Dolce International Becomes Dolce Hotels And Resorts
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Dolce International Becomes Dolce Hotels And Resorts
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Category: Worldwide - Industry economy -
Renovation / Addition
This is a press release selected by our editorial committee and published online for free on 2008-08-19
With an Updated Name, Look and Attitude the Industry’s Premier Provider of Meetings, Retreats and Hospitality Service Announces a Brand Refresh and New Service Standards
Before long-standing clients, colleagues, members of the International Association of Conference Centers and media, Andy Dolce, founder, chairman and managing director of Dolce International announced today the metamorphosis of the company to Dolce Hotels and Resorts. The evolution more accurately reflects the breadth and caliber of services and amenities that will soon be offered to its meetings, leisure and individual business travel clients and guests. Along with a new name and logo, expansion, renovation and sweeping design and operational changes were revealed to a group of more than 60 attendees at a luncheon at New York City’s The Modern restaurant.
“The essence of our brand has always been to deliver exceptional meeting and hospitality service. We are now taking our standards and expertise to a whole new level by creating spaces and experiences that inspire our guests and foster big ideas in a way not seen before in our industry,” says Dolce. “We hope to further distinguish our hotels, resorts and conference hotels by providing the most inspiring, most hospitable, most thoughtful environments for our guests.”
Capital Improvements:
Dolce praised the 2007 partnership with Broadreach Capital as one that will enable the company to grow significantly in the future and introduced the segmentation of its portfolio of 24 properties into two divisions, “Hotels and Resorts” and “Conference Hotels”. One of the most visible aspects of Dolce’s change is the approximately $100 million investment being made in capital improvements at several properties in the
company’s portfolio including: Dolce Valley Forge, King of Prussia, PA; Dolce Basking Ridge, Basking Ridge, NJ; Dolce Chantilly, Chantilly, France; Dolce Frégate, Provence, France; and The H Hotel, Midland, MI. Also, a new spa is being added at Dolce La Hulpe in Brussels, Belgium and the spa at Dolce Sitges, outside of Barcelona, is being expanded. These upgrades and renovations are bringing the new Dolce vision to life by delivering public spaces, meeting environments and guest accommodations that are integrated, modern, comfortable and, most importantly, conducive to inspired thinking and leisure activity.
New Look and Feel Based on Three Realms of Service Deemed
Most Important to Clients and Guests; New Services Unveiled:
Carl Cohen, chief marketing and sales officer, referenced research validating food, facilities and service as elements of most value to clients and guests. He then introduced Dolce Hotels and Resorts’ newly energized look, reflecting a revitalized company and a new logo that includes an “O” comprised of three rings. Cohen explained these inter-linked rings represent three, distinct elements that integrate to inspire the most thoughtful and productive meetings, events and celebrations.
Steve Giblin, president and chief operating officer, spoke of the guest impact of the first ring, Nourishment, representing Dolce’s commitment to nurture the spirit of body and mind of its guests. This ring includes cuisine, spa services and guest amenities. Some of the new brand standards that will be instituted in 2008-2009 include a new Corporate Culinary program, new upgraded linen, and in-room amenities.
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Corporate Culinary Program:
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Michelin-star Chef Alain Montigny, based at Dolce Chantilly outside of Paris, who has served as regional Chef for Dolce Europe, will conduct annual training with all Dolce Culinary personnel. The goal of the program is to raise Dolce’s a la carte execution, culinary expertise and upgrade guests’ overall dining experience.
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To further support the company’s “nourishment ring”, innovation in food presentation and selection are key elements of the corporate culinary program. Coming soon is the “Dolce Sweet” signature dessert to be offered at all properties. In addition, seasonal restaurant menus that leverage local bounty are being added, an enhanced beverage initiative includes each property’s own Certified Sommelier and serving Lavazza Italian coffee, and the famous Dolce coffee break service is being upgraded in quality and will include “Super Foods” to further nourish and inspire the guests.
Dolce properties will feature flat-panel HDTV LCDs; Sealy Encore Plush Pillow top mattresses; luxurious Baltic bed linens and pillows; and MP3 player clocks. Bath amenities will now include Gilchrist & Soames quality bath products.
Cohen explained the second ring, Connectivity, representing Dolce’s commitment to deliver environments that bring people together and promote thoughtful exchange by offering state-of-the-art technology; expansive yet functional design and renowned, purpose-built architecture. This includes a focus on gathering spaces such as lobby design, coffee break areas with high top tables and communal tables in restaurants such as those at Café Zinc at Dolce’s H Hotel in Michigan. Award-winning architects and interior designers have been enlisted to create environments that parallel the company’s refreshed identity.
. New brand standards to support the “connectivity ring” include:
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Cyber-cafés: to be offered at break-out locations
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Executive Concierge: Business Centers will be upgraded to include a concierge to handle each group’s business needs
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On-Demand Printing: Guests will be able to print documents from their laptops, from anywhere in the hotel
Empowering phrases will be scattered throughout each hotel in unexpected places from pens and pencils that say, “Big Idea,” “Idea Machine,” Think Big,” “Instrument of Change,” “Meet with Inspiration” to Do Not Disturb signs with “Recharging my Batteries,” and matchbooks with “Impossible? It’s Just an Opinion” are just a sampling. A new, state of the art, user friendly, photo rich website enabling easy research for planners and a simple and clear reservation tool for booking individual rooms is in the process of being launched at www.dolce.com.
Giblin then explained the third and final ring, Community, which represents well-trained, passionate, committed associates that form a community at the hotel to provide superior and intuitive customer service and deliver socially responsible, wide-ranging green initiatives. Pivotal to Dolce Hotel and Resorts’ success is its five-point proprietary Great Guest Experience program which all guest-facing associates complete. These five points include The Wow Factor (exceeding guests expectations), Granting A Wish (anticipating/meeting guests needs), The Personal Touch (personalizing each guest’s experience), Class Act (professionalism) and Second Chance (service recovery).
Dolce’s “green” standards are a core value of the community ring. Carbon offset programs, key cards that control a guest room’s power, recycling, towel and sheet reuse, low-flow showerheads, and aerators are a few of the green steps Dolce is taking. Dolce’s properties aim to be “Green Certified” and the first is the new Gold Leeds Certified conference facility, the Dorr Hosier building at Aspen Meadows. A Dolce Green Council
and property based Green Teams work to develop on-site initiatives and community outreach programs including buying local products, creating in-house gardens and using EnergyStar appliances and eco-friendly furnishings.
Future Expansion and Growth:
Philip Maritz, managing director of Broadreach Capital, expressed great optimism about the company’s future, not only based on the investments and many initiatives, but because the company has grown in response to its guests’ needs. This philosophy has allowed the company to nearly triple its size in the past decade and positions Dolce Hotels and Resorts for further global growth and success. Next on the horizon is expanding its reach by continuing to open properties in North American gateway cities and expansion into Asia and the Middle East.
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