Compiled list of future W, aloft and element Starwood properties
Dec 18, 2006, 1:26 am
#46
Join Date: Aug 2006
Programs: ex AC SE100K now 75k :-( / Bonvoy Titanium / All Accor Gold/ Avis Presidents Club / National EE
Posts: 164
This is a rumour but could be promising givin the boutique hotels that are in Vancouver. The Hotel Georgia will be closing down on January 2nd 2006 and will undergo a major renovation/restauration making the rooms larger and reducing the overall number of rooms in the hotel by 100! They say it will be open in time for the 2010 olympics! This would be a great addition for the city and would definetly give the Opus Hotel a run for its money!
Here is the article!
Georgia hotel to retain character
John Mackie, Vancouver Sun
Published: Saturday, December 16, 2006
The Hotel Georgia will close Jan. 2. When it reopens in three years, it will be totally different.
The 12-storey hotel will be renovated and turned into a high-end boutique hotel, like the Wedgewood and the Opus. A 48-storey condo/office tower will rise next door to a height of about 150 metres, making it one of the tallest buildings in Vancouver.
"I think the value of the project is going to be well in excess of $350 or $400 million," says Bruce Langeris of Delta Group, which owns the property along with Goodman Real Estate of Seattle. "It's a big project."
He's not kidding. The public parts of the Georgia -- the exterior facade, wood-panelled lobby and legendary basement bar -- will be restored and retain their original character. The ballroom upstairs will be taken apart piece by piece so that seismic upgrading can be done, then reassembled. But the ballroom will be larger when it's reopened, and the original promenade on the mezzanine beside the ballroom will be restored.
The big changes will be in the upstairs rooms, which are small by today's standards. The rooms will be demolished and rebuilt to a modern luxury-hotel standard.
"We'll reduce the hotel from 313 rooms, which are small, to 200 rooms, plus or minus," says Langeris.
"Our goal is to create a boutique hotel ... and that it will lead the market in Vancouver, from a hotel perspective, in terms of rates and occupancy. We look at the Opus and the Wedgewood, which really set the standard in terms of rates achieved, and we think we can offer what they have and more in terms of presence and amenity and location."
The Georgia is now operated by the Crowne Plaza chain, but another hotel management chain will likely take over. W Hotels was rumoured to be interested, but all Langeris will say is that his company is still looking.
"We had been in discussions with a major hotel group that sort of took the approach that it was a very upfront hotel with a flashy brand name," he says.
"[But] we want a hotel management group that will respect the Hotel Georgia, as opposed to the Hotel Georgia brand and history being pushed into the back and some flashy other name being prominently placed."
Delta Group and Goodman bought the Georgia and the condo site a year ago for $62.8 million. The previous owner had another tower designed by architect Bing Thom, which created a stir when Thom successfully campaigned to make it higher.
Thom is no longer on the project, and his controversial "crystal tower" has been replaced by another striking highrise designed by Jim Hancock and Hilda Heyvaerts of Hancock-Bruckner IBI. Malcolm Elliot and Allan Endall of Endall Elliot are the architects working on the Hotel Georgia restoration.
The project goes to the city's development permit board Feb. 26. Plans for the tower include 35 stories of residential with 156 condos, eight storeys of offices and seven storeys of underground parking.
The condos won't be cheap: Langeris anticipates them going for $1,200 to $1,500 a square foot, which means a 1,000-square-foot condo would be $1.2 million to $1.5 million. Marketing should start next spring or summer, with occupancy in 2010.
"Everybody keeps raising the bar in Vancouver about what the quality is," he says.
"Now it's our turn to see how we can do that."
[email protected]
Happy Travels and Happy Holidays!
Here is the article!
Georgia hotel to retain character
John Mackie, Vancouver Sun
Published: Saturday, December 16, 2006
The Hotel Georgia will close Jan. 2. When it reopens in three years, it will be totally different.
The 12-storey hotel will be renovated and turned into a high-end boutique hotel, like the Wedgewood and the Opus. A 48-storey condo/office tower will rise next door to a height of about 150 metres, making it one of the tallest buildings in Vancouver.
"I think the value of the project is going to be well in excess of $350 or $400 million," says Bruce Langeris of Delta Group, which owns the property along with Goodman Real Estate of Seattle. "It's a big project."
He's not kidding. The public parts of the Georgia -- the exterior facade, wood-panelled lobby and legendary basement bar -- will be restored and retain their original character. The ballroom upstairs will be taken apart piece by piece so that seismic upgrading can be done, then reassembled. But the ballroom will be larger when it's reopened, and the original promenade on the mezzanine beside the ballroom will be restored.
The big changes will be in the upstairs rooms, which are small by today's standards. The rooms will be demolished and rebuilt to a modern luxury-hotel standard.
"We'll reduce the hotel from 313 rooms, which are small, to 200 rooms, plus or minus," says Langeris.
"Our goal is to create a boutique hotel ... and that it will lead the market in Vancouver, from a hotel perspective, in terms of rates and occupancy. We look at the Opus and the Wedgewood, which really set the standard in terms of rates achieved, and we think we can offer what they have and more in terms of presence and amenity and location."
The Georgia is now operated by the Crowne Plaza chain, but another hotel management chain will likely take over. W Hotels was rumoured to be interested, but all Langeris will say is that his company is still looking.
"We had been in discussions with a major hotel group that sort of took the approach that it was a very upfront hotel with a flashy brand name," he says.
"[But] we want a hotel management group that will respect the Hotel Georgia, as opposed to the Hotel Georgia brand and history being pushed into the back and some flashy other name being prominently placed."
Delta Group and Goodman bought the Georgia and the condo site a year ago for $62.8 million. The previous owner had another tower designed by architect Bing Thom, which created a stir when Thom successfully campaigned to make it higher.
Thom is no longer on the project, and his controversial "crystal tower" has been replaced by another striking highrise designed by Jim Hancock and Hilda Heyvaerts of Hancock-Bruckner IBI. Malcolm Elliot and Allan Endall of Endall Elliot are the architects working on the Hotel Georgia restoration.
The project goes to the city's development permit board Feb. 26. Plans for the tower include 35 stories of residential with 156 condos, eight storeys of offices and seven storeys of underground parking.
The condos won't be cheap: Langeris anticipates them going for $1,200 to $1,500 a square foot, which means a 1,000-square-foot condo would be $1.2 million to $1.5 million. Marketing should start next spring or summer, with occupancy in 2010.
"Everybody keeps raising the bar in Vancouver about what the quality is," he says.
"Now it's our turn to see how we can do that."
[email protected]
Happy Travels and Happy Holidays!
Dec 18, 2006, 8:30 am
#47
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: CT/ Germany - Ich spreche deutsch
Programs: UA 1K, Bonvoy LTTE, HH Dia, HY Expl
Posts: 4,657
Both W Dubai The Palm and W Vancouver (rumor) added to the original post.
Dec 18, 2006, 10:19 am
#48
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Lafayette, CO, USA
Programs: SPG Lifetime Plat, AA Gold, UA Gold, DL Silver, HH Gold, Vail Epic
Posts: 9,096
The following websites currently have been registered to point to the main default alofthotels.com webpage:
www.alofttoronto.com
www.aloftchantilly.com
www.aloftgreenville.com
www.aloftraleigh.com
www.aloftwashington.com
www.aloftbaltimore.com
www.aloftprovidence.com
www.aloftjacksonville.com
www.aloftphoenix.com
There are registrations for many other cities that do NOT point to Starwood's site. Most interesting is this one...
www.aloftasheville.com
...that points to the Comfort Suites Biltmore Square Mall in Asheville, NC.
While the existance of a website registration is far from meaning that any decision has been made, it may help identify some places that are being or have been evaluated. I recognize that some of the above places have already been confirmed, but some have not been mentioned in this thread.
I also ran across rumor of a W Providence, RI. I'm not sure if that is still on the table for the lower floors of the condos planned at 110 Westminster, Providence.
Edited to add:
W Residences Buckhead (Atlanta area. Either condos only or condo hotel. 18 floors.)
W Hotel Buckhead (3400 Lenox Rd next to the Sheraton Buckhead. Currently seems to be on hold, but this has been in the rumors for several years.)
These are both separate from the following W planned in downtown Atlanta at 45 Allen Plaza. "The new downtown tower, 50 Allen Plaza, will join the Pickard Chilton-designed W Hotel to be built at 45 Allen Plaza and the Ernst & Young LLP building rising at 55 Allen Plaza."
The www.WResidences.com website currently says, "W Residences are coming soon to up-market neighborhoods in hot cities, such as Boston, Scottsdale, Phoenix, Atlanta, and Denver."
www.alofttoronto.com
www.aloftchantilly.com
www.aloftgreenville.com
www.aloftraleigh.com
www.aloftwashington.com
www.aloftbaltimore.com
www.aloftprovidence.com
www.aloftjacksonville.com
www.aloftphoenix.com
There are registrations for many other cities that do NOT point to Starwood's site. Most interesting is this one...
www.aloftasheville.com
...that points to the Comfort Suites Biltmore Square Mall in Asheville, NC.
While the existance of a website registration is far from meaning that any decision has been made, it may help identify some places that are being or have been evaluated. I recognize that some of the above places have already been confirmed, but some have not been mentioned in this thread.
I also ran across rumor of a W Providence, RI. I'm not sure if that is still on the table for the lower floors of the condos planned at 110 Westminster, Providence.
Edited to add:
W Residences Buckhead (Atlanta area. Either condos only or condo hotel. 18 floors.)
W Hotel Buckhead (3400 Lenox Rd next to the Sheraton Buckhead. Currently seems to be on hold, but this has been in the rumors for several years.)
These are both separate from the following W planned in downtown Atlanta at 45 Allen Plaza. "The new downtown tower, 50 Allen Plaza, will join the Pickard Chilton-designed W Hotel to be built at 45 Allen Plaza and the Ernst & Young LLP building rising at 55 Allen Plaza."
The www.WResidences.com website currently says, "W Residences are coming soon to up-market neighborhoods in hot cities, such as Boston, Scottsdale, Phoenix, Atlanta, and Denver."
Last edited by sc flier; Dec 18, 2006 at 10:59 am
Dec 18, 2006, 11:45 am
#49
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 44
I think you will have to wait longer than the 2008 timeframe they have tossed out. I was in LV last month and jogged by the property and NOTHING had been done at the site other than them putting up boards around the property listing "Future home of W LV." Hyatt property at least had major construction going on!
At http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_ho.../11390644.html
and http://www.casinocitytimes.com/news/...ntentID=163115 "Las Vegas-based Edge Resorts, developer of the W Las Vegas on Harmon Avenue, has hired Credit Suisse Group of New York to explore "strategic partnerships" in the $1.7 billion mixed-use project, Edge principal Reagan Silber said. The 46-acre property is not being listed for sale, though Silber said he has no doubt that there are investors who would like to buy the land."
****
"Sources in Las Vegas suspect that the land is being put on the market because Starwood is pulling out of the project. Calls to Starwood Senior Vice President Ross Klein in New York and to Credit Suisse were not returned."
Dec 20, 2006, 9:24 pm
#50
Join Date: May 2004
Location: DCA ZWU
Programs: AGR WOH
Posts: 1,785
Aloft and Element at Park Place, Leawood, Kans. (near KC):
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansas...s/16269762.htm
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansas...s/16269762.htm
Dec 28, 2006, 4:32 am
#51
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Provincetown, MA
Programs: AA EXP 1MM, SPG Plat
Posts: 94
W Hotel Boston approved by Boston Redev. Authority
From the Boston Business Journal:
http://boston.bizjournals.com/boston...8/daily62.html
Location: Corner of Tremont and Stuart streets across from the Wilbur Theatre
* 26 stories
* 235 rooms
* 123 residential condo units
* 12,000 sq ft retail, restaurant and spa
Construction expected to start in spring 2007 and take two years.
http://boston.bizjournals.com/boston...8/daily62.html
Location: Corner of Tremont and Stuart streets across from the Wilbur Theatre
* 26 stories
* 235 rooms
* 123 residential condo units
* 12,000 sq ft retail, restaurant and spa
Construction expected to start in spring 2007 and take two years.
Last edited by rikahlberg; Dec 28, 2006 at 4:42 am
Jan 3, 2007, 3:50 pm
#52
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Lafayette, CO, USA
Programs: SPG Lifetime Plat, AA Gold, UA Gold, DL Silver, HH Gold, Vail Epic
Posts: 9,096
The following aloft properties are named in Starwood's system.
aloft Arista - Denver Northwest, CO -- no details available.
aloft Arundel Mills. This is the Hanover, MD, location. Five miles from BWI airport at the Arundel Mills mall. Combined development with an Element hotel. Slated to open Spring 2008.
aloft Baltimore-Washington International Airport. I'm not sure if this is the same as the Baltimore, MD, location or if this is an additional location.
aloft Chandler, AZ -- I guess this could be the Phoenix Airport property, but I don't think so.
aloft Chantilly, VA -- already confirmed.
aloft Charleston Airport & Convention Center, SC -- already confirmed, though name is enhanced.
aloft Charlotte Uptown at the Epicentre -- already confirmed, though name is enhanced.
aloft Chesapeake, VA -- already confirmed.
aloft Chicago Millennium Park -- already confirmed. This is the one at Wabash & Balbo. Click for picture and a few details.
aloft El Segundo, CA -- details not available.
aloft Jacksonville Airport -- Is this in FL? Is the "Jacksonville, NC" reference serious in post #1?
aloft Lincolnshire, IL -- now confirmed. Click here for picture and a few details.
aloft Minneapolis -- "A swank Starwood aloft property is set to go into the Zenith project near the Guthrie Theater." But a June 2006 article claims that negotiations were leading toward this being a W.
aloft Montreal Airport -- already confirmed.
aloft Nashville - Cool Springs -- no details available.
aloft Portland -- no details available. Maine or Oregon? (I'd guess Oregon.)
aloft Rancho Cucamonga, CA -- confirmed.
aloft Rogers-Bentonville, AR -- no details available. (Trivia: Arkansas is currently without a Starwood hotel.)
aloft Tallahassee, FL -- New addition. Location details.
aloft Toronto Downtown -- already confirmed, though name is enhanced. See also this old PR for location details. (This same PR discusses the aloft Dorval at Montreal's airport.)
aloft Winchester -- no details available. I'm not even sure which state this is in. MA? VA? Other? (I'd guess MA.)
A correction for the list in post #1. "Nount Laurel" should be "Mount Laurel." (OT: The Westin Mount Laurel is scheduled to open June 1, 2007.")
aloft Arista - Denver Northwest, CO -- no details available.
aloft Arundel Mills. This is the Hanover, MD, location. Five miles from BWI airport at the Arundel Mills mall. Combined development with an Element hotel. Slated to open Spring 2008.
aloft Baltimore-Washington International Airport. I'm not sure if this is the same as the Baltimore, MD, location or if this is an additional location.
aloft Chandler, AZ -- I guess this could be the Phoenix Airport property, but I don't think so.
aloft Chantilly, VA -- already confirmed.
aloft Charleston Airport & Convention Center, SC -- already confirmed, though name is enhanced.
aloft Charlotte Uptown at the Epicentre -- already confirmed, though name is enhanced.
aloft Chesapeake, VA -- already confirmed.
aloft Chicago Millennium Park -- already confirmed. This is the one at Wabash & Balbo. Click for picture and a few details.
aloft El Segundo, CA -- details not available.
aloft Jacksonville Airport -- Is this in FL? Is the "Jacksonville, NC" reference serious in post #1?
aloft Lincolnshire, IL -- now confirmed. Click here for picture and a few details.
aloft Minneapolis -- "A swank Starwood aloft property is set to go into the Zenith project near the Guthrie Theater." But a June 2006 article claims that negotiations were leading toward this being a W.
aloft Montreal Airport -- already confirmed.
aloft Nashville - Cool Springs -- no details available.
aloft Portland -- no details available. Maine or Oregon? (I'd guess Oregon.)
aloft Rancho Cucamonga, CA -- confirmed.
aloft Rogers-Bentonville, AR -- no details available. (Trivia: Arkansas is currently without a Starwood hotel.)
aloft Tallahassee, FL -- New addition. Location details.
aloft Toronto Downtown -- already confirmed, though name is enhanced. See also this old PR for location details. (This same PR discusses the aloft Dorval at Montreal's airport.)
aloft Winchester -- no details available. I'm not even sure which state this is in. MA? VA? Other? (I'd guess MA.)
A correction for the list in post #1. "Nount Laurel" should be "Mount Laurel." (OT: The Westin Mount Laurel is scheduled to open June 1, 2007.")
Jan 3, 2007, 4:03 pm
#53
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Lafayette, CO, USA
Programs: SPG Lifetime Plat, AA Gold, UA Gold, DL Silver, HH Gold, Vail Epic
Posts: 9,096
The following W properties are also in the Starwood system and provide some additional information to what is in Post #1:
W Minneapolis The Foshay
W Philadelphia Hotel & Residences -- Already confirmed. Name enhancement.
W Retreat & Spa Martineau Bay -- Vieques, PR, conversion that keeps getting delayed. Name enhancement. (Doesn't bode well for keeping down the SPG category.)
W Minneapolis The Foshay
W Philadelphia Hotel & Residences -- Already confirmed. Name enhancement.
W Retreat & Spa Martineau Bay -- Vieques, PR, conversion that keeps getting delayed. Name enhancement. (Doesn't bode well for keeping down the SPG category.)
Feb 1, 2007, 10:15 pm
#54
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: DCA
Programs: US Gold, NW Silver, MR Silver, SPG Gold & OpenTable VIP
Posts: 611
Does anyone have any information on when the W South Beach will be opening? I checked a number of Miami newspapers and couldn't find any details.
thanks.
thanks.
Feb 1, 2007, 11:29 pm
#55
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: Gila, NM, USA
Posts: 1,044
Great thread, thanks
Very excited to see so many new Starwoods in AZ, they have been dwindling there for a while. Wish there were some properties opening in NM and ELP!
Feb 2, 2007, 1:13 pm
#56
Join Date: May 2004
Location: DCA ZWU
Programs: AGR WOH
Posts: 1,785
Aloft Beijing in Haidan, 2009, to be the sixth Starwood in PEK:
http://www.hotelinteractive.com/hi_i...rticle_id=7017
The first two alofts (Rancho Cucamonga and Lexington) just broke ground on 22 Jan, to open 1Q '08. At this rate, they'll be Cat 5...
I'm still surprised to see that so many "hip" aloft hotels are slated for highway-exit suburban locations. I know it's easier to build out there, but it hardly seems like an appropriate place for the brand.
http://www.hotelinteractive.com/hi_i...rticle_id=7017
The first two alofts (Rancho Cucamonga and Lexington) just broke ground on 22 Jan, to open 1Q '08. At this rate, they'll be Cat 5...
I'm still surprised to see that so many "hip" aloft hotels are slated for highway-exit suburban locations. I know it's easier to build out there, but it hardly seems like an appropriate place for the brand.
Last edited by paytonc; Feb 2, 2007 at 8:27 pm Reason: dyslexia?
Feb 2, 2007, 1:22 pm
#57
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Programs: AC, AA, SPG, Hilton
Posts: 1,788
I wonder which category aloft hotels would be slotted.
Since they are a branch off from the W Hotels like 4 Points by Sheraton. I'd expect their categories to be below that of W Hotels (mostly in the 4+ range). Depending on where they are slotted, we may get some values for our points.
Since they are a branch off from the W Hotels like 4 Points by Sheraton. I'd expect their categories to be below that of W Hotels (mostly in the 4+ range). Depending on where they are slotted, we may get some values for our points.
Feb 13, 2007, 9:18 am
#58
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: CT/ Germany - Ich spreche deutsch
Programs: UA 1K, Bonvoy LTTE, HH Dia, HY Expl
Posts: 4,657
Updated my OP with this new info on the W Hollywood, CA:
http://www.usatoday.com/travel/hotel...on-hotel_x.htm
Atleast we have a little more info on the location, rooms and possible opening date with this article.
http://www.usatoday.com/travel/hotel...on-hotel_x.htm
Atleast we have a little more info on the location, rooms and possible opening date with this article.
Feb 13, 2007, 6:54 pm
#59
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Toronto, Canada
Programs: AC Elite, SPG Plat, Marriott Plat, Hyatt Diamond, Air Miles Gold, Sixt Plat
Posts: 4
I noticed that W Toronto is listed as a U.S. location - shouldn't Canada be listed as international?
Feb 14, 2007, 6:44 am
#60
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Provincetown, MA
Programs: AA EXP 1MM, SPG Plat
Posts: 94
I was just in South Beach last week and site prep is ongoing; the demolition of the old hotel is nearly complete. The original target was a late 2007 opening, but I'd expect late 2008 given the amount of work yet to be done.
More here (with pictures) at Hotel Chatter:
http://www.hotelchatter.com/tag/W%20South%20Beach
More here (with pictures) at Hotel Chatter:
http://www.hotelchatter.com/tag/W%20South%20Beach