Providence
Renaissance Providence Downtown Hotel recently opened its Public Kitchen & Bar. The menu showcases a modern American tavern with international touches. The look took inspiration from the architecture of the Masonic Temple and the Rhode Island Capital Statehouse, with the menu aiming to present a mix of casual and elegant.
The former Westin Hotel was rebranded in January as the Omni Providence Hotel. The 564-room property is located in downtown Providence—connected by enclosed walkway to the Rhode Island Convention Center—and offers more than 22,000 square feet of event space.
The Providence Biltmore is making progress on sweeping upgrades, including a major ballroom revamp and improvements to all 292 guest rooms. The project is slated to wrap in the first half of 2014. The property currently offers about 19,000 square feet of upscale event space split between 18 meeting and banquet rooms.
Newport
Homewood Suites by Hilton Newport debuted in June with 92 suites and meeting space for up to 60 attendees.
Castle Hill Inn, a Relais & Chateaux property, recently made improvements on its Sunset and Ocean terraces overlooking Narragansett Bay. The spaces now showcase traditional New England bluestone flooring and also offer the redesigned 360° Sunset Terrace bar.