What's New

The most welcome meeting news along the Mid-Atlantic Coast was announced by Hilton Hotels on September 13: Construction is finally under way on a long-awaited convention center hotel, the Hilton Baltimore, designed to be a 20-story edifice in Baltimore's Inner Harbor. Attached by skybridge to the Baltimore Convention Center and adjacent to Camden Yards, the hotel's anticipated opening is summer 2008. Organizations and event planners, however, aren't waiting to see it before they book. The Institute for Supply Management, based in Tempe, Ariz., plans to hold its annual convention at the BCC in May 2008, a booking only possible because the Baltimore Area Convention and Visitors Association could offer a big block of rooms for the four-day meeting. The Associated Professional Sleep Societies has also booked for 2008 and will bring 4,000 attendees, and the Academy of General Dentistry will be coming with 3,000 attendees in 2009. The 757-room hotel will have a 25,000-square-foot ballroom, as well as 20,000 square feet of function space, a fitness center, a business center, and retail space.

In January, Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell released the first $16 million for construction plans and land acquisition for the expanded Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia. The long-awaited $650 million project is under way and expected to be open by 2009. If property acquisition goes smoothly, construction will start in early 2007. The center will have 1 million square feet after expansion.

Something new in Washington, the DC Circulator will bring a smile to the faces of planners trying to manage logistics for a group meeting in The District. It launched in July to provide quick, direct access to some of the most popular points in the city. From 8 a.m. until 9 p.m., 365 days a year, 29 buses painted red, white, black, and yellow link downtown with Georgetown, the convention center, hotels, restaurants, the Kennedy Center, and the Southwest Waterfront (at the National Mall). The cost of a ticket is $1.

Last October, plans for a headquarters hotel at the new Washington Convention Center gained about 200 rooms. Marriott will manage the property.

Fueled by an 87 percent occupancy rate for 2005 and a stepped-up economy, by the end of 2007 New York City will add nearly 5,000 new hotel rooms in new and expanded properties to its current inventory of 70,723.

One of those properties is a real New York icon: The Plaza Hotel at Fifth Avenue and Central Park is being restored and divided into hotel rooms and private apartments. The landmark property, now a Fairmont Hotel, was closed last year for a $350 million renovation. It will open with 182 private residences and 282 elegant hotel rooms, magnificently restored public spaces, trendy little shops, and fine restaurants. The Plaza reopens in 2007, just in time to celebrate its 100th anniversary.

In Virginia, the first phase of the new Virginia Beach Convention Center was completed and a 56,500-square-foot exhibit hall and 40,000 square feet of meeting and function space opened last year. When the second phase of the project is completed in 2007, the convention center's square footage will grow to 516,522, creating a focal point in the Hampton Roads community.

Also in Virginia, 2005 saw the opening of the Inn at Virginia Tech and Skelton Conference Center on the school's campus at Blacksburg. This 147-room upscale hotel and adjoining meeting facility is owned by Virginia Tech and managed by Hilton Hotels. High-speed wired and wireless network access is available in the inn and in 23,705 square feet of the conference center.

In Baltimore, the newest attraction on the Inner Harbor is a Comics Museum, with all the memorabilia and silliness of the past 50 years of laughable characters and heroic endeavors. Group tours are already coming out grinning.

Facility Updates

Delaware

• The new COURTYARD NEWARK — UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE will serve as a teaching laboratory for the university's hospitality school. It includes a test hotel room where the school will study changes in hotel design and guests preferences. Connected to the University's Clayton Hall Conference Center, the combined complex has more than 40,000 square feet of meeting space.

The District

• Kimpton opened its seventh District hotel this summer, the 335-room HOTEL PALOMAR WASHINGTON D.C. After a $32 million renovation, the Dupont Circle hotel offers 10,500 square feet of meeting space.

• Wyndham City Center Hotel at M Street and New Hampshire Avenue will become the RENAISSANCE M STREET in January 2007 after an $18.5 million renovation. The hotel will have 355 rooms, and will begin a refurbishment of all guest rooms and public areas, as well as an upgrade of its meeting space, upon the rebranding.

• THE HYATT DULLES completed a $4.2 million renovation in 2005. The hotel offers 316 executive suites and 7,300 square feet of function space.

• THE WILLARD HOTEL is celebrating its 20th anniversary since reopening in 1986. The 150-year-old, 332-room hotel was closed in 1968 and nearly demolished. It now offers 16 remodeled meeting rooms with a total of 19,995 square feet of meeting space.

Maryland

• The INTERCONTINENTAL HARBOR COURT BALTIMORE was converted from the five-star Harbor Court Hotel and opened this spring overlooking the Inner Harbor. The hotel is part of a mixed-use property that includes an eight-story tower with 195 guest rooms. The hotel has 8,000 square feet of function space.

• Starwood Hotels & Resorts will open two new airport hotels — a Sheraton and an adjacent Westin less than three miles from Baltimore-Washington International Airport. The 201-room FOUR POINTS BY SHERATON BWI opened this fall with more than 4,600 square feet of meeting space in eight rooms. The 260-room BWI WESTIN is scheduled for spring 2007 and will have nearly 7,300 square feet of meeting space.

• Work started in September on a $75 million overhaul of the NEW CARROLLTON HOTEL just inside the Capital Beltway. It will become a Sheraton Four Points surrounded by new retail space, restaurants, and office condominiums expected to be finished by spring and joined by about 100 townhouse condos by fall 2008.

• TURF VALLEY RESORT AND CONFERENCE CENTER in Ellicott City is converting 117 guest rooms to 42 junior suites, four king suites, and a concierge lounge, thus reducing the guest room count to 171 rooms and suites. The concierge lounges on the redesigned sixth and seventh floors will serve complimentary continental breakfasts and receptions. Ballrooms, event space, and 28 conference rooms make up 40,000 square feet of meeting space. Refurbishment of the Cameo Ballroom and Poplar breakout rooms is also planned, as is renovation of the Terrace Restaurant, spa, and golf pro shop.

New Jersey

• Atlantic City's BORGATA RESORT has completed a $200 million expansion that added casino space, two nightclubs, retail space, and several restaurants, including a Wolfgang Puck Café. A second phase of expansion will consist of an 830,000-square-foot tower, adding 800 guest rooms, including 100 suites. The 40-story tower will also include indoor and outdoor pools, a spa and fitness center, more meeting space, and more retail shops. Estimated at $347 million, the tower's completion is targeted for late 2007.

• Not to be outdone, Donald Trump's casino company will spend $110 million upgrading its three Atlantic City gambling hotels. It will build an indoor promenade at TRUMP TAJ MAHAL, a new restaurant at TRUMP PLAZA, and will renovate meeting and convention space and add a new restaurant at TRUMP MARINA. The company already spent $32 million in 2005 on room renovations and other improvements at the three properties. In June, construction started on an 800-room hotel tower at Trump Taj Mahal.

• The Palm, a legendary high-end restaurant since 1926, opened in 2005 in THE QUARTER AT TROPICANA, a venue that mirrors Old Havana and features shopping, dining, and entertainment. The Atlantic City Palm seats 270 people in 8,200 square feet and offers groups three private dining rooms. Completion of The Quarter at Tropicana also included the 502-room Havana Tower, boosting the resort's total room count to 2,127; and 45,000 square feet of new meeting space, which brings its function space to 122,000 square feet.

• CONGRESS HALL, a historic, 106-room beachfront hotel in Cape May that was restored and reopened three years ago, last year added HARRISON CONFERENCE CENTER for a total of 5,500 square feet of meeting space.

• The W HOTEL in Hoboken is building a hotel-condominium tower that is scheduled for completion early next year. There will be 225 hotel rooms on the first 16 floors of a 25-story building, along with 11,000 square feet of meeting space.

• THE HELDRICH is due to open in March 2007 in New Brunswick's Heldrich Plaza among condominiums, offices, and retail space. The hotel will have 248 rooms with 14 suites, 24 conference rooms, a ballroom that can seat 500 guests, 50,000 square feet of conference space, a restaurant and lounge, health club and spa, and Rutgers University's John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development.

New York

• The 750-room MILLENNIUM BROADWAY HOTEL, in the heart of the theater district, has an IACC-approved 110,000-square-foot conference center with 37 meeting rooms. The hotel recently completed restoration of the 102-year-old Hudson Theatre, which is available for product introductions, concerts, meetings, and other events. It seats up to 750 people. Restoration of the theater uncovered Tiffany mosaics, which have been restored and lend a particularly glamorous note to an event held there.

• At the PARK CENTRAL NEW YORK, in midtown across from Carnegie Hall, a $65 million renovation has added to function and meeting space. For groups larger than the 12 to 14 who will fit in the Empire Boardroom and smaller than the 800 who can fill the combined ballroom and forum, try the mezzanine level, with 6,000 square feet of new meeting and event space in 12 meeting rooms, three boardrooms, and exhibit space. The Park Central has 935 guest rooms, 190 concierge-level rooms, and 19 suites.

Pennsylvania

• The 1926 WARWICK HOTEL, Philadelphia, is converting its top eight floors to 100 condominiums. In addition, a $15 million renovation will upgrade the lobby, grand ballroom, Crystal Ballroom, and mezzanine level. A fitness center and club lounge will be added as the property converts to the Radisson Plaza-Warwick Hotel Philadelphia. Renovations are scheduled to be complete in February 2007.

• The 150-room OMNI HOTEL overlooking Independence National Historical Park in September opened a new 6,500-square-foot spa and fitness center. The Philadelphia hotel has four meeting rooms and a restaurant.

• In July, Starwood Hotels and Resorts announced plans to develop a W HOTEL AND RESIDENCES in center city Philadelphia, across from the convention center. The W will have 250 guest rooms, with 26 suites, three “Wow” suites, and an “Extreme Wow” suite, all anticipated to open in 2009. There will also be a 6,500-square-foot spa and 11,000 square feet of meeting space.

• In Hershey, HERSHEY RESORTS has renovated its two 18-hole courses and is building a new 43,000-square-foot clubhouse. Next to the clubhouse is an all-season pavilion that includes a fireplace and is perfect for après golf events.

• SKYTOP LODGE in the Pocono Mountains has completed its Executive Conference Center, which doubles the resort's meeting space to 20,000 square feet.

Virginia

• The 335-room WESTFIELDS MARRIOTT in Chantilly relies on its 28 meeting rooms and 40,000 square feet of meeting space to accommodate up to 1,200 meeting guests. But even at the Westfields there is sometimes a crunch of business, especially at the holidays. This month, the hotel opens another 5,000 square feet of event space in the new Sunset Pavilion.

• The former Holiday Inn Richmond has opened as the 282-room CROWNE PLAZA RICHMOND WEST after a $1 million renovation. A new business center has been opened convenient to nearly 10,000 square feet of function space.

Ask the CVB

Delaware

GREATER WILMINGTON CONVENTION &VISITORS BUREAU
(800) 489-6664
www.visitwilmingtonde.com
Total Hotel Tax: 10% downtown
Wilmington, 8% in the rest of the state

District of Columbia

WASHINGTON, D.C., CONVENTION & TOURISM CORP.
(202) 789-7000
www.washington.org
Total Hotel Tax: 14.5%

Maryland

ANNAPOLIS & ANNE ARUNDELCOUNTY CONFERENCE & VISITORS BUREAU
(888) 302-2852
www.visit-annapolis.org
Total Hotel Tax: 12%

BALTIMORE AREA CONVENTION& VISITORS ASSOCIATION
(800) 343-3468, (410) 659-7300
www.baltimore.org
Total Hotel Tax: 12.5%

New Jersey

ATLANTIC CITY CONVENTION & VISITORS AUTHORITY
(888) 228-4748, (609) 348-7100
www.atlanticcitynj.com
Total Hotel Tax: 12% + $2 per room, per night

New York

NYC & COMPANY
(800) NYC-VISIT
www.nycvisit.com
Total Hotel Tax: 13.624% + $3.50 per room, per night

Pennsylvania

GREATER PITTSBURGH CVB
(800) 359-0758
(412) 281-7711
www.visitpittsburgh.com
Total Hotel Tax: 14%

PHILADELPHIA CVB
(800) 225-5745
www.pcvb.org
Total Hotel Tax: 14%

VALLEY FORGE CVB
(800) 441-3549
www.valleyforge.org

Virginia

ALEXANDRIA CVB
(800) 388-9119
www.funside.com

ARLINGTON CONVENTION & VISITORS SERVICE
(703) 228-0888
www.arlingtonvirginiausa.com
Total Hotel Tax: 9.75%

Phantom Planner

• For reasonably priced rooms in New York City, winter — January through March — is best for bargains, with summer (especially July and August) second best. Fall is the busiest and most expensive season, except for Christmas, but November is quiet and affordable (except for parade-route hotels at Thanksgiving).

• Here's another tip for NYC accommodations: Go uptown or downtown. Midtown locations are highly overrated when the subway can take you anywhere in minutes; even if you stay on the Upper West Side. Also, you'll get the best value for your money by avoiding the Theater District.

• Are you taking a group to the nation's capital and want the latest weather forecast before you leave? On the Web at www.wunderground.com/forecasts/DCA.html you'll find five-day forecasts that include high and low temperatures, plus wind, cloudiness, and percentage chance for precipitation. Or, pull up the same info for Baltimore, Roanoke, Richmond, the Big Apple, or the beach at Atlantic City.

Special Venues

• The redesigned CHASE CENTER on the Riverfront in WILMINGTON, DEL., has opened an event facility with 87,000 square feet of space for meetings, conventions, and corporate events. The $7 million makeover of the former arts center has created a hall of two enormous curving walls leading from an atrium lobby into Governors' Hall. That space adjoins the 22,000-square-foot Wilmington Hall, an all-black exhibit space that offers a dramatic backdrop for shows. Chase Center has 10 conference and meeting rooms, a 260-seat theater, a seminar room, and ballroom space that seats up to 1,000 people. (302) 425-3929, (888) 862-2787; www.centerontheriverfront.com

• In the BIG APPLE, THE TOP OF THE ROCK AT ROCKEFELLER CENTER reopened last November for the first time in 20 years. The view is unobstructed for 360 degrees at 67 stories above midtown Manhattan. A private room with two outdoor garden terraces (for nice weather) hosts groups for a bird's-eye view of the city that never sleeps. The Observation Deck is open 365 days a year. www.topoftherocknyc.com

• Let attendees experience a cypress swamp, an Appalachian cove, the Chesapeake Bay underwater, or an underground limestone cave at the VIRGINIA LIVING MUSEUM IN NEWPORT NEWS. The Exhibit Gallery can accommodate up to 300 for a banquet, 800 for a reception. Smaller spaces, such as the Conference Room or the Science Lab, can hold from 45 to 80 people. (757) 595-1900; www.valivingmuseum.org

• Reopened in December 2005, RICHMOND'S WALKERTON TAVERN debuted in 1825 as one of a pair of identical houses built on each side of Mountain Road, Henrico County. One house was Mr. Walker's residence while the other served as a tavern equipped with a wine cellar, three ice houses, and a 20-horse stable. Throughout history, the building has been used as a store, post office, voting precinct, and a field hospital for wounded Union cavalrymen in 1864. Today, the Tavern features historical displays, original furniture, and reproductions of 19th-century pieces and is open to the public five days a week. The Tavern and its gardens also are available for private functions, including conferences and group meetings. www.henricohistoricalsociety.org/Brookland.html

Emerson Resort & Spa.

In Mount Tremper, N.Y., two hours north of New York City in the Catskill Mountains, Emerson Resort & Spa has opened new conference facilities and is poised to open a new inn by year's end. The conference facility offers more than 5,000 square feet of meeting space in 10 meeting rooms, the largest of which is 1,550 square feet. The new inn will include 24 guest rooms and an 8,000-square-foot spa with 16 treatment rooms. The Emerson Lodge, opened in 1997, offers 27 rooms and suites, as well as 500 square feet of meeting space in its lounge, and has remained open during the expansion. The current spa, the state's only four-star spa outside of Manhattan, also remained open.

Tudor Place Has Group Space

Tudor Place is a grand Georgetown estate built by the family of Martha Washington. The 1805 house and gardens remained in family hands until 1983 and remain as they were furnished and planted over 185 years ago, with many contributions from George and Martha Washington's home at Mount Vernon. Several areas of the estate are available for group events. (202) 965-0400

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