Detroit Gets in the Game in Preparation to Host the NCAA Men’s Final Four
The Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau, along with the Final Four Detroit Local Organizing Committee (DLOC), are gearing up to welcome NCAA Men’s Final Four spectators to Detroit. As the countdown for fans to arrive begins, Detroit residents and visitors are invited to “Get in the Game” by using a new web resource that offers information specifically for this year’s set of events.
The web page, www.visitdetroit.com, created as a go-to source for event schedules, transportation, ticket information and many other frequently asked questions, can be utilized by basketball fans, residents and visitors.
Another key function of the site is to offer local hospitality providers the ability to sign up online for hospitality briefing sessions. These sessions will help raise the level of overall customer service in metro Detroit and provide key information on all of the ancillary events taking place during Final Four weekend.
“‘Get in the Game’ and be ready to give outstanding customer service to our NCAA Final Four basketball fans, visitors and locals,” said Christopher Ilitch, CEO of Ilitch Holdings, Inc. and chair of the DLOC Final Four Hospitality Committee. “Customer service is critically important for the Final Four, other marquee events and conventions headed to metro Detroit.”
This highly interactive hospitality briefing is designed for wait staff, hotel employees, taxi and shuttle drivers and all front-line hospitality workers. Participants learn about proven practices that lead to higher levels of customer satisfaction.
DETROIT “GETS IN THE GAME” IN PREPARATION TO HOST THE NCAA(R) MEN’S FINAL FOUR(R)
The class also brings workers up to date on local culture, attractions and the latest new developments. In order to reach the widest possible audience, the hospitality briefing is designed to be a flexible program. Participating businesses have the option to send employees to scheduled training sessions, or request a trainer visit their work site based on attendee minimums. Best of all, this specially offered Final Four training is free for the attendee.
By visiting this Web site, everyone in The D will be in-the-know to ensure that visitors are welcomed with warm hospitality at all of Detroit’s fine hotels, restaurants and attractions.
Source: Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau
Mercedes-Benz USA Named an Official Patron of the PGA of America
Exclusive Mercedes-Benz presence and sponsorship activities through 2013
Mercedes-Benz USA has been named an Official Patron by the PGA of America. As the highest level of partnership and designation granted by the PGA, Mercedes-Benz USA will serve as The Official Vehicle of The PGA of America, the Official Patron and Official Vehicle of the PGA Championship and Senior PGA Championship, and a Proud Supporter of the 2010 and 2012 Ryder Cup. The partnership will extend through 2013.
“The PGA of America continues to make golf accessible to a wider audience and we see an opportunity to support and benefit from the game’s future growth,” said Ernst Lieb, president and CEO of Mercedes-Benz USA. “The three-pointed star has a long-standing history with golf and this new partnership strengthens our existing ties with the game while also extending our presence within one of the world’s largest sports organizations.”
As part of the agreement, Mercedes-Benz will provide vehicles at the PGA Championships, Senior PGA Championship and the 2012 Ryder Cup. Mercedes-Benz also will be involved in the following activities and sponsorship activities:
- Presenting Sponsors of the PGA Professional National Championship and Senior PGA Professional National Championship
- Presenting Sponsor of the PGA Play Golf America Days
- Fan Experience at the Senior PGA Championship, PGA Championship and 2012 Ryder Cup
- Loyalty Lots at the Senior PGA Championships, PGA Championships and the 2012 Ryder Cup
The PGA Official Patron program is designed to uniquely position each patron within the $76 billion a year golf industry and become a category-exclusive provider of products and services to The PGA of America, its more than 28,000 men and women professionals, top industry executives and golf consumers worldwide.
“From a rich heritage of auto making that dates from 1881 to today, Mercedes-Benz has set a remarkable benchmark for quality craftsmanship and service. We are very proud to welcome Mercedes-Benz as an Official Patron of The PGA of America,” said PGA of America Chief Executive Officer Joe Steranka. “We begin an exciting new partnership for our Association as Mercedes-Benz heightens the spectator experience at our Association’s premier championships.”
Each PGA Official Patron is recognized with unprecedented visibility and marketing exposure at The PGA’s highest-profile Championships.
The PGA of America
Since 1916, The PGA of America’s mission has been twofold; to establish and elevate the standards of the profession and to grow interest and participation in the game of golf.
By establishing and elevating the standards of the golf profession through world-class education, career services, marketing and research programs, the Association enables PGA Professionals to maximize their performance in their respective career paths and showcases them as experts in the game and in the $76 billion golf industry.
By creating and delivering dramatic world-class championships and exciting and enjoyable golf promotions that are viewed as the best of their class in the golf industry, The PGA of America elevates the public’s interest in the game, the desire to play more golf, and ensures accessibility to the game for everyone, everywhere. The PGA of America brand represents the very best in golf.
Source: Mercedes-Benz USA
HDNet to Broadcast 2009 College Basketball Invitational
Sixteen NCAA teams to compete LIVE on HDNet
HDNet and The Gazelle Group are pleased to announce an agreement to broadcast the 2009 College Basketball Invitational.
The College Basketball Invitational will consist of 16 teams not selected for the NCAA Tournament. The teams will be invited based upon performance during their conference and non-conference schedule, as well as how they are playing at the end of the regular season. Bracketing will be done geographically into four regions of the country (East, West, South, Midwest) to minimize missed class time. Brackets will be balanced competitively within each region.
The College Basketball Invitational bracket will be announced on the evening of Sunday, March 15.
“We’re excited to bring the College Basketball Invitational to HDNet,” said Mark Cuban, president and co-founder of HDNet. “This tournament is an excellent showcase for some of the best and brightest in college basketball and we’re proud to bring it to our viewers.”
“We are thrilled to continue our relationship with HDNet,” said Gazelle Group President Rick Giles. “They were a great partner for our Legends Classic tournament last November and their national coverage of the CBI will be an exceptional showcase of postseason College Basketball in high-definition. HDNet has distinguished itself as one of the most successful and innovative networks. We look forward to continuing this relationship for years to come.”
The event will be played under a single-elimination format, up until the Championship Series, with all games being played at campus sites. The Championship Series will be a best-of-three series (home-away-home), in which the higher seed will host the first and third (if necessary) games.
The College Basketball Invitational will feature the following:
March 17 and 18
- A total of eight Opening Round games at campus sites
- Two games will be played on March 17, six games will be played on March 18
- HDNet will broadcast two games LIVE each night at 8:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. ET
March 23
- Four Quarterfinal Round games at campus sites
- HDNet will broadcast two games LIVE at 8:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. ET
March 25
- Two semi-final games at campus sites
- HDNet will broadcast both games LIVE at 8:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. ET
All College Basketball Invitational Championship Series (March 30, April 1 and April 3) championship games LIVE on HDNet at 8:00 p.m. ET
Source: HDNet
Shaklee Partners With U.S. Ski Team and U.S. Snowboarding in Preparation for the 2010 Games in Vancouver
Shaklee Corporation, the leading natural nutrition company in the United States, is the official nutrition supplier for the U.S. Ski Team and U.S. Snowboarding throughout their training for the 2010 Games in Vancouver, continuing a relationship that began in 1980.
Founded in 1956, Shaklee has been supporting elite athletes for decades — more than 54 gold medals have been awarded to Shaklee-powered world-class athletes.
“We currently use these products to enhance the hydration status and energy requirements of our athletes’ demanding training schedules and busy lifestyles,” says Troy Flanagan, Director of Sport Science for the U.S. Ski and Snowboarding Association, the national governing body for the U.S. ski and snowboarding teams. “Shaklee nutritional supplements are the only choice for us and are proving to be critical to our preparation for the 2010 Games!”
Flanagan says Shaklee products are instrumental in allowing the teams to perform at a high level in very rigorous conditions.
“U.S. Ski Team athletes travel four to five months straight each year, flying to winter conditions in many different countries throughout the world. Shaklee’s NutriFeron(R) helps boost their immune systems* as they push through jet lag, drastic temperature changes, tough training, and the stress of competition,” he says.
The U.S. Ski Team and U.S. Snowboarding use a broad assortment of Shaklee supplements, including Vitalizer for overall health and wellness, NutriFeron and Defend & Resist Complex for immune support, Cinch(R) for healthy weight management, Shaklee Performance(R) for hydration and endurance, Physique(R) for post workout recovery, Joint Health Complex for healthy joints, Joint & Muscle Pain Cream for after those grueling workouts, and many others.*
Shaklee products are supported by over 90 Shaklee peer-reviewed scientific papers and are available only through Shaklee Distributors.
“At the U.S. Ski and Snowboarding Association (USSA), we make sure that the supplements that our athletes competing in the 2010 Games are taking are extremely safe and reliable,” Flanagan says. “That’s why USSA athletes are only provided with Shaklee products, which are manufactured to the highest standards.”
Shaklee is proud to be the official nutritional sponsor of the U.S. Ski Team and U.S. Snowboarding, a relationship that began over 29 years ago and has since provided the nutritional fuel that helped support the teams in winning 10 medals in the 2006 Winter Games in Turin, Italy, and is currently helping to power the ski team and snowboarders in preparation for the 2010 Games in Vancouver.
Shaklee Corporation
Founded 50-plus years ago, Shaklee is a leading provider of premium-quality natural nutrition products, personal care products, environmentally friendly household products, and state-of-the-art air and water treatment systems. In 2000 Shaklee became the first company in the world to be Climate Neutral(TM) certified to totally offset its CO2 emissions, resulting in a net-zero impact on the environment. With a robust product portfolio, including over 50 patents and patents pending worldwide, Shaklee has more than 750,000 Members and Distributors worldwide and operates in the U.S., Mexico, Canada, Japan, Malaysia, Taiwan, and China. For more information about Shaklee, visit www.Shaklee.com.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
No Off-Season for Washington Nationals Pitcher John Lannan
Coming off of a rookie season that saw the 24-year-old lefthander named be named to the 50th annual Topps Major League Rookie All-Star Team, John Lannan didn’t waste much time getting back to work, determined to build on his 2008 success. Lannan took a very short break after the season and then began the most difficult physical training of his life.
“From the first day of our 12 week program, we noticed an intensity usually reserved for guys who are trying to make a team or add years to their career,” says Dean Maddalone, Lannan’s trainer at the Professional Athletic Performance Center in Long Island, New York.
The owner of the Professional Athletic Performance, Rob Panariello will be presenting at the 2009 National Strength and Conditioning Sports Specific and Training Conference in Nashville Tennessee. His topic, “Optimal Performance Training and Injury Prevention for the Throwing Shoulder,” will feature video of this year’s training sessions with Lannan. In addition to greatly improving his muscle strength in his legs and core, Lannan, who is 6’5″, reduced his circuit endurance record by three minutes before the holiday break.
In his first full season in the major leagues, Lannan proved to be a force on the mound for the Washington Nationals. While 9 wins and a 3.91 ERA in 2008 provided the confidence to step out on the mound every five days, Lannan knows that the hitting talent he faces each week is only getting better. “The last thing I want to think about in later innings is fatigue and the trainers at Performance have taught me how to prepare. I have never felt this good in my life,” said Lannan.
John Lannan carries a sincere message of hard work and discipline that applies both on and off the field. His barometer for giving back to local communities will be punctuated by visibility and active participation in the city that delivered his platform for a career in Major League Baseball. Lannan will report to Melbourne, FL with the Nationals pitchers and catchers for Spring Training on February 14th.
Source: The Show
San Jose Muddy Buddy Competitor Wins Certified Pre-Owned Land Rover LR3
Land Rover North America recently announced the winner of a 2008 Certified Pre-Owned LR3 from the Muddy Buddy Ride and Run Series, a competition of partner races held throughout the country. The lucky winner was notified last month during a radio interview about the San Jose event.
Damon Knox, a real estate agent and Muddy Buddy competitor from San Francisco, was surprised mid-December to find out he was chosen to win the LR3. Knox, prompted by his friend, participated in his first Muddy Buddy event in San Jose, Ca. this past June and plans to compete in 2 or 3 events in 2009.
Prior to his knowledge of winning the vehicle, Knox was invited to be interviewed on Competitive Radio, an AM talk show that airs out of San Diego on Sunday nights with Bob Babbitt, founder of the Challenged Athletes Foundation and Muddy Buddy. Knox was expecting the interview to be about the race, but was surprised halfway through when Babbitt and Jeremy Render, Pre-Owned Brand Manager, Land Rover North America, announced Knox had won the drawing for the vehicle.
“This justifies my new addiction!” Knox commented upon hearing he had won. “My heart is racing almost as hard as it was when I got to the top of the first hill.”
Knox received his LR3 from British Motor Cars in San Francisco, a long-standing Land Rover retailer in the California Bay Area. The Certified Pre-Owned Land Rover LR3 has undergone a complete 140-point inspection and is backed by a comprehensive 6-year/75,000-mile limited warranty coverage and Land Rover 24/7 Roadside Assistance.
Land Rover’s relationship with Muddy Buddy has been mutually beneficial, and intriguing for both brands, which stress a sense of teamwork and adventure. As Render said, “We’re an adventurous company, we drive our vehicles off-road both for purpose and pleasure, and we have a good time in doing so. Likewise, Muddy Buddy is a great off-road team event where friends and family members come out to take on a new challenge, raise money for a great cause, and to have fun in the process; this sense of spirit and camaraderie is what really ties together with our brand.”
Along with the vehicle donation and sponsorship of the event, Land Rover North America helps raise money for the Challenged Athletes Foundation, and this year was able to raise $31,500 through donations and contributions.
In the Muddy Buddy event, teams of two run and bike across a 5-6 mile course and eventually crawl through a large mud pit at the end and cross the finish line together. Some of the proceeds from the events go towards The Challenged Athletes Foundation, which raises money for athletes with disabilities and provide them with adaptive equipment. For more information on Muddy Buddy please visit www.MuddyBuddy.com.
Since 1948 Land Rover has been manufacturing authentic 4x4s that represent true ‘breadth of capability’ across the model range. Defender, LR2 (Freelander 2), LR3 (Discovery 3), Range Rover Sport and Range Rover each define the world’s 4×4 sectors, with 78% of this model range exported to over 140 countries. Land Rover employs 8,500 people and supports a further 40,000 jobs supported in the supply chain.
Land Rover takes its responsibility to the environment seriously. Emissions have been cut with all new models and, together with Jaguar, it is investing 700m pounds Sterling on technology specifically aimed at reducing carbon dioxide emissions. Also, since September 2006, carbon dioxide generated by Land Rover manufacturing activities and UK customer vehicle use has been balanced through an industry leading offset program run by Climate Care.
Source: Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC
Ski Insurance, Can You Afford to go Without it?
If you’re planning to lighten up the cold dark gloomy months by booking yourself a ski holiday this winter, remember that travel insurance is one part of the package you can’t afford to be without.
Go Travel Insurance’s Director Andy Taylor said…”In the current climate and with all the recession talk, it’s understandable that skiers and snowboarders are looking to cut costs on their winter sports holiday, but cutting out their travel insurance could turn out to be a false economy.”
Skiing, snowboarding and all the other activities enjoyed on a winter sports holiday are all great fun, but without travel insurance you could be risking financial loss if an injury turns into costly hospital bills! A broken leg in Europe can cost around GBP4,000 to treat, or up to GBP10,000 in the USA. Injuries on the slopes can often require helicopter assistance, and repatriation costs if necessary can be astronomical.
Taylor also urged skiers to check their level of activity cover if they wish to enjoy some of the other activities often available such as sledging, snowmobiling or tobogganing. “Unfortunately bad things can easily happen on this type of holiday so you should ensure you have insurance for all the activities you might enjoy on holiday. Just having the peace of mind alone is worth paying the insurance premium.”
And there’s not just your own personal safety to protect. If you’re deemed liable for causing an accident on the piste, insurance is invaluable. And then there’s all the expensive equipment involved in a ski holiday – theft can be costly and inconvenient. If you have a week’s worth of skiing booked up, you want to spend your time on the slopes enjoying yourself and not worrying about being uninsured.
As a specialist in ski insurance, Go Travel Insurance offers comprehensive cover which can be tailored to your own personal trip. Purchasing online is quick and simple, and it pays to buy cover as soon as you’ve booked your holiday so you’ll be covered for cancellations.
Why foot the bill when one week’s European ski cover can cost as little as GBP23 on Go’s standard winter sports cover.
Source: Go Travel Insurance