Event News | "Key economic events for the week of May 7"

By: Press Release
Category: Event News
Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com

The Federal Reserve Board of Governors starts the week with a release of data on how the amount of consumer credit changed in March. Any growth in consumer credit would suggest that more individuals may be gearing up for larger purchases, stimulating economic activity.

 Analysts expect to see that consumer credit expanded by $9.7 billion in March. In February data, released last month, consumer credit grew by $8.7 billion, slower than analysts had predicted.

Wednesday

 

The National Federation of Independent Businesses releases the latest data from its Small Business Optimism Index, based on a survey of how small businesses feel about the state of the economy. The survey gauges small businesses’ plans to make new hires or increase inventory. Analysts expect the index to come in at 92.9, a slight increase from the 92.5 index reported in April. 

Thursday

 

At 8:30 a.m., the Labor Department plans to release its figures on new jobless claims for the previous week. The consensus forecast is that 370,000 people filed for unemployment during the period — a slight increase over the previous week. 

Friday

 

The Bureau of Labor Statistics issues new data on the Producer Price Index, which measures the average change in prices of goods and services.

Analysts expect the PPI data, which covers April, to show no change over the previous month. Keep in mind, however, that could mask various ups and downs in prices of specific goods. 

Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/key-economic-events-for-the-week-of-may-7/2012/05/04/gIQAYKpc6T_story.html

Event News | "Great Hotels Meeting Forums: New format proves a success"

By: Ozgur Tore  
Source: http://ftnnews.com
Category: Event News

Great Hotels Meeting Forums, the intensive trade shows bringing together meetings and incentives buyers and suppliers from around the world, is pleased to announce a brand new – and successful – format.

Operated by Worldwide Events, the first Great Hotels European Meeting Forums took place between 27 and 31 March 2012 at Boscolo Prague, welcoming two hosted buyer groups over two-day periods. The best of Prague was showcased during dinners and activities, including a gala dinner at the Lobkowice Palace in the Prague Castle. The event was sponsored by Boscolo Prague, AIM Group International, Prague Convention Bureau, Czech Airlines, Ambassador Group and Lobkowicz Events Management.

Previous Meeting Forums targeted one or two countries in a single destination, such as the France and Italy Meeting Forums, which took place in Greece in September 2011. For 2012, Great Hotels Meeting Forums are targeted to buyers from the whole of Europe, resulting in a much higher calibre of buyers. In addition, this format results in more relevant appointments due to buyers being able to choose which properties they want to meet with.

Carla Tarrida, Director of Account Management at Great Hotels of the World explains: “Changing the nature of the Forum from a single-country-focused event to a European-focused event has given us the opportunity to cherry-pick the best buyers in the MICE industry, increasing the value of each meeting for our hoteliers. There has also been an increased number of RFPs for each hotel, reflecting the added value in the change of format for hotels.”

Over the four-day period, an impressive 1,300 meetings took place between 26 exhibitors and 76 buyers from a variety of European countries. Spanish and Portuguese hotels were the largest groups among the 26 exhibitors. The largest groups of buyers came from the United Kingdom, France and Germany. Among those buyers present were representatives from American Express, Samsung, McKinsey & Company and Nike. Each supplier held 50 meetings in total.

Suppliers were asked to complete a questionnaire, giving their opinion on the quality of buyers present at the Forums. The average rate suppliers gave for the quality of buyers present was 5/6. From this data, the European Forums can be seen as extremely useful and successful.

Katerina Skouloudaki, Sales Executive at The Royal Olympic Hotel, says: ''The Great Hotels European Meeting Forum was organised excellently. The team were extremely professional, friendly and efficient.'' Claudia Ribeiro, Group Coordinator at Altis Hotels, says: ''This was my very first Forum and I am pleased to say that I have already gained great feedback from the hosted buyers present.''

Buyers were also highly satisfied with the event: ''The whole event was perfectly organised and the quality of exhibitors was very high. This is an ideal event to meet the suppliers you really want to meet,'' comments Eva Lehrke, owner of Text & Event. Terry Raynsford, Corporate Events Manager at BULL, continues: ''Great Hotels European Forum was a very good, highly interesting and productive event. I would definitely recommend it to any event manager with little time on their hands.''

Following the success of the European Forums in Prague, the next Great Hotels European Forum will take place on 25-29 September 2012 at Grand Hotel Principe di Piemonte in Viareggio, Italy. This Forum will follow the new format, scheduled over a four-day period. The Forum will be attended by luxury MICE hotels from Europe and the most influential meetings, events and incentives planners from around the continent.

 

Source: http://ftnnews.com/mice/16637-great-hotels-meeting-forums-new-format-proves-a-success.html

Event News | "Indiana Dunes State Park Memories Relived at Historical Society Event"

By: Press Release

Source: http://www.chestertontribune.com

Category: Hotels Event News

 Jim Ton wore his uniform from when he worked at the Indiana Dunes State Park when he joined Mark McKibbon and Brad Baumgardner to reminisce about the park for the Duneland Historical Society on Thursday, March 15 at the Library Service Center.

Ton worked summers from 1968 until 1973 at jobs which included gate attendant, park patrolman and campground manager. McKibbon first worked at IDSP as a seasonal naturalist and lived in the back of the closed grocery store. He was later hired as the youngest-ever assistant property manager and after eight years at Clifty Falls State Park became the property manager of the IDSP from 1985 until 1989. Baumgardner is the current Park Naturalist.

The park was about forty years old when Ton worked there and there have been about forty years since. He spoke of many changes taking place, the biggest being the removal of politics from the parks. Prior to that employees including the superintendent were appointed by the party in power.

During his time as a gate attendant admissions went from $1.00 per car to $1.25. Patrolmen carried flashlights and firearms and had arrest powers, but no radios, phones or bulletproof vests. They had to check the parking lots each night at 11 p.m. and often had to break up beer parties on the beach. An unsolved case concerned three girls whose car was found but no clues as to their disappearance.

The Dunes Park Patrol was replaced in 1972 by conservation officers and Ton became campground manager. He remembers many buildings in the park being torn down with some of the work done by Chesterton High School football players.

Uniforms for park employees were changed in 1969 to avoid confusion with uniforms worn by Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore rangers. Many employees lived in the park and lifeguards lived in the pavilion penthouses.

Baumgardner showed pictures including a park map from 1932, an early photo of a pageant in the dunes which took place before the park became a reality, people such as Governor Jackson for whom Mount Jackson is named, the pavilion and hotel. One picture showed the elegant dining room in the pavilion where guests at the hotel were served meals.

The Dunes Arcade Hotel built in 1931 was designed by John Lloyd Wright, son of Frank Lloyd Wright, and had 88 rooms. Bathrooms were at the ends of the halls and rooms were small. The arcade was on the first floor. It was torn down in 1971.

During McKibbon’s tenure as property manager the Dune Park South Shore Station opened, the park hired its first full-time naturalist, a bird tower was constructed, a new camp store was built and inmates from Westville worked in the park. He said that ended soon after one of the inmates escaped only to be captured in Fort Wayne.

He reported a good relationship with the National Lakeshore.

Gang fights in the park led to an alcohol ban and the park was closed when the parking lots filled up. In earlier years cars were often parked along the road outside the park as far back as U.S. 12.

The speakers and members of the audience recalled the Tremont entrance to the park and the nearby Duneside Inn, Prairie Club Beach House, Wilson Shelter built by the Wilson Meat Company as a retreat for employees, the Jens Jensen Fountain, the large boulder at the entrance from Turkey Run State Park which has been moved twice, work done by the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) during the depression and the Governor’s Cottage.

Ton and Baumgardner are working on locating the footprints of the cottages and other buildings from the past.

Duneland Historical Society will next meet April 19 at 7:30 p.m. at the Library Service Center when the program will be presented by author Harry Mark Petrakis.

source: http://www.chestertontribune.com/Local%20History/320123%20indiana_dunes_state_park_memorie.htm

Travel & Events | Homewood Suites By Hilton®

By : Bidur Adhikari
Source : http://www.youtube.com/
Catagory : Travel & Events

   Homewood Suites Indianapolis IN Hotel

   

 

Source : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZQ4ueQSPtA&noredirect=1