Smart Meetings
July 2006

At the Opus in Vancouver, which opened in 2002, meeting breaks aren't limited to traditional coffee service. The hotel will pour "Matcha" tea instead, "with over 70 times the antioxidants of orange juice, nice times the beat carotene of spinach, and numerous other vitamins and minerals." According to the hotel, "Buddhist monks credit Matcha tea with their ability to focus for long periods of time." There's also the "Guided Breathing Break," in which meeting attendees "perform a series of short breathing and visualization exercises under the guidance of a wellness trainer, followed by a gentle stretching session that places emphasis on high stress areas such as the neck, shoulders and upper back." During the Opus Oxygen Break, hand-held canisters of Oxia - 90 percent oxygen, 10 percent nitrogen - provide two to three minutes of continuous airflow "to increase energy levels and cognitive performance"; the oxygen, supplemented by bottled water and fresh fruit is said to effectively combat jetlag as well. The Opus, like some other boutiques, will also redecorate meeting rooms to suit the mood or style of a group. "Opus has a great deal of flexibility to modify the dŽcor as we see fit, and we can look for creative ways to approach each project," says the hotel's general manager, Daniel Craig. A group of Chanel executives recently decorated the hotel bar into a "Chanel Lounge" to launch a new men's fragrance, with videos playing on the large plasma screens, special lighting, and logos projected onto the lounge's walls. Nissan, Gucci, Mitsubishi and Guerlain have all redecorated space at the Opus for meetings or events.