Alberta
- Holiday Inn Express & Suites Edmonton North opened in February after being converted from an independent hotel. Located minutes away from downtown Edmonton, the 95-room hotel features free high-speed Internet access, 32-inch LCD televisions in all guest rooms, an indoor heated pool, meeting space and access to a fitness center next to the hotel. The hotel also offers 26 business class-suites. For more information, call 780.476.9898 or visit www.ichotelsgroup.com.
Arizona
- The 79-room Country Inn & Suites By Carlson Tucson City Center debuted in February. Amenities include an outdoor pool, whirlpool, fitness center and 480 square feet of flexible meeting space for up to 35 people. The hotel offers a variety of guest room options, including standard rooms, studio suites, one-bedroom suites and Jacuzzi rooms. All rooms feature complimentary wired and wireless high-speed Internet access. For more information, call 520.867.6200 or visit www.countryinns.com.
California
- The JW Marriott Hotel Los Angeles at L.A. LIVE opened in February as part of the $2.5 billion L.A. LIVE sports, residential and entertainment district. The 878-room property, which plans to be LEED-certified, shares space with the new 123-room Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles, slated to open by early April, and The Ritz-Carlton Residences at L.A. LIVE in a 54-story tower in downtown L.A. The combined 1,001-room property is located directly across the street from The Los Angeles Convention Center. The JW Marriott at L.A. LIVE, which occupies the bottom 21 floors, offers the Gallery Collection—a 100,000-square-foot meeting and special event space—as well as a rooftop pool and an array of dining options. The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles will feature a 3,400-square-foot club lounge, with windows offering panoramic views of downtown. A small boardroom will be available adjacent to the lounge area, providing meeting space. Other amenities will include an outdoor rooftop swimming pool and terrace and an 8,000-square-foot full-service spa available to guests of both hotels. For more information, call 213.765.8600 or visit www.lalivemarriott.com, or for The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles, call 213.743.8800 or visit www.ritzcarlton.com.
- W Hollywood opened in January with 305 guest rooms, including W’s signature WOW Suites and the Extreme WOW Suite—a presidential suite. The hotel is part of a $600 million complex at the Hollywood and Vine Metro stop across from the Pantages Theatre. The hotel also offers a 6,000-square-foot Bliss Spa and over 25,000 square feet of event space, including 10,000 square feet of meeting space, as well as a 15,000-square-foot grand ballroom. There is also a 24-hour business center. W Hollywood is registered for LEED Silver certification and offers an expansive open-air rooftop pool deck, bar and the nightclub Drai’s Hollywood. On-site is Station Hollywood, an al fresco outdoor lounge equipped with a 600-square-foot drop-down cinema-style screen, fire pits and an outdoor bar. For more information, call 323.798.1300 or visit www.starwoodhotels.com.
- The Handlery Hotel & Resort in San Diego reopened in February following a three-month, multimillion-dollar renovation, upgrading the entire property and improving its meeting space. The extensive upgrades made to the property, originally built in 1954, include a complete renovation of all 217 guest rooms with new 37-inch flat-screen televisions. Common areas and event spaces were also improved. An additional small meeting room was introduced to the property’s event facility, providing more space for breakout meetings. For more information, call 619.298.0511 or visit www.handlery.com/sd.
Hawaii
- The 198-room Ramada Plaza Waikiki in Honolulu recently opened. The 16-story hotel features 196 guest rooms and two junior suites. Property highlights include free high-speed wireless Internet access, on-site business and fitness centers, an outdoor swimming pool, conference room and bilingual tour and travel concierges. For more information, call 808.955.1111 or visit www.ramada.com.