Sprinkled across the U.S., these 10 properties offer groups a range of new experiences.
These 10 hotels spread throughout the U.S. are rolling out that dazzling red carpet and are ready to welcome your groups.
1. Kimpton Hotel Fontenot
Opening on May 11 in New Orleans’ Central Business District, the 202-room Kimpton Hotel Fontenot features bold interiors throughout its public areas, a range of unique guestrooms and suites, and two onsite signature dining and cocktail concepts—Gospel Coffee and Boozy Treats, a neighborhood cafe serving a full range of coffee, tea and frozen cocktails as well as a collection of grab-and-go options; and the Peacock Room, featuring daily hosted social hour and performances by local musicians and artists. There’s also morning coffee and tea service for before the meetings, a 24-hour fitness center equipped with Peloton bikes, complimentary WiFi for IHG Rewards members and complimentary PUBLIC bike rentals for those who need to wind down in the afternoon. The boutique property is located near the New Orleans Earnest N. Morial Convention Center, featuring 1.1 million sf of meeting and event space. The hotel itself offers tons of flexible space for breakout meeting needs and the Peacock Room can be used to host a working lunch or private dinner.
2. Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City
This spring, Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City will introduce a brand-new spa and three dining, nightlife and entertainment concepts as well as the new Atrium Tower. The new offerings will open in time for Memorial Day weekend, with the first phase of the Atrium Tower project set for completion later in the summer. The all-new Atrium Tower is part of Caesars Entertainment’s commitment to $170 million in hotel renovations in the Atlantic City market. Offering views of the city, the Tower’s remodeled guestroom and suites range from 450-700 sf. Meanwhile, The Spa at Harrah’s Resort will feature 23 treatment rooms and wet zones. The Lobby Bar has doubled the size of the existing bar and will offer an extensive menu; the Baywalk at Harrah’s Resort will offer live music, selections from the new Rum Point Crab House’s raw bar, and drinks along the water; and there will be a new dining and nightlife experience at the resort’s Pool at Harrah’s featuring performance artists, interactive musical entertainers, aerialists and DJs.
3. The Shay
Slated to open in Fall 2021 in Los Angeles, The Shay, a Destination by Hyatt hotel is located in Culver City and is part of the Ivy Station development, with its burgeoning tech scene. Planners will find 148 guestrooms, two onsite restaurants, including one from Michelin-starred chef Danny Grant, co-working spaces, a game room and a cocktail bar. The property offers 8,000 sf of indoor/outdoor meeting space with both cityscape and mountain views, and it’s home to the area’s first rooftop pool and lounge, ideal for those after-meeting social hours. For the arty folks in your group: The hotel’s onsite art collection can be explored via QR codes posted throughout the property. Other experiences include pop-ups from local DJs and artists, sessions with creative professionals, fashion shows, product launches and movie nights.
4. Mission Pacific Hotel & The Seabird Resort
San Diego County will welcome the largest oceanfront hotel development in more than 50 years when the Mission Pacific Hotel, a JdV by Hyatt hotel and The Seabird Resort, a Destination by Hyatt hotel open this month. Combined, the properties will feature 387 guestrooms and suites offering ocean views. In addition, there will be six F&B experiences—four at Mission Pacific Hotel, including Charlie’s, located at the nearby historic Graves House (seen in the 1986 film “Top Gun”), which has been transformed into a vintage dessert lounge; and two at Seabird, including Piper, which features the city’s first outdoor private dining room. Mission Pacific offers 13,000 sf of oceanview function space, while Seabird features 20,000 sf of oceanview meeting spaces.
5. Alila Marea Beach Resort Encinitas
Set atop a coastal bluff in San Diego, the 130-room Alila Marea Beach Resort Encinitas, with its eco-design and mission of offering sustainable tourism, opened this past March. Planners will find three restaurants, Spa Alila and an onsite gym as well as myriad function spaces. The property features a 3,800-sf ballroom, an indoor/outdoor foyer, a terrace with coastline views and a boardroom. Attendees can also take a surf lesson at the onsite surf school, go for a bike ride along the scenic coastline with an Electra Go! bike, or go on a hike in the adjoining coastal wetland of Batiquitos Lagoon. The property also offers daily morning wellness activities including sunrise yoga; bodyfly fitness; and low-tide beach runs that take attendees along the waterline as well as through local trails and paths.
6. Turtle Bay Resort
Set to reopen this summer after completing a renovation, Turtle Bay Resort is the only full-service resort on Oahu’s North Shore and offers ample room to roam as it’s spread out over 1,300 oceanfront acres and features a farm as well as five miles of beachfront. The renovation includes an updated lobby and pool deck, the addition of locally inspired dining concepts, and 42 new Ocean Bungalows accommodations, located just steps from the water and with an exclusive pool. The lobby’s refurbishment included adding windows that offer views of the beach as well as a new lobby cafe, Ho’olana, serving locally sourced coffee and bites, and the space now displays pieces by local artists. On the pool deck, guests will find a new adults-only pool as well as a redesigned family-friendly pool plus new cabanas and a new pool bar. The resort’s main dining venue, Alaia, will incorporate the North Shore’s sustainable agriculture throughout the menu, including produce from the resort’s own farm. Attendees will also find a new gathering place, the Surf House, as well as a new lounge, The Club, overlooking the pool deck. For meetings, the property features 25,000 sf of both indoor and outdoor meeting spaces.
7. Hotel Effie
Located in Northern Florida’s Emerald Coast along the state’s Panhandle, between the Gulf of Mexico and the Choctawhatchee Bay, the newly opened Hotel Effie features 250 guestrooms, a spa, a fitness center, and the area’s only rooftop pool as well as 20,000 sf of meeting space, including a 13,000-sf ballroom. This is in addition to the existing 30,000 sf of function space located at the Baytowne Conference Center (part of Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, Hotel Effie’s sister property). Onsite dining venues include Ovide, Ara Rooftop Pool & Lounge and Sweetbay Coffee, a coffee marketplace. Meeting attendees have full access to the amenities at the Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, including four golf courses, 15 tennis courts and a 123-slip marina.
8. The Langham Boston
After undergoing a $200 million renovation, The Langham, Boston is scheduled to reopen at the end of June. The renovation included all new guestrooms and public spaces, plus a curated art collection. The property will also unveil a new Club Lounge and a new bar and restaurant. Additionally, the property will re-introduce the Wilson Ballroom and other meeting spaces such as The Governor’s Room, a boardroom and the new Lincoln Ballroom, which can accommodate up to 200 guests. The redesigned guestrooms and suites feature new marble bathrooms, while the Loft Suites feature 2-story, brass-embossed windows in the bi-level living and sleeping quarters. The Chairman’s Suite penthouse, meanwhile, features a king bedroom, hardwood floors, a living room with a baby grand piano, and a dining room that seats eight. The Fed, the hotel’s bar, featuring a terrace, will exude a 1920s private cocktail lounge vibe. The Club Lounge, located on the eighth floor, will offer a private space for guests who have purchased Club access. There’s also a 24-hour fitness center with an indoor pool and pool deck. Planners have access to 13,000 sf of event space throughout 11 venues.
9. JW Marriott Charlotte
This month, North Carolina welcomed its first JW Marriott in Charlotte. The JW Marriott Charlotte is located across from the city’s convention center and near local landmarks like the NASCAR Hall of Fame and Bank of America Stadium. On property, meeting planners have access to 14 event rooms with a total of 22,240 sf of space. The largest event room has the capacity for 680 guests. Feauturing 381 guestrooms, including 34 luxury suites, the property also offers onsite dining including Dean’s Italian Steakhouse, Caroline’s Oyster Bar and a pub, the Aura Rooftop. There’s also the Spa by JW with six treatment rooms and a relaxation center, plus a 24-hour fitness center.
10. Hutton Brickyards
Swinging open its doors this month, the Hutton Brickyards offers luxury cabins or cottage options, a spa, outdoor activities and plenty of waterfront vistas as well as a variety of meeting venues and corporate retreat options. Attendees can take part in various activities as the property is home to an archery range and a croquet lawn as well as bikes, places to hike and go kayaking, paddleboarding, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and running. There’s also outdoor yoga, Pilates and a beekeeping activity. In addition, attendees can take part in more creative activities such as an architectural floral design class or a sip and paint experience. To wind down, the onsite spa features riverview saunas and there are plenty of dining options including open-air River Pavilion, which offers wood-fired and grilled options.
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