Prevue September/October 2011 - (Page 46)

Below: The Westin Resort & Spa Playa Conchal “Many things have been iMpacted by this philosophy of sustainability created by the tourisM sector.” “What we do is offer experiences to groups in the middle of the rainforest, not just tours,” says GM Eugenia Solano. “We provide experiences because part of our mission is to show why it is important to preserve the rainforest.” Lunch might consist of sweet plantains with vanilla and sugar, followed by grilled chicken beast with passionfruit sauce, or grilled turkey in a pineapple sauce washed down with fresh fruit juices like sour sop, called guanabana. Groups also learn about how the tour operator recycles, and sources locally for workforce and 100% organic foods. “We try to show people that it’s not as hard as they think to be sustainable these days,” says Solano. Special theme activities and parties are popular for U.S. groups, such as the Rainforest Encounter. Actors dress up and paint their entire bodies to look like animals living in the forest. They’ll appear throughout the day in the middle of activities, cocktail receptions or elegant dinners. Solano says, “We complement that with live music. We have a local group that plays music that is electronic but with an indigenous combination. It’s very unique.” VOLCANO WATER Recently rebranded by Starwood Hotels, The Westin Resort & Spa Playa Conchal on the Pacific Coast in Guanacaste is undergoing a total refurbishment to all aspects of the property. The work is scheduled to be complete by January, which will make the property feel like an almost brand new resort. The coastal property is 55 minutes from Daniel Oduber Quiros International Airport in Liberia, also under renovation with work scheduled to be completed in early 2012. Scattered among low-lying room blocks, the 406 rooms are undergoing structural changes to enlarge bathrooms, and all hard/soft furnishing will be new. All five restaurants are being gutted and there will be four new breakouts to bring total meeting space to 8,500 sf. “It’s a horizontal resort that resembles a little town with walkways and bungalows, surrounded by mountains, gardens and lakes,” says Francina Gutierrez, director of sales. “We’re surrounded by so much beautiful greenery because we’re part of a protected nature preserve.... There’s also a little bit of rustic flavor with all the natural materials used in the construction, and it’s very peaceful.” About 40% of annual occupancy is group related, and many of the attendees tend to stay around the resort, sandy beach and the gorgeous landscaped golf course. Gutierrez says popular offsite experiences include ATVs, ziplines and boat trips up the river to see everything from macaws to monkeys. FYI: Don’t feed the crocodiles. For full day trips, groups make the 90-minute drive to the natural hotsprings. Slather yourself in mineral-rich mud and then dip into the warm waters fed straight from the volcanos. Visit Panama: visitpanama.com Costa Rica Tourism Board: visitcostarica.com Trump Ocean Club Panama: trumppanamahotel.com The Westin Playa Bonita: westinplayabonita.com Bristol Hotels: thebristol.com The Westin Playa Conchal: westinplayaconchal.com Rainforest Adventures: rainforestadventure.com 46 | prevue magazine http://www.visitpanama.com http://www.visitcostarica.com http://www.trumppanamahotel.com http://www.westinplayabonita.com http://www.thebristol.com http://www.westinplayaconchal.com http://www.rainforestadventure.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Prevue September/October 2011

Back Bay, Boston
Manchester
Meliá Hotels & Resorts
San Francisco/Denver/Cleveland
HSMAI + Soles4Souls
IRF/MGM Resorts, Las Vegas
Daytona Beach
Sustainability: The Next Big Thing
Central America
India
Sweden
Barcelo Resorts/Samana, DR
Portland

Prevue September/October 2011