Hotel Happenings
Hotels are hopping. Here’s a look at some of the activity across the country.
Happy Birthday, Ulysses
To help the iconic U.S. Grant Hotel (www.usgrant.net) in San Diego celebrate its 100th birthday, Los Angeles-based Eventworks (www.eventworks.com) pulled out all the stops. Taking its hint from history, it turned the gala event into a traipse through time. The photos tell the story best.
The hotel lobby features a stunning five-foot tall white bronze statue of a woman emerging from the water with three primrose blossoms. A living re-creation of the statue greeted and interacted with guests.
Ulysses took a moment to step down from his famous portrait to join the crowd.
A 1911 Cadillac decorated the lobby as performers in period costumes strolled among the guests.
A couple of old-style “paperboys” hawked event programs at the main entrances to the hotel.
Tweet Your Wish
The Wyndham Orange County (www.wyndham.com/hotels/SNAOC/main.wnt) in Cosa Mesa, CA is celebrating its $12 million redesign with a Twitter contest. They’re inviting planners to tweet about their ideal business amenity or themed break. If you win the contest, you get your wish whether it be leather recliners for all meeting attendees or a complementary seven-course catered lunch. In addition to the “Make Your Own Meeting” contest, the hotel is offering a 20 percent discount to any groups that book and hold a meeting prior to Jan. 31, 2011.
You should direct your tweet to @WyndhamOC and include the hashtag #MYOM. The contest ends Nov. 30, so get tweeting!
Wyndham Orange County ballroom
Ah-Choo No More
Have a problem with allergies or asthma? The Hyatt Regency Chicago (www.wyndham.com/hotels/SNAOC/main.wnt) will cater to you with hypo-allergenic rooms. They have transformed 30 of their sleeping rooms with the “Respire by Hyatt” program, designed to eliminate up to 98 percent of airborne viruses and bacteria, as well as pollen and other irritants commonly found in indoor environments. The Hyatt plans to implement the program in all of its properties in the next few months.
The Hyatt Regency Chicago
Welcome to D.C.
Last week there was a groundbreaking ceremony for much-anticipated Washington Marriott (www.marriott.com/default.mi) Marquis in Washington D.C. The hotel will be directly adjacent to the Walter E. Washington Convention Center and is expected to be completed in spring 2014. The 1,175-room hotel will have more than 100,000 square feet of meeting space, a grand lobby and five separate retail and restaurant outlets on the ground floor.
Washington Marriott Marquis