Alabama
The Element Huntsville opened on the top floors of The Westin Huntsville hotel complex. Both hotels are managed by Crescent Hotels & Resorts, and the Element offers 150 suites, including 68 with full kitchens. Amenities include the brand’s Rise: Breakfast Bar, a complimentary breakfast served daily; Relax: Evening Reception, held nightly; and Restore: Gourmet Pantry, a marketplace with grocery grab-and-go options for extended-stay guests. In addition to the recently completed renovations, an expansion to the meeting space is planned in 2017 with the addition of a second ballroom and IACC-certified meeting rooms. The Westin currently offers 17,000 square feet of meeting space across 10 rooms.
Florida
The AC Hotel Miami Aventura by Marriott is scheduled to open mid-May. The new 233-room property will feature AC Lounge, a co-working space by day and bar by night, as well as AC Kitchen, serving European-style fare. The hotel will offer 2,200 square feet of meeting space along with a rooftop pool and patio offering ample space for events.
Texas
Benchmark will operate the new Delta by Marriott Hotel and Watters Creek Convention Center, currently being constructed in the city of Allen, north of Dallas. The property, scheduled to open in late 2018, will feature 300 guest rooms and 90,000 square feet of meeting and convention space. The hotel is adjacent to the mixed-use Watters Creek at Montgomery Farm center, offering retail, entertainment and dining options.
Virginia
The Hyatt House Virginia Beach/Oceanfront debuted as the first Hyatt-branded hotel in Virginia Beach. The new 19-story, 156-room hotel is located oceanfront and in close proximity to the Virginia Beach Convention Center and the Virginia Beach Town Center. The hotel features The Commons, a lounge for guests; H BAR, serving the brand’s Sip + Savor menu; an indoor pool and fitness center; and 2,000 square feet of meeting space.
Caribbean
The 233-room AC Hotel San Juan Condado debuted in San Juan, Puerto Rico’s Condado neighborhood. The hotel features modern design with contemporary art and furnishings. There is a 9,000-square-foot rooftop terrace with a pool, fitness center, yoga space, the brand’s AC Kitchen and Bar as well as space of meetings and events. The hotel also offers the lobby area AC Meeting Room, which can accommodate up to 40 guests and has 10,700 square feet of function space overall.
Atlantis, Paradise Island resort in The Bahamas will unveil the complete renovation of its Coral Towers in July and a fully transformed Marina Village this fall. The tower’s 693 guest rooms and suites will feature modern tile flooring and mahogany wood-based furniture and decor. Soda Fountain, in the new lobby space, will serve milkshakes, espresso and coffee drinks, cocktails, patisserie and gelato throughout the day and evening. There will also be a new pool with private cabanas and a swim-up popsicle bar. The resort offers 11 pools, 21 restaurants, 19 bars and lounges. Meeting space includes the 50,000-square-foot Imperial Ballroom, over 40,000 square feet of prefunction space and 30 breakout rooms.