NEW AND IMPROVED

A New Hamp-shire grande dame, the Mountain View Grand, in Whitefield, will reopen its doors after a $20 million renovation that restores the 1865 Colonial Revival's beauty while bringing its functionality and amenities into the 21st century. Slated for May 2002 completion, the 146-room property will reopen with 20,000 square feet of modern meeting space, including a 6,500-square-foot, state-of-the-art conference center designed to accommodate up to 350 attendees. There will be a 5,500-square-foot ballroom (seating 350 people banquet-style), a business center, and plenty of options for breakout locations, including an on-site historical library. All guest rooms will have dedicated Internet capability. An Olympic-sized outdoor pool; an indoor pool; a fitness center; a full-service European spa; tennis; and a challenging, nine-hole, 100-year-old golf course are some of the on-site recreation options.
www.mountainviewgrand.com

• Virginia Beach, Va.'s, Founders Inn & Conference Center recently unveiled its new 5,000-square-foot conference center expansion. New meeting space includes an 80-seat amphitheater as well as two conference rooms. The 240-room, Georgian-style property now has more than 25,000 square feet of meeting and conference space that includes full videoconferencing capabilities, high-speed Internet access from every workstation, and surround sound.
  www.foundersinn.com

• After a $35 million renovation, the 396-room Wyndham Newark Airport, in Elizabeth, N.J., opened last December. The hotel offers 16,000 square feet of meeting space, including a 7,200-square-foot grand ballroom, a business center, and concierge service.
  www.wyndham.com

• Six miles from downtown Los Angeles and 30 minutes from Disneyland, the new Crowne Plaza Los Angeles — Commerce Casino has 220 guest rooms with high-speed Internet access, voice mail, and on-demand video. The 20,000 square feet of flexible meeting space features 11 meeting rooms, including a 13,600-square-foot ballroom that can seat 1,430 people. The hotel also has a full-service spa and a 24-hour casino.
  www.crowneplaza.com