Caribbean
Hilton Barbados Resort completed a renovation to its meeting and event spaces. Located on the tropical peninsula of Needham’s Point, the 342-room resort offers private balconies with ocean views. The renovation to the resort’s meeting spaces aims to deliver greater comfort, intuitive flow and operational efficiency.
The color palette of its 13,000 square feet of space reflects the spirit and culture of Barbados. The resort’s largest space is the 6,136-square-foot Needham’s Ballroom for 570 guests. The ballroom’s design was guided by the island’s coconut trees with colors that include blue from the Caribbean Sea’s water and warm copper accents that encapsulate the sun setting across the sand. The Hibiscus room is inspired by the seagrape scrub, a coastal plant that protects the beaches from erosion. The plant shifts from green to yellow and orange.
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In March, Sandals Dunn’s River opened an 8,000-square-foot conference center. Louis Grant Conference Center can accommodate groups of up to 500 and is named after a 60-year hospitality veteran, Louis Grant, who served as the property’s general manager for 25 years. The conference center blends contemporary design and island warmth. Design elements include natural woods with green and blue accent colors encapsulating the Caribbean Sea. The 260-room hotel located in Jamaica offers 12 dining options and nine bars.
Texas
Located on 300 acres in San Antonio, Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Villas completed a $100 million transformation. After a multi-year renovation, the resort is rolling out The Big Spring, a 2.2-acre lagoon, golf bays and an event venue, Rancher Hall. Rancher Hall Waterfront Event Venue offers 5,600 square feet of indoor/outdoor space. The high-vaulted ceilings and exposed wood beams create a rustic setting. The event hall—surrounded by oak trees—offers views of the new lagoon. The recreational lagoon features white-sand beaches, premium cabanas and a variety of water sport activities.
The Big Spring joins the property’s Texas-shaped pool, five-acre water park, 900-foot lazy river, two-story water slide and wave rider simulation. The Hill Country Spa also saw a renovation that added an event space. The 1,105-square-foot Talpa room features floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the spa’s outdoor pool. The 522-room resort boasts more than 100,000 square feet of flexible indoor/outdoor meeting space and eight different dining options.
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A South Florida Flagship
Omni Fort Lauderdale Hotel announced its grand opening in March. The 29-story hotel blends a relaxed, coastal charm with modern elegance and guides guests through the Everglades to the shoreline.
The journey begins in the lobby and expands across the entire property, reaching the sky lounge on the 29th floor. The Ibis Sky Lounge offers a nearly 360-degree view of the city and ocean and is inspired by the White Ibis, an American bird native to the coast. A collection of artwork by South Florida artists further emphasizes the hotel’s sense of place.
The hotel is located near Port Everglades Cruise Terminal, Fort-Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and the 1.2 million-square-foot Broward County Convention Center.
The waterfront property features 801 guest accommodations and 120,000 square feet of space for meetings and events. The property’s largest space is a 30,000-square-foot ballroom. The Waterway Ballroom opens up to an outdoor terrace. In addition to two ballrooms, the hotel offers 47 meeting spaces and 27 breakout rooms. Room designs feature calming earth, sand and sea tones.
Other amenities at the hotel include six dining venues, a pool deck, fitness center and 8,500-square-foot spa with eight treatment rooms.
