GBTA in San Diego

Every year I attend the Global Business Travel Association convention.  This year it was in sunny San Diego.  No complaints here!

The view from my room at the Manchester Grand Hyatt.  This is the only time of year that we get to stay at a fancy hotel because we always stay at the "official convention" hotel.  The rest of my trips are typically at La Quinta, which is fine.  But this is better.  :)

Wedding Season

It's here.  And it's been great!  But I'm excited to spend this weekend at home (at least until Sunday when I go to Oklahoma for Mother's Day like the good daughter I am).  Weddings are high-pressure events for those of us in the wedding party.  I have responsibilities like making sure the bridesmaids' bouquets make it to the reception so they can double as center pieces on the dining tables... This stuff is hard work after a day of hair, nails, makeup, and wedding rehearsal.  We bridesmaids have to perfect our step-together-step-together down the aisle and stand around for all of the pre and post ceremony photos...  It's exhausting!  We are also expected to be the first to start a conga line on the dance floor, and we really should stay for last call.  My boyfriend and I had back-to-back weddings last month, plus a few weekends of showers and bachelorette parties, so you now know where all of my discretionary income is being spent.  With love, of course.

Our first wedding weekend took us to La Jolla.  No complaints there!  We flew into San Diego and rented a car for the short drive north.

Staying Classy in San Diego

Anchor Man is one of my favorite movies.  The cast of characters is ridiculous and hilarious.  Ron Burgundy and his unapologetic skirt-chasing, hard-boozing ways.  Veronica Corningstone and her non-regional dialect.  Baxter, Ron’s bi-lingual terrier.  The cult classic has some interesting and shady personalities, similar to downtown San Diego, where I stayed last week during another work trip.

The Sofia Hotel is a darling boutique hotel.  The location is perfect: walking distance to Horton Plaza and the Gas Lamp district, and only a few minutes from the airport.  The hotel’s ground floor is home of The Currant Restaurant, an American Brasserie.  The decor is rich and sultry, with dim lighting, velvet upholstery, and ornately carved wooden furniture.  Overall, the interior has a sexy, French feel, swanky enough for Mr. Burgundy himself.  After a long day of sales calls it was an ideal, quiet place to relax and asses the successes and challenges of the day.  Mussels in white wine, tomato and shallot sauce with frites helped too!