Traveling for business has been a part of the human condition from, well, almost from the very start.
It’s believed the Lascaux caves in France, which date to 1500 B.C., were “developed” to accommodate members of other tribes. And some 2,023 years ago, there was an inn in Bethlehem doing brisk business with “business” travelers — very important business, indeed. But it was the Japanese ryokans of the seventh century that came to represent what’s considered the birth of hotels. The first modern hotel, as we know them, was built in England in the early 19th century, per HotelTechReport.com.
Continental breakfasts have come a long way since prehistoric Lascaux and the prospect of a dewy cave wall and a beetle.
With lines between business and pleasure blurred by the day, modern business travelers expect to be feted. And in Arkansas, they are.
Whether business takes one to the state capital, to the bustling of NWA or elsewhere in The Natural State, travelers can find some exceptional destinations. Below, AMP takes a look at a few of these first-class hotels across the state, which so deftly accommodate travelers, business and otherwise.
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Any way you look at it, a stay at Little Rock’s Capital Hotel is a unique and memorable experience. Tourists and business travelers have long appreciated the excellent service, fine dining and convenient location of the historic property, and these amenities also sets it apart when serving business meetings and corporate groups.
“When you’re talking about The Capital Hotel, you’re talking about the very best in ambience, facilities and service levels,” said David McWhorter, director of sales and marketing. “Our meetings space can accommodate a range of group sizes on up to a complete buyout, which is a unique feature of our hotel. You can take over all of the property’s meeting space.”
The Capital is the only AAA four-diamond hotel in Little Rock — and one of only three statewide. Hosting a business event there is the pinnacle of luxury and attentive service. Each meeting room is equipped with the latest in audio visual and multimedia capability and not only offers catering but is paired with its own designated kitchen to ensure the highest food quality, presentation and service.
McWhorter said the hotel’s experienced sales team helps take the guesswork out of planning and running an event.
“When you reach the sales and catering department, you’re speaking with a team of 25 years-plus of experience,” he said. “You’re not talking to someone who’s just starting in the industry. Our ladies and gentlemen have been in the industry for a while, and they’re here for a reason.
“We dedicate one specific person per event, and they’re the client’s main liaison from start to finish. A lot of our corporate individuals entertain very high-profile clients, and the last thing they want to do is worry about if it’s going to go well. They know they can count on us to go above and beyond to handle every detail.”
The hotel offers 97 guest rooms for overnight stays and features two of the most celebrated food and drink destinations in the South. The lobby restaurant, now known as One Eleven at the Capital, has been a place where generations of power brokers have gathered to talk shop and do deals over award-winning food and a world-class wine list.
The elegant and cozy confines of the Capital Bar & Grill is also a place to see and be seen among Arkansas’s elite of business, society and politics, where new business alliances are celebrated over the state’s most creative cocktails.
“Our people are talented in hospitality, and they take that mantle of customer service and run with it,” McWhorter said. “All departments here communicate very well to ensure that back of the house is aligned to provide a personalized experience to each corporate group we serve. Our reputation has been built by delivering on an expectation of luxury; that’s our trademark, and we work very hard to live up to it, every time.”
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