January 2007 ACCESS Advantage
- ACCESS Receives Two Finalist Nominations for 2006 ADME Achievement Awards!
- Area Expansions and Renovations!
- Back by Popular Demand!
- Super-Mega Yacht arrives in San Diego!
ACCESS Receives Two Finalist Nominations for 2006 ADME Achievement Awards!
ACCESS Destination Services is proud to be named as a Finalist in two categories for the 2006 ADME (Association of Destination Management Executives) Achievement Awards. Chris Lee, DMCP, CEO of ACCESS Destination Services, for the second consecutive year, is a finalist in the “Destination Management Professional of the Year” category. Nominations were received from destination management companies throughout North America for consideration in two individual recognition categories – “Rising Star” and “Destination Management Professional of the Year”. In addition, Barb Smith, DMCP, and the Palm Springs ACCESS team received a finalist nod in the “Best Team-Building Activity” category for a custom Karting event designed and produced for a major insurance company client. More than 50 entries from companies throughout North America were submitted for consideration in 7 categories, including Best Innovative Events in 3 budget categories, Best Creative Events – Tour, Recreation and Team-Building Program and Best Logistics – Transportation.
The awards are presented by the Association of Destination Management Executives (ADME), the only professional society for destination management executives with more than 200 members in North America and the European Community. Members of the ADME Achievement Awards' judging teams will select award winners from among the Finalists and winners will be announced during a gala banquet in February, 2007 at the Westin Mission Hills Hotel in Rancho Mirage, CA. Destination management executives from around the world are expected to attend.
“Being named a Finalist in ADME Achievement Awards is an important achievement,” said Susan Henderson, 2006 ADME President. “It means that members of the meetings industry have agreed that these individuals are worthy of this special recognition. We congratulate all of the Finalists on their achievement and wish them well in the competition.”
Orange County
Area Expansions and Renovations! Orange County is on the move with exciting new developments in the area. The last quarter of 2006 witnessed the inauguration of the Orange County Performing Arts Center’s new 2,000 seat Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 500-seat multi-use Samueli Theater and an education center. This expansion is united to the existing Orange County Performing Arts Center, located in Costa Mesa, with its 3,000 seat Segerstrom Hall and 500-seat Founders Hall, by an outdoor plaza, making it one of the nation’s largest and most versatile complexes in the nation dedicated to the arts. As Henry T. Segerstrom points out, “In its cultural impact, the Orange County Performing Arts Center stands alone as Orange County’s single most remarkable achievement in its first 100 years of history. Born from the people for the benefit of its citizenry and future generations, The Center grew from a crucible of human emotional need—to provide for replenishment and enrichment of the intellect and spirit within our society.”
Within the new Concert Hall, another exciting addition, Leatherby’s Café Rouge, offers sophisticated American cuisine, and it is an ideal destination for private events. Contact the ACCESS Orange County team for information on this new location and how the facility can best be utilized for your next Orange County program of events.
On the horizon for March of 2007, the Anaheim Marriott, located next to the world-class Anaheim Convention Center, just blocks from Disneyland Park, Disney’s California Adventure and Downtown Disney is near completion of its new Platinum Ballroom. This 25,465 square foot ballroom divides into 10 rooms each and features a 19’ ceiling. The new ballroom complements over 54,000 square feet of existing conference space at the Marriott. Be sure to check in with the ACCESS Orange County team for updates on this exciting project or for your next site inspection to the Anaheim/Orange County area.
Allow ACCESS Destination Services to be your destination management company partner on your next program slated for the Anaheim/Orange County area.
Palm Springs
Back by Popular Demand! Overwhelming positive response to “Cirque Dreams”, the highly acclaimed production that garnered rave reviews from critics and audiences alike, is back for a second sensational run at the Palm Springs Pavilion Theatre. “Cirque Dreams: The Journey Continues” features a talented new international cast that blends the powerful performances of traditional circus artistry and athleticism with Broadway theatrics and limitless imagination. This extraordinary stage spectacle returns to the downtown Palm Springs Pavilion Theatre through April 7th, 2007. More than 50,000 guests enjoyed “Cirque Dreams” in its first spectacular season and, without fail, each show received a standing ovation.
Conceived and directed by Neil Goldberg of Cirque Productions, “Cirque Dreams: The Journey Continues” returns with many new artists, more original music and magnificent new acts, some of which are being premiered in the United States. The international cast of inventive acrobats, loose-limbed contortionists, stunning aerialists and sculpted men of strength, takes guests on a timeless journey. Along with the breathtaking performances that brought audiences to their feet last season, some of the new additions to the show include “Knots of time” performed on a two-inch thin rope 25’ feet in the air; “Quadruple Contortion” with Mongolian contortionists who create positions one would think not humanly possible at heights of 16’ above the stage; and “Cubism,” a new aerial presentation performed 15 feet above the stage by aerialists suspended inside a massive spinning cube.
All the while, the stage is filled with enchanting live vocals and mystical creatures donning more than 100 original elaborate hand sewn costumes. Whimsical set pieces and towering scenic elements magically illuminate to reveal an elaborate dreamscape of enchantment allowing guests to see that this new production will be the experience of a lifetime.
So…if your group missed Cirque Dreams in 2006, contact the ACCESS Palm Springs team to see about including a performance for your spring 2007 programs or to have our sales team weave in a whimsical theme throughout your program from welcome reception to a gala final night event.
For your next corporate event, contact the team at ACCESS Destination Services
San Diego
Super-Mega Yacht arrives in San Diego! In a previous edition of The ACCESS Advantage, we reported that no fewer than 3 mega yachts with capacity of several hundred guests each had chosen Southern California as home port. Now, proving the old adage that “bigger is better”, a 1,000 passenger super-mega yacht has arrived in San Diego and can accommodate guests for private events, meetings and team building events for groups up to 1000 guests. This extraordinary vessel features two magnificent enclosed decks plus an expansive sundeck 30 feet above the water allowing for 360 degree views of downtown San Diego and the Big Bay.
With so much space to work with, contact the ACCESS San Diego team, to design a “What’s Your Fantasea” Cruise where we can create completely different “multi-theme environments” on the different levels where your guests visit popular hot spots in San Diego on each deck, or…consider different continents, or fantasy locations, on each level. All in all, this vessel combined with the creative flair of the ACCESS sales staff, offers something for everyone – all on one vessel!
News from the Port of San Diego! While on the subject of cruises, we are excited to share with you that the Port of San Diego has announced the first ever, year-round homeported cruise service for San Diego. Carnival Cruise Lines, the world’s largest cruise operator, has decided to make the Port of San Diego the year-round homeport for its 2,052-passenger vessel, the Elation. The program will launch in the summer of 2007 with four and five-day cruises to Mexico. Consider this option for your pre-and post-convention programs.
Contact ACCESS Destination Services for all of your special event needs.
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