Georgia
Part of the Jekyll Island Beach Village, the Westin Jekyll Island broke ground this year. The $41 million hotel near the Jekyll Island Convention Center is scheduled to open in September 2014 with 190 guest rooms and 5,600 square feet of function space.
Renaissance Atlanta Waverly completed a multimillion-dollar renovation of all 522 guest rooms and suites. The Hotel offers 60,000 square feet of function space and adjoins an additional 320,000 square feet at the Cobb Galleria Convention Center. Through the end of the year, a “Maximize Your Meeting” package will give planners booking a meeting of more than 100 room nights rewards that include complimentary rooms and catering and audiovisual discounts.
Florida
Starwood’s Aloft brand arrived in Miami with the opening of the 145-room Aloft Miami Doral in Miami-Dade, with a 1,300-square-foot meeting room.
A new boutique property, b2 Miami Downtown is now open on the site of the former Continental Bayside Hotel with 243 guest rooms and 1,000 square feet of function space.
Louisiana
L’Auberge Casino Resort Lake Charles completed a $20 million upgrade project, renovating 754 guest rooms. In addition to the 26-story hotel complex, the property is home to an 18-hole Tom Fazio golf course, 26,000 square feet of meeting space and a 70,000-square-foot casino. Phase two of the renovation, which entails renovating the remaining 246 rooms, is slated for completion in 2014.
Texas
The new JW Marriott Houston Downtown is slated to open in spring 2014. A historic building on Main St. is undergoing an $80 million conversion to house the 323-room hotel, with 10,000 square feet of meeting space.
Granite Properties broke ground on Hilton Granite Park hotel and a neighboring office tower. The 299-room conference hotel with 35,000 square feet of conference space is expected to be completed in mid-2014. The two structures will be part of a 90-acre mixed-use development.
Virginia
Courtyard Virginia Beach Norfolk updated its 134 guest rooms, lobby, public areas and meeting spaces.
Homestead Resort, in the Allegheny Mountains, opened a new 60,000-square-foot Spa Club as part of a $25 million resort renovation. Operated by Canyon Ranch, Homestead offers a long list of other teambuilding and adventure options, including golf, archery, a lazy river and shooting sports.