Successful Meetings - August 2009 - (Page 72)

A Ravishing Redo T he legendary Riviera Resort and Spa in Palm Springs is glowing again after a $70 million renovation. Noble House Resorts bought the property in 2006, closed it for extensive modernization and remodeling, and the Riviera reopened in October 2008. Riviera’s interiors were gutted to expand the size of the guest rooms, carving out 406 lavish rooms with marble baths and separate tubs with showers. All rooms include plasma TVs, luxury linens for bed and bath, premium bath amenities, and balconies or patios. Riviera calls its renovated style “Hollywood Regency,” a mix of themes past and present, influenced by American and European glamour. You’ll see it in the repeating circle and oval shapes, rich colors, retro motif wall coverings, and patterned carpets. Glittering crystal chandeliers hang throughout the resort, while a dazzling ruby red chande- lier greets guests at the resort’s fine dining restaurant, Circa 59. Tiled mirrors show the way through the “arcade” where oversize images of legendary Palm Springs luminaries wink from brilliant portraits made of tiny, silver Guatemalan coins. The same retro razzle and dazzle extends throughout the property. A multiform pool reaches from the center of the resort like a glittering hub, while the buildings stretch away like spokes. Events can be staged poolside, where fire pits add warmth and ambience to evening activities. The original Riviera didn’t have a spa. Noble House brought in its brand, SpaTerre, to create a 12,000-sf pampering palace of Las Vegas glitz splashed with Buddha bliss. Taking its treatment philosophy from Balinese, Thai, and Indonesian-inspired rituals, the spa menu at SpaTerre includes a half-dozen pages of delicious treatments to nurture body and soul. Meeting spaces include the Grand Ballroom, a 19,670 sf space, featuring an oval configuration with a built-in stage and nine dramatic crystal chandeliers. The Desert Conference Center includes the 5,000 sf El Dorado Ballroom and the 4,000 sf Royal Ballroom; the property has a total of more than 40,000 sf of meeting space. —Carolyn Burns Bass SuccessfulMeetings.com I August 2009 I SM I 67 http://www.fs.fed.us http://www.portlandparks.org http://www.portlandartmuseum.org http://www.portlandspirit.com http://www.widmer.com http://www.velveteria.com http://www.stumptowncoffee.com http://www.voodoodoughnut.com http://www.oregonwine.org http://www.pcpa.com http://www.successfulmeetings.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Successful Meetings - August 2009

Successful Meetings - August 2009
Contents
Editors Letter
Planning for the World, in 5 Days
Education
Personal Success
Incentive Insights
Food & Beverage
Management Matters
Gurus
Visionaries
The Show Must Go On
What Happens in Vegas...
Rolling on the High Seas
Betting on Meetings
Meetings Hype 2.0
Places and Spaces
Midwest Meetings
Cleveland
Palm Springs Desert Resorts
Cancun
Portland
2009 Pinnacle Awards

Successful Meetings - August 2009