CITY BEAT
St. Louis
Improving the Gateway
The Bottle District, adjacent to America’s Center downtown, is being converted into a $290 million, 18-acre entertainment, residential and business development. To be uncorked in mid-2007, the district will offer a 250-room boutique hotel, 700 condominiums, nightclubs, a movie theater and a Grand Prix Speedway. Busch Stadium met
the wrecking ball in November, and the new $380 million stadium and surrounding Ballpark Village is scheduled to open this April. The 672-room Hilton St. Louis at the Ballpark opens this spring. A 188-room Residence Inn St. Louis Downtown opened in December.
Spokane, Wash.
Taking Center Stage
The Spokane Convention Center is on track for the spring 2007 unveiling of its $79 million expansion, which will double the exhibit hall
to 100,000 square feet. The expanded facility will feature 55,000 square feet of meeting and ballroom space and 400 new parking spaces.
CA, Newport Beach
The 532-room Newport Beach Marriott Hotel & Spa last month
finished a $60 million renovation to guest rooms and public spaces.
The hotel has 23,000 square feet of meeting space along with a new
spa facility.
CA, San Francisco
Emerging after a $40 million overhaul of a former Holiday Inn, the
552-room Hilton San Francisco Financial District Hotel will open
this month with 16,000 square feet of meeting space and a
10,000-square-foot day spa.
DC, Washington
The 384-suite Embassy Suites Hotel Washington, D.C./Convention
Center opened in November near the Washington Convention Center.
The property has 6,500 square feet of meeting space.
GA, Atlanta
The 760-room Sheraton Atlanta Hotel will wrap up a $1 million
renovation of its original 50,000 square feet of meeting space this
month. The hotel opened a conference center with 33,000 square feet
of added meeting and function space in December 2004.
HI, Kamuela
The Fairmont Orchid Hawaii unveiled a renovated spa last October,
part of a $20 million revamp scheduled to finish in 2007. Half of
the 540 guest rooms have been updated; the rest will follow this
year. The hotel offers 30,000 square feet of indoor meeting
space.
Miracle on 29th street. The Carlton Hotel on
Madison Avenue in New York City celebrated its reopening in
November, after a five-year, $60 million renovation. The project
added a new entrance and lobby and completely refurbished all 316
guest rooms and suites. The property has 6,300 square feet of new
meeting space plus a new two-story restaurant, bar and café. (212)
532-4100; www.carltonhotelny.com
MN, St. Paul
The 210-unit Embassy Suites HotelSt. Paul completed a $2
million renovation. The hotel has 3,200 square feet of meeting
space.
MO, Clayton
The Radisson Hotel Clayton was reflagged as the Crowne
Plaza St. LouisClayton last October, following a complete guest
room renovation. The 255-room property offers 14 meeting rooms,
including an 8,000-square-foot ballroom.
MO, Kansas City
After a quarter century of inactivity, the renovated
Hilton President Kansas City reopens this month. With
213 guest rooms and 10,000 square feet of meeting space, including
a 4,600-square-foot ballroom, the hotel anchors the revamping
downtown entertainment district.
NJ, Newark
The 396-room Doubletree Hotel Newark Airport opened in
November with 16,000 square feet of meeting space, including a
7,280-square-foot ballroom.
NY, New York
The Hilton Garden Inn Times Square opened in October and
offers complimentary high-speed Internet access in all 384 guest
rooms.