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Showing posts from February, 2016

Denver Beer and Connecting with Friends

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It was day two of my press trip with SpringHill Suites Downtown Denver and Infinite Monkey Theorem Wine . We had tasted and paired the wine on day one , and now it was time to check out some more food and beer. Our schedule didn’t start until 9:30 a.m. so we got to sleep in a bit, which was much needed after the late night. We got started by all meeting for breakfast. The SpringHill Suites offers a nice hot breakfast to begin with, and the chef from the Degree restaurant next door brought us some scones and treats to go with it. After breakfast, we all piled back into our limousine to hit some of the breweries of Denver in the nearby LoDo and RiNo Art District. Even though I don’t drink beer, the tours were fun and informative as we went through Wynkoop Brewery, Falling Rock Tap House, and Epic Brewing. We then went back to the SpringHill Suites to say goodbye. Most of the group was heading home, but I decided to stay another day.

Wine, Dine and Fun in Denver

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My press trip invitation from Zimmerman Public Relations was very different than any I had received, but it definitely peaked my interest. The trip was a collaboration between SpringHill Suites Denver Downtown  and Infinite Monkey Theorem Winery. It was only two days long and it sounded like a lot of fun, so I cleared my schedule. I was one of the first to arrive in Denver, a city I hadn’t visited in a few years . It had been a while since I’ve stayed at a SpringHill Suites and this one was even nicer than I had remembered. The lobby was very warm and welcoming, as was the staff. I would learn that the staff here was especially friendly as they were all students from the Hospitality School at the Metropolitan State University. The school was right next door and there was a very unique partnership between this SpringHill and Metropolitan. Not only did the hotel employee many students, but profits from the hotel also went into scholarships at the school. T

Rock Hall and More in Cleveland

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I always relish trips with hotels and resorts because they keep the schedules light so you can enjoy their accommodations. Westin Cleveland Downtown had brought me to Ohio to write about their equisitely renovated property. I had a leisurely first day exploring and day two was about checking out a few of the top sites. I was especially looking forward to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I slept in and hit the gym at the Westin Cleveland . They had spared no expense in the remodeling and stocking the fitness studio with state-of-the-art equipment, televisions, headphones, and even water and towels. After a pilates workout, I went back to the room to shower and order my breakfast from room service. I had a yogurt parfait with lots of berries, as well as an order of blackberry pancakes. My first stop of the day was at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame , where I was getting a private tour from Director of Communications Shauna Wilson. The excitement was mou

Welcome to Cleveland with Westin Downtown

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After a major renovation, The Westin Downtown Cleveland offered to flew me to the Ohio city to write about the hotel. It had been years since I had even been there, and I was anxious to see what the city was doing in preparation for the 2016 Republican National Convention , so it didn’t take me long to accept the opportunity. It was my first time flying into Cleveland and I quickly learned that this town has its priorities straight. It’s all about the food and the music, with top chefs producing the former and music’s most famous museum hosting the latter. A sign greeted me the minute I walked out the door of the airport announcing the 2015 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee Exhibit. (The 2016 Exhibit will be up soon and I look forward to seeing it.) As much as I would have loved to go straight there, I was waiting for my ride from Christopher Moore of the Cleveland Tourism Board . I made a quick stop at The Westin Cleveland Downtown to check into my r