I have been working this year to put together a small gathering of folks at the Omni Resort at Championsgate. My client initially did not even have this property on her list. I knew that the attendees (mostly congressmen and lobbyists) were going to be attending some spring training games, and connecting with one another on a primarily social level. They needed to relax, rejuvinate, play a little golf and avoid a bit of the craziness that is the Disney area during weeks that include spring break! When I put the word out within our amazing internal tool, InSite, the word came back that a great choice that I had not considered would be The Omni Resort at Championsgate!
Many of my colleagues had booked this property for various events and meetings ranging from 10 attendees to 500. I heard glowing reviews about the staff, the service and the golf courses.
Some of you may be familiar with of our proprietary system that allows us to communicate among our 1,200 colleagues to get client feedback, site information, and information about properties in general and the staff and amenities and meeting facilities. We are able to ask each other questions and share experiences, both good and bad.
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| One of our many tools, InSite, allows us to gather and share information about various properties. |
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| We can also access specific information and feedback from clients! |
Some of the insight offered by my colleagues at HelmsBriscoe about The Omni Championsgate:
"once the attendees arrived onsite, it was the best experience they have ever had. Everyone was courteous and bent over backwards to meet their needs. One attendee made a nonchalant comment to the bellman that escorted her to her room that she had bad karma when it came to rooms. (Her room was overlooking the parking lot.) Without saying a word, he went to the phone, called the front desk and had her moved to a room overlooking the golf course. The food was phenomenal, the meeting rooms were beautiful. The attendee could not say enough about this hotel. This group would definitely return to the Omni ChampionsGate Orlando."
"was very impressed with the very upscale guest rooms, the great and flexible meeting space, excellent and close by golf--where they can stage the golf carts outside the hotel even for a tourney so no walking to pro shop even, and ate in the restaurant with excellent service for the meal. Heard only good comments on hotel, all the extras ballrooms have with access, and AV capabilities. Pool area is very nice too, with two pools, slide and lazy river, and some my clients like idea of away from Disney and could drop resort in other cities and fit right in--not theme park feel to it like many in Orlando. Grocery store and drug store, plus restaurants right out entrance in strip center--between hotel and I-4 highway, so convenient for attendees"
"both my client and I were impressed with how well the meeting space is laid out, the upscale feel of the property and the service levels"
"Not only have they been fabulous to work with but the property gave us a "quiet" WOW factor. Our meeting is a 3 day customer event with full meals and extensive meeting space. They have great breakout space and the layout works well."
I feel very confident in the client's selection of this property. Also, those I reached out to who are avid golfers also recommended this property on the top of the heap for their golf courses.
The resort features two championship 18-hole golf courses designed by accomplished architect and golfer, Greg Norman, a lighted 9-hole, par 3 golf course, and is the World Headquarters for the David Leadbetter Golf Academy. Golfers also enjoy the convenience of walk-out golf with a continuous golf cart shuttle to and from the golf course and academy. The academy adds an added bonus activity and opportunity for team building to any event.
The 36 holes of world-class golf at ChampionsGate were designed to offer golfers a blend of traditional and modern elements, creating a truly unique golf course in Orlando. The International Course offers an authentic link style golf experience, reminiscent of the great golf courses of the British Isles. The National Course provides golfer’s with a challenging round of golf with its traditional American style design.
The staff members at the Championsgate Golf Club have been extremely helpful and accomodating during the planning phase of this event. Our attendees are looking forward to an amazing golfing experience.
Also...anyone who has read my blogs before knows that I am a huge conniseur of the hotel pools. It's almost an obsession of mine. This particular property boasts one of my very favorite things...a lazy river!
I am one of those individuals who feels that a property is somehow incomplete without the addition of a lazy river! You may remember a blog I wrote about various hotel pools...it is a personal obsession and one that I try to emphasize to my clients when they are combining business with pleasure.
I am also a huge fan of the private cabana...and from what I have seen and heard this is another area where this property scores.
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| A Private Cabana poolside at the Omni Championsgate |
Aside from the many aspects of this property that I have heard about, one of the most important features that has been consistently raved about by my colleagues is their meeting space and function space. The variety in sizes, shapes, form and function allows any size group to find it's place for all aspects of a meeting or event. The Omni Resort at Championsgate has over 70,000 square feet of meeting space!
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| From a small board meeting |
To a large annual sales meeting
The sizes and variety of meeting space is a big plus when putting together any event and the Omni doesn't disappoint.
With this particular event, we are focused on more social functions. I was also impressed with what seem to be some amazing areas for both indoor and outdoor social functions, receptions and meals.
Our group has opted to hold a reception in one of the outdoor areas that offers more of a golf course view...
I cannot say enough about how friendly, professional and accomodating the staff of this property have been in helping me bring my client to this property. This is the first event of this kind for this client who hopes to make it an annual event and from assisting with finding transportation, to working with us on rates, to making sure there were no organized events for another political party during our event, they have been fantastic! I am hoping that the event runs as smoothly as the planning stage.
In addition, I found out yesterday that our regional meeting will be held at this property in May of this year, so I look forward to having a chance to experience firsthand what everyone else has expressed. Of course, more information will be coming!
So for now, I am amazingly grateful for Juan Diaz, Claudia Jacobs, Deborah Loch, and Brenda Pfeifer for working with me to earn...and keep my client's business! It is so nice to have partners like you!
