Maryland
- November marked the opening of the 256-room Four Seasons Hotel Baltimore. The 18-story hotel has harbor views and is home to Wit & Wisdom, an upscale tavern restaurant by chef Michael Mina. A large bar area creates a gathering place with flat-screen televisions and four large fireplaces. The venue has eight meeting rooms, two ballrooms and a boardroom, totaling over 20,000 square feet of function space. For more information, call 410.576.5800 or visit www.fourseasons.com/baltimore.
Massachusetts
- The former Cape Inn has been remodeled and reopened as the Harbor Hotel Provincetown, with 199 redesigned guest rooms and 10 suites. Situated on the beach along the Cape Cod National Seashore, the Harbor Hotel can accommodate groups from 10 to 250. The Whaler Lounge restaurant was also redone. The hotel is open year-round and offers flexible meeting space with ocean views and a full-service catering menu. For more information, call 508.487.1711or visit www.harborhotelptown.com.
New Jersey
- Revel, a new oceanfront resort designed specifically for groups, is slated to open in mid-May in Atlantic City. The highly customizable 6.2 million-square-foot property will be able to accommodate large groups with more than 250,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space and 1,090 guest rooms. The outside-the-box style of the “entertainment resort” was designed to encourage creativity and foster productivity. For more information, call 609.340.0003 or visit www.revelresorts.com.
- Sheraton Parsippany announced the 370-room hotel will undergo a $15 million refurbishment, scheduled to be completed by April 12. In addition to updated guest rooms, amenities will include a new fitness center, a lobby-based connectivity hub with free Wi-Fi and an upscale Club Lounge. Thirty-five-thousand square feet of meeting space is available, including a 8,500-square-foot ballroom with space for 600 attendees. For more information, call 973.515.2000 or visit www.starwoodhotels.com.
New York
- After being closed for six years, renovation on the historic Bear Mountain Inn in Bear Mountain State Park is nearing completion and the hotel is preparing to reopen in 2012. A fundraising event was held in November to raise money needed for the final touches of the refurbishment. Located 45 miles north of New York City, Bear Mountain has hosted meetings for dignitaries and leaders such as Theodore Roosevelt. The hotel offers 30,000 square feet of versatile meeting space and its 48 guest rooms and 15 suites can be reserved in blocks for groups. For more information, call 845.786.2731 or visit www.visitbearmountain.com.
- The Ireland-based Fitzpatrick Hotel Group celebrated its 20th anniversary in New York in 2011 and completed renovations on the 155-room Fitzpatrick Grand Central, sister hotel to the 91-room Fitzpatrick Manhattan. The updated guest rooms, suites and lobby area are accented by the Fitzpatrick Grand Central’s convenient Midtown location. The attached Wheeltapper Pub offers a 2,200-square-foot patio that can accommodate up to 90 guests for stand-up receptions. The Fitzpatrick Manhattan’s renovated Vico Boardroom seats 14 and other private spaces are available. For more information, call 212.351.6800 or visit www.fitzpatrickhotels.com.
- The new Conrad New York is currently accepting reservations beginning in February. In addition to 436 spacious guest suites, the newest Conrad venue will have 30,000 square feet of event space, including a 6,288-square-foot ballroom, as well as a rooftop bar with skyline views. For more information, call 212.945.000 or visit www.conradhotels.com.
Pennsylvania
- Construction began this summer on a $4.6 million renovation of the Washington Crossing Visitor Center, near the historic site of George Washington’s Christmas crossing of Delaware River in 1776 and one of 25 stops on the Pennsylvania Trails of History. The project’s 400-day timeline places completion mid-2012. Group tours are given of the Washington Crossing Park grounds, which include a museum and outdoor picnic pavilions. A temporary visitor center is currently in place. For more information, call 215.493.4076 or visit www.ushistory.org/washingtoncrossing.
Washington, D.C.
- Waldorf Astoria submitted a proposal to redevelop the 110-year-old Old Post Office Building into a 245-room luxury hotel and retail venue. Currently, groups can host corporate events and receptions in the landmark Old Post Office Pavilion on Pennsylvania Avenue, which was built in 1899. The proposal includes four signature restaurants and 17,000 square feet of function and ballroom space. For more information, call 202.289.4224 or visit www.oldpostofficedc.com and www.waldorfastoria.com.