Part of the lobby area at The Camby, formerly the Phoenix Ritz-Carlton. (Image: The Camby)
In U.S. hotel developments, a Phoenix classic is reborn with a new identity (but still with a Marriott affiliation); Kimpton Hotels brings its signature style to Austin; downtown Boston get s a new boutique property; and InterContinental makes a debut in the Twin Cities.
The hotel that used to be the Ritz-Carlton in Phoenix has gone through a five-month renovation and restyling, and has been reborn as The Camby Hotel. It’s at 2401 East Camelback Road (at N. 24th Street), across the road from the Biltmore Fashion Park mall. The hotel’s former Bistro 24 restaurant is now called Artizen, with locally sourced ingredients for its American cuisine. There’s a rooftop bar called Revery, with a pool and sun deck, outdoor games, and a video projection wall. Rooms have all been redecorated to appeal to a trendier crowd, although the hotel’s main market will still be business and meeting travelers. Although it’s no longer a Ritz-Carlton, The Camby retains a Marriott affiliation through membership in the group’s Autograph Collection. Rates start around $330 in winter, or half that in summer.
Front desk at the new Hotel Van Zandt in Austin. (Image: Kimpton Hotels)
Kimpton Hotels — now a subsidiary of InterContinental Hotels Group — has cut the ribbon on its first property in Austin. Called the Hotel Van Zandt, the 319-room, 41-suite hotel is at 605 Davis Street in the city’s Rainey Street Historic District. The newly built hotel’s Geraldine’s restaurant features local Austin specialties and offers live entertainment. Rooms offer free high-speed Wi-Fi and Bluetooth speakers along with yoga mats. Guests are invited to free beer and margaritas at the lobby social hour form 5 to 6 p.m., and Cafe 605 off the lobby has items like brisket and egg tacos as well as specialty coffees. Rates range from $210 to $399, but the hotel is offering 25-30 percent “Sneak Peek” introductory discounts through February, subject to availability.
Guest room at Boston’s newest hotel, The Godfrey. (Image: The Godfrey)
February 3 is the scheduled opening date for downtown Boston’s newest upscale lodging option, the 242-room Godfrey Hotel Boston. Located at 505 Washington Street in the district known as Downtown Crossing, a short walk from Boston Common, it’s a makeover of the old Amory and Blake buildings. It has a restaurant/bar, fitness center, free Wi-Fi, and valet parking, and will open a George Howell Coffee outlet this spring. Guest rooms have 55-inch TVs, mobile keyless entry, Bluetooth audio system, and desks with USB ports. Introductory rates start at $199.
St. Paul’s former Crowne Plaza is now an InterContinental. (Image: InterContinental Hotels)
The former Crowne Plaza St. Paul-Riverfront at 11 East Kellogg Blvd. in Minnesota’s capital city has received a multi-million dollar upgrade and reopened as the InterContinental St. Paul Riverfront. Overlooking the Mississippi River, the 410-room hotel has 43,000 square feet of meeting space, including a grand ballroom that accommodates up to 500. The new restaurant is called the Citizen Supper Club, with a varied cuisine; the hotel also has a coffee shop, fitness room and business center, and room options include a private-access Executive Floor. Rates start at $171.
Choice Hotels’ new Cambria in midtown Manhattan. (Image: Choice Hotels International)
Choice Hotels International’s newest property in New York City is the 196-room Cambria Hotel & Suites NY-Times Square at 30 West 46th Street (actually closer to Fifth Avenue than Times Square). It boasts large rooms with big bathrooms, free Wi-Fi, a lobby bar, a fitness center, and a bistro-style restaurant/bar called Social Circle. Rates start at $119.
In other news, Atlanta is due to get a new luxury airport property next year, when the Solis Hotel, operated by Capella Hotel Group, is due to open near the Porsche Experience Driving Center in Haperville, Ga., just east of Hartsfield-Jackson. It will be the first new hotel on the east side of the airport since the International Terminal opened. The 214-room Solis will have a rooftop lounge with views of the Porsche driving course, and guests can arrange to pick up newly purchased Porsches there as well.
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