Hotel renovations pay off in a variety of ways: greater guest satisfaction, improved efficiency and a sharper competitive edge in a crowded hospitality marketplace. For travel advisors and meeting planners, property makeovers can also provide enticing new options for both leisure and MICE travelers — especially when upgrades reflect how guests travel and do business today.
Recent reports confirm the popularity of large-scale property upgrades. Lodging Econometrics, for example, recently noted that hotel renovations and conversions represented some 2,097 projects and more than 255,000 rooms in the second quarter of 2026, a 7 percent jump from the same period in 2025. A study published in Cornell Hospitality Quarterly, meanwhile, found that capital expenditures on renovations can deliver significant short-term gains in revenue, profitability and customer satisfaction.
While the word “renovated” sounds attractive for any hotel, the most effective projects take into consideration a variety of important factors, according to multiple advisors and planners.
Function Over Flash
For travel advisors, the most worthwhile upgrades often lie in the small details. “For me, the biggest improvements aren't necessarily the flashiest ones,” said Karen Carifee, the Texas-based owner of Wanderlust Travel Jetsetter, an independent agency in the Avoya Network. “I look at the things that are going to make my clients stay more comfortable. Updated bathrooms, comfortable beds and bedding, good air conditioning, better lighting, plenty of outlets and charging options and functional storage all matter.”
Maggie Moran, a travel advisor at Stanley Travel, an affiliate of Fora Travel in Dallas, Texas, also looks for more than just a pretty revamp. “When I recommend a renovated hotel, I look for a redesign with a story,” she said. “The best renovations honor a property’s history while updating rooms and shared spaces for how clients travel today: generous bathrooms, comfortable places to work, all-day casual food and drink, and intuitive but not overcomplicated technology.”
A focus on wellness — especially sleep — is also increasingly important, according to Karina Kavanagh, founder of Seven, a travel agency in Chicago. “I'm seeing major questions from the Gen Z luxury crowd on hotel renos in [those] two areas,” she said. “Luxury hotels that aren't putting money into spas, elevated gyms and supporting restful sleep — [with elements like] soundproofing, blackouts, even pillow menus — are moving further and further down the list.”
Spaces That Serve Multiple Agendas
Meeting planners are similarly exacting in how they view renovations — and at an even larger scale, since they must consider aspects that are important to individual guests as well as business-minded groups.
“When I evaluate a hotel property for operational improvements or design, the most important thing is the flow of the meeting space,” said Kathy Hedlund, senior director, global accounts at HelmsBriscoe in Oro Valley, Ariz. “Is it convenient and does it flow well? If the meeting space is on multiple floors, how is the accessibility? Are there elevators, escalators, stairs? We need convenience so people don’t get lost.”
Michelle Showalter, the Oceanside, Calif.-based events manager at Avoya Travel, points out the importance of issues like capacity, acoustics and staff readiness. “When evaluating a newly renovated hotel, I look beyond the finishes to how well the space will actually work for our event,” she said. “More meeting space is always helpful, but it can be hard to find. What matters most is how thoughtfully the hotel uses the space it has and how easily that space can adapt. Acoustics are a big consideration, too. A ballroom may look beautiful, but if hard flooring makes a roundtable session too loud for people to have a conversation, that affects how we can use it.”
Showalter also appreciates renovations that allow for more flexibility. “If you are able to break up rooms in different layouts, incorporate different seating arrangements, add in different lighting and stage settings, it adds so much more to the event experience and leaves people wanting more,” she said.
Hedlund concurs about the value of renovated meeting space that allows for multiple uses. “If your meeting space is all in the same areas, movable walls provide a lot of flexibility to be creative with your attendees, without wasting valuable time,” she said. “The walls can be open and closed for unique and creative experiences.”
The Many Roles of a Renovated Hotel
Even leisure travelers are likely to prefer renovations that provide multipurpose spaces — whether it’s a shimmering new swimming pool, a re-imagined restaurant or work-friendly guest rooms and public areas.
“Now that travelers can, and often do, work remotely even while on vacation, work-friendly spaces in common areas can make a hotel feel more inviting and welcoming to travelers,” said Moran. “I know I would much rather work in a lobby or bar than in my guest room, and I know my clients feel the same. Lobbies, bars and restaurants need comfortable seating options that allow guests to settle in with a laptop.”
Planners are, logically, also drawn to hotel revamps that make it easy to mix business with pleasure. “We have started to incorporate co-working lounges at one of our events, and I think they could be more beneficial and useful if created in the correct way,” said Showalter.
Hedlund said that refurbishments should take into consideration the dual purpose of guest rooms for MICE attendees. “Your sleeping room should be comfortable with nice couch/chairs for relaxing and working after hours,” she said. “Creativity and flexibility in hotels are key.”
Accurate and detailed communication is crucial for hoteliers who are touting recent improvements, according to Carifee. “Simply telling travel advisors that a hotel is ‘newly renovated’ isn't enough,” she said. “I want to know exactly what was renovated and when. Current photos are also extremely important. I want to know that the room I'm showing my client is actually representative of what they are going to receive when they arrive. As travel advisors, we are the ones setting expectations before our clients ever walk through the hotel doors. The more accurate information a hotel gives us, the better we can do that.”
Design With a Sense of Place
Renovations that make the most of a property’s uniqueness are especially enticing for today’s travelers, according to Moran. “I look for renovations that preserve a hotel’s personality and sense of place while making it feel fresh and current,” she said. “When a redesign strips away a property’s soul in favor of generic whiteness and sameness, that is a real miss.”
Laurie Buege, executive assistant at Interstate Companies in Egan, Minn., praises the Radisson Blu Mall of America as an ideal example of a hotel with one-of-a-kind appeal. “The Radisson Blu meeting spaces are unique and unlike any others in the area,” she said. “Most of their meeting spaces have windows, are very comfortable and ambient.”
Creating a unique atmosphere was part of the plan, according to Kate Anastasi, the hotel’s area director of sales and marketing. “Travelers may not remember every design detail of a hotel, but they absolutely remember how a hotel made their stay or event feel,” she said. “The best renovations anticipate how people want to travel, gather, work, celebrate and connect today, and then create an environment that makes all of that easier and more memorable.”
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Radisson Blu Mall of America: Bringing the Destination Into the Stay
For travelers visiting Minnesota, where they stay can be just as much a part of the experience as where they go. Radisson Blu Mall of America is giving guests another reason to make Bloomington their home base, with a multi-year property renovation bringing elements of the state’s natural landscape into all 500 guest suites.
Inspired by Minnesota’s lakes and rivers, the newly renovated suites reflect the landscapes that define the state, incorporating curved forms, layered textures, and a palette of cool blues, deep greens, and warm neutrals. The design takes inspiration from the waterways surrounding Bloomington, helping connect the guest experience to the destination.
That sense of place extends throughout the property, including the lobby, meeting spaces, and on-location restaurant, FireLake Grill House & Cocktail Bar, where Minnesota-inspired design details, including reclaimed local barn wood, complement a menu rooted in the region. Together, the renovated accommodations, dining experience, and location give travelers an easy way to experience more of Minnesota even before stepping outside.
And there is plenty to discover beyond the property. Directly connected to Mall of America and offering 26,300 square feet of meeting and event space, Radisson Blu Mall of America puts shopping, dining, and entertainment right outside the door, while its Bloomington location provides a convenient starting point for exploring the wider Twin Cities and surrounding natural landscapes.
For travel advisors and planners, this offers a way to build a stay around different kinds of travelers, from clients seeking a lively city getaway to those looking to combine Minnesota’s attractions with time outdoors. After a day of exploring, guests can return to a comfortable hotel that carries the feeling of the destination with them.
Learn more about Radisson Blu Mall of America and its newly renovated guest suites here. For more information on meeting and events spaces, visit here.
