“Above all, you have to deliver great service consistently.” —Michael Russell
For the Hyatt Vineyard Creek Hotel and Spa in Santa Rosa, its setting in the heart of the Wine Country makes it an immensely desirable destination for businesspeople in the North Bay. But the hotel backs up those natural advantages with first-class amenities and superior service, explaining why NorthBay biz readers once again chose it as the BEST Hotel for Business Guests.“We couldn’t be more thrilled to win this award,” says Michael Russell, director of sales and marketing. “We love our city and our customers. We see this as a validation of that relationship.”
The quality of the facility, staff and the services are the biggest things that stand out for Hyatt guests. “However,” Russell says, “the one thing that separates ‘good’ and ‘great’ in the hotel business is the people and the level of service they’re able to commit to. Above all, you have to deliver great service consistently.”
The Hyatt is the only branded, AAA Four-Diamond hotel in Santa Rosa. It offers everything you’d expect from such an esteemed property, including an award-winning restaurant (the Brasserie) an upscale spa (Le Carre) and a 24-hour fitness center.
The hotel’s business center, which is open around the clock, keeps workaholics productive. There are printers for your Powerpoint presentations or airline boarding passes as well as computers in case you’ve forgotten your laptop. It also features such branded services as Hyatt Express Check-in and Hyatt Fast Board, which help ease the grind of working on the road. The hotel also has laundry and dry cleaning services in case you return from your wine tasting tour with Cabernet stains on your shirt.
“Location is obviously one of the things that makes us stand out,” Russell says. “We’re the only hotel of our kind in and around downtown Santa Rosa—and, of course, we complement that with the best staff. We take care of our people and train them to work together as a team. This way, we can accomplish so much more from a unified and shared perspective.”
The hotel is an artful setting for all kinds of business meetings, conferences, receptions and banquets. It has 40,000 square feet of multifunctional space, including 15,000 square feet of indoor meeting rooms, all wired to the Internet. Many have direct access to the hotel’s patios and lawns, providing a spectacular venue for meetings, conferences and corporate events. The hotel also provides experienced meeting and event planners if you need them.
Depending on your pitch, you can wine and dine an associate in the Brasserie; take a potential client for a stroll through intimate gardens framed in roses, lavender and wisteria; or update your LinkedIn profile while sitting on the edge of the whirlpool.
“We’re looking forward to making some small enhancements to the property in 2014,” Russell says. “We’re always working to improve the facility and, fortunately, we’re going to be able to make many of those changes this year.”
