Philadelphia Hotels Respond To Need For Additional Rooms And Renovations

World Travel Market 2009

As Philadelphia prepares for an expanded Pennsylvania Convention Center opening in 2011, hotel development and renovations continue throughout the city. It is estimated that 2,000-2,500 hotel rooms are needed for an expanded Convention Center. Close to a dozen hotels have embarked on major upgrades to guest rooms, meeting facilities, restaurants, and the latest in technology, comfort, and practicality are the focus of most renovations.

“We currently have two exciting hotel projects underway: Hotel Palomar and Le Méridien, which will be a welcome addition to the hotel landscape,” said Ed Grose, executive director, Greater Philadelphia Hotel Association. “We also expect a several hundred-room anchor property to be built in the vicinity of the Convention Center.”

“Things right now are moving at a slower pace because of the current economy,” said Jack Ferguson, executive vice president, Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau, which is in charge of booking major tradeshows and conventions for the Pennsylvania Convention Center that help fill hotel rooms. “We understand that and are working with the hotels to assist them in any way we can. We’re excited about the current hotel renovations and look forward to the downtown Center City hotel inventory expanding. When the economy picks up, I think many of the proposed projects will expand and move forward.”

Here’s a look at what’s underway, proposed on the horizon, newly opened, recently completed, and newly renovated:



What is Newly Opened?

Kimpton Hotel & Restaurant Group Inc. opened its sparkling new Hotel Palomar by Kimpton on October 14, 2009 adding 234 rooms to the Philadelphia hotel inventory. The hotel, located on 17th & Sansom streets, is one of the city’s first highly stylized, cosmopolitan boutique hotel.

Within steps of the Pennsylvania Convention Center and half-way between Independence Hall and Logan Square, the newly opened Four Points by Sheraton
is a perfect location to begin exploring Philadelphia. The eight-story, 92-room hotel features free high-speed Internet, 2,688 square feet of meeting space, including a penthouse-level ballroom, and flat-panel televisions in every guest room.

Set to open in Fall 2009 at 14th and Arch streets is the Le Méridien Hotel.
It will offer five floors of four-star accommodations, a 90-seat restaurant, with a 40-seat bar and lounge at the lobby level, a state-of-the-art business centre, high-tech conference rooms, and a grand ballroom. The 202-room hotel will also feature a central atrium courtyard on the 5th floor, boasting a skylight at the crown of its 75-foot ceiling.

What’s on the Horizon?



Center City/Downtown

The Intercontinental Hotelwill feature hotel rooms, as well as apartments and a handful of condos on its upper floors. It will have 18,000 square feet of meeting space, an upscale 24-hour restaurant, and a full-service spa. Located on the north side of Vine St. between 16th and 17th streets, the $320 million project is to be named “The Vine”.

Kimpton Hotel and Restaurant Group Inc. recently announced plans to develop a $98 million, 250-room boutique Monaco Hotel. The hotel will be built on the lot to the west of the soon-to-be renovated Boyd Theatre at 19th and Chestnut streets. The hotel, reminiscent of Atlantic City’s Borgata, will feature two restaurants located on different levels of the building.

Known by some as Philadelphia’s first world-class skyscraper, the American Commerce Center at 18th and Arch streets, will feature an unnamed hotel consisting of 252 units spread over 26 floors and would be the tallest building in the City. It will include: three-to-six stories of ground floor retail shopping, two roof gardens, and underground parking with dedicated bicycle parking. The building will be LEED Certified.

University City

A 260-room upscale hotel is being considered for 30th and Market streets.

Airport

A five-story, 140-room SpringHill Suites by Marriott is expected in the Airport Marketplace, adjacent to I-95 and west of the Philadelphia International Airport.

Located in Philadelphia International Airport’s Scott Plaza, a 172-room Hilton Garden Inn is expected.

A 121-room Homewood Suites by Hilton Hotel is planned, located in Philadelphia International Airport’s Scott Plaza.

What is Newly Renovated?

The Alexander Inn, 12th and Spruce streets, completed renovation of guestrooms and first floor public space in July. New custom designed furniture has been installed in all guestrooms, along with new flat screen televisions and window treatments. In addition, the lobby and breakfast room have received new furnishings and fabrics.

The four-star, 327-room Dolce Valley Forge Hotel, Dekalb Pike, King of Prussia, recently underwent $22 million in upgrades. The hotel features newly renovated guest rooms, a full-service restaurant, spa, 24,000-square-feet of meeting space, and complimentary wireless Internet access. Located just minutes from
Valley Forge National Park, 20 minutes from Center City Philadelphia, the Dolce provides shuttle service to local corporate offices and the King of Prussia Mall.

Doubletree Hotel Philadelphia, South Broad Street, recently completed renovations of its 432 guest rooms, including eight deluxe suites. The room upgrades are the second phase in a three-phase $13.1 million project that began with the construction of Doubletree’s 4,200-square-foot Assembly on Five full-service meeting
centers and concludes with the renovation of the hotel lobby and pool in late 2009.

The Four Seasons Hotel, One Logan Square, renovated the Swann Lounge & Café with new carpeting, wall-coverings and furnishings, and artwork. The hotel also renovated all meeting/function space except for the ballroom. The renovation included new carpeting, wall-coverings, furnishings, and artwork. Each
room was outfitted with state-of-the-art technology, including flat screen televisions and DVD players. The boardrooms located on guest floors were renovated to include an auxiliary sitting room.

The Omni Hotel at Independence Park, Fourth and Chestnut streets, completed a $4 million renovation in December 2008. The hotel installed new televisions and bedroom furniture; refreshed all of its public areas; as well as added new carpeting, light fixtures, and wall coverings to the corridors and bar-restaurant.

Philadelphia Downtown Courtyard,21 N. Juniper St., recent renovations included guestrooms, function space, public spaces, fitness centre, and restaurant. Other renovation highlights include: new Marriott bedding package, carpet, lighting, local artwork, accent wall vinyl. Fifty rooms display a mural of City Hall. Sixty-one
suites received all new furniture, 42" LCD TVs, and now feature a separate seating area. By late 2009, all rooms will have new LCD TVs and refrigerators. In addition, a number of the guest rooms were revamped with murals of historic Philadelphia.

The Philadelphia Marriott Downtown, 12th and Market streets, converted Franklin Hall into an exhibit space that can be divided into 13 separate breakout rooms to accommodate customer needs. It also spent more than $6 million in modern renovations and technology upgrades to its lobby and restaurant 13. The hotel is expected to complete a guest room and suite renovation to its 1,401 rooms by the end of 2009.

In August,Residence Inn Center City by Marriott,One East Penn Square across from City Hall, finished a $9 million renovation highlighted by a full update to the fitness and business centres. In the upcoming year, plans include refinishing the lobby floor and replacing the carpets throughout the halls, guest rooms, and public areas. It also plans to renovate the gatehouse area, where guests can enjoy breakfast and lunch.

All of the furniture in the guest rooms at The Rittenhouse Hotel, on beautiful Rittenhouse Square, was refinished, along with the addition of new 42” high-definition flat screen televisions, including a 50” screen in the Presidential Suite. Each room has a complimentary media hub, where you can use your laptop, portable game systems, DVD players, MP3s, and iPods through the television. New carpets were installed in the lobby and Mary Cassatt Tea Room.

About the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau

Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau (PCVB), www.PhiladelphiaUSA.travel, a private non-profit membership corporation, is the official Tourism Promotion Agency for the City of Philadelphia, and the primary sales and marketing agency for the Pennsylvania Convention Center. The PCVB competes with its counterparts worldwide for convention and tourism business. The organization has departments dedicated to the multicultural, sports, and life sciences markets.



About the Greater Philadelphia Hotel Association

The Greater Philadelphia Hotel Association serves the interests of over 80 hotels throughout the Delaware Valley. Our members employ over 14,000 residents with over 30,000 guestrooms. GPHA has three member categories: Hotels, Allied Members, and Student Members.