New Jersey
The Renaissance Woodbridge Hotel sold to ASAP International Holdings and there are plans for renovation. The property is located near Menlo Park Museum, Rutgers University and Newark International Airport, and is a short train ride away from New York City. The 269-room hotel features 35,150 square feet of meeting space across 23 rooms, including the nearly 6,800-square-foot Diamond Ballroom that has a capacity for 900 people.
New York
The DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Niagara Falls New York debuted with 192 guest rooms, many of which overlook the Upper Niagara Falls River. On-site Parkway Prime Restaurant is in the main lobby area and offers a casual setting with an open-style floor plan and an outdoor patio overlooking the river. The hotel features 14,000 square feet of meeting space, including the Rivers Edge Ballroom that can accommodate up to 450 guests. There is also a business center, fitness center, an indoor heated pool and access to nearby running and hiking trails along the area’s new riverwalk.
The Ithaca Marriott Downtown on the Commons opened with 159 guest rooms. The 10-story property features Monks on the Commons, a restaurant and bar with indoor/outdoor seating located on the pedestrian commons, that features floor-to-ceiling windows with views of Cornell and the surrounding downtown businesses. The hotel has 3,000 square feet of meeting space with floor-to-ceiling windows on the second floor that can accommodate nearly 200 guests.
The Affinia Manhattan NYC has rebranded as the Stewart Hotel. The property is now managed by Highgate and is located across from Madison Square Garden and Pennsylvania Station. The 28-story hotel features 618 guest rooms and suites designed by Rockwell Group and offers more than 10,000 square feet of event space.
Virginia
The National Conference Center is undergoing a multimillion-dollar renovation that includes a new design and revamped services and facilities as well as a new branding strategy to create a cohesive complex. The property, a 65-acre campus with three connected buildings located 12 miles from Washington Dulles International Airport, offers 917 guest rooms and over 265,000 square feet of meeting and function space. The food and beverage facilities are receiving a total makeover. The 900-seat dining room was upgraded with a new floor, wall treatments and artwork, and the next phase of renovation is to create live demonstration cooking areas; new menus are set to debut mid-January. The 200-seat Black Olive Bar & Grill was updated with a new bar and community tables and couch seating options were added. Renovations to the meeting space, including enhanced technology, floor and wall treatments, lighting and updating courtyards with fire pits and landscaping, are scheduled to place this year.
Washington, D.C.
The Darcy, Curio Collection by Hilton is slated to open mid-year just off Scott Circle, three blocks from Dupont Circle and Logan Circle and six blocks from the White House. The hotel features 226 guest rooms, 5,500 square feet of meeting space, two food and beverage outlets, a fitness center and business services. Siren, the hotel’s restaurant, will be led by chef Robert Wiedmaier and feature locally sourced ingredients paired with fresh seafood and chef David Guas will bring his New Orleans influence to Lil’ B, a coffee shop and eatery.