Gatherings, October 2016

Oct 20, 2016

Kimpton Hotels got in on the World Series excitement that has taken hold in Chicago and Cleveland this week. The hotel company’s Chicago properties delivered a goat to general manager Adam Gurgiolo of Kimpton’s Schofield Hotel in Cleveland. The four-legged gift came with the following message: “Your Kimpton sister hotels in Chicago wanted to let you know ‘They Ain’t Afraid of No Goats!’ But YOU should be. They're so confident that their Cubbies will bring home the big W for Chicago that if they don't, all Kimpton Chicago hotels will offer Ohio residents rates of $99 the month of December (blackout dates and restrictions apply). And if the reverse happens, Schofield Hotel will offer Illinois residents the same deal. Do you accept our challenge?" (For the uninitiated, the goat holds a significant place in Cubs’ lore. In 1945, tavern owner Billy Sianis of the city’s Billy Goat Inn was said to put a curse on the ballclub after team officials refused admission to him and his pet goat to a World Series game at Wrigley Field. It marked the last time the Cubs had made it to the Series until they broke “The Curse of the Billy Goat” this year.)

Apple Vacations held its annual Golden Apple Awards and Crystal Awards gala on Sept. 12 at Chicago’s Field Museum. On hand for the festivities were, from left, Mike Detrick, managing director of Adelman Travel; John Tarkowski, Apple Vacations’ vice president of planning and development; and Barbara Windish, Apple Vacations’ director of sales, Midwest & East Coast.

Guests at Apple Vacations’ Golden Apple Awards and Crystal Awards gala posed in front of Sue, the Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton at Chicago’s Field Museum. From left, April Wickey, Apple Vacations; Karen Spinelli, Apple Vacations; Deb Hofer, Apple Vacations; Teresa Nichols, Apple Vacations; and Richard Rodriguez, Alsol Hotels & Resorts.

The Results Travel National Meeting at the Hyatt Regency Orlando included a VIP reception for local chapter advocates. Among those who attended were, from left, Sandi Kolb, Results Travel eastern regional manager; Sheree Powers; Nils Peterson; Sharon Peterson; Debbie Peck; Helen Wang; Jeanne Reuter; Roger Block, president of Travel Leaders Network; Carol Shelley, Results Travel manager of franchise operations; Anne Kulhanek; Mark Degonda; Karin Viera, Travel Leaders Network vice president of sales; Jeff Webb, Results Travel’s director of regional managers; Sandi Hanna; and John Risner, vice president and general manager of Results Travel.

Perillo Tours and the Malta Tourism Authority announced the launch of Perillo Learning Journeys’ Destination Malta Programs during an event at the Kimberly Hotel in New York. Michelle Muscat, spouse of Malta prime minister Joseph Muscat, was the guest of honor at a special reception. From left, Maltese fashion designer Charles Borg; Michelle Buttigieg, U.S. representative to the Malta Tourism Authority; Michelle Muscat; Carol Dimopoulos, president of Perillo Learning Journeys; and Maltese fashion designer Ron van Maarschalkerweerd.

At the European Travel Commission event “A Taste of Europe,” travel industry and media attendees explored European gastronomy and culture. Among those attending the event at the Redbury Hotel in New York were, from left, Jennifer Andre, senior director of North American sales, Expedia; Clare Chiu, director of business development, Warwick International Hotels; Arnie Weissmann, editor in chief, Travel Weekly; Peter De Wilde, president, European Travel Commission; Steve Cohen, vice president of insights, MMGY Global; Alison Metcalfe, executive vice president, U.S. & Canada, Tourism Ireland and chair, ETC U.S. Operations Group; Eduardo Santander, executive director, ETC; and Joe Diaz, co-founder and chief product officer, Afar.

The host agency Travel Quest held its National Meeting at the Sheraton Bloomington Hotel in Minneapolis, an event that drew 135 members and featured networking between agents and suppliers and 15 classes appealing to all levels of agents.

A total of 135 travel professionals attended Travel Quest’s National Meeting at the Sheraton Bloomington in Minneapolis. Among them, from left, were Jimmie Daniels and Tyra Fletcher-Daniels of Kindred Bliss Travel in McDonough, Ga., and Beth Lee of DocBrander in Minneapolis.

Travel Quest of Albertville, Minn., was well represented at Travel Quest’s National Meeting in Minneapolis. From left, Heidi Hanson, Walter Lee, Darby Vassar, Brenda Vassar, Bonnie Lee, Colleen Preston, Nikki Vetsch, Bridget Lee and Jenifer Kohout.

Actor Jon Hamm was among the celebs who dropped by the Emirates Suite at Arthur Ashe Stadium in Queens, N.Y., during the U.S. Open tennis tournament. Emirates is the official airline of the Open. The suite is known for having a steady stream of big names visit throughout the week.

Former NBA star Shaquille O’Neal paid a visit to the Emirates Suite at the recent U.S. Open tennis tournament at Arthur Ashe Stadium in Queens, N.Y. Emirates is the official airline of the Open. The staff in its luxury suite are decked out in Emirates flight attendant uniforms.

The grand opening of the Aloft Miami Dadeland was marked by an official ribbon cutting on Oct. 13. The property, formerly the Miami Dadeland Hotel, got a top-to-bottom refit prior to the debut. Doing the honors were, from left, Mary Scott Russell, president, Chamber South; Kenneth Fearn managing partner, Integrated Capital; Donna Candreva, general manager, Aloft Miami Dadeland; Diane Rodriguez, director of sales, Aloft Miami Dadeland; investor Rebecca Johnston; and Dan Kurz, partner, Integrated Capital.

See who's Gathering together in the travel industry's social scene. Travel Weekly Gatherings showcases industry events, parties, award ceremonies, conferences, meetings, fan travel and more.

Apple Vacations' annual Golden Apple Awards and Crystal Awards gala tops the latest installment.

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