As closely associated with San Francisco as the iconic cable cars or that famous Tony Bennett song, Fisherman’s Wharf has always been a leisure-travel favorite. After all, who doesn’t like fresh crab right off the boat, the availability of bay cruises and tours of Alcatraz, oddball entertainment seemingly around every corner and chocolate served up in all its glories at Ghirardelli Square?
But until fairly recently the colorful visitor magnet on the north shore of San Francisco was never a big meetings draw, due to relatively dated hotel inventory and its proximity over the hills and far away from Moscone Convention Center.
All that started to change in 2003, however, with the opening of the Argonaut Hotel and subsequent renovations of meetings-ready properties such as the Sheraton, and the Hyatt Fisherman’s Wharf is jumping right into mix with a location right in the heart of the Wharf and facilities tailor-made for small meetings that want all of the quintessentially San Francisco entertainment options without the "big box" feeling downtown.
"A group of 200 can come here and own the hotel," says Suzanne Premo, director of catering and convention services at the property. "They can be in almost a destination-type atmosphere but we can also keep them in the meeting space and keep them focused on the meeting."
General Manager Dania Duke says the property books a lot of sales incentives because of its location in one of the top tourism draws in the city, but the Hyatt also commonly hosts corporate, association, small business, government and local SMERF groups.
A 20-year Hyatt veteran, Duke says the hotel chain’s reliable standard of service and training are firmly entrenched at the property.
"Our level of service, especially with our competition in the Wharf area [is a benefit]," Duke says. "All of our staff, from the valet to the bellman and the housekeeping staff, have been through extensive training and we have very high service scores throughout the company."
Meeting facilities at the 313-room property include a conference center that features a prefunction area with natural lighting and a main ballroom with skylights (and electric closures for presentations). Other highlights include a fitness center and an outdoor heated pool in a central courtyard.
The Hyatt’s location also provides close proximity to a variety of off-site options, such as guided scavenger hunts through Watson Adventures that begin and end at the hotel and find groups traipsing throughout the Wharf, along with bay cruises on the Red & White Fleet and the ever-popular tours of Alcatraz (book early!).
"One of the benefits that meeting planners find in choosing our destination is they’re right in the middle the place where they can do an off-site event, such as team building," says Suzanne Premo, director of catering and convention services at the property. "They don’t necessarily need transportation to get where they need to go."
The property, which has a major renovation on the books for later this year, also prides itself on unique food and beverage options, such as receptions for 80 to 100 people at its Enoteca Musto private dining space (which can handle groups up to 40 for sit-down affairs).
iPad on Offer
Catching the latest high-tech wave, the Hyatt Fisherman’s Wharf is offering iPads for rent to its guests. For $30 per day, guests can use Apple’s newest wonder machine, which comes loaded with New York Times best-sellers and a list of things to do in the San Francisco Bay Area, including sightseeing recommendations and itineraries, and geo-mapped restaurant and shopping tips.
According to Duke, the iPads also are available for showing presentations and videos for meeting attendees.
All part of the changing landscape in a traditional favorite.
For More Info
Hyatt Fisherman’s Wharf
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