Renovations
Saving the Last Frank Lloyd Wright Hotel
Famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright designed just five hotels and only one remains in operation, the Historic Park Inn in Mason City, IA. Following a $20-million restoration, the property has returned to its position as the center of the town’s business and social life. Here’s how this improbable feat was accomplished:...
What’s Ahead For Hotels in 2012
2011 may not have been the hotel industry’s best year, but it sure could have been a hell of a lot worse. As we discuss in this month’s industry forecast story (starting on pg. 22), lodging demand, rate and RevPAR all improved in 2011, and this should be another year of gains. But what else is ahead for 2012 and beyond for the industry? Managing Editor Eric Stoessel and I present our thoughts on what will be the big news stories and trends in the coming 12 months...
Lessons For Hoteliers From Other Sectors
Hospitality, government and education are very different verticals, with their own missions and operating procedures. Despite the differences, they also have a lot in common—in particular, concerns about standards, time, sustainability and budgets. Here’s a look at common challenges during renovation projects, and how best practices can be shared across industries....
Vantage Hospitality Stays On the Move
In June of this year, Vantage Hospitality hit the 1,000-property milestone in the12th year since its founding. Last week at its annual convention and trade show, founder and CEO Roger Bloss made it clear Vantage was far from done. ...
Top Hotel Design & Architecture Firms
Are you looking to renovate your entire hotel? Is it almost time to put that property improvement plan into action? Need to refresh the feel of your lobby, or add a new restaurant?...
Hilton Garden Inn Revitalizes Its Hotel Lobbies
Hilton wants to put the “garden” into Hilton Garden Inn. That’s one of the goals of a brand-wide initiative to refresh the public spaces throughout the brand’s 500-plus properties. Project Grow, as the initiative is dubbed, also aims to create a lobby space that encourages socialization among guests and boost property food and beverage revenues....
Design Elements Sept. 5, 2011
A roundup of design and architecture news and notes....
Design Elements August 15, 2011
Roundup of design news....
San Diego Marriott Renovated, Rebranded Marquis
It will take nearly five years to completely renovate the 27-year-old San Diego Marriott Marquis & Marina. The $200 million renovation and upgrade started in 2009 with the elevators and will finish in 2014 when meeting space is complete. ...
Residence Inn’s New Cost-Effective Renovation Package
There’s probably no better indication of the hotel industry’s (and country’s) healthy obsession with cost control than Residence Inn’s approach to its latest generation of property upgrades. The 622-unit chain, the long-time leader in the upscale extended-stay segment, recently introduced a new cutting-edge suite renovation package that brand executives say costs about $15,000 per key, which is “not a penny” more than the price of the brand’s previous upgrade package....
Morgans Finds Early Success with Mondrian SoHo
Morgans Hotel Group opened its third Mondrian-branded hotel in early spring. The 270-room Mondrian SoHo has been five years in the making and is managed by Morgan’s for owner/developer Cape Advisors....
Hilton Brand Makeover Starts With Lobby
“Hilton is not going to be the brand your father stayed at,” declared Hilton Hotels & Resorts global brand head Dave Horton Tuesday during a media tour of the newly renovated lobby at the Hilton McLean Tysons Corner....
Design Awards: High Honors
From the towering 54-story L.A. Live project all the way down to the eight-story Padre Hotel in Bakersfield, CA, this year’s Design Award winners all stand out. Lodging Hospitality editors chose five projects to honor that displayed innovative, effective and creative architecture and design....
Expanded Gay Resort To Open in Fort Lauderdale
The results of a $4-million investment by Fort Lauderdale’s Royal Palms Hotel and Resort will be unveiled this month when the 20-year old, gay-oriented property debuts a 64-room annexation, an addition that will make it the largest hotel in North America targeted specifically to the gay male market. ...
