The Georgia Center Hotel: Serving Conferees and Other University Guests Responsible for the "residential" side of conferencing, the Georgia Center Hotel ensures that a guest's stay is exactly what it should be. Well-appointed. Stress-free. As a residential conference center, the Georgia Center provides not only the top instructional programming expected from The University of Georgia, but the comfort and amenities a weary conferee or frazzled traveler may need to recharge.

It's all part of a concept the Center calls "the learning sanctuary," where the elements of a conference participant's visit -- the content of the particular program, work and study periods, breaks, lunches, dinners, entertainment options, the building layout, accommodations -- mesh and mingle to optimize the educational experience.

The spacious, 200-room Hotel plays a big part. "We help provide a learning environment that's comfortable, safe, and convenient for the guests while they attend their conferences," said Kathryn A. Hart, manager of the Georgia Center's Hotel. "We're here to support the conferences; that's why they built us."

Since 1957, 1.6 Million Guests

Since the Georgia Center opened in 1957, the Hotel has been serving the University community with housing at moderate prices for conferees, visiting government employees, University employees and guests, University alumni, and parents of current students -- welcoming an estimated 1.6 million guests over the past 42 years.

From the start, housing was considered a key ingredient to conferencing success. The original plans for the Georgia Center building featured five blocks of space, for the

Hotel, conference rooms, an auditorium, communications activities areas, and administrative offices. The Center's Annual Report 1953-54 (p. 7) mentioned an early alliance between "residential" and "conferencing" (UGA received funding to establish the Center in 1953 from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and the State of Georgia in 1953):

"The plan of the building is keyed to facilities for adult learning. This teaching program must be under the guidance of a professionally qualified staff. Yet most of these adult educational experiences will be of more than one day's duration. Since it is impossible to disperse faculty over the state to individuals, it was necessary to create a facility that would provide overnight guests accommodations. This area constitutes the first big block of space in the new building. Accommodations were planned for approximately 300 people ...."

Constant Improvement

This past fall, Hart says the Hotel completed a number of renovations, some of which were beyond the annual maintenance adjustments. "A few of the 'older' rooms were redone with new draperies, new wallpaper, new fixtures, new beds," said Hart. "We're always trying to improve, to provide higher levels of customer service. We listen to our customers."

Hart and the Hotel staff take pride in the atmosphere they create. "People are pleasantly surprised when they first walk in, with our attractive lobby, with our Guest Services staff who help with luggage, which some hotels don't have," she said.

The Hotel offers two types of rooms -- Select rooms, which have double-sized or queen-sized beds, and Classic rooms, which have two 3/4-sized beds or one queen-sized each. There are also Hospitality Suites and Club Suites. Each room features a refined decor and is furnished with desk, telephone, color television, private bath, and individual climate control.

While housed at the Georgia Center, conference participants enjoy proximity to classes, the Center's restaurants, and the many resources and goings-on of the UGA campus. "We're very convenient for the conferee, being right here in the same building as the conferences. Although we have that working for us, we don't take anything for granted. We always strive to provide the highest level of service," said Hart.

Rounding out the Hotel's services are van shuttles, laundry services, rollaway beds and cribs, parking arrangements (billing) with the South Campus Parking Deck adjacent to the Center, fax services, and copy services. By July, each room will have coffee makers, irons and ironing boards, and even hair dryers. Scheduled within the year, new electronic keycard locks will be installed, and a new telephone system will equip each room with voice mail, automated wake-up, and a data port.

Other units serving Hotel guests include the Center's Gift Shop, which offers a mix of Georgia-related and general gift items, sundries, UGA apparel, and plenty for even the most devoted Georgia Bulldog fans; and the Guest Services and Information Unit, which offers a type of concierge service.

The Hotel's Front Desk, the Guest Services and Informational Unit, and the Gift Shop provide employment opportunities for UGA students, an ongoing connection between the Center and the UGA community.

The Georgia Center Hotel Guest Policy

While participants in continuing education programs are the principal users of the lodging accommodations and other Georgia Center services (food services, meeting rooms, and special event services), the Center's conference facilities and services may be used on a space-available basis for administrative and social events of The University of Georgia faculty and staff, as well as by community organizations and public service agencies. Guests may include conferees, visiting government employees, University employees and guests, University alumni, and parents of current students.

 

For more information: Kathryn A. Hart, Georgia Center Hotel manager, Georgia Center for Continuing Education, The University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602-3603, (706) 542-6323, fax: (706) 542-5990, e-mail: hartk@gactr.uga.edu. For reservations: 1-800-774-2760.