Dominican Republic
Hyatt Hotels Corporation announced the opening of Dreams Flora Resort & Spa, an addition to World of Hyatt’s Inclusive Collection, on the beach of Cabeza de Toro in the Dominican Republic. The resort offers 520 luxurious accommodations and suites, all with private, furnished balconies or terraces.
The resort and spa offers a number of dining options, from a la carte restaurants with Asian and Mexican cuisines to interactive buffet stations and a cafe and snack grill. Guests are invited to indulge in all Unlimited-Luxury offerings, including 24-hour private dining from suites, unlimited international and domestic top-shelf spirits, pool and beach wait service, daytime activities and nightly live entertainment.
Dreams Flora Resort & Spa offers a theater with a capacity of 450 guests and is 20 minutes from Punta Cana International Airport.
Florida
AC Hotels by Marriott, part of Marriott’s Bonvoy portfolio, opened its newest property in downtown St. Petersburg. AC Hotel by Marriott St. Petersburg Downtown offers guests the opportunity to experience Marriott’s “perfectly precise hotel” in the heart of the city.
The eight-story hotel offers 172 guest rooms—12 of which are suites—and 2,500 square feet of activated shared space as well as a fitness center, outdoor pool and collaborative lobby that includes the brand’s signature AC Kitchen for European-inspired breakfasts and an AC Lounge for craft cocktails, local brews and sharable plates in the evenings.
AC Hotel by Marriott St. Petersburg Downtown features a 920-square-foot meeting room on the hotel’s first floor and the 685-square-foot rooftop space on the hotel’s eighth floor featuring Cane & Barrel, a Cuban-inspired restaurant and bar designed to capture the colorful energy of Havana. The venue offers seating within the interior lounge and a spacious outdoor terrace overlooking Tampa Bay.
[Related: Pinehurst Resort's New Golf Course and More Southern Property News]
Texas
Dean of the University of Houston Hilton College of Global Hospitality Leadership Dennis Reynolds announced a new eight-story tower will be added to the Hilton University of Houston hotel. The 64,000-square-foot tower will bring 70 new guest rooms as well as complete renovations to the hotel’s original 80 guest rooms, lobby, public spaces and courtyard.
Hilton University of Houston features 25,000 square feet of flexible meeting and event space, including six meeting rooms and three ballrooms with capacities from 10 to 600 guests. The Fred Parks Boardroom offers an alternative venue for smaller gatherings of up to 14 people for breakfast, lunch or dinner meetings with customized menus and wine pairings.
In celebration and recognition of its 30-year anniversary, Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Spa announced a $50 million renovation to its guest rooms and meeting spaces expected to be completed this spring.
[Related: Southern Hotel Renovations and a New All-Inclusive by Marriott Bonvoy Resort]
The resort, which originally opened its doors in February 1993 on the grounds of the historic Rogers-Wiseman Ranch, is currently in the process of completely reimagining its guest rooms and suites. Updates will showcase an upscale, ranch-inspired aesthetic with neutral tones, accent walls and unique Texas artwork and photos.
The Hill Country Ballroom, Fredericksburg Ballroom and all indoor breakout rooms are set to receive new carpeting, wall coverings, light fixtures and sound systems.
Virginia
Embassy Suites by Hilton Virginia Beach Oceanfront Resort, located on iconic Atlantic Avenue, is officially open, situating guests minutes away from Virginia Beach’s culinary scene, history, arts and culture, entertainment and family-friendly attractions.
The hotel brings 157 luxury hotel suites as an addition to the Cavalier Resort as well as more than 20,000 square feet of meeting space across 11 event venues, including Virginia Beach’s largest ballroom, the 10,738-square-foot Seaside Ballroom overlooking the Atlantic Ocean with a capacity of up to 1,155 guests.
The ballroom prefunction space measures 4,100 square feet and can host up to 400 for a reception, and the 2,750-square-foot Seaside Event Terrace can accommodate 250.
Read this next: Southern Renovations and a New All-Inclusive Resort
