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Hyatt Bonaventure Thinks Corporate Meeting-Goers Deserve Massages And
Meditation
A new look in conference hotels: give them tennis and golf, but also a spa
By Lucy Komisar
Companies that book hotels for conferences anywhere near an
ocean want to keep their employees from playing truant at the beach. At the same
time, folks doing brainwork in the auditoriums and “breakout” rooms need to
soften the muscles that get tight during meetings. And they need surroundings
that make them feel good, even pampered.
 The Hyatt Bonaventure in Weston, in
Broward County, just north of Dade (Miami) – has been totally renovated with the
above clearly in mind. This Hyatt is billed as a conference center and spa and
is strategically set away from the beaches of Ft. Lauderdale, about 20 miles to
the east. Too far to the beach to duck out of a meeting unless you disappear for
half a day! But close enough to that city’s night-time attractions.
 Closer to home, the hotel’s 24-hour fitness center attached
to the new Elizabeth Arden Red Door Lifestyle Spa is ready to soothe both body
and soul. The fitness center has the usual machines and weights, “movement” and
Pilates studios, sauna and steam rooms. The spa offers 30 treatment rooms – with
names like “meditation” -- for various kinds of massage. As this is a
“destination” and not a “day” spa, people can book regimes lasting a week. I
loved the calming tea-room.
More traditional diversions are close by. Across the stream
edging the 23-acre property is one of two 18-hole PGA championship golf courses,
and a five minute drive away are 15 clay tennis courts.
I wasn’t attending a conference, but I found the
Bonaventure a convenient, relaxing place to stop for anyone driving between
tourist cities. We were going from Orlando to Key West, and it was near midway,
220 miles from Florida’s fantasy center, 176 miles to its southern-most point.
The hotel has the familiar air of a place aimed at soigné
travelers who want to be surrounded by elegance.
 There are 501 guestrooms and suites decorated in a classic
British Colonial style. Ours was a gorgeous apartment in dark woods. The large
living-dining room had a tall palm plant in the corner, a round wood table and
chairs, and a kitchenette with a marble counter, stove with top burners,
microwave and fridge.
 The bedroom featured a king-size bed, a chaise, a desk and
a Japanese-style miniature tree. The flat screen TV had a keyboard to get on
internet. (The business center also has computer terminals with internet
access.) The over-sized bathroom even had a digital scale.
The balcony, where we had breakfast and sunset drinks,
looked through tall palms to one of the four pools, a beauty with a waterfall at
one sculpted corner.
 As the winter day was in the 70s – perfect golf and tennis
weather, but too cool for swimming, I thought -- we were glad to soak in the Jacuzzi.
However, my predilection is for active sports, and I was
delighted to discover the Weston Tennis Center, owned by the city and run by the
company of tennis pro, Cliff Drysdale. The courts are perfectly maintained green
clay, with cold water dispensers between every two courts, the mark of attentive
management. I was sorry to miss the morning clinic that I discovered as I walked
to my court. Next time!
If you go
Hyatt Bonaventure Conference Center & Spa
250 Racquet Club Road
Weston, FL 33326
(954) 616-1234 or (800) 327-8090
Fax (954) 384-6157
http://bonaventure.hyatt.com/
Reservations 800 233-1234 or http://www.hyatt.com.
15 miles west of Ft. Lauderdale International Airport
Red Door Lifestyle Spa
(954) 389-3300
http://www.reddoorspas.com/
 Weston Tennis Center
16451 Racquet Club Road
Weston FL 33326
(954) 389- 8666
Fax (954) 349-0977
http://www.cliffdrysdale.com
Court time is $8 per person per hour.
Lessons $35 a half hour, $60 an hour.
Morning and evening 1 ½ hour clinics $18. (Mon-Sun 9 to 10:30am; M,T,Th 7 to
8:30pm.) Also programs for beginners.
Photos by Lucy Komisar.
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