Hotels and resorts are breathing fresh ideas into every aspect of their operation. These 5 hotels add a fresh twist to the attendee experience, from meeting experiences inspired by the forest to toes-in-the-sand dining.
Whether that means graffiti as art at the Pullman Miami Airport or a chance to learn about the local reptiles at Westin Kierland Resort & Spa, these creative touches take the attendee experience to the next level.
Pullman Miami Airport
The newly renovated Pullman Miami Airport, the brand’s North American debut, has put local street art in the spotlight by commissioning Miami-based street artist ABSTRK, who pulled together a team of seven local artists to create pieces that adorn the exterior, lobby and other public spaces. Its culinary concept, Tapastry by Pullman, offers tapas featuring locally sourced ingredients, on demand. Even the hotel staff’s uniforms are unlike any others, designed by renowned fashion designer Martine Sitbon. With an outdoor swimming pool overlooking Blue Lagoon, and even tennis courts, Pullman redefines the airport hotel.
Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club
Attendees have come to expect fabulous water views while dining, but partaking in a meal with their toes in the sand makes the experience far more memorable. At HB’s on the Gulf, the Gulf-front restaurant at the Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club, a “Toes in the Sand” dining option offers an elegant five-course meal while groups dine with their toes in the soft white sand. Small plate options, such as Blue Crab Cake and and Horseradish Marinated Shrimp, are inspired by the Gulf. And of course, there’s Key Lime Pie on the menu, to top off the experience.
Westin Kierland Resort & Spa
Groups entering the Westin Kierland Resort & Spa’s lobby are greeted with a surprise: two habitats in the featuring a Western Diamondback rattlesnake, a Mohave rattlesnake, a Gila Monster and a California king snake. Every Friday morning at 9 a.m., attendees can participate in “Snake and Eggs,” a chance to breakfast with the resident reptiles and watch them being fed. The Westin Kierland’s mission focuses on Arizona history and culture, and these snakes are among 40 different kinds found throughout the state.
Park Hyatt New York
Executive Chef Sebastien Archambault offers up his recipes as part of Park Hyatt’s Masters of Food & Wine program, where hotel chefs and sommeliers share their knowledge with the public. Archambault spent his childhood weekends at his parents’ restaurant in southwestern France, helping to make poached eggs “cocette” at the age of 10. The modern rendition is combined with mushrooms, foie gras and black truffle, and is available on the hotel’s web site. Hyatt’s global flagship hotel, the Park Hyatt New York offers farm-to-table American fare at The Back Room at One57 and craft cocktails in The Living Room.
The Woodlands Resort & Conference Center
There’s nothing quite like The Woodlands, Texas, an award-winning master-planned community, much of which was originally designed so that all buildings were hidden by trees. The feeling of being close to nature is apparent at The Woodlands Resort & Conference Center—whether that means nature-inspired treatments in the spa, hiking through 28,000 acres of forest or a ride down a lazy river set among the towering pines. Groups can explore 200 miles of hiking and biking trails through the East Texas Piney Woods, or bird-watch for 200 species of birds. Even the resort’s meeting spaces were designed around the forest setting, from a lakeside terrace to a glass-enclosed ballroom.
For more eco-friendly meeting ideas in Florida, check out “Laid-Back Eco Vibe at Jupiter Beach Resort & Spa.”
