Meeting and Incentives Forum

ALLURE recently attended the Meeting and Incentives Forum at The Breakers in Palm Beach, FL. The trip started with a visit to the Brazilian Court Hotel for the opening reception. Two days were spent meeting people from different hotels and international destinations. It was a great opportunity to “see” multiple locations without having to travel around the world! The Breakers is a beautiful, historic hotel located on the Atlantic Ocean. They have just undergone a complete room renovation. Check out the accommodations!

On the second night of the event, there was a beautiful banquet with the best dessert I’ve seen in a long time! The oversized martini glass had a layer of berries under a basket filled with three scoops of ice cream, topped with whipped cream and a chocolate garnish. Placed around the sundae are mini chocolate cups filled with various yummy toppings including M&M’s, Marshmallows, nuts, sprinkles and pralines.

New friends were made and connections flourished. We look forward to working with all of our new contacts in the near future!

Hospitality Sales and Marketing International

ALLURE was part of a very informative and interactive Planners Pannel yesterday for the HSMAI ( Hospitality Sales and Marketing International) Chicago Chapter at the Iconic Venue in Wrigleyville the Cubbybear.

Jim Grillo, CMP, V.P. Internet marketing of hereschicago was our MC and kept the floor moving with probing questions. The Panel was composed of six planners:

Jiwon Mcartney,

Managing Director, ALLURE

Kate Chandler, CMP

Director of Operations, Kuoni Destination Management

Patrick Steffes

Manager International Tourism Sales, Chicao Convention and Tourisn Bureau

Sandi Lynn, CMP

Owner, Sandi Lynn and Associates

Jill L. Angelo

Meetings and Event Services

PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP

Nicole Price, CMP

Meeting and Events Planner, American Board of Medical Specialties

founder of aroundchicago.

We discussed many topics such as how do planners like to be solicited, how do suppliers get to the decision makers and how often should a supplier call you.

I had a few favorite personal/topic questions:

Q. How do you want suppliers to communicate with you?

A. Jiwon:

" Please don't send me mailers or publications. I like to go online and read them or send it to me electronically. Filtering through our mail could be one persons career with as much mail as we recieve! Send as much electronically as you can and keep connected with us. Eventually when we get up for air, we WILL respond and remember. Send new menus, ideas and product information! If there is more than one page, then it is too much for me. I need a one-sheeter, not a 50 page manual. If you can not fit it onto one page, don't send it expecting a review or response. "

Q.How do vendors get to know you?

A. Jiwon:

"Do some research before calling us. Know my name is NOT "Mr. McCartney," and know about what we do. Personal relationships is where I find comfort. Find ways to meet my ENTIRE team and make opportunities to have an individual relationship. We attend expos and networking to filter the masses but if you want to meet us, take the extra step and make the individual connection."

HSMAI Chicago is 140 members strong and offers educational opportunities for all
levels of sales and marketing professionals. These programs range from networking and panel discussions on business trends at the local level, to conferences and seminars that touch on international travel and hospitality issues, to Webinars on specialized subjects. A great association to be a part of if you are in the Hospitality industry!

In the audience were some great suppliers such as Kristy Mendenhall with Hard Rock Café Chicago ;Stephanie Weber with One World Transport; John McHugh with Teambonding (www.teambonding.com/chicago) and many more.

Perfect "10" Promotion

Hello all,
We are in our last few days of our Perfect "10" Promotion. Our promotion started the end of July and consisted of "10" weeks dedicated to branding our Blogspot, updating Twitter and setting forth an initiative to increase our Facebook fans. We are in our last week and we have made some positive changes on all social mediums. Since we have a great following of fans, this is a perfect way to celebrate and give back! Therefore, on October 10, 2010, "10" random winners will be drawn from our Facebook fan data base. These "10" winners will be awarded "10" gifts every hour from 10:00 am-10:00 pm. We are so lucky to have such a great following and we want to sincerely thank you all from the ALLURE.

ALLURE Tours The Crowne Plaza Chicago Metro

[L-R: Erin Davidge, CMP - General Manager of ALLURE Atlanta, Vickie Biberian -ALLURE National Account Executive, Chef Alfredo Anaya and Paulette Eastman, Catering Sales Manager]

We started out tour with a fabulous lunch prepared Chef Alfredo Anaya at Dine Restaurant, An American Eatery & Lounge in the Hotel. Our gracious host Paulette Eastman, Catering Sales Manager at The Crowne Plaza Chicago Metro arranged with Chef Anaya an amazing Scallop Andouille Sausage Risotto Appetizer. Beautifully presented and perfectly balanced to start our lunch.

Next we went on to order our Entrees. It was a a tasting frenzy for any palette. Fish & Chips were done perfectly! This is NOT an easy feat. Not too light not too heavy, just right in potion and the fish was cooked to perfection! Lamb Chops & Mash Potato - tender chops and mash potato was done just right. Salmon with roasted potatoes and spinach my favorite! Balanced and light with seasoning just right without killing my entree! Every presentation was elegant and service was spot on!

I see a "comfort food" theme here...ladies?

Open Kitchen ...

And Trendy Atmosphere...

We will definitely be back for more Paulette!!

Next Paulette showed us the Ballroom Space. Space was bright, hip and trendy...NOT what we expected at ALL! This hotel is on prime location right off the expressway and I mean RIGHT off the expressway! Unassuming from the exterior but once you step into the lobby, the feel is very modern, clean and contemporary.

A pleasant surprise indeed!

The sleeping rooms were spacious, comfortable with all the comforts for a planner like desk top plug in locations to wireless services! And of course for the leisure guest they had plenty of elbow room. Not so common these days!

Do we need to show you more to say we gave this hidden gem "6" thumbs up?!

....Ok I do have to say more and it's a good one!

As planner we spend a lot of time in hotels traveling with our clients. And I don't know about you all but I am one of those that need water close by at all times. So usually I make sure I have a case of water brought in, so I have it in my room. Now sometimes due to time constraints, I don't get to bring in the water so that means...yes the dreaded crack the bottle of water that costs me anywhere from $3 - $10 per 12-16oz bottle of hotel water. For people like me who consume GALLONS of water per day...this could potentially cause a financial crisis close to the national debt. Yes I went there.

drum roll please...

So I share my FAVORITE amenity of all and I would be screaming from a mountain if I could climb it in my 3rd trimester, of The Crowne Plaza Chicago Metro...

That's right ladies and gentleman....The water here is COMPLIMENTARY and you know what? They can replenish for FREE! That was very climactic and I hope you enjoyed my share as much as I did when I found this in the room!

So this concludes our fun and informative tour of our new found gem in the city The Crowne Plaza Chicago Metro located 733 West Madison Chicago Illinois 60661 . Paulette Eastman was a fabulous hostess and we are looking forward to hosting an event at The Crowne Plaza Chicago Metro very soon!A Big ALLURE Thank You to Paulette Eastman, Catering Sales Manager at The Crowne Plaza Chicago Metro for a wonderful afternoon!

ALLURE Visit to Harry Caray's Chicago

Today we had a wonderful site visit and lunch at Harry Caray's on Kinzie in Chicago. Our wonderful host Gabi Dorsh Harry's off premise catering diva treated us to a fabulous meal. We started out with Harry's new item buffalo calamari...amazing! Dutchie's Salad - caramelized walnuts, grilled chicken, Gorgonzola, mixed greens and raspberry dressing was perfection! Never skip the dessert...apple pie a la mode and tiramisu was shared by all to finish our perfect lunch!

After our wonderful lunch we toured the upstairs event space that can host up to 180 seated 300 reception style. Did you know they can host up to 1500 guests comfortably at Harry's Kinzie location? What a great idea for a holiday party. Great food, great atmosphere, great location what else can you ask for?!

Next we jet setted via cab to their Navy Pier location. A more casual dining experience but WOW what a location! At a prime location ... right at the main entrance of Navy Pier, with a fabulous patio with a lake view, it was a typical packed summer day at Harry's Tavern at Navy Pier!

Special Thanks to Gabi Dorsch, Off Premise Catering Sales Manager at Harry Caray's Catering & Events!! You can visit her at Harry's located 33 West Kinzie Street Chicago, IL 60654 www.harrycarayscatering.com.

Q & A Session Part 3 with Jiwon McCartney

Jiwon McCartney is the Managing Director of

ALLURE Event and Meeting Productions.

What do you love about your job?

The fast pace, the different people, the challenges and the excitement of the unknown potential to go above and beyond expectations as well no two days are ever alike with this profession. It truly is a profession as there is too much involvement to call it just a “job”.

ALLURE is all about "taking care of the details," what does that entail?

We take care of the detail…so you can enjoy the moment. This means we do the leg work and manage your vision so you can experience the plans. Most clients are absorbed with making the right decisions to receive the highest compliments, attendance or satisfaction by the attendees during the planning stage. This can keep the client exhausted for months. This is the client’s job so to speak. Then to think of actually implementing it all to action is almost unthinkable after the time consuming decision process. Well that’s where we become a client’s must have resource. We take care of the details without taking over the details. We work with our clients as an extension not as the focal point. We want to make sure that your ideas and decision are kept intact as yours not ours. We will absolutely submit our recommendations to enhance or supplement but not overtake. We also help in the decision process making sure our clients have the best or the industry at their disposal to make their decision. So all in all it “entails” a lot in many different ways. Hence all clients and projects are unique as we never know how much or how little a client needs our services. This is always customized per client, per event.

Nadia D Photography

Hassel Weems Photography
Hassel Weems Photography
Hassel Weems Photography
Hassel Weems Photography
Hassel Weems Photography

facebook

ALLURE Perfect "10" Promotion Update!!!

We are working our way to be a 1000 fans strong and here is an early incentive for those ALLURE Fans who just can't wait until 10.10! Spectrum Entertainment is providing a lucky ALLURE FB Fan with 4 Lexus Level Atlanta Braves VS New Your Mets Game Tickets with a parking pass! The game is Monday September 1, 2010 at 7:10pm. We will be drawing the winner...you guessed it August 10th at 10am EST!!! Good luck and a HUGE thanks to Spectrum Entertainment!! Make sure you check ALLURE FB Page on Tuesday August 10th at 10:00am EST!

The Perfect “10” Promotion by ALLURE … to Thank our Fans!

ALLURE Event & Meeting Productions is thanking its fans by giving away “10” Perfect Gifts to “10” Fabulous ALLURE Fans on the “10^th” day of the “10” Month in “2010”! We begin the announcement with our first Gift on our list; a free one night stay at any select Marriott location in the United States to a lucky ALLURE Event & Meeting Productions Facebook fan!! That is only the beginning! We will be announcing one new Gift a week for the next “10” weeks, so check our Facebook page! Our “10” Fabulous Award Winning Fans will be selected throughout the day until 10 PM on October 10, 2010! All you have to do is become a fan and spread the word of ALLURE Event & Meeting Productions Facebook page and help us reach our goal to achieve 1,000 fans! Go on our ALLURE Event & Meeting Productions Facebook fan page and click the "suggest to friends" button to spread the word! A one night stay at a select Marriott can be great for a place to stop in for the night when on a road trip, for a romantic anniversary date, for a place to stay when visiting colleges (for both parents and students), or for that spontaneous trip you have always wanted to take! The winner may select any US Marriot location depending on availability of the property and it must be used in the 2010 calendar year. The winners will be drawn at random, so everyone has a chance to win!

Thank you to all our Fabulous Fans of ALLURE Event & Meeting Productions!!

Here's a link to our FB: www.facebook.com/AllureEandM

Lunch tasting at J&L Catering

I had the pleasure of accompanying Jiwon (Managing Director at ALLURE) and Vickie (Account Executive at ALLURE) to a wonderful lunch tasting at J&L Catering!

J&L Catering was previously owned by John & Lisa, thus the name J&L Catering. Ted Grady, an event planner on the J&L team, and Kevin Kelly, the executive chef, both decided to buy the company from John & Lisa and made it their own. With Ted's expertise as an event planner and Kevin's experience as an executive chef, their partnership of J&L Catering has made it what it is today. The most notable event that they recently catered for is the Lincoln Park Zoo Ball 2010.

What ALLURE had to say about J&L Catering:

"ALLURE loves J&L Catering! J&L reflect ALLURE beliefs in taking care of the customer as the number one goal. We believe passion and excellence go hand in hand when it comes to producing events and meetings, J&L understands that about ALLURE. The team and J&L make it easy for planners and customers to be creative allowing us to push the boundaries of catering and operations from being average to amazing! It's always exciting to sit down with the J&L team and learn the innovative things they are doing to accomodate the ever changing event world!"

We were greeted by our gracious host &

Senior Social Event Director of J&L Catering,

Scott Reichelsdorf.

Jiwon & Scott

Top : Scott Reichelsdorf, Kevin Kelly (Co-owner and Executive Chef), Kary Markey(Party Captain--pretty cool title--the person that actually runs all the catering aspects the night of an event)

Bottom: Vickie & Myself

The lovely dining area in the back where we got to taste the food!

Lovely setup of the food

Grilled chicken with black bean & corn salsa

Hanger steak platter

Chilled gazpacho soup

Mac & cheese bar!
Accompanied with bacon, crispy fried onions, grilled mushrooms, and hot sauce!
Love it!

Scones & biscuits

Upon learning that I don't eat meat, Scott asked the chef to prepare a vegetarian dish for me!
Thanks, Scott! It's a lentil cake accompanied with an olive tapenade and tomato jam!

Our talented sous chef, JR !

& now... the desserts ;)

Just chocolatey goodness

Need I say more? :)

The lunch tasting at J&L Catering was a wonderful learning experience for me because I saw firsthand how important the logistics of what's needed for any event/meeting is, and how important it is for ALLURE to maintain relationships with quality companies such as J&L Catering to facilitate the perfect event/meeting/wedding! At ALLURE we really "take care of the details" and our choice of vendors is no exception! We want, and will only work, with people that put care and detail into what they do!

Again, thank you J&L Catering for the lunch tasting and thank you Jiwon for the lovely experience! For more information on J&L Catering and their services, check out their website.