Peter Koehler, General Manager of the InterContinental San Francisco, is in New York this week meeting with meeting planners and the meeting industry & travel press to promote the new hotel, which opened in February of 2008. The economy may top everybody’s list of worries these days, but Koehler pointed out that, “associations are still meeting, we’ve had very few cancellations and our outdoor pavilions have remained tented because of demand.”

Of course this sleek new venue has several advantages—foremost of course is the exciting city of San Francisco, always a top destination for high-tech and other companies. Koehler cited several initiatives with city government that has been growing meetings and travel to the destination that have helped ease effects of the downturn. In addition, the InterContinental San Francisco is adjacent to the Moscone Convention Center, and within walking distance of the city’s financial, entertainment and premium shopping districts. Amenities include Luce—"light" in Italian—an onsite dining experience that combines the flavors of Tuscany with the seasonal freshness of Napa and Sonoma,  Bar 888, located at lobby level, and the I-Spa, which features 10 state-of-the-art treatment rooms, fitness center, indoor pool and Jacuzzi.

This 550-room hotel is also renowned for its state-of-the-art conferencing facilities, which include: 43,000 square feet of flexible meeting space; 21 meeting rooms on three levels and two ballrooms (Main Ballroom - 6,800 square feet; Junior Ballroom - 5,600 square feet); and three outdoor terraces covering almost 13,000 square feet. The conference facilities feature;high-speed Internet access, ISDN lines, independent climate controls and locks on every door.

“There’s a reshuffling of the paradigm,” admits Koehler when assessing the current economic impact on meetings. “Organizations will have to meet. I am optimistic.”