Saturday, April 30, 2011

Into the Swing of Things

A sure sign that Spring has Sprung?  It was wall-to-wall GOLF in the travel section of the Globe and Mail today.

Although golfing in England was the cover story, four North American resorts were cited for having the "most mojo" - and not just for their courses.

The Torrey Pines Hilton - La Jolla, California, where Globe sports editor Tom Maloney suggests taking "a break from golf to hike the bluffs down to Black's Beach."


Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge - Jasper National Park, Alberta. According to golf travel writer Brian Kendall: "The only thing missing from this iconic Canadian setting is a red-coated mountie standing on guard at the first tee." 


Half Moon Bay Ritz Carlton - Half Moon Bay, California. "Sit on the cliffs at sunset watching the ocean, sipping a find Napa cab..." suggests hockey writer and golfer Bruce Dowbiggin.


Fox Harb'r - Wallace, Nova Scotia. John Marcheson, editor of Golfcanada.ca recommends "indulging in one of the signature spa treatments". The Spa at Fox Harb'r also offers a Men's Executive Menu of services such as Sports Pedicures and Man-icures, as well as a wide range of therepeutic massages.



All of the above resorts have meeting facilities of course, offering an environment in which to focus clearly on agenda items before any much-needed R&R.

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Hockey Night in Western Canada

BlueMoon_Theatre

'Nucks fans in Vancouver can watch the playoffs in style in the Shangri-la hotel Vancouver's state-of-the-art Blue Moon Theatre. From just $500 you can book this private screening room with 9x5 foot screen, plush leather seating, private bartender, and complimentary Truffle popcorn. Beverages and additional food charged on consumption, and if you don't want to have to worry about driving - you can get a room.

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Meetings Matter 2011



Meetings Matter was the theme of ConferenceDirect's Annual Partner Meeting, held this year at the historic Omni Shoreham Hotel during the National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, D.C., and like all good conference themes it was supported by content that reminded us of the economic impact meetings have on communities, associations, and businesses of all kind. We also discussed meeting trends such as virtual meeting (as adjuncts to face-to-face meetings),  mobile applications specifically for meetings and conferences, and managing costs through building Stratigic Meetings Management Programs (SMMPs) - and specifically how ConferenceDirect can deliver these solutions to our clients.


Our opening night Awards Gala (hosted by Hyatt Hotels) was held - not in a hotel - but in the National Museum of Women in the Arts. It was a beautiful and fitting venue, since more female ConferenceDirect Associates were honoured this year than in any other year of the company's history.


Another off-site highlight was the W Washington, formerly the esteemed Washington Hotel. We enjoyed a casual lunch in a function room on the top floor adjacent to the popular P.O.V. Lounge with a view of the White House.