An occupancy downturn is the perfect time to renovate a hotel, and properties in both the northeast and southeast are completing their remodeling projects.
Rhode Island
In Newport, R.I., the historic Hotel Viking has completed renovations to Spa Fjör, its 1,100-square foot fitness center and the 720-square-foot pool.
Updates include refurbished facilities, new equipment and design elements as well as a refreshed spa menu with new services.
With design led by White Space Designs, Spa Fjör now has six revamped treatment rooms and an expanded relaxation room with a 12’x7’ Himalayan sea salt wall. The salt wall, incorporated for its healing benefits, is the first of its kind in Newport. Made from pink salt crystals mined from the edge of the Himalayan Mountains, salt walls are believed to have air ionization and air purifying capabilities. These include the ability to remove pollen, dust, smoke, and many other types of allergens from the air, while also balancing ions in the air in such a way to rejuvenate the body, mind, and some claim, help in the treatment of seasonal depression. Spa Fjör intentionally weaved in this design element as part of the overall guest experience and to help set the tone pre- and post-treatment.
Hotel Viking’s indoor pool now has three new cabanas available for reservation. The pool has now transitioned to saline from chlorine, and has been retiled, resurfaced and refinished with new anti-slip decking. Pool facilities, including bathrooms, have also been remodeled.
Adjacent to the pool, the property’s revamped fitness center now offers new Matrix equipment as well as two Peloton bikes.
Georgia
In Georgia, property group Lendlease has completed renovations on the former Landmark Inn, which has been rebranded the Holiday Inn Express on Hunter Army Airfield, an IHG Army Hotel.
Hotel renovations include 74 guestrooms, a new guest fitness facility, laundry facility, an updated business center, new pavilion with picnic tables and grills as well as an updated lobby. The hotel also got a new entry way and all new interior finishes and furniture throughout. The breakfast area was renovated to a full Express Start breakfast bar.
“Lendlease performed extensive updates to the Holiday Inn Express on Hunter Army Airfield to ensure we are meeting the unique needs of our military travelers today,” said Gretchen Turpen, SVP, head of lodging for Lendlease. “Our focus is providing hotels that improve the quality of life of service members and their families. Our updated facilities and amenities, as well as our commitment to providing enhanced cleanliness protocols here at Hunter Army Airfield, do just that by providing a safe, relaxing atmosphere and comfortable stay for all of our guests.”
Part of the Privatization of Army Lodging (PAL) program, Lendlease is the owner, developer, design-builder and asset manager for the hotel, and the exclusive developer for the Department of Defense’s only lodging privatization program. IHG is the hotel operator and manager of IHG Army Hotels, which are located on 40 U.S. military installations and provide service and amenities tailored to meet the needs of military travel.
Lendlease and IHG Army Hotels have delivered 23 Holiday Inn Express hotels,13 Candlewood Suites® hotels, one Staybridge Suites hotel and 15 Historia Collection hotels throughout the U.S., including the Candlewood Suites on Redstone Arsenal, the first in the U.S. to be constructed completely of Cross Laminated Timber, and the newly completed 311-room Candlewood Suites on Fort Gordon, the largest in the world.