Mount Pleasant Winery invites everyone for their weekly “Friday Wine Down” event from 5 pm to 7 pm. This week they are featuring Mary Ann Daversa, most recently the Musical Director/Keyboardist for The Lennon Sisters Christmas Show. She will be playing the musical arrangements of well-known jazz pianists of the 20th and 21st Century.

Mount Pleasant Winery
3125 Green Mountain Drive
Branson, Missouri 65616
417-336-9463

SOUTHWEST AIRLINES EXPANDS SERVICE IN BRANSON
AirTran Airways, a wholly owned subsidiary of Southwest Airlines, will fly daily with non-stop service from Branson to Chicago and Houston with service beginning in 30 days.

BRANSON, MISSOURI (March 14, 2012) – AirTran Airways, which will be converted to Southwest Airlines over time, will begin daily nonstop service from Branson to Chicago and Houston starting April 16, 2012.

Chicago and Houston are major Southwest markets with connecting service to many great destinations. While the airlines’ networks are not connected at this point, both carriers are working together to publish the best flight schedule to places customers want to go. When the networks are connected, people traveling to and from these areas will have access to many more cities.

“These new daily flights to Chicago and Houston are very exciting because Chicago and Houston are large visitation markets for Branson” stated Executive Director, Jeff Bourk. “The great low fares that AirTran is offering on the Chicago and Houston routes, make getting to these cities easier and more affordable than ever.”
On January 20th, Southwest Airlines committed to serve Branson, Missouri. Southwest Airlines made the decision to serve Branson, Missouri and to convert AirTran Airways at Branson Airport to Southwest Airlines operations over time.
“We are committed to continuing to serve these communities—at first via AirTran, and eventually as Southwest. We know there are Southwest Customers who want access to these cities, but have never before had the opportunity, and the markets have long desired Southwest service,” said Southwest Airlines Executive Vice President & Chief Commercial Officer and AirTran Airways President Bob Jordan. “We are excited about the cities we have chosen to keep in our combined network.”

Branson Airport now has 9 non-stop destinations and one stop connecting service to most major cities in the United States. For a complete list of destinations available at the Branson Airport, visit www.FlyBranson.com.

About Branson Airport: Opening its doors May of 2009, Branson Airport LLC is the first privately developed and operated commercial service airport in the United States. Branson Airport is currently serviced by Southwest Airlines/AirTran Airways and Frontier Airlines. Located in the heart of the Ozarks and centrally located in the Midwest, the airport also boasts a state of the art FBO, Branson JetCenter and a full service travel agency, FlyBranson Travel. The Airport offers low cost service to over 100 destinations. For more information visit www.FlyBranson.com or call toll free 1-888-FLY-BKG1 (1-888-359-2541).

Branson Lakes Area Lodging Association has hired Ramona Mormann, CMP, as Executive Director.

Mormann comes to BLALA with 5 years experience as executive director of MO Hotel & Lodging Association, a position she will retain. Prior to that, she has held various sales positions in hotels around Missouri.

Mormann specializes in membership development and growing associations. Her work focuses on recruiting hotel members and associate members to support the organization. Her duties include all administrative responsibilities.

“Ramona’s sales and association experience, knowledge of the state tourism industry and her enthusiasm for tourism, will serve her well at Branson Lakes Area Lodging Association,” said Lee Thomas, President of BLALA.

In addition, Mormann sits on the board of MO Travel Council, State Council for the CenStates Chapter of Tour and Travel Research Association and is a member of Missouri Society of Association Executives.

Editors Note: The Branson Lakes Area Lodging Association exists to serve and unite representatives of the lodging industry for the promotion and protection of their common interests. BLALA’s mission is to establish member properties as the preferred lodging properties of choice in the Branson / Lakes Area through communication, education, legislative action and the highest standards of professionalism; and to foster effective working relationships between lodging and associate members.

Pepper Bellies Mexican Restaurant i sback.  Remember that great Mexican food we used to get down at 305 Main St. in Branson before the Landing was built? Well, we’re back and under the same ownership as before.

Our new location is is 5378 State Hwy. 265 (formally, Zoey’s Mediterranean Restaurant).
Open 6 days a week (closed Mondays). 10% discount to Stone & Taney county residents. Phone: 338-1058.

Join your fellow [Branson] Chamber Members to “Meet the Board” at Business After Hours hosted by the Titanic Thursday, December 17th from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm. Enjoy good food, drink & prizes provided by the BLACC & CVB Board of Directors. This will also be one of your last chances to see the Titanic Movie Exhibit before it goes back into storage!

Please RSVP by 12/15/09 to rsvp@bransoncvb.com or call 417-334-4084, ext. 399. This event is free with donations being taken for Church Army – Branson & Christian Associates.

BRANSON TEA PARTY – BRANSON, MISSOURI
SATURDAY NOVEMBER 21, 2009

Citizens of Branson, Missouri, popularly known as the Live Entertainment Capital of America, are singing out to the American People – “Come, make a stand!”

For over two centuries, America has held out the incredible promise of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness to all her citizens. America shines as the land of opportunity and individual freedom, but our freedoms are being cleverly stolen – eroded by an elected Government that has lost its way. We say it’s time for the REAL America to stand up, stand tall, and stand firm.

Want to make your voice heard? On Saturday, November 21, 2009, The Branson Tea Party Coalition will host a peaceful Constitutional Rally that will ring out “America First!”  Join us at 11 a.m. for a one-hour roadside demonstration which will be held on the Highway 76 Strip in the area stretching from The Apple Tree Mall all the way to Fall Creek Road. You are encouraged to bring your signs with messages of your concerns regarding the outrageous and questionable actions of our elected leaders. (Note: keep the messages civil, sincere, and appropriate for public viewing.) The roadside demonstration will be followed by a Speakers’ Forum/Tea Party Rally from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Join us for this inspiring event at AREA 57 next to the Dick Clark American Bandstand Theatre, located at 1600 W. Hwy 76. Branson, MO.

We are echoing the fervent calls for liberty made by Paul Revere, John Adams and Patrick Henry over 230 years ago. It is time for all Americans to remind not only our government officials, but our citizens as well, that we must work together to restore America to its original constitutional foundation.

We must put aside our differences and join forces as our country is now in the crosshairs of a full-out assault on our constitutionally-guaranteed freedoms as citizens of the greatest country on earth!

So let your voices be heard at The Branson Tea Party on Saturday, November 21, 2009. This is a non-partisan event; please join us and make a stand if you believe in America the Free! Sing out: America First!
For more information about this important event, contact Eric Farris – 417-334-7278 or by email: eric@farrislawgroup.com

Tuesday, June 30, 2009 at 5:30 – 7:30 pm

Hosted by

Dazzee Integrations
118 State St.  & Hwy 165
Hollister, MO

Join the Hollister Area Chamber of Commerce and your fellow chamber members for an evening of fun, food, drinks, and music.

Networking and Social Event.

Cost is $5 per person
RSVP to
P: 417.334.3050
F: 417.334.5501
info@hollisterchamber.net

The Myer family is thrilled that their 102-room Comfort Inn & Suites on Gretna Road was recently named Inn of the Year by the Choice Hotels International, Inc., franchisor of the Comfort Inn brand. It’s the “best of the best” among the 1,995 member properties, said Bruce Haase, executive vice president of global brand operations. The hotel was judged on guest satisfaction, quality and unannounced on-site inspections. It has been a past finalist for “Comfort Inn of the Year” five times.

Also this year, the Comfort Inn at Thousand Hills, also owned by Myer Hotels, was in the top five finalists for “Comfort Inn of the Year.” “To have two properties in the same town in the top five is incredible,” said Vice President of Marketing Chris Myer. General Manager Steve Graber celebrated the award with owners Carroll and Janice Myer, Chris and Sonja Myer, and Gail Myer. Myer Hotels owns five hotels in Branson. Visit www.myerhotels.com.

Source: BLACC CVB

The team at Luigi’s Pizza Kitchen announces a grand opening event on Monday, April 20 at the new Luigi’s restaurant, located at 3452 W. 76 Country Boulevard in Branson, next to the Dutton Family Theatre, across from White Water and Mickey Gilley’s.  Community members are encouraged to come see the new location and enjoy a complimentary slice of pizza from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Luigi’s on the 76 Strip will be giving away free slices of pizza Monday afternoon (one per person) with no purchase necessary. Additionally, from 3 p.m. until closing time, Luigi’s is offering large specialty (classic or gourmet) pizzas for 50 percent off.  These specials cannot be combined with other offers, discounts or coupons and are available at the 76 Strip location for dine-in or carryout orders only.

It might seem strange that a local, independent restaurant owner would give food away and cut his prices in half during what many consider to be harsh economic times.  Chris Jordan, owner of Luigi’s Pizza Kitchen in Branson and Nixa, has a philosophy of his own.

“Above all else, we are enthusiastic, positive and grateful. We’re excited about our new location because it’s going to open so many more doors for us, and we know that we wouldn’t have been able to do this without the support of the community at large. The locals keep us in business and give us the opportunity to grow and expand.  This is our way of celebrating a new beginning, saying thanks to the community that has supported us for more than 10 years, and introducing ourselves to people who may not know about us yet,” Jordan said.

Gift of Hope, Inc. has recently acquired My Neighbor’s Pantry, a local food pantry serving over 1,800 people monthly in Northeast Taney County. The Pantry has been in operation for the past six years, however the building used for its operations has recently been leased to another entity leaving the Pantry in a position to shut its doors.

In recent months Gift of Hope’s Board of Directors has been considering expanding its programs to include a food pantry. When they became aware of the situation My Neighbor's Pantry was facing, the Board recognized an immediate means of expansion through a mutually beneficial acquisition. Gift of Hope founder, Anthony Collier, states, “We saw an opportunity for Gift of Hope to expand its outreach to families in need and are excited about this acquisition and the ways in which we can continue to grow this program in the future.”

Gift of Hope, Inc. has been serving the needs of children and families in Taney county for over 20 years. Currently Gift of Hope sponsors programs to provide children with school supplies, food and clothing. In addition, Gift of Hope provides assistance to qualified families in need of help with rent, utilities, food, and Christmas gifts, particularly during the winter months when the need can be the greatest in Taney County.

My Neighbor’s Pantry will reopen its doors as a new program of Gift of Hope, Inc. at its new location at 10275 East State Highway 76 in Forsyth on Tuesday, March 17, 2009 under the direction of Robin Collier. The Pantry’s hours of operation will be 12:00-3:00 p.m. Tuesday through Friday.

For more information about Gift of Hope’s My Neighbor’s Pantry or how you can help contact Robin Collier at (417) 546-8098 or visit www.giftofhopeinc.org.