Florida
Art Ovation Hotel will be the newest addition to downtown Sarasota when it opens this winter. The 162-room boutique hotel will be an Autograph Collection Hotel with a focus on the city’s diverse range of visual and performing arts. The property is located downtown between the Sarasota Opera and the Florida Studio Theatre, and amenities will include an Artist in Residence program, rotating art collections, art curators, packages with exclusive access to area events and experiences as well as the opportunity for guests to contribute their own artwork during their stay. The hotel will offer about 10,000 square feet of event space with the ability to accommodate up to 450 people, a full-service restaurant, a lobby bar, a fitness center and a rooftop pool and bar.
Conrad Fort Lauderdale Beach opened its doors Oct. 11. The 290 all-suite oceanfront resort is situated on the city’s North Beach and offers four dining and bar experiences, a full-service spa and an ocean-facing pool deck. The property has 10,000 square feet of meeting space and 10,000 square feet of oceanfront outdoor space, including the Ocean Ballroom, outdoor Ocean Terrace, 10 meeting rooms and event venues, a private conference facility entrance and a dedicated meeting concierge.
A multimillion-dollar renovation of the Mission Inn Resort & Club is underway, with completion of the phased project scheduled for late December. The update focuses on the 170 guest rooms, which will feature custom furniture, new lighting and bath areas. The golf clubhouse, La Hacienda restaurant and the grand ballroom will also receive updates. The resort, located 35 minutes northwest of Orlando, offers two championship golf courses, three restaurants, two lounges and a poolside bar. Recreational amenities include eight tennis courts, a trap- and skeet-shooting range, volleyball courts and a full-service nautical center with a 52-slip marina. The resort boasts 30,000 square feet of function space, including 19 meeting rooms, two ballrooms, outdoor patios, courtyards, verandas and a lakeside pavilion.
Georgia
Sonesta International Hotels announced its first dual-branded property with the addition of the Sonesta ES Suites Gwinnett Place Atlanta to the existing Sonesta Gwinnett Place Atlanta. The new hotel, due to open in mid-November, will feature 81 studio and one-bedroom suites and will be able to take advantage of all of the existing amenities and services available at the 300-room Sonesta Gwinnett Place Atlanta, including 16,000 square feet of meeting space, an indoor/outdoor pool and a sun deck, along with Grapevine Restaurant and ArtBar.
Mississippi
The Westin Jackson debuted in the downtown arts and cultural district, steps from the Jackson Convention Complex. The hotel has 203 guest rooms, a wine bar and bistro, a resort-style spa and a saltwater pool. There is over 12,000 square feet of meeting space, including a 6,837-square-foot Grand Ballroom, a Junior Ballroom and nearly 2,000 square feet of outdoor space.
Texas
The DFW Airport Marriott South, located in the Centreport Business Park near Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, unveiled renovated guest rooms. The hotel’s 301 rooms feature a new design and all public areas have been reconfigured and include the addition of the brand’s Great Room lobby designed for socializing. In addition, the hotel has created four rooms that can be converted from junior suites to boardrooms and debuted Doc’s Bar & Kitchen. The hotel contains 12,905 square feet of event space and its largest room can hold up to 750.