Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/34521
exercise equipment. Guests may use the locker rooms, inclusive of the sauna and steam room. The Conference Center and Spa, which opened in September #2 HYATT REGENCY BONAVENTURE CONFERENCE CENTER & SPA A Trend-Setting Fitness Resort TogetherWith Outstanding Conference Center Amenities BY BILL HERBERT A visit to the AAA-rated Four Diamond accommoda- tions of the Hyatt Regency Bonaventure Conference Center and Spa is an introduction to the peaceful sanctuary and blissful serenity of a Zen Garden, coupled with a 60,000-sq. ft. of state-of-the-art confer- ence center. As the first certified Florida Green Lodging hotel in Broward County, the Hyatt Regency Bonaventure caters to all leisure and business needs by offering a quality experience, personalized service and environmentally conscious policies. Since 1910, guests have stepped inside the signature red door of this great spa into a relaxing retreat. The famed Elizabeth Arden (Canadian busi- ness woman Florence Nightingale Graham who began the legendary cos- metic line, salon and spa empire) found- ed her world-renowned Red Door Salons & Spas on the principles that the essential glow of beauty must come from within and that every guest who visits should leave physically refreshed and mentally rejuvenated. On a recent visit to this famed resort, I and a group of travel writers experienced, first hand, how the men and women who represent Red Door Lifestyle Spas today per- petuate Elizabeth Arden’s vision by making it their sole pur- pose to enhance the guest experience through spa activities that promote beauty, harmony, and well-being. Set amidst the lush gardens of this magnificently transformed hotel, the spacious, 48,000-sq. ft. spa features include 30 treatment rooms, a Zen Garden, fitness classes, a Pilate’s studio, a hot yoga room, a movement studio, a sauna, a steam room and a lecture room. The excellent deep-tissue massage that I enjoyed put me in a stress-free zone that lasted throughout my entire visit to the facility. In addition to the Spa, the Hyatt also offers a 24-hour, 2,400- sq. ft. fitness center equipped with free weights and Techno-Gym 28 2006 after a $100 million renovation to the entire 23-acre proper- ty, is located in the community of Weston, in western Fort Lauderdale along the southeastern coast of Florida and 15 miles away from the Fort Lauderdale International Airport. The hotel is conveniently located just four miles from the Sawgrass Mills outlet mall, Florida’s largest retail and entertainment complex offering more than 350 stores, popular restaurants and multiplex cinemas. Our travel writer group had the opportunity to visit this vast and thoroughly contemporary mall, and enjoy lunch at one of its fine eating establishments. Guests of the hotel can also explore the Florida Everglades or visit Fort Lauderdale’s famous beaches, shopping, dining and nightlife. The Bonaventure features 501 beautifully appointed British colonial-style guestrooms. Each guestroom comes with Wi-Fi, LCD televisions, iHome clock radios with iPod docking stations, and 400 square feet of living area including a kitchenette and handsome marble baths. For added comfort, expansive suites, ranging from 900 to 1,400 sq. ft., are also available. The buildings that contain the guestrooms are surrounded by an attractive golf course that enhances the overall appeal of the facility. The Bonaventure offers more than 60,000 sq. ft. of flexible indoor and out- door meeting and pre-function space, all conveniently located on one level. The 10,440-sq. ft. Global Ballroom with dra- matic 20-ft. ceilings and 8,000-sq. ft. Grand Ballroom are located side-by-side and accommodate as many as 2,000 peo- ple. These spaces are well suited for galas, social events, corporate meetings and conferences. They offer added conven- iences such as built-in registration areas. Additionally, the hotel features a 175-seat amphitheater with state-of-the-art tech- nology and 15 breakout rooms ranging in size from 375 square feet to 1,728 square feet. The Hyatt’s many dining facilities and lounges all maintain a high level of service. I was particularly impressed with Ireland’s Steakhouse, which has earned the prestigious AAA Four Diamond award. Our group enjoyed a great dinner in this fine dining facility, which features not only excellent steaks but also sustainable seafood. As one would expect from a hotel of this quality, the Hyatt offers a business center, open 24-hours that pro- vides fax and copy services as well as a scanner and computer ter- minals with high-speed internet access. Among the hotel services offered by Hyatt are included: Wireless Internet access, concierge, assistive devices for people with disabilities, dry cleaning, multilin- gual staff and valet parking. For more information contact the property at (954) 616-1234. Direct questions or comments to Bill Herbert at wgh8089@earthlink.net, or through Black Meetings and Tourism Magazine. Black Meetings & Tourism May/June 2011: www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com