Editorial Board   Guest Author

Mr. Uhrin

Rob Uhrin

Principal, Cooper Carry

Rob Uhrin is a leader in the thriving Hospitality Studio in Cooper Carry's Washington, DC office, where he combines resources from the firm's national practice to complete projects nationwide. During a decade in Atlanta working on multiple building types, Mr. Uhrin settled on hospitality. This varied architectural experience gives him the particular ability to integrate hospitality projects into the mixed-use environments that are fundamental to Cooper Carry's design philosophy. Mr. Uhrin's favorite projects include urban infill that revitalize an existing urban area and represent investment in the surrounding neighborhoods. He leads the design of projects ranging from massive urban scale developments to small boutique hotels, while also acting as a thought leader as the hospitality industry continually redefines itself. He is currently leading the design of diverse hospitality projects including the Notre Dame Embassy Suites hotel in South Bend, IN, the NC State Centennial Campus Conference Center & Hotel, in Raleigh, NC and a Hyatt Centric hotel located in the shopping district of historic Alexandria, Virginia. Beyond his hospitality and conference center expertise, Uhrin leverages Cooper Carry's emphasis on mixed-use design to create truly livable, authentic places. He is regularly on the road, pitching a greater vision of the 21st-century hotel as a gathering place surrounded by restaurants, shops, offices and townhouses, wrapped into a truly spectacular place. Mr. Uhrin has held a leadership design position on nearly 30 hotels and 6,000 keys, more than half of which have been in an urban setting, where the building is expected to catalyze its urban environment.

Please visit http://www.coopercarry.com for more information.

Mr. Uhrin can be contacted at 703-519-6152 or robuhrin@coopercarry.com

Coming up in September 2019...

Hotel Group Meetings: Uncommon Destinations

The last few years have been good to the Hotel Group Meetings industry and that trend is expected to continue into 2019. Planners are brimming with confidence due to an expanding economy and increased job creation, which typically results in a boost in corporate meetings. Given this promising outlook, planners are trying to outdo themselves to satisfy the high expectations of their clients. One notable trend is to integrate unusual settings into the meeting experience, hosting groups at local zoos, aquariums, museums, event centers, or other outdoor facilities. The goal is to embrace uncommon destinations, rather than a typical hotel conference room, so that meetings can be memorable, unique and stimulating. This is also part of another trend which is to support all things local - from hosting events at landmark city venues; to catering through local restaurants, food trucks and microbreweries; to hosting off-site excursions like agri-tours, athletic events or scenic 5k routes. However, though the setting might be spectacular, there are still some bedrock components that must be provided to ensure a successful meeting. Free, high-speed Wi-Fi is still one of the most requested services. Planners have to make sure that a comprehensive communication infrastructure is in place so clients can easily connect - and stay connected - to the network throughout the entire meeting experience. Also, technology tools can be used to streamline the booking, registration, and check-in process, and Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) materials can be utilized to ensure seamless access to conference events. There are also numerous software tools that encourage audience participation, as well as integrating polls, Q&A, surveys and games into speakers' presentations. The September Hotel Business Review will examine issues relevant to group meetings and will report on what some hotels are doing to promote this sector of their operations.
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