Stay up to date on the latest venue openings and property renovations, including these found in the South.
Louisiana
With its opening in December 2020, ONE11 has changed the hotel scene in New Orleans with its debut as the French Quarter’s first new hotel in over 50 years. The eight-story, 83-room boutique hotel is located in New Orleans’ historic Sugar District Waterfront and was formerly home to The Louisiana Sugar Refining Company.
From several room blocks to booking out an entire floor or more, the hotel’s modern accommodations and well-appointed common areas make it easy for groups to stay together. In terms of meeting space, ONE11 offers various settings for intimate group events, such as afternoon cocktails on The Loading Dock, or an evening on the rooftop featuring panoramic views of the French Quarter and Mississippi River.
For all-season dining, guests can enjoy The Loading Dock which provides a climate-controlled floor-to-ceiling view of the Quarter. ONE11 Hotel is also home to Batture Bistro + Bar, a casual hub for craft cocktails and small bites. The restaurant’s culinary style can be described as “sophisticated comfort food,” with a Creole twist and a nod to the area’s history in sugar production.
[Related: How New Orleans Is Weathering the Pandemic Through Preparation]
Florida
The Kimpton Surfcomber Hotel, an Art Basel-preferred hotel situated oceanfront in the heart of South Beach’s Art Deco District, is currently in the final stages of renovating its rooms, public areas and the hotel’s Vines Cabanas at Surfcomber, a dedicated outdoor space that provides guests with a private lounging alternative.
Furthermore, Kimpton Surfcomber is in the midst of refreshing its meetings and events spaces, with completion set for mid-2021. The hotel offers just over 3,000 square feet of indoor meeting rooms and 50,000 square feet of outdoor event space, with the Miami Beach Convention Center located two blocks away. Onsite, planners have the option for ocean view board meetings, poolside events with palm trees in attendance, team-building exercises on the beach and more.
[Related: 5 Top Tips for the Best Beach Events]
Set to debut in Downtown Boca Raton in late 2021, Mandarin Oriental – Boca Raton will be Mandarin Oriental’s second property in Florida and seventh in North America. The 158-room hotel will feature two rooftop pools; fine-dining restaurants and bars, including Mandarin Oriental’s signature MO Bar + Lounge, located on the rooftop with an outdoor terrace; and a Mandarin Oriental cake shop.
The property’s meeting and event space will include a 4,500-square-foot ballroom and a variety of adaptable conference rooms. The Residences at Mandarin Oriental, consisting of another 92 rooms, will be located in the adjoining tower connected to the hotel by a sky bridge. The two buildings will form part of a 2 million-square-foot, upscale, mixed-use development called Via Mizner, which will also include a half-mile of luxury retail.
History Reimagined in This Texas Hotel
Located at the heart of the 130-year-old Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District, Hotel Drover, an Autograph Collection hotel, is set to open March 23, 2021. The new property is inspired by the pioneering spirit of the West and was named to honor the legendary cowboys who drove cattle to market across the plains, offering a rustic-luxe guest experience.
Hotel Drover will provide 200 guest rooms and suites, representing three different room types, as well as a fourth-floor VP Suite and an oversized fifth-floor Presidential Suite, all with authentic Texas-style ambiance. The property will be home to 40,000 square feet of combined historic meeting and event space, including:
- Legacy Hall, a detailed space with an accompanying outdoor veranda offering the versatility of multiple setup and seating options to suit events.
- The Barn, which features high, vaulted ceilings and exposed 150-year-old reclaimed timbers.
- The indoor’s rustic look easily blends with the landscaped outdoor space.
- Four additional cowboy-chic gathering spaces for meetings, including the Lone Star Room, Stampede Room, Heritage Room and Stockmans Club.
The hotel’s signature eatery, 97 West Kitchen & Bar, will feature a menu of contemporary Texas fare, ranch classics and reimagined Southern comfort foods. 97 West will offer over 200 seats, including secluded semi-private tables, three private dining rooms and two chef’s tables with one outdoors.
