A large dining room filled with booths and tables for eating

An Insider's Look Behind The Scenes

Blogs By Staff & Guests

Cocktail with flowers

The Best and Most Inspiring Team Building EventsStart Right Here

An energized, engaged team is proven to decrease turnover, increase employee satisfaction and create more innovative solutions and services. Our Signature Event Series is designed to help you bring your team together, help them feel inspired, refreshed and ready to return to your workplace with renewed energy.

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Looking for the best – and most inspiring – team-building events in Cincinnati? Look no further than The Summit, A Dolce Hotel. 

Artology
Tap into your team’s creativity in this step-by-step art class where everyone creates their very own 16”x20” work of art. We even include beer, wine and light hors d’oeuvres, all in our art-filled hotel.

Churchill’s Fine Teas Pairing Event
For inspiration of the senses, take a trip around the world with a Churchill’s certified tea professional. Your team will taste six of the finest and freshest loose-leaf teas, all paired with treats from The Summit Culinary Team. We even gift each participant with their own tea ball infuser to take home.

The Culinary Experience
With Thoughtful Food for Thoughtful Minds™, our focus is always on nourishing body, mind and soul. Bring your team for your choice of exceptional culinary events with our Executive Chef:

  • Cooking demonstration – your team will prepare a 3 – 4 course dinner curated by our Executive Chef and his culinary team. Each event is personalized to your group’s preferences, dietary restrictions and kitchen skills.
  • Cooking challenge – Who’s the best? This cooking challenge to create the best dish will reveal all. Choose between team-style or individual competitions.

Mixology
Craft mixology is art and science intertwined. Your team will work together, learning to make some of The Summit’s Signature Cocktails. Or, if the competitive urge strikes, our Beverage Team will lead a contest to create the most original and thoughtful cocktail. We provide the tools, ingredients, expert mixologist and hors d’oeuvres in our beautiful bar space.

Health & Fitness
Wellness can kickstart your next company-wide initiative. In our gorgeous, spacious Fitness Center, you can choose from a variety of classes including yoga and light cardio, or any specific requests your participants may have. Our carefully selected instructors from local studios teach 30, 45 or 60-minute classes.
Or, partake in an inspired talk on a variety of topics, ranging from choosing the best running shoes to getting started with a fitness program.

Games
Immerse your team in a laugh-filled, heart-pounding game in our Art Gallery, Ballroom or on the Rooftop Terrace. With everything from giant Jenga and an obstacle course, to an escape room, scavenger hunt or casino night, you can bet you’ll have fun and leave inspired.

Bonding for a Cause
Gather together for the greater good. Your team will join in team-building exercises while benefitting the community or a charity of your choosing. Examples of activities to choose from include:

  • Toys for Tots – build quality toys for children in need.
  • Wheelchair Building – assemble fully functional wheelchairs with the help of facilitators.
  • Paws for a Cause – work together to make dog beds, toys and more.

We look forward to talking with you about how we can help elevate your team to the next level. Have a team-building event in mind you don’t see here? We can do that too. Contact our event specialists at 513-527-9900 to learn more.

White and blue Christmas ornaments

Cincinnati’s Best Holiday Experiences:Re-connect with the one you love

The Summit, A Dolce Hotel is the perfect place to take a much-needed break during this busy time to re-connect and enjoy the holiday season with the one you love. Grab a selfie with the luxe, white, upside-down Christmas tree or with the deer on the fourth floor, tour The Summit Gallery, get cozy by the hotel fireplaces and enjoy a warming beverage at Overlook Kitchen + Bar.

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There’s no shortage of romantic, luxurious and special ways to celebrate the holidays in Cincinnati, and they all start at The Summit.

Friday

Check into your gorgeous suite at The Summit. Head to Brew & Barrel in the atrium to participate in a bourbon or beer tasting flight, then take a tour of The Summit Gallery and the jaw-dropping holiday decorations throughout the hotel. Head to the fourth floor for dinner at Overlook Kitchen + Bar, where you’ll find healthful and delicious entrees like hand-cut tagliatelle with foraged mushrooms and roasted tomatoes, or a roasted salmon grain bowl with crispy quinoa, heirloom carrots and local herbs along with an extensive beverage menu.

Head back to your room to stay warm and cozy, or use our complimentary shuttle for a nightcap at Madtree Brewery or Oakley Wines.

Saturday

Start your day with a nourishing breakfast at The Market, where our executive chef is always offering something new and delightful. Tempt your taste buds with fresh items like local sausage, smoothies, made-to-order omelets and avocado toast.

The day is yours to make extraordinary. You can shop the boutiques and have lunch in Madeira, Oakley or Hyde Park: historic, upscale neighborhoods within a free 10-minute shuttle ride of The Summit. Or head down to Findlay Market and Over-the-Rhine to explore the explosive dining scene, energetic streets and architectural wonders.

World-class shopping awaits in Kenwood, including Nordstrom, Louis Vuitton, Anthropologie, Tiffany & Co., Restoration Hardware, Crate & Barrel and much more. Take care of everyone on your list and treat yourself too.

If you’re looking for a more cultural experience, try the Cincinnati Art Museum, or a class at Jungle Jim’s International Market. Ohio’s largest food market offers classes ranging from sparkling wine tastings to a “Wine & Food for the Yuletide Season” class, where you’ll nosh on prosciutto-wrapped filet mignon, mashed potato with rutabaga gratin and bittersweet chocolate almond flour torte, paired with four wines. The holidays bring many musical and theatrical productions to Cincinnati. If that’s to your liking, take in a seasonal matinee, like the Playhouse in the Park’s A Christmas Carol, The Cincinnati Ballet’s Nutcracker, or Cincinnati Pops Orchestra performing Holiday Pops with Broadway star Megan Hilty.

After your day on the town, head back to The Summit for refreshment and respite. Relax by the fireplace in the Library and enjoy a craft beer or cocktail. As nighttime settles in, head to the nearby Village of Mariemont for dinner and a movie. Listed on the National Registry of Historic Places, you can enjoy a sumptuous dinner at The Quarter before walking a few steps among the twinkly lights to the Mariemont Theatre for a film. Graeter’s famous ice cream is right next door if your sweet tooth is craving something after the movie. And if you’re visiting on the first Saturday in December, you’ll find the entire village lit up in warm glow of luminaria.

As your evening comes to a close, you’ve earned a chance to cozy up in the plush robes in your guest room at The Summit.

Sunday

Sleep in on Sunday morning, and treat yourself to a nourishing breakfast delivered right to your room. Relax with your favorite book or enjoy a leisurely bath. If Sunday brunch is calling your name, try the Sleepy Bee Café, Taste of Belgium or Forno, all within a complimentary 10-minute shuttle drive away from the hotel.

It’s time to book your package today! Choose from packages that include free breakfast and valet parking. (Hint: a weekend away makes a great gift.)

We can’t wait to help you make memories this holiday season!

Christmas Tree Lights Photo by Tim Mossholder from Pexels

Cincinnati’s Best Holiday Experiences:Holiday Fun for the Entire Family

The holiday season is full of magic and wonder, and The Summit, A Dolce Hotel is ready to welcome you and your family for an extraordinary stay, from pampering guest rooms to nourishment for body and spirit. Take your Insta-worthy family photo amongst our imaginative décor or search for decorations tucked throughout the hotel aimed to surprise and delight your family.

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Santa’s elves are hard at work, so treat your family to some together time. Cincinnati offers a treasure trove of weekend experiences:

Friday Night

Check in to The Summit. Ride the atrium glass elevators and take in the views. Explore the art in the hotel, from The Summit Gallery to the murals. Have dinner at Overlook Kitchen + Bar before heading out to an evening filled with lights. Choose from the award-winning Festival of Lights at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, where you can ride the train, see a myriad of animals and even visit Mrs. Claus. Or, if you’d rather take in a light show from your car, head to Holiday in Lights at Sharon Park. Stay warm and sip hot cocoa from the comfort of your car as you view over 250 light displays and one million lights at this Cincinnati tradition.

The Summit is conveniently located less than 20 minutes away from both.

Saturday

Enjoy breakfast at The Market, where you can start with eggs made to order, delicious smoothies, baked goods, coffee drinks and lots more. Then, take your choice of any of the following Cincinnati family holiday experiences, all within an easy 10 – 20-minute drive:

  • Krohn Conservatory – Located in Eden Park, Krohn Conservatory is the only place in Cincinnati where you can visit a jungle, a waterfall, a desert and thousands of plants under one roof. Every holiday season, Krohn transforms itself with a jaw-dropping display of landmarks and trains all crafted from natural items and festooned in holiday colors. It’s a celebration for all generations.
  • The trains at Union Terminal – For decades, this elaborate model train display has tickled young and old. Lose yourself in the detail of little towns, busy rail yards and villages of people enjoying holiday traditions like ice skating and sledding surrounded by model trains of all shapes and sizes. Afterwards you can explore the historical landmark that is Union Terminal and the newly renovated museums in the building, including the Natural History Museum and Children’s Museum.
  • Scuba Santa at the Newport Aquarium – Santa takes time from his busy schedule to visit some of the undersea residents of the Newport Aquarium, and he does it while scuba diving! Check out the sharks, rays, penguins, turtles, frogs and much more.

As the day winds to a close, find a mouthwatering dinner the entire family will love at nearby spots like Ferrari’s Little Italy, Oriental Wok or Delicio Coal-Fired Pizza.

Sunday

  • Relax with a delicious room service breakfast before heading downtown to ice skate on Fountain Square. Take in the Cincinnati Children’s Theater’s production of “A Charlie Brown Christmas” at the historic Taft Theater, and maybe even enjoy a horse-drawn carriage ride around Downtown.

Get planning your best Cincinnati holiday weekend now. With custom curated experiences for families, this is going to be a holiday season to remember!

Book your stay today with free breakfast and complimentary valet parking!

Biscotti due by

Our Newest Signature OfferingHandcrafted "due by Dolce" Biscotti

A visit to The Summit Hotel is an immersive, sensory experience. With curated art throughout the hotel, inviting nooks in which to unwind, thoughtful nourishment and details that surprise and delight, our newest offering is another delicious way to experience The Summit.

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Earlier this year, executive chefs from Dolce hotels across North America and Europe competed to create a biscotti recipe that would ultimately be served in every Dolce hotel. The winner was selected at Waitrose Cookery School in historic King’s Cross, London and included former contestants of The Great British Bake Off to coach, mentor and support the finalists.

Chef Aleece Alexander of Dolce Aspen Meadows Resort was crowned the champion for her innovative recipe of pistachio, apricot and cranberry biscotti.

Called “due by Dolce,” the name is a nod to the biscotti’s Italian roots (“dolce” means “sweet” in Italian), and the twice-baked process (“due” is the Italian word for “two”). The biscotti are always served as a pair, because just one of the delicious treats is never enough.

The Summit Hotel’s culinary team creates due by Dolce biscotti from scratch, using fresh, artisanal ingredients and time-honored techniques for biscotti baking. Guests at the hotel are welcomed for their stay with a biscotti gift pack and are able to help themselves to the decadent treats at coffee bars in the hotel.

Visitors to the hotel are also able to indulge in the biscotti experience. The tasty confections are served to meeting attendees at the hotel’s Nourishment Hubs™, and can be found alongside dishes in The Overlook Kitchen + Bar, Brew & Barrel and The Market, our contemporary culinary options.

“We’re passionate about creating memorable stories for all of our guests. We invite them to stop and savor a moment of enjoyment with a delicious due by Dolce biscotti and a relaxing coffee or cocktail,” says Executive Chef Stephen Spyrou.

Curious about due by Dolce? Make a plan to stay with us and try them yourself.

Skanska family

An Insider's LookAt The Summit's Development: Guest Blog

Having grown up in Cincinnati, I can remember what the corner of Red Bank Road and Madison looked like 20 years ago – a heavily industrial corridor consisting of an old drive-in theater and Nutone’s faded factory, all rounded out by the Rainbow Car Wash, Rally’s and a UDF. When Medpace moved in, it changed the dynamic of this corner substantially. The old Nutone warehouse was stripped and repurposed into a parking garage. Many Cincinnatians would use this as a landmark because of its location on the top of the hill and its bright, multicolored columns that were part of its transformation. 

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Editor’s note: The Summit’s construction was a monumental and fascinating process. We knew when it came to sharing insights only an insider could have, we had to talk to Jon Budde, project manager for Skanska, The Summit Hotel’s construction company. Jon has degrees from Miami University and University of Cincinnati in construction/development-related fields and has 11 years of construction and real estate experience serving clients including Disney, Peabody Hotels, Mercy Health, the GSA, University of Kentucky and more. Jon lives in Cincinnati with his wife, Ashley, and two children – Henry and Annabelle.

After Medpace established three office buildings and the parking garage, founder Dr. August Troendle and his team turned to Skanska to help build the remaining parts of the property into a destination location. The addition of the Summit, A Dolce Hotel, was an essential part of this plan. The vision for an artful, inspiring hotel that could play host to events and visitors was born.

The construction schedule was aggressive at 22 months. The building has over 270,000 square feet of finished space in addition to the reworked parking garage at over 115,000 square feet. At the peak of construction, there were 250 construction workers on-site each day, and by the end of the project, over 1,100% tradespeople had played a part in the building’s transformation.

This development has several complexly designed unique spaces, like an expansively landscaped rooftop terrace on a green roofing system; extensive conference and meeting rooms featuring natural light and built-in technology, and a nine-story open atrium filled with artistic touches. Throw in the fact that this is all on top of an existing structure, with all of the typical challenging field conditions encountered in an adaptive reuse project, and things are bound to get interesting. However, by building on top of the structure, we were able to build something better for the environment by recycling and reusing its concrete. This reduced the amount of material from demolition going to a landfill and reduced the need for producing more concrete, which has a high carbon footprint.

Parking structure for The Summit

*Demolition begins on the parking structure to form the opening for the nine-story atrium in the tower.

Skanska summit exterior

*Hotel structure reaches completion. The colored columns from the Medpace parking garage are still visible on the lower levels.

Atrium at The Summit, A Dolce Hotel by Wyndham

*Completed atrium (left) and Brew & Barrel (right).

Brew and Barrel

The Skanska project team is proud to be part of the redevelopment of this iconic landmark in Madisonville. This area has come a long way over the years, shedding its industrial reputation and transforming into a multiuse development for everyone. I am excited to see how The Summit will help Madisonville continue to grow and thrive.

We are continuing the momentum on this campus with our next major project – completing the Medpace campus with a mixed-use office/retail development that will add more restaurants, bars and outdoor entertainment venues within walking distance of The Summit. I truly believe this area will become known as one of Cincinnati’s best destinations, and I, along with everyone at Skanska, am honored to be part of that story.

Skanska family

*Skanska Family Day Topping Out Party – Pictured are the Skanska team, contributing contractors, and Seth Barnhard and Bill Burwig (RBM Development).

Cincinnati Zoo

What to Do in CincinnatiThis Summer

Ready to start experiencing the city the New York Times named #8 on its list of 52 places to go in 2018? (Let’s just pause for a moment and note with some pride that Cincinnati outranked spots like Fiji, Prague, and Seattle.)

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You should go to every spot on the list. But you should start in Cincinnati. Here’s a primer to get your summer planning started. Just an hour’s flight or a day’s drive for more than 60 percent of the U.S. population, you’ve run out of excuses to not be here with us.

Ride North America’s largest Ferris wheel. The Island Wheel exhilarates passengers with river and scenic views from 155 feet up in the air. It’s located at Coney Island, a historic amusement park with fun rides and the world’s largest re-circulating pool. But don’t wait too long; the Island Wheel is only here until July 8.

 

The Cincinnati Food and Wine Experience. Held on June 16, here’s your chance to rub elbows with famed chef Graham Elliot, as well as some of Cincinnati’s most notable chefs, mixologists, pastry chefs and more. With a grand tasting featuring the likes of some of Cincinnati’s most beloved and revered restaurants as well as those emerging on our vibrant food scene, it’s a great time. Located at beautiful Yeatman’s Cove on the Ohio River.

 

The $13 million indoor gorilla exhibit at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden. The Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden is the second-oldest zoo in the United States. A visit to the zoo is not only a chance to get up-close-and-personal with giraffes, manatees and superstar baby hippo Fiona, it’s also a chance to experience historical buildings still in use for exhibits, and wander amidst some of the most beautiful gardens you’ll ever experience. The zoo, still mourning but moving forward after the tragic loss of beloved silverback gorilla Harambe in 2016, invests in research and conservation of these majestic primates in central Africa. Visit the new indoor gorilla exhibit to learn more about them. The zoo is on a mission “to see if they can make the world care as much about the many as it did about the one.” 

 

Go to an FC Cincinnati game. Find out why Cincinnati’s professional soccer team - at just two years old -was just named a Major League Soccer team when you join 25,000+ fans in cheering on the blue and orange. Enjoy the chants and drums coming from the uber-fans located in The Bailey section of Nippert Stadium. With plenty of local food and craft beers, an FC Cincinnati game can be a great date night. And with lots of action on the field, it’s just as family-friendly too.

 

Take in a Cincinnati Reds game. In one of the country’s most beautiful stadiums, overlooking the Ohio River and adjacent to parks and dining, a Reds game has something for everyone.

 

This just begins to scratch the surface of everything there is to do in Cincinnati this summer. See a concert on the river, catch a church festival, ride a riverboat, canoe down the Little Miami, picnic in Washington Park in the shadow of Music Hall, peruse the fresh foods and farm offerings at Findlay Market, ride the bike paths, visit any of the dozens of craft breweries…the list is endless.

Come stay with us at The Summit Hotel while you’re here. We can help you plan your outings and immerse you in artful surroundings during your visit.

Lady holding glass of wine on ledge

Picture Yourself Here:The Rooftop Terrace is Now Open

Whether you’ve already visited The Summit or you’re still planning your first visit, you probably know by now we take our approach to integrating art and design into the hotel very seriously. With the opening of The Rooftop Terrace, you’ll want to make a beeline to check out our 25,400 square feet of open-air space, rich with design touches and an extension of our artful indoor space.

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“The prevalence of rooftop spaces in Cincinnati is exciting, but being a Dolce hotel, we knew ours had to be engaging, inspiring and the likes of which no one has ever seen before,” says Bruce Flyer, our general manager.

Seeking to transform every element of the rooftop experience into an extraordinary moment, the Rooftop Terrace at The Summit makes it easy for you to immerse yourself in a sensory experience. Roughly half of the space is lushly landscaped, including trees, flowers, shrubs, grasses and more, all intended to invite nature in, while visitors gaze out. Tons of soil were transported to the rooftop to make it possible.

The unparalleled views from the Rooftop Terrace include the bustling Madisonville neighborhood in which it’s located and extend for miles to the rolling hills and vistas of Kenwood, Oakley, Mariemont, Indian Hill and Pleasant Ridge. Cozy pockets of seating are positioned throughout the Terrace, along with firepits to gather around for an evening under the stars.

Live music will be a frequent fixture on the Terrace, and guests are able to have fun playing cornhole or enjoying a scratch-made cocktail or local craft beer while taking in the views.

Available for private events, The Rooftop Terrace is an ideal spot for corporate events, fundraisers, rehearsal dinners, weddings, and receptions, with event planning led by some of the city’s most seasoned professionals who are focused on creating unique and personal experiences.

One of the most unique features of the Rooftop Terrace is that it is an extension of our signature dining spot, The Overlook Kitchen + Bar. Our award-winning executive chef, Kyle Goebel, has curated a menu of locally sourced foods that are mouthwatering and artful in their approach. You can easily blur the lines between The Overlook and the Terrace, with dining and drinks available indoors or out. It’s both a breathtaking and exhilarating place to be.

And you may just catch a glimpse of the smoker Chef Goebel uses to handcraft meats for the hotel’s dining, or even one of our honeybees hard at work collecting pollen for our fresh honey.

Contact our experienced event planners for a rooftop tour when you plan your wedding or event. Book a weekend getaway in one of our luxe guestrooms, and wind your evening down under the stars. Or just stop by with friends to enjoy a pint, cocktail or glass of wine on The Rooftop Terrace before dinner at The Overlook Kitchen + Bar.

This is one Cincinnati experience you definitely don’t want to miss.

Building with rainbow-colored panels

With These Hidden Art Gems,The Summit Aims to Surprise and Delight

The Summit, A Dolce Hotel, has an origins story more fascinating than many. Originally the Nutone door chime and fan ventilation factory built in 1950, the property became the headquarters of Medpace, a medical research campus in the early 2000s. The old factory structure became an unused parking garage which was well known for its signature rainbow painted columns, visible from many directions.

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The architects at Samach + Seo Architecture & Planning transformed the structure into an innovative nine-story, 239-guestroom hotel with strong emphasis on group conferencing, locally sourced food and inspiring art. Cincinnati is a thriving city with a renowned art culture, so the hotel’s designers sought to marry the building’s interiors with its industrial roots, creating a unique experience for everyone who enters our doors. The inclusion of art within the hotel takes on even more meaning when you realize that Nutone’s founder, Ralph Corbett, and his wife, Patricia, gave millions of dollars to the Cincinnati arts over decades of philanthropy.

The lobby has 20-foot ceilings with the original exposed sandblasted columns, stained concrete floors and an industrial metal clad floating staircase. An artistic metal screen reception desk with a display case for industrial factory parts and a massive modern abstract art mural act as a colorful visual. Linear light slots wrap from the ceiling down the wall.

Modern flexible seating welcomes guests waiting for their group or working alone in the 9-story atrium. Adjacent to the lobby, the atrium is wrapped in a band of rainbow-colored panels, which serves as a wink to the rainbow-colored columns that drew attention to the property prior to The Summit’s construction. Eclectic and asymmetrical modern furniture arrangements adorn this space.

In the guestrooms, visitors will find the overall design has subtleties in science, a nod to the hotel’s Medpace neighbor. The headboard mural is an image of a DNA strand under a microscope. In the bathroom, another mural is, in fact, an abstract watercolor of Cincinnati’s bustling riverfront.

Delight your senses with a stay at The Summit and enjoy immersing yourself in an art-filled space.

Library Nook at The Summit,

Evoking Place to Create a Novel SpaceChatting with Nicole Smith, Lead Interior Designer for The Summit

We sat down with Nicole Smith, of HBA Atlanta and lead interior designer for The Summit, A Dolce Hotel, to learn how she made key design decisions for The Summit.

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With over ten years’ experience at Hirsch Bedner Associates (HBA), the largest hospitality design firm in the world, Nicole has a wealth of knowledge for everything interior design. Here’s what she had to say:

What was your vision for The Summit?

Nicole: The driving philosophy at HBA is to create a unique and sensitive response to location, architecture and client vision. In my design vision, I tried to marry inspiration from the building’s industrial roots in combination with modern art-centric features to create a unique experience for hotel guests and business groups.

Because Cincinnati is a bustling Midwestern city with a thriving art culture, and the location where the current hotel now stands has an interesting history, I incorporated both the history of Cincinnati and Cincinnati as it is today to tell a story. The property the hotel now occupies was originally developed in 1950 as the Nutone door chime and fan ventilation factory. When the factory closed in 2006, the structure became an un-used parking garage well-known for its signature rainbow painted columns. When I was designing The Summit, I wanted to really bring out the building’s past with subtle details from the lobby to the guestrooms.

What can guests expect when they walk in?

Nicole: Expect to be surprised. The lobby has eighteen-foot ceilings with exposed, sandblasted columns, which are original to the building. To keep the industrial feel, we stained the concrete floors as well as created a metal-clad floating staircase. The architects named it The Monumental Staircase, in a nod to its size and grandeur. Additionally, the reception desk has a metal screen with a display case for industrial factory parts. We wanted to juxtapose the industrial feel with artwork, so we selected a modern abstract art mural for behind the desk. We decided that the atrium was the perfect place to make a subtle reference the building’s parking structure past by wrapping it with a band of rainbow-colored panels. To keep up the funky vibe, we selected eclectic and asymmetrical modern furniture to adorn this space.

You mentioned that the guestrooms have details about Cincinnati, what might those be?

Nicole: We created a sense of place by adding an abstract watercolor mural of the Cincinnati riverfront on the bathroom wall. There are also subtleties to the medical research campus surroundings; the headboard mural in the guestrooms is an image of a DNA strand under a microscope. The guestrooms also have red accents that tie back to the building’s exterior windows.

Finally, what is your favorite design element in the hotel?

Nicole: I can’t pick just one. I love the Library in the corner of the atrium because it’s a private lounge space, there’s a pool table, and we used brightly colored accent shelves to create a playful space. I’m also really excited about The Overlook Kitchen + Bar, not only because it will have locally sourced food, which I love, but the design palette includes warm woods, pops of colors, mixed with white marbles and black iron to create an industrial accent. The Overlook is adjacent to the Rooftop Terrace, with its cozy fire pits: perfect for hanging out in the evening. As today’s travelers become ever more sophisticated, creating juxtapositions and subtle design nods throughout a space continually challenges me to surprise guests.

Ribbon cutting at The Summit Hotel's opening

6 Things You Didn't KnowAbout The Summit Hotel's Opening Week

The Summit, A Dolce Hotel, was easy to find in the media during our first week of opening. With coverage by WLWT, the Cincinnati Enquirer, the Business Courier and Fox 19 among others, there were plenty of opportunities to see the hotel’s inspiring spaces and art-centric opening ceremony. But here’s a peek at a few things you may have missed.

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1. “This place is stunning,” were the words Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley used to describe what he thought of The Summit, A Dolce Hotel. Mayor Cranley was among the VIPs and guests on hand to officially open the doors of the hotel on April 17.

2. 1N5 hosted their spectacular fundraiser with us on our fifth night of being open. The event chair said it was the best gala they’ve ever had. Aimed at stopping the stigma and starting the conversation by increasing awareness and education about mental health, Cincinnati 1N5’s annual Spring4Life event was attended by more than 400 members of the community dedicated to helping kids get the mental health help they need. Gold medalist Nick Goepper was among those who shared his own struggles with highs and lows.

3. We didn’t cut just any old ribbon. As an artful hotel, it was important to us to highlight our commitment to the arts in our opening ceremony. Famed Cincinnati artist and Enquirer Woman of the Year Pam Kravetz designed a gorgeous 16-foot quilted ribbon for us. Featuring meaningful words, explosions of color and rich symbolism, you’ll soon find pieces of the ribbon on display at the hotel.

4. Madtree Beer Cheese with Goetta and a Soft Pretzel. Executive Chef Kyle Goebel was featured on Fox 19 on our one-week anniversary, demonstrating this delicious snack that can be found in The Overlook Kitchen + Bar. Featuring Kentucky-sourced cheese and Hawaiian black lava salt, we’ve tasted it and it’s just as crave-worthy as it sounds.

5. The Monumental Staircase looks different every day. Found in the lobby, the Monumental Staircase is an architect-crafted functional sculpture. Soaring two stories high, on opening day its finish appeared to be brass. But as an artisan works to polish it over the next month, it will take on a rich, deep bronze patina, and will anchor the space even more.

6. We served inspiring bites at the opening ceremony. Mocktail mimosas with charred orange. Goetta sliders on house-made biscuits. Bite-size pancakes with sour cream and caviar. Chocolate and whipped cream folded into tiny, light-as-a-feather crepes. We can do the same for your event.

Feeling hungry? Craving a refresh? Want to see our event spaces? We’re happy to host you anytime.

Williams Grocery exterior

5 Fantastic Destinations You Can Get toWith Our Complimentary Shuttle (All of Them Less Than 10 Minutes Away)

Inspiration and artistry are found throughout The Summit Hotel, but we also want our guests to freely and easily explore the many inspiring offerings found in Cincinnati. Our complimentary SUV shuttle, which will travel to and from any destination within a five-mile radius of The Summit, makes that exploration possible.

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Here are a few don’t-miss-destinations to visit while you’re with us.

MadTree Brewery – Open daily, the iconic and bustling MadTree taproom is a little bit of everything: meeting place, family hangout, café. Fill up a growler or meet up with friends for dinner and a beer. MadTree’s award-winning beers as well as their house-made non-alcoholic soda are served in the taproom, along with wood-fired pizza, appetizers, salads and desserts from Catch-A-Fire Café. Drive time from The Summit: six minutes.

Dinner and a movie in Mariemont (with dessert at Graeter’s) – Make a stop in the charming village of Mariemont. The village is on the National Register of Historic Places, and its town square features English architecture, towering trees and twinkling lights. Enjoy al fresco dining at the superb Quarter Bistro, followed by a film at the Mariemont Theatre, located right next door. End the evening on a sweet note with a scoop from Graeter’s Ice Cream. Drive time from The Summit: nine minutes.

Unwind and Arthur’s Café – Tucked in a quiet corner of Hyde Park Square, the patio at Unwind Wine Bar invites you to linger. Choose an outdoor seat or sit inside the cozy wood and stone dining area. After a drink and light bite, stroll through Hyde Park Square to Arthur’s Café for one of their legendary burgers. With seating in the tavern-like dining room or out back in the garden, it’s easy to enjoy the likes of an award-winning Boursin Burger or Black Bean Burger. Drive time from The Summit: 11 minutes.

Sleepy Bee Cafe & Blue Manatee – A beloved mainstay of Oakley Square, the Blue Manatee Children’s Bookstore has captured the imaginations of generations. Filled with delightful books, story times and lots of events from yoga to “make a mess” sessions, your child (or the kid in you) is sure to be charmed. When you’ve worked up an appetite, head down the block to the Sleepy Bee Café for breakfast, lunch or brunch. It’s a gathering place for locally sourced food that makes you feel good. Be sure to try a Killer Bee cookie. Drive time from The Summit: seven minutes.

Boutiques of Madeira – Downtown Madeira is filled with boutiques. You can spend an afternoon window shopping or browsing at the likes of Monkee’s of Madeira (an upscale women’s boutique), Camargo Trading Company (everything from home décor to clothing) and French Country Road (finds from around the world). Drive time from The Summit: nine minutes.

We just barely scratched the surface with this list. Whether you’re craving a picnic in the park, a vibrant evening out or cheering your team at a sports bar, it’s all within reach. Just ask us how we can make it happen.

Glass of beer on wooden table

Love Cincinnati’s Local Craft Beer? Us Too.Here’s What We’ll Have on Tap.

Cincinnati’s history as a dedicated beer brewing town goes back more than 150 years, with as many as 36 breweries operating here in 1860. Over the past decade, the Queen City has seen a resurgence of craft brewing that’s nearly unrivaled across the United States. In fact, there are an estimated 49 craft brewers across the Tri-state right now, and that number is growing.

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We’re passionate about keeping our dining options fresh and local, and that extends to our beers too. So whether you know and love some of Cincinnati’s biggest and well-known breweries, or you’re looking to explore a smaller artisan brewer, here’s a list of what we’ll have on tap at The Overlook Kitchen + Bar.

Fifty West: Doom Pedal White Ale.Pouring a hazy, light gold color, this unfiltered Wheat Ale is brewed with coriander, orange peel and grains of paradise. Expect a masterfully blended combination of mildly spicy notes and crisp, sweet, citrus flavors, which come together to create a full, flavorful brew with a light, refreshing finish. ABV: 5.5% | IBU: 20 

MadTree: Lift. Whether taking a break from a hard day of work or just a huge day of hops, this crisp refreshing k?lsch with a hint of orange will lift your spirits without lowering your expectations for what a craft beer should be. Crisp, subtle orange. ABV: 4.7% | IBU: 11

Christian Moerlein Brewing Company: OTR. A Pale Ale brewed in the English style, one fan from the Greater Cincinnati Beer Club describes it as “a good, all-year-round beer, a great go-to for people with different tastes with a nice bold taste.” ABV: 5.8% | IBU: 40.

 

MadTree: Happy Amber. This dry-hopped ale combines caramel and biscuit malt flavors in happy equilibrium with late addition American hops. The approachable balance is intentional although the name is a "hoppy accident." Floral, bready. ABV: 6% | IBU 30.

Rhinegeist: Truth. Truth is an IPA grounded in the scintillating brilliance of hops. Brewed with a nod to the Pacific, hops sizzle with tropical fruit aroma, grapefruit and mango notes and a dry finish. ABV: 7.2% | IBU 75.

Braxton: Storm. A traditional American lawnmower beer, this golden cream ale features a medium body with a creamy palate feel. The aroma is a balance between subtle corn and malt-like notes with a very slight earthy and spicy hop presence. Pale straw in color with brilliant lightning-like clarity, Storm makes a great session beer being low in alcohol and bitterness, but complete with flavor. However, unlike the typical cream ale, no DMS or harsh corn like aroma is present. ABV: 4.8% | IBU 17

Braxton: Dead Blow. Dead Blow is a tropical version of the Foreign Extra Stout. Eighty pounds of macerated dates made its way into this brew, partnered with a Dry English Ale yeast to provide a vibrant fruity/tropical aroma with a slight amount of fruity esters. The Dry English ale yeast helps this beer attenuate lower, however leaving a residual sweetness on the finish as well as increase the fruity characteristic received from the dates. Dead Blow is a dry, roasty, fruity, full bodied, smooth stout that is lighter on bitterness. ABV 7.2% | IBU 27.

 

Rivertown: Roebling. This rich, Imperial Porter combines the perfect blend of LaTerza espresso, vanilla and innovation into a big, rich, chocolate, espresso infused brownie of a beer that is as innovative as its namesake. Rivertown was asked to craft a beer for a community festival in 2011 which celebrated the 145th Birthday of the John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge linking Cincinnati and Covington. This Imperial Porter is inventive, unique, well balanced, strong, and has been created to be as timeless and remarkable as the Roebling Bridge, the man who dreamed big and the community that brought that dream to life. ABV: 7.9% | IBU 35.

 

Want to get even more immersed in Cincinnati’s beer culture? These breweries, and dozens more, have public taprooms you can visit to taste and try additional offerings. Now that’s something we can raise a glass to. Cheers!

Water container infused with apples and strawberries

Windowless Rooms and Stale Pastries?Not in Our Meeting Spaces.

The intent of meetings is laudable: build teams, find solutions, brainstorm, rejuvenate. Why then are so many held in dark, stale rooms with sugar and fat-laden foods that do nothing but slow you down? The Summit Hotel believes it’s time to change all that.

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If you need to plan an event in Cincinnati, you need to look no further than The Summit. Here are a few of the reasons why.

 

  1. Light-filled spaces. With 32,600 square feet of flexible space, we work with you to find the room that’s just right for your needs, whether it needs to be an intimate table-top work environment or a lecture hall for 100. And our meeting rooms are on the exterior of the hotel, featuring floor-to-ceiling windows that keep eyes from growing weary and lift spirits as your team works.
  1. Healthful, nourishing food. Outside of our meeting rooms are Nourishment Centres, outposts of dining and delight that satisfy hunger and the senses. Your meeting attendees will find Nourishment Centres open most of the day, featuring a wealth of snack options, from protein-rich to low-glycemic to vegan-friendly. It’s all fresh, and much of it is made in-house and locally sourced. In addition to amazing food, it’s also a perfect opportunity for conversation and connectivity to grow even further connections among your group.
  1. Healthy seating. Uncomfortable meeting chairs can cause back strain, wrist pain and fatigue. That’s why our chairs are all ergonomically designed, allowing meeting participants to find seating positions that are comfortable and physically beneficial.
  1. Easy pricing. Our all-in pricing means it’s much easier and faster to plan the perfect meeting. With packages that include stays in our 239 guest rooms as well as meals, snacks and space, it’s never been simpler to host a meeting that inspires.
  1. Team building that’s fun. Dolce hotels around the world offer team building activities from beekeeping to concoctioneering. It’s all designed to get groups talking, break down barriers, encourage imaginative thinking and make memories. We are still determining the details of ours, but count on it being something your team will really enjoy.

 

We welcome you to learn more about the creativity and innovation our meeting spaces can help to facilitate.

Book your event and find out more here.

Group of cheerful people gathered around outdoors candle-lit table

The Overlook Kitchen + Bar is Coming.Here's an Insider's Preview.

When it opens in April, The Overlook Kitchen + Bar will be unlike any other dining experience in Cincinnati. Locals and hotel guests alike will find locally sourced, farm-to-table food served in a beautifully appointed space, and all of it against the backdrop of a stunning view. Read on to learn more.

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  1. The Rooftop Terrace is right there. With 15,000 square feet of lush landscaping, our Rooftop Terrace feels both spacious and inviting. Featuring plenty of cozy seating, live music and vistas of the surrounding hills and neighborhoods, the Terrace is on The Overlook’s front step. Start your evening with mixology-inspired cocktails, delightful wines and local beers under the stars, and head in to dinner at The Overlook Kitchen + Bar.
  2. Local favorites with a twist. Look for a menu that aims to tantalize and please, with offerings that are fresh and inspired. On the small plate menu, you may find beer cheese dip comprised of goetta and a local beer, served with soft pretzel bites from a hometown favorite bakery. Or Kentucky-fried chicken drumettes with honey comb from our own hives. For veggie lovers, look for smoked carrot hummus served with pickled chili, tortilla chips, sprouted lentil and local greens, or fried eggplant with a kumquat vinaigrette, Napa cabbage and radish. Other tasty tidbits will include cheese and cured meats from local sources, like Mill Creek white cheddar with quince paste and jalapeno pecans, or Sharon Creek brie with paw paw compote.

    It will be the perfect spot to gather with friends to spend the evening, as the launching pad for the rest of the night’s explorations, or as a later evening stop for a nightcap.
  3. Artful and mouth-watering meals. Open for lunch and dinner, The Overlook will also satisfy those cravings for larger plates. You may find house-made sausage with cranberry beans, crushed squash and chimichurri; walleye with pozole, hominy and fennel salad; or the ultimate egg sandwich, featuring a pasture egg, bourbon maple bacon and brie on a biscuit.
  4. Dessert done decadently. For a truly exceptional dessert experience, try a bacon fried peanut butter sandwich, with quince jelly and peanut brittle served on brioche. Or a devil’s food cake featuring maple bourbon chocolate ganache and whipped cream.
  5. Warm and inviting space. On fine days, enjoy floating between The Overlook and the Terrace. When weather turns chilly or rainy, the warm and inviting space of The Overlook makes it easy to tuck in for cozy conversations and enjoy the view and the food from the comfort of the truly great indoors.

Our art isn’t the only thing that’s inspired. Enjoy a fresh, farm-to-table experience with an innovative twist. Book your stay and find out more here.

Lady holding snack platter. Photo by Sasha on Unsplash.

What You Want to Eat,Wherever You Want (and Whenever You Want)

It’s time to study room service, and ask ourselves if it’s everything we want it to be. Couldn’t it be so much more?

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Room service is a tricky thing. It can be wholly enjoyable: a quiet respite where you can tuck into a meal hand-delivered to your own private abode for the ultimate indulgence. Like a steak eaten in your bathrobe, with a nice glass of red wine. Nothing wrong with that.

But what about those times when you look at the clock, and you’re feeling peckish, but room service ended at 11 pm? Or you have friends staying in the hotel, and you’ve discovered a cozy pocket of seating just off the lobby where you’d all love to enjoy snacks and drinks? Or even if you just want a change of scenery? During those times, room service just feels too confining.

That’s why The Summit offers Nourishment Anytime, Anywhere. We get that you may want to order something delicious to eat in the middle of the night. Or that you may or may not want to eat it in your guest room. Here are the basic tenets of Nourishment Anytime, Anywhere:

  1. It’s delicious. Like every other item served at The Summit, our delivered dishes will be fresh, locally sourced and fresh (did we mention fresh?). The menu will take its inspiration from the chef-created dishes at Brew & Barrel, our sophisticated-coffee-house-by-morning, turned small-plates-beer-and-bourbon in the evening.
  2. It’s innovative. You’ll find snack items like hummus and dippers, charcuterie and cheese platters, bowls of olives and nuts, yogurt and fruit parfaits and house dehydrated veggies with BBQ spice. When you’re hungry for something more, try an ultimate egg sandwich on a brioche bun with bourbon maple bacon, or a pasture egg and brie on a brioche bun. Or a house-made sausage on a pretzel roll with pickled onion and stone ground mustard. Salads, comprised of ingredients like slow roasted root vegetables, citrus herbed greens and grilled chicken are available too.
  3. It’s satisfying. You can get something for your sweet tooth, like a chocolate crème served with caramel corn brittle and apple balsamic, or caramelized white chocolate and goat cheese cheesecake. You can even order cold-pressed juices, local canned beers and wine by the carafe.
  4. You really can get it anytime, anywhere. Seriously. The menu is available around the clock, for delivery anywhere at the hotel. Why not enjoy a quiet breakfast sandwich in the Library? Or salad on the Rooftop Terrace? It’s our goal to surprise and delight.

Book your stay and find out more here.

Brunch platter with a glass of tea. Photo by Monika Grabkowska, on Unsplash

Inside a Chef's Mind:5 Minutes with Executive Chef Kyle Goebel

We spent a few minutes with The Summit’s Executive Chef, Kyle Goebel, to get his take on everything from Nourishment Centres to his favorite ingredients. A Certified Chef de Cuisine and Certified Sommelier, Kyle’s experiences are rich and vast (and include experience as part of the team that helped propel Orchids at the Palm Court to become Ohio’s only AAA Five Diamond restaurant). Read on to gather some inspiration.

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On great ingredients:
“Eggs are everything to a chef. If you can cook eggs well, you can pretty much cook anything. Their versatility is unmatched, from a simple-but-perfect fried egg, to a silky-smooth chocolate flan. Eggs are cool.”

On keeping it simple:
“Lots of restaurants just intimidate people. I want our guests to feel nurtured and comfortable when they look at our menus. Simple sophistication is the goal. One thing I’ll teach my team is to pause when they get to six: if you have six things going onto a plate, you need to stop yourself and ask if you really need a seventh. You probably don’t.”

On comfort:
“My parents used to have me make a nice meal for their friends. And by ‘nice’ I mean seven courses, with wine pairings! It was delicious food, and it just made people want to sit back and enjoy each other. I loved watching them sit in their dining room with their friends, just laughing and sharing conversation.”

On the Rooftop Terrace:
“The Summit’s Rooftop Terrace is going to be amazing. With the landscaping, live music and lots of cozy seating, it’s a great spot to add a chef’s twist. We’re looking at stationing a smoker and a grill there, in addition to an herb garden and honeybees.”

On brunch:
“I’m excited about brunch at The Summit. We’ll have a juice station to make our own juices, where people can tell us exactly what they want. We’ll serve our house-made sausages and add incredible flavor to our dishes using herbs from our rooftop garden. And what’s better than fresh honey taken from our rooftop beehives directly to your breakfast plate? It’s going to be just a great way to wind down and enjoy your weekend.”

On wine:
“Wine is my comfort food. I have a glass of red wine almost every night.”

Our art isn’t the only thing that’s inspired. Enjoy a fresh, farm-to-table experience with an innovative twist. Book your stay and find out more here.

sliced carrots, wooden spoon and wooden cutting board

Part 2: Herb-Growing, Bee-Keeping, Sausage-Making Sommelier:Kyle Goebel is The Summit’s New Executive Chef. And His Food Is Going to Blow You Away.

The Summit’s Executive Chef, Kyle Goebel, finds his inspiration everywhere, from what’s locally in season to what he’s watched other chefs do. “It’s a really fun challenge to take something that someone else is doing well, and make it your own. To make it different, new and unique,” he says.

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Kyle then recalls a story from his experience as the Kitchen Supervisor and Banquet Chef at the Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza, where he worked under Todd Kelly as part of the team that made the hotel’s signature restaurant, Orchids at The Palm Court, the only AAA Five Diamond restaurant in Ohio.

“Todd had this idea to make mozzarella balloons. They were so cool. You started by making mozzarella from scratch, then used this kitchen tool to carefully inflate the mozzarella into a balloon. It was the feature of a salad, and it was really impressive, but it could take 13 minutes to make just one of them. You had to get it just right, so that the balloon wasn’t stretched too tight, but so that it was also shiny. Once they got to that point, they didn’t stay inflated for long, so you really had to get them to the tables quickly. We once had a corporate event at Orchids at The Palm Court, and Todd decided to serve the mozzarella balloon salad to every attendee - more than 80 people. We all thought it was a little crazy. It took an incredible amount of teamwork to make sure every one of those balloons went out at the same time, but we did it, and the guests were delighted. That’s when I learned to never say no.”

Kyle will bring this same passion for innovation and attention to detail to The Summit. “We’re going to emphasize local and from scratch dishes. We’ll have an herb garden on the rooftop terrace, homemade sausages, bees so we can serve fresh honeycomb, and of course, local beers and bourbons. I want it to be simply sophisticated and nourishing.”

For our business guests, when it comes to the Nourishment Centres, a pillar in every Dolce hotel, Kyle plans to strive to make them interactive and interesting. “Every one of us has been to a meeting at a hotel and eaten bad cookies and stale Danishes. Our Nourishment Centres are the complete opposite. They’re filled with protein-rich foods and lots of fresh options to really get your mind going. But they’re fun, too. We might have s’mores bars, with housemade marshmallows. Or donut bars, where we bring the donuts out piping hot from the kitchen. You’ll also find lots of fruit, nuts, vegetables and from-scratch snacks.”

The Summit’s expansive Rooftop Terrace is any chef’s dream. “I’m really looking forward to maximizing this space. We’ll have the garden, and the bees, but also looking at putting a smoker, a grill and cornhole there too,” he says. “Our guests can expect surprises at every turn.” The Rooftop Terrace will be lushly landscaped, with nooks and firepits for sipping a garden-to-glass cocktail from the Terrace Bar, or nibbling small plates made with fresh, local ingredients.

For now, Kyle is focused on developing menus and assembling a kitchen staff that’s every bit as passionate as he is. Kyle still lives on the West Side, with his wife and children.

chef holding 2 plates of food

Herb-Growing, Bee-Keeping, Sausage-Making Sommelier:Kyle Goebel is The Summit’s New Executive Chef. And His Food Is Going to Blow You Away. Part One of a Two-Part Series.

When we sat down to explore some musings on food with The Summit’s new Executive Chef, it became delightfully apparent that the energy and passion he brings for innovation and creativity couldn’t be contained to just one blog post. So enjoy your initial introduction to Kyle here, and come back next week to read the rest.

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Think Cincinnati is a big city with a small-town feel? Talk to Kyle Goebel. The Summit’s new Executive Chef was born and raised on Cincinnati’s West Side. His mother and his father-in-law met in grade school at St. William’s. Kyle went to school there too. He met his future wife at a wedding there. And he’s a graduate of Elder High School, one of Cincinnati’s stalwart boys’ Catholic schools: steeped in tradition, loyal alumni and diehard football fans.

With short-cropped hair and an expressive face, Kyle leans in to admit he “wasn’t the world’s greatest student at Elder,” and after graduation he immediately boarded a plane for California, where he worked at The Daily Grill. Working as a busboy, host, bartender and takeout guy, his wanderlust would take him to New York City and Milan, but he returned home to Cincinnati after each of these stints. Ultimately, he came home to stay.

“My family brought me back. I have the best family in the world,” he says.

After a globetrotting couple of years, his mom noted that he’d always liked cooking, and persuaded him to look into the newly expanded Midwest Culinary Institute at Cincinnati State. He took to it like a poached fish to wine sauce, completing dual degrees in Restaurant Management Technology and Culinary Art Technology. “I got A’s in everything,” he says. “Except accounting. I got a C in that. Have no idea why either; I like math.”

His career launched, he proceeded to strive for achievements including securing certification as Chef de Cuisine with the American Culinary Federation and as Sommelier through The Court of Master Sommeliers. He worked as Executive Chef at The Bell Event Center in Downtown Cincinnati and at Cooper’s Hawk restaurants. He also worked for Chris Ponte, a 2017 James Beard Award semifinalist, at Café Ponte in Clearwater, Florida. “Chris sent me out to catch fish and serve it that night. It was one of my best days ever. That was the day I understood what truly being a chef was all about,” Kyle says.

Kyle also worked as a Chef Instructor at the Midwest Culinary Institute, “I owe a lot to them.” But some of his most influential – and interesting – experiences come from working as Kitchen Supervisor and Banquet Chef at Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza, under the tutelage of Todd Kelly, American Culinary Federation’s 2011 Chef of the Year. As part of the team that made the Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza’s famed restaurant, Orchids at The Palm Court, the only AAA Five Diamond restaurant in Ohio (and a Top 100 OpenTable restaurant), Kyle learned one important lesson: “Never say no to anything.”

Wondering where this story goes next? Two words: mozzarella balloons. Read part two of this blog post next week.

Cincinatti skyline

The New York Times Named Cincinnatito Its 2018 Travel List. Here Are 5 Things You Must Do in the Queen City.

The New York Times recently named Cincinnati to its list of 10 U.S. cities to visit in 2018. Citing the city’s exploding craft brewery scene and affordability for travelers, it’s easy to see why the Queen City made the list. There’s a lot to do in our fair city. Read on for some of the highlights.

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Hit the brewery trail. With nearly 50 craft breweries in the Cincinnati area, there’s an IPA, stout, ale or pilsner for everyone. If you’re in the mood for a lively atmosphere at one of the bigger breweries, try Rhinegeist or Madtree. Want to sample beers in a historic setting? Try Taft Ale House, housed in a former church built in 1850. Or maybe you want to stick close to home: try Tap & Screw, a cozy brewpub located on the doorstep of The Summit. But this is just the tip of a hoppy iceberg. Several companies offer shuttled beer tours, and you’re sure to have fun exploring more breweries. If you prefer to get around by your own power, try a Pedal Wagon downtown. Taking upwards of a dozen pedaling passengers, the Pedal Wagons visit bars, pubs and taverns in the city’s Downtown and Over-The-Rhine neighborhoods.

Take in a sports event. Cincinnati is a sports-loving town. You’ll find NFL football with the Bengals, MLB with the Reds, hockey with the Cincinnati Cyclones and Division I sports at the University of Cincinnati, Xavier University and Miami University. Want more options? The Florence Freedom is a pro baseball team with the Frontier League East. And we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention FC Cincinnati, the new and much-beloved professional soccer team whose games are a fun-filled (and family-friendly) romp of blue and orange smoke and enthusiastic chants.

Eat. We love sports, but we may love food even more. You might choose to dine in one of the hip independent restaurants in architecturally rich Over-The-Rhine. From the upscale hot dogs, fried chicken and tacos of Senate, The Eagle or Bakersfield, to the upscale-yet-approachable dining at The Mercer, Salazar, Abigail Street or Please, you can easily fill your belly and your senses in this neighborhood. Or try one of the delightful spots in our nearby neighborhoods of Hyde Park, Oakley and Mariemont. There’s the eclectic, fresh dining found at Maribel’s, Dilly Café, The Quarter Bistro, Red Feather and E + 0 Kitchen. Or the try the famous burgers at Zip’s Cafe, Arthur’s or Terry’s Turf Club. Have some of the best steak in the country at The Precinct. Authentic Italian and pizza can be found at Forno Osteria + Bar, Thai at Bangkok Bistro or Chinese at The China Gourmet. And just a quick walk away is always bustling Mazunte, filled with fresh Mexican, or The French Rendezvous, an inviting French boutique where the owner also sells pastries and croissants he makes with butter from France.

Peruse the boutiques. Cincinnati is a shopper’s paradise. You can find major retailers and upscale shopping at Kenwood Towne Center and Rookwood Commons. But if you’re looking for something a little more local, try browsing the boutiques along the charming squares of Oakley, Hyde Park, Madeira or Mariemont. Highly walkable, these squares also feature sidewalk cafes, bookstores and coffeeshops.

Relax in the great outdoors. Some of the nation’s premier urban parks are in Cincinnati. Just minutes from The Summit, you can relax in the tranquility of the forests, hiking trails and pavilions of Ault Park and Alms Park. Both feature sweeping views of Lunken Airport, quiet picnic nooks, and playgrounds. Ault Park also offers acres of landscaped English gardens. If you’re looking for something with more energy, try Downtown areas including Washington Park and The Banks, which includes Paul Brown Stadium, Great American Ballpark, the National Underground Freedom Center and Smale Riverfront Park. Washington Park sits at the foot of the beautiful, recently refurbished Music Hall. Interactive water features and playground, grassy lawns and frequent festivals and free events make it a vibrant spot. You can take the Cincinnati Bell Connector a few blocks south to walk to Smale Riverfront Park, an expansive riverfront park featuring even more interactive water play, Carol Ann’s Carousel, a giant foot piano and even a rideable flying pig.

What are you waiting for? Book your stylishly sleek room at The Summit, and start planning your trip now.

Red letter sign that spells Hotel

The Summit Will BeCincinnati’s Most Luxurious and Unique Hotel. Here are 6 Things That Make It Special.

When it opens in April, The Summit will be unlike any other hotel in Cincinnati. As the first Dolce hotel in the region, The Summit will break every mold, cookie cutter and expectation you’ve come to have for hotels. Read on to learn about what will make it jaw dropping, and book your reservation now to be among the first to experience it.

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Rooftop terrace. Sky bars are growing in popularity, originating in New York and Chicago, and now springing up throughout Cincinnati. The Summit’s rooftop terrace takes everything you know and love about rooftop spaces and makes it even more inviting. Our expansive rooftop terrace will be more than 15,000 square feet, with extensively landscaped space that is nearly identical in size to the social areas. Nestled in among the trees, bushes, flowers and grass you’ll find plenty of comfortable seating areas and firepits. Gather your friends for a fun evening with sweeping views and craft cocktails.

Art gallery. Art at The Summit will be front and center. Carefully curated by MAMA Gallery’s co-founder, Adarsha Benjamin, the high-ceilinged art gallery at The Summit will be filled with art that inspires, provokes and provides a sensory experience. Available for touring, meetings and events, the gallery will also be open to guests of the hotel as well as people visiting the bar and rooftop.

Library. Looking for a cool spot to hang out, or a quiet nook to relax? The Library at The Summit will fit that bill. Featuring a billiard table, stunning lighting and comfortable seating, it’s a great spot to start, end or spend the evening.

Guest rooms. Oversized guest rooms all featured floor-to-ceiling windows, luxe fabrics and finishing, complimentary robes and slippers and elite bathroom amenities. Rooms circumnavigate our soaring nine-story atrium, and include two queens or one king bed. Larger suites are also available.

Nine-story atrium…and the Monumental Staircase. The heart of the hotel is the nine-story atrium, surrounded by glass railings that allow you to see and feel the beauty of the interior. And the centerpiece adjacent to the atrium is the Monumental Staircase, christened as such by our architects based on its impressive features. Two stories high with burnished copper finishes, the staircase is something you’ll want to see, and will be in high demand for wedding pictures and other photo shoots.

Authentic service. The most beautiful hotel will fall flat if the service isn’t exemplary. But our goal is more than that. Our goal is authentic service, designed to surprise and delight every guest. We want you to leave with a story to tell, so we listen carefully to the details you share, and make suggestions and provide assistance in ways that will have you planning your next stay with us before you even leave.

January Second Post 1

Want to Make the Mostof Your Next Corporate Meeting? Do These Things.

As a corporate meeting planner, you know trying to plan a perfectly-executed event that engages, excites and stays on budget is the Holy Grail. Your job is made even more challenging when your attendees have grown weary of having meetings in dark hotel conference rooms with sub-par food and technology that often doesn’t meet their needs, and yet finding meeting space that doesn’t disappoint can be difficult.

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Fortunately, corporate meeting spaces and offerings are evolving. Here are some must-haves for your next event.

Ergonomic chairs. It’s so basic, so obvious, and so necessary. With back pain a leading cause of missed work (and suffered by 80 percent of adults at some point in their lives), the difference between a good chair and a bad one is the difference between an enjoyable, engaging day and a pain-filled one. But it’s still surprising the lack of thought most venues put into this important detail. If your meeting space can’t offer you chairs specifically designed to support and relax, it’s time to move on. The Summit Hotel has carefully chosen top-of-the-line ergonomic chairs for every meeting space.

Flexible space. You need your meeting space requirements to flex as the team you’re serving demands. Rooms that can be divided or enlarged, space for breakout sessions, enough room to swell the meeting size midday and then shrink it when only the core team is needed. It can be tough to find a venue that hits all these marks. We offer 32,000 square feet of meeting space at The Summit, from intimate to grand and everything in between. And all of it designed to help you personalize the space for exactly what you need.

Natural light. There is a strong relationship between workplace daylight exposure and workers’ sleep, activity and quality of life, according to researchers at Northwestern University. And all of us can relate to the bleary-eyed, fuzzy-headed feeling of being in a windowless room all day. The meeting spaces at The Summit Hotel feature floor-to-ceiling windows, all designed to help your team stay alert and engaged throughout a busy session.

Team building activities that actually build a team. An engaged, successfully integrated team is one that can slay any challenge the company puts before it. But building camaraderie and trust takes time and a thoughtful approach. We strive in offering team building activities that tear down barriers, bring people closer together, make them think, make them laugh and carry them back to the workplace as a cohesive unit. What will The Summit do in Cincinnati? Stay tuned for the announcement soon.

Unbeatable technology. Nothing can make your heart sink and your face burn like a projection system that doesn’t work, or a roomful of frustrated event attendees who can’t access important information digitally. Demand state-of-the-art technology from your meeting space. The Summit offers lightning fast wi-fi, soundproofed meeting space, and unsurpassed audiovisual tech built into every space.

Food that helps brains think. We’re getting smarter about the food we eat, and our understanding of how it helps our bodies perform. And yet the standard in the meeting space industry is to put out stale pastries, chips, cookies and perhaps some fruit, and then only at certain points of the day. With our Nourishment Centres, your event attendees will be treated to an all-day array of healthful, protein-filled and fun food options. Our Nourishment Centres rotate in their offerings, including vegan and gluten-free. You’ll find fresh fruit and vegetables, nuts, and artisan items baked in-house. You may also find whimsical offerings, like a s’mores bar, or a retro sweet-and-salty bar that brings out the kid in you. It’s all about cultivating nourishment program.

All-in pricing. How much time have you spent trying to painstakingly estimate how many gallons of coffee you’ll need for your event, or whether to do a sit-down or buffet-style meal, and how much you’ll have left over for room rental? Our all-in pricing structure simplifies all of that, saving you time and money. It’s one price for everything. Just tell us what you’re looking for, and we give you a per person price that includes all you need to create a meeting your team will rave about.

January First Post

9 Reasons WhyYou Need to Have Your
Wedding at the Brand
New Summit Hotel

Selecting the venue for your wedding and reception is a carefully-considered task, a thoughtful but exciting process of finding a place that reflects the bride and groom’s personalities. It means finding that “just right” spot that offers beautiful surroundings and ambiance, extraordinary food and service that makes it a memorable day for everyone involved.

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The Summit Hotel opens April 17, 2018, and it’s exactly what you’re picturing as you search for the perfect location for your big day. Here are nine reasons to have your wedding with us:

1. It’s brand new. No detail was overlooked in constructing Cincinnati’s newest and most luxurious hotel. You’ll find yourself surrounded by luxe fabrics and décor, jaw-dropping light fixtures, cozy conversation nooks and a soaring, nine-story atrium.

2. The rooftop terrace. Our 11,600 sq. ft. rooftop terrace is beautifully landscaped, with nearly as much green space as there is mingling space. Enjoy sweeping views of the surrounding hills, intimate seating by the firepits and cocktails under the stars with your guests.

3. Sublime food and drink. All of The Summit’s food and drink is sourced and created with an eye toward farm to table. The freshest ingredients, presented artfully, and culminating in delicious meals.

4. The art gallery. Exchange vows or have your cocktail hour in our inspiring art gallery, designed to create a sensory experience. You’ll find dozens of works of art carefully curated and sure to spark conversation, and all of it just around the corner from the Monumental Staircase, an architectural feature sure to be the highlight of your wedding photos.

5. Unequaled guest experience. Every day, all day, our entire staff is on the lookout for ways to surprise and delight our guests. From a gift sent to the room of the couple celebrating their anniversary, to the custom cocktail blended based on your own preferences, you and your guests will leave with special memories and one-of-a-kind experiences. It’s our mission. Making your wedding day what you’ve always dreamed of, and treating your wedding party and guests like old friends, is what makes us get out of bed in the morning.

6. Guest rooms. With 239 rooms and suites to choose from, it’s easy for your guests to make a weekend of it. The Summit provides the ultimate in luxury, with floor-to-ceiling windows, complimentary robes and slippers and deluxe bathroom amenities in every room.

7. Unique. You’re looking for something more than just another hotel or hall that churns out one reception after the other, with no distinctions between them. We work with every couple to make their reception entirely their own. And it’s all done against the stunning backdrop of The Summit, the likes of which Cincinnati has ever seen.

8. Dolce Hotels deliver. The Summit Hotel is the first Dolce hotel in Cincinnati. But our sister properties in hot spots like Napa Valley and Provence have helped to perfect the authentic, personalized service delivered to all Dolce weddings. We take the very best of what we offer at all of our Dolce hotels, and deliver it to you.

9. Convenient to everything. Do you have guests coming in from out of town? No problem. The Summit is only one minute away from I-71. Want to have your rehearsal dinner at one of the hot spots on the East Side? You’ll find getting there easy, and we can help with our SUV guest shuttle. Looking to create a memorable weekend, perhaps with some golf and a craft beer brewery tour? Top-ranked links are minutes away, and both MadTree and Tap & Screw breweries are almost on our front doorstep.

Let’s talk about crafting your own amazing wedding at The Summit.
Call 513-527-9900 or email info-thesummit@dolce.com.