Maybe it was the Hotel Bel-Air’s spectacular transformation of its ballroom into Bangkok or maybe it was the 250 guests that came from every corner of the world; perhaps it was the warm California air or maybe it was a combination of everything. With whatever magic was stirring in the air last Thursday night, GT hosted another successful awards ceremony and cocktail party. In my opinion, it was one of our best! Using a location theme, the Hotel Bel-Air transformed its ballroom into Bangkok. The walls were draped with beautiful sheer fabrics and every nook of the ballroom had cushioned seats and plush pillows, emanating a bohemian-chic feel. Trays of hors d’oeuvres and several food stations allowed guests to sample everything from homemade phad thai to mini burgers. And, of course, it wouldn’t be a GT party without a fully stocked bar. The night’s signature drink was a delicious fruity concoction. Many guests made comments on the food, but the best reaction came from GT‘er Kim Krol. En route to the bathroom, she made the most skillful U-turn I have ever seen to detour to the mini pesto pizzas! They were certainly worth it. The guest list was a conglomeration of GT’s valued clients, friends, subscribers and supporters. I always enjoy talking to subscribers and hearing about their global travels. We were all affected by the news of the US Airways emergency plane landing on the Hudson River. And, of course, we were all relieved that an enormous tragedy was so gracefully avoided. Fran opened the ceremony by addressing the event and taking a moment to acknowledge the pilot’s heroism. Shortly after Fran’s speech, Patrick Warburton, our guest speaker for Pencils for Kids, called for a moment of silence for the flock of geese that were killed during the accident. Kim recently met with the food and catering manager at the Renaissance Times Square to start planning for GT’s fifth anniversary celebration in March. Alex Young and I attended the meeting for support. I’m eager to see what tricks Kim has up her sleeve this time! -Courtney Centeno, account executive