Embassy Suites Hotels has launched a nationwide search for the best Do Not Disturb door hanger designs to be used in all of its nearly 190 upscale, all-suite hotels. A panel of Embassy Suites judges will choose the cleverest design/copy submitted and pick five winners who will all win stays at a select Embassy Suites property, plus have their signs hung on door knobs at all Embassy Suites throughout the U.S., Canada and Latin America.

Known for its own variation on the Do Not Disturb sign - "There's a Good Reason for You NOT to Knock Right Now" - Embassy Suites challenges guests to up the ante on fun. "We've gotten such a tremendous response to our Do Not Disturb sign that we thought it would be fun to give consumers some control over what their door sign says, “said John Lee, Vice President of Brand Marketing.
 
Through October 31st, 2007, people can enter the Embassy Suites Hotels Do Not Disturb contest at embassysuites.com and create a unique and catchy slogan for their very own Do Not Disturb, and customize it by choosing from a number of online designs, images and templates provided by Embassy Suites Hotels. Based on the top designs submitted, five Grand Prize Winners will have their designs placed in all Embassy Suites Hotels, and will receive hotel accommodations at one of the following destinations: The Embassy Suites Hotel-Waikiki Beach Walk (Waikiki, HI); The Embassy Suites Hotel Mexico City-Reforma (Mexico City, D.F.); The Embassy Suites Hotel and Spa - La Quinta, (La Quinta, CA); The Embassy Suites Hotel New York City, The Embassy Suites Hotel - Washington D.C. Convention Center.

The panel of judges will select the top five “Do Not Disturb” designs in November and the five winners will be announced in February 2008 when signs will be available in hotels across the country.

Embassy Suites Hotels is a member of the Hilton Family of Hotels and was the first all-suite upscale hotel brand to enter the industry.

To locate all the best rates at Embassy Suites Hotels, including Net Rates, visit CCRAtravel.com.  For the best value in GDS-published rates, book the CCRA rate by selecting CCR in Amadeus, Sabre and Worldspan or CCRA in Galileo.

Gallery One-A Doubletree Guest Suites Hotel (Ft. Lauderdale): 4 Stars

Gallery One in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. is bordered by the Intracoastal Waterway. A smoke-free seaside retreat, the hotel is less than eight miles from the Ft. Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport. The Ft. Lauderdale Convention Center is less than five miles away and Galleria Mall and Bonnet House Museum and Gardens are less than two miles from the property.

Dining options offered by Gallery One are Brush on the Water, the hotel’s new restaurant with 24- hour room service. An outdoor lounge, Sapphire, provides a casual tropical setting overlooking the water. The hotel offers the famous Doubletree Chocolate Chip cookies upon check in. A business center with complimentary high-speed Internet access is available along with 8,000 square feet of meeting space. A heated pool commands a view of the waterway.

All 231 spacious suites feature marble foyers with contemporary yet elegant wooden furnishings. Rooms include wall-mounted plasma or flat-screen televisions and separate living and dining areas. Fully equipped kitchens with granite countertops include refrigerators, stoves, ovens, dishwashers, microwave ovens, toasters, dishes and coffeemakers with complimentary coffee. Baths are appointed with marble decor and granite countertops.

Expert Tip: The Water Taxi of Ft. Lauderdale stops at the hotel’s dock every 30 minutes and transports guests to the shopping district of Las Olas Boulevard, the Port of Ft. Lauderdale, the Bahia Mar Marina and other nearby restaurants.
  Net Rates from: $190 

The Wave Hotel (Miami): 3 Stars

The Wave is a boutique hotel on Miami's hip South Beach, just across from the ocean. The historic 1940 Art Deco building was extensively renovated to blend the original splendor of the period with all the contemporary comforts of a boutique hotel, offering guests a unique Miami experience.

Located on Ocean Drive in the heart of South Beach, steps away from the white sandy beach and crystal blue waters of the Atlantic, Wave guests enjoy the exciting pace of South Beach life. Days spent relaxing on the beach or taking in the sights of the Art Deco District turn into warm tropical nights celebrating Miami's outstanding restaurants and the vibrant South Beach nightlife, which includes some of the best nightclubs in the world.

The Wave's friendly staff will happily coordinate Art Deco or other sightseeing tours or a night out on Miami Beach you will always remember.

The Wave Hotel's hip boutique style welcomes guests with beautifully appointed rooms and custom Italian furniture. The Wave Bar offers al fresco dining along with cool libations for those hot South Beach nights. Enjoy the delectable complimentary continental breakfast on our veranda overlooking Ocean Drive or in our lush tropical garden courtyard.

So if you are looking for a hangout that's hip, friendly, historic, artistic, quaint, and laidback, Miami Beach's Wave Hotel is the place for you.
  Net Rates from: $154 

Marriott’s Grande Vista Resort (Orlando): 5 Stars

Stretching across 160 acres of lush tropical landscaping lies Marriott’s Grande Vista resort, an intimate hideaway set amidst Orlando’s excitement. Ideally located in the world’s most popular destination, Marriott’s Grande Vista is your spectacular center for breathtaking golf, thrilling theme parks, and unforgettable Florida vacations.  In the magical heart of Orlando is Marriott’s Grande Vista. One- two- and three-bedroom villas feature spacious living and dining areas, full kitchen, and a master suite with oversized soaking tub.

The hotel is located 15 miles from Downtown Orlando andl is nearby Walt Disney World Resort, Universal Studios, Sea World, City Walk, Discovery Cove, Wet’n Wild, Central Florida Zoo, Wonder Work, and Ripley’s Believe It or Not.  The hotel facilities include restaurants, pool bar, convenience store and deli, ice cream shop, coffee shop, outdoor pool, children’s pool, hot tub, whirlpool, fitness center.  The guest room features include air conditioning, alarm clock, coffee maker, individual climate control, iron and ironing board, safe, private bath, hairdryer, cable TV and fully equipped kitchen.  As of September 2006, all Marriott International, Inc. lodging brands in the United States and Canada are 100% smoke free.
  Net Rates from: $108 

How to search by Amenities:

When you need to search for specific amenities, go the Advanced Search Options section on the Basic Hotel Search page, and choose the amenities you are seeking from the list provided.  You may select up to three amenities.  In this example, you can see that the amenities selected here are swimming pool, meeting facilities, and restaurant.

 

Search by Price Range:

If you know your client has a preferred budget,you can search for hotels within their range. Scroll down the page to Advanced Search Options and enter a dollar amount to search for hotel rates your client is looking for. In this case, the price range is $140 to $200.

Search by Hotel Chain:

If your client requests a certain hotel brand based on a loyalty program, you may search by hotel chain as well.  Simply scroll down to Advanced Search Options and in the Property Name box type the hotel chain your client would like, for example – Hilton.

For many travel agents starting a Home Based business can be tricky.  However having the right business plan can help you start you off in the right direction.  Even if you have been in business for a while, it might be time to create a fresh up-to-date business plan to prepare for 2008.

So you've decided to start your own business - congratulations!  It's a huge leap from letting someone else take care of taxes, accounting, payroll, inventory, and/or a myriad of other activities necessary to run a business.  However, running your own business has its advantages, too.  You get to be your own boss, set your own hours and days to work, and be responsible for your own success.  It can be a great way to free yourself from the tedium of 9-5 and work at doing what you love, but you have to begin by asking a few questions:

1. Are you doing what you love, or just doing something you’re good at?  A desire to get away from the regular working world can be a good motivation to work for yourself, but you have to be excited to get up in the morning to do what it is you have chosen to do for a living.

2. What is it you are planning to do?  What niche is it going to fill?  Is there a need for what you can provide?  Will the market bear another entry?

3. What technical skills or talents do you have?  Just being able to do something may not be marketable enough to convince customers or financiers that you are a good financial investment.

4. Who are your competitors in your chosen profession and how are you going to do it better?  Why should customers come to you?  What do you have to offer that no one else does?
    
Once you are satisfied with the answers to these questions, it is time for the decision of what kind of business structure you will use. Will you be a sole proprietor, responsible for every facet and the penultimate authority as to how to run the business?  Will you enter in with a partner, the better to share the cost and workload, but also the profits and the business decisions?  Perhaps the decision will be made to incorporate, with its financial safeguards but more complex and costly structure?  At this stage, legal advice is recommended, if only so that you fully understand the advantages and disadvantages of your chosen structuring plan.  Many lawyers will provide a free or reduced-rate primary consultation, though often not more than an hour.  When the structure is finalized, a name for the business should be decided upon, if not already having been done so in advance.  It should be easy to remember, avoid initials and single letters (B & L & R, Inc. will be difficult to remember for customers) and try to say something about the business (Bob’s House of Hobbies is easier to remember and spell).
  
Next, a business plan is a vital step in laying out all these topics and proposals in a standardized format.  A good business plan serves as a formal statement of the new company’s goals, financing, structure and legal considerations.  It acts as a resume to prospective investors and is the primary documentation they will use to evaluate whether or not your business will be worth investing into.  It also provides the proprietor(s) with a chance to see the workings of the new business in black and white.  A basic business plan should at the least contain a balance sheet, income statement and statement of cash flow, as well as a proposed financial budget for the first year, or as long a period as necessary if a year is impractical.
       
So with these quick tips, plan for success, and good luck in your chosen endeavor!

About the author:
William King is the director of www.uk-wholesaler.co.uk, www.wholesalepages.co.uk, www.wholesale-canada.com, and www.aidandtrade.com..  He has 18 years of experience in the marketing and trading industries and has been helping retailers and startups with their product sourcing, promotion, marketing and supply chain requirements.