Meeting News - July 21, 2008 - (Page 14)

Hotels & Resorts Looking to beat to the punch any accusations of becoming a tired hotel, the relatively young Westin New York at Times Square is undergoing a $20-million renovation. A mere five years old, the 863room property will finish upgrading its meeting space next month— completing a spruce-up that started late last year—and will, in early 2009, renovate more than half of its accommodations; the remaining rooms were redone earlier this year. “Renovating after such a short period of time ensures the hotel always stays ahead of the curve,” said Karen Colliton-Thomson, director of sales and marketing. “This makeover shows our commitment to guests, assuring that the hotel By Rayna Katz rayna.katz@nielsen.com A Young Westin Property Gets Spruced Up in the Big Apple in new carpets and wall coverings. The area includes two other ballrooms of 3,192 and 3,108 sf, respectively, and two boardrooms, one for 18 people and the other up to 50. Meanwhile, 422 guest rooms will receive new, extra-long veneertopped maplewood headboards, glass coverings atop all desks and table tops, and new upholstery in a softened palette for each room’s chair and padded bench. New floor lamps, wall coverings, carpets, drapes, and artwork complete the redesign. Also to be added are 32inch LCD HDTVs and, in the bathroom, amenity carts. Bar 10, the hotel’s second-story bar, is now more open to the lobby than it was before. Rooms at the Westin New York at Times Square are being redone. never gets tired.” In August, the lighting in the hotel’s Majestic ballroom will be changed. That follows a redo of the 3,528-sf space this year to remove the out coves—or areas of the room where the walls were recessed—to create a singular floor plan. The hotel’s remaining 30,472 sf of meeting space received $1.5 million Groups Get Cooking in Boca Raton Myrtle Beach’s Barefoot Resort Expands Footprint with Facility The expansive Barefoot Resort, in Myrtle Beach, SC, just got bigger. The new Lakeside Conference Center, offering more than 17,000 sf of meeting space, has opened on site, along with the adjacent Barefoot Resort Spa and fitness center. Managed by Premier Resorts, the conference center property includes 355 rooms—which were pre-existing at the resort—while the spa features four treatment rooms that are each equipped with iPod docks. Barefoot Resort also includes the Event Pavilion, providing 4,000 sf of meeting space; the largest saline water swimming pool in the state; four golf courses; a marina; a seafood restaurant; and picturesque waterfront views throughout the facility. The complex is situated directly across the Intracoastal Waterway from Barefoot Landing, which features over 100 shops, restaurants, and theaters. Fairmont Is Swooping into Vail By Offering Boutique in 2011 Fairmont Hotels & Resorts has plans to develop a new resort in the skiing mecca of Vail, CO. The 128-room Fairmont, Vail is slated to open in 2011, in time for the winter season. The resort will offer 9,500 sf of function space, including a 3,000-sf ballroom, and on-property amenities will include a 10,000-sf spa and an array of dining outlets. It is being developed by HCT Development. Said Chris Cahill, president and COO of Fairmont, “The opportunity to offer another world-class ski resort is a tremendous one, and we are delighted to be working with HCT Development to create a new, distinctive luxury product in Vail.” Added HCT president T.J. Brink, “Vail is truly a one-of-a-kind setting.” In addition to its leading edge in the skiing world, Vail makes available snowboarding, dog-sledding, and heli-skiing in the winter. r www.meetingnews.com T he Boca Raton Resort & Club, in Boca Raton, FL, has introduced two culinary programs for groups. “Calling All Chefs,” a four-course cooking challenge, has meeting participants prepare a four-course meal while competing against a resort chef and wine specialist. For teambuilding, the property offers an “Iron Chef” challenge. Groups of up to 50 people are divided into competing teams, each of which uses a “mystery box” of ingredients to create a four-course dinner. “The addition of these activities shows our commitment to develop the meeting experience,” said Ed Carey, managing director of sales. Also, the resort now features new, yet well-known eateries. The first Southeast outpost of New York’s Old Homestead Steak House opened at the hotel last year. And debuting this fall: Morimoto, the eponymously named eatery of the Food Network’s Iron Chef, and Serendipity, New York City’s famed dessert restaurant. A property of LXR Luxury Resorts, Boca Raton Resort has 146,000 sf of meeting space, including many outdoor areas. 14 MeetingNews July 21, 2008 http://www.meetingnews.com

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Meeting News - July 21, 2008

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