Fashion Hits the Hospitality Industry in 2010- Update

The 160-room Armani Hotel Dubai opened this past Tuesday, April 27, 2010. This landmark now stands as the world’s tallest skyscraper. This luxury hotel doesn’t come cheap; at a standing rate of $750 a night for the cheapest room.

Not only is it a luxury hotel, it also stands as an observation deck on the 124^th floor which is open to the public and welcomed its first visitors in January.

This fashion designer will not only have Versace brand as his competition in the fashion world but the hotel industry as well; Versace plans to open a luxury hotel in Dubai later this year. http://tinyurl.com/2bfwmew

Will Arizona’s Immigration Law Lead to a Travel Boycott?

Several executives in Arizona’s hospitality and tourism industry fear that the state’s new immigration law will affect this industry tremendously. The law could discourage people from visiting as well as companies holding their meetings in the beautiful state. There are several threats to the newly established law; The American Immigration Lawyers Association cancelled their meeting for this year which was to be held in Arizona at the JW Marriott for approximately 300 attendees.

Others feel “The area is well equipped for convention traffic and the number of golf courses and landmarks will ultimately outweigh any altruistic motives to the contrary,” quoted Fred Pfeifer, a business traveler from the Baltimore area who travels frequently to Phoenix. http://tinyurl.com/3yo8f76

Fairmont Hotels and Honey Bees, What a Sweet Combination!

As part of their 20 year commitment to the environment, some Fairmont Hotels have set up bee hives in rooftops and onsite herb gardens. Their goal is to have “their” bees pollinate local gardens and parks and therefore benefit the environment. As a bonus, Fairmont Hotels are going to harvest the honey from these bees and hotel Chefs will offer delicious honey to their guests from their own local bee hives. Participating hotels are the The Fairmont Waterfront in Vancouver, The Fairmont Royal York in Toronto, The Fairmont Washington, D.C., Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club, Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac in Quebec, The Fairmont Algonquin in St. Andrews by-the-Sea, New Brunswick and The Fairmont Yangcheng Lake in Kunshan, Jiangsu, China. http://tinyurl.com/2b2lg48

New, Hip, Cool and Fun: Tazmania Ballroom

Fun can be glamorous with Hong Kong’s new hot spot the Tazmania Ballroom. The long bar and gold-plated pool tables make this the place for the hip, cool, stylish party goers who like to play until the sun comes up. The billiard tables can be raised to make room for dancing or to place Ping Pong tables. If you are cool and connected, you might just get to join the party. http://tinyurl.com/yyaa2sr

Spring to Success Event: Helping Women Succeed

Meeting Sites Pro was pleased to sponsor an event aimed at helping unemployed women in San Diego. The event was held on April 6, 2010 at the Hilton in Mission Valley and supported 50 women. The event was moderated by Michelle Bartolone with presentations by Chris Rupp, CEO of PrideStaff; Althea Salas, Director of Human Resources at the San Diego Convention and Visitors Bureau; and Michelle Saul, Owner of Possibilities Consulting LLC. By all accounts, this event was successful resulting in immediate interviews, job placements, and great networking. Meeting Sites Pro sponsors at least one event per year aimed at helping our community. We draw inspiration from an old saying: "It is a great thing about life that you cannot help another without helping yourself."

Top 5 Hotels in the Top 5 German Cities

With the world’s largest industrial fair beginning in Hannover, Germany this week, some light is shining at the top hotels for some major cities in the country. The top 5 Star hotels were The Circus Hotel in Berlin, the Mandarin Oriental in Munich, the Hilton Frankfurt, the Hotel Domstern in Cologne and the Park Hyatt Hamburg. The data was a combination of reviews and rankings collected via surveys through a travel search engine. To learn more visit http://tinyurl.com/y4oasgs

World’s Sexiest Affordable Destinations

20 Hot Spots Worth Checking Out... http://tinyurl.com/ycmepwm

Europe's Best Wine Bars

If you love wine, this is for you. Travel & Leisure recently developed a best list of wine bars in Europe; whether you are sipping in Spain or tippling in Turin, there is a special spot for you. http://tinyurl.com/yacpfvp

Airline Fees May Hit The Overhead Bin

Spirit Airlines will soon be the first of the major US airlines to charge passengers to carry on their luggage. Beginning in August, the carrier will slap an additional fee of up to $45 for any bags placed in the overhead bins. Airline officials are calling this the "bring less; pay less" policy which they say will ultimately benefit customers and promote in flight safety. http://tinyurl.com/y8hqshm