Florida
The legendary landmark resort Casa Marina, Curio Collection by Hilton, originally built in 1920, will unveil a grand property renovation to the beloved “House by the Sea.” This fall, guests will be invited to a resort reminiscent of a true tropical retreat with refreshed guest rooms, an airy lobby lined with windows framing the beach and an additional 5,000-square-foot oceanfront event lawn space.
Renovations will also bring enhanced F&B offerings including the closest rooftop bar to the ocean in Key West, which can be rented as a reception space. All 311 guest rooms, including 63 suites, will be renovated to deliver a contemporary experience.
The hotel will expand three outdoor patios overlooking the resort grounds, pools and ocean in addition to adding the new 5,000-square-foot oceanfront event lawn. The resort offers 11,000 square feet of indoor event space.
[Related: Pinehurst Resort's New Golf Course and More Southern Property News]
Louisiana
Kimpton Hotel Fontenot, located in New Orleans’ Central Business District, announced the opening of its three-meal French brasserie, King. Welcoming its first diners March 30, King is part of the hotel’s expansion into the historic building next door, set to include an additional 12,000 square feet of flexible meeting and event space and 33 new guest rooms and suites in addition to the 125-seat restaurant.
Kimpton Hotel Fontenot offers more than 12,000 square feet of event space on three levels, including the 5,506-square-foot Canray Ballroom on the hotel’s second floor, with a capacity of 430 guests banquet-style or 540 for a standing reception. The hotel’s Peacock Room—its “crown jewel”—provides an opulent and creative social setting for smaller gatherings.
Hyatt Centric French Quarter New Orleans announced the completion of an extensive interior renovation that brought a redesigned lobby, guest room enhancements and refreshed meeting spaces, fitness center and F&B spaces. The 254-room hotel is adjacent to famed Bourbon Street and within walking distance of famed city attractions.
The hotel’s renovation completely transformed its 10,660 square feet of meeting and event space, with a cool color palette and interior decor inspired by the region’s waterways. The 3,040-square-foot D.H. Holmes Ballroom can host up to 350 guests theater-style or 280 for a reception and features a private entrance on Canal Street and two additional rooms that can be used as breakout areas.
Mexico
St. Regis Hotels & Resorts, part of Marriott International, announced the opening of The St. Regis Kanai Resort, Riviera Maya. The resort features avant-garde architecture inspired by the neighboring 620-acre nature reserve and UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Sian Ka’an Reserve.
The St. Regis Kanai Resort, Riviera Maya is suspended above a mangrove forest, immersing guests in the magic of Kanai’s natural surroundings via elevated walkways connecting different parts of the resort, an open-air water installation leading into the main lobby, floor-to-ceiling windows with panoramic views of the mangroves and a two-mile stretch of white sand beach.
The 124-room resort also offers 19 suites, including a 2,300-square-foot Presidential Suite, all with ocean views and a private terrace or plunge pool. The resort features more than 50,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space across six meeting venues, including the expansive Astor Ballroom and 7,300-square-foot Great Lawn, and can host groups of up to 600 guests.
[Related: Southern Hotel Renovations and a New All-Inclusive by Marriott Bonvoy Resort]
Houston
In preparation for the spring and summer event seasons, Le Méridien Houston Downtown officially launched a brand-new rooftop venue boasting views of the city’s skyline and offering access to the hotel’s Z on 23, Houston’s tallest open-air rooftop bar.
The hotel transitioned its former fitness center on the 23rd floor into a new indoor event venue offering guests gourmet food and craft cocktails directly from the outdoor bar and its downstairs restaurant, Zutro. The 1,800-square-foot rooftop venue is ideal for intimate social gatherings and corporate events.
Le Méridien Houston Downtown houses nearly 13,000 square feet of event space across 12 venues ranging from 576 to 3,700 square feet, including the 250-person Grand Ballroom showcasing 180-degree views of downtown Houston and its dedicated prefunction space.
—Taylor Smith
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