Archive for the ‘Event Planning’ Category

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April 19

Start Planning – For Events at White Point in 2013 NOW!

Posted by White Point Beach Resort Team on April 19th, 2012

While we may be closed, there certainly is plenty to do to get ready for our grand reopening scheduled for this November. With more than 300 events hosted annually at White Point, our Event Services Team are definitely looking forward to getting back to hosting events in our amazing new spaces in the Lodge. What has been incredibly encouraging since our fire, are the number of calls and bookings being made for Fall 2012 when we reopen and well beyond! We’re busy planning retreats, reunions, corporate meetings, association conferences and yes, weddings.

When we reopen, in addition to Lakeside Hall, in the new Main Lodge we’ll continue having our main event room (just like our former Atlantic Conference Centre) which overlooks the ocean and beach, not to worry! This time around though, the space will be able to be split into 3 rooms, which will mean more flexibility when planning events. Plus we’ll have a mezzanine level meeting room with views of the tidal river on one side and the ocean on the other! The new Lodge will also boast a lot more windows with oceanfront view planes from the Dining Room too – and all South facing, imagine the sunsets we’ll be enjoying.

Over the past month, while the design details were being worked on, we’ve been reviewing and have created NEW Banquet and Great Day Meetings Menus. Though you will still find old favourites like Cedar Planked Salmon and Top Sirloin of Beef, Chef Alan Crosby has included options like Chicken Scallopini with Peppered Edam and Tomato Fennel Sauce, Lobster Risotto Croquettes with Tomato Concasse and Tarragon Aioli and Grilled Polenta with Shitake and Crimini Mushroom Ragu, Roasted Shallots, and Oven Dried Tomatoes and Shaved Parmesan (*sigh* hungry yet?). Plus based on feedback received in the past, we’ve introduced more options, like choosing the salads and platters on your buffet dinner, or choosing your own working lunch inclusions. Don’t worry, we’ve kept our popular “Maritimer” working lunch, featuring fish cakes, sausage and sauerkraut (a South Shore treat for sure!), and expanded our menu to include Kids’ Stuff and Boxed Lunches.

New in our line-up as well is our Executive Meal Plan Package. Enjoy making your own selections from our Dining Room Menus, themed coffee breaks, infused water in your meeting room and a welcome cocktail on arrival. Of course, the beachside Bonfires are included for every gathering!

We can’t wait to welcome you back to White Point! Let’s get the planning underway, drop Alana Hirtle or Anne Stevens an email or give them a call at 1.800.613.2172 to get started!

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December 31

Congratulations! You’re engaged, and you’d like to get Married here at WP?

Posted by White Point Beach Resort Team on December 31st, 2011

Indeed Christmas and New Year’s brings so many engagements!
Congratulations to you all. So, you may be thinking that you’d like to host your wedding here at White Point.
Of course, with our current situation, you are wondering what is/isn’t possible….

Well let’s got directly to Alana Hirtle, our Event Services Manager for some insight:

“Well, the team has been announced for our rebuild!
I can’t wait to start booking your events for 2013. And I betcha some of you have a whole bunch of questions, like what colour will the linens be, and what shape will the tables be, and how large will the banquet room be? And I wish we had those answers for you!

As you can imagine, this is a time of great change for all of us. Our wedding and event offerings are all now under review, and as we have more or new information, we will certainly share it. Our “Plan Your Event” section of the website will be updated as details are firmed up. And Chef is already creating a brand new banquet menu for your gastronomic pleasure!

I’m taking some vacation over the Holidays, but I’ll be back to work in early January and will welcome your calls and emails (alana@whitepoint.com); I’ll do my best to answer all your event questions.
Best wishes to all my clients, past and future, for a wonderful Holiday, and a prosperous New Year!”

Alana Hirtle CMP
White Point’s Event Services Manager

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January 10

Gathering of the Clans – Family & Class Reunions are easy as White Point

Posted by White Point Beach Resort Team on January 10th, 2011

Just having finished a busy Holiday Season at White Point, we’re now back in the planning ‘swing of things’ for 2011 and beyond. We hope that you were able to spend time with your families and friends over the Holidays, and enjoy that special camaraderie. And I’ll bet that some of you were tasked with planning your next family or class reunion. How fun!

Gatherings at White Point always end up at the bonfire - year-round!

Now, don’t be scared!
For some people this may seem a daunting task, however, I’m going to give you some tips on how to have an enjoyable, stress free gathering! Here we go:

1) Check-out your options.
Do research online before you choose your venue, search for phrases such as “family reunions Nova Scotia” or “ideas for reunion activities”. Don’t be afraid to call the hotel or resort and speak with their Event, Sales or Conference Services Manager. This is their business and they can give you some great suggestions for things to do and places to see in the area. Also check out the Nova Scotia Doers and Dreamers Guide or guides for the area that you are heading to.

2) Make accommodation arrangements for the gang.
Arrange for what we call a “room block” with your location of preference. This is a group of accommodations that are held for your group where you’ll be staying. Don’t you make the reservations for each of your family members/classmates - just let all the attendees know the phone number, name of the group booking and let them make their own bookings. That way, if Uncle Harold wants a cottage but Aunt Agnes needs a room near the Dining Room, they can each choose what they prefer. Everyone will be happy and you won’t have had to manage all their requests!
Important Note: Ensure you understand what your responsibilities are, as the group organizer/point person, so that you can avoid any unwanted cancellation charges. This may entail helping the hotel to adhere to the room block release date, get people to pay their deposits by a certain date, etc. The hotel staff will happily work with you to ensure the event’s success!

3) Go Social!
Utilize social media. I know that not everyone is tech savvy enough to create their own website, but many people are on Facebook and Twitter. Create a Facebook page that talks about the reunion, add some photos of past reunions showing people having a great time, add photos, logo or information about the venue. This will not only act as an information conduit, it will cause some excitement as people get to share and co-create the event!

4) Share the load.
Ask family members to take on specific responsibilities, such as meet & greet reception, group dinner, afternoon volleyball tournament, ordering t-shirts, etc. People are happy to help but often don’t know how or what to do. Don’t be afraid to delegate – many hands make light work! Breakdown the “to do” list and assign responsibilities, then you can just coordinate:)

5) Enjoy yourself!
Have some fun! Remember, this may be the first time in a dog’s age since you’ve seen your family. Don’t get too bogged down by the details. Bring your sunblock and sunglasses, grab your towel and head to the beach!

Families have been enjoying gatherings here at White Point for more than 80 years and we’ve seen it all! Even better, we’re here to help! We offer a turn key reunions package for families or social groups http://www.whitepoint.com/plan-your-event/gatherings-reunions/ and are always happy to chat about possibilities.
Happy New Planning Year!

Alana
Alana Hirtle
White Point’s Event Services Manager

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December 7

Think of the Holidays as an “event” and the planning will pay off!

Posted by White Point Beach Resort Team on December 7th, 2010

The Festive Season is now upon us!
And for many people, that means stress filled days of shopping, wrapping and cooking. Though you may not think of it this way, the Holidays are indeed an “event” that requires planning in order to flow smoothly. Here are a few suggestions on how you can decrease the stress and increase your enjoyment of the Holidays:

Plan first, then enjoy the Festive Holiday Season!

1) Plan your work and work your Plan.
This will mean different things to different people; what I’m thinking is this – if you know you’re hosting dinner for the entire family one night, find a time to sit down and really think about what you want to do, ideally 10-14 days ahead of time. Work out the menu (are you doing a plated 5 course dinner or a more casual buffet), the décor (the tree, the entry hall, crackers on the tables, etc), the music or entertainment (it could be Handel’s Messiah or How The Grinch Stole Christmas), then put deadlines beside each item, so you know what you need to have done by what day. Even set up a timeline for the day of the dinner, so you know what time the casserole has to go in the oven and when to chill the wine. Working from a list means I don’t have to keep it all in my head, and at this busy time of year, it keeps me sane!

2) Delegate. I’m not saying get everyone else to do it for you, but ask for help when you need it. If you’ve got the whole family coming for a meal, ask someone to bring the veggies or the wine. The kids can help you wrap gifts for their grandparents or cousins (does it have to look perfect, or will it be nicer for Grandma to know that little Suzy wrapped it for her?). By involving more people in the process, you may find you get to relax more and it will still get done.

3) Keep some small gift items at the house for drop in guests. This can include cookies you’ve got in the freezer packed into a nice tin, a package of hankies, a nice Christmas ornament. If you wrap a few extra when you’re doing all the other gifts, it won’t be a panic when Uncle Mel arrives unannounced!

4) And remember to take some time for yourself. That may be a bubble bath with a glass of wine, a walk with the family, or a girls’ night at the movies. If you need a getaway, remember that White Point is open and we’ve got lots of wine LOL!

I hope these ideas bring you some ‘comfort and joy’ this season.
If we can be of assistance in your Holiday planning, please email or call Karen or I. We’d love to hear from you.
(PS. In case you missed it, check out my November’s blog posting on Green Christmas ideas)

Alana Hirtle, CMP
White Point’s Event Services Manager
1.800.613.2172
alana@whitepoint.com

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November 15

White Point’s Alana Hirtle delivers ‘Greening Meetings’ Presentation to CSAE

Posted by White Point Beach Resort Team on November 15th, 2010

White Point’s champion of green, Alana Hirtle CMP, has been planting seeds for creative and basic initiatives to enable meeting planners and hosts to be greener in their choices. Since becoming a Platinum Speaker with Meeting Professionals International (MPI) in the area of Corporate Social Responsibility, she’s been delighted to have the opportunity to share greening tips, suggestions and ideas that are easily implemented.

On Tuesday November 16th, Alana will be delivering a presentation entitled “Demystifying Green Meetings Through the RFP Process” at the Canadian Society of Association Executives(CSAE) Monthly Luncheon Meeting, Marriott Harbourfront Hotel in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

View Alana’s presentation here, provided in PDF:
“Demystifying Green Meetings Through the RFP Process”

If you have specific questions about her presentation, please contact:
Alana Hirtle, CMP
White Point’s Events Services Manager
1.800.613.2172 
alana@whitepoint.com

Visit us on Facebook or take a tour of our Meeting Facilities on YouTube.

 
 

 

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November 2

I’m Dreaming of a Green Christmas!

Posted by White Point Beach Resort Team on November 2nd, 2010

It won’t be long now before the snow flies and we start humming those favourite Holiday tunes. As you come into full Holiday planning mode, don’t forget to incorporate some environmentally friendly alternatives.

Need some ideas? We’re happy to help, give these a try:

- Re-use old gift wrap for stocking stuffer items, no one will care if the paper’s been used before. Or use the comic pages from the newspaper for a unique wrapping presentation (and they can “read” their gift before opening it!).

- Use Christmas cards from one year as gift tags for the next, just cut the picture from the front of the card and write on the back of it. They are pretty and look more personal than store bought tags.

- If you’re exchanging names at work, why not make it a re-gift opportunity? We all have things at home that don’t fit our colour scheme or just aren’t “us”. Why not re-gift them to someone who will really appreciate them? We’ve done this within our Management Team the last two Christmases and it’s worked really well. People gave away things they didn’t want and other people got things they really did. It’s a win-win for everyone and you didn’t buy something that needed carbon to be made!

- Having a tree trimming party? Ask everyone to bring a homemade ornament instead of purchasing one. You can even set a theme, such as wooden, angels, crocheted, etc. and see what people bring! Have cranberries and popcorn ready for people to string (and more to eat!) and you’re all set.http://www.planetorganic.ca/ourstores/halifax . They are a bit more expensive than what you’ll find in the grocery stores, but you’re going to splurge for Christmas anyway, and they make the best gravy ever!

- Consider buying a local, organic/free range bird for your Christmas dinner. My husband and I have ordered our turkey from Planet Organic in Halifax a few times,

- In lieu of giving gifts, consider making a donation in that person’s name to their favourite charity. Then you’re making two positive steps – reducing your carbon footprint and supporting a good cause.

These are just a few ideas that we have come to love. Feel free to use any of them or let us know if you have another great idea. If we can be of assistance in your Holiday planning, please let us know. Happy Holidays!

Alana Hirtle, White Point’s CMP and Event Services Manager
(AKA – “Green Queen”at White Point)

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October 5

White Point’s Alana Hirtle discovers neat, natural fundraising experience!

Posted by White Point Beach Resort Team on October 5th, 2010

On the weekend of September 18-19, the second Atlantic Eco-Expo was held at the Cunard Centre in Halifax.  As the “Queen of all Things Green” at White Point, I attended the event on Saturday. There weren’t huge numbers of people in attendance while I was there, but I arrived just after lunch and I expect everyone was outside enjoying the great weather that afternoon. The lower numbers certainly allowed for more conversations with the exhibitors, so I jumped in and had several good chats. There were products ranging from cleaning supplies to organic clothing, to electric motorbikes to alternative energy sources. It was a combination of all aspects of environmental sustainability and stewardship.

Of special note was the Extreme Group booth. They were planting trees for a $2 donation. But I don’t mean they were planting trees at some future time. Oh no, my friend, they were planting trees “a la minute”, as soon as you dropped your toonie into the jar they walkied their team out in Lawrencetown and you could watch on the screen as your tree was planted. Check out their website for details about the day, http://www.extremegroup.com/news/94 and if you click on the video link at the bottom of the page, yup, that’s me getting all excited while my tree was being planted! It was both a neat environmental contribution as well as a great example of how you can use technology and social networking to your marketing advantage. I’m still talking about it two weeks later. Kudos to the Extreme Group for making such an “extreme” impact on me!  

Ask me how we can incorporate a little ‘green’ event in to your next gathering or event at White Point – we’ve got lots of suggestions!

Yours in all things green,
Alana Hirtle, CMP
White Point’s Event Services Manager

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September 7

Corporate Social Responsibility – Incorporating an experience into your next meeting/gathering

Posted by White Point Beach Resort Team on September 7th, 2010

Now that we’re all in “back to school” mode, it’s fall – the season of meetings and events!
As some of you may know, White Point has taken many steps to become increasingly ‘green’ in our operational efforts and invite those staying with us or meeting here to join in – and indeed you are!

As the Event Services Manager and Past President of the Atlantic Chapter of Meeting Professionals International,  I’d like to take this opportunity to introduce the concept of Corporate Social Responsibility. This is not a new concept, however, it is gaining increasing popularity within the Corporate community. What is it you ask?  Corporate Social Responsibility or CRS is when organizations consider the long term interests of the communities in which they operate and take responsibility for the impact of their actions on employees, customers/members, the community and the environment. It’s also known as the “triple bottom line” of People, Planet and Profit. “People” refers to fair practices concerning labour and the community; “Planet” refers to environmental responsibility, or in our industry “green meetings”; and “Profit” is of course, fiscal responsibility and success!

A growing trend within CSR is “voluntourism”, where an organization builds a community service component into their agenda. I recently attended the MPI World Education Congress in Vancouver where I participated in their community service project, protecting salmon habitat in Seylynn Park in North Vancouver. It was a hot, sweaty work day, but it offered participants an opportunity to learn about the region where the conference was held, actually participate in a hands-on project that enabled me, as a conference delegate, to give something back to that community. Of all the memories from that Conference – that one stands out as one of the most memorable, and I’ve made some great contacts too.

If you’re interested in learning more about CSR, and/or about opportunities to include service projects into your next White Point meeting, please give me a call. I’m happy to help out in whatever way possible, by suggesting activities to do in the White Point area with our partners, or even a presentation to your group while onsite.
I can be reached at alana@whitepoint.com or by phone at 1.800.613.2172.

See you soon,
Alana Hirtle, CMP
White Point’s Event Services Manager
www.whitepoint.com

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July 11

Fireworks at White Point – always spectacular!

Posted by White Point Beach Resort Team on July 11th, 2010

The south shore was a glitter with fireworks at White Point on July 1st for Canada Day and then again on July 8th thanks to one of our groups celebrating with us. Watching fireworks from the beachside bonfire, roasting marshmallows and watching fireworks over the beach is always amazing!

Take a peek at the show we had on July 8th  captured on video – beautiful!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r67TmI8T9WQ&feature=player_embedded

Enjoy…and if you are coming to White Point, for a wedding, a reunion, a corporate event – ask us about adding a fireworks display!

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July 6

Take it Outside!

Posted by White Point Beach Resort Team on July 6th, 2010

Lakeside offeres convenient access to the Boathouse and docks with canoes and paddleboats.Now that summer is here, everyone at White Point is excited to be out on the grounds enjoying the summer sunshine! 

We’re doubly excited this summer – we’ve just introduced our brand new firepit area by the lake!

Because our outdoor events (mussel bakes, marshmallow roasts, bbq’s and more!) are so popular this time of year, we decided we needed to create a dedicated firepit/eating area for groups to enjoy (don’t worry – we haven’t done away with our Oceanside Firepit, activities will continue there as per usual). The lake is a stunning backdrop for outdoor dinners and events!

We are pleased to present the Lakeside Firepit adjacent to the lake and boathouse. So not only can families or groups have their meal catered there, they can now also enjoy the onsite tennis courts, basketball, horseshoes and other lawn games. With picnic table seating for 100+, it’s an ideal location for your parents’ anniversary party, grandad’s birthday party, or that family get together you’ve been thinking of having. And after dinner, you can cuddle on the benches around the fire and roast marshmallows. Our new pastry chef Julia is doing wonderful things with s’mores, have you ever thought of adding peanut butter to them? I’m going to leave you with that mouth watering thought. Until next time, if we can assist you with your summer fun, please let us know!The Beachstone Bonfire is a unique and terrific complement to our Lakeside Enteratining area.

Alana Hirtle, White Point Event Manager

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