New Hotel & Conference Center Will Offer the University’s Resources to All Markets
College Station, Texas, May 2018 … Rising on the legendary campus, the new Doug Pitcock ’49 Texas A&M Hotel and Conference Center(www.TexasAMHotelCC.com) is nearing completion and now booking reservations for group meetings, weddings and individual guests. Scheduled to open in August 2018, the 250-room property will offer the university’s exceptional academic, cultural and athletic resources to all markets regardless of affiliation or event theme. Under the management of BENCHMARK®, a global hospitality company, the new property will be part of the Benchmark Resorts & Hotels brand and designed to meet the exacting standards of IACC.
“Many university conference centers require that a meeting have an educational or university component attached to it,” says General Manager Greg Stafford. “We wanted to make the richness of the ‘Aggie’ experience and our exceptional technical capabilities available to a wide range of groups and individuals. The hotel and conference center is the first on campus and is intended to be the university’s ‘guest house’, welcoming home all guests including our loyal former students, and opening up Aggieland to a diverse and global audience.”
Greg Stafford points to the many benefits the Texas A&M project will provide for both the university and the region, where business and technology are experiencing strong growth. “We look forward to serving companies, alumni, football fans and visitors to the Texas A&M University campus.”
The striking, eight-story hotel and conference center is positioned a mere 96-yards from Kyle Field, home of the Texas A&M football team, and steps from the Memorial Student Center. The conference center spans 252,500 square feet, with 35,000 square feet of meeting and event space that includes a spacious 8,300 square foot ballroom accommodating up to 1,000 guests, and beautifully appointed outdoor spaces. Twenty-two flexible meeting rooms will accommodate presentations, board meetings, private dinners and receptions. Weddings will play an important part in the new facility as former students return “home” to tie the knot or propose under the Century Tree.
The contemporary and spacious accommodations will include 250 guest rooms with two penthouses and 11 suites. The rooms will be decorated in Texas A&M’s colors of maroon and white with soft accents of gray. Historic photos of events at Kyle Field will recall the Aggie experience and rich traditions. The hospitality suites will overlook the hotel’s pool terrace with its swimming pool, fitness center, restaurant and bar, perfect for relaxation and informal events. A 1,400-car parking garage will be connected to the hotel by a covered bridgeway.
Benchmark is noted for its innovative restaurant concepts and banquet services. The menus in each outlet will reflect the Aggie experience with a flavorful Texas twist. Dining options will include a restaurant open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, a casual bistro serving drinks and light refreshments, bar and a patio restaurant. The stunning 12th Man Bar, set on two levels, will be the first on the campus. Benchmark is committed to providing innovative banquet services that include sustainable, local sourcing of ingredients, fresh, healthful food and dishes that meet the increasingly diverse demands of today’s conference attendees.
The 12 different schools of study at Texas A&M University draw scholars, business leaders and technical innovators from across the globe. Supporting the need for continued research and innovation, the conference center will offer a LearnLab – a flexible, tech-enabled meeting space that rethinks “the box” and moves away from the traditional setting of rows of fixed tables, chairs and a lectern. Learning spaces will easily morph from lecture mode to teamwork to group presentation, discussion and back again. Every seat is the best seat, with access to content, other attendees and instructors made available to everyone.
The conference space is designed to meet the exacting standards of IACC, formerly known as the International Association of Conference Centers, providing a productive learning environment with ergonomic furniture, top audiovisual equipment and state-of-the-art built-in technology throughout the center.
There’s much to see and do on and off the 5,200-acre campus. More than 1,200 public events are hosted through the university each year, including notable guest speaker series, sporting events, art exhibits and cultural performances.
Texas A&M University is home to the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum, one of the top attractions in the state of Texas. Scholars may also enjoy a visit to the university’s Cushing Memorial Library and Archives where rare books, special collections, manuscripts and the Texas A&M University Archives are housed.
For the sports fans, the University is a member of the Southeastern Conference, with more than 650 Texas A&M student-athletes competing at the NCAA Division 1-A level in 20 varsity sports. Kyle Field sets the scene for legendary Aggie football, while visitors can catch a baseball or basketball game at Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park and Reed Arena, respectively.
College Station’s Northgate District offers a number of clubs, bars and restaurants, including the famous Dixie Chicken. While visitors to the historic downtown Bryan can enjoy an array of music, unique cafes, and eclectic art.
The Texas A&M Hotel and Conference Center is located in College Station in the heart of Central Texas, 90 miles northwest of Houston. The area is served by Easterwood Airport with connections to most US cities. The campus is reached via State Highway 6 and several smaller state highways connect the area to larger highways such as Interstate 45.
