When officials of the Omni New Haven Hotel at Yale began thinking about how to design its meeting and conference facilities, they first checked with Yale schools and departments to see what their needs might be.
"We spoke to a lot of people at Yale," says Tia Zaferakis, director of sales for the Omni Hotel. "They told us what they needed to host conferences and other events."
One of the people they spoke to was Susan Adler, director of Yale Conference Services, who conducted a telephone survey of Yale schools and departments that regularly schedule large gatherings. "I put together a list of Yale conferences that described the meeting space needs of each in detail," she says. "I included items such as number of people, number of meeting rooms, style of presentation, seating arrangement, and whether or not the conference needed exhibit space." She reported the information to Omni Hotels planners, whose architects incorporated it into their plans.
As a result of the input from Ms. Adler and others at Yale, the Omni Hotels officials expanded on their original plans, substantially increasing the amount of space devoted to conference facilities.
Scheduled to open in January, the Omni New Haven Hotel at Yale is a 19-story facility located at 155 Temple St., site of the former Park Plaza Hotel. The Omni New Haven Hotel is the newest of the hotel chain's 43 luxury hotels and resorts throughout the United States and Mexico. The chain's presence in the Elm City has been enthusiastically supported by Yale and other city organizations.
Tailored to meet Yale's needs. Susan Godshall, assistant secretary for state and municipal affairs, notes: "We are especially pleased that Omni Hotels officials responded to the potential for Yale usage by doubling the amount of conference space originally planned and tailoring it to meet our needs. The conference space as built will serve both the University and many community organizations in a flexible way."
Its flexibility is what makes the Omni Hotel's conference facilities "unique," says Ms. Zaferakis. "There will be 22,000 square feet of space in a total of 21 meeting rooms of various sizes. A full-service business center, located on the conference level, will have fax and copy machines, PCs and audio-visual equipment, and typing and secretarial support, among other amenities. In addition, an extra phone line for a computer modem will be available in each guest room."
Because all meeting spaces are located on the same floor, the "ease of flow from general session to breakout rooms to banquet area" will be optimized, says Ms. Zaferakis. Meeting rooms-- each with a 10.5-foot-high ceiling -- can accommodate anywhere from 10 to 750 people. There is also a 9,200-square-foot, chandeliered grand ballroom, which features a 16-foot-high ceiling and can seat 600 for dinner.
"There is a warmth about our meeting rooms and conference facility," says Ms. Zaferakis. "They're not stark at all. Departments that book meeting space at the Omni Hotel will enjoy special attention of an assigned sales manager who handles the university market, as well as the expertise of an experienced catering staff that can assist in planning banquet events. Conference sales managers [Note: Tia says "conference service managers"] at the Omni Hotel will work on every detail with the Yale planner," says Ms. Zaferakis. "That's a plus we offer."
Yale Conference Services has already booked several conferences at the Omni Hotel, including the Yale Conference on Women's Health and Fitness, which will bring approximately 300 people to New Haven May 1 and 2. "We actually rescheduled this meeting once the Omni Hotel announced its opening date. No other hotel in the immediate area has sufficient meeting space for this conference, and hosting it on our campus would have been very complicated logistically," says Ms. Adler. Now, when she helps organizations plan their conferences, Ms. Adler has information on what is available at the Omni -- including the square footage of each room -- right in front of her. (See sidebar, page X.)
In addition to its conference facilities, the Omni Hotel will feature 306 rooms for overnight guests. Each of these features a sweeping view of the city, as well as cable TV, voice mail, room service until 11 p.m. and coffee-cart service for early-morning risers. The hotel will also feature a state-of-the-art health and fitness center, gift shop, newstand, and a rooftop restaurant called Galileo's, as well as the Bar at Galileo's, which offers a panoaramic vieew of the city.
Linda J. Libby, general manager of the Omni New Haven Hotel at Yale, notes: "We designed this luxury facility to create an environment that doesn't separate business from pleasure. By providing our business guest with the most distinguished accommodations, services and amenities, we will serve as an outstanding destination for business and leisure travelers."
The Omni New Haven Hotel at Yale has been accepting reservations since last May. "We're already sold out for Commencement '98," says Ms. Zaferakis, and reservations are coming in steadily for events in the 1998-99 academic year, such as Freshman Orientation and Parents' Weekend.
Among the organizations that have reserved rooms at the Omni Hotelis the Association of Yale Alumni (AYA). Sheila Cook, director of external relations for AYA development and alumni affairs, has booked 280 rooms at the Omni Hotelfor the AYA spring reunion in May 1998. "Tia came over to see us the minute she got to town, bringing over plans," says Ms. Cook, who admits that choosing to patronize the Omni was an easy decision. "We just don't have enough room downtown -- and people already had been calling and asking about the hotel, which just has a fabulous reputation worldwide. It really is a smooth-running hotel chain."
The newly renovated Omni Hotel fits right in with ongoing improvements taking place throughout the city of New Haven, says Ms. Zaferakis. "I refer to Temple Street as going through a Renaissance right now," she says about current renovations in the downtown area. "We feel very good about that."
Ms. Godshall notes, "The confidence Omni Hotels has shown in New Haven mirrors recent Yale investments in downtown projects such as the Ninth Square and the Shubert Theatre."
"Omni Hotels is, in fact, proud of the city's attractions and confident of its future," Ms. Libby adds. "We are proud to form such a solid partnership with the City of New Haven. We have received tremendous support from the community, and we are looking forward to playing a role in helping to revitalize the city."
To make reservations at the Omni New Haven Hotel at Yale, call 1-800-THE-OMNI. For group reservations or catering requests, to take a tour of the hotel, or for general information, call (203) 772-6664.
SIDEBAR
Planning a function? Yale Conference Services Office would like to, says Susan Adler, director of the department.
"We provide comprehensive conference planning and coordinating services. Our services are designed to assist members of the Yale Community in the development, promotion, and delivery of conferences, workshops or seminars held on the campus or using hotel facilities.
"In addition to booking accommodations and meeting space we provide preregistration service. Using our meeting planning software program we compile participant date and registration payments. Our office maintains an inventory of maps, guest packets, name tags and travel information."
Conference coordinator, Roberta Hudson, who has been with Conference Services for 2 1/2 years, also has 10 years of experience planning conferences at hotels.
To find out more about how Yale Conference Service can help in planning your next meeting or event, contact Ms. Adler or Ms. Hudson at 432-0465 or visit the Yale Conference Service web site (www.yale.edu/yaleconf/).
The Omni New Haven Hotel at Yale will be the first stop in the 8th annual "Hotels of New Haven" holiday tour and international food festival sponsored by the Conference Services Office.
The tour is designed to introduce the Yale staff members who frequently book rooms for campus visitors and events to the facilities offered in the Elm City's hotels.
Participants will be picked up by bus at approximately 11:15 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 16, at two stops: outside Woolsey Hall, corner of College and Grove sts. and outside the Jane Ellen Hope Building at 333 Cedar St. They will be taken to the Omni Hotel at Yale, 155 Temple St.
After a tour of that hotel's facilities, participants can choose from one of two tours. The Red Tour includes the New Haven Hotel, 229 George St.; the Residence Inn by Marriot-New Haven, 3 Long Wharf Dr.; and the Grand Chalet Inn and Suites, 400 Sargent Drive. The Green Tour includes the Colony Inn, 1157 Chapel St.; Three Chimneys Inn, 1201 Chapel St.; and the Quality Inn & Conference Center, 100 Pond Lily Ave.
At each stop, participants can sample holiday cuisine from around the world. The day will conclude with a raffle drawing sponsored by the Greater New Haven Convention and Visitors Bureau, and desserts at the Holiday Inn at Yale. Each participant will also receive a holiday gift. Buses will return to campus at 4 p.m.
Information about the tour has been mailed to select departments on campus. Those interested in the tour should return the enclosed reply card by Wednesday, Dec. 10, to Roberta Hudson via fax at 432-7345.
Planning a function? Yale Conference Services Office would like to, says Susan Adler, director of the department.
"We provide comprehensive conference planning and coordinating services. Our services are designed to assist members of the Yale community in the development, promotion, and delivery of conferences, workshops or seminars held on the campus or using hotel facilities," she notes.
"In addition to booking accommodations and meeting space we provide preregistration service. Using our meeting planning software program, we compile participant date and registration payments. Our office maintains an inventory of maps, guest packets, name tags and travel information," she adds.
Conference coordinator, Roberta Hudson, who has been with Conference Services for two and a half years, also has 10 years of experience planning conferences at hotels.
To find out more about how Yale Conference Services can help in planning your next meeting or event, contact Ms. Adler or Ms. Hudson at 432-0465 or visit the Yale Conference Services web site at www.yale.edu/yaleconf/.