TMS DAY 2: THE MEETINGS

Well, it was day 2 with a full day of meeting reps. We met Julie Toledo from the Buena Park Convention and Visitors Bureau; Diana Norton, Idaho Division of Tourism; Nancy Millar,McAllen Convention & Visitors Bureau; Suzanne Halbrook, Alton Regional Convention & Visitors Bureau; Mika Doyle Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau; Katie Macdonald, Tourism Queensland. Carolyn Fittipaldi, Temecula Valley Convention & Visitors Bureau; Bob Lukens, Chicago Southland Convention & Visitors Bureau; Pamela Miller, San Angelo CVB; Ron Kuhlman, Virginia Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Break for lunch and a fashion show. We were shocked as they were serving CHICKEN!

Back to the interviews. Terence Sullivan, Embassy Suites of Southern California; Lori Hogan, Wyoming Travel & Tourism Division; Hillary Angel, Palm Springs Bureau of Tourism; Waco, Texas CVB; Erin Erdmann, Bloomington Indiana Convention & Visitors Bureau; Megan Mayo, Albuquerque CVB; Katie Harrington Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana Convention & Visitors Bureau; Sylvia Oliande, Kissimmee CVB; and this guy who rented motorcycles which we were about to test out, when he caught us.

They later announced that next year's TMS would be held in Oklahoma City!

FIRST DAY OF THE TRAVEL MEDIA SHOWCASE

The first day of meetings was a short one as there was another FAM tour after lunch. We met with: Capitol-Saratoga Region in New York; Chicagoland's Fox River Valley; Sioux Falls, South Dakota; San Mateo County, California; Irvine, California; Valley Forge, Pennsylvania; Yucca Valley, California; Southern Indiana; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Montgomery, Alabama; and Fort Worth, Texas.

Brief lunch and then off to an Irvine FAM tour beginning with the First America Title Building which had a whole bunch of old photos depicting the history of the area as well as few artifacts. Eunice was caught trying to open the vault. I don't why she would need money unless she was really looking for the deed to the Rubber Chicken Forest, which is not even in this part of California. We later found a relative of some sorts made of something other than rubber.

Eunice and I hit the Performing Arts Center and the Irvine Museum. We expected the museum to have artifacts but instead had art work about Irvine. Painting, photos and some sculptures.

Next was the Irvine Historical Society which had lots and lots of artifacts. We checked out a saddle, played an old piano and got our photo taken with Merle Exit and some Native American Indian thing.

After that is was back to the hotel. There was this Taste of Irvine set up that had a lot of the local restaurants giving samples of their cuisine. The food was great although we were a bit pooped and didn't feel like taking photos.

BACK TO IRVINE

After our Catalina Island trip we went back to Irvine and checked in at the Hyatt Hotel, where the TMS was being held. Eunice and I were off to a cocktail (pardon the word) party at a restaurant called Yard House located in this huge shopping center. We had a drink and some food before going directly across the way to the Improv Comedy Club. They had this sign up on their marquee welcoming us.

After dinner and a show we went to this place called the Pretend City Children's Museum for dessert. Eunice and I got play with a few pretend things and met some relatives. Time to go back to the hotel and get ready for the first day of meeting folks.

ON TO CATALINA ISLAND

There was this pre-FAM trip to Catalina Island so we decided to go. A fast boat took us there boarding in Long Beach. We checked out this big bird but made sure that we didn't touch it. Tim and Susan helped us for one photo but we got up by ourselves for the second one. Avalon is the name of the city that we debarked at.

It was tough getting around so we rented a golf cart. Most of the people who live there have there own golf carts and drive it as if it were a regular car. This nice lady from tourism helped Eunice up to read the signs so we knew where to go.

Dinner was at Metropole Hotel's restaurant and then we stayed at this really great Hotel Villa Portofino in one of their executive suites that faced the bay. Here is a view from the huge windows.

TRAVEL CONTACTS

Eunice and I wanted to make some contacts with folks running the tourism offices around the country. Well, there was this Travel Media Showcase being held in Irvine, California which was a sort of 15-minute speed dating thing. It was a long trip from New York so we brought our head and neck pillow.

We arrived in Irvine and first stayed at the Atrium Hotel where we had lunch and met both the Executive Chef Chris Reischl and the pastry chef/sous chef Tyler Kotta. Eunice and I each had a salad. I had the Asian salad and Eunice lunched on the spinach salad.

The hotel had these cool cabanas near the pool where we met some of the writers that were also attending. I couldn't believe that Judy Bayliff was there! I met her and her husband Wayne when I went to Niagara County. That was before I found Eunice. I gave Judy a kiss and she fed me some of her food. Then we both took a photo with the waitress.

Up early the next day and having their Japanese breakfast instead of the buffet. Ron Nugent, the General Manager was happy to see us.