Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Bradley Cooper, BlackCloud Wines on July 27, 2010 at 6:53pm

I think the Casa Grande has a very valid and appealing option. Personally, a calm haven in the middle of a storm is a welcome oasis in the desert. (Metaphor blender at work) On the otherhand, we need to make sure all conference participants are taken care of. No one should feel left out just because of their accommodation location.

Permalink Reply by Jeannette Montgomery on July 28, 2010 at 7:07am

What about entertaining the notion of several locations and shuttles? The usual suspects (Lakeside, Ramada, etc) could team up with the unusual suspects of newer kids on the block (B&B's, Summerland Resort, etc) in an unprecedented show of unified tourism.

Rate-matching, coordinated services (all offering similar things, like continental breakfast, whatever) could introduce some of that collaboration which was so present in Walla Walla - like everyone's in on the secret.

Too soon? I think we raise expectations and encourage our community to grow into them. Strategy planning required, but anything is possible if we go about it with the glass-half-full attitude. (okay, enough sunshine pumping)

Thoughts?

~Jeannette

Permalink Reply by Okanagan Food & Wine Writers on August 3, 2010 at 10:08pm

Even for the Okanagan Food & Wine Writers Workshop, I've got two different hotel options. With a group this big, you could have various hotels and then some "volunteer" hosts at each hotel as the point person to be there at breakfast and such and be a resource person who is on site. The Ramada / Sandman / Coast groups are very eager to promote their properties. I'd go to them to set the tone on what they can offer, and then you'll have some baselines to present to other properties. Hope that helps. Jennifer