December 2009 ACCESS Advantage
Holidays with Heart!
When some of our local clients asked us for ideas on how to inject something special into their holiday events we immediately thought CSR teambuilding would be the perfect catalyst to transform traditional holiday gatherings into parties with purpose.
While many companies already contribute to holiday food or toy drives benefiting under-privileged families, adding CSR teambuilding interactivity into a planned holiday gathering creates a win-win situation. Employees benefit from fun participatory activities shared with co-workers and by performing community service, employers benefit through increased motivation and teamwork in the workplace and the local community benefits through additional give-back events that supplement strapped community budgets for existing projects.
ACCESS brainstorming resulted in some fun, creative CSR-inspired holiday theme events. "Crafted with Care - Filled with Holiday Wares" adds a little Elf Magic with participants creating care packages in a "Holiday Workshop" to add some twinkle in the lives of area families. "Jingle Bear Rock" benefits hospitalized children as "build-a-bear" teams compete for "bear essentials" - stuffing, bear clothes and a heart that brings life to a bear and hope to a child. In another event, participants become "Angels of Inspiration" equipped with paints, smocks and a blank canvas as they let loose their talents in the commission of holiday-themed fine art blessed with encouraging messages of hope. Fun competitions spice things up as the Angel Art is completed and ready to "deck the halls" of hospital wards in the spirit of giving this holiday season.
The possibilities for year-round socially responsible event contributions are endless. Contact ACCESS Destination Services to creatively weave CSR events or components into your next Southern California meeting, conference or incentive travel program.
Orange County
Nixon Library Turning 20! 2010 will mark the 20th Anniversary of the Nixon Presidential Library and Museum located in the Orange County town of Yorba Linda.
On July 19, 1990, freeways throughout Orange County had ground to a standstill with thousands of cars making their way towards the Nixon Library for the dedication ceremony marking the opening of the Richard Nixon Presidential Library & Birthplace. This was the first time in history that four American Presidents (George H.W. Bush, Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan and Richard Nixon) appeared in public together.
The Library would be the first Presidential Library in history to be built and operated without taxpayers' funds. Since that day, millions of guests have visited and it has been the venue for many exceptional programs, speakers, conferences, dinners and galas designed to shed light on Richard Nixon's extraordinary career and accomplishments and to showcase world events as they occurred during Nixon's terms in office.
The ACCESS Orange County team has proudly designed and produced many elegant red-carpeted dinner events at the Nixon Library complete with Presidential place settings, motorcade escorts and interactive "Secret Service Agents." Trumpeters greet guests upon arrival and during the cocktail reception guests mix and mingle with colleagues while viewing the many exhibits, photographs and memorabilia reflecting President Nixon's public and private life as it related to world affairs. Dinner is served in the new East Room where guests can enjoy a wide variety of entertainment options.
That's not all! While the Nixon Library is perfect for upscale gala evenings, ACCESS Orange County is anxious to share with you all of the ways this versatile venue might earn a place in your destination management itineraries. Consider daytime tour excursions, a historical presidential-style teambuilding event with fact-gathering and even CSR components. For something completely unexpected, guests can participate in a private interactive cooking demonstration where they will learn to prepare some White House specialties - all the while enjoying Orange County's largest public rose garden, a reflecting pool and other special features of one of Orange County's most notable venues.
Contact the team at ACCESS Orange County today for a custom-designed event at the Nixon Presidential Library and Museum.
San Diego
Downtown's Boutique Properties! From nightclubs to restaurants to historic renovations and new convention facilities, many things have helped to transform the landscape of San Diego's downtown into a hip place to be and be seen. The emergence in recent years of a coterie of amazing boutique hotels is high on the list!
Proximity to everything downtown has to offer is a plus to both VIP groups and celebrities alike and these properties with their Gaslamp Quarter location are where the action is. A few of our favorite boutique properties are highlighted below:
If you want to be treated like a Rock Star, the Hard Rock Hotel San Diego will provide you with an experience that truly rocks. Guestrooms are uniquely spectacular from the Hard Rock Studios to the Hard Rock suites to the Rock Star Suites - all with deluxe amenities. For meetings and events the Hard Rock offers 40,000 square feet of indoor/outdoor space including an 8,700 square-foot outdoor terrace adjacent to the rooftop pool and bar with bird's eye views of the Gaslamp Quarter, a stunning boardroom, a 4,000 square-foot special event venue and a 9,100 square foot main event room. Notable experiences at the Hard Rock include dining at Nobu with its classic sushi bar fare and nouveau Japanese cuisine and mingling or celebrity spotting at Float, the dramatic rooftop bar and lounge overlooking the Gaslamp Quarter.
New on the scene in 2009 is the LEED Certified Hotel Indigo San Diego Gaslamp Quarter. The property's unique rooms feature hardwood floors, plush, over-sized beds and spa-inspired showers. Two meeting rooms, the largest accommodating 90 theater style, along with Wi-Fi Internet access and a well-equipped business center serve to support smooth running meetings. When business winds down for the day, guests can savor cocktails and the breathtaking views or enjoy the firepit and reflective pool while relaxing on the 9th floor Phi Terrace, a trendy spot to parktake in tapas and watch the unparalleled San Diego sunsets.
The exclusive Ivy Hotel was designed from the ground up to be world class. From Envy, a multi-level nightclub and lounge to Ivy's roof-top, with its plush furnishings and wraparound skyline views, this is the height of what's happening in downtown San Diego. At the new Ivy Ultra Lounge and Wine Bar, with its delicious wine bar menu, guests can create their own perfect pairings. Additionally, each of the hotel's 159 guestrooms features a flat screen, in-room technology, a functional workspace and more. 20,000 square feet of unique event space allows for truly engaging events.
Reflecting historic grandeur and modern allure, The Keating Hotel offers a chic retreat, panoramic views of the city's skyline and access to the finest local cultural arts, shops, nightlife, restaurants and more. This gorgeous historic building turned posh hotel houses a semi-private social center called Sway Lounge, exclusive to hotel guests and an eclectic mix of the "Who's Who" of Southern California. Awarded the 2008 Luxury City Hotel Award by the World Luxury Hotel Committee, The Keating blends exemplary service with elegant Italian design, SoHo style and So Cal chic.
Conde Nast Traveler named Se San Diego to their 2009 Hot List! Luxury appointments include Brazilian walnut floors, Zen-inspired furnishings, bathrooms finished in Jerusalem bone and floor-to ceiling windows that open to the ocean breeze. The property's Board Room, Screening Room, Recording Studio, Grand Ballroom and six breakout rooms are both private and spacious, with soaring ceilings and expansive windows. For a sophisticated take on the typical San Diego fine dining steakhouse guests will enjoy Suite & Tender with its emphasis on the best seasonal ingredients and freshest seafood. When it's time to relax, Se Spa is the ultimate in restorative experiences with its indulgent rituals inspired by the cultural and aesthetic influences of Southeast Asia, India, Northern Africa and Japan.
The Sofia Hotel's 211 modern guest rooms are designed to reflect a comfortable, chic feel with natural influences, invoking a sense of harmony and balance. Inducted into the National Trust Historic Hotels of America for the preservation of the hotel's heritage, The Sofia is resplendent with historic charm and modern amenities including work stations with ergonomic chairs, high-speed Internet, flat-screen televisions, plush pillows and pillow-top mattresses, modern bathrooms with sparkling, contemporary bath and vanity fixtures and much more. The Sofia's restaurant and lounge space features checkered tile, chandeliers, sofas, soft lighting and artwork evoking a classy, elegant and relaxed vibe.
Reflecting San Diego surroundings, Hotel Solamar tells the story of the sun and sea - sun and sea are sol and mar in Spanish. Each of the property's 235 guestrooms and suites are artfully designed in a contemporary palette of aqua blues and chocolate browns with amenities galore. Meeting facilities include a 3,400 square-foot lobby level ballroom, divisible by three, three additional lobby level meeting rooms, a boardroom comfortably seating from 12-40 people, two 4th-floor hospitality suites and the Solamar Terrace which offers 3,800 square feet of outdoor event space. When the sun goes down, guests will enjoy Jsix restaurant and the nighttime scene at LOUNGEsix. Additionally, Hotel Solamar's EarthCare program incorporates sustainable practices at every level of operations.
We are sure you will enjoy your experiences at the hippest boutique hotels around! These charming Gaslamp properties are situated close to everything that San Diego has to offer. Allow the team at ACCESS Destination Services to design a creative and memorable itinerary of excursions, dinearounds, special events or CSR programs to balance your meeting needs during your next meeting, conference or incentive travel program targeted for San Diego.
Photos represent: the Ivy Rooftop, the Keating Hotel and poolside at Hotel Solamar.
Spice it up with ACCESS
Praline Pumpkin Pie
For the holidays try celebrity chef Paula Deen's twist on a traditional pumpkin pie as published in Paula Deen's Kitchen Classics!
Serves 6-8
Ingredients:
- 1/3 cup finely chopped pecans- 1/3 cup plus 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons butter, softened
- One 9-inch unbaked pie shell
- 3 whole eggs
- 2 eggs, separated
- 1 cup canned pumpkin
- 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
- 1/4 cup dark rum
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon ground mace (optional)
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
Blend pecans with 1/3 cup brown sugar and softened butter. Press gently with the back of a spoon into bottom of pie dish.
Blend all remaining ingredients except egg whites and granulated sugar. Pour into pie shell. Bake for about 50 minutes.
Make a meringue by beating egg whites until stiff, adding the granulated sugar while beating.
After pie has baked, remove from oven and cover with meringue. Return to 425 degree F oven just to brown meringue.
Enjoy!
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"Happy Holidays from the team at ACCESS Destination Services! We thank you for your continued support and wish you peace, health and happiness in 2010."
