Two New Meeting Centers Open

The Doubletree Hotel recently opened two new executive meeting centers (EMCs), one in the San Francisco Bay Area and one in Omaha. Both sites are certified by the International Association of Conference Centers (IACC), which means they meet a strict set of criteria that reflects the current best practices of the conference center industry.

The newer of the two facilities is the EMC at the Doubletree Hotel Berkeley Marina, which opened in December 2003. It is located within 15 miles of Oakland and San Francisco International Airports on the eastern shores of San Francisco Bay, making it the closest IACC-approved conference center to those cities. The 7,800-square-foot center is a dedicated facility that can host groups from 10 to 100. Each of the eight meeting rooms is equipped with 18-hour-rated ergonomic chairs, customized lighting, nonglare tables, T-1 Internet access, soundproofing treatments and climate controls. The facility also features a dining area and a business center that caters exclusively to the needs of EMC guests.

While conference centers are known for creating a distraction-free work environment, the location of the Berkeley Marina EMC offers numerous entertainment options. As an upgrade to the standard meeting package, the EMC team can coordinate a “Carousel Dine-a-Round” dinner during which attendees can dine at a handpicked selection of unique high-end restaurants in the Berkeley area. Or they can arrange group dining cruises on the San Francisco Bay from the Doubletree Hotel’s private dock. The facility also offers full access to jogging trails, fishing, sailing, windsurfing and other water activities, along with views of the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz and the San Francisco skyline.

If your meeting is planned for a location closer to mid-America, check out the Omaha Doubletree’s EMC, a 14,000-square-foot facility located on the top floor of the Doubletree Hotel. The facility, which opened in October 2003, overlooks downtown Omaha and replaces Maxine’s restaurant and lounge. It can accommodate groups ranging from five to 250 attendees.