Palm Springs

The beautification of Desert Springs!  Desert Springs JW Marriott Resort & Spa, long considered a cornerstone of the majestic desert resort community of Palm Desert, is poised to become even more of an oasis icon as renovations begin on a $25 million transformation of the 884 room resort’s public areas. Progressing in stages through the summer of 2007, the makeover will bring new energy to the property, while preserving its striking views and enhancing signature elements like its popular gondola rides.

The ever-dramatic entry to the resort will be enhanced with a new porte-cochere, complete with water features framed in grand stone columns and spilling into reflecting pools of Italian mosaic glass tile.

Scheduled to be completed this fall, the 30,000 square foot atrium lobby will be centered with a 60’ bar with a glass mosaic water wall made of textured glass. Quartzite floors will be accented with oversized candles and lush planters and much more. A redesigned guest registration area siding the atrium, is designed to maintain an open feeling in the lobby. The always popular Venetian-inspired gondola waterways will remain with an expansion of the dock area allowing for docking of 2 gondolas at one time.

At completion in the summer of 2007, the 38,000 square foot Spa at Desert Springs will introduce decadent suites with private showers, fireplaces and outdoor whirlpools. The dressing areas will include a dry sauna, wet steam room, and aromatic hamman steam chamber. Innovative strength and cardio equipment along with a yoga studio overlooking the golf course are just some of the features of the new on-site fitness center. Also in the works is the new Spa Bistro, serving up delicious nutritional fare, while overlooking the pool and the mountain areas.

Planning a site inspection to the Palm Springs Desert Communities? Contact the Palm Springs team at ACCESS  Destination Services to discover the wealth of group opportunities that await you and your guests in the heart of the Coachella Valley.

San Diego

New Convention Center Hotel! The Hilton San Diego Convention Center Hotel, tentatively scheduled to open in the summer of 2008, will add nearly 1200 rooms to San Diego’s downtown area contributing substantially to increasing the number of downtown hotel rooms. This increase will allow the Convention Center to accommodate more groups and to hold two or more large conventions simultaneously.

Located across from the San Diego Convention Center, at the intersection on Harbor Drive and Eighth Avenue, this project will transform the former Campbell Shipyard site into a 30 story, 1.65 million square-foot urban resort projected to cost over $300 million to build. The new Hilton San Diego Convention Center is just minutes from San Diego International Airport, allowing for quick and economical airport transfers, and is within walking distance of PETCO Park, home of the San Diego Padres and the sizzling Gaslamp District boasting an international sampling of some of the areas finest restaurants as well as boutiques and specialty shops.

By maximizing bay views and open space, the hotel’s design complements San Diego’s famed scenic beauty and near-perfect climate. The entrance is elevated to provide optimum views of the bay from the main lobby and meeting areas and to allow guests direct pedestrian access to the waterfront, the 4.3 acre exterior waterfront park, and the San Diego Convention Center. Unlike a typical urban hotel, the plan is to make the most of the variety of exterior spaces incorporating nature and the waterfront orientation into the hotel experience. Spacious guest rooms boast spectacular bay and city views and the expansive 165,000 square feet of meeting space includes a grand ballroom, junior ballroom, pre-function space, 32 meeting rooms, dedicated conference center and full service business center. Additional accommodations will include four food and beverage outlets, including a waterfront restaurant, upscale retail outlets as well as a health club and spa.

New downtown venues, restaurants and nighttime hot spots are on the rise to accommodate the additional number of convention attendees who will be meeting in San Diego in the near future and ACCESS  Destination Services constantly monitors these exciting new developments.

Contact the ACCESS  San Diego team to plan an exciting program of special events for your upcoming San Diego programs.

The San Diego Office of ACCESS  Destination Services is happy to introduce Jenny Dietz, Sales Manager, as she embarks on her second year with the ACCESS sales team. Jenny’s previous multi-year experience in Sales and Program Management provided a parallel to her current planning responsibilities, but for the younger set, at KiddieCorp. The organizational skills and patience she cultivated in her previous work environment, answering to both clients and parents, prepared her well for the unique talents required of a DMC sales associate. Jenny’s cheerful, can-do attitude is a welcome addition to the ACCESS  San Diego team. You may contact Jenny at the San Diego Office of ACCESS  Destination Services or at  j.dietz@accessdmc.com.

Las Vegas

Art & Culture-Off the Beaten Path!  When we think of Las Vegas, we think of casinos, 5-star hotels, world class dining establishments, celebrities, and over-the-top entertainment – glitz and glamour at its best! Now, a burgeoning art and cultural scene is also making its mark on the city known as the “Entertainment Capital of the World.” The Las Vegas art scene, once confined to casino galleries along the neon strip, now extends beyond the flickering lights and into a new area, the Las Vegas Arts District. This arts hub is helping the city to solidify its reputation as a destination for art. Located at the gateway to the flourishing Arts District, Holsom Lofts, known to locals as the one time “Holsom Bread Building”, is one of the most dynamic urban environments in the world’s most exciting city. Whether you desire an ultimate shopping experience or cultural enrichment, the innovative, mixed-use, Holsom Lofts offer something for everyone with its artistic boutiques, galleries, designer showrooms, renowned restaurant and much more.

The Neon Signs Boneyard Museum is another fascinating and truly unique cultural opportunity. Located downtown at the Fremont Street Experience, the Museum was created by the city of Las Vegas to preserve, study and exhibit neon signage and associated artifacts for educational and cultural enrichment. Not only are the signs historical, dating from the 1940’s to present day, their spectacular coloration, intricate animation and sheer size contribute to their value as true works of art. Contact ACCESS  Destination Services to incorporate a walking tour of this unique piece of Las Vegas history into your next program of events.

Another different type of cultural offering is The Atomic Testing Museum, which holds the distinctive honor of being one of the first museums to take part in the Smithsonian Institution affiliates program. The museum chronicles the dramatic history of the Nevada Test Site and its contribution to local, state, and international history, portraying world history as community history through openness about the Test Site and its programs. The museum features many not seen before, first-person narratives, large iconic artifacts, environmental re-creations, theatrical devices, and interactive elements for personal exploration, presenting multiple viewpoints through multi-media presentations and stunning graphics.

Of course, while you are in Las Vegas, let’s not forget the more “traditional” museums and galleries one can find along the Strip, such as the Guggenheim Hermitage Museum, reopening this month, at the Venetian, and the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art, among others.

Contact ACCESS  Destination Services for all of your Las Vegas Destination Management needs.