The Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex (205.458.8400; www.bjcc.org) will be joined by an adjacent $50 million entertainment district, set to open in spring 2009. Features of the new district will include shopping, restaurants, two hotels, and nightclubs owned by locals (and former American Idol winners) Ruben Studdard and Taylor Hicks.
A 255-room Marriott Renaissance (www.marriott.com) will take the place of the 17-story Regions Plaza in downtown Birmingham. The property will undergo a multimillion-dollar renovation and feature a restaurant and a Starbucks. The project is scheduled for completion by the end of 2009.
Starwood Hotels and Resorts is scheduled to open aloft Birmingham (919.510.6002; www.starwoodhotels.com) in the community of Homewood near Birmingham by March 2009.
The new Highland Conference Center (205.933.9555; www.thehighlandconferencecenter.com) is located next to the recently opened Hotel Highland at Five Points South (205.933.9555; www.thehotelhighland.com), a boutique property in the historic Five Points South neighborhood. Three primary function spaces in the center are the 4,000-square-foot Bistro Room; the 3,915-square-foot Vulcan Room; and for more intimate gatherings, the 1,000-square-foot Magic City Room.
A second Embassy Suites (www.embassysuites.com) is scheduled to open in summer 2009 in Hoover, located near the Riverchase Galleria near Birmingham. The 230-room hotel will have meeting and ballroom space, as well as a complimentary breakfast and evening reception for guests.
The Sheraton Birmingham (205.324.5000; www.sheraton.com/birmingham) is on track to complete a major renovation, including upgrades to its lobby, meeting space and guest rooms, by early 2009. Part of the $17 million project involves incorporating Birmingham history, with the recently installed lobby bar and gallery featuring the works of Giuseppe Moretti, sculptor of the city’s famous Vulcan statue. The bar, appropriately named Moretti’s, has black and white photographs of the sculptor and some of his most notable works.
Talks are under way to double the size of the Barber Motorsports Park (205.967.4745; www.barbermotorsports.com). The project will tentatively break ground next year. While most details of the expansion have not been determined, it’s likely a new building will be built across the track from the existing facility, with the two connected by an enclosed walkway. The new building is expected to include hospitality suites, meeting rooms and banquet facilities.
Continental Airlines (800.523.3273; www.continental.com) recently expanded service into Birmingham with two daily nonstop flights between Birmingham International Airport and Cleveland. Continental now provides 11 daily departures from Birmingham.
