Nestled in the hardwood forest behind the Emory Inn and the American Cancer Society, the exterior of the new Emory Conference Center Hotel is not imposing. It almost seems that the architect's goal was for the building not to stand out, but to blend into its surroundings.
With an entrance sign featuring silhouettes of leaves, the conference center carries through the forest motif. "[Oxford College Dean Bill] Murdy came in and was wonderful," said Farris. "He helped identify the trees and bushes on the site, and that's how we named the meeting spaces."
Vaulted ceilings, flagstone, windows and earth tones dominate the interior of the building. With 198 guest rooms (including three suites) and 20,000 square feet of meeting space, the building boasts a full-service restaurant, a banquet room, a board room, numerous conference rooms and meeting rooms, amphitheaters with state-of-the-art audiovisual equipment, and areas designed for receptions, breaks and simply relaxing.
The Conference Center Hotel, managed by the Stormont Trice Corp., is a dedicated meeting facility, which means it is primarily designed for hosting conferences. It offers possibly the most complete services available in an Atlanta conference center, according to Farris. Guest rooms are equipped with two dual line telephones with personal voice mail and a direct line for computer hook-up, plus an additional communication port for private facsimile use. A bank of telephones adjacent to the meeting areas allows participants the opportunity to handle business without having to return to their rooms. A business center offers computers and facsimiles, as well as cellular telephones, radios and pagers and a host of other meeting support services.
Outdoor facilities are available for conference activities ranging from team building games to volleyball and other recreational activities. A garden area is still in progress [that progress was filmed by CNN for a children's landscaping program in early November].
Two tiered auditoriums that seat 72 and 200 have been constructed with specifications supplied by the business school and by the Continuing Medical Education (CME) Department of the medical school. CME sponsored one of the six meetings held in the Conference Center Hotel during its first week of operation.
Farris notes two things in particular about the new Conference Center Hotel. "The facility meets and exceeds ADA [Americans with Disabilities Act] regulations," she said. She noted that 13 guest rooms have been designed as fully accessible, and lifts provide access for the amphitheaters.
Farris also commented on the emphasis on recycling by the facility; guests have access to recycling facilities as well.
The dining facilities are open for breakfast, lunch and dinner to the general public. Hours for breakfast are 6:30 -10 a.m.; lunch is 11 a.m.-2 p.m.; and dinner is served 5-10 p.m. Reservations are recommended, however, and seating availability may depend on conferences currently scheduled at the Conference Center Hotel. A smaller 40-seat private dining room also is available.
The Conference Center is linked by a covered walkway to the Emory Inn, also managed by Stormont Trice. Farris said Stormont Trice also manages the Turner Conference Center.
For additional information about the Emory Conference Center Hotel, call 712-6000.
-- Nancy M. Spitler