Successful Meetings - December 2007 - (Page 61)

megaresort, estimated at a cost of $5 billion. NEW YORK New York In Sept, the 126-room Mansfield Hotel opened with event space in its M Bar for up to 75. White Plains The 122-room Ritz-Carlton, Westchester, is expected to debut this month with 9,000 sf of meeting and special event space, including a 500-person ballroom, a 10,000-sf spa, and a BLT Steak restaurant. SOUTHEAST FLORIDA Key West The 222-room Beachside Resort & Confer- ence Center will have its grand opening in Jan. The resort will feature the 6,000-ft Beachside Ballroom with seating for up to up to 400 and dining by Norman Van Aken. Orlando The Grosvenor Resort is now the 626-room Regal Sun Resort as of Sept, following the completion of a $25 million renovation to the resort’s guest rooms; 19,000 sf of meeting space and pre-function space; lobby; restaurants and lounges; and a brand new pool area. The 922-room Orlando Sun Resort and Convention Center by Lexington, formerly Hyatt Orlando, opened, featuring a 13,550-sf ballroom, a 20,000-sf exhibit hall and 22 meeting rooms. The $520 million luxury Ravallo Resort & Conference Center is expected to begin construction in Mar. The 900-unit hotel will be located in Lake Buena Vista near State Road 535. Amenities will include a roof-top pool, restaurants, retail, spa, fitness center, and 140,000 sf of meeting space. The first phase is scheduled to open in 2010. Tampa The 323-room InterContinental Tampa opened in Aug, featuring 21,000 sf of flexible meeting space, including a ballroom, a multitiered amphitheater, conference rooms, and a boardroom; a Shula’s Steak House; and a ninth-floor outdoor heated pool. A Blast from the Past The low skyline was the most striking aspect of my arrival in Charleston on a clear spring afternoon earlier this year. The tallest buildings were only five stories high, a refreshing change from the skyscrapers of New York I had just left behind. Many inns and independently run hotels are found in Charleston, but fewer large chain hotels within the city limits. My room for the weekend was in the carriage house of the 13-room Barksdale House Inn, situated at the edge of the historic district near the retail shops of King Street. Charleston is ideal for walking, and my first stroll was to the French Quarter, a quaint district with cobblestone streets, wrought iron balconies, churches, and art galleries. My next venture was to the Battery, an area with gracious, pastel-painted mansions and a large public garden overlooking the harbor. A boat tour to Fort Sumter, site of the first battle of the Civil War, was one of the highlights of my visit. The fort is located on a man-made island at the harbor’s entrance. The tour lasted over two hours and the guides explained the incidents that led to the historic confrontation. Charleston’s abundance of restaurants mostly offer ‘Lowcountry’ cuisine, including southern favorites such as grits, okra and ‘chow-chow’. On my first evening I dined at Poogan’s Porch, a landmark house where I lingered outside, people-watching. Another restaurant was chosen for its snob appeal, given its name, Slightly North of Broad. It served exceptional crab cakes and organic vegetables. On the last day I finally discovered a waterside restaurant. Fleet Landing, in a renovated former Navy building, has a casual, airy ambience, and its outside terrace was the perfect spot to take in the expansive views of the harbor. The Pavilion Bar, on the roof of the fashionable Market Pavilion Hotel, was my final stop. There was a lively social ON SITE Charleston, SC scene surrounding a brightly lit swimming pool and fountain. I only stayed for one drink, anxious to leave the scene behind in favor of the relaxed southern atmosphere I only had hours left to enjoy. —Nancy Lazarus SUCCESSFUL MEETINGS DECEMBER 2007 mimegasite.com 61 http://mimegasite.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Successful Meetings - December 2007

Successful Meetings - December 2007 Contents Editor's Note Special Report Research Industry Trends 2008 Meeting Events Planner Spotlight Websites of the Month Mouth for Sale Technology Talk Food & Beverage Pre-Event On Site Pre-Event Tools of the Trade Goodbye, Booth Babes Five Tips to Improve Your Golf Events When Crime Pays Office for Hire More Miles for Your Money Places & Spaces South Florida Biloxi / Mississippi Gulf Coast Fort Worth Monterey Beijing Gurus Special Supplement: Hawaii Island-by-Island Guide

Successful Meetings - December 2007

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