ROCKLEIGH, N.J. (Aug. 25, 2011) ─ In a move that promises to transform the government meetings landscape, Dolce Hotels and Resorts has introduced all-inclusive, per diem rates approved by the U.S. General Services Administration that cover guest rooms, meeting facilities, breakfast, lunch, dinner, breaks and basic audiovisual equipment.

Dolce is the first hotel brand ever to be awarded a GSA Schedule Contract (GS33-F00-47X SIN 599.6), enabling government meeting planners to research prices and book meetings through the GSA Advantage system at the Dolce property of their choice in the United States, Canada and Europe.
 
“Just as Andy Dolce, our founder, revolutionized the marketplace when he developed the all-inclusive Complete Meetings Package, our new Government Meetings Package reinvents government meeting procurement with all-inclusive per diem pricing and transparency,” said Barry Goldstein, Dolce chief marketing and technology officer.

Goldstein said the package includes single-occupancy accommodations, meeting room, continental breakfast, lunch, dinner, continuous morning and evening break service and snacks, LCD projector and flip charts. Parking and wireless Internet service in guest rooms and function space are complimentary. Day packages also are available.

While Dolce’s competitors offer government meeting attendees a per diem guest room rate, many charge rack rate – their highest retail rate – for meals, meeting space and audio-visual support. In addition, many large conference hotels also charge attendees for guest room and meeting room Internet service and parking.

“Our GMP pricing ensures government groups will not encounter the kind of inflated costs or surprise charges sometimes levied by competitors, such as $90 coffee pots and $300 plates of cookies,” he said. “Moreover, our GMP pricing features delicious, nutritious meals, avoiding the need to schedule two-hour lunch breaks so attendees can grab a fast-food meal off-site.”

Nearly all Dolce properties are located just outside of major cities, qualifying government meeting attendees for a lower per diem rate, said Elizabeth Perrin, Dolce global account director. “That means a government group could arrange a meeting at our beautiful Ravella at Lake Las Vegas resort in Nevada for less than a hotel in downtown Washington, D.C.”

Perrin noted that Dolce has been certified as a small business by the U.S. Small Business Administration, making it eligible for government contracts reserved exclusively for small business. Congress has mandated that 23 percent of prime contracts in all categories be awarded to small businesses.

Charles Sadler, executive director and chief executive officer of the Society of Government Meeting Professionals, applauded Dolce’s GSA endorsement, saying: “I have to commend Dolce Hotels and Resorts for seeing the potential and the advantage of taking their hotels to the next level to reach government buyers in their success to be an approved vendor under a GSA schedule.

“Today, GSA schedules are the favored purchasing mechanism for most federal buyers, and Dolce has just proved it isn’t just for office supplies, furniture and federal necessities anymore with the addition of their hotel rooms and meeting space as its newest commodity.

“It is definitely in the best interest of our industry to look into what makes a GSA schedule so attractive to both the government buyer and the supplier vendor in preapproved contracting. It is great to see another federal purchasing program become an opportunity for the hospitality and meetings industry.”

According to the June 13 issue of the Federal Times newsletter, Dolce was ranked 14 last year among all U.S. companies hosting federal government meetings. The company’s portfolio includes hotels, resorts and conference hotels in New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Georgia, Michigan, Minnesota, Colorado, California, Ontario, Texas, Nevada, Belgium, France, Spain and Germany.

The company's newest hotel is expected to open during the fall of 2012 in downtown Indianapolis.

As a leader in the meetings industry, Dolce hosts some 30,000 events and 4 million group clients globally every year. The company’s founder pioneered the conference center concept and Complete Meeting Package, both now embraced as standards by the International Association of Conference Centers.

Dolce's vision is to create inspiring environments that bring people together. Its mission is to delight its guests, challenge its associates, reward its owners and serve as a role model in its communities.

Founded in 1981 and based in Rockleigh, N.J., Dolce is majority-owned by Broadreach Capital Partners. The company employs more than 4,000 worldwide. Additional information is available at www.dolce.com. Government meeting planners are welcome to contact Elizabeth Perrin by e-mail at [email protected] or by phone at (703) 726-6033.