Plan Your Meetings

Destination news: September 2009

International

Mexico

The 124-room Privilege Aluxes Resort opened on Isla Mujeres with three restaurants, a spa and meeting space for up to 50 people. 

The St. Regis Mexico City opened with 189 rooms, 20,000 square feet of event space, four restaurants and a bar.

Spain

The $1.7 billion Terminal T1 opened at the Barcelona Airport. The terminal offers Wi-Fi, a spa, fitness center, hair salon, four VIP lounges and a multi-faith chapel, among other things. More than 100,000 passengers are expected to pass through daily.

National

Alaska

The culinary scene in Anchorage is heating up with the opening of four new restaurants: Muse, located in the Anchorage Museum, offers contemporary cuisine featuring Alaska seafood and local produce with Asian and European flair. Dish Sushi Bar & Japanese Restaurant serves a classic sushi menu with a contemporary spin, using locally sourced food. Pi Kitchen + Bar, in Embassy Suites Anchorage, features global fusion cuisine ranging from Asian and American to Mediterranean dishes, along with an eclectic wine list. Spenard Roadhouse is a neighborhood eatery featuring contemporary comfort food and live acoustic music.

California

The Doubletree Hotel in Livermore reopened after a multi-million dollar renovation with 125 rooms and over 8,000 square feet of meeting and event space. Other enhancements include a new restaurant, lobby bar and gift shop.

The Long Beach Convention Center completed an $8 million eco-friendly renovation including LED lighting, electric faucets and waterless urinals.

The Hotel AVIA opened in Downtown Long Beach with 138 harbor-view rooms and several meeting spaces for small groups.

The Residence Inn Downtown Long Beach opened on the waterfront with 178 extended-stay suites and 1,500 square feet of meeting space.

The Pala Casino Spa and Resort in Pala completed a $100 million expansion of its dining and gaming areas; two new restaurants and a parking garage also were added. The 507-room property offers 40,000 square feet of meeting space.

The Ace Hotel and Swim Club opened in Palm Springs with 180 rooms, 3,000 square feet of event space, a small amphitheater and a stargazing platform.

The Hilton San Diego Airport/Harbor Island recently completed a renovation of its 211 rooms; its 8,000 square feet of meeting space was updated in 2008.

The 1,195-room Westin St. Francis in San Francisco completed a $40 million renovation of its lobby and 614 rooms. The hotel offers over 56,000 square feet of meeting space.

The 209-room Huntley Santa Monica Beach added 5,000 square feet of event space for up to 125 people.

The Hilton Stockton reopened after a multi-million dollar renovation with 198 rooms and meeting space for up to 450 guests.

The Fairfield Inn and Suites in Twentynine Palms opened with 80 rooms and meeting space for small groups.

The Four Points by Sheraton in Rancho Cucamonga opened with 118 rooms 1,300 square feet of meeting space.

The $480 million Terranea Resort in Rancho Palos Verdes near Los Angeles, opened with 582 rooms, including 20 oceanfront bungalows, 50 ocean-view casitas and 32 villas, and 135,000 square feet of meeting space.

Florida

The 1,400-room Hilton Orlando is expected to open early this month, with 175,000 square feet of function space.

Georgia

The Alpharetta Convention and Visitors Bureau launched the mobile version of its Web site awesomealpharetta.com. Smart phone users can now visit awesomealpharetta.mobi on their devices to access tourism information and other highlights of the city, including hotels, restaurants, shopping and other attractions.

Illinois

The Hyatt Regency O’Hare in Chicago reopened after a $64 million renovation with 1,100 rooms and 110,000 of meeting and event space.

Chicago’s Hyatt Regency Woodfield reopened after a $32 million renovation with 470 rooms, 30,000 square feet of meeting space and its redesigned restaurant, Fresh 1800.

Louisiana

The 504-room Roosevelt Hotel in New Orleans reopened as a Waldorf-Astoria Collection hotel after a $145 million renovation. It has 60,000 square feet of meeting space.

Mississippi

Beau Rivage Resort & Casino in Biloxi joined the Associated Luxury Hotels International (ALHI), becoming ALHI’s first member in Mississippi. The 1,740-room resort offers 50,000 square feet of meeting space, including a 17,000-sq. ft. ballroom.

Missouri

The Hyatt Regency St. Louis Riverfront reopened after a $65 million renovation, with 910 rooms and 80,000 square feet of meeting and event space.

Pennsylvania

The 259-room Hotel Hershey is undergoing a $67 million renovation; new additions include 10 guest cottages, a meetings cottage, a swimming pool complex and a year-round skating rink. The property also offers 23,500 square feet of meeting space.

The 146-room Four Points by Sheraton York completed a $15 million renovation of its lobby, guest rooms and 3,700 square feet of meeting space.

Tennessee

The Chattanooga Convention Center implemented a “Buy Fresh, Buy Local” program. The environmental initiative will offer conventioneers fresh seasonal produce, breads, meats, cheeses, locally roasted coffee and more from local and in-state purveyors. The convention center is within two hours of Atlanta, Nashville and Birmingham and offers over 285,800 square feet of meeting space.