The meetings industry has been sitting on the pause button for the last year, but 2021 has a lineup of new hotels to watch, as well as renovated properties ready to welcome groups back.
These 10 renovated and new hotels are readying for the return of meetings and events.
1. Sable at Navy Pier
Located on Chicago’s Navy Pier, the 223-room and -suite Sable at Navy Pier—Curio Collection by Hilton’s 100th property—has swung open its doors. The new property overlooks Lake Michigan and the Chicago skyline, and features a nautical theme incorporating the history of the city’s famous pier as well as the USS Sable, which during WWII was homeported at the Navy Pier while serving as a training center for U.S. Navy recruits. Sable at Navy Pier has 4,300 sf of meeting and event space, plus it’s home to what the hotel says is the world’s largest rooftop bar and restaurant, the Offshore Rooftop & Bar. Take note: The property was designed to have three separate towers so there’s the option of renting an entire wing of the hotel for your group.
2. Austin Marriott Downtown
The 31-story Austin Marriott Downtown recently opened in Texas’ capital city within easy access to the destination’s hippest venues. It features 613 guest rooms and 25 suites, an 18,000-sf exhibit hall with floor-to-ceiling windows that let the outdoor light in, and two 14,000-sf ballrooms. The hotel’s Next Gen Meeting Space initiative is tailored around your group’s specific needs—from socially distanced setups to large gathering options, and the hotel follows Marriott’s Connect with Confidence best practices for meetings and events.
When it comes to its F&B offerings, there are handcrafted options that put the spotlight on local cuisine. Ideal for networking after-hours, Zanzibar, the hotel’s rooftop bar and pool, pays homage to Africa’s Spice Islands with a menu that features tiki cocktails and island-inspired small plates.
3. Cincinnati Marriott at River Center
Overlooking the Ohio River and the city’s skyline, the Cincinnati Marriott at River Center has just completed a multimillion-dollar renovation. In addition to being connected to the Northern Kentucky Convention Center, which has 100,000 sf of meeting and event space, the property itself offers nearly 13,000 sf of space for group to gather. Newly renovated and offering floor-to-ceiling windows are the Riverview ballroom, which doubled in size to 4,200 sf and features a waterfront balcony, and the Kentucky room, which expanded to 1,155 sf. Groups can also meet in the 10 breakout rooms.
Other new additions include the 1,700-sf M Club, a 24/7 lounge for Marriott Bonvoy members; and the Marriott Greatroom, which offers food & beverage, WiFi access and other tech amenities.
4. Dallas Plano Marriott Renovation
Known as the largest hotel in Plano, the 417-room Dallas/Plano Marriott at Legacy Town Center has completed a $3.6 million renovation of its meeting and event area, which spans over 35,000 sf. The meeting rooms are now equipped with TV wall elevations, glass entryways and sliding millwork panels. The pre-function room provides multi-piece seating that can be broken apart or placed together, allowing for safe distancing depending on group needs, as well as movable TV screens, flex consoles and communal tables
The property will host Prevue’s Best Practices Summit May 10-11. There are a few spots left. Learn more here.
5. Virgin Hotels New York City
Expected to open this year, a new build, Virgin Hotels New York City will feature 500 guest rooms, meeting spaces, and multiple F&B venues, including the brand’s flagship space, Commons Club. For meetings, Virgin Hotels embraces outside the box thinking with ping-pong meeting tables, fitness video games, hallway mini golf and life-sized Jenga. Additionally, this unique brand offers common lounge areas, personalized catering, and customizable meeting spaces.
6. Bally’s Atlantic City
Over the next five years, Bally’s Atlantic City will be investing $90 million into upgrading the Boardwalk casino hotel. The updates will include a permanent sportsbook in partnership with FanDuel, 900 renovated guestrooms, the addition of 30 to 40 mini-suites, a new restaurant and bar, exterior renovations, updated gaming products, and a revamped spa and fitness center.
7. Rio Las Vegas Transforms to a Hyatt Regency
Hyatt Hotels Corporation will renovate Rio Las Vegas, which is currently under Caesars Entertainment. The 2,510-room property will be rebranded and undergo a renovation of its exterior, public spaces, gaming area, retail, food and beverage, spa and fitness area, and pool deck. Once completed, the Hyatt Regency property will offer 1,501 accommodations averaging 580 sf and 22,000 sf of meeting and event space.
8. Maybourne Beverly Hills
Located in the city’s chic Golden Triangle neighborhood, the upscale Maybourne Beverly Hills offers meeting spaces of all sizes—from an intimate dinner for 10 to a gala for 500. Spaces include The Library, with its wood-paneled walls, a hand-painted ceiling, a granite fireplace and, as the name suggests, shelves filled with antique ornaments and vintage books; the 5,000-sf Terrace, standing in full view of the LA skyline; and The Marquesa Ballroom, with its opera balconies and 22-ft ceilings. The hotel’s restaurants—Clementine, The Rooftop Grill and Kitchen Table—offer even more spaces for groups to meet or network.
9. Newbury Boston
The Newbury Boston is expected to open Spring 2021. The property offers 16,000 sf of meeting and event space with views of the city’s famed Public Gardens. The event venues range from the 3,800-sf The Assembly ballroom to the intimate The Ivy Room, a private ground floor space with separate VIP entrance. The F&B offerings are curated by the Major Food Group. Space for groups to meet and relax include The Street Bar, The Library, offering literary reads curated by the Boston Public Library, and The Newbury Salon, which offers afternoon tea.
10. Four Seasons Resort and Residences Napa
Opening mid-2021, the Four Seasons Napa Valley will be located within a functioning winery in Calistoga, 90 minutes from San Francisco. The property will feature 85 accommodations with fireplaces and balconies overlooking the winery and the Palisades Mountains as well as the 3,400-sf Estate Villa. Amenities include two pools with vineyard views, a full-service spa, onsite dining, and a wine program curated by Thomas Rivers Brown. Groups can opt for guided bike tours that will take them along local country roads, hidden valleys and vineyards. The property offers a total of 15,234 sf of event space that can accommodate up to 174 attendees in its largest venues, which include the Vineyard Barn, the Calistoga Ballroom, and the Lakeside Terrace. There are also wine cellars that can be used for farm-to-table dining experiences.
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