Florida
- Orlando’s Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center completed a $50 million renovation, unveiling guest room makeovers and new networking environments and group venues. A new pool and outdoor recreation spaces were added. The property’s convention offerings include 400,000 square feet of event space. For more information, call 407.586.0000 or visit www.gaylordhotels.com.
Georgia
- The 1,260-room Hyatt Regency Atlanta completed a $65 million renovation that included a refresh of the property’s 180,000 square feet of meeting, boardroom and exhibit space. The 29,000-square-foot Centennial Ballroom, the 22-story atrium lobby and the Atrium Tower guest rooms were also modernized. The renovation doubled the size of the Regency Club and introduced three new dining locations, including the Southern-inspired Sway restaurant and Twenty Two Storys bar. For more information, call 404.577.1234 or visit www.atlantaregency.hyatt.com.
- The former Renaissance Waverly Hotel in Atlanta was renamed the Renaissance Atlanta Waverly Hotel & Convention Center. Connected to the 320,000-square-foot Cobb Galleria Convention Center, the property offers 60,000 square feet of flexible meeting space. For more information, call 770.953.4500 or visit www.marriott.com.
- The new Jekyll Island Convention Center opened in May, adding more than 100,000 square feet of event space to the island. The 45,000-square-foot Atlantic Ballroom can accommodate 6,900 guests and the convention center’s 78,000 square feet of oceanfront meeting space takes advantage of its coastal setting. The LEED-silver property includes green touches such as an 80-gallon cistern for storing rainwater. Two hotels are being constructed adjacent to the convention center. For more information, visit www.jekyllislandconventioncenter.com.
Oklahoma
- Aloft Tulsa Downtown is set to open in Aug. 2013. Located within the Tulsa Civic Center Historic District near the Tulsa Convention Center, and housed in the former City Hall building, the hotel will contain approximately 190 guest rooms. For more information, visit www.alofthotels.com.
Tennessee
- Construction on the new Embassy Suites Chattanooga–Hamilton Place broke ground mid-April. The property will have 203 suites and 10,000 square feet of meeting space. The project is expected to be complete mid-2013. For more information, visit www.embssysuites.com.
Texas
- Dallas/Addison Marriott Quorum completed a $3.5 million renovation. Located three miles from the Dallas Galleria shopping plaza, the Marriott Quorum expanded meeting space, added a new restaurant and bar, and opened the new Marriott Great Room. The hotel offers 547 guest rooms and more than 20,000 square feet of meeting space. For more information, call 972.661.2800 or visit www.dallasmarriottquorum.com.