Florida
Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront completed additional upgrades to complement last year’s multimillion-dollar renovation of all of its 951 guest rooms as well as corridors, rooftop fitness center and Regency Club lounge. These upgrades include the front desk and the Grand Ballroom. The 28,000-square-foot Grand Ballroom now includes new carpet and wall panels. Overall, the property offers more than 116,000 square feet of meeting and exhibit space.
The Palms Hotel & Spa unveiled the renovation of its lobby, reception area and meeting rooms. In the Princess Palm, Kentia Palm I & II, Silver Palm and Coconut Palm meeting rooms there are new wall treatments, flooring, lighting and artwork. The 97-room hotel offers over 8,000 square feet of meeting space, including two ballrooms, nine meeting rooms and outdoor event spaces.
W Fort Lauderdale unveiled the first phase of a $55 million renovation. The transformation included all 517 guest rooms, the porte cochere, rooftop WET deck pool and meeting spaces. The final phase will include a new ballroom and an oceanfront restaurant from James Beard Award nominee Stephen Starr, set to debut this fall. The hotel’s lobby, outdoor terrace and BLISS Spa all received a full makeover and the new SUSHI Bar is now open. A 4,000-square-foot ballroom will be added to the nearly 40,000 square feet of existing meeting and event space, which currently includes 16 indoor and outdoor function spaces.
Georgia
Renaissance Atlanta Airport Gateway Hotel debuted at Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The 204-room hotel is directly connected to the airport via a SkyTrain and features two outdoor spaces, Hazel Southern Table and Bar and 6,300 square feet of event space. The Alpha, Bravo, Foxtrot and Echo meeting rooms are named after the radiotelephonic spelling alphabet commonly used in aviation communication. Along with the Tango Ballroom, there are seven event rooms. The hotel has artwork by local artists throughout the property, including 11 murals.
The Hilton Atlanta Northeast completed a renovation that included its 271 guest rooms, all common areas and all meeting space. The completely redesigned lobby now boasts an open front desk and recreated Library/Business Center. The more than 20,000 square feet of meeting and event space, which includes an auditorium, has all been refreshed.
North Carolina
Omni Charlotte Hotel will undergo a $26 million transformation with design inspired by the city’s reputation as a top banking center. All of its 374 guest rooms will be upgraded, the front exterior wall will be opened to allow for more natural light and the facade will feature a glass exterior. The rooftop pool deck will be redesigned to include nearly 3,000 square feet of space as well as a new bar and grill. Trade Restaurant & Bar will also undergo a transformation that will feature an expanded bar that now opens up into the lobby with new seating, tables, carpet and decorative lighting. The property currently offers 16,000 square feet of meeting space.
Virginia
The Williamsburg Inn completed the second phase of its renovation. The property retains its traditional charm while introducing updated accommodations, a new reflection pool entrance, transformed dining concepts and private event spaces. The 62 upgraded, spacious guest rooms have refreshed decor and modern amenities. The Social Terrace features a new 7,000-square-foot patio extension adjacent to the main lobby, offering al fresco dining and is available for private events. The renovated meeting space includes the Queen’s Terrace, which was expanded to offer 1,800 square feet of private event space, and the Regency Room, a 3,996-square-foot ballroom.