Meeting News - June 16, 2008 - (Page 23) Hotels/Resorts handle up to 3,300 attendees; it was recently bought out by several waves of incentive winners, according to the Rio Mar’s director of meetings, Veronica Taveira. The 500 acres on which Rio Mar resort sits are actually protected land; across the highway lies El Yunque National Rainforest (named after the highest mountain) and Camuy Caves. El Yunque’s promontory is often swathed in mist, as it acts like a convection, drawing the area’s precipitation to its mountainsides. But not always: This year, the resort’s golf courses needed additional rehabilitation after first-quarter heavy rains missed the mountain. The courses are now back to normal, and it is not unusual to see large numbers of waterfowl and iguanas lounging in the course’s water hazards. In fact, the iguana has been adopted into the logo of Rio Mar's golf gear. —Terri Hardin our operations, and we’re finding that like-minded companies and major professional associations also see how greening their business practices will help them advance their missions,” according to Mark Gervais, general manager. The Viking—a Historic Hotels of America property—just added 12 suites to its original Viking wing, including the Breakers and Kingscote suites, both meant to replicate the luxurious style of the famous summer retreats that are their namesakes. The hotel has a total of 209 guest rooms and suites, along with 13,400 sf of meeting and event space. sf of meeting space when it debuts in October. Spread over a 4,200-sf ballroom—which can be split in half— and three breakout rooms, the hotel’s function areas are all on one floor. Just below the hotel, the Newbury Arcade, a shopping complex, will soon open. Also at the hotel will be a 16,000sf spa, a restaurant, and a combined bar and lounge. Meanwhile, the Westin, with 793 guest rooms and suites, added the 8,700-sf Harbor ballroom, a 25,000sf exhibit hall, and five breakout rooms, bringing the property’s total function space up to 72,000 sf. Connected to the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, the hotel is planning to add three restaurants and retail offerings by year end. Meeting planners are already responding positively to the Westin’s new event space. “I was pleased with the Harbor ballroom and look forward to hosting events there in the near future,” said Marlene Petro, director of meetings and continuing education at the Yankee Dental Congress, held by several state dental associations. “This ballroom, along with the hotel’s completed expansion, makes it the perfect location for our meetings.” r Rio Mar offers a sweet view. Hotels & Resorts in May 2007. The resort now has been relaunched as the first property in Wyndham’s new Grand Collection tier. Now, the property is in the midst of a $40-million in renovations and upgrades. Last year, the 7,000-sf casino received a $5-million makeover, with an additional $10 million applied to upgrades of the resort’s two 18-hole championship golf courses, its hotel lobby, and guest rooms (including Wyndham’s new bed product, “Be Well”). The 48,000sf conference center is benefiting from a $1-million upgrade to its wall coverings, curtain walls, and banquet chairs and tables. Next year, all eyes will be on Ocean 16, a 26-acre timeshare development that looks out onto the 16th hole of the resort’s Ocean course. Ocean 16 is within walking distance of Rio Mar’s Oceanfront Conference Center, which, when complete this year, will be available for rental (although not part of the room inventory). Prior to the opening of the 500,000-sf Puerto Rico Convention Center, the Rio Mar’s Oceanfront Conference Center had the largest inventory of meeting space on the island; it still boasts the largest ballroom in the Caribbean, the 21,000-sf Rio Mar ballroom. The resort can www.meetingnews.com New Room and Meeting Space To Energize Beantown Groups Boston—An uptick in available luxury guest room supply is in store here while the city’s meeting space recently got a boost. The 148-guest room and suite Mandarin Oriental, Boston is getting ready to open this fall, and the Westin Boston Waterfront has opened its new ballroom, as well as some other meeting and exhibition space while it’s planning other improvements. The Mandarin sits adjacent to the John B. Hynes Convention Center, and it will provide groups with 6,675 Discover a Viking Option That’s Also Green In Rhode Island Newport, RI—Just off of scoring an accolade for its environmental consciousness, the Hotel Viking has created an “earth package” for meeting planners. Recently tapped by the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management as the first green-certified hotel in the city, the Viking is also celebrating the completion of a multimillion-dollar renovation. Priced at $79 per person, the earth package includes: recycled notepads and retractable, recycled pens for rooms set in a U shape, conference, or classroom style; live plants and table fountains for decoration; an in-room paper recycling station; tabletop spring water dispenser stations; and an optional aromatherapy machine. A continental breakfast, lunch, and two meeting breaks with a number of organic or locally sourced items are also included. “Our corporate social responsibility has worked its way through all of Hotel Viking’s new Kingscote suite is meant to evoke a retreat. June 16, 2008 MeetingNews 23 http://www.meetingnews.com
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