COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho
The Coeur d'Alene Resort, which transformed North Idaho's tourism industry 25 years ago, has reopened its first floor to the public after a two-month remodel.
The 35,000-square-foot makeover includes new decor for the lobby and the Dockside Restaurant, more space devoted to the fitness area and an expansion of Whispers, a bar and lounge. The property sits 30 minutes east of Spokane, Wash.
Conventions and meetings make up about half of the business for the resort hotel. After a couple of slower years, convention bookings are up 10 percent in 2012 compared with last year, said Jerry Jaegar, president of Hagadone Hospitality.
"Our strategy is to improve the convention dimension," he said. "We want to be among the first to emerge from this economic downturn.”
