Kentucky
Bowling Green
Bowling Green Area CVB: CVB officials have announced the completion of a Hilton Garden Inn in August. Located across the street from the Sloan Convention Center, the hotel has 133 guest rooms and 1,863 square feet of divisible meeting space, accommodating up to 200, banquet style.
The Historic Railpark and Train Museum opened its doors for daily operation over the Labor Day weekend. Inside the depot is meeting space available for receptions up to 200 people, or a smaller group up to 48 can rent the 1949 Pullman Standard Dining Car that sits on the tracks outside.
Lexington
Griffin Gate Marriott Resort & Spa (859) 231-5100;
Online Listing;
www.griffingatemarriott.com This summer, the hotel opened a $1.7 million, 7,000-square-foot, full-service spa. Other enhancements include the expansion of its meeting space to 21,000 square feet, the addition of an outdoor venue for up to 550 people, new fitness center equipment, and a new restaurant.
Hilton Suites Lexington Green: The 174-room hotel welcomed 2007 with a new look after completing a $6 million renovation that included upgrades to its four meeting rooms.
Hyatt Regency Lexington: In December 2006, The Procaccianti Group purchased the 365-room hotel and announced plans to complete a $14 million renovation. The project is set to be completed in mid-2008.
Kentucky Horse Park: The 1,200-acre horse park is expanding to offer a 200-room hotel by the end of 2008; an indoor, state-of-the-art arena, which will include nine luxury sky boxes; a 10,000-square-foot exhibit hall; a 20,700-square-foot exhibit hall and a number of smaller exhibit areas ranging from 6,000 to 11,900 square feet. The arena will provide for 5,700 fixed chairs, TV broadcast capabilities, catered food services and concessions.
Lexington Center: Earlier this year, center officials released a CD-Rom showcasing the facility’s recent renovations to its 18 meeting rooms that encompass 139,000 square feet of meeting space and the Rupp Arena, which offers a capacity of 23,000.
Louisville
Louisville CVB: In 2006, officials unveiled plans to build a $252 million arena complex. The arena site is blocks from the city’s downtown convention facility. Plans call for the arena to offer 22,000 seats and have an adjoining 475-room hotel. Completion is scheduled for early 2010.
21c Museum Hotel: Opened in 2006 with 8,000 square feet of meeting space and 91 guest rooms.
The Brown, A Camberley Hotel: The hotel renovated all the guest bathrooms with custom-made marble countertops, and 4,000 square feet of meeting space was added in early 2007.
Executive West Hotel: Will be re-branded late next year as a Crowne Plaza Hotel following a multimillion-dollar renovation. A complete makeover at an expected cost of $20 million to $28 million is planned to bring the hotel up to Crowne Plaza’s standards.
Galt House Hotel & Suites: A $60 million renovation project is now complete and features 700 newly renovated guest rooms, 600 guest suites and 120,000 square feet of meeting space. Wireless Internet is now available in all guest rooms and public spaces.
Kentucky Exposition Center: The Kentucky Exposition Center’s East Wing/East Hall are undergoing a major transformation that will convert the 215,000 square feet into Class “A” space, according to center officials.
