According to Sarah Robbins, senior vice president of operations for 21c Hotels, art-filled spaces can be a great jumping off point for meetings and enhance the natural flow of ideas and creativity. Whether it is contemporary or classic, being surrounded by art can spark new ideas and inspire attendees to think outside the box.
“We realize that planners are always looking for something new, or the next big thing. We offer drawing classes, art tours and gallery hunts to make events memorable,”Robbins says.
Boutique hotels have a reputation for being creative and detail-oriented, and these traits carry over to their teambuilding offerings, catering and group programing.
Most hotels with large art collections feature drawing classes and gallery hunts, a variation of the classic scavenger hunt where groups search for clues and pieces or art throughout the property.
During the summer months, 21c Louisville’s restaurant Proof on Main stations a gelato cart outside for guests and the community to enjoy. Groups can book the cart during session breaks or for a sweet treat after a day of meetings.
At The Thief, in Oslo, visitors have a unique opportunity to play the Climax card game, modeled after a sculpture designed for the Nobel Peace Center in Oslo and unveiled in 2007 by Al Gore. The original work by Magne Furuholmen is made of 20 recycled aluminum plates, each weighing more than 40 pounds, stacked like a house of cards. The hotel has several sets of cards, imprinted with information about climate change, the Kyoto protocol and the Norwegian luxury goods industry in select suites and public spaces, where guests can try to replicate the sculpture and learn about the Peace Center.
