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 new 7,000 square foot state-of-the-art Executive Conference Center is open for business.
By offering a full-service conference center alongside its AAA Four Diamond Award-winning luxury hotel and Robert Trent Jones 18-hole championship golf course, Duke has constructed the perfect place for organizations to conduct business and has added to Durham's reputation as a community hospitable to growth and development.
The addition of a conference center has been part of the hotel's two-year $25 million total renovation and expansion project. Its presence expands the Inn's capabilities to better serve the business community and supports the growth experienced by the rest of Duke, a university and medical center renowned worldwide. "The Inn is poised to offer a superior product and experience to its business guests," says Randy Kolls, general manager of the Inn. "It's not about getting bigger; it's about getting better."
The Center features 11 meeting rooms, daylong break areas, flexible dining options prepared by an award-winning culinary team for the conference center's Vista Restaurant, 18-hour chairs, non-glare writing tables with built-in data ports and sophisticated audio/visual capabilities. The adjacent Presidents Ballroom has seating for up to 600 and features a grand pre-function area and spectacular new ballroom terrace. The Inn has also renovated its existing meeting rooms, bringing the total number of available meeting spaces to 20.
Director of Conference Services Melinda Arndt is excited about the growth possibilities the Center offers the Inn, Duke University and the broader Durham community. "We've been working collaboratively with Duke and the surrounding business community for years. Now we can offer improved services, reach out to larger organizations here at home and expand our regional and national markets," she states. 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).
To accommodate a higher volume of conference business, the Inn now features 271 luxurious guest rooms and suites, all conveying a feeling of residential elegance. First-class linens grace beds and baths; plush robes invite relaxation. Handcrafted English armoires have been installed in new rooms, and new executive desks and chairs have been added to existing rooms. High-speed and wireless Internet access is standard in guest rooms, suites, conference spaces and public areas.
A thirteen-year recipient of a AAA Four Diamond Award and a five-year recipient of the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence, the new Fairview Dining Room features glorious vistas of the prestigious Duke University Golf Club, al fresco dining, an updated décor and additional specialty dishes on its menu. The new Vista Restaurant serves informal yet outstanding kiosk-style meals between meetings or conference breakout sessions. The enlarged Bull Durham Bar offers a larger menu, a more spacious bar and additional casual seating throughout.
The Inn also offers new fitness facilities and golf shop, a new enclosed pool and 27,600-plus square feet of newly opened golf practice areas. "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 experiences and company tournaments, 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®, 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 twenty minutes from Raleigh-Durham International Airport and ten 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
