Taste of the Beach

Exciting news for all you food lovers out there! Our very own Chef Allan Hass will be featured at the Taste of the Harbor on November 5th at the Emerald Grande!

TASTE OF THE BEACH - WINE. DINE. DONATE. RETURNS TO

NORTHWEST FLORIDA'S GULF COAST NOVEMBER 5th - 8th

Festival events include wine tastings, cooking demonstrations,

a charity auction, film screenings and more!

THE Beach, FL (July 8, 2009) - Taste of THE Beach - Wine. Dine. Donate., a four-day culinary and cultural celebration benefiting children's charities, returns to Northwest Florida's Gulf Coast November 5 - 8, 2009. Set along the scenic backdrop of THE Beach's 227 miles of white sand coastline and charming seaside towns, the second annual festival is comprised of seven events ranging from wine tastings and film screenings to winemaker dinners and a charity auction.

A collaboration between the Walton Area Chamber of Commerce, Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation (DCWAF) and Coastal Vision 3000, Taste of THE Beach combines new and established food, wine, and artistic events featuring prized vintners, renowned chefs and independent filmmakers. Almost all proceeds from ticket sales and the charity auction will benefit local charities that work to improve the physical , emotional, and educational lives of underprivileged and at-risk children in Northwest Florida.

This year's exciting schedule of events includes: Taste of THE Harbor, Taste of Bay Wine & Food Experience, Al Fresco Reserve Tasting at Ruskin Place, Telluride MountainFilm on Tour, Seeing Red Wine Festival, a series of wine maker dinners at area restaurants, and the Taste of THE Beach & Charity Auction.

For tickets to all events call (850) 267-0683 or visit

http://www.tasteofthebeachfla.com/

November 5, Taste of THE Harbor

Emerald Grand, Destin

5pm - 8pm $50 per person

The Embassy Suites Destin - Miramar Beach Florida proudly presents Chef Allan Haas as a featured chef at the Taste of THE Harbor on November 5th. Chef Haas is the executive chef at the Embassy Suites Hotel, running the Calypso Cafe within the hotel as well as being the creator behind all the catering and banquet menus and events.

Feel the Breeze!

Ahhhhhhh feel that awesome cool breeze! While many of you come to the Florida Beaches for the heat, the locals live and breathe for the cool breezes of the Fall, Winter, and Spring. Oh, I'm sure there are more than a few of us who are in love with the heat but I'm going to go out on a limb and say that most Floridians arent a huge fan of the Summer. The grass is always greener and all. This week, the beloved and sought after cool breezes have crept in. The coolness of the impending Fall season touches your face like a tantalizing reminder that the seasons are about to change. Sure, it's still in the upper 80's the majority of the time, but that subtle cool breeze is laying the undertones for the upcoming seasons.


Most destination and beach hotels, such as our hotel, try to push the Summer as our high season. We love our summer guests in all their beach day glory with their sunblock, coolers of beer, iPods, and their beach hair. While we are a predominately high-summer season hotel, WINTER AND SPRING ARE WHERE IT'S AT! If I could get on the phone with every potential guest wondering if they should come to the Beach this Fall, I would scream from the mountain tops that it's the "most wonderful time of the year"! Because seriously, it is. Dont believe me? Come stay for a weekend, or heck, stay for a week because once you get a taste of the beach with the wind carrying all the sounds and smells of the beach in 70 degree weather...well, let's just say its incredibly close to perfection.


In other news - we have a new staff member at the hotel! Our sales team welcomes Ms. Jennifer Bates to the property as our Corporate Sales Manager. She's been here a week and it's been determined that she's pretty much awesome. If you're a corporate group looking for a great location for your meeting, or if you just want to get some feelers out there for a Christmas party or a company incentive group, give Jennifer a buzz!


Jennifer Bates, Corporate Sales Manager
(phone) 850.337.7062 (email) jenny.bates@dimdev.com

Long Time No Blog!

It's been awhile since this blog has been updated. And for that dear readers, I apologize. It would seem that Blogger was momentarily blocked by our hotel servers and it took a bit of doing to get logged back in. None the less, here we are, blogging away.

In this blog, I wont mention our fabulous vacation packages or our new and improved wedding on the beach package. I wont even mention how incredibly awesome our sales team is at bringing in a tremendous amount of group business for an outstanding July and August. Instead, I'm going to focus on a few press releases we've been featured in as of late. For this post, we'd like to present the article from the Northwest Florida Daily News:


Embassy Suites receives several awards

Lynn Holland, CHME, senior sales manager at Embassy Suites Destin/Miramar Beach, recently accepted an award in recognition of Embassy Suites Destin's support of the Society of Government Meeting Planners Capitol Chapter in Tallahassee.
Embassy Suites also has received the J.D. Power Award for Highest Guest Satisfaction among upscale, full-service hotels, marking eight times in the last 10 years it has earned this honor. The Destin/Miaramar Beach location will celebrate by hosting the business community at the upcoming Destin Chamber's Monthly Luncheon, which will be at 11:30am August 19, 2009.

Happy 4th of July

Happy 4th of July Everyone!

Happy Birthday America! As we all prepare to celebrate in your 233 years, we wish you many, many years to come and that you grow in strength and wisdom! And how are we celebrating you here at the hotel this year? With nothing better than a great time at the beach of course! There's nothing like a hot summer breeze, cool drinks, and great company to make a holiday amazing. And let's not forget the fireworks. We're in a great location here at the beach in between at least three different fireworks displays. So, come sundown, all the marvelous Embassy Suites' guests will be coming back from their astonishing meals either at the Calypso Cafe or other great restaurants in the area. They'll all grab a cooler of ice, some beers, soft drinks (and please friends, bring water...stay hydrated this year so we dont have any dehydration on the beach!); they'll claim their piece of the beach with beach chairs and umbrellas and bask in the glow of the setting sun. Local fireworks begin at 8pm at the Hilton Sandestin, 9pm over the East Pass at the Destin Harbor, and 9pm atop the parking center at the Destin Commons. And the best part, you can see pretty much all of them from the beach! That's four sets of fireworks in one amazing 4th of July at the beach. Oh, and did we mention that you can listen to FM105.5 "The Wolf" for this year's 4th of July celebration soundtrack.

So enjoy your 4th of July...wish our country a 233 year old HAPPY BIRTHDAY and party

Thursday Morning

The air is still...the bustle of Destin hasnt quite begun this early in the morning. The kitchen crew begins its preparations of the breakfast buffet: the smell of bacon, pancakes, coffee and cantaloupe linger throughout the open air atrium, slowly bringing its sleeping guests out of their hazy slumbers. The sun peaks over the horizon and a light Florida breeze begins to sift its way through the palm trees. The sound of the waves and seagulls....these are our mornings.

The breakfast buffet is slamming with hungry guests from all corners of the world, from all walks of life. An elderly couple sharing a newspaper over oatmeal and coffee...a table with two frazzled parents and a small army of under 10 year olds, all shoving their smiling faces full with an assortment of chocolate, blueberry and banana nut muffins. In a table to the center of the atrium, a young couple in workout clothing, smiling and laughing as they eat their bananas and custom made omelets. Mornings here...well, they're my favorite part of the day.

Calypso Cafe Club Cards

They're finally here! New to the Embassy Suites Destin - Miramar Beach are our new Calypso Cafe Club Cards! What we've noticed here the past few months is that no one seems to know our restaurant is here. How can that be?? We asked ourselves that question over and over. It's simple...we havent reached out to our locals as much as we should have and for that, dear locals, we do apologize! But neglect will no longer be tolerated! :0) Introducing.....THE CALYPSO CAFE CLUB CARD!Now, this is a very inadequate representation of the card so you'll just have to come by and pick one up for yourself. What is the Club Card?? It's a Buy 9 Entrees Get Your 10th Free promotion we're running for our locals and for those hotel guests that stay with us on a regular basis. How does it work you ask? It's simple! Come by the front desk at the hotel or come by the restaurant and ask for your own Calypso Cafe Club Card. Every time you eat with us, bring your card. The more you use it, the closer you are to your free entree. Once you've reached your free entree, come redeem it, eat up all the deliciousness and then pick up your new card and start all over! It's a win win situation and we're proud to bring it to you!

Stop by and pick up your cards today!

Embassy Suites Destin - Miramar Beach
570 Scenic Gulf Drive, Destin FL 32550
850.337.7000 - direct phone
www.embassydestin.com
On Old Hwy 98 between Wings and St. Tropez directly across the street from the beach!

New Stuff at Embassy!

We've got tons of new stuff this summer! Starting May 1st, tomorrow, we're launching brand new packages. And by brand new I mean some are revamped to better serve our valued guests. Take a look at our packages and give us a buzz - we'd love to book you a great stay with us!

Getaway Package Includes:
• Embassy Suites Accommodations & Amenities
• Complimentary Cooked to Order Breakfast
• Complimentary Evening Manager's Reception** with Cocktails and Appetizers
• VIP Gift Bag: over $800 of coupons, gift certificates, spa specials, wine tasting....more!
• Complimentary Milk and Cookies, delivered at your request.
• Complimentary In Room Movie

Get the girls together and BOOK NOW!
Booking code: GRL
**state and local laws apply
(Valid from May 1, 2009 - December 31, 2009; based on availability; black out dates apply)

Embassy Suites Spa Package Includes:

• Embassy Suites Accommodations & Amenities
• Complimentary Cooked to Order Breakfast
• Complimentary Evening Manager’s Reception** with Cocktails and Appetizers
• Complimentary 50 Minute Hot Stone Massage at Spa 98

Com relax with us and BOOK NOW!
Booking code: SPA
**state and local laws apply
(Valid from May 1, 2009 - December 31, 2009; based on availability; black out dates apply)

Guys Getaway Package Includes:
• Embassy Suites Accommodations & Amenities
• Complimentary Cooked to Order Breakfast
• Complimentary Evening Manager’s Reception** with Cocktails and Appetizers
• Bass Pro Shop Gift Card
• Discounted Rates with Embassy Suites Preferred Fishing Charters

Rates from $129.00/USD per night
**state and local laws apply

Grab the guys and BOOK NOW!
Booking code: GUY
**state and local laws apply
(Valid from April 1, 2009 - December 31, 2009; based on availability; black out dates apply)

Enjoy a romantic get away for just the two of you! The Embassy Suites Destin - Miramar Beach and the Destin Melting Pot have joined together! Stay in one of our fabulous two-room Celebration Suites featuring a Gulf side view and garden bathtub. Indulge in the finest fondues, wine and chocolates and enjoy complimentary late check out. Stay with us and “dip into something different”.
• Embassy Suites Accommodations & Amenities in one of our Celebration Suites with Garden Tub
• Complimentary Cooked to Order Breakfast
• Complimentary Evening Manager’s Reception** with Cocktails and Appetizers
• Complimentary Shuttle Service to The Melting Pot on One Night of Your Stay.
• Complimentary Pot of the Featured Cheese Fondue for Two and Complimentary Desert Fondue for Two of Your Choice
• Complimentary Arrival Petite Box of Chocolates and Featured House Wine

We welcome you and your loved one! BOOK NOW!
Booking code: LUV
**state and local laws apply
(Valid from May 1, 2009 - December 31, 2009; based on availability; black out dates apply)