Newport
- Newport Harbor Hotel and Marina (401.847.9000; www.nhhm.com) recently finished a retrofit that upgraded bandwidth capabilities, allowing for Wi-Fi access in all 133 guest rooms and suites, as well as meeting spaces and its Pier 49 Seafood & Spirits on-site restaurant. The hotel can host functions for up to 175 attendees. The hotel also partially enclosed a section of Pier 49 Spirits overlooking Newport harbor to extend the outdoor season.
- Earlier this year, the 136 rooms in the Newport wing at Hotel Viking (401.847.3300; www.hotelviking.com) underwent a $3 million renovation. The first green-certified hotel in Newport, the historic Viking features 209 guest rooms and suites as well as 13,400 square feet of meeting space, including two ballrooms, an executive boardroom and four meeting rooms. Additional amenities include a spa, indoor pool, fitness center and seasonal rooftop lounge.
- The Hyatt Regency Newport (401.851.1234; www.newport.hyatt.com) completed renovations at its outdoor bar and restaurant, a highlight of this summer’s $750,000 phase two enhancement project.
- The Vanderbilt Grace (401.846.6200; www.vanderbiltgrace.com) finished a complete redesign of its new fine dining restaurant, Muse by Jonathan Cartwright. The new decor carefully combines period features of the 100-year-old Vanderbilt Grace with a fresh, modern aesthetic. Cartwright is also executive chef at Vanderbilt Grace’s sister hotel, the White Barn Inn and Spa in Kennebunk, Maine, the only AAA Five Diamond and Forbes Five-Star dining experience north of New York City.
Providence
- Radisson Harbor Hotel in Providence (401.739.3000; www.radisson.com) was rebranded the Wyndham Garden Hotel. It is the only Wyndham property in the Providence metro area. As part of the rebranding, renovations and upgrades to the guest rooms, corridors, lobby and restaurant are taking place.
- Providence Marriott Downtown (401.553.0409; www.marriottprovidence.com) recently completed renovations. The 351-room hotel upgraded its lobby this summer to add the brand’s Great Room concept and introduced free Wi-Fi access in November.
- The Dorrance (401.226.2984), a restored event venue and restaurant, recently opened in the heart of Providence, within walking distance of most hotels and the Rhode Island Convention Center. Originally built in 1901 as a bank, the venue is surrounded by stained-glass windows that boast coats of arms of famous banks. The Ben Sukle, the executive chef, is highly respected and comes from a James Beard-nominated restaurant.