Oakland
- Joie de Vivre Hospitality has taken over the Waterfront Hotel (510.836.3800; www.jdvhotels.com/hotels/waterfront), and renovations of the property are scheduled for completion this month. Enhancements include a new restaurant to replace Jack’s Bistro that will be run by local celebrity chef Joey Altman.
- The new Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites Oakland Airport (510.638.7777; www.ichotelsgroup.com) is taking reservations for arrivals after July 17.
- The Cathedral of Christ the Light (510.271.1932; www.christthelightcathedral.org), scheduled for completion by the end of 2008, will overlook Oakland’s Lake Merritt. The $131 million cathedral will include a conference center.
Berkeley
- The Hotel Durant (510.845.8981; www.hoteldurant.com) was recently purchased by Joie de Vivre Hospitality. The 144-room historic hotel will finish a renovation in August that includes upgrades to its guest rooms, public space, restaurant and lounge, and meeting and banquet space.
- The 175-room Shattuck Hotel Plaza (510.845.7300; www.hotelshattuckplaza.com) is slated to reopen later this year following a renovation that includes upgrades to the guest rooms, public space, restaurant and lounge, and 2,300 square feet of meeting space.
- At press time, the 378-room Doubletree Hotel and Executive Meeting Center Berkeley Marina (510.548.7920; www.berkeleymarina.doubletree.com) was scheduled to complete a renovation in June of its guest rooms and guest room corridors, lobby, restaurant and lounge, fitness center, and banquet prefunction space.
- La Quinta Inn Berkeley (510.849.1121; www.lq.com) recently renovated its 108 guest rooms and meeting space and added a business center and fitness center.
- The 30-room Berkeley City Club (510.848.7800; www.berkeleycityclub.com), a California State Historical Landmark designed and built by Julia Morgan, recently finished a guest room renovation. The City Club is a favorite location for weddings, banquets and meetings.
Tri-Valley
- The Pleasanton Marriott (925.847.6000; www.marriott.com/oakmc), previously a Crowne Plaza, recently debuted with 242 guest rooms as well as meeting space.
- A popular new spot for gatherings is Campo di Bocce (925.249.9800; www.campodibocce.com) in Livermore. The venue features state-of-the-art bocce courts, traditional Italian cuisine and an Old World Italian villa.
Union City
- One of the East Bay’s newest team-building options is iFly SF Bay (510.489.4359; www.iflysfbay.com) in Union City, offering an indoor sky diving experience. iFly SF Bay offers a vertical wind tunnel in which participants can experience the excitement and freedom of sky diving in a safe environment. Participants attend a brief safety class, suit up, step into the wind tunnel, and “fly,” freefalling at 120 mph and up. The facility offers group rates, customized corporate events and DVDs of the group’s flight.