Instead of waiting for the weekend, why not try brunch-ing it business-style? The meal-time fusion accommodates every taste with a wide variety of options. Here is all the buzz on West Coast’s hottest brunch spots.

Tres by Jose Andres at SLS Beverly Hills

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Perfectly nestled in one of Los Angeles’ most happening neighborhoods is Tres by Jose Andres at SLS Beverly Hills. The luxury hotel features Jose Andres, a top-rated Michelin star chef. Tres by Jose Andres offers a sophisticated brunch unlike the traditional hotel dining experience—he puts his artistic, Spanish flair throughout many of his dishes.

Lounge into an executive sofa, or enjoy your meal at one of the oversized coffee tables and discuss a business proposal with a client or colleague—at Tres you can have it all. Tres’ seats 90–100 guests.

 

Brenda’s French Soul Food

 

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Brenda’s French Soul Food is one of the top-rated soul food restaurants in San Francisco that just happens to have a great weekend brunch. Some of Brenda’s most acclaimed dishes include beignets, shrimp and grits, and eggs benedict. Brenda’s is great for a casual get together, coupled with some of the best bites of the Bay. Brenda’s seats 40–50 guests.

 

Ellyngton’s at the Brown Palace Hotel and Spa

 

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Ellyngton’s restaurant at The Brown Palace Hotel and Spa, known to be a place for power breakfasts and business lunches, has been around for over a century. Located in the heart of downtown Denver, Ellyngton’s offers a fine-dining brunch experience, including a Dom Perignon brunch. Ellyngton’s is a great place to take your fancy client to, or for a nice brunch with some co-workers. Ellyngton’s seats 90–100 guests.

Mother’s Bistro & Bar

Located in the beautiful downtown Portland area is Mother’s Bistro and Bar. Country-chic coupled with grandiose chandeliers and dining at a restaurant called Mother’s couldn’t make you feel more at home, right?

Mother’s takes traditional homemade comfort food and refines it, so it’s like your mother’s cooking, but just a tad better—don’t tell your mother I said that! The open, welcoming space makes it a great dining experience for any occasion. Mother’s seats 90–100 guests.

Andiron Steak & Sea

 

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Andiron Steak & Sea is situated in the downtown Summerlin shopping strip of Las Vegas. It doesn’t offer your typical omelets and French toast type of brunch. Andiron boasts a chic decor, and a playlist that features ’80s and’90s best hits—talk about nostalgia.

Andiron features a Sunday-only brunch menu that includes an assortment of bottomless champagne cocktails, and a build-your-own Bloody Mary. Andiron is great for families and friends, or if you have neither, that random co-worker who sits three desks down from you. There is room for all, because Andiron can seat up to 150 hungry guests.

Chocolate is not just a piece of candy to satisfy a sugar carving. Chocolate has many health benefits when consumed in moderation, of course. Studies show it can be beneficial in fighting diabetes, reducing stress and improving blood flow. It can also be great for bringing groups together around a sweet, shared activity. Here are some places your group can learn about the history and process of candymaking—and sample some delicious chocolate.

Hershey’s Chocolate World, Hershey, Pennsylvania

Come to the factory that played a major part in shaping chocolate as we know it today. From bean to bar, Hershey’s free tour offers an immersive chocolate making tour in a trolley car. Put all five of your senses to work by learning the art and science of tasting and enjoy partaking in the transformation of cocoa beans to candy bar. For a personalized parting gift, let attendees create their own candy bar wrapped in your logo.

Ethel M Chocolates, Henderson, Nevada

The preservative-free chocolate powerhouse offers chocolate tastings on an hourly basis that lasts from thirty and forty-five minutes. The experience includes some education on how chocolate is sourced, refined and produced, as well as the subtleties of chocolate tasting and flavor identification. Your group can choose from six different type of chocolates. Group discounts are offered for parties of ten to nineteen.

Zak’s Chocolate, Scottsdale, Arizona

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Try a few of Zak’s decadent, exotic samples that originate from Costa Rica, Peru, Columbia and Ecuador on a guided factory tour. Your group will experience a succulent variety of chocolate and learn the processes that it takes to produce it. The 2-hour experience encompasses a deep dive into the craft of chocolate, a guided tasting and a chocolate making demonstration.

Chocolat Michel Cluizel, West Berlin, New Jersey

Take your party on a private guided tour of this beautiful chocolate museum. The classic tour includes an educational experience on the history and production of this sought-after treat. The last part of the tour features an assortment of chocolate to taste, including a decadent, homemade ganache. Tours are by appointment only and require a minimum of 15 guests per party. The tour lasts for about 1 to 2 hours with a lunch option available.

Chocolate Maya, Santa Barbara, California

Chocolate Maya offers walk-in tastings, as well as private tastings. Your group can relax in the colorful Chocolate Lounge and enjoy a hot chocolate, a rich and thick drink with high-quality cacao. Private tastings feature single-origin chocolate bars from around the world, along with a lesson in the complex life of a piece of chocolate, from bean to bar to truffle. If interested, the tasting can include an in depth-discussion about how cacao beans are grown and processed, and the social and environmental issues surrounding chocolate production and the luxury food industry.

Embrace the spooky season by planning an event at one of these awesome hotels—and don’t forget to try one of the delicious, seasonal dishes.

The Ballantyne, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Charlotte, North Carolina

Pumpkin-lovers to the front of the line! At the Ballantyne, you can indulge in delightful Pumpkin Tonka Verrine at their Gallery Restaurant, through October. The dessert consists of 35 percent Blond Chocolate cinnamon namelaka, pumpkin mousse, Tonka Bean cream, brown butter sponge and Orleys chocolate garnish. The Ballantyne boasts 30,000 sq. ft. of meeting space and 244 guest rooms.

Quirk Hotel, Richmond, Virginia

Quirk Hotel offers an exquisite Tortelloni with a pumpkin brown-butter puree and sage powder. Dine at Quirk’s restaurant, Maple & Pine, after planning an awesome event at this spacious hotel that offers 4,000 sq. ft. of meeting space and more than 70 guest rooms.

Hilton New Orleans Riverside

With more than 100,000 sq. ft. of meeting space and 1,622 guest rooms, this hotel does not disappoint when it comes to size. It also offers a great dining experience! Quench your thirst with a smooth Pumpkin Daquiri made with Mount Gay and Goslings rum, Domaine de Canton Ginger Liqueur, all spice, pumpkin puree, lemon and simple syrup.

The Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village, Florida

You can kick back and relax at The Westin Cape Coral Resort’s restaurant, Marker 92. Enjoy a deliciously healthy Pumpkin Head Salad with field greens, hearts of palm, vine ripened tomato, candied walnuts, shaved radish, pickled red onion and ginger citrus dressing in a jack-o-lantern orange. Even if salads aren’t your thing, you can take in all the tranquil ocean views that the hotel offers. It also boasts 30,000 sq. ft. of meeting space and 263 guest rooms.

Polls don’t lie, right? These cities are among the top-rated in most “world’s friendliest cities” articles. Maybe one of these fine locales can be the next place you plan your event, or visit on a personal trip.

1. Charleston, South Carolina

This beautiful city has made it on many lists of the world’s friendliest cities, so there should be no doubt it belongs on ours, as well. Not only does Charleston have beautiful historic architecture—it also has award-winning hotels and incredible eats. No need goes unmet in Charleston.

2. Dublin

Dublin is so friendly and social that locals even use a slang word, “craic” (pronounced like “crack”),  the term widely used for fun and entertainment in Ireland, which is fitting for such a welcoming environment. Dublin is home to the famous Guinness Storehouse, where you can take in the history while enjoying a tasting.

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3. Auckland, New Zealand

We all love a city that has cleanliness and convenience at the top of its list. Auckland has been described to have unbelievably friendly locals, amazing luxury hotels and beautiful destination points. Waiheke Island is one of the top destination points in Auckland, which boasts wine tours, a community art gallery, parks, a musical museum and great beaches.

4. Krakow, Poland

The city with the Disney-esque sights and smoked cheese for days, Krakow, Poland, is a go-to Western European country that is easy on the wallet, as well. Hungry? Well, in Krakow you can get a meal and drinks for under $10.

5. Tokyo

It is widely known that the people of Japan are very kind and welcoming. This bustling mega city,  known for big business, also knows how to welcome tourists. If you’re the adventurous type, Tokyo is for you. There is a never-ending list of exciting spots, such as Tokyo Disney Resort, Tokyo Skytree and Tokyo Tower. Tourists report that the main reasons they want to return to this beautiful city are its safety and the friendliness of locals.

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Stephanie Rue

Art Ovation Hotel, which is slated to open this Winter, has appointed Rue as general manager. Rue will play a significant role in the property’s opening, staff leadership, recruitment and management. Rue has spent the past five years as general manager for Courtyard Miami Homestead, where she was nominated for Marriott’s GM of the year in 2015.

Art Ovation Hotel

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Gonzalo Guelman Ros

Four Seasons Resort Nevis, an award-winning resort in the Caribbean, has named Gonzalo Guelman Ros as general manager. A 25-year industry veteran, Guelman Ros brings his extensive international luxury hospitality expertise. He will be responsible for all operations for the property, which is currently undergoing with a repositioning project. Prior to his current appointment, Guelman Ros was the resort manager for more than three years at Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita.

Four Seasons Resort Nevis

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Sharee Hines

Kimpton’s Surfcomber Hotel in South Beach, Miami, appointed Sharee Hines as director of sales and marketing. Sharee will be responsible for all sales and marketing activities. She will also establish and maintain relationships with industry influencers and key strategic partners that will support the Kimpton of Florida brand initiatives. Sharee has previously worked as the director of sales for Kimpton Ink48 in New York City where she had an active role in relaunching the property after a multimillion-dollar renovation.

Kimpton’s Surfcomber Hotel

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Asa Thomas

Asa joins Art Ovation Hotel with more than 17 years of experience as director of sales. Thomas will be charged with managing all hotel sales, marketing and growth strategies. Previously, Thomas served as director of sales for Hyatt Place Orlando Airport, and more recently government senior sales manager at DoubleTree by Hilton Tampa, where she booked more than $1.6 million in group sales and catering, and was awarded Employee of the Year.

Art Ovation Hotel

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Ben Webster

Ben Webster was recently appointed as the general manager of The Fairlane Hotel. The highly anticipated luxury boutique hotel located in Nashville, Tenn., is slated to open in early 2018. Webster will be responsible for managing the day-to-day operations.

Beyond Content Agency

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airplane meals

Tired of having to worry about how you are going to get your next meal before your flight? No need to fear, free food is here! A select number of airlines have begun bringing back complimentary meals on domestic flights. In the aftermath of 9/11, many airlines faced financial hardships which caused them to scale back on some of their offerings, such as complimentary meals on domestic flights, along with other amenities that once made air travel an adventure rather than an annoyance. More than a decade later, and after much competition from budget airlines, these select airlines are once again offering complimentary meals.

Delta Airlines

Starting on March 1, Delta offered complimentary meals to all flyers on routes between JFK and LAX/SFO.

On April 24, Delta further expanded to the following markets:

  • Boston (BOS) to Los Angeles (LAX), San Francisco (SFO), Seattle (SEA)
  • Washington, DC (DCA) to Los Angeles (LAX)
  • New York (JFK) to Portland (PDX), San Diego (SAN), Seattle (SEA)
  • Seattle (SEA) to Fort Lauderdale (FLL), Orlando (MCO), Raleigh-Durham (RDU)

Menus vary depending on flight time and will feature an assortment of options.

American Airlines

  • Starting on May 1, American offered free in-flight meals to all fliers on trips between Los Angeles and New York, and San Francisco and New York.
  • American Airlines’ passengers travelling on the above routes will receive a complimentary continental breakfast or a boxed meal with a sandwich wrap, kettle chips and a dessert. They will also have a vegetarian option, along with a fruit and cheese platter.

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Kevin Boland

Palace Hotel San Francisco, The Luxury Collection appointed Kevin Boland director of sales and marketing. He will be spearheading all new sales initiatives and marketing strategies. Previously, Boland was the director of sales and marketing at The Drake, a Hilton Hotel in Chicago.

Palace Hotel

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Chef Don Vilain

Don Vilain has been appointed to executive chef at The Wilmington Convention Center (WCC) in Wilmington, N.C., Vilain has more than 20 years of culinary experience. He won People’s Choice Award at multiple Pleasure Island Chowder Cook-offs. Most recently, Vilain has held positions as executive chef at Bridgeport Conference Center and corporate chef for Charles Pointe Hospitality, both in his hometown of Clarksburg, West Virginia.

Wilmington and Beaches CVB

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Andre D ‘Amour

Stonewall Resort, a Benchmark Resorts & Hotels in Roanoke, West Virginia, has named Amour general manager. Previously, Amour held the title of director of operations for Cheyenne Mountain Resort in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Benchmark Resorts & Hotels

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Shauna Nakamura

Shauna was appointed corporate and leisure sales manager for Hilton Garden Inn Waikiki Beach in Honolulu, Hawaii. She will be tasked with driving sales for all high-volume accounts in the United States, Oceania, Asia, Canada and Europe. Recently, Nakamura worked as managing director for Worldstar DMC of Apple Leisure Group.

Hilton Garden Inn Waikiki Beach

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Greg Schmidt

The AC Hotel San Francisco/Oyster Point Waterfront in South San Francisco, the first hotel to open in that city for more than 15 years, named Greg Schmidt general manager. Previously, he held the position of general manager at Residence Inn by Marriot in San Diego.

AC Hotels by Marriott

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Tiffany Davis

Embassy Suites by Hilton Mandalay Beach Resort, appointed Tiffany Davis as general manager. Davis brings almost 20 years of hospitality experience with Hilton Worldwide. Before joining Embassy Suites, she worked at Embassy Suites by Hilton Fort Lauderdale 17th Street, and GalleryOne a Doubletree Suites by Hilton Hotel, also located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Embassy Suites by Hilton Mandalay Beach Resort

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Mina Y. Otake

Otake has been appointed as the director of marketing at The Peninsula Hotel in Tokyo. Otake will be responsible for spearheading all sales and marketing initiatives within the Hotel. Her most recent position was the country director at De Beers Diamond Jewellers Japan.

The Peninsula Hotel in Tokyo

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Stephanie Bauer

Westdrift Manhattan Beach, which is slated to open in California in January 2018, appointed Stephanie Bauer general manager. Bauer brings more than 30 years of experience to the soon-to-open luxury property. Previously, Bauer served as general manager for Marriott San Mateo and The Lodge at Tiburon.

Westdrift Manhattan Beach

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Carolyn Pope

Rosewood Little Dix Bay in Spanish Town, British Virgin Islands, appointed Carolyn Pope associate director of sales. The resort will reopen in December 2017 after a complete renovation. Prior to this, Pope held the position of marketing manager of the Americas for Visit Victoria in Australia.

Rosewood Little Dix Bay

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Catherine Velie

Delta Hotels by Marriott, Toronto, appointed Catherine Velie general manager . Prior to this, Velie was general manager of Sheraton Gateway Hotel in Toronto International Airport. Her first role in the industry was as a restaurant server for The Westin Calgary in Canada.

Delta Hotels by Marriott

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Juan J. Garcia

The National Conference Center in Leesburg Virginia appointed Juan J. Garcia executive director of sales. Garcia will be charged with leading National’s 14-person professional sales team as it continues to break sales records by working with corporate, association, government and military learning professionals. His experience spans more than 30 years of growing sales in competitive hotel markets. His most recent position was the director of sales and marketing at Hilton Arlington in Virginia.

The National Conference Center

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Angie Clifton

Palace Hotel San Francisco appointed Angie Clifton hotel manager. Angie is tasked with ensuring the day-to-day operations run smoothly. Clifton brings more than two decades of experience in the hotel industry to the table. Her most recent position was director of operations, The Westin Georgetown, Washington D.C.

Palace Hotel

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Terry Sanders

Terry Sanders has been appointed chief development officer for the Americas at Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group. Sanders will be based out of Minneapolis and will report to Ken Greene, president of Americas. He will be charged with leading development and growth strategies in the region. He will also manage strategic investments for the portfolio and spearhead merger and acquisition activity to drive portfolio growth. Previously, Sanders held the position of senior broker at Avison Young in Dallas.

Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group

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Lindsay Cagley

Limelight Hotel Snowmass, which is slated to open November 2018, appointed Lindsay Cagley as general manager. Cagley will be responsible for managing all hotel employees as well as overseeing all strategies and operations. Previously, Cagley was the director of sales and marketing for Limelight Hotels.

Tiffany Cook

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Forget wine; it’s olive oil season. Olive oil tasting is the inclusive way to bring a group together for an unusual and educational culinary adventure. Even those who do not drink alcohol can enjoy learning the subtle differences in types, processes and uses while learning more about each other. Here are 5 places across the country for sharing a taste of liquid gold.

1. Love That Olive, Maple Grove, Minnesota

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Since 2010, Love That Olive has had foodies near and far raving over their high-quality extra virgin olive oils and balsamic vinegars sourced directly from Italy. The site, which hosts teambuilding cooking classes highlighting the mixing and matching of olive products, is a favorite on Minneapolis Northwest Tourism Taste of MNW tours.

2. Texas Hill Country Olive Company, Dripping Springs, Texas

Texas Hill Country Olive Company’s majestic 6,000-square-foot hospitality center is a magnet for groups looking for a taste of local hospitality. It sits on 17 acres of certified organic olive tree orchards and serves up tours and a bistro menu featuring their products. An outside patio seats 150 people with orchard views.

3. Queen Creek Olive Mill, Queen Creek, Arizona

Olive Oil 101 tour pairs award-winning olive oils with the rich history of Queen Creek Olive Mill. Visitors learn about the health benefits of olive oil and the strict standards required to produce high-quality varieties. To appreciate the subtle nuances of the oils, visitors are encouraged to practice bread-free taste testing.

4. The Olive Press, Sonoma, California

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Tours of this family-owned operation in California’s Wine Country introduce visitors to the magic produced by the grinding stones, steel blades and centrifugal spinners involved in the cold press process. Bonus: The tasting room and gift shop shares a grand retail space with Jacuzzi Family Vineyards’ tasting room.

5. Lucero Olive Oil, Corning, California

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Lucero Olive Oil is a landmark in Northern California. American Olive Farmers, the operators, have been tending orchards there for seven decades and have developed a long menu of olive oil tasting tours. Educational journeys can be scheduled in four different languages. The 120-minute connoisseur experience covers the history of Lucero Olive Oil, production techniques and how to pair olive oil with other foods.