Texas
Allen
Allen Chamber of Commerce: John Q. Hammons announced plans in July to develop a 225-room, 10-story, full-service Courtyard by Marriott Hotel in Allen adjacent to the recently announced 7,500-seat, $50 million Allen Event Center.
Hammons is also developing a 280-suite, 10-story Embassy Suites Hotel and an 80,000-square-foot convention center in The Village at Fairview, which is across the street from the Allen development.
Amarillo
Amarillo Convention & Visitor Council: New in 2007 are the 160-room Drury Inn and Suites and the extended-stay Value Place.
Tri-State Fairgrounds: CVB officials report that a 54,000-square-foot multipurpose facility has been added to the Tri-State Fairgrounds, expanding the stall capacity to 1,100.
Arlington
Arlington CVB (800) 433-5374;
Online Listing;
www.arlington.org In 2009, phase one of Glorypark, an upscale retail and dining development within walking distance of Rangers Ballpark in Arlington and the new Dallas Cowboys Stadium, will open with at least one new convention hotel and numerous evening entertainment options.
Austin
Austin CVB: Scheduled for completion in 2009, a new W hotel will anchor a $225 million project in the Second Street District, which will be home to the new Austin Children’s Museum, new studios for “Austin City Limits,” and a nightclub co-owned by the television show’s pilot star, Willie Nelson. A Marriott hotel complex will open in 2009 with a 650-room Marriott, a 200-room Renaissance, and a 150-room Springhill Suites by Marriott. Together, the hotels will house 50,000 square feet of meeting space and two large ballrooms.
AT&T Executive Education & Conference Center: Under-construction meeting facility that will offer 75,000 square feet of meeting space, including tiered classrooms, case-study and breakout rooms, an amphitheater, and three dining rooms, when it opens in 2008.
Barton Creek Resort & Spa: Expanded its ballroom to accommodate up to 1,000 guests. The ballroom now features large windows with views of the Fazio Foothills golf course.
Best Western Seville Plaza Inn: In the spring of 2007, the hotel completed renovations to its meeting space, guest rooms and public spaces, plus now features state-of-the-art audio/visual equipment.
Courtyard by Marriott Austin Downtown/Convention Center: New hotel located across the street from the Austin Convention Center with 6,600 square feet of meeting space.
Crowne Plaza Austin North Central: Formerly a Red Lion Hotel, the property was undergoing a $6 million renovation that upgraded it to Crowne Plaza standards. The hotel features 292 guest rooms and 12,000 square feet of function space.
Holiday Inn Austin Town Lake: Was slated to undergo a $5 million renovation beginning in April of this year that would include guest rooms, public spaces and meeting rooms.
Hyatt Regency - Austin: Recently completed an $8 million renovation project that included all of the hotel’s 448 guest rooms.
Lakeway Resort & Spa: Completed a $15 million redevelopment that included the addition of a “glass ballroom,” which features walls of floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the lake and new swimming pools; a full-service spa and fitness center; and additional meeting space.
Renaissance Austin Hotel: Recently completed the final phase of a $6 million renovation that upgraded all guest rooms with new bedding packages, added a new Internet café, and renovated the hotel’s fitness center, including the addition of new equipment.
Sheraton Austin: Underwent extensive renovations last year as part of its conversion from a Marriott property. Upgrades were made in each guest room, and Sheraton’s signature amenities and services were added. The hotel offers more than 17,000 square feet of meeting space.
Beaumont
MCM Eleganté Hotel & Conference Center: Renovations have transformed the hotel into an elegant meeting space, according to local tourism officials.
Boerne
Ye Kendall Inn: Located near San Antonio, the 34-room inn is a historic property that recently was transformed into a full-service hotel with a state-of-the-art 5,000-square-foot conference center, a restaurant and an Aveda spa.
Dallas
Dallas CVB: Work continues on the development of the 72-acre Victory Park in Uptown Dallas, where a new Ritz-Carlton property has opened. Also on the horizon is the 120-room Mandarin Oriental, set to open in 2009, also in Victory Park.
As of this summer, the largest capital development plan in DFW International Airport’s history ($2.7 billion) is now complete, doubling its capacity to 250 gates. A Grand Hyatt Hotel in the international terminal opened in July 2005.
In the last five years, developers have invested more than $95 million in the historic downtown Main Street district, creating an all-new 24-hour environment including shops and restaurants.
City Council members continue to push ahead plans to build a convention center hotel to prevent “falling significantly behind in the convention/trade show business,” according to CVB officials, who hope to open the facility by 2011, in time for the Super Bowl.
Dallas Convention Center: Undergoing an expansion that will include a new 20,000-square-foot ballroom to complement its current offerings.
Fairmont Hotel – Dallas: Underwent a $28 million renovation of its lobby, guest rooms and meeting space.
Great Wolf Lodge: Set to open this year, the north woods-themed, 400-suite Great Wolf Lodge will include an 80,000-square-foot entertainment area with a year-round water park, an arcade, an Aveda Concept Spa and a fitness room.
Hilton Anatole: Scheduled for completion in December 2007, the Hilton Anatole has launched a $45 million transformation of its 700 tower guest rooms and the majority of its meeting rooms. The Hilton Anatole is working to reinforce its position as one of the most requested meetings venues in the nation.
Hotel Palomar Dallas: The new Kimpton property opened last year with 9,000 square feet of meeting space and 198 guest rooms.
The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas: New hotel opened in the Victory Park area of Uptown Dallas. Hotel offers 218 rooms and suites, a 12,000-square-foot spa and 14,000 square feet of meeting space.
DFW Airport
Hyatt Regency DFW: Underwent the final stage of a $32 million transformation of its guest rooms. The hotel, located inside DFW Airport, offers 92,000 square feet of meeting space.
El Paso
El Paso CVB: This June, the Butterfield Trail Golf Club, a par-72 course designed by Tom Fazio, opened to the public.
The Outlet Shoppes of El Paso is schedule to open October with more than 80 stores.
Hilton Garden Inn El Paso opened in November 2006 with 153 guest rooms and 3,700 square feet of meeting space. The property is located near the University of Texas at El Paso and offers a Bhutanese or Tibetan motif that is said to compliment the architectural style found throughout the university’s campus.
A new Doubletree hotel is set to open in spring 2009 with 200 rooms. The hotel’s development is another step in the city’s downtown revitalization effort.
El Paso Convention & Performing Arts Center: Opened the Plaza Theatre Philanthropy Annex, which includes three different venues, including The Oasis, a banquet area with a bar; the Philanthropy Theatre, which offers 191 seats; and the Alcantar Sky Garden, a private rooftop patio. The annex is located alongside the recently restored, 2,000-seat Plaza Theatre.
Flower Mound
Lakeside Resort & Residences: Benchmark Hospitality’s Lakeside Resort & Residences recently broke ground at Lake Grapevine. The property, scheduled to open in the fall of 2008, will have 289 guest rooms, a 25,000 square-foot conference center, two water-view restaurants, a 12,000-square-foot spa and an outdoor pool with a lazy river.
Fort Worth
Fort Worth CVB: A new development project called Trinity Uptown will contain retail and entertainment outlets.
Adjacent to the Fort Worth Convention Center, plans are under way to open an Omni hotel in 2008 with 608 rooms.
Doral Tesoro Hotel & Golf Club: The 286-room hotel has undergone an expansion and renovation that added a 5,500-square-foot enclosed pavilion to its 29,000 square feet of meeting space.
Embassy Suites Fort Worth – Downtown: Located across from the Bass Performance Hall, the property opened in April with 156 two-room suites and a 6,000-square-foot convention center.
Fort Worth Convention Center: Officials with the Fort Worth CVB announced the completion of a $75 million renovation and expansion that brings the facility to 253,226 square feet of exhibit space.
Hilton Fort Worth: The 294-room property opened in 2006 after a nearly $14 million renovation that included guest rooms, common areas and all 35,000 square feet of meeting space. Guest rooms now feature the Hilton Serenity Bed and the Hilton Serenity Bath Collection. A new restaurant, lounge, fitness center and business center round out the new additions.
Radisson Fort Worth Fossil Creek: The 247-room property announced its new look this year with enhancements made to guest rooms, 13,000 square feet of meeting space, food and beverage outlets, and public areas.
Sheraton Fort Worth Hotel & Spa: Opening adjacent to the Fort Worth Convention Center in spring 2008 with 430 guest rooms and 22,000 square feet of meeting space.
Frisco
Frisco CVB: Three new hotels are under construction in Frisco, including the Homewood Suites and the Holiday Inn, which will open this fall, as well as a 121-room Sheraton property, which is slated to open next spring.
Sheraton Stonebriar Hotel: Scheduled to open on Jan. 17, 2008, on the grounds of Stonebriar Commons with 125 guest rooms and 1,104 square feet of meeting space.
Galveston Island
Hotel Galvez, A Wyndham Historic Hotel: Ground was broken earlier this year on a multimillion-dollar spa addition. The hotel also replaced soft goods in all guest rooms.
The San Luis Resort, Spa & Conference Center: Recently completed renovations in both the San Luis resort and the Holiday Inn on the Beach hotel that updated guest rooms with a new color scheme and more.
Garland
Special Events Center: A new facility offering a 7,500-seat arena and 18,000 square feet of meeting space. A new Hyatt is being built immediately adjacent to the center that will house 151 guest rooms and 15,000 square feet of additional meeting space when it opens in 2008.
Granbury
Granbury CVB (800) 950-2212 ext. 276;
Online Listing;
www.granburytx.com The new state-of-the-art Granbury Conference Center is slated to open next spring.
Houston
Discovery Green: A 12-acre Wi-Fi park adjacent to the George R. Brown Convention Center is slated for completion in early 2008. The park is expected to include restaurants, an amphitheater, picnic areas and green spaces for recreation or special events.
Doubletree Hotel Houston Intercontinental Airport: This summer, hotel officials announced the completion of a $6 million hotel-wide renovation. Guest rooms now include the Sweet Dreams by Doubletree sleep experience, complimentary wireless Internet access and soundproof windows.
Holiday Inn Southwest: A major upgrade of all meeting facilities, including banquet room and pre-function areas, and multimillion-dollar renovation of the entire hotel is planned for fall 2007.
Hotel Granduca Houston: A member of Leading Hotels of the World, the 130-room hotel opened a 1,300-square-foot event center called Salone Rialto in March 2007.
Hotel ZaZa Houston Museum District: The 315-room Hotel ZaZa will open in fall 2007 and will feature 17,000 square feet of meeting space.
Houston Pavilions: A $200 million, 350,000-square-foot retail and entertainment venue, including a House of Blues, is planned to open in early 2008.
JW Marriott Houston (713) 599-2257;
Online Listing;
www.jwmarriotthouston.com The 515-room property recently completed a $12 million renovation of all guest rooms, suites, corridors, elevators and the health club. A second phase of renovations will include the 13,000-square-foot exhibit hall.
Memorial City Project: Starwood Hotels and Resorts are planning three hotels in 2009 as part of the Memorial City Project, a mixed-use community in West Houston. Construction was expected to begin this summer on The Westin Houston, Memorial City, and on The Sheraton Houston, Memorial City. The third hotel of the development, the Radisson Suites Hotel Houston West, was expected to complete renovations this summer and reopen as The Four Points by Sheraton Houston, Memorial City.
Omni Houston Hotel Westside: The hotel broke ground this summer on a 10,000-square-foot ballroom and a 6,815-square-foot spa.
South Shore Harbour Resort/Conference Center: The 240-room hotel and conference center underwent a renovation in 2006 that included all guest rooms and corridors, the lobby, and the addition of five new meeting rooms.
Irving
Four Seasons Resort & Club Dallas at Las Colinas: The new owners announced an expansion program valued at more than $150 million. The resort currently offers 397 guest rooms and 34,000 square feet of meeting space.
Laredo
La Posada Hotel/Suites: The hotel completed a $14 million renovation in May 2007 to all exterior and interior elements, including the 15,000 square feet of meeting space.
Montgomery
Del Lago Resort: New owners are investing more than $100 million in acquiring, renovating and revitalizing the resort, which will be renamed when it reopens in summer 2008. Plans call for the resort to offer 445 all-suite rooms, a gourmet restaurant, and 75,000 square feet of meeting space and event facilities.
New Braunfels
New Braunfels CVB: Kongresshalle Convention Center is scheduled to open next spring with an 11,780-square-foot exhibit hall and a 9,298-square-foot ballroom.
Plano
Plano CVB: On track to open this year is the 176-room NYLO Plano. Ground was recently broken on a 276-room Renaissance property in the Legacy Town Center, which will house 16,000 square feet of meeting space and an 11,000-square-foot spa.
RIO GRANDE VALLEYMcAllen
McAllen Convention Center: Opened in March 2007, the 174,000-square-foot convention center has four ballrooms (some can be combined) with the largest totaling more than 4,000 square feet of space, five meeting rooms and two exhibit halls totaling more than 60,000 square feet of space.
END: RIO GRAND VALLEY San Antonio
San Antonio CVB: The 1,000-room Grand Hyatt Convention Center Hotel will open on the River Walk in February 2008. The property will house 79,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, including 26 breakout rooms, two boardrooms with balconies and an outdoor terrace with capacity for groups of up to 2,500.
El Tropicano Hotel - Holiday Inn: The former Clarion Hotel Riverwalk is now the El Tropicano Hotel - Holiday Inn and has received a multimillion-dollar renovation transforming the 324-room property into a Latin-inspired property with 37,000 square feet of function space.
Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort & Spa: Located on one of the historic ranches of Texas Hill Country, the 500-room resort recently unveiled renovated guest rooms where details include stone entryways, leather furniture, native Texas-granite countertops, and Hyatt’s signature triple-sheeted Grand Beds.
Hyatt Regency San Antonio: The 632-room hotel with 40,000 square feet of meeting space introduced the DASA Spa in 2006, as well as a state-of-the-art Stay Fit health club.
Omni San Antonio Hotel: The 326-room property recently invested $2.5 million in enhancements to guest rooms, public areas and meeting facilities.
Plaza San Antonio Marriott: The 252-room hotel has completed a $5 million renovation effort to guest rooms, the lobby, public spaces, restaurant and lounge.
San Antonio Riverwalk Drury Plaza Hotel: Slated to open in winter 2007, the 380-room hotel is a restoration project of the Alamo Bank Building, originally built in 1929. The property covers an entire city block and will feature 11,000 square feet of meeting space, including a 4,163-square-foot ballroom and numerous breakout rooms.
The Sheraton Gunter Hotel: The historic hotel has unveiled plans for a $7 million renovation project to the 322-room property, which houses 32,000 square feet of function space.
San Marcos
San Marcos CVB: Construction continues on the city-owned conference center that will be adjacent to the Embassy Suites hotel. The 19-meeting-room center and the 283-suite Embassy are anticipated to open in October 2008.
West Lake
Dallas Marriott Solana Hotel: Plans have been announced to enlarge and remodel the 198-room hotel that would include the construction of a new wing with 96 additional guest rooms. Also planned are 4,500 square feet of meeting space, an expanded ballroom and a new fitness center.
