Michigan
The Graduate Ann Arbor opened with 204 guest rooms. Formerly The Dahlmann Campus Inn, the hotel is located within walking distance to the University of Michigan athletic campus, including Yost Arena, Crisler Arena and Michigan Stadium. There is 11,000 square feet of meeting and event space, including four boardrooms and three ballrooms. The largest of the three is the 3,300-square-foot Terrace, which can accommodate 300 guests inside and has an adjacent patio that can accommodate another 150. The hotel’s decor is inspired by the nearby university and features a large mural in the lobby curated by local artists depicting the process of engineering students’ works and chalkboards. A faux-painted ceiling of books throughout the hotel add to the collegiate feel.
The Hilton Garden Inn Detroit Troy debuted nearby the Detroit Zoo and the Troy Museum & Historical Village, and not far from downtown Detroit. The 114-room hotel features 2,100 square feet of meeting space that can accommodate up to 300 people. In addition to the ballroom, which can be divided into three, there are two boardrooms that can seat 20. The hotel offers the brand’s Garden Grille and Bar as well as The Pavilion Pantry, which is open 24 hours.
Missouri
The Kansas City Marriott Country Club Plaza has started renovations of its 295 guest rooms, public spaces, lobby and bar areas. The transformation will also include the addition of new meeting and event spaces. A new Plaza Terrace that will overlook the Country Club Plaza can be used for events, and a new private dining room will be added at the Main Street Grill, which is adjacent to the second floor conference space. The property currently offers nearly 14,500 square feet of meeting space across 16 rooms. The 5,600-square-foot Grand Ballroom can accommodate 600 guests.
Ohio
A nine-month, $21 million renovation of the Marriott at the University of Dayton began in mid-May and will include the hotel’s 399 guest rooms, meeting space, lounge areas and restaurant. The hotel will remain open throughout the renovation and is scheduled to be complete in early 2017. The property is located on the university’s expanded campus adjacent to the GE Aviation Episcenter, the Emerson Helix Innovation Center, is near the campus’ arena and features 13,600 square feet of meeting space. There are 17 meeting rooms, including the nearly 6,400-square-foot ballroom and Tradewinds Pavilion which can accommodate 300 attendees.
Wisconsin
DoubleTree by Hilton reopened a historic Wisconsin hotel following a $21 million rebuild. The Lismore Hotel Eau Claire–a DoubleTree by Hilton is the only full-service hotel in the downtown area, and the 112-room property also features a multipurpose convention center on-site. The hotel’s name, as well as many of its new design elements and artwork, are inspired by its sister city of Lismore, Australia. For example, the wallpaper in the guest rooms consists of designs all made of clippings from Lismore newspapers. The Halls @ The Lismore conference center offers nearly 14,000 square feet of space, including a 7,200-square-foot ballroom that accommodates up to 620 guests. For smaller groups, the hotel offers the brand’s Meetings Simplified package, which includes a meeting room, basic meeting Wi-Fi, meeting room supplies and all-day non-alcoholic beverage service.