Meeting News - September 8, 2008 - (Page 24)

Hotels/Resorts Marriott Marquis in Atlanta Completes Its Big Renovation A vital piece of Atlanta’s convention inventory, the Atlanta Marriott Marquis has completed its massive $138 million renovation. The 1,663-room property revamped its meeting space and guest rooms; added spa, fitness, and restaurant facilities; and upgraded its concierge level, along with the lounge. A 25,000-sf ballroom was added to the newly refurbished hotel’s offerings, while the hotel’s existing Marquis ballroom, providing 23,000 sf of event space, was redone. Divisible into two sections, the new Atrium ballroom includes some dramatic features: a curved and sloping ceiling, striated etching on the window glass, and a continuous cable grid of lights that turns the entire ceiling into a room. The design intent was to create a dynamic yet warm and comfortable space. Guest rooms received a new color scheme and wood furnishings, new bathroom countertops and fixtures, and a spacious workspace with ergonomic furniture. A 6,500-sf spa was created, providing seven treatment rooms, while the fitness center and pool areas were enhanced; a pool bar is now available. Seven new restaurants and lounges were added, including a tapas eatery, a sports bar, the pool bar, and a fire-inspired spot. Lastly, the hotel’s concierge lounge, now featuring floor-toceiling windows, was expanded to become the largest such facility at any Marriott property. Meeting space at the downtown Marquis, in Atlanta, looks snazzy. chandelier. Meanwhile, the renovated Marquis room was redefined with a curving wall, which follows the architecture of the Atrium and also allows for more room within the prefunction area without compromising the capacity of the ball- Groups Can Eat Healthy at LXR Hotels Tired of attendees asking if they can get organic, free-range chicken for dinner, or an egg white omelet at breakfast? LXR Luxury Resorts & Hotels may just have come to your rescue. The hotelier has introduced Lifestyle Cuisine by LXR, a program in which it offers healthful banquet and catering menus— which can be customized for each function—at its properties in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. The program was created in partnership with Cenegenics Medical Institute (www.cenegenics-br.com), a firm specializing in age management medicine. First launched last month at the Boca Raton Resort & Club, the program was created after LXR collaborated with Cenegenics’ nutritionists and chefs to establish banquet and catering menus focusing on low-glycemic nutrition, which can maximize health 24 MeetingNews potential, according to some nutrition research. Meeting and event guests can now enjoy organic and whole-food alternatives, including phytonutrients to resist disease, essential fats for healthy cells, lean protein for energy, and fiber for reduced cholesterol and healthy digestive tracts. Menu items such as smoked Copper River salmon, Dungeness crab cocktail, and organic chicken paillard prove that healthy eating can be flavorful. The program also allows for flexibility in customizing menus based on each group’s tastes and requirements. Roll-out of Lifestyle Cuisine will continue, in order, at the following properties: Naples Grande Resort & Beach Club, South Seas Island Resort, Casa Marina Resort, El Conquistador Resort, the Boulders, Carmel Valley Ranch, and Fort Lauderdale Grande. Scallops with oranges (top). Lemon yogurt with blueberries and sauces (right). September 8, 2008 www.meetingnews.com http://www.cenegenics-br.com http://www.meetingnews.com

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Meeting News - September 8, 2008

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