October | Montgomery | Adrianne Bowen

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Montgomery

Historic City Embraces Exciting Changes

“As Alabama’s capital city, Montgomery is the seat of state government and the catalyst for decisions that are far-reaching, not just when the legislature is in session, but throughout the year,” said Dawn Hathcock, vice president of the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce/Convention and Visitor Bureau (CVB). Referred to as the “birthplace of Civil War and Civil Rights,” the city is home to historic sites like the Confederate Memorial, the First White House of the Confederacy, the Alabama State Capitol, the Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church, the Civil Rights Memorial and Museum, and the Rosa Parks Library and Museum and Children’s Annex, Hathcock said.

But Montgomery is also embracing its future. according to Hathcock, who said several new downtown developments and major revitalization projects are under way.

The grand re-opening of Court Square Plaza took place this April, revealing a redesigned Court Square “that has returned it to a more historic look and feel,” she explained. The new square includes a cobblestone base, a roundabout, the opening of South Court Street and street side parking.

The work is part of a downtown beautification project that is also creating more green spaces and pedestrian areas such as the Dexter Avenue Streetscape project, which Hathcock said “will restore Dexter Avenue as a center of vibrant activity with retail shopping and pedestrian traffic” through restoring historic façades, rehabilitating buildings for various uses and creating a transit-supported environment. This includes the return of the Lightning Route railed trolley system.

Around-town access is also available through the new Lunch Trolley Express, which provides transportation to and from the more than 32 restaurants operating in the downtown area. Additional enhancements downtown include wireless Internet access and building façade improvements—all of which are set to drive more business and development to the area.

Along with a revived downtown, Montgomery’s riverfront is growing into a landscape ideal for visitors. Hathcock said, ”Montgomery is developing key anchor components for an expanded and revitalized Riverfront District.” These components include a new amphitheater, a multi-use stadium, a riverwalk and an expanded convention center.

In 2005, the 30-year-old Montgomery Civic Center began a $29 million transformation that, when completed in February 2008, will result in a convention center with an additional 73,000 square feet of exhibit space. Combined with the new 346-room Renaissance Montgomery Hotel and Spa at the Convention Center, planners will find a total of 143,000 square feet of function space. The expansion will also result in a new 1,800-seat performing arts center. “With the hotel and convention center, we are helping to change the face of downtown,” said Ray Ezelle, area director of sales for the Renaissance and its nearby sister properties.

The Renaissance is being developed by PCH Holdings at an estimated cost of $150 million. In addition to the convention center’s space, the hotel will feature a 14,000-square-foot ballroom and 18 breakout meeting rooms. Ezelle also said that groups would be able to gather at an upscale restaurant with indoor seating for more than 135, an outdoor terrace that has additional seating for 50 to 60, a main bar with more than 70 seats and an adjacent 1,200-square-foot pavilion complete with fire pits. Amenities will include a European-styled spa, a salon, a fitness center, a zero-entry pool with an entertainment deck and a running track.

Across from the new convention center, Hampton Inn and Suites is revitalizing a historic property that is expected to open in winter 2008, according to Hathcock. The rooms from the Renaissance and the Hampton combined with the existing 237 rooms from the adjacent Embassy Suites will increase the number of rooms within proximity of the convention center to more than 600. And, the nearby 170-room Madison Hotel is completing a multimillion-dollar renovation that includes all accommodations as well as meeting facilities and amenities, Hathcock added.

Among the developments under way in Montgomery, Ala., are several projects set to enhance the city’s riverfront.

While the convention center and hotel projects are moving forward, phase one of the Riverwalk was finalized earlier this year. Hathcock said groups will now find pedestrian walkways along the Alabama River, an outdoor pavilion, and boat docks. Additional work continues and is set to eventually extend the walkways farther along the river, connecting Maxwell Air Force Base with downtown and “creating a true gateway into the capital city,” Hathcock said. In addition, the Riverwalk Stadium, a baseball arena that opened in 2004, will soon be connected to the convention center by the “Alleyway” project, which will also include shops and restaurants.

Hathcock said these are just the key elements of the city’s ongoing riverfront development and downtown revitalization project, which is transitioning the city into a more meetings-friendly destination.

Don Armstrong, Montgomery Chapter of Construction Specification Institute (CSI) vice president, looks forward to these enhancements, as he recently worked with the city to bring in attendees from 16 CSI chapters around the South for an annual meeting. Armstrong said that at the root of the successful event was quality service by the staff at the Embassy Suites hotel and the CVB. “They helped us put quality touches on the conference.”

The 237-all-suites Embassy Suites Hotel Montgomery Downtown includes 15,000 square feet of meeting space with a main ballroom that can accommodate 720 guests and a junior ballroom with the capacity for 90 for dinner, according to Director of Sales Jennifer Sellers. With more than $7 million in renovations completed in June, the hotel now features upgraded suites with new bedding and furniture.

West Side/Airport

The new Gateway Park offers a nine-hole golf course and a full-service clubhouse with phase two bringing a lodge with additional meeting facilities, a playground and other amenities, Hathcock said.

The Montgomery Regional Airport recently completed a $40 million renovation and expansion, which Hathcock said included numerous enhancements to better accommodate travelers.

Nearby hotels include the 150-room Ramada Inn Airport, which offers complimentary high-speed Internet access and airport transportation along with two conference rooms, according to Hemant Patel, general manager.

East Side

Key Info · Sales Tax: 10 percent · Hotel Tax: 12.5 percent · Festivals: On the third Friday of each October, Montgomery’s riverfront plays host to The Riverbend Music Festival.

On Montgomery’s east side is the EastChase shopping center, which Hathcock said is a multi-phased outdoor lifestyle center concept featuring upscale shopping and dining. A brand new phase of shops is being added that will include a Costco and an Ulta cosmetics, as well as restaurants and other specialty shops.

The Hilton Garden Inn Montgomery East offers 97 rooms and 1,150 square feet of meeting space as well as a boardroom that seats 10. Tonya Cooper, sales and catering manager, said, “We are pleased to offer our guests the conveniences of both home and office while on the road.” The hotel recently added wireless Internet access throughout.

The Lexington Hotel Montgomery is currently undergoing a renovation that will upgrade the bedding package in all guest rooms, install wireless Internet access in the meeting rooms, and redesign public spaces. When the project is complete in early 2008, the hotel “will be absolutely amazing,” said Mary Anne Teeter, director of sales. “With more than 8,600 square feet of function space, the hotel is perfect for business or social events. Our meeting space can accommodate from 10 people in our boardroom to 350 people in our atrium.”

Prattville

North of Montgomery, the Marriott Montgomery Prattville Hotel and Conference Center at Capitol Hill has 90 rooms and overlooks the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail. The hotel underwent a renovation that added a new 8,000-square-foot ballroom, said Ezelle, who also manages sales at the PCH-owned hotel. “What truly sets the hotel apart is our understanding that the small details can make or break your Alabama convention,” he said. With 18,000 square feet of meeting space, including 13 venues, a pre-function area, and a covered patio, the hotel also offers several event services such as professionally trained on-site meeting managers, computerized projection and presentation equipment, high-speed Internet access, network capabilities, computer services, teleconferencing, and a full-service business center.

Auburn

About 50 miles east of Montgomery, Auburn, Ala., is home to Auburn University, two major meetings-focused hotels, a Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail course, and more.

According to John Wild, president of the Auburn and Opelika Tourism Bureau, the area offers groups great value and the opportunity to really receive “red carpet treatment.”

“In Auburn, groups really can be the big fish in a little pond. We offer fantastic meeting hotels, including an International Association of Conference Centers (IACC)-certified conference center, great golf, and the availability of the faculty and staff at Auburn University, which presents planners with the opportunity for attendees to earn continuing education units across just about any industry during their meeting,” Wild said. “Auburn’s expert faculty and staff are more than willing to serve as instructors, which is a major draw for many groups.”

Making the area even more appealing to groups is its Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail course, Grand National, which offers 54 holes across the Links Course, the Lakes Course and the Short Course.

The 129-room Marriott Auburn/Opelika Hotel and Conference Center at Grand National underwent a $2 million upgrade last year that included new carpeting throughout all public areas, meeting rooms and ballrooms. The exterior corridors are now enclosed, the restaurant was refurbished, and the hotel has received the new Marriott bedding with luxurious sheets, comforters with duvets laundered between every guest stay, and pillow-top mattresses, according to Jay Prater, general manager. “We are taking the hotel to the next level and implementing several Marriott enhancements found in resorts around the world.” The hotel includes 15,000 square feet of renovated event space, including 10 meeting rooms, a ballroom for up to 480 guests, and an indoor amphitheater, which Prater said provides an ideal videoconferencing location.

Renovations to the 247 guest rooms of The Hotel at Auburn University and Dixon Conference Center are set to begin in December, said Hans Van Der Reijden, managing director of hotel operations and educational initiatives at the IACC-certified property. “Enhancements will include flat-screen TVs, work desks, and décor that features black-and-white photography of the Auburn University campus.” The property offers 22,000 square feet of meeting space, including two ballrooms, an auditorium and nine breakout rooms.