Stay up to date on the latest venue openings and property renovations, including these found in the South:
Kentucky
The Galt House Hotel recently completed the fully re-imagined, 15,412-square-foot Archibald Cochran Ballroom amidst its $80 million property-wide renovation project.
The ballroom features a capacity of up to 1,700 guests and new audio-visual technology, marking a milestone for the hotel’s West Tower meeting and event spaces which includes seven renovated meeting spaces totaling 22,816 square feet.
To honor Louisville's rich history, the ballroom was named after local visionary Archibald Cochran Jr., who, together with Al Schneider, led the “waterfront renaissance” that inspired The Galt House Hotel’s location on the Ohio River.
Nearly five decades later, the renovated namesake ballroom welcomes groups to enjoy Archibald Cochran Jr.’s vision from a dedicated outdoor balcony overlooking the Ohio River.
Additional renovations to the West Tower include a full overhaul of its meeting spaces, all 639 guest rooms, the lobby area, and three of the hotel’s restaurant and bar concepts. In November 2019, the new Walker’s Exchange restaurant debuted, followed closely by the reopening of Jockey Silks, one of Louisville’s oldest bourbon bars and an original stop on the Urban Bourbon Trail.
South Carolina
The Homewood Suites by Hilton Greenville Downtown recently opened in the heart of Greenville’s West End Historic District with 151 guest rooms. Situated directly across from Fluor Field, the home of the Greenville Drive minor league baseball team, the new downtown extended stay hotel is a short walk to all that Greenville has to offer, including restaurants, shopping, the Falls Park on the Reedy and the Peace Center.
Every studio, one- and two-bedroom suite has space to work and relax, including living areas and full kitchens. The location’s Reedy River Meeting room is 540 square feet and can accommodate up to 40 attendees. Homewood Suites by Hilton Greenville Downtown is a five-minute drive to the Greenville Zoo and within 15 miles from Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport.
Florida
The development team behind Miami Beach’s new Convention Center hotel recently declared that an 800-room property will be operated by Hyatt under the luxury Grand Hyatt brand, when it opens to guests in 2023. Grand Hyatt Miami Beach will create a new hospitality option for visitors attending events at the adjacent Miami Beach Convention Center, which underwent a $600 million renovation that was completed last year, and anchor the Convention Center District.
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The 17-story hotel will be situated within walking distance of the beachfront, Lincoln Road Mall, New World Symphony, The Bass Museum and The Fillmore Miami Beach. It will become only the second Grand Hyatt property in Florida, joining Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay.
Hotel features are expected to include 12 floors of guest rooms offering views of Miami Beach, two floors of meeting spaces and ballrooms that will complement the Convention Center, a resort-style pool deck with panoramic views and limited retail space that will activate the district at street level.
An elevated skybridge will enable event attendees to move freely between the hotel and Convention Center in a climate-controlled, art-filled corridor.
Also in Miami is Shelborne South Beach, the 1940s Art Deco hotel hosting views of the Atlantic Ocean. The hotel is now accepting meeting and event requests after recently unveiling a $500,000 renovation of the property’s 4,388 square-foot Grand El Dorado Ballroom. The room incorporates Art Deco details with a modern touch throughout and its design is complemented by the stories, glamour and iconic culture of the 1950s.
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Shelborne South Beach’s Grand El Dorado Ballroom holds up to 360 guests, and the room is divided into two areas, with stairs connecting a raised room to a lower area. Additionally, the hotel houses over 30,000 square feet of meeting and event space. The mezzanine level consists of multiple meeting rooms:
- 405-square-foot boardroom
- Meeting room of 689 square feet named the Rambler
- The Gallery, a pre-function space of 724 square feet
- 1,916-square-foot Continental room
Unique elements throughout the Grand El Dorado Ballroom include a lean ceiling design with hints of stained wood, custom wall sconces, chandeliers, marble wall cladding and vibrant colors paired with neutral tones. Shelborne South Beach is within walking distance of Miami Beach’s main attractions such as Lincoln Road, Ocean Drive and the Miami Beach Convention Center.
Georgia
IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) recently announced the official opening of EVEN Hotel Alpharetta—Avalon Area. The property features 132 guest rooms, including six suites and eight accessible rooms, and is the brand’s first location in Georgia.
The Alpharetta location is designed with in-room and community amenities and offers fitness equipment, stand-up desks headboards with LED mood lighting, spa-inspired showers and more. Onsite fast casual restaurant Cork & Kale is open each day for breakfast and dinner and a full-service bar is also available. The hotel features a 24/7 marketplace with a selection of freshly prepared foods, retail snacks and beverages.
EVEN Hotel Alpharetta—Avalon Area is home to 1,440 square feet of flexible meeting and private events space, with catering from Cork & Kale available and access to property amenities during meetings.
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