By Michael J. Shapiro8/1/2009
Room Boom
Philadelphia expects an estimated 2,000 to 2,500 new hotel rooms to come online by 2011.
Omni has taken over the 216-room Bedford Springs Resort, a restored mansion that once served as President James Buchanan's summer White House. A $120 million revamp added a spa and a meetings center in 2007. (814) 623-8100; omnibedfordspringsresort.com
The 230-room Hotel Hershey in Hershey, Pa. -- "The Sweetest Place on Earth" -- began a $67 million upgrade and expansion last year in honor of its 75th anniversary. As of this summer, much of the work was complete, including a new recreational campus (with a lap pool, a family pool, year-round ice skating, hiking trails and more), a spruced-up arrival boulevard, Woodside Cottages (including a meeting center) and a new restaurant, Harvest. The Hershey Lodge, meanwhile, has wrapped up renovations of its 32,000-square-foot Great American Hall as well as a makeover for its 665 guest rooms. And Hershey Entertainment & Resorts launched Hershey Destination Services this past spring, a destination management program that assists in themed events, off-site events and tours. (800) 437-7439; hersheypa.com
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