BEST HOTELS FOR TEAM BUILDING

CONFERENCE

Prepared for Kimberly Strong-Knight

Prepared by
Sheri Lafond
Ivana Ignjac
Alyssa Mambretti
Sarah Maiolo

May 20, 2020

Contents
Introduction.............................................................................................................................................3
Westin Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California............................................................................................4
Loews Sapphire Falls Resort, Orlando, Florida.........................................................................................6
Hotel Excelsior, Dubrovnik, Croatia.........................................................................................................9
Conclusion.............................................................................................................................................12
Bibliography...........................................................................................................................................13

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Introduction

Within this report, you will find the comparisons of three different cities that we could
potentially hold our company morale-building staff conference. We will start by looking
at Los Angeles, CA followed by Orlando, FL and finishing with Dubrovnik, Croatia. Each
location is unique and offers different perks. While the Los Angeles resort offers an on-
site business center, filled with computers, printers and other office/presentation
essentials, the Loews Sapphire Falls Resort in Orlando offers direct access to buses
and the mono-rail as well as being both pet and child friendly. Hotel Excelsior, in
Dubrovnik, Croatia, does not disappoint either. Surrounded by rich history and ocean
views, Hotel Excelsior is something to remember. Below, you will find more detail about
each of the resorts we are suggesting.

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Westin Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California

The Westin Los Angeles Airport is a 4-star hotel

located just four blocks away from the Los Angeles
Airport (LAX). With over 50,000 square feet of
meeting space and a full range of services and
amenities, this hotel is easily recognized as a
leading meeting facility in the west. (Cvent Supplier
Network, 2015) Figure 1Westin Los Angeles (Trivago,2020)

Hotel Amenities/ Conference Facility

The Westin Los Angeles Airport focuses on creating a wellness centered and resort-like
escape that is perfect to accommodate those in LA for business. If offers many
entertainment options in and around the hotel, as well as 41 flexible meeting end event
spaces that can hold up to 1,700 guests. It has 747 sleeping rooms and suites with
rates ranging from $169 up to $709 per day (Marriott Bonvoy, 2020). Some of the
amenities it provides include:
• Complimentary Wi-Fi
• Outdoor heated pool and whirlpool
• In-room spa service
• 24-hour fitness studio
• Concierge studio
• Dry cleaning/laundry service
• Free airport transportation (Suiteness, 2020)
• Near-site surf lessons
• Expert event planners
• Custom catering for events
• Computers, printers, AV equipment, portable stages and staffed on-site business
center is all available to successfully host events (Marriott Bonvoy, 2020)

City Transit Options

Transit options include taxi, bus, subway, or walking as there is many places to see that
are nearby. If taking the subway or bus there is six available lines (4 bus, 2 subway) that
will get you nearly anywhere in Los Angeles. These bus and subway lines compromise
of the Metro Rail System. Some details regarding the system include:
• All transit rates start at a base fare of $1.75 for a single ride
• There is also a day pass for $7 or a 7-day pass for $25

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 • There is a Go Metro Los Angeles Mobile App to help plan your trip (LA Tourism &
Convention Board, 2020)

Sightseeing Opportunities
• Venice beach (17 min. by taxi & 52 min. by bus) — one of Los Angeles most
well-known and vibrant communities. A hotspot for trendy shops and restaurants,
as well as a farmer’s market (California Beaches, 2020)
• Santa Monica Pier (17 min. by taxi & 48 min. by bus) — an amusement park on a
pier. Includes rides, games, food, a Ferris wheel and rollercoaster. (Santa
Monica Pier, 2020)
• Getty Center (17 min. by taxi & 1 hour 52 min. by bus) —Galleries of art, music,
theater performances and kid-friendly workshops, all located in the hills of West
Los Angeles. (Visit California, 2020)
• Griffith Observatory (31 min. by taxi & 1 hour 58 min. by bus) — A public
observatory that holds a high-tech planetarium, exhibits, public telescopes and
amazing city views (Friends of The Observatory, 2020)
• Grand Central Market (21 min. by taxi & 1 hour 15 min. by bus) — located in
downtown Los Angeles since 1917. Hosts food vendors, florists, and events such
as game nights, comedy nights and movies. (Grand Central Market, 2020)

Figure 2 Griffin Observatory at night (Lonely Planet,2020)

Figure 3Overview of the Getty Center (InterContinental Hotel Group,2018)

Loews Sapphire Falls Resort, Orlando, Florida

According to Loews Hotel & Co, Sapphire Falls Resort
at Universal Orlando is located 15 minutes from the
airport, has a total meeting space of 247 000 Sq. ft, 2

5
000 Guest rooms, 4 scenic restaurants with water view, and beautifully landscaped
grounds. (Co, 2020)

Figure 4 Aerial view of Sapphire Resort

Hotel Amenities/ Conference Facilities

Sapphire Resort offers a diverse variety of services for their guests such as internet
access, luggage storage, onsite security and concierge services. It also provides a
variety of facilities (Inc., 2019)
Sapphire Falls Rooms
• Standard room
• 321 sq. ft.
• Separate bath and vanity
• May upgrade to ocean or garden view
• $165.00 US (based on a 4 night)
• Luxury Suites
• 529-1,353 Sq. Ft
• Full kitchenette
• Full bath
• Separate sitting area
• Separate study area
• $243 US (based on a 4-night stay)

Figure 5 Standard Resort Bedroom

 On-site catering
 On-site restaurants
 Deluxe Pools/hot tubs
 Business conference center
 Large video conference room
 VIP services
 Complimentary airport shuttle/water taxi
 Laundry service
 Cabana rentals

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Figure 6 Sapphire resort lounge

City Transit Options

Sapphire falls resort is located a short water taxi away from many site seeing
opportunities as well as fabulous restaurants, clubs, the ocean, and some of Orlando’s
most famous amusement parks. Orlando does offer a wide variety of transportation
services such as:
 Airport Shuttle
 City transit
 City Taxi
 Water taxi
 Monorail

Figure 7 Orlando Monorail

Sight-seeing opportunities/ famous attractions

When you stay at Sapphire Resort, they provide you with an exclusive “early park
admission” to Universal studios or Universal’s Volcano Bay. This means, you can enter
the park one hour before the park opens to the public. (Studios, 2020)

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  Universal’s Volcano Bay- Located 3 minutes away from the resort by
complimentary water taxi. This is Universal’s #1 unique water park
 Universal Studios Florida-Located 3 minutes away by complimentary water taxi.
This theme park offers cutting edge rides, restaurants, and mind-blowing shows.
There is something for everyone
 Universal’s City Walk- Located 3 minutes away by complimentary water taxi. This
is the city’s hottest spot for entertainment, food, and site seeing. You can rent out
the whole complex for a massive block party
 Ripley’s Believe it or Not! - (10 min Monorail). Fascinating and interactive
exhibits that will keep the whole family entertained
 The Outta Control Magic Comedy dinner show- (10-minute Monorail). This show
has been captivating their audience for over 20 years. The 90-minute experience
will leave you at the edge of your seat! (Orlando, 2020)

Figure 8 Universal's famous City Walk

Figure 9 Universal Studios Orlando

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Hotel Excelsior, Dubrovnik, Croatia

Hotel Excelsior is situated in close distance from

UNESCO protected Old Town of Dubrovnik also
Figure 10 Hotel Excelsior (2020)
known as a Pearl of Adriatic. It has desirable
location and view like no other hotel in the city. It
has been built in 1913 and since then it attracts visitors form all over the world.
According to Adriaticluxuryhotels.com (2020,p.1), “The spectacular seaside setting
overlooking both the Adriatic and the ancient Old Town, combined with flawless service
and an illustrious history of royal and celebrity guests, mark the five-star Hotel Excelsior
Dubrovnik as an iconic landmark hotel.” Being a common hotel for famous guests like
Queen Elizabeth, Princess Margaret, Margaret Thatcher, Elizabeth Tyler and many
more gave Hotel Excelsior high recognition and has been in the top of luxury hotels in
the Mediterranean.

Hotel Amenities / Conference Facilities

This five-star hotel has 167 rooms. From Junior to Presidential suits there is something
for everyone. The price per nigh is from $134- $425, depending on season and suit
type. It has 4 modern and multifunctional sea view conference rooms that can host
anywhere from 15-450 people. The biggest conference room can be divided into 3
sections depending on the purpose of the meeting. The hotel also provides:
• Private beach
• 3 restaurants (Sensus, Prora and Salin)
• Piano bar Abakus
• 850 m² Spa and Wellness area
• Fresh water pool 20m x 8m
• Two Jacuzzis
• Relax zone with heated deckchairs
• Fitness studio with cardio and strength equipment
• Meeting rooms (Palm Terrace, Lavandula, Laurea, Salvia)
• Business center - Internet corner
• Concierge service
• Currency exchange
• Hairdresser
• Newspaper agent

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 • Souvenirs / gift shop
• Transfer / car Rental
• Valet parking
• Free Wi-Fi
• LCD projectors
• Fixed and mobile projection screens
• Booths for simultaneous translation

Figure 11 Excelsior Gallery (2019)

City transit options

Like mentioned before Hotel Excelsior in the only hotel who is situated close to the
center of the city. Everything is in the reach of 15-minute walk.
• Shuttle bus from the airport 24 minutes
• From airport city bus (number 11,27,31,38)
• Taxi from the airport 20 minutes
• Limousine service

Figure 12 Limousine service (2020)

Sightseeing opportunities
• Walls of Dubrovnik (12 minutes walking) – 2km long city walls, they were built in
15th century to protect city from invaders. They are protected by UNESCO
(World Heritage) since 1979. Attention got bigger since popular series “Games of
Thrones” has been filmed there

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 • Rector’s Palace (10-minute walking)- 14th century Gothic – Renaissance palace.
Where leaders of the medieval city lived
• Dubrovnik Cable Car (9 minutes walk) – 4-minute ride above a city with a
complete city view and a restaurant
• Church of Saint Blaise (9-minute walking)-Venetian baroque church built in 1715
• Franciscan Monastery -complex is dating from 1300s’ and it has the oldest (still
operating) pharmacy in the world which was established 1317
• Sponza Palace (8-minute walk)-build in early -1500’s and has serves as a place
for business between merchants and traders
• Large Onofrio’s Fountain (12-minute walk)- built in 1438 and still functioning.
• Lokrum Island (5 minutes with a car)- quick way to escape the crowd into the
pine forest walking trail. The old monastery on the island is also a restaurant
during the summer

Figure 13 Dubrovnik (Kacan,2013)

Figure 14 Dubrovnik (Kacan,2013)

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Conclusion

After thoroughly researching each resort, we can confidently recommend the Westin
Los Angeles Airport Hotel as the best choice. Loews Sapphire Falls Resort in Orlando
would be our last choice and we feel that Hotel Excelsior is an average choice. While
Hotel Excelsior, in Dubrovnik, Croatia would meet our needs, we feel that Westin Los
Angeles Airport Hotel would go above and beyond and truly make our company morale-
building staff conference one to remember as it focuses on business-related travel.

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