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Site Scene

Alabama

    • The Hyatt Place Birmingham/Downtown opened in June with 150 guest rooms, all of which feature a 42-inch HDTV, complimentary Wi-Fi access throughout the hotel and a veranda and courtyard area adjacent to an indoor pool. In the arrival area, named the Gallery, guests are greeted by a host who assists with check-in, among other procedures. The Gallery also offers a television den and an "e-room" with free access to public computers. For more information, call 205.322.8600 or visit http://birminghamdowntown.place.hyatt.com.

Arkansas

    • Homewood Suites by Hilton—Fort Smith debuted in June. The four-story, 88-suite hotel offers studio, one- and two-bedroom suites. Additional guest amenities include an executive business center, a swimming pool, sports court and 850 square feet of meeting space. For more information, call 479.452.7100 or visit http://homewoodsuites1.hilton.com.

Florida

    • W South Beach opened in July. The hotel features 408 guest rooms, including one- and two-bedroom ocean suites, beach bungalows and W’s Extreme Wow suites. The hotel features more than 10,000 square feet of meeting and event space, including the lawn, which overlooks the ocean and can accommodate functions of up to 1,000 guests. There are three destination bars, including Wall, Wet Bar and the Living Room Bar. Other amenities include two pools, full tennis courts, basketball courts, a signature spa, an outdoor garden and a fitness facility with panoramic city views. For more information, call 305.938.3000 or visit www.starwoodhotels.com.
    • The 14-story Holiday Inn Disney Resort Area is scheduled to open this fall, within walking distance to the Downtown DisneyMarketplace. The 323-room hotel will include 11,000 square feet of meeting and event space, a restaurant and a lounge. Guest rooms will feature a 32-inch LCD television, complimentary wireless and wired Internet access, and many will offer balconies with views of the resorts’ nightly fireworks shows. Other amenities will include a fitness complex, jogging and exercise path, heated swimming and connected lap pool, an outdoor hot tub and sun deck, and a game room. For more information, call 407.828.8888 or visit www.ichotelsgroup.com.

Tennessee

    • Holiday Inn Express and Suites Nashville-Opryland opened in June. The 113-room hotel is located across the street from the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center. The hotel features complimentary high-speed Internet access, 32-inch flat-panel HDTVs, an indoor heated swimming pool, a business center, wireless Internet access in all public areas and a fitness center. For more information, call 615.829.7777 or visit www.ichotelsgroup.com.

Texas

    • The 132-room Hilton Garden Inn Dallas/Arlington opened in June. The four-story hotel features guest rooms and suites offering complimentary wired and wireless high-speed Internet access, complimentary remote printing from the guest room, a high-definition flat-screen television and an alarm clock with MP3 connectivity. The hotel also features a complimentary 24-hour business center and four meeting rooms within 3,019 square feet of flexible meeting space—or one ballroom with 2,475 square feet that is divisible by three and a boardroom with 544 square feet. Recreational facilities at the hotel include an outdoor swimming pool and hot tub, and a complimentary fitness room. For more information, call 817.274.6644 or visit http://hiltongardeninn.hilton.com.
    • The 104-room Fairfield Inn & Suites Plano/The Colony opened in June, as did the 104-room Residence Inn Dallas Plano/The Colony. The Colony properties anchor The Cascades, a 100-acre master-planned, mixed-use suburb near Dallas. The Residence Inn at The Colony features a 350-square-foot meeting room, business library, exercise room, sports center, outdoor pool and whirlpool, and complimentary in-room high-speed Internet access. The Fairfield Inn & Suites at The Colony features a 6,764-square-foot events center, made up of a 3,454-square-foot ballroom, an 1,800-square-foot prefunction space and two meeting rooms totaling 1,510 square feet. Additionally, the hotel provides a business library, exercise room, outdoor pool and whirlpool, and complimentary in-room high-speed Internet access. For more information, call the Fairfield Inn at 972.370.7732 or visit www.marriott.com, or the Residence Inn at 214.469.1155, or visit www.marriott.com.

Kentucky

    • The Lexington Downtown Hotel and Conference Center recently began renovating its 367 guest rooms as part of a $13 million revamping project, which is expected to be completed by the early summer of 2010. The building, now a Hilton property, was formerly known as the Radisson Plaza Hotel. The guest rooms will be updated to reflect the state’s equestrian heritage. The renovation also includes the facility’s atrium, grand ballroom, meeting rooms and restaurant, Cafe on the Park. The property offers 14,000 square feet of meeting space, including 13 versatile meeting rooms, ballrooms and banquet halls. For more information, call 859.231.9000 or visit www.lexingtondowntownhotel.com