Alabama
- The Holiday Inn Birmingham-Hoover recently debuted with 112 rooms, including two suites. Amenities include an indoor heated pool, 24-hour fitness center and a full-service restaurant and lounge. The hotel also offers 1,674 square feet of meeting space that can be transformed into one ballroom or two meeting rooms. For more information, call 205.682.2901 or visit www.holidayinn.com.
Florida
- Element Miami International Airport is scheduled to open in September with 209 guest rooms. Rooms will offer 32-inch LCD televisions and complimentary Wi-Fi access. There will also be a 791-square-foot meeting room with a 50-inch flat-panel television and free Wi-Fi. Groups can use outdoor function space as well. The property will be LEED certified. For more information, call 305.636.1600 or visit www.starwoodhotels.com.
- Situated on a private peninsula on Blue Lagoon, the Miami Airport Hilton is embarking on a complete makeover of its 500 guest rooms and suites, as well as adding a new fitness center, all expected to be completed by fall. Last year the hotel completed renovations of all guest room and meeting room corridors and the Cove Ballroom. The hotel offers 30,000 square feet of function space. For more information, call 305.262.1000 or visit www.hiltonmiamiairport.com.
Georgia
- Noble Investment Group recently acquired the former Holiday Inn Decatur Hotel and Conference Center in downtown Decatur. The hotel offers 184 rooms and suites as well as 15,000 square feet of meeting and event space in the adjoining Decatur Conference Center. The expansive repositioning of the hotel to a Courtyard by Marriott will feature new guest rooms and suites complete with high-tech amenities. In addition, enhancements will be made to the Decatur Conference Center. For more information, call 404.262.9660 or visit www.nobleinvestment.com.
- The Country Inn & Suites Norcross recently opened with 51 guest rooms. The property offers complimentary high-speed Internet access, a business center, fitness center and an outdoor pool. For more information, call 770.449.5051 or visit www.countryinns.com.
Louisiana
- Following an almost six-year closure in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the Hyatt Regency New Orleans is preparing to reopen this October after a $275 million redesign. The hotel will boast 1,193 all-new guest rooms, including 95 suites, five meeting planner suites and four presidential suites. It will also offer 200,000 square feet of flexible event space and expansive food and beverage offerings. The event space will include two 25,000-square-foot ballrooms, 64 versatile meeting and banquet rooms, 21 executive level meeting rooms, seven permanent boardrooms and more than 80,000 square feet of exhibition space, highlighted by a new 50,000-square-foot exhibit hall. The food and beverage offerings will include a 360-seat restaurant with private and semi-private dining rooms, a 210-seat media/action bar with private and semi-private lounges and a 70-seat atrium bar. There will also be a 300-seat specialty restaurant by a nationally recognized chef. For more information, call 888.591.1234 or visit www.neworleans.hyatt.com.
Mexico
- The Oasis Palm Beach, an all-inclusive resort and spa, recently reopened in Cancun. The 470-room resort offers a spa, tennis courts, fitness center and water sports. Amenities include seven restaurants and six bars. For more information, call 011.52.998.849.4510 or visit www.oasishotels.com.
Oklahoma
- The Cherokee Nation announced plans to build an all-suite guest room tower at the 356-room Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa in Catoosa. The tower plans call for 100 suites, 10,000 square feet of dining and entertainment space and 45,000 square feet of gaming space. For more information, call 800.760.6700 or visit www.hardrockcasinotulsa.com.
Texas
- Grand Hyatt DFW recently began a $13 million renovation of its 298 guest rooms, meeting space and dining outlets. The renovation is slated to be completed in September and will include the addition of a 10-person boardroom. The four-month project focuses on creating a more residential feel within the guest rooms, and the hotel, which currently has a Green Key rating of 4 Keys, is also concentrating on energy management and other green improvements. For more information, call 972.973.1234 or visit http://granddfw.hyatt.com.
Virginia
- The Tyson's Corner Marriott recently completed the final phase of a multimillion-dollar redesign, including updates to guest rooms, the lobby, grand ballroom, meeting rooms, concierge lounge, fitness center, indoor pool and Shula's Steak House. The hotel offers 396 new guest rooms and suites all with HD flat-screen televisions. Wireless Internet access is available as is wired access in guest rooms, and is complimentary in the lobby. The hotel offers 9,731 square feet of total meeting space. For more information, call 703.734.3200 or visit www.marriott.com/wastc.