Three new Global Training Centers have been opened for business conferences and meetings by Meeting Professionals International (MPI).
These openings are a part of MPI’s Global Knowledge Plan.
Locations on San Diego State University in California, CERAM Business School in France, and Qatar’s QMDI are now open. MPI is aiming to open 14 addition training facilities by this time 2011.
At each of these locations, MPI will be working with faculty and local education professionals to provide a wide range of educational services that will further the field of business meetings and conferences.
Each of these schools is known around the world for their focus on business management and in particular their in-depth meeting and conference curriculums (both Bachelors and Masters degrees).
New Record Set for Most People Departing From Grand Junction Regional
This year in May, a new record was set for the largest number of people enplaning at Grand Junction Regional Airport. This marked the very first time ever that more than 21,000 people departed from this airport in one month. This gain is on some level due to American Eagle joining the list of flight services, along with a new flight route to Los Angeles provided by Allegiant Air. All told, GJT saw 14.8% more people departing the airport than were seen in 2008. More People Heading to the Visitor Center in June
This year, 1% more people than last year have made a trip to the Visitor Center at Grand Junction Regional Airport. At least part of this gain is the result of increased local traffic – more people are opting to enjoy a “vacation” close to home rather than traveling abroad.
Advantages of Recession-Era Travel
There may actually be advantages to making a trip during the recession. The economic crisis may just provide an opportunity for a getaway, as it means smaller crowds, better exchange rates, easy-to-find deals, and a way to melt away stress.
Top Tourism & Travel Site This Month: www.farecompare.com
FareCompare.com is a service that lets customers find the cheapest plane tickets on a chosen route, with deals extending out to 11 months in advance. This helps people choose the optimal vacation time. In addition, it offers random searches that provide lists of the cheapest flights all over the world from any departure location the customer selects. This option is wonderful for a person who wants to get away, but doesn’t have a specific place in mind
August is the perfect time to visit the Grand Valley. This year, on August 13th-16th, the Peach Festival will be going on in Palisade, at Riverbend Park.
The Grand Junction Visitors & Convention Bureau offers great vacation packages for any time during the month of August. These deals include low rates on hotels, free meals, and a bonus gift back packed with information and vouchers for the world-renowned Palisade Peaches. These packages are a great way to get an inexpensive getaway and get the most out of a Grand Junction vacation. Head over to visitgrandjunction.com and select “Specials & Deals” to see a list of participating locations.
The National Restaurant Association has presented the 2009 Colorado state Restaurant Neighbor Award to the Cheyenne Mountan Resort.
This award is given each year in recognition of restaurant companies and corporations who “contribute to their local communities through community service initiatives that go beyond the call of duty.”
Cheyenne Mountain Resort first launched their community program in 2004, and it has been continuously growing every year.
Cheyenne Mountain Resort gives back to the community through the following activities:
- At a local Catholic Charity soup kitchen, Marian House, employees give their time and help serve 500 people daily; the restaurant also donates gifts of food and hygiene items
- Every year, the Marian House runs the “Mountain of Hope” event, where resort employees participate in the “Hike for Hope, “ where they earn money for every mile hiked on Pike’s Peak, as well as the “Spin & Swim-a-Thon,” which helps raise $10,000 to help the needy
- The resort sponsors Guest Bartender Nights with proceeds going to the Boys and Girls Club
- Groups of employees work to maintain hiking trails in the local area
- Resort staff participate in cooking-related charity events, and Brother Luck, the Executive Sous Chef helps cook at the Annual Restaurant Expo & Culinary Competition (proceeds go to the Penrose-St. Francis Medical Center and Colorado ProStart program) as well as the Glass Slipper Ball, which benefits TESSA, a group that aids domestic abuse and sexual assault victims.
Cheyenne Mountain Resort, having won the 2009 Restaurant Neighbor Award, is now set to compete against the other finalists from Colorado on the national level. Four winners are chosen in the national contest, one each from the categories of Cornerstone Humanitarian, Large Business, Small Business, and Medium Business. Each winner is granted $5,000, which can be donated to the business’s favorite charity or other humanitarian project.
Haven’t planned a family getaway for the summer yet? The temperature is rising, and time is running out before school starts up again… but there is still opportunity for a cool summer escape to YMCA of the Rockies. Family vacations, reunions and other events can now be booked with a two YMCA of the Rockies locations: Snow Mountain Ranch (Winter Park, Colorado) and Estes Park Center (Estes Park, Colorado).
A family destination for summer that is both available and inexpensive!
Lodge rooms are available for $109 a night, while two-bedroom cabins are available for $119 a night. As many as six adults can sleep in a lodge room, and two adult breakfasts each day are included in the price. Lodge rooms and cabins alike at Snow Mountain Ranch and Estes Park are ready for your reservation.
YMCA of the Rockies is a non-profit group, so many of the activities offered at these locations are completely FREE. Some of the family-focused activities offered include miniature golf, hiking, games, and a pool and library on the grounds.
Day camps for children are available on the grounds. For children between the ages of 3 and 17, either half- or full-day programs are offered. This gives adults a chance to do their own thing in addition to spending some quality family time.
There are a number of fun and activities for the whole family all around the local communities. Snow Mountain Ranch and Estes Park alike are great places to visit as a family, with many ways to enjoy the local community and wilderness.
Summer Events in Estes Park
Cowboy Sing-Along: Two family-friendly musicians, Cowboy Brad and Kath Fitch, play acoustic folk and western songs every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evening up until August 18th.
SummerFest Concerts: Many different musical styles are showcased every Wednesday evening through August 26th.
Thursday Night Live Music: More music in Estes Park, including jazz, folk, contemporary classics, big band, and more – every Thursday through August 27th at the Performance Park amphitheater.
Summer Events in Winter Park
Picnic in the Park: Every Tuesday up until August 11th, enjoy live music while picnicking.
Cowboy Sing-Along: A show for folks of all ages, which features classic songs that have been passed down for generations. Every Tuesday evening through August 18th.
Winter Park Wild Nights: A series of exhibits and presentations on wildlife and wilderness. Every Wednesday evening through August 19th.
Hideaway Park High-Note Thursdays: This summer concert sequence has exciting musical acts every Thursday through August 20th.
To inquire about lodging and reservations at Snow Mountain Ranch or Estes Park, go to www.ymcarockies.org, or dial 1-800-777-9622. The rates for a lodge room that sleeps six adults is a mere $109, and that also includes two breakfasts daily.
Nestled amongst 860 acres of beautiful ponderosa pine trees in the Rocky Mountain National Park, the Estes Park Center is found 65 miles northwest of Denver. This location features 600 lodge rooms and 200 cabins, with sizes from to 16 bedrooms. Guests can walk to almost all activities from the lodge rooms, and the price of a lodge room includes two breakfasts each day. Some of the fun activities at Estes Park Center include mountain biking, horseback riding, archery, fishing, hiking, a zip line, an indoor pool and a new crafts center.
Located about 80 miles to the west of Denver, between Winter Park Ski Resort and the Grand Lake, you will find Snow Mountain Ranch. This serene location is a wonderful place to encourage family togetherness, the perfect location for a Colorado family reunion. This small getaway offers just 170 lodge rooms and 50 cabins, making it a truly secluded place. Like Estes Park, there are many activities to enjoy as a family.
Families have been attracted to YMCA of the Rockies for over 100 years due to its mission and key values: responsibility, respect, honesty, caring, and faith. All YMCA organizations are non-profit groups working for the benefit of children, families and communities across the country.
Slip Away to Aria Spa & Club at the Vail Cascade and Enjoy Some Relaxing “Group Therapy”
In the mood for some “group therapy?” Vail Cascade’s Aria Spa & Club is redefining the term by offering evening services for groups of five or more people, turning it into a great location for parties, showers, club meetings, or even just a fun nighttime get together with friends.
Starting in the summer and continuing through December 15th, 2009, groups of five-plus people will be able to schedule private soirees on Monday through Thursday evenings. These will take place in the Aria Spa Sanctuary, running from 5-6:30pm or 7-8:30pm. Only one group is allowed in during these times, allowing people to experience the luxury of a private spa. During this time, guests can enjoy 25-minute treatments that are specially designed for this event (these cost between $80 and $95), or have full spa treatments.
If so desired, groups can also have food and drinks brought into the Sanctuary during these sessions. Such arrangements, as well as arrangements for spa treatments, must be made 72 hours ahead of time.
Aria Spa was based on the relaxing and serene vibe of Gore Creek, which is located just off the resort. The inviting water features, the well-crafted stone fireplace, and the quiet warmth of the Sanctuary all speak to the peace and tranquility of the mountain surroundings.
Try as they might, competitors have never been able to replicate the experience of the Sanctuary. It is the perfect location for relaxation, and serves as a place to rest before and after spa treatments. Now, with this “Group Therapy” program, it also provides a distinctive location for events, parties and other activities.
If you’d like to book a private session for “Group Therapy” at the Aria Spa, we invite you to call (888) 824-5772.
Vail Cascade stands as the sole ski-in/ski-out resort with a AAA Four-Diamond in the city of Vail. The resort comes alive in the summer with a variety of different events and activities, such as mountain biking, fishing, and hiking, all of which are readily available at Vail Cascade and Gore Creek, which is just off the resort. The property features 292 rooms in total, among 27 suites and over 80 condos and private homes available for the choosing.
Vail Cascade is the home of the Aria Spa & Club, which cover 78,000 square feet. The Spa itself has 14 treatment rooms spread over 10,000 square feet. Guests are free to take part in one of the programs offered by the fitness center, which includes can include group sessions as well as one-on-one instruction. Following a day of working out and enjoying the outdoors, guests can enjoy a luxurious meal at the Atwater on Gore Creek, a restaurant which first opened its doors in December 2008.
As part of a chain of 30 independent, high-class hotels and resorts, Vail Cascade is run by Destination Hotels & Resorts, one of the ten highest rated management companies in the US. In 2008, Destination launched Destination Earth, a new initiative for environmental sustainability. Just this year in June, the new Terranea Resort was opened in southern California. Covering 102 acres of ocean front property, the resort has 582 rooms, a 25,000 square foot spa, three pools, three restaurants, and a golf course designed by Todd Eckenrode. On top of this LA area resort, Destination also runs properties in many other metropolitan areas, such as Denver, San Diego, Sante Fe, Pal Springs, Aspen, Houson, Washington D.C., and Lake Tahoe. Destination is a subsidiary of Lowe Enterprises, an LA-based management and investment company. For additional information about properties owned by Destination, please visit www.destinationhotels.com or, to obtain the best deals.
“Green Rooms” Part of Rockresorts New Enviromental Pledge
RockResorts, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Vail Resorts, is redefining the term “Green Room.” The resort has made a pledge to honor a program that will enhance every guest room in every resort with 10 environmentally friendly improvements. The key points of the plan include:
1. A program for reusing towels and linens
2. A recycling initiative to make it more convenient for guests to recycle
3. Improved energy efficiency on electronic devices and lighting
4. New fixtures to help conserve water
5. Custom amenities based on 100% natural essential oils
6. Use of cleaning products that are safer for the environment – certified by the EPA and Green Seal
7. Changing to finishes and paints with little-to-no VOC
8. Reusable newspaper bags made of jute
9. A complete ban on smoking
10. Guests can now opt to donate to the National Forest Foundation or another charity
This initiative is designed to improve conservation efforts on all properties and to get guests more involved in environmental protection. These new design elements are intended to be low profile and enhance the overall style of the rooms without taking anything away from the guests’ enjoyment. RockResorts has been striving to uphold the environmentally-conscious ideals of its founder, Laurance Rockerfeller, who launched the company in 1956 and always intended that the properties would exist in harmony with their natural surroundings. These new “Green Rooms” are yet another in a long line of such programs, including the volunteer vacation plan “Give and Getaway” and the sustainable meals program, known as “Appetite for Life”
Starting now, every RockResorts property will add “Waste Not” bins that allow guests to recycle newspapers, cans and bottles in the comfort of their rooms. If guests opt to receive daily papers, they are delivered in jute bags that are reusable, thus taking another step to reduce waste without depriving guests of options.
In the new “Green Rooms,” guests will find customized amenities including shampoo, conditioner, gel soap, lotions, and facial bars, which are based on 100% natural essential oils. These amenities are without preservatives and other synthetics that are unhealthy for the environment. These bottled amenities are completely recyclable, right down to their aluminum caps. The company is also launching a new plan to facilitate the donation of partially used toiletries to charities that support those less fortunate.
The housekeeping staff also aids in the greening by utilizing environmentally-friendly Sustainable Earth cleaning products, which are created from less toxic and bio-based ingredients. Also, there is a new focus on the effort to reuse towels and linens – this plan states that unless a guest puts a special card on their pillow, linens will be changed every three nights.
A big push is being made to replace the electronics and lighting in guest rooms with more energy efficient solutions. In an effort to conserve energy used on heating and cooling, staff are instructed to set room temperatures back to normal when guests aren’t in their rooms. Many RockResorts properties have also added programmable thermostats that perform this task automatically. To help conserve water, low-flow fixtures are being installed in many bathrooms. Also, the company has formed an alliance with Valspar paints, with a goal of converting the walls to paints with little-to-no volatile organic compounds, or VOC. Finally, every part of every RockResorts property is completely smoke-free.
“Our ‘Green Room’ plans represent the bare minimum of our commitment to the enviroment,” said environmental affairs director for RockResorts, Julie Klein. “In the future, we’d like to expand this program and continue to show our dedication to preserving the natural environments on which our resorts are located. Vail Resorts continues to work toward improving energy efficiency company-wide by taking steps such as adding new fixtures. We hope to reduce our energy use by a full 10% by the end of next year.”
Guests are provided with the option of donating money to help support the environmentalist cause. Donations can go to the National Forest Foundation of Colorado or another charity group out-of-state. The NFF matches every dollar donated with an additional $0.50. This program has, in just three years, generated over $1 million that will be used on further conservation efforts in the forests around RockResorts properties. More information on these contributions is available at: www.vailresorts.com/CORP/info/protecting-our-forests.aspx.
To discover more about RockResorts or its many locations, visit WWW.ROCKRESORTS.COM or dial 1-888-FOR-ROCK (888-367-7625). B-roll is available upon request.
