The Best Business Hotel of 2016

According to Entrepreneur Magazine there is one hotel that beats the rest when it comes to accommodating businessmen and businesswomen. The best business hotel in 2016 is the Mandarin Oriental Hotel located in New York. The Mandarin’s location provides for countless team-building activities for meeting attendees as it is overlooking Central Park and within walking distance of Fifth Avenue, Broadway, and Lincoln Center. The stunning décor and 18-foot high floor-to-ceiling windows within the hotel and meeting space has a sense of regality that carries over into the meeting atmosphere. The Mandarin staff is specifically trained to help cater to a businessperson’s needs and the hotel even offers a 24-hour service that offers business-wear for any late arriving or unprepared attendees. Any guest room booked can also be transformed into an office based on request! The staff will remove any beds and night tables and replace them with desks and other equipment necessary. As for dining, the Mandarin’s hotel restaurant called Asiate is ranked 4.4/5 stars and offers high quality dining with a fantastic view. This hotel is so accommodating that your event attendees may not want to leave! For more information, please visit their website http://www.mandarinoriental.com/newyork/

Starwood Strikes Historic Cuba Deals

With the restoration of diplomatic relations between the United States and Cuba underway, major hotel chains are seizing the opportunity to make business moves and headlines.

High-ranking executives from top US companies traveled to Cuba this week in conjunction with the first US presidential visit in 88 years. Among these executives were Marriott CEO, Arne Sorenson and Starwood Senior Vice President and Chief of Latin America Operations, Jorge Giannattasio.

While both Marriott and Starwood are among other hotel chains with plans to expand into Cuba, Starwood became the first to receive authorization from the US Treasury Department to operate in the island nation. Starwood signed three deals in Cuba on Saturday, March 19 that will give the chain management rights to the 83-room Hotel Inglaterra, which will become part of the Starwood Luxury Collection, and the 186-room Hotel Quinta Avenida, which will become the Four Points by Sheraton Havana. It also signed a letter of intent to manage the 27-room Hotel Santa Isabel, which will also join Starwood’s Luxury Collection.

For more information, visit: http://www.starwoodhotels.com/corporate/about/investor/news.html

Hotel Inglaterra

Gateway Canyons Resort & Spa

If you are looking for a unique corporate event spot or a high end board of directors meeting, this may be a great option for you. Edging the Colorado/Utah border and nestled in the shadow of the Palisade rock formations like the Gateway Canyons Resort and Spa. Casitas are available and include wet bars, minifridges, fireplaces, outdoor showers, private decks with fire pits and an automobile museum onsite. It’s a beautiful setting with many activity options including adventure courses, archery, hiking, fishing, climbing, helicopter tours, kayaking, paddle boarding, rafting, rappelling, yoga, massage and more. Activities available are only limited by your imagination. For those of us who like the outdoors but prefer to stay in luxury, they offer many options for worldwide glamping. For more information, visit them at http://www.gatewaycanyons.com/.

Destination Hotels and Commune Hotels & Resorts Merge

Destination Hotels and Commune Hotels & Resorts completed a merger in late January. The companies together have 92 hotels, about $2 billion in property management revenue and now claim to be the largest independent boutique hotel operator in the country. 

Commune, which includes the Thompson and Joie de Vivre brands, mostly operates in urban areas, while Destination hotels are primarily found in resort areas. Commune CEO Niki Leondakis said the merger will fuse complementary businesses. “So it was a natural thing to ask what we can do if we come together,” Ms. Leondakis said.

The name of the new company and little details have been released about the ownership structure, however, the company will headquartered in Denver, Colorado where Destination is headquartered. The current Commune headquarter office in San Francisco will be maintained as a satellite office, along with offices in New York, Singapore and Shanghai.

For more information, visit: https://www.destinationhotels.com/media-center/press-releases/destination-hotels-press-release

Terranea Resort, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
(Destination Hotels)

Smyth, Tribeca, New York City, NY
(Commune Hotels & Resorts)

Meeting Trends for 2016

• It's still a seller's market. Negotiating with hotels has been difficult and will continue through the new year. In addition, hotels will less likely commit to events that are further out.
• Healthier options for hotel menus has become a trend and some hotels are taking it to the next level with organic, vegetarian, locally sourced, and gluten-free options. As this is a significant cost for hotels, it comes with a higher menu price for planners.
• The need to create a more compelling and memorable meeting will continue to be a trend. Planners are looking to create more sensory experiences with lighting changes, lounges with music, and educational experiences with food and beverage.
• More interaction with mobile event apps to engage attendees and improve communication with schedule changes or sharing documents.
• Hybrid meetings to reach a broader audience and to reduce in-person costs and travel.