Omni Hotels & Resorts Celebrates Summer With "Art Of Water" Poolside Menu

IRVING, Texas, May 23, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Omni Hotels & Resorts invites guests to keep cool by the pool with its new "Art of Water" menu this summer. Just in time for the start of the season, Omni has partnered with best-in-class cocktail and culinary artisans, artists and others to create a poolside menu that is a fun, inventive work of art. The menu features elements from nationally recognized mixologist, Kim Haasarud of Liquid Architecture, Keeper Springs Natural Spring Water, Coolhaus® All-Natural Ice Cream Sandwiches and Professional Photographer Larry Emerson, creating a one-of-a-kind offering that not only quenches the thirsts of guests but also enables them to actively support sustainability.

"We've teamed up with great talent to offer our guests the ultimate summer pool experience," said David Morgan, vice president of food & beverage for Omni Hotels & Resorts. "By elevating the quintessential summer ingredients –cocktails, ice cream and water – we are able to ensure our guests genuinely enjoy their time by the pool."

Acclaimed mixologist Kim Haasarud of Liquid Architecture developed regionally-inspired cocktails for four regions across the U.S. The cocktails appeal to the different tastes of guests and locals in the Northeast, Southeast, Texas and West. In addition, at least one lower calorie libation is included within each menu.

Sample cocktails include:

• Northeast Region: 'The Deep End' Sangria, Elderflower Champagne Collins, Long Island Sound, Ginger Blossom Pick and Skinny Grapefruit Tequila Spritzer
• Southeast Region: Blood Orange Collins, Beachwalker Sangria, Peach Pick, Strawberry Mojito and Tangerine & Mint Tequila Spritzer
• Texas Region: Stoli Corona, Watermelon Lime Sangria, Grilled Pineapple Cocktail, Lemon Tea Smash and Skinny Chipotle Margarita
• West Coast: Raspberry Pick, Blood Orange Collins, White Sangria, Summer Lemon Collins and Sea Salt Margarita

In addition to signature regional cocktails, guests can beat the heat with Keeper Springs natural spring water. Keeper Springs donates 100% of its profits back to local waterway restoration projects. Omni Hotels & Resorts is partnering with Keeper Springs to provide an additional 5-cent donation for every bottle sold to Waterkeeper® Alliance, a global environmental movement uniting nearly 200 Waterkeeper organizations around the world and focusing citizen advocacy on the issues that affect waterways from pollution to climate change.

After quenching their thirst, guests can satisfy sweet cravings with a savory, all-natural, handmade ice cream sandwich from Coolhaus®, where sustainability and creativity make the perfect blend. Three different Coolhaus Ice Cream Sandwiches will be available on the menu: Classic Tahitian Vanilla Bean Ice Cream with Chocolate Chip Cookie Sandwich, Dirty Mint Chip Ice Cream (made with real mint leaves) with Double Chocolate Chip Cookie Sandwich and Brown Buttered Candied Bacon Ice Cream with Chocolate Chip Cookie Ice Cream Sandwich.

Beautiful water-themed photos from professional photographer Larry Emerson serve as the backdrop design for the menu pages. The artistic nature of the menu brings together a masterpiece of art, flavors and sustainability that "tastes good and does good" for the environment at the same time.

The menu will be launched poolside at Omni Hotels & Resorts across the U.S. from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Cocktail recipes are available at on the "Culinary Stirrings" section of omnihotels.com.

About Omni Hotels & Resorts
Omni Hotels & Resorts creates genuine, authentic guest experiences that take guest on "A Total Departure" to 50 distinct luxury hotels and resorts in leading business gateways and leisure destinations across North America. From exceptional golf and spa retreats to dynamic business settings, each Omni showcases the local flavor of the destination while featuring four-diamond services, signature restaurants, Wi-Fi connectivity and unique wellness options. Known for its award-winning, personalized service, Omni leaves a lasting impression with every customer interaction, with a heightened level of recognition and rewards delivered through its Select Guest loyalty program and the company's "Power of One" associate empowerment program. Earlier this year, Omni's loyalty program was further expanded with the launch of the GHA Discovery® loyalty program expanding numerous benefits on a worldwide basis as a member of the Global Hotel Alliance. The brand is frequently recognized by top consumer research organizations and leading media outlets. To get additional information or book accommodations, visit omnihotels.com or call 1-800-The-Omni.

About Kim Haasarud
Kim Haasarud is founder of Liquid Architecture, a full-service beverage consultancy delivering top-of-class beverage programs for spirit brands, restaurants, hotels, and special events. Founded in 2002, the company started with a simple tenet: a cocktail is not just a drink; it is an experience that brings together fresh ingredients and premium spirits to engage the senses. For more about Kim, visit www.liquid-architecture.com/.

About Keeper Springs
Founded in 1999, Keeper Springs Natural Spring Water was launched by environmental lawyer and advocate, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and two friends, John Hoving and Chris Bartle, with one mission: to help support, protect and restore our nation's waterways by donating 100 percent of profits to this cause. The brand Keeper Springs is named to honor the keepers of the Waterkeeper® Alliance, environmental heroes who fight to protect waterways all over the world from polluters and degradation. To date, Keeper Springs is proud to have raised more than $1 million to support America's waterways.

Keeper Springs uses only 100 percent natural and sustainable spring water, sourced and bottled locally, and keeps our carbon footprint to a minimum by using LEED-certified bottling plants. In addition, Keeper Springs uses bottles made from 50 percent recycled PET…and is working towards a 100 percent recycled PET bottle. Keeper Springs also supports the most comprehensive recycling legislation and has spent over a decade helping to fight for better regulation, tough penalties and solutions. Keeper Springs is available at beverage retailers on the Eastern Seaboard, and is expanding distribution on the West Coast. For more information, visit www.KeeperSprings.com.

About Coolhaus
At Coolhaus, we love all types of food and pride ourselves on our creativity and palate. But first and foremost is our dedication to quality and sustainability. Every Coolhaus Ice Cream Sandwich is all-natural, handmade and organic whenever possible. Our dairy is sustainably produced and artificial growth hormone free. We use local and seasonal farmer's market fresh ingredients. With this marriage of creativity and sustainability, we thrive to push the boundaries of sweet and savory by featuring unique ice cream flavors that you can't get anywhere else. For more information, visit www.eatcoolhaus.com.

About Larry Emerson
Emerson's passion for photography began early in life. His studies of fine art at Fordham University and Germain School of Photography helped lay the ground work for an ever evolving and unique style of photography. In 2007, The Art Around You was founded, the concept being simple; bringing to light the people, places, and things we look at every day, but never really see. Emerson shows how extraordinary the ordinary can be and opens to us a world whose existence we have neither the time nor vision to acknowledge. He allows us to see through new eyes and look at things a different way. He is absorbed into the environment; wandering, wondering, watching, and capturing the space as never before seen. To view Larry's work, visit www.theartaroundyou.com/.

SOURCE Omni Hotels & Resorts