NOTEBOOK
COMPILED BY ELLIE M. BAYRD
Truly a Treasure
Media World named Treasure
Island Resort & Casino
the Official Best Casino in
Minnesota for 2009 as part
of its Official Best Of television series. A company that
provides television and Web
viewers with the best sites to
visit across America, Media
World currently ranks places
in 16 states. “The Official
Best Of has a rigorous selection process with extensive
research that requires positive
reviews from a minimum of
three independent sources.
Companies cannot contact us
to be nominated or chosen,”
says Brett Allen, executive
producer at The Official Best
Of. Best Casino was one of 12 Official Best Of Minnesota 2009 categories announced on the local
Official Best Of 30-minute
television special. “We were
pleasantly surprised that
Treasure Island Resort &
Casino was chosen to be
included in the Official Best
of Minnesota attractions,”
says Allan Kronberg, general manager of the Welch,
Minn., resort and casino. “It
is exciting to receive awards
from respected industry publications and companies that
evaluate entertainment, travel
options and
recognize
excellent
service and
value for the
guests.” Treasure
Island Resort &
Casino was also recognized
in 2009 as one of the Top 10
Sexiest Casinos by Native
American Casino magazine
and was named Minnesota’s
Favorite Casino for the eighth
year in a row by the readers of Midwest Gaming &
Travel. Contact: Media World
Official Best Of, 800-889-9656,
www.officialbestof.com;
Treasure Island Resort &
Casino, 800-222-7077,
treasureislandcasino.com
After $10 million in renovations,
the Doubletree Hotel Rochester
Downtown emerged this summer
in the southern Minnesota city.
Now a modern 212-room Hilton
branded hotel, the former Radisson
has a new life. The new Doubletree
is just blocks from the Mayo Clinic,
connected by the city’s climate-controlled skyway system. “The
opening of the Doubletree Hotel
Rochester Downtown is an excellent addition to our portfolio of
hotels in Minnesota and across the
Midwest U.S.,” says Rob Palleschi,
Renamed and
Renovated
TREASURE ISLAND PHOTO BY JOEL SHEAGREN; DOUBLETREE PHOTO COURTESY OF DOUBLETREE HOTEL DOWNTOWN ROCHESTER
munications Paula Wright and directors
of communication Ami Cervin and Lynn
Rivera) and Excellence in Programming
and Education (vice president of programs
and education Pete Nelson and director of
programs and education Nate Boutang).
President-elect Ryan Hanson received the
Volunteer of the Year award. Locals also took
home six Esprit Awards. See Web site for
complete list. Contact: ISES Minneapolis-St.
Paul Chapter, 612-677-3790, ises-msp.org
( awards & achievements )
Members from the Minneapolis-St. Paul
Chapter of the International Special Events
Society (ISES) earned several awards at
Eventworld 2009, held in San Francisco
this past August. The Spirit of Excellence
Awards recognize chapters that stand out;
the local chapter won for Excellence in
Communications (vice president of com-
Local ISES Chapter
Celebrates Honors
global head for Doubletree Hotels.
“The Doubletree Hotel Rochester
Downtown presents visitors and
area residents with the ideal combination of comfortable accommodations and a great gathering
place for business and social events.”
The reimagined hotel features a
spacious lobby and contemporary
designs in all its rooms, including
five luxurious suites. A magnificent ballroom is at the center of the
hotel’s 8,000 square feet of expanded
event space. The hotel also features additional breakout rooms.
Amenities include the H20 Salon,
a new indoor pool and a fitness
facility. Contact: Doubletree Hotel
Rochester Downto wn, 507-281-8000,
rochesterdowntown.doubletree.com
