Stellar Events Blog

Last week I enjoyed a fabulous trip to Hawaii, starting at the amazing Four Seasons Hualalai, which the 2008/2009 Zagat Guide has named the  #1 resort in the world.   Then I  traveled to the Four Seasons Maui,  which offers complimentary daily yoga classes on the beach at 7:15 AM.  Here’s a photo of the early morning site for this perfect way  to start to the day:

And here’s the same scene three hours later:

When you’re in paradise, sleeping late may not be the best choice.

Hawaii is the ideal incentive destination, and Stellar Events can take you there.

In a perfect world, everyone would have a universal option to fly on Southwest and be fee-free when we change our plans and check our bags.  Although Southwest just reported their 69th straight profitable quarter and is the only major carrier to be profitable in 2007, the competition doesn’t follow the simplicity of Southwest’s policies.  

To sort out the fees and penalties, download a PDF chart at Smarter Travel.  It’s "The Ultimate Guide to Airline Fees" and is updated frequently…just like the costs.

Almost everyone wants to visit Costa Rica – a fabulous destination with unique activities, friendly locals, enticing cuisine, and gorgeous beaches. Because incentive trips require the best of the best, hotel choices are currently limited, with the outstanding Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo (pictured below) as a consistent favorite.

However, development is rampant in northwestern Costa Rica’s Guanacaste province, and it’s amazing how many elite resorts are under construction. Here’s a partial list of luxury properties with name-brand reputations, along with projected opening dates:

• JW Marriott – December 2008
• Hyatt Regency Azulera Resort – 2009
• Mandarin Oriental – 2009
• Regent Papagayo – 2010
• One and Only Resort Cacique – 2010

Now is the time to plan ahead and look for pre-opening values – Stellar Events excels at negotiation, and we LOVE to see hotels compete for your business. 

I may take the amazing appeal of Los Angeles for granted because I was born here and graduated from UCLA. Recently Stellar Events joined LA Inc. (Los Angeles Convention & Visitors Bureau), and I rediscovered the unique features of my hometown, which conceptually includes such popular areas as Beverly Hills and Santa Monica.

There’s always something fresh and exciting (and I don’t mean the rumor that Britney Spears has bought a house in Calabasas, home to Stellar Events, but I’ll let you know when the choppers start circling.) For example, hotel news:

Super Green: the eco-friendly Hotel Palomar, a boutique Kimpton Hotel in Westwood, has in-room recycling bins, energy efficient lighting and organic food and beverage options in minibars, so guests can leave the guilt back home.

Diversity: The new  Kyoto Grand Hotel and Gardens, formerly the New Otani Hotel, features a 1/2-acre rooftop Zen garden in Little Tokyo.

Trendy:  SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills, which opens August 18, is part of the Starwood Luxury Collection, and showcases sleek and cosmopolitan décor from sizzling French designer Phillip Starck.

Check out the LA Inc. website (www.discoverlosangeles.com):  it is absolutely terrific, and showcases our WOW destination for all types of sales meetings, conferences, and incentive trips.

My 3-night stay at the fabulous Red Mountain Spa in St. George, Utah was beyond amazing. I cannot imagine a more stunning natural setting, with red rock cliffs and the Spring desert bloom:

The daily morning Treks (geared for various ability levels) were fabulous, the service was excellent, and the meals (included) offered delicious variety. See the resort’s excellent website for details.

My upgraded Villa section room (a must for an incentive program or corporate retreat) was lovely, with private balcony, fireplace, ceiling fan, and exclusive pool access.

Red Mountain Spa, with its all-inclusive pricing, is perfect for individual incentives for top employees, and it is surprisingly affordable. The resort is just two hours from Las Vegas, plus there are non-stop flights from Los Angeles and Salt Lake.

Take a break for yourself or give your business associates a treat:  Stellar Events can enthusiastically help you plan a magical getaway.

I just saw a presentation about the Four Seasons Bora Bora, which opens this summer, and it looks like heaven:

In this economic climate, incentive trips are more important than ever.  Stellar Events has found that it is the high-end destinations, offering the best of the best, that consistently motivate clients, salespeople, or whomever your target audience is.  This resort has attractive pre-opening group rates, and it’s truly special:

- Set on its own private moto (islet)

- 100 over water bungalows (all suites over 1,000 sq. ft.) and 7 beachfront villas

- 15-minute ride across the lagoon in a private launch from Bora Bora Airport

A new resort set in paradise, and it’s a Four Seasons.  Can you imagine a more appealing incentive destination for 2009?

Well, it’s not exactly a scoop. But I anticipated the news in my March 20^th post “Las Vegas: Desert Storm Ahead?” which noted the slowdown in Las Vegas business and questioned the viability of the thousands of hotels rooms opening there soon.

The front page of the May 6, 2008 Business section of "The New York Times" showcased “Economic Troubles Affect the Vegas Strip.”

Trust me: there are bargains to found when booking Las Vegas meetings, and Stellar Events can help your company find them.

In nearly twenty years of planning incentive trips and meetings, I’ve had some amazing worldwide experiences including 5-star adventures in Paris and the heart-stopping magnificence of Machu Picchu.

However, during a recent Stellar Events site inspection, all memories were exceeded by the breathtakingly beautiful Caribbean waters surrounding the Exuma Cays.

Add the luxurious Four Seasons Resort Great Exuma at Emerald Bay to this glorious setting, and it’s heaven on earth. Visit my destination photo album to see more.

       A Cay North of Great Exuma

The beauty of Great Exuma is free to those fortunate enough to have access to the island. However, adding the delights of a Four Seasons experience makes me agree with a recent NY Times article titled: “Maybe Money Does Buy Happiness After All.”

I enjoyed a picture-perfect weekend in Santa Barbara, which is being promoted as America’s Riviera.   Hilton Hotels  hosted top clients at Fess Parker’s Doubletree Resort,   which fronts the beautiful Pacific.   And, yes, Daniel Boone himself  stopped by to welcome us to  his successful resort, where one can also purchase products from his nearby winery  including, seriously,  a coonskin cap bottle topper.

When companies request Hawaii, Mexico or the Caribbean for incentive trips, they overlook this special destination, which may be more affordable.  Santa Barbara has picturesque winery tours, abundant water sports such as sailing and kayaking, numerous gourmet restaurants, super shopping, stunning weather, and so much more.   With non-stop flights into Santa Barbara Airport from Dallas, Denver, Salt Lake City, Seattle, Portland, San Francisco and several California cities, arrivals are hassle-free and convenient.

So, add a little French theming – “Riviera Rendevous” – and you may transform Santa Barbara into the perfect incentive or meeting destination.

Stellar Events is finally seeing European suppliers respond to our repeated requests to guarantee rates for incentive travel in U.S. dollars.   As noted in previous entries, our clients prefer sites such as Bermuda and Costa Rica, where their budgets are secured in US dollars.

Ireland   is a popular  incentive and meeting destination, and we just received an amazing offer guaranteed in US dollars instead of Euros.   For an outstanding price of $1,700 US per person, based on double occupancy,  a trusted supplier is offering 5 nights in Dublin at the  luxurious Clontarf Castle  plus daily breakfast, welcome buffet, an off-property dinner with entertainment and transfers, farewell gala dinner with entertainment, a half day tour, a full day tour with pub lunch, plus airport transfers.

  

Clontarf Castle

With Aer Lingus   offering bargain short-term airfares,  excellent group rates can be negotiated.   Plus, they are partnering with Jet Blue on over 25 connecting cities that link to Aer Lingus’ New York departure.

In recent years, Ireland’s booming economy has been termed the “Celtic Tiger.”   This offer showcases how the Irish succeed by creating a financial edge over the competition.   Take advantage of it!