Illinois
The LondonHouse Chicago, part of Oxford Hotels & Resorts and Curio–A Collection by Hilton, debuted on North Michigan Avenue. The property originally opened in 1923 as the London Guarantee Building. The new hotel offers 452 guest rooms, LH, a tri-level 3,500-square-foot rooftop venue that can accommodate 200, a lobby bar, a full-service spa and two floors of retail shops. The property features 25,000 square feet of meeting and function space, including two column-free ballrooms and 10 meeting, breakout and boardrooms. The 3,700-square-foot Juliette Ballroom can hold up to 500 guests. There are also four private dining spaces on the 22nd floor with river views, including Etoile, which has a patio that can accommodate 80 for an outdoor reception.
Michigan
Starwood Hotels & Resorts announced its Element Hotels brand will open in Detroit with the Element Detroit at the Metropolitan Building. The historic, 14-story neo-gothic Metropolitan Building will undergo a reuse project to transform it into an upscale mixed-use development that will include the new hotel. Opened in 1925 as a jewelry emporium, the building’s exterior and interior will be restored and renovated while preserving the original lobby and mezzanine. There will be 2,000 square feet of meeting space offering views of the city’s skyline with retail on the ground floor and lower level and an outdoor patio on the 11th floor rooftop.
Nebraska
Construction is underway on Omaha’s Marriott Capitol District Hotel, scheduled to open in 2017. The 333-room, 12-story hotel is located in the Capitol District, an upscale urban dining and entertainment community located in the center of downtown Omaha. In addition to the hotel, the Capitol District will include residential apartments, office space, retail space for restaurants, shops and entertainment, all located around a plaza area able to host citywide events and concerts. The hotel will offer 16,500 square feet of meeting space, including an 11,000-square-foot ballroom with an additional 16,500 square feet of prefunction space. Other features include a rooftop pool with a bar/entertainment area, a full-service restaurant, two bars and coffee shop in the lobby.
Ohio
The former Toledo Grand Plaza Hotel is undergoing a multimillion-dollar renovation and will reopen in November as the Renaissance Toledo Downtown Hotel. Renovations are being made throughout the hotel, including room finishes, shower conversions and all-new furniture in its 241 guest rooms. Upon completion, the 13-story hotel will feature 18,000 square feet of meeting and event space that includes three boardrooms, five breakout rooms and a divisible 10,800-square-foot grand ballroom. The lobby and public spaces are also being remodeled to reflect the hotel’s new identity. The hotel will feature an open-air rooftop bar and eatery that will provide sweeping views of the Maumee River and Toledo skyline, a three-meal upscale restaurant and the brand’s “R” Lounge on the main floor.
Oklahoma
21c Museum Hotels opened its sixth property, 21c Oklahoma City. The property was the Oklahoma City Ford Motor Company Assembly Plant and has been remodeled into a 135-room hotel. There is a contemporary art exhibition space open free of charge to the public that will have rotating exhibitions as well as installations. The over 14,000 square feet of gallery space can be used for meetings and events for up to 500 guests. The circular Main Gallery and adjoining Gallery 1 feature velvet drapery, movable partitions and a private full-service bar. Mary Eddy’s Kitchen x Lounge, the hotel’s restaurant and bar, is located in the building’s original Model T showroom space. The outdoor dining area, which was the original train shed that received deliveries of Model T car kits, has a full-service bar, two ping pong tables and communal seating.
Wisconsin
Embassy Suites by Hilton Milwaukee Brookfield, the brand’s first property in Wisconsin, opened following a $10 million transformation. Formerly Brookfield Suites Hotel and Convention Center, the hotel is located just west of downtown Milwaukee. The 203-suite property features a five-story atrium with Bertrand’s restaurant, which is designed with wood from northern Wisconsin and offers cocktails and light fare. The property renovations added two meeting rooms, now offering over 6,000 square feet of meeting space that can accommodate up to 300 guests.