July 2011 ACCESS Advantage

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Retro is In!

What's old is new again! We have been experiencing a surge of client requests for retro revivals. So, our ACCESSteams have been busy creating the latest themes from the past. There is nothing like a psychedelic '60s, groovy '70s or new wave '80s themed event to encourage busy executives or conference attendees to relax and let their hair down. Sometimes a "flashback" year or era marks the anniversary of a company's founding or a milestone and sometimes it simply fulfills the sought-after fun factor. Whatever the inspiration, revisiting the past allows guests to step back together and share a time full of memories!

Retro themes are ideal for groups that want an interactive, visually stimulating, multi-textural environment that can also set the stage for a high energy event. The iconic fashion statements of the past allow for wardrobe diversity. Optional activities are endless, from VW bug painting and bead stringing to tattooing and hair styling, guests are sure to get in the mood! Retro themes can make for great multi-generational events which evoke nostalgia with some guests and intrigue for others; "what are Go-Go boots?" Creative menus abound with retro themes; organic fruits and vegetables, fondues, gourmet cupcakes and more. Diverse entertainment options are another retro benefit, like oldies and tribute bands or DJ armed with vinyl.

Recent ACCESS produced retro events ran the gamut in looks and inclusions. "Decade of Love" featured shag carpets, lounge furniture with hand chairs, vibrant Pucci print linens, "psychedelic lighting," a high tech DJ and tasteful Go-Go dancers staged in beaded cages. Another client opted for a "Love Train" theme with oversized pop art flowers, graffiti walls, a neon Lava Lounge with bean bag chairs and tie dye fabrics. To encourage guests to transition from one event area to the next, we positioned costumed "meditating" hippies who greeted guests with "profound" statements along the route. "Disco Fever," the most recent event took the flashy, glittery route with mirrored disco balls, beaded curtains, silver sequined linens and an acrylic-lit dance floor for dancing the night away to both era appropriate and popular contemporary tunes.

Whether you are looking for a custom-designed retro revival, a flash forward futuristic extravaganza, or anything in between,rely on ACCESS Destination Services to bring your vision to life during your next conference, meeting or incentive program to any of our destinations nationwide. Call us today!        

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Palm Springs - Desert Discovery at Old Mining Camp! 

Tucked away in the steep-walled canyons of the San Andreas Fault is a unique and breathtakingly beautiful desert paradise. This hidden ranch is a world away from the golf greens, yet close to most hotel properties, and the perfect spot to experience an out-of-the-ordinary California Gold Rush theme under the starry desert skies. Campfires and softly glowing lights welcome your guests to the Old Mining Camp, a replica of the mining camps that popped up to support the fevered frenzy of early day prospectors as they panned for gold. Among other features, the camp includes a gold mine, telegraph office, stage coach office, saloon, sheriff's office and, of course, the town jail which makes for a great photo opportunity. Additional highlights include multiple stages and dance floors, two built-in bars, lighted dart boards and horseshoe pits, an old-time shooting gallery and a corral for "straw-cow roping." Guests will also enjoy a slow-cooked moonlight barbeque and roasting marshmallows over a roaring campfire while listening to a variety of country tunes, classic rock and oldies but goodies! Talk to the ACCESS Palm Springs team about some special options such as the Medicine Wagon and Magic Show, costumed gun fighters, rodeo ropers and even optional jeep tours throughout the evening. Our team has many more surprises that can be incorporated into a high energy special event celebrating the early days of California's history, so give us a call today. Our team looks forward to designing an exciting lineup of events and entertainment during your next conference, meeting or incentive travel program to the Palm Springs Desert Resort Communities!      

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San Francisco - How to ACCESS America's Cup - VIP Style!

As the countdown continues to what promises to be an absolutely exhilarating 2013 America's Cup, it's all hands on deck at ACCESS San Francisco as we design events and excursions to help chart your course through the whirlwind of excitement surrounding competitive sailing's most prestigious regatta. Working in collaboration with our ACCESS office in San Diego, host city to the America's Cup in 1988, 1992 and 1995, ACCESS San Francisco is at the forefront of creating customized events and activities to capitalize on the thrill of the 34th America's Cup, to be raced in San Francisco Bay in September 2013. This America's Cup will be sailed in a new class of 72-foot catamarans, a departure from the traditional sloops. Organizers hope the flashy, faster vessels, combined with up-close views and TV-friendly courses, will help reinvigorate the competition for the oldest existing trophy in sports. With more than a year of on-water testing and 43 days of official racing, the Bay Area will be awash in America's Cup activity for the next two years so let the team at ACCESS develop a customized program for your clients and guests leading up to the big event. The creative ACCESS San Francisco team is hard at work uncovering motivational speakers, designing America's Cup related themes and excursions while exploring all things nautical. Whether it's an America's Cup Protector boat showing your guests the course at racing speeds, a behind-the-scenes tour of one of the 15 syndicate compounds, learning about the new technology, a waterfront dinner hosted by a current or past America's Cup sailor, or the creation of a decor themed event highlighted by an actual America's Cup boat, let ACCESS bring this international sporting event to you. Talk to our team today and set sail with ACCESS Destination Services. As the wind in your sails, let ACCESS lead you to the finish line!