Following is a rundown of some of the top new and renovated property announcements in the western and southern U.S. and Mexico.
Hawai‘i
There’s a new meeting and event venue at the Sheraton Kaua‘i Coconut Beach Resort. The resort, located in the beachfront town of Kapa‘a on the east side of Kaua‘i, recently unveiled a new open-air event pavilion, Halau Ho’okipa, on the eastern most point on the Garden Island. At 4,500 square feet, Halau Ho’okipa will be the largest beachfront open-air event space on Kaua‘i.
The pavilion fronts the ancient surfing grounds of the Royal Coconut Coast, with unparalleled ocean views and just steps from the sand. The space is ideal for receptions, concerts, hula classes and other gatherings for up to 180 attendees.
In Hawaiian language, halau means large meeting house, and ho’okipa is the action of entertaining with hospitality. Together, both words mean the meeting house for entertaining with hospitality. The new pavilion is open on three walls to allow for easy event set-up and larger group gatherings.
The hotel is also offering a new authentic, large-scale luau experience dubbed Luau Ka Hikina that kicks off with an impressive torch lighting ceremony. Guests can then enjoy ancient hula dances and Tahitian, Maori, Tongan and Samoan dances. www.marriott.com
Mexico
There are new culinary offerings at the Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal. Located in Cabo San Lucas, the first Waldorf Astoria property to debut in Mexico has announced new dining concepts across the resort.
They include the new open-air Agave Study at Peacock Alley, centered around the craftsmanship of agave spirits native to Mexico, and Neutral Coffee Lab, an elevated coffee experience with varieties from around the region.
The resort has also redesigned its signature restaurant, Don Manuel’s, to spotlight TRAVESÍA, a nine-course tasting menu dedicated to the beloved taco. The experience is meant to celebrate the history, traditions and rich ingredients that have developed the love for this iconic dish. www.waldorfastoria.com
New Mexico
Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort & Spa, located on the Santa Ana Pueblo between Albuquerque and Santa Fe, has debuted an updated menu of teambuilding experiences for groups to ensure they get an authentic experience in the property’s Southwest location.
New group experiences include hybrid guided bike rides through the Bosque riverside with views of the Sandia Mountains, Rio Grande River and surrounding high-desert scenery. Groups can also enjoy outdoor culinary classes, including a green chili roasting session, where they can learn how to property roast New Mexico’s famous chili pepper, as well as pueblo bread-baking classes led by a Santa Ana Pueblo tribal member.
Wellness experiences are also available with custom body scrub-making classes, private yoga sessions, guided meditation and more. Groups can also learn more about the distinctive culture of the Santa Ana Pueblo through cultural experiences led by members of the pueblo including Native American flute performances, traditional pueblo dances, artisan demonstrations and more. www.hyatt.com
Florida
In March, Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront completed a multimillion-dollar renovation that transformed the property’s meeting space, with everything from an updated color palette to new carpeting, wall coverings and updated light fixtures. Darker earth tones have been swapped for more neutral blues and grays to provide a bright and welcoming atmosphere.
The property offers 118,000 square feet of event space, making it the largest meeting facility in Northeast Florida. Groups can get outdoors with the hotel’s 20,000-square-foot deck that overlooks the St. Johns River. The River Deck Balconies range in size to accommodate between 300 and 3,200 people for cocktail receptions, networking events or presentations.
Its nearly 28,000-square-foot Grand Ballroom is complemented by a chandelier-lined foyer with arched windows overlooking the river. Additional venue options include boardrooms, hospitality suites and a selection of junior ballrooms named after iconic Florida cities. www.hyatt.com
Texas
The historic Omni La Mansión del Rio in San Antonio recently unveiled a multimillion-dollar guest room and suite renovation. The property, which dates back to 1852 and has been a member of Historic Hotels of America since 2010, blends Spanish colonial architecture and European style.
The renovations of the guest rooms and suites are meant to celebrate the romance and history of downtown San Antonio’s famous River Walk. They take inspiration from the rich history of the property, with an overall design created by Michael Dalton of White Space Interiors. While still maintaining the originality of the existing building, the new design adds amenities like smart TVs, new air-conditioning units in each guest room and fresh paint throughout.
Bathtubs have been converted into walk-in showers, with installations of bathtubs in a select number of two-bed guest rooms. Guests can also expect queen-size beds (converted from full-size) and new nightstands, dressers, lounge chairs, artwork, carpeting and light fixtures. www.omnihotels.com
Virginia
The 250-room Hilton Richmond Downtown has also completed a significant renovation. The property, housed in the historic former Miller & Rhoads department store, underwent an extensive renovation that includes a new stylish lobby bar and lounge, Gather & Hem, and a new hybrid meeting space dubbed Ensemble. Refreshes were also made to the hotel’s fitness center, indoor pool and guest room bathrooms.
Gather & Hem, on the main floor, features nods to the property’s past culture of millinery, tea and retail creations and is an ideal spot for guests to dine, work and relax. There they can enjoy a menu of small plates, local craft beer and cocktails. Gather & Hem joins the hotel’s other restaurants, La Grotta, offering Italian cuisine and an award-winning wine list, and 1885 Café & Market, serving up hot breakfast and a range of regional dishes with a modern twist.
Hilton Richmond Downtown also offers more than 10,000 square feet of meeting space that includes two ballrooms. The new hybrid space, Ensemble, provides a “residential-style” space for groups and private events. www.hilton.com
