Prevue January/February 2013 - (Page 20)

T HE RESORT COLLECTION ON THE RTJ GOLF TRAIL is a series of eight hotels and resorts situated near 11 top-ranked Robert Trent Jones-designed golf courses in Alabama. Three of those properties in the Mobile Bay area are attracting a wide range of meeting, convention and incentive business due to their impressive variety of group infrastructure. The three AAA Four-Diamond group properties are: The Battle House Renaissance Mobile Hotel & Spa and the Renaissance Mobile Riverview Plaza Hotel in downtown Mobile. Just 30 minutes away, the Grand Hotel Marriott Resort, Golf Club & Spa is situated directly on picturesque Mobile Bay. Many year-round outdoor activities in the region are a powerful draw for groups, highlighted by ﬁve top-ranked golf courses on the RTJ Golf Trail. There are also some innovative lifestyle and executive leadership programs themed around sports psychology, nutrition and ﬁtness. The Grand Hotel Marriott is adjacent to two onsite 18hole courses at the Lakewood Golf Club. The Azalea course features a 14th hole with an island green surrounded by a fouracre lake. The Dogwood course is a spectacular layout of par-3 holes winding through coastal marshes. About 25 minutes west of Mobile, the Magnolia Grove facility is home to the annual Mobile Bay LPGA Classic. It offers three layouts—the Crossings, Falls and Short courses—ranked among Golf World Magazine’s Top 50 national golf venues. “A lot of people don’t think of Alabama as a golf haven, especially the public or resort courses,” says Niall Fraser, director of golf. “But the whole idea of the Trail was to change the perception of Alabama by developing world class golf courses. The Lakewood Club, for example, is always ranked in the top ﬁve Marriott golf courses throughout the chain. The Trail is really second to none; I would say the golf inventory in Alabama can compete with any state in the U.S.” GOLF & POLO EVENTS The Resort Collection has come up with some extra creative ways for groups to network on the golf courses. At the Azalea course, the Grand Hotel Marriott puts together a Night Golf & Casino Event on holes 10, 11 and 18. Everyone takes turns playing with glow balls, and on each green there’s a different casino game set up, typically craps, blackjack and roulette. There’s also a full bar operating while the staff teaches attendees how to improve their skills at the various games. center stage

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Prevue January/February 2013

Planner's Pick: Whistler, BC
Fresh Meets: Hilton Latin America
Bureau Buzz: Oklahoma City
Good Business: Hong Kong
Sea Shores: Alaskan Dream Cruises
Value & Variety
New Orleans & The Northshore
Convention Districts
Corporate Retreats
On Location: Tropicana Las Vegas
On Location: Leadership Summit, Lima
Special Section: Florida
On Location: Puerto Vallarta
Manchester
On Location: Glasgow
Check Out: San Jose, California

Prevue January/February 2013