Smart Meetings Magazine Launches TV Special "Smart Destinations: The Best of 2013" Featuring the Winners of the Smart Stars Awards

SAUSALITO, Calif., Dec. 2, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Smart Meetings magazine announced its first venture into television with a special one-hour presentation of "Smart Destinations: The Best of 2013." The show features the winners of the inaugural 2013 Smart Stars Awards celebrating the best premier meetings hotels, resorts, cruise lines, event venues, and convention and conference centers in North America across 25 categories.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130314/SF76048LOGO )

The program will air in more than 100 major media markets from through Jan. 6, 2014, on ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC and other independent affiliates across the U.S. Check local listings for scheduled broadcast times.

"We're thrilled to bring Smart Meetings to television. The excitement around our Smart Stars Awards and the hotels and destinations represented simply lent itself to bringing the allure and quality of the winners to the broadest spectrum of audiences possible," says Marin Bright, CEO and Founder of Bright Business Media, LLC, publisher of the meetings industry trade publication. "So many of these venues shine in more ways than are celebrated in their respective categories—they are also top choices for vacations, weddings and special events, in addition to being excellent for meetings."

The following winners announced earlier are featured in "Smart Destinations: The Best of 2013":

Best Airport Hotel – Hyatt Regency DFW
Best Attraction/Theme Park – Universal Orlando Resort
Best Ballroom – The Grand Del Mar
Best Beach Resort – Tradewinds Island Resort
Best City Hotel – The Fairmont Dallas and The Fairmont San Francisco
Best Coastal Hotel – The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay
Best Conference Center – Woodlands Resort & Conference Center
Best Convention Center – Oregon Convention Center
Best Convention Center Hotel – Hyatt Regency New Orleans
Best Cruise Line for Meetings – Royal Caribbean International
Best Desert Hotel and Resort – The Phoenician
Best Eco/Green Property – Hyatt at Olive 8
Best Executive Retreat – Parker Palm Springs
Best Family-Friendly Hotel/Resort – Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort
Best Gaming/Casino Hotel – Wynn Las Vegas and Encore Hotel
Best Golf Resort – The Broadmoor
Best Hotel Chef – Julian Serrano, Picasso, Bellagio Las Vegas
Best Hotel Pool – Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa
Best Hotel Spa – Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village
Best Island Hotel – Grand Hotel, Mackinaw Island
Best Mountain/Ski Resort – St. Regis Aspen Resort
Best Outdoor Event Space – The Ritz-Carlton Lodge, Reynolds Plantation
Best Pet-Friendly Hotel – Loews Coronado Bay
Best Special Event Venue – Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

For a complete list of Smart Stars Award winners, visit smartmeetings.com/smart-stars.

The special program was created and produced in conjunction with Telco Productions, Inc., a Santa Monica, Calif.,-based production and distribution company with more than two dozen television shows currently airing in national syndication.

Smart Meetings is published monthly by Bright Business Media, LLC, a multimedia company based in Sausalito, Calif. BBM also hosts www.smartmeetings.com, an interactive website, Smart Site Selector for RFP submissions, and Smart Events connecting meeting professionals with premier hotels and destinations. 415-339-9355.

Media contact: Josef Aukee, 415-339-9355

Video with caption: "Smart Meetings brings the winning hotels and resorts of the 2013 Smart Stars Awards to TV with "Smart Destinations: The Best of 2013." This preview shows a few of the hotels that can be seen on the hour-long special airing on local ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC and independent affiliates across the U.S. through Jan. 6, 2014. Find out where readers found their favorite beach resort, pet-friendly hotel, city hotel, mountain/ski resort and many more. Check local listings for specific broadcast times." Video available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruOK2X-ZS5k&feature=share&list=PLOsuW-A4GCPhySDa1q7MfeFyI92z3zPz2

SOURCE Smart Meetings