A big Congratulations goes out to the Orchard Garden Hotel for being named as a finalist in the first annual Northern California Meetings + Events Best of 2010 Readers’ Choice Awards.

The Readers’ Choice Awards honor outstanding venues, attractions and suppliers in the meetings and events industry in the Northern California region. The Orchard Garden is a finalist in the category of “Best Boutique Hotel with Meeting Space”.

Winners will be announced at an awards event which will be held on Thursday, October 7^th at the Craneway Pavilion in Richmond. Following the award announcements, party attendees will be the first to see the fall issue of Northern California Meetings + Events Magazine, which will be featuring all the award winners.

Please follow up with an update to this posting.

Click here to find out more about the Orchard Garden Hotel or to know more about the awards night with Northern California Meetings + Events click here!

If you are a wine connoisseur then make your way over to the Golden State because September is the California Wine Month!

 Monterey’s Spindrift Inn has created an exclusive “Sea Breeze Sipping” package in conjunction with award winning Scheid Vineyards. This one night wine-lovers package includes romantic oceanfront or Cannery Row views, a welcome bottle of Scheid’s 07 Pinot Noir, two complementary tasting passes at Scheid’s Cannery Row Wine Lounge, and continental breakfast delivered in-room on a silver tray each morning.

Available only in the month of September, the package starts at $199 for Cannery Row views and $269 for ocean views. Click here to book this special.

Come spend Labor Day weekend at the Harvest Inn! Escape this season and uncover their Labor Day Harvest special! They will make the arrangements for your winery visits and can even arrange to shop your wine home for you!

This package includes two nights in a King Fireplace room, complimentary Wine Country Breakfast each day, two complimentary wine tastings for two, a Wine Country “Welcome Basket” with wine, chocolates, olive oil, and snacks, plus complimentary wine and cheese tastings on Friday and Saturday in their Great Room. After a day of tastings, stroll through upscale boutiques in the charming St. Helena. Come out to Napa country and enjoy the well- honed art of food pairings in one of the many restaurants before retreating to the relaxation, renewal, and rejuvenates of your guest room! Click here for more information regarding this Labor Day package!

Summer’s coming close to an end and your children are getting ready to go back to school. Have you dipped your toes in the ocean yet? The Inns of Monterey can fix that when you reserve their “Stretch Out Summer” special. Book by August 18^th to take advantage of these special rates from August 22^nd till September 2^nd!

The Inns of Monterey consists of the Spindrift Inn, Monterey Bay Inn, and Victorian Inn all ranging in different prices. You will have to book the Spindrift Inn from a Sunday through Thursday with their Cannery Row view room which starts at $149 per night or their Ocean view room’s starts at $239 per night. Book now or call 800-841-1879.  When booking the Monterey Bay Inn from a Sunday through Thursday with a Harbor view room start at $189 per night and their Monterey Bay view rooms start at $219 per night. Book now or call 800-424-6242. The Victorian Inn rooms from a Sunday through Thursday start at $109 per night. Book now or call 800-232-4141.  Friday and Saturday nights for all three properties are available for $40 more.

Hurry and book, so you will be able to sink your feet into the white sandy McAbee Beach, which is great for sun bathing, kayaking, swimming or tide pooling. If it is your first time to Monterey you will want to head downtown to Fisherman’s Wharf, which is a great place to take in the sights, sounds, and smells of Monterey. Before summer comes to end take the family on a last minute vacation!

This Saturday stop by the Hyatt Regency Woodfield-Schaumburg for their Second Farmers Market! They will be showcasing local farmers, artisans, organic wines and cooking demonstrations by Chef Hagop Hagopian of 1800 Fresh Restaurant.

The first farmers market was a great success with a variety of items to choose from. A few of the local vendors that showcased their work was Distinctive Green Interiors, Lime Rock Brown Swiss Chess, Earthangle Soaps & Such, Betsy’s One of a Kind- Custom Designed Costume Jewelry, Gigi Hill Bags & Cookie Lee Jewelry, and Home Grown Cards to name a few. There will be only two left this summer which one will be this weekend along with the last one held on September 4^th.

 This Saturday there will be many more vendors attending and you will want to savor this Saturday and head out to the Hyatt Regency from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.  

For more about this event click here or to find more out about the Hyatt visit their homepage!

This summer, families are getting together and vacationing in Monterey, while creating many memories that will last with them forever! The Victorian Inn’s “Summer Memories” package combines a terrific rate along with a custom-designed scrapbook kit to record the fun!

“Summer Memories” includes a room with two double beds that can fit two adults and two children, a hearty continental breakfast each morning and an evening wine, lemonade and cheese reception. The custom-designed scrapbook kit includes an Endless Summer themed album, along with a disposable camera, blunt scissors, glue stick, pen and scrapbooking tips. The album features 18 pages of various summer and beach designs, 60 stickers and lots of embellishments that will sure bring out the creative side in all families.

The “Summer Memories” package starts at $199 per night and is available through September 6, 2010. Two- room family suites are also available with this package starting at $ 299 per night. The family suites include an adjoining full-size living room with queen and twin sofa sleepers and kitchenette equipped with a microwave, cutlery and dishes.

For more information and reservations please call 1-800-232-4141 or click here.

This summer the Hyatt Regency Woodfield Schaumburg will host three Farmer’s Markets, which will be held July 24^th, August 7^th, and September 4^th. The Hyatt will be kicking off at 10am all the way till 3pm, and will be showcasing local farmers, organic wines, handmade soaps, and other local artisans.

Summer is coming to an end and you still have not booked your summer vacation? Well now is your chance and you have till July 21^st to book! The Harvest Inn is offering their sizzling summer special from now through July 27^th. If you book now you will receive a special discount with rates starting at $249.

Come out to the Harvest Inn and enjoy what is left of the summer by renting mountain bikes for your own personal adventure through St. Helena or even the Napa Valley Vineyards. If biking is not on your agenda take a guided tour of the Harvest Inn’s eight acres of award winning gardens, or even book balloon rides, golf outings, or wine tastings. The Harvest Inn can make your summer all what you may be looking for!

Hurry time is running out, click here to book before Wednesday July 21^st rolls around!

HotelsCombined.com has named InterContinental Chicago O’Hare as one of the top 10 most entertaining and enticing hotels worldwide. Airport hotels around the world are redefining the expectation of airport lodging by offering world class facilities and incentives. High-end airports now include everything from lavish day spas and live entertainment which makes them more appealing to travelers.

HotelsCombined.com includes some of the world’s most luxurious hotels and is known as the world’s largest hotel search engine and price aggregator with a database of more than 200,000 hotels from 195 countries.

 InterContinental Chicago O’Hare was listed third out of the ten listed, their guests will experience stylish accommodations and eye-catching contemporary art. Their art/museo is located on their first floor and boasts the talents of Chicago’s local artists who showcase original works of art. Not only is their art eye-catching, but they also have the hottest act in town with their Friday Nights Live held within the InterContinental at the Montrose Room. Friday Nights Live features cutting-edge bands in their state-of-the-art acoustic design and ringside cabaret seating.

Click here to find out more information on the InterContinental Chicago O’Hare.

No plans for the 4^th of July? Join the Harvest Inn for an unforgettable weekend at a great rate! There are only a few number of rooms available, starting at $299, only if you book on Wednesday June 30^th.

You will enjoy fireworks after a day of filled with the possibilities of Napa Valley. Make it a whole weekend and experience ballooning, bicycling, hiking, shopping, and maybe a spa indulgence. Of course you cannot forget all the food and wine that comes along with Napa! The Harvest Inn’s concierge will be available to arrange any Napa Valley experience from the adventurous to the romantic, you choose!

Come celebrate the 4^th with the family at the Harvest Inn!  Book online now to take advantage of this rate!