Sam El Rabaa
General Manager
Balboa Bay Resort
High-end business clients don’t just want meeting space. These high-level meetings of 15 to 30 people want that dedicated executive meeting manager whose entire focus and expertise is on their type of group. They might be looking for natural lighting and a water view for an inspirational work setting. They’ll want trained staff to handle the privacy and security needs. Every group wants different dining options, from a grab-and-go coffee bar, like our Blend to fine dining with water views, like Waterline.
A resort needs to offer unique experiences to its high-end business travelers. From “water-to-table” dining experiences to harbor excursions for recreation or the ultimate in privacy, Balboa Bay Resort caters to that most exceptional clientele.
It’s an iconic and historic locale that isn’t just a destination but an experience.
Michael Mustafa
Director of Sales and Marketing
Hilton Anaheim
Our goal in serving these guests is to help them feel cared for, valued and respected while they work. For instance, our affluent Diamond Level Hilton Honors members may request special attention. So by interacting with guests prior to their stay, we learn about specific needs—dining, activities, security and facilities.
We have booked an entire wing of the hotel to provide privacy for high-profile guests. Our presidential suite offers nearly 2,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor space, promising guests a unique California experience and the upscale feel they seek. Hilton Anaheim will be upgrading a luxury apartment space within the hotel—ideal for corporate meetings guests traveling with their families.
Guest expectations are always high at these events. When Hilton has the most recognized name in the industry and for many travelers is synonymous with the word hotel, the stakes are even higher.
Bob Frear
Director of Marketing,
Montage Laguna Beach
Montage Laguna Beach is an ideal destination for small groups of high-end business travelers. A site serving such guests needs to offer them that variety of venues for each group’s individual needs.
Montage Laguna Beach has more than 20,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space. You can, as we do, escort guests personally to their ocean-view rooms. We provide an event concierge to assist with any request while meeting here. There are dining spaces for meetings and company retreats, including Studio, a Forbes Five Star signature fine-dining restaurant. And Spa Montage offers unique experiences for high-end business guests, including tailored group wellness classes.
Joe Martino
Director of Sales and Marketing
St. Regis Monarch Beach
Our business is predicated on developing loyalty in all guests, from the business travelers to group meetings. It’s a luxury experience and understanding of our customer through personalized service and our reward and loyalty programs Starwood Preferred Guest/Starwood Preferred Planner. It’s uncompromising and bespoke service from more than 700 St. Regis associates, and that’s why more than half our group business every year is repeat business.
It’s important for high-end venues such as St. Regis to customize offerings to the group and meeting planners’ purchasing behavior, and to reward new and repeat business, and larger groups. Personalized attention, as with our iconic butler service, gives guests staying here for meetings the gift of time.
Frank Ashmore
Vice President, Sales and Marketing
Resort at Pelican Hill
Corporate guests at high-end meetings and events are some of the world’s most discerning business travelers. The Resort at Pelican Hill serves them by providing a discreet hideaway, where five-star standards of service, the finest amenities, and inspiring ocean views make meetings memorable, convenient and productive.
For the smaller meetings of up to 30 guests, Pelican Hill’s executive meeting managers provide tailored expertise in planning Epicurean experiences, villa retreats and leisure activities, such as two golf courses and a spa.
Meeting planners bring business clients back to Pelican Hill time and again because our staff provides gracious personalized service to each and every guest and for the variety of programming options we offer. That’s the key to winning and serving the high-end meetings guest.
Peggy Trott
General Manager
The Inn at Laguna Beach
Smaller groups of up to 25 people may seek a boutique hotel experience. They’ll be a big fish in a small pond and enjoy a personalized experience. Such a venue could emphasize one-on-one interactions with a hotel team and preferences on amenity use and service.
Here, they have a direct relationship with the staff that can help in any way, not just a sales manager. Attention to detail from boutique hotels means learning about our guests—what do they like, and what are their ‘hot button’ issues that will create a great meeting experience. Because our hotel is across from Main Beach and near downtown Laguna, we can offer team-building exercise such as paddle boarding, art walks and cooking classes—or provide them to those staying with guests while they hold their meetings.
Mike Hall
General Manager
The Westin South Coast Plaza
Often, these events include high-profile guests. The Westin South Coast Plaza has welcomed celebrities and performers, political figures, university sports teams and royalty. The hotel staff is used to the extra security required, and we’re experienced at working with the specific needs of such groups: scheduling, privacy, the fastest and safest ways in and out of the facility, and so on. This may also mean keeping hotel rooms vacant above and below the guests, and maintaining secrecy about the visit.
Any hotel or meeting venue naturally is trying to make all guests comfortable while accommodating the special needs of specific guests. In that way, everyone has a pleasant and productive stay. Location is a final crucial component, and we think the Westin South Coast Plaza integrates shopping, the arts, and meeting space, all central to the rest of Orange County.
