September 2007 ACCESS Advantage
- Carolyn Davis, CMP – Supplier of the Year for SDMPI
- Accolades for the Living Desert!
- The International Flavors of the Gaslamp!
- Spice it up with ACCESS
Carolyn Davis, CMP – Supplier of the Year for SDMPI
The San Diego Chapter of Meeting Professionals International (MPI) recently recognized Carolyn Davis, CMP and Sr. Sales Manager for ACCESS Destination Services – San Diego, as 2007 Supplier of the Year. Carolyn was selected from a field of 16 nominees for this award which recognizes a supplier who exemplifies the finest in the meeting and hospitality industry. She was also nominated for two other SDMPI awards, the Chapter Leadership Award and the Nancy Morrell Swanson Visionary Award. Additionally, the Publicity Committee, which she chairs, was recognized as the Chapter’s Committee of the Year. Rounding out her recent recognition by SDMPI, Carolyn was also named Star of the Month for May, 2007.
Carolyn, a 16 year veteran with ACCESS Destination Services, started with the company in 1992 when ACCESS was known as California Leisure Consultants. Her organizational skills and attention to detail earned her a position as Program Manager. Carolyn’s tenure serving clients in the Operations Department was the perfect training ground for her advancement into sales where she has successfully partnered with clients in all markets including corporate, incentive, and association to produce exciting programs of events. She enjoys offering creative suggestions to her clients while showcasing all that ACCESS and the San Diego area have to offer clients looking for a warm and inviting Southern California meeting or incentive travel destination. Says Carolyn, “I love pulling together the pieces that create the finished program. It is a talent that has taken many years to master, as not all pieces fit neatly together at first glance. You have to consider the quality, price, value, and experience achieved with every element joined together to make the perfect event and meeting program.” Indeed, Carolyn possesses a special talent for finding the “pieces” as she is constantly on the look-out for new venues, experiences and fresh twists on existing offerings. “Carolyn is such an asset to ACCESS and a great ambassador for San Diego. She is a true team player and champions San Diego’s new and exciting offerings, all with the goal of helping her clients make the most of their program opportunities while meeting in our city,” says Jennifer Miller, General Manager of the ACCESS San Diego office.
Carolyn’s dedication to MPI and to the industry led her to pursue her CMP designation which she was awarded in 2002. She applauds MPI’s excellent educational and networking opportunities and says, “Since I’ve joined MPI, I see the industry in such a different light. The organization lifts you up so that you have a bird’s eye view of how it works and who is involved. The people I have met have become mentors, clients, colleagues and friends.” In her 7 years with MPI’s San Diego Chapter she has chaired several committees and has been the recipient of several recognition awards.
In her free time, look for Carolyn to be involved in any outdoor activity whether it be sailing, hiking, sightseeing, gardening or walking her dogs. Her passion for the outdoors draws her naturally to adventure activities. On a recent trip to Austin, Texas, she tried out a ropes course with a zip line through the trees totally undaunted by the fact that it was pouring rain. Closer to home, here in sunny San Diego, she is always on the go, constantly previewing new adventures for you, our valued clients.
Palm Springs
Accolades for the Living Desert! USA Today named The Living Desert one of the “10 Great Places to go on Safari – in the USA.” Established in 1970, in the (then) remote community of Palm Desert, the Living Desert started off as 360 acres with an animal collection consisting of a kit fox, several tortoises and lizards, and two bighorn sheep. Today this now 1800-acre wilderness preserve is one of the most unique institutions in the country and stands out as the only American zoo and garden dedicated solely to interpreting and conserving the deserts of the world and it is the only zoological and botanical park specializing in just one entire ecosystem.
Major exhibitions got underway in the mid-seventies with the construction of the garden Development Center and the Mojave Garden, a full-scale replica of the California high desert where visitors could walk into a distinctly different desert. Since that time, more than eleven different North American desert habitats have been replicated, interspersed with specialized gardens, wildlife native to each region and displays on geology, geography, zoology, botany, conservation, ecology and much more – all sharing with us the story of the desert.
Consider the Living Desert for inclusion in your next conference or incentive travel program. For daytime exploration, walking tours are available as well as riding tours and garden tours. Or…experience a culinary adventure in the wilds with a private event. Whether it’s an intimate cocktail reception or a large corporate dinner function, The Living Desert has something for everyone with its remarkable indoor and outdoor settings, zoo and gardens. Allow the ACCESS Palm Springs team to introduce you to the latest and greatest function space, both indoor and out. Just a few of the extraordinary venues include:
The District Commissioner’s House, an intimate setting for approximately 40-50 guests, is located in African Village WaTuTu. Features include east African antiques and a glass wall for intimate viewing of Amur leopards. African Village WaTuTu, is a 5-acre replica of a northern Kenyan Village offering an authentic African experience with mud-walled huts, thatched roofs, amazing wildlife, petting kraal and more. With space for up to 500 seated, this venue is perfect for larger sized groups. Created specifically for special events, the Palm Garden Patio is a lush garden setting and can also accommodate large numbers. Beautifully situated near an outdoor butterfly garden, Tennity Wildlife Hospital & Reception Garden is a contemporary space featuring stunning architecture, a tranquil desert garden and an outdoor foyer. Featured in Sunset Magazine, the Irvine Patio and Wortz Demonstration Garden offers guests an elegant escape to the southwest with seating for up to 100.
On the horizon and due to open in the fall of 2008, the Steven Chase Administration Building & Reception Garden will showcase exquisite modern design, a catering kitchen and a Board Room that opens to an outdoor Reception Garden with stunning desert landscaping, water features and palms.
Check in with the ACCESS Palm Springs office for updates on how this exciting event venue is shaping up and join us on a site inspection to this undeniably unique educational, interpretative, and nature preservation center.
San Diego
The International Flavors of the Gaslamp! Once upon a time one had to travel to major metropolitan cities like New York, San Francisco, or Los Angeles to experience a wide variety of wonderful international cuisine within the restaurant community. Not so any longer! In San Diego, the past 10 years have brought with them an incredible growth period for local restaurants and bistros as they adapt to ever-changing populations, cultures and taste buds. With an influx of talented chefs to San Diego, we are relishing more and more original menu items with international flair. Practically every type of international cuisine is offered up in San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter, from Asian to Irish and Italian to Spanish with everything in between, so put your taste buds to work on your next visit to our fine city and dine “around the world” without ever leaving San Diego. Whether you wish to add some international appeal to your dine-arounds, channel or business unit dinners, offer up some fun multi-cultural options on a free night, or support an internationally themed conference event; San Diego’s Gaslamp has it all.
Take a trip to Spain and dine at Sevilla where you will savor fine cuisine and Spanish tapas while listening to dinner music showcasing the passion and romance of Flamenco, Tango and Salsa dancing. Or - visit Ole Madrid, in the heart of the Gaslamp, a unique Spanish restaurant and nightclub with exceptional cuisine in artistic surroundings. While in “Europe”, take a side trip to Italy, where multiple dining options, too numerous to mention all, abound. A few of our favorites include Bella Luna, one of the more established restaurants on 5th Avenue with a menu that spans the range of regional Italian cuisine and de’Medici, with its old world ambiance, Renaissance décor and impressive menu with selections from Northern and Southern Italy. Newer on the scene is Chianti, offering an extensive menu of traditional and modern Italian fare with everything from freshly made lobster risotto to steak served intagliata style. A few of the Gaslamp’s offerings from Mexico include upscale Candelas offering Mexico City inspired flavors prepared with some of the most innovative cooking techniques the industry has to offer; La Fiesta, featuring authentic Mexican food, both traditional and contemporary with Spanish and South American flavors is also well known for its margaritas and over 65 types of fine tequilas. Travel a little bit “uptown” to visit France at Laurel Restaurant, an upscale oasis, featuring delectably creative French and Mediterranean cuisine in a sleek, 3200 square foot sunken dining room and bar. Longing for a taste of Ireland? Cruise on over to Dublin Square, where everything within the establishment was hand crafted in Ireland and shipped to the Gaslamp Quarter. Or…consider The Field, with its warm, relaxing Irish Country Pub atmosphere.
Visit China, at Blue Ginger, one of the only area establishments to offer authentic renditions of Mandarin and regional Chinese Fare in an atmosphere of serenity. Red Pearl Kitchen features an extensive menu combining authentic Chinese/East Asian recipes with a hip, contemporary bar scene. A visit to Thailand is not complete without dining at 4th Avenue’s Rama, with its array of authentic Thai delicacies, all fresh, tasty and accentuated with spices. Award-winning Bandar Restaurant, with its well-seasoned main courses served with fluffy basmati or saffron rice is truly representative of Persia. On 4th Avenue, we also find Monsoon with traditional favorites of India including curries and lamb as well as vegetarian dishes and creative standouts.
Take a trip Down Under for some fun and visit Australia at Bondi, a trendy downtown eatery with unique open space accented by authentic, natural Australian wood, glass sea anemone chandeliers and lava rock walls. The cuisine features everything Australian including imported beers and meats.
Then, of course, we have our array of “fusions” – Latin-fusion, Asian-fusion, and American-fusion in a multitude of settings, but…we’ll save that for another story. Bon appetit!
Contact the team at ACCESS San Diego to find out how best to incorporate these and other area restaurants into your next conference or incentive travel program.
Spice it up with ACCESS
Henry’s Mexican Salad! This tempting salad recipe is courtesy of Henry “The Fonz” Winkler as published in The Sinatra Celebrity Cookbook.
Serves 8-10
Salad:
Dressing:
Prepare dressing by combining mayonnaise, salsa, ketchup and chili powder and chill until ready to use.
Toss lettuce, olives, tomatoes, onion, cheese and chiles together.
Drizzle dressing over salad and toss.
Sprinkle chips and avocado on top of salad.
Enjoy!
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“We had a good feeling about working with ACCESS during our first visit with you in San Diego…Working with ACCESS Destination Services was a highlight of the management of what Overhead Door executives and attendees have termed the best Ribbon Distributor Meeting ever! Thanks to all of your staff for making this such a successful program!”
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