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Flagship Omni Property at Epicenter of Downtown Atlanta Renewal
Effort
ATLANTA, Sept. 28, 1999 � A key component of the historic revitalization
of office, retail, sports, residential and entertainment developments in
downtown Atlanta, the Omni Hotel at CNN Center has completed a $9 million
renovation of its property. Encompassing a new restaurant and bar
overlooking Centennial Olympic Park, a full lobby renovation with a new,
glass exterior and new lobby-to-street escalators, the refurbishment literally
opens up the hotel to the world and emphasizes the international appeal
of Atlanta.
 �With
Centennial Olympic Park as its front-door step and the Philips Arena, the
Georgia World Congress Center, the Georgia Dome and CNN Center as neighbors,
the Omni Hotel is at the center of the dynamic transformation of downtown
Atlanta,� said Paul Breslin, general manager of the hotel. �It�s
a very exciting time to be a guest at the Omni Hotel at CNN Center.�
The Omni renovation is part of the $27 million facelift of the entire
CNN Center complex by Turner Properties Inc., which also owns the Omni
Hotel. In all, Turner is investing $400 million in the revitalization
of downtown Atlanta with its development of the Philips Arena, the renovation
of CNN Center and the Omni Hotel, upgrades to the CNN Studio, and the opening
of Turner Studios in January 2000.
The Omni International Hotel opened in Atlanta in 1975. It was
one of the first Omni properties in the United States. In 1985, Turner
Broadcasting acquired partial ownership of the Omni International complex.
Turner acquired the remainder of the hotel in 1986 and renamed the property
the Omni Hotel at CNN Center. Today, Omni Hotels manages the Atlanta
hotel for Turner Broadcasting.
With the recent renovations, the 470-room Omni Hotel has become even
more convenient for business, convention and leisure travelers and
sports enthusiasts. Connected to the new Philips Arena, the sports
and entertainment complex which serves as home to the NBA Atlanta Hawks
and the NHL Atlanta Thrashers, the hotel also provides direct access to
CNN Center, the Georgia World Congress Center and Centennial Olympic Park.
The Omni is also the closest hotel to the Georgia Dome.
�The Omni has suddenly become a window to the world with its spacious,
new lobby featuring 15-foot, blue glass window walls overlooking Centennial
Olympic Park and the skyline of Atlanta,� Breslin added. �Our new,
28-foot, lobby-to-street escalators make all the amenities of CNN Center
more accessible to hotel guests.�
The lobby�s signature features tie into the global theme of the hotel
and CNN Center. A 24-foot compass inlaid in the floor is made
of granite, metal and marble quarried from Georgia. A 14-foot crystal
chandelier etched with the outline of Antarctica hangs above the compass.
In addition, a gallery of photography from historic international events
captured by CNN coverage is displayed in the lobby.
From Prime Meridian, the hotel�s new, 250-seat restaurant, diners enjoy
a dramatic view of Centennial Olympic Park from the floor-to-ceiling glass
windows as they feast on cuisines from around the world. As downtown�s
premier world cuisine restaurant, Prime Meridian offers unusual and savory
menu items such as pan-seared Holland Dover Sole and the Mondiale Mixed
Grill of Bison, Australian Lamb and New Zealand Venison prepared by award-winning
Executive Chef Kevin Palm and Chef de Cuisine Frank Norton. The restaurant
also boasts one of the largest wine racks and selections in Atlanta.
Adjacent to Prime Meridian, Latitudes Bistro & Lounge provides an
intimate cocktail environment and a casual dining option. Each morning,
Latitudes is transformed into one of the finest pastry and coffee bars
in town.
Meeting and banquet facilities at the Omni continue to be some of the
best in Atlanta. With more than 53,000 square feet of flexible meeting
space, including 11 function rooms and a 15,000 square-foot ballroom, the
Omni can accommodate meetings of all sizes.
To provide the highest customer service for meeting attendees and planners,
the Omni Express program provides complete and timely response to meetings
with 50 guestrooms or less. The hotel�s new, 2,700 square-foot Business
Center adjacent to the lobby provides computers, Internet connections for
laptops, modem hook-ups, teleconferencing facilities, as well as cell phone
and pager rentals.
Hotel guests also receive privileged passes to the Turner Athletic Club,
the full-service, 50,000 square-foot health club for Turner associates
and Omni Hotel guests. Located on the atrium floor of the CNN Center,
the Athletic Club offers fitness classes, circuit training equipment, certified
instructors, a locker room, pro shop, lap pool, and sauna/whirlpool/steam
rooms.
Other hotel amenities include a Concierge Desk with access to all of
Atlanta's events and attractions; covered valet parking; gift shop; newsstand;
ATM and post office on site; same-day dry cleaning and pressing services;
and Atlanta�s best shoe shine service.
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Paul Breslin
General Manager
Omni Hotel at CNN Center
Paul Breslin, general manager for the Omni Hotel at CNN Center, has
responsibility for all management and operations functions at the 470-room
luxury hotel strategically located in the heart of downtown Atlanta.
In addition to managing a staff of more than 380, he spearheads the $9
million renovation of the hotel, its restaurants and meeting space.
Breslin has nearly 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry.
He has worked in some of the country�s most noted travel destinations including
Miami, San Diego, Denver, New Orleans and Lake Placid. He began his
career in the hotel industry with Sheraton Hotels in 1983 at the Sheraton
San Diego Resort.
Most recently he served as resident manager of the Atlanta Hilton and
Towers, capping more than a decade with the Hilton Hotels Corporation.
Prior to moving to Atlanta, Breslin served as executive assistant manager
of the renowned Fountainebleau Hilton Resort and Towers in Miami Beach,
Fla., for four years. He served as the hotel�s director of human
resources for five years before that time.
A seasoned hotel executive, Breslin has earned recognition for his outstanding
efforts and achievements. He was named Fountainebleau Hilton�s �Department
Head of the Year� in 1988 and also received Hilton�s �Leadership Award�
in 1991.
Active in a number of Atlanta�s civic organizations, Breslin currently
serves as vice chairman of the Hotel Council of Atlanta. He is a
member of the Atlanta Convention and Visitors� Bureau and Georgia Hospitality
and Travel Association. He is also a board member of the Atlanta
Downtown Partnership, Atlanta�s Inn for Children and Cross & Crown
Private School. A former board chairman of the South Florida Welfare
Fund, he has also served as an adjunct professor for two Miami-area colleges.
Breslin earned his undergraduate degree in hotel management from Florida
International University. He resides in Dunwoody, Ga., with his wife
and three children. |
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Kevin M. Palm
Executive Chef
Omni Hotel at CNN Center
Kevin Palm, a 20-year veteran chef of major hotel chains,
has been executive chef at the Omni Hotel at CNN Center in Atlanta for
nearly four years. In this role, he oversees all food purchase and
preparation, menu development, quality control and culinary staff training.
Chef Palm specializes in Northern Italian, Mediterranean, American Grille,
International Banquets, Low Calorie Cooking and World Cuisine.
Prior to joining the Omni Hotel at CNN Center in 1996,
Chef Palm was executive chef at the Atlanta Renaissance Hotel Downtown.
He also served as executive sous chef at the Atlanta Waverly Hotel from
1992 to 1994 and was sous chef at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in downtown Atlanta.
During his career, Chef Palm has served in various culinary
management positions with hotels in Tennessee, including the Wilson World
Hotel in Jackson, the Opryland Hotel in Nashville and the famous Peabody
Hotel in Memphis. In addition, he has held chef positions with the
Marriott Marquis in New York and the Woodcliff Lake Hilton in New Jersey.
A graduate of the Garde Manager Course, Chef Palm also
completed the Bergen Community College Hotel Motel Management Course.
He received extensive culinary training in the Marriott Corporation�s Apprenticeship
Program and completed the Marriott�s Managerial Training Program.
He has won numerous awards for his excellence in the culinary
arts, including three first-place medals for ice carvings in New York City
and five awards for Tallow Sculptures in international food shows.
Currently, he serves as national president and local chapter president
of the United Culinary Arts Association Inc. He has appeared on CNN
and CBS-TV cooking programs and was featured on the on the cover of Culinary
Trends magazine in 1997. |
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Juan J. Garcia
Director of Marketing
Omni Hotel at CNN Center
Juan J. Garcia, director of marketing for the Omni Hotel
at CNN Center, has responsibility for the marketing of the 470-room hotel
and the sales of its rooms, food and beverage outlets, and meeting spaces
to business, group and leisure markets.
Garcia joined the hotel in December 1998 from his position
as national director of sales for Omni�s southeastern region. Handling
key accounts such as IBM, The Coca-Cola Company, NationsBank (now Bank
of America) and the Technical Association of Pulp & Paper Industries
(TAPPI) for the region, he led his team to exceed its annual sales goal
for five years in a row.
Garcia joined Omni Hotels in 1990 as director of sales
and marketing of the Omni San Diego Hotel. After a successful two-year
stint, Omni tapped him for director of marketing for its first AAA Five
Diamond Hotel, the Omni Houston Hotel, formerly the Four Seasons Inn on
the Park.
Garcia�s hospitality career began in 1982 with Marriott
Hotels. After training with the company in Denver, he moved
to Salt Lake City and then to Santa Clara, Calif., where he captured attention
by exceeding goals in corporate, group and business sales. Radisson
then hired him as director of sales for its hotel in Burlington, Vt., where
he continued to achieve outstanding sales results. The company then
moved him to Austin, Texas, where he helped Radisson reach a $1 million
turnaround of that property in less than two years.
A graduate of the University of Massachusetts in Amherst
with a bachelor of science degree in hotel, restaurant and travel and a
minor in marketing, Garcia resides in Marietta, Ga., with his wife.
He enjoys an active lifestyle that includes spending time with his two
sons. |
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Omni Hotel at CNN Center
Fact Sheet
The Omni Hotel at CNN Center is located at 100 CNN Center,
Atlanta, GA 30335 and is a 15-story, full-service, upscale hotel with 470
luxurious guestrooms and more than 53,000 square feet of flexible meeting
and function space.
What: The Omni Hotel at CNN Center is a 15-story, full-service,
upscale hotel located in the heart of downtown Atlanta. One of the
first Omni properties in the United States, the hotel has recently completed
a $9 million renovation of its lobby and restaurant.
History: The Omni International Hotel opened in Atlanta
in 1975. Turner Broadcasting acquired full ownership of the Omni
International complex in 1986 and renamed the property the Omni Hotel at
CNN Center. Omni Hotels, based in Irving, Texas, manages the hotel
for Turner Broadcasting.
Number of Rooms: 470 guest rooms, including
12 suites
Number of Associates: 380
Accommodations:
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470 total guest rooms
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220 double/doubles
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147 queens
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90 kings
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13 suites
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11 ADA rooms
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Non-smoking rooms
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Standard guest room 292 square feet
Meeting Facilities:
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More than 53,000 square feet of flexible meeting and function
space
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15,000 square-foot ballroom that can be divided into four
sections
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International Promenade and foyers (9,600 square feet) accommodating
breaks, receptions and exhibits
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11 additional function rooms which can be divided into 15
breakout rooms
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Atrium Terrace � open atrium for catered events that can
accommodate up to 550
Restaurants:
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Prime Meridian is a new, contemporary, 250-seat restaurant
serving world cuisine.
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Latitudes, the hotel�s new bistro and lounge, offers an intimate
cocktail environment and casual dining. In the mornings, Latitudes
becomes a pastry and coffee bar.
Hotel Services:
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Guest access to Turner Athletic Club
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Full-service Business Center
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Concierge Desk
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Connected to CNN Center and the Philips Arena
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Gift shop, beauty salon, dry cleaning
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Banking, post office
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Wheelchair access and Braille signage
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Atlanta�s finest shoe shine stand
Attractions:
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Walking distance to events at the Philips Arena, Centennial
Olympic Park, the Georgia Dome and the Georgia World Congress Center
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CNN Studio Tour in the CNN Center
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Shopping at the Braves Clubhouse store, the Turner Store
and the Hawk Walk
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Six blocks, eight-minute walk to Underground Atlanta
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Eight blocks, 15-minute walk to The World of Coca-Cola Museum
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Fifteen minutes to the High Museum and the Atlanta Zoo
Location:
(Across the street from Centennial Olympic Park.
Connected to CNN Center, Philips Arena, and
Georgia World Congress Center. Closest hotel to
the Georgia Dome.)
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Prime Meridian Restaurant
Under the culinary leadership of Executive Chef Kevin
Palm, Prime Meridian features menu items inspired by cuisines from around
the world. The contemporary, 250-seat restaurant, located on the
main Lobby Level of the Omni Hotel, features new, 15-foot, floor-to-ceiling
blue glass windows offering diners an unparalleled view of Centennial Olympic
Park and the Fountain of Rings.
With its proximity to Centennial Park, CNN�s world headquarters,
the Philips Arena and the Georgia World Congress Center, Prime Meridian
reflects the international variety and flair of Atlanta that appeal to
visitors from around the globe.
An impressive setting for breakfast, lunch and dinner
with daily chef�s tables, Prime Meridian has been conceptualized to stimulate
all five senses. The restaurant�s expansive floor-to-ceiling glass
windows provide spectacular views of Centennial Olympic Park, and the restaurant�s
design also features an open kitchen, exhibition grill, hearth oven, and
one of the largest wine racks and selections in Atlanta.
The culinary professionals at Prime Meridian are a dedicated
team of innovative and internationally experienced chefs led by Executive
Chef Palm and Chef de Cuisine Frank Norton. Prime Meridian tempts
the most discriminating palates with global samplings such as pan-seared
Holland Dover Sole, Cuban Braised Pork Short Ribs, Chicago Sausage Bread,
Moroccan Couscous with Cornish Game Hens, as well as more traditional favorites
such as Texas Ribeye Steak with Caramelized Wild Mushrooms or Cajun Fried
Shrimp and Soft Shell Crabs served with Andouille Sausage and Red Pepper
Hollandaise Sauce.
�Prime Meridian�s cuisine reflects the multiculturalism
and international flavor of Atlanta,� Chef Palm said. �We want our
guests to experience a variety of taste offerings from around the globe,
from classic, familiar favorites to dishes that are unique and unexpected.
For example, our Mondiale Mixed Grill of Bison, Australian Lamb and New
Zealand Venison Medallions is a signature specialty you can only get at
Prime Meridian.�
For those who prefer lighter fare, Prime Meridian�s signature
salads include Spicy Thai Ginger Lime Chicken Salad or Souvlaki Greek Salad
with Spanakopita Pillows and Feta Cucumber Yogurt Sauce. With the
diverse choice of entrees, appetizers and desserts, Prime Meridian�s menu
is fresh, unique and abundant in savory selections.
Adjoining the restaurant is a 25-seat private dining room,
perfect for board dinners, family celebrations or special occasions.
Elegant and quiet, but featuring the same exemplary service of the main
restaurant, Prime Meridian�s private room provides a distinctive dining
alternative.
Prime Meridian is open seven days a week from 6:30
a.m. until 10:30 p.m. For reservations or more information, call
(404) 818-4250.
Latitudes Bistro & Lounge
Latitudes Bistro & Lounge, downtown�s newest upscale
gathering place for cocktails and casual dining, neighbors Prime Meridian.
Guests can enjoy Latitudes for drinks, such as fine, single malt scotch
and micro-brewed beers, as well as appetizers before sporting events at
the Philips Arena or for nightcaps after concerts at the Georgia Dome.
Each morning, Latitudes is transformed into one of the
finest express pastry and coffee bars in town for business or leisure travelers. |
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