Into the Swing of Things

A sure sign that Spring has Sprung?  It was wall-to-wall GOLF in the travel section of the Globe and Mail today.

Although golfing in England was the cover story, four North American resorts were cited for having the "most mojo" - and not just for their courses.

The Torrey Pines Hilton - La Jolla, California, where Globe sports editor Tom Maloney suggests taking "a break from golf to hike the bluffs down to Black's Beach."

Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge - Jasper National Park, Alberta. According to golf travel writer Brian Kendall: "The only thing missing from this iconic Canadian setting is a red-coated mountie standing on guard at the first tee." 

Half Moon Bay Ritz Carlton - Half Moon Bay, California. "Sit on the cliffs at sunset watching the ocean, sipping a find Napa cab..." suggests hockey writer and golfer Bruce Dowbiggin.

Fox Harb'r - Wallace, Nova Scotia. John Marcheson, editor of Golfcanada.ca recommends "indulging in one of the signature spa treatments". The Spa at Fox Harb'r also offers a Men's Executive Menu of services such as Sports Pedicures and Man-icures, as well as a wide range of therepeutic massages.

All of the above resorts have meeting facilities of course, offering an environment in which to focus clearly on agenda items before any much-needed R&R.

Hockey Night in Western Canada

'Nucks fans in Vancouver can watch the playoffs in style in the Shangri-la hotel Vancouver's state-of-the-art Blue Moon Theatre. From just $500 you can book this private screening room with 9x5 foot screen, plush leather seating, private bartender, and complimentary Truffle popcorn. Beverages and additional food charged on consumption, and if you don't want to have to worry about driving - you can get a room.

Meetings Matter 2011

Meetings Matter was the theme of ConferenceDirect's Annual Partner Meeting, held this year at the historic Omni Shoreham Hotel during the National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, D.C., and like all good conference themes it was supported by content that reminded us of the economic impact meetings have on communities, associations, and businesses of all kind. We also discussed meeting trends such as virtual meeting (as adjuncts to face-to-face meetings),  mobile applications specifically for meetings and conferences, and managing costs through building Stratigic Meetings Management Programs (SMMPs) - and specifically how ConferenceDirect can deliver these solutions to our clients.

Our opening night Awards Gala (hosted by Hyatt Hotels) was held - not in a hotel - but in the National Museum of Women in the Arts. It was a beautiful and fitting venue, since more female ConferenceDirect Associates were honoured this year than in any other year of the company's history.

Another off-site highlight was the W Washington, formerly the esteemed Washington Hotel. We enjoyed a casual lunch in a function room on the top floor adjacent to the popular P.O.V. Lounge with a view of the White House.

"Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler"

They're partying in Brazil - and in New Orleans - where the tradition of celebrating Mardi Gras can be traced back to French-Canadian explorers in 1703.

It was about three years ago that ConferenceDirect held its Annual Partner Meeting in "N'Awlins", and my colleague Kelly Cyr and I spent a day exploring some of the city's finest hotels. The Quarter - post-Katrina - was looking better than I'd ever seen it, and since then air lift from Canada has improved considerably.

HOTEL MONTELONE
One of only three 4-Diamond hotels located in the famed French Quarter, this historic property is 4th generation family owned and operated and has recently undergone $65 million in renovations. With 600 guestrooms and more than 21,000 sq.ft. of meeting space, the hotel offers a wide range of modern amenities including a business centre and wireless internet access amid a decidedly historic ambiance (complete with requisite ghostly sightings!). The barstools of the famous Carousel Bar are brightly painted with circus animals, and the bar itself, covered with a gilded canopy, actually revolves like a real carousel.

THE RITZ CARLTON NEW ORLEANSComparable in size (with 527 guestrooms and over 23,000 sq.ft. of meeting space) and replete with original artworks, this luxury property is located on Canal Street, at the edge of the French Quarter and three blocks away from the Garden District. Elegant and luxurious, the hotel showed beautifully. Even the green and purple Mardi-gras colour scheme in some of the guest rooms worked. Billed as the city’s only full-service spa, the Ritz-Carlton Spa is a 20,000 sq.ft facility featuring its own Fitness and Wellness Centre, Beauty Salon, and Café which can be used for companion programs and lunches.

JW MARRIOTT NEW ORLEANS
I remember this hotel when it was Le Meridien New Orleans, and although re-flagged, the property retains its European sensibilities, including an intimate lobby and Gallic touches such as the signature “Ile de France” Ballroom. The 494 rooms and suites feature Marriott Revive beds and linens, and there’s 19,000 sq.ft. of meeting space. Like the Ritz, the JW Marriott is located on Canal Street, across from the French Quarter, and within walking distance of various attractions and a wide variety of shopping options.

WINDSOR COURT
Topping the Ritz ever-so-slightly on the luxury meter, the Windsor Court is the only hotel in New Orleans rated with both 4 Stars and 4 Diamonds. With a disproportionate number of suites (264) versus regular/deluxe guestrooms (58) guests are treated to an exceptional VIP experience. The largest “Chinoiserie” ballroom is just over 4,500 sq.ft. and is representative of the intimate and elegant function space available. Located just behind Harrah’s Casino, The Windsor Court is a short walk from the French Quarter, shopping, and riverfront attractions.

RENAISSANCE ARTS HOTELCan you say “Tchoupitoulas Street”? That’s where this boutique-like property is located, in what’s known as the city’s “Warehouse District”, a stone’s throw from the New Orleans Convention Centre. In fact the hotel itself is built in a remodeled 1910 warehouse, updated with modern amenities, a whimsical décor, and original contemporary art, much of it local. With just over 200 guestrooms and 5,000 sq.ft. of meeting space, the Renaissance Arts is compact in size but “full” on service.

Always Unique, Always Memorable

There’s something about a site inspection of the Park Hyatt Toronto.

Over the years I’ve taken numerous clients to tour their facilities. The experience is anything but “cookie cutter”.

We’re talking about an industry where the product is differentiated more by service than anything else. After all, a bed is a bed is a bed, and a function room is no more than a big empty box. The Park Hyatt Toronto recognizes and capitalizes on its key selling points while addressing the client’s and the program’s unique requirements. At the same time they turn the site inspection itself into what you hope your meeting or function to be: a meaningful experience, to inspire and/or be remembered.

Just sayin’.

And the Winner is...

My (admittedly biased) pick for Best Scene in an Oscar-nominated film: the zero-gravity hotel in Inception.

Enjoy the Academy Awards this Sunday.

In the Vault

Really – you can have your meeting or event *inside* a real bank vault.

The repurposed space is a remnant of the building's former life as the head office of Canada's first bank. One King West - the hotel, which opened in 2006 - has retained its original circular door (four feet thick and weighing 40 tonnes) making The Vault a unique meeting venue and popular topic of conversation. One King West is currently using it as a temporary restaurant while renovations continue to its lobby – expanding Henri’s Bar, adding an internet lounge, and reconfiguring the area where the breakfast buffet is normally staged.

One of the hotel's other prime meeting spaces is the Banking Hall, with ornate two-storey high ceilings and purportedly the "longest bar in North America", modelled after the original tellers' counter.

One King West specializes in extended stays, offering both kitchen and laundry facilities in each of its modern suites, but is equally suited for shorter stays and medium-sized corporate meetings & events.