Group Travel Scoop - Groople.com

Group Scoop Spotlight: Los Angeles

"I love LA!", "California Dreamin", and more recent hits like "City of Angels" show that Los Angeles, CA is the stuff of music legend. I don’t care to do the study, but I’d think Los Angeles has more pop music songs about it than any other city save maybe New York. Like many legends, fact does not always mirror fiction when it comes to Los Angeles. In other ways, the reality is more surreal and fascinating than the many songs and movies about the city. A tale of two cities: it was the fakest of times, it was the realest of times.

We here at the group scoop in the interest of full disclosure must say that we have a special affection for the city of Los Angeles. From the pleasant feeling that comes from a lively palm tree to the sharp glitzy corners of sunset blvd, the city is an interesting place to witness.

In many places, Los Angeles puts on a facade of greatness, trying to scheme its way to majesty rather than simply being great. However, it is also this very scheme, by a confluence of facade, which serves to create a majestic landscape of another kind. There is something special about the city's endless fakery trying to fool you that it is special (a convoluted point, but true nonetheless).

In other spots, the city, in a manner similar to Chicago, Boston, or New York displays singular big city greatness. The hallmark of Los Angeles will always be its Hollywood roots, which permeate and resonate through all parts of the city. The specter of the entertainment culture can be found in nearly all of LA’s landmarks.

For our purposes, Los Angeles, I can say with authority, is a great place for group travel for the reasons listed above and for the attractions listed below. Anytime is a good time to visit the group scoop attraction recommendations:

Group Travel for Entertainment Culture of Los Angeles:

Paramount Studios- the best of the many movie studio tours

Grauman’s Chinese Theater- nothing is more fun than seeing just how small the hands and feet of Hollywood’s most famous people are

Hollywood Blvd- you’ve heard of the sidewalk with "stars" of the famous, go see it for yourself

Group Travel for the Culture of Los Angeles:

Venice Beach- from outrageous street performers to freaky roller skaters, this is world class people watching

Rodeo Drive- shopettes where you have to ring the door bell to get in

Sunset Blvd- windy road that follows some of the ritziest homes in America then blasts through a hot nightlife scene

Group Travel for Los Angeles Americana:

Griffith Park- unleash your inner rebel, no cause necessary

Santa Monica Pier- featured in many films, a pleasant year round pier carnival

Crystal Cathedral- come see the most famous church in America, Christianity meets show biz

Opinion Polls & Market Research

My Kinda Town

"Perhaps the most typically American place in America"

     -James Bryce (British Author)

"I give you Chicago. It is not London and Harvard. It is not Paris and buttermilk. It is American in every chitling and sparerib. It is alive from snout to tail"

     -H.L. Mencken (American Intellectual)

The editors here at the Group Scoop include those quotes as an apt introduction to our topic du jour, the city of Chicago. No other city is a bigger, better, example of the essence of the "great American" city. Chicago goes big or goes home. Famous for fun fast food, its own style of pizza, and daytime baseball, Chicago truly is American through and through.

Chicago in one form or another has been around as long as American itself. The original Town of Chicago was founded in 1833, by only 350 citizens. Which, of course, is trivial nonsense until you need an interesting factoid at your next dinner party..."Did you know Chicago started in 1833 with only 350 people?"

Now Chicago has bloomed into a city of 10 million residents in the "Chicagoland" area. All of whom help contribute to what is a world class and diverse metropolitan area. There is something for everyone, an outlet for every taste. Including (lucky for us) many outlets for group activity. Chicago has countless venues that not only cater to group travel, they count on it. Here's your "scoop" on group activities in Chicago:

Some Free Chicago Group Travel Activity Ideas:

Magnificent Mile- the heart of the city's culture. A concentration of fabulous hotels, shops, pubs, and restaurants

The Loop- the central business district of Chicago, America's 2nd busiest. Strong competitor to the Magnificent Mile for your attention

Hyde Park- home to many grand (University of Chicago) and off the beaten path (The Renaissance Society) institutions

Inexpensive Ideas for Chicago Group Travel Activities:

Sears Tower Sky Deck- View the city from the 103rd floor. If it's good enough for Ferris Bueller, shouldn't it be good enough for you?

Navy Pier- Ferris wheel, cotton candy, and rides galore. Sold!

Hemingway Museum- definitely a cerebral stop. This is Hemingway's birthplace with exhibits and the author's life history

"Oh it's worth it!" Ideas for Chicago Group Travel Activities:

Cubs Baseball Game- Wrigley Field is one of the top three most historic locations in the world to see a baseball game (Yankee Stadium and Fenway Park are the others)

Chicago Theater- A treasure preserved from the 1920s. Original murals above the stage and on the ceiling, an American classic

Chicago Symphony- one of America's best concerts, see Pierre Boulez in action

So, when can I see you in Chicago?

Groups Over Broadway

"There’s no business like show business!" There’s no Broadway like New York’s Broadway…

The group scoop is sending you off to the show! "Broadway" is one loaded word that contains multiple meanings, concepts, and memories. It’s no secret that Broadway Blvd, in New York City is the premier venue for the theatre in the United States. There are around forty or so theatres that comprise the official pantheon of "Broadway Theatres". Dozens and dozens of theatres comprise the so-called "off-Broadway" venues. Choices everywhere!

Broadway, first and foremost, is a street that runs the entire length of Manhattan. The stretch we’re interested in is the theatre district which has its epicenter in Times Square. Around 12 million people come through each year to take in a Broadway show. It’s big business and a culture all its own.

I’d like my beloved Groople groups to catch some of the hottest shows this season: Mary Poppins, Grease, Hairspray, Wicked. I have some tips to that end.

Group discounts for Broadway shows are a way of life. There are group discounts available for all shows especially shows that are less popular or an "off-Broadway" production. For the more popular shows, group discounts can only be obtained far in advance of the show. The amount of folks in your group necessary to be eligible for a group discount varies from theatre to theatre. In general, a good rule of thumb is between 10 and 20 persons.

95% of all tickets sold for Broadway shows are sold through the ticket services Telecharge and Ticketmaster. While these companies charge an $8 booking fee per ticket, they do make it all very easy. Both of these outlets have group discount policies that can net you a $20 savings per ticket with groups of 20 or more. The little known discount time to buy your ticket is the Wednesday matinee when tickets are the cheapest they will be all week… One more thing! With groups of 40+ call the theatre directly and you’ll likely be able to negotiate a greater discount and be sure to ask for a free ticket or two as well!

I thought a few ideas on why you’d want to take a group to a Broadway show are in order. Most of the venues are fairly intimate and you’ll be face to face with the world’s top acting talent. Being so close to that talent may be the reason you want to have your corporate incentives group trip in New York. Witnessing an Americana spectacle may be the reason you choose to locate your corporate meeting in New York over another city. What could be a greater team building excercise than some culture on Broadway? Taking a large group to a popular show also presents a great way to raise funds for charitable giving. There are hundreds of groups who go to Broadway for a show and hundreds of reasons why they want to go. Groups are going to Broadway…

Why aren’t you?

Only Here! Wedding Planning Advise

Just call me the wedding planner. "Wedding planning" sort of like "having a baby" is a subject that for those involved, they can just not get enough input on. The internet is teaming with "expert" advice on such topics. The advice can be so voluminous you can find advise down to the very selection and placement of silverware set upon the advised linen type/color sitting upon the suggested table shape with corresponding height…

Point is, lots of advise on planning a wedding out there! What there is not so much advice on, are basic tips in regards to the group of people that will be traveling to your wedding from out of state- your long distance wedding "groople" (GROup+peOPLE). In this domain, I have some nifty tips for you.

First, we want to get the maximum number of people you want to come, to come. Some of these people will be long distance travelers and are less likely to make the journey. We want to see these people! Our solution is simple, maximize their reasons for coming. Make coming to your wedding not just going to a very special one hour affair, make it a 2-3 day wedding event (wedding +).

There are lots of ways to do this. It can start in small ways like the word choice you use for your correspondence with your guests- make it all sound BIG. The most effective way is to plan a 2-3 day weekend for those traveling a long distance (and those close by). Two days before the wedding, plan a group bonding trip to the art museum, or a ball game. The night before the wedding, make sure everybody knows the importance of the rehearsal dinner and how they’re a VIP at it. By the time the wedding comes along it is no longer just the main event, but a grand finale to a terrific weekend experience.

You’ll also want to encourage everybody who can, to stay together at the same hotel. It builds a certain camaraderie that cannot be substituted for. This leads us straight to my most important piece of advise-

Streamline any and all details you can!

Through delegation and simplification get rid of the detail minutia! One detail neither a friend nor a wedding planner likely has expertise in, is group hotel planning. Use Groople. Groople is free and will take care of all things related to the travel of your long distance guests.

Lastly, make sure you get an accurate RSVP list. Really press people on whether they are planning to attend. Far too often people RSVP an d do not show up. Do not spend money on entertaining the air. You will be charged the same amount of money from all the vendors involved if the people show up or not! The people in the wedding industry have never even heard of the word "refund". Right before your event, do a second confirmation of your guests, a double RSVP!

And then live happily ever after.