NORTHEAST
With a hefty 64,000 square feet of flexible meeting space across 24 dedicated spaces, the staff at the 942-room Resorts Casino Hotel in Atlantic City is well-versed on helping to ensure that events come off flawlessly and achieve the desired results. From site inspection to planning and on through execution and billing, these in-house experts know the ropes. And with 10 on-site restaurants, a busy food court and a 13,000-square-foot ballroom to cater to, the hotel’s culinary team is experienced and nimble.
When not busy working, guests find much to do at the Resorts Casino Hotel. There’s an 80,000-square-foot casino, two VIP slot and table player lounges, two theaters offering live entertainment, a casino bar, an indoor/outdoor swimming pool, a health club and spa, and a number of retail shops to explore.
A luxury resort in Farmington, Pa., the 323-room Nemacolin relies on its group of event experts to help planners make the most of the resort’s 35,000 square feet of flexible meeting space. The hotel is known for going the extra mile to develop its ambitious, talented staff, even providing a new residential enclave for associates to live on-property. Whether administering to clients on its 36 holes of world-class golf or diners at the resort’s collection of top restaurants, Nemacolin’s award-wining team is there to enhance the experience.
Once planners select the 310-room Live! Casino & Hotel Maryland, they are partnered with on-staff event professionals who will work with them on every detail, whether helping hold a set number of rooms during a conference, transforming meeting space for a gala or redesigning a layout for a business convention. Ten minutes from BWI Airport and 20 minutes from Baltimore and Annapolis, the hotel has a total of 50,000 square feet of event space for up to 4,000 attendees.
SOUTHEAST
The 1,500-room Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando has long been recognized for its superior meeting facilities — a full 524,000 square feet of space including three impressive column-free ballrooms. But what really makes events achieve results are the resort’s expert associates, many of whom have been with the property for years and know their repeat clients well. Brand founder Harris Rosen takes a true hands-on approach to operations here and at the other Rosen properties, greeting guests, inspiring the staff and helping to solve any issue that might arise.
Conveniently near to the Orange County Convention Center and Orlando National Airport, the hotel has an 18-hole Arnold Palmer-designed golf course, 15 dining choices and a full-service spa. Sumptuous guest rooms feature beautiful Spanish Revival design touches highlighted by wooden beams, soft arches and large picture windows.
Much honored for exceeding meeting planner’s expectations, the 800-room Rosen Plaza in Orlando continues to impress business executives, convention visitors and leisure guests with its creative, personalized attention to detail and customer service. The long-tenured meetings team oversees more than 60,000 square feet of event space, including a grand ballroom and more than 20 other flexible rooms for gatherings, as well as helping groups make the most of the property’s wide array of fine dining and catering options.
Getting ready to unveil a grand property renovation in fall 2023, the 311-room Casa Marina Key West opened in 1920 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The resort’s in-house events team works closely with planners to best utilize any of more than 11,000 square feet of total meeting space, including a 2,584-square-foot grand ballroom that can host up to 275 guests and the Oceanfront Event Lawn, with 5,000 square feet amid tropical landscaping and a path directly to the beach.
MIDWEST
The MotorCity Casino Hotel offers a full range of staff and services to make meetings achieve real results in approximately 67,500 square feet of newly renovated event space. From cutting-edge presentations to banquets, the hotel’s associates are known for their friendliness and efficiency, not to mention their long terms of service: Many have been employed between 10 and 20 years. RFPs are met with prompt responses; special requests are quickly addressed, and guest feedback is taken seriously.
The property has 400 luxurious guest rooms, including 33 spacious suites. Among on-site attractions, the glitzy FanDuel Casino is highlighted by a table-game section offering blackjack, European roulette, poker, baccarat and much more; other draws include live entertainment, three restaurants, four lounges and a full-service spa. The hotel’s walls are adorned with artwork and Chihuly light fixtures, all highlighting Detroit’s cars, culture and sports.
The creative meetings team at the 500-room Radisson Blu Mall of America in Bloomington, Minn., takes pride in finding new, innovative ways to make each gathering unforgettable —even going so far as to orchestrate a surprise flash mob lunch experience at a recent corporate conclave and provide attendees at a conference with customized walking/running routes for downtime. The hotel has 26,300 square feet of event space, including two elegant ballrooms, and is connected directly to the huge Mall of America.
In the Chicago suburb of Northbrook, Ill., the 369-room Marriott Lincolnshire Resort is renowned for its dedicated team of skilled meeting planners and courteous front desk staff. Every planner gets thoughtful individual attention to help them maximize their use of the property’s 64,348 square feet for events spread across 26 spaces including elegant ballrooms, high-tech meeting rooms and lush outdoor venues. Also on-site are a spa, two pools, two restaurants and an 18-hole championship golf course.
SOUTHWEST
.JPG?tr=w-920%2Cfo-auto "Stella Awards Best On Site Support Staff - 5")
While the entire staff at the San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter on the River Walk believes that genuine hospitality and warmth are the cornerstone of exceptional service, on-site meeting support team members also possess a deep understanding of event management and execution. From the property’s event planners and coordinators to audiovisual technicians and banquet staff, each member is dedicated to delivering flawless service with the goal of ensuring that every event exceeds expectations.
In all, the hotel offers more than 70,000 square feet of meeting space, including a grand ballroom that can host up to 6,400 people for a reception. On-site food options include Tributary, with a farm-to-table focus that celebrates the best of Texas, and the grab-and-go Cafe Bocadillo. The location is conveniently near to historic sites such as the Alamo, numerous museums, dining and entertainment.
In-house meeting professionals — any any other staff whose work impacts groups gathering at the JW Marriott Houston Downtown — have wide latitude to put their creativity and smarts to help planner clients deliver the best results for their attendees. The hotel, which began life as the Carter Building, the tallest in Texas when it opened in 1910, has 12,849 square feet of meeting space spread among six event rooms, the largest able to host up to 500 people. No two of the more than 300 thoughtfully designed guest rooms are exactly alike.
There are many moving parts of an event, and hiring excellent people to help facilitate things can make all the difference in the end result. This is one of the guiding principles behind meetings held at the 297-room AT&T Hotel and Conference Center, on the campus of the University of Texas at Austin. This 297-room property has assembled a first-rate team to help planners negotiate the property’s 85,000 square feet of meeting space, including ballrooms, tiered classrooms and a 300-seat amphitheater.
At the 250-room Texas A&M Hotel and Conference Center on the historic campus of Texas A&M in College Station, the property’s patented theme of “Howdy Hospitality” extends to the friendly and efficient events staff. These devoted professionals know how best to take advantage of every facet of the hotel’s 35,000 square feet of meeting space, including an 8,205-square-foot ballroom, the outdoor 3,931-square-foot rooftop Pool Terrace, multiple dining options and more.
FAR WEST
.jpg?tr=w-920%2Cfo-auto "Stella Awards Best On Site Support Staff - 4")
Built with events and conventions in mind, the 7,000-room Venetian Resort Las Vegas continuously innovates for its meetings clients, whether offering creative culinary experiences, arranging non-traditional gathering spaces or organizing meaningful sustainability initiatives. The resort’s catering and conference manager helps create innovative dining experiences, from exhibit booths to ballroom banquets. Other key contacts are group housing services (to assist with group reservation set-up needs prior to arrival), group hotel services (to help plan group arrivals and departures) and an expo event manager (to help with technology requirement and any trade show or exhibit issues), all working together on behalf of the planner.
The resort has 2.25 million square feet of event space, more than 40 restaurants and lounges, a glittering casino and the Canyon Ranch Spa. Meeting and trade show space is just a short walk from guest rooms, while said meeting rooms and exhibit areas are organized vertically and connected by escalators, enabling a smooth attendee flow.
With a focus on corporate wellness, the knowledgeable and supportive staff at The Ranch Malibu in California tends to attendees’ every need as they participate together in an active schedule that includes morning hikes, strength training, yoga classes and daily massage. To complement such activities, delicious plant-based menus feature an abundance of organic and seasonal ingredients sourced directly from on-property gardens and nearby farms. Perched on 200 acres of rugged coastline, the property offers 21 private guest cottages and is ideal for a private group retreat or corporate event.
The on-site support staff at the 263-room Hyatt Regency Westlake in Westlake Village, Calif., is devoted to helping planner clients take best advantage of what the hotel has to offer, most notably more than 25,000 square feet of event space, including the 7,820-square-foot Grand Plaza Ballroom, assorted breakout rooms and the Lawn Gazebo, where up to 500 people can enjoy a cocktail reception in the beautiful, breezy outdoors. Food options include two private dining rooms and a lounge where guests can enjoy farm-to-table California cuisine.
Planners and attendees alike sing the praises of the Hyatt Regency Valencia, in the lovely Valencia neighborhood within Santa Clarita in Los Angeles County. Meeting professionals appreciate the care and creative energy of the events team, which is always happy to help forge agendas and logistics in the hotel’s 16,000 square feet of function space, including outdoor areas with lush landscaping. The property has a total of 244 newly renovated and luxurious guest rooms and suites.
INTERNATIONAL AND U.S. TERRITORIES
Meetings take place literally anywhere among the idyllic, natural surroundings of the Ranch Italy at Palazzo Fiuggi Medical retreat, about an hour north of Naples. The facility, which is patterned after The Ranch Malibu in California with its structured fitness programs, likewise has a staff of wellness experts who can help design programs enabling groups to bond, team build and conduct business.
The property which debuted in May 2022, has 102 guest rooms featuring marble bathrooms and large picture windows. A top culinary team provides attendees with a nutritionally dense, plant-based menu with a distinct Italian flair, created by noted chef Heinz Beck. Guest also have access to a 4,300-square-foot fitness center, indoor and outdoor pools and gorgeous terrain ideal for biking and hiking.
On 500 acres featuring spectacular ocean, rainforest and lush tropical views, the 400-room Wyndham Grand Rio Mar in Puerto Rico is an ideal meeting venue presided over by an events team clearly inspired by the beauty of the natural surroundings. The 48,000-square-foot Oceanfront Conference Center, which can host up to 2,300 guests, is just part of the resort’s total 100,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space. Golfers will enjoy the property’s two verdant 18-hole championship golf courses.