It would have been really cool to be able to say that I had just returned from Historic San Francisco since Time Travel would be my Superpower of Choice.

As an immediate aside, when choosing a superpower I recommend some specific caveats right up front. In the case of Time Travel it is important to, a) be able to fluently speak the language of that time period, b) have an adequate wardrobe at your disposal, c) have an inexhaustible supply of local currency and d) be impervious to all diseases. I also considered choosing the ability to talk to animals but rejected it due to the possibility that most of them probably do not have anything interesting to say. “Yes,” I would constantly be saying, “I know it’s your territory,” or “No, I don’t have anything to eat,” or perhaps… “Sorry, you’re not my type, can we just be friends.”

My San Francisco experience was Historic because I had organized one of my “famous” Client Education Trips in partnership with Historic Hotels of America, and so was privileged be wined and dined at the Fairmont San Francisco, The Intercontinental Mark Hopkins, The Omni San Francisco and The Palace Hotel. To make it even more fun, I invited twelve really nice meeting planners from around the Bay Area to join me, so they could experience the hotels as possible sites for their company events. In keeping with the Historic theme, we also toured the Julia Morgan Ballroom and the City Club of San Francisco, both very cool venues for off-property group dinners.

A couple of very important lessons were learned on this trip. First… if you are in a very crowded elevator with 12 meeting planners and a salesperson, and there is an awkward moment of silence, do not, and I repeat DO NOT, choose that moment to congratulate the salesperson and ask when her baby is due unless you are ABSOLUTELY sure she is pregnant. Second… if you are in a hotel ballroom (and it was not any of the above hotels) and your guests are commenting on the wild carpet because it reminds them of breakfast, or pizza, just keep your opinion about it obviously representing the act of fertilization to yourself, even if it is obviously true. The Education trips are, in fact, very educational on so many levels.

Our first stop for the weekend was the venerable 591-room Fairmont Hotel. It defines the term “San Francisco Landmark.” The basic facts: the hotel has 55k square feet of meeting space, a great location on Nob Hill, a full-service spa, and great service. I have booked many groups there and they all have loved it. The best part? The stories. There are a million of them of course… that the staircase in the lobby was used in the filming of Gone with the Wind when Rhett Butler carried Scarlett O’Hara up to, you know… look at a suite. The United Nation’s Charter was signed in one of its many meeting rooms.

My favorite story? That President Kennedy used to stay in the “Presidential Suite” (makes sense) and the Secret Service would slip Jackie something after dinner so she would fall asleep early in the master bedroom. Jack would then have them sneak in some starlet (Angie? Marilyn?) via a secret door on the roof accessed by a private elevator. I choose to believe it.

Our second stop, right across the street (and so an equally great Nob Hill location) was the 380-room Intercontinental Mark Hopkins (with 19k square feet of meeting space). Our group was whisked (great word) to the Top-of-the-Mark, the legendary sky lounge famous for its panoramic views, for an excellent breakfast buffet. And yes, the view is amazing. Again, the stories. During the War, wives and girlfriends (and probably boyfriends) used this spot to catch a last glimpse of their beloved’s ships as they sailed out the Golden Gate towards an uncertain fate in the Pacific.

The hotel itself was built back in 1926, that heyday of art deco hotel construction. Upon completion, San Franciscans declared it "architecturally perfect, flawless in its erection, comprehensive in its accommodations… strikingly representative of the best there is in modern hostelry." Although I might change some of the wording if I was to be writing a press release today, the essence of it still holds true. San Francisco would not be the same without the Mark.

Next stop, the 362-room Omni San Francisco (11k square feet of meeting space). Originally built as a bank in 1926 (that must have been a very noisy year in San Francisco) in the Florentine Renaissance style, it opened as a hotel in 2002 after one of those miraculous renovations that completely transformed the inside of the building into a modern luxury hotel while maintaining, intact, the original façade. Personally, I am so glad they did it that way because, well, they don’t build ‘em like they used to. Our grandparent’s generation had a lot more class.

The Omni calls itself a Nob Hill Hotel. Ahem. Ask anyone who decides to walk from the Omni to the top of the hill… take the cable car. I would say it is in the city’s financial district and close to everything worth being close to, so don’t worry about it. It’s a great business hotel, and great for small meetings. Nice people.

Our next two stops were not hotels, but really, really cool historical venues great for off-hotel-property events The Julia Morgan Ballroom, on the 15th floor of the Merchants Exchange is an exclusive, architectural gem designed by Julia Morgan in the Beaux Arts style of Hearst Castle. The 4300 square foot Ballroom with an adjoining Bar and Lounge, and additional meeting rooms, can beautifully accommodate all sorts of private events. Floor-to-ceiling arched windows provide majestic views of the heart of San Francisco's skyline. A 27-foot curved mahogany bar, a 20-foot fireplace of creamy stone, and a honey-combed ceiling of mahogany panels, are just a few of the features of this landmark locale. PS… I have had several of my own customer events here. They do a great job.

The City Club of San Francisco provides equally stunning facilities, but in an elegant Art Deco style. The Club occupies three floors, with the two largest rooms on the top two floors connected by a staircase decorated with striking Diego Rivera murals. You can tell that Mr. Rivera was not a fan of the top 1%. Because the Club is on three levels, it ca be flexible in allocating space based on your group needs. PS… I have had several of my own customer events here and not only do they do a great job, I am having my next annual reception and tradeshow there on February 13th, 2012. So obviously, I recommend it.

Our last hotel to visit was strategically selected for our last Sunday morning stop so we could experience the Palace Hotel’s unbelievably great Brunch in their beautiful Garden Court. The now famous chandeliered restaurant is itself an indoor National Historic Landmark. It was originally the horse-carriage entrance to the hotel, but since it was glass-covered, and many of the guest rooms faced inwards towards the courtyard, the smell of horses, especially on a warm day, must have significantly affected occupancy. Turning it into one of the most “wow” restaurants in the city was a good idea, and it is also available for private events. Think “gala.”

The 553-room luxury hotel has 53,000 square feet of great meeting space. Once again, let’s just stick to a few stories. It seems the history of the hotel, including its original construction, and its’ re-building after the 1906 fire, is steeped in corruption. What isn’t? It does not end there. According to our hotel guide, just about every major scandal in San Francisco history was somehow connected to the hotel. But, my favorite story by far is that back in the early 1920’s, President Harding, one of our more corrupt President’s (and that is saying a lot), took ill on a west coast tour and was brought to the hotel for medical care. Unfortunately for him, and presumably housekeeping, he passed away in the Presidential Suite. What makes the story a real story though is that rumors have it on good rumor authority, that his wife poisoned him for his constant cheating and for fathering a child with his mistress, Nan Britton (see Boardwalk Empire). I have no idea if that’s true… could have been natural causes, or negligence by his doctor, or some equally boring reason. Personally, I am going with the poisoning. That’s why I love history.

In summary: San Francisco is cool, Historic Places are cool. You’re cool. I’m cool. This next part is important… You have many choices when it comes to sourcing site selection, or choosing a DMC or other group-related services. I have been in the biz for 35+ years, have a zillion contacts, have been a lot of places, and know what I’m doing. Hey, maybe that’s a new tag line... “The Cramer Collection, One Call a World of Possibilities, An Old Guy Who Knows What He’s Doing”.... Where was I, oh yes... Please (oh please) send me all of your RFPs for meetings, incentives, DMC-stuff, group tickets, teambuilding... Whatever. Just tell me what you need; I’ll give you options. Our services are free to meeting planners, and I actually enjoy my work. It is my name on the business after all. Look forward to hearing from you.