ELGIN, TEXAS — Houston-based self-storage developer The Jenkins Organization has broken ground on a 208-site RV resort in Elgin, about 25 miles northwest of Austin. Jenkins will operate the new park under the Great Escapes brand. Amenities will include a clubhouse with a kitchen, a resort-style pool, fitness center, outdoor grilling areas and a dog park. The opening of the facility, which will be Jenkins’ fourth Great Escapes location, is scheduled for winter 2021.
AUSTIN, TEXAS — An affiliate of San Francisco-based investment management firm The Axton Group has purchased the 492-room Renaissance Austin Hotel for $70 million. The hotel, which is part of the Marriott International family of brands and is located on the city’s north side, includes 88 suites and 77,600 square feet of meeting and event space. An affiliate of Walton Street Capital LLC provided an undisclosed amount of acquisition financing for the transaction. Eastdil Secured served as financial advisor. The seller was not disclosed. Axton Group plans to upgrade the meeting rooms and other common spaces.
NORWALK, CONN. — Hospitality owner SoNo Development has opened the 102-room Residence Inn by Marriott Hotel in Norwalk. The eight-story hotel houses studio and one-bedroom suites with fully equipped kitchens and workspaces. Amenities include a grocery delivery service, convenience store, fitness center, business center and an onsite bar and restaurant. Pennsylvania-based Shaner Hotels will operate the property.
CHICAGO — Magellan Development Group LLC has rebranded its 101-story project, previously known as Vista Tower, into The St. Regis Chicago. Magellan has partnered with St. Regis Hotels & Resorts and The Alinea Group. The project features both hospitality and condominium space. The 191-room hotel will feature several dining options, including a fine dining restaurant, a restaurant and lounge overlooking the Chicago River and a sky bar with outdoor terrace. Amenities include an indoor pool, spa, fitness room, ballroom and meeting rooms. The condominiums will be named The Residences at The St. Regis Chicago. Residents of the 393 condominiums will have access to a resident-only amenity floor. Located on the 47th floor, this space will feature a sky terrace with outdoor pool, lounge, demonstration kitchen, fitness center, conference center, golf lounge and children’s activity room. Designed by Jeanne Gang of Studio Gang, the 101-story tower is the third-tallest building in Chicago. Residents will begin to take occupancy in December with full completion slated for the third quarter of 2021. Condos are priced from $1 million to $18.5 million.
KALAMAZOO, MICH. — A new Hilton Garden Inn hotel has opened in downtown Kalamazoo. The hotel will operate at a reduced capacity of 54 rooms, with the remaining 60 rooms expected to open in February. The dual-branded development adjoins a 106-room Home2 Suites by Hilton hotel that is slated to open in May. PlazaCorp and Dora Hotel Co. partnered on the project, which is a restoration of the historic Mason Temple building. Designed by Spier & Rohns and dating back to 1915, the property is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Amenities at the hotel include an indoor pool, onsite restaurant, outdoor courtyard, fitness center, lounge, business center and 2,100 square feet of banquet space.
DALLAS — Hyatt Hotels Corp. (NYSE: H) has opened the 219-room Thompson Hotel in downtown Dallas, the first property under the Thompson lifestyle brand in Texas. Designed by Merriman/Anderson Architects, the hotel is the product of a redevelopment of a historic building at 205 N. Akard St. The property’s 219 rooms include 52 suites and two penthouses, and guests can also enjoy access to two onsite culinary destinations.
SAN ANTONIO — Hodges Ward Elliott (HWE) has brokered the sale of the 265-room Hotel Contessa, located at 306 W. Market St. in the Riverwalk area of downtown San Antonio. The 12-story luxury hotel was built in 2005 and features 10,000 square feet of event space, a rooftop pool and a restaurant/bar with Riverwalk views and access, as well as a full-service spa. John Bourret, Austin Brooks and David Auer of HWE represented the seller in the transaction. Lawrence Britvan and Pete Fehlman of HWE arranged acquisition financing on behalf of the undisclosed buyer.
BRYAN, TEXAS — Houston-based self-storage developer The Jenkins Organization has broken ground on a 304-site RV resort in Bryan. The project, which will be located near Texas A&M University, is one of the company’s five planned RV developments. Jenkins will operate the new park, which will also include 64 cabins, under the Great Escapes brand. Amenities will include two clubhouses with resort-style pools, covered pavilions for tailgating and events, walking trails, a sports court, two dog parks, a camp store and two workout facilities. The opening is scheduled for summer 2021.
COLUMBUS, OHIO — First Hospitality has opened a 122-room Residence Inn by Marriott hotel in Columbus. Located at 4294 International Gateway, the hotel is the first extended-stay property at John Glenn Columbus International Airport. The pet-friendly hotel features studios and one-bedroom suites. A complimentary shuttle operates within a five-mile radius from the hotel and includes access to the shopping destination Easton Town Center. Other amenities include an indoor pool, fitness center, grocery service and full-service bar. Smoot Construction centered the hotel’s design around its location with an aviation theme, which includes historical photos form the Ohio History Connection. The property also features First Hospitality’s Cleanliness First Plan, a safety and sanitation guide that expands on recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization and the American Hotel & Lodging Association.
HOUSTON — Houston-based American Liberty Hospitality is nearing completion of a 319-room hotel in its hometown that will feature dual brands from InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG). Located at 2351 W. Loop S. in the city’s Galleria district, the 14-story building will house a 169-room Holiday Inn Express and a 150-room Staybridge Suites. Shared amenities will include meeting and event space, a grab-and-go retail outlet, outdoor pool, fitness center, business center, dog run and complimentary breakfast. The development team expects to debut the dual-branded hotel in February 2021.