International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show

Greetings from New York City Blog Friends!

 I am in New York City for the IHMRS convention at the Javits Convention Center through Tuesday sourcing goods and materials for the hotel.  This is THE show for hoteliers hands down!  I have met fellow hoteliers from all over the world - - it has been amazing!  My lap top is on the blink, so I had to leave it behind to go to the PC doctor - -  I am posting from the kiosk here at the show.  The line behind me is LONG - so thanks for checking in today and I will post again on Wednesday after I return home.  I have so much to share!

Cascadiagbc.org Announces Living Future Conference 2008

Living Future 08- April 16-18- Vancouver, BC

 From Living Buildings to Living Communities
This year, Cascadia’s signature event will be held April 16, 17 and 18 at the Westin Bayshore, Vancouver situated downtown in Vancouver’s picturesque Coal Harbour, where one can enjoy views of the coastline, distant mountains, and Stanley Park. This year’s conference will feature two and half days of exciting dialogue that will attract leading minds in North America to address climate change and the path to a future of Living Buildings and Living Communities. Living Future, Cascadia’s regional green building conference, will explore how to reduce or mitigate climate change. This “unconference” features examples of the best sustainable regional projects, building tours, a bookstore, a fellowship awards program, a design competition and much more. Mark your calendars and look for more information soon!

Centralia Downtown Association Late ‘Til 8 Campaign - Get Involved!

LATE TIL EIGHT SHOPPING DOWNTOWN THROUGH CHRISTMAS (LT

RADIO ADVERTISING and CDA SUPPORT OPPORTUNITY

The Centralia Downtown Association has been actively organizing and securing advertising in support of the Shop Late Til Eight program that rolled out last week.  Many merchants have committed to participate in the extended hours (nearly 40).  The shopping program will be advertised jointly with the City of Centralia, which has committed approximately $4000 toward promoting the CDA and this program.  The advertising will be mixed; some local radio spots (KELA/KMNT), print ads (Chronicle) and broader region radio spots (Mixx96).  This demonstrates the City’s continued support of the downtown and the CDA as we grow and become more effective.  It also presents an opportunity for the downtown merchants to take advantage of the initial momentum that the City’s ad campaign will create and show the City and our community that we are passionate about promoting our downtown.

USGBC Launches Improved Web Site

USGBC.org is now cleaner, smarter and easier to use. Whether you are new to green building or have been building green for years, you’ll find everything you need with fewer clicks and less clutter.

Highlights include:

• a resource section to make it easier for projects to access credit templates;
• easier access to online reference guides and LEED reference documents;
• resources for members and chapters; and
• educational offerings and workshop listings. 

To visit online http://www.usgbc.org for more information about green building technology.

What a HOOT!

For those of you who have been following our blog for a bit, you know that we have been battling the bird – poopy pigeons – for some time.  Roosting and pooping on the ledges of our building and the public sidewalk below.  It has been a disgusting mess to say the least.  We started with 3 or 4 and the brood grew to about 25 birds over the past 4 months.  We went to the trouble of making some make shift roosting deterrents and recently ordered up some bird deterrent spike strips that you install on all the ledges of the building to keep the birds from being able to land and roost – they have yet to arrive and to say the least, they were expensive.  Our make shift bird gadgets failed miserably.  We would walk out at night and see the pigeons roosting on our homemade bird deterrents….  *sigh*

 

So last week I am walking in Home Depot and I see ONE lone plastic owl in the outside garden section.  You know – the tacky plastic kind with the glowing yellow eyes.  Knowing that the owl is a bird of prey, I think to myself, “hummmm, maybe this tacky plastic owl would be worth a try…..”  So I buy the owl and we install the plastic bird hanging from the rail of the fire escape on the third floor.  Additionally, we spend that night banging on the windows behind the area where the birds are roosting to scare them off.

We are on day 10 and it appears the tacky owl is doing his job.  At least for now - - the pigeons have relocated to another building ledge downtown.  Now the game will be to move the owl and keep its presence fresh.  Who would have thought a plastic owl would do the trick??? At least for now…

The Wilson Hotel Going All GREEN

The rehabilitation process of the Wilson Hotel is targeting the LEED guidelines.  In addition to rehabilitating the hotel by the GREEN standards, the hotel will also be operating by GREEN standards when placed back into hospitality service.  This commitment to sustainability is paramount to the ownership team and a guiding principle by which the team abides. 

The green hotel movement generally encompasses three distinct disciplines:

 Design and construction, usually under the principles of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) 

Energy and resource management, encompassing alternative energy sources, water treatment, water management, indoor air quality and energy management;  

Hotel maintenance and operations using environmentally sound but effective products and systems.

Creating an Exceptional Retail Marketplace Downtown

One of the challenges an emerging downtown city center faces is creating an exceptional retail marketplace.  Creating a destination for shopping, food venues, social hang outs and entertainment takes a certain “mix” of business “personalities.”  This special mix of businesses comprise the genetic make up of a downtown center.  Literally every business makes a difference in conveying the personality and character of a downtown.  That personality becomes the brand in which the city becomes known.

Interestingly, as historic downtown districts go through the rebirth process, there are several stages of the growth process.  One challenge that new businesses face is making sure that they are open for business during peak traffic hours to capture the potential customer revenue.  This is a delicate balance of knowing when to increase operational hours.  Being “open for business” enough hours to send a message that downtown is a destination that IS “open for business” is essential. 

Traveling to a downtown that is being promoted as a tourist location and finding every business closed at 6PM can send a mixed message to the traveling public.  In order for retail venues to extend hours for the shopping patrons, there must be both food service venues and entertainment activities available in the downtown area in the evening.  These three elements are essential to a successful “destination” location.  In this case, Historic Hub City, Centralia is striving to become a “destination” for tourists and an improved city center for members of the immediate community.

Let There Be Light!

Just a quick KUDO shout out to the CDA and Centralia Light & Utility Department for jointly working to replace all the burnt out bulbs in the lights of downtown!  We noticed how all the lights are now in working order and the downtown streetscape is light and bright at night!

 

Thank You for helping to make our downtown beautiful and a pedestrian friendly place to shop for this holiday season! :-) 

HUBBUB 2 Year Anniversary Celebration Event - Nov. 10th

Our fellow business owner and friend, Rebecca, from HUBBUB is celebrating her store’s 2 year anniversary with a party on November 10^th.  HUBBUB is a distinctive shop featuring an amazing collection of unique art pieces and gift items.  HUBBUB’s theme is “Art for Everyday” – a fitting description.  Everyone is invited to stop by for the anniversary party.  Many of the artists that Rebecca features will be there to meet and greet.  Here are the party details:

Please join us in celebrating our second year in Historic Downtown Centralia. Stop by and nibble on tasty treats, enjoy great store specials and meet HUBBUB artists!

Saturday • November 10 • 10:30 am to 9:00 pm
evening reception with wine tasting • 5 to 9 pm

We have lots of fabulous new work at HUBBUB, and more on its way for the holidays. When you come in, be sure to grab a HUBBUB Wish List card — you can fill in the blanks, leave it in our Wish List box, and send your friends and family in to pick out the perfect gift! Also, sign up now to become a member of the HUBBUBCLUB here. It’s a great way to learn about upcoming events, special hours and new merchandise.

Centralia Downtown Association Sends First Newsletter

This week the new Centralia Downtown Association sent out their first email update newsletter.  Great things are happening in the historic downtown!  Here is a copy of the email newsletter: 

Hello all!

This past month has been a very busy one for all of us working on the Centralia Downtown Association.  I wanted to take a few minutes to update everyone on some recent accomplishments and a look at some future events.

1. Hotel/Motel Tax Dollars – I was just informed today that the CDA has been awarded $25,000 by the Centralia City Council from the fund created by the additional taxes that are gathered by the local hotels and motels.  We submitted an application a few weeks ago and then went before an advisory board with our plans for 2008.  There are several ways we can utilize this funding, but, there are restrictions for its use.  First, the money has to be spent on marketing to folks outside our region (which has been decided to mean outside the county).  Next, the marketing needs to focus on getting people into downtown AND spending the night for events, holidays or just to enjoy what our downtown has to offer.  Since internet exposure is now global, part of the funding will be put to use in the development of a professional and comprehensive website (www.centraliadowntown.com) that will become a resource for tourists, as well as, all of us here in the area.  If you have a second, take a look at our homepage!  We expect to have a fully developed and tested website before the 1^st of the year.  Some of the funding has been dedicated to the development of a proposed “Friends of the Hotels & Motels” activity and education program.  Call or email for more information.
2. Website – The CDA board spent a lot of time over the past summer and early fall putting together the layout for our website.  We are going to be contracting with two local people for the production and design of the site.  Joli Winsett, of Jo Designs, and Evan Calkins, of Intrinsic Studio, who are both small business owners downtown, will be collaborating on the construction and design of the website.  Joli is the creative mind and talent behind the current home page.