Plymouth business notes

EVENTS

Plymouth Chamber of Commerce events

Plymouth Chamber of Commerce events are listed at www.plymouthchamber.com. Call 508-830-1620 for more information.

Events are at the Chamber office at 134 Court St., Plymouth, unless otherwise noted.

March 16: Networking seminar, 8 to 9:30 a.m. Seminar is free to attend, but registration required. Networking tips and tactics will include: How to work a room; How to stand out in a crowd; How to manage the exchange of business cards; How to select someone to talk with; How to get a prospect to open up; How to disengage; How to follow up and take effective next steps.

March 16: Introduction to Excel, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., Cost: $30 members, $35 for nonmembers. Training topics include: Creating formulas including AutoSum; Max, Min Average functions; Applying relative and absolute referencing to formulas; Creating basic charts/graphs; Worksheet formatting and file saving.

March 17: 2016 Business Expo-Hotel 1620, 12:30-5:30 p.m.

March 23: Intermediate Excel Training

March 24: Microsoft Publisher Class 3, 9 a.m. to noon. In this course, attendees will learn how to customize publisher with business information/graphics and prepare publications for printing on personal printer or at a professional printing office. Cost: members $40; nonmembers $50.

March 24: PACC Women Mean Business Lunch and Learn, 11:30 a.m. to 2 pm., Mirbeau Inn & Spa at the Pinehills, 35 Landmark Drive, Plymouth. Guest Speaker: Stacey Shipman, founder, Brave Communicator.

March 30: The Essentials of Effective Public Speaking Seminar Series

March 30: Advanced Excel Training

March 31: Quincy College Business After Hours

April 5: My Generation Energy presents Solar Options, an informational session, 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. This seminar will explain the technical and financial details of going solar for homes or businesses. Free.

April 12: Workforce Training Fund information session, 9 a.m. Free.

April 21: Rock Your Business With Small Business Administration. Seminar is free but registration is required. 10 a.m. to noon.

Advanced Social Media Certificate course

The Plymouth Area Chamber of Commerce will offer a seven-part session for an Advanced Social media Certificate from 1 to 4 p.m. beginning March 29 at 134 Court St., Plymouth.

Classes are held on Tuesdays, April 5, 12, 26, and May 3, 10 and 17. This advanced certificate provides practical tools and strategies required to navigate social networks, leverage social tools and capitalize on their word-of-mouth lift.

This course is geared toward small business owners and online marketing practitioners. Prerequisite is the successful completion of Social Media Series: An Introductory Certificate or proof of an established online social media presence. Cost is $234 for all seven sessions. To register: capecod.edu/web/ccpe/registration; 508-375-5010.

First Saturday

First Saturday takes place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. the first Saturday of the month in downtown Plymouth. Businesses on Court and Main streets and Main Street Extension stay open a little later and offer special deals. You can shop, dine, visit museums, listen to live music and grab a deal. Look for the First Saturday flag displayed outside all participating merchants. Visit www.firstsaturdayplymouth.com or the Facebook page for a list of all participating businesses.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

South Shore Women’s Business Network to hold Give-Back Breakfast

Residents are invited to the South Shore Women’s Business Network’s Give-Back Breakfast Buffet from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. March 24 at Linden Ponds Retirement Community, 203 Linden Ponds Way, Hingham.

At this event, the network will present a check earmarked to provide help for homeless women to Father Bill's & Mainspring. The check comes from the network’s first quarter's fundraising efforts. There will also be networking opportunities at this event to help build professional relationships. Guest Susan Peters will share her story and with help from a surprise guest. Attendees are asked to help support this women's issue by bringing donations of sample size toiletries, new socks, twin blankets and sheets. They are also encouraged to support Father Bill's by participating in one of the raffles during the event. Raffle prizes welcomed.

To RSVP, go to sswbn.org/events. Tickets are $20 for members and $25 for guests.

For more information, email SSWBN at info@sswbn.org or call 781-924-5160.

SeniorAdvisor honors Emeritus at Plymouth Beach on Best of 2016 list

Emeritus at Plymouth Beach was recently named the Best of Senior Living on the Best of 2016 Awards released by SeniorAdvisor.com.

The awards are based on the ratings of residents and their families. To identify who should receive this award, SeniorAdvisor.com narrows the list of over 100,000 senior care providers included on the website to those that have earned at least a 4.5-star rating out of 5 from reviewers. One percent of the nation’s senior living facilities are honored by the award.

For more information: senioradvisor.com/plymouth-ma/assisted-living.

Linchris Hotel Corporation announces acquisition of Radisson Hotel Plymouth Harbor

Linchris Hotel Corporation, a hotel management company located in Hanover, announced the acquisition of the Radisson Hotel Plymouth Harbor in Plymouth for an undisclosed amount. 

Renamed Hotel 1620 Plymouth Harbor, after the year the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock aboard the Mayflower, the 175-room full-service hotel will remain open year round. Linchris took over operation of the hotel and is overseeing a $5.7 million renovation.

“We are excited to breathe new life into this property which has great potential,” said Christopher Gistis, CEO of Linchris Hotel Corporation and longtime local resident. “The hotel’s ideal location provides the perfect vantage point from which to explore Plymouth’s picturesque harbor, rich history, cultural attractions, incredible shopping and bustling downtown.”

Significant improvements are planned under the new ownership that include transforming the hotel’s interior and exterior design. Upon completion, Hotel 1620 will re-emerge as an anchor of the harbor.

Hotel 1620 offers a desirable location, comfortable accommodations, restaurant and bar, an indoor pool, business and fitness centers, complimentary Wi-Fi and ample parking. Featuring 15,000 square feet of banquet and meeting space for groups, corporate events and weddings up to 350 people, the hotel’s function facilities are the largest in the area.

Brian Anderson has been named general manager of the hotel. C-III Capital Partners served as the brokers for the sale. Financing was provided by Washington Trust.

Founded in 1985, Linchris Hotel Corporation currently owns and manages 36 hotels and has a significant regional presence. Among its 10 properties in Massachusetts are the Hilton Garden Inn in Plymouth, Holiday Inn in nearby Rockland, and three hotels on Cape Cod.

For more information about Hotel 1620 at Plymouth Harbor and to make a reservation, visit hotel1620.com or call 508-747-4900. Hotel 1620 is located at 180 Water St., Plymouth.

Plymouth hotel receives AAA highest ratings

The Mirbeau Inn & Spa at the Pinehills, 35 Landmark Drive, Plymouth, received AAA’s highest recognition for quality and service, the Four Diamond Award.

Four Diamond hotels account for just 5.7 percent of the 28,000 properties rated by AAA. Forty-nine hotels in Massachusetts are among establishments throughout North America to receive AAA’s highest recognition for quality and service, the 2016 AAA Five or Four Diamond Award, AAA Northeast has announced.

AAA’s professionally-trained inspectors throughout North America continue an 80-year tradition of conducting unannounced hotel evaluations, rating those properties on a one to five scale.

This year, AAA has rated 28,000 hotels in North America. Of that 28,000, just 118 of the hotels receive AAA’s highest designation, Five Diamonds. The list includes three properties in Boston: The Four Seasons, which has been recognized as Five Diamond every year since 1988; Mandarin Oriental, first honored in 2009; and the Ritz-Carlton, Boston Common, first honored in 2010.

AAA Northeast will present the Diamond Awards at a luncheon in February at the Mandarin Oriental. AAA’s rating system covers the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. Travelers can find Diamond rated establishments in AAA trip planning products: the AAA Mobile app for tablets and smartphones, searchable Travel Guides on AAA.com and AAA TourBook guides available to members at AAA offices.

New business council formed

The South Shore Chamber of Commerce announced Jan. 7, 2016, the formation of the Old Colony Business Council, comprised of 12 towns within the southwesterly region of the South Shore. The new Business Council will provide increased representation to South Shore Chamber members in the following communities:  Plymouth, Carver, Kingston, Duxbury, Pembroke, Halifax, Plympton, Holbrook, Whitman, Hanson, Avon and Abington.

The South Shore Chamber and leaders of the newly formed Old Colony Business Council will work closely with the business leaders within the 12 member towns to build relationships, connect business, political, town government and other leaders in a continuing effort to positively impact the communities served. The Old Colony Business Council will meet once a quarter. Meetings will be open to the public and will often spotlight a local town official, politician or business leader in an educational setting, at a member business, hosted by a member. See www.southshorechamber.org for details.

Boston Magazine names architect for new design home project in Plymouth

Polhemus Savery DaSilva Architects Builders recently announced it has been selected as the architect, builder and interior designer for Boston Magazine’s 12th annual Design Home project, hosted at The Pinehills in Plymouth.

This residence will be the first in the new Dawn’s Light neighborhood of luxury custom homes, and sits at one of the highest points on the Massachusetts coast, providing views of the expanse of Cape Cod Bay all the way to Provincetown. In harmony with its hilltop site in Dawn’s Light, DaSilva is creating a design home.

In early September, Design Home 2016 will officially open its doors to the public for four weeks of house tours, with all proceeds benefiting Boston Children’s Hospital, the project’s nonprofit partner for the fourth consecutive year. Tour guests will experience the customized residence filled with products from numerous collaborating partners, down to the clothes in the closet, the grill on the patio, the food in the fridge, and the accessories in the office.

Visit the program website to stay apprised of the progress and to find out how to get involved: bostonmagazine.com/designhome.

Bank of Cape Cod promotion

Christopher Merrill, of Plymouth, is now assistant vice president credit officer at the Bank of Cape Cod. Working with Patricia Coffey of Yarmouth, who has been promoted to senior vice president chief credit officer, Merrill has been responsible for the underwriting of more than $45 million of commercial loans in 2015 as well as the financial and operational review of the entities that comprise the bank’s $230 million loan portfolio.

G.T. Reilly promotions

G.T. Reilly & Company, a full-service accounting firm based in Milton, has announced the promotions of professionals on its staff, including Kevin Campbell, of Plymouth, who was promoted to in-charge accountant and auditor. Campbell joined the firm in 2014. He is a 2012 graduate of the UMass Amherst, with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and a Master of Science degree in accounting. Zachary Payne, of Duxbury, was also promoted to in-charge accountant and auditor. Payne joined the firm in 2015. He is a 2014 graduate of Eastern Nazarene College, with a Bachelor of Science degree in business, concentration: accounting.

ONGOING ITEMS

Plymouth Area Chamber of Commerce

The Plymouth Area Chamber of Commerce is located at 134 Court St., Plymouth, and serves more than 750 businesses in the towns of Plymouth, Carver, Duxbury, Halifax, Hanson, Kingston, Marshfield, Pembroke and Plympton. Visit www.plymouthchamber.com or call 508-830-1620 for details of upcoming meetings and events. Office hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Business Network International

BNI provides a positive, supportive and structured environment to exchange quality business referrals. BNI is the largest business networking organization in the world. It offers members the opportunity to share ideas, contacts and most importantly, business referral. Visit a BNI chapter listed below to learn more. Call the regional office at 21 Park St., Attleboro, for more information, 508-431-0212.

Plymouth Chapter of Business Network International meets from 7:30 to 9 a.m. Tuesdays at the Loring Center, 386 Court St., Plymouth.

Pinehills Partners chapter of BNI meets from 7:15 to 8:45 a.m. Tuesdays at Plymouth Country Club, 221 Warren Ave., Plymouth

Business Generators chapter of BNI meets from 7:30 to 9 a.m. Tuesdays at Plymouth Chamber of Commerce, 134 Court St., Plymouth.

East Coast Connectors chapter of BNI meets 7:30 to 9 a.m. Wednesdays at Hampton Inn, 10 Plaza Way, Plymouth.

Send your business news and photos to ocm@wickedlocal.com or mail to Old Colony Memorial, 182 Standish Ave., Plymouth, MA 02360.