February 2008 | Galveston, Texas | By Bill Carter

A Historic Island With Sophisticated Charm

Site Visit By Bill Carter
I was invited to Galveston last October to experience two of its premier meeting properties, the 226-room Hotel Galvez, built in 1911 and known as “the Queen of the Gulf,” and the 119-room Tremont House, which traces its history back to 1839, although it has only been in its current location since 1985. Both Wyndham-managed properties are members of Historic Hotels of America and are Four-Diamond recipients, and the Hotel Galvez has the distinction of a listing on the National Register of Historic Places.

Like private estates, the Hotel Galvez, A Wyndham Historic Hotel, and Tremont House - A Wyndham Historic Hotel, have loving care bestowed on them by the 88-year-old Texas billionaire who owns them. Born in Galveston and still passionate about his beloved hometown, George Mitchell, a wildcatter oilman ranked 135 on the Forbes 400 roster of wealthiest Americans, made his real estate reputation as developer of Houston’s The Woodlands, the first master-planned community in the United States. He applies the same sophisticated vision for detail and luxury to his two Galveston hotels.

Hotel Galvez underwent a renovation in 2006 that restored it to the grandeur that symbolized Galveston’s status as the richest U.S. city at the turn of the 20th century, thanks to its port and Texas cotton. The Hotel Galvez of 2007 blends a step back in time experience with modern amenities, from the finest bedding and marble bathrooms to a new 9,600-square-foot spa. The hotel’s signature restaurant is Bernardo’s, known to discriminating locals for its fresh Gulf seafood, steaks and pasta.

Tremont House is located in Galveston’s historic Strand district, which features more than 100 shops, galleries and restaurants, many of them housed in historic Victorian structures that Mitchell helped to preserve. Classic design features include a four-story atrium lobby and 11-foot-tall windows, as well as a birdcage elevator. The Tremont’s signature restaurant is the Merchant Prince, which specializes in fresh seafood and steaks, as well as a tapas-styled menu.

Patty Rouse, area director of sales for Galveston’s Hotel Galvez and Tremont House, said the destination has the ability to infuse a one-of-a-kind experience into an event. “Galveston is so unique as a destination and has so much to offer that attendees can’t find in other cities.”