In Belfast, EU investment in Northern Ireland (which is part of Britain) and the Republic of Ireland has led to a huge impact on the development of tourism infrastructure--and a corresponding economic renaissance, according to Ruth Moran, spokesperson for Tourism Ireland (the joint promotional effort driving business to both countries): "From the development of roadway systems and new hotels, it's just gone from strength to strength."
On the English mainland, EU investment has recently raised cranes from York to Liverpool. In between, the Greater Manchester region, the third most visited city in Britain, has been positioned as the "International Gateway to the North," thanks to the recently upgraded Manchester Int'l Airport, Britain's third-largest, with direct service to 200 international destinations. In 2007, the region will play host to the annual Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) meeting, which is expected to attract up to 700 attendees. Manchester's historic center has recently debuted a 279-room Hilton Manchester Deansgate, which is the tallest building in the city. Unique venues include the National Museum of Photography and Television in nearby Bradford, which features TV production as a teambuilding exercise. There is also ongoing discussion about the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) moving its headquarters from London to Manchester, which would turn the city overnight into a media mecca.
The city of Leeds is also undergoing an economic revitalization, with a resulting uptick in hotels, such as the 248-room Jurys Inn and the 334-room Bewleys, which cater to business travelers and meetings. Recently refurbished are the 219-room historic Queens, the 120-room Met Leeds, and 206-room Hilton Leeds City Centre (which will also debut a new conference center in 2007). The jewel in Leeds' crown, however, is the Royal Armouries museum, which features many of Britain's antique weaponry and, on occasion, jousts. This year, the Armouries will open its 27,000-square-foot Hall2 for meetings and events.
Elsewhere, gaming is part of the attractions mix. In York and Leeds, improvements have been made to the stands and clubhouses at race courses (which only operate at certain times of the year) in order to help them attract meetings and events. In Manchester, a prototype of a new style of luxe casino opened in a converted warehouse, and a casino also figures into the new, multmillion-dollar meetings complex slated for the Victorian-style seaside retreat of Southport (near Liverpool). Sometime next year, Glasgow, home of the Scottish Exhibit & Conference Centre (SECC), the U.K.'s largest integrated complex, will feature the first Vegas-style casino outside London at the 302-room Thistle Hotel. Scotland, which is better known for golf than gaming, is also expecting a new Donald Trump golf development on 1,000 acres near Aberdeen.
Will all the investment and buzz make the North of England attract incentives? Strangely enough, certain attractions have been compelling international visitors to the north for years: namely, Liverpool's "Beatles Story" exhibit down at the historic Albert Docks, and the Magical Mystery Tour buses, which crisscross the area throughout the day, touring the places mentioned in Lennon-McCartney songs. Liverpool has received a fair amount of investment—which is rapidly being turned into the 75,000-square-foot ACC Liverpool Convention Centre and Arena, a new upscale shopping district, and even the Hard Day's Night Hotel--all in time for its celebration as Europe's 2008 Capital of Culture.
OPENINGS
Northeast NEW JERSEY New Bruns-wick The 248-room Hendrich is scheduled to open in Mar with 25,000 sf of special event and meeting facilities, including a ballroom, amphitheater, boardroom, and 20 conference rooms that can accomodate 10 to 600 guests. Piscataway The 221-room Embassy Suites Piscataway completed a $4-million renovation of its guest suites and its 7,000 sf banquet and meeting facility.
Mid Atlantic DELAWARE Wilmington The 217-room Doubletree Hotel Wilmington Downtown completed its $7-million renovation project that upgraded guest rooms and 20,000 sf of meeting space. It also debuted The Law Center, an office suite designed to serve as a convenient workplace for business travelers.
WASHINGTON D.C. The 215-room Park Hyatt Washington opened in Jun, featuring a tea cellar with vintage-inspired teas, a signature fragrance designed for the hotel by artisan perfumer Blaise Mautin, Shaker furniture, and antique game boards.
Central ILLINOIS Skokie The 15,000-sf Skokie Banquet & Conference Center will open in early 2007, adjacent to the Holiday Inn North Shore, featuring a 12,000-sf ballroom that will accommodate up to 1,000. Wood Dale Formerly the Wyndham Garden Hotel, the new 161-room Doubletree Hotel Chicago-Wood Dale/Itasca opened in Jun with 3,000 sf of meeting space and dining and fitness facilities.
LOUISIANA New Orleans The last of 12 exhibit halls were reopened at the Morial Convention Center-New Orleans this Nov, following a $60-million renovation.
MICHIGAN Ann Arbor The 107-room Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites-Ann Arbor opened in Sept with nearly 1,400 sf of function space available for meetings and banquets.
MINNESOTA Minneapolis The $65-million Riverside Casino and Golf Resort will open in fall 2006, featuring a 1,200-seat multipurpose center, a 58,000-sf, single-level casino, four distinct food service facilities, and a 200-room hotel. The golf course is scheduled to open next year. Rochester The 26-room International Hotel recently opened on the penthouse level of the Kahler Grand Hotel, featuring five-star amenities. The Kahler has 14 meeting rooms with more than 25,000 sf of space, and adjoins the Mayo Medical Center, which offers an additional 100,000 sf of meeting space.
MISSOURI Branson The 301-room Chateau on the Lake Resort, Spa & Convention Center opened a new $6-million European-style spa facility in July.
NEBRASKA Omaha The Sheraton Omaha Hotel will become the 145-room Magnolia Hotel in summer 2007, the first upscale boutique hotel in downtown Omaha, with 6,000 sf of event space. It remains open during renovation.
NORTH CAROLINA Durham The 98-room Four Points by Sheraton Durham at Southpoint opened in Nov with 1,800 sf of flexible meeting space and a business center.
OHIO Mason The Great Wolf Lodge opened in Dec, featuring 401 all-suite guest rooms, 40,000 sf of meeting space, including a tiered, AV symposium; and a 93,000 sf indoor entertainment area that includes a grand-scale waterpark, an Aveda Concept Spa called Elements, a game arcade, fitness room, and Cub Club, a children's craft and activity room. Sandusky The 596-room Kalahari Resort opened its new $19-million NIA Center, in Sept, featuring 25 meeting rooms, including a 17,200-sf grand ballroom that is divisible into eight; two 3,500-sf junior ballrooms; four African hut-inspired meeting rooms; and an executive conference center.
WISCONSIN Madison A new Welcome Center opened on the University of Wisconsin-Madision campus in Sept, featuring a reception area and conference rooms. Stevens Point The 294-room Country Springs Hotel will soon complete a full-property renovation, which includes new exterior paint, new interior carpeting and wall coverings, a new heating and cooling system, and larger hot tubs. Former Green Bay Packers chef, Chris Matthews, opened Timbers Steak & Chop House earlier this year. Guest rooms and suites will boast new carpet, drapes, and bedding once renovations are complete.
West CALIFORNIA San Diego The 349-room Hilton Mission Valley San Diego completed a $11-million renovation in Sept that added a 3,000 sf meeting center which features three customizable rooms and boasts drop-down screens, LCD projectors, sound systems, DVD/CD/VCR, Wi-Fi, and ergonomic chairs. The 35-room Keating Hotel opened in Nov with a lifestyle concierge and an underground semi-private lounge that is also available to guests. The 287-room Rancho Bernardo Inn will complete a $20-million-worth of additions and renovations in early 2007. Additions include a new 27,000-sf conference center with a ballroom that can accommodate up to 1,000 guests, a 3,000-sf event lawn, on-site client office space, and Wi-Fi. Westlake Village The 270-room Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village opened recently with indoor/outdoor meeting space for groups up to 900 and a 40,000-sf Spa at Four Seasons.
INTERNATIONAL REPORT
Africa
TANZANIA Ruaha Tanzania's Ruaha National Park, home to over 10,000 elephants, 450 bird species, prides of 20-plus lions, and the Great Ruaha River, has been combined with Usangu Game Reserve, making it the largest national park in Africa with the addition of 5,791 square miles.
Asia
INDIA Musoorie The 45-room Park Place Sylverton Mussoorie opened in Sept near the renowned Kulri Market.
THAILAND Chiang Mai The 74-room Sofitel Riverside Chiang Mai opens this month with three meeting rooms, an Asian-style spa, and a luxurious 4,123-sf penthouse suite.
Europe
CROATIA Split The 382-room Le Meridien Grand Hotel Lav reopened in Dec after being closed for renovations, featuring more than 22,000 sf of meeting space.
GERMANY Berlin Four new conference rooms debuted at the beginning of Sept at the 423-room Crowne Plaza Berlin City Centre for a total of 14 meeting rooms and 13,767 sf of meeting space. Frankfurt In 2006, the 439-room Holiday Inn Frankfurt City-South, Conference Centre refurbished public areas and 180 guest rooms (including 58 executive rooms, and three skyline studios), featuring a new design scheme.
Caribbean
Bahamas Compass Point, 10 minutes from the Nassau Int'l Airport, reopened in Dec with 18 two-story cottages and single cabanas on the water's edge, overlooking the sea. Amenities include flat-screen TVs, CD and DVD libraries and players, and Wi-Fi. There is also a redesigned restaurant, several bars, a freshwater pool, and a nearby golf course. Dominican Republic The 125-room White Sands Golf and Beach Resort recently opened, featuring a golf course designed by Jose "Papa" Gancedo.
Latin America
MEXICO Cabo San Lucas The 270-room Sheraton Hacienda del Mar Resort & Spa of Cabo San Lucas recently completed renovations on its 11,000-sf hacienda-style Cactus Spa & Fitness Center. Riviera Maya The Barcelo Maya Beach Resort debuted its new spa in Dec, offering a Mayan Ternazal Lodge (a traditional Indian sweat lodge) and eight outdoor cabins for tropical massages, in addition to traditional massage therapy.
SWINGING LONDON, BY MARRIOTT
The 494-room Grosvenor House, an iconic London property, debuts Phase I of a $195-million renovation this month, unveiling 100 guest rooms done in the new style. When the restoration is complete in 2008, the property will become a JW Marriott.
The Grosvenor House is one of several London heritage properties to fly the Marriott flag. The reason, according to Osama Hirzalla, Marriott International's VP of Marketing (U.K.), is that while London has limited opportunities for new build projects, "Heritage properties bring with them very strong local market equity; most are considered landmarks and in great locations."
U.S.-based Loretta Lowe, CMP, considers the 200-room London Marriott Hotel County Hall (adjacent to the London Eye opposite Big Ben and the House of Parliament), "very high-end and high-class all the way." The County Hall, which was flagged a Marriott about 10 years ago, has 10 meeting rooms for up to 72.
For groups in town long enough to take in a play and nightlife in the West End, try the 356-room Renaissance Chancery Court, which opened in 2000 near Covent Garden in a former insurance building, offers an 11,724-sf meeting and conference facility as well as a luxury spa. And or groups looking for the next big thing, the 301-room London Marriott West India Quay Hotel & Executive Apartments is a new-build tower which opened in 2004 as part of London's new Canary Wharf development. Its neighbors include historic warehouses that now house the area's vibrant nightlife. West India Quay can handle up to 292 theater-style in its 14 meeting rooms. Also modern is the 236-room Marriott Grosvenor Square, which received a multimillion-dollar upgrade in 2005 and features a Gordon Ramsay restaurant.
The properties come with Marriott's brand standards, on which its loyal customers rely. Another U.S.-based planner, Daniel W. Krueger, held a three-day meeting at the 240-room Marriott Marble Arch: "I did not experience any differences from U.S. properties--which is one of the reasons I selected that location."
FORWARD THINKING IN ANAHEIM
As the year draws to a close, the Anaheim Convention Center's landmark 8,700-seat arena is wrapping up Phase I of a $5-million upgrade. The modernization process blends the 39-year-old arena into the redesigned Anaheim Convention Center. "We are creating a seamless environment where indoor and outdoor meetings and special events can thrive," says Greg Smith, executive director of the center. "We are fortunate to have an exceptional year-round climate in Anaheim and our new, palm tree-lined courtyard and signature fountain will enhance our entire meeting and event atmosphere."
Interior improvements on the arena include reupholstering the 5,500 permanent seats; 2,500 new floor and riser seats; a new ceiling and HVAC system; a new roof; remodeled food service areas; and new carpeting, paint, signage, and lighting. Exterior upgrades include the new courtyard, which can accommodate up to 5,000 for a reception; enhanced pedestrian walkways and landscaping; the new signature fountain at the entrance; and a spate of new lighting. The final phase of the project, slated to be completed this coming summer, focuses on updating the original building exterior to complement the existing convention center design. The original brick veneer and walls will be removed and replaced with "vision" glass and metallic facade features.
And, as the new year arrives, the Anaheim/ Orange County VCB is launching a marketing campaign that shifts direction from a focus on communicating with meeting planners about the massive facilities available, to a new approach that is directed at the attendee. "We have been big with conventions and trade shows for over 20 years, so I'm confident that planners know Anaheim has large convention facilities and major meetings hotels. What they don't know, and what attendees don't know, is that there are all kinds of new things and great restaurants, shopping, beaches and culture," says Charles Ahlers, president of the AOCVCB. "Our point is that if they are convention delegates, the group is coming. What we want to talk about are the things that will encourage them to lengthen their stay and come in record numbers."