Friday, December 5, 2008

Are you Certified?

Go ahead, put our feet to the fire.
We're hot but never bothered.

We are very proud to announce that Certified Friendly will continue on, but with a new name, look and program. We have worked very hard to bring you the very best in customer service training and offer your front of the house employees with an opportunity to take part in this exciting class. Over the past four years we have certified over 500 people in the Certified Friendly classes. The next class for line level personnel is scheduled for Tuesday, December 16, 2008. To sign up your employees go to www.hospitalityhotspotter.com.

It is a new day in Columbia and as you know we are HOT, it is time to put you to the test! This is your opportunity to become a certified Hospitality Hotspotter! We have developed a special class for hospitality managers and sales professionals to get their very own Hospitality Hotspotter certification. This one day interactive class will be held from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm on Thursday, January 8, 2009 at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center. This class will be directly focused on management topics and feature different speakers throughout the day and include some great tours of Columbia attractions. To sign up for this class go to www.hospitalityhotspotter.com and make sure you indicate the January managers class on your registration.

Thanks and we look forward to seeing you!

Check us out on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/inbox/?ref=mb#/event.php?eid=37846801393
http://www.facebook.com/inbox/?ref=mb#/event.php?eid=38021592741

Shop local this holiday season for unique Columbia gifts!

Shop local this holiday season for unique Columbia gifts for friends, family and colleagues!

If you don't know where to start with your holiday shopping list, we can help! Stop by the Columbia Regional Visitors Center for holiday shopping tips and advice, no matter how difficult your list. We've got it covered from Richland County to Lexington County, and can even give you directions and maps. You can stop in before or after work now with our extended hours from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm Monday through Friday, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm Saturday or 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm Sunday. The Visitors Center is featuring unique local art for sale by Columbia's famous "Chicken Man," Ernest Lee and various other Artists of the Month's items. We also sell many unique Columbia and South Carolina products.

Columbia, South Carolina offers an amazing variety of shopping opportunities, sure to please the most discriminating shoppers. Several area shopping districts invite leisurely strolling among the many charming stores, galleries and restaurants, allowing you to appreciate the beauty and character of this unique Southern capital city. Columbia’s specialty districts carry everything from exclusive labels to one of a kind creations. Whether you’re on a college budget or ready to spend a small fortune on your wardrobe, Columbia’s unique shops and boutiques have what you’re looking for.

If you have family coming in town, stop by for information on things to do, where to shop and hotel information for your guests (or book them a room online at www.columbiacvb.com, powered by Travelocity). The Visitors Center is located on the upper level of the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center at 1101 Lincoln Street, Columbia, SC 29201.

Snowville at Edventure!

Snowville!

From Saturday, November 22, 2008 through Saturday, March 1, 2009, children and families from all across South Carolina can visit Snowville – EdVenture’s winter play land, located here in the Southeast’s largest children’s museum.

Have you ever tried to build an igloo? Have you ever sat on a snowmobile? How DOES water turn into snow? This year’s exhibit will feature: Winter weather | The Frigid Forest | The Publix Hockey Arena | Snow Hill | Gotta Fish! | The Snowed Inn | The North Pole | The South Pole EdVenture is geared up (in more than just mittens and hats!) for its third annual presentation of Snowville – the only exhibit of its kind that allows visitors to experience the joys of winter, INDOORS!

Dates
Saturday, November 22, 2008 – Sunday, March 01, 2009

Time

9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

http://www.edventure.org/calendar/detail.aspx?EventID=95

Columbia Welcomes the 2009 World Beer Festival!

http://www.columbiacvb.com/beerfestival

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Media Contact:
Alicia Morgan
CarterTodd & Associates, Inc.
803.779.4005 (Ext. 2042)
alicia@cartertodd.com

Columbia Welcomes the 2009 World Beer Festival Tickets on Sale in December

Columbia, SC – November 20, 2008 – All About Beer Magazine and Green’s Discount Beverages present the 2009 World Beer Festival on Saturday, January 24, at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center. A celebration of the world beer culture, The World Beer Festival provides attendees a broad sampling of hundreds of beers from over 100 breweries, food from a variety of local restaurants, educational sessions by industry experts, and entertainment by local musicians. All About Beer Magazine has presented The World Beer Festival for over a decade and it is recognized as one of the premier beer events in the country, with Forbes.com, USA Today, and Wired all calling attention to it. The World Beer Festival is also held each year in Raleigh and Durham, NC, where each has sold out all tickets for several years running. For more information on the Columbia festival, visit http://www.allaboutbeer.com/wbfcolumbia.

“We are excited to bring our World Beer Festival to Columbia, where there is a burgeoning beer culture,” said Daniel Bradford, Publisher of All About Beer Magazine. “Columbia has an excited beer community that is eager to share the new beer experiences our World Beer Festival provides.”
Tickets:
The festival offers two four-hour sessions. Standard admission to a single session is $40, which includes beer samples, music by local bands, educational sessions by industry experts, and a festival tasting glass. Tickets can be purchased online at www.allaboutbeer.com/wbfcolumbia/tickets.html.

Tickets will also be available at the following retail outlets:

· Green’s Discount Beverages, 400 Assembly Street, Columbia, SC, www.greensbeverages.com

· Green’s Beverage Warehouse, 4012 Fernandina Road, Columbia, SC, www.greensbeverages.com

· Green’s Discount Beverages, Greenville, SC at 445 Congaree Road, www.greensbeverages.com

· Green’s Discount Beverages, Myrtle Beach, SC at 2850 N. Kings Highway, www.greensbeverages.com

· Morganelli’s Party Store at 3155 Forest Drive in Columbia, SC

· Delaney’s Irish Pub at 741 Saluda Avenue in Columbia, SC, www.delaneyspub.com

· Village Idiot Pizza Pub at 2009 Devine Street in Columbia, SC, www.villageidiotpizza.com

· Gervais & Vine at 620 Gervais Street #A in Columbia, SC, www.gervine.com

· Carolina Ale House at 277 Columbiana Drive in Columbia, SC, www.carolinaalehouse.com

The first session will be from noon to 4 p.m., and the second session will be from 6 to 10 p.m. Subscribers to All About Beer Magazine have the opportunity to purchase tickets prior to their being offered to the general public. A person must subscribe to the magazine no later than November 23 in order to be eligible. The on-sale ticket date for subscribers (online sales only) is December 3, while the on-sale ticket date for the general public is December 8.

Media Sponsor:
The Free Times is the local media sponsor of the World Beer Festival-Columbia. For more information, please visit www.free-times.com.

About All About Beer Magazine:
Now in its 30th year, All About Beer Magazine has been the source for the hip beer culture. Its mission is to educate the public in beer appreciation and beer quality and to build the local beer community. The magazine does this by hosting festivals where guests have the opportunity to taste samples from a wide range of beers, discuss the beer with brewers, and knowledgeable servers, etc. Winner of numerous awards and recognitions, All About Beer Magazine publishes the best on beer six times a year with two additional bonus issues each year. Subjects range from beer history and culture to beer travel and entertaining as well as beer brewing and storing. For more information, please visit www.allaboutbeer.com.

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Festivus in Five Points!


http://www.thestate.com/local/story/612737.html?RSS=local

55th Annual Carolina Carillon Holiday Parade | Saturday, December 6, 2008

The 55th Annual Carolina Carillon Holiday Parade will be held on Saturday, December 6, 2008, on Gervais Street in downtown Columbia. The theme “Jingle All the Way !” will be featured throughout dozens of floats, marching bands, drill teams, and live performances.

The parade will begin at 9:45 a.m. at Gervais and Bull Streets and proceed west on Gervais, pass in front of the State House, and continue into the Vista to Park Street.

For more information, visit their website:
www.carolinacarillon.com

Historic Columbia Foundation | "A Storybook Holiday"

Candlelight Tours
Dec. 5 & 6 5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
View our house museums decorated for the holidays in the glow of candlelight and participate in many other activities.

Family Day: Historic Holidays

Dec. 6, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Everyone is invited to join us for an old-fashioned holiday party.

http://www.historiccolumbia.org