Bureau attracting tactic nets visitors The Costa...

Bureau attracting

tactic nets visitors

The Costa Mesa Conference and Visitor Bureau attracted crowds of

tourists to the city this spring and summer with certificates for

dining at local restaurants, special hotel rates and

travel-reimbursement offers.

From April to mid-September, the “Drive or Fly and Dine on Us”

program resulted in 2,270 room bookings, which earned hotels more

than $234,000, the bureau said. Guests were offered special hotel

rates starting at $99, and they also could be reimbursed $30 for

travel expenses and receive a $30 dining certificate for local

restaurants. The bureau said 1,603 restaurant certificates were

redeemed. The visitors came from around California, with 32% from Los

Angeles County, but they also traveled from Nevada and Arizona.

Barnes & Noble holding book drive

Barnes & Noble Booksellers at Triangle Square is holding a holiday

book drive to help needy children from now until Dec. 22. To

participate in the drive, customers purchase a book for a preschool

through 12th-grade child. The books will be distributed by the local

nonprofit agency Share Our Selves.

Locally based attorney joins L.A. law firm

Costa Mesa resident Mark M. Gnesin recently joined Los Angeles law

firm Skousen & Skousen. Gnesin has a bachelor’s degree from Rutgers

University in New Jersey and a doctorate from Southwestern University

School of Law in Los Angeles.

He has worked in civil litigation for more than 23 years and has

represented insurance companies, including All-State and Atlantic

Mutual, and he represented Sav-On Drugs for 10 years.

Irvine Co. executive earns realty award

The Orange County Building Owner and Managers Assn. has named

Danielle Sim of the Irvine Co. the 2004 real estate executive of the

year. Sim is senior vice president of operations for the Irvine Co.

office properties. Sim manages operations for the company’s high-rise

offices, multi-building office campuses, and research and development

and industrial buildings.