As it begins the journey toward recovery, the hospitality industry has been busy making investments in new hotels as well as top-to-bottom upgrades. Here are a few to consider when planning your next event:

New Properties

JW Marriott Tampa Water Street

Earlier this year, JW Marriott debuted its 100th property and first in Tampa, the JW Marriott Tampa Water Street. Located in the heart of the city’s Water Street neighborhood, the luxurious, 519-room, wellness-themed property features a modern design, calming aesthetic and amenities inspired by mindfulness principles.

Along with spacious guest rooms and suites featuring custom furnishings, water-inspired design and wellness amenities, the hotel offers 100,000 square feet of meeting and event space, including the largest hotel ballroom in Tampa Bay at approximately 30,000 sq. ft. The property is located next door to the Tampa Convention Center and Amalie Arena, and in combination with its sister property, Tampa Marriott Water Street, the complex boasts over 40,000 sq. ft. of additional total event space, with both properties connected by a glass sky bridge. 

Additional amenities include two dining concepts, a 6th-floor resort-style pool, a signature Spa by JW and a grab-and-go food outlet.

EVEN Hotel Atlanta – Cobb Galleria

IHG Hotels & Resorts has debuted its second EVEN Hotels location in Georgia: EVEN Hotel Atlanta - Cobb Galleria. Opened on June 2 and managed by Real Hospitality Group, the 133-room health and wellness-oriented hotel features in-room fitness equipment, spa-inspired showers and premium bedding; 1,500 square feet of flexible meeting and private event space; a signature restaurant; a 24/7 market and an oversized fitness studio. 

Located near some of Atlanta’s most important business centers and entertainment complexes, the new hotel is just minutes away from attractions including Truist Park, The Battery, Cobb Galleria Centre, Cumberland Mall and Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center.

The Dörr Hotel

Wisconsin’s Door County Peninsula just debuted its first newly built hotel in almost two decades, The Dörr Hotel in Sister Bay. Located near Lake Michigan’s Bay of Green Bay, the Nordic-inspired contemporary hotel opened on May 27 and features 47 guest rooms and suites, lake views and a cozy, charming design. 

Great for corporate retreats, the hotel’s guest rooms feature white shiplap walls, natural oak, custom-built furnishings and black tile and white quartz bathrooms, with 45 rooms offering outdoor balconies with patio furniture. On-site guest experience hosts can create personalized Door County experiences and touring opportunities, and a limited number of house bicycles, tennis and pickleball equipment, snowshoes, walking poles and a selection of beach chairs are available for complimentary use.

Expansions and Renovations

Hilton Washington DC Capitol Hill

On Feb. 4, Hilton Hotels & Resorts reopened the 267-room Hilton Washington D.C. Capitol Hill – the company’s 25th hotel in the city and 124th in the D.C. metro area. Formerly the Washington Court Hotel, the 16-story property features 267 upgraded guest rooms and suites with a D.C.-inspired modern design, sweeping views of the city’s skyline, a glass atrium and some of the best views of the Capitol. 

In addition to on-site dining options, the hotel offers 20,000 square feet of renovated meeting space, including two ballrooms, 16 breakout rooms and boardrooms backed by Hilton EventReady with CleanStay. This program provides curated solutions for groups with creative food and beverage, technology resources, redesigned spaces for physical distancing and reimagined ways to meet and gather to create a safe and comfortable environment.  

The Grand Resort 

The Grand Resort in Warren, Ohio, recently completed a $30 million transformation that includes guest rooms, public spaces, food and beverage options, specially-themed lounges, spa and salon services, meeting space, recreation including golf, tennis, fitness and aquatics, as well as additional amenities and exterior improvements.

The Resort’s expanded and renovated campus now includes The Hotel with 130 rooms and suites in more than 15 varieties; The Golf Center; The Grand Spa and Salon; The Roman Bath & Resort Pools; The Fitness Center; The Tennis Center; The Recreation Center; The Restaurants; The Wine Cellar & Lounge; and The Grand Lounge and Cigar Store. Between the Resort and the adjacent Avalon Golf and Country Club properties, The Conference & Event Center offers more than 41,000 square feet of meeting and conference space.

Re-openings

Hilton San Francisco Union Square Hotel

On May 24, the Hilton San Francisco Union Square Hotel, the largest hotel in San Francisco and on the West Coast, welcomed back guests for the first time in over a year. The 46-tower, 1,921-room property offers the largest amount of flexible meeting and event space in the city, with 135,804 square feet of total event space, including 44 meeting rooms supported by the Hilton EventReady with CleanStay program.

Coming Soon

Signia by Hilton Atlanta 

On May 18, the Georgia World Congress Center Authority and Hilton broke ground on the Signia by Hilton Atlanta, a 40-story, 975-room headquarters hotel expected to open in late 2023. Located adjacent to Building C of the Georgia World Congress Center, the hotel is being developed in a joint public/private venture and will be the first newly-constructed Signia by Hilton in the world.

Owned by GWCCA and managed by Hilton Management Services, the property will overlook the Mercedes-Benz Stadium sports and entertainment complex and will be connected to the convention center. Featuring locally inspired architecture and contemporary design, it will offer modern guest rooms; a destination bar; a signature restaurant; premium wellness amenities; and 75,000 square feet of meeting and event space with two ballrooms, multiple meeting rooms and outdoor event space.

The Shay Hotel

Los Angeles will soon be welcoming a new boutique hotel: The Shay, a 148-room Destination by Hyatt hotel slated to open late fall 2021. Centrally located in Culver City, it houses 80,000 square feet of indoor/outdoor meeting space featuring dual cityscape and mountain views; state-of-the-art event tech resources; a 5,000 sq.-ft. elevated courtyard and other private and communal meeting spaces. Other features include a pool and lounge, a co-working space, game room, cocktail bar and two on-site dining concepts. 

The Westin Tempe 

Tempe, Arizona’s largest new hotel in nearly four decades is nearing completion and expected to debut in August. Centrally located in the city’s downtown district, The Westin Tempe will have 290 spacious guest rooms and suites as well as a sophisticated ambiance and design with biophilic elements.

Along with approximately 21,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space, the hotel will also feature three dining concepts including a signature restaurant offering contemporary Southwestern cuisine; an open-air rooftop bar and lounge on the 18^th floor featuring panoramic city and mountain views; and a quick-service bistro with grab-and-go options and retail merchandise.

Dollywood’s HeartSong Lodge & Resort 

The Dollywood Company has embarked on an ambitious investment strategy of investing more than half a billion dollars over the next 10 years across its Great Smoky Mountain properties in Tennessee. Announced June 3, one of the first projects to move forward is Dollywood’s HeartSong Lodge & Resort, a 302-room mountain lodge-style property currently under construction.

Set to open in 2023 adjacent to Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa, the five-story hotel will feature a grand atrium with four-story, lantern-inspired windows; themed guest rooms, suites and loft rooms; indoor and outdoor pools; an outdoor cove with gathering spaces; a communal firepit and screened-in porch; and 26,000 square feet of flexible indoor and outdoor meeting space.

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