The city of San Francisco boasts more than 30,000 hotel rooms for BMPs to choose from. From large, lavish resorts to attractive boutique venues to corporate housing, the possibilities are endless. If the city’s impressive selection was not enticing enough, the current state of the economy has prompted most properties in San Francisco to offer unprecedented discounts and low-cost travel incentives. As a result, visitors and meeting planners alike can enjoy the freedom of exploring accommodations previously exceeding their budget. In turn, San Francisco still enjoys occupancy rates that often exceed 80 percent. The following pages of this issue of Meetings and Events San Francisco will present some of the available options and demonstrate why so many attendees prefer San Francisco when it comes to business travel.

Redefining “Green Rooms”
Maintaining high-occupancy levels is not solely the result of recent discounts and low-cost incentives; it is also due to San Francisco’s wholehearted effort to offer innovative lodging choices. Among the most desired innovations is green lodging. In fact, green lodging is so popular that in 2010, AAA Tourbooks will begin featuring eco icons to indicate properties that promote environmental conservation. The following San Francisco-based hotels are certainly worthy of this eco icon.

The Orchard Garden Hotel was built to satisfy the nationally accepted standards set by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). It is a certified LEED property and has been approved by the Green Seal Environmental Standard for U.S. Lodging Properties for waste minimization, water and energy efficiency, hazardous substances handling and environmentally responsible purchasing.

While it is an unsurpassed green hotel choice, BMPs will also appreciate the abundance of meeting services and amenities offered by the Orchard Garden Hotel. In addition to 86 lavishly styled guest rooms, the property offers a state-of-the-art executive boardroom, a 500-square-foot rooftop terrace and a full-range of entertainment services. State-of-the-art audiovisual services, shipping and receiving services, a business center and Wi-Fi Internet access also help to make the Orchard Garden Hotel a logical lodging choice for corporate event attendees.

In 2009, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts launched their Green Partnership program, a comprehensive initiative that includes the Fairmont San Francisco. Especially designed for BMPs, the “eco-meet” facet of the program offers a way to “minimize the ecological footprints of meetings and events through the reduction of waste and conservation of valuable resources.” In-depth information on this program is available on the hotel’s website at www.thefairmont.com.

The Fairmont San Francisco is a historic hotel with awe inspiring opulence. So opulent is the Fairmont that it has earned the nickname the Queen of Nob Hill. Each of the 591 guest rooms and 62 suites offer stunning views of the city that event attendees will certainly enjoy. Although built in 1907, the hotel offers all of the modern amenities so coveted by today’s business travelers, including a spacious work desk, multi-line telephone with voicemail and high-speed Internet access.

World-Renowned Lodging Choices
In keeping with the Fairmont’s style of grandeur, the Westin St. Francis is a landmark property that any discerning BMP must consider. Known as the Grand Dame of Union Square, the Westin St. Francis opened its doors in 1904. From that point forward, the Grand Dame became synonymous with luxury and decadence. In 2009, a $40 million upgrade was completed making it even more of a breathtaking facility.

The 1906 architecture of the Westin St. Francis is complimented by neutral colors and custom-designed wood furniture. All of the suites have undergone an extensive transformation with an emphasis on glamour. The main lobby has been restored to its original beauty while the meeting spaces have undergone more than $1.5 million in upgrades. Other modernizations at the hotel include digital signage, wireless Internet access and flat screen televisions in guest rooms. Meetings & Events San Francisco is proud to name the Westin St. Francis as a preferred partner. The facility is profiled on page 56.

Although given an equally ethereal name, unlike the St. Francis, the St. Regis San Francisco is a complete reflection of modern style. Opened in 2005, the property is located in the SOMA district, an area recognized for its lively nightlife. Guests of the St. Regis enjoy contemporary decor in each of the 260 guest rooms and suites. There are 16 meeting spaces on the property, the largest of which is the Yerba Buena Terrace at 5,548-square-feet. Business amenities offered at the St. Regis include digital assistants, fax, printer, scanner and copier, as well as wireless and wired high-speed Internet access.

Located only two blocks from the Moscone Convention Center, no discussion of world-class lodging in San Francisco would be complete without mentioning the Four Seasons. With towering floor-to-ceiling windows in every room, one of the most impressive features of the Four Seasons is its impeccable views. The 231 guest rooms and 46 suites are considered to be the largest in the city. Every room is decorated in residential-style elegance and equipped with a flat screen television, two-line cordless telephone, high-speed wireless Internet access, fax connection, CD player, iHome alarm clock and in-room safes. There is 15,000-square-feet of meeting space available for top-of-the-line business events, corporate meetings, gala banquets and private parties.

The recently completed $12.5 million renovations at the Ritz Carlton, San Francisco make it one of the most desired places to stay in the city. The property offers 336 guest rooms, including 60 suites, a comprehensive business center with extensive support amenities, 12 function rooms and several Mobil Five-Star fine dining establishments. Located in the Nob Hill district, the Ritz Carlton, San Francisco is just minutes away from mainstay landmarks like Union Square and Fisherman’s Wharf.

Celebrating its 100th birthday in 2009, the Palace Hotel is another famous lodging facility in San Francisco. A true icon in the industry, the Garden Court’s stained glass dome with Austrian crystal chandeliers and the Maxfield Parrish mural of the Pied Piper of Hamlin is a legendary feature that continues to draw in visitors. The Palace offers 553 guest rooms and suites complete with all the amenities expected of a four-star diamond hotel.

Another of Meetings & Events San Francisco’s preferred accommodations partners is Parc 55, a gorgeous boutique facility that features all of the amenities of a major convention hotel. The facility’s signature 32-story tower houses 15 executive suites that provide guests with the ultimate in visitor luxury. Parc 55 is fully profiled on page 54.

Unique Lodging Options
While the preceding paragraphs have provided a sampling of the luxurious and posh lodging choices available in San Francisco, there are also many unique options meeting planners will want to consider if they are looking for one-of-a-kind accommodations. One of the most notable is the self-described sexy Hotel Diva. Located in Union Square, this boutique hotel has a sleek and modern style that personifies the urban personality of present-day San Francisco.

The Hotel Diva has an attentive concierge staff who pride themselves on assisting with every crucial aspect of a guest’s personal itinerary, from dinner to movie tickets. Perhaps the most notable features of the Hotel are its lounge areas. Created by San Francisco’s hottest designers and visual artists, including the famed Pablo Pardo, these areas provide an intriguing retreat for guests to relax in. Hotel Diva is part of a group of hotels dubbed “the Personality Hotels of San Francisco,” which also includes Hotel Union Square, Kensington Park Hotel, Hotel Metropolis, The Steinhart, Hotel Vertigo and Hotel Frank.

For the most rockin’ lodging available, look no further than the Phoenix Hotel. Globally recognized as San Francisco’s “rock and roll hotel,” the property is a preferred choice for music groups including the Red Hot Chili Peppers, the Psychedelic Furs and Pearl Jam. The hotel is located near San Francisco’s most celebrated clubs and performance halls, including the Great American Music Hall, the Warfield, the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, the Opera House, the Golden Gate Theater and the Orpheum Theater. The Phoenix is known for its upbeat atmosphere and youth-oriented culture. There are 44 correspondingly styled guest rooms.

Corporate-Specific Accommodations
San Francisco also offers a plethora of corporate housing options. For BMPs who are planning extended stays in the city, corporate housing may be the best option. Companies such as Citi Suites San Francisco offer an array of properties that let business travelers get a sense of being at home away from home. Stienhard Apartment, Nob Hill Place, Nob Hill Chateau, Gaylord Suites, Nob Hill Suites and View Tower Suites are all fully furnished luxury corporate housing options available at a variety of price ranges and styles.

There’s Always More
This issue of Meetings and Events San Francisco has provided only a sampling of the lodging space available within the city. No matter what your style or preference, San Francisco has it all. It is a city whith historic hotels that still shine with glamour and luxury and whith modern resorts that glow with intrigue and class. Planners will want to take advantage of the special rates these hotels have to offer and should inquire about any special amenities reserved specifically for their corporate clientele. The listings in this section represent a comprehensive look at San Francisco accommodations, giving planners a valuable resource to find lodging that is perfect for their attendees’ needs.