The Tennessean Hotel will open in Downtown Knoxville this April as part of the Gemstone Collection brand of Benchmark, a global hospitality company. Benchmark will operate the property, which consists of 82 guestrooms and 12 luxury residences, in the World’s Fair Park. The park sits on the perimeter of the University of Tennessee campus, a partner of the new hotel.
“Knoxville is a vibrant, thriving hub for business and leisure travel and now one of the hottest hotel markets in the US,” Alex Cabañas, CEO of Benchmark, said in a statement. “The Tennessean Hotel, with its exceptional location, modern luxury and commitment to the highest levels of personalized service, make it ideal for our new Gemstone Collection.”
The hotel is being developed on the grounds of the 1982 World’s Fair Park and adjacent to the many attractions of downtown Knoxville. Guests of The Tennessean Hotel will have access to nearby attractions at the city’s arts, theater and culinary scene, shop in the boutiques of Market Square, cruises on the Tennessee River, visits to the Knoxville Zoo and multiple historic sites in the area.
Knoxville offers scenery and outdoor recreational opportunities in the many parks and the Great Smoky Mountains overlooking the city. The Tennessean is neighbored by Regal Cinema, The Knoxville Museum of Art, The Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, 10 local craft breweries and several Blackberry Farm chef-inspired restaurants. It is also home to a range of businesses encompassing defense, entertainment, technology, transportation and engineering. Easily reached via Interstate routes 40 and 275, The Tennessean Hotel is 14 miles from McGhee Tyson Airport.
The Tennessean's interior design will reflect the flow of the nearby Tennessee River, and the property’s logo includes the state of Tennessee flower, the Iris. Tennessee craftsmen with Hackney Furniture in Sneedville, Tenn., produced furnishings for each guestroom and common area. The hotel’s 82 guestrooms and suites are equipped with luxury services such as turndown service, robe and slippers, an in-room safe as well as a workstation desk and Illy coffee makers.
The Tennessean is committed to sustainable culinary practices and offers meats, cheeses and produce from the region in The Drawing Room, the hotel’s lounge and bar. These farm-to-table menus change with the seasons. Tennessee’s whiskey and locally brewed craft beers will also be on offer, including Knoxville’s largest selection of Tennessee Small Batch Whiskey. The Drawing Room offers views of the World’s Fair Park, Clingmans’s Dome (the highest point in the Smokey Mountains) and the Sunsphere.
The Park Pavilion, located adjacent to The Tennessean, offers 16,000 square feet of luxury indoor venue space with an option for outdoor space at Knoxville’s World’s Fair Park. Event breakout spaces, pre-function space, floor-to-ceiling air curtains and hidden service hallways make this flexible space suitable for any event, function, conference or reception. Within the hotel is the Boardroom, which offers butler service.
The hotel offers 12 luxury residences on the top two floors ranging from approximately 1,880 square feet to 2,380 square feet. Each residence offers contemporary style and finishes, such as floor-to-ceiling operable windows, gourmet kitchen with Viking appliances, gas cooktop and fireplace and spa-inspired bathrooms. Amenities include a statefitness center, access to The Drawing Room, gated garage parking, dedicated private storage, valet parking and roomservice.