Now that the summer heat is upon us and we’re sporting our flip-flops daily, it’s the perfect time to start thinking about jingle bells and Santa Claus!
OK, maybe there’s no need to dive into your shopping list just yet. However, booking your holiday party venue now is wise, and the Renaissance Cincinnati Downtown Hotel is the perfect choice.
The hotel sets up beautiful seasonal decorations each year, making it a true one-stop shop for holiday planning. The seasoned staff handles everything from setup to food, beverages and holiday décor.
“The service staff takes wonderful care of our guests,” says Tracy Hartman, Director of Catering at the Renaissance. “The hotel is also the perfect place to treat your employees to a night out and show them your appreciation.”
The Renaissance Cincinnati has 323 guest rooms, including 40 suites, offering beautiful accommodations for guests and VIPs. Their flexible meeting space holds any size group, and their historic Burnham Hall is the perfect backdrop for a large celebratory event. Plus, their on-site restaurant, d. Burnham’s, serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, and the cocktail bar is open until 1 a.m. on weekends. In addition, d. Burnham’s has a private dining room that can accommodate smaller, more intimate holiday parties and gatherings of up to 30 guests.
It might surprise those walking by the Renaissance Cincinnati Downtown Hotel to learn a fabulous ballroom is inside!
“It’s a surprise and treat for all guests,” says Hartman.
Now, let’s get real — no matter what party you’re hosting, it’s all about the food! Seth Fannin, the Executive Chef at the Renaissance, enjoys customizing menus to meet groups’ tastes, themes, and budgets. He can also create plated meals or buffets based on your preferences.
“For many of our holiday parties, guests choose to do reception-style stations, which is always fun because it keeps people up and mingling,” Hartman notes.
Fannin, who has years of experience doing large-scale banquets, brings unique flavors to the dishes he creates so that guests never feel like they are eating an ordinary meal served to hundreds of people. Each banquet is a true culinary delight.
Regarding beverages, clients at the Renaissance can choose from two bar tiers.
“Our favorite offering is our Bourbon Bar,” says Hartman. “We offer a selection of local bourbons and can even infuse bourbons with different flavors. Our creative beverage team also enjoys coming up with signature cocktails to go along with your theme or company branding.”
The Renaissance has seven event spaces that accommodate up to 600 guests for a cocktail reception or 300 for a sit-down dinner with entertainment.
The best part about booking the Renaissance Cincinnati Downtown Hotel is that you don’t have to stress over the details because you work directly with Hartman and Renaissance
Catering Sales Manager Danielle Clarke, who handles all corporate and social events.
“We work with you from initial inquiry to the day of the event where we ensure everything goes smoothly,” says Hartman. She notes that they love collaborating with clients to come up with new, fun ideas for their guests. “We take a lot of pride in being easy to work with. It’s our job to make the planners of a company party look good in front of their teams!”
Lacee Foutch, Marketing Communication Coordinator at Sims-Lohman, chose to hold their large corporate sales celebration at the Renaissance. She was impressed with the entire process, from start to finish.
“The Renaissance was fantastic for our event,” says Foutch, who appreciated how the staff provided clear direction, updates, and deadlines. “There was always a contact I could reach out to before, during, and after the event, which made it really easy to get things done.”
Foutch, who was new at Sims-Lohman when asked to plan the company’s celebration, says she was grateful to Hartman and the Renaissance staff for making her feel comfortable and providing the information she needed to make knowledgeable decisions about the event.
The staff’s attention to detail did not go unnoticed. They ensured that everything Foutch requested was provided, and they made themselves readily available at all times.
“I appreciated having Tracy’s number and the numbers for most of her staff so that I could call anyone at the drop of a hat,” says Foutch. That came in handy when a drink station needed to be moved for an evening event. Foutch called Hartman to address the issue.
“She made it happen in ten minutes,” Foutch recalls. “She was proactive and moved quickly when something needed to be changed.”
Hartman suggests booking a holiday party six months in advance, especially if you want a prime Friday or Saturday night.
“We’ve been seeing quite a few holiday parties and sales recognition events happening in the first quarter of the year after all of the hustle and bustle of the season is past,” says Hartman. “This is a great time to host events at the hotel. We even offer great first quarter discounts!”
Are you contemplating holding your holiday party or corporate event at the Renaissance Cincinnati Downtown Hotel? Call them today at 513-333-0000 to book it! You can also email Tracy Hartman at tracy.hartman@reanaissancecincinnati.com for more information.