Prevue July/August 2013 - (Page 70)

The Gaslamp Quarter sculpture lights, warm draperies and blue coastal furniture. “Living Room is a great spot to meet in San Diego,” says Laura Gray, director of sales/marketing. “The location is in the middle of the exciting Gaslamp Quarter and relaxed Little Italy. You can enjoy drinks here, then head out and explore.” The new Kelvin restaurant serves Latin-influenced tapas with fresh, local ingredients. The restaurant walls open into the meeting space creating a multi-venue F&B experience. “The venue splits perfectly, providing two different environments,” explains Gray. “You can chill in cool, hip Kelvin or the traditional meetings venue right across the way.” The area hosts 180 using the Kelvin patio as prefunction space. Head upstairs to the new rooftop lounge filled with lights, bonfires and views of the city and San Diego Bay. Be sure to check out the flaming chair fire pit, the main focal point of the hotel. The deck features wood decking and red cabanas. “We set the trends here in San Diego,” says Gray. “We are constantly coming up with different programs for our group events.” Programs include DJ Labs where groups can lay down a track with a professional DJ, record it and take it home on CD. Other programs include bartender battle classes, fashion events and art events involving the community. Total meeting space is 2,800 sf. SHERATON SAN DIEGO HOTEL & MARINA The 1,053-room Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina is a majestic 2-tower resort overlooking Harbor Island and San Diego Marina, only half a mile from the airport. The park-like waterfront venue recently renovated 348 rooms in its Bay Tower with nautical-themed decor and amenities. You feel like you’ve entered a high-end boater’s lounge upon entry. The navy-scheme walls, clean lines and rose woods accent the yacht-inspired rooms and public spaces. “The nautical theme is pretty unique for the Sheraton brand,” says Russ Mitchell, director of sales, who fills us in on the recent upgrade. The renovations also included the Bay Tower Lounge Patio and fitness center. The blue waters and sparkling skyline completely surround the towers, offering unparalleled views of the vessel-filled marina. Renovations to the Bay Tower’s dining room are scheduled late 2013. The pretty gardens outside make for an interactive introduction. The 1,200-sf lawn overlooks the entire San Diego bay and is totally customizable for groups. “Our outdoor space is convenient, scenic and functional,” says Mitchell. “There’s a lot of flexibility out there and we use it in any way that the planner would like.” So we thought we’d try it out. Executive Chef Steve Black leads my group in the hotel’s outdoor burger battle called “Grill Camp.” We split into two teams and brainstormed our “patty projects” while sipping pints from Stone Brewery, a nearby brewhouse that partners with the hotel for group tastings and events. My team decided on a guacamole burger filled with bacon and cheese. We decided on our strengths to assign roles within the team and then things really got moving. Meanwhile, Chef Black blared rock music and grabbed some tortillas to snack on with the guac. “Steve is our secret weapon in the kitchen,” says Mitchell. “He brings the whole group together with the outdoor dining competitions.” As time neared toward the end of our cook-off, we felt like contestants on the Food Network. The Sheraton uses its 135,000 sf of meeting space to its advantage. Each event venue is spread out enough to run concurrent meetings all-day, and the nearby Sheraton Mission Valley San Diego Hotel partners for citywides on a master account. BOAT LUAU PARTY After we chowed on our Grill Camp creations, we boarded the 40-passenger Aolani yacht at the marina. The 58-foot catamaran is furnished with sofas, lounge chairs and dining space. There are large TVs on the perimeter for logos and presentations. “We want to provide a genuine San Diego experience,” says owner Bruno Schwarz. “We offer a lot of fun experiences for teambuilding, using a variety of vessels for large groups.” That night when I stepped onto the deck it was particularly windy. The crew provided coats and blankets as we sipped wine while gazing over the clear Pacific waters. The ship’s name stands for “heavenly cloud” in Hawaiian, and it reflects that with a fun luau theme with beads, pineapple decor and fresh orchids. A big list of party options include live jazz bands, karaoke, dancing and catered fine dining. “And if we run out of food, I’ll just dive down with a spear and grab some fresh fish or lobster,” Schwarz laughs. There is a true sense of serenity out here and the whole group disembarks a little more relaxed. Although San Diego is a metropolitan city, it has a relaxing, small town vibe that set well with our group. thewsandiegohotel.com; westingaslamp.com; sheratonsandiegohotel.com; usgrant.net; sandiego.org 70 | prevue magazine 68-70_StarwoodSD.indd 70 7/3/13 9:04 AM http://www.thewsandiegohotel.com http://www.westingaslamp.com http://www.sheratonsandiegohotel.com http://www.usgrant.net http://www.sandiego.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Prevue July/August 2013

Planner's Pick: New Zealand
Fresh Meets: Autograph Collection
Bureau Buzz: Monterey County
Good Business: South Africa
sea Shores: Small Ship cruising
The Local Kitchen
Special Section: Caribbean
Dominican Republic
On Location: Hilton/LXR, Puerto Rico
On Location: The Broadmoor
The South, Florida & Las Vegas
Singapore
On Location: Starwood Resorts, San Diego
On Location: Travaasa Austin
On Location: Moon Palace Cancun
On Location: IRF Cancun
Check Out: Hard Rock Hotel Punta Cana

Prevue July/August 2013