CITY BEAT
Hartford, Conn.
New Center Opens
Connecticut’s capital city is now operating the largest convention facility between New York and Boston. The Connecticut Convention Center opened in June with a 140,000-square-foot exhibit hall. The connected Marriott Hartford Downtown debuted in August with 409 guest rooms and 13,500 square feet of meeting space. Meanwhile, the 392-room Hilton Hartford reopened in March, following a $34 million renovation. The property features 15,000 square feet of meeting space. In September, Delta Air Lines launched daily nonstop service from Hartford’s Bradley International to Los Angeles International.
Virginia Beach, Va.
More Meeting Space
In August, Virginia Beach unveiled the first phase of its $202.5 million Virginia Beach Convention Center, which features 300,000 square feet of meeting space, including a 31,000-square foot ballroom. Supporting the center is the recently opened 291-room Hilton Virginia Beach Oceanfront, with close to 10,000 square feet of meeting space.
AZ, Scottsdale
The Radisson Fort McDowell Resort and Casino opens this month on
the grounds of the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation reservation, with
250 guest rooms and a conference center featuring 25,000 square
feet of meeting space, including 15 meeting rooms and a
18,000-square-foot ballroom.
CA, Los Angeles
The 728-room Century Plaza Hotel and Spa was rebranded the Hyatt
Regency Century Plaza in October. With more than 100,000 square
feet of meeting space, including a 25,000-square-foot ballroom, the
hotel expects to begin renovating its guest rooms, public spaces
and rear garden next summer at a cost of about $30 million.
CA, Sonoma
The 182-room Lodge at Sonoma unveiled a 4,800-square-foot seasonal
tent called the Pavilion complete with light, heat and carpeting
that will host meetings and events from November to April. The
lodge has a total of 22,000 square feet of meeting space.
COME ON INN. Comprehensive renovations are
complete at the Old Edwards Inn and Spa, a luxury destination spa
and conference center in Highlands, N.C. A total of 59 guest rooms
and suites are available, plus a 25,000-square-foot spa and a
state-of-the-art conference center for groups of up to 60 people.
Terraces, lawns and a converted barn are available for receptions.
(866) 526-8008; www.oldedwardsinn.com
CO, Denver
The 1,100-room Hyatt Regency Denver at Colorado Convention
Center opens this month with 22 meeting rooms accounting for more
than 60,000 square feet of conference space, including the
14,000-square-foot Capitol Ballroom. The $286 million, 37-story
hotel is across the street from the Colorado Convention Center.
DC, Washington
The Four Seasons Washington, D.C., finished a $25 million
renovation in October that increased the size of guest rooms and
bathrooms, reducing the total number of guest rooms from 260 to
211. The property has two ballrooms, including the
3,000-square-foot Corcoran Ballroom, as well as four meeting
rooms.
NC, Winston-Salem
The Embassy Suites Hotel Winston-Salem, connected to the
M.C. Benton Jr. Convention and Civic Center, opened in September.
The 146-suite hotel, formerly an Adam’s Mark property, has 47,000
square feet of meeting space.
NJ, Manahawkin
The $12 million, 116-room Holiday Inn ManahawkinLong Beach Island
opened in October. The hotel offers a restaurant and bakery, 18,000
square feet of meeting space and complimentary high-speed Internet
access.
SC, Myrtle Beach
The Radisson Plaza Hotel Myrtle Beach Convention Center became the
Sheraton Myrtle Beach Convention Center Hotel in September. The
402-room property is connected to the convention facility, which
has a 100,000-square-foot exhibit hall.