onPeak Blog
Top Trending Hotel Transformations

Top Trending Hotel Transformations

June 15, 2018

NIKI BABARSKAS

Something old, something new, something borrowed…The phrase is not only applicable in wedding season. As we step forward into a new life, we look to the past at generations who’ve breathed life into us – we also look around: landscapes and culture tailor the foundation for our interests and sense of style.

The trends we’re seeing in today’s hotel renovations and new developments are to respect and allude to a storied history as well. They’re also rooted in the city’s geography and culture – revitalizing public and private spaces with intimate, elegant and boutique designs.

onPeak shares this journey alongside our hotel partners because we appreciate that an elevated hotel experience contributes to the overall event experience for our clients. Today, we delve into the factors shaping top trending hotel transformations and are excited to explore and share these insights with you.

Shaped by History

St. JANE HOTEL, CHICAGO

In Chicago, the historic Carbide & Carbon building housed the Hard Rock Hotel until last December. This architectural icon, nestled on Michigan Avenue between Millennium Park and the Chicago Riverwalk, will be repositioned and unveiled as the St. Jane Hotel June 2018. The name pays homage to the Chicago social worker and tireless civil rights leader Jane Addams, while upholding the Art Deco motif so prevalent in the city’s urban landscape.

Carbide & Carbon Building

Originally built in 1929, and said to be designed as a response to Prohibition, the building’s shape is that of a vintage green champagne bottle.¹ Carbide & Carbon Exterior The Hotel takes its cue from the Gilded Age, the harmonious push and pull between bold and refined.St. Jane Hotel converts the previously music-themed property into a lavish haven, transporting us to a past familiar in fiction, film and fashion. It brings a different kind of glitz, one furnished by high-end custom pieces, tiered chandeliers and monochromatic accoutrements.

Kevin Robinson, COO of Chicago-based Aparium Hotel Group which manages St. Jane, describes the redesign. “This will be unique to the history of Chicago. Tasteful, refined…It feels like a 100-room boutique hotel.”²

The Tower at St. Jane Hotel

Like the transition from marble to brass, timeless sophistication is sharpened with a contemporary, distinctly Chicago edge.³ Thirty-three upscale suites comprise The Tower at St. Jane, located on floors 25 and above. Guests of The Tower also have access to an exclusive indoor/outdoor 24th floor lounge.

In addition to the lounge, the property offers guests an array of dining and meeting options, including a full service restaurant, market café, cocktail bar, and 11,000 sq. ft. of event space. The Tower at St. Jane Hotel

How will St. Jane live up to its namesake? “The hotel will also be a deeply-rooted member of Chicago’s philanthropic community through giving back, and supporting local causes through sales and the hosting of charity events and meaningful donations,” says Carrie Meghie, Co-President at St. Jane’s investment firm, Becker Ventures.

“Chicago deserves this beauty, and the Carbide & Carbon building deserves to be as impressive on the inside as much as it’s inspiring on the outside,” Meghie remarks.

Shaped by Culture

THE RITZ-CARLTON, PHILADELPHIA

Ritz-Carlton Philadelphia exterior Paying tribute to the architecture and affluence of the Roman Empire, The Ritz-Carlton, Philadelphia, resides in 9,000 tons of Georgia marble. A neoclassical reproduction of the Pantheon, this historical treasure was originally built as The Girard Trust Company in 1908.⁴

So it comes as no surprise that this rich history became the muse for The Ritz-Carlton’s 2016 transformation and redesign.

“The building’s banking history has been incorporated into the design palette used throughout the hotel, which pulls through the sophisticated rich colors of precious metals and currency.”4 Metallic and bronze accents highlight neutral tones. Luxurious fabrics and textures were intently selected to allude to currency.⁵

Throughout the property, notes of bronze and nickel harmonize a modern luxury with a marble foundation that bursts through the structure, reminiscent of an opera house. Ritz-Carlton Philadelphia king

Just as Grecian art influenced that of the ancient Romans, The Ritz-Carlton’s extensive art collection soaks up the taste of its surroundings. Located on the Avenue of the Arts, the hotel “celebrates the Avenue’s cultural prominence as the art, music, theatre center of Philadelphia.”⁴

Ritz-Carlton Philadelphia ballroom The Ritz-Carlton reciprocates this cultural immersion, giving back to Philadelphia just as well. Internationally acclaimed chef and restaurateur, Richard Sandoval, turns up the heat at Aqimero, serving sustainable, wood-fired specialties. Located in the landmark property’s marble lobby, Latin-American small plates, seafood and steaks permeate the 140-foot dome’s oculus.

“The new design brings a fresh and sophisticated feel to the hotel while also telling a story…a distinct sense of place in the heart of Philadelphia.” General Manager, Darryll Adam announces, “After years of thoughtful planning and construction we are thrilled to re-introduce The Ritz-Carlton, Philadelphia, and showcase the new modern interiors inside our classic and historic building.”⁶

Ritz-Carlton Philadelphia restaurant & lobby

THE MAYFAIR HOTEL, LOS ANGELES

Mayfair Hotel Los Angeles Eve American Bistro

The Mayfair Hotel in Los Angeles, which hadn’t been updated since before the 1984 Summer Olympics, completed a four-year renovation, April 2018.⁷

The hotel performed a complete overhaul, revitalizing the space with a mix of ‘20s flair and sophisticated brass elements. A curated artwork collection was overseen by an internationally renowned graffiti artist. Celebrity chef and Hell’s Kitchen Season 12 winner, Scott Commings, heads the hotel’s restaurant, Eve American Bistro. The Library Bar sets the mood for playwrights with cozy chairs beside a large fireplace, a piano, billiards and book-lined walls.

On top of these very Los Angeles themes, the hotel has also added a recording studio. The Podcast Room has been custom-built for creatives to rent and record segments.⁸

In a seamless mix of old Hollywood style and today’s social

media culture, The Mayfair Hotel revealed each stage of completed renovations to its Instagram followers, drumming up well-deserved hype. One fan rejoices, “I can’t wait to sip champagne there and make memories never to be forgotten but never to be repeated!”

Shaped by Guests

HOTEL NIKKO, SAN FRANCISCO

Linda Quintanilha, Senior Hotel Industry Relations Manager at onPeak, says, “Essentially all of San Francisco has done renovating at the same time as the convention center so [the city] is a completely new product.”

In an unconventional fashion, Hotel Nikko in San Francisco closed its doors for three months to complete around-the-clock renovations in March 2017. The overhaul encompassed structural upgrades to the lobby and public areas, ballroom and meeting spaces, guestrooms, infrastructure and technology⁹ emerging “from the renovation to create a completely reimagined and elevated hotel guest experience.”¹⁰

Staying true to its previously Asian-inspired aesthetic, the refresh incorporates “a sophisticated and contemporary design that took inspiration from the fluid lines of a traditional kimono, and the movement and brushstrokes of Japanese calligraphy.” Wall Hotel Nikko San Francisco Restaurant Anzu screens, organic lighting fixtures mimicking the geometry of branches overlapping, and carpet resembling the flow of water aren’t purely ornamental.¹⁰ These cultural applications also serve to enhance guest experiences.

Each design aesthetic has an intentional function: allowing visitors to feel more at ease; propelling the energy of groups in meetings; creating a residential-style safe-haven for long-distance travelers.

Guest reviews of the property make mention of improved environmental aspects, showing Hotel Nikko left no stone unturned. An astounding number of accommodating USB ports, surprisingly sound-proof rooms and hallways, and Hotel Nikko San Francisco king show-stopping entertainment in the 140-seat theater all enhance their experience. “Where else do you have 12 USB ports for your devices and multiple plugs? Our room was also very quiet thanks to being offset from the hallway and we never heard people in the halls. Loved it and would stay again!” exclaims one traveler.¹¹

Hotel Nikko San Francisco, Buster the Puppy Yet one of the most differentiating enhancements has to be Hotel Nikko’s perspective on dog-friendly. A newly renovated pet terrace and dog-run is open 6 am to 10 pm for guests traveling with pets. They’ll also be welcomed with dog beds, bowls and treats. For those arriving without their furry companions, the hotel has a resident pup onsite, Buster. Guests can schedule to spend time with Buster in person and follow his San Francisco shenanigans via his social media handle @NikkoPupSF.¹²

Hotel Nikko’s revived the 30-year-old property into more than just a place to lay your head between arrival and departure. It’s wholeheartedly embraced change, accomplishing the goal of an elevated experience with each conscious design element and at every interaction.

Love Shapes Design

It’s evident there’s some overlap among trends in hotel transformations, with history and location playing a role in culture, and culture influencing travelers’ interests and desires. Whether your brand is considering a revamp or you’re sourcing a new location to add to your event’s hotel program, we hope you’ve been delighted by a few common themes.

The onPeak team is full of experts who understand the hotel experience contributes to your attendees’ complete event experience. We’re here to help you curate the perfect block for them – come visit our website to say hello and find what you’ve been missing!