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| THE WOODLANDS, Texas - March 1999 - Benchmark Hospitality,
a leader in the field of conference center management, is earning a reputation
for innovative, imaginative meetings. Benchmark properties around
the country recently have hosted a number of highly productive events that
go well beyond the traditional �gather around the overhead projector to
look at sales charts� occasion.
Here is a sampling: The Heritage Country Club, in Johnson City, New York, was the site of a �Celebration of Working Families� that drew 10,000 people to an all-day event that combined family entertainment with education. Sponsored by the Broome County Child Development Council and a local television station, WBNG-TV, and other local businesses, �Celebration of Working Families� made use of all the club�s facilities and extensive grounds to provide information to working parents about the wealth of resources available to them in the area, ranging from day care to financial assistance to health programs. The kids spent the day doing everything from reading books and arts and crafts to water sports and computer games. David Kliman, former president of Meeting Planners International and a vice president at Fireman�s Insurance Company, brought more than 30 executives to Chaminade at Santa Cruz, in California, where, instead of playing golf, they organized a painting expedition at La Familia, a home for mothers and children in transition. Suited up in colorful painting gear, the group made a major contribution to the community by doing something that probably would not have been accomplished otherwise. Bald Head Island in North Carolina, which counts the endangered loggerhead turtle among its regularly returning guests, recently hosted the Center for Environmental Education at the Nicholas School of the Environment of Duke University. Each member of the group was enrolled in the Bald Head Island Conservancy and spent time observing the turtle hatchlings. In 1999, the resort will continue its program of turtle walks and seminars, for school groups, corporate and educational groups and for leisure guests. White Oaks Conference Center in Charlotte hosted a reception for the Transatlantic Business Dialogue, a group of U.S. and European CEO�s who meet to discuss foreign trade policies. Working with the Charlotte Convention Center, White Oaks�s conference mangement team was impressed to be associated with cities such as Madrid, Chicago and Rome, where TABD has met in previous years. Faced with a virtually non-existent budget for decorations, a group of 400 recently enlisted the assistance of the staff of the Resort at Squaw Creek in Squaw Valley, California. By the time �Base Camp: an Evening in the Sierras� got underway, meeting planners had rounded up canoes, kayaks, tents, lanterns, hiking gear, skis and various other items to create an authentic and exciting ambiance capturing the rugged outdoor flavor of the surrounding mountains.
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Headquartered
in The Woodlands, Texas, Benchmark Hospitality is a recognized leader in
resort, conference center and conference hotel management. For information
on booking a meeting at a Benchmark property call toll-free 888-846-6338,
or visit Benchmark Hospitality on the Internet at