DANBURY – Construction has begun on a new 114-room hotel on Milestone Road.

Hotel Zero Degrees began construction with a groundbreaking at the 9-acre site on Friday.

“We are so excited to be expanding the Hotel Zero Degrees brand into the Danbury community,” said Randy Salvatore, chief executive officer of RMS Companies, in a prepared statement. “The corporate and residential growth over the past few years in this area of Connecticut has been astounding and we are looking forward to providing accommodations for business and leisure travelers as well as becoming the central gathering place for restaurant patrons and social groups.”

Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton joined officials from RMS Companies and the Hotel Zero Degrees for the ceremonial groundbreaking.

Hotel Zero Degrees Danbury expected to open before the end of the year, according to a news release.

Nearly 100 Fairfield business women attended the American Heart Association Women’s Leadership Breakfast, recently hosted by Hotel Zero Degrees in Norwalk. The event, entitled, “Authentic Leadership – Leading From the Heart,” was moderated by Mia Schipani, VP of Business Development for Hotel Zero Degrees and Stamford-based RMS Companies.

How exciting, your next vacation is about to start, and it is sure to be a good time… or is it? If your children are upset, complaining, or yelling while you travel, your trip will not be as enjoyable as it should be.

But you aren’t doomed to a terrible vacation. With a few simple tips, you can make your next trip the best yet for you and your kids.

Get Them Involved: Before You Take Off
Everyone likes to know what’s going on, and this goes double for your children on a trip. This means that your children should be active participants in the planning of your next vacation.

If you give your children the opportunity to plan certain aspects of your vacation, they will be more informed, and therefor have a better trip overall! 

Bring Lots of Things to Do
This tip is tied in closely with the one before.  If you really want to have happy children throughout your trip, you should bring plenty of things to keep them occupied, and they should have a choice in what makes the cut.

Here are a few great trip activities you shouldn’t go without:

• Coloring. Everyone loves to color, and the car is a great space for it.  Bring plenty of paper to color on, a variety of crayons, and some great stickers to keep them occupied.
• Picture Books. Reading in the car can really help the time move quickly, so pack a few favorites, and stop at the library to throw some new reading into the mix, and you’ll have it made!
• Electronics.  You certainly don’t want your children staring at a screen for the entire trip, but having electronics on hand will help break up the monotony and make the trip more fun for everyone.

Make them Wait
This may seem counter intuitive, especially coming after the first tip, but make your children wait a little bit before you start pulling out the activities.  This ensures that you will have enough activities to last the entire trip while also making your children more excited about the things you’ve packed before they get started. 

Pack the Snacks
A few delicious snacks can make anyone happier, so be sure to pack plenty for your next trip.  A good balance of sweet, savory, and healthy should keep you and your children happy throughout their time on the road or in the air. 

Develop an Awesome Playlist
Any road trip requires great tunes, so make sure to come prepared with a playlist your whole family will love.  Go for a mix of hits your children dig, family favorites, and songs you love personally.

This will create a kind of soundtrack for your trip and make the whole thing more interesting.

You deserve to have a good time on your next trip, and these tips can help! As you look into hotel options, check out Hotel Zero Degrees for an awesome stay you and your kids will love!

Photo by: Bryan

Winter is almost here, and with it comes the opportunity to take a vacation to somewhere new and wonderful.

Some people vacation in the winter to find the best snow, while others want to escape to somewhere warm, whatever your goal, here are a few great cities in the US that will be spectacular this winter.

Phoenix, Arizona
If you are looking for a break from the chill of winter, Phoenix may be the place for you.  This great locale is perfect for lounging around this winter and maybe even getting a tan! 

Casper, Wyoming
For a truly gorgeous, though definitely cold, winter experience, Casper is a great vacation spot.  It is a much cheaper option than many winter vacation spots, and you will have access to some awesome skiing and other great winter sports. 

Houston, Texas
For great middle ground weather that stays around the 50’s, Houston is a great place for winter travel.  The warmer temperatures give more opportunity for outdoor activities without the excessive heat of other winter locales. 

Missoula, Montana
If you are looking for an escape into the great outdoors, Missoula is a great option.  This is truly winter wonderland country where you can escape the crowds and enjoy some amazing ski slopes. 

San Diego, California
For a beautiful beachfront experience, there aren’t many choices better than San Diego.  With moderate temperatures often reaching the seventies, this is a great area to enjoy the sun and escape the chill this winter. 

Waukesha, Wisconsin
This picturesque town is perfect for less extreme winter sports.  Cross country skiing and sledding are both popular options here! 

Savannah, Georgia
This city is a great choice for a history packed winter vacation.  You’ll find the streets uncrowded and the weather lovely on your escape to Savannah. 

Salt Lake City, Utah
Famous for its excellent snow, Utah is a great place to visit this winter season.  You are welcome to hit the slopes on one of many skiing or snowboarding resorts, many of which are within an hour’s drive of down town. 

Nashville, Tennessee
This city is known for a great music scene, and also offers the perfect location for a real country Christmas! 

Stamford, Connecticut
If you are looking for the beauty of the east coast this winter, Stamford may be the place for you!  In this locale, you may want to check out a boutique hotel, like Hotel Zero Degrees to really complete your experience.

Winter brings a lot of beauty with it, and by traveling, you can take full advantage of its mystique.  Contact Hotel Zero Degrees to make a reservation for this winter today!

If you’ll be passing through Connecticut this summer, here are a few of the must-see attractions that you aren’t going to want to miss!

For the Thrill Seekers – Lake Compounce Amusement Park
If you are looking for a lot of excitement, make sure you visit Lake Compounce amusement park in Bristol.  As the oldest and longest running amusement park in America, you’ll get to experience a touch of the historic mixed with the thrills of the most modern rides around.  Complete with a water park and several truly entertaining shows, this is an experience you don’t want to miss!

For the Animal Lovers – 2 Amazing Aquariums
Mystic Aquarium has as many fun marine animals as you’d like to see, as well as a HUGE multi-million dollar Titanic exhibition that helps guests step into the shoes of the divers that found the wreckage.  It’s also got tours of ships, Civil War reenactments, and the world’s oldest active wooden ship.  The Maritime Aquarium is just as amazing, but sets itself apart with some breathtaking seal shows, an amazing new research vessel, and the opportunity to touch a shark!

For the Art Fanatics – Yale University
Not only do you get to enjoy walking through this beautiful and historic campus, but you can also see paintings done by Manet, Picasso, van Gogh and more at the Yale University Art Gallery.  Then take a short trip down to the Yale Center for British Art and enjoy the largest collection of British art outside of the United Kingdom.  Can it get any better?  Actually, yes – admission is free!

For those Who Love Discovery – Take a Walk
Finally, for those of you who love discovery, take a walk around town!  There are many stunning, quaint, and upbeat towns that will delight you with unique boutiques, a wide variety of small restaurants, concerts in the park, beautiful scenery, and a classic New England atmosphere.  So keep these towns in mind: West Hartford, New Canaan, New Haven, Chester, Greenwich.  There are so many amazing things to do in Connecticut!  Don’t miss out on any of them, and remember to book your stay at Hotel Zero Degrees!

Many people are becoming more conscious of their carbon footprint not just at home, but when they travel as well. Hotels around the globe are responding to the desires of their guests by going green, and Hotel Zero Degrees is leading the pack toward sustainability and environmental responsibility.

In the past, hotels have been incredibly wasteful. From using disposable paper cups, to wasted food and endless cycles of unnecessary laundry, a hotel typically left a very large carbon footprint. Thankfully, many hotels are moving away from the carelessness of the past and are working to be more energy efficient.

An Emphasis on Recycling
Many of our guests recycle in their homes, and at Hotel Zero Degrees, we feel it’s our duty to them, and also to the environment, to recycle as much as we can in our hotel.

While many hotels offer in-room recycling for their guests, we take it a step further by using composted cups and utensils, as well as recycled office materials. We use water efficient bathroom fixtures, as well as energy efficient LED lights, drastically reducing our energy consumption.

Locally Sources Food and Production
Every hotel has a great opportunity to positively impact not only the environment but also their local communities. One great way to do this is to source organic, locally grown food for hotel kitchens.

At Hotel Zero Degrees, our goal is to purchase as much as we can from our local Connecticut community. Whether it’s by buying food from local organic farms, or buying furniture and other products from responsible local companies, we try our best to do our part to support our community, and be more sustainable at the same time.

Taking our guest’s lead
Environmental responsibility can be tough, but at Hotel Zero Degrees we receive great inspiration from our guests. Green living is important to the people we serve, and we want to do our part for the planet as well.

Being sick is never any fun, but there is not anything worse than getting sick while you are away from home.  Whether you are traveling for business, or on vacation, staying healthy is key to having a great experience and making the most of your time away from home.

Because your travel should be be a productive and exciting time, you should never have to spend it sick! Here are a few tips for staying healthy while you travel.

1. Prepare First.  Before you go on your trip is the best time to begin your travels to healthiness.  Spend the first few days before your trip getting ready by sleeping enough, taking a multi-vitamin, and stocking up on vitamin c.
2. Manage Stress.  Once you are on your trip, it is important that you stay on top of your stress to ensure that your body is as healthy and capable as possible—whether this means taking some time to meditate, get a massage, or spend some time by the pool.
3. Make Good Food Choices.  On vacation, it can be pretty easy to rely on a diet of fast food, potato chips, and snack cakes; however, it is a good idea to try to keep your diet healthy while you are away from home so you can make the most of your trip.  It is also important to stay hydrated.

No matter where you are traveling, staying healthy is important to the success of your trip.  So, as you plan your next trip away from home, make your health a focus!

Running a small business can be extremely hard work.  Most small business owners find themselves working much harder than their friends and acquaintances who have jobs at larger companies.  However, while the workload is daunting enough, it is often the financial aspect of running a small business that can cause the most trouble.  Here are a few suggestions on how you can keep your finances in order.

Keep Things Separate
While it may seem more convenient to buy something with your business credit card when it’s handy, this can quickly become complicated.  Save yourself the headache and keep transactions separate from the start.

Don’t Do It Alone
Just because you run a small business, doesn’t mean you have to do everything by yourself.  You may find that hiring an accountant to help you with your finances will help you save money in the long run.

Make Time to Review Your Finances
While it may not be your favorite thing to do, reserve 15-30 minutes each week to go over your financial situation.  Being continually appraised of where your business stands financially is an important aspect of running it.

Consider the Labor
Labor is more expensive than most people realize.  Keeping good track of exactly how much you are paying others to work for you can help keep costs manageable.

For a regular business traveler, your office is basically the airport. You’re almost always on the move and when you’re not, your bags are packed and ready to go. Having an airport for an office isn’t ideal, but here are a few ways to make your life easier and reap some benefits.

Conserve Space in your Suitcase
Knowing what not to pack can be just as important as knowing what to pack. Carrying around heavy suitcases will wear you down, so always try to keep it as light as possible. Don’t pack the amenities you know your hotel will offer, such as shampoo, soap, and a hair dryer. If you can consolidate everything you need into one carry-on bag, you can save time picking it up from baggage claim.

Earn Points on your Credit Cards
Consider the airlines you frequently fly and the hotels you frequently stay in (or want to stay in), and get the appropriate credit cards in order to rack up those frequent flier points. Anything you earn while on the job should be able to benefit you while you’re on vacation, too. The more points you accrue on your cards, the closer you are to earning free flights. In addition, your status with the airline will only continue to get higher, giving you more perks like early boarding. Remember to always be smart about your cards, points, and budgeting.

BYOW: Bring Your Own Wi-fi
Depending on the airport you’re in, you may or may not have free wi-fi. When you’re traveling for business, it’s best not to take any risks. Thankfully, there’s a “travel-size” wi-fi you can carry with you anywhere. It’s called MiFi, and it’s offered by brands like Verizon and AT&T. Use it anywhere you go, in the airport, on the plane, or in your hotel. You can be confident that you’ll always be able to stay connected.

Keep Track of your Business Expenses
The worst part of traveling for business is coming home and sorting through the receipts to ensure that you get reimbursed for everything. It’s a nightmare when you lose a receipt and have to pay out of pocket for a business expense. Never lose another receipt again with the smartphone app Lemon. It allows you to compile pictures of your receipts all in one place and easily create summary reports that are print-ready.

Pack an Empty Water Bottle
If you travel often, you know that traveling makes you thirsty. Airports, however, are the worst place to buy water bottles. In order to save money, it’s best to invest in a water bottle to carry with you on all your trips. Fill it up at a drinking fountain and if you’re worried about keeping it clean, make sure your water bottle has a filter. Most of them cost around $25 and are available online.

If your business travels bring you to the beautiful state of Connecticut, take a load off and relax here at Hotel Zero Degrees.

Whether you are getting married or hosting a business event, you want to be able to quickly and easily find the best venue. Unfortunately, oftentimes you do not realize what is wrong with your venue until after you have used it. Here are some tips from the experts to help with your decision and leave you with no regrets.

Is It Appropriate?
When you are in the venue, imagine your guests are there with you. Ask yourself if there is comfortably enough room for everyone, does the venue fit your event, and does it give off the mood you are looking for. If it is not, keep looking for another venue.

Pillars
Make sure that your guests will be able to see what you want them to at all times. Accommodate for those that may usually have to sit on their parents’ shoulders or for those in wheelchairs. Ensuring good visibility also means checking if the venue has pillars. Columns will block off valuable space you may need for entertainment, as well as diminishing line of sight for many.

Acoustics
Listen carefully to your voice in your venue. Be sure that people will be able to hear themselves talk to each other, while also able to hear the entertainment or the speeches they are meant to hear.

Here at Hotel Zero Degrees Stamford and Norwalk, we work with you to plan your event. With special access to more than a dozen distinct venues in the area as well as our own ballrooms, we are sure to help you find the perfect venue for any celebratory occasion.