DURHAM, N.C. -- Known for its gracious hospitality and exceptional service, the Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club, located on the campus of Duke University, is pleased to announce that its two-year $25 million total renovation and expansion project is complete.
The project includes the addition of a new 7,000 square-foot state-of-the-art Executive Conference Center. Already renowned for its AAA Four Diamond Award-winning luxury hotel and Robert Trent Jones 18-hole championship golf course, the new and improved Inn will significantly boost Durham's reputation as a prime destination for both the business and leisure traveler.
"The Inn is poised to offer a superior product and experience to its guests, thereby enhancing the visibility and popularity of the University and the broader Durham community," says Randy Kolls, general manager of the Inn. "We couldn't be more thrilled with our new surroundings and the addition of new employees to our team." The new and expanded Inn has also had a positive employment impact on the community. Before the completion of the new Inn, the Inn averaged 215 employees and by early next year the Inn will average 325 employees-an almost 52% increase. All the property enhancements including the Executive Conference Center, the addition of 100 new luxurious guest rooms and suites, a new Fairview Dining Room, Vista Restaurant, and Bull Durham Bar, expanded fitness facilities and golf shop, a new enclosed pool and 27,600-plus square feet of newly opened golf practice areas and other levels of services have demanded more employees to serve the needs the Inn's guests.
The Inn is the only hotel of its caliber in Durham. With the completion of its renovation and expansion project, the hotel is the second largest in terms of meeting space, the third largest hotel in terms of accommodations and the only one in such proximity to Duke University. This ideal blend of location and reputation bodes well for the Inn and for Durham. "The Inn is unique in its tradition of service and stature and unquestionably gives us a very special tool in selling Durham to others," says Reyn Bowman, president of the Durham Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Anchored by superb shopping venues and more nationally rated restaurants per capita than any other city in the nation of comparable size, Durham is a popular leisure destination. Whether it's museums, performing arts, signature annual events or sports, Durham provides an ideal opportunity for those seeking a diverse cultural experience. "To fully support a wide range of entertainment and cultural experiences, you also have to have diversity in shopping, dining and accommodations; having a luxury hotel like the Inn gives Durham that diversity," explains Bowman.
The Inn is particularly excited about the growth possibilities the new Executive Conference Center offers the community. "We've been working collaboratively with the local business community for years," says Jim Bressler, director of sales and marketing. "Now we can offer improved services, reach out to larger organizations here at home and expand our regional and national markets."
Ted Conner, Vice President of the Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce said, "The Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club is a distinctive product with tremendous demand for its services. With the renovation and expansion, the Inn will have improved accessibility and will be able to better meet the needs of the entire market." The Inn's conference services are available in convenient, all-inclusive packages, and its Center has already garnered preliminary approval from the International Association of Conference Centers (IACC).
>From the outset, the renovation and expansion project has been a way for the Inn to build for a prosperous future and to heighten the standing of Duke and the Durham community. "When a Four Diamond establishment undertakes an expansion and renovation of this magnitude, guests are in for a treat; the Inn has taken what they do well with the intention of doing it better," says Tom Crosby, publicity director for AAA Carolinas. "There is no doubt in my mind that the new Inn will provide a quality experience for meetings, special events, accommodations and dining."
The new Executive Conference Center features 11 meeting rooms, daylong break areas, flexible dining options prepared by an award-winning culinary team in the new Vista Restaurant, 18-hour chairs, non-glare writing tables with built-in data ports and sophisticated audio/visual capabilities. The adjacent Presidents Ballroom, with seating for up to 600, features a grand pre-function area and spectacular new outdoor terrace. The Inn has also renovated its existing meeting rooms, bringing the total number of available meeting spaces to 20.
Guest rooms and suites convey a feeling of residential elegance; first-class linens grace beds and baths and plush robes invite relaxation. Handcrafted English armoires have been installed in new rooms, and new executive desks and chairs are in all rooms. High-speed and wireless Internet access is standard in guest rooms, suites, conference spaces and public areas.
The Fairview Dining Room, a 13-year recipient of a AAA Four Diamond Award and a fifth consecutive-year recipient of a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence, now features glorious vistas of the prestigious Duke University Golf Club, al fresco dining, an updated décor and additional specialty dishes on its menu. The refurbished Bull Durham Bar offers a larger menu, a more spacious bar and additional casual seating throughout.
"We're now one of the few facilities in the nation that offers first-class accommodations, state-of-the-art meeting spaces and an on-site award-winning golf course," states Ed Ibarguen, general manager of the Duke University Golf Club and PGA Master Professional. In addition to coordinating team-building and tournament experiences for companies or special event parties, Ibarguen and his staff are available for individual and group golf lessons.
Last year, the Duke University Golf Club was listed as one of The Best Places to Play in Southeastern USA and the 15th Best Golf Course in North America by Golf Digest(r), 2004; one of America's Top Golf Courses in the 2005 Zagat Survey; and, one of The Top 10 Courses in the Piedmont in 2005 by North Carolina magazine.
Named for Washington Duke (1820-1905), noted industrialist and philanthropist, the Inn maintains proud connections with the Duke family. Built in the style of an old English country inn, the hotel is graced with Duke family photos, treasures and art. The Inn's crest, recognized as a symbol of quality and excellence, shares elements with the Duke family coat of arms. It is these connections with the University and the Duke family that shapes the Inn's identity.
The Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club is located on the campus of Duke University, only 20 minutes from Raleigh-Durham International Airport and 10 minutes from Research Triangle Park, and is the only AAA Four Diamond Award-winning hotel in Durham. Nestled on 300 acres filled with tall pines and hardwoods, the Inn is known for its beautiful facility and grounds, 271 elegantly-appointed guest rooms and suites, marvelous cuisine in the Four Diamond Award-winning Fairview Dining Room, the Bull Durham Bar, a Robert Trent Jones 18-hole championship golf course, and convenience to local points of interest. It is set apart from other area hotels and conference centers by its unparalleled service, gracious staff, luxurious interiors and attention to detail. The Inn is owned by Duke University and is managed by The Continental Companies of Miami, Florida. For more information or reservations call 919.490.0999 or 1.800.443.3853, or visit www.washingtondukeinn.com
