A Charitable Perspective
It seems that as the weather changes and the leaves begin to fall from the tree, people’s mindset of importance changes. From carefree, sun-soaked days on the beach to overcast weekends, cuddled up with loved ones indoors, the very season shift calls for a sense of unity, togetherness and warmth. Maybe this is why people seem to be more in the holiday spirit of giving; maybe it’s because of the Christmas trees and decorations that are sold in Costco, all over America, the day after Labor Day each year. Whatever the reason, one fact remains. This time of the year, people are in the holiday spirit and a more charitable than other times of the year.
Well, whatever the reason, we share the same sentiment at BLVD Hotels. To date, we have participated in a handful of non-profits and foundations, including the recent 2015 Special Olympics World Games Los Angeles. And, even though we have participated in charitable organizations all year-long, we really ramp things up in the fall/winter. As a brand, we feel that it is important to be a great neighbor and contributing to the communities where we reside comes second nature to us
This very month, we are continuing our efforts with the Susan G. Komen Foundation. We have a room package that allows guest a discount in room rate, while also contributing to the wonderful cause seeking to end Breast Cancer. Last year was the first year of our participation with the Susan G. Komen Foundation and we were thrilled by the support and enthusiasm we felt from our guest. So much so, we decided to make this a yearly package.
Next month, we continue year two of our efforts for Movember US. Similar to Susan G. Komen Foundation, we have a package that raises funds and awareness for our hotel guest. The man difference though, is that a lot of our hotel staff participates in the Movember US cause by shaving their beards and growing a mean stache for the month. The cause fights to “change the face of men’s health”, and we gladly oblige.
In December, we cap our year of charitable endeavors with our partnership with Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. In this campaign, we have both a room package and an opportunity to complete a donation for a paper butterfly that will be displayed in the lobby of our hotels. The goal, as always, is to raise funds and awareness for the great impact that CHLA is making on a regular basis 
We hope that you will join us in the final quarter of the year and be apart of our fight to support great cause throughout our community. At the BLVD Hotels, we feel that charitable and philanthropic efforts are a 365 days commitment. We look forward to you participating with us and thank you for your contribution.
4 Summer Fun Tips
4. Cash is king, credit is security
About BLVD Hotels
In 2011, BLVD Hotels opened its first location with BLVD Hotel & Spa in Studio City, CA. Located on historic Ventura Blvd., the hotel has the intimate appeal of a boutique hotel with California-cool characteristics. Its prime location in Studio City makes attractions like Universal Studios Hollywoodand the Los Angeles Metro Station walking distance away, and close proximity to all business centers in the Southland. In the following years, BLVD Hotels boutique family opened two more location, BLVD Hotel & Suites (2012) in Hollywood, CA which is located near Hollywood Bowl, Hollywood Blvd., and Sunset Blvd and BLVD Hotel (2013) in Costa Mesa, CA which is located near John Wayne Airport, South Coast Plaza, OC Fairgrounds and Event Center, Disneyland and the beautiful beaches of Orange County.
BLVD Hotels properties are trendy up-scale boutique hotels with current Southern California locations in Studio City, Hollywood and Costa Mesa. The allure and feel flow through the staff, guestrooms and social commons. With a welcoming and familiar vibe mingling throughout, the hotels pride itself on making every guest stay memorable and one of a kind. It’s one of the reasons the BLVD Hotels exudes Live Beyond Expectation™ experiences.
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If you would like more information about this topic, please contact Colin Diaz at 949.682.8604 or email at pr@blvdhotels.com.
A Mother’s Love Revisited
As we look back on this past beautiful Mother’s Day, I am moved to gratitude. I mean, we are all thankful for our mother’s and mother figures. They provide for us, raise us and are usually the first intimate relationship we have. How can we not be thankful for that? But, this Mother’s Day was a bit different for me. I’m not sure if it’s because I am older now. Or, if it’s the fact that I now have a mother in my own house, as my wife is the mother of our beautiful daughter. Whatever the reason, this Mother’s Day is different.
For those with kids, you know how pivotal the mother figure is in the home. They are often the cleaner, cooker, nurturer, healer, tutor, stylist, driver, doctor, caterer and so much more. But, what is it about mothers that is truly magical? I believe that it is the natural and inherent nurturing disposition they all have. It always seems that regardless of circumstance, a mother will and has sacrificed her own wants for the needs of her children and family. They always seem to have a “we” thought process, rather than a societal “me” mindset.
This got me really thinking. Since motherhood has had a long and storied path of success, certainly there are some traits that can be found and applied to business – specifically hospitality. But, what are those, and how do they relate to business? To answer this, I’d like to take a minute to recall motherhood at its finest.
The year was 1985 – the month, January. A 3 year old boy that had never been out of the Greater Miami Florida area, joined his 18-month-older brother and 33 year old father on a 5 1/2 hour flight to Los Angeles, CA. The father, an immigrant from Roatan, Honduras, was leaving a 17 year career working on a cruise ship. The flight to the west coast, was a new start at building a family, as the children’s mother left earlier and decided to leave the father to raise the kids on his own.
The airport smelled of an oldness and staleness that could only be present because of the millions of people passing through its terminals every week. At the gate, a lady awaited the man and his kids. She was excited and eager to see the man and his kids, but could have never imagined the way that her life would change from that point on. Here was a woman of Yugoslav and Italian descent taking in a Honduran man and his African-American and Honduran kids. Who does this? What would drive a person to take on this challenge? And, should you be daring enough to accept that challenge, surely you’d back out when you realize that the kids are 3 and 4 years old, right? Wrong. Not only did this women take the kids in, but her mother did as well. What a beautiful display of love.
I was that 3 year old boy. The story of the travel from Miami to Los Angeles was mine. But the never ending sacrifice, education and love was that of my mom and grandmother. They truly were the sign of the nurturing, developing and caring qualities that make so many mom’s wonderful. For all practical purposes, they were the single greatest (next to my father) molding factors in my life; and, they definitely helped shape the man I am today. For that I am eternally thankful.
But, what is the trait that has led to the success of so many mothers? Its many things. But, for these purposes, I believe that it is two-fold. For one, it is the sacrifice for the greater good. The understanding that “we” are greater than any single “me”. Secondly, it is the never wavering focus on their goal/vision. I mean, think about it. A mother’s main goal in life is to give her children everything they need and prepare them to be successful in the future. This is as selfless a goal as I can imagine.
What if a business could achieve this? What if everyone at the workforce of a company had the “we before me mindset”? And, what if that was coupled with an unwavering focus on the collective goal? Imagine how successful they would be. For one, you would probably have a workforce that was loyal, efficient, successful and excited to come into work. Now imagine, if you will, a family of hotels that provides that to all of their guest. We, at the BLVD Hotels family, strive to deliver that level of service on a day in and day out basis. Sure it’s a work in progress. But it is a work, nonetheless, that we are committed to with unwavering dedication. It is our goal that one day, in the near future, all of our guest can say that they were able to Live Beyond Expectations™ with the BLVD Hotels.
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Notable news: VIYA Spa by BLVD will be complete in Fall 2015
Splash Lounge will be opening Fall 2015, BLVD Hotel Costa Mesa
Southern California Travel Tip 2 of 10
2. Find deals for activities: While planning your activities, start tracking sites like KGB, Groupon and LivingSocial. If you don’t mind toting a coupon along with you on an outing, you can save big during your visit. Deals can range from food and drinks to dining and activities. In fact, every once in a while, you can find diamonds in the rough for activities that you were already planning on doing. Get to hunting!
Southern California Travel Tip 1 of 10
Whether you’re heading out west on business, coming to the west coast for the first time or returning again, there are definite Dos and Don’ts during your travel. For example, the very time of day you land can change the whole dynamic of your first day. Fly into LAX at the wrong time and you may end up spending the rest of the afternoon on the 405 freeway with all the other “happy” drivers in traffic -definitely NOT a way to start your first hours in Southern California. We’ve created a list of the top 10 things to keep in mind when traveling west. They’ve been compiled from a series of articles, newspapers and personal knowledge. Enjoy!
So that you don’t have information overload, we will be sharing 1-2 of these each day. By the end of the 10 you’ll be an excellent travel, or at the very least a better informed one.
1. Know the Weather: The weather in Southern California can change from day to day, hour to hour and even city to city. So, it’s wise to both know the weather and plan your wardrobe accordingly. If you are planning on ending an evening on the beach, know that it cools off quite a bit in the evening. We like going to The Weather Channel for weather information. Remember to be a specific about the city you’ll be in as possible. That little key can be the difference between a happy day and a frigid night.
Be sure to stay tuned for our following tips, coming in the next few days.
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