Meeting News - February 16, 2009 - (Page 10)

Hotels & Resorts The rooms include the RitzCarlton suite, 1,320 sf; three presidential suites, 990 sf each; and 18 executive suites, 660 sf each. In all rooms now, PDAs can be viewed on 37-inch high-definition, flat-panel TVs—“great for reviewing a presentation,” Ryder said. Desks have built-in power and data connections and nearby coffeemakers. All rooms have iPod docking stations, and the executive suites now include DVD and CD entertainment systems and 42inch high-definition, flat-panel televisions. The club lounge has a media room with high-definition, flatscreen TVs and plush seating; reinvented food and beverage options; and computer workstations offering complimentary wireless web access. The lounge was enhanced by new window treatments, furnishings, and hardwood floors. The Ritz-Carlton has 18,000 sf of meeting space. Also, the hotel has an exclusive contract to use 3,700 sf of penthouse space in an office building adjacent to the property. By Rayna Katz rayna.katz@nielsen.com Sharp Drop Seen In Capital Outlay If you’ve gone on site inspections recently where the decor appeared to be in need of a refreshment, you may not want to count on that happening any time soon. After years of record spending, this year will be the first one since 2003 when the lodging industry will lower capital expenditures versus the past year, according to Dr. Bjorn Hanson, clinical associate professor at New York University’s hospitality, tourism, and sports management college. In recently published research, Hanson—formerly a global industry leader of hospitality and leisure at PricewaterhouseCoopers—said capital expenditures in 2009 will total about $3.75 billion, a 30-percent decline from 2008. The dip this year will stem from a decrease in revenue per available room (revPAR) of 2.5 to 12 percent, due to economic conditions and the fact that many renovation efforts have already been completed, Hanson said. Red, white, and gold adorn presidential suites at the Ritz-Carlton. Atlanta Ritz-Carlton’s Rebirth Echoing Atlanta’s resurgence over the last few years, the Ritz-Carlton, Atlanta has done an $18 million renovation. While boosting the hotel’s visual appeal, the upgrade will also help meeting attendees, said spokeswoman Sandra Ryder. The downtown property has refurbished all 444 guest rooms— including 22 suites—and its club lounge has been redone. “The scope of our renovation and the polished design will redefine the luxury experience downtown, just as the traditional interiors did when the hotel opened in 1984,” said Tod Morrow, general manager. “The city is undergoing its own revitalization, and our renovation perfectly parallels Atlanta’s ongoing vitality and renewal.” The openings a few years ago of the Georgia Aquarium and the New World of Coca-Cola gave Atlanta a boost, Morrow said. The launch of those attractions was followed by the debut of upscale eateries and downtown hotels. Ritz-Carlton’s rooms now feature “transitional decor,” versus the traditional design of the past, according to Ryder. Among the changes made, dark hickory bachelor’s chests adorn each room, as do ostrich-patterned leather headboards, linen and silk throws, crystal block lamps, marble foyers, newly designed baths with granite vanities, and rain showerheads. Rosen Hotels Loosens Up on Attrition In a sign of the times, Rosen Hotels & Resorts has relaxed its attrition policy at three Orlando convention hotels. For new group business using at least 400 room nights booked after Jan. 27 and actualized by Dec. 31, planners are eligible for reduced, or even completely waived, attrition—depending on a sliding scale. Available at Rosen Plaza, Rosen Centre, and Rosen Shingle Creek, the offer is based on availability and not valid with other discounts, definite business, or citywide groups. Group history pickup is required to determine eligibility. “We understand how difficult it is for meeting planners to estimate and guarantee their room block, so this program was designed to make their jobs a little easier,” said Leslie Menichini, vice president of sales and marketing for Rosen Hotels’ convention properties. “As the industry evolves and travel habits change, we want to remain flexible and attentive to the needs of our meeting planners and our attendees.” Combined, the three properties offer more than 3,600 rooms and over 611,000 sf of meeting space, which includes one of the nation’s largest column-free ballrooms. H 10 MeetingNews February 16, 2009 www.meetingnews.com http://www.meetingnews.com

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