Thursday, 31 December 2015

35th Steinbeck Festival May 6 – 8, 2016. Speakers, tours, authors, musicians & an Old Town Salinas Craft Beer Festival on Saturday

“From Salinas to Sea of Cortez: Steinbeck on Land and Sea”

Salinas, CA, December 31, 2015 – The 35th annual Steinbeck Festival takes place May 6 – 8, 2016 at the National Steinbeck Center in Salinas. This year’s festival features speakers, tours, musicians throughout the weekend, with a craft beer Festival on Saturday and an educators' panel on Sunday. The theme is "From Salinas to Sea of Cortez: Steinbeck on Land and Sea," honoring the 75th anniversary of Sea of Cortez, published in 1941.

Tickets will be on sale January 30th at www.Steinbeck.org, or by calling the National Steinbeck Center store at 831-775-4721. Click the Festival link on the homepage for more information.

Highlights for the 2015 festival include:

Speakers: Robert DeMott, "Steinbeck on Fishing"; William Souder on writing biographies; Sergio Chavez on braceros in the Tijuana/San Diego borderlands; John Gregg on restoring the purse seiner, "The Western Flyer"--and more!

Tours: The Red Pony Ranch, Salinas Valley fields, Wine tour along River Road, Monterey Bay, and Ed Ricketts's Lab on Cannery Row.

Events: Craft beer festival on Saturday in Old Town Salinas and education workshops on Sunday--integrating local history into the curriculum, Steinbeck and gaming, and integrating literature and science.

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455

Tuesday, 29 December 2015

Hyatt Carmel Highlands Celebrates 100 Years with a Centenial Facelift

Enhancements to include renovations to Pacific's Edge restaurant and hotel guestrooms

Carmel Highlands, CA, December 28, 2015 - The renowned Hyatt Carmel Highlands, which overlooks the Big Sur Coast and features 48 luxuriously appointed guestrooms, prepares for its centennial anniversary with one of the most exciting transformations in its history.

The hotel's award-winning restaurant, Pacific's Edge http://www.pacificsedge.com, along with the guestrooms, bar and lobby area will undergo a series of upscale enhancements inspired by the property's refined charm and classic seaside setting.


Beginning in the new year, renovations will feature upgrades to Pacific's Edge, including refreshed décor and a new 40-seat, 1,200-square-foot outdoor patio. The heated open-air space will allow patrons to enjoy al fresco dining and dramatic ocean vistas year round. Once the refurbishments are complete, Pacific's Edge will merge with the hotel's casual bistro, California Market, to become one restaurant. Chef Minton and executive sous chef Alvaro Dalmau are devising a new menu that will offer the most popular items from both restaurants. The 50-page wine list at Pacific's Edge will also be updated with more emphasis on the many excellent vintages from Monterey County. The new venue is scheduled to open during the second quarter of 2016.


"We are thrilled to offer our patrons these improvements," said Mel Bettcher, managing director of the Hyatt Carmel Highlands. "This luxurious refresh will offer some new design elements, while maintaining the unique and authentic feel that has made visiting this property such a memorable experience for so many during the last century."

In addition to the restaurant, guests will enjoy new furnishings, décor, color schemes, heating and air conditioning in the hotel's 48 rooms inclusive of its 10 suites. The guestrooms' refreshed look will draw upon the hotel's upscale coastal ambience. The existing bar, Sunset Lounge, will be reconfigured to showcase the views of the Pacific coastline. New furnishings and living room style components will be added to the hotel's lobby area, which will be outfitted to accommodate private parties of more than 100 guests.

HYATT CARMEL HIGHLANDS CELEBRATES 100 YEARS WITH A CENTENNIAL -

During the restaurant upgrades, the hotel's casual bistro California Market will offer a lively new menu along with brunch seven days per week. In addition, it will offer creative dinner selections from Pacific's Edge. Highlights of the new California Market menu include chicken sofrito empanadas, local daily catch ceviche, Baja fish tacos, ahi quinoa salad, confit chicken torta and grilled cheese sandwich with braised short ribs.

For updates and a sneak peek of the exciting new menu, visit the hotel website http://highlandsinn.hyatt.com/en/hotel/home.html, call (831) 620-1234, follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hyattcarmelhighlands/ or sign up for the monthly e-newsletter on the website. Hyatt Carmel Highlands is located at 120 Highlands Drive, Carmel, California, USA, 93923.

About Hyatt Carmel Highlands
Perched on the hillside of the Carmel Highlands with breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean, Hyatt Carmel Highlands combines true Carmel luxury with an approachable and sophisticated spirit. A haven for artists and discerning travelers since its opening in 1917, Hyatt Carmel Highlands features 48 luxurious guestrooms, including 10 suites, 33 Ocean View rooms and 5 Garden View rooms. In addition, Hyatt Carmel Highlands offers spectacular dining at the award-winning Pacific's Edge restaurant and California Market, 4,800 square feet of meeting space, in-room spa services, heated outdoor swimming pool, three spa tubs and a StayFit fitness facility. Situated only four miles from downtown Carmel, Hyatt Carmel Highlands' idyllic setting and personalized service has attracted families, weddings, honeymooners and privileged travelers for nearly a century. Hyatt Carmel Highlands has been recognized among the world's finest hotels as part of Condé Nast Traveler's Gold List and Travel + Leisure's "T+L 500" World's Best Hotels.  http://www.hyattcarmelhighlands.com/.

About Hyatt
Hyatt hotels are smaller-sized properties conveniently located in diverse business and leisure areas. With hotels typically ranging from 150 to 350 rooms, Hyatt hotels offer guests the opportunity to experience our hospitality in a vibrant environment. Customers include individual business and leisure travelers, and Hyatt hotels can accommodate smaller scale business meetings and social gatherings.

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Hyatt Carmel Highlands
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.hyattcarmelhighlands.com/

Friday, 25 December 2015

Hofsas House Launches Pin It To Win It Contest

Tell the Hofsas House where you’d love to visit and why and you could win a 2 night stay!

Salinas, CA, December 25, 2015 - So many of us add “travel more” to our list of yearly resolutions! Whether it is somewhere close by, a beautiful beach or international destination, tell the Hofsas House where you’d love to visit and why? Post pictures of your ideal destination on a Pinterest board and our favorite board with win a 2-night stay at the Hofsas House hotel!

To enter the contest simply:

Pin It To Win It!!

· Follow us on Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/hofsashouse/

· Create A Board Titled: Time to Travel!

· Add a minimum of 5 pictures of your favorite quotes with the hashtag #HofsasHouseGetaways

· Email a link your board to: marci@chatterboxpublicrelations.com

· One lucky winner will win a 2-night stay at our hotel!

· Enter to win between January 1st and January 30th. Winner announced on February 5th.

· Includes Hotel stay only- airfare, transportation, meals and other amenities not included

Hofsas House Background:

Owned and operated by the Theis Family, Hofsas House Hotel is within walking distance of everything Carmel has to offer, including a stunning beach, fine restaurants and shops, and wine tasting. It provides peaceful respite and European charm just minutes from Monterey , Pebble Beach, Big Sur and Pacific Grove . The Hofsas House’s 38 spacious, one-of-a-kind rooms boast European comfort and lovely views, not to mention amenities like fireplaces, private balconies, wet bars, kitchens and patios. Large suites provide the perfect stay for newlyweds and everyone else seeking an extra special getaway. Dutch doors in every room allow guests to welcome in the ocean air, and free WiFi enables them to stay connected — if they want to.

The Hofsas House Hotel family works to ensure every visitor's experience is special, striving to offer the highest quality personal services. Consider the continental breakfast, abundant with fresh French Roast coffee, tea, juice, fruit and pastries from a neighborhood bakery, or the personalized concierge services for guests and their families, including their four-legged family members, who are welcome, as well.

For large groups — wedding parties, company meetings, family reunions and others — Hofsas House Hotel offers a spacious room equipped with a fireplace and full kitchen that can comfortably accommodate 40 people. A heated pool, dry saunas, decks with views and off-street parking are on offer as well.

Hofsas House Hotel is located on San Carlos Street, north of Fourth Avenue in Carmel-by-the-Sea. For more information, call (831) 624-2745 or visit www.hofsashouse.com. Like us on Facebook.

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.hofsashouse.com

Thursday, 24 December 2015

Hyatt Regency Hotel and Spa Announces January Pinterest Contest

The Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa, located at 1 Old Golf Course Road in Monterey, announces their new Pinterest Contest!

Monterey, CA, December 24, 2015 The Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa, located at 1 Old Golf Course Road in Monterey, announces their new Pinterest Contest!

Pin It To Win It! The beginning of the year is a great time to start planning the details of your wedding day and Pinterest is the perfect place to check out the latest trends from wedding activities to finding your something blue! The team at Hyatt Regency Monterey is here to make your dreams come true…pin your favorites for a chance to win! Happy Posting!

Simply:

· Follow us on Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/montereyhyatt

· Create a board titled: Dream Wedding

· Pin your favorite wedding images from trends to beautiful photos (Minimum 5 pins)

· Use the hashtag #WeddingsInAHyattWorld on all the pins

· Email a link to your board to marci@chatterboxpublicrelations.com

· One lucky winner will receive a two-night stay at Hyatt Regency Monterey as well as a romantic dinner at #TusCA with wine pairings!

· Contest runs January 1st-January 30th. Winner announced February 5th.

About Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel & Spa on Del Monte Golf Course:
Nestled in 22 acres of soaring Monterey Pines, the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel & Spa on Del Monte Golf Course is a destination resort providing the discerning traveler the quintessential Monterey experience. Its location offers guests close proximity to downtown Monterey and Monterey Airport and easy access to some of the Peninsula’s most well-known attractions. With its warm, contemporary ambiance, elegant furnishings and convenient amenities, the hotel offers both leisure and business travelers a Northern California respite of unmatched serenity and comfort. Features include 550 guestrooms including 32 suites, and the President’s house, TusCA Ristorante, Knuckles Sports Bar, Fireplace Lounge, a 2,000 square foot fitness facility, tennis courts, pools and whirlpools, and 12,000 square foot full service spa. The hotel is located at 1 Old Golf Course Road in Monterey, California. For information call (831) 372-1234 or visit www.hyattregencymonterey.com.

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.hyattregencymonterey.com

Wednesday, 23 December 2015

Hofsas House Hotel Offers Poolside Meeting Facility in Carmel-By-The-Sea

Family Celebrates Over 60 Years of European Hospitality

Carmel by the Sea, CA, December 22, 2015 - Meeting your needs, the Hofsas House in
Carmel-By-The-Sea
, offers the perfect European retreat for family reunions, business team or leadership meetings, sewing or quilting conferences, and small wedding receptions. The hotel offers the only poolside meeting facility in Carmel-By-The-Sea.

The signature poolside meeting room has a fireplace, full kitchen and can accommodate a sit down dinner for 30, a stand up reception for up to 40 or a boardroom setting with classroom seating for up to 24. The meeting room is ideal for private personal dining parties. Guests can even bring their own chefs or work with the Hofsas House preferred vendors Wild Thyme Deli or Aqua Terra Culinary. The hotel can also arrange to have the hotel guests complimentary continental breakfast delivered to the meeting room for early morning meetings

From bridal or two bedroom suites to rooms with private lanais or sun decks overlooking the pines, the Hofsas House offers the perfect accommodation for any group large or small. A heated pool, dry saunas, decks with views and off-street parking are on offer as well. Hofsas House Owner and General Manager, Carrie Theis, personally helps you with information regarding the meeting area, including recommendations for local caterers. The dimensions of room are 19’ by 26’, not including the kitchen area.

Background on the Hotel:

In Carmel-by-the-Sea, the Theis family is celebrating six decades of European hospitality at its beautiful Bavarian-inspired Hofsas House Hotel, which is as charming as the town itself. With firm roots in the past, the family is looking toward the future by keeping abreast of guests’ every need.

Owned and operated by the Theis Family, Hofsas House Hotel is within walking distance of everything Carmel has to offer, including a stunning beach, fine restaurants and shops, and wine tasting. It provides peaceful respite and European charm just minutes from Monterey, Pebble Beach, Big Sur and Pacific Grove. The Hofsas House’s 38 spacious, one-of-a-kind rooms boast European comfort and lovely views, not to mention amenities like fireplaces, private balconies, wet bars, kitchens and patios. Large suites provide the perfect stay for newlyweds and everyone else seeking an extra special getaway. Dutch doors in every room allow guests to welcome in the ocean air, and free WiFi enables them to stay connected — if they want to.

The Hofsas House Hotel family works to ensure every visitor's experience is special, striving to offer the highest quality personal services. Consider the continental breakfast including yogurt, abundant with fresh French Roast coffee, tea, juice, fruit and pastries from a neighborhood bakery, or the personalized concierge services for guests and their families, including their four-legged family members, who are welcome, as well.

Hofsas House Hotel is located on San Carlos Street, north of Fourth Avenue in Carmel-by-the-Sea. For more information, call (831) 624-2745 or visit www.hofsashouse.com. Like us on Facebook.

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.hofsashouse.com

Friday, 11 December 2015

Holiday Contest At Hyatt Regency Monterey!

We all have wonderful memories from the holidays - from something funny to something heartwarming! Share one of your favorite holiday memories on our Facebook Page

Monterey, CA, December 11, 2015 - We all have wonderful memories from the holidays - from something funny to something heartwarming! Share one of your favorite holiday memories on our Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/hyattregencymonterey and our favorite post will win a one-night stay at Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa along with dinner at TusCA! Entries accepted December10th -December 20thth …winner announced on Christmas Day! What better holiday gift than to find out you won a free hotel stay?! #HappyHolidays #HyattHolidays

About Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel& Spa on Del Monte Golf Course

Nestled in 22 acres of soaring Monterey Pines, the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel & Spa on Del Monte Golf Course is a destination resort providing the discerning traveler the quintessential Monterey experience. Its location offers guests close proximity to downtown Monterey and Monterey Airport and easy access to some of the Peninsula’s most well known attractions. With its warm, contemporary ambiance, elegant furnishings and convenient amenities, the hotel offers both leisure and business travelers a Northern California respite of unmatched serenity and comfort. Features include 550 guestrooms including 32 suites, and the President’s house, TusCA Ristorante, Knuckles Sports Bar, Fireplace Lounge, a 2,000 square foot fitness facility, tennis courts, pools and whirlpools, and 12,000 square foot full service spa. The hotel is located at 1 Old Golf Course Road in Monterey, California. For information call (831) 372-1234 or visit http://www.hyattregencymonterey.com/.

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.hyattregencymonterey.com/

Wednesday, 9 December 2015

Vendange Carmel Carmel-by-the-Sea’s Only Wine Themed Hotel Extends Two Promotions ILOVEWINE and WishfulWednesday

Vendange Carmel Inn and Suites has partnered with 15 Monterey County wineries to create a unique guest experience, celebrating the bounty of Monterey County’s vineyards.

Carmel, CA, December 09, 2015 -- Vendange Carmel Inn and Suites has partnered with 15 Monterey County wineries to create a unique guest experience, celebrating the bounty of Monterey County’s vineyards. Each winery sponsors one room or suite, providing its own creative touches. From the McIntyre Vineyards room with its impressive 100-year-old section of grapevine to J. Lohr’s wine barrel on the balcony, every winery’s room offers a signature luxury experience. The participating wineries are: Blair, Cima Collina, Dawn’s Dream, Galante, Holman Ranch, J. Lohr, Joullian, Manzoni, McIntyre, Otter Cove, Tudor, Twisted Roots and Ventana.

The rooms have sleek, modern bathrooms, with imported Spanish marble. Sleeping areas have memory foam-top beds, deluxe linens, and high-definition flat screen televisions. The separate Cottage Suite offers 650 sq. ft. of space, with a California King bed, 50” HF television, and kitchenette. It’s the perfect place for a honeymoon or romantic getaway. The Inn offers breakfast daily and wine tasting on weekends.

Brian Lee, Owner of Vendange, announced the extension of these two promotions today:

WISHFULWEDNESDAY - 15% OFF SPECIAL OFFER VALID THROUGH JANUARY 31ST, 2016

Wishing for a midweek getaway? Vendange wants to give you one. Book your stay directly on www.vendangecarmel.com for a wednesday through January 31st, 2016 and receive 15% off your booking. Must put in promotional code wishfulwednesday on the website. The 15% off is valid for all rooms except standard Queens. (Offer not valid on holidays and black out days. Promotional code must be entered at the www.vendangecarmel.com website for the discount to apply.)

ILOVEWINE 10% OFF SPECIAL OFFER VALID THROUGH JANUARY 31ST, 2016

Vendange has extended its holiday promotion with a special discount valid through January 31st, 2016. Book your stay directly on www.vendangecarmel.com through January 31st and receive 10% off your booking. Must put in promotional code ILOVEWINE on the website. The 10% off is valid for all rooms except standard Queens and requires a two night stay. (Offer not valid on holidays and black out days. Promotional code must be entered at the www.vendangecarmel.com website for the discount to apply.)

Vendange is located at 24815 Carpenter Street in Carmel, a short drive away from the Monterey Peninsula Airport, just off of scenic Highway 1, with free parking for guests. It’s minutes from downtown Carmel’s shopping, fine dining, scenic 17-Mile Drive, and the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Telephone 831- 624-6400; email: reservations@vendangecarmel.com

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.vendangecarmel.com