The Newest attraction on the Philly meetings scene may be grounded in history, but it also has “lofty” ambitions.
Kimpton’s Hotel Monaco Philadelphia, an adaptive reuse project of the historic Lafayette Building set to open next month, sits across the street from what is perhaps the most historic site in the U.S., Independence Mall, home of the Liberty Bell.
The adaption of the Empire and Greek Revival building—the 11-story structure seemed like it was stripped down to the studs when Meetings Focus East took a hard-hat tour in June—will mark a new beginning in terms of tourism and meetings infrastructure in the Society Hill/Old City neighborhood, which sits on the eastern end of Center City, with the hotel located approximately eight blocks from the newly expanded Pennsylvania Convention Center.
“We’re kind of a perfect fit for what they want to do down there,” says Nick Gregory, general manager of the hotel and a Kimpton veteran working on his 16th opening for the trendsetting chain. “There’s a juxtaposition of old-meets-new on the whole block. We’re seeing a continued gentrification of the downtown corridor where Old City meets City Center, and starting to see the vision of the advanced planning to keep the culture [of the area] alive, but also see the need for growth—smart growth.”
As any development is subject to a very deliberative process in Old City—the Monaco is the first new hotel there in a decade—the property is hemmed into a very good situation, location- and competition-wise.
“The [areas on] three sides of our building are national parks—they’re not going anywhere,” Gregory says. “We’re fortunate that no one can build around us—it almost doesn’t feel like you’re in the city.”
Gregory said Kimpton aims to bring the long-vacant, 1906 building decidedly into the 21st century by seeking LEED Gold certification.
Venue With a View
Most of the local hospitality industry buzz about the property, however, concerns the property’s rooftop lounge, a large half-outdoor, half-indoor space that will fit 300 people (other capacities were not set at press time) for a standing reception.
The lounge will feature two 800-square-foot pavilions on each corner that can be rented for corporate or social events.
According Gregory, the rooftop lounge is expected to be a major draw for locals and tourists, but groups can probably find rental or buyout availability outside of the Thursday, Friday and Saturday peak times.
Gregory says he expects the hotel to draw north of 35 percent of its business from groups, comprised mostly of association, financial and corporate, with maybe 50 weddings per year.
Other hotel highlights include the ground-floor Red Owl Tavern, a two-story “indie-modern” steakhouse looking out at Independence Mall and offering gourmet sandwiches and affordable cuts such as finely prepared flank steak.
The Red Owl will also cater meetings, and the hotel will offer a “grab-and-go” area, a 25- to 30-seat concept where the time-challenged can grab coffee, espresso, bakery items and sandwiches made to order or ready to go.
Meeting space includes the ground-floor 3,300-square-foot Lafayette Ballroom and four rooms that add 5,000 square feet combined.
Gregory says his staff is working on innovative group programming that may include tension-breaking hula-hoop breaks and relaxation options ranging from sundae-making kits to roll-in “speakeasy carts.”
But in the end, the main attraction at the new hotel may just be something that was there all along.
“I guess it doesn’t hurt to have the birthplace of America and the Liberty Bell across the street,” Gregory sums up.
