By Jennifer Jurgens
When it comes to coffee breaks, who needs coffee?
Hotels are being very creative when it comes to break time. And, what better way to offer an added benefit to planners who are looking for something different for their groups?
Swissôtel Chicago offers a Vitality Break with Swiss museli and granola in the morning or hand-rolled pretzels and vegetable crudite mid-morning. Executive chef Dan McGee says attendees love it. “The participants don’t just remember the keynote speakers and the workshops, they remember the breaks, the networking opportunities. The Vitality menu creates an additional talking point and instills a lasting memory. Not to mention, this food will keep attendees focused and engaged throughout the day.”
Many other hotels are coming up with creative breaks.
Meeting attendees at the Sebastian Vail can participate in the Popular Mixology Break where attendees are treated to delightful nibbles while learning the art of the cocktail. They can engage with a professional mixologist, prepare selected drinks, and sample them along the way.
At the Renaissance Curacao Resort and Casino, the Chocolate Fondue Break includes assorted tropical fruit, marshmallows and sponge cake for dipping.
Attention to detail is important to the folks at the Jekyll Island Club Hotel in Georgia when it comes to their refined Victorian Tea Break with scones and tea sandwiches.
At the Boca Raton Resort & Club in Florida, the liquid of choice comes from the venerable orange. The Tribute to the Orange Break (pictured above) includes fresh squeezed orange juice, Orangina or Orange Crush to accompany mini orange-ginger muffins, orange-chocolate covered cherries and apricots, and crystallized orange rings.
Boulders Resort in Carefree, Arizona breaks are on location at Promise Rock, 2,288 feet above ground level, providing extraordinary panoramic views of the valley below. Yoga is popular for breaks here. The hotel’s Organic Garden offers meeting guests a venue where they can indulge in an organic wine tasting, take tours with the Boulder’s Master Gardener, or experience a reading from the local numerologist who studies the symbolism of numbers to determine personality traits.“It’s all about the Numbers” breaks are customized with attendees choosing options–from first name analysis to birth date.
The “PM Break” at the Fairmont Orchid in Hawaii sets up a local candy store (“Crack Seed Store”) with local candy and Hawaiian shave ice, a favorite among the locals. There’s also Bananarama candy bananas, wasabi peas, Li Hing Gummy Bears and Candy Pineapple. And, if you must have coffee at your coffee break, The Orchid will set up a break including several varieties of bananas and Hawaii’s famous Kona coffee, chocolate macadamia nut bars and chocolate covered Kona coffee beans. Also included is a discussion of the Kona Coffee from Kona Coffee Growers.
Meeting guests can have an alpine-themed coffee break featuring hot cocoa, gingerbread biscotti, house-made white and dark chocolates, and banana spiced cupcakes at the Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe.
Attendees will no doubt will be wowed by any of these creative ideas, and planners will look like all-stars for coming up with such innovative ideas. Look for part II of Creative Coffee Breaks coming soon!
Read more great stories about the amenities other properties are offering – and make sure to stay tuned for Part II for this series.
