April 2006 » Bureau Celebrates Its 30 Years at Annual Meeting » Industry Events » Sales Update » Marketing Update » Industry News & Member Spotlight » Put the San Diego North CVB to Work for You » Stories from the Watercooler » Welcome Aboard! » Job Opportunity Announcement » Fast Facts - Travel Industry Tidbits » Bureau Contacts Bureau Celebrates Its 30 Years at Annual Meeting      This year marks the 30-year anniversary of the San Diego North Convention & Visitors Bureau. The Bureau's Annual Meeting, held at the Hilton San Diego/Del Mar on March 16, carried the theme which reflected on the growth and development of the organization during the three-decade span. Remarks by various supporters of the Bureau included those from the Mayor of San Diego, Jerry Sanders; County Supervisor, Pam Slater-Price; and Mayor of Escondido, Lori Holt Pfeiler. The meeting offered highlights of the Bureau's activities and performance as detailed in the 2005 Annual Report. Highlights from Market Research and Tourism Economics presented at the meeting can be accessed by clicking here. Awards Presentation The Bureau presented four awards to members, affiliates and clients who have contributed significantly to the success of the region:     Above & Beyond Award: Rancho Bernardo Inn     Local Hero Award: Lynn Flanagan, In Motion     Outstanding Service Award: Alan Suchodolski, ARES     Outstanding Client Award: Donny Cornuaud, Expedia.com Many thanks to our sponsors for helping to make the Annual Meeting a success: County of San Diego Chairman Bill Horn and Supervisor Pam Slater-Price, ARES, SDG&E, Presentation Services and Hilton San Diego/Del Mar. « back to top Industry Events Save The Date - Tribute to Reint Reinders Wednesday, June 14, 2006     This celebration is in honor of Reint Reinders, whose leadership has provided a lasting foundation of success for San Diego's tourism industry. Wednesday, June 14, 2006 Manchester Grand Hyatt 6 - 7 p.m. Reception 7:15 - 9:30 p.m. Dinner and Program Master of Ceremonies, Mayor Jerry Sanders Please save this date. More information will follow in May. To view the announcement, click here. « back to top Sales Update Sales Report : February 06 - March 06 Tentatives Definites Leads: 73 Room Nights: 20,826 Bookings: 16 Room Nights: 5,570 Bureau Adds Focus to Religious Market      In the effort to solicit more group business from the religious market, the Bureau attended the Religious Conference Management Association (RCMA) World Conference & Expo in San Jose on Jan. 31 - Feb. 3, 2006. Michelle Carlen, sales manager, represented the Bureau during the four-day conference, along with two co-op partners, Hilton Garden Inn Carlsbad and Pala Mesa Resort. The show generated 12 RFPs and over 10 leads for future business in the San Diego North region. Bureau Attends Society of Government Meeting Professionals in Sacramento     The Bureau, along with three co-op partners, attended the Sacramento Society of Government Meeting Professionals (SGMP) Educational Conference and Trade Show. Over 70 government and association meeting planners from the Sacramento area attended the one-day conference. The show, which took place on February 2, drew 35 planners to the Bureau's booth, generating 11 RFPs and 15 future leads. Stephanie Colby-Aburto, director of sales for the Bureau, represented the region along with co-op partners, Pala Mesa Resort, Pala Casino Spa and Resort, and Inns of America Suites. Bureau Attends Destination Showcase      Anna Wachtel, national sales manager, attended the Destination Showcase Trade Show on Feb. 16 in Washington, D.C. The Bureau, along with co-op partner The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe, generated 12 leads for the region. Over 1200 meeting planners were in attendance and traffic for the show was strong. Bureau Participates in California Travel Market Event      Michelle Carlen, sales manager, met with over 22 travel buyers at the California Travel Market (CTM) in San Francisco and Sacramento on Feb. 11-16, 2006. The show brings international travel and tourism buyers together with California tourism suppliers in an opportunity to develop partnerships. Bureau Connects with Planners at Affordable Meetings West      The Bureau generated nine immediate leads and 54 future leads for the region as Stephanie Colby-Aburto, director of sales, and six co-op partners attended the Affordable Meetings West Trade Show in Chicago on March 29 - 30. About 148 planners stopped by the booth, which was represented by co-op partners L'Auberge Del Mar Resort & Spa, Hilton Garden Inn Carlsbad, Inn at Rancho Santa Fe, Homewood Suites and Pala Casino Spa and Resort. Roughly 1,200 meeting planners from the western U.S. attended the show. California Society of Association Executives (CalSAE) Co-op Prize Donation      Partner with the Bureau in contributing a prize for CalSAE education events and special functions. By co-sponsoring a prize, your company/brand is guaranteed to be mentioned at each CalSAE function in the coming year. CalSAE is the fourth largest Society of Association Executives in the nation, headquartered in Sacramento. With over 1,100 members, CalSAE serves the Capital, San Diego and Southern CA regions. For more information on this opportunity, please contact the sales office at sales@sandiegonorth.com. « back to top Marketing Update New .travel Domain Name Registry      In the effort to maintain our members at the forefront of the travel and tourism industry, the Bureau encourages all industry partners to register their .travel domain names now. Apart from the commonly known .com domain names, which are registered on a first-come, first-serve basis with no required registration criteria, .travel will be an exclusive space for the travel and tourism industry on the Internet. Each .travel registrant requires authentication before given a domain name. Businesses that register .travel names identify them as a qualified participant in the travel industry. In addition, these organizations can be found in the .travel Directory, a free online catalog of products and services offered by .travel registrants that allows consumers to effectively locate travel information online. Registering does not mean that you must immediately abandon .com or .net addresses. But, you should apply for your .travel address now, and gradually migrate your business to your .travel address. For more information or to begin the .travel application process, please click here. Members, Give Us Your "Inside Scoop" on San Diego North      Your opportunity for elevated exposure on the Bureau's Web site and upcoming 2007 Guide is available by offering your insider's tips to exploring the San Diego North region. The Bureau is in the planning stages of a new concept for its Web site and Guide, designed to create a more "experiential" visit for users and allowing them to plan a more unique and memorable stay when they arrive in San Diego North. The new features are intended to engage users with "exclusive tips" on treasured obscurities within the San Diego North region, typically known only to locals. Receive additional exposure of your property and submit your personal favorite tips for consideration:     - What is the "best kept secret" about your property? Any little known facts or trivia?     - What is the best way to experience the San Diego North area? Favorite scenic spot to view a sunset, bike trail, hiking path, etc.?     - What is your #1 "must-see" or "must-do" in San Diego North? To submit information on these or any other topics, please email Stacy Kadrich, marketing manager, at skadrich@sandiegonorth.com. « back to top Industry News & Member Spotlight Industry News      Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa gained recognition as one of the "World's Best Places to Stay" in the January 2006 issue of Conde Nast Traveler. The 12th Annual Gold List defines the world's finest hotels, resorts and cruise lines based on data collected from nearly 28,000 Conde Nast Traveler subscribers who completed the 2005 Reader's Choice Poll.      Bob Moore, general manager of the Hilton Garden Inn Carlsbad Beach, received the "General Manager of the Year Award" at the brand's recent General Managers Conference in Houston, TX. The Carlsbad property also received the "Most Improved Hotel Award" having shown the greatest improvement in their Balance Scorecard over a 12-month period from 2004-2005.     AOL CityGuide has selected the Marine Room as San Diego's "Best Restaurant" and "Best Surfside Dining" in the 2006 City's Best program. More than 300 businesses were nominated in each of the network's 37 major markets. Member Spotlight      The 101 Café and City of Oceanside are featured in a new film on Oceanside that will appear on TurnHere.com, a web site that promotes short, fun travel films about cool places.     L'Auberge Del Mar Resort and Spa was selected to contribute to the 78th Annual Academy Awards Gift Basket. Nearly 125 celebrity nominees and presenters received an invitation for a two-night stay in a luxury suite, 50-minute caviar and pearl facial, 80-minute massage and a gourmet five-course tasting menu for two with wine pairings.      Four restaurants in San Diego North rank within Zagat Survey’s top 100 hotel restaurants in America. Making the list are Rancho Bernardo Inn’s El Bizcocho – 40; La Valencia Hotel’s Sky Room – 62; Four Season Resort Aviara’s Vivace - 66; and the Rancho Valencia Resort’s Rancho Valencia – 70. A total of five San Diego hotel restaurants are named in Zagat’s top 100 list. Rankings were based on food quality, décor and service. « back to top Put the San Diego North CVB to Work For You Members, Give Us Your "Inside Scoop" on San Diego North      Your opportunity for elevated exposure on the Bureau's Web site and upcoming 2007 Guide is available by offering your insider's tips to exploring the San Diego North region. The Bureau is in the planning stages of a new concept for its Web site and Guide, designed to create a more "experiential" visit for users and allowing them to plan a more unique and memorable stay when they arrive in San Diego North. The new features are intended to engage users with "exclusive tips" on treasured obscurities within the San Diego North region, typically known only to locals. Receive additional exposure of your property and submit your personal favorite tips for consideration:     - What is the "best kept secret" about your property? Any little known facts or trivia?     - What is the best way to experience the San Diego North area? Favorite scenic spot to view a sunset, bike trail, hiking path, etc.?     - What is your #1 "must-see" or "must-do" in San Diego North? To submit information on these or any other topics, please email Stacy Kadrich, marketing manager, at skadrich@sandiegonorth.com. Public Relations Opportunity      During the next month, the public relations department will be gathering information for inclusion in the following spring press release. If you have information that would fit this topic, please submit your information to Hilary Townsend, public relations manager, at htownsend@sandiegonorth.com.         Fall Excursions in San Diego North         Submission deadline: April 26, 2006          This press release will focus on unique ways to enjoy the fall months in San Diego North. Some ideas might include the best hiking trails, behind the scenes tours, wine tastings, festivals, back road drives, biking tours, farm and garden events, and fall foliage. Promotion Opportunities for ARES Members          Hot Deals - Members who are contracted through ARES can post Hot Deals promotions in the next issue of the Bureau's opt-in consumer newsletter, Getaway Highlights, due out in July. In addition, the Hot Deals listing will link from the San Diego North CVB Web site, which generated traffic of over 175,000 unique users in 2005.         Dynamic Packaging - The Bureau's Web site can now feature any combination of attraction tickets with any contracted hotels and distribute it as a packaged product, through ARES' new dynamic packaging capabilities. This new feature provides additional discounts and offers complete customization to the consumer. For information on ARES services click here, or call 1-800-828-0868. The 06-07 Co-op Trade Show Opportunities Are Now Available     Co-op trade shows with the SD North CVB are a great opportunity for you to create additional exposure for your business in a cost-effective, productive, and highly visible manner! For more information, contact Jennifer Reginelli, sales coordinator, or any member of the San Diego North CVB sales team at 760-603-1690, or email sales@sandiegonorth.com.             The trade show profiles are available by clicking here.             For a listing of the 06-07 co-op trade shows and sign up form, click here. Keep It North and Reap the Benefits      The Bureau offers assistance to area hotels and its displaced groups by providing alternative accommodations/meetings space through the Keep It North referral program. Keep It North is designed to keep business within the area and among members. To participate, members simply submit a referral to the sales team and also become eligible for a chance to win a trip to Las Vegas, Utah, Phoenix, Cabo San Lucas or other rewards. For information about the program and to download submission forms, click here. « back to top Stories from the Watercooler Cal State University San Marcos introduces a new home for the College of Business Administration      Markstein Hall will mark its opening on April 27 as the new facility for the College of Business Administration in Cal State University San Marcos. Designed around the theme of connectivity, the building serves as a venue to help foster interaction among students, faculty and the broader business community. The grand opening event takes place from 3 - 6 p.m. and will feature tours of the building. The program begins at 4 p.m. Click here to RSVP, or call 760-750-8555. For additional information, call Juanita Hayes at the University: 760-750-4270. Dine to Support Mission San Luis Rey      The "Mission Madness" promotion includes participation from select Oceanside/Carlsbad restaurants. Dine at these eateries between March 15 and July 15, 2006 and receive discounts while helping to support the Mission. The sale proceeds go toward the restoration, preservation, enhancement and seismic retrofitting of the historic monument. To download monthly coupons, visit www.sanluisrey.org. For additional information, contact Diane Pal at the Mission San Luis Rey: 760-757-3651. « back to top Welcome Aboard!     We are proud to announce the following organizations which have joined as new members of the San Diego North CVB: Del Mar Motel on the Beach 1702 Coast Boulevard Del Mar, CA 92014 Phone: 858-755-1534 / Toll Free: 800-223-8449 / Fax: 858-259-5403 http://www.delmarmotelonthebeach.com/      Newly renovated, this is the only motel in Del Mar located right on the beach. Beach Front Vacation Rentals P.O. Box 1454 Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067 Phone: 858-735-0381 / Fax: 858-759-0306 http://www.beachfrontonly.com/      Beach Front Vacation Rentals offers beautiful San Diego oceanfront vacation rental homes on the beach. Choose from oceanfront locations right on the sand, charming beachfront cottages next to the ocean, luxurious homes on the beach, oceanfront rental homes on a bluff overlooking the coastline, waterfront luxury condos and more. San Diego Home/Garden Lifestyles Magazine 4577 Viewridge Avenue San Diego, CA 92123 Phone: 858-571-1818 / Toll Free: 800-233-4567 / Fax: 858-571-1889 http://www.sdhg.net/     San Diego Home/Garden Lifestyles is all about how we live in San Diego. The pages contain exciting and diverse architecture, gardens, remodeling and interior design. It covers food, dining, art and travel. It profiles San Diegans, covers local issues and publishes a comprehensive list of local events. Savory 267 North El Camino Real Encinitas, CA 92024 Phone: 760-634-5556 http://www.savorycasualfare.com/     Led by award-winning chef Pascal Vignau, Savory offers pure, simple food in a casual, neighborhood setting. Menus emphasize seasonal cuisine using only the freshest products. San Vicente Inn & Golf Course 24157 San Vicente Road Ramona, CA 92065 Phone: 760-789-8290 / Toll Free: 800-776-8290 / Fax: 760-789-0409 http://www.sanvicenteresort.com/     The San Vicente Inn and Golf Course designed by Ted Robinson is a beautifully maintained course with mature, well manicured landscaping. Features 18-hole, par 72 championship course with breathtaking views, 30 lodge rooms with balconies overlooking the course and The Par lounge which includes weekly live entertainment and fine dining in the San Vicente Restaurant. DeAnne Sellers, GRI, ABR, SRES, Realtor 5850 Avenida Encinas, Suite B Carlsbad, CA 92008 Phone: 760-419-1616 / Toll Free: 877-434-6873 / Fax: 760-439-4630 http://www.deannesellershomes.com/     Internet-savvy real estate agent active in San Diego North for over 20 years, helping buyers find their ideal home and sellers get top dollar for their property. « back to top Job Opportunity Announcement Sales Assistant/Coordinator, 40 hour/week position, Carlsbad Office: Job Summary: Support our high-energy group sales office with administrative support for director of sales and two sales managers, produce reports, maintain sales office operations, coordinate non-hotel needs of definite groups, qualify inquiries, actively solicit group business through direct and indirect sales efforts and communicate with members and clients. Qualifications: AA degree in business or communications or equivalent of two years experience in a sales-related environment. Strong administrative, organizational and analytical skills along with competitive knowledge within the hospitality field a plus. Knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel and database management. Must have exceptional oral and written communications skills along with the ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment and meet deadlines. Will train the right individual with an “I CAN DO” attitude! Send resumes/questions to Stephanie Colby-Aburto at scolby-aburto@sandiegonorth.com or fax to 760-603-9570. Telephone is 760-603-1690. « back to top Fast Facts - Travel Industry Tidbits Experiential Travel Demonstrates Growth      - Growth in consumer spending toward experiences such as travel and dining have increased in the fourth quarter, while spending toward luxury and personal items have gone down, according to Hotel Interactive.      - Americans, particularly Baby Boomers (born between 1946 and 1964), seek life changing experiences that present challenges when they travel, such as a "helicopter hike" to the base camp of Mount Everest, or something similar.      - Gen X'ers (born between 1965 and 1976), are also spending more on travel and less on acquiring smaller luxure items. For more on this article, click here. Study: 87% of Luxury Travelers use Internet for Planning Travel      - Yahoo! surveyed 401 people who had stayed at a luxury hotel at least twice in the past two years, and found their average income to be $70,000 with their ages between 40 and 60 years old.      - 61% of respondents used the Internet to purchase their most recent vacation      - The breakdown of those surveyed by which tools they used to make their decision:              · 57% used general search engines              · 54% consulted online travel agencies              · 44% went to online travel suppliers              · 10% used chatboards and blogs For more on this survey, click here. Luxury Hotels Fill in Meal Gap as U.S. Airlines Cut Menus     - Many luxury hotels serving gourmet entrees in their restaurants are now offering the meals in to-go boxes for travelers facing airlines with reduced food service.     - The service allows for upscale hotels to attract repeat business and luxury travelers, according to MSNBC.     - This trend began to boom in the midst of high fuel prices and competition from no-frills carriers, forcing domestic airlines to cut costs by closing kitchens, according to industry observers. For more information on this article, click here. « back to top Bureau Contacts Cami Mattson, president and CEO Barbara Bovee, director of marketing and operations Stephanie Colby-Aburto, director of sales Debbie Mirageas, office manager Hilary Townsend, public relations manager « back to top If you feel you've received this message in error, or if you no longer wish to receive news and special offers please Click Here to be removed from this list.