Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/29859
HOTEL HAPPENINGS BIRMINGHAM-JEFFERSON CONVENTION COMPLEX WESTIN HOTEL GROUNDBREAKING Officials from the City of Birmingham and Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex (BJCC) held a groundbreaking January 24th at the site of the planned $70millionWestinHotel andMarketplace entertainment district. The 4-Star full-serviceWestinHotelwill consist of 300 rooms,6,000 sq. ft.ofmeeting space, lease restaurant and lounge,work- out fitness facility, sundry shop, business center and outdoor pool. This hotel will be built next to the Southeastern Conference headquarters building at Richard Arrington Boulevard and 22nd Street North. Outside the hotel, offi- cials plan to build a district of restaurants, nightclubs and retail shops that will extend on Richard Arrington Boulevard from 22nd Street to 24th Street North. This is good news because it is next to the Sheraton and all of the local hotels in the area will also receive a lot of business from the overflow. And, while the entertainment district will get partyers and patrons, those visitors will also spread out to other venues in the area, from Southside to Homewood, to Lakeview, Hoover and elsewhere. Mayor William Bell states, “there was a groundbreaking two years ago to build a multipurpose facility that never came to fruition. Once the 4-Star full-service Westin Hotel is complete, it will serve as a catalyst to get the multipurpose facility done.” The building of the Westin Hotel will start immediately and will be completed in a year and half. For additional information contact Jesse J. Lewis, Sr. at (205) 251-1666. RAVELLA AT LAKE LAS VEGAS, A DOLCE HOTEL & RESORT, OPENED IN FEBRUARY Idyllic Resort Offers Contemporary and Flexible Options for Meeting Planners Dolce Hotels & Resorts reports that its stunning resort, which opened in February, has been named Ravella at Lake LasVegas.The sprawling 349-room-and-suite resort showcases 39,000 sq. ft. of meeting and banquet space and a 30,000- sq. ft. spa and fitness center, with multiple dining and lounge experiences. Ravella can accommodate gatherings ranging in size from 10 to 1,000 attendees. Located on the site of the former Ritz-Carlton® at Lake Las Vegas, Dolce will manage the re-branded resort and deliver the personal service, premier cuisine, outstanding amenities and excellence in meeting experiences for which the company is renowned. Guests of the former Ritz also will enjoy a much more contempo- rary experience, including a totally redesigned lobby envisioned to be a high-energy, social gathering spot at Ravella. New dining and spa concepts will complement offerings at The Village Lake Las Vegas, for which Ravella guests will have privileged access. Situated on the shores of the largest pri- vately owned man-made lake in the United States, Ravella’s name is based on the pictur- esque coastal town of Ravello in southern Italy and inspired by the word “revel,” mean- ing ‘to take great pleasure or delight.’” Basking in year-round sunshine in the radiant lake setting, Ravella’s gorgeous Mediterranean architecture is reminiscent of Europe’s colorful waterside villages.Working in concert with the picturesque Lake Las 12 Black Meetings & Tourism March/April 2011: www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com