NORTHEAST
Photo Credit: The Henson
Opened in summer 2024 in Hensonville in New York’s Northern Catskills, the Henson hotel is the result of a $3.5 million, 2.5-year restoration of a late 19th-century boarding house originally built shortly after the Civil War. First recorded as the Hensonville Hotel on a 1918 postcard, the long-neglected structure was reimagined by owners Ely and Danielle Franko as a 16-room boutique retreat where history, design and hospitality converge. With no formal training, the Frankos led every step off the work — demolishing walls, restoring finishes and rebuilding the structure while living on-site with their two young children.
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Beneath layers of adhesive and vinyl, the couple uncovered 12,000 square feet of original wood flooring, a patchwork of Douglas fir, wide-plank pine, wormy hemlock and hard maple, each room revealing a different chapter of the inn’s past. Where the floors couldn’t be salvaged, the Frankos laid new fir, leaving a deliberate footprint in the building’s ongoing story. What was once a weathered historic structure is now a destination for intimate stays and elevated events with a cozy living room, lots of antiques, 26,555 square feet of meeting space and lovely gardens.
In Farmington, Pa., Nemacolin features 280 guest rooms, suites and residences across a variety of accommodations. Following the hotel’s 2024 renovation, guests arrive at what’s called The Chateau through a grandiose porte cochere and into a breathtaking lobby with a roaring fireplace adorned with Macchia Oro polished marble. The magnificent fifth floor is the revamped Chateau Club Floor, where the Club Lounge acts as a lavish extension of the guest tower with central seating and display tables crowned by a trio of glimmering chandeliers and a uniquely coffered ceiling. In all, the renovation involved a spend of more than $500 million across the resort, including the more than 45,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space.
The 403-room Sonesta White Plains Downtown offers a dynamic experience with newly renovated spaces including guest rooms, event space and modern on-site dining, all only a quick train ride from New York City and seven miles from Westchester County Airport. The new guest rooms offer a balance of sophistication and comfort with fresh bedding, drapery and new appointments, while nearly 20,000 square feet of revamped, flexible meeting and event space keeps agendas moving forward. Attendees can enjoy locally sourced cuisine at an on-site restaurant and unwind in a deluxe indoor swimming pool. In the heart of historic White Plains, the property also is conveniently near major corporate offices such as MasterCard, MorganStanley and PepsiCo.
SOUTHEAST
Photo Credit: Grand Hyatt Atlanta in Buckhead
With the April 2025 completion of a multi-phased renovation, the 460-room Grand Hyatt Atlanta in Buckhead has achieved its goal of reimagining every facet of the property. For guests, this new experience begins right upon arrival, with a lobby clad in new marble floors and artwork. A repositioned front desk and lobby bar now have a three-story waterfall as a backdrop, while an adjacent new 24-hour market offers everything from gourmet foods to quick artisanal sandwiches. Also new is “The Fabled,” a sophisticated new lounge with a storytelling theme complete with creatively crafted cocktails and curated small plates.
On the meetings front, the hotel showcases over 42,000 square feet of refreshed indoor and outdoor spaces, thoughtfully updated to enhance events of all sizes. The Grand Ballroom, for example, features a newly elegant design and cutting-edge technology, accommodating up to 1,000 people, while meeting rooms offer new, modernized settings complete with fast Wi-Fi and advanced A/V capabilities. The outdoor West Terrace also has been re-envisioned, providing a serene garden backdrop with firepits for receptions or breakout sessions.
In August 2025, a two-phase, multimillion-dollar revamp was unveiled at the Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island, just off the South Carolina coast. The work touched upon the entire property, including the lobby, all 340 guest rooms, the spa, new poolside retail space and all five on-site food and beverage outlets. In addition, the resort’s total of more than 23,000 square feet of meeting and event space has been significantly upgraded, including 17 refreshed meeting rooms and the fully reimagined Santee Ballroom, a 10,000-square-foot venue that can host up to 1,110 guests.
Under the management of Remington Hospitality, the 478-room La Concha Key West completed a transformative $35 million renovation in December 2024 that upgraded the property from Renaissance to Autograph Collection by Marriott International. The work included the addition of the new seventh-floor Grand Dame Villas at the Rooftop, with a dedicated concierge, floor-to-ceiling windows and balconies overlooking Duval Street, plus revamped meeting space, some 1,300 square feet in all. Guests enjoy dining at the resort’s three outlets including Perla, offering a curated, elevated take on Cuban cuisine with a uniquely Key West twist.
MIDWEST
Photo Credit: The Talbott
A historic boutique property on Chicago’s Gold Coast and now also a member of Marriott’s Autograph Collection, the Talbott has reemerged as one of the Midwest’s premier hospitality destinations following a transformative renovation completed in spring 2025. Seamlessly blending its 1927 Georgian Revival architecture with modern elegance, the reimagined property offers a refreshed guest experience perfectly suited for meeting planners, incentive travel organizers and corporate groups.
Among the results of the revamp: All 178 guest rooms and suites received a full refurbishing, balancing clean design with high-touch amenities like plush linens, Nespresso machines and K-three vintage speakers. The hotel’s meeting space, enough to accommodate up to 100 people, underwent a refresh that included the 903-square-foot Reed Room, now able to host corporate conferences or elegant receptions for up to 75 guests. A new modern fitness center and upgraded Laurel restaurant (serving Mediterranean cuisine) further burnish the property’s allure.
For more than 130 years, The Pfister Hotel has been an iconic landmark in downtown Milwaukee, and today’s guests are still in awe as they enter the property and take in its breathtaking original Romanesque Revival design, much of it recently restored during a $20 million renovation. The work included updates to the hotel's storied ballrooms and event spaces (totaling more than 25,000 square feet), 307 guest rooms (new artwork, crown moldings, upgraded bathrooms), a restoration of the lobby’s iconic domed ceiling as well as other signature historic elements throughout.
In Lake Geneva, Wis., the 358-room Grand Geneva Resort & Spa has completed a full renovation of its more than 62,000 square feet of event space, all transformed with new layouts and décor. This includes the picturesque Evergreen Ballroom with lake views, ideal for up to 360 guests, and the Grand Ballroom, accommodating up to 576 people. Even the spacious Bay Boardrooms, hosting up to 12 guests each, have been upgraded with the latest technology, large-screen televisions and a fresh, professional design. The resort’s 358 guest rooms and suites were updated in 2023, while still to come are upgrades to the spa and golf facilities.
SOUTHWEST
Photo Credit: Grand Hyatt Scottsdale
Following a recent $115 million property-wide refresh, the Grand Hyatt Scottsdale sports 496 freshly appointed guest rooms, an expanded pool and cabana offerings and six elevated dining experiences in partnership with celebrity chef Richard Blais, including Tiki Taka, where Japanese sushi and Spanish tapas meet in a vibrant, playful setting. In addition, improvements were made to the on-site Spa Avania, along with expanded group meeting facilities now totaling 90,000 square feet of indoor/outdoor space and including the new 24,000-square-foot Arizona Ballroom.
In a nod to the spirit of Frank Lloyd Wright, the resort’s refreshed design invites guests to better connect with the spirit of the American Southwest, with open spaces mingling harmoniously with the natural landscape. At the on-site Gainey Ranch, for example, guests can enjoy running, walking or biking through a stunning terrain.
Just five years after opening its doors, the 1,501-room Gaylord Rockies Resort began its second phase of enhancements and expansion, introducing four new dining concepts, a reconceived Grand Lodge and the new Mountain View Pavilion, a 12,118-square-foot event venue with an expansive turfed lawn, part of the resort’s 500,000 square feet of flexible meeting and event space. All of this latest work was completed in November 2024, with each new space uniquely designed to support both leisure and event capabilities.
An Old Town Scottsdale icon since 1956, the Hotel Valley Ho completed an $18 million renovation in January 2025. All 241 guest rooms now feature eco-conscious elements, a color palette inspired by Arizona sunsets, and custom art and furnishings. Citrus Grove, a stunning new outdoor event venue, is surrounded by citrus trees, a flowing fountain and lush greenery, perfect for a sunset cocktail hour. In all, the property has 13,246 square feet of private meeting space, 19,250 square feet of semiprivate space and 23,000 square feet of outdoor space.
At the base of the Santa Catalina Mountains in Tucson, Ariz., the 486-room Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa recently completed a renovation of the La Paloma Country Club banquet room, part of the resort’s 92,355 square feet of event space. The work included the removal of columns from the center of the room to enhance the flow and accommodate larger events. There are 30 meeting rooms in all at the property, the largest of which spans 17,479 square feet.
FAR WEST
Photo Credit: Grand Hyatt Indian Wells
Fresh from a $64 million renovation completed in the fall of 2024, the Grand Hyatt Indian Wells Resort & Villas has burnished its reputation as a top-tier destination for meetings and incentives. In a picturesque desert locale in Greater Palm Springs, Calif., the resort now sports an improved 88,000 square feet of flexible meeting and event space, including the 20,000-square-foot Indian Wells Ballroom, featuring striking views and able to host up to 2,200 guests, and the lovely outdoors Verbena Terrace, perfect for receptions of up to 300 or banquets for up to 200 people.
Also revamped are the property’s 531 uniquely designed guest rooms (including 39 suites and 43 villas), now with more spacious living areas and private balconies. A water park and a golf course are just some of the additional on-site attractions at this iconic resort.
Having completed a multimillion-dollar renovation, the Sonesta Los Angeles Airport LAX redefines what travelers can expect from an airport hotel. The transformation touched every corner of the property: All 614 guest rooms and suites were refreshed with sleek, contemporary design, including plush bedding, soundproof double-pane windows, ergonomic workstations and 55-inch Smart TVs. Also reimagined were the hotel’s four dining outlets and more than 14,000 square feet of meeting space, now modernized with new carpeting, ambient lighting, contemporary furnishings and an upgraded A/V infrastructure.
A recent $26 million investment allowed for a true transformation of the Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa, a hacienda-style resort nestled between San Diego’s seaside villages of La Jolla and Del Mar. All aspects of the guest experience were touched upon, from the expanded and revitalized 47,000 square feet of indoor/outdoor meeting space, now enhanced with cutting-edge technology, to the 210 refreshed guest rooms, all with private balconies or patios. The hotel’s charming courtyards and verdant gardens form a perfect backdrop for both work and play.
INTERNATIONAL AND U.S. TERRITORIES
Photo Credit: Tropicana Los Cabos
In a destination known for grand-scale resorts, the Tropicana Los Cabos in Mexico offers something distinctly different: a newly reimagined boutique property designed to deliver immersive, high-touch experiences. Following a thoughtful top-to-bottom renovation, the hotel now seamlessly blends historic charm with modern functionality and contemporary aesthetics, creating a refined setting where groups can engage and celebrate with ease.
Located in San José del Cabo’s historic art district, the hotel has refreshed its 70 guest rooms, wellness center, two restaurants, two bars, open-air yoga terrace, pool and Jacuzzi. The total 8,353 square feet of meeting space now has a capacity of up to 130 people along with increased A/V and Wi-Fi capabilities. Planners also will appreciate the buyout capabilities, ease of indoor/outdoor spaces and custom catering menus that showcase local ingredients.
In the Bahamas, the 3,805-room Atlantis Paradise Island has completed a $150 million top-down renovation, including updates to the casino and guest rooms. New are Paranza, a restaurant helmed by Michelin-starred chef Michael White, and numerous improvements to the resort’s more than 500,000 square feet of indoor/outdoor event space, including the 50,000-square-foot Imperial Ballroom and 21 unique outdoor event locations. In general, all of the updates emulate the ethos of Atlantis and include custom fixtures and design details evocative of the ocean and ecosystems found throughout the Bahamas.
A multimillion-euro renovation blending heritage with modern sophistication has been completed at the 180-room Europe Hotel & Resort in Killarney, Ireland. Among the new features are 11 Premier Lakeview Rooms and five Golfside Signature Suites, all designed to offer memorable views of the surrounding 26,000 acres of national parkland, while the reimagined 2,500-square-foot Presidential Suite sports an elegant reception foyer and grand living and dining room with fireplace. The property also offers 18,138 square feet of meeting space across 13 rooms, including the Conference & Events Center with direct access to outdoor terraces.