Meeting News - February 25, 2008 - (Page 11)

Hotels & Resorts continued from page 10 expand its presence in the United States significantly and to grow the brand worldwide. Last month, the brand acquired the Ritz-Carlton Huntington Hotel & Spa in Pasadena, CA, and reflagged it as the Langham, Huntington Hotel & Spa, Pasadena. The propety has more than 30,000 sf of meeting space. “It is a coup for Langham to acquire such a luxurious, heritage property that fits perfectly with our brand,” said company chairman KS Lo. “This latest acquisition represents a tangible development for Langham in North America as we are now on both coasts (Langham, Boston opened in 2004). Next up for the hotel is a $25-million renovation. No timeline has been set. Then, the goal for the company is adding 50 hotels in the next five years, according to a spokesperson. Half of those acquisitions will be in China; three will open this year in Shanghai and Beijing. The balance of the additions will be in locations around the world, including the United States, as opportunities arise, the spokesperson said. Langham officials haven’t named specific cities, but the company is looking at major gateway locations around the world, as well as key resort destinations. officials said the property would have the largest amount of function space of any hotel in the area. Formerly a Clarion, the hotel is undergoing a multimillion-dollar renovation before its reflagging that will result in new ballroom and lobby decor, a new courtyard, soft and case goods, and granite vanities. It is near the Raritan Convention Center and Woodbridge Mall and 30 minutes outside New York City. Meanwhile, the 439-room Crowne Plaza Somerset-Bridgewater, which launched last fall, has 14,000 sf of meeting space. Previously a Marriott, the hotel has a kosher kitchen, swimming pool, and the area’s largest health club. It is adjacent to the Garden State Exhibit Center and minutes from the highway to Newark. The hotel is also close to several shopping malls. A Grande Dame and NY Icon Gets Even Prettier New York—Although she just turned 75, the iconic Jumeirah Essex House may never have looked better. The hospitality matriarch has completed a $90-million soft-goods overhaul, restoring the hotel’s Art Deco grandeur while adding some modern touches. The hotel has 515 guest rooms and suites and more than 11,000 sf of meeting space. On the technology front, all rooms now feature a plug-and-play Internet server; high-definition, ondemand entertainment; a touchscreen control pad for lighting, background music, and environmental controls; round-the-clock, real-time Essex House has undergone a Central Park images and New York comprehensive transformation. scenes on the television; and a unique headboard with a custom-programmed, color-changing LED fixture to create different moods. Rooms have been updated with modern elements meant to pay homage to the hotel’s original design. Gold carpeting, deep red velvets, alligator-print leather accents, and honey-toned wood veneers were used. The hotel’s presidential suite is still being refurbished; work will be completed in the spring. Essex House’s new lobby includes sparkling beige, tan, and black marble floors; fluted black marble columns with bronze capitals; dark mahogany wall paneling; gold leaf moldings; and dramatic crystal chandeliers. “The completion of the refurbishment project marks a new era in the hotel’s glorious and fabled history,” said Scott Dawson, general manager. “The hotel’s new look embodies and captures both the spirit and essence of Manhattan’s vitality.” r Correction In last month’s cover story on Marriott’s “Sales Force One” (Jan. 28 MN), it was reported that the hotel company is moving most property sales representatives into centralized offices for all Marriott brands. But the new structure does not apply to Ritz-Carlton; its salespeople will remain on site at hotels. Rosier Picture for Meetings Graces the Garden State Atlanta—InterContinental Hotels Group is making New Jersey more appealing to groups with the opening of two Crowne Plazas. Both of the properties—one is about to debut in Edison and the other opened late last year in Somerset County—are accessible from Newark Liberty International Airport and close to many visitor attractions. The Edison property, which is 15 miles from Newark, will have 169 oversized guest rooms and more than 12,000 sf of meeting space when it debuts next quarter. IHG www.meetingnews.com A Windy City Hotel Has Help for the BlackBerry-Encumbered R eady? Set? Drop that BlackBerry! That’s the challenge issued by the Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers, which started a much buzzed about BlackBerry check-in program last year. The hotel—which features 1,209 guest rooms and suites—has announced the Blackberry Detox Challenge, in which travelers are being offered the following incentives to disconnect: • The first person to lock away his or her “CrackBerry” for 48 hours, without cheating, will receive a complimentary three-night stay and dinner for two at the hotel’s Shula’s Steak House. • Though hotel officials haven’t settled on an exact number, the next several travelers who par- ticipate from now until March 15 will enjoy a complimentary upgrade during their stays, based on hotel availability. • All those who check in their BlackBerrys will be given a walking map to, as a statement by the hotel put it, “actually SEE the city, as opposed to being in the head-down BlackBerry position.” General Manager Rick Ueno, a self-described former BlackBerry addict, will lock all the orphaned personal gadgets in safety deposit boxes under his personal care. Having been PDA-free for over a year, Ueno also will provide the BlackBerry-less with tips and advice to end their days of “addiction.” February 25, 2008 MeetingNews 11 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/mn012808/index.php?startid=1 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/mn012808/index.php?startid=1 http://www.meetingnews.com

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