In the South, Six Renovations Honor History and Landscape

NATIONAL REPORT—Six hotels in the South have currently completed or are undergoing renovations. The new designs and upgrades pay tribute to local nature, history and flavors:

JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa Reflects Local Landscape

JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa has refreshed its restaurants and lobby spaces. Inspired by the Texas Hill Country and the resort’s natural surroundings, Seifert Murphy completed the renovation.

Each of the hotel’s restaurants, including 18 Oaks, Cibolo Moon and High Velocity along with the lobby bar, Crooked Branch, have been refreshed to reflect a current look that embraces the nature of the Texas Hill Country.

New furniture uses different woods, copper, limestone, leather and other natural materials. Wheat, cognac, sage, lapis, carbon and camel are woven throughout the interior as art or furnishing materials and represent the landscape.

Hotel Indigo Birmingham Upholds Its History

Dallas-based Pickard Design Studio, in partnership with Stamford Bridge Capital and management company Marshall Hotels & Resorts, recently completed the renovation of the newly rebranded Hotel Indigo Birmingham, previously the Hotel Highland in Five Points South. The renovated, 63-room boutique hotel, located near University of Alabama Birmingham, recently opened to the public.

The redesign nods to the hotel’s history as a medical arts building with apothecary, pharmacy and medical themes. The original detailed ceiling was preserved and accented with LED lighting, the medical insignia was left untouched on the elevator doors and the etched glass and the lobby was opened up to make room for a larger registration area, business center and grab-and-go café. In addition, the new bar, renamed Rx Lounge, was moved to the back wall.

Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront Adds New F&B Options

Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront is renovating its lobby with new F&B concepts, which are due to open this fall. The concepts include a 24-hour grab-and-go market, a new restaurant and an adjacent bar. The redesign also introduces new materials and fixtures to the lobby, such as accent paneling, onyx stone countertops and Italian large-format tile.

Over the summer, renovations continue for the hotel’s new restaurant, Shor Seafood Grill, which is expected to open in July. The restaurant will accommodate up to 150 guests for breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. Shor will also have a 5,000-sq.-ft. bar, Shor Tavern, which is due to open this fall.

Hudson Hotel Undergoes Upgrades

Steven Michael, managing partner of Hudson Holdings LLC, will oversee the upcoming property modernization along with the transfer of management of the Hudson Hotel in Orlando, FL.

This follows Hudson Holdings buy-out of its limited partner and subsequent loan refinancing. Management has been replaced and the property will undergo $4 million in improvements. All 403 rooms and common areas will be modernized with new amenities and furnishings.

Hilton Garden Inn Greenville Completes Renovation

A $4-million project has revamped Hilton Garden Inn Greenville, SC. The renovations include both interior and exterior upgrades to the six-story, 120-room property. The project began last fall with exterior painting and work on the guestrooms, and common spaces began late winter. Upgrades include guestroom and bathroom renovations and a lobby makeover. In addition, the property has more than 3,500 sq. ft. of refreshed meeting and event space to accommodate up to 200 people.

English-Inspired Inn Completes Renovations

Design firm Cooper Carry has completed the new Inn at Barnsley Resort and Georgian Hall at the Barnsley Resort in Adairsville, GA. The expansion adds 55 rooms and more than 9,000 sq. ft. of meeting space.

Taking design cues from a classic English country manor house, the Inn at Barnsley Resort is now the largest building located on the 3,000-acre property.

The inn’s living room has a grand staircase and fireplace. A large three-bay presidential suite with a private outdoor terrace has views to the nearby Beer Garden restaurant and resort village. Wood paneling and hardwood floors coordinated by Kent Interior Design are found throughout. Totaling 4,700 sq. ft., the new Savannah Ballroom accommodates up to 500 guests for a reception or 350 for a seated dining option.