When it comes to hotels & resorts for meeting and incentive travel, what’s in store for 2024? More wellness and luxury, more hipsters, more frosty fun and fireplaces, and yes, more frogs.
Expanded Wellness at Coulibri Ridge
Coulibri Ridge, Dominica’s new fully off-grid resort experience, has launched a 7-night Immersive Serenity package combining spa, movement and mindfulness with Dominica‘s sulphur springs and waterfalls.
Days here start with movement and meditation sessions followed by a breakfast featuring fruits harvested from the on-property orchard and plenty of plant-based options such as a hearty cauliflower omelet with shitake mushroom bacon.
Offsite activities showcase the location’s natural beauty with refreshing waterfall immersions, natural sulphur baths created by the island’s volcanic core, hiking, paddling and snorkeling; while onsite, clients enjoy two rainwater infinity pools, a gym with mountain views and Coulibri Ridge’s signature spa experience featuring tension-relieving Chi Nei Tsang massages.
Fully customizable, the package includes three meals daily, including a four-course dinner upon arrival, non-alcoholic beverages, and roundtrip airport transfers. coulibriridge.com
Costa Rica’s Nayara Gardens Reemerges in January
The first Nayara Gardens in Costa Rica—which now has three properties there—is undergoing a complete leveling and rebuild as Arenal Casitas, each with private deck, plunge pool and views of the surrounding rainforest, with reopening set for January 2024.
Also new with the reopening will be a boutique with locally made artisan goods as well as a family education center where guests can learn more about the surrounding rainforest (the property itself is a sloth sanctuary) and participate in activities such as painting en plein air. In addition to a new pool on property, the Nikkei-style Asia Luna restaurant has been totally rebuilt and the spa is also undergoing a full renovation.
Guests at Nayara Gardens have full access to sister properties Nayara Springs (adults only) and Nayara Tented Camp with their additional restaurants, bars, pools, hot springs, yoga pavilions.
Among the many onsite activities are daily morning yoga sessions, nature walks through the sloth sanctuary and armadillo trail, morning birdwatching and evening frog tours, and coffee tasting classes at Mi Cafecito Espresso Bar, where the resort roasts its own coffee beans. nayaragardens.com
New Art’Otel London Due in March
Following the 2023 opening of art’otel London Battersea Power Station—one of London’s most exciting new hotels—the art’otel London Hoxton will officially welcome guests beginning March 2024. The second UK opening of the art’otel brand will fuse art, design and hospitality, with Signature Artist D*Face taking center stage.
Rising up in the very heart of the creative Hoxton area and home to 357 spectacular art-inspired guestrooms and suites—all with uninterrupted skyline views—the new ‘otel will feature destination bars and restaurants, an immersive art gallery featuring exclusive works from D*Face and other artists, flexible event spaces with jaw-dropping views ideal for up to 300, and a state-of-the-art, 60-seat auditorium perfect for movie screenings and product launches.
Added to this will be an indoor swimming pool, a spa with four treatment rooms, sauna, and steamroom, plus a spectacular skyline gym on the 26th floor. artotellondonhoxton.com
Update in Uptown Houston
The new Hotel Vesper, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel, welcomes guests to a boutique hotel experience combining luxury, style and comfort in the heart of Houston’s Galleria area.
While 131 guestrooms and suites deliver on ambience and style, amenities are designed for both work and comfort, including strategically-lit workspaces, enhanced storage for personal items, plush bedding and accessories, fully-stocked mini-bars and in-room dining services. Plus, pets are welcome.
In addition, Hotel Vesper’s collection of culinary and cocktail offerings includes a to-go breakfast, pastries, and coffee bar at Vesper Café, and hidden gem, Caché Cocktail Bar, offering shareable small plates. For meetings and gatherings, the hotel’s intimate event spaces include three function rooms designed for groups of up to 115. marriot.com
Waldorf Astoria Las Vegas Debuts Renovation
Waldorf Astoria Las Vegas recently completed the first phase of a multimillion-dollar property-wide transformation which includes a floor-to-ceiling redesign of all guest rooms and suites; upgrades to all 15,000+ square feet of meeting and event space; and a new arrival experience with the complete redesign and relocation of the 23rd-floor lobby and front desk to the ground floor.
All 389 rooms at the non-gaming, non-smoking luxury resort have transitioned to neutral color palettes and calming hues with new furniture and wall coverings in the suites, while 20+ floors below, the desk and lobby have relocated to the ground floor and are now surrounded by contemporary art as well as Calacatta Gold marble imported from Italy.
Meanwhile, the hotel’s 15,000+sf of flexible meeting space boasts its own fresh and modern understated look while maintaining the extravagance and refined decadence that can only be found in Las Vegas. Plan on a range of Mindful Meeting experiences including wellness lectures, guided yoga lessons, meditation, and paired seasonal menus with local and responsibly sourced ingredients.
Phase II of the Waldorf’s transformation is slated to brgin in spring 2024 and will include the introduction of the brand’s iconic Peacock Alley with tea lounge and a new bar concept. waldorfastorialasvegas.com
Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch…
Western Montana’s luxury Alpine Falls Ranch is set to unveil Black Bear at Alpine Falls Ranch, their second location and sister property, situated just next door and welcoming guests as of November 2023.
Set against the pristine Lolo National Forest and its breathtaking panoramic views of Sheep and Bald mountains, Black Bear offers a unique combination of privacy and luxury, with the new Black Bear Chalet hosting up to six and the Black Bar Lodge providing an extra 2,500sf of luxurious cabin comfort.
The dual ranch property spans four seasons of activities, from white-water rafting and hiking to skiing, snowmobiling and sleigh riding. Alpine Falls and Black Bear supply all the essential equipment, gear and expert guides. The properties also provide the ideal setting for Montana incentives, corporate retreats, executive meetings, planning sessions, team building, education and creative think tanks. In addition, the entire combined property is available for a full buyout.
For the first time, Alpine Falls Ranch and now Black Bear are introducing custom, all-inclusive packages uniquely crafted for their luxury cabins and the prestigious Mountain Mansion lodge. These exclusive packages are accessible to guests with a minimum four-night stay, providing a wide array of on-site and off-site activities, up to three daily meals, and luxurious accommodations. blackbearmontana.com
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