Conventions and Meetings at the US Grant

Downtown San Diego's Presidential-Caliber Hotel Raises the Bar for Professional Meetings

• 
  SAVE
• 
  SHARE
• 
  TEXT SIZE
• 
  PRINT
• 
  COMMENT
• 
  PDF

. October 14, 2008

SAN DIEGO, CA, June 24, 2006. Opening in October 2006 following a $52 million restoration, The US Grant Hotel pairs its historic prestige and grandeur with technologically advanced meeting and event space designed for unparalleled convention and event opportunities.

The ultimate choice for discriminating professionals since 1910, including 13 U.S. Presidents, The US Grant Hotelis now an elite member of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Luxury Collection(R). The hotel has been completely refurbished by weaving contemporary features with stately historic ambiance. Downtown San Diego's Presidential-Caliber Hotel Raises the Bar for Professional Meetingsoasts 43,000 square feet of flexible, state-of-the-art meeting and event space. THE US GRANT further complements these distinctive event venues with spacious residential Event Planner Suites designed for the savviest meeting planners. With a total of 270 stylish guest rooms, including 47 elegant suites, THE US GRANT offers the highest ratio of event space to guest rooms in San Diego.

"Our goal is to blend the heritage of the hotel with superb service and the ultimate in modern technology. Our objective is to not simply anticipate guest needs, but to surpass the expectations of today's discerning meeting and event planners with an exceptional experience," said Mark Dibella, director of sales and marketing for The US Grant. "Because of its distinctive features and superb amenities, The US Grant Hotelis ideal for a wide range of meetings especially incentive, pharmaceutical and product launches."

The US Grant Hotel features 22 meeting rooms with private foyers for a total of 35,000 square feet of indoor space, as well as two new 4,000-square-foot terraces on the 8th floor that offer exhilarating views of one of America's liveliest cosmopolitan cityscapes.

Internet availability, special event lighting, an on-site audio visual department, a dedicated business center, and StarMeeting Concierge professional conference coordinators put the event and banquet space of The US Grant at the cutting edge of technology among luxury hotels without sacrificing elegance.

The US Grant offers wireless high-speed Internet access (WiFi) in all public areas of the building. Event rooms also include group connectivity with WiFi-ready display stations/CPUs can be networked for consistent, integrated multi-venue presentations, and audio connectivity through to all meeting spaces. "Over $250,000 has been invested in advanced digital information technology throughout the hotel", Dibella noted. In addition to video and satellite broadcasting capabilities, meeting rooms are equipped with data and telephone connections, power lines, fluorescent and halogen theatrical and convention lighting, T-1 lines for video-conferencing, and accessing the Web. Advanced broadcast capabilities allow for on-site press briefing.

The US Grant's event venues are located on the lobby level, the second level, the historic lower level and 8th floor of the 11-story landmark property that encompasses an entire city block at the geographic, financial, government and social heart of downtown San Diego. The second level and historic lower level rooms offer separate access from the main Grand Lobby. All major event rooms have multiple entry doors, ensuring effortless flow for larger groups.

The Event Space locations are as follows:

--Historic Lower Level - Celestial Ballroom; Crystal Ballroom; Chairman's Court; Chaffee Court; Grant Hall and Vintage Board Room; Lobby Level - The Palm Court;

--Second Level - Presidential Ballroom; Congressional Room; Executive Room; Senate Room; Albright, Long, Sickels Boardrooms and Sycuan Parlor;

--8th Floor - Two open-air rooftop terraces, Promenade East and West.

The largest event room, accommodating up to 1,200 guests, is the second level, 9,300-square-foot Presidential Ballroom, named in honor of the 13 United States Presidents who have visited THE US GRANT since it opened nearly 100 years ago. This premier San Diego ballroom has a built-in 1,100-square-foot theatrical stage with drape, concert-quality sound system, dual rear screen capability, and backstage access to up to seven auxiliary rooms. The Presidential Ballroom is immediately adjacent to the banquet kitchen, a true service delivery advantage.

Also on the second level and contiguous to the Presidential Ballroom, are a suite of three east-facing rooms named in honor of the United States government departments President Grant interacted with the most. Graced by natural light from large windows overlooking Fourth Avenue, these rooms have connecting doors opening into each other. The 620-square-foot Congressional Room and Senate Room accommodates up to 60 guests each and the adjoining, 1,395- square-foot Executive Room accommodates up to 90 guests.

Adjacent to these function spaces, a pair of special Event Planner Guest Suites provide both office and residential accommodations for event planners. Each spacious suite offers an entry foyer, a comfortable living room with separate bathroom and a versatile den/office with a dining/conference table that can accommodate up to six guests. The suite is equipped with a fax machine and printer and ample counter space and built-in cabinets, as well as separate closets for material storage to make conference coordination and organization seamless. The master bedroom is distinguished by a Luxury Collection king bed, an additional writing desk with ergonomic chair, and private luxury bathroom. Standard event suite amenities include honor bar service, small refrigerator, 12-cup coffee maker, wireless Internet, essential office equipment (three-hole punch, scissors, tape, etc.), 32" plasma television, DVD-CD player, four phones each with dual lines, (one cordless and one with speakerphone), and voicemail.

On the west side of the second level are three signature event rooms, each named after a visionary who left an indelible mark on THE US GRANT Hotel. The 247-square-foot Albright Boardroom honors Harrison Albright, the hotel's master architect, and accommodates up to 20 persons. The 323-square-foot Long Boardroom, accommodates up to 30 persons and honors Baron Long, co-developer of Agua Caliente Hotel and Spa and the Los Angeles Biltmore, who co-managed the hotel in the 1920s and '30s. The 228-square-foot Sickels Boardroom, accommodating up to 20 persons, honors developer Christopher Sickels, whose purchase of the hotel and $80-plus million renovation in the early 1980s saved The US Grant from the wreaking ball and placed the property on the National Registrar of Historic Places.

Honoring the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation, the owner of The US Grant since December 2003, the 1,026-square-foot Sycuan Parlor features windows on the south and west side and includes a secluded balcony that commands a perfect vantage point to the Broadway corridor of downtown San Diego.

Located on the historic lower level at the base of the hotel grand white marble staircase, the 5,632-square-foot Celestial Ballroom is a majestically columned, evocative room, which best represents the heart and soul of this legendary hotel. Originally the signature dining room in the 1910's, this room has evolved from speakeasy to nightclub to social hub through 9 decades of evolution. The versatile Celestial Ballroom accommodates up to 500 persons and features an oak-floored stage, mahogany clad columns, Italian chandeliers and a custom-designed carpet that complements the original Catalina tile of the south entry foyer. It provides an excellent setting for social and food and beverage events, as well as for exhibits.

The 465-square-foot Vintage Board Room - three of whose walls are lined with custom-built oak cabinets that will cradle 1,000 bottles of wine with an estimated value of $50,000 - will accommodate a the ultimate in power private dining or conferences. The hotel's designated boardroom, the Vintage Room will seat up to 14 persons around its substantial oak table.

The 2,730 square-foot Grant Hall, distinguished by floor-to-ceiling paneling of Birdseye Maple panels, can accommodate up to 200 persons or be divided into four separate breakout rooms. Also showcasing marvelous Birdseye Maple-paneled walls, the 756-square-foot Horton Room accommodates up to 75 persons.

One of San Diego's most sought after and a distinctive signature venue is the historic 2,664-square-foot Crystal Ballroom, which was introduced to San Diego in 1927 by Baron Long as a private society ballroom. Accommodating up to 250 persons, the Crystal Ballroom is an interplay of the new and historic: The ballroom's original black and gold travertine floors have been restored, as have the opulent plaster capitals on the supporting columns; the elaborate, hand-painted ceiling has undergone a painstaking refurbishment and now incorporates the new US GRANT crest. A custom-designed silk carpet is available for groups who prefer to have the stone floor covered. The private marble foyer is ideal for coffee breaks.

The Crystal Ballroom's two supporting "courts" are the 756-square-foot Chairman's Court, accommodating up to 80, and the 442-square-foot Chaffee Court, accommodating up to 30 persons. The Chairman's Court, originally the men's smoking lounge is distinguished by intricate, original inlaid parquetry flooring, paneled walls, and a fireplace of marble and wood. The intimate Chaffee Court is named in honor of Fannie Chaffee Grant, the first wife of U.S. Grant Jr., who developed the hotel in honor of his Civil War hero and U.S. President Father. Although she passed away a year before the hotel was completed, the presence of Fannie has been encountered by guests and staff enumerable times over the last 96 years.

Off of the hotel's Grand Lobby, the chic, 3,705 square foot Palm Court features 16-foot ceilings, cove moldings, nine Italian chandeliers, four magnificent grand columns, and a wall of west-facing windows elegantly draped. This airy and sophisticated venue accommodates up to 350 guests and captures the elegance of the hotel's fashionable history and speaks to its future as the premier hotel in San Diego.

The Promenade East and West Terraces are located on the 8th Floor. These twin terraces originally supported a long gone 9th floor ballroom return to use with terra cotta tiles, lush planters and sweeping views of the San Diego skyline and sparking San Diego Bay.

Director of Catering & Convention Services Rita Moore will supervise a seasoned professional staff of convention services managers and banquet managers dedicated to ensuring meticulous service and remarkable experience. Moore will assign to each event the services of a Starwood StarMeeting Concierge, who will function as a liaison between the client and all operating departments to ensure a high standard of organization and guest service throughout the hotel's convention and banquet meeting areas.

An exceptional full-service culinary staff led by renowned Executive Chef Andreas Nieto, most recently from the Westin Century Plaza in Los Angeles, will define the food and beverage experience for guests from coffee breaks to multi-course plated menus. In addition, Chef Andreas promises singularly exceptional dining experiences to guests who dine in the legendary Grant Grill with its intimate, 10 seat private dining room.

The hotel will offers valet parking for all guests and complimentary shuttle service to and from San Diego International Airport, located 3.5 miles from the hotel.