“New” Means Success! 5 Reasons to Plan Your Next Event with a New Resort or Hotel

After a stagnant, recessionary period, luxury resorts and hotels are now emerging from the construction pipeline and into the marketplace. But why should you book a meeting or event at one? Here are five reasons above and beyond the traditional levels of cautious optimism:

1. New means new: Upon opening, a new property is never outdated nor in need of renovation. Fixtures and furnishings are not long removed from the installation process, while fabric is fresh, carpet feels soft and in-room compendiums aren’t dog-eared. Older hotels, although often immaculately presented, must undergo intensive maintenance and renovation to stay competitive.
2. New means the latest technology: The newer the property, the less need for retrofitting to stay current with advances in technology and changes in consumer demand. Some hotels have even begun offering Apple TV, while at the new Salamander Resort & Spa in Middleburg (opening August 29), guests will be able to watch cooking classes on their in-room TVs, broadcast from the resort’s state-of-the-art cooking studio.
3. New means being the first: What’s not to like about offering your clients or company executives the most exciting new locations? As the event’s planner, it shows foresight to deliver a spectacular fresh property and introduce a new destination into the proceedings. A different location also provides the opportunity to break a habitual rut or an east coast/west coast pattern.
4. New means the latest trends: New hotels are often at the forefront of cutting-edge trends, especially in the culinary and spa industries. At Salamander, Resort Culinary Director Todd Gray has defined a unique synergy between his classical Italian training in Italy’s Piedmont region and his upbringing in the Virginia Piedmont, while the spa features treatments inspired from the surrounding farmland and equestrian culture.
5. New means the finest hospitality executives: The best, brightest and most qualified professionals often seek the challenge of opening a hotel, especially a new build. Allied with a keen desire to please new and important customers, these professionals frequently work overtime to deliver knockout events for groups of all sizes. And just as importantly, the front line service personnel are truly invigorated.

About Salamander Resort & Spa Owned by Sheila C. Johnson, Salamander Resort & Spa will open in historic Middleburg, VA, on August 29, 2013. Already named to several 2013 World’s Top Hotel Openings lists, the resort is located on 340 picturesque acres and features 168 rooms and suites. Only 20 miles from Washington Dulles International Airport and one hour from Washington, DC, the resort features an exquisite 23,000-square-foot spa with one-of-a-kind features like outdoor treatment terraces and a spa courtyard, a Virginia Piedmont-inspired signature restaurant and banquet dining overseen by Washington, DC Chef of the Year Todd Gray, a media-ready Cooking Studio, Wine Bar and a two-acre Culinary Garden. In keeping with its geographical setting, the resort also includes a full-service equestrian center and an array of programming. The resort features 12,000 square feet of indoor conference and event facilities, including a 5,000-square-foot Grand Ballroom and unique outdoor spaces like the Grand Lawn, Courtyard Garden and a restored 100-year-old Stallion Barn. Book your next event at the new Salamander Resort & Spa Peter Rockwood is the Vice President of Sales at Salamander Hotels & Resorts.