Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/140546
•pg_3-13__BMT_pg3-58 6/22/13 1:34 AM Page 12 H OT E L H A P P E N I N G S LOEWS PORTOFINO BAY HOTEL AT UNIVERSAL ORLANDO UNVEILS NEWLY RENOVATED, ITALIAN LUXURY-INSPIRED GUESTROOMS Time-Lapse Video Captures Total Room Transformation From Start to Finish All 750 guest rooms and suites at Loews Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Orlando have been completely renovated with a fresh, new Mediterranean-inspired design that enhances the guest experience. Designers took their inspiration for the new rooms from the upscale, sundrenched resort of Portofino, Italy and its historic harbor along the Italian Riviera. This massive $14 million renovation project took more than 5,000 gallons of paint, nearly 45,000 total work hours and more than 35,000 yards of carpeting to complete. A special time-lapse video captured the transformation of one room from start to finish. (View or download video here: http://youtu.be/E3rfs0MZQqI). "The new rooms celebrate the charm, romance and glamour of Portofino, Italy's grand vacation villas and hotels," says Karen Daroff of Daroff Design. "A refined palette in soft neutral cream colors, paired with sunbaked shades of aqua are complemented by rich, terra cotta-colored marble and custom-designed, whitewashed furnishings." Featuring cobblestone piazzas, outdoor cafés and a nightly balcony show, Loews Portofino Bay Hotel is located on-site at Universal Orlando Resort and is connected to Universal Studios Florida, Universal's Islands of Adventure and Universal CityWalk by a scenic waterway. Hotel guests enjoy three themed swimming pools, seven restaurants and lounges, a world-class spa and an exclusive package of theme park benefits including Early Park Admission to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal's Islands of Adventure and complimentary Universal Express Unlimited ride access, allowing guests to skip the regular theme park lines all day. The Meetings Made Simple offer adds value to a meeting with a complimentary add-on. With over 42,000 sq. ft. of indoor meeting space and several outdoor venues to choose from, attendees are sure to enjoy their meeting at Loews Portofino Bay Hotel. To learn more, visit http://www.loewshotels.com/en/group-offers. To plan a meeting or event at Universal Orlando, or to make room reservations at the newly renovated Loews Portofino Bay hotel, visit uomeetingsandevents.com or call (888) 331-9108. About Loews Hotels & Resorts Headquartered in New York City, Loews Hotels & Resorts owns and/or operates 19 hotels and resorts in the U.S. and Canada including the newly acquired Loews Madison Hotel located in the heart of Washington at the epicenter of legendary D.C. landmarks and the Loews Boston Back Bay Hotel, one of Boston's pre-eminent historic buildings, situated on the corner of Berkeley and Stuart Streets. Located in major city centers and resort destinations in North America from coast to coast, the Loews portfolio features one-of-a-kind properties that go beyond Four Diamond standards to delight guests with a supremely comfortable, uniquely local and vibrant travel experience. For reservations or more information about Loews Hotels & Resorts, call (800) 23-LOEWS or visit: www.loewshotels.com. NEW HOTEL OPENING MARKS 10,000 ROOMS IN SHREVEPORT-BOSSIER Shreveport-Bossier celebrated the 10,000 hotel room mark with the opening of the dual-branded Hilton Garden Inn and Homewood Suites by Hilton With the grand opening of the dual-branded Hilton Garden Inn and Homewood Suites by Hilton in March, Shreveport-Bossier celebrated the 10,000 hotel room mark. This opening makes Shreveport-Bossier more appealing to the meeting planners for groups and conventions including corporate, medical, religious, and social (e.g. fraternities, sororities, etc.) markets. "A lot of large conventions will not consider a destination unless there are 10,000 rooms or more. Now, we are able to approach those meeting planners that were unavailable to us before," said Dianna Douglas, regional sales manager at the Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau. 12 B M & T ••• May/June 2013 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com