CITY BEAT
Tucson, Ariz.
Hotel Developments
Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott and Sheraton all have filed convention center hotel proposals with the city to support a planned arena, approved earlier this year, that will accommodate more than 12,300 people. In addition, four new properties representing a total of more than 500 rooms are under construction; three will open by year’s end. In May, the Omni Tucson National Golf Resort & Spa began a $57 million renovation, which will increase its room count by 112 rooms to 279 and its meeting space to 22,000 square feet.
Lubbock, Texas
Improved Image
This college town, the birthplace of rock ’n’ roll immortal Buddy Holly, soon will have its first full-service meeting hotel. Under construction in the city’s Overton Park district is a $40 million, privately funded property, which has not yet been named. Scheduled to open in July 2008, the 275-room hotel will feature 3,000 square feet of meeting space.
CA, San Diego
Hotel: Doubletree
Hotel San Diego Downtown. Renovations completed:
August. Price tag: $11 million.
Rooms: 333. Meeting space: 10,000
square feet. Key changes: upgrades to all guest
rooms, restaurants and meeting space. Additional
amenities: an outdoor pool, a fitness facility and a
business center.
FL, Orlando
Hotel: Regal Sun
Resort (formerly The Grosvenor). Renovations
completed: mid-September. Price tag: $25
million. Rooms: 626. Meeting
space: 19,000 square feet. Key changes:
remodeling of guest rooms and meeting space; a new restaurant,
lobby and bar; an expanded pool area (to finish in November).
HI, Lana’i City
Hotel: Four Seasons
Resort Lana’i at Manele Bay. Renovations
completed: August. Price tag: $10
million. Rooms: 215. Meeting
space: 50,000 square feet. Key changes:
the new 13,582-square-foot Hale Halawai ballroom, featuring a
5,892-square-foot outdoor terrace and full audiovisual
capabilities.
Grand links.The 249-room Grand Del Mar in San Diego is opening this
month. Perched atop a coastal canyon preserve and surrounded by an
18-hole, Tom Fazio-designed golf course, the resort will feature a
21,000-square-foot spa with 11 treatment rooms; a fitness center; a
signature restaurant; and 20,000 square feet of meeting space,
including a 10,000-square-foot ballroom. (858) 314-2000; thegranddelmar.com
IL, Chicago
Hotel: Westin Lombard
Yorktown Center. Opened: August.
Rooms: 500. Meeting space: 39,000
square feet. Key features: a Westin Workout
center, a heated indoor pool and Harry Caray’s Italian
Steakhouse.
MD, New Carrollton
Hotel: Four Points by
Sheraton New Carrollton. Opened: August.
Rooms: 197. Meeting space: 6,000
square feet. Key features: the Lobby Grill and
Lounge, a fitness facility, flat-screen TVs in
guest rooms and the Four Points by Sheraton’s Best Brews
program.
NM, Santa Fe
Hotel: Eldorado Hotel
& Spa. Renovations to be completed: December.
Price tag: $10.5 million. Rooms:
219. Meeting space: 22,000 square feet.
Key changes: upgrades to the lobby, guest rooms
and meeting space; an expanded fitness facility, and new Spanish
Colonial decor.
SC, Columbia
Hotel: Courtyard
Columbia Downtown at USC. Opened: August.
Rooms: 189. Meeting space: 5,788
square feet. Key features: a Courtyard Cafe, an
outdoor pool and wireless Internet access.
TN, Chattanooga
Hotel: The
Chattanoogan Hotel. Renovations completed: August.
Price tag: $1 million. Rooms:
199. Meeting space: 25,000 square feet.
Key changes: a revamping of soft goods within the
lobby, all guest rooms and the Foundry Bar, as well as in the
hotel’s jazz and martini bar.