Rendering of “Top of the Gate” a new rooftop bar at the recently revamped Watergate Hotel (Image: Watergate Hotel)
In U.S. hotel news, a legendary property reopens in the nation’s capital; Marriott finishes up a big Atlanta overhaul; Hilton adds a new affiliate in downtown Boston and a big Garden Inn in Hawaii; and downtown Cleveland gets another 189 rooms.
Who’s not familiar with the name Watergate? The notorious Washington D.C. complex where Richard Nixon’s big scandal got its start also includes a famous hotel that’s been closed for nine years. But now the Watergate Hotel, on the banks of the Potomac, has reopened following a $125 million overhaul. The renovation and upgrade covered all of the hotel’s 336 rooms, half of which come with balconies. The rooms now offer luxury bedding, marble bathrooms, luxury amenities, 24-hour room service and modern guest technology. The Watergate has added a rooftop lounge called Top of the Gate; an indoor-outdoor restaurant called Kingbird, and a lobby lounge called The Next Whiskey Bar. There’s also a 12,000 square foot spa. Rates start at $425.
Atlanta’s Marriott Marquis downtown just had a big makeover. (Image: Marriott)
Marriott’s flagship hotel in downtown Atlanta, the Atlanta Marriott Marquis, has finished a $78 million upgrade that included renovations of all 1,663 rooms and suites. All rooms got new multi-purpose work surfaces as well as smart TVs with streaming services like Hulu and Netflix. King rooms received new baths with walk-in showers, and the 94 suites got new hardwood designs with area rugs. The lounge for guests in concierge level accommodations received new Wi-Fi, plugs for personal electronic devices and laptops, and upgraded food and beverage selections. The hotel also added two floors of Marriott’s new “Stay Well” rooms with innovations like air purification, circadian lighting, allergen-free sanitation processes, vitamin C shower infusers and aromatherapy. There’s also a redesigned Great Room for working and/or socializing. Marriott Rewards advance purchase rates start as low as $124.
The pool at the Hilton Garden Inn Waikiki Beach in Honolulu. (Image: Hilton)
Hilton HHonors members who want to go to Hawaii have a lot more rooms available. Hilton just cut the ribbon on a new Hilton Garden Inn in Honolulu, and it’s the largest hotel in the Garden Inn brand, with 623 rooms. The new Hilton Garden Inn Waikiki Beach is actually two blocks from that iconic strand, and across the street from the International Market Place. Formerly the Ohana Waikiki West, the property went through a $115 million overhaul; all 623 rooms and suites now have the brand’s signature bedding, 48-inch HDTVs with premium channels, microwaves, mini-fridges and Keurig coffee makers, and most have walk-out lanais. There’s a roof top pool and bar, fitness center, and a grab-and-go market. It’s in HHonors Reward Category 7, and rates start at $189.
The Ames Boston Hotel in now a Hilton affiliate. (Image: Hilton)
In Boston, meanwhile, Hilton has added a new affiliate to its Curio Collection, which means it’s part of HHonors and the Hilton reservations system. That property is the Ames Boston Hotel, which joins the group this month. Originally built in 1893, the Ames Building at 1 Court Street is on the National Register of Historic Places. It was converted into a 114-room luxury boutique hotel in 2007. Rates start at around $350.
An historic building in downtown Cleveland is now the Drury Plaza Hotel. (Image: Drury Hotels)
Drury Hotels has added its first location in Cleveland with the opening of the Drury Plaza Cleveland Downtown. Located on East 6th Street near FirstEnergy Stadium and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the hotel was developed in the city’s old Board of Education Building, built in 1931, preserving many of its original architectural features. Its 189 guest rooms offer 49 different layouts, and it has almost 4,000 square feet of meeting space. Guest amenities include free hot breakfast, afternoon and evening sodas and popcorn, evening beer and wine receptions, 24-hour fitness and business centers, and an indoor pool and whirlpool. Rates start at $109.
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