These summertime grand openings evoke wellness and glee
Here we are: right in the heat of summer. Now is the time of beach days, sunlight and lemonade. How do you infuse the upbeat yet relaxed persona of summer into your meetings and events?
These new and renovated hotels in South Florida, Santa Barbara and Spain are the answer, each with their own individual ways of highlighting their sunny destinations, optimizing wellness and creating the perfect atmosphere to connect.
Wellness by the Water
South Florida’s newest luxury wellness resort on the beachfront, Amrit Ocean Resort, is all about incorporating its wellness ethos and programming into meetings and events. The resort stands on Singer Island and spans seven acres of beachfront—only a 20 minute drive from Palm Beach International Airport and within 20 minutes of the West Palm Beach Brightline station. Upon arrival, guests find themselves among sand dunes and wildlife preservation areas; they will leave with a newfound understanding of the five pillars of wellness: mindfulness, nutrition, fitness, relaxation and sleep.
Every experience on property, from the 155 guest rooms to the five distinct dining concepts, are anchored in these pillars. The meeting and event spaces, while upholding functionality, embrace tranquility throughout the design. Attendees can enter the 10,000 sq. ft. of meeting and event space via designated elevators or by a grand spiral staircase, anchored by a sparkling chandelier.
Meeting and event spaces are versatile to suit a range of meeting needs. The bright and airy Hibiscus Foyer is embellished with “floating” glass pendants and leads into the 4,300-square-foot Hibiscus Ballroom. Alternatively, the Iris Room spans 485 sq. ft., ideal for an intimate boardroom meeting. The Lotus Room, at 860 sq. ft., is directly connected to the hotel’s beachside restaurant, TAAZA.
Read More: The Convergence of the Events and Wellness Industries: Why Event Planners Should Care
Fun in the Sun
Steps from State Street, in Santa Barbara’s Funk Zone neighborhood, comes brand new hotel, Moxy Santa Barbara. With 31 guest rooms, the exclusive hotel immerses guests in a colorful, playful environment. Its beginnings as a youth hostel inform its present-day character of fun, eclectic coastal energy.
When guests arrive, they check in at the Bar Moxy, and receive a complimentary signature cocktail alongside their room key. The 24-hour marketplace offers convenience in the form of grab-and-go food service for snacks and beverages. If guests choose to explore the culinary and shopping destination that is State Street, or wider Santa Barbara, they have the option of hopping on the hotel’s beach cruiser bikes.
All guest rooms feature comfortable bedding, flat screen TVs, walk-in showers, open wall closets and thoughtfully designed wall features to maximize hanging and storage choices. The hotel’s social space is ideal for both work and play, with free WiFi, a communal kitchen with top-tier appliances and a wide selection of outdoor and board games. 1,550 sq. ft. of event space, all outdoor around the pool area, makes Moxy Santa Barbara an exclusive event destination perfect for taking in that spectacular SoCal sunshine.
Read More: Santa Barbara: The Group-Friendly American Riviera
Get Sporty by the Sea
Through a collaboration between Meliá Hotels International and Spanish tennis star Rafael Nadal comes lifestyle brand ZEL, which debuts its second property with ZEL Costa Brava. The hotel promises “fiesta and siesta”—the perfect balance of fun and relaxation—and combines the essence of the lifestyle brand property with a Mediterranean ethos on Spain’s Cala Giverola coast.
The cliffside the property stands on was once the film site for Hollywood classics, such as “Pandora and the Flying Dutchman.” It’s home to iconic landmarks like the Tossa del Mar castle and the Vila Vella. Although the location feels pristine and exclusive, the hotel is only 20 miles from the Girona-Costa Brava International Airport.
The wellness-driven hotel concept offers a full gym with personalized or group training sessions, as well as an expansive spa complete with steam rooms, saunas, treatments and a heated pool that overlooks the mountains. Ample sporting opportunities are available, from tennis to Nordic walking and cycling. Further programming includes creative cooking classes and festive experiences in the property’s leisure and dining spaces. Dining options include the lobby bar, a food truck, a beach bar and the hotel’s signature Beach Club at Cala Giverola, which specializes in Mediterranean fare.
No matter which of the 214 nature-inspired guest rooms and suites guests finds themselves in, they’ll enjoy pristine views of the sea, mountains or gardens. One spacious meeting room can be divided into three separate spaces, rounding out the property’s ability to host spectacular meeting, event and incentive experiences.
