MotorCity Hotel and Casino (313.237.7711; www.motorcitycasino.com) is scheduled for completion by the end of the year. The property will include a 17-story, 400-room hotel, a full-service spa, an exercise facility, a business center, and a high-end restaurant and lounge on the top floor. Construction of a new parking structure adjacent to the hotel will increase parking spaces from 3,500 to approximately 4,400. The property’s current food service building will be expanded and remodeled to offer 67,000 square feet of multiuse meeting, convention and banquet space, along with a 1,200-seat multiuse theater and additional food outlets. The casino, hotel tower and food service building will be connected by overhead pedestrian walkways. Lastly, gaming space will be expanded to 100,000 square feet.
The MGM Grand Detroit Casino (877.888.2121; http://detroit.mgmgrand.com) is slated for completion later this year. The casino and hotel will include a 17-story, 400-room hotel with a full-service spa, pool and fitness facilities; 100,000 square feet of gaming space; and a parking structure with enhanced valet service. The complex will also have entertainment venues and restaurants, including one designed by renowned chef Wolfgang Puck.
Greektown Casino and Hotel (888.771.4386) is scheduled to debut in 2008. The property will feature a 30-story, 400-room hotel; 10 function rooms; two restaurants; 100,000 square feet of gaming space; and a 1,100-seat theater.
The historic Book-Cadillac hotel is undergoing a major renovation and scheduled to reopen in summer 2008 as the 455-room, 33-story Westin Book-Cadillac Detroit (800.937.8461; www.westin.com/bookcadillac). The property will offer 39,000 square feet of event and conference space, along with an 11,000-square-foot ballroom with seating for up to 1,000. Amenities will include a state-of-the-art fitness center; a whirlpool and swimming pool; flat-screen televisions, high-speed cable and wireless Internet access in each guest room; and fine dining. The smoke-free facility is situated within walking distance of the Cobo Center.
The historic Pick-Fort Shelby Hotel is undergoing an $82 million renovation. When it’s completed by the end of this year or the beginning of 2008, the property will reopen as a Doubletree Guest Suites Hotel (800.222.8733; www.doubletree.com) with 204 guest rooms and approximately 30,000 square feet of convention space.
Metro Detroit Marriott-branded hotels (www.marriott.com) received $30 million in upgrades in 2005 and are expected to receive another $30 million in renovations by the end of 2007. Properties included are the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center (313.568.8000), the Detroit Marriott Troy (248.680.9797) and The Dearborn Inn, A Marriott Hotel (313.271.2700).
The Henry Ford Museum (313.982.6001; www.thehenryford.org), part of The Henry Ford in Dearborn, Mich., opened its new exhibit, Rock Stars’ Cars & Guitars, June 9. More than 19 legendary cars and 30 guitars once belonging to rock idols ranging from Elvis Presley and John Lennon to Eddie Van Halen and Bo Diddley are on display through Sept. 30.
The Detroit Institute of Arts (313.833.7900; www.dia.org) is undergoing a major renovation, including a complete reinstallation of its galleries that will provide visitors with a more comprehensive and engaging experience of the museum’s collections. Spearheaded by famous designer Michael Graves, the renovation, which will result in an additional 57,650 square feet of museum space, is scheduled for completion by November.
