Massachusetts
Boston Park Plaza completed its multiyear, $100 million renovation and restoration project. The transformation includes a complete overhaul of the hotel’s 1,060 guest rooms and corridors, main entrances and lobby, meeting spaces, mezzanine levels, the addition of an all-new library room and the replacement of all furniture and fixtures. STRIP by Strega, a 5,700-square-foot steakhouse, as well as DavidBartonGym and Cyc Fitness Boston are new amenities added to the hotel. In addition, located in the renovated lobby area is Off The Common, the hotel’s new restaurant and lounge, which offers all-day dining, light bites and hand-crafted cocktails. Through the renovation an additional 6,000 square feet of meeting space was added to now total 50,480 square feet, and the 13,200-square-foot ballroom was updated. There are 32 meeting rooms that can accommodate up to 1,100 guests.
Pennsylvania
The 192-room Courtyard by Marriott Erie Bayfront, connected to the Bayfront Convention Center, debuted on the shore of Presque Isle Bay. In addition to offering convenient access to the convention center, guests have easy access to Erie’s downtown as well as a water taxi to Presque Isle State Park’s beaches. The hotel’s Shoreline Bar and Grille cocktail bar and eatery focuses on regional ingredients, craft cocktails and locally sourced beers. The property features 1,500 square feet of indoor meeting space as well as a 20,000-square-foot patio space, Anchor Plaza, for events of up to 1,500 guests.
The Ritz-Carlton, Philadelphia unveiled a yearlong, multimillion-dollar renewal project. Updates to the hotel include all-new guest rooms and meeting spaces, a refreshed lobby experience and public spaces along with a new restaurant, bar and lounge. The historic building was originally built as a reproduction of the Pantheon and opened in 1908 as The Girard Trust Company. The property-wide renovation incorporated the history of the building and pays tribute to its past. The 299 guest rooms include The Ritz-Carlton Suite, offering views of the city from the 31st floor, a personal elevator for exclusive use, two full bedrooms, separate living and dining spaces, and a personal kitchen with a dining table. Its 26,000 square feet of meeting space has been updated and on the second and third levels of the hotel are prefunction rooms, including 13 meeting rooms that can accommodate groups from 20 to 400 people.
Washington, D.C.
The Watergate Hotel reopened after an extensive $125 million renovation to restore the property. Closed since 2007, the iconic building, which opened in 1967, was designed by Italian architect Luigi Moretti to look like a sail on the Potomac. The property’s remodel complements the building’s Mid-century modern design while restoring some of the original structures, including the staircase and indoor pool. The 336-room hotel features Kingbird restaurant, The Next Whiskey Bar and Top of the Gate, a rooftop lounge offering views of the Potomac River, Capitol and Washington Monument. The property features 27,000 square feet of meeting space with 11 indoor and outdoor spaces. A new addition is the 7,000-square-foot Moretti Grand Ballroom and 10,000 square feet of outdoor space.
Eastern Canada
The Algonquin Golf Course will undergo a multimillion-dollar renovation led by Canadian golf course architect Rod Whitman. The course, located at the Algonquin Resort, will be redesigned to accentuate the natural beauty of the region, re-sculpting holes, tee boxes, bunkers and greens highlighting the views of the Bay of Fundy and the historic town of St. Andrews. Originally constructed in 1894, the course was redesigned in the 1920s, while the current course was designed in 2000. The 233-room resort opened in 1886 and was renovated in 2014. The property features two restaurants, 19,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space and a lounge with an outdoor patio and fire pits.