Meetings and Events Houston | CityCentre Houston

CityCentre Houston

Article By: Adam Castaneda of IV: Volume 2 - Issue 2

Houston has long since established itself as a top destination for corporate meetings thanks to a strong network of first-rate event venues, accommodation facilities, restaurants, entertainment districts and wellness centers. However, the layout of the city has always been a note of concern for planners looking for a single concentrated area where their clients can lodge, dine and shop, all in the vicinity of their designated meeting facility.

With the opening of CityCentre Houston in 2009, meeting planners can put their logistics problems to rest. Located in Northwest Houston near Memorial City Mall, CityCentre Houston is a planner’s dream complex. Not only does it provide a refreshing alternative to the standard event itineraries inside the Loop, it provides every amenity that can be found in the major corporate centers of Houston.

CityCentre is the home of several new upscale residences, but it’s also the location of one of Houston’s most recent high-profile hotel openings. Hotel Sorella represents the epitome of urban sophistication and provides guests with a luxurious accommodation experience that can’t be found anywhere else in the city. At Hotel Sorella, business professionals can find a true home away from home, making their corporate stay in Houston one to remember.

The facility is modeled after the majesty and timelessness of Italian villa resorts and incorporates a warm color palette into its contemporary interior design. The result is an upscale establishment that is defined by a plush environment that is both stylish and comfortable.

Hotel Sorella features 244 guest rooms, including 30 suites and one presidential suite. Custom designed beds are complemented by 300-thread count Egyptian cotton linens and goose down non-allergenic foal pillows for maximum comfort. Guest rooms have been noted for being the most spacious accommodations option outside of the immediate downtown area. Every room is equipped with high-speed Internet and state-of-the-art technology, providing guests with everything they need to accomplish their work assigments.

The floor-to-ceiling windows throughout the hotel provide beautiful panoramic views of the CityCentre landscape for an authentic Houston experience. Room amenities include 37” plasma flat screen televisions, coffee makers and specialty coffees, elegant bathrooms stocked with designer toiletries, an honor bar and in-room safes that can store standard-size laptops. Guests are also treated to a complimentary continental breakfast of pastries, cereal, fresh fruit, assorted juices and Katz coffee. Cappuccino and espresso are available upon request. For an additional charge, guests can enjoy bloody Maries and mimosas on the weekends.

Guests of Hotel Sorella have access to three amazing dining facilities. Café Rose is situated on the hotel’s ground floor and provides impeccable interiors for maximum ambiance. The restaurant was designed by the Atlanta-based The Johnson Studio with a color palette of red hues to create a warm and inviting atmosphere. Café Rose is open all week and offers a delicious menu of light breakfasts, innovative salads and sandwiches and artisan domestic cheeses and salami in the afternoons and evenings. Café Rose is also one of only 11 cafes in the United States that has received the Artisti del Gusto citation for excellence in delivering an authentic European coffee experience.

Bistro Alex, located on the second floor of Hotel Sorella, is unique dining concept in that the restaurant itself is a tribute to Texas heritage. Contemporary design meets native materials of the Lone Star State at this down-to-earth, yet, chic dining facility. A variety of small plates and flatbreads are available in addition to the menu’s more robust offerings, including orange molasses Texas quail, Tasso brined pork porterhouse and beef short rib “osso bucco” and oysters.

In the evenings, Monnalisa Bar provides a luxurious atmosphere for lounging with friends or mingling with new people. The starlit ceiling and central fireplace make for an intimate gathering space, while the adjacent rooftop infinity pool recalls the urban splendor of the Los Angeles lounge scene. Guests can choose from an eclectic wine list and cocktail list, as well as from an appetizing small-plate menu. Monnalisa Bar is a stunning nightlife experience that guests won’t find anywhere else in Houston.

CityCentre is also the site of a full-scale meetings and events facility that planners can use to organize a variety of corporate and social events. Norris Conference Centers has been providing the Central Texas region with high-quality meeting spaces specifically with the needs of the corporate world in mind for the past 20 years, and the new CityCentre location is no exception.

The Pecan Room is one of the facility’s three main meeting rooms and features 2,848 square-feet of flexible space. The Pecan Room can accommodate up to 168 guests for banquet-style events. The Live Oak Room is an excellent option for small-scale corporate events and has a maximum capacity of 142 for theater-style seating and 86 for classroom-style seating. The largest space is the Magnolia Room, which can accommodate up to 288 guests for banquet-style seating and 412 for theater-style seating.

The venue offers all of the top-tier amenities of a major convention facility, including ergonomic seating, full-spectrum lighting, individual room thermostat controls, sound proof walls and complimentary parking for all guests. Norris Conference Centers also include breakout rooms, offices and business centers for maximum convenience and user efficiency.

This exciting event venue has been used for a variety of corporate functions, including staff training and development seminars, new hire orientations, continuing education classes, awards banquets and employee holiday parties. A ballroom is also available for large-scale receptions and social gatherings of all sorts.

The Red Oak Ballroom is an elegant 7,600 square-foot space that can accommodate up to 500 guests for a banquet-style event. The venue provides stunning views of CityCentre’s captivating water feature, the perfect backdrop for a sultry evening event. The interior is accented by natural stone floors and a spacious, yet, refined foyer area. The atmosphere is decidedly polished and contemporary, but the space is open and versatile enough to allow for a variety of decorating choices.

In fact, the Red Oak Ballroom was designed with the purpose of giving meeting planners maximum freedom in organizing their events, allowing for complete creative control during every stage of the process. Clients are also encouraged to make use of the in-house event planning team, which can provide valuable assistance in a variety of areas and enable meeting professionals to follow through on even the most intricate of visions.

For visiting business professionals who are concerned with keeping their energy levels up during their stay, Life Time Athletic is a one-of-a-kind gym that can take care of every fitness need. Life Time Athletic provides visitors access to an excellent array of fitness equipment, including cardio machines, free weights and resistance training stations. The gymnasium features basketball courts, squash courts, indoor volleyball and an indoor climbing wall for a variety of physical activities and recreation.

The gym’s state-of-the-art aquatic facilities allow for guests to experience the refreshing activities of a full-scale water park. The facilities include an indoor lap pool, an indoor leisure pool, whirlpool, water slides, saunas and an outdoor swimming pool. Additional services include the availability of instructors and trainers, free lockers and towels, steam rooms, wireless Internet access and plasma televisions.

For visitors who are focused on health and wellness, Life Spa and Salon provides rejuvenating services to create a relaxing, soothing corporate experience. After a full day of training sessions and business seminars, CityCentre patrons can utilize expertly applied massage and body services for a few hours of secluded mental rest.

Corporate event planners have a lot to choose from in the form of venues and services when it comes to formulating a meeting itinerary at CityCentre. However, the most exclusive establishment that planners will want to try to gain access to is the Houston Motor Club. It’s essential to make a great impression, especially when dealing with VIP clients, and there’s no better way to do that than by transporting them around town in a supercar that only the world’s most privileged will ever get the chance to ride in.

Membership grants access to a dream fleet of some of the world’s most coveted vehicles. Of significant note to meeting planners, members can also arrange to use the car of their choice exactly on the date they need it. In addition, new cars are added to the lineup every month, maximizing the value of the membership. The prized collection includes an incomparable selection of tier-one vehicles, including a Bentley Continental GT, Ferrari F430, Ford GT and Lamborghini Gallardo. Other usable vehicles that can be found in the showroom include an Aston Martin DB9, Audi R8 and Porsche 911 Turbo.

The great atmosphere and amenities of CityCentre are complemented by an equally excellent selection of dining options. In addition to the already opened establishments such as Eddie V’s, RA Sushi and Straits Restaurant, a slew of big name franchises are expected to open their doors in the coming months. Look for an editorial feature on the complete restaurants of CityCentre in the next issue of Meetings & Events Houston.