March 2011 ACCESS Advantage
- ACCESS honored as 2011 Event Solutions "Event Company of the Year!"
- Surf's Up!
- What's New at the Living Desert!
Contact the team at ACCESS Destination Services for all of your destination management requirements throughout the western USA.
ACCESS honored as 2011 Event Solutions
"Event Company of the Year!"
ACCESS Destination Services was recently recognized as "Event Company of the Year" during Event Solutions annual Spotlight Awards gala at Meet Las Vegas. The prestigious Spotlight Awards honor and celebrate event professionals as well as companies for their exceptional body of work throughout the year. The award for "Event Company of the Year" is presented to an event company that displays an outstanding ability to organize, manage and execute events for all types of clients. The team at ACCESS is proud to be recognized for excellence in destination management and event production services worldwide.
Finalists were selected from over 600 nominees from around the world; the top 10 in each of 15 categories were then named as finalists. Each finalist submitted an online portfolio of events for an industry-wide voting process to determine the winners in each category. Portfolio events submitted by ACCESS included an out-of-the-box surprise dinner on Alcatraz Island for 28 well-traveled VIPs, a CSR event for a Fortune 500 company on the flight line of an active military base, and a "California Blues" "afterglow event for 300 owners of privately-held companies.
The 2011 Spotlight Award winners were announced and presented with their trophies at the Spotlight Awards Event in Las Vegas during the Event Solutions Idea Factory. On hand to accept the award for ACCESS was Chris Lee, DMCP, Chief Executive Officer of ACCESS Destination Services who stated, "We are honored to be recognized as "Event Company of the Year" by our clients, hotel partners and industry colleagues. This is a reflection of our creative, talented and dedicated team members in every ACCESS office!"
Contact the team at ACCESS Destination Services for all of your destination management and event production requirements throughout the western USA.
Surf's Up! When an insurance client set her sights on hosting a beach party at a historic coastline State Park she knew the ACCESS Orange County team would make it happen! Wading through the often tedious processes involved in park permitting can be discouraging to many, but the ACCESS sales and operations team jumped right in and secured the unique space for our client's 200 guests in record time.
This beachfront venue, located in a historic district is reminiscent of a 1930's seaside colony beach resort with quaint, cozy cottages peppered along the breathtaking beach and up against the bluffs. Over twenty of these cottages have been authentically restored to reflect the era between 1935 and 1955 providing the perfect backdrop to a fun, retro beach event!
The look this evening was classic "surf style" with bamboo-lined walkways, oversized surfboards, market umbrellas, beach games, tiki torches and palms. Added to the picture were simple, natural components such as nature-toned linens, wood chairs and clean line cylinder centerpieces with sand, shells and floating candles. Five-globe street lamps added to the nostalgic atmosphere as did an acoustic beach band with all the favorite surf tunes. Following cocktails and dinner, an "afterglow" area, located atop the bluff, featured an acoustic guitar, a specialty dessert table illuminated by overhead Tivoli lights and a Southern California sunset.
As wintertime weather across much of the country turns the attention of planners to sunny, Southern California for upcoming programs, count on the team at ACCESS Orange County to make your beach events or any events the talk of your conference, meeting, or incentive travel program
What's New at the Living Desert! For almost four decades the 1800-acre Living Desert, located in sun-kissed Palm Desert, has been engaged in the important work of preserving, conserving and interpreting the desert and all its varied plant and animal life and has continued to be a favorite attraction of the ACCESS team for inclusion within conference, meeting, and incentive travel program itineraries for both daytime excursions and evening events. Here guests will discover over 450 fascinating animals and acres of lush botanical gardens on their very own private safari! Favorite features include: the Cahuilla Indian Gardens; Eagle Canyon, where subtropical desert scrublands meet temperate forested mountains; the Wildlife Wonders Show; and Village WaTuTu, an authentic replica of an African village.
New features and exhibits are added to this extraordinary attraction on a regular basis and we are happy to share the news with you. Late this past year, the Miriam U. Hoover Discovery Center opened to rave reviews. Here guests will discover how sun, wind, sand, and only a little water work together to make the Coachella Valley such an amazing desert. Another new feature is a once-in-a-lifetime experience - camel rides in the desert! Here, with their own personal camel drivers, guests will leave the shade of the date palms for a ride through the Sonoran desert! Check with the team at ACCESS Palm Springs for details on this exciting new offering.
What's on the horizon? Jaguars and more jaguars! The Living Desert will premiere the new Jaguar exhibit in April. This exhibit represents the type of habitat where one would find jaguars in the wild, where the Sonoran desert meets the tropical deciduous forest of southern Sonora.
Sound exciting? We think it is, especially the camel rides! Talk to the team at ACCESS Destination Services Palm Springs about how to incorporate The Living Desert into your next program targeted for the Palm Springs Desert Communities.
Cookin' with ACCESS
George's at the Cove Smoked Chicken, Broccoli, Black Bean Soup
This tasty soup dish is one of the ACCESS team's all-time favorites!
Serves 4-6
Ingredients/Soup:
- 1/2 C Unsalted butter
- 1/2 C Diced carrots
- 1/2 C Diced onions
- 1/2 C Diced celery
- 1 C Broccoli stems, peeled & diced
- 2 t Dried thyme
- 2 t Dried oregano
- 1 t Dried sweet basil
- 1/4 C Dry white wine
- 4 C Chicken stock, hot
- 1 T Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 t Tabasco sauce
- 1 C Cooked black beans
- 1 C Broccoli florets
- 2 C Heavy cream
- 2 T Cornstarch mixed with a small amount of warm water (optional)
- Salt and ground black pepper, to taste
Ingredients/Soup:
- 1 C diced, smoked chickenDirections/Soup:
In 1/4 cup butter, saute carrots, onion, celery and broccoli stems for 5 minutes. Add thyme, oregano and basil; saute 5 minutes more. Add wine and deglaze pan. Add hot chicken stock and reduce by one-third. Add Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco sauce, smoked chicken, beans, broccoli florets: simmer for 5 minutes. Add cream, simmer for 5 minutes more and season to taste (thickening with cornstarch is desired). Drop in remaining butter, piece by piece, stirring until melted and serve immediately.
Directions/Chicken:
On a covered grill, slightly smoke boneless chicken until fully cooked (about 30 mins.) George's Chef uses apple wood chips and does not allow the grill to become too hot.
Enjoy!