PITTSBURGH — DoubleTree by Hilton is planning a $16 million renovation of its 465-room hotel in Pittsburgh. The hotel is Hilton's largest in the market, and the project is scheduled for completion by the end of 2012. RIDA Development Corp. will direct the redesign of the Doubletree by Hilton Pittsburgh-Green Tree. The team includes interior design company, Looney & Associates. Renovations are planned for the lobby, guest rooms and the business and fitness centers.
NEW YORK CITY — Manhattan-based owner Hidrock Realty has secured two loans totaling $66 million for the $126 million development of two new hotels in Midtown Manhattan. BBVA Compass Bank provided a $36 million construction loan for the $72 million development of the hotel located at 960 Avenue of Americas. The hotel is slated for completion in October 2012 and will include 167 guestrooms. The Bank of Nova Scotia provided a $30 million loan for the $54 million hotel, located at 25 W. 37th St. The project will include 173 guestrooms when completed in October 2013.
DALLAS — The Joule, a luxury hotel located at 1530 Main St. in downtown Dallas, has started a $78 million renovation and expansion. The hotel upgrades will include addition of 31 guest rooms (including two three-story penthouses), a new 8,000-square-foot spa, a 600-square-foot screening room, a 1,350-square-foot recording studio, a second Charlie Palmer restaurant and expanded event spaces. Interior designer Adam Tihany is designing the interior upgrades. Construction is slated for a fall 2012 completion, and the hotel will remain open throughout the renovation.
MIAMI BEACH, FLA. — Jones Lang LaSalle has arranged the $95 million sale of the 263-room Courtyard Miami Beach Oceanfront, a hotel located at 3925 Collins Ave. in Miami Beach. Gregory Rumpel of Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels' Miami office represented Beta Epsilon Cadillac, the seller, in the transaction. The buyer was Hersha Hospitality Trust.
MANHATTAN, KAN. — HWC, a real estate development company, has opened the new Hilton Garden Inn Hotel & Conference Center in Manhattan, Kan., following two years of construction. The 135-room Hilton Garden Inn is connected to a 30,000-square-foot conference center. The project is part of Manhattan's South End redevelopment project, which will include the Flint Hills Discovery Center, scheduled to open in the spring of 2012. The hotel is managed by Kinseth Hospitality Corp.
HOUSTON — The Admiral Capital Real Estate Fund, founded by NBA hall of famer David Robinson, has acquired the majority equity interest in the 190-room Hilton Garden Inn, located at 12245 Katy Freeway in Houston's Energy Corridor, for an undisclosed price. Houston-based American Liberty Hospitality will continue to manage and partially own the hotel.
SAN ANTONIO — Marcus & Millichap has brokered the sale of Comfort Suites Alamo Downs, a 75-room hotel at 8021 Alamo Down Pkwy. in San Antonio. The seller, a financial institution, foreclosed on the property in July. Allan Miller of Marcus & Millichap's Austin office and Chris Gomes of the firm's Dallas office represented the buyer, a private investor.
ROCHESTER, MINN. —The Rochester Marriott Clinic Area, located at 101 First Ave. SW in Rochester, has completed a comprehensive hotel renovation for an undisclosed amount. Weis Builders undertook the construction, which included a renovated lobby, a new concierge level lounge and redesigned rooms.
NEW YORK — Investcorp's real estate arm based in the U.S. has purchased mezzanine debt supported by the 20-story Paramount Hotel in New York City's Time Square. Investcorp bought two existing loans of the mezzanine with a principal balance of $40 million from Fillmore Capital Partners, which was the existing lender for the Paramount at the time of RFR's purchase of the hotel. Highgate Holdings, a national hotel manager, will continue to operate the Paramount on behalf of new ownership.
KANSAS CITY, MO. — Summit Hotel Properties Inc. (NYSE: INN) has agreed to purchase the 96-room Residence Inn by Marriott in downtown Kansas City for $103,000 per key. The company has also agreed to purchase a 150-room Courtyard by Marriott in downtown Atlanta. The completion of the acquisitions is subject to lender approval.