Team Geneva Heads to the Expedia Conference

Team Geneva will be heading to Las Vegas, Nevada this week to attend the 2011 12th Annual Expedia Conference to represent Geneva Hospitality’s properties including The Cove of Lake Geneva in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin and Mike Ditka Resorts in Kissimmee, Florida. The event will be held on December 7th and 8th and will include a welcome reception, tradeshow, learning sessions, and a holiday party.

Team Geneva will be listening to speakers from some of the largest travel companies in the world, as well as be given the opportunity to attend learning sessions where they will hear about everything from maximizing opportunities to the changing consumer trends.

Check Out These Great Restaurants During your Next Visit to Lake Geneva

BISTRO 220
220 Cook St. - website: www.bistro220.com

Bistro 220 boasts an astounding atmosphere and as temperatures fall, cozy up inside where they feature the incredible illusion of outdoor dining! Relax and try the special of the day next to the warmth of one of their glowing fireplaces or watch your favorite team on their 50” Plasma. Bistro 220 offers unique appetizers, superb lunch items and exceptional dinners and, as always, leave room for dessert! Serving Lunch & Dinner - Wednesday-Sunday 11am-Close

HOGS & KISSES
149 Broad Street - website: www.hogsandkisses.com

Enjoy this wonderful cocktail lounge & eatery in a European pub setting. Serving garden fresh salads, homemade soups, appetizers, an array of sandwiches, char-grilled burgers, brats, chicken & ribs. Features: Lunch, Dinner, Vegetarian Dishes

POPEYE'S ON LAKE GENEVA
811 Wrigley Drive - website: www.popeyesonlakegeneva.com

Nestled on the shore of Lake Geneva, Popeye's offers a spectacular casual dining experience for all sizes. The menu features everything from juicy burgers and sandwiches to hand-cut steaks and seafood. Their specialties include flame roasted chicken and their famous broccoli cheese soup, which have been town favorites for many years! Be sure to join Popeye's every Friday for their award winning All-You-Can-Eat Fish Fry. Features: Lake View, Lunch, Dinner, Smoke Free, Handicap Accessible, Vegetarian Dishes

RYAN BRAUN'S TAVERN & GRILL
430 N. Broad Street - website: www.ryanbraunstavernandgrill.com

Ryan Braun's Tavern and Grill, located in scenic and historic Lake Geneva, specializes in Italian classics, mouth watering char broiled steaks and artisan brick oven pizzas. Features: Lunch, Dinner, Reservations accepted for parties of 5 or more

SIMPLE CAFE
525 Broad Street - website: www.simplecafelakegeneva.com

Simple Café is committed to using locally grown seasonal ingredients as much as possible, creating familiar foods with an inventive twist. Features: Outdoor Seating, Breakfast, Lunch, Smoke Free

SOPRA
724 Main Street - website: www.sopratrattoria.com

Sopra combines their extensive years of cooking at top Chicago restaurants and the small town atmosphere of Lake Geneva. French, Italian, and Spanish cuisine, with the occasional Asian influence can be found on the ever-changing menu, highlighting local and seasonal ingredients. Features: Dinner, Smoke Free, Handicap Accessible, Reservations Accepted, Vegetarian Dishes

BAKER HOUSE
327 Wrigley Drive - website: www.bakerhouse1885.com

Located on the lake and in the heart of downtown, the Baker House mixes gilded age living with modern day lounging. Instead of traditional dining, guests are invited to enjoy a full menu of "American Tapas" while seated throughout the mansion on wingback chairs and overstuffed sofas. Offering a full bar and full menu in sumptuous surroundings the Baker House is sure to satisfy all of your cravings.

Spend Your Summer in Lake Geneva!

Still planning your family’s summer vacation? Be sure to check out all that Lake Geneva has to offer! Book your room at Geneva Hospitality’s The Cove of Lake Geneva in downtown Lake Geneva and you’ll be placed in the center of it all.

1. Walk Lake Geneva’s 20 mile lake path around Geneva Lake or enjoy one of Lake Geneva’s other walking paths or hiking trails.
2. Enjoy shopping at unique downtown boutiques.
3. Treat your children to an exciting day at the petting zoo or fishing at the local fishery.
4. Play a round of mini golf at one of the Lake Geneva mini golf locations.
5. Enjoy a day on the Lake by renting a boat or jetski from one of the many boat rental locations.
6. Take a boat tour of the Lake by Lake Geneva Cruise Line. Enjoy the Ice Cream Social Tour, US Mail Boat Tour, or a variety of others.
7. Spend the day at Lake Geneva Beach. Open daily from 9 am to 6 pm.
8. Relax by the pool at The Cove of Lake Geneva while your kids enjoy the children’s pool and weekend children’s activities.
9. Enjoy a round of golf at one of Lake Geneva’s many golf courses.
10. Join The Cove of Lake Geneva every Saturday for ice cream socials as we help raise money for the ‘Give Kids the World Foundation’.
11. Enjoy a unique view of Lake Geneva by parasailing above Geneva Lake.
12. Spend the day fishing on Geneva Lake. You can even hire a fishing service to show you the best fishing locations.
13. Visit one of the many museums, not only located in Lake Geneva, but around Geneva Lake as well.
14. Treat yourself to a spa day at one of the local spa locations.
15. Treat your family or loved on to a night of live entertainment at one of the area’s theaters or music venues.
16. Spend an afternoon at an orchard picking berries or enjoy a wine tasting at the local winery.
17. Plan your next meeting at The Cove of Lake Geneva and make use of the versatile meeting spaces, perfect for any group size. After your meeting, stay and enjoy a day or weekend in Lake Geneva. For successful meeting strategies, visit http://www.cove-lake-geneva.com/lake_geneva_meetings_sms.html
18. Enjoy one of the area’s local festivals or fairs including, Chocolate Fest or Venetian Fest which is located in the park across from The Cove.
19. Play a fun, competitive game of tennis at one of Lake Geneva’s many tennis courts or enjoy The Cove of Lake Geneva’s on-property tennis court.
20. Treat your children to a day at one of the area’s wonderful parks, most offering playgrounds for the kids!
21. Take a horseback ride on some of the wonderful trails in the Lake Geneva area.
22. Enjoy your night bowling at Lake Geneva Lanes, or cosmic bowling on weekend nights!
23. Let your adventurous side shine on the new Lake Geneva’s Aerial Adventures Challenge Course and Zip Lines.
24. Treat your family to one of Wisconsin’s #1 attractions: The Dancing Horses Theatre Show.
25. Enjoy Lake Geneva’s beautiful scenery from above on a hot air balloon or airplane ride.
26. Have a train fanatic in your family? Treat them to a train ride on East Troy’s Electric Railroad.
27. Travel around town and experience the area in style; rent a scooter, segway, or scoot coupe!

For more ideas and information about Lake Geneva activities, visit The Cove’s website at: www.cove-lake-geneva.com.

Great Golf Courses in the Lake Geneva, Wisconsin Area

It’s that time of year again when the weather begins to warm up and the beautiful green grass resurfaces. To one group of people that only means one thing…it’s golf season! And after our long, snowy winter, their season is finally here and they’re ready to hit the links! Below is a list of a few of the great courses located near The Cove of Lake Geneva that are definitely worth checking out this spring.

Geneva National Golf Club
Geneva National Golf Club features 54-holes of golf designed by the masters, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player and Lee Trevino. All courses offer beautiful grass tees, fairways and greens, as well as five tee boxes offering a great challenge for every player’s skill level and takes full advantage of Wisconsin’s beautiful natural surroundings.

Geneva National Golf Club is only a quick drive from downtown Lake Geneva and Wisconsin’s Premier All Suite Condominium Resort and Convention Center, The Cove of Lake Geneva.

Currently, The Cove of Lake Geneva has partnered up with the Geneva National Golf Club to offer visitors a ‘Stay and Play’ Package. Visitors can now call Geneva National Golf Club to set up their tee times and book their room at The Cove of Lake Geneva, all in one call!

For questions or to book your ‘Stay and Play’ Golf Package, please call the Geneva National Golf Club at (262)-245-3020 or email golfpackage@ghresort.com.

Hawks View
Hawk's View Golf Club, Lake Geneva's only 5 star rated course, features Como Crossings, a championship caliber course and Barn Hollow, a unique 18 hole 2,708 yard short-game challenge course. Hawk's View is located 3 miles north of beautiful downtown Lake Geneva, only a quick drive from The Cove of Lake Geneva.

These courses, designed by Craig Schreiner, are recognized by Golf World as one of the nation's premier golf courses. Hawks View offers golfer’s dramatic elevation changes, mature trees, open meadows, lakes, and wetlands unique to southeastern Wisconsin.

The clubhouse features numerous banquet rooms and outing venues which include the Red Tail Ballroom, Sparrow Hawk rooms, and Overlook Terrace. Tail Feathers Bar and Grille is opened daily during golf season offering golfers and guests a wide variety of soups, sandwiches, and salads.

Abbey Springs Golf Course
Across the lake from The Cove of Lake Geneva, you’ll find Abbey Springs Golf Course. Abbey Springs offers some of the most breathtaking scenery you'll ever experience while golfing in the state of Wisconsin, with its rolling hills and wooded fairways. On several holes, the elevation changes will also provide you with panoramic views of beautiful Geneva Lake.

The Abbey Springs Golf Course was built in 1971 and was designed by Killian & Nugent, a well-known golf design firm that has laid out many renowned courses in the Midwest, and due to the design firms wonderful layout and the course’s beautiful location, Abbey Springs has been rated a 4.5-star golf course by Golf Digest’s "Places to Play"! Giving it just one more reason why this course is definitely worth checking out this spring.

Geneva Hospitality’s Tips to Make Your Hotel Experience as Smooth as Possible

1. Do your research. The more you know about what a hotel offers and surrounding amenities, the easier it will be to find the hotel that is right for you.

2. If booking your hotel online, be sure to have a copy of your confirmation and receipt. A number of things can go wrong when booking a hotel online, but having these things can come in handy if there is a mishap.

3. If you have any special requests you need met, let the hotel know ahead of time. That way they will have a better chance of being able to meet them.

4. If you are traveling for business and will be working from your room, ask for a room that is away from the more populated areas such as the lobby, pool, or dining area. Also, be sure the resort offers wireless internet.

5. When checking into your hotel, ask about any additional fees you should expect when you check out, such as hotel fees, housekeeping fees, etc. That way you won’t be surprised when your bill comes.

6. Upon arriving in your room, you should become familiar with the safety precautions in case of an emergency, including locating the nearest elevators, stairwells, and exits.

7. If traveling with children, be sure to accompany them at all times in the hotel’s public areas. With the size of resorts growing, it’s easy for children to become lost and unable to find their way back to their room.

8. Be friendly to the hotel staff. They often know the most about the area and can give suggestions and answer questions you may have about restaurants, shopping, activities, etc.

Geneva Hospitality, LLC is a premier Hotel/Condominium Management Company with over 35 years of experience.

Enjoy Beautiful Weather All Year Long on Isla Margarita

When visiting Geneva Hospitality’s Caracola Beach and Spa Resort, on Isla Margarita, you will undoubtedly enjoy beautiful weather during your stay. Temperatures on the island are fairly consistent at 80 degrees, and although located in the Caribbean, it is not in the hurricane belt. All guests that visit the area are provided with a very comfortable environment due to the warm days and cool evenings.

Isla Margarita doesn’t have a typical rainy season. The island experiences most of its rain from mid June to mid July and mid November to early January. It doesn’t rain continuously for days either; instead it will usually rain for a couple hours and the sun will reappear.

Days with at least 6 hours of sun on Isla Margarita during 2010: (sunny days/days in month)

• January- 27/31
• February- 28/28
• March- 31/31
• April- 27/30
• May- 29/31
• June- 28/30
• July- 28/31
• August- 30/31
• September- 29/30
• October- 29/31
• November- 25/30
• December- 30/31

Minimum and maximum temperatures on Isla Margarita during 2010: (low/high)

• January- 75/82
• February- 77/84
• March- 79/84
• April- 80/86
• May- 80/86
• June- 80/88
• July- 80/86
• August- 80/86
• September- 80/86
• October- 78/84
• November- 78/84
• December- 78/82

Overseas Travel Tips from Geneva Hospitality

With Geneva Hospitality’s first overseas resort, Caracola Beach and Spa Resort, in the process of being built, we thought we’d share some of the best overseas travel tips we’ve come across.

1. Always Remember Safety First
When visiting a new area, it is always important to remember that there are good and bad parts of town. In order to stay safe during your travels, be sure to research the area you are traveling on sites like TripAdvisor.com and Expedia.com, through user comments. You can also ask the concierge at your resort if there are any areas you should avoid.

2. Global Travel Service is Essential
If you happen to get sick or injured during your trip, it is important you have someone you can call and are able to get to a hospital where your native language is spoken. This is why it is absolutely essential that you have some form of global travel service. Many credit card companies offer a form of Global Travel Service, if you use their cards, which can provide you with emergency medical care, cash, and other benefits if you become injured when traveling abroad.

3. Luggage and International Travel
One of the most overlooked factors of international travel is luggage requirements. Every country has a different set of guidelines for the size and weight of luggage that can be brought onto their airplanes. Take the time to understand the luggage requirements of the country you are visiting. It will only take a few minutes to do the research but could ultimately make the difference between you making your flight or not.

4. International Travel Health Insurance
Be sure that you are covered by either your own insurance company or an international provider before traveling internationally. It is important to have health insurance on top of a Global Travel Service even if some form of insurance is already incorporated within the service. You even have the option of purchasing insurance for a single trip.

5. Gain Access to Airport Lounges
Check to see if any of the credit cards you own give you access to airport lounges. These lounges are essential for international travelers who may have long wait times at airports. These lounges offer free food, drinks, televisions, and usually internet or computer access.

6. Travel with One Airline
If you frequently travel internationally, try and stick with the same airline for each trip. As a member of an airline rewards program you can build miles very quickly with international flights, which often give you access to free upgrades, flights, and even lounge memberships. You may also enjoy priority boarding and perks for passengers traveling with you.

7. Try New Foods in Moderation
While it is important to try new foods during your trip, do so in moderation. It will take your body a while to get used to the new bacteria in the foods of different countries, so try to eat new food along with food that you are familiar with.

8. Be Sure to Guard your Passport
Your passport is very valuable to thieves in different countries, and most of the time it is more valuable than the money in your wallet. Be sure to keep a careful eye on it because it is much easier to get money on a trip than to replace a passport.

9. Understand the Customs of the Area
In some cultures it is custom to give those you visit a gift upon arrival, so be sure you understand the customs of the region that you are visiting. This sometimes small thought can go a long way towards showing your respect for someone's country and culture.