hotel renovation

Checking in (Again) at Casa Madrona in Sausalito

Casa Madrona was the first hotel in California that I ever truly loved. I first visited in the late 1990s, when a dear friend got married, at sunset, on the patio of the Mikayla restaurant, overlooking the bay towards Tiburon and San Francisco. I returned several times after that, but hadn't been back since the hotel went through a major expansion in 2002, and oh yes, bankruptcy, foreclosure and sale at auction.

When I stayed a few weeks ago, Terra Resort Group had just been engaged to manage the property.

The hotel started its life in 1855 as a mansion, and the historic section (pictured above) appears to be just as charming as ever. The 2002 expansion, in my opinion, was unfortunate. It's perfectly nice, but entirely contemporary, the type of room you can find anywhere - a missed opportunity, if you ask me. The contemporary part of the hotel is also closer to the street than the historic rooms which are set back on the hill, so you do get more street noise. I'll have to poke back in once Terra has had a chance to get its bearings, but I'll definitely request one of the older rooms.

And oh, as of now, the lovely Mikayla restaurant is closed, replaced by a street-level restaurant Poggio. It serves top-notch Italian food, but it doesn't have the bay view that made dining at Casa Madrona so special.

Tags: bay area, california, casamadrona, hotel renovation, HotelsInTrouble, sausalito, terra

Trump International Hotel & Tower New York Plans $30 Million Makeover

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

Donald Trump's flagship hotel, the Trump International Hotel & Tower New York is getting a little sprucing up. A $30 million renovation will update the 167 guest rooms and suites beginning in January 2010. The renovation will happen in two stages timed for the slower New York City travel months, one half in January through April, and the other half in June through September. The hotel will remain open. The new decor will have a color palette of gray and aubergine with accents of ivory and caramel. Furnishings will be done in velvets and silky fabrics with rosewood, mahogany, maple and walnut finishes. Schonbek crystal chandeliers, purple velvet draperies and silk accent walls will complete the glamorous look. The renovation will be finished by next Labor Day.

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Tags: donald trump, DonaldTrump, hotel renovation, HotelRenovation, trump hotel, trump international, trump new york, TrumpInternational

Historic Hotels Upgrading to Attract New Customers

by Sandy Maple (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

In many large cities, you will find beautiful historic hotel properties situated on prime real estate. Some have been abandoned and risk being demolished while others are still operating, but lack the amenities necessary to attract luxury customers. Rather than tear them down and start from scratch, a new trend sees hoteliers renovating and upgrading their properties to offer the best of both worlds - first class accommodations along with historic charm.

One such property is the Book-Cadillac Hotel in Detroit. Built in 1924, the hotel was once a destination for presidents and movie stars, but fell into decline in the 1980's. Having stood vacant for more than twenty years, it is now being reincarnated as the 455-room Westin Book Cadillac Detroit. Scheduled to open in late 2008, the property will feature condominiums, retail and restaurant space and provide full-time employment for more than 450 workers.

Even those with less illustrious histories are getting a new lease on life. In 1946, The Winecoff Hotel in Atlanta was the site of the deadliest hotel fire in U.S. history, but after undergoing a $28 million renovation has reopened as the 4-star Ellis Hotel on Atlanta's famed Peachtree Street. Oklahoma City's Skirvin Hotel has benefited from a $55 million renovation and is now the Skirvin Hilton.

Visitors to Boston can enjoy an unusual experience staying at the Liberty Hotel, formerly the Charles Street Jail. Once considered "unfit for human living", the renovated property celebrates its roots by retaining some of the jail cells amid the luxury accommodations. And after a $10 million renovation, Seattle's century-old Alexis Hotel is now a luxury destination in the heart of downtown, offering modern amenities in an art-filled atmosphere.

Gallery: Historic Hotels Upgrading to Attract New Customers