Seamless Arrival at Atlantis Bahamas

Checked in at VIP services, a lovely respite from the main lobby with a wonderful and friendly staff.  Also found that the resort has the capability to service expedited and customized check in for any size group or meeting with several meeting spaces very convenient to the main lobby.

Lovely room with a view of the water, the sales staff, specifically Justin Plank, have been amazingly helpful and accommodating. 

Atlantis Bound!

Why not have your meeting in Paradise?  Heading down to check out the facilities at Atlantis to provide my clients with the most comprehensive information on this amazing property.  You can see a map and more information on their meeting space here.

Looking forward to our regional meeting at the Naples Grande

Have yet to visit this property, here are the basics, more after the weekend!

About the Hotel:

Located on 23 acres of Southwest Florida's Paradise Coast, Naples Grande Beach Resort is a full-service destination resort in the heart of Naples.The Golden Door Spa, located at the Resort's entrance, features 13 treatment rooms set in a unique Asian-inspired spa village. Enjoy unique treatments designed to rejuvenate the mind and body. The resort features acclaimed recreational amenities including a new pool complex with private cabanas and Mangrove Mountain waterslide, award-winning dining, supervised childrens' programs, and outstanding conference facilities. Enjoy 15 Har-Tru tennis at the Resort or golf at the Naples Grande Golf Club.The Strip House, the celebrated New York steakhouse restaurant, provides a seductive dining experience at Manhattan's famed Strip House, offering everything from a delectable start to the meal with lobster bisque to a perfectly charred strip steak as your entree. Aura, serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner, encapsulating a global view of authentic ingredients in their purest form. By incorporating these elements into a lively spot for conversation and familiar food, Aura is quickly becoming a local favorite. Paradise Grill, located on the pristine Clam Pass Park beach on the Gulf of Mexico, serves salads, sandwiches, snacks, and refreshing beverages with a tropical flair. Palm Terrace Pool Bar & Grill, is an informal outdoor bar where guests gather for their favorite poolside beverages and light lunch.

Palm Beach County Resorts

As a Global Accounts Manager for HelmsBriscoe, I have clients and meetings all over the world, but I also love my home base and enjoy telling others all about what Palm Beach has to offer!





North Palm Beach County:

Hilton Singer Island Oceanfront Resort
Located oceanfront on a tranquil, four-mile stretch of sandy beach on prestigious Singer Island in the Greater Palm Beaches, minutes from the area's shopping, dining and recreational activities.



Jupiter Beach Resort and Spa
Multi-million dollar renovation recently completed. Jupiter’s only boutique, oceanfront resort boasts Caribbean-style comfort and luxury with 168 well-appointed guestrooms and suites, 1,000 feet of private beach, two restaurants with ocean views, lounge, new 7,500 square-foot spa and fitness center, oceanfront pool and lighted tennis court.




PGA National Resort and Spa
Located in a lush south Florida paradise, PGA National Resort & Spa offers a complete resort experience. A multi-million-dollar renovation has resulted in the "re-birth" of this legendary resort.



The Resort at Singer Island
Premier luxury oceanfront resort opened April 2007. A member of Starwood Hotels and Resorts’ prestigious Luxury Collection. Featuring 239 luxurious one and two bedroom suites with private terraces, a world-class spa, fitness center, signature restaurant, lounge, pool bar/grill, coffee express, meeting accommodations and two outdoor swimming pools … experience the essence of indulgence …experience The Resort at Singer Island.






Windsor Gardens Hotel and Conference Center
Featuring 90 guestrooms and suites, the Windsor Gardens Hotel & Conference Center is located minutes away from world-class golf courses, beaches, smashing tennis courts, toe-tapping entertainment, premier shopping, the finest in dining and so much more. Guests can dine onsite at Secrets Piano Bar & Grill overlooking the pool or just enjoy the fireplace on the poolside patio. Our conference center offers over 3,000 square-feet. We can accommodate banquets for up to 210 guests. Golf packages available.



Central Palm Beach County

The Breakers
Celebrated for its heritage, gracious service, world-class resort amenities and legendary ocean front Palm Beach location. 8 restaurants, private beach, 5 pools, The Beach Club & Spa, boutiques, tennis, Family Entertainment Center and 36 holes of golf.



The Chesterfield Hotel
Luxury boutique hotel, historic landmark, member of Small Luxury Hotels. Individually designed suites and rooms, award-winning restaurant, courtyard, pool, library and cigar room. Two blocks from Worth Avenue and ocean.






The Colony Hotel
Boutique four-diamond hotel located on the island of Palm Beach. Steps to ocean, stores and restaurants. Accommodations include 2-bedroom villas, penthouse, suites and rooms. Home of Royal Room Cabaret and Polo Steak House featuring live entertainment.



Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach
Elegant oceanfront resort with luxurious guestrooms, all with private balconies. Resort features include AAA Five-Diamond rated restaurant, pool, tennis, full-service spa, fitness center and salon, water sports and full-day children’s program. Championship golf nearby.






The Omphoy Ocean Resort
Indulge... transform... explore... play... at our new Palm Beach oceanfront boutique resort….a new experience. Michelle Bernstein's Restaurant features our hot new chef from South Beach and the James Beard 2008 award winner. The Omphoy Ocean Resort also features Exhale Spa from New York, an exclusive Beach Club, and so much more




Ritz-Carlton Palm Beach
This luxurious Mobil Five-Star, beachfront resort features 310 elegant guestrooms/suites with private balconies, 41,000 square-foot spa, tennis, two outdoor pools, nearby golfing, water sports, 3,000 square-feet terrace with fire pit, three superb restaurants showcasing inviting and warm Ritz-Carlton services.






South Palm Beach County

Boca Raton Resort & Club
Comprehensive luxury resort with a wealth of amenities and services including world renowned Spa Palazzo, championship golf and tennis, half-mile stretch of private beach, 32-slip marina, 15 dining and entertainment venues and outstanding children’s program.






Seagate Hotel and Spa
Located in Delray Beach, the Seagate Hotel & Spa is scheduled to open in November of 2009. The hotel will feature 162 rooms, 8,000 square foot spa, retail space and restaurant.

Featured Destination - The Seagate Resort and Spa in Delray

 

I recently had the opportunity to take a sneak peek at what’s going on at the Seagate Hotel & Spa in Delray Beach, FL. This property will be opening in November, 2009 and is a luxury boutique hotel right in the heart of Delray Beach. The Seagate is affiliated with Preferred Hotels and Resorts Worldwide. Delray Beach is an ideal destination for clients wanting something a little bit different, convenient to Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach airports, with plenty of activities close by and historic Florida charm and style.

The property itself offers 162 rooms and suites, an amazing 2,500 square foot Presidential Suite with an 800 square foot balcony, an 8,000 square foot spa, a private beach club, and lots of additional amenities. The rooms all have microwaves and refrigerators, and the standard rooms feel like suites. Rooms feature 42 inch flat screen TV’s, Egyptian cotton linens, amazing bubble jet tubs, 3 telephones, marble and stone bathrooms, mahogany woodwork, safes with internal charging electricity, and wired and wireless internet access. The ambiance of the hotel itself is British Colonial style with a beach-chic interior complete with huge aquariums, beautiful hand-crafted light fixtures, and classic décor.

Restaurants include the Atlantic Grille, slated to be a modern American seafood restaurant. The restaurant is beautifully designed, complete with a jellyfish tank behind the bar, private booths, 2 private dining areas, and a glass-encased Wine Room that also serves as private dining for up to 14. The restaurant seats 245. Also, there is a charming restaurant at the Seagate Beach Club, a private club which guests have exclusive access to.

The spa is an entity unto itself, 8,000 square feet with a tranquil atmosphere and a wide array of treatments available. The fitness room has the latest equipment for your clients as well.

The property offers 2,292 square feet of event space. I would say this is well suited for board meetings, destination weddings, and client VIP events. It has an intimate feel, with plenty of extras. As you can see from the photos, it’s coming along nicely and should be a great destination for our clients! (property is also pet friendly).

HelmsBriscoe Constantly Adding Preferred Hotel Partners!

Just a few of our industry partners...with over 1,000 associates around the world we can find the property that best fits your corporate or association meeting!

 

 

  

The Facts About Business Travel

With all of the continuing rhetoric about meetings, it's important to learn a few key facts:

The Facts

• Business travel creates 2.4 million jobs nationally. Meetings and events are directly responsible for 1 million jobs.
• The U.S. Travel Association estimates that 200,000 travel jobs were lost in 2008 and expects another 247,000 to be lost in 2009
• Business travel accounts for $39 billion in tax revenue at the federal, state, and local levels.
• Meetings and events are responsible for 15% of all travel-related spending.
• Business travel supports more than 200 hotel and convention centers across the country.
• According to the results of a Meetings and Conventions magazine study, 52 percent of respondents claim that the backlash against meetings has been extremely or moderately influential on their company’s decisions to hold events.
• In a recent survey, 87 percent of Americans say that encouraging people to travel recreationally within the U.S. could improve the country's economic landscape.
• Each meeting and event traveler spends an average of $1,000 per trip.
• According to a recent survey of Fortune 1,000 Chief Marketing Officers, meetings and events provide the highest return on investment of any marketing channel.

HelmsBriscoe VIP Superbowl for Your Company's Event!

A brief description of the packages I am currently working on for my clients. It's not too soon to book your incentive trip, corporate or board meeting for the Superbowl! Get a group of friends together and have the experience of a lifetime!

HelmsBriscoe Information

Want more information on HelmsBriscoe? Check out this informational presentation!

HelmsBriscoe Information

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One of My Favorite Hotel Pools...

Lists are constantly being published about the best hotel pools...this topic is very close to my heart as I am a sucker for a great hotel pool.  As I have a chance to see these pools, I most certainly will keep my readers up to date.

My very favorite pool to date would be the amazing floating pool at Villa d'Este in Cernobbio on Lake Como in Northern Italy.  I had the opportunity to spend a few weeks at this magical place and I will never forget it.  I will talk more about the hotel itself in a separate post, for now, let's talk pools!  While Lake Como is most recently famous for George Clooney and Star Wars...it has a rich and abundant history.  The pool is not high tech, it has been around for a while.  The hotel was built in 1568, I am uncertain as to when the floating pool was added.  It is amazing to be enveloped in lovely warm water while overlooking one of the most beautiful lakes I have seen.

 Another view of the property from above, giving you a better idea of this amazing lake...

Fairmont Turnberry Isle, Amazing!

We were hosted this weekend by a lovely property with a fabulous staff, The Fairmont Turnberry Isle in Aventura, FL just north of Miami. This resort would be an amazing place for any corporate, association, or other event, even destination weddings!

As you all know, I am a sucker for a hotel pool...this one is by far my top of the list! With a very nice and quiet courtyard pool for those seeking a more peaceful retreat; there exists around the corner a hidden paradise. The Laguna Pool has cabanas (both full size, complete with changing room, flat screen tv's; and what I called "mini-cabanas" surrounding the pool that are upgraded lounges), a great staff to guest ratio, a waterfall, a water slide and a lazy river where you can float through a beautiful landscape of flora and fauna. I couldn't stay away from the lazy river!

As far as the meeting space, and event facilities - also top notch! The

TripAdvisor Warnings about Hotel Self Promotion?

Recently it has come to light that hotels are posting rave reviews about themselves on TripAdvisor - a very well known site where folks go to get the latest information on hotels or other information they are seeking when planning a trip.

You can read the USA Today article here.

This allows me to once again talk about the amazing benefits of using HelmsBriscoe for site selection. We have over 1000 associates around the world. We have an internal message board type system, if we need information, we can ask a question and that question immediately goes to all of our associates around the world. Not only does this allow us to work with our colleagues globally in order to plan meetings for corporations and associations wherever they would like to go; but it also gives us the most honest and up to date information on hotels, destinations, contract issues, contacts, etc.

Here is an example of our page, and all of the resources we have access to:



Just another way we work to help our clients have the best meetings possible!

HelmsBriscoe Velocity Training Rocked!

Lovely Luncheon at The Blue, Doral, Miami

Today brought with it a luncheon hosted by Preferred Hotel Group. We had a chance to meet with many hoteliers in Florida. The spotlight property who hosted our gathering was The Blue, A Resort Hotel Condominium. This location would be PERFECT for a corporate golf outing. It is an all-suite property, located right on "The Blue Monster", one of Doral's premier golf courses! The Executive Chef, Josh Wahler, is a veteran of Gordon Ramsay's Hell's Kitchen reality show, and his amazing culinary skills shine through! With meeting space to accomodate up to 150, and lovely board-room style facilities, The Blue would be an amazing venue for a corporate team building/golf retreat. The property also comes to mind in consideration of a destination wedding. The spa is beautiful, allowing events for the ladies as well as golf for the groomsmen! I would be glad to work with anyone wanting to plan an event at this beautiful property!

Watch What You Tweet!

We are currently being hosted beautifully by the Arizona Biltmore, there are several groups of young people here as well, and I was able to hear a great example of how what you put out there can get ya into a heap of trouble!

One of the "young people", upset about her lack of a continental breakfast (which was NOT ordered as part of their program), decided to make some rude comments on Twitter! The Biltmore is very in tune with technology and keeps up to date about what people are saying...her comment got out, got to the group leader, and got her on the next bus home!

The Blue, Miami's New Hotel and Golf Enclave

An upscale resort in the city of Doral, this is a beautiful property with the best of all worlds, a luxurious spa, award winning golf, an award winning chef, and the reputation and service that comes with being a part of Preferred Hotels & Resorts Worldwide.  The property is all-suite, and even the smallest one is HUGE!  It is an ideal venue for small meetings, social gatherings and destination weddings.  I would be proud to help you plan your meeting here!

HelmsBriscoe for Atlanta Hawks

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Featured Property, Fairmont Turnberry Isle, Aventura/Miami

An upscale resort in the city of Aventura, I had the pleasure to be hosted by the gracious and professional staff August 14th - 16th.  We were able to experience the caliber of service offered to leisure travelers as well as meetings.  The property is immaculate, the meeting and event facilities are well designed and quite accommodating, the dining options are varied and offer everything from a more formal steakhouse to poolside sandwiches and snacks.  The staff in charge of meetings and events are creative, flexible and amazingly available and helpful.  Please contact me about booking your meeting or event at this property, they are first class all the way and they certainly are not faking it!  (and if you really want to know what I think, ask me about the POOL!)

Meetings and Events Are Essential Business Functions, Spur Economic Growth

In adopting a zero-tolerance policy toward suspected corporate excess, policymakers have been demonizing companies for legitimate travel to meetings and events and for rewarding high-performing employees with travel. Handicapping businesses to score political points is shortsighted and erects barriers to recovery.

This type of travel helps companies build relationships, retain and develop employee talent, generate ideas and facilitate knowledge sharing that drives business growth. In a weak economy, doesn’t every company in America need more opportunities to promote recovery and plan for better days?

Trips have also been mischaracterized as CEO junkets. But attendees of incentive program travel, for example, are typically middle-class Americans who have earned travel to reward exceptional work.

Members of Congress who attack corporate meetings and events, yet attend their own yearly retreats should remember that good public policy addresses reality, not rhetoric.

Meetings Mean BUSINESS!

Meeting participants speak positively about their

experiences:

This information is courtesy of Meetings Mean Business, a website that details the value of meetings, not only to companies, but also to the economy.

When my company hosts a meeting, seminar, or training info session, my job performance benefits tremendously. Meetings are a way to tap into new ideas, generate revenue, and enhance my career.
Christianna S., Virginia

The value of human connections (meetings) is immeasurable. Recently, I chaired a task force of bright, passionate industry experts. We were given a charter and a clear plan of action. The team was dedicated and met weekly for several months, making steady progress against our goal. At the end of our time together, we met for a full day to review the work that had been done. Much to our surprise, the outcomes and recommendations previously agreed to by the team changed significantly once we had a chance to meet in person. Incorporating the knowledge gained through personal interaction we will deliver a much more relevant, meaningful recommendation. This is just a small example of the value of meetings...and of human connections. I think we all know that meetings will continue but the question is at what real cost if they are converted to virtual formats to reduce cost. In addition to the obvious economic value meetings deliver, we need to change our focus from eliminating meetings to measuring the value meetings bring - the effectiveness of meetings. Meetings were conceived to drive growth - now, more than ever before; we should ensure they do just that.
Cindy D., Pennsylvania

There is no substitute for face-to-face meetings. It is absolutely the best facilitation of planning, strategizing and communications. WebEx’s and teleconference are great for interim touch points, but cannot replace the face to face meeting. In projects I have been involved in where we tried to drive entirely through teleconference/WebEx the cost of miscommunication and delays was staggering.
David M., Connecticut

Nothing will ever replace face to face communication. It's a better and more accurate way to collaborate with your clients, as well as your partners and employees. Face to face meetings are vital to sales and marketing efforts. Meetings are just plain good business. Technology is great, but I can't shake hands with it. It can't give someone a reassuring pat on the back, or a smile for a job well done. With all due respect to social networking tools, if all your business is done with e mail, e learning and e networking, you’re going to end up working e lone.
Hugh Q., New York

I am in the meeting and hospitality industry and I see the value of meetings every day; things that cannot be replaced by email or conference calls or video conference. We do not waste our time trying to duplicate things that have no value. Much time and effort is spent on trying to recreate the meeting experience because of the value and effectiveness they have. But nothing can replace shaking of hands and looking into someone’s eyes when you trust them to become part of your team or your business or welcoming them into your family. To dismiss meetings as unimportant is to lose an opportunity to gain real trust between partners of all kinds.
Matt V., Texas

Leadership Roundtable Held in Las Vegas to Discuss Obama's Remarks

Recently, Successful Meetings and MeetingNews hosted a Leadership Roundtable in Las Vegas at which members of the Las Vegas hospitality community gathered to discuss, among other things, President Obama's comments on holding meetings in Las Vegas. Here's what they had to say

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTa80JAgU0k]

Malta chosen for HelmsBriscoe annual global forum

Malta chosen for HelmsBriscoe annual global forum

Florida offers Hurricane Insurance at NO COST for meetings

Information Courtesy of Visit Florida, our state's official source for travel planning.

Cover Your Event, Compliments of VISIT FLORIDA,

• CYE Applications for August, September and October 2010 are now being accepted.

The summer and early fall months have always been a season of great group values in Florida. This summer, seasonal meeting savings are unprecedented, and VISIT FLORIDA wants to make sure you can take advantage of these "Florida Deals & Steals " with confidence. Therefore, VISIT FLORIDA offers complimentary Cover Your Event (CYE) insurance, which covers any costs directly related to re-booking a meeting should it be displaced due to a named hurricane. CYE is offered for meetings booked in August, September and October 2009 and VISIT FLORIDA has just announced that this popular program will now include August, September and October 2010.

Just another helpful resource in helping you plan your meeting. There are LOADS of great deals on meeting in Florida right now. HelmsBriscoe is committed to making your event happen without any unforeseen problems, and this is just one of the ways we do it.