Alabama
The Grand Bohemian Hotel Mountain Brook, an Autograph Collection hotel, debuted in the Mountain Brook suburb of Birmingham. The 100-room luxury boutique hotel offers an interactive cooking school, wine blending program and tasting room, and a rooftop terrace and restaurant, Habitat Feed & Social. The property features 12,000 square feet of meeting space across seven rooms. The 6,171-square-foot ballroom can accommodate up to 650 for a reception.
Florida
The Westin Fort Lauderdale unveiled a multimillion-dollar renovation focused on its guest rooms. All 298 rooms were redesigned with residentially inspired layouts. Westin recently partnered with New Balance, allowing guests at the property to request athletic shoes and apparel to use during their stay. The hotel features 22,000 square feet of meeting and event space. The 5,049-square foot Florida Ballroom can accommodate up to 600.
In the Disney Springs Resort Area, the Wyndham Garden Lake Buena Vista opened and the Wyndham Lake Buena Vista Resort debuted a new look mid-November. The Wyndham Lake Buena Vista features 232 rooms while the Wyndham Garden Lake Buena Vista will have 394 rooms. The properties were inspired by a lakehouse retreat. In total, there will be 25,000 square feet of meeting space, including a 12,000-square-foot ballroom and 21 meeting rooms.
Kentucky
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide announced its first Aloft brand hotel in Kentucky, Aloft Louisville Downtown. The hotel has 175 guest rooms and is located on the city’s Whiskey Row and near the Kentucky International Convention Center, the FFC Yum! Center and the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience. The property features 2,978 square feet of meeting space that can be divided into four separate rooms and accommodate up to 185.
Mississippi
Courtyard by Marriott Starkville MSU at The Mill Conference Center opened adjacent to The Mill Conference Center with 105 rooms. The property is also nearby Mississippi State University and the Mississippi Blues Trail. The lobby features spaces for work and social gatherings with media pods, The Bistro and a business library. There is 1,200 square feet of meeting space at the hotel, as well as 10,000 square feet available at The Mill Conference Center.
Texas
Hyatt Regency Houston Galleria in Houston debuted with 325 rooms and is part of the Galleria Plaza development. Throughout the hotel, there is original artwork that pays tribute to the oil industry and its workers, as well as pieces created by local Houston artists. The property features more than 11,000 square feet of meeting and conference space, including 10 meeting rooms. An additional 7,800 square feet of lobby and gathering space can also be used for events.
The Tuscan-inspired Hotel Granduca Austin opened as a member of The Leading Hotels of the World organization. The 194-room hotel sits on 38 acres and has over 1,700 pieces of European artwork throughout. The on-site Visconti Ristorante & Bar features northern Italian cuisine by James Beard award-winning chef Tom Parlo, and has a private dining area. There is 6,650 square feet of meeting space, including six conference rooms.