Regional Hotel News

West United States

Singapore-based Pan Pacific Hotels is scheduled to open its first property in Seattle come November 15. The 160-room property occupies the first 11 floors of a 17-story mixed-use project at the corner of Denny Way and Westlake Avenue called the 2200 Westlake. It’s four blocks from Seattle’s central business district. Guestrooms are equipped with both Wi-Fi and DSL (both complimentary), flat-screen TV, work desk and Herman Miller chair and wall safe large enough to hold a laptop. The property has seven separate function rooms totaling 5,405 square feet, two restaurants, a bar, and a business center equipped with three PCs and workstations and supporting equipment, usage complimentary. It’ll be available 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. All public spaces are also Wi-Fi accessible…If your travel budget is tight and you need accommodations in Portland, come October 1 you might check out the remodeled Ace Hotel. Formerly the Clyde Hotel, built in 1912, the property has 79 rooms of which 68 have private baths; in the other 11 you share. Rates range from $85 to $195. Amenities include free HSIA, free local calls, free morning paper.

Midwest United States

South United States

Soutwest United States

Most flyers will love this; a few will flat out hate it. All Marriott hotels in the United States and Canada will be rendered completely smokeless by October 15, 2006. Included in the ban: JW Marriott, Renaissance, Courtyard, Fairfield Inn, SpringHill Suites, Residence Inn, TownePlace Suites and Marriott ExecuStay. Currently, more than 90 percent of all Marriott guestrooms are non-smoking, and puffing is prohibited in many public spaces because of local laws.

Northeast United States

Most flyers will love this; a few will flat out hate it. All Marriott hotels in the United States and Canada will be rendered completely smokeless by October 15, 2006. Included in the ban: JW Marriott, Renaissance, Courtyard, Fairfield Inn, SpringHill Suites, Residence Inn, TownePlace Suites and Marriott ExecuStay. Currently, more than 90 percent of all Marriott guestrooms are non-smoking, and puffing is prohibited in many public spaces because of local laws…Name change. The Radisson at New York JFK is now a Doubletree. With the switch comes a $10 million makeover of the 386-room property. The hotel is nicely located at the crossroads of the Van Wyck Expressway, Belt Parkway and the entrance to Kennedy Airport.

Worldwide

The Holiday Inn Express concept has made its way to Mexico City, not just on the fringes of the sprawling capital, but epicenter of much that matters in the business world. A 218-room, 31-suite hotel just opened near the World Trade Center. It sports Wi-Fi in all rooms, a health and fitness center, and an Express Start Breakfast Bar. Suites are designed for longer stays, with microwave, coffeemaker and mini-bar. The Holiday Inn Express Hotel and Suites Mexico City at the World Trade Center is but a block from Insugentes, one of the capital city’s prime arteries… Once again, Berlin is a big-league player in world politics. The city’s hotels mirror the momentum. This October, look for the five-star Hotel de Rome to open on Bebelplatz in the center of the city. The 146-room property is located in a building once occupied by Dresdner Bank…There’s a new Hilton at London’s Canary Warf. The 272-room hotel sports 10 meeting rooms and a moderately sized conference facility (380 people). There’s also an executive floor, sauna and steam room.