Chaminade

Santa Cruz, Calif.

News: Benchmark Hospitality International, operator of Chaminade, was awarded “Green Business Certification” by Santa Cruz County for exceeding environmental regulatory requirements, preventing pollution, and conserving natural resources.

Specs: Chaminade offers 156 guest rooms and 12,000 square feet of meeting space.

The Chattanoogan

Chattanooga, Tenn.

The News: Renovations to guest rooms, lobby, and Foundry Bar are complete.

Specs: 199 guest rooms all feature complimentary high-speed Internet access. The conference center has 25,000 square feet of meeting space. The property also has a spa with four treatment rooms.

Time Frame: Renovations finished in September.

Skokie Banquet & Conference Center

Skokie, Il.

The News: The $10 million Skokie Banquet & Conference Center opened adjacent to the 244-room Holiday Inn North Shore.

Specs: 15,000 square feet of meeting space and a 12,000-square-foot ballroom, the largest on Chicago's North Shore. The ballroom can be divided into eight rooms.

Time Frame: Opened February 2007

Extra: Eight crystal chandeliers, each 15 feet wide, grace the facility.

Eden Roc

Miami Beach, Fla.

The News: The historic 349-room Eden Roc building, designed by architect Morris Lapidus, is in the midst of a $170 million upgrade, adding a 283-room tower and renovating the existing one.

Specs: An 11,500-square-foot ballroom is being added to the 43,000 square feet of meeting space in 12 rooms.

Time Frame: Hotel closed April 2007; scheduled to reopen January 2008

Extra: Guests have access to a 228-square-foot private yacht; the Indies Spa offers treatments inspired by the Florida Keys.

Resort Brief

Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center

Prince Georges County, Md.

The News: The property, eight miles south of Washington, D.C., announced its projected opening date: April 25, 2008.

Specs: The 2,000-room resort will be the cornerstone of the 300-acre National Harbor development, with more than 470,000 square feet of meeting and exhibit space.

Extra: Relache Spa; 18-story, 1.5-acre glass-covered atrium

Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa

Hilton Head, S.C.

The News: A new, full-service Heavenly Spa by Westin is the first in the continental U.S. and the sixth worldwide — others are in Hawaii, Fiji, China, Malaysia, and Mexico. The spa offers nine treatment rooms and a full menu of treatments, as well as in-room services.

Specs: The resort has 412 guest rooms; 16 meeting rooms (a total of 28,000 square feet); and three golf courses

Time Frame: The spa opened in May 2007.