From North Africa to South America, sun-drenched locales are courting meeting and incentive business with next-level renovations, special packaging and inclusions that make the going easy. Take a look at what’s out there.
Royal Mansour Casablanca
Casablanca’s first luxury hotel has been reborn as the long-awaited Royal Mansour Casablanca. The gleaming new icon—the Royal Mansour Collection’s second property—occupies the site of the former Art Deco landmark, which has been faithfully rebuilt over eight years to capture the original building’s splendor. Located in the heart of the city near the Old Medina and Art Deco district, the 149-room hotel boasts suites and private apartments harking back to Casablanca’s mid-century glamor, five restaurants and bars and insider experiences ranging from street art tours to a high-soaring flight above the cityscape.
Some of the original hotel’s most iconic details have been reinterpreted for the modern day, incuding a striking staircase near the bar, a nod to the original spiral staircase where the likes of Mohammad Ali, Charles Aznavour, Umm Kulthum, and Sean Connery were photographed back in the day. Curvilinear shapes, marble and brass surfaces, and rich woods evoke the luxury of a transatlantic liner, while the staff’s impeccably cut uniforms strike a retro-nostalgic aesthetic.
The hotel offers four restaurants and one bar catering to a variety of global tastes, while the two-story, 25,000-sf wellness oasis is the city’s largest and most comprehensive wellbeing sanctuary, combining traditional healing therapies, pampering body care remedies, and cutting-edge treatments.
This legendary hotel has also long been the meeting place for the world’s celebrities, connoisseurs, and politicians; more than 4,000 guests gathered at the palace’s inauguration party on February 26, 1953, heralding the inauguration of the largest hotel in North Africa. The Royal Mansour Casablanca will continue to be the city’s cultural and social hub with two floors of meeting and event spaces including six meeting rooms, a marble-clad ballroom with a gold leaf-painted ceiling that can accommodate up to 450 people, and a dedicated VIP lounge.
Finch Hattons Luxury Safari Camp, Kenya
Renowned for having some of the most spectacular properties across the globe, Richard Branson’s Virgin Limited Edition has announced the addition of the award-winning Finch Hattons Luxury Safari Camp in Kenya to its collection of unique retreats.
Finch Hattons will join the Virgin Limited Edition portfolio in July 2024, becoming the ninth property within the collection and its fifth footprint in Africa, joining such properties across the continent as Mahali Mzuri, Ulusaba Private Game Reserve, Mont Rochelle Hotel & Vineyard, and the famed Kasbah Tamadot. It will also become an integral part of the wider parent company, Virgin Hotels Collection, encompassing Virgin Hotels and Virgin Limited Edition, which was formed last year.
Finch Hattons features 17-luxury tented suites and three decades of safari experience from the Kenyan-based Gehlot family—the owners of Finch Hattons and co-owners of Mahali Mzuri—together with Sir Richard Branson. It will offer future Virgin Limited Edition guests extraordinary experiences within the treasures of Tsavo, not to mention Africa’s only Shetani lava flow and breathtaking views of Mount Kilimanjaro.
Rates include accommodation, all meals and drinks, as well as all scheduled activities including game drives, excursion to Shetani lava flow, Oldonyo Larami volcano hike, yoga, nature walks and return airstrip transfers.
Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa
Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa has a Meet with Malama offer for group bookings along with an all-inclusive package option to make visits seamless.
The promotion can be used for corporate events, incentive trips, and other large gatherings, and partial proceeds will be donated to The Maui Strong Fund which provides financial resources to support the immediate and long-term recovery needs for the people and places affected by the devastating Maui wildfires. Meet with Malama includes savings and various perks to choose from including room attrition, complimentary guestrooms, resort credits, spa treatments, cabanas and more. Available for contracts signed by Dec. 31, 2024, for travel taking place by Dec. 31, 2025
The Meet With Malama offering tiers include:
- Book 30-80 rooms per night, choose three
- Book 81-200 rooms per night, choose four
- Book 251-350 rooms per night, choose five
- Book 351+ rooms per night, choose six
The perks to choose from include:
- Special Hawaiian welcome during first general session or welcome reception
- Discounted Resort Fee from $45 to $20
- Complimentary Aloha sign during one group event and group arrival day
- Complimentary chair massages during one day of their choice over the program dates
- Resort credit of $20 per room
- 1/40 complimentary guest rooms
- 1/50 complimentary amenities
- 1/50 roundtrip airport transfers
- Complimentary cabana for peak nights
- Complimentary one hour reception prior to contracted banquet dinner to include beer, wine, one signature cocktail and five hot or cold pieces per person
- Room Attrition: 30 percent – 60 days out; 20 percent – 30 days out
- Three complimentary 50-minute spa treatments
Also available is an all-inclusive package (with event credits) including either a private luau dinner or catered event.
Carmel Valley Ranch, CA
Set on 500 acres in the foothills of California’s Central Coast, Carmel Valley Ranch has emerged from a multimillion-dollar renovation project that they say has transformed the guest experience. The renovations encompass significant enhancements across the resort, including The Ranch’s beloved Valley Kitchen restaurant; the popular Think Tank meeting venue; and River Ranch, the resort’s hub for sports and recreation.
The signature restaurant and the culinary heart of Carmel Valley Ranch, Valley Kitchen has unveiled a complete revitalization of the main dining area, private dining room, and outdoor spaces—including an entirely new outdoor bar complete with poolside lounge seating and day beds.
For groups and business travelers seeking an inspiring setting for creativity and collaboration, Carmel Valley Ranch has reimagined the popular and intimate Think Tank meeting space. Boasting a new table, chairs, buffet, and state-of-the-art AV equipment to go with sweeping valley views, this versatile room will elevate any gathering.
Along with the brand-new look and feel of the Think Tank, The Ranch has also launched special packages perfect for corporate travelers, executive retreats, and strategy sessions—each offering savings and benefits such as complimentary upgrades and activities.
Carmel Valley Ranch’s biggest play space, River Ranch, has also completed a magnificent makeover with new amenities, exciting enhancements, and expanded offerings, including a Game Zone offering ping-pong, cornhole and lawn games, and weekend activations including complimentary snow cones, house made popsicles, and other sweets.
Estancia La Jolla
Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa, an award-winning Noble House Hotels & Resorts property in the San Diego, has announced the completion of its property-wide, $26M renovation and redevelopment as it celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. A nod to its heritage with historic touches masterfully blended with modern design, Estancia La Jolla’s refreshed experience includes elevated guest rooms and suites, a new lobby and pool complex and upgraded meeting and group spaces.
The property offers nearly 47,000 sf of customizable indoor and outdoor event space, including a floor-to-ceiling revitalization of its 6,864-sf La Jolla Ballroom, the grand dame of the property’s indoor venues. Upgrades including textured wall treatments, modern lighting and whimsical flooring elevate the space, which showcases timeless elegance while offering a vibrant, inviting atmosphere. The property also elevated its signature outdoor venue offerings with the revitalization of five existing lawn spaces and the addition of the 1,000-sf Mariposa Lawn, located adjacent to the Learning Theater surrounded by botanicals and lush greenery.
Estancia La Jolla’s lawn revitalization project has reduced the amount of irrigation required for grounds maintenance, thoughtfully elevating the property’s dedication to sustainable travel. As part of its corporate social responsibility efforts, Estancia La Jolla partnered with Alvéole to introduce an apiary to aid with native pollination and ultimately create a sustainable source of honey and an educational opportunity for guests. Estancia La Jolla is also home to herb and butterfly gardens that are open to guests, with herbs grown found in recipes at each of the property’s food and beverage outlets.
Sheraton Buenos Aires
Marriott International recently announced the signing of the Sheraton Buenos Aires Greenville Polo & Resort, slated to open its doors by third quarter 2024.
Situated about 19 miles southeast from the coastal city of Buenos Aires and 37 miles east of the Ezeiza International Airport, the new 118-room resort is strategically positioned between two polo fields, incorporating the rich spirit of this popular Argentine sport into its ambiance. From rooms with breathtaking views to inviting and approachable spaces, events, and activities, the essence of Polo permeates every facet of the hotel, enhancing the social experience for corporate and incentive travelers.
Spanning over 21,500 sf, the property will also boast welcoming gathering places, versatile groups and meetings spaces and recreational amenities including a swimming pool, fitness center, restaurant, and a rejuvenating spa.
Part of Marriott Bonvoy’s portfolio of over 30 extraordinary hotel brands, and adding to the 11 Marriott-branded hotels in Argentina, the Sheraton Buenos Aires Greenville Polo & Resort will be part of a planned development that encompasses residential lots, apartments, polo fields, sports facilities, and a host of amenities.
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