state-of-the-art hotels

Palmer House Hilton
A Chicago Treasure

As the landmark Palmer House Hilton Hotel prepares to celebrate its 135th anniversary next year, it is also celebrating its membership in the Association of Historic Hotels of America. Not one to rest on its laurels, the hotel is also about to embark on an historic $150 million restoration and renovation placing it in a class above any hotel built today. * "The timing of the restoration and rejuvenation of the Palmer House couldn't be more perfect," said Palmer House Hilton General Manager J. Peter Lynn. "The Chicago hotel market has been experiencing a tremendous growth in the past year with a number of leisure and business-oriented new hotels announced and beginning construction. The Palmer House needs to be competitive, and our new owner's exciting and innovative plans over the next 24 months will return the Palmer House to its rightful place as one of the world's great hotels, and most assuredly one of the top hotels in Chicago."

This grand, opulent hotel is the longest continuously operating hotel in North America and much of Chicago's (and America's) history has been played out in its French-inspired ballrooms and unparalleled lobby. Ulysses S. Grant, James Garfield, Grover Cleveland, William Jennings Brian, and William McKinley campaigned here. Rudyard Kipling, Charles Dickens, Oscar Wilde, and Buffalo Bill have been guests. Mark Twain entertained at the most famous banquet held in the hotel's history in 1879 when General Grant returned from a trip around the world. Two hours of solid eating and drinking preceded no less than 15 speeches that lasted well into the wee hours of the morning.

Coinciding with the opening of the 1933 World's Fair, the famous Empire Room became a showplace for mega stars such as Maurice Chevalier, Guy Lombardo, Ted Lewis, Jack Benny, Jimmy Durante, Carol Channing, and a host of other significant performers from the 1930s through the 1970s.

The Palmer House Hilton is ideally located in the center of the city's cultural and civic areas and business and financial district, within easy access of most major transportation systems and just minutes from the principal interstate expressways and railroads. Limousine service to both O'Hare and Midway Airports is also available. The Palmer House Hilton is in close proximity to top Chicago attractions, including the Art Institute, Cadillac Palace, the LaSalle Bank Theatre, Chicago Auditorium, Goodman Theaters, Ford Center for the Performing Arts, Buckingham Fountain, Shedd Aquarium/Oceanarium, Adler Planetarium, the Museum of Natural History, McCormick Place, the Merchandise Mart, Daley Plaza - and literally within steps of Millennium Park.

The property's pool and fitness club will be upgraded and a new day spa will debut. A redesign of the street arcade and State Street frontage is in the works to attract upscale retailers.

Hilton Hotels Corporation is delighted with the commitment THOR EQUITIES (Palmer House Hilton's new owners) has shown on the hotel's rebirth. "We are especially pleased that with all the new enhancements and upgrades to take place within and outside the hotel, our new owners are taking great pains to maintain, even enhance the historical integrity of the property," Lynn said.

In all, 1,000 rooms will be remodeled and 54 new suites added, as well as a dramatic $1.6 million, 4,000-square-foot penthouse suite, sure to become the most luxurious of its kind in the city. 

Palmer House Hilton

HIGH-TECH SPECIFICATIONS

• High-speed Internet in guest rooms n Wireless Internet capability in hotel lobby
• Lobby kiosk for airline check-in and boarding pass printing
• Business center with computer stations with Internet and word processing programs, color printers, fax machines, and shipping services

state-of-the-art hotels

Hilton Anatole 
Technologically Advanced Space, Modern Amenities Distinguish Dallas Property 
As the Southwest's leading business and financial center, Dallas lays claim to being one of the top convention cities in the United States. In short, Dallas does meetings right. One reason why the city has earned such high marks in the meetings and convention arena: It is home to the legendary Hilton Anatole, which was added to the distinguished Hilton portfolio in January 2006. * As grand as Texas itself, this icon offers guests modern amenities and legendary experiences. The hotel's sweeping spaces, award-winning meeting facilities, richly-adorned décor, modern amenities, and impeccable dining options make it an ideal destination for both business and leisure travel.

To ensure that guests receive the best in accommodations and customer service, the Hilton Anatole is set to undergo a sweeping renovation of its 700 tower guest rooms and tower meeting space, as well as a conversion of the Stemmons Auditorium. Scheduled to get under way in 2007, the project will cost approximately $34 million.

The auditorium conversion will give way to the stunning new Stemmons Ballroom, featuring more than 8,200 square feet of refined meeting space, divisible by three. This new renovation follows a recent $3.5 million renovation that added the new 25th-floor Executive Lounge, the chic new Gossip Bar, and elegant renovations of the classic Wedgwood Ballroom.

Situated on 45 lush acres near downtown Dallas, the Hilton Anatole features more than 341,000 square feet of technologically advanced meeting and exhibit space with 76 meeting rooms, including seven major ballrooms, five board rooms, two lecture halls, the 128,600-square-foot innovative Trinity Exhibition Center, and the state-of-the-art West Wing. The hotel's 1,606 luxurious guest rooms feature contemporary designs in rich golds, exotic greens, and bold blues, with hints of Asian-inspired influences in the bedding, draperies, furniture, and carpet; rooms also offer first class in-room amenities and wired Internet access.

Complementing its award-winning meeting facilities, the Hilton Anatole also offers 128 luxurious suites; a full-service business center; 12 unique restaurants/ bars, including five-star Nana on the 27th floor; 10 sundry and gift boutiques; three swimming pools; a private seven-acre sculpture park; a free, self-guided audio art tour of one of the most prestigious art collections ever assembled for a U.S. hotel; and the 80,000-square-foot health and fitness center, the Verandah Club and Spa.

Travelers staying at the Hilton Anatole have the opportunity to participate in the Hilton HHonors® guest reward program, allowing guests to earn both hotel points and airline miles for the same stay at nearly 2,700 hotels worldwide. 

Hilton Anatole 

HIGH-TECH SPECIFICATIONS

• High-speed Internet access in all guest rooms
• Wi-Fi Internet access in all meeting rooms and common areas
• Full-service in-house audio/video department
• Full-service business center

 AT A GLANCE

• 1,606 guest rooms, including 128 suites
• 341,000 square feet of flexible meeting and exhibit space
• 76 meeting rooms n 12 unique restaurants/bars
• 80,000-square-foot Verandah Health Club and Spa
• 10 hotel shops/boutiques
• Seven-acre Anatole Sculpture Park with jogging track and lagoon
• Three swimming pools  

state-of-the-art hotels

The Mirage
Transformation Ups Ante on the Strip

The Mirage, the hotel that introduced the "destination resort" concept to the Las Vegas Strip in 1989, is undergoing a transformation that is once again raising the bar for Las Vegas resort properties. Beginning last year and continuing through early 2007, the transformation of this AAA Four Diamond paradise includes new restaurants; a dynamic nightclub; a modern gaming area; and LOVE™, a Cirque du Soleil production celebrating the musical legacy of The Beatles. Additionally, the resort's volcano, the iconic Mirage feature recognized around the world, is set to undergo a fiery enhancement. Conveniently located on the ground floor, The Mirage meeting and convention facilities offer the most advanced technology along with exceptional comfort and flexibility, accommodating the most intimate of dinners or lavish banquets amid a tropical South Seas paradise. Versatile and beautiful, the 170,000-square-foot convention complex at The Mirage can accommodate up to 8,650 people with 27 meeting rooms, a 40,000-square-foot Grand Ballroom, and a 24-seat executive board room that features state-of-the-art teleconferencing and videoconferencing capabilities. The 90,000-square-foot Mirage Events Center can be divided into 10,000-, 30,000- or 60,000-square-feet spaces.

Meanwhile, November of 2005 marked the unveiling of Fin, a high-end, contemporary Chinese restaurant. Chef Chi Choi, a master of the Hong Kong-style wok, leads the menu innovation here. With a décor largely centered around elegant glass designs, the restaurant showcases a spectacular water feature at one end of the room. STACK Restaurant & Bar, which opened last December, features a warm, welcoming environment with a vibrant feel and a return to fun, approachable American cuisine by Chef Brian Massie, who focuses on simply grilled, top-quality fish, meat, and poultry.

December of 2005 also brought the opening of JET Nightclub, as well as the re-opening of Kokomo's. The Light Group, which set the standard for Las Vegas nightlife and dining with its sophisticated, stylish, celebrity-attracting Light Nightclub, Caramel Bar & Lounge, FIX Restaurant & Bar at Bellagio, and Mist Lounge at Treasure Island, has introduced the latest evolution of nightlife artistry with JET. Acclaimed designer Jeffrey Beers envisioned the 15,000-square-foot club's sleek, multilevel environment that has created the ultimate nightclub experience.

One of the city's most successful steakhouses, Kokomo's now boasts a contemporary open design with a sleek new bar that serves as its focal point of activity and a re-positioned entrance to the main hotel lobby. Fine steak and exotic seafood dishes are the order of the day.

Additionally, Japonais, a marriage of modern day Japan with old-style European elegance, debuted September 2006. An outpost of the acclaimed Chicago restaurant of the same name, Japonais offers the best in new Asian cuisine. In June The Mirage introduced LOVE™ which brings the magic of Cirque du Soleil together with the spirit and passion behind The Beatles, the most beloved rock group of all time, to create a vivid, intimate, and powerful entertainment experience. In early 2007, The Mirage will unveil its enhanced iconic volcano, which will regale visitors with taller-blasting fire explosions, with seemingly hotter lava and louder sound effects for an even more realistic volcano experience.

Works by renowned glass sculptor Dale Chihuly complement the new contemporary look of The Mirage's High Limit Lounge and Baccarat gaming area. Unique finishes and textures, such as bronze, stainless steel, wood, and glass, exemplify modern design throughout the lounge's three separate, semi-private gaming sections; private buffet; and dining rooms.

The Mirage

HIGH-TECH SPECIFICATIONS

• Advanced technology throughout meeting and convention facilities
• State-of-the-art teleconferencing and videoconferencing capabilities in 24-seat board room AT?A?GLANCE
• 170,000 square feet of meeting facilities, encompassing
• 90,000-square-foot pillarless Mirage Events Center n 40,000-square-foot Grand Ballroom
• 27 meeting rooms, including a 24-seat executive board room
• 3,044 guest rooms and suites

 state-of-the-art hotels

Starwood Convention Collection
Unparalleled Properties Offer State-of-the-Art Amenities

Why book a meeting at one of 26 Starwood Convention Collection hotels? The reasons seem too numerous to list, but planners can start with the numbers: 25,198 rooms, welcoming groups from the tropical charms of the Sheraton Waikiki to the polished pleasures of the just-opened Westin Boston Waterfront. They can tally up the meeting space: more than 2.5 million square feet. They can factor in the high-tech amenities, which in most properties include high-speed and/or Wi-Fi Internet access and robust broadband solutions; lead- ing-edge hardware for premium performance, compatibility, and reliability; and outstanding audiovisual services. But what truly distinguishes this extraordinary gathering of Sheraton and Westin North American properties is the unmatched combination of financial incentives, the streamlined booking, impeccable attention to detail, and the generous rewards of Starpoints … all winning benefits that sum up the experience of every Starwood Convention hotel.

With Starwood's biggest and best convention-style hotels and resorts gathered in one powerhouse collection, meeting executives enjoy the convenience of planning and contracting multiple meetings at once - even across years and among multiple properties. Every location offers unparalleled facilities. And nothing compares with the reassuring reliability of Starwood Meeting Services, offering a consistent platform of services and personalized attention across the entire Convention Collection. A notable example of Starwood's commitment to the planner is The StarMeeting Concierge, the ultimate professional and point-person, dedicated to supervising every exacting detail of an event and ensuring top quality results.

Acknowledging the trust that meeting planners place in Starwood remains a high priority of the company. Starwood Preferred Planner is the industry's most generous recognition program for travel arrangers, offering the valuable rewards of Starpoints and a world of travel opportunities. In addition, when a minimum of two meetings with just 500 room nights or more are booked, meeting planners can look forward to the following exclusive benefits: up to one million Starpoints; valuable credits to the master account; generous short- and long-term attrition allowances; substantial audiovisual discounts when using PSAV; and enticing food & beverage discounts.

"After reviewing the feedback of our key customers, we are offering incentives that affect their bottom line and provide measurable cost savings that are important to them," said Carol Lynch, Starwood's vice president of global sales. "By lowering the required room nights to 500, we have been able to expand participating Starwood Convention Collection hotels to include an additional nine distinctive properties, making it even easier and financially rewarding to plan and contract multiple meetings at once."

The brand-new Westin Boston Waterfront is connected to the new Boston Convention & Exhibition Center and offers attendees a unique experience in comfort. Celebrated features include the Heavenly Bed®, Heavenly Bath®, and the state-of-the-art WestinWORKOUT® Powered by Reebok. A total of 32,000 square feet of meeting space includes the 15,000-square-foot Grand Ballroom and 4,000-square-foot Commonwealth Ballroom. Dining options include Sauciety restaurant, a lobby lounge, and a coffee bar.

Forthcoming convention-size properties bearing the Sheraton flag in San Juan and Phoenix confirm Starwood's preeminence in this category, and the company's ongoing dedication to satisfying and surpassing the expectations of every meeting planner.

 Starwood
HIGH-TECH SPECIFICATIONS
(most properties; individual specifications vary)

• High-speed and/or Wi-Fi Internet access n Robust broadband solutions
• Leading-edge hardware for premium performance, compatibility, and reliability
• Full complement of audiovisual services AT?A?GLANCE n 26 premier Sheraton and Westin properties in North America
• More than 2.5 million collective square feet of meeting space n 25,198 guest rooms
• Starwood Meeting Services, offering a consistent platform of services across the entire collection
• Starwood Preferred Planner planner recognition program

state-of-the-art hotels

Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel
Property's Technology Makes Connecting Easy

Located in the heart of vibrant downtown Toronto, the AAA/CAA Four Diamond-rated Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel has long been recognized as the city's premier venue for meetings, business travelers, and vacationers. And with the completion of a multimillion-dollar renovation, this top hotel is even better. * Urban comfort and style are the hotel's hallmarks. In addition to the magnificent new arrival court and Traders lobby bar, the Sheraton Centre Toronto offers 1,377 rooms fully redesigned with comfort in mind. Oversized work areas and touches such as high-speed Internet access - recently upgraded to 10 Mbps - help guests stay connected with colleagues, family, and friends; leather club chairs are perfect for relaxation. All guest rooms and suites feature the Sheraton Sweet Sleeper bed.

The Sheraton Centre Toronto has expanded to offer nearly 100,000 square feet of meeting space, making it one of the largest convention hotels in Canada. With the addition of the 10,000-square-foot Osgoode Ballroom, the exhibit level delivers 60,000 square feet of continuous space. More than 50 meeting rooms and self-contained conference wings for smaller functions make the Sheraton Centre Toronto ideal for meetings of any size. The ballrooms and exhibit hall can comfortably accommodate large conventions and trade shows.

The hotel remains on the cutting edge of technology. High-speed Internet access is available throughout the property as well as full wireless coverage of the meeting space and public areas. Attendees can check their e-mail, access the Internet, exchange instant messages while dining at Bistro on Two restaurant, or even poolside. The Sheraton Centre Toronto also offers additional state-of-the art features, such as a full-service, in-house audiovisual and production department, as well as an on-site business center, customs broker, and DMC.

At the end of the meeting day, delegates can swim in the heated indoor/outdoor pool or work out in the 24-hour fitness facility. Traders lobby bar features more than 25 beers on tap, along with superb grilled fare. There are 12 large high-definition television screens throughout.

The Hockey Hall of Fame, Air Canada Centre, CN Tower, and Art Gallery of Toronto lie within close proximity of the property, as does the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. The new home of the Canadian Opera Company is next door. Eaton Centre shopping mall is steps away. The hotel is conveniently connected to Toronto's PATH underground network, which boasts 16 miles of shops and services.

As a recipient of the Gold Key and Pinnacle Award designation, the Sheraton Centre Toronto invites groups to experience a feeling of welcome unlike any other - because guests don't just stay here, they belong.

Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel

HIGH-TECH SPECIFICATIONS

• Up to 10Mbps standard Internet connection speed, with 100Mbps available on request
• Wi-Fi access throughout entire meeting space
• Fully routable public IP addresses available on request (in meeting rooms)
• Additional telephone line configurations (voice mail, forwarding/ hunting, etc.) and meeting room networking available on request
• VoIP telephony in meeting spaces and guest rooms (launch date to be announced)

AT A GLANCE

• Nearly 100,000 square feet of meeting space, including 60,000 square feet of space on exhibit level
• More than 50 meeting rooms n Self-contained conference wings n 1,377 fully redesigned guest rooms
• Business centre
• Heated indoor/outdoor pool
• 24-hour fitness facility

state-of-the-art hotels

Hyatt Regency Vancouver
Classic Hotel Features Upgraded Technology, Fresh New Look

A classic property and the unsurpassed choice among hotels in Vancouver, British Columbia, the Hyatt Regency Vancouver has long been a favorite among planners for its exemplary service and attentive staff. Now, the property welcomes guests with a fresh new look in its prime location, boasting well-appointed, newly renovated guest rooms with contemporary styling, unmatched meeting and convention facilities, and tantalizing dining options. Surrounded by the city's bustling business center and situated moments from shops and entertainment, the luxurious Hyatt Regency Vancouver is the ideal meeting venue as well as the perfect starting point for exploring everything Vancouver has to offer.

At the Hyatt Regency Vancouver, technology that surpasses planners' expectations is also the norm. The entire guest tower is completely covered with a wireless matrix that provides excellent signal strength to each guest room. As a part of its renovation, the Hyatt Vancouver is wiring each room with a CAT6 gigabit rated cable. The hotel has also upgraded its Internet pipe to an E100 fibre-optic feed. With a gigabit infrastructure and a 100mb backbone, guests are sure to appreciate the Hyatt's data services.

Additionally, Guest-Tek, a third-party vendor, provides the guest room Internet services in the hotel. Guest-Tek offers a 24-hour support line in case any challenges should occur.

But that's just the beginning. A wireless solution is available in all of the property's meeting spaces upon planners' request. An innovative HP wireless network affords flexible, reliable communications. A cabled solution may be ordered in cases where faster speeds and/or additional security is needed.

Additionally, for conferences whose attendees require a network infrastructure such as an Intranet or VPN services, the Hyatt Vancouver is completely cabled and ready to fit the bill.

Need a quick print job? Want to check a flight or send a fax? The Hyatt has a fully equipped business center at guests' disposal. With everything from color copying, Internet services, and delivery assistance, the business center at the Hyatt Vancouver, like the hotel itself, is a one-stop shop to facilitate all your business requests.

Hyatt Regency Vancouver

HIGH-TECH SPECIFICATIONS

• CAT6 gigabit-rated cable in each guest room
• Customized networking, including LAN, VLAN, WAN, and VPN
• Dedicated E100 line fiber-optic feed
• Automated check-in kiosks in the lobby
• Online check-in service
• E-Concierge tools - organize activities with on-site concierge via the Internet.
• Webcasting and video conferencing from the show floor via ISDN or IP
• Wi-Fi Internet access in public areas
• High-speed Internet access in all guest rooms (wired and wireless)
• In-house audiovisual experts
• Full-service Business Centre n Airport check-in kiosk in main lobby
• 32-inch LCD television sets with on-demand access to hundreds of movies
• Regency Ballroom features 18-foot ceiling with 50-plus structural truss hang points

AT A GLANCE

• 644 renovated guest rooms, including 35 suites
• 34,917 square feet of function space
• 13,940 square feet of exhibit space
• 30 flexible meeting rooms on four levels
• Heated outdoor swimming pool
• Fully equipped health club
• Business center

state-of-the-art hotels

Walt Disney World Resort
Technology Amenities Support All Communications Needs

Disney is rolling out the red carpet like never before, with the "Year of a Million Dreams" running through 2007. Attendees will discover new attractions, entertainment, and surprises as Disney celebrates the dreams of guests from around the world. * Special celebrations like these are part of the reason Disney consistently helps associations drive record-breaking attendance. Here planners can also tap the Disney Institute for professional development programs packed with ROI. With all this, it's easy to see why Disney is a "dream come true" for meeting professionals and attendees. More good news for meeting professionals: The wildly popular - and complimentary - Disney's Magical Express service has been extended through 2011, providing attendees with complimentary airport transfers, luggage delivery, and advance airline check-in. Unprecedented in the hotel industry, Disney's Magical Express indeed offers enormous savings to associations of all kinds.

The entertainment and service that Disney is world famous for is supported by technology that defines cutting-edge. Disney brings that same technology commitment to meetings and trade shows.

At Disney's Coronado Springs Resort, planners will find more than 220,000 square feet of total function space, all contiguous and conveniently located on one level. The resort's infrastructure is built upon an information-technology backbone. All meeting space - including the 86,000-square-foot Veracruz Exhibit Hall, supports any high-tech communications need, including customized LAN, VLAN, WAN, and VPN networking. Strategically placed floor boxes - 52 in all - provide convenient access to all data connections, including fiber, T1, DS3, OC3, ISDN, Gigabit Ethernet, and voice-support systems. Wi-Fi is available throughout the hall and in all of the public areas.

Disney makes similar technology available at all six of its convention resorts. And, where most hotels may offer on-site tech assistance, only Disney resorts provide the full-service support of an on-site telecommunications company - from customized networks, to cyber cafes, to broadcast capabilities.

Boasting six convention resorts and more than 600,000 square feet of function space, the Walt Disney World Resort is unparalleled for conventions, trade shows, and meetings. The resort is also home to four theme parks, five championship golf courses, Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex, and two nighttime entertainment districts. Attendees staying on site enjoy convenient access to the rest of the "World" via a complimentary Disney transportation system. Whether yours is an intimate board meeting or an annual event of 10,000, Disney can create a meetings experience that you and your attendees will never forget.

Walt Disney World Resort

HIGH-TECH SPECIFICATIONS

• Exclusive on-site technical support
• Fiber-optic cable throughout
• Customized networking including LAN, VLAN, WAN, and VPN
• Dedicated T1, DS3, and OC3 lines 
• Gigabit Ethernet
• Webcasting and video-conferencing from the show floor via ISDN or IP
• Satellite uplink/downlink
• Wi-Fi Internet access in public areas
• High-speed Internet access in all guest rooms
• Veracruz Exhibit Hall features power on 30'x 60' grid; air, water, and drains in all columns; and 23' ceiling with structural truss hang points at 22'

Walt Disney World Resort
Specifications

• Six spectacular convention resorts offer 5,365 guest rooms and suites (additional accommodations available at other Disney resorts)
• More than 600,000 square feet of function space
• 86,000-square-foot exhibit hall at Coronado Springs Resort 
• Unforgettable private events in the world-famous Disney Theme Parks
• Disney's Exhibitor Concierge - full-service support exclusively for exhibitors
• Disney's Magical Express - complimentary airport transfers, luggage delivery, and advance airline check-in for all guests