NORTHEAST
With its inspiring views of both the Charles River and the Boston skyline, the 470-room Hyatt Regency Boston/Cambridge has completed an extensive renovation to showcase the hotel’s iconic architecture and enhance the guest experience. As a result, new nighttime lighting gives the property a dramatic presence on the Boston skyline. The building’s original 1976 façade has been redone surrounding the Porte cochere to reflect a more modern feel. All front desks have been repositioned to greet guests upon arrival, and the fitness center was moved to the lobby level and refreshed with new equipment.
In addition, the hotel’s 25,000 square feet of event space received a facelift, including the elegant 7,008-square-foot President’s Ballroom, prefunction areas and flexible breakout spaces. Finally, the new Paperback Tavern was created to provide an intimate dining experience perched high above the Charles River.
Opened in 1927 in Boston’s Back Bay, the 286-room Newbury Boston recently underwent a restoration and relaunch as a vibrant boutique hotel. Reimagined meeting spaces include the Assembly Ballroom, which can host up to 400 people in its airy, light-flooded 3,825 square feet. The 2,838-square foot Garden Room overlooks the Boston Public Garden and has a number of layout options for groups of up to 180. The 1,421-square-foot Ivy Salon is a private oasis with rich green velvet drapes and lush paintings, for more intimate gatherings of up to 75.
As part of a recent revamp, the 1,060-room Boston Park Plaza added two new meeting spaces called Avenue 34 & The Square, which, combined, offer 7,000 square feet of loft-like space with art deco stylings, an industrial-chic vibe and a flexible floor plan ideal for corporate events, meetings and more. The hotel now has a total of 70,000 square feet of event space.
SOUTHEAST
There’s more space to meet at the 1,338-room Caribe Royale Orlando thanks to a $127 million renovation that added the 50,000-square-foot Palms Ballroom to the mix. In addition, the resort debuted a dramatic expansion of the existing meeting and event space and, in total, the property now offers a hefty 220,000 square feet for events in four ballrooms, 58 breakout rooms and two boardrooms, all on a single level for ease of navigation, and including 20,000 square feet of outdoor function space.
But that’s not all. The resort completely updated its 1,215 one-bedroom suites with refreshed separate living room and bedroom areas, along with dedicated workspaces. Also reworked were the 120 two-bedroom villas, the lobby and other public spaces, and a new expanded menu and private dining space now grace the on-site Venetian Chop House.
A renovation of the 198-room Hilton Atlanta/Marietta Hotel and Conference Center has touched upon everything from the grand front drive and modern lobby to the back veranda, complete with rocking chairs, overlooking the resort’s 18-hole golf course. Planners will find 27,564 square feet of refreshed meeting space in 27 rooms, the largest of which spans 6,534 square feet. Nearby are attractions such as the Gone with the Wind Museum and, for Civil War buffs, Keenesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park.
In the heart of Charleston, S.C., the Ryder Hotel recently opened after a year-long renovation and rebrand of the former King Charles Inn. The transformed boutique property now has 91 guest rooms, some featuring floor-to-ceiling windows with sweeping views of the city’s historic quarters, while others offer French doors that lead to covered balconies overlooking the pool deck and courtyard below. A newly configured pool deck, restaurant and 1,045-square-foot hospitality suite contribute to a laid-back property-wide bohemian aesthetic.
MIDWEST
The 550-room Grand Traverse Resort and Spa in Traverse City, Mich., sports more than 86,500 square feet of refreshed meeting space following a recently completed three-year, nearly $3 million renovation. A highlight of the work is the revamped 10,000-square-foot Michigan Ballroom in the lobby, with a chic new design and natural colors, new locally made banquet tables and linen-less classroom tables. The ballroom also is equipped with a new state-of-the-art Crestron sound system, lighting and increased bandwidth.
Other meeting-space upgrades at the resort include a 100-square-foot private office for meeting planners and event staff; all-new digital signage providing custom messaging and vivid displays; all-new air walls for improved sound absorption and event privacy, and updated restrooms with touchless features. The property can host a total of up to 2,500 attendees.
The 356-room Grand Geneva Resort & Spa in Lake Geneva, Wis., has completed a transformation of its indoor lobby space and added a new outdoor dining facility. The resort’s lobby and lounge were reimagined as an open-concept space and designed to resemble a modern lodge, with expansive loft-like spaces that incorporate areas for dining, lounging, working and socializing. The new 60-seat restaurant, The Landing, is an outdoor patio space with a covered pergola, adjustable-height glass railings, overhead fans and heating, allowing guests to enjoy the space seasonally.
SOUTHWEST
With more than 1,000 guest rooms, the Sheraton Phoenix Downtown is the largest hotel in Arizona and stands transformed following a complete renovation designed to embrace community-fluid spaces that feel warm and inviting for both locals and visitors.
The work includes completely revamped guest rooms, elevated food and beverage offerings, and updated community spaces, including a new lobby featuring the brand’s signature “Community Table,” soundproof booths, four uniquely designed studios and more. Unveiled in March 2022 was a new signature restaurant, Carcara.
The hotel features 111,961 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space, including 26 event rooms, 20 breakout rooms and the 27,170-square-foot Grand Ballroom. All event spaces underwent a refresh with the installation of new high-speed WiFi, video-conferencing capabilities and audiovisual resources. The property is conveniently located within walking distance of the Phoenix Convention Center.
A massive $80 million transformation has completely refreshed the 1,238-room Sheraton Denver Downtown, including the heated rooftop outdoor pool, the 5,000-square-foot fitness center, diverse dining options and more than 133,000 square feet of flexible meeting space. The lobby now sports a town-square vibe, making it a comfortable atmosphere in which to work, meet and relax, while hotel rooms have new height-adjustable desks and free WiFi.
FAR WEST
Set within the picturesque backdrop of a spectacular coastline and historic downtown Monterey, Calif., the Portola Hotel & Spa features 379 newly renovated guest rooms, a handsome new lobby and 60,000 square feet of flexible meeting space in partnership with the adjacent Monterey Conference Center, plus 60,000 square feet of outdoor event space. As the Central Coast's first LEED-certified hotel, the property prides itself as a leader in sustainable hospitality.
On-site attractions include the award-winning Spa on the Plaza and four restaurants, including the new Jack’s Monterey, serving wide-ranging California and American cuisine. Nearby are the many famous Bay attractions such as the world-class Pebble Beach Golf Course, Fisherman’s Wharf, the Monterey Bay Aquarium and Cannery Row.
In the Greater Palm Springs area in California, the Miramonte Resort & Spa’s $9 million renovation and reimagining has transformed the property’s 11 secluded acres into a contemporary version of a classic Mediterranean retreat. The refresh includes a redesign of many of the 215 guest rooms, as well as renovated outdoor gathering spaces like the 22,300-square-foot outdoor patio, transformed to become the Olive Grove. The resort has 35,000+ square feet of multipurpose indoor and outdoor meeting space for up to 500 people.
Steps from the Pacific Ocean, the Viceroy Santa Monica has been a popular presence on the L.A. beach scene for 20 years and has just completed a renovation of its fitness center, pool, outdoor patio and open-air cabanas. The hotel’s 162 guest rooms are spacious, spanning up to 640 square feet for suites. In addition, an all-new art collection graces the walls, while the indoor/outdoor Sugar Palm Ocean Avenue restaurant offers new coastal flavors, a wraparound bar and space for banquets for up to 170 guests.