Houston’s Most Eventful Location
The St. Regis Houston makes the ideal location for meetings, conferences and events—large or small.
By Valerie Sweeten
On a cozy corner near River Oaks, the St. Regis hosts paramount events that represent the finest in what Houston has to offer. The venue is as diverse as the city in which it is located, where visitors searching for variety and excellence can experience extraordinary touches, from delightful dining to decadent soirees.
Attention to detail is the St. Regis’ area of expertise. With recent renovations to all of its function space, the hotel spared no expense at creating an air of elegance with its dazzling décor. Splendid leather furnishings, chandeliers by Forrest Perkins, extravagant floral arrangements, marble staircase, high ceilings and artistic touches capture the eye at every turn. The goal is an optimum experience for clients— whether for business or entertaining.
Corporate Affairs and Intimate Gatherings
Global professionals and major corporations often choose The St. Regis Houston for their annual meetings, knowing the hotel can provide multiple meeting rooms, cutting edge audio/visual equipment, flexible gathering spaces and security. Sophisticated meeting rooms in varied sizes are available for conferences and gatherings, complete with regal tables and leather chairs. More than 200 lavish guest rooms await visitors, allowing the hotel to accommodate groups of any size.
No expense was spared when the St. Regis recently hosted one of the nation’s largest beverage providers and, separately, a notable energy trading company. Top-notch services include meeting special requests that took the experience above and beyond.
From customized food items to a welcoming company presence, the St. Regis took care to immerse the hotel with the brand and product for the beverage company event. Stocked mini-bars welcomed guests with their product while customized wrappers featured their products and logo on pastries. Personalized digital readerboards, which can feature slide shows, greeted visitors. Multiple setups within the same day allowed for smooth transition for each scheduled event.
Tailored service from highly trained audio visual technicians is available to assist the clients on every level. The hotel is equipped with two wall-sized touch-screen readers with Internet access for flights, directions and tourist information. Also on hand is a highly coveted 24-hour study, complete with a digital photocopier, fax, Wi-Fi and workstations with computer access. Complete with high-speed and DSL connections.
The annual energy trading company event put all these services to the test in November 2011. More than 200 wireless devices were simultaneously handled through the St. Regis Wi-Fi system. Extensive audio/visual requirements included filming, LCD and speakers in every function room. Guest rooms were converted to accommodate interviewing requests, while the influx of lunchtime guests prompted the hotel to prepare 400 boxed lunches for the convenience of attendees.
Sonic Automotive, who owns more than 20 Houston-based auto dealerships, has chosen The St. Regis Houston for the past two years for its annual event where their top executives and associates plan the upcoming year. The May 2011 gathering, designated the Carpe Diem Tour, found an experience that exceeded expectations for their nearly 200-person staff. Hotel personnel expertly handled breakout sessions, budget meetings, late night poker games, dealership academy training and extraordinary dinners. From morning power breakfast gatherings to after-hour activities, Sonic executives were impressed.
The luxurious Remington Bar, which is noted by area professionals for its light fare, live music and pub environment, was able to relieve workday stress and become part of their relaxing routine.
Alli Scritchfield, Sonic Automotive’s director of meetings and events, says collaborating with the St. Regis staff has always been a pleasure. Plans are in the works for the company’s upcoming spring event at the hotel.
Above all, it’s the level of service that makes St. Regis their destination of choice she says.
“This is a great partnership,” Scritchfield explains. “We have executives from every level, and they think it’s just great. We’ve had the boxed lunches, high tea, full breakfast and lunch buffet here. We always use the bar where we can wind down. It’s so nice. We don’t have to go anywhere else. Everything they do here is top notch, especially with their new meeting space.”
Loyal Clientele
Making events memorable is the St. Regis’ forte, as experts in their field—from start to finish—they strive to go above and beyond guests’ expectations. Deluxe spa treatments for bridal parties, teddy bear teas and pool gatherings are included in the list, where anything is a possibility—it’s all about treasuring the moment at the hotel.
Maggi Jones of Maggi Jones Public Relations in Houston has hosted cherished personal parties and numerous high-end business lunches of every size with her nationwide clients and family. Astonishing service at every level never fails to impress Jones, who says the St. Regis does a “magnificent job” putting on special events.
No request is ever denied when it comes to a client’s wishes. “There’s no push back,” she says. “They make it the most beautiful for you with their service standards and attention to detail. Nothing is too much trouble. This is a testament to working with professionals. My personal favorite is The Conservatory. Day or night, it’s magical.”
Delightful moments are what they do best, from culinary delights to decorations. Servings from Executive Chef John Signorelli, who is known for his New American cuisine, often are a favorite of the guests.
“Everything was exactly as we wanted it,” Jones says. “The menus are delicious and the cuisine looks wonderful. It is flawless in the way it is presented in flavor and textures. It is very, very good. They reach for quality at the St. Regis.”
Imagination and Insight
St. Regis’ director of food and beverage, Michael DeCanio, says creating an atmosphere with exceptional touches is how St. Regis events stand out in every aspect. Specialized bars, interactive food stations and an in-house pastry chef can produce outstanding menus and drinks from a unique standpoint due to their extensive experience and skills.
“Our entire food and beverage team brings a tremendous amount of creativity and innovation to any special event that might be held at the St. Regis,” DeCanio explains. “We have specialized bars, including a Bloody Mary bar, which showcases our signature original creation, The Red Snapper. We have some great local versions like The St. Regis Houston’s very own Harry’s Texas Bloody Mary, created by our famous bartender, Harry Spitzer.”
Interactive food stations can be created to have international flair or feature neighborhood favorites offering true Texas taste and style. Guests can delight in delicacies, such as handmade sushi, a Gulf Coast paella station, a mini Texas chili- braised short rib slider or a spiced rub, house- smoked brisket.
DeCanio says he is always impressed by his staff, who enjoy taking on the challenge to be inventive and original with their culinary creations. Desserts are created in-house for the highest quality and freshness in every dish. The pastry chef and staff are here to dream of delectable visions for any occasion. Elaborate multi-tiered wedding cakes and customized company logos are always a viable option.
Signorelli and banquet chef Pevo Pich can be of assistance in the selection of epicurean delights made for any occasion. Exclusive dinners, al fresco lunches and receptions are all a possibility with the finest touches to complete the experience.
Banquet feasts, power breakfasts and personalized dinners are prepared with some of the freshest ingredients from international and locally produced markets designed to tempt guests at every dining course.
Abraham Hakakian of Plants N’ Petals Weddings and Events in Houston has been part of the sophisticated design approach to events at The St. Regis Houston for more than 20 years, where he has provided décor, flowers and lighting for weddings, showers and more.
Hakakian has witnessed transformations that take clients past their wildest expectations. No detail goes unnoticed when Hakakian takes over with his vision for events. Ceilings, stairways, centerpieces and tables all get his attention.
“Their eyes go up, and their mouths go down,” he says. “It’s what you want. We start from the beginning with flowers and add table lighting and centerpieces. Every elegant function has to be amazing. We’ve done so many functions, big and little, including all the Christmas décor at the hotel. We want to have a clean, modern feel with a touch of glitz.”
What party would be complete without a little entertainment? With Houston as an entertainment mecca, quality live music can be made available— simply ask the St. Regis staff. “We also work very closely with many different bands featured in the Remington Bar,” DeCanio says. “They’re available to play at any one of our specialty events.”
Choosing Your Space
Sophisticated rooms and upscale services are possible for events both large and small when hosting opulent events at The St. Regis Houston. Numerous venues are available, with more than 13,900 square feet of function space.
The Astor Ballroom is rich with wood accents and a luxury interior. Ballroom spaces can accommodate gatherings from 175 to 500 people. Private events ranging from 40 to 100 guests have tailored sophistication in the smaller rooms designed for launching businesses or hosting intimate receptions.
Memorable dinners are made even more remarkable in the cellar-like atmosphere of the Wine Room, where a grand table awaits up to 10 guests. Surrounded by the invaluable St. Regis wine collection, which includes 90 different varieties, guests may order off the Remington menu or be in for a treat with Signorelli. The chef and his team are able to use their ingenuity for menus reflecting seasonality and guest preference.
Special moments with friends are the typical scene in the Tea Lounge, where tradition and elegance are abundant in exquisite menu selection, butler-style service and St. Regis Special Blend tea. Selections of scones, tea sandwiches, petit fours and Devonshire cream are accompanied by harp music to complete this warm atmosphere.
Inside or outside, The St. Regis Houston can reserve spaces and recommend a meeting planner to help make the most of every event.
TO BOOK AN EVENT, CONTACT A CATERING SPECIALIST AT THE ST. REGIS HOUSTON AT 713-840-7600
