Mr. Dolce

Meetings & Conventions

Innovation in Design of Conference Hotels, Resorts & Centers

By Andy Dolce, Founder, Chairman & Managing Partner, Dolce International

The conference center advantage is now a well-known fact. Thanks to our industry's successful outreach efforts, business clients understand that a conference center offers an unbeatable fusion of luxury amenities and sophisticated technologies. But a subtle, often overlooked element of that formula is now taking a front seat when marketing a facility to conference planners. Design innovation is fast becoming a pertinent, enticing amenity actively sought out for conferences thanks to the dialogue, functionality and the fun it inspires among conference attendees. Some call it "Feng Shui"; we call it thoughtful design. Our clients call it a welcome enhancement of the conference center approach.

A top-notch conference resort creates an environment ideal for interaction between the audience and its leaders, in addition to interpersonal connections among all the attendees. With its fabulous cuisine, exciting array of leisure activities, and creative design, a well-planned conference center will also foster a bond between visitors and the site itself. (That certainly helps keep guests coming back again and again!) But a truly innovative site integrates its environs so that the property itself, its decor, design and its setting, becomes as meaningful to the success of the event as the conference room itself.

Consider, for example, the design at our newest property Dolce La Hulpe Brussels, situated on more than 1,700 acres in the Soignes Forest. The hotel, resort & conference destination is an oasis of contemporary European design. Smart technologies are fused with an open-floor design lending the space an almost loft-like feel. Contemporary furnishings and floor-to-ceiling windows combined with use of materials indigenous to the region stimulate interaction with the stunning natural backdrop. Through this combination, the local environs become active 'players' in the conference itself, flooding the space - even the bedrooms and bathrooms with natural light. Such features transform the entire hotel space into informal meeting areas, where guests can commune with each other as well as with nature. Dolce La Hulpe Brussels exemplifies how new design principles can artfully unify a group throughout the duration of a meeting.

Another elegant example of this principle can be found at Dolce's Aspen Meadows' Meeting Center set to debut in March 2007. Because this chic resort & conference destination complex houses The Aspen Institute, an international nonprofit founded in 1950 dedicated to fostering enlightened leadership and open-minded dialogue by politicians, artists, and social critics worldwide, the facility needed to reflect a seriousness of purpose and spirit. Nestled in the majestic Rocky Mountains, it is a landmark of modernist Bauhaus style. Renowned architect Jeffrey Berkus, in conjunction with famous British artist Andy Goldsworthy, created an environmentally friendly design that incorporates natural materials and cutting-edge building techniques. This unique facility incorporates water, stone floors, even an outdoor fireplace, which invites the Rocky Mountain vistas into virtually every view on the site.

Dolce's colleagues in the industry have also taken up the mantle of thoughtful design. Last year, the trade periodical Hotels cited the White Pond Resort and Training Center in Baiyangdian, China which deploys rich, vivacious colors in its interior decor to "excite the users and get their juices flowing", according to the facility's vice president.

And it should come as no surprise, given the global awareness for the environment, that "green" design has become an increasingly popular trend in conference resort design. It can already be observed in eco-friendly changes in different aspects of a hotel's operations, such as the use of energy efficient lighting, the reduction of water consumption, the use of non-toxic cleaning products, the protection of water quality, and the recycling and participation in other community outreach programs. Conference center companies are consulting with local conservationists on opportunities for saving resources during construction and land preservation. Consider the Salem Conference Center, in Salem, Oregon, which boasts exemplary sustainable design-from the recycled flooring to the efficient cooling system-that exemplifies the ethos and design spirit of the Pacific Northwest.

Clearly the physical environment, both the interior and exterior, has a profound impact on the total guest experience. After speaking to customers and analyzing trends, we at Dolce have created a new blueprint in conference center design that we hope will excite and embolden the conference resort industry to follow our lead. By infusing local natural elements with original and ingenious design principles-yet still incorporating the latest and best technologies-we are setting standards for the next generation conference resort. Our industry colleagues must be as committed to enhancing the learning and leisure experience by providing an atmosphere which will stimulate, motivate and encourage interaction.

We are finding that what captivates attendees the most is how these conference centers are drawing energy and focus from the natural elements, such as sand, rocks and water, and integrating them into the construction of the building. The building itself is becoming a piece of art, while simultaneously satisfying a growing interest in enviro-friendly building design. For instance, at one conference property, a snake-like red sandstone sculpture has water flowing from outside through the building's main space and to the outside again. The "Stone River" sculpture uses sandstone from each of the world's continents to symbolize the global scope of the work and meetings held at that center. Furthermore, it encourages conversation throughout the different spaces in the building. At another conference destination, a restaurant recently unveiled a cleverly designed cherry wood bar which extends 30 feet high to the ceiling, and holds 500 bottles of wine, becoming a talking piece and a unique gathering place for groups.

Cutting edge technology remains a priority in conference center design. Nonetheless we are already witnessing a vigorous interest in "organic" atmosphere which encourages a comfortable, more relaxed exchange of ideas. As is often the case in our ever-evolving industry, we must look to remove the architectural limitations that have traditionally bound us. In the same way we reshaped the idea of a grey, stultifying conference room as the embodiment of conference centers, we must also reshape the confining idea of a conference resort as a souped-up luxury facility. The stuffy hotel lobby will swiftly become an anachronism. In its place, a flexible "Great Room" that allows for quiet spots to read and browse the Internet, as well as a lounge where guests can dine, socialize and have impromptu meetings. Another way to create that natural setting is for conference centers to move away from boxy lecture halls toward architecturally fun and inventive, even eco-friendly spaces.

We are well beyond the era of conference centers creating silos from their space. We no longer designate areas as strictly defined by their use-bedrooms for sleeping, conference rooms for learning, dining rooms for eating. No longer are high-tech amenities like Wi-Fi and state-of-the-art audiovisual equipment and services relegated to the conference room. A truly modern facility synthesizes all these components, all these spaces, so that guests can conduct business from every corner of the establishment. Conversely, all the traditional business spaces become venues for personal enrichment. This is the new model for the truly innovative conference center. Thoughtful design represents the next level of conference resort modernization and maturation, one that will again confirm to our clients that no industry keeps up with their evolving needs as we do.

Andrew (Andy) J. Dolce founded Dolce Hotels which has become the world's leading conference hotel company by providing environments where people can meet and learn. Dolce is at the forefront with properties in the U.S., Canada and Europe. He has been named one of the "25 Most Influential Executives" in the meetings and travel industries by both "Meeting News" and "Business Travel News". Mr. Dolce has been a board member and president of the IACC. He is on the board of NYU's Center for Hospitality, Tourism and Travel Administration and serves on Iona College's Legal Board of Trustees. Mr. Dolce can be contacted at 201-505-5906 or andy.dolce@dolce.com Extended Bio...

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