CITY BEAT
San Antonio
More Hotel Rooms
Over the next three years, San Antonio will increase its total hotel room count by about 13.5 percent, adding approximately 4,500 new units. Key to that additional inventory is the 1,000-room Grand Hyatt Convention Center Hotel, scheduled to open in 2009. Also, existing properties are scheduled to invest up to $40 million in renovations during the same time period. The Tower of the Americas reopened earlier this year following an $11 million renovation.
Wichita, Kan.
Coming Attractions
Wichita WaterWalk, a $130 million retail and entertainment district in downtown Wichita, is on track to open in early 2009. Anchoring the project will be the 15,000-seat Sedgwick County Arena. Scheduled to open in May 2007, Wild West World is a $26 million family amusement park. In March of this year, the city’s zoo opened its Cargill Learning Center, which features four meeting rooms and an auditorium.
FL, Orlando
Hotel: Sheraton
Orlando North. Renovations completed: Aug. 24.
Price tag: $40 million. Rooms:
400. Meeting space: 15,000 square feet.
Key changes: Extensive work at the property has
resulted in completely revamped guest rooms as well as a new
business center, a game room, a fitness center and pool area.
GA, Atlanta
Hotel: Crowne Plaza
Atlanta-Marietta (previously a Wyndham hotel).
Opened: Sept. 22. Price tag: $5
million. Rooms: 218. Meeting
space: 7,000 square feet. Key changes:
The Crowne Plaza now sports an upgraded lobby and revamped guest
rooms, along with new carpeting, wall coverings and furniture in
the common areas.
GA, Savannah
Hotel: Four Points
Sheraton Savannah Airport. Opened: Oct. 5.
Rooms: 79. Meeting space: 2,000
square feet to be added by mid-2007. Key features:
high-speed Internet, flat-screen TVs, a lounge with more than 20
beers on tap, Seattle’s Best Coffee, an outdoor pool, a business
center and an exercise facility.
Harbor Hospitality.
The new InterContinental Boston, which opened this month, is on
Boston Harbor at the edge of the Financial District. The property
offers 424 guest rooms with harbor views, multiple dining options,
a spa with a heated indoor lap pool and steam room, and 32,000
square feet of conference space. (617) 747-1000; www.intercontinentalboston.com
IL, Schaumburg
Hotel: Doubletree
Hotel Chicago/Schaumburg (previously a Wyndham hotel).
Opened: Oct. 3. Price tag: $3
million. Rooms: 188. Meeting
space: 2,700 square feet. Key changes:
renovated guest rooms and bathrooms, new furniture, bedding,
carpeting, an upgraded lounge and cafe and a new business
center.
PA, Harrisburg
Hotel: Sheraton
Harrisburg-Hershey (previously a Wyndham hotel).
Opened: Oct. 1. Price tag: $11
million. Rooms: 348. Meeting
space: 15,000 square feet. Key changes:
Upgrades, which should be completed by December, include guest
rooms, public and meeting space, a new restaurant, a pool and a
health club.
TX, Dallas
Hotel: Hotel Indigo
Dallas (previously a Holiday Inn hotel). Renovations
completed: September. Price tag: $7
million. Rooms: 170. Meeting
space: 3,300 square feet. Key changes:
complete upgrade including guest rooms, the lobby and meeting
space.
VA, Alexandria
Hotel: Hilton
Alexandria Mark Center. Renovations completed:
September. Price tag: $10.2 million.
Rooms: 496. Meeting space: 45,000
square feet. Key changes: upgraded guest rooms and
meeting space and new carpeting, along with an enhanced lobby and
lobby bar.