Last Thursday night was the annual Progress Club of Halifax Sport Celebrity Dinner held at the Cunard Centre.  By all accounts this year’s line-up of inspiring athletes was the best.  Hosted once again by CTV’s handsome Rod Black the evening began with Rod’s impersonation of Dennis Rodman from last year’s dinner.  Let’s just say that if you weren’t there last year that’s probably a good thing.

The crowd of roughly 1300 were treated to an evening of inspirational, heart-felt, nostalgic and side-splittingly funny stories from Boxing great Smokin’ Joe Frazier (fought Mohammed Ali three times), former NHL hockey player Theo Fleury (Calgary Flames, Colorado Avalanche, New York Rangers & Chicago Blackhawks), one-handed pitcher Jim Abbott (California Angels, New York Yankees, Gold Medal Olympian Team USA 1987), hockey legend Paul Henderson (scored the winning goal against the Soviet Union in 1972 with 34 seconds remaining in the final game) and former Chicago Blackhawk turned funny-man Dennis Hull (a.k.a. brother of Bobby & uncle of Brett).

As a sponsor of the event several of us from the Westin Nova Scotian were fortunate to rub shoulders with the athletes at a luncheon, a pre-dinner reception and a post-dinner hospitality suite.  Below is a glimpse into the evening. 

 

Jim Abbott, Rod Black, Theo Fleury & Me

        

With Smokin' Joe Frazier

 

With Rhonda Lemire & Paul Henderson

With Christi Cahill & Dennis Hull

That wonderful day of love is just around the corner and once again it falls on a weekend…so there is ample opportunity to treat your sweetheart to a night out.  The Westin Nova Scotian, Jala Spa & Yuk Yuks have three very special packages for you to enjoy.

stay * love * spa – $199

stay * love * wine * dine – $239

stay * love * wine * dine * laugh – $319

All packages include sparkling wine and chocolate dipped strawberries.

Click here to book our  special offers.

Look for our booth, and our Heavenly Bed, this weekend (Jan. 29 - 31) at the ‘Everything to do with Sex’ show at the Cunard Centre in Halifax.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to write to us yesterday.  We certainly didn’t expect to receive the abundance of messages of thanks that we did for helping out our neighbours.  We are in the hospitality business and providing beds and food is what we do, it is in our nature.  We are glad that we were here in a time of need.

Hope you don’t mind my sharing a couple of comments with you…

I’m a resident of this buidling (I got out pretty luckily with minimal comparitive damage).  I just want to say thank you thank you thank you to all the incredible people who helped out yesterday. The Westin went above and beyond the call of corporate community relations duty. They were offering rooms, hot beverages and food within a couple of hours of the blaze.

Hi Grant,

I just wanted to drop you a note on behalf of OTANS ….we just heard that you are offering hotel rooms for the people displaced by the fire. We are pleased to be doing business and be associated with the Westin as you are acting in such a compassionate and community-supportive manner.

 It’s really nice to see Grant as it doesn’t happen often….nicely done!

Amanda White
Manager, Events & Member Services
OTANS

At 8 am this morning a fire broke out in a 130 year old apartment building across the street from the Westin Nova Scotian.  Eighteen apartments, (including 23 tenants) and three long standing Halifax restaurants (Cafe Chianti, Tomavinos & Taj Mahal) have been vacated indefinitely.

We quickly came to the aid of our neighbours with food & shelter.  Several people and their pets will be staying with us for the night.  Helping out and how to do so was never a question.

Read the full story and local comments on CBC news.

A view from the 11th floor of the Westin this morning.

One more full day of 2009 and it will all be said and done.  If you are looking for one last eating extravaganza before the holiday season is over we have a fabulous New Year’s Day Brunch at the Westin Nova Scotian, January 1, 2010 – 10 am to 3 pm.

$55/person (including tax, gratuity and parking) and you can enjoy all the brunch favourites including seafood, salads, sushi, breakfast items (eggs benny, waffle & omelette station), seafood chowder, beef bourguinon, molasses glazed ham, sweet potatoes, vegetables and a dessert selection that will put you over the top!

Leave the turkey and 2009 behind and join us for brunch with a side order of live music!

See you there…..

OMG – has it been a month since the last entry!  I guess so, the month of November flew by in a whirlwind!  With the CanSPEP conference (more later), the GMF (more later) and a trip to Cuba for Wenda’s wedding the days passed with lightening speed.

Several of the Sales & Catering gang made their way to Melia las Dumas in Santa Maria, Cuba (1.5 hour drive from Santa Clara) for a week (two weeks in some cases) of R&R and wedding celebrations.  You will remember Wenda & Chris from an August blog report on the pre-wedding cruise on Liana’s Ransom.

The beach and resort were spectacular.  My first time at an all inclusive so having dinner and ordering drinks without having to wait for a bill was a novelty.  We met more than our fair share of vacationers (many from Quebec & Ontario) and locals to occupy our conversations and with 58 fellow wedding guests it often felt like we had our own resort.

 Here is how Christi & I spent our days……

It’s official, we won the Westin Nova Scotian Halloween Pumpkin Carving Contest!!!  Thanks to Thierry Surette’s vivid imagination and carving skills the Sales & Catering Department has won a pizza party.

The inspiration for Thierry’s masterpiece?  Our very own GM, Guido Kerpel.  Guido is often seen arriving at work in jeans, leather chaps and biker jacket, (suit in hand) on his Harley Davidson.  We dubbed this year’s enrty Ker-Pumpkin!

The Westin Nova Scotian was featured in the Travel Section the weekend edition of the Globe & Mail (Canada’s national newspaper).  http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/travel/a-harbour-hotel-catches-a-new-wave/article1335892/

Be sure to check it (and us) out!

Last week the Westin Nova Scotian played host to another successful event, “Simply the Breast”, a dinner & fashion show fundraiser for breast cancer. 

The Event Producer dropped in today with this wonderful thank you letter & chocolates for our associates:

Dear Grant,  We had a fabulous 5th year event at the Westin Hotel.  Our event “Simply the Breast” has been so successful because of your Westin team.  This year Kevin, Mark, Aaron & Keith were exceptional in doing everything possible to help us create a fun night for our guests.  The meal was fabulous, the servers, bartenders and culinary team went above & beyond.  As you know, we had already booked our event for 2010.  Please give this little treat of chocolate to all the staff who worked on our event.  Big Thanks! Carol Lesbirel, Event Producer.

Carol is a motivational speaker, trainer, facilitator & author with her own successful company, Train with Carol.

 ‘TIS THE SEASON TO BE MERRY

AND WHAT BETTER WAY TO BE MERRY THAN A NIGHT AT

YUK YUK’S COMEDY CLUB

NOVEMBER 10-DECEMBER 19, 2009:

DINNER & SHOW TIMES & PRICES: 

WED: 6:30PM DINNER & 8:30PM SHOW $42/person

THURS: 6:30PM DINNER & 8:30PM SHOW $49/person

FRI/SAT: 6:00 DINNER & 8:00 SHOW OR 8:30 DINNER & 10:30 SHOW $55/person

SHOW ONLY TIMES & PRICES:

WED: 8:30PM $5

THURS: 8:30PM $12

FRI/SAT: SHOWS AT 8:00 & 10:30 $18

*Lunch special also available. December 4th and 11th. Ask for details.

Yuk Yuks Comedy Club is located in the Westin Nova Scotian.  For our special Eat, Laugh, and Stay offer check out the Blog Offers tab.