The Hotel Experience

Our Hearts Go Out to the Victims and Victims' Families

blog@bellevuehilton.com (blog@bellevuehilton.com) — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 15:47:40 PDT

As many of you have likely heard, there was a large suicide truck bombing at a hotel in Pakistan over the weekend. It resulted in the deaths of 53 people, including one American and the Czech Ambassador to Pakistan. There were over 250 people injured and trees blown over and windows shattered over a mile away. The bomb reportedly left a crater 6 meters deep and 20 meters wide.

We would like to express our condolences to the victims and their families. This is undoubtedly a trying time. Our hearts here at Hilton Bellevue are with you.

Photo courtesy of jzakariya

Related Posts
BBC News
The Observer
CNN
Reuters
The New York Times
International Herald Tribune
The Huffington Post
The News

Getting a Great Rate

blog@bellevuehilton.com (blog@bellevuehilton.com) — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 16:33:04 PDT

More and more often, we are hearing of hotel specials and discounts: cheap weekend stays, 5 nights for the price of 3, etc. This is great for the traveler that can currently afford to take a vacation. We find it very interesting though that all of these discounts are popping up when it has also been shown that average hotel rates are rising rather quickly and have been for years. This says to us that the consumer may only pay for three nights and get five, but may still pay near the same amount as he would have for five. Has anyone noticed this?

In our experience, the best deals are found through loyalty programs, such as Hilton Honors. Some travelers might say, "I would sign up for one of these, but then, I lose options for where I can stay." Yes, you do, but only in a sense because some companies own so many brands that they have options for you nearly everywhere. For example, Hilton owns nine different brands, and Honors members have access to all of them.

Because hotel chains can learn your likes, dislikes, habits, etc, they learn how to offer you what you want. In this respect, they can save marketing money and pass those savings on to you. If you are considering a trip anytime while the economy is still not quite in tip-top shape, look into a loyalty program. They are often free and should save you a chunk of change.

Photo courtesy of LotusMonger

Related Posts
Hotel News Now
Caterersearch

Scheduling Late Meetings

blog@bellevuehilton.com (blog@bellevuehilton.com) — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 17:08:30 PDT

We just ran across a pretty cool resource for people in the UK that might need to schedule a meeting facility at the last minute. Of course, it's of little use for us here almost halfway round the world, but when they expand, we will probably take advantage of this service.

Check out LateMeetings.Com

Photo courtesy of linh.ngân

Win a Round the World Ticket

blog@bellevuehilton.com (blog@bellevuehilton.com) — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 11:36:11 PDT

My Life of Travel has offered up a great new prize for people that use that site. Entrants have until this Friday, September 26, to create one journal entry of a minimum of 1,000 words accompanied by one photo taken by the poster during the trip s/he chooses to write about.

This is a great opportunity for pretty much any traveler. 1,000 words can't take more than an hour, even for the slowest writer, since this isn't a formal, graded project, so get over there and post. We're all doing it in hopes that we'll finally be able to afford that dream vacation. :-)

A Social Media How-To for Hoteliers

blog@bellevuehilton.com (blog@bellevuehilton.com) — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 13:17:59 PDT

Lodging Interactive has put together a social media guide for hoteliers. It details how facebook, twitter, squidoo, etc can be used to promote locations and brands. Many hoteliers are too busy to do all of the necessary research for every social media trend. For that reason, this guide could be just the right thing to get many hotels on track to leverage these free services. We have used it and found it to be extremely helpful.

Photo courtesy of andreaweckerle

Cities Suing Online Travel Companies for Taxes Pt 2

blog@bellevuehilton.com (blog@bellevuehilton.com) — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 10:58:10 PDT

As you likely read in a previous post, various US cities decided not long ago to sue online travel companies for unpaid occupancy taxes. The case (Columbus, Georgia vs Expedia, Inc) likely to set the precedent for such cases just concluded in Muscogee County, Georgia. As has become the norm in the online travel business, online companies such as Expedia were paying taxes on the wholesale rate offered by the hotel and not on the rate the customer actually paid the travel company. For this reason, many cities claimed that they were not being paid the correct amount of insurance and were in some cases missing millions of dollars in tax revenue.

The court found against Expedia, saying that, although it does not provide rooms, it effectively steps into the hotel's shoes by acting as its collecting agent, and in the case of places like Muscogee County where there is a tax on both the hotel operator and the guest, Expedia was found liable for unpaid taxes on the full amount the guest pays.

Other cases are pending, and of course, every jurisdiction has different laws, but this case is sure to set a precedent and may very well result in a number of these travel firms settling out of court in the future.

Photo courtesy of Ben Golub

Related Posts
Hotel News Now

Hilton Garden Inn Goes for PSPs

blog@bellevuehilton.com (blog@bellevuehilton.com) — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 16:09:19 PDT

Hilton Garden Inn announced recently that it is implementing a training program on the Sony Playstation Portable platform. The new system is called "HGI Ultimate Team Play for PSP" and is an immersive, first-person game that takes employees through the guest experience, allowing them to see the hotel from an outside perspective. This is being done in an effort to make training more interesting for and applicable to so-called next generation employees, who are more likely than their predecessors to be internet and game savvy.

The program will launch in January of 2009 and will include positions in multiple hotel areas. Our major question is when will the other brands jump on the bandwagon and update their training programs for this generation of employees?

Photo courtesy of G.Davies

Related Posts
Hotel News Resource
Caterersearch

October 2nd's Striking Hotel

blog@bellevuehilton.com (blog@bellevuehilton.com) — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 16:04:27 PDT

Today, we come to you with a truly amazing hotel. The Mfuwe Lodge in Zambia is located in the South Luangwa National Park and has "18 luxury en-suite thatched chalets, each with a private decking area that overlooks a lagoon that attracts abundant wildlife and game from the African bush."

One of the most incredible aspects of this hotel is the elephant migration that goes right through the lobby. The hotel was unwittingly built directly between the elephants' normal grounds and a set of mango trees. Due to this it is quite common to see the elephants, who have chosen to walk directly through the lobby rather than go around the complex. Oddly enough, their website says very little about this, but hotel staff say that the guests are always protected should something unexpected happen.

We were all impressed here to find this little gem, and we're thinking that Hilton Bellevue might have to have a little exec excursion to Mfuwe Lodge here sometime soon.

Photos courtesy of Mfuwe Lodge

Why Leading Hotels' Technical Difficulty was a Huge Success

blog@bellevuehilton.com (blog@bellevuehilton.com) — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 16:53:27 PDT

Plenty of you have heard about The Leading Hotels of the World's anniversary $19.28 room giveaway and how their system was so overrun due to the demand that the whole thing ultimately did not work out. In case you didn't hear about it, check out some of the links below.

Now, you might be asking, "Why was this big fiasco actually a success?" Let us explain. Leading has been getting some bad press in the last few days, but lots of people know about them now, don't they? Before they tripped over their own proverbial two feet, relatively few people were aware of the deal. But now, as a result of this, many more have heard of them for the first times in their lives, and even though Leading stands to make no extra money of this specific deal, they have been able to get their name out there in such a way that your average traveler is aware of the problem, but also sympathizes with the fact that the technology was simply overwhelmed by demand. This understanding engenders the thought that there is still nothing wrong with the hotel's service.

What is likely to happen when your average traveler goes to book a vacation hotel somewhere? A Leading hotel might pop up during his search, and he will recognize its name. For this reason, the whole fiasco has actually been quite the coup for Leading; they gained wider recognition without losing the guest's respect with regard to what they do best.

Photo courtesy of [noone]

Related Posts
Hotel Hotsheet
LA Times

Travelers Say They're Going Green. Are they?

blog@bellevuehilton.com (blog@bellevuehilton.com) — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 15:32:20 PDT

A recent Tripadvisor survey stated that travelers plan to go green and stay green next year. This is a result of two different things. One, fuel prices and rising room rates, combined with the weakening of the economy, make it nearly impossible for most to afford as much travel as they would like to their desired locations. For example, room rates and fuel surcharges on flights to New York might be too high, so a family decides to see a national park instead. Two, it can be little argued that the average person is becoming more environmentally conscious, whether as a result of being concerned with his environmental impact or as a result of energy prices simply being too high.

Our question is this; when travelers say they plan to go green, how serious are they? Are they easily swayed by good deals? Or, do they stick to their green plans?

Our feeling is that price and convenience will almost always trump environmental ethics, and despite how some might feel about that, it is seemingly a fact of life. There are different lessons to be learned for different types of hoteliers. Hoteliers in eco-areas, such as near national parks, have to be sensitive to the pricing and specials of hotels in vastly different types of destinations. For example, a hotelier near the Tetons has to consider that a family might choose not to go there if they find a great rate in a big city they have been wanting to visit. Even so, that hotelier might be able to entice travelers to continue to come by leveraging her entire package: price, scenery, eco-tourism aspects, relaxation over the hustle and bustle of the city, etc.

A destination city hotelier should take from these survey claims that her area is simply too pricey, and if the airlines, restaurants, amusement parks, etc won't cut prices to entice travelers to come, she may have to. After all, a hotel in a city is much less likely to be able to offer an all-in-one type package than a more distant hotel. Luckily, fifty-eight percent of respondents indicated that they are loyal to certain chains, and hotels should be able to leverage that so that they do not have to cut rates if travelers flock to greener destinations.

Getting in touch with travelers' interests is something that has long been overlooked by hoteliers, and they would be well-served to use expanding forms of communication (social media, user generated content, etc) to both find out what travelers want and to communicate and form a bond with travelers so that that customer loyalty stays intact. With the current economic situation, it is time for hoteliers to undertake novel forms of marketing and customer relationship management so that, when things bounce back, they will be well placed to take advantage of the improving economy regardless of whether they service eco-tourists, city tourists, or some other group.

Photo/s courtesy of Matthew Fang

Related Posts
Hotel News Resource
Hotel News Resource

The Benefits of Early Check-In

noreply@blogger.com (Andy Jacobs) — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 12:34:36 PDT

I recently traveled from Seattle to Boston on a red-eye flight. From a pragmatic, time-saving standpoint, a red-eye plane ride is the best option if you are heading east. When you fly from the west coast to the east coast, you have to factor in the 3 hour time difference. A plane leaving Los Angeles at 9AM will arrive in Boston at 5PM. That is an entire day wasted on an airplane. Conversely, you can hop on a plane at 11PM at night and land at 7AM. When I landed in Boston at 7AM, the only logical place for me to go was to my hotel, the Doubletree-Downtown Boston (part of the Hilton Family). Hilton properties usually have a designated check-in time of 3PM, but will allow a guest to check-in early if a clean room is available. In my case, a clean room was available, and I was able to check in at 8AM. Though this "early check-in" option might seem small and insignificant, it can certainly affect the guest's impression of the property.

Of course, if the hotel was sold out the previous night, there is nothing the hotel can do in that scenario, and the rational guest would understand. Hilton properties will also give the guest an opportunity to request an "early check-in" during the time they make their reservation. When this happens, it is up to the staff of the specific property to acknowledge that request during night audit. I've also been in a scenario where I have arrived at a hotel before 3PM and have been bluntly told that check-in was not until 3PM. Needless to say, I did not get a "warm and fuzzy" feeling and did not recommend that particular hotel to anyone.

This positive experience at the Doubletree reinforces the idea that a simple gesture can vastly improve a traveler's brand loyalty. Hoteliers would be best served to keep this in mind. The concept isn't going to cost the hotel anything. Yet, it could potentially increase revenue down the road, and at the very least, the customer relationship will grow stronger.

Photo/s courtesy of goforchris

Hilton Hotel Los Angeles/San Gabriel Review

blog@bellevuehilton.com (blog@bellevuehilton.com) — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 14:14:31 PDT

This last Thursday and Friday, I attended a workshop at the Hilton in San Gabriel, CA. The front desk and lobby staff were extremely nice the whole time. Plus, I got to my room to find two chocolate chip cookies. :-) Who wouldn't like that?

The Hilton in San Gabriel is in a strongly Chinese area, which gives a cool twist to its restaurant menus and to the local dining options. My first night there, I arrived after 10pm and asked about dining. The front desk said that after hours in-room dining was available, but only on a limited menu, and suggested that I check out some of the tea places located just across the street. I really appreciated that because I was able to get a full meal at a good price, and it wasn't fast food. . . which too many travelers seem to eat when their schedule gets thrown off with flying and whatnot.

The hotel had all of your standard Hilton luxuries and amenities (pool, fitness center, coffeemaker, etc), but what really made the stay unique was how well integrated the hotel seemed to be in the local culture. So many hotels have a multi-ethnic staff, but come across as just another hotel. . . one that could easily be replaced by another. This one had the multi-ethnic staff, appearance, and atmosphere to boot.

The restaurant food was excellent; the rooms were large and nice; and the staff was extremely friendly and helpful. Overall, it was a great place to stay.

How Replaceable is Your Hotel?

blog@bellevuehilton.com (blog@bellevuehilton.com) — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 14:53:40 PDT

When potential guests plan for a trip to your area, what percentage come looking specifically for your location? Do travelers feel a need to stay at your property or with your brand? Or, is your location one of many they are likely to choose?

Many of you have read the reports stating that both demand and rates are dropping, while inventory is increasing. With travelers being more price sensitive and your competitors more likely to drop rates in order to grab market share, it would be wise for many hoteliers to focus on and to advertise what makes their locations unique and desirable. If I am planning a family trip to Hawaii over the Winter, I am much more likely to pay $10, $20, or maybe even $50 more to stay at a hotel to which I feel some loyalty connection or one that at least excites me due to something that it has that I cannot find at one of its competitors.

As you adapt to this uncertain, down-trending market, focus on what you can offer your guests that they cannot find other places. Remember that people will continue to travel, but they will be much more sensitive to value, so leverage what you can, and offer customers a unique value proposition.

How have you been working on building loyalty? And, what can you offer to your guests that your competitors cannot?

Photo/s courtesy of steve heath

Lower Rates, Value Adds, or Plain Old Marketing

blog@bellevuehilton.com (blog@bellevuehilton.com) — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 16:53:40 PDT

It seems like every day I read on Hotel Chatter or the Hotel Hotsheet about a new hotel with amazingly low rates or a hotel with a new signature drink or dish at its restaurant or bar. I congratulate those hotels for working to offer more to their customers, whether it's as simple as more bang for their buck or an added value that they cannot find anywhere else.

I wonder though how much hotels are overlooking the benefit of engagement and interaction. I never hear about that. While the benefits of social media can definitely be debated, most people would not argue against the idea that an engaged customer is a loyal customer. Yet, how can a hotel engage its guests and still keep a handle on its public relations? I would argue that being open and interacting with your clients online, allowing both good and bad commentary, gives a hotel more control over its public relations because only allowing positive commentary can appear fake, whereas allowing negative commentary gives some depth to conversation, and it allows hoteliers to address negative comments head-on.

Some of the best managed online interaction programs I have seen have been as simple as a hotel responding to all TripAdvisor posts. . . thanking the positive and mitigating the negative. No doubt your hotel does not have the time, man power, or know how to handle online interaction, but you do already know that travelers increasingly look online for hotel information. Would it not be best for you to be there to talk back to them when they go online?

Photo/s courtesy of lumaxart

A Spooooooky Halloween Post

blog@bellevuehilton.com (blog@bellevuehilton.com) — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 12:56:16 PDT

We wanted to pull together a few spooky, hotel-related blog posts, stories, pics, resources, etc for all of our readers.

Happy Halloween, everyone! Stay safe and enjoy!

@resideo directed us to Rob's blog and Forbes Traveler.

A Halloween themed game for everyone. Hotel 626.

The W New Orleans is hosting a scary movie night.

Flickr's recommendations for spooky hotels and haunted hotels.

Despite the horrible flashing graphics and design, a pretty decent list of 10 haunted hotels in the US.

Photo/s courtesy of atomicjeep

Hotels and the Twitter Bandwagon

blog@bellevuehilton.com (blog@bellevuehilton.com) — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 12:39:13 PST

In the world of social media, Twitter appears to be today's star child. The people that use it love it, and it seems that the user base is growing exponentially. Twitter, like Facebook, faces a very daunting task when it comes to monetizing its service. Hoteliers though do not encounter that problem.

Ideas for setting up Twitter as a hotelier and using it to help your business:

Start a generic business Twitter account that can be used to broadcast specials, packages, and blog posts if you have a blog.
Use Twitterfeed for that account if you do have a blog
Encourage your employees to set up their own accounts and to tweet at least once per day. Tools for getting them started can be found in Twitter Basics.
Start using Tweetbeep to follow mentions of your location, your industry, maybe even your competitors. If you have a lot of terms to follow, split them up, and make multiple people responsible.

Twitter is fast. Twitter helps foster information sharing. Twitterfeed helps to broadcast your blog posts, and Tweetbeep helps you find the information you're interested in when people are actually tweeting about it.

While you're at it, follow The Hotel Experience and me, and we'll help you to get started.

Photo/s courtesy of nlnnet

It's a great day for The Hotel Experience & Hilton Bellevue

blog@bellevuehilton.com (blog@bellevuehilton.com) — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 15:21:02 PST

The Hotel Experience now has top billing on the new Hotels section of Alltop. As well, Hilton Bellevue and Seattle's Eastside got a great review on Uptake.

Given this news, I thought that I would share some things today that the hotel is doing. . . instead of sticking to the normal industry/tech stuff.

The hotel has been running a Double HHonors Bonus Points promotion for a short time now and looks set to continue it into next year. The hotel splits the benefits of this promotion with our guests. Loyal customers stay with us, which is a great benefit for us, and we share you with double the amount of HHonors points that you would normally receive.

Soon, Hilton Bellevue will begin a promotion with Delta in which we offer six times the normal amount of Delta SkyMiles for guests staying here. Stayed tuned to the Hilton Bellevue website for that.

Currently, Basil's Kitchen has a 15 minute lunch special. The restaurant guarantees that lunch will be served within 15 minutes of ordering. If not, the whole table eats for free.

In addition, Basil's Kitchen offers 1,000 HHonors bonus points for anyone ordering an entree during lunch or dinner.

Finally, Basil's Kitchen, Hilton Bellevue, and Vertigo Lounge & Grill are offering a combination of specials on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. Basil's Kitchen has a special dinner and brunch prepared for that night and the next morning. As well, Vertigo Lounge & Grill and Hilton Bellevue are teaming up to offer dinner at either location, entry into the red carpet masquerade ball at Vertigo Lounge & Grill, free shuttle service back to the hotel, and the night's accommodation all as a single package.

Sustainability Certification Program (CST) for Hotels and Tour Operators of Costa Rica

blog@bellevuehilton.com (blog@bellevuehilton.com) — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 09:39:16 PST

Posted by: Marina Kuperman, co-founder of MuchaCostaRica, a Costa Rica focused information and travel site dedicated to providing you with unique insider perspectives, and with honest and sincere customer service.

With the largest number of government certified eco-tourism businesses, its no wonder Costa Rica is Latin America's leader in sustainable tourism. The ICT (Costa Rica Tourism Institute) has developed a Sustainability Certification Program (CST), which encourages tour operators and hotels to adhere to strict environmental and social regulations and to earn the highest level of sustainability certification awarded by the government.

"The program of Certification for Sustainable Tourism of the Costa Rican Tourist Board is an excellent tool to assist in the sustainable development of the country."

~ Alvaro Ugalde, Founder of the Costa Rican National Parks System

The system is focused on encouraging businesses to operate and use natural resources in a sustainable fashion, and to encourage the healthy development of the surrounding communities. Not only does it measure turnover rates and employment numbers of the local people, but it looks at how much responsibility is taken by the company as they manage natural, cultural and social resources. The program is intended to balance these basic elements on a local and a national level.

Both tourism and non-tourism related organizations are encouraged to
take a pro-active stance and to abstain from destroying natural, social and
cultural resources. These are the main factors contributing to Costa
Rica's rich biodiversity and healthy society, and without them, the
country would lose its unique and inviting qualities.

The rating system follows these important parameters:

Physical-Biological Parameters: Evaluates the interaction between the company and the surrounding habitat including the presence of gardens and natural areas, and protection of the native flora and fauna

Hotel Facilities: Evaluates the management policies and the operation systems within the company, its water and energy use, waste management and employee training.

Customers: Evaluates the interaction of the company with its clients in terms of how much it allows and invites them to be active contributors to the company’s policies of sustainability.

Socio-Economic Environment: Evaluates the interaction of the company with local communities and the population in general.

Plus, all establishments are encouraged to adopt eco-friendly programs for long term improvement:

Recycling programs

Proper disposal and treatment of waste

Implement water and energy saving systems

Conserve forests and surrounding green spaces

Contribute to reforestation

To work with neighboring communities to improve their way of life

The rating system is on a scale of 0 to 5. If a business scores a 1, that means that they have taken the first step towards sustainability and will be re-evaluated later for progress. A level 5 signifies that the establishment is working at the highest level of sustainability.

How does all of this affect you, the consumer?

The price difference is usually negligible between hotels and other businesses that are certified and ones that are not. We encourage you to take a stance and choose a sustainable hotel or tour operator for your next visit to Costa Rica, this way more and more businesses will be encouraged to join in and start working for a more eco-friendly future. Contact us to learn more.

Change is a slow process but with the CST program in place, many Costa Rican companies are working hard to make a significant difference by preserving the natural environment and improving the
local communities.

Note: The National Accreditation Commission is comprised of the Costa Rica Tourism Institute, the Ministry of the Environment and Energy, the National Institute of Biodiversity, the University of Costa Rica, the Central American Institute of Business Administration, the National Tourism Chamber, the Earth Council and the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Thanksgiving at Basil's Kitchen

blog@bellevuehilton.com (blog@bellevuehilton.com) — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 14:27:57 PST

Are you looking for a simple, yet delicious Thanksgiving feast? Leave the preparation and the leg work to Basil's Kitchen! Basil's Kitchen is offering a luxurious Thanksgiving menu this Thursday, and you won't have to do a thing, but decide which decadent dish to enjoy. Prices range from $18-$21 (plus tax and gratuity) and $10.95 for childrens meals.

Basil's Kitchen will be serving all day Thanksgiving Day from 11:00am - 8:00pm. To make a reservation, please call 425.455.1300 ext. 4275.

The Basil's Kitchen Thanksgiving Day menu includes:

Slow roasted Sliced Turkey Breast

With giblet gravy and served with garlic mashed potatoes, herb bread stuffing and seasonal vegetables

Baked Pitt Ham

With a Rum- raisin Pineapple glaze

Served with sweet yams and seasonal vegetables

Pan seared Salmon Piperade

Wrapped with Prosciutto ham and topped with olive tapenade

Served with Kansas style rice blend and seasonal vegetables

Roasted Prime Rib

Served with thyme au jus, garlic mashed potatoes

and seasonal vegetables

Whether it's a Thanksgiving holiday brunch, lunch, or dinner in Bellevue, let Basil's Kitchen welcome you to a warm, friendly meal in an inviting environment in Seattle's eastside.

$75 Nordstrom Shopping Package

blog@bellevuehilton.com (blog@bellevuehilton.com) — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 14:29:00 PST

From now until January 5th, Hilton Bellevue is running a special with Nordstrom. For every room night booked at Hilton Bellevue, the hotel will give guests a $75 Nordstrom gift card.

Shopping in Bellevue is an experience to be had, so we want to make sure you get the most out of your visit when you're in Seattle's eastside. Stay at this Bellevue hotel and take advantage of the Nordstrom shopping package. Included in this package is a $75 gift card to Nordstrom, complimentary parking, and use of the hotel shuttle to the Bellevue Square Mall.

Call 425.455.1300 for questions or to book or click through directly to the Hilton Bellevue Nordstrom Shopping Package.

New Year's Eve with Hilton Bellevue, Basil's Kitchen, & Vertigo Lounge & Grill

blog@bellevuehilton.com (blog@bellevuehilton.com) — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 12:32:05 PST

This New Year's Eve, Hilton Bellevue is teaming up with Vertigo Lounge & Grill to offer a special package for your enjoyment.

Vertigo is hosting a masquerade party featuring high energy dance music, hors d'oeurves, and desserts, as well as a champagne toast, all for $40. Meanwhile, Hilton Bellevue and Basil's Kitchen are offering a New Year's Eve special menu in the restaurant, a packaged stay that includes free entrance to Vertigo and its festivities as well complimentary transportation to and from Hilton Bellevue and Vertigo for $160, and an optional New Year's Day brunch.

Basil's Kitchen special New Year's menu features:

Pan Seared Crab Cakes
Sesame Seared Ahi Tuna
Grilled Filet Mignon
Seared Breast of Organic Chicken and Foie Gras
Broiled Maine Lobster
and much more

For more information, take a look at the special New Year's page. For questions, to book your total package including the party and your overnight accommodations as well as complimentary transportation, or to simply reserve your special table in Basil's Kitchen, book online or call 425.455.1300 and ask for Basil's Kitchen.

Brides Against Breast Cancer Gown Sale

blog@bellevuehilton.com (blog@bellevuehilton.com) — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 15:53:34 PST

January 31st and February 1st, Brides Against Breast Cancer hosts its annual Charity Wedding Gown Sale in the SkyView Ballroom.

Admission is free, and doors are open Saturday, January 31st, from 10am to 6pm and Sunday, February 1st, from 10am to 5pm.

The Brides Against Breast Cancer will have nearly 400 dresses from which to choose and will even have some antique gowns available.

For more information, email Brenda Chovanak or click on the poster above.

This event benefits the educational programs and wish granting funds of Making Memories Breast Cancer Foundation.

Valentines Weekend

eric.pratum@hilton.com (Eric Pratum) — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 14:34:14 PST

Valentines Weekend, Hilton Bellevue and Snoqualmie Casino are teaming up to offer a special package:

A romantic Valentines Weekend menu at Basil's Kitchen (paid for with a complimentary $75.00 food credit)
Complimentary transportation to and from Snoqualmie Casino
Deluxe guest room accommodation
and, optional Valentines Weekend Brunch for $17.50.

Basil's Kitchen's special Valentines Weekend menu features Whole Maine Lobster, Lamb Loin, and Grand Chocolate Cake among many other delicious options.

For questions, or to book, please ring 425.455.1300 or visit Hilton Bellevue's Specials and Packages page.

Calamari Puttanesca

eric.pratum@hilton.com (Eric Pratum) — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 17:01:05 PST

One of Chef Favio's favorite Spring appetizers is Calamari Puttanesca. He has included it in his Celebration of Spring, which will get rolling at Hilton Bellevue in not too long.

For the time being, he wanted to share this recipe with you.

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1oz kalamata olives
3oz calamari
4oz marinara
1oz red onion
2oz diced tomato
1/2oz capers
2oz red wine
salt
pepper

Preparation

In hot sauce pan, add olive oil, garlic, onion, tomato, and calamari.
Cook until calamari is almost done. Do not overcook.
Deglaze with red wine.
Add marinara.
Simmer briefly.
Adjust flavor with salt and pepper.

This dish yields two servings and is best served with saffron aioli and herb crusted crostini.

Blackberry Rhubarb Cobbler Recipe

eric.pratum@hilton.com (Eric Pratum) — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 16:26:12 PST

Chef Favio wanted to share another Celebration of Spring recipe with you. Today, he's written up a 4 serving Blackberry Rhubarb Cobbler dessert.

Ingredients

1 cup diced rhubarb
3 cups apple juice
1 pinch nutmeg and clove
2 pints blackberry
1/2 cup sugar
2 crumbled muffins
corn starch slurry
streusel topping

Preparation

Combine first five ingredients in sauce pan and bring to boil
Reduce by 1/3
Add corn starch slurry and return to boil
Remove from heat and mix in muffin
Place in small cups and top with streusel topping
Place in 350 degree oven for 10 minutes

This dish is best enjoyed warm with vanilla ice cream.