Posted by Terri Hardin under TravelResponses (2)

Posted by Terri Hardin under TravelResponses (2)

Check out this video about Monaco's green initiatives. It was taken at the Successful Meetings International Marketplace on Tuesday, March 24, 2009.

Posted by Terri Hardin under TravelResponses (2)

I just left Long Beach, CA, where I had been invited by the Long Beach Area CVB. On Saturday morning, I got to wake up to the roar of “cigarette” racing boats as they opened up and growled to their places for the Long Beach to Catalina and back ski race. The harbor, which was created by a 10-mile-long jetty, gentles the waves coming into what was once California’s prime surfing beach. Although there’s a movement afoot to remove at least part of the jetty—and thereby restore some of the gnarliness—the beach’s waves are currently mild and family friendly.

On my last visit to Long Beach, I never left the convention center complex. For the short visits that are conventions and trade shows, it is perfect. The center is flanked by a Westin, a Renaissance, and a Hyatt Regency, and is across the street from The Pike, a dining entertainment complex; and the Aquarium of the Pacific, a world-class aquarium featuring a LEED silver certification and three irrepressible sea otters.

This time, however, we wandered farther afield: to the Long Beach Museum of Art (where the big yellow baby above will be for the next two months) and Museum of Latin American Art (MoLAA), to Naples, a neighborhood, where million-dollar houses are cheek-by-jowl on harborside  tracts that were originally meant for tents, and some up-and-coming arts districts.

Now, as a journalist on a site inspection, my place on the "food chain" was very high indeed: I was treated to some of the best grub this side of the Rockies, including lunch at L’Opera on Pine Avenue, dinner at Sir Winston’s (aboard the Queen Mary), and Tracht’s on Ocean Avenue—the new signature restaurant of celebrity chef, Susan Tracht, which is located in the Renaissance hotel.

And that’s just the haute of it; we also chowed down at the Yard House (signature onion rings), La Muse Café (signature crepes), the Omelet Inn (signature you guessed it), and Buster’s Beach House (the latter has a bar band that has been playing in the same place for 26 years—even though the venue itself has changed hands three or four times).

However, at the Aquarium of the Pacific, I met my match in the food chain: the Australian lorikeet. At the Aquarium you can buy nectar with which to feed these colorful bird clowns. I fed three of them on this nectar, which only appeared to whet their appetite. They then turned to my sweater and began chewing through it. I cowered as they were gingerly removed by an aquarium staff member.

Bottom line: Lorikeets are awesome! I can’t wait to get back to Long Beach and feed them again!

Posted by Lori Morris under TravelResponses (0)

I recently got back from a wonderful weekend of amazing food, beautiful scenery, and incredible music, all courtesy of The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs. The 3,000-acre resort hosted its 5th annual Earl Klugh Weekend of Jazz on April 3-5, allowing me the perfect opportunity to experience the resort’s facilities while taking in performances from legends and award-winners like Earl Klugh, Ramsey Lewis, and Boney James.
    When I arrived on Thursday afternoon, I was greeted by a slight misting of rain; by the time I was finished unpacking, large snowflakes were falling rapidly and covering the landscape. While I’m not really used to snow in April, I thought to myself, “I’m in the mountains, so I guess anything is possible.” As a first-time Colorado visitor, I didn’t realize that the area is, as Dawn Beagle, The Broadmoor’s national sales manager, told me, “more likely to have a White Easter than a White Christmas.”
      The snow ended up providing the perfect backdrop to the evening’s intimate performance by the unbelievably talented Mindi Abair (Check her out at www.mindiabair.com), which took place in the resort’s off-property Cheyenne Mountain Lodge. The stage was set up in the corner, just next to a wall of floor-to-ceiling windows that showcased a view of the snow-covered city lit up by outdoor torches and a glowing fireplace. Maybe its musical naïveté, but when I think of saxophone players, I picture large men with puffy cheeks—or Bill Clinton—but the power and energy that came out of this petite blonde woman simply blew me away. After a very appropriate mug of hot chocolate and whipped cream, I was ready to call it a night.
    Following my wake-up call the next morning, I used the digital remote on my nightstand to open my shades (fun!) and found sunny skies and an unbelievable view of the lake, the western part of the resort, and the mountains—all of which had been obscured by the previous day’s fog and snow. After white-glove room service, it was time to head down for a tour of the hotel’s expansive meeting and training facilities. We were able to take a peek into one of the many employee training rooms before heading to International Hall, Broadmoor Hall (which was being set up for the massive Space Show), and some of the smaller meeting rooms. Above Broadmoor Hall, there are planner suites with windows and microphones down to the floor, along with a full bath that allows busy planners to shower and get ready right onsite. We also checked out some of the outdoor patios and ballrooms in the main hotel building.
    John Washko, the hotel’s vice president of sales & marketing, met us for lunch and conversation at the Tavern steakhouse after our tour. He talked to us a lot about the Broadmoor Connection, a new program designed for large groups needing more than the Broadmoor’s 700 guest rooms and suites. The Broadmoor Connection partners the hotel with neighboring properties Cheyenne Mountain Resort, Hilton DoubleTree World Arena, and the Crowne Plaza Colorado Springs—all within a five-minute drive of the 100,000-square-foot Broadmoor Events Center Complex—to offer 1,700 peak night rooms. Transportation between the hotels is provided as part of the deal.
Following lunch, I headed to the Broadmoor Spa for a 90-minute hot stone massage—or, as I like to call it, heaven. The spa has 30-plus treatment rooms; sauna, steam, and aromatherapy rooms; and several relaxation rooms that feature mountain views and fireplaces.
    Dinner was at the resort’s newest restaurant, Summit, which was designed by Adam D. Tihany. Unlike most of the hotel’s other dining spots, which tend to have a more traditional feel, Summit had a contemporary look and menu. Although the food was delicious and very nicely presented, it was the bar area, with its glass design and wine tower, that really stood out to me.
    The evening’s entertainment, held in International Hall, was provided by newcomer Sophie Millman, whose lush voice made it hard to believe she was only 24 years old, and Jazz legend Ramsey Lewis. Lewis’ show made it clear why he is often referred to as “the great performer.”
    The next morning, we got an early start and headed out for a hike up one of the area’s many mountain trails. Parts of the trail still glistened with Thursday evening’s snow, while others were drenched in sunshine. The hike was strenuous (well, at least for an non-athletic person like me!), but manageable, and the view from the top made it all worth it.
    After our morning exercise, we met for lunch at the Golf Club Grille, where we ate overlooking one of the resort’s three championship golf courses. The East Course will host the U.S. Senior Open this summer. After that, I was free to explore some of The Broadmoor’s retail shops, which include high-end shoe and clothing stores, local crafts, and a store dedicated to the “Broadmoor Lifestyle,” where almost everything you see and experience at the resort is up for sale.
    Saturday night’s dinner was held in the Penrose Room, Colorado’s only AAA Five-Diamond restaurant. Diners can choose either a three-, four-, or seven-course tasting menu. Every detail of the meal – from the excellent service and the spectacular city/mountain/golf course views to the expertly paired wines and the last drop of sauce on the plate – was perfect.
    The evening came to a close with the final performance of the Weekend of Jazz, which featured Earl Klugh himself playing alongside the 35-piece Broadmoor Pops Orchestra. After Klugh gave his final bow, Boney James took the stage for a rousing set that got audience members on their feet, as he played and danced through the crowd during his final song.
    After a weekend of excellent music, food, accommodations, and activities, I sadly left serene setting of The Broadmoor on Sunday morning to head back to New York City  and all of its frenetic madness.

Posted by Terri Hardin under TravelResponses (1)

Last Thursday, I went with a group on a tour of Virginia Beach and Norfolk. It began in the back bay, where the peace is broken by occasional kayakers, scattering shoals of  fishes in their wake. We then went to the beach, a favorite for surfers, followed by nearby golf courses; then finally, the Virginia Aquarium, teeming with local varieties of fish, crustaceans, and the odd water mammal. Afterwards, we were welcomed into the Norfolk’s Botanical Garden, to the Nauticus Museum, and, finally attended a performance of the Virginia Arts Festival’s Military Tattoo, complete with Scottish dancer.

All the while, waiters trailed us, refilling our coffee cups and plying us with hors d’oeuvres. The tour, which took less than an hour, actually took place in a Manhattan loftspace, an event where the CVBs of Virginia Beach and Norfolk brought a sampling of their areas to New York for us to experience.

Continue reading "The Next Best Thing?"

Posted by Terri Hardin under TravelResponses (0)

Last night, I went to the Flamenco Festival at New York City Center, for a special performance of Mujeres that was sponsored by the Andalucia Tourist Board. After hearing from the sponsor and watching a short video about Andalucia (looking absolutely gorgeous), the lights dimmed and the crowd settled in anticipation.

Truthfully speaking, it had been a long time since I had watched flamenco dancing - a passion for which seemed to belong to another era. But once the performers began, their artistry seemed as old-fashioned as eternal love and longing.

In Mujeres, three dancers, Merche Esmeralda, Belen Maya, and Rocio Molina, appear onstage, each brandishing the traditional props of women’s flamenco (a fan, a tasseled shawl, and castanets). Next, they perform a series of vignettes. Each one is a tour de force, but one dance, featuring Rocio Molina dancing between chairs, conveys heartbreak as she flips over two chairs.

That global phenomenon, Riverdance, also uses rhythmic tapping and song to dazzle audiences, but in Mujeres, flamenco’s rigid mannerisms channel and magnify timeless passions like a Greek drama, with stellar musicians and singers (including a special performance by Diana Navarro), acting as chorus. It is stark, earthy, and emotively operatic.

Curiously, of the 26 million visitors who visited Andalucia last year, only 150,000 were from the U.S. What’s wrong with us?

Posted by Terri Hardin under TravelResponses (0)

Anyone who is familiar with the proverbial “New York minute” knows that it does not apply to getting dinner or show reservations. In fact, nearly everything good about  New York is time-consuming - shopping, traveling, getting stuff fixed; the list goes on.

Which is why my recent trip to Atlantic City - at the invitation of the Borgata Hotel & Spa - was such an eye-opener. Thanks to the recent influx of celebrity chefs, big-name entertainers, and world-class shopping and spa enhancements, Atlantic City rocks.

More importantly for some, however, is that AC rocks fast.

Continue reading "In A Hurry? Try Atlantic City"

Posted by Kinley Levack under TravelResponses (0)

I consider myself only moderately squeamish about germs and vermin. I live in Manhattan, where I touch the subway poles, use the stair handrails, and sidestep roaches the size of small cats. But certain things bother me quite a bit: people sneezing or coughing on me, any bug in my apartment large enough to make a noise when I kill it, and rats and mice—anywhere. Which is why this report made shudder:

Continue reading "Of Mice and Men"

Posted by Will Ng under TravelResponses (4)

I recently got my first taste of Mexico on an invitation by Barcelo Hotels & Resorts to tour its newest property, the Maya Palace Hotel, embedded within its Maya Beach Resort, now a five-hotel-strong compound about 50 miles south of Cancun.      

Continue reading "Barcelo Tour and Cancun Art Gallery"

Posted by Kinley Levack under TravelResponses (1)

Detroit is a city I pass by fairly frequently. I visit Toledo, OH a few times a year and always fly into Detroit. I have never, until this year, really considered visiting Detroit, but the opening of the MGM Grand Casino and Hotel there has put a visit squarely on my list of things to do. I feel like it’s a city that deserves a shot—it has a lousy reputation in a lot of ways, but it keeps trying, adding hotels and attractions and I am particularly interested in seeing the Book Cadillac when it opens next year.

I’m curious what others think of Detroit—is it a place you would recommend? Have you visited the MGM? Should I make an effort to check out what Detroit has to offer?

So far, my experience with the city has been positive; I love the Detroit airport and I will say that it has, by far, the very best McDonald’s I have ever been to. The employees there are so nice and somehow the food is always fantastic. I’m not a big fast food fan, but I always make a point to get something at this McDonald’s. You should go—it’s in the Northwest Terminal, by the water fountain. Bon Appetit!