Press Room

AFTER $140 MILLION RESTORATION, THE OCEAN HOUSE TO DEBUT PRIME MEETING SPACE

Historic Property Will Offer Events on the Only Private Resort Beach in New England

WATCH HILL, RI, December 9, 2009 – When the Ocean House opens its doors in June 2010, the world-class resort, will feature more than 10,000 square feet of premier meeting and event space, including a private expanse of white sand beach.  Strategically located midway between Boston and New York City, and a short drive from Hartford and Providence, the Ocean House will be an incomparable destination for corporate meetings, executive retreats and social gatherings.

No expense has been spared during the Ocean House’s $140 million rebuild in order to ensure the 136-year-old resort’s integrity remains while providing guests with every modern convenience.  The property will seamlessly integrate state-of-the-art systems using the latest technology, including virtual fitness instructors and sensory technology for room keys and room service, as well as complimentary high-speed, wireless Internet access throughout.

Meeting spaces at the Ocean House will include the Seaside Ballroom, an elegant 2,000 square-foot space designed to accommodate both grand and intimate celebrations and meetings for up to 250 theater style and 180 persons banquet style.  The Seaside Ballroom will also feature three, 900-square-foot break-out rooms.  The Drawing Room will offer 925 square-feet of space, perfect for an intimate gathering or meeting of up to 80 people, while the Gallery Foyer is the ideal location for a cocktail reception amid the stunning, rotating, multi-million dollar art collection. A wood-paneled corporate boardroom will feature a private service entrance and attendant areas as well as views of Watch Hill Bay.

The Ocean House’s 1,000 feet of private beach will make it the only New England resort able to host private events on the beach.  The beach will host up to 800 seated guests and will feature a menu of traditional New England clam bakes, all served from a pavilion restaurant built entirely out of mahogany.  Other exquisite alfresco spaces will include the Ocean House’s famous verandahs with views of the Atlantic Ocean or Watch Hill Bay and seating for up to 120, as well as the 6,000-square-foot South Lawn which can be tented for up to 400 guests.

The Ocean House will provide highly seasoned, on-site event staff to ensure that functions are handled with the utmost attention to detail, from planning, catering and accommodations to scheduling team-building activities and motivational speakers.  No matter the season, there are plenty of resort activities for guests to enjoy, including:

Art Programs
Bridge Games and Instruction
Croquet Instruction
Culinary Education Programs
Fly Fishing and Surf Casting Trips with Instruction
Personal Training
Private Boat Tours
Putting Green
Seasonal Harbor Cruises
Squash Court
Tours of Historic Area Sites
Visits to Local Wineries and Cheese Makers
Wine Tasting Classes
Yoga & Tai Chi Classes

 Ocean House guests will also enjoy farm-to-table cuisine utilizing local, estate-grown ingredients, traditional native foraging, local organic produce and the ethical use of the sea, creating a unique and unforgettable dining experience.  In addition, the 12,000-square-foot OH! Spa will offer year-round, seasonally-inspired signature services personalized to each guest’s needs, using locally-sourced products and organic materials.

Whether traveling by commercial airline, private jet, chartered bus, train or car, the Ocean House will offer an unparalleled level of accessibility in the setting of a quaint seaside village.  Just four miles away, Westerly Airport welcomes private aircraft as well as regional air service.  T.F. Green Airport in Providence, R.I. is a 45-minute drive, Bradley Airport in Hartford, Conn. is less than an hour and a half from the property and Amtrak services the nearby town of Westerly.  A dedicated catering and conference services executive at the Ocean House will be able to assist with making rental car reservations, coordinating private jet transportation and limo or car pick-up at the airport, train station or at the resort, as well as additional needs from coordinating guest speakers and planning a personalized a la carte menu, to booking a tee time or tennis game. 

For more information about meetings and events at the Ocean House, call 401-315-5599 or visit www.oceanhouseri.com.

About The Ocean House

The Ocean House, one New England’s last grand hotels, will re-open in June 2010.  The 136-year-old property, originally built just after the Civil War, is perched high on the bluffs in Watch Hill, Rhode Island.  Guests will enjoy sweeping views of the Atlantic Ocean, Montauk and Block Island from the resort’s 49 guestrooms and 23 private residences.  Farm-to-table casual and fine dining, the 12,000-square-foot OH! Spa and more than 10,000 square feet of event space will make the Ocean House ideal for mid-week business retreats, close-to-home family vacations, weekend luxury escapes and destination weddings.  Developed by Bluff Ave., LLC and decorated by Niemitz Design Group, the stately property is a member of Preferred Boutiqueä, the elite collection of intimate hotels and resorts launched in 2005 by Preferred Hotel Group.  For more information, please visit www.oceanhouseri.com or call 401-315-5599.

Back to Listing