California
- Located in Oxnard along California’s central coast, Embassy Suites Mandalay Beach Hotel & Resort will undergo a property-wide transformation. The project will update all 248 guest suites as well as the lobby, meeting rooms and reception areas and is scheduled for completion in summer 2012. The Mandalay Beach Hotel offers 16,000 square feet of meeting space, including a ballroom that can accommodate more than 800 attendees. For more information, call 805.984.2500 or visit www.mandalaybeach.embassysuites.com.
- Kimpton’s Argonaut Hotel inSan Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf completed a redesign of its 252 guest rooms, suites and lobby. The nautical aesthetic features exposed brick walls, large steel warehouse doors and exposed wooden beams. The Argonaut has 9,000 square feet of event space in five flexible meeting rooms, accommodating a reception of up to 500. The hotel will feature catering from the nearby San Francisco eatery Blue Mermaid Chowder House. For more information, call 415.563.0800 or visit www.argonauthotel.com.
Colorado
- The Smithsonian-affiliated History Colorado Center will open this month. The $110 million museum will feature experiential exhibits highlighting historical state stories and offer more than 15,000 square feet of event space. For more information, call 303.447.8679 or visit www.historycoloradocenter.org.
Mexico
- Formerly a Starwood le Meridien property, the 214-room Sandos Cancun Luxury Experience Resort reopened in March as part of the Sandos collection, featuring new dining options and all-inclusive packages. For more information, visit www.sandos.com.
Nevada
- Las Vegas’ MGM Grand completed the first phase of its $160 million renovation of the 3,570 rooms and 642 suites in the hotel’s main tower. The property also redesigned the 10,000-square-foot Studio Ballroom and added new retail, dining and entertainment venues. For more information, visit www.thegrandrenovation.com.
- Reno’s Grand Sierra Resort announced renovation plans for a $25 million upgrade. The Summit level suites will be completed this spring, and work will continue on the rooms occupying lower floors as well as the lobby and lounge areas. The Grand Sierra has 2,000 guest rooms and 200,000 square feet of meeting and convention space. For more information, visit www.grandsierraresort.com.
Oregon
- The $14 million Inn at the 5th opened in February, adding 70 rooms to the downtown Eugene market. The property is styled as an urban resort and offers unique locally themed guest rooms and a variety of available meeting spaces, including the 1,400-square-foot Maple Room with built-in audiovisual equipment, an eight-person boardroom and an outdoor garden plaza with space for 125. Located two blocks from an Amtrak station and in the Fifth Street Public Market, the building was soundproofed to ensure guest relaxation. For more information, call 855.446.6285 or visit www.innat5th.com.