Gran Melia, one of LGD’s hotel and resort clients, congratulated their executive chef, Dani García, on clinching the coveted National Gastronomy Prize of Spain. García’s culinary experiences grace several of Gran Melia’s premier properties, and he’s known for his elegant Andalusian creations and experimental techniques - notably his use of liquid nitrogen.

Sol Meliá is proud to announce that Dani García has been awarded the National Gastronomy Prize given each year by the Royal Academy of Gastronomy. Dani was given the news by Rafael Ansón, president of the Academy, who phoned him in Miami, where Dani prepared a course at a dinner held last night that forms part of the Southern Wine & Spirits Festival. At the dinner Dani will produce his renowned cherry gazpacho for, among others, the King and Queen of Spain, guests of honour…”

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Sheryl Cattell, LGD’s Director of Interactive Strategy, will join Mark Walsh, Genius Rocket; Joe Marchese, SocialVibe; and Melissa Godis, Crispin+Porter, to speak at Reinventing Advertising. The talk is part of WE Media’s Game Changers Conference at the University of Miami, Feb. 24-26, and will focus on the issues and impact of digital advertising.

LGD is proud to have Ms. Cattell as a member of the team; she brings high-level experience as a marketing executive at prestigious online companies such as eDiets and Travelocity. Attendees of this conference will benefit from experience and expertise. Click here to learn more about Game Changers and to register for the event.

The measurable value of social media as a marketing tool remains an ongoing debate: how do you turn all those online “friends” into revenues; can you accurately measure the value of a large online network of people? Even with Facebook valued in the billions as a company, there’s still the question of how to turn the free service into a powerful profit machine. And when big brands get into the social media game to promote themselves, some do it right and some just borrow clumsily from the youth - the proverbial old man with a mohawk.

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by Andrew Hampp

Published: February 12, 2009

NEW YORK (AdAge.com) — With most marketers planning on reducing how much they spend on media, one marketer wants to be sure that experiments in emerging media don’t go by the wayside…

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It’s almost impossible to have a conversation these days without mentioning the recession. Understandable: It’s on everyone’s mind. But in all the gloom and doom, there are some beacons of light. Some businesses are taking advantage of the situation to expand.

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The same publication also detailed Gran Melia’s new openings: Shanghai, Colón (Seville) and Crete.

In Seville, following a complete renovation, the brand is due to open the ‘hotel of the toreadors’, the Gran Meliá Colon; in Shanghai, it inaugurates a luxury hotel; and in Crete it opens a world-class resort. Seen as the apex of the company’s achievement in terms of hospitality know-how and good sense, these new assets will become landmarks for the new level of service offered by the chain. Looking ahead to 2010, the company plans to open a new Gran Meliá hotel in the Italian capital, the Gran Meliá Roma, a luxurious and exclusive hotel in the heart of the classical district of the city.

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The very first “First Fridays” kicked off at LGD Communications last Friday, and it was a jam packed afternoon. Graphic designers, copywriters, photographers and stylists - from recent grads to seasoned pros - descended on LGD’s Miami offices for a day of portfolio reviews. Participants got feedback from LGD’s creative directors and in turn, we were able to make connections with talent we might otherwise never have met. Check out the pics, and some shots of new office decorations:

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James Thornton, 05 February 2009

Sol Melia’s five-year launch plan continues despite recession;
Sol Meliá is to launch three new luxury hotels this year in Seville, Shanghai and Crete.

Gran Meliá Crete will open summer 2009 and offers 250 junior suites and 50 villas, each facing the ocean.  It comes equipped with a full service marina, private beach and150 private pools.

Gran Meliá Shanghai opens in June 2009 in Shanghai’s financial district, and will have 687 guestrooms, 596 Deluxe rooms, 44 Royal Service rooms and 46 Suites as well as an Imperial Suite. It will also have a 2,500sq m pool.

Gran Meliá Colón in Seville - the former Hotel Tryp Colon - reopened its doors this week following a complete renovation of the 1929 building.

For 2010. the company plans to open a new Gran Meliá hotel in Rome, which it is describing as “a luxurious and exclusive hotel in the heart of the classical part of the city”.