CITY BEAT
Fort Wayne, Ind.
Center Gets More Space
In June 2005, the Grand Wayne Convention Center will wrap up an expansion that will double its meeting and exhibit space to 100,000 square feet. Construction on a 350-room downtown hotel to support the expanded center is expected to begin before 2004 ends. Earlier this year, the 245-room Fort Wayne Hilton completed a $3.6 million renovation of all guest rooms as well as public and meeting spaces.
Albuquerque, N.M.
Downtown Renaissance
A $350 million revitalization has created several new venues downtown, including a comedy theater, restaurants and shops. In addition, the Marriott Albuquerque recently completed a $1.5 million renovation of its ballroom, lobby and meeting space. Also, the Sheraton Old Town finished a $3 million remodeling project, which included renovation of its 3,850-square-foot ballroom and the addition of 20,000 square feet of meeting space as well as an outdoor pavilion.
CA, San Francisco
The 91-year-old 114-room Cartwright Hotel celebrated its grand
reopening last month, following a $2.5 million restoration. The
project covered guest rooms, meeting space and common areas,
endowing the property with new elevators and wireless Internet
access in every room. Two on-site meeting rooms accommodate up to
50.
CO, Aspen
The 179-room St. Regis Aspen completes a $37 million renovation
this month, including a redesign of all guest rooms and the
addition of a 15,000-square-foot spa. The hotel’s 14 function
spaces, including a branch of Todd English’s Olives restaurant,
comprise 20,000 square feet.
CO, Denver
The 475-room Denver Marriott Southeast was reflagged in
September as the Four Points by Sheraton Denver Southeast. The
property has two ballrooms and a total of more than 20,000 square
feet of meeting space.
The new darling of the design set arrived in New York
City’s Times Square last month. Dream NY is the 228-room brainchild
of a handful of haute designers, including David Rockwell, David
LaChapelle and spiritual guru Deepak Chopra. On-site meeting space
can seat 60 theater-style. Cool perks include mounted plasma
televisions and a copious front-desk iPod library. (866) 437-3266;
www.dreamny.com
FL, ChampionsGate
The 730-room Omni Orland Resort at ChampionsGate debuted
last month with a 10,000-square-foot European-style spa and 70,000
square feet of meeting space. A short drive from Orlando, the
property is at the center of a 1,200-acre golf resort community
that includes two Greg Norman-designed courses.
FL, Jacksonville
The 167-room former Southpoint Hotel reopens this month as the
Radisson Hotel Jacksonville Butler Boulevard after extensive
renovations that began last May. Work included the gutting and
reconstruction of all meeting space and guest rooms.
MD, Bethesda
This month marks the debut of the 225-room Marriott Bethesda North
Hotel and Conference Center. With 35,000 square feet of flexible
meeting space, the property has 21 meeting rooms and a
23,000-square-foot ballroom.
RI, Providence
Providence’s downtown arts and entertainment district received a
jolt of boutique cachet in September with the opening of the
80-room Hotel Providence. The property’s 5,807 square feet of
meeting space are complemented by the transplanted Italian eatery
L’Epicureo, wrested from the city’s federal district.
Washington, D.C.
The 834-room Hyatt Regency Washington, D.C., unveiled a
$13 million renovation to its guest rooms last month, gracing each
room with an updated design, the hotel line’s signature Grand Bed
and wireless Internet access. The Capitol Hill property offers
35,000 square feet of meeting space.