NJ-THE MEETING PLACE

New Jersey Business, Dec 01, 2003 by Prior, James T

The Inn is managed by Benchmark Hospitality, The Woodlands, Texas.

North Maple Inn has a 4,700 squarefoot ballroom for up to 400 people. All meeting facilities are wired with CAT-5 and fiber-optic cables. The conference center also offers interactive meeting capabilities, including videoconferencing. The property is an entirely smoke-free venue.

Burt Cabanas, chairman and CEO of Benchmark Hospitality, recently visited New Jersey to officiate at the groundbreaking for the Heldrich Plaza, New Brunswick, a hotel and conference center which it will also manage when it opens.

The Corporate Conference Center at Mercer is a new, 38,000 square-foot conference center at Mercer County Community College's (MCCC) West Windsor campus. Rose Nini of MCCC says the facility includes a 219-seat auditorium with individual laptop ports, an atrium for exhibits and social events, six high-tech computer training labs, nine conference-style training and breakout rooms and skilled conference managers.

The Corporate Conference Center offers day meeting packages for 5-250 persons, catering services and a wide range of training services. It boasts satellite teleconferencing, audio and videotape recording of sessions and videoconference services.

The Enterprise Center at Burlington County College has some 44,000 square feet of space for meeting, exhibits and corporate training and events.

Bergen Community College, Paramus, last year opened its $10-million Meeting and Training Center in the new Technology Education Center, a two-story, 50,000 square-foot venue. it has six computer labs, an interactive TV and videoconferencing classroom, a meeting and training center and an electronic library. The 300-seat meeting and training center has been well received by the business community.

Dr. Michael Redmond, vice president of technology and information services, says wireless technologies are used through the center to provide ubiquitous network connectivity. "By using IPO protocols in our ITV facility, we are able to use the Internet to deliver real-time training programs, seminars or meetings to businesses," he explains.

The modular facility can be divided into three rooms, accommodating 100 people each, or four smaller rooms seating 50 people. Three large, electronic screens, the interactive television satellite facility, a full-service kitchen and barrier-free access are some of its features. The Bergen Small Business Development Center recently hosted a Global Trade Expo here, which included a virtual trade mission with the Czech Republic, which connected local businesses with business leaders in that country.

University Inn and Conference Center at Rutgers, New Brunswick, is on a 21-acre campus and offers 36 guestrooms and six meeting rooms which accommodate from 5 to 100 participants. it offers videoconferencing, 24-hour copying and faxing services and access to Rutgers' libraries. It can set up videoconferencing with multiple sites.

HOTELS

The Westin Princeton at Forrestal Village, Princeton, reports business for 2003 will end-up being stronger than what had been projected and that bookings for 2004 are stronger than they have been in the last few years.