September 2008
Vol. 4, No. 9
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Happy Labor Day! The Hyland Group can be found at the many industry events taking place this fall. HSMAI's Affordable Meetings in DC occurs September 10 - 11. The Motivation Show in Chicago will be held September 23 – 25. On Saturday, September 27, The Hyland Group staff and clients will participate in the Susan G. Komen Chicago Race for the Cure in Chicago, IL. Team Hyland for the Cure is sponsored by both The Hyland Group and Hyland Events. It's not too late to participate- Contact us today!
This fall, The Hyland Group is offering clients many opportunities to learn more about their destinations. The Hyland Group’s Annual Bureaufest will be held in Washington, DC on October 15. We’ve added an education component to this year’s green themed event and for each client that attends, The Hyland Group will make a donation to the charity Tree Pals, a project run by Trees for the Future. The Hyland Group will host its International Gold Cup Outing in Virginia on October 18. As part of its Meet Americana initiative, The Hyland Group will travel to Indianapolis to host local meeting professionals for a luncheon on October 23. Contact us for more information on our events.
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Feature Article – An Accepted Practices Exchange (APEX) Update – By Sue Tinnish
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In August, the Accepted Practices Exchange (APEX), an initiative of the Convention Industry Council (CIC), in conjunction with DataApp, announced the launch of APEX Powershop™, an innovative software program designed to aid the professional meeting planner/supplier community by increasing productivity while reducing redundant data entry. APEX Powershop™ is a Windows application available for download onto your local computer or network that will facilitate the RFP process and data exchange for a wide variety of vendors using intelligent data recognition tools that will automatically fill in forms and increase work efficiency. The “power” of Powershop™ is in its ability to replicate duplicate information using APEX Standards to transmit information to multiple hotels or other vendors simultaneously, regardless of the size of the meeting or the industries involved.
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Event planning is streamlined from conception through post-event reports as APEX Powershop™ tracks relevant data (for example: actual number of hotel rooms used per night) and forwards it through each stage of the planning process. Future meetings become even easier to coordinate because APEX Powershop™ copies and makes data available from previous meetings. The need to e-mail and fax the same information multiple times is eliminated from the workflow and the meeting planner is free to focus on other client needs. The more meeting professionals and supplier partners begin to implement APEX, the sooner the industry will experience its efficiencies and benefits.
“I'm very excited about the launch of Powershop™,” said Terri Breining, APEX Commission chair. “This program will make the practices and principles of APEX accessible in a way that they haven't been before. Powershop™ will enable people and organizations—on both the planner and supplier sides—the opportunity to easily implement and integrate the APEX standards, which will ultimately change the way we do business.”
Organizations like The Boeing Company, American Diabetes Association, Monsanto, Risk & Insurance Management Society, ConocoPhillips, Ameritrade, MPI, The Anthony Robbins Company, and the Center for Disease Control have been involved in testing and providing feedback for the product.
Planners attending MPI WEC were also among the first to demo the product. EJ Siwek conducted a session about APEX Powershop™ in a computer laboratory environment allowing planners to set up a meeting using the technology. More information about APEX Powershop™ is available on the newly released website APEXsolution.org. The product will be available for purchase and download on September 15.
Sue Tinnish is a Founding Principal at SEAL Inc. and serves as the Director of APEX. Sue has 25 years of business experience working with businesses of varying size (privately owned companies through Fortune 1000 companies) and associations. She is active in MPI and a Past President to MPI’s Chicago Area Chapter. For more information contact Sue.
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Featured Destination – Experience Colorado Springs – Meeting Higher Expectations
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Come for the Conference. Stay for the Color.
Colorado is a colorful state, and nowhere are the colors more vibrant than in Colorado Springs and the Pikes Peak region. “Colorado” is a Spanish word, meaning “reddish color” that refers to the red sandstone formations in the area and reddish cast of the Colorado River. The deep red rocks and glowing yellow Aspen leaves contrast stunningly with the deep blue Colorado skies. Morning and evening hours offer spectacular lighting and make Colorado Springs a favorite destination for photographers as well as business and leisure travelers.
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Vibrant yellow Quaking Aspen trees provide an explosion of stunning autumn color to perfectly accentuate Colorado Springs' off-season rates. Each Labor Day weekend, the Colorado Balloon Classic hosts scores of balloons and thousands of visitors as the skies of Colorado Springs are filled with every color imaginable. The majestic red rocks of Garden of the Gods provide an awe-inspiring foreground to Pikes Peak – American’s Mountain. The colorful clays of the Paint Mines were used my American Indians for making pottery and ceremonial paints. Springtime in the Rockies means a scenic hike up the Barr Trail of Pikes Peak to take in a wide variety of wildflowers.
No matter what time of year you plan a meeting, conference, convention or event in Colorado Springs, you will be delighted by the scenic palette that awaits you. Remind attendees to bring their cameras and plan in a little downtime into your schedule so they can enjoy the many sights and colors of Colorado Springs at Pikes Peak.
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Hot Dates, Rates & Promotions
The following Hyland Group destinations have value dates and/or promotions available. Click here for details.
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• Amelia Island Plantation
• Charleston Area CVB
• Coeur d'Alene Golf & Spa Resort
• Experience Colorado Springs
• Cranwell Resort, Spa & Golf Club
• Galt House Hotel & Suites
• Greater Fort Lauderdale CVB
• The Greenbrier
• The Hotel Hershey
• Jekyll Island Club Hotel
• Kissimmee CVB
• MontBleu Resort Casino & Spa
• Hotel Monteleone
• Naples Grande Beach Resort
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• Pasadena CVB
• Portola Hotel & Spa at Monterey Bay
• Rio Mar Beach Resort & Spa
• Saddlebrook Resort
• Scottsdale Plaza Resort
• Shula's Hotel & Golf Club
• Snowbird Ski & Summer Resort
• Stonewall Jackson Hotel and Conference Center
• Vail Valley Partnership - The Tourism Bureau
• The Venetian Resort Hotel & Casino
• Wort Hotel
• Wyndham Phoenix
• Zermatt Resort & Spa
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Amelia Island Plantation: Located in Amelia Island, Florida, Amelia Island Plantation is just 29 miles from the Jacksonville International Airport. The 1,350 acre resort lives under a canopy of centuries-old live oak trees, nestled between the blue Atlantic Ocean and green salt marshes of the Amelia River. Combined, the Amelia Inn & Beach Club and Villas of Amelia offer over 600 luxurious accommodations. Additionally, the resort features more than 49,000 square feet of versatile function space including the Amelia Inn Conference Center with two grand ballrooms, 15 breakout rooms of varying sizes, and extensive pre-function areas. Miles of beaches and walking trails, four Audubon International certified sanctuary golf courses, an all natural luxury spa, 23 Har Tru tennis courts, and a Nature Center make Amelia a unique destination to host your next meeting or board retreat.
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The Spa at The Coeur d'Alene Golf & Spa Resort was named "The World's Most Romantic Spa " in a special report for the Sherman's Travel newsletter and featured on MSNBC.com. The spectacular 30,000-square-foot Spa was recognized specifically for the calm setting of waterfalls, fountains and lake views from every window.
Halifax, Nova Scotia was chosen as a one of Canada’s Top 25 Best Destinations by TripAdvisor® in the 2008 Travelers’ Choice® Destinations Awards. In addition, Halifax's international reputation as a gay friendly travel destination was reaffirmed this summer with the 20th Annual Halifax Pride Festival, Atlantic Canada's biggest Pride Festival. The historic harbourfront city has a vibrant LGBT community, diverse culture, natural beauty, and down-home hospitality in a safe environment.
Irving, Texas has established the opening date of October 10, 2010 for the 100,000-square-foot convention center being built. The $137 million facility, part of a mixed-use entertainment development, will offer 50,000 square feet of exhibit space, a 20,000-square-foot ballroom and 20 breakout rooms of about 1,000 square feet each. Phase two of the project, under consideration by the city council, includes the development of a 400-room conference center hotel, a 100-room Watermark Hotel, 30,000 square feet of meeting space, two hotel restaurants, a 15,000-square-foot Watermark spa, and 200,000 square feet of retail space. Also being considered is a 3,500-seat concert venue.
Omaha Convention and Visitors Bureau won Best Booth Staff and Best Food on the USS Midway when they recently showcased at ASAE’s annual in San Diego, California.
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Attention DC Planners! Historic Hotels of America (HHA) will host its annual reception and marketplace on September 10. The event which showcases a collection of HHA properties will be held at the Omni Shoreham Hotel from 5:30 - 7:30pm. Click here for more information.
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October 16 – 18, 2008
Galveston Island Site Inspection Trip |
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| For more information on site inspections, please contact your Hyland Group representative or email us. |
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Latitudes, A Hyland Group Publication
Publisher: Peter Hyland / Editors: Erin Tench, CMM, CMP and Kristen Keating
The Hyland Group Newsletter, Latitudes, is an online journal for clients, partner-companies, professional associates and industry colleagues of The Hyland Group and is published twelve times yearly. For editorial or edition sponsorship inquiries, kindly email us for more information.
Since 1985, The Hyland Group has been one of the premier sales and marketing firms for the hospitality industry. Please check out our diverse portfolio by visiting http://www.hylandgroup.com/. Let our experienced staff assist you with finding the right destination for your next meeting or conference. Contact us for more information.
© Copyright 2005-2008. The Hyland Group. All Rights Reserved.
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