HOTEL 1000
ADDRESS: 1000 First Ave., Seattle, WA 98104
WEB SITE: www.hotel1000seattle.com
STAYING CONNECTED: Guests can count on complimentary wireless high-speed Internet access throughout the hotel via three super-fast T-1 lines. The hotel's boardroom features built-in video conferencing; all other function areas offer mobile videoconference capabilities. All function rooms give speakers the ability to control lighting, volume, curtains and media selections with the push of a remote-control button on the podium. Digital color plasma-screen reader boards, which allow for personalization of events by displaying logos and photographs, are also available.
EVENT AREAS: The hotel offers 6,200 square feet of meeting space, including an outdoor terrace. The 1,856-square-foot Great Room can host large events such as wedding receptions or corporate get-togethers, while the intimate Library allows guests to mingle and enjoy fireside conversations.
POWER PLAY: The Golf Club beckons guests to play a virtual round of golf by using the hotel's infrared tracking system, which calculates the velocity, spin and trajectory of the ball. Using a touch-screen game controller, guests can choose to “play” on more than 50 courses.
HOTEL SAX CHICAGO
ADDRESS: 333 N. Dearborn St., Chicago, IL 60610
WEB SITE: www.hotelsaxchicago.com
STAYING CONNECTED: The hotel's fourth floor meeting space plays host to the Hub, which features a 36-inch video wall capable of displaying high-definition video and computer graphics; it can be customized with content from event and meeting clients. Each meeting room offers the latest in technology, ranging from 10-foot-high projection walls to 60-inch LCD HDTV plasma screens and in-room connections to DVD, CD, VHS and MP3 hookups. The hotel's Boardroom enables guests to take advantage of enhanced note-taking software and hardware technology developed by Microsoft, which eliminates the need for whiteboards.
EVENT AREAS: Hotel Sax Chicago offers 14,000 square feet of meeting space and can accommodate up to 500 people. The Americas Ballroom features 3,670 square feet of meeting space where variable lighting controls allow for candlelit, seated dinner receptions for up to 180 guests. The Retreat, a quiet oasis featuring ultra-comfortable furniture and a waterfall installation, was designed for relaxing and recharging between events.
POWER PLAY: The Studio, the hotel's entertainment lounge, features five Xbox 360 Elite game stations with wireless controllers, five Microsoft Zune MP3 players, which are loaded with music and movies, and two Internet-connected laptop computers.
ME CANCUN RESORT
ADDRESS: Boulevard Kukulkan, km. 12, Cancun, Mexico, 77500
WEB SITE: www.mebymelia.com
STAYING CONNECTED: ME Cancun Resort offers guests complimentary wireless Internet access; standard guest room offerings include an interactive 32-inch plasma-screen TV, a state-of-the-art DVD player and an extensive DVD library.
EVENT AREAS: The Studio, comprising five meeting facilities and banquet halls, features 11,000 square feet of function space and can accommodate up to 450 guests. A business center is available, and groups can mix and mingle on open-air terraces overlooking the Caribbean. Special events and business receptions can be catered by one of the resort's three signature restaurants.
POWER PLAY: E-space, a 1,130-square-foot recreational haven, aims to keep business and leisure travelers connected in a nontraditional setting. The plugged-in area features eight computer terminals, a library offering more than 125 books and a number of interactive gaming options. E-space also offers a cafe and bar, where guests can sip both standard and specialty local cocktails.
