With its 50 miles of riding trails through canyons and meadows, a 100-acre spring-fed lake, two 18-hole championship golf courses, and six tennis courts, Alisal Guest Ranch and Resort, in Solvang, Calif., offers plenty of activities for guests to choose from, but with a twist: There are no televisions and telephones, for example, in its 73 guest cottages and suites. But for groups that want to get in touch with nature, and with each other through the ranch's menu of teambuilding activities, this may just be the ticket. And on June 20, Alisal is opening a major addition, the 5,500-square-foot Alisal Fitness Center & Spa, with a 1,500-square-foot workout room with cardio and weight training equipment; a 1,000-square-foot group fitness room with daily yoga and Pilates; and four massage therapy rooms.

In the News:

Focus on Resorts

Eagle Ridge Resort & Spa
Galena, Ill.

The News: Renovations to more than 15,000 square feet of meeting and event space, including 14 meeting rooms and three executive boardrooms, are complete.

Specs: New décor and upgraded lighting and technical capabilities have been added.

Extra: On site are 63 holes of golf and the Stonedrift Spa.

Woodlands Resort & Conference Center
The Woodlands, Texas

The News: A $50 million project will add 158 guest rooms, a 1,000-foot long “lazy river,” and a steakhouse.

Specs: On completion, the facility will have 380 guest rooms and more than 60,000 square feet of conference space.

Time Frame: Project completion is expected in late 2009.

International Plaza Resort & Spa
Orlando

The News: The 28-acre resort and spa opened in October 2007.

Specs: More than 60,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space and more than 1,100 guest rooms. The Oceans Conference Center has about 36,500 square feet of function space and the Lakes Conference Center has nearly 13,000 square feet of space.

Extra: Located across the Bee Line Expressway from the Orange County Convention Center

Hilton Sedona Resort and Spa
Sedona, Ariz.

The News: The resort has added new Executive Meeting Rooms.

Specs: The four new soundproofed rooms have ergonomic chairs, flat-panel plasma screens, and speakerphones.

The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas
St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands

The News: A $40 million renovation project is complete.

Specs: The project included adding 55 guest rooms, 20 suites, and two villas, and the spa has been doubled in size.

News Makers:

• Matt Kurylo has been named senior sales manager of the Hilton San Diego Sales Complex. Kurylo has more than 20 years of hotel sales experience, most recently with Hilton Hotels focusing on the North-east and pharmaceutical sales.

• Dale Scharlat, CMP, has joined KSL Resorts as director of national sales for the Northeast market and pharmaceutical accounts. Most recently, Scharlat served as executive director of regional sales for Sonesta Hotels and Resorts.