Great to Be Nominated

The "Great to Be Nominated" series, featuring the picture from each Academy Awards year that received the most nominations without winning Best Picture award, continues its fifth and final season at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. This final series runs through August in the Samuel Goldwyn Theater. Each evening includes animated and live action short subjects, original advertising trailers, outtakes and surprise guest panel discussions. Last night was "Pulp Fiction", 1994 and next week is "Apollo 13", 1995. They screen the very best prints at the Academy. Located on Wilshire Blvd, tickets may be purchased at http://www.oscars.org

A Happy Travel Agent

Hi Wendy,
My son and his wife stay with you this past Friday and LOVED the hotel. There was not one thing wrong. from the service, room and ambiance. Thank you so much for you attention and help. You are on my recommendation list.
Regards, Adrienne Frumovitz [New Act Travel, Los Angeles]

Ruth's Skin Care

Since this is my birthday month, I took advantage of a 10% discount on Ina’s ultimate Face and Body Experience at Ruth’s Skin Care in West Hollywood. Since 1985, Ruth has been offering that personal attention to customers in a tranquil atmosphere at the corner of La Cienega Blvd and Melrose Avenue. If you’ve got a birthday coming up – try it, you’ll like it. It includes facial nourishment, cleansing scrub and thermo-mask while another aesthetician treats you to a body massage. http://wwwruthsskincare.com

Howard L. Bingham: The Rumble in the Jungle

The latest M+B Galley exhibit chronicles Muhammad Ali’s legendary trip of 1974 to Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo) to fight favored George Foreman in the first world heavyweight boxing championship held on the African continent. Bingham’s photography covers Ali’s entire eight-week stay, recounting the event in all its dimensions. Sharing the world spotlight was a dictator eager to gain international respect and visiting celebrities and music luminaries. This show is not to be missed. 612 North Almont Drive, West Hollywood through May 31st. http://mbfala.com

Wisconsin in spring

When asked why I left Wisconsin for California, I always say “The weather of course.” But it’s pictures like this of my parents’ backyard in spring that make me a bit nostalgic for four seasons.

A Happy Travel Agent

Hi Wendy,
Thank you so much for thinking of me on my birthday. They mailed it to me the other day from Pat Walker Travel. The Astrological sign information is really great and fun to read.
Hope all is well with you and thanks again!
Thank you, Joni Miller
Protravel International

Tour Connection update

Tour Connection was a big hit with the travel agents last night. Pat Walker, Pat Walker Travel, e-mailed me that it was a really good event. Hope everyone else felt the same way. I shared a space with Sharon McKernan, The Bristol Hotel in San Diego, and she had mini-portable fans as her give-away. Thank goodness for a bit of circulation. Check out The Bristol at www.luxehotels.com

A Happy Travel Agent

Dear Wendy, Peace!
Thank you for your kind note.
I did enjoy staying at the Luxe Hotel albeit briefly. I will certainly consider staying there again should my travels take me back to LA.
Sincerely, Dennis Tan, Managing Director, Abercrombie and Kent, Thailand Ltd.

Money Matters

When Uncle Sam sneezes, you might say, "God Bless America."

Tour Connection

The annual Tour Connection event is tonight where hoteliers get to mingle with some of the top producing entertainment travel agents from the Los Angeles area. Yesterday I had the great pleasure to spend time with my favorite talent agency specialists at the Chateau Marmont reception. All of them handle those talent agent ‘special requests’ with aplomb. That’s why I love them. Seen here are Shirlee Kessler, Tom Mesquit, Robyn Bizier, me and Kathleen Allen

Bento Boxed Lunch - something new in Cafe Rodeo

I forwarded this [Chef Gladestone's bento boxed lunch] to our catering dept. I'll let you know what comes of it. Such a great idea! Thank you again for the lovely lunch today. I wish we had more time, but I will see you again tomorrow. :) Robyn Bizier, Office of Kathleen Allen, Special Services, William Morris Agency

Girl Bonding

I just returned from a weekend in Wisconsin and my niece asked for nail salon pampering time with Aunt Wendy. It was her first visit and she was a bit apprehensive. But bright blue nail polish is the charm that bonds all girls.

Thought for the Day

Humour is the great thing, the saving thing. The minute it crops up, all our irritations and resentments slip away and a sunny spirit takes their place. - Mark Twain

A Happy Guest

Thank you Wendy. I will certainly visit the Luxe hotel again on my next trip to Beverly Hills.
Thank you, Vinny [Vincent Ottomanelli, President and Regional Director for Salvatore Ferragamo]

Taxes - good luck today

Born to Party. Forced to Work.

My birthday actually fell on a Friday this year! But because my internal time clock is still 11 time zones away, I was about to fall asleep at 8 o'clock. Instead of a party animal, I was a party pooper. Thank goodness I had two dear friends to prop me up for the dessert course. "Same, Same, Different"

A Happy Guest

Dear Wendy,
Thank you for your lovely message. I had a really wonderful time although it was very different without my daughter.
My warmest wishes to you also, your kindness is endless and I look forward to my next stay in about five weeks time.
Please would you kindly pass on my warmest wishes and affection to Conrad, Marco, Martino, Oscar and all at valet.
All Best Wishes, Sue

Hola from Mexico City

Dear Wendy, I have to apologize for not writing earlier, but I missplaced your b-card. I included a picture of the three of us. Things are going well here, the weather is hot, hot, hot. Any way I hope you had a good time in Dubai, I'd love to hear about it. Any way Wendy, it was very nice meeting you and hope to see you again next year, or sooner, even better.
Hasta pronto. Laura and Lula says hi!

Happy Birthday!

Who’s there?
Mark.
Mark who?
Mark your calendars … my birthday’s today

Bathing Suit

I panicked before I left for Dubai because I didn’t own a bathing suit. Thanks to Eres Boutique on Rodeo Drive, I didn’t have to look too far. Manager, Joann Nishi, took superb care in choosing the perfect one-piece. Thank you! http://www.eresparis.com

A Happy Guest

Good morning Wendy:
I had a terrific time at the hotel this past week – everybody takes such good care of me – I love being there – I think this now makes the 5th time -
Vincent S. Lipe
ACQUISITIONS Event Management, Inc.

Midnight at the Oasis

The desert caravan was another venture outside of Dubai. After letting some air out of the tires, drivers take 6 – 8 passengers on speed jaunts, up and down the sandy terrain providing a roller coaster effect. Our handsome driver admitted about halfway through that he was operating on two-wheel drive instead of four as we starting sliding down a sand dune. But not to worry, it’s easy to take another turn in this great expanse of dessert and catch up with the rest. The trip culminates in a dinner feast, organized activities around a camp fire and of course, some belly dancing!

Venturing outside of Dubai

Driving along the winding road to the Musadam Peninsula, one could mistake the landscape for Utah. The absence of construction cranes and cement factories clearly marked our entry into Oman; not to mention meandering goats.
Jutting out into the Strait of Hormuz, the aquamarine waters of the fjord like bays provided an excellent snorkel and swim retreat to coral reefs and humpback dolphin sightings along the limestone cliffs.

Dubai Shopping

Everyone talks about Dubai as having some of the best shopping malls in the world. Instead I opted for the old Souk where I studied some of the local fashion.

Speakeasy Dubai Style

I just returned from a week in Dubai. Well, actually in Ajman, where my girlfriend, Patricia, has taken a year-long consulting position. On my second day, she took me to the local liquor shack behind a construction project and down a winding gravel road. From a side door in the cinderblock compound, we found every conceivable intoxicating beverage stacked neatly on metal shelves. Within minutes, we made off with some beer and wine in a paper sack! No photos allowed.

A Happy Guest

How impressive - not only that you remember my birthday but that you have specific material about the day/ personality type!
It was very kind of you to send it all the way to NZ - how is life going for you? I guess the weather is starting to warm up abit just as we are cooling down...
With warmest regards, Sue [Heritage Hotels]