The DoubleTree Hotel in Tysons Corner has re-invented itself as an Executive Meeting Center targeting smaller corporate and government audiences. Last month the hotel completed a $2.1 million renovation that provides conferencing and teleconferencing rooms that can accommodate a wide range of business needs. The hotel also unveiled a modern bar and restaurant that correspond to the business theme.
Joel Carver, the hotel's director of sales and marketing, said the renovated rooms were specifically built with the needs of small groups in mind. "We’re actually looking for a slightly different customer. We’re looking for the meeting customer who is all about business. Everything here has been designed to make them as comfortable and productive as possible," said Carver.
"This is a structured learning environment. Everything is there for their convenience. We’ve got all the things of a traditional hotel-plus. There’s a huge market of people looking for that," said Carver.
According to Meredith Quarnstrom, general manager, "We met with several meeting planners to find out what their needs were and built it to their specifications. There’s very little people have to do to hold a meeting here because everything is included."
IN TOTAL, THE DOUBLETREE now offers nearly 14,000 square feet of modernized and upgraded meeting space. There are 14 conference rooms and three teleconferencing suites available that can each accommodate up to 75 participants. Each EMC room fully subscribes to the standards set down by the International Association of Conference Centers.
Packages for the rooms start at $109 per attendee and include sunrise to sunset coffee breaks, hot hors d’oeuvres in the afternoon and international lunch buffets.
"We found that having the coffee station out here all the time works well for people. They don’t have to worry about when they are going to take a break or if there’s going to be food set out because it’s here whenever people come out," said Quarnstrom. Carver adds, "People don’t have to worry that someone else is going to break and take their coffee or whatever. It’s here for everyone using the rooms and is constantly re-supplied."
The EMC rooms are designed to facilitate business. Tackable wall surfaces were used to aid presentations, audio-visual equipment is included in the package and 12-hour ergonomic chairs are supplied in every room. "We have customers ask us frequently if they can take these chairs home. That’s how comfortable they are," said Quarnstrom.
The EMC also has a conference concierge service that will do everything from print out name tags to make copies and serve as registration services. Wired and wireless work stations are available in the business center. "It has its own cafe where people can sit, work and people watch," said Quarnstrom.
EMC rooms do double duty as both professional and social meetings room. DoubleTree has ballroom that accommodate large business and social meetings. Around 55 weddings a year, that can accommodate up to 500 people, are held at the hotel.
More "secluded" business meeting rooms are located on the lower level of the hotel. These rooms are not used for social events. "They are very popular with the FBI and NASA," said Quarnstrom.
Quarnstrom said that during the weekdays DoubleTree is business oriented but shifts on the weekends to become a guest hotel and entertainment hub for the surrounding community. "During the week we’re business driven. Come Thursday afternoon and the house changes and we get the leisure traffic," said Quarnstrom.
"We’ve become a shelter to the local people during emergencies, like the snow storms last year. And we’ve got the locals who come into our bar. Angie the bartender has a strong local following," said Quarnstrom.
DOUBLETREES NEW BAR AND RESTAURANT are a draw for nearby residents and hotel guests alike. The hotel has 398 guest rooms and a three star Mobil rating. Infusions, the new contemporary bar has a soothing spa palette. The bar's signature drink is a lemonade hibiscus tea. The bar is so popular that Quarnstrom says that during renovation, "the most difficult time was when the bar was down."
The restaurant is named Food 101 and features cuisine by executive chef John Gouldin. He is most recognized for his work locally at the Occidental Grill.
"We have a very ambitious goal. We are committed to creating a world class dining experience that attracts local residents as well as our hotel guests," said Gouldin. "The key is honesty and integrity above all. By keeping the overall food choices simple, we can focus on showing off our technique. We bring the freshest ingredients to the table, and prepare each dish as a unique interpretation of classic American comfort fare," Gouldin said.
The concept behind Food 101, according to Quarnstrom, closely mirrors that for the EMC. "It’s about people being in a learning environment. In hotels you have a lot of people dining alone, so we try to give them something entertaining and educational to read," said Quarnstrom.
THE MENU INCLUDES trivia such as the history of Caesar salad. Butter is served in industrial tablespoons and the bread served in bread pans used to bake with. "It’s educating people about what was used in the preparation," Quarnstrom said.
"The concept behind Food 101 is not only learning about how food is prepared but how the pairing of food and wine can complement each other," said Carver. In keeping with the educational theme, the restaurant will offer a recipe card with instructions for making that day’s special.
Later this fall, Food 101 will roll out a Sunday buffet. "This time of year isn’t the best time to start that. People aren’t thinking about eating heavy foods in the summer," said Quarnstrom. Gouldin will spend the next few months deciding on the fare to offer. Typical Gouldin entrees include crab stuffed jumbo shrimp served with lemon-thyme linguine over lobster ginger sauce and double cut grilled pork chops marinated in rosemary and lemon with red bliss mashed potatoes and a stone-ground mustard sauce.
"Everything he does has a little bit of a twist," said Carver.
Quarnstrom said that more and more people from the area are making restaurants and hotels a destination place. "The dynamic of the Tysons Corner market has changed. The leisure market has also had a spin because of Udvar-Hazy and things like that. Five years ago you never would have thought about staying the weekend in Tysons Corner but that’s not the case anymore. Staying downtown isn’t as accessible, especially because there’s no parking anymore," said Quarnstrom.
The DoubleTree hotel is located two miles from the West Falls Church Metro station and offers scheduled shuttle service to and from the station.