Monday, April 4, 2011

Residence Inn, Downtown's first new hotel in 27 years, opens near Lytle Park

Cincinnati's first new Downtown hotel in nearly 30 years opened on March 30 at the historic Phelps Apartments, at next to Lytle Park.

The Residence Inn Cincinnati Downtown, operating under the Marriott brand and owned by Western & Southern Financial Group, features 134 suites in studio and one- and two-bedroom layouts.

Designed for stays of five nights or more, each suite has separate live-work spaces, fully-equipped kitchens, 52-inch flat screen televisions, and high-speed Internet access. Guests can take advantage of a daily housekeeping, grocery shopping, and same-day dry cleaning services.

Other hotel features include Bar 506, offering hand-crafted cocktails and premium wines; an exercise room; a social room; 1,157 square feet of meeting space; a courtyard with a fire pit; and The Market, a 24-7 food and beverage pantry.

Renovation of the 85-year-old building cost approximately $20 million.

"We are pleased to introduce Residence Inn hotels in the Cincinnati Downtown area," said Residence Inn Vice President Katie Tyson in a prepared release. "This new hotel was designed to be a home away from home and provides a residential atmosphere and spacious accommodations for guest comfort."

Marriott's second-largest lodging brand, the company operates nearly 600 Residence Inn hotels in North and Central America and the Caribbean, with another 154 hotels on the way. The hotel is managed by Winegardner and Hammons, Inc.

The last hotel to open Downtown was the Hyatt Regency Cincinnati in 1984.

Two other Downtown hotels are in the works – a Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites on Eighth and Sycamore streets, site of the former headquarters of the American Red Cross Cincinnati chapter; and a 21c Museum Hotel in the former Metropole Hotel on Walnut Street.

6 comments:

Randy Simes said...

I don't understand. I remember city leaders hyping the construction and opening of the SpringHill Suites on Gilbert Avenue as the first hotel to open downtown in so many years. Are these same people now no longer considering the location of SpringHill Suites to be downtown, or are they just forgetting this recent history in their media releases and promotion of this new Residence Inn?

Kevin LeMaster said...

I don't know. The "first hotel Downtown in ____" didn't come from any press releases, it's just an observation.

Given the fact that SpringHill is in Walnut Hills, I don't know why anyone affiliated with the City or with that project would have considered it "Downtown". Basin, maybe, but not Downtown, for sure.

Randy Simes said...

I agree with you Kevin. I just remember media outlets covering SpringHill as such when it first opened. And now everytime anyone writes about this Residence Inn they are spouting off the "first hotel built downtown in 27 years" comment.

Kevin LeMaster said...

I just think it's a good thing, which is why I've used it a couple of times.

Though a better headline might have been.... Hmmm. Couldn't think of one that wasn't too long. Need something that makes the point that this won't be the last one built Downtown for another 27 years.

M. Clinton said...

I heard they gutted the vintage lobby for a "trendy" look. It will be out of style in short order and require another "redo." Classic is forever. I'm very disappointed in their design team.

Anonymous said...

It was a great place to live downtown before it was sold and made into a hotel. Of course they'll make more money that way.

I have pleasant memories of hanging out on the roof deck overlooking the waterfront, relaxing and enjoying. I don't even think that part is open anymore.

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