Hotel News: Omni Hotels & Resorts Prepares to Debut in Raleigh, Unveils New Meeting and Event Spaces at Historic Homestead Resort

October 5, 2023

Omni Hotels & Resorts is continuing to expand into new U.S. cities while elevating existing luxury properties to meet the ever-changing needs of leisure and business guests, including corporate meetings groups. Take a look!

Omni Raleigh Hotel

Omni Hotels & Resorts will soon be debuting in Raleigh, NC. On Sept. 19, the Raleigh City Council voted to direct staff to enter into negotiations with the hotel and resort company to develop a much-anticipated convention hotel in the city’s downtown. Expected to open in 2027, the Omni Raleigh Hotel will be built on a more than one-acre lot across from the Raleigh Convention Center and Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts.

As the third Omni property in the state and the first for the capital city, the new hotel is expected to include 550 guest rooms, 55,000 square feet of meeting space, several food and beverage outlets, a rooftop pool, a spa and a fitness center.  

“This is a tremendous opportunity for the City of Raleigh and Wake County,” said Raleigh Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin. “We’ve been envisioning a new convention center hotel downtown for years. We are now one step closer to making it happen.”

Omni Raleigh Hotel

The new hotel will not only open up greater possibilities for more conferences, conventions and events at the Raleigh Convention Center but also generate stronger economic impact for the city and state, according to Kerry Painter, general manager and director of The Raleigh Convention and Performing Arts Complex, which manages the Raleigh Convention Center, Red Hat Amphitheater, Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts and Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek.

“The market has outgrown the available hotel room blocks within walking distance of the Raleigh Convention Center, limiting availability for incoming meetings, conventions and sports groups,” Painter said. 

She added that Wake County’s Destination Strategic Plan 2028 included a recommendation for a full-service convention hotel with a minimum of 500 rooms to help increase tourism and promote economic development for the area.  

The increase in downtown room inventory will also support the future expansion of the Raleigh Convention Center, for which plans were recently approved by the City Council and County Commissioners, using tax money from hotel stays and restaurant meals. 

According to Visit Raleigh officials, the venue’s renovation is expected to add 500,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, including 30 additional breakout rooms and 50,000-square-foot and 30,000-square-foot flex halls.

Besides satisfying a strong need for more guest rooms in the city’s downtown, the new convention hotel will also serve as an addition to Omni’s growing portfolio of more than 50 luxury hotels in the U.S. and Canada, according to Omni Hotels & Resorts officials.

“We are thrilled to be joining the downtown community in Raleigh and are inspired by its continued economic growth,” said Kurt Alexander, president of Omni Hotels & Resorts. “Omni Hotels & Resorts is committed to providing elevated hospitality experiences which align with this dynamic destination. It is an honor to be entrusted by the City of Raleigh to develop and manage this property while forging unique and authentic connections with the local community.” 

The Omni Raleigh Hotel is being developed in partnership with Preston Hollow Community Capital and Provident Resources Group. 

“We look forward to working with Omni and the City of Raleigh to tell the story of Raleigh through design features and themes of this new property to showcase all our area has to offer,” said Dennis Edwards, president and CEO of Visit Raleigh. “With Omni’s expertise in the meetings and the convention market, this new convention center hotel will undoubtedly boost visitation across all travel segments and be a welcomed asset to the convention center campus.”

The Omni Homestead Resort

The Omni Homestead Resort, a historic hotel situated on 2,300 acres within the Allegheny Mountains of southwestern Virginia, has expanded its event and meeting spaces as part of a more than two-year, $150 million property-wide renovation set to be completed Oct. 18. 

The Omni Homestead double room

Led by leading multidisciplinary design firm WATG and its interiors studio Wimberly Interiors, the extensive project also includes façade improvements, renovations of its 483 guest rooms and suites, balcony deck work, a new associate housing building and the historic rehabilitation of the Warm Springs Pools. 

“The near completion of our extensive renovation marks a turning point in defining what true luxury hospitality means,” said Mark Spadoni, managing director at The Omni Homestead Resort. “Our talented design team meticulously updated the meeting and event spaces, allowing us to completely reimagine what the guest experience looks like and cater to ever-evolving event needs.” 

To satisfy the demands of meeting groups, The Omni Homestead Resort will unveil a new indoor and outdoor 4,000-square-foot event pavilion with cutting-edge design elements set against stunning mountain views. 

The resort’s existing 72,000 square feet of meeting space has been refreshed, with a focus on advanced functionality and revived interiors. Additional renovations to its 28 meeting rooms include refinished wood floors along with new carpeting, furniture, wallcoverings, acoustic ceiling tiles, furniture and light fixtures with an architectural and functional focus. 

The Omni Homestead Crystal Room

Slated for completion in October, the Old Course Pavilion, located at the north end of the Old Course driving range, is available for special events serving up to 225 guests.  

Theater 1923, a breakout facility for keynote speakers that celebrates its 100th year this year, has received a classic yet modern update. The viewing area has been converted from theater seats to sofa settees, lounge chairs and side tables suitable for a variety of events, while new audio-video technology allows for the projection booth to be transformed into an elegant, signature cocktail bar. 

Enhancements elevating the resort’s food and beverage venues include Pioneer Picnic, a fast-casual, family-friendly dining experience; grab-and-go café Martha’s Market; the Presidential Lounge, a new speakeasy-style lounge; Jefferson’s Restaurant and Taproom; Rubino’s at The Cascades; and the American Audubon Dining Room.  

Welcoming guests since 1766, The Omni Homestead Resort became part of Omni Hotels & Resorts on July 1, 2013.   

Have some recent meetings hotel news to share? Please send announcements and high-resolution images to lpsavas@tsnn.com.

 

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