So contact one of our helpful guest service

representatives and get ready for much more than a meeting.

Call 1-877-WIN-PALA (877-946-7252) and ask for our Group Sales Office.

So Many Ways To WinTM

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Californians are unique, creative and truly

individualistic. They like to make their own mark and

to create something unexpected. They are willing to take

risks and try new things. life in California evokes a sense

of ease and carefree living. surrounded by sparkling cit-

ies, mountains and beaches, it’s the perfect place relax,

explore, and of course, celebrate. from the desert and

wineries to five-star hotels and water, there really is some-

thing for everyone.

i am absolutely thrilled to be a new member of the team

here at California Meetings + Events magazine. Being able

to celebrate our state’s beautiful backdrops, connect read-

ers with the community and spotlight the movers and

shakers who are making waves is truly exciting.

as a writer, editor and filmmaker, i’ve worked in the

magazine industry for nearly ten years. i began my career

as a writer for the New York Post and have contributed to CosmoGIRL, OK!, CITY magazine, Zink

magazine, Desert Living and Modern Luxury publications, among others. My first novel, Pop Tart,

was released by HarperCollins Publishers in the summer of 2009 with editions in the u.s., the u.K.,

australia and in Harper’s spanish-speaking territories worldwide. Prior to my post at California

Meetings + Events, i served as the Managing editor of 944 magazine where i covered the luxurious

landscape of los angeles and its latest happenings for over two years.

Here’s to a fabulous and festive 2012!

Kira Coplin

eDiTor

PS: Reach out to share ideas, stories, feedback and more! Drop me a note at

[email protected]. You can also follow me on Twitter @KiraCoplin.

New Year, New Beginnings

editor’sLETTER

PORTOLAHOTEL.COM

1.866.711.1534

Welcome to Monterey Bay’s perfect location.All 50,000 square feet of it.

Featuring the largest facilities between SF and LA,

and newly renovated ballroom and guest rooms,

the Portola Hotel & Spa boasts over 50,000 feet of

meeting space and a convenient location adjacent

to the Monterey Conference Center. No matter the

size or occasion, our fl exible space and services

provide the perfect locale for your next meeting.

Our high-tech solutions, including state-of-the-art

audiovisual capabilities, HD video conferencing and

a knowledgeable and accessible IT staff make for

fl awless multimedia presentations. The Portola Hotel

& Spa is the fi rst and only Silver LEED® EB certifi ed

hotel in Monterey County. Team up with the Portola,

and make your next event your most successful one.

3649 mission inn avenue

riverside, california 92501

800.344.4225•missioninn.com

Steeped in over a century of history

and culture, there is no more inspiring

setting for meetings and events than

The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa.

The Inn features 238 guest rooms and

suites, and 20,000 sq. feet of flexible

function space that can accommodate

everything from board meetings to

conventions, in an environment that

is truly one-of-a-kind.

For over a century, world leaders and

Hollywood stars have chosen

The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa as

a place of inspiration and renewal.

Book your meeting before 3/30/2012 and receive one $50 gift card to use at any of the

Inn’s award-winning restaurants & Kelly’s Spa. Offer applies to groups of 20 rooms or

more on peak. Applicable to groups arriving between February 1st & August 31th, 2012.

To book this special package, please call 800.344.4225 and reference code: History

Take advantage of our

special offers and packages!

Register to receive our preferred

meeting planner email offers

and receive a special welcome gift!

Riverside, California

Preferred Meeting PackageComplimentary Gift

• 10% credit back to the master• 20% allowable attrition• Discounted Self-Parking ($5.00 per car/per night)

• 50% off high-speed internet in meeting rooms

• Complimentary guest room high-speed internet access

• Choice of complimentary AM or PM break (coffee & danish or coffee & cookies)

• Complimentary room ratio of 1 per 35 (per paid group room nights consumed)

Based on single occupancy. Subject to availability. Meeting contract must be signed by3/30/2012. Valid on new bookings only. Cannot be combined with any other offers. Rates are net non-commissionable.

Yo u r P lac e i n

H i s t o ry


NOTESmeeting

Customize your QR

Attention-grabbing quick

response codes are a planner’s

new best friend, making every-

thing from contact information

to photos from recent events

available with the click of a

button. Break out of the black-

and-white, 2-D box by mixing

colors, patterns and shapes with

personalized QR code art from

redfishmedia.com.

800.344.4225•

e inspiring

ooms and

function space that can accommodate

• 10% credit back to the master• 20% allowable attrition• Discounted Self-Parking

• 50% off high-speed internet in

• Complimentary guest room

• Choice of complimentary AM or PM break

• Complimentary room ratio of 1 per 35

meetingNOTES


{ S I G N A T U R E D R I N K I D E A }

{ G R O U P A C T I V I T Y }

The Churchill’s mixologist, John Rankin.

Learn more at www.the-churchill.com

Courtesy ofIDEA

The Cedar RoomIngredients2 oz. bacon-infused George

Dickel #8 Bourbon

¾ oz. Amaro Ramazzotti½ oz. Mathilde Framboise with a Lagavulin rinse

2 dashes sour cherry bitters

DirectionsMix all ingredients in a dry 10-ounce rocks glass. Add ice and stir. Add a slice of bacon and serve.

meetingNOTES{ C H E C K L I S T }

GET THE MOST OUT of WHAT YOU GIVEPromotional giveaways offer excel-

lent marketing value compared to

other media forms. In fact, according

to the Advertising Specialty Institute,

the average cost per impression of a

promotional item is $0.004. (That’s

two-and-a-half impressions per

penny!) Studies show that more than

four out five recipients can identify

the advertiser on a promotional prod-

uct they own. Plus, giveaways trigger

the “reciprocity rule”—the deeply

ingrained human impulse that tells us

to respond to a gift by giving back.

Here are five tips to help you get the

most out of your promotional items.

1. Choose what they’ll use.

Pick a product your customers will

want to use on a daily basis. You’ll

earn their appreciation—and keep

your brand top of mind.

2. Prioritize staying power.

Promotional products are highly afford-

able already. Don’t scrimp on durability;

select a giveaway built to last.

3. Give first.

To make the rule of reciprocity

work for you, be the first one to

give. Human psychology suggests

your generosity will be repaid.

4. Don’t overspend.

Promotional products don’t have

to break your budget. In fact, they

shouldn’t. A giveaway isn’t more effec-

tive just because it’s more expensive.

5. Comparison shop.

Undecorated items are often

virtually identical from one

distributor to the next—but

prices aren’t. Use the Internet and

comparison shop to ensure you get

the branding bargain you deserve.

Courtesy of Jerry McLaughlin,

president and CEO of

www.branders.com, the world’s

largest and lowest-priced online

source of promotional products.

Bocce NationA sport that combines fun and

competition at a leisurely pace,

bocce is the perfect activity for

groups looking to socialize out-

doors. Not familiar with the game?

BocceNation.com has everyone cov-

ered with software that organizes

games, in addition to its Bocce-in-

a-Bag kit that includes everything

needed to complete the experience,

right down to a portable court.

BocceNation.com also offers full-

service event planning, just in case

you’d rather just sit back and play.

$139 for Bocce-in-a-Bag Kit.

www.boccenation.com

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BALANCE

Finding an absolute state of equilibrium is often hard to do. You will find it at Parc 55 Wyndham, with the perfect balance of work and rest, resulting in stronger focus and enhanced productivity.

415.392.8000/meetparc55.com

meetingNOTES


meetingNOTES

STYLISH TRAVEL GUIDESKnown for their graphically

appealing covers, hyper-

opinionated reviews and

selective entries, Luxe City

Guides make for chic travel

gifts. Compiled by resident

editors and contributors

that really know their cities,

these smart, fun guides give

travelers insider knowledge

to make the most of their

stay. The new Black Bespoke

Box, hand-crafted in luxury

carbon bookbinding linen with

a sleek crimson interior and

gold logo, holds a collection

of fi ve guides. Customers can

also handpick the guides they

want to include and brand

the front of the box with their

logo. From just one guide to

multiple boxes, gift wrapping

options makes giving a cinch.

Their custom-made black

and aqua teal canvas-clad

boxes come with a black

grosgrain ribbon and layers

of signature embossed tissue.

The Bespoke Box is $55 and

can be purchased online;

individual guides are $9.99.

www.luxecityguides.com

Bert Seneca, general manager of the Beverly Garland in North Hollywood, recently revealed

the newest renovations to the hotel’s Garland Ballroom and on-site restaurant, Tula’s. The

upgraded ballroom features parchment wallpaper framed in crown molding, stately bronze

mirrors and opulent chandeliers set against hues of rich chocolate brown and cream. Tula’s is

also debuting a new stylish look, along with updated menus that o� er California-style cuisine

with a touch of Mediterranean fl air. To complement the menu, the new wine list features over

60 hand-selected wines from around the world. www.beverlygarland.com

The Garland Ballroom

North Hollywood

venue SPOTLIGHT

A P O C K E T- S I Z E D D E S S E R T

Take dessert to-go with ice cream sundae-fl avored malted milk balls

from Nuts Online. With fl avors ranging from orange sherbet to pineapple

and key lime, whether you’re running to or from a meeting, your sweet tooth

will thank you. Feeling generous? Bulk discounts are available if you want

to share. $6.99 per pound. www.nutsonline.com

{ F O O D + D R I N K }

{ P L A N N I N G T O O L }

LINKEDIN EVENTS Post your next conference on Linkedin to extend its networking capabilities and encourage

attendees to connect with one another beforehand. A new set of tools highlights “Attendees

You May Want to Meet” based on location, industry and network and new “Share This Event”

options ensure your event is being marketed to the right group of professionals. Updated

events from shared networks will appear in Network Update streams and the Events homepage

will provide an ever-evolving set of event recommendations. http://events.linkedin.comP

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�310 LUXURY ROOMS & SUITES

�SIX PRIVATE CASITA SUITES

�15,000 SQ. FT CONFERENCE CENTER

�12,000 SQ. FT BALLROOM

�OVER 50,000 SQ. FT OF FUNCTION SPACE VENUES

�MORONGO GOLF CLUB AT TUKWET CANYON

�VIBE - OUR VERY OWN FOUR STORY NIGHTCLUB

�SAGE SPA & RADIANCE SALON

�OVER 150 PREMIUM RETAIL OUTLET MALL

�2,000 SLOTS AND OVER 100 TABLE GAMES

�OASIS POOL WATER PARK

Have Your Next Meeting at Morongo!

CONTACT SALES DEPARTMENT AT 951.755.5448 WWW.MORONGO.COM

CALIFORNIA’S PREMIER FOUR-DIAMONDMEETING & CONVENTION DESTINATION

Exquisitely arrayed on 44 acres between California’s spectacular San Gorgonio and San Jacinto mountains, the Morongo Casino, Resort & Spa is an enticing oasis.

WINNING PROPERTY


meetingNOTES

High above the Sunset Strip with a view of the

Los Angeles skyline, The Morrison Room is a

1,000-square-foot private space now available for

private parties. The space is reportedly the former

fl at of legendary Doors frontman, Jim Morrison

(hence the name) when the band used to play below

at clubs like Sneaky Pete’s and The London Fog in

the early ‘60s. The event space features dark walls

papered with infamous mug shots of various rock

stars. Able to accommodate up to 150 people, space

consists of two open-air decks with lounge seating

with an enclosed temperature controlled bar area

with DJ booth in between. The site o� ers catering

services with a variety of menu options ranging

from Asian cuisine to global comfort foods. The

venue is accessible both through the parking lot in

the back and through Duke’s West Hollywood diner

on the fi rst fl oor. For larger a� airs, the parking lot is

available for event rental. To book, call 323.977.8909

or visit www.morrisonroomla.com.

The Morrison Room

West Hollywoodvenue SPOTLIGHT

Event Ticketing Services BROWN PAPER TICKETS

“The first and only fair-trade ticketing company.” The philosophy of Brown Paper Tickets (clearly stated in their Bill of Rights) is simple: service fees should be fair and consistent.

The pros: 24/7 help center and email support, along with no contracts and no minimum or maximum attendees.

The cons: Fees are covered by the ticket buyers and there is a processing fee beyond the face value of the tickets ($0.99 + 3.5%). www.brownpapertickets.com

EVENTBRITE“We believe that anyone can be an event organizer.” Like most online event tick-eting services, Eventbrite is free for free events—its templates also live up to the tagline: they’re incredibly easy to use.

The pros: The “Eventbrite at the Door” iPhone/iPad app allows event organizers to manage tickets and RSVPs at the door.

The cons: Again, fees are tacked on to the ticket price of your events ($0.99 + 2.5%). www.eventbrite.com

TICKET BUD “Don’t pass ticket fees on to your guests.” A flat fee at Ticket Bud covers everything from email and social media marketing to tickets and an RSVP page. Also, you can check out your ticket sales in real-time.

The pros: Pay $19.99 to sell unlimited tickets for a one-day event or $39.99 for multiple-day events.

The cons: Planners are still responsible for the PayPal processing fees associated with ticket transactions. www.ticketbud.com

{ P L A N N I N G T O O L S }

{ H O T E L S }

Temecula Valley wine country’s

newest hotel opens in April on the

Ponte Family Estate. The 60-room

Ponte Vineyard Inn in will feature

two 1,360-square-foot grand suites,

four junior king and four junior

queen suites, with balconies that

overlook the vineyards. Striving

to be a sustainable facility, The

Ponte Vineyard Inn will reduce its

environmental footprint through the

use of low VOC paint, recycled and

natural materials, LED light bulbs

and room occupancy sensors for

the central HVAC system. Although

details regarding the Inn’s corporate

meeting room weren’t fi nalized at

press time, the estate itself features

four unique event spaces, ranging

from intimate tasting rooms with

space for 20 to their functioning

barrel room, which holds 100 people

with dancing outside. A vineyard

pavilion (capacity 250) is the largest

space available.

www.pontevineyardinn.com

A Stay in the Country

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We invite you to experience an incomparable blend of business and pleasure

not found on dry land. Specializing in customized event planning on classic

yachts from a 2 person intimate occasion to a celebration for 2,200 guests.

Holiday Parties

Sales Incentives

Corporate Meetings

Client EntertainmentFor more information, call 415-438-8300 or visit hornblower.com

Meetings you can look forward to.


meetingNOTES{ p l a n n i n g p r i m e r }

1. Recognize, reward and respect your employees. Too many bosses think that money will motivate

their employees to perform well. Money will get you

into the game, but it will have no impact on perfor-

mance. If you really want to motivate your employ-

ees, acknowledge their accomplishments—and do so

publicly. This costs you and the company nothing,

but it results in employees who are proud of their

accomplishments and who will continue to work

to earn your approval and praise. Celebrating even

small successes will improve employees’ self-esteem

and lead to bigger successes.

2. Hire for attitude, then train for skills. Technical skills can be learned, good attitudes can-

not. Hire people you can motivate and who enjoy

working with people. Then train and nurture them.

Give them the tools they need to do their jobs—and

to do them well. And don’t micromanage your

employees; doing so will kill their creative-thinking

and problem-solving efforts.

3. Terminate non-performing employees; they are a cancer in your organization. They either do their jobs poorly, or they don’t do

them at all. Those employees often have negative atti-

tudes that drag down other members of your team.

Get rid of these people as quickly as possible.

4. Set clearly defined goals. Establish a game plan for the year that revolves

around measurable goals and target dates. To simply

say, “We will increase bookings,” is not enough to

increase performance. On the other hand, if you set

of goal of increasing bookings by 20 percent, it gives

employees a specific target.

5. Maximize your employees’ potential. Empower them to make quick decisions that will

keep your clients coming back to you. Support their

use of empowerment and trust them to do the right

thing for your customers.

6. Listen to your employees. They are the experts when it comes to improving

your products and services. The suggestions they

will make, if asked, will help to reduce costs, improve

operations and add to your company’s profits.

7. Take a good look at your own skills. Are your managerial skills what they should be?

You should spend a minimum of 20 hours each year

developing and improving your leadership skills.

Don’t wait for the company to pay for any courses

you want to take, set money aside each year and pay

for the programs yourself, if necessary. It’s an invest-

ment you won’t regret.

How to be a better bossSeven ways to boost your managerial mojo. b y J o H n t s c H o H l

John Tschohl, the internationally recognized service strategist, is founder and president of the Service Quality Institute in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Described by USA Today, Time and

Entrepreneur as a “customer service guru,” he has written several books on customer service and has developed more than 26 customer-service training programs that have been distributed throughout the world. John’s monthly strategic newsletter is available online at www.customer-service.com.

“celebrating even small successes will improve employees’ self-esteem and lead to bigger successes.”

WINTER 2012 »www.meetingsmags.com l CAM+E 17

{ T I P S F R O M A P R O }

From politics to business, the

hot, trigger-button issue will be about

who is ready to lead, and what it takes

to lead in these times. practice these

three quick and easy tips to immedi-

ately improve your leadership skills

and management performance in 2012.

3D isn’t just for movies. leaders need to encourage thoughtful engage-

ment in the decision-making process. 3D (discuss,

debate, decide) is a process that many executive

teams use to foster healthy dialogue. constructive

debate builds commitment and greater long-term

support for the final decision. on those occasions

when leaders need to make a tough call with fewer

people involved, it’s still critically important that

they share their thoughts behind the decision.

Creativity is not the same as innovation.recognize the difference between creativity and inno-

vation. creativity is an internal process that generates

the next new idea. innovation is the external process

that brings that idea to market in order to create a

social and economic effect. companies that under-

stand these differences and create systems and struc-

tures for both consistently outpace their competitors.

Leadership is sales. With four generations in the workplace (tradition-

alists, baby boomers, generation x’ers and millen-

nials), leaders must know what each generation

is seeking to “buy” from their organization (their

executives) and then leaders need to know how to

“sell” to each constituent in order to garner engage-

ment, commitment and loyalty.

LESSONS in LEADERSHIP

With presentations to 30,000+ executives in eight countries, Amy K Hutchens serves as a business strategist to leaders around the globe. She is the winner of five Telly Marketing Awards and the Summit International’s Award for Creativity and a featured guest on NBC, Fox and ABC for her commentary on current events. www.amyk.com

Try Our Valleyand Discover an Affordable Group Destination

http://gettag.mobi

Accessible and affordable Tri-Valley, California is the

ideal Northern California meeting and event destination.

Located on the eastern side of the San Francisco Bay hills,

and boasting more than 4600 hotel rooms with affordable

rates and hundreds of specialty venues and facilities – you

are sure to find the right space for your group.

Book your next event in Tri-Valley, California by December 30, 2012 and receive

up to $5000 for your group. Simply visit trivalleycvb.com/cash or contact our

sales team at 925-846-8910 for details.VisitTriValley @VisitTriValley

Pleasanton

Livermore

Dublin

San Ramon

Danville


meet&EAT

SMALL PLATES GO BIG California’s newest eateries have mastered the art of “bite size.” B Y T A M A R A S H A Y N E K A G E L

PARALLEL 37, SAN FRANCISCO Parallel 37 in Nob Hill’s Ritz-Carlton Hotel

has created a menu that is meant for pairing

and sharing. Small bites such as the crispy

chicken wings, short rib ravioli and polenta

fries are some of the highlights of Chef Ron

Seigel’s thoughtful and focused menu. The

clean presentation is apparent in the desserts,

including the Nutella croquette and lemon

semifreddo. “I want to create a dining experi-

ence where the food is not over-manipulated,”

Siegel says. “Simple and delicious American

contemporary cuisine served in an energetic

and inviting space with only the best hand-

picked ingredients.” There is a chef ’s table,

set outside of the kitchen and walled away

from the main dining room that is perfect for

parties of up to 12 and offers an exciting view

CALIFORNIA IS PARING DOWN. Small portions, small plates, small bites—

call it what you will but all along the coast, new eateries are opening up with an

emphasis on smaller portions meant for sharing. Anyone who has ever tried to

scarf a full-sized burger while trying to converse can attest to the fact that portion

size greatly e� ects the success of an event. Going small is going big.

of all the food preparation. The bar area, a

combination of communal tables and

banquettes, seats 46; there is an additional

semi-private room available for events.

RESTAURANT 1833, MONTEREYMonterey’s 1833 Restaurant, named after the

building’s year of origin, is the latest in a series

of restaurants to occupy the historic Stokes

Adobe building, the home of former mayor

James Stokes. In keeping with trend, small bites

featured on the menu run the gamut from beef

carpaccio to caramelized endive to hamachi

crispy pork, and even bacon cheddar biscuits.

The interior is a graceful blend of modern fur-

nishings and antique accents that pay homage

to the historic building without ever feeling

outdated. There are three formal dining rooms

as well as a private table which are lovely selec-

tions for moderate-sized group events. “The

multi-room layout, including Hattie’s Room

for more intimate meetings, and the sun room

with gorgeous white on white decor, are all

stunning,” says Monterey County Convention

& Visitors Bureau Representative Koleen

Hamblin. “The alfresco bar with fire pits is an

ideal end to a successful gathering.” In addition

to the superb dishes, the creative mixology and

hard to find liquors make cocktailing here a

connoisseur’s dream—suffice to say, there is a

separate absinthe menu.

MOHAWK BEND, LOS ANGELESServing equal parts vegan and non-vegan foods,

Mohawk Bend offers something for everyone, in

this recently renovated vaudeville theatre. The

menu includes Spanish stuffed dates, Monterey

squid and vegan ‘meat’ pizzas, and the small por-

tions are a welcome way to try all the innovative

delectables and the food is prepared in separate

vegan and non-vegan kitchens so catering to

individual food preferences is seamless. With

10,000 square feet of space and banquet pricing

and drink specials for groups, Mohawk Bend is

Lobster corn dogs served

with ginger remoulade are

among the small plates

served at San Diego’s Saltbox.

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a good choice for large events. Fireplaces, framed

by a mosaic glass wall and soaring skylights

make the setting memorable for any occasion.

“Mohawk Bend is an ideal place to host a variety

of events. We’ve held intimate gatherings, a wed-

ding reception and we are in the processing of

planning a network television show wrap party,”

says Mohawk Bend’s Event Coordinator Jenny

Aaron. “The Ramona Room is very versatile in

that it can be completely private with the curtains

drawn or left open,” she says of the contemporary

atrium with exposed brick. “It’s truly the heart of

the restaurant.”

SALTBOX, SAN DIEGOThe self-styled “new American gastro-lounge,”

Saltbox, has recently opened in the Gaslamp

district’s new Hotel Palomar. Some of the

highlights of Chef Simon Dolinky’s “social

plates” menu, include the “crazy pickles” dish

which seamlessly blends pickled vegetables

and quail eggs and the miniature corn dogs

filled with shellfish sausage. Both the shrimp

ceviche and stewed beef cheeks versions are

refined takes on this San Diego staple. The

175-seat dual-level retreat has a sophisticated

interior that creates an familiar atmosphere

that can often deceive its size. In fact, Saltbox

is fully equipped for private events for up to

350 guests. “We are honored to be part of

the transformation of this remarkably elegant

space at the cultural gateway to the historical

Gaslamp district,” Mark Van Cooney, gen-

eral manager of Hotel Palomar San Diego says

of the new location. “We are committed to

providing our guests with an authentic experi-

ence and personalized customer care.”

GET CONNECTED

PARALLEL 37 // San Francisco

415.773.6168 / www.parallel37sf.com

MONTEREY 1833 // Los Angeles

831.643.1833 www.1833monterey.com

MOHAWK BEND

Los Angeles / 213.483.2337 / www.mohawk.la

SALTBOX // San Diego

619.515.3003 / www.saltboxrestaurant.com

GROW with MPISSNat the MPISSN 2012 CONFERNCE

& TRADE SHOWon March 20, 2012

For more information visit www.mpissn.org

BLOSSOM BY ATTENDING THE CONFERENCE

Held at the Well at CSUS 1:00pm to 4:00pm

CONFERENCE COURSES:· The Disaster Experience for Meeting Planners (1:00-2:45)

· Be Red Cross Ready (3:00-3:45)

EARLY BIRD RATE: $49 REGULAR RATE: $69

Early bird rate expires 03/13/12

THEN SPRING INTO THE TRADE SHOW

Held at the Alumni Center

4:00pm to 7:00pmFREE TO MEMBERS &

NON-MEMBER PLANNERS

WHERE: California State University, Sacramento

The Well and Alumni Center

State University Drive South · Sacramento, CA 95819

Phone: 916.278.6295


INSPIRATION:

“I think interesting design mixes the like with

the unorthodox elements,” Powell says. “With

proper thought and execution, opposites

attract.” Powell designed the table with his

two favorite places in mind—the ultra-glam

Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel and the laidback

Big Island wonders of Hawaii.

THE DETAILS:

To create the tablescape, Powell mixed lush

tropical orchids with scented blooms and

combined them with unusual elements such as

moss, echevaria and exotic strains of tillandsia

(air plants). Sweet peas, soap and verailia roses

in hues of peach provided contrasting accent

colors for depth and dimension. A variety of

mosses and willow branches were used in the

table’s center.

Powell created “botanical boards” for each

place setting out of restored planks from a barn

in central California. “Cleaned and finished with

moss on the side, they create a charger,”

he explains. Placed atop each botanical board

are individual bud vases with lavender sweet

peas, a floral fresh orchid pin and a dramatic

napkin presentation.

A unique twist on setting a napkin, Powell

implemented handmade napkin cuffs made

from Indian beaded trim to add a touch of

shimmer and elegance to the table. To finish

things off, Powell gave it a magical glow

by using oil lamp inserts in mason jars with

different sized rims. The living wall was accented

with clumps of moss and a floral tower featuring

ghost wood, tillandsias and a giant Star

of Bethlehem. “This finished our look by

incorporating the entire room,” said Powell.

DESIGN TIP:

“Remember that not everything living or

botanical is a flower so expand your horizons

and think outside the box when it comes to

design elements.”

the vendors

DESIGNER

CRAIG POWELL,

POLLEN BOTANICAL

DESIGN

323.550.1555

www.pollenstudio.com

VENUE

PUBLIC KITCHEN

& BAR (WITHIN THE

ROOSEVELT HOTEL)

323.466.7000

LINENS

CRATE & BARREL

www.crateandbarrel.com

STATIONERY

INVITATIONS AND PLACE

CARDS FROM PAPETERIE

www.papeteriestore.com

RUSTIC CHICB Y K I R A C O P L I N P H O T O S B Y Z A C H C O C O

Using fresh-from-the-forest touches, a living table top is created.

{ T A B L E S C A P E }

the menuEclectic offerings from Executive Chef Tim Goodell round out the menu at Public Kitchen & Bar:

For a small dinner party in the private room and Chef’s Table at Hollywood’s

Public Kitchen & Bar, Pollen Botanical Design’s Craig Powell created a tabletop guests would

remember. Mixing and matching elements to correspond with the already present living

walls of succulents and other greenery, the rustic chic concept was brought to life.

eat: Chicken liver terrine with kumquat marmalade and grilled

rustic bread; Chicharrones with chili's and lime; Potato tart with

caramelized onions and pancetta; Crispy oxtail galette with poached

farm egg and frisée; Spiced duck steak leg confit with caramelized

turnips and Duroc pork schnitzel with arugula salad.

drink: Cucumber Collins, Elderflower Bellini, It's All Good


venueREPORT

BEAUTIFUL VENUES HAVE AN UNCANNY ABILITY to make memorable occasions even

more special. � is rings particularly true in modern, minimal California, where an elegant, opulent setting

truly stands out from the crowd. � ese uniquely stylish spaces are sure to make any event unforgettable.

CLASSICALLY ELEGANT VENUES Inject a dose of refinement and style to your next event. B Y A S H L E Y H E AT O N

Located in the Historic Core

of Downtown Los Angeles,

the recently renovated Vibiana

features upgraded amenities.

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ON A PEDESTAL We’ll put you

just like you dserve!

O F F I C E C E L E B R AT I O N S B U C A - S T Y L E

Special Banquets & Party Packages Available

bucadibeppo.com

CALL YOUR LOCAL SALES MANAGER

TO BOOK YOUR OFFICE CELEBRATION TODAY

WHETHER YOU CELEBRATE AT BUCA OR AT THE OFFICE,

WE’LL TAKE GOOD CARE OF YOU.

Anaheim - 714.740.2822 • Brea - 714.529.6262 • Campbell - 408.377.7722 • Carlsbad - 760.479.2533

Claremont - 909.399.3287 • Encino - 818.995.3288 • Huntington Beach - 714.891.4666

Irvine - 714.665.0800 • Mira Mesa - 858.536.2822 • Palo Alto - 650.329.0665

Pasadena - 626.792.7272 • Redondo Beach - 310.540.3246 • Roseville - 916.771.9463

Sacramento - 916.922.6673 • San Diego - 619.233.7272 • San Francisco - 415.543.7673

San Jose - 408.226.1444 • Santa Monica - 310.587.2782 • Thousand Oaks - 805.449.3688

Universal Citywalk - 818.509.9463 • Valencia - 661.253.1900


venueREPORT

Updated EleganceNorthern California’s most magnificent venues merge

a contemporary sensibility with Old World charm.

The Bently Reserve, housed in San Francisco’s former

Federal Reserve Bank, maintains the original building’s

1920s period details while incorporating state-of-the-

art technology and environmentally friendly upgrades.

The infinitely customizable nature of its largest space,

The Banking Hall, appeals to many event planners.

“For one event in the Banking Hall, a food-show style

kitchen was installed, and Paula Deen gave a cooking

demonstration to about 400 guests,” Bentley Reserve

Events and Sales Manager Vivian Perez divulges. “We

also had a movie screening, in which a screen and beds

were brought into the room, so guests could watch

the movie as if from the comfort of their room.” The

Reserve also offers eight boardrooms ranging in capac-

ity from 10 to 80 people.

Sacramento’s boutique Citizen Hotel is home to

two separate venues. Both the stately Plaza Park

Ballroom and the sleek rooftop Metropolitan Terrace

provide ample room for up to 200 guests. The Citizen

also offers a plethora of personalized event services,

including the popular Citizen Wedding Package. A

farm-fresh event catering menu is provided by the

hotel’s Grange Restaurant & Bar.

Historic LandmarksVibiana, the 136-year-old former Cathedral of St.

Vibiana, was reborn as an event site in 2005. Since

then, the utterly fantastical, yet unexpectedly practi-

cal venue has hosted events from concerts to mas-

querade galas. Event Producer Brian Worley, whose

firm YourBash! has produced parties for American

Idol and the EMMY Awards, names Vibiana as a

favorite venue. “It is a stunning setting that really

allows me to create unique spaces,” Worley notes.

“Vibiana is so large that you can literally transform it

into anything you want; and with the white walls, you

can do magic with the lighting.”

Greystone Mansion, built in 1927 by the son of oil

magnate Edward Laurence Doheny, boasts a similarly

colorful past. The Beverly Hills estate has been used

as a film backdrop since the 1950s and was added

to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.

Today, the mansion’s 12-acre outdoor event space

offers a quiet, pastoral respite from the bustling city

it overlooks. Greystone is comprised of the lush,

green Formal Gardens—designated exclusively for

wedding ceremonies—and three other English

Garden-inspired reception areas, ranging in capacity

from 60 to 200.

GET

CONNECTED

BENTLY RESERVE

San Francisco

415.294.2226

www.bentlyreserve.com

CITIZEN HOTEL

Sacramento

916.447.2700

www.citizenhotel.com

VIBIANA

Los Angeles

213.626.1507

www.vibianala.com

GREYSTONE MANSION

Beverly Hills

310.285.6830

www.greystonemansion.org

Sacramento’s Citizen

Hotel boasts 11,000

square feet of flexible

meeting and conference

facilities.

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DESTINATION

A PLACE in the SUNKnown as a posh playground for the Hollywood elite, Palm Springs shows its professional side.

B Y K I R A C O P L I N

WELLKNOWN AS A DESTINATION FOR FIRSTCLASS HOTELS, modern

architecture and endless days of sun, Palm Springs and its surrounding areas o� er a

variety of options for your next o� -site event. � ough the area is commonly referred

to as simply, “Palm Springs,” the famous desert destination actually consists of nine

distinct cities. With a collective hospitality scene that continues to grow, the mu-

nicipalities that make up Greater Palm Springs include Desert Hot Springs, Rancho

Mirage, Indio, Palm Desert, Cathedral City, La Quinta, Coachella and Indian Wells.

� anks to Amtrak rail service and three airports that service the area, Greater Palm

Springs is perfectly positioned to serve large markets throughout California and be-

yond. “For a small community we o� er a diverse array of activities, venues, hotels and

restaurants,” says Beth Daniel, DMCP, Senior Sales Manager at ACCESS Destination

Services. “One of the best aspects is the ease of travel through our resort-port and the

ease of navigating through the valley with no tra� c and the beauty surrounding you.”

“Our room rates are still very competitive

and because the valley is somewhat contained

in a small area and groups are not forced to

drive 45 minutes for airport transfers or to

visit venues and attractions,” Daniel says of

the value that event planners can expect. “In

most cases the groups travel 15 to 20 minutes

maximum to reach their destination.”

With its funky furnishings and lush land-

scape, the Parker Palm Springs is a delight

for the senses. Spread over 13 acres, the hotel

boasts plenty of room for any meeting or event.

All event spaces, including a new 6,000-square-

foot building, feature natural light. Spaces fea-

turing exclusive lawn and garden areas, such

as the Grand Ballroom, provide the perfect

With 13 acres and 144 rooms, the

Parker Palm Springs caters to both

large and small business gatherings.

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On The FlyPalm Springs Regional Airport (PSP) is serviced by major carriers like Allegiant, American Airlines, Sun Country, United Airlines and US Airways. Groups traveling from LAX, John Wayne Airport/Orange County and San Diego International Airport can expect an easy, two-hour drive. Desert Valley Shuttle provides scheduled service to and from the major airports in Southern California, as well as transport to all major resort hotels in the Palm Springs area. To book, call 800.413.3999.

What’s New…Increasing the number of flights to Coachella Valley, Virgin America recently celebrated the launch of its new nonstop and through-flight seasonal service to PSP. Offering travelers low-fare, stylish service, the California-based carrier’s seasonal daily flight schedule operate from mid-December to April 30th.

backdrop for ceremonies, banquets and cock-

tail parties. “The food is amazing, the service

is the best, the property is pristine and the

grounds well-tended,” says Joey Lizotte, owner

of the Palm Springs-based ARTISAN Event

Floral Decor. “I recommend this property to a

group whenever I can as I know that every one

of their needs will be met.”

Centrally located in Old Palm Springs

Village, The Willows Historic Palm Springs

Inn is one of the city’s oldest sites. Refined and

steeped in old-school glamour, The Willows

Inn and the O’Donnell House at The Willows

are available as a conference site and venue for

weddings, corporate meetings, family gather-

ings and other events. “The building is historic

and so well maintained, and the staff is beyond

words,” says Lizotte, who has planned a myriad

of events there. “Sitting on the side of a moun-

tain, the views of the entire valley are more

than amazing. Nighttime at the O’Donnell

House is out of this world. As a back drop…

it doesn’t get any better.” The properties are

flanked with desert gardens, a veranda and

a waterfall and can be combined for larger

parties. The Willows closes its doors to the

public during events to guarantee the privacy

and comfort of its guests. Events scheduled on

INSPIRATIONAL MEETINGS.

SINGULAR EXPERIENCES.

AN EXTRAORDINARY DESTINATION.

49-499 Eisenhower Drive, La Quinta, California 92253

(760) 564-7602 www.laquintaresort.com

[email protected]

La Quinta Resort & Club is where memories and experiences are created.

The resort offers flexible indoor and outdoor meeting options with

breathtaking vistas of the Santa Rosa Mountains. Many of the most

successful meetings are a result of the quality and enjoyment of the

activities after a full day of meetings. We offer a wide variety to choose

from such as our five highly rated golf courses, our award-winning

Spa La Quinta, a tennis program featuring 23 tennis courts run

by former Davis Cup Captain and player, Tom Gorman and five unique

culinary options. Call us about your next Experience…

Make Your Meeting an Unforgettable Experience!

760-778-6262 ext [email protected]

A unique venue for any group from 15 to 2,000, with 56,000 square feet of enclosed, air-conditioned space housing over 25 vintage aircraft and exhibits available for you, day or night. And you can expand your event to the 40,000 square feet of exterior space facing the Palm Springs Airport and San Jacinto Mountain.


DESTINATION

GET CONNECTED

VIRGIN AMERICA

877.359.8474 / www.virginamerica.com

DESERT VALLEY SHUTTLE

800.413.3999 / www.palmspringsshuttle.com

PARKER PALM SPRINGS

760.770.5000 / www.theparkerpalmsprings.com

DESERT SPRINGS JW MARRIOTT RESORT & SPA

888.236.2427 / www.marriott.com

ESCENA GOLF CLUB

760.778.2737 / www.escenagolf.com

THE WILLOWS HISTORIC PALM SPRINGS INN

760.320.0771 / www.thewillowspalmsprings.com

TWO BUNCH PALMS RESORT AND SPA

760.329.8791 / www.twobunchpalms.com

THE CARY GRANT ESTATE

760.904.0200 / www.carygrantestate.com

LULU CALIFORNIA BISTRO

760.327.5858 / www.lulupalmsprings.com

a weekend require a full buy-out of the eight-room

hotel, with a minimum of a two-night stay.

Private, quaint venues can be hard to come by

when dealing with groups of up to 350. Thankfully,

Cary Grant’s Movie Colony Estate is now available

as an event space to solve that problem. The 1.5-acre

historic Palm Springs landmark is a private, lush sanc-

tuary with plenty of room for large parties (the front

lawn comfortably accommodates 350 guests, while the

backyard fits 180). Tucked among rose gardens, citrus

trees, green palms and cacti, the Andalusian-style

home offers several site options, making it a top choice

for events of all sizes and types. The Great Room offers

the largest indoor space for parties and private dinners,

seating 60 to 90 comfortably. Other areas on the estate,

like the art studio, make for perfect break-out spaces.

New on the scene, LuLu has quickly become

a favorite among industry professionals when to

comes to dining. “LuLu has a large space that’s good

for group dining,” explains Hillary Angel, public rela-

tions manager for Palm Springs Bureau of Tourism.

In addition to the restaurant space, LuLu also offers

off-site catering. Specializing in the production of

original concepts and designs, their portfolio fea-

tures highly styled intimate gatherings and elaborate

galas and everything in between. Though there are

several menu options to choose from, planners may

also request one that’s personalized to accommodate

party size, tastes and budget.

Ready, Set, Putt!the game of golf has long been used to boost corporate morale and strengthen busi-

ness relationships. Known for its world-class golf courses and resorts, the Palm Springs

region offers more than 100 exceptional places to play. With two award-winning 18-hole

championship courses and an exceptional tournament & Guest Service Program, the

Palm desert Golf Courses at JW Marriott desert Springs Resort are perfect for events

both large and small. From pre-event planning, catering, on-course photography and

event promotion services including the coordination of pairings, scorecards and carts,

the pro staff tends to every detail of an outing. With 833 guest rooms and more than

100,000 square feet of meeting and event space, the resort is also a great place to stay.

“the JW Marriott desert Springs continues to raise the bar to provide great service and a

fresh product,” daniel says, “Guests love the centralized gathering area.”

In Palm Springs, the hip escena Golf Club with its Nicklaus design course and strik-

ingly modern club house, is also known for its first-rate meetings and special events

service. escena’s main dining room, outdoor patio, lakeside event lawn and a private

dining room (that holds up to 250) within the club house provide planners with

plenty of options for pre- or post-game gatherings. When it comes to golf, escena’s

tournament coordinators are on-hand to assist planners with pairings, contests

and prizes. the course an even be configured to a planner’s exact specifications to

accommodate a range of skill sets.

Planning Golf eventsavoid stress overload by checking these important to-do items off your list early on.

r Begin preparations as early as possible. Six months in advance is ideal with three months being the absolute minimum.

r Finding a location. Start visiting golf sites right away to root out the one that offers all the amenities you need. Make sure to inspect clubhouse locker rooms, meeting facilities and the course to make sure they are sufficient and up to expectations. r Book it. Before signing contracts, double confirm the availability of golf rentals, carts and equipment, as well as the course’s maintenance schedule.

r Begin drafting an event schedule with tee times in mind. traditional group start times are held at either 8 a.m. or 1 p.m.

r Conclude your budget, making sure all green fees (per person) and gratuities have been accounted for.

r Finalize food and beverage functions. Budget for open bar and beverage cart expenses, as well as meals. Counteract larger expens-es by opting for a con-tinental breakfast buffet and box lunches to keep spending under control.

[ ] Create a mock pairing sheet two weeks before the event in case changes need to be made. Final confirmation (numbers of participants and foursome pairings) are expected one to three days before the outing, depending on the course.

When was the last time you stepped out of a convention into a desert oasis?

This is a different sort of place. A place you can fl y in,

check in, and get to your meeting in a half-hour. Just one

short mile from the Palm Springs International Airport,

you’ll fi nd a world-class facility, 1,600 hotel rooms within

walking distance and 150,000 sq. ft. of meeting space.

But you’ll also fi nd a spectacular desert setting you

just won’t fi nd anywhere else. Gorgeous mountains as

your meeting’s backdrop. And ideal weather for almost

anything from golf to swimming to horseback riding.

It’s not often that outside your meeting is every bit as

inspiring as inside. But it is here.

Like no place else.™

PalmSpringsCC.comCall us toll-free: (800) 333-7535

MEETINGS WITHOUT

COMPROMISE, ROI

WITHOUT LIMITS.

For more information

Contact Lisa Scofi eld at 713.364.9683

or email [email protected]

Atlanta, GA

September 2011

Los Angeles, CA

October 2011

Boston, MA

November 2011

UPCOMING CITY EVENTS

Join us in San Francisco on Tuesday July 19, 2011. Hosted at the Ritz-Carlton, qualifi ed corporate,association and independent planners willengage one-on-one with sales directors fromluxury group business and incentive destinationsthroughout North America and Europe.

We know your schedule is taxed, so we bring new and notable destinations to you.

Selective Substance. Strategic Savings.

THE POWER OF ONE-ON-ONE

Join us in 2012 for 8 upcoming hosted-buyer events across the country. Qualifi ed corporate association and independent planners will engage one-on-one with sales directors from luxury group business and incentive destinations throughout North America and Europe.

For details, visit www.meetings4you.com.

We know your schedule is taxed, so we bring new and notable destinations to you.

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You don’t need to read the writing on the wall to know that while the core purpose of meeting remains the same, technology has had a significant impact on the industry. Although technology topics are a staple on agendas

at professional conventions and conferences, it’s a challenge for busy planners to keep up with the rapid pace of change and new options.

To help, we compiled 26 technology tips, tools and trends from A to Z for today’s meetings and events. by Robert Luce & Cathleen Hagan

Technology tips, tools and trends from A to Z.


APPSSoftware applications typically used on smartphones and other mobile devic-es—made a lot of top ten lists this year as important technology for meetings and events, whether used for sharing information with attendees, locating linen rental or the closest restaurant with a private dining room, or maybe a little mental diversion with Angry Birds. ¶ Many apps are reasonably priced or even free—unless you’re considering a customized app for your event. “A stand-alone app would be more expensive than an app within an app, since it would involve creating the whole app structure, instead of building upon an existing one,” explains Aron Ezra, CEO of Bally Mobile, the mobile software developer that built the app recently launched at the Rancho La Puerta. “Costs vary by included features and platforms, but start at over $10,000 for an event. For a venue like the Rancho La Puerta, they would pay a monthly subscription fee.” www.ballytech.com, www.rancholapuerta.com


In today’s social media-

charged world, getting a

degree from the Social

Media Academy could be

almost as valuable as that

CMP. Education programs

are specifically designed for

business professionals from

all industries and cover strat-

egy development, planning,

tools selection and more.

socialmedia-academy.com

CVENT, the world’s larg-

est provider of online event

management, meeting site

selection and web survey

solutions, has a free eBook,

Event Marketing 2.0: How

to Boost Event Attendance

through Social Media, that

provides the practical tips

and best practices for plan-

ners to effectively market

their events through social

media. www.cvent.com

Dropbox is a web-based

file sharing service that allows

users to collaborate on and

have access to the same

projects and documents

anywhere, anytime, even

offline. It works across multiple

operating systems (Windows,

Mac, Linux, smartphones) and

is free for up to 2 GB; sub-

scriptions for up to 100 GB

available. www.dropbox.com

Eat and meet via high-definition video conferencing in a pri-

vate dining room at more than 100 Ruth’s Chris Steak House and Mitchell’s Fish

Market locations across the country, including California (their busiest times for con-

ferences are from March until August). “It’s been very beneficial for us,” says Vanessa

Lee, private dining manager at the Ruth’s Chris Steak House in San Francisco. “We

just did one for a pharmaceutical company this past November that was broadcast

[via satellite] to 60 locations.” www.ruthchris.com, www.mitchellsfishmarket.com

Back to school.

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Foursquare.

> Be a mayor for a day

with this location-

based mobile platform that

makes cities easier to use

and more interesting to

explore. By “checking in”

via a smartphone app or

text messaging, users share

their location with friends

while collecting points and

virtual badges. Planners are

using it for scavenger hunts

and to encourage more

interaction between attend-

ees. foursquare.com

Greenvelope is a new e-vite provider that offers a great

“Business Collection” of classy designs, or users can upload

their own. For $139, planners can send e-vites to up to 300

contacts; the package includes envelopes, save the date

cards, invitations, response cards, an event details page and

thank you notes (special pricing available for more than 300

contacts). Ten percent of the package price is donated to a

greenway preservation project in Washington. More partner

charities are being added. www.greenvelope.com

iPad. Thanks to its efficient applications and speed, the iPad is quickly overtaking the bulky laptop.

“We utilize the Facetime application with our clients that are out of town or too busy to meet in person,” says

Misty Schwartz, CEO of Extreme Public Relations. “It is the best thing on the market to increase productivity for

independent business professionals.” Self-service event and ticketing website Eventbrite’s new iPad app helps event

planners to organize and manage their event from any location.”Using Eventbrite for Craigslist Foundation’s 6th Annual

Boot Camp was a great experience,” says Arthur Coddington, senior program manager at the Craigslist Foundation.

“Nonprofit organizations of all sizes will benefit from the ease of use, cost effectiveness, and comprehensive feature

set.” www.apple.com/ipad www.eventbrite.com

Planners know they should be using social media; we know

from talking to them that many are so busy they find it hard

to keep up with all the different channels. Hootsuite is a social

media dashboard that lets you monitor and post to several

networks, including Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and more, from

one website. Also offers custom analytics. The basic service is

free. www.hootsuite.com

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JALAPPENO.COM, a new tech

firm in Birmingham, Mich. that

created the app for this year’s

Mackinac Policy Conference,

builds custom mobile apps for a

one-time set-up fee of $549, plus

a monthly maintenance charge.

MEETINGAPPS.COM. This online

portal features a comprehensive

list of mobile applications avail-

able to meeting and event profes-

sionals in a variety of categories,

including meeting management,

conferences, ground transporta-

tion, green tools and more.

Just as technology has created new tools for planning and promoting events, it has cre-ated new career paths as well. “Several years ago, I met my publicist and it opened up a whole new realm of marketing ideas and concepts,” says Arsineh Alenkin, online event planner for AB Weddings & Special Events. Now she’s utilizing several social media outlets to help promote and sell her events—such as her Black & White Grammy Charity Event. “The Grammy event will be promoted online but will be an actual live event,” says Alenkin. “After the live event, we will take the event ‘virtual’ by allowing people to bid on items autographed by celebrities to benefit American Soldier Network.”

New careers.

ON24 provides webcasting and virtual environments for training, conferences, meetings, expos and trade shows. “It

takes a great deal of time and effort to stage a professional virtual event,” says Tricia Heinrich, senior director, strategic

communications at On24. “We recommend a 12-week planning cycle to fully account for all the content creation tasks and promotion necessary and produce a professional show.” “The Oracle Partner eXpo Online—a free virtual trade show—provided a venue for partners to expand their Oracle education and footprint,” says Ted Bereswill, senior vice president, Oracle North America Alliances and Channels. “The trade show also helped to showcase their solutions and expand business prospects across a diverse partner network without the expense of time and travel.” www.on24.com

PAPER PASSÉ? >> With all the other options available—online registration, evites, Facebook event pages—are paper invitations passé? “We only use the e-vite for our charity poker event,” says Marlene McGuirt, director of development for The Alliance for Children’s Rights. “We send out sponsorship flyers for all our other events. Hard copies help spread awareness to all generations.” “It’s easy for an supportive e-vite to end up in a person’s spambox,” says Carroll Jenkins, executive director of Cystic Fibrosis Research, Inc. “A hard copy mailer comes to your home and ends up on your desk or kitchen table. Having that information right there in your hand is going to have an impact.”

KRISAM GROUP AND GLOBAL

EVENTS PARTNERS in conjunc-

tion with Sonic Foundry, IEP and

Maritz Travel, give planners “The

Nuts and Bolts of Virtual Events”

in a free webinar series. The four-

part series provides a complete

overview for planning hybrid and

virtual events, including choos-

ing the right technologies, the

reasons to explore virtual and an

in-depth review of meetings that

have done it right. To register,

visit http://bit.ly/hDL593

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LINKEDIN now has a free app

for iPhone, Blackberry, Android

and more. “I use it the same way

I use Twitter for connecting to

clients and promoting my events

and business,” says Sherry Busler,

customer service manager of

Universal Forms and Systems.

www.linkedin.com/mobile


Q R C O D E S .

> Chances are you’re

seeing more of these

little boxes made of black

and white pixels, and

for good reason. Quick

Response, or QR, codes are

another fun and free way

to disseminate information.

Users can generate and

print their own QR codes for

smartphones to scan and

use by visiting one of several

free QR code generating

sites or apps.

R A V N . C O M

is a new comprehensive online activities search and book-ing engine. It enables users to discover, compare and book every possible thing they could be doing in their city right now through their extensive database of over 14,000 activities.

Okay, you know how to create a Facebook page for your event, how to use a Twitter

hashtag so attendees can find your tweets and how to post a video of your keynote

speaker on YouTube. Here are some other uses for social media you may not have

thought of.

Keep the buzz going. Using TweetReach.com, a Twitter analytics tool, is some-

thing Red Door Interactive director of digital analytics, Michele Hinojosa, strongly

suggests. Speaking to TakeFive with TweetReach, she explains consistency in mea-

surement, “While social analytics often starts as just “likes” and “followers” for com-

panies, pretty soon executives are trying to tie this to actual business value, and look

at social media in the context of other marketing initiatives,” she says. “Profit or rev-

enue driven [initiatives] are standardized and can apply across all channels, including

social. However, let’s be honest: sometimes that’s hard to measure! It involves tying

together different data sources, understanding attribution, and trying to measure

what may sometimes be unmeasurable.” Red Door Interactive’s client’s include

Cricket Wireless, Univision and Petco.

Leverage LinkedIn. Using LinkedIn effectively is essential for Kristina Maez’s

business. “You should utilize it everyday and incorporate it into your daily routine,”

advised Maez, sales manager at Print Large Digital. “Always make sure your profile

sounds professional,” she advises. “While the networking is free, sending the wrong

message with your profile can cost you.” Be selective about your connections as well.

“I only search and look to connect with local people in my industry,” says Maez. “But I

always do my research on them before connecting.”

Or can add a bullet point on social media groups for planners: LinkedIn, #event-

profs on Twitter, etc.

Track YOUR Mac. Log on to Hidden after

your iMac or MacBook

goes missing and this

app will locate it any-

where on the planet, take

pictures of the thief using

it and screenshots so you

know what they’re up to.

They’ll even work with the

police to help you recover

it. Pricing plans start at

$15 year for one comput-

er. hiddenapp.com

The Wall Street Journal

recently reported on new

technology being tested

that will do away with

hotel key cards in favor of:

Permanent cards issued

to frequent guests that

use radio-frequency iden-

tification. Cellphones: Dial

an assigned number, hold

the phone to your door

lock and a tone unlocks it.

Unlock the future.

SOCIAL MeDIA.


VIRTUAL REALITY. Virtual reality. What is planning a virtual trade show like? Surprisingly, not a whole lot different from an “in-person” trade show.

“Planning virtual shows are basically the same as live shows—except that you need to make it more visually appealing,” says Arsineh

Alenkin, event planner at AB Weddings & Special Events. “You’re still presenting your message to a specific and targeted audience.

Pricing and elements remain the same, but since this is a virtual show, all your marketing should be done through e-mail and social

media networks such as Facebook.” “Virtual partner expos enable enterprises and their partners to share knowledge and best

practices,” says Tricia Heinrich, senior director, strategic communications at On24. “They provide a forum that facilitates team

communication. Partners often prefer to meet virtually because virtual events save time and reduce costs, provide more opportunities

for interaction and are more convenient.” On24 has sponsored a “Virtual Events for Dummies” special edition that has been hugely

popular and is available for free at the following link: http://communication.on24.com/virtualeventsfordummies

ZUKU. Remember

when audience-

polling keypads

were the hot new

thing? Now there

are mobile apps like

Zuku that do the

same thing—allow

users via text mes-

saging to anony-

mously ask ques-

tions, send com-

ments or respond

to polls or sur-

veys—only cheaper.

www.ezuku.com

YOUTUBE shows no signs

of deflating when it comes

to promoting meetings,

events and organizations;

simply type in search term

like “California conference”

for examples of who is

using it and how. The holy

grail of course is seeing

your video go “viral,” like

Randy Pausch’s “The Last

Lecture: Really Achieving

Your Childhood Dreams”,

now at more than fourteen

million views and counting.

www.youtube.com

X IS FOR APEX. There are

a lot of meeting and event

planning software programs

out there, but if you want to

be sure you’re following the

standards being set by the

Convention Industry Council,

you want the APEX Meeting

and Event Toolbox 3.0 by

OfficeReady. Includes hous-

ing forms, rooming lists and

event specs, plus automated

APEX document templates

such as RFPs, post-event

reports and more. $99.95.

www.conventionindustry.org

WALKING TOURZ2GO.

Neatly package your next

meeting or event onto a

colorful, customized MP3

player from Tourz2Go.com. In

addition to a unique walking

tour of your host city, these

unique MP3 gifts can include

a customized message from

a CEO or other executive,

meeting presentations and

other materials. Price for the

new, reusable MP3 players

that come with a USB con-

nector range from $15-$25

each. www.tourz2go.com

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EMERGING ANTIQUE EVENT RENTALS AND SERVICES PROVE THAT OLD-FASHIONED

ELEGANCE IS STILL ALL THE RAGE.

From “Mad Men”-inspired backdrops and designs to Prohibition cocktail trends, retro style is everywhere—and

that includes the world of special events. As one of the leading party trends in 2012, vintage event decor and prop rental

resources are popping up all over California. Want to add a retro touch to your next event? Read on for the latest trends, coolest services and best-kept tips and secrets straight from the pros.

B Y K I R A C O P L I N


Thinking Outside the Guest BookSurprise guests with

a fun, old-school

twist on the classic

guest book. A fresh

idea from vintage

typewriter resellers

Brady & Kowalski

allows party guests

to leave antique-

inspired messages

for event hosts.

Their guest book

‘kit’ includes a refur-

bished and functional

typewriter with 50

sheets of custom-

monogrammed

stationery. Orders

take about a month

to arrive and are

shipped all over the

state of California for

$35. (www.brady-

kowalski.com)

POW WOWSAN DIEGO

Designer/Owner: Melissa Strukel

In a Nutshell: Pow Wow offers unique,

custom, and one-of-a-kind furnishings for

events of all kinds. A family run business, Pow

Wow’s wide inventory selection ranges from

vintage china and glassware to church pews.

“I named my business Pow Wow because it’s

a fun way to describe an event where people

gather to dance, sing and celebrate,” Strukel

says. After studying interior design and archi-

tecture at the Design Institute of San Diego,

the designer brings her knowledge of space

planning and design to every job.

“I have used Pow Wow numerous times, and

will use them every time I have the opportuni-

ty,” says Southern California-based Moments of

Magic Designer/Coordinator, Brenda Kasesler.

“One bride wanted a vintage backyard picnic

feel and the other was looking for a rustic vibe.

Melissa worked with me in the design for both.

She has artistic ideas and is very committed to

making sure we get the feel we are going for. I

love having her on my design team, because I

can count on her.”

Known For: Strukel’s custom designs and

hand-built pieces. “The white bench is a

custom made piece I built, along with the

pallet table in front.”

Rarities: “For fun, I have a teepee in my

inventory.”

Prices: Furniture rentals range from $5 to $15

for Farmhouse chairs, $25 to $75 for upholstered

chairs, $35 to $85 for tables and $35 to $100

for benches and pews. Prices for table top items

such as vintage mismatched china, flatware and

goblets range from .50 to $2 per piece.

MIGNONNE DECORBERKELEY

Owner/Lead Designer: Johnelle Mancha

In a Nutshell: With a strong focus on

affordable, custom revamped furniture pieces,

upholstery and interior design, Mignonne has

a core collection of items always available for

rent. “The basis of our rental service is the

option for brides and wedding planners to

work with us on customizing pieces for their

event,” Mancha explains. With a background in

art and design, Mignonne’s owner visits France

a couple times a year to scour the countryside

for treasures.

“With so many eclectic, one-of-a-kind pieces

we are in furniture heaven,” says Emily and

Megan, the wedding designers of Bay Area-

based Enjoy Events Co. planning + design

company. “Nothing makes us happier than

when we get to design events with a little

added spunk to them. From the bright pops of

color to the pattern, who doesn’t want all this

goodness in their home or for your wedding?”

Known For: Quality, custom furniture

restoration. “The option to have us customize

vintage furniture is available for event rentals.

For example, if you knew that your dream cake

table was a vintage drop leaf in a sea foam

blue, we could customize a piece that fit this

design for your day,” Mancha says of the

service. “Pick a color..pick the pop!”

Rarities: “Our vintage blue French settee,”

Mancha says. “It photographs so well, and can

me mixed in all different styles—rustic chic,

modern glam, bohemian, you name it.”

Expert Design Advice: A wedding, or

special event is the time to make a statement

all your own. Because events are usually a one-

day affair, have fun and take risks. You’ll get

your guests talking and have memories galore.

Prices: Furniture can range anywhere from

$65 for a side table to $550 for larger pieces.

Upholstered chairs and couches can range

from $295 to $2,000. Mignonne works with all

different budgets; contact directly for a quote.


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MIGNONNE DECOR

Jubilant, lofty balloon installa-

tions from Geronimo! Balloon

Company pack a playful

punch when it comes to liven-

ing up event spaces. Newbie

vendor, Jihan Zencirli opened

up her one-woman company

just less than a year ago at

the edge of Los Angeles’

Industrial District. Working out

of a studio and workshop on

Seaton Street, Zencirli crafts

creative and custom orders in

a variety of colors and sizes

that include decorations made

from hand-cut and vintage

paper, Mylar streamers, fine

French ribbon, accordion

tissue and more. “My own

personal style is somewhere

between the intersection of

modern and vintage,” Zencirli

says. “What I feel I’ve done

is not invented a new party

decoration, but instead have

just innovated it with a few

changes, appealing to adults

delighted by the remem-

brance of youth, but with a

sophisticated and visual twist.”

Need something

decadent? The Certified

Balloon-Trooper, dusted in

24 carat gold gilt and dia-

monds, makes for conver-

sation-worthy center pieces.

Planners can request any color

combination from 80 different

palettes for both the balloons

and decorative elements. Need

a hand? Geronimo also offers

party-planning and event ser-

vices ranging from the initial

concept to the invitations and

beyond.

Take advantage of

Geronimo’s recycling program

and earn a credit toward your

next event order. Deflated bal-

loons and fringe returned in

good, reusable conditions are

donated to L.A.’s public schools

for art projects and fun. www.

geronimoballoons.com

All Blown

Up


ONE TRUE LOVE VINTAGE RENTALSSAN FRANCISCO

Owner: Amanda O’Shannessy

In a Nutshell: A boutique rental company,

One True Love Vintage Rentals offers a curat-

ed collection of vintage goods ranges from

“smalls” (think vintage clocks, books and cake

stands) to large furniture pieces like hutches,

sofas and farm tables. More than half of their

eclectic blend of vintage, rustic and hand-

crafted rentals for weddings, events and photo

shoots are imported directly from France. “The

rest of our collection consists of family heir-

looms, primitive furniture and pieces with an

industrial edge to them,” states O’Shannessy. In

addition to rentals they also provide event

styling, delivery, set-up and tear-down

throughout Northern California.

“As an event designer, being able to utilize

pieces that can be used for dessert displays,

special vignettes, or odds and ends are key to

making a statement at a wedding or event,”

says Event Designer Mary Phan of Alameda-

based Very Merry Events. “For example, we

are doing a dessert station for an upcoming

wedding and using Amanda’s large green

hutch—perfect in color and has lots of shelves

for displaying great desserts, cakes, candies,

snacks, you name it.”

Known For: Custom searches. “If we don’t

have that perfect piece for our client’s next

event or photo shoot? Well, we hunt it down!”

Thanks to strong relationships with local collec-

tors and craftsmen, One True Love strives to ful-

fill even the most out-there must-have requests.

Rarities: The vintage letter collection. “These

treasures, which come in many different sizes

and colors, come from variety of places: old

movie marquees, discarded business signs, and

vintage children’s games just to name a few,”

explains O’Shannessy. “Letters are a great addi-

tion to event decor because they are so versa-

tile and unique. Planning a baby shower? Spell

out a warm wish for the mom-to-be. Throwing

an engagement party? Have the couple’s

initials on display. The possibilities are pretty

much endless.”

Design Tip: “When it comes to design don’t

be afraid to mix different styles,” O’Shannessy

says. “Pairing the old with the new keeps

design fresh, interesting and very current. Our

latest obsession? White lacquered furniture

paired with industrial wood and metal pieces.

It’s chic but edgy.”

Prices: On average rentals range from $10

to $375. Delivery starts at $75 and increases

based upon size of the overall order and miles

travelled. Styling services typically range

anywhere from $250 to $1,500.

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ONE TRUE LOVE VINTAGE RENTALS


GetConnected

Pow Wow Vintage Rentals

619.994.9278www.powwow

vintagerentals.com

Casa de Perrin310.463.1652

www.casadeperrin.com

Milk Glass Vintage Rentals

925.998.3491www.milkglass

vintagerentals.com

One True Love Vintage Rentals

239.209.7654www.onetruelove

vintage.com

Found Vintage Rentals714.888.5811

www.vintage-rentals.com

Mignonne Decor510.388.5830

www.mignonndecor.com

Geronimo Balloons425.275.3572

www.geronimoballoons.com

Brady & Kowalskiwww.brady-kowalski.com

CASA DE PERRIN LOS ANGELES

Owners: Diana and Josh Perrin

In a Nutshell: Casa de Perrin is a full-service

boutique rental company specializing in tabletop

and decor. “We provide a certain art and soul

of setting a table or decorating a room without

limitations for brides, event planners, designers,

photographers and private parties,” says Diana.

Known For: A vast collection of heirloom

china and fun tabletop pieces, including mono-

grammed flatware, vintage bottles, antique salt

cellars, champagne coups, Florentine trays and

porcelain spoons. “Our one-of-a-kind, bohemian-

eclectic collection that spans continents, time

periods and design aesthetics,” Diana says of

Casa de Perrin’s ever-expanding inventory. “It’s

like Martha Stewart’s prop room time-traveled

back through the decades and delivered all the

goods directly to our showroom.”

Rarities: A large and unique typography col-

lection. “We probably have enough turn of the

century typeface to print a few chapters of

War and Peace,” jokes Diana.

Expert Design Advice: “To warm up any

space, layer vintage rugs and runners…the more

worn they are, the better a story they’ll tell.”

Prices: To obtain a quote, email info@

casadeperrin.com.

MILK GLASS VINTAGE RENTALSSAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA

Owner/Lead Stylist: PJ Rude

In a Nutshell: Flea market treasures meet

family heirlooms at Milk Glass. The event rental

company searches, builds, restores and styles

backdrops with an eclectic array of rentals and

props like tufted sofas, hodgepodge chairs,

aged silver and antique tea cups. “Our inven-

tory is never complete, we’re always adding to

the list from our custom searches and created

pieces to fulfill every request,” Rude says. “The

styles are endless and so are our sources.”

Known For: Their styling services. “Clients

often have an inspiration, a vision. They can pick

the hutch or the table for their vignette, but get

stuck there,” says Rude, who offers full design

and installation of custom vignettes. Taking the

vision from idea to action, she includes all of the

final accessory touches in the styling fee.

Rarities: The “created piece” category. “Our

team can build a table to your specified dimen-

sions, produce an antiqued dresser in the exact

shade of purple of your bridesmaid dresses, or

build a vintage set of industrial metal letter-lites

in your initials,” Rude says. “You dream it, we

can create it.”

Design Tip: “My one go to design tip is ris-

ers. Creating different heights within a vignette

adds so much depth and visual interest to the

overall look,” says Rude. “Just add a couple of

books, crates, or whatever you can find to give

height to a platter and you are good to go.”

Prices: To get quotes on rentals and styling

services, call PJ at 925.998.3491.

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WINTER 2011 » www.meetingsmags.com l SCM+E 45

CASA DE PERRIN (ALL)

46 MIM+E l Michigan Meetings + Events » WINTER 2012

industryUPDATEindustryUPDATE

Keys to Sucess

Four ways street food vendors are making it work.

1 2Ability to control stock on hand.

Avoid waste,

maximize

revenue and

reduce

purchase

costs.

Must have license.Meeting all licensing requirements and

regulations, including food storage

and handling, vehicle or cart cleanli-

ness and any other local council

operating regulations ensure that

the business will be ongoing.


TRADITIONAL STREET VENDORS

INDUSTRIAL CATERING VEHICLES

MOBILE FOOD PREPARATION VEHICLES

2006

The popularity of food trucks has lept forward in the past fi ve years

making up 37% of the street vending industry in 2011

In 2011, street vendors accounted for a total of $1.4 billion in revenue

2011

ZAGAT’S ADDS A

REVIEWS CATEGORY

2 0 1 1

F O O D T R U C K

{ T R E N D A L E R T }

FOOD TRUCK R E V O L U T I O N

FOOD TRUCK $1.4 billion

jan

37%22%

45%

18%37%


3 4

Proximity to key markets.Proximity to areas that

have signifi cant passing

foot tra� c or potential

customers on-site maxi-

mizes potential sales.

E� ective quality control.Ensure that quality food

and other products

are always available

through operating ef-

fi cient ordering and

storage systems.

Sources:

IBISWORLD.COM,

mashable.com

M T W T F S S

M A J O R M A R K E T S

72FOOD TRUCKS

IMPROVED FOOD

PRESENTATION

HEALTHY MENU OPTIONS

MORE VARIETY

A C C E P T O N LY

P E R C E N T O F

P R O J E C T E D N U M B E R O F

B Y T H E E N D O F 2 0 1 1

CASH

TRENDS

3,753

Monday is � busiest day � � week � food trucks

STREET VENDORS

STREET LOCATIONS

55%

VENUES & EVENTS

18%

SHOPPING MALLS

12%

CONSTRUCTION SITES

15%

industryUPDATE


Sacramento International Airport receives new terminal and hotelsIn the wake of the $1 billion Terminal B project at

Sacramento International Airport, new hotels might

also appear in the area. The Sacramento County

received proposal bids for a three-and-a-half star

hotel with at least 200 rooms or an alternative option

of two hotels with 130 rooms in each. Although a

Westin was set for the top of Terminal B, the idea fell

through due to dismal revenue forecasts. The county

expects to choose a developer for their latest plan in

the spring. www.sacairports.org

Hilton Carlsbad Oceanfront Resort & SpaConstruction on the Hilton Carlsbad Oceanfront

Resort & Spa wraps up as the slated June 2012 open-

ing approaches. Operated by WaveCrest Hotels &

Resorts, the new Hilton overlooks the Carlsbad State

Beach and will feature 215 guest rooms including

eight suites. The resort will have amenities includ-

ing an ocean-view swimming pool, state-of-the-art

fitness center and more than 25,000 square feet of

indoor and outdoor meeting and banquet facilities.

www.hiltoncarlsbad.com

The former 200-acre Annenberg estate at Rancho Mirage has been converted into the

Annenberg Retreat at Sunnylands. The retreat will be open to the public for high-level

conferences, retreats and seminars in March. The Sunnylands Center, featuring 17,000 square

feet of space that includes a theater, is the newest addition to the estate. The

surrounding gardens offer 1.25 miles of paths that wind around the center in which visitors

can explore. The Sunnylands Center and Gardens will also be open for tours exploring the

architecture, art and design of the home. www.sunnylands.org

THE ANNENBERG RETREAT AT SUNNYLANDS TO OPEN IN FEBRUARY

{ H O T E L S & R E S O R T S }

{ D E A L S }

The Best Value>> Visiting Long

Beach? Be sure to

purchase your Long

Beach City Plus Pass

before you do! The pass

is only $30 and will

give you unlimited use

to discounts at over 150

merchants throughout

Long Beach. The card

is great for residents,

merchants and fund-

raisers. Conference

attendees can also

purchase a one-month

card for just $10. www.

visitlongbeach.com

Special offer from Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort & Spa>> Book a meeting

between now and

February 28, 2012,

at the Laguna Cliffs

Marriott Resort & Spa

and receive a com-

plimentary beer and

wine reception at the

AAA Four Diamond

resort. The two-hour

reception overlooks

the scenic views of the

Pacific Ocean and can

also include an optional

catering menu should

planners wish to

welcome attendees

with appetizers. www.

lagunacliffs.com

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If variety is the spice of life, then North Lake Tahoe is a dash of cayenne. Accenting the diversity of its natural

attractions is a meeting scene that’s just as vivid, with properties ranging from intimate to exquisite –

including Village at Squaw Valley, Cal Neva Resort, Spa and Casino, and Cedar House Sport Hotel, just a few

of the 15 properties committed to value, quality and the creation of successful events.

• Meeting venues from intimate to elaborate: 10 - 1000 people

• Free professional planning services

• Just a 45-minute drive to Reno-Tahoe International Airport

• Frequent and affordable daily airport shuttles

To submit an RFP or to download our newsletter, visit GoTahoeNorth.com/meetings or call 800.462.5196.

industryUPDATE


Renovated meeting areas at The Westin Gaslamp Quarter, San DiegoThe Westin Gaslamp Quarter, San Diego refreshed

and reopened 25,000 square feet of meeting and

event space. The total of 21 meeting spaces includes

the California Ballroom, Garden Pavilion with city

view terrace, Coronado Lounge, Pacifica Boardroom

and the lobby level Library Room. This improve-

ment comes off the hotel’s debut of its 450 modern

guest rooms—the first at any Westin. www.westin.

com/SanDiego

The Diva Hotel undergoes a faceliftThe $2 million “reinvention” of the Personality Hotels’

San Francisco location will feature designed concepts

by Edmonds + Lee Architects. Each of the 116 guest

rooms will be painted in three shades of grey with

plum accents and furnished by black and white pieces.

Although the “reinvention” was slated to finish by

December 2011, the Diva Hotel’s special Perrier Lounge

wasn’t done until January 2012. www.hoteldiva.com

Grand Hyatt San Francisco Upgrades Meeting FacilitiesThe $14 million facility upgrades spanning over

27,000 square feet is just one of the multi-phase $70

million renovation approved for the Grand Hyatt

San Francisco. Improvements include the addition of

the city’s only conference threater and NanaWalls® in

the Grand Foyer, making the 5,700-square-foot area

accommodating for both large and small groups.

grandsanfrancisco.hyatt.com

Hilton San Diego Resort & Spa Prepares for its 50th Anniversary with DealsIn celebration of its 50th anniversary, the Hilton San

Diego Resort & Spa is offering $50 off per person

on any activity booked now through June 30, 2012.

The resort offers more than 25,200 square feet of

meeting space and “ice breaker” programs such as

MapQuest—a teambuilding exercise utilizing col-

laboration and strategic thinking. www.hilton.com

The Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina goes greenThe largest green hotel in Southern California, the

Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina is working

towards a goal to be a zero-waste facility. It adopted a

food-waste recycling program that made it a Starwood

Hotels and Resorts green leader. The hotel’s food scraps

are now diverted to the City of San Diego’s Greenery,

where restaurants and hotels are able to turn breakfast,

lunch and dinner leftovers into renewable products,

including compost. www.sheraton.com/sandiego

The Grand Del Mar wins Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star awardsSan Diego luxury hotel, The Grand Del Mar, was

awarded three Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star awards.

The Grand Del Mar, which opened in October 2007,

is one of five hotels in the U.S. to receive the coveted

trio of top rankings for 2012. It also received the

AAA Five Diamond rating for the third straight year.

www.thegranddelmar.com

Embassy Suites Mandalay Beach Hotel & Resort Undergoes RenovationThe renovation, which has been going on since October 2011, includes improvements to all guest suites, pool deck, exterior paint on each building and public areas such as the lobby, meeting rooms, break-fast rooms and evening reception area. The resort contains 248 suites and offers activities such as Salsa Sundays and an award-winning Sunday brunch. www.embassysuites.hilton.com/Mandalay

{ H O T E L S & R E S O R T S } { T R A V E L }

John Wayne Airport Opens New Terminal COrange County’s main

airport, John Wayne,

opened Terminal C to

the public in November.

The 282,000-square-

foot expansion was a

part of the $543 million

Airport Improvement

Program. The new

terminal added six

bridged aircraft gates,

two commuter termi-

nals, additional security

checkpoints and more

dining and shopping

options. www.ocair.com

American Airlines Launches First Flagship Check-in at LAX

Now, checking in at

LAX will be easier for

ConciergeKey mem-

bers and customers of

American Airlines’ Five

Star Service. Located

at the east lobby, the

service includes exclu-

sive curbside access

to the facility where

travelers are greeted

by customer service

representatives who

can personally help with

check-in, seat or itiner-

ary changes and much

more. The service will

expand to other airports

in 2012. www.aa.com

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NEW LOCATION!

• over 100 member wineries • wine country cuisine • live music • vineyard setting • $75, all inclusive

Extend your stay! A four day, wine tasting pass during festival weekend to 12 participating wineries. So many to choose from! A great value at $35 each, $25 with festival ticket!

Vintners’ Visa:

For tickets, visas, information visit www.sbcountywines.com or call the Santa Barbara County Vintners’ Association at 805-688-0881

The Ultimate, Spring Wine and Food Festival!

industryUPDATE

52 CAM+E l California Meetings + Events » FALL 2011

{ P E O P L E N E W S }

{ A T T R A C T I O N S }

Industry veteran Nancy Johnson

was inducted as the 2012 American

Hotel & Lodging Association

(AH&LA) Chair at the association’s

Inaugural Gala held at the Mandarin

Oriental in Los Angeles. She is also the founder of

Women in Lodging (WIL) and oversees business

development efforts for Carlson Hotels’. Previously,

she was vice president and COO at Hospitality

Development Corporation.

Deborah Josue joins the Anaheim

Orange County Visitor & Convention

Bureau as its new western sales

director for the meetings and conven-

tions sales division. This move comes

after working as a senior sales manager at the

Monterey Conference Center.

The Meritage Resort and Spa is pre-

paring to unveil its 131,000-square-

foot expansion in the spring and has

brought aboard a new regional sales

manager, Ellie Callihan. Callihan has

more than 25 years of hospitality experience and is a

certified hospitality sales professional and certified

hotel administrator who formerly worked with

Hilton Hotels, Choice Hotels and La Quinta.

Former director of sales and marketing

at the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel &

Spa, Dan Shaughnessy has moved to

the Anaheim Marriott. He has a total

of 23 years in the hospitality industry

and has spent the past 19 years with Marriott Hotels

& Resorts in Southern California and Arizona.

The Island Hotel in Newport Beach named

Marianne Danielson as its senior private events

manager. Danielson will oversee the hotel’s off-site

private events division and manage on-site functions.

Previously, she was the manager of catering and

event sales at Zov’s Bistro in Tustin.

With more than 20 years of experi-

ence in the tourism and travel indus-

try, Stacy Manzo was appointed

director of sales and marketing at

Hotel Valencia Santana Row in San

Jose. She was most recently the director of catering

and tournament events for ClubCorp at Crow

Canyon Country Club in Danville.

The Paso Robles Wine Country

Alliance Board of Directors welcomes

its new Executive Director Jennifer

Porter after conducting a nationwide

search. She has over 15 years of mar-

keting experience and has worked with brands

including LVMH and Reebok plus Sony Corporation

of America.

The Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons

Hotels welcomes Ben Trodd—the

newly appointed general manager.

Serving more than 16 years at various

Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts

locations, he joins the Beverly Wilshire team from

the Seattle location, which he opened in November

2008. The London native has guided two Four

Seasons—the Silicon Valley at East Palo Alto and the

Los Angeles at Beverly Hills—to receive the AAA

Five Diamond Award.

SFJAZZ Center Builds Permanent HomeThe organization behind

the San Francisco Jazz

Festival is in the process

of building its first per-

manent home at 205

Franklin St. in Hayes

Valley near the Davies

Symphony Hall, San

Francisco Conservatory

of Music and other

museums. Expected to

be completed in 2012,

the SFJAZZ Center

has been designed as

a 35,000-square-foot

structure that includes

an auditorium seating up

to 700, an 80-seat multi-

purpose performance

and education space,

three rehearsal spaces

and more. www.sfjazz.org

LEED-Certified Project Helps Ventura Win Arts Destination Marketing Award

Ventura, “California’s new Art City,” is home to one of the nation’s first LEED-certified live-work projects and holds

various art events including Ventura Music Week and the Westside ArtWalk. In August, the City of Ventura and the

Ventura Visitors and Convention Bureau was recognized as an outstanding arts destination by the Destination Marketing

Association International (DMAI) along with Americans for the Arts. It was awarded the first Arts Destination Marketing

Award at DMAI’s 97th Annual Convention in New Orleans in August. www.ventura-usa.com

{ S U S T A I N A B I L I T Y }

!

• • •

•••

•••

A Great Escapemagine the ideal blend of civilized pleasures and

unspoiled natural beauty. Picture championship golf,spectacular horseback riding and endless opportunitiesfor rest and relaxation. Indulge yourself with the vacationof a lifetime.

!

1054 Alisal Road • Solvang, CA 93463805-688-6411 • [email protected] • www.alisal.com

Special Incentive Meetings Package Meetings Package includes:

•Accommodation with wood burning fireplace

•All meals

•Unlimited horseback riding, golf green fees on two championshipcourses, fishing on our 100-acre lake, tennis and access to Alisal Fitness Center and Spa

•Meeting space and basic A/V

•Complimentary wireless access

•Taxes and service charges

$500.00 per night all inclusive – single occupancy. Call for available dates. Holiday and weekend restrictions apply. Minimum two night stay.Package is good for new bookings only and is limited to groups of 10 rooms or more.


industryUPDATE3

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GET CONNECTED

Submit your meeting or event photos, along with name

and contact information, to [email protected] 19

17

16

14 15

13

{ S N A P S H O T S }

2011 Best of California Readers’ Choice Awards

It was time to roll out the red carpet on October

19 for California Meetings + Events’ annual Readers’

Choice Best Of Awards at FLUXX nightclub in San

Diego. More than 200 attendees cheered each

other on and enjoyed a night of food and fun.

Congratulations to all our finalists and winners!

1. The Flower Girls provided beautiful arrange-

ments in hues of pink and purple. 2. Daymon

Worldwide’s Jimme Rogers strikes a pose with

friends. 3. Chelsea McMurrey and Shannon

Culhane, Meeting Sites Pro Inc. 4. An array of cake

pops and other sweet treats from Lavishly Sweet

by Lavish Events & Design tempted guests all night

long. 5. Jamie Clave, Alisa Walsh and Jess Roth,

Hard Rock Hotel San Diego. 6. Maureen Harkness

and Kathy Trickey, Classic Party Rentals with Janet

Elkins, EventWorks. 7. Janet Elkins, EventWorks

and Judy Klinger. 8. The Crown Point Catering

crew, including Lori Hastings, Victoria Hamilton

and Kimberly Loughlin, smile for the camera. 9.

Kristin Helms, Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego

and Jaclyn Spitz, Northwestern Mutual. 10. DJ

Cory Almeida set the tone for the night, spin-

ning upbeat, get-your-toe-tapping tunes. 11. Amy

Berner, Pacific Event Productions. 12. Lisa Shipley,

Monterey Bay Aquarium with Heather Shipley. 13.

Darlynne and Marc Menkin with the Where Tours

staff. 14. Joni Guerrier, San Diego Convention

Center. 15. Joanne Mera and Amy Berner, Pacific

Event Productions. 16. John Sullivan, California

Meetings + Events. 17. Pierre Charmasson, Artisan

Voice. 18. Cabernet short rib sliders with melted

Brie cheese and spicy dill pickles were the hit of

the night. 19. Event partner and host, FLUXX, went

home with a readers’ choice award. –photos by

Eddie Garcia III/E3 Photography.com


peoplePROFI LE

Ken Loyst and Michelle Metter bring wine and fine dining to San Diego and beyond.

B Y A S H L E Y H E AT O N

Epicurean Entrepreneurs

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ICIL

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Many travelers come to San

Diego in search of sun, sand and

relaxation. Ken Loyst and Michelle

Metter had a more ambitious idea.

Noticing a gap in the city’s culi-

nary market, the founders of the

luxury event agency Fast Forward

Event Productions launched the

San Diego Bay Wine & Food

Festival in 2004.

“All good ideas start over a glass

of wine, and so did the Festival,”

Metter explains. “We noticed an

unfulfilled niche in San Diego,

which at our launch was one of the

top 10 cities in the United States in

wine consumption and home to a

burgeoning culinary scene.”

Loyst and Metter were already

seasoned event producers, and

saw the idea as a way to combine

their passion with their expertise.

Today, the festival is one of the

nation’s largest luxury gastronom-

ic events, with over 240 vendors

serving over 800 different wines.

It has also become a major culi-

nary tourism draw—almost half of

its 9,000 annual attendees come

from outside the San Diego area.

Event planning came naturally

to both partners. Loyst began

producing events to promote his

magazine, Discover Diving, and

soon progressed to planning other

luxury events. Metter, meanwhile,

says event planning is “just part

of my DNA. As a child, if I wasn’t

inviting people over for dinner, I

was choreographing my friends

in dance routines and figuring

out how to charge for it. I was

enterprising even then!” With Fast

Forward Event productions, the

team has produced events from

press showcases to art fairs.

Following the success of

their festival, Loyst and Metter

have launched several addi-

tional local food and wine events.

Fast Forward’s agenda for 2012

includes WineRave, a nightclub-set

tasting event aimed at a younger

demographic; and the music

festival Rhythm and Vine, which

benefits the San Diego Boys and

Girls’ Club. (Fast Forward Event

Productions / 619.312.1212 / www.

fastforwardevents.com)

Conference ~ Teambuilding ~ Special Events• 95 Luxurious appointed suites with unparalleled views

• 8,000 sq. ft. of flexible meeting space, most with natural light & private balconies• 10 dinning destinations • Boutique shopping • Full service spa with 11 function rooms

• Endless activities • Outdoor function area • 25 minutes from SFO

“The #1 rated hotel in Half Moon Bay” Trip Advisor

“Voted Best of the Bay” San Francisco Chronicle’s website, SF Gate

The only full service hotel in San Mateo County to be ECO-CERTIFIED by the county

A NEW HARBOR FRONT LOCATION

Surpasing he Highet Exectations

OCEanO HOTEl & Spa Half MOOn Bay HarBOr

280 Capistrano Road | Half Moon Bay, California 94019 tel: 650.726.5400 | fax: 650.726.5402 | Reservations 1.888.OCEANO.1 | oceanohalfmoonbay.com

BUSINESS MEETINGS

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