ACE Conference Center News & Events

We are excited about the art work that we recently had commissioned from world-renown artist, Cicero Silva for our new Lafayette Ballroom.

Throughout his professional career as a designer, Cicero Silva worked with the top companies in Brazil and South America to translate their ideas into beautiful and functional spaces. This coupled with the design, creation and construction of a variety of trade show booths and exhibits, developed in Cicero the concepts of proportion and accuracy, and kept him working at the forefront of design trends. During his more than three decades as a designer he was also exposed to and gained an appreciation for visual art, and took his first steps in the direction of being a visual artist himself by working in abstract painting. His experience and skill in working more physically with his hands eventually lead him to move away from painting and toward sculpture and three dimensional work, and this has been his medium for the past nine years. His inspiration often comes from historic constructivism, but Cicero has mostly found his own way to create a new kind of visual art, combining shapes, rhythms, textures and volumes. Today he works with painted wood and EVA modules, cubes, cylinders, cones, and other prismatic shapes, and he displays them on canvas or hardboard in deliberate order to form various patterns and designs.

Continuing the theme of our natural surroundings, we thought it essential to have art work developed specifically for our Lafayette Ballroom that expresses an organic style, while still embracing the natural wood and red brick elements of the space.  The following photos take you on a guided tour of the art work from the original rendering, to the artist’s creations and today’s installation. We invite you to stay tuned for the final unveiling of the art work after it is completely installed in our new ballroom.

The original rendering depicting the overall concept of three large artworks installed as a series.

A work in progress, the pieces are assembled in smaller sections that are then attached together to create one larger 8 foot x 8 foot piece.  Each 8 foot piece is then to be installed on our large exposed brick wall in a series.

A close-up of a section before the installation begins.

Two sections of four have already been installed, with two more to go to complete the 8 foot section.

Measuring the wall space before carefully installing the third and fourth sections.

Tags: Art Installations in Hotels, Lafayette Ballroom, Main Line Weddings, Philadelphia Corporate Events, Philadelphia Party Spaces, Rustic Hotels

At ACE Conference Center we have always cared about the environment so we’re happy to announce we’re now using Vivreau Bottled Water!

Not only is water being transported by road, creating congestion and pollution, there is also the issue surrounding glass and plastic packaging waste. Although recycling facilities are available, re-using will always prove to be more efficient than recycling and will provide an immediate and dramatic impact on our carbon footprint.

We are proud of the fact that the stunning Vivreau designer product line has been created and manufactured specifically to reduce our impact on the environment, while providing a quality drinking water for our guests in a stylish fashion.

Tags: Advanced Water System, Bottled Water, Eco-Hotels, Environmental, Philadelphia Hotels

We are pleased to announce that Neil Schriever has joined the ACE Conference Center as Director of Sales & Marketing.

Neil brings with him a strong sales and leadership background working most recently as Senior Vice President for the Providence & Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau where he created and executed sales strategies to promote and sell the destination. Prior to working in Providence Neil worked for Starwood Hotels & Resorts as Director of Citywide Sales in Boston where he was responsible for generating sales for Associations from DC and Washington and previously as Assistant Director of Sales at the Sheraton Boston.

Neil recently relocated to Philadelphia and is an active member of the American Society of Association Executives, Meeting Professionals International and the Professional Convention Management Association where Neil serves on various committees and was President of the New England Chapter.

It’s a great time for Neil to join our team as we have recently made several enhancements to the ACE Conference Center including:
- Addition of a 4,600 sq. ft. Lafayette Ballroom and Enclosed Terrace
- Renovated Lobby, Marquis Lobby Lounge, Marquis Dining Room and all Conference Public Areas
- New partnership with Wolfgang Puck Catering, providing all of our food and beverage services throughout the Center
- Guest Room Renovations just began and will be completed in April

Please contact Neil directly for sales and marketing inquires at:
Neil Schriever
Director Sales and Marketing
ACE Conference Center
800 Ridge Pike, Lafayette Hill PA 19444
P (610) 940-4782
F (610) 940-4349
E neil.schriever@acegroup.com

Please join me in welcoming Neil to the ACE Conference Center!

Tags: Catering Department, New Employees, Philadelphia Event Venues

Have you seen our new Lafayette Ballroom and Event Deck?  Take a peek at these two exciting new spaces available for events, parties, meetings and weddings!  The Lafayette Ballroom is a high-ceiling, rustic loft space that offers a large group and intimate warmth that’s hard to find in the Philadelphia area.  Immediately adjacent to the Ballroom is our brand new, fully enclosed Lafayette Patio that allows your guests to experience the outdoors in a fully shaded, heated or air-conditioned manner.  Located just below the Lafayette Ballroom and Patio is our new Outdoor Event Deck; yet another stunning location for an open-air party, celebration, ceremony or meeting.  For weddings, should you wish to exchange vows in an outdoor setting, the Event Deck can be set in an “in-the-round” ceremony style or with traditional auditorium-style seating which works beautifully with the rolling green hills as your backdrop!  Anyway you slice it, the Lafayette Ballroom, Patio and Event Deck are fantastic party spaces that can be used together or individually for any type of special event.

Thank you to our event partners from CinemaCake Wedding and Event Filmmakers for producing this fantastic video; Arrangements Unlimited for styling the spaces; and EventQuip for providing the custom-made awning tent.

You can experience more photographs of the Lafayette Ballroom and Outoor Event Deck here and here but there’s nothing better than seeing it in person!  Our Sales and Catering Department would love nothing better than to introduce you to these incredible event spaces.  To discuss your event in further detail and to schedule your tour of these new amazing party spaces, please contact one of our Sales Representatives by calling 610-825-8000 or 800-523-3000.

Tags: Corporate Event Locations, Main Lin, Main Line, outdoor event spaces, Outdoor Weddings, philadelphia weddings, Special Event Venues

One of our most popular event spaces, the Marquis Ballroom and Dining Room, began the first exciting stages of its complete renovation this week!  Although we’ve hosted many fabulous weddings, meetings and celebrations in the Marquis over the years, it’s time for a little sprucing up!  First, the demolition of everything but the windows and ceiling!  All the current surfaces, such as the carpeting, draperies and flooring, were ripped out to make way for updated finishes and modern decor.  As teh week progresses, the catering and sales teams are excited to see the new tile flooring, modern coil drapery, chic foyer furnishings and modular buffet pieces come in one by one!  Once complete, the Marquis should be even more sought-after by wedding planners and event producers as a unique party space in the Philadelphia suburbs.  We’ll share photographs of the completed renovation soon, but by all means, we’d love to introduce you to the Marquis Ballroom and Dining Room in person at your earliest convenience!

Tags: Meeting Facilities, Philadelphia Conference Centers, Philadelphia Event Venues, philadelphia wedding venues

ACE Conference Center is proud to introduce our new Executive Chef, Chris Stevens!

Christopher Stevens, Executive Chef of Wolfgang Puck Catering in Philadelphia, discovered his passion for the culinary arts while experimenting with a cast iron pan, spatula and two eggs at the age of four.  By the time he turned thirteen, Chris knew that he was destined to become a chef and immerse himself in the world of food.  As our new Executive Chef, Chef Chris oversees all culinary operations and catering services for the ACE Conference Center.

BIOGRAPHY AND CULINARY CAREER

Chris’ culinary career officially began after he completed his education at the renowned Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY. He also accomplished special training with Certified Master Chef Ed Jano in Garde Manager, where he attained instruction in Ice Sculpting and Advanced Italian Cuisine.  In order to fulfill his culinary education, Chef Stevens accepted an internship with world-renown Chef René Mettler at the Hyatt Waikoloa in Hawaii.

With intensive training from very talented chefs, Chris flew to Aspen, Colorado where he worked at the famous Poppies Bistro Café.  Within two years the restaurant attained Four Stars.  Chef Stevens’ career has since been shaped by experiences at numerous restaurants and catering companies along the East Coast:  Executive Chef at Cherry Calley Country Club in Skillman, New Jersey; Chef and Owner of the Casabona Restaurant in Princeton, New Jersey; Chef and Owner of La Mezzlauna  Restaurant; and Executive Chef of the Paris Catering Company based in Princeton, New Jersey.

AWARDS AND ACCOLADES

Chef Chris has received accolades for his talents, including 1998 recognition as the New Jersey Chef of the Year by the Chaine des Rotisseurs, and honors from the American Culinary Federation for participation in both the James Beard Awards
and the Governor’s Inauguration Ball.  He has written articles featured in Bloomberg News and Life of a Chef.  Chef Chris Stevens has had the opportunity to personally cook for celebrities including Cher, Chevy Chase, Bill Walton, Bill Joel and celebrity Chef Tom Colicchio.

THE WOLFGANG PUCK FAMILY

Chef Chris Stevens is now a part of the Wolfgang Puck Team.  Wolfgang Puck Catering, founded in 1998, continues to set the standard for culinary excellence, bringing our team’s legendary combination of innovative cuisine and refined service to the worlds’ most renowned and demanding corporate, cultural and entertainment settings. Delivering a restaurant-quality experience in a special event setting, Wolfgang’s experienced team caters intimate weddings, convention galas, family occasions, and such noteworthy events as the Academy Awards® Governors Ball.  In keeping with Wolfgang’s culinary passion, Wolfgang’s Eat, Love, Live ™ (WELL™) philosophy is a commitment to provide fresh, natural and organic ingredients and celebrate local farmers, sustainable seafood and humanely
treated animals.  Wolfgang Puck Catering co-founded the Seafood Savvy Program with the Georgia Aquarium, inspired by the Monterey Bay Aquarium, to raise awareness about the importance of buying seafood from sustainable sources.  For additional
information, visit wolfgangpuckcatering.com.

Tags: Chef Chris Stevens, Food & Beverage, Philadelphia Event Venues, philadelphia weddings, Wolfgang Puck Catering

Please join us for a very special bridal event at the ACE Conference Center on Sunday, September 18th from noon until 3:30pm.  Featuring our new  in-house, award-winning caterer, Wolfgang Puck Catering, this bridal show will offer our existing wedding clients and potential brides and grooms the opportunity to sample delicious foods while exploring our incredible property.  This bridal show is produced by Bouché Productions who always ensures there are dozens of the Philadelphia area’s wedding professionals and vendors on hand who showcase fabulous floral displays, wedding cake tastings, prizes and giveaways, designer wedding gowns and wedding planning tips.  Additionally, bridal show attendees are able to enjoy free makeovers and hair trials from some of the areas top stylists.  Attendees will also receive discounts and incentives offered by participating vendors.

TICKETS for the September 18th Bridal Event may be purchased at the discounted price of $5 directly from the Bridal Event by clicking here or calling 610-917-9300.  If you have already booked your wedding at the ACE Conference Center, please enjoy two free tickets to this event by calling our Catering Office to be placed on our VIP Guest List.

Sponsors include:  Macys, Martha Stewart, Philadelphia Wedding, The Knot, VIP Magazine, Perfect Wedding Guide, Philadelphia Magazine, Brides.com, Shutterbooth, Crate & Barrel, Premier Bride, American Laser Center and City of Hope.

Tags: Bouche Productions, Bridal Shows, Main Line Weddings, Philadelphia Bridal Events, Philadelphia Event Venues, philadelphia weddings

Thanks to the gorgeous weather we’ve been having, our Chef’s Garden is filled with fragrant mint!  Just brushing up against the dark green leaves is enough to bring your temperature down to candy cane levels of freshness.  Our chefs live to use different kinds of mint in everything and anything from chilled summer soups to steamed vegetables,  Southern iced tea and mint juleps!  There are many culinary uses for mint and luckily, it isn’t hard to grow!

Varieties of Mint

The spearmints or green mints are the ones most often used in cooking. They include Banana Mint, Mint the Best, Kentucky Colonel Mint, Curly Mint, Lemon Bergamot Mint and Macho Mint.  The peppermints or red mints are very strong flavored and should be dried before using or used sparingly, if fresh. Peppermint contains menthol which spearmint does not. This makes the peppermints the ones to use for soothing upset stomachs. They include Moroccan Mint, Orange Bergamot Mint, Chocolate Mint, Lavender Mint and, of course, Peppermint.  The gray mints are also excellent cooking mints and they include Eqyptian, Habek, Apple and Pineapple Mint.

This summer, you’ll find the following mint varieties growing in our garden:

• Spearmint is wonderful in hot or cold teas, as garnish on fresh fruit, or muddled in tall cool cocktails.
• Chocolate Mint truly smells like a peppermint patty! Excellent in sparkling water, raspberry iced tea or blackberry-infused martinis.

Growing Mint at Home

Most mints are hardy perennials that not only grow like crazy, they can be quite invasive if planted too close to other herbs. Mint also likes sunny spots with late afternoon dappled shade and consistent moisture so watering mint every day is essential.  When planting multiple varieties of mint, it’s best to plant them in different beds or pots to avoid cross pollination that will reduce the distinctive flavors each provides.   Unlike other herbs in the garden, it’s not about getting mint to thrive, it’s about keeping it contained!  One thing’s for sure, butterflies and bees love mint flowers!  However, if your mint is flowering it’s not producing leaves or has ripened beyond it’s best flavor.

Drying Your Own Mint

You can dry (dehydrate) fresh mint leaves by washing the mint stems in cold water (warm or hot water can remove the oils you want to retain!). Drain and pat dry.  Then air dry the mint stems by hanging then in a paper bag in a warm well-ventilated area. (The paper bag catches any leaves that fall, rather than having them make a mess on the floor.) When the leaves are dry and brittle, remove them from the stems and store in an airtight container away from the light. Note: if you live in a very humid area, air-drying this herb may not be an option for you, as things tend to mold quickly in such climates. Try using a dehydrator on it’s lowest setting (below 100 degrees (F)) instead. Make sure the leaves are completely dry and brittle, or they may mold after you place them in storage. We don’t recommend storing mint in paper bags or containers, as they absorb the herbs oils.

Tags: Chef' Garden, Green Initiatives Programs, Main Line Wedding Venues, Philadelphia Event Venues, Philadelphia Hotels, Recipes, Sustainable Practices

It’s official! We’re thrilled to announce our exclusive catering partnership with Wolfgang Puck Catering. The ACE Conference Center is collaborating with esteemed chef, Wolfgang Puck, to further enhance the ACE Conference Center’s reputation as one of the area’s premier special event locations. “We are pleased to join forces with Wolfgang Puck Catering and their legendary, innovative cuisine, to bring a unique dining experience to our customers,” says ACE General Manager, Daniel Briones. “It’s a win-win situation – this collaboration with Wolfgang Puck Catering will further extend the public’s awareness of both our brands throughout the Greater Philadelphia region and beyond.”

Wolfgang Puck’s illustrious name carries an undeniable cachet, and is synonymous with a bold, innovative style of cooking that has redefined the essence of fine dining in America and around the world. Founded in 1998, Wolfgang Puck Catering continues to set the standard for culinary excellence, bringing its team’s legendary combination of creative cuisine and refined service to the world’s most renowned and demanding corporate, cultural, and entertainment settings. Delivering a restaurant-quality experience in a special event setting, Wolfgang’s experienced team caters intimate weddings, convention galas, family occasions, and such noteworthy events as the Academy Awards® Governors Ball. His trademark dishes, coupled with his unmistakable panache and passion, have, in fact, revolutionized the culinary industry. Guests at the ACE Conference
Center can also expect Wolfgang Puck’s menus and dishes to reflect his philosophy of incorporating fresh, natural and organic ingredients in every recipe.

With more than 25 years of event planning and production experience, the ACE Conference Center regularly hosts groups and conventions for up to 500 guests. Located just a few miles from Center City Philadelphia, ACE offers distinctive, state-of-the-art facilities situated on 300 picturesque acres of inviting woodlands and rolling hills. ACE Conference Center provides a secluded, yet highly accessible venue for any type of event, indoors and out. It perfectly combines the fast pace of urban life with the serenity of the countryside in a suburban setting.

Together, ACE and Wolfgang intend to offer guests a creative culinary experience unlike any other in the Greater Philadelphia region.

To learn more about events at the ACE Conference Center, please visit www.aceconferencecenter.com

Tags: Celebrity Caterer, Main Line Hotels, Main Line Party Venues, Meetings & Events, Philadelphia Event Venues, Philadelphia Hotels, philadelphia weddings

The place where your wedding ceremony will be held can also influence the style and type of ceremony you choose to plan.  Have you dreamt of a grand ballroom ceremony with a long dramatic candlelit entrance?  Or a casual outdoor ceremony with only wispy green trees and blue sky as the backdrop?  Certainly knowing that every ceremony needs a spiritual center and a visual focus, it’s important to look creatively at your wedding venue to determine the best options available for your wedding ceremony.

Over the years we’ve planned and orchestrated hundreds of wedding ceremonies here at the ACE Conference Center.  We find that where the ceremony takes place and how the ceremony is presented is crucial to your experience, not to mention how your family and friends witness your promises to each other.  The ceremony area where you will stand together to exchange vows and rings — whether it’s under a traditional Jewish Chuppah on a stage, in front of a fireplace, or in front of a floral-covered arch on a terrace — should be the focal point and yet still convey a sense of intimacy.  Don’t be afraid to seat guests up close to where you will stand or to turn and face your guests during the service.  Ultimately, you and your fiance are responsible for your wedding ritual and how it suits the surroundings you’ve chosen.

There are many ceremony settings available at the ACE Conference Center: in the Marquis Ballroom, the American Ballroom, the ACE Golf Club, or on the helipad overlooking the golf course.  But we’re EXCITED and proud to announce two additional wedding ceremony areas now available here at ACE!   The Lafayette Ballroom and the Lafayette Event Deck.  In fact, our event planning staff wanted to share these new amazing spaces with other event professionals as soon as possible!  This past Monday we invited local area wedding planners and event designers to a preview party to introduce them to our new fabulous ceremony areas.  Needless to say, they loved them and we heard many sensational ideas on how they would use the spaces for their clients.  We also featured our new catering services provided by Wolfgang Puck Catering.  Arrangements Unlimited designed the ceremony settings for us; their black iron chuppah frame was set up on our stage in the Lafayette Ballroom for a more formal indoor set up and their natural birch chuppah was placed outside on our Lafayette Event Deck.  Both were stunning and incredibly inspirational!   We thank Party Rental Ltd., Bredenbecks Bakery, EventQuip, The Total Table, and The Papery of Philadelphia for partnering with us on the event and look forward to working on many events together!

The high ceilings and warm exposed brick walls of the Lafayette Ballroom were formally dressed with ivory drapery in full “wedding” mode!  The Lafayette Ballroom comfortably seats 250 for a wedding ceremony.  As seen above, wedding ceremonies can be set up with a long wide aisle ideal for dramatic ceremony processionals!

Our new Outdoor Event Deck is a stunning location for an open-air or tented wedding ceremony for up to 500 guests!  Traditional auditorium-style seating works beautifully with the rolling green hills as your backdrop but a ceremony “in the round” is also possible on the Event Deck.  For many bridal couples, being surrounded by their family and friends is tremendously appealing for its intimate style of presentation.

As a ritual, the wedding ceremony is the only part of the wedding day where the engaged couple, together with their family and friends, are removed from the outside world both literally and figuratively.  Through the wording, traditions, music and symbols of the wedding ceremony the bride and groom can truly be transported out of their everyday world and into a magical place only they know.  We can’t wait to help you plan your wedding ceremony in our new ceremony settings!

Tags: jewish weddings, Main Line Hotels, Main Line Weddings, Outdoor Wedding Ceremonies, Outdoor Weddings, Philadelphia Hotels, philadelphia weddings, wedding ceremonies

More and more wonderful changes are happening every day at the ACE Conference Center!  This week was no exception with the completion of our new tented event space!  A tented party can take place almost anywhere, but not every outdoor area can handle a tented party.  We’ve made sure we’ve covered all the bases to make our tented terrace ideal for any party or meeting.  Come take a look!

Read the rest of this page »

Tags: Main Line Weddings, Outdoor Wedding Ceremonies, Outdoor Weddings, philadelphia weddings, Rustic Event Venues, Tented Event Spaces, Tents, Urban Loft Venues

As the first quarter of 2011 comes to a close it’s clear that business travel is on its way back!  We’re happy to see hospitality numbers showing an increase in room sales and conference bookings for a second quarter in a row.  We’re certainly seeing an energetic level of business activity at ACE Conference Center, booking groups for day meetings and week long conferences.  In a technologically-saturated world where video conferencing has helped keep travel costs down, a return to face-to-face meetings is making all the difference in ensuring your company or sales pitch stands out from all the rest.  Those successful bookings mean more incentive travel to keep productive sales consultants motivated, educated and appreciated.  Still kept to a low-key level, corporate retreats are no longer forbidden as companies look to support their managers and invest in their employees.

One major difference our ACE Sales Consultants are seeing is that meeting planners and corporate executives are looking to spend their travel dollars wisely rather than jumping back into the “excessive” end of the pool.  With serious meetings being our focus, offering guaranteed pricing and no hidden fees, conference centers provide a solution to meeting planners in these uncertain times.  The reality is, the hospitality industry may never see that level of corporate travel again, or not for a few more years anyway.  Keeping to a more “reasonable” or downright “frugal” level of business travel is the smart way to keep ANY travel at all at play in the world of big business.  That may mean driving rather than flying; or spending fewer nights on the road; or staying at less expensive hotels; or eliminating all off-premise activities or curtaining those sightseeing adventures.  Some companies are even encouraging employees to make their travel plans in an “eco-smart” manner, including carpooling to regional destinations, taking the E-Train (“E” for economy), renting a hybrid car or selecting a conference center that has their own “Green Initiatives” in place.

Here at ACE, we’ve embraced today’s savvy business traveler with packages that include all meals, meeting space, breakout rooms, audio visual equipment, wifi access, parking and the support of a dedicated on-site planner. We help to keep business travelers focused and productive “on property.”

Smart corporate travel is just standard business practice at the ACE Conference Center.

Tags: Budget Business Travel, Eco-friendly, Green Initiatives Programs, hospitality

“Clean the World Recycles Soap and Saves Lives!”

Everyone knows that there is a tremendous amount of unavoidable waste in the hospitality business.  Particularly when it comes to bath products.  Thousands, if not millions, of barely-used bars of soap and partially-used bottles of shampoo, condititioner and body lotion get thrown away each and every day.  Meanwhile, impoverished people around the world die every day from acute respiratory infection and disease because they don’t have any soap!  Each year more than five million lives are lost to these diseases with the majority of deaths being among children aged less than five years old.  The simple basic act of hand-washing substantially reduces the spread of these diseases; yet, the essential items for proper hand-washing – SOAP – are unobtainable for millions of people worldwide.

However, there’s now an ingenius non-profit organisation called Clean the World that works with hotels across the country to recycle those partially-used beauty products in an environmentally and hygienically-approved fashion.  Collected bottles of shampoo and bars of soap get sanitized and reformed into usable product for Third World Countries and domestic homeless shelters.  

As a part of our Green Initiatives philosophy, the ACE Conference Center is a proud hospitality partner with Clean the World’s soap collection program. 

As the world’s first, high volume soap recycler, Clean the World ensures that all bars of soap recycled and distributed domestically and abroad are completely safe and will not harm the end user due to disease or pathogens that can be transmitted if proper re-purposing does not exist.  Clean the World worked with ACE to educate our staff on the how-to’s of their soap recycling program, providing containers which our housekeeping staff uses weekly to deposit partially-used bars of soap.  Once collected, the soap is taken to a Soap Recycling plant located just outside of Washington, D.C. to be re-batched and sterilized.  Re-batching applies to 10% moderately to heavily used bars of soap.  The soap is cooked to remove all impurities, then re-formed into 2-ounce bars.  Then they sanitize 90% of the slightly used bars by soaking the bars in a sanitizing solution, and then treating the bars with a steam/pressure combination.   Once sterilized and re-formed, bars of soap are then shipped to countries like Haiti, Guatamala and Ethiopia, among others, where they’re distributed to villages, schools and churches for immediate use. 

For more information on the program please go to www.cleantheworld.org.

Tags: Clean the World Program, Community Involvement, Giving Back, Green Initiatives Programs, Non-profit work

The idyllic, spectacular natural setting of Lafayette Hill, Pennsylvania makes ACE Conference Center a favorite Greater Philadelphia conference center and event  location for educational, scientific, social and corporate groups. Our relaxed suburban atmosphere promotes creative inspiration, focus on the meeting content and valuable networking and idea-sharing amongst meeting attendees.  Whether your group’s goal is business or recreation (or both), our staff is dedicated and motivated to providing your group the best experience possible.  We have worked with various organizations and groups and pride ourselves on advising our clients on ways to ensure their meetings here are successful, efficient and FUN! 

Multiple function spaces, conference rooms and breakout rooms are available throughout the ACE Conference Center.  Our newly-renovated Lafayette Ballroom (shown above) is ideal for large gatherings and high-tech multi-media shows.   The adjacent outdoor terraces and patios provide ample opportunity to extend the conference space and usable event footprint. 

Additional conference rooms, auditoriums, classrooms and meeting rooms offer every meeting planner a wide variety of options to fulfill their client’s needs.   All meeting rooms have free wireless high-speed Internet access.  Cordless microphones, LCD projectors and additional audio/video equipment are available.    

Along with a savvy knowledge of the Philadelphia area, our Sales Team and Conference Planners can assist with all of your questions and concerns.

Tags: meetings event space conference center philadelphia hospitality

As March begins and Spring quickly approaches, we’re starting to plan the ACE Herb and Vegetable Garden.  Planting a vegetable garden is a rewarding and healthy activity for families as well as businesses. Particularly if you are in the business of catering!  As a part of our Green Initiative Program, our Executive Chef looks to her own herb garden for close-at-hand healthy supplies.  Fresh herbs are grown on property and used in our daily menu preparations.  We  also design our menus with local, sustainable produce that whenever possible comes from our own vegetable garden.

If you’ve never had a vegetable or herb garden, this may be the year to give it a try!  But before you can start planting seeds in the soil you’ll need to come up with a plan on how to make it all work!  Below are just some key concepts to consider that will help you get the most out of your vegetable or herb garden.

Choosing the Location for the Garden is Crucial

It’s all about sunlight. No matter what, you have to plant your vegetable garden in the most sun-saturated spot you can find.  In fact, some gardening experts suggest bright locations with at least eight to ten hours of sunlight.  Here at ACE Conference Center we’ve chosen to plant our vegetable and herb garden in the inner courtyard for its consistent warmth and bright sunlight.  Crushed stone has been scattered around the area to increase the light reflection and to draw additional heat.

Create Nutrient Rich Soil for Your Veggies

Many people decide to sow their seeds right into the ground; however, we prefer to plant in raised beds for our ACE Herb and Vegetable Garden.  A raised bed warms up faster, maintains the warmth longer and drains moisture quicker.  But the soil itself needs generous amounts of organic humus added to ensure success.  Compost, peat moss and aged manure are allexamples of  ideal forms of humus that can easily be churned into the existing soil.  The resulting mix is nutrient packed and guaranteed to grow delicious veggies!  If you don’t have space for a full-on vegetable garden, consider using containers and pots filled with the same rich soil mixture.  It’s remarkably easy to grow strawberries, lettuces and tomatoes in large terracotta pots that can be moved to sunny locations as the months change.

Deciding on What Vegetables and Herbs to Grow in Your Garden

Before planting any seeds it’s best to decide what type of vegetables you want to grow.  Selecting the vegetables you reallyand truly  intend to enjoy will help realistically determine space and companion plantings in the garden.  This year we’ll be planting a wide variety of herbs, including: sage, basil, thyme, oregano, parsley and tarragon; as well as tomatoes, peppers and squash.   Vegetables susceptible to little critters like rabbits and chipmunks are not successful at ACE due to our open landscape and surroundings so carrots, beets and onions may be too risky.

As any gardener knows, maintaining a healthy vegetable garden is hard work but incredibly rewarding.  We’ll be sharing our successes and challenges as the warmer seasons progress, so please check back often to see how our garden is growing.

Tags: hotel garden, local gardens, sustainable living, vegetable garden

All this warm Spring weather has us chomping at the bit to share our new outdoor event space at the ACE Conference Center!  We are proud to announce that we now offer a fully-floored event deck that is an ideal location for open-air or fully-tented parties, events and weddings.  As you can see, the space overlooks the lush landscape and rolling hills that surround the entire property.  The event deck is also conveniently situated near our newly designed outdoor barbeque grills, stunning Lafayette Ballroom, comfortable guest rooms and adjacent parking areas. 

If you are interested in seeing the new event deck and hearing more about the tenting options available, please contact a member of our Sales Team to schedule a tour.

Tags: outdoor event spaces, philadelphia wedding venues, tented event space

We know all too well how important it is to make a good first impression.  Frankly, we think we’ve gone from good to fabulous in one fell swoop!  Walking through the main entrance doors, into our newly renovated hotel lobby, with its modern comfort and approachable sophistication, you can’t help but feel right at home.  Recently refurbished with warm and inviting earth tones, dark wood finishes, contemporary art and plush seating areas, the lobby makes you want to sink in and stay awhile.   The sleek and modern dark wood front desk is not only stunning in appearance but also manned with our friendly, thoughtful and efficient staff.   After a great day of business meetings, social celebrations or enjoying the local countryside, there’s nothing better than “coming home” and knowing nothing has been overlooked.  How’s that for a first impression?  Not bad, huh?

{Photo credit: Bridget Armbrust}

Tags: front desk, lobby, piano, seating areas

Our newly-renovated, and dare we say incredibly gorgeous, Marquis Lounge is now open and ready to welcome you in style!   The Marquis Lounge is the ideal place to grab a cocktail with friends or a light bite with colleagues.  With its comfortable seating, stunning views and roaring fireplace, the Marquis Lounge offers something for everyone or any occasion.  Or, if you’re looking for a little friendly sport after a long day, we’d be happy to pour your favorite beverage while you enjoy shuffle board, billiards  and Wii in the adjoining Parlour.   So when you’re ready, come in, have a cocktail, relax and stay awhile.   

The Marquis Lounge and Parlour open daily at 5:00pm.  

{Photo credit of Bridget Armbrust.}

Tags: after hours, bar lounge, cocktails, hotel game room, hotel lounge, lobby bar, lounge, parlour, piano, renovations

In our effort to improve services and facilities for our guests, we are proud to announce our exciting plan to renovate and enhance our Lobby area featuring a new front desk, the newly named Marquis Lounge and adjoining terrace along with our new Parlour featuring shuffle board, Wii and a billiards table…something for everyone!

We partnered with Freeman Interiors, a Philadelphia design firm, to coordinate this incredible renovation. When conceptualizing our design, it was developed to be consistent with the contemporary structure of ACE Conference Center using bold new color palates, warm metals, inspiring textures, and modern sensibility.

Our renovations are conducive to relaxed social gatherings as well as a variety of business meetings, wedding and special events (have one in mind?).   Renovations will be completed in January 2011.  We hope to see you soon, so you can see our new look!

Tags: hotel design, hotel lobby, interior design, renovations