New Meeting Services at Charleston's Market Pavilion Hotel.
For Immediate Release, January 2007http://www.marketpavilion.com
The 70-guestroom Market Pavilion Hotel, Charleston's newest luxury "city resort" located in the epicenter of Historic Downtown and just minutes from the waterfront, shopping and gracious old homes, has unveiled a host of new innovations designed to make high-level business programs more productive, fun and stress-free with new "Serenity Series" and "Experiential Breaks," designed to inject levity and stimulate creativity. Boardroom Butlers have also been added, allowing meeting hosts to convey needs as they arise without ever having to utter a word.
NEW "SERENITY SERIES"
Body & Spirit - In addition to handmade granola bars, a selection of cleansing waters, soothing music, aromatherapy and a demi-massage for each delegate, Body & Spirit allows planners to create a trio of smoothies and shakes from three of the following four healthful choices:
1) Beta Carotene carrot juice and ginger gelato
2) Vitamin C-infused mangos, South Carolina peaches, fingerling bananas and tangerine
3) Low-fat blueberry and vanilla bean antioxidant with flax seed oil
4) Strawberry Protein Shake
Om Shanti (peace) - Designed to relax and inspire, Om Shanti features a heavenly display of crudités with hummus and pita wedges; citrus en peau; seasonal fruit and organic yogurt salad; a selection of cleansing waters and homeopathic herbal teas, and a ten-minute instructional in meditation and reflection.
Hatha Yoga Sunrise Salutations - A perfect start for "late night" delegates and specially designed to detoxify and hydrate, Hatha Yoga Sunrise Salutations take place on the hotel's dazzling al fresco rooftop Pavilion, a rare garden-like setting replete with cascading pool, inspiring fountains, statuary, and spectacular city and harbor views. Add a selection of cleansing waters, pomegranate antioxidant super-juice, cleansing aloe juice, natural honey and bran muffins, and exotic green, black and peppermint teas, as well as a guided session in Hatha Yoga, and productivity is sure to soar! Hatha Yoga promotes mindfulness through breathing concentration - allowing a "mental retreat" to generate new thought - a critical component for success.
NEW "EXPERIENTIAL BREAKS"
The Market Pavilion Hotel has also unveiled a list of new options for meeting breaks, providing hands-on creative fun for all delegates designed to foster a sense of teamwork and share laughs along the way. Specially designed by the hotel's culinary wizards - Executive Chef Demetre Castanas (who oversees all aspects of the Market Pavilion Hotels' food and beverage outlets, including the award-winning USDA Prime signature steakhouse Grill 225), Executive Pastry Chef Gerry Elliot and Wine Director David Bishop - Experiential Breaks include a host of unique opportunities for delegates to shine and unleash their creative side, from exciting cook-offs and tastings to "learning" sessions, including:
Chocolate, Wine & Cheese "Flavor Profiling" - Certain foods increase the body's natural production of endorphins and dark chocolate is by far the most popular endorphin-producing food. Derived from cacao beans, many believe eating dark chocolate confers wisdom and vitality, and reduces stress. Noted Chocolatier and Pastry Chef Elliot works in tandem with Wine Director Bishop to teach delegates "flavor profiling," pairing wines with chocolate and cheese to unlock a spectrum of tastes. Attendees hone their entertaining skills, refine their palate, and restore their "inner glow" as they sample a bevy of tastes.
Tapas & Topics - By dividing breakout rooms into several distinct sections, each with a designated place setting, groups rotate into place to discuss a specific program topic. At each place is a differing array of tapas and a special alcoholic beverage to savor, such as the hotel's own Paviliontini, "Nitrogenized" Champagnes cocktails, Charleston-brewed beer, and selections from the Market Pavilion Hotel cellar's boutique wine collection. Attendees spend a specific amount of time at each tapas station to brainstorm about a pertinent topic before moving to the next. A great icebreaker, strategy sessions have never been so enjoyable! Tapas & Topics is also offered as a lunch program.
Culinary Cook-Offs - Designed as an "Apprentice"-like exercise, Chef Castanas separates attendees into novice culinary teams to create menus he has pre-selected for them. Advance food preparation can be completed to speed the activity, or fledgling chefs can prep their own menus at designated stations. Teams then select their name, elect an "Executive Chef," and assign tasks. Time limits are set and each team has a ball creating their dishes. Menus are judged by Chef Castanas while everyone samples the creations. Winners are announced and everyone is presented with an apron as a memento of their exciting (and often hilarious!) culinary competition.
Food Arts Training - Pastry Chef Elliot presents each novice chef team with a selection of decorative fruits and ingredients, which they must assemble to create their own "food art" dessert interpretations. Edible essentials are prepared in advance (flans, cakes, tuile cookies, mousses, chocolate spires, creams, fillings, and showpiece tools) for this hands-on culinary class that encourages patisserie masterpieces worthy of Le Cordon Bleu!
Culinary Showcases - The Hotel's culinary team conducts (brief) cooking exhibitions during breaks, whereby each presents and prepares a dish near the meeting. Demonstrations happen as attendees depart their meetings. For example, Chef Castanas, an expert in USDA Prime beef, may provide a tutorial in "Prime Beef 101," discussing the various cuts and explaining why prime is the "King of Beef and Beef of Kings." Delegates sample sumptuous cuts of Grill 225 Filet Mignon, Rib Eye and New York Strip. Menu choices are tailored, and feature one culinary expert per break. Such showcases are similar to cooking shows whereby chefs demonstrate and audience members learn and sample!
Boardroom Butlers
Continuing in its tradition of pairing old-world charm, service and ambiance with modern comforts in a luxurious residential setting, the Market Pavilion Hotel has added Boardroom Butlers to its team of expert service staff. Meeting hosts can now communicate with their dedicated Boardroom Butler almost telepathically, using a laptop to convey needs as they arise, whatever they may be. From downloading and distributing documents to reserving a private jet, Boardroom Butlers ensure that every want - both large and small - obvious and unpredicted - is expertly met with grace, efficiency and style. Boardroom Butlers serve the whims of the most discerning guests, and are a complement to attendants already servicing pre-designed meeting details. Butlers can be posted either outside or inside the meeting, depending upon client preference.
Meeting and Event Space
Whether an intimate gathering or annual conference, The Market Pavilion Hotel creates events of uncommon elegance and sophistication, with every possible service available on premises. From comprehensive meeting and destination planning to florals and entertainment, every need is satisfied. The hotel's Jasmine Ballroom offers 1,350-sq.-feet of specially designed space, with flexibility to accommodate both large and small corporate programs, and exquisite leisure affairs. Adjoined by a 500-sq.-foot foyer area, the Ballroom can accommodate 60 classroom-style, 100 theater-style, 108 for a seated event, or 125 for a reception. The Ballroom can also be subdivided into three parts. With its 14-foot ceilings, crystal chandeliers and elegant floor covering, this is among Charleston's most grand gathering spaces. The Jasmine Ballroom's large picture window (with black-out drapes) overlooks Market Street.
Business or social sessions can also be conducted across the hall in the Market Pavilion Hotel's Constantine Boardroom, a 12-seat boardroom complete with inlaid mahogany Henredon table and chairs, and a flat screen and plasma monitor for video-aided presentations, providing all one requires to conduct remarkable presentations and performances. And right on the property's alfresco rooftop Pavilion, the Market Pavilion Hotel creates magical theme parties for up to 250, which are limited only by the imagination. Regardless of the size and complexity of a special event or meeting, the Market Pavilion Hotel Meeting and Events Team will ensure it is extraordinary and memorable.
Information
A proud member of the Leading Small Hotels of the World, The Market Pavilion Hotel is the latest venture of Charleston-based Palas Hospitality, which owns several hotels and restaurants throughout South Carolina. For more information visit www.marketpavilion.com.
