Palm Springs

It's a Happy New Year for Hyatt Regency Suites Palm Springs! Hats off to this landmark property for ushering in the New Year with an eye-popping multi-million dollar transformation. The 197-room all-suite property is the only downtown deluxe hotel set on the main corridor of the Palm Canyon Drive strip and is a perennial favorite with both leisure and business travelers who enjoy the location's stunning views of Palm Springs and the San Jacinto Mountains as well as easy access to Palm Springs' restaurants, nightclubs, shops and galleries. With a sleek new design, sexy poolside lifestyle, indulgent cabanas and exquisite dining and cocktail options, the new Hyatt Regency Suites Palm Springs promises an entirely new sophistication and modern style. Davidson and Rockbridge Capital are joint venture owners of the property, which Davidson also manages.

Designed by renowned architectural firm Looney Ricks and Kiss, the full scale transformation brings new life to downtown Palm Springs' premier urban hotel with deluxe amenities and services. The property shines with an indoor/outdoor pool bar; poolside cabana suites; SHARE, a fine dining restaurant; a 1200 square-foot StayFit@Hyatt gym and state-of-the art meeting space. A complete remodel of the poolside area blends relaxing fire pits, custom made lounge chairs and a redesigned second floor cocktail deck.

Each of the renovated 197 suites boasts a minimum of 606 square feet and includes private balcony, two 42-inch LCD televisions, Hyatt's signature Grand Hyatt Bed, luxury marble bathrooms, separate living/working areas, iHome docking stations and custom-designed furnishings and art. Nine cabana suites offer guests poolside privacy plus an indoor/outdoor living space on an expanded outdoor terrace outfitted with overhead ceiling fan and lounge furnishings. Hyatt Regency Suites Palm Springs blends the best of all worlds - an urban setting with deluxe amenities and a luxurious retreat with business-friendly facilities, new meeting rooms and superior banquet facilities.

Sound good to you? We know you will be thrilled with the property, the views and the fabulous location. We are! Within two blocks of the hotel are four theaters, art museums, plenty of nightlife, over 40 restaurants and much more! The Palm Springs Convention Center is within four blocks and Palm Springs International Airport is a short five minutes away. The ACCESS Palm Springs team looks forward to showcasing all of the many program options available for you to include during your next conference, meeting or incentive travel program targeted for the Hyatt Regency Suites Palm Springs or any of the outstanding properties in the Desert Resort Communities. Call us today!

Los Angeles

Turning Up the Heat in Hollywood! While downtown L.A. has been in the spotlight lately with its new L.A. Live complex, Hollywood's place as an "in" destination is firmly cemented - and not just with celebrity handprints! For a group looking to experience the star power of Los Angeles, Hollywood is the place to be. Celebrity spotting is still a major avocation of locals and visitors alike and Hollywood's Kodak Theatre is now the permanent home of the legendary Academy Award ceremonies and, in 2011, will be the location for a brand new Hollywood-themed Cirque du Soleil extravaganza. Transformed over the past few years with major developments such as the Hollywood & Highland Center, new hotel properties, and re-invention wizardry Hollywood rolls out the red carpet in style for L.A.-bound meeting, conference or incentive travel groups.

Celebrity buzz with the aura of "Oscars Night" has always been an area draw. The Hollywood Walk of Fame, one of the most popular Hollywood destinations, continues to be a much-visited attraction and now guests can get up close and personal with their favorite stars at the new Madame Tussaud's - a $55 million complex, featuring more than 100 celebrity waxworks including the gravity-defying likeness of Joan Rivers, A-listers like Jennifer Lopez and Meryl Streep, and old Hollywood icons such as Charlie Chaplin.

Additional Hollywood happenings include:

Hotel News:
The W Hollywood Hotel, located at Hollywood and Vine, is scheduled to open at the end of January with 305 guestrooms, function space, an exquisite restaurant, and a rooftop lounge as part of a new mixed-use project. W Hollywood combines eco-conscious construction with stylish design, luxury finishes, dramatic views, modern art and premium services. Attractions include the multi-level signature nightlife venue from Victor Drai, Drai's Hollywood, and Bliss - the hottest spa in town.

Attraction Updates:
Just Announced: The first U.S. Rolling Stone venue will open at L.A.'s popular Hollywood and Highland Center in the summer of 2010. Ideally situated, the multi-level Rolling Stone space will encompass more than 10,000-square feet and serve as an exciting blend of equal parts restaurant, bar, lounge and upscale special event space. The venue will reflect the progressive timelessness for which Rolling Stone is known.

The Hard Rock empire, famous for its music memorabilia collection, will also be setting up shop at Hollywood and Highland with Hard Rock Cafe Los Angeles, situated among some of the country's most famous attractions including the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Grauman's Chinese Theatre and the Kodak Theatre. The 500-seat cafe and state-of-the-art venue encompassing more than 20,000 square feet of space will include spacious seating, a live concert area and a Rock Shop featuring Hard Rock's limited-edition merchandise and rock' n' roll memorabilia.

The venerable Hollywood Palladium, where Frank Sinatra once welcomed a cheering crowd on opening night while Jack Benny, Judy Garland and Lana Turner looked on, was recently renovated with a host of modern day amenities including recessed LED lighting with 20,000 possible accent colors, wheelchair ramps, a movable stage, steel rigging for elaborate concert productions and more - making the Palladium a 21st century venue for concerts, broadcasts and special events.

Things are happening over at Universal! The new state-of-the-art Jon Lovitz Comedy Club features live stand-up comedy by some of the hottest national headlining comedians. The club's three floors open to a perfect view of the stage. This past June, Universal Studios welcomed "The Tonight Show Starring Conan O'Brien" to a newly constructed soundstage at the studio where O'Brien quickly established a lively presence on the Universal Studios lot. Coming Soon: A new 4-D multi-sensory King Kong attraction will be introduced this summer as a new signature attraction for Universal Studios Hollywood. This new attraction will combine thrilling visceral effects with the world's largest Surround Digital projection system to create a next-generation theme park experience. Ask the ACCESS Los Angeles team about the "VIP Experience," which provides exclusive behind-the-scenes access to working soundstages and famous movie and TV sets.

Clubs:
There is nothing like the ever-evolving Hollywood nightclub scene. New hot spots pop up overnight and others are re-invented or "re-imagined" on a regular basis, so there is always something for everyone. The ACCESS Los Angeles team will keep you updated with the scoop on new clubs and can expertly target the best special event environment for your destination management needs.

Highlighting a few of the new hot spots, we have Halo, which captures the essence of old Hollywood in a contemporary setting complete with garden patio, retractable roof, multiple VIP areas and private room. H Wood is a bi-level, loft-like speakeasy constructed of antique and reclaimed materials and features patios, an espresso bar, and a buy-out capacity for hundreds of guests. New for nightclub impresario David Judaken are My House and the soon-to-open My Studio. My House is fashioned after a "modern-day dream house," with a full-on kitchen serving as the main bar (complete with the aroma of freshly baked cookies), a formal dining room, and a sunken living room that transforms into the dance floor. My Studio will include plenty of private areas, a DJ booth and more. The "MY" venues join the hit parade featuring his other celeb-heavy clubs Opera Crimson Hollywood (two side-by-side clubs with combined 10,500 square feet of space.) Marbella is a new "it" spot and offers tapas, a 4,000 square foot patio and a gorgeous interior interestingly combining the best of Spain and the Roaring Twenties. Bardot has replaced Spider Club atop Avalon Hollywood as a glam Art Deco '20s inspired club where celebrities often play DJ. The Kress is an upscale dining and entertainment venue with a full service restaurant; a basement level lounge with live entertainment, a third level banquet and event center, live entertainment and dance floor; and a spectacular rooftop lounge complete with cabanas and a 360-degree view of Los Angeles - including the iconic Hollywood sign. And, there are more...Check with the ACCESS Los Angeles team who know all the ins and outs of space considerations and buy-out logistics and who will design a red-carpeted Hollywood event for your next meeting, conference or incentive travel program.

Photos represent: Guestroom at the new W Hollywood, the renovated Palladium on its premier opening night, and the Rooftop Patio at The Kress.

Spice it up with ACCESS

Hung's Chocolate Pie with Bananas
If you haven't given up the calories as a New Year's resolution, you will love Hung Huynh's (Top Chef Season 3 contestant) special chocolate pie as published in "TOP CHEF The Quickfire Cookbook!"

Serves 8

Ingredients:

- 6 ounces dark chocolate, finely chopped
- 1 cup heavy cream, whipped to stiff peaks
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
- 3 eggs
- One 9-inch frozen piecrust, thawed
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 4 bananas, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch slices
- 1/2 cup dark rum, such as Myers
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Directions:

Melt the chocolate in a double boiler or metal bowl set over, but not touching, simmering water in a saucepan. Remove from heat and fold in the whipped cream.

Stir the water and granulated sugar together in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook, without stirring, until the mixture registers 325 degrees F on a candy thermometer and is syrupy, about 8 minutes.

In a stand mixer, beat the eggs on high speed until frothy. Add the sugar mixture in a gradual stream while the machine is running. Whip until stiff. Fold the egg mixture into the chocolate mixture, cover, and refrigerate for 1 hour.

Preheat an oven to 375 degrees F. Bake the piecrust until golden brown, about 15 minutes. Cool to room temperature on a wire rack.

Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the bananas, rum, brown sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon. Cook until the bananas soften and the liquid thickens, about 5 minutes.

To assemble, fill the cooled piecrust with the chocolate mixture. Top with the bananas, spreading them evenly to the edges of the pie. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving.

Hint from Hung on buying chocolate:

When baking with chocolate, always buy the best quality you can find. The percentage of cocoa is not necessarily the best indicator of how chocolate will taste when baked. Look for the following indicators of quality: glossy sheen to surface, a crisp snap when broken, and a rich cocoa fragrance. Find a brand you trust.

Enjoy!