June 2011 ACCESS Advantage
- ACCESS Destination Services is Expanding Nationally!
- Urban Street Fair - On the Roof?
- Destination L.A. - Beach Match!
Contact the team at ACCESS Destination Services for all of your destination management requirements throughout North America.
ACCESS Destination Services is Expanding Nationally!
ACCESS Destination Services is proud to announce that the company is expanding nationally in conjunction with industry veterans Phil Lehman of Experience Florida and Gary W. Marr of Chicago based Eved Services. Both companies will be aligned under the ACCESS Destination Services brand along with the existing six ACCESS offices.
Founded in 2002, Experience Florida has operated thousands of successful client programs and events under the direction of founder Phil Lehman, co-owner Susan Van de Bogert and their long-time management team J.B. Ryan and Jeff Nelke. Lehman has more than 15 years of experience as a DMC owner and expertise in overall management and client relations with a focus on complete customer satisfaction and program success. Phil and Susan will continue as owners of the newly branded ACCESS Florida.
"We wanted to align with a company whose values, service levels and standards match ours," says Lehman. "The ACCESS brand stands for excellence and innovation throughout the industry, just as Experience Florida has in the Southeast region."
Under the direction of Gary Marr, the former Eved Services has been the fastest growing DMC in Chicago for the past eight years and has been featured on the Inc. 500 list and in The Wall Street Journal, Business Week and Forbes Magazine. In addition to being a Certified Meeting Planner and Learning Environment Specialist, Marr has over 30 years of experience in hotel, special event and meeting management. Prior to joining ACCESS, Marr was Senior Director of Catering with Hyatt Hotels and Resorts, where he directly operated Chicago's largest convention hotel as well as conducted training nationally for Hyatt.
"ACCESS is the perfect path for our destination management company to continue to grow and better service clients and hotel partners nationally," said Sam Mashiach, Co-Founder of Eved Services. "We are very excited to be a part of the ACCESS brand, adds Marr. Independent of ACCESS Chicago, Talia Mashiach, will continue as CEO and Founder of Eved, an online meeting and event marketplace.
Chris Lee, DMCP, Chief Executive Officer of ACCESS Destination Services expresses, "These partnerships expand our ability to deliver long-term value to our clients and industry partners across the country as we continue to expand into destinations where clients say they want us to be."
Click here to read about the exciting ACCESS Chicago and ACCESS Florida destinations and to find out what's hot and new in those locales! Contact us today to take advantage of our wealth of experience and creativity when planning your next conference, meeting, or incentive travel program targeted for any of the ACCESS Destination Services locations!
Urban Street Fair - On the Roof? Who needs a street to have a street fair? Not the ACCESS Orange County team, especially when there are two perfectly good rooftops at our disposal. Our corporate client needed to keep her guests on-property but desired the "off-property feel" of an edgy street festival for their energetic evening.
Outdoor sights and sounds, such as those experienced during urban street fairs, are key elements to creating the right buzz, so a ballroom was not the optimum choice for location. A rooftop couldn't be further from the street but the hotel's roof was available. Would it work? Design challenges included service elevators not meant for large decor and how to ensure a logistically sound and cohesive event on two separate rooftops connected by a covered hallway, but our team remained undaunted.
Service elevators not intended for moving large decor components? No problem! Our team worked closely with our hotel and supplier partners to incorporate decor components that were specially "re-sized" to fit the property's elevator dimensions. We designed the event so that two separate rooftops provided flow-promoting and contrasting environmental quadrants which included the "Chill Zone" with ice bar, cool-toned glow furniture and an awesome chainsaw ice carving act; "Roadhouse Row" with hi-tech metal decor and bars, gravity-defying breakdancers, a rousing roadhouse band and a host of interactive entertainers. The "End Zone" featured, you guessed it, Monday Night Football on the big screen in the sports bar area which also included pool tables and other games. Limited availability of power necessitated a creative plan for use and distribution in order to accommodate both creative and functional event needs. No matter which deck environment, the ingredients for success remained the same on both - quick access to drinks and food and a variety of main stage acts and interactive entertainers - all rotationally timed to ensure even distribution of guests between both decks throughout the evening. Talk to the ACCESS team for further description of additional inclusions including specialty furniture, themed lighting, dueling DJs, master illusionists and much more.
Whether you are "taking it to the streets" or in need of an on-property theme environment, the team at ACCESS Orange County will work with you to design creative and high quality events based on your budget, needs and desires. Call us today!
Destination L.A. - Beach Match! Wish you could combine L.A. glitz and big city glam with beach-oriented activities but think that the beach is too far from L.A.'s chic urban properties? The ACCESS Los Angeles team is here to show you that you don't need to choose glam over sand because L.A. offers up the best of both worlds. Talk to our team about building your next program around a "Glam to Sand" theme, incorporating the glamour and energy of Los Angeles with many waterfront activities and venues on, or situated around, our local beaches and bays. No matter what hotel you select there is a beach just 30 minutes or less west of that property. What's your next Destination L.A. Beach Match?
Based upon your group demographics and destination within the Greater Los Angeles Area our team will make a beach match for you from among the popular L.A. beaches. From north to south those beaches and marinas, and some of their claims to fame, include:
Malibu: One of the more famous of L.A.'s beaches and home to many celebs and movie stars, Malibu features activities and venues including "Malibu Family Wine Tasting," "Dine Around on the Sand," the spectacular Getty Villa and easily accessible private estates.
Santa Monica: Santa Monica offers not only the famous Santa Monica Pier, but beach shopping galore with such options as the 3rd St. Promenade and the brand new Santa Monica Place (home of the Charter Southern California Bloomingdale's). Biking the strand is also an option as is "Beach Butler," the Annenberg Beach House and much more!
Marina Del Rey: Here at the Marina your guests will enjoy unparalleled sailing opportunities as well as the opportunity to enjoy dining while cruising the sparkling waters of the largest private yacht harbor in the world.
Manhattan Beach: The wealthy enclave of Manhattan Beach (the real life location for the filming of The O.C.) is renowned for its beach volleyball, surfing, biking opportunities and unparalleled restaurants perfect for dine-arounds. Hitting the Manhattan Beach boutiques is also a popular past-time for locals and groups alike.
Hermosa and Redondo Beaches: Biking, kayaking and sport fishing are popular activities here and the Zagat-rated gastropubs are among the best in L.A.
Palos Verdes Peninsula: This former location of the first Marineland is now the home to L.A.'s premier oceanfront resort, Terranea. Area excursions include kayaking, golf at Trump National, hiking, horseback riding, yoga on the cliffs, photography tours and more. Guests will also enjoy visiting historic Hollywood haunts such as LaVenta with its breathtaking ocean views.
Long Beach Harbor: Here we find the historic ocean liner, The Queen Mary and The Aquarium of the Pacific, both great locations for receptions and tour activities. The harbor is also the perfect spot for sailing regattas, dinner cruises, and whale watching as well as dining at award-winning oceanfront restaurants.
While we're on the theme, enjoy some Beach Trivia courtesy of the ACCESS Los Angeles Team:
Trivia: Which beach was named after a famous city on the East Coast?
Answer: Manhattan Beach was named after Manhattan, NY by the original land owner who wanted to name it after his hometown.
Trivia: In which beach city was the first Miss Universe pageant held?
Answer: Long Beach
Trivia: In the 1920's Hawaiian developers purchased much of the sand on Waikiki Beach from which beach town whose sand dunes created a major problem for area construction?
Answer: Manhattan Beach
Now that we've covered the "sand" with some beach and water activity options, contact the team at ACCESS Los Angeles about incorporating the "glam" for the perfect "Glam to Sand" theme during your next conference, meeting or incentive travel program targeted for the Greater Los Angeles area.
Cookin' with ACCESS
Tofu Marinara
This recipe is a favorite of acclaimed actor, director and producer Ron Howard as published in The Hollywood Cookbook.
Serves 4
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 1/2 pound firm tofu, sliced into 4 pieces
- 1 large can (32 ounce) crushed tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1 teaspoon Italian parsley
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1/2 cup red wine, optional
- 1 box spaghetti cooked al dente (or 1 medium spaghetti squash, halved and seeded and roasted.)
Directions:
In a medium pot, heat oil over medium heat. Saute the garlic and 1/2 of the onion. Add the tofu and cook for a few minutes, browning slightly. Remove tofu from pan and set aside.
Add tomatoes to pan. Add the herbs, remaining onion and season with salt and pepper. Add wine if you want. Cook for 15 minutes and then return the tofu to the pan. Cook for another 15 to 20 minutes.
Cook pasta until al dente. Divide pasta on plates and cover with sauce and tofu.
If desired, you can replace spaghetti with spaghetti squash. Place squash halves cut side down on a cookie sheet and cook for 30 minutes, until tender. Remove from heat, cool and scrape out flesh with fork. Divide on plates as you would spaghetti.
Enjoy!