Florida
- The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company last month assumed management of the St. Regis Fort Lauderdale, a 192-room oceanfront hotel, which also includes private residences on Florida’s Gold Coast. The Ritz-Carlton, Fort Lauderdale features the largest oceanfront ballroom in the city. The 24-story building also features 192 guest rooms, eight oceanfront suites and 20 suites overlooking the Intracoastal waterway. Guest rooms include a range of services, from wireless access to LCD televisions. Meeting and special event space totals 14,000 square feet, including two ballrooms and an executive boardroom. The 29,000-square-foot tropical pool deck features exclusive cabanas, a bar and grill for casual dining, and a skywalk connecting to the beach. The resort’s spa and fitness center complex offer a range of services and treatments, while the Wine Room is open for private events. For more information, call 866.622.1579 or visit www.ritzcarlton.com.
- The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island began construction on a $22.1 million ballroom addition, concluding a 14-year effort to increase the footprint of the oceanfront resort. Upon completion in fall 2009, the new facility will add 12,000 square feet of meeting space to the property, making it one of the largest conference hotels in the region. The new ballroom will give the property 35,000 total square feet of meeting space. The hotel offers two sizeable function areas and a variety of smaller breakout rooms. Future projects for 2009 and beyond include design updates for the hotel lobby and guest rooms. For more information, call 904.277.1100 or visit www.ritzcarlton.com.
- The Betsy Hotel, in Miami Beach, is scheduled to re-open this fall after a multimillion-dollar renovation. The hotel offers 62 beachside guest rooms and suites as well as a roof deck with a solarium and private spa. For more information, call 305.531.3934 or visit www.thebetsyhotel.com.
- Venturella Resort & Spa in Lake Buena Vista will open early next year, featuring 155 guest rooms and 7,000 square feet of indoor meeting space. Each of the guest rooms will be equipped with wireless high-speed Internet. Groups will be able to take advantage of the resort’s nine meeting rooms, including two high-tech executive boardrooms and large ballrooms that easily break out into smaller sections. Outdoors will feature a 1,800-square-foot patio that overlooks a garden, and a large back lawn with ponds, walking trails and cabanas. Other amenities will include spa services and a fitness center. For more information, call 407.239.9500 or visit www.venturellaresort.com.
Georgia
- The 70-room Country Inn & Suites Albany recently opened. The hotel offers a variety of guest rooms, including standard rooms, studio suites, one-bedroom suites, Jacuzzi rooms and an extended-stay suite. All rooms feature complimentary wireless high-speed Internet access and a 32-inch flat-panel television. Other amenities include a heated indoor pool, hot tub, sauna and exercise room, as well as a 75-person-capacity meeting room. For more information, call 229.317.7100 or visit www.countryinns.com/albanyga.
Oklahoma
- The Renaissance Oklahoma City Convention Center Hotel and Spa is completing a $4.5 million makeover. The transformation includes upgrades to all 311 guest rooms, including new flat-screen LCD televisions and new furnishings. The hotel offers 33 meeting rooms totaling 66,000 square feet of event space. For more information, call 405.228.8000 or visit www.renaissanceoklahomacity.com.
South Carolina
- The Sheraton Columbia Downtown Hotel, a former bank, opened as a 135-room property. The hotel’s guest rooms offer flat-panel LCD televisions. Other amenities include flat-screen televisions in the bathroom, the original 1913 hardwood floors, a complimentary fitness center and an array of dining. For more information, call 803.988.1400 or visit www.starwoodhotels.com.
- The aloft Charleston Airport & Convention Center debuted as a 136-room hotel close to downtown Charleston. The hotel offers 526 square feet of meeting space, and can be set up with a table for 12 in a boardroom. Complimentary hotel-wide wireless Internet access is available. For more information, call 843.566.7300 or visit www.starwoodhotels.com