San Diego Student Wins ACOM Conference Scholarship
The Association for Convention Operations Management (ACOM) awarded San Diego State University student Whitney Johnson a scholarship to attend ACOM’s 20th Annual Conference on January 11-13 at the Westin Seattle. The scholarship program, sponsored by Freeman, North America’s leading service contractor, is in its inaugural year. Johnson, a Hospitality & Tourism Management Major and an intern at Town & Country Resort Hotel and Convention Center, was selected by a panel of ACOM members out of a pool of applicants from a diverse range of geographic locations. Criteria such as grade point average, work experience that demonstrates a strong interest in convention services/meeting planning as a career path and an insightful essay determined the panel’s decision. Johnson was given a real-world perspective on the issues facing convention services managers (CSMs) today, as well as learning from conference sessions and networking opportunities with members from across the U.S. and Canada.
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A Green Travel Plan for Everyone and Every Trip
RezHub.com has put together a Green Travel Plan that makes traveling green easy for anyone, no matter what their shade of green. What’s even better is you don’t have to camp out in the jungle or hike from place to place to make an impact (unless of course, that’s what you're into). Remember, every little bit counts and following any or all of these steps will add up to a world of change:
- Look for hotels with a “Green Score.” It’s important to support the green efforts that each hotel takes because it shows management that they’re doing the right thing.
- Offset your Carbon Footprint. RezHub offers you the option of donating a small fee to the Conservation Fund’s “Go Zero” program. The Fund's focus is on planting enough trees to neutralize the carbon dioxide that your trip will create.
- If your hotel has a sheets and towels reuse program, use it. If they don’t, start your own! Let housekeeping know you don’t need them to replace your sheets and towels every day.
- Turn off the lights, air conditioner/heater and electronics in your room while you’re out.
- Turn off the water when you brush your teeth, and take shorter showers.
- Whenever you can, shop and buy from local vendors. This helps support the local economy and submerges you in the area’s culture.
- Try to avoid the large chains that carry goods shipped in from overseas. All that shipping creates tons of CO2, and the large chains often push the locals out of business.
- Consider volunteering some time on your trip. Contact nonprofit organizations in the area and set something up before you go. Keep checking RezHub.com’s upcoming Volunteer Travel Hub, where we'll help you find the perfect place to lend a hand.
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Hilton, Hyatt to Adopt StarCite’s Small Meeting Solution
StarCite Inc., the leading provider of On Demand Meeting Management Solutions, has announced a renewed partnership with Hyatt Hotels & Resorts that includes implementation of StarCite’s Small Meeting Solution. This new capability will allow Hyatt to provide meeting planners with real-time online access to Hyatt’s inventory of guest rooms, meeting spaces and associated meeting services. The StarCite Small Meeting Solution will enable Hyatt to more effectively secure and manage smaller meetings of 50 people or less. The company also announced that Hilton Hotels Corporation will directly integrate its online small group product, eEvents, with StarCite’s Small Meeting Solution. Through the agreement, the Hilton Family of Hotels will participate in StarCite's Small Meeting Solution. In return, the Hilton Family of Hotels will gain exposure to StarCite’s growing corporate client base.
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New Global Venue Selection Company Formed
The formation of Global Cynergies, LLC, a venue selection company, was recently announced by Founder and Managing Director Pat Durocher. “Global Cynergies combines the experience of a global team to provide value-based venue selection and other related services to its clients by using its knowledge, methodologies and industry relationships in more than 90 countries,” he says. “We spent time gathering feedback from suppliers and industry professionals, added our own extensive experience and designed a company that meets the needs of everyone involved.” The Global Cynergies team will focus on finding experienced industry professionals throughout the world and provide them with best-in-class services. “Our goal is to synergize our collective efforts and activities to the benefit of our clients, the industry and each other. We are looking for collaborative relationships in the markets we operate in,” Durocher says. For more information on Global Cynergies, contact Judy Henrich at jhenrich@globalcynergies.com
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