The Georgian Terrace Hotel Begins $11 Million-Plus Renovation (United States)
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The Georgian Terrace Hotel Begins $11 Million-Plus Renovation (United States)
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Category: North America & West Indies / Carribean islands - United States - Industry economy
vRenovation / Addition
This is a press release selected by our editorial committee and published online for free on 2009-01-27
Major Upgrade to Atlanta's Landmark Hotel
Officials of The Georgian Terrace Hotel, Atlanta's iconic hotel, announced today that the midtown property has commenced an $11 million-plus renovation to upgrade guestrooms and carry out a significant makeover of much of the public and social spaces, including a complete transformation of its existing restaurant and bar. The hotel expects that the renovated restaurant and bar will become one of Atlanta's top dining attractions. The luxury, all-suite hotel is owned by a real estate fund managed by San Francisco-based Fremont Realty Capital, with day-to-day management provided by Virginia-based Crescent Hotels & Resorts.
"Over the past few years, The Georgian Terrace Hotel has suffered an identity crisis of sorts, with various announced plans to convert it to other uses or to upgrade the hotel," said Matthew Reidy, senior managing director of Fremont Realty Capital. "It is a classic building with incredible hotel potential. We looked at every possible scenario and concluded that the property was built to be a grand hotel, so why try to change its heritage? The fact that we are investing some $11 million in the middle of a recession speaks to our commitment to this landmark hotel and our confidence in mid-town Atlanta. The Georgian Terrace Hotel has a rich history of celebrity, southern style and hospitality, and the planned refurbishment will be a renaissance for the hotel, preserving its charm and grand spaces while updating the restaurant and room experience to give our guests a contemporary and state-of-the-art experience."
The improvement program, expected to be completed during spring of 2009, will focus on numerous aspects of the hotel. The hotel's large, all-suite guest rooms will receive new 45-and 37-inch flat screen televisions, as well as wireless, high speed Internet access. Additionally, new Serta Sapphire Suite Pillow top - Perfect Sleeper mattresses complemented with luxurious bedding packages will be installed in each guest room. Bed linens will include an all-white duvet, navy blue and gold pillow shams, gold bed skirts, navy blue bed scarf and 300-plus thread-count linens.
All hallway carpet, totaling nearly 1-1/2 acres, will be replaced with custom-designed, plush, multi-level patterned carpet. The entire hotel will be upgraded to provide wireless Internet access throughout all public spaces for all guests.
The main floor will receive significant changes and upgrades. The front desk will be relocated within the spacious atrium lobby, creating a welcoming entrance experience for guests more in line with the grand nature of the hotel. The area immediately north of the current lobby will be converted to a beautifully appointed entertaining space perfect for intimate social gatherings, wedding ceremonies and business meetings.
The entire lobby area also will be renovated. The new design will bring a modern edge to a classic terrace environment with the installation of sculptural landscape pieces and sophisticated furnishings, all designed to enhance the grand architecture of the space.
Two major suites, a penthouse suite and a three-bedroom suite, with more than 1,500 and 1,750 square feet, respectively, will be completely made over for guest stays and special functions. The suites will be available for use in conjunction with weddings as a preparation room for brides and their bridal parties. The suites also will be used for visiting dignitaries and for honeymoons. "Weddings and other social functions will play a major role in our hotel," said Carl Dees, hotel general manager. "Our goal is to become the place to entertain and hold social events that offers distinctive Atlantan hospitality and style."
The hotel currently features 5,500 square feet of IACC-certified meeting space in five meeting rooms. It is one of only nine such certified facilities in the entire state of Georgia. "We provide a meeting concierge and specialized menus and services to personally cater to our meeting guests. Coupled with our two ballrooms, we have 16,000 square feet of meeting space that can comfortably handle groups ranging from two to 350 people."
The hotel renovation has been quietly underway since early last year. A 2,000-square-foot fitness center, located on the 19th floor, has been totally refitted with state-of-the-art equipment and will offer stunning views of the city. "The fitness center boasts some of the best views in Atlanta; we like to think of it as the best place to sweat in Atlanta," Dees said.
A classic redefined
The centerpiece of the renovation will be a total revolution of the hotels' food and beverage offering. Puccini Group, a San Francisco-based hotel restaurant design and operations firm, has been selected to renovate and manage the hotel's five major social spaces. The lobby, restaurant, bar and lounge, outdoor terrace and carry-out cafe are scheduled for completion in April 2009, and the Puccini Group will transform these areas into desirable destinations well known for iconic style and historic charm.
"Our goal is to create one of Atlanta's--and the South's-- most recognized restaurants," Reidy said. "We are wrapping up our planning and will make an announcement shortly."
Built in 1911, The Georgian Terrace Hotel, located at 659 Peachtree Street NE in midtown Atlanta and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, has played host to some of Atlanta's most preeminent events, including the star-studded party for the 1939 premiere of the classic, Oscar-winning film, "Gone with the Wind." Some of the hotel's most celebrated guests include Calvin Coolidge, Warren G. Harding, Charles Lindbergh, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Tallulah Bankhead, Clark Gable and Rudolph Valentino. The hotel recently was used as the setting to film a European commercial starring George Clooney.
The all-suite hotel, with room sizes averaging 850 square feet of space with some larger suites boasting 2,700 square feet, features quality furnishings, large bathrooms, oversized windows, microwave oven, full-size refrigerator, washer and dryers and an electric range/oven. Additionally, many of the suites have walk-in closets and balconies with sliding glass doors. The hotel offers a state-of-the-art business center and a stunning rooftop pool with 360-degree panoramic views of the city.
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