Prevue March-April 2014 - (Page 99)

Dolce Flavor! Large-scale events feel like a getaway in Napa Valley [ON LOCATION] JULIE ANN SIPOS T he 380-room Silverado Resort & Spa is nestled among 1,200-acres in the rolling vineyards of California Wine Country. The hotel's meetings-focused management company, Dolce Hotel's & Resorts, hosts 30,000 events and 4 million corporate clients on average throughout 27 upscale hotels, resorts and conference centers in North America and Europe. Pioneering the brand is former meeting planner, Andy Dolce, and a team of creative professionals who know how to leverage Napa Valley's exclusive spoils. "When the setting is Napa Valley, great food and ﬂowing wine are a given," says Richard Maxﬁeld, chief operating ofﬁcer of Dolce Hotels & Resorts. "The Dolce brand is about exceeding the expectations of a given destination, creating inspiring environments that easily bring people together." Flavor! Napa Valley, a four-day food and wine festival on the heels of the annual grape crush, is the perfect case in point. The festival, which is the brainchild of Food Network's Michael Chiarello, bolsters tourism between the fall harvest and winter holidays-meeting planners are drawn to its attractive pricing, which expands the realm of possibility for showcasing Napa Valley in all its F&B glory. FLAVOR! This past November, over 1,000 revelers wearing wine tasting cups around their necks met at the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone for the "Appellation Trail," featuring wines from over 100 wineries and 25 restaurants. Along the famous wine trail, Beringer Vineyards, Robert Mondavi and Rutherford Estates hosted tastings, tours and expert seminars. Kicking off the event was a dazzling welcome dinner hosted by the Silverado, a co-founder and major sponsor, with bellhops in humming golf carts ushering guests along tree-shaded walkways. A different guest chef prepared each of the ﬁve courses with vintner paired local wines. "The goal is to celebrate the spirit of the area, which is why we created Flavor! Napa Valley," Maxﬁeld says. Flanked by simmering oversized pots, I joined a line of giddy foodies waiting for autographs from the larger-than-life Masaharu Morimoto, of "Iron Chef" fame. Later, I took a seat in the kitchen theater to watch Roy Choi, father of L.A.'s food truck movement, reveal the secret behind his popular Kogi barbecue. "Massage the meat with delicious intent," he whispered. "Inject the marinade with everything you are, and may be some things you wish you weren't." THE SILVERADO The Silverado Resort & Spa is a plantation-style mansion familiar to viewers of the iconic '80s nighttime soap "Falcon Crest," used as an on location backdrop for the series. First built in the 1870s, the white-washed mansion houses the registration area, an airy lounge and multiple board rooms that can accommodate groups of 15 to 50 for coffee breaks, cocktails and breakout sessions. A sun-splashed indoor/outdoor terrace with wrought iron tables that overlook a colorful and well-manicured garden is a popular spot for luncheons and brunch buffets. Four-course Winemaker Dinners, co-hosted by Silverado's Executive Chef Jeffrey Jake and local vintners, are held in the Royal Oak restaurant with seating for 75 guests, featuring prix ﬁxe local specialties prime beef carpaccio, Monterey Bay abalone and warm stone fruit cobbler. Guests are served around communal tables and treated to anecdotes from the hosts, whose family vineyards date back for generations. The meal concludes with a bow from the kitchen staff and guests are given a bottle of lavender oil, courtesy of a local grower. "Today's groups want to drink in a destination-to become a part of it all," Maxﬁeld says. "They want the package, and that's what we do." Adjacent to Royal Oak is a 15,000-sf conference center, anchored by the Silverado Ballrooms, which together accommodate 560 guests. The center is currently undergoing aesthetic and technology revamps. Silverado co-owner and golf legend Johnny Miller has spearheaded a 360-acre renovation to North and South courses, featuring water crossings, elevation changes and routing through oak, pine and redwood trees. silveradoresort.com; ﬂavornapavalley.com prevueonline.net | 91 90-91_Aruba Hyatt_Dolce.indd 91 2/28/14 4:31 PM http://www.silveradoresort.com http://www.flavornapavalley.com http://www.prevueonline.net

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Prevue March-April 2014

Planner's Pick: Dallas
Fresh Meets: Marriott Hotels
Bureau Buzz: Montreal
Good Business: Sandals Foundation
Sea Shores: State of the Cruise Industry
Incentives, Golf + Spa
Special Section: California
Florida
On Location: Loews Don CeSar St. Pete
On Location: Chic Outlets
On Location: New Zealand
On Location: Los Cabos
On Location: Scottsdale
On Location: Aruba Hyatt Regency
On Location: Dolce Silverado
On Location: St. Croix
On Location: Hilton Bomonti Turkey
On Location: Aruba Marriott
Checkout: Conrad Pune, India
Meetings, incentives and Corporate Events, Club Med 2014 Edition

Prevue March-April 2014