Plan Your Meetings

Destination news: July 2009

International

Delta now offers daily service to Johannesburg, South Africa, from Atlanta.

National

The Extended Stay hotel brand recently filed for bankruptcy, but has no plans to close any of its 680 properties.

Southern Skyways launched its public charter plane service from Atlanta to the Biloxi-Gulfport Airport (GPT) in Mississippi. Daily flights are available using AirTran Airways as the carrier.

Alabama
Three properties operated by the Resort Collection on Alabama’s Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail and owned by the Retirement Systems of Alabama won major Marriott awards. The Auburn Marriott Opelika Hotel & Conference Center at Grand National was awarded Hotel of the Year. David Clark, the general manager of Point Clear’s Grand Hotel Marriott Resort, Golf Club & Spa, was awarded Marriott GM of the Year. Steve Miller, the general manager of Birmingham/Hoover’s Renaissance Ross Bridge Golf Resort & Spa, was named Renaissance GM of the Year.

Arizona
The Biltmore Resort & Spa in Phoenix opened Ocatilla, a 120-room addition with a private pool. The property now has 738 guest rooms total and 100,000 square feet of meeting space.

California
The 210-room Hotel Indigo opened in San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter with 1,328 square feet of meeting and event space.

Colorado
The Capella Telluride opened with 100 rooms, 50 condominium suites, 5,000 square feet of indoor meeting space and 6,200 square feet of outdoor event space.

Florida
The 1,047-room Boca Raton Resort & Club joined the Waldorf-Astoria Collection; and the 212-room Beach Club at the resort reopened after extensive renovations. The entire property offers 11,600 square feet of meeting space.

Illinois
The Hyatt Regency O’Hare in Chicago completed a $64 million renovation of its 1,100 guest rooms and suites, and added a 20,000-sq. ft. conference center and two restaurants.

New York
The 151-room Thayer Hotel at West Point completed renovations of its lobby lounge (capacity: 50) and added a new bridal suite. The hotel has meeting space for up to 300 people.

Maryland
The Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Golf Resort, Spa & Marina completed a $7 million renovation of its 400 rooms and 35,000 square feet of meeting space.

New Mexico
The Sheraton Albuquerque Uptown Hotel renovated its 295 rooms and meeting space which accommodates 900 people.

Texas
The Sheraton Houston Brookhollow completed a $9.1 million dollar renovation of its 382 rooms and 15,200 square feet of meeting space.

Virginia
The Sheraton Roanoke Hotel & Conference Center completed an $18 million renovation of its 320 rooms and 17,000 square feet of meeting space.

Wyoming
The Hotel Terra Jackson Hole added an additional 60 rooms (total 143) and 4,200 square feet of meeting space. It did not have meeting space previously.