St. Louis Convention Quarter Seeing a Hotel Room Boom

The St. Louis convention quarter is seeing a boom in accommodations. There are more than 7,000 available guest rooms in downtown St. Louis with some of the most premier hotel brands in the industry, including Marriott, Four Seasons, Hilton, Embassy Suites, Drury, Holiday Inn and Hyatt, By the end of summer 2015, more than 1,750 of those rooms will be new or recently remodeled and all within steps of America’s Center.

“From the newly renovated Magnolia to the soon-to-be Marriott St. Louis Grand, our hotel partners are continuing to make extensive investments and enhancements to their properties,” said John Bettag, vice president of sales for the St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission. “We are excited that many of the properties closest to America’s Center are seeing revitalizations thanks to the commitment of our hospitality community to offer first-class accommodations to convention and meeting attendees.”

The historic Mayfair Hotel was transformed into the Magnolia Hotel St. Louis last summer. The boutique hotel, which originally opened in 1925, played host to Hollywood greats during its heyday. The property offers 182 rooms, 4,500 sf of executive conference center space and the 2,500-sf Mayfair Grand Ballroom.

Exciting new transformations in the spring and summer of 2015 include the rebranding and renovation of the Renaissance St. Louis Grand (adjacent to America’s Center) into the Marriott St. Louis Grand Hotel. This $30 million renovation will transform St. Louis’ largest hotel. All 917 guest rooms will be completely remodeled in a comfortable, contemporary design and will include refrigerators and 47-inch, flat-screen televisions. The Lobby will come alive with a new Marriott Great Room anchored by a spectacular Lobby Bar. Comfortable seating and multiple connections will be available so guests can plug in and unwind. The 8th Street Pantry will be located in the Great Room and feature grab-and-go menu items. The Great Room Restaurant and Bar will feature local items as well as a variety of local beers on tap. The hotel will add 6,400 sf of meeting and event space.

Also adjacent and physically connected to America’s Center, the Courtyard by Marriott Downtown Convention Center (formerly the historic Lennox Hotel) is slated to reopen in late summer and is being redeveloped by Maritz, Wolff & Co. Shuttered since 2011 when it last operated as the Renaissance St. Louis Suites Hotel, the Courtyard by Marriott is completing a $15 million renovation that will transform the property into a modern, boutique-style hotel reflective of the historic nature of the building. Each of its spacious (475 sf on average) 165 rooms will be completely renewed with the majority receiving 55-inch televisions. Additionally, the lobby will be completely updated with a mid-century modern design to complement the existing historic elements. The comprehensive renovation includes window and elevator replacement, and a replacement of all furnishings. Additionally, the project includes renovation of 1,100 sf of meeting space on the second floor, as well as unique 800-sf meeting space on the hotel’s rooftop.

HMA Hotels is completing the renovation of the Holiday Inn St. Louis Downtown — Convention Center, which is on Ninth Street next to America’s Center. Formerly the Ramada Plaza, the hotel has undergone a full renovation of all 293 rooms, corridors, lobbies, pool deck, fitness center and front desk. The sophisticated contemporary décor is a new look for Holiday Inn, which will appeal to business travelers and families alike. The redesigned 11,000-sf Grand Ballroom and conference center offers a transitional mix of crystal chandlers, modern furnishings and classic touches. Guests will enjoy the new St. Louis Sports Hall of Fame Restaurant & Bar featuring memorabilia from renowned local athletes, along with some of their favorite cuisine. The new Holiday Inn will reopen by spring of 2015 with the Conference Center space scheduled to be completed by June.

St. Louis offers meeting planners a complete package for citywide meetings and events in the heart of the city’s redeveloped downtown central business district. More than $5 billion worth of development has been invested across the region, and more exciting projects are on the way. To learn more about all St. Louis has to offer your next convention or meeting, visit explorestlouis.com/meetings-conventions.