More Entertaining Options and a Hotel Building Boom

Development and Revitalization Abound in St. Louis

The times are a-changin' in St. Louis - and so are the drapes, the guest rooms and the amenities at many of the region's hotels, and new places to eat, drink and be merry are adding to an exciting entertainment mix.
St. Louis offers more than 7,800 hotel rooms within less than a mile of the America's Center® convention complex, and there are more than 36,000 hotel rooms in the metropolitan area. As if our first-class collection of hotels couldn't get any better - or bigger - St. Louis is enjoying a host of new and renewed properties. Here's what's happening with some of the new kids on the hospitality block.

What's New

Downtown, the latest hostelry news is that a Four Seasons hotel and spa, which is part of Lumière Place, a $500 million casino complex adjacent to Laclede's Landing. The luxury hotel offers 200 spacious guest rooms and suites with unrivaled views of the Gateway Arch and the Mississippi River, as well as a 12,000-square foot luxury spa, an expansive fitness center, pool, a 24-hour business center, and contemporary Italian fare at the on-site restaurant Cielo. Lumière Place, which opened to rave reviews in late 2007, is attached to another "new" property, HoteLumiere. Formerly known as the Embassy Suites Downtown, HoteLumiere has undergone a $16 million renovation and the all-suites property connects to the casino via a pedestrian sky bridge. Lumiére Place also features a secure underground pedestrian walkway that connects the complex to the Edward Jones Dome and America's Center.

The names may change, but the quality remains the same - as is the case with the Adam's Mark Hotel. In spring 2008, the landmark property was re-branded as the Hyatt Regency St. Louis Riverfront, after undergoing a $63 million dollar, building-wide renovation. Chartres Lodging Group, LLC, purchased the 910-room property in February and announced the property will be repositioned to serve as a signature group and convention-oriented destination hotel for St. Louis. Located across from the Gateway Arch, the hotel represents the second Hyatt Regency in the ever-expanding St. Louis business, convention and leisure visitor market. The project will be completed later in 2008.

Also located downtown, the nearby Hampton Inn - Gateway Arch has opened a new on-site restaurant. The Tigin Irish Pub and Restaurant serves up hearty food, a warm Irish welcome, and "the best pint outside of Dublin."

There's yet another Drury in town, thanks to the recent grand opening of Drury Inn & Suites St. Louis Forest Park. The 200-guest room facility is conveniently located at I-44 and Hampton Avenue, about 15 minutes southwest of downtown. And in Maryland Heights, a 104-suite Homewood Suites by Hilton has opened, along with a 100-room Hilton Garden Inn in the Chesterfield community of St. Louis County. The Hilton property features a 24-hour business center, meeting space for up to 75 people, a fitness center and a full service restaurant. In the Lambert-St. Louis International Airport area, the former Howard Johnson St. Louis is now the Airport Plaza Inn St. Louis Banquet & Conference Center.

In nearby St. Charles, Missouri, the Ameristar Casino St. Charles has opened its new 25-story luxury hotel and spa. The casino's $265 million expansion features the 400-room hotel, a 7,000 square-foot full-service spa, an indoor/outdoor pool area, and a 2,000-space parking garage. There's also 19,200 square feet of state-of-the-art conference and meeting facilities at the property.

What's New-ish

The Hilton St. Louis at the Ballpark, located across from Busch Stadium,
has completed a $5 million renovation of 7,500 square feet of ballroom
and meeting room space. This comes on the heels of a $16 million physical transformation of the 672-room property, which included a contemporary redesign to the lobby and entrances plus extensive meeting space and sleeping room renovations. And speaking of Hilton, the 195-room Hilton
St. Louis Downtown is located at Fourth and Olive streets, just six blocks from America's Center. The property offers 5,000 square feet of meeting space plus a business center and a 24-hour fitness center. Across the street, the former Radisson Hotel & Suites Downtown has changed flags to the Crowne Plaza Hotel, and the property has completed phase one of its $10 million renovation of its guest rooms and is giving a "face lift" to its popular Atrium Lounge. The Residence Inn by Marriott - Downtown is an all-suite property that has opened on the west end of downtown, and offers 72 extra-large studio, 81 one-bedroom and 34 two-bedroom suites.

At the Renaissance Grand and Suites Hotel, the property has undergone additional updates and renovations, including new lounge carpeting and furniture and additional health club equipment.

In the Central West End (CWE), the Parkway Hotel has opened adjacent to
St. Louis' renowned Washington University Medical Center. The independent property has 220 guest rooms including 14 suites and two Concierge Levels. At the nearby Chase Park Plaza, the hotel was transformed by a $20 million, full room renovation as well as refurbishing all of the public spaces, meeting areas. The historic hotel is expanding its lodging inventory with an additional 89 rooms in Spring 2008.

What's Renewed

The Omni Majestic Hotel features a $2 million upgrade to the 91-room luxury property, as each guest room was completely refurbished, redecorated and technology enhancements were installed. Also downtown, the Missouri Athletic Club has been accepted in the National Register of Historic Places, and the facility is celebrating with a fresh coat of paint, new comforters, curtains, carpet and vanities, and the Sheraton St. Louis Center has refreshed its lobby. Following an $8 million upgrade of its garden rooms, the Hyatt Regency St. Louis has completed a $1.2 million renovation to its 66 historic Regency Club rooms. Designated as an AAA Four Diamond property, the Hyatt Regency is a member of Historic Hotels of America, and is located in historic St. Louis Union Station.

In the Clayton business district, the recently renovated Radisson Clayton has been re-flagged as the Crowne Plaza St. Louis - Clayton. The hotel added 61 guest rooms and suites for a total of 257 rooms, including a two-story Presidential Suite, a Governor's Suite and several honeymoon suites. The Hilton St. Louis Frontenac also completed a $3 million renovation to its 264 guest rooms and elegant lobby.

In the airport area, the Airport Hilton has a refreshed lobby, renovated fitness center and a new Internet café. A renaissance has taken place at the Renaissance Airport, as a $7 million renovation brings a new feel and an expanded health club to the conveniently-located property. The Doubletree Club Hotel - St. Louis Airport has changed flags to the Comfort Inn & Conference Center - St. Louis Airport, and guest rooms feature high-speed Internet access and luxurious bedding. The Airport Plaza Inn St. Louis Banquet & Conference Center has also undergone major renovations and has a bright new look.

In the West Port area, the Residence Inn by Marriott has completed a renovation of its home-like property, and the West Port Drury Inn & Suites is sporting a new look that includes the addition of an exercise room, guest laundry and six two-room suites. ClubHouse Inn & Suites West Port debuted a new business center and offers in-room high speed Internet connections, and the Residence Inn by Marriott has completed a renovation of its home-like property. In West St. Louis County, the Marriott West has finished its $1.7 million renovation to the sleeping rooms and an upgrade of the Grand Ballroom, and the Doubletree Hotel & Conference Center St. Louis has completed a $5 million hotel-wide renovation. Improvements include refreshed guest rooms, remodeling of the full-service Chesterfield Athletic Club and a new state-of-the-art business center. 

More Downtown Development Underway

But wait - there's more! Additional development includes another exciting dining, shopping and entertainment showplace opening adjacent to the America's Center convention complex. Another historic building in downtown St. Louis will be transformed, as the former Stix, Baer & Fuller department store on Washington Avenue is slated to become an Embassy Suites hotel.

After christening a new home roost with a World Series championship in 2006, the St. Louis Cardinals are planning to feather an additional nest across the street from Busch Stadium. Ballpark Village, a mixed-use complex featuring 350,000 square feet of restaurant and retail space, is planned on the southern edge of downtown. The lively district will include museums, boutiques and specialty retail stores, nightspots, and a mix of fine and casual dining options.

Neighboring Cupples Station has brought new life to a group of historic railroad warehouses near the stadium. This development project is transforming historic warehouses into office, retail and living spaces, including the Westin St. Louis Hotel and the newest J. Buck's Restaurant, an eatery named for Hall of Fame broadcaster Jack Buck, his FOX sportscaster son Joe, and daughter Julie, a local radio personality.

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Updated:  June 2, 2008