When it comes to key trends with meeting properties, it’s hard to find a more compelling wave than the endless array of new and revamped venues aiming to emphasize the flavors, feel and culture of their locations. This striving for “a sense of place” can be witnessed in design elements, on-site art, culinary offerings and even the group activities and programming venues are creating.
With this intriguing trend in mind, Meetings Today put on its explorer’s hat and delved into some property revamps and rollouts that are truly excelling at reflecting their locales.
Naturally Northwest
The spirit of capturing a local sense of place is at the very essence of McMenamins, a family of properties set in Oregon and Washington that have reimagined former facilities such as historic schoolhouses, hospitals and banks into meetings-friendly lodgings. While these unique settings alone can provide a strong sense of locality for guests, McMenamins takes it to the next level via such elements as displaying local artwork, handcrafting its own array of brews, spirits, wines and coffees, and serving farm-to-fork fare in unforgettable settings.
Its newest entry, McMenamins Anderson School, debuted in October in the Seattle area, on the site of the previous Bothell Junior High, and offers 72 guest rooms forged from former classrooms and cool elements like taverns housed in both the previous workshop and principal’s office. Its Tavern on the Green restaurant will seat diners in what was once the school cafeteria, and planners are bound to appreciate an array of possible function areas that include three multipurpose event spaces. The property also offers a brewery (showcasing its own handcrafted creations), a movie theater and a revamped version of the one-time student swimming pool. It even offers a free meeting room to Bothell residents among its 7,000 square feet of event space, all part of the company’s dedication to its local communities.
“We have a history department who spends countless hours on these projects, unearthing photographs, newspaper articles and other artifacts, as well as the stories of those who have a historical tie to the buildings and local area,” says Susan Truax, director of sales for Anderson School. “All of these elements come back to life in original artwork, the names of the hotel rooms and event spaces etc., all while melding together with the history of our company, and moving into the future as guests add their own stories.”
Starring Role for Destinations
Starwood couldn’t be more on board with the locally focused trend, with its esteemed Luxury Collection unveiling a new “brand identity” that positions its properties as “Hotels that Define the Destination.” And the elegant roster is host to several properties that have seen spectacular overhauls in 2015.
These include remarkably restored venues in San Antonio and San Francisco, where the St. Anthony and The Palace respectively wrapped substantial upgrades in the fall. The St. Anthony was built in 1909 as one of Texas’ first luxury hotels and has refreshed its guest rooms, restaurants and public spaces; while The Palace—an iconic property dating back to 1875—completed a year-long, three-tiered overhaul boosting nearly every corner of the venue. And in Chicago, September saw Starwood convert the previous Conrad Chicago into The Gwen, Chicago, a makeover that pays homage to the Windy City in myriad ways, even including its moniker. The name takes inspiration from Gwen Lux, the renowned Chicago-born sculptor specializing in abstracts and realism.
Also of global note was the Luxury Collection’s March launch of Suiran, a Kyoto, Japan, hotel evoking a profoundly historic sense of place. The lodging is set on some of the ground belonging to the Tenryuji Temple, a World Heritage Site, and also neighbors the famous Bamboo Grove National Historic Site.
Omni Efforts
Omni has long understood the value of emphasizing locality, and seems to be ramping up its efforts more than ever with some revamps and expansions.
In Texas, the Omni Dallas has added to its ample meeting space with the launch of the Pegasus Lawn in late May. The centerpiece of the alfresco space is the Pegasus statue, a restored city icon now perched atop an oil derrick and showing off new neon lights. The lawn space is complimentary when booking with the property, with a stage and catering available; it can host up to approximately 2,000 attendees for an event.
Among Omni’s other big boosts in 2015 were a massive makeover at the Omni Hilton Head Oceanfront Resort, a $40 million revamp of Toronto’s historic Omni King Edward Hotel, and an $11 million renovation of the Omni Chicago that included public spaces, all guest rooms and meeting spaces. The Chicago makeover probably best captures the sense of place trend, meshing historical intricacies of Louis Sullivan’s detailed sketches with modern sculptures exemplifying Chicago in its public spaces. The rooms, meanwhile, also integrate singular architectural designs—plus special in-room lighting—that blend to evoke the Windy City’s skyline.
Ritzy Revamps
Ritz-Carlton has recently enhanced the local ambience of some key resorts by adding outside options, and views of the surrounding wonders. Florida’s Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island wrapped the refresh of 30,000 square feet of meeting space in March, offering new access to the Ocean Front Lawn and beach and its breathtaking water vistas. And on the California coast, The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay debuted Mar Vista Lawn, a 7,500-square-foot grassy oasis with a cozy seating area that includes wooden chairs and gas fire pits.
In the Caribbean, meanwhile, The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman just added new fifth-floor meeting spaces with a neighboring foyer for prefunction breakouts or receptions overlooking the Harbour Club.
Ritz-Carlton also recently unveiled a gamut of on-site experiences aimed at instilling an unforgettable local touch for groups and events. These activities include The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island’s Honey Break, hosted by the resort’s beekeeper, with honey-infused treats; The Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis’ themed coffee breaks with pretzels, local Fitz Root Beer and Kaldi’s Coffee—plus the frequent sounds of jazz music; and in Arizona, The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain’s “Roadrunner” food truck serves attendees everything from authentic street tacos to ice cream.
