From Iseedavis.com

The Hallmark Inn, Davis California continues to ramp up its internet presence with the launch of a new mobile phone site and application, available for free downloading through iTunes. With the app, users can view specials, make reservations, get directions, or contact the hotel directly.  The new app complements Hallmark Inn’s existing website (www.hallmarkinn.com) as well as its presence on Facebook. The mobile application and fan page are the avenues in which loyal guests/fans will receive exclusive promotions and rates from the hotel.

Development is nearing completion to accommodate Android mobile operating systems with ease of booking options.

An official “Worldhotels Partner” the Hallmark Inn enjoys domestic/international internet traffic and is seeing an enthusiastic response to their efforts. Daniel Melchiorre a Worldhotels representative, says, “It’s an exciting time for hotels that see the importance of distribution across all platforms.  Hallmark Inn was quick to engage Worldhotels and our new technologies to reach their existing and new customers.”

“The objective is to make it as simple as a one click connection for our guests” says Marisa Schaffer, General Manager at Hallmark Inn. “We have the resources to provide information, planning and execution for corporate, leisure travel or special events, and we want to make it easy for our guests to work with us.

The Davis team is committed to creating opportunities that enhance guest experiences by showcasing the local fare through their Facebook fan page, wedding resource guide and website. General Manager, Marisa Schaffer, is working closely with local businesses to promote the services of Yolo County.

The Hallmark Inn hotel is a centrally located integrated part of a progressive community designed around environmental responsible behavior. Overnight accommodations include a nightly reception featuring local wine from the “Roots to Wine” Association, full breakfast with cooked to order omelets, BeeKind Amenities, Complimentary Bicycle Program and more. Chris of Turkovich Winery comments, “The wineries of Roots to Wine are excited to be partnering with the Hallmark Inn. We encourage all guests to come explore all the wineries located in and around Davis”. 

 

For additional information, contact Marisa Schaffer, 530-753-3600.

See why the walk score website rates our location as the "Walker's Paradise"

The Hallmark Inn, Davis team was honored at the CA Hotel & Lodging Association (CH&LA) Stars of Industry Annual Meeting in La Jolla, CA on December 1^st. General Manager, Marisa Schaffer accepted the recognition for outstanding Community Service for hotels of similar size in California for demonstrating to residents that the individual property is responsive to the local community.

Centrally located in the downtown Davis area, the Hallmark Inn acts as a liaison for promoting charitable events through social media, ticket sales and as a drop off point for various organizations such as American Red Cross, Davis Rotary Club, Soroptimist International of Davis and more. This past August team members from all departments took part in the 9-day city wide effort to reduce landfill space while reclaiming reusable items from the student discards through the Davis Public Works Apartment Move-Out Waste Reduction Program. The Hallmark Inn provides sponsorships throughout the year for service projects, local educational needs and various sport affiliations.

Hallmark Inn, Davis is continuing its efforts for the upcoming year with a program that will allow guests to voluntarily contribute $1 per night to the Yolo County Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA). Mila Spengler, Board President of Yolo CASA states, “Partnering with the Hallmark Inn and the Youmans family is a wonderful opportunity for us to bring services to all Yolo County children who are in need of a CASA.”  

Beginning December 18^th through January 14^th guests can make a $1 donation to receive a special $99 rate for each night of their stay. Accommodations include a nightly cocktail reception featuring local wine, breakfast buffet each morning with cooked to order omelets, BeeKind amenities and more. An additional dollar will be contributed by the partners of the Hallmark Inn, Davis for every room night occupied in the month of December.

The Hallmark Inn continues to impress the community and clients alike with their willingness to support varied causes through their dedication to the people of Davis.

For further information, contact Marisa Schaffer at 530-753-3600

The Hallmark Inn, Davis team is lighting the spirit of hope for children in the Yolo community where it is needed now more than ever. This locally owned hotel has selected the Yolo County Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) as the beneficiary of their community service efforts for the upcoming year. Beginning on December 1^st, guests will have the opportunity to participate in this voluntary program by allowing a $1 per night donation to be applied to their folio. 100% of the money raised goes directly from guests-through the hotel-to CASA.

The Yolo CASA founded in 1996, recruits and trains community volunteers to mentor children in the foster care system. The advocates are sworn in by a judge, allowing them to be a child’s voice in the dependency court system. The CASA volunteers advocate for the safety and well-being of children who have been removed from their homes due to parental abuse and neglect. According to Mila Spengler, Board President of Yolo CASA, “Our CASA advocates stand up for these children and change their lives. They become the one constant in the life of a child who through no fault of their own has not received the care and support that every child deserves.”

Since 1996, Yolo County CASA has had more than 400 community volunteer advocates and currently has a list of 24 children waiting for a CASA. “Partnering with Hallmark Inn and the Youmans family is a wonderful opportunity for us to bring services to all Yolo County children who are in need of a CASA.” National CASA has grown to a network of more than 68,000 volunteers that serve 240,000 abused and neglected children through 1,018 local programs.

Marisa Schaffer, General Manager of the Hallmark Inn, is active in Soroptimist International of Davis and Rotary Club of Davis Child Abuse Prevention Programs, “Children are brought into this world innocent of wrongdoing; circumstances change. One person, $1 dollar can make the difference in breaking the cycle of abuse or neglect.”

The Youmans Family, owners of the Hallmark Inn, Davis are taking it one step further. A pledge of $1 for every room night occupied during the month of December will be added to any contributions collected by guests.    

For further information, please contact Marisa Schaffer at 530-753-3600

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Ride the 2010 Amgen Tour of California Routes

Breakaway Ride by Specialized. Ride the Amgen Route starting in Davis on 4/25/10!

12-16-2009
BREAKAWAY RIDES PRESENTED BY SPECIALIZED
TO OFFER AMATEUR CYCLISTS OPPORTUNITY TO RIDE
2010 AMGEN TOUR OF CALIFORNIA ROUTES

Two Spring 2010 cycling events will also raise funds and awareness for
Amgen’s Breakaway from Cancer® initiative.


LOS ANGELES (December 16, 2009) – Cycling enthusiasts and fans are invited to participate in “Breakaway Ride presented by Specialized”, two riding events held in conjunction with the upcoming 2010 Amgen Tour of California professional cycling race set for May 16-23, 2010. Both rides will be held in April 2010 (one month prior to the 2010 Amgen Tour of California) and will serve to raise funds for Breakaway from Cancer®, the signature initiative of Amgen and the Amgen Tour of California, which aims to raise awareness of the array of resources available to cancer patients from prevention to education and patient care to advocacy and financial support survivorship. 
Each ‘Breakaway Ride’ will give cycling enthusiasts a chance to ride on the actual route of the 2010 Amgen Tour of California with three distances for each event to accommodate various skill and fitness levels. The longest distance covers an entire stage of the Amgen Tour of California, the same as will be ridden by the pros.  Participants will be chip timed and  supported, with a maximum of 3,500 riders per event.

The dates of the two Breakaway Rides are:
·    Sunday, April 11: Stage 8 route – Thousand Oaks/Westlake Village/Agoura Hills
·    Sunday, April 25: Stage 2 route – Davis to Santa Rosa

A portion of each rider’s entry fee will be donated to Breakaway from Cancer’s charitable partners – Prevent Cancer Foundation, Cancer Support Community, Patient Advocate Foundation and National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship.  Additionally, riders and their supporters will have the opportunity to earn gifts and prizes by raising additional funds for Breakaway from Cancer partners via Active.com’s ActiveGiving program. Some of the prize packages include VIP experiences at the 2010 Amgen Tour of California along with a top-of-line Specialized S-Works Tarmac or Roubaix bike presented as a grand prize to each Breakaway Ride’s top fundraiser.



“We are happy to provide amateur cyclists with an opportunity to ride the same route as the pros and to be able to compare their times to the greatest cyclists in the world,” said Andrew Messick, president of AEG Sports. “We are expecting that these rides will expose cyclists to the beauty and challenges that our professional athletes will face.”
As the title sponsor of the Amgen Tour of California for the fifth consecutive year, Amgen will continue to leverage the race to raise awareness and support for people affected by cancer through the Breakaway from Cancer initiative.
"The Breakaway Ride events will give cycling enthusiasts and community members an opportunity to experience the 2010 Amgen Tour route first hand and at the same time support the Breakaway from Cancer initiative, which raises awareness of a range of free services available to people affected by cancer," said Stuart Arbuckle, vice president and general manager, Amgen Oncology. "Amgen and its non-profit Breakaway from Cancer partners applaud AEG and Specialized for their outstanding support of these events."
“As the ‘Breakaway Ride’s’ presenting sponsor, Specialized is excited to participate in these events,” according to Ben Capron, Specialized Chief Brand Officer. “We feel lucky because we’re riders first, and participation in these two epic routes is actually part of our ‘work’. From a business perspective, we’re all about enabling riders to have better cycling experiences through the bikes, equipment, and services we create and, these rides extend the way we help people enjoy riding. Finally, being a part of increasing awareness and funding for the fight against cancer aligns with our ambitious philanthropic goals,” added Capron.
    AEG, owners of the Amgen Tour of California, is partnering with Pacific Sports, a leading sports and event management company who will produce the rides. Pacific Sports has produced running and triathlon events throughout the world for over 30 years and is excited to be a part of the inaugural “Breakaway Ride presented by Specialized”. Jack Caress, President and CEO of Pacific Sports, said, “We are thrilled to partner with Amgen and AEG on this new event. To see over 7,000 dedicated cyclists take on two great stages of the Amgen Tour of California will be a truly memorable day for cycling, not to mention for the cyclists themselves.”
Registration opens December 16 to Specialized customers, athletes, and friends around the world, with public registration to begin December 21 at Active.com. Details for each ride route will be announced on February 1, 2010, at the official 2010 Amgen Tour of California route announcement.
For more information, please visit www.breakawayride.com, www.amgentourofcalifornia.com, or visit your Specialized dealer.   



About the Amgen Tour of California
The largest cycling event in America, the 2010 Amgen Tour of California is a Tour de France-style cycling road race presented by AEG that challenges the world’s top professional cycling teams to compete along a demanding course from May 16-23.

About Breakaway from Cancer®
Founded in 2005, Breakaway from Cancer is a complementary component to the Amgen race sponsorship. Breakaway from Cancer strives to raise awareness of the important resources available to cancer patients from prevention to education, and patient care to advocacy and financial support. The initiative includes charitable partners Prevent Cancer Foundation, Patient Advocate Foundation, Cancer Support Community and the National Coalition for Cancer.  Learn more at www.breakawayfromcancer.com.

About Specialized
Specialized Bicycles was founded in 1974 by riders for riders. Headquartered in Morgan Hill, California, with global distribution, the company focuses on making everyone’s time on a bike better by delivering functional and technically advanced equipment that provide true performance benefits. Learn more at www.specialized.com.

About AEG
AEG is one of the leading sports and entertainment presenters in the world. AEG, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Anschutz Company, owns or controls a collection of
companies including facilities such as STAPLES Center, The Home Depot Center, Sprint Center, The O2, NOKIA Theatre L.A. LIVE and NOKIA Theatre Times Square; sports franchises including the Los Angeles Kings (NHL), two Major League Soccer franchises, two hockey franchises operated in Europe, management of privately held shares of the Los Angeles Lakers, the ING Bay to Breakers foot race, and the Amgen Tour of California cycling road race; AEG LIVE, the organization’s live-entertainment division, is a collection of companies dedicated to all aspects of live contemporary music performance, touring, and a variety of programming and multi-media production. For more information, visit AEG today at www.aegworldwide.com.

About Pacific Sports LLC
Pacific Sports LLC is a premier sports consultation firm, specializing in event production, management, and corporate sports marketing development. Having produced over 300 sport events in the United States, including the 1996 Triathlon World Championships and 12 U.S. Championships, Pacific Sports LLC is dedicated to the creation, development, and management of participant and endurance sports including those of running, swimming, and cycling. Pacific Sports was a founder of the LifeTime Fitness Series, comprising the major championships at the Olympic Distance in the United States. The firm produces events around the world including the Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Triathlon, Dow | Live Earth Run for Water, Catalina Marathon, Rose Bowl Half Marathon, and Cleveland Triathlon. Pacific Sports is a Delaware based Limited Liability Company with offices in Anaheim, California.

Once again, Davis is at the top.

 

Marisa Schaffer, general manager of the Hallmark Inn in downtown Davis, was honored by her peers in the industry as the best general manager this year for hotels of similar size in California.

 

She was honored Dec. 1 at the California Hotel & Lodging Association Stars of Industry annual meeting in San Francisco. The award recognizes superior professionalism in operating an association-affiliated hotel property and for taking a leadership role by actively participating in association, community and industry programs.

 

"I am incredibly honored to receive this award on behalf of the Youmans family (the Hallmark Inn owners) and team of the Hallmark Inn," Schaffer said.

 

Schaffer joined the Hallmark Inn, a 134-room hotel at 110 F St. in downtown Davis, in January 2004 after successfully opening the Embassy Suites in Old Town Sacramento as its director of food and beverage.

 

She spent nine years as director of operations for Sterling Hotel/Vizcaya Pavilion in Sacramento, and also served as director of food and beverage for Radisson Sacramento. Prior to that, she worked on opening several local hotels.

 

Schaffer started her career in hospitality at the Hyatt Regency, Long Beach, in 1983.

 

Hallmark Inn, an official "World Hotel Partner," recently completed a million-dollar renovation and continues to increase room revenue under Schaffer's direction. She focused on creating an affordable luxury hotel while maintaining eco-friendly efforts through product changes, reclamation of existing fixtures, and donations of unused or slightly used items to local and international organizations through her charity affiliations.

 

In addition, she is instrumental in the hotel's community affairs efforts as a member of Soroptimist International of Davis, the Rotary Club of Davis, the American Red Cross and other local associations. She reaches out regularly to UC Davis, with whom the Hallmark Inn has a thriving partnership.

 

"While I am quite proud of the acknowledgement Marisa has been given, I am not surprised," said Hallmark Inn owner Reed Youmans. "I know I speak for all of us when I say we are most proud to have her and to have her hard work and commitment acknowledged by the California Hotel and Lodging Association."

 

Schaffer was nominated by the hotels Front Office/IT Manager, Rigley Young, who said, "It was a distinguished honor to nominate Marisa, as she truly epitomizes the meaning of a great general manager through her nurturing, training and discipline style."

 

Frequent guests Martin and Sue McNabb of Poway, CA also offered their congratulations.

 

"We have been staying at the Hallmark Inn since 1999," the said. "With the arrival of Marisa, the hotel has been transformed into a top-notch establishment. Marisa's unique ability to anticipate guest needs, her innovative style and engaging personality makes each stay a rewarding experience.

 

"Our congratulations to you, Marisa, on this well deserved award."

The Hallmark Inn continues to wow the community and clients alike with their innovative marketing and enhanced amenities.

Press Release

Guests at The Hallmark Inn in Davis will be able to see the community the way it’s supposed to be seen – from the seat of a bicycle.

The full-service hotel at 110 F St. in downtown Davis has begun a complimentary bicycle program for its guests as part of a continuing effort to reduce our collective carbon footprint. Guests can explore the most bicycle-friendly city in the United States without taking anything extra from their pockets.

Guests who borrow the fully equipped bikes are encouraged to enjoy the meandering pathways of the UC Davis Arboretum; the sights, sounds and aromas of the award-winning Davis Farmers’ Market; and the 100-plus-miles of bike paths that wind through the community.  

Guests who want to hit the road may reserve the touring bicycles, which come with safety helmets and locks, for two- to four-hour periods. A basket mounted on the front handlebars not only holds the rider’s treasures but also provides a quick tutorial on operating a bike and “rules of the road” in a city where bicycles are king.

“At the Hallmark Inn, we want to continue our efforts of being environmentally conscious while adding to the enjoyment of our guests’ experience. Initial responses are overwhelmingly positive,” says Marisa Schaffer, general manager.

Hallmark Inn guests also may purchase special packages that allow reservation of a bicycle for an extended period plus admission tickets to the U.S. Bicycling Hall of Fame, which will celebrate its grand opening next spring.

“Once again, The Hallmark Inn proves to be cutting-edge in its environmentalism and commitment to the community by providing alternative transportation options that fit with Davis life,” Schaffer says.

“So the next time you have guests or business associates visiting Davis, why not suggest that they enjoy Davis and all it has to offer by staying at The Hallmark Inn and enjoying the complimentary bicycles?”

For further information, contact Marisa Schaffer at (530) 753-3600.

 

 

CAPTION: Lynn and Kayla Redner, along with Tatun Kula get ready to explore Davis by bicycle during their recent stay at The Hallmark Inn for a softball tournament. They were the first to take advantage of the Hallmark’s complimentary bicycle program.

 

 

Press Release

The Hallmark Inn has unveiled its new website: www.hallmarkinn.com.  The site, complete with ease of booking options, blogging opportunities, a press area and state of the art graphics, is certainly ramping up its internet presence.  An official “World Hotel Partner,” the Hallmark Inn enjoys international internet traffic and is seeing a marked response to the new site.

 The Hallmark Inn continues to wow the community and clients alike.  The property’s owners are diligent in their efforts to provide impeccable accommodations to the traveling public and their investments have paid off.  Occupancy is at an all time high at the Hallmark Inn which can, in part, be attributed to the renovations that have made this property a must when visiting Davis. 

 The renovation began over 2 years ago with the complete re-outfitting of the hotel to become more akin to luxury accommodations.  The rooms were outfitted with upgraded bedding, LCD TV’s, leather seating and more while keeping the focus on environmental friendliness and comfort for the guest.

 While most lodging establishments provide a continental breakfast with each stay, the Hallmark Inn effectively tipped the scales by presenting a virtual cornucopia of choices to entice breakfast lovers.  The breakfast buffet, featuring fresh fruit, old fashioned hot oatmeal, Belgium Waffles, Tazo Teas, Seattle’s Best coffee and finally the cook–to-order omelets  have wowed guests into undisputed loyalty.

 The new website, previewed on September 11^th, was unveiled at a gala event featuring the dedication of the 1000 foot mural “Birds Eye View Davis” by famed artist Stephanie Taylor, commemorating the 100 year anniversary of UCDavis.  The website features shots of the astounding art as well as descriptive photography of the aesthetic changes.

Press Release

The 1000 foot “Birds-Eye View Davis” mural is the most recent and stunning addition to Davis’s Downtown.  The 1000 foot mural by acclaimed artist, Stephanie Taylor, is featured in the Hallmark Inn Courtyard.

Since the completion of the mural, visitors have been clamoring to view the remarkable piece.  The Youmans Family, owners of the Hallmark Inn properties commissioned “Birds-Eye View Davis” in honor of the 100th Anniversary of the founding of University Farm UCDavis 1909-2009.

The Hallmark Inn Courtyard is open to the public on September 11, 2009 as part of the monthly Davis ArtAbout.  There will be an artist reception from 5:30-7:00pm and wine tastings from local wineries including Putah Creek Winery, Rominger West, Berryessa Gap and Twisted Rivers.  The event is designed to honor all of the elements of the community in appreciation for the exemplary environment that Davis and Yolo County residents provide, maintain and enjoy - the UC Davis Centennial being the icing on the cake!

For further information, please contact Marisa Schaffer at 530-753-3600

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