New Hotels

[richyb83]

Wish I would have had my camera on me yesterday while driving down Bluebonnet Blvd...the Renaissance is coming along nicely! Good to see this old eye-sore finally go away!

[Antrell Williams]

I was in Baton Rouge this past weekend, it looked nice and will be a nice addition.

[steve3n8]

Wish I would have had my camera on me yesterday while driving down Bluebonnet Blvd...the Renaissance is coming along nicely! Good to see this old eye-sore finally go away!

That would awesome Richy If you could get a pic of the future Renaissance Hotel. I think this project is going to change the area alot.....going to be nice when its done.

[buckett5425]

It's great to see that old eyesore finally revitalized, its has already changed the whole look of the bluebonnet corridor! However, I am still disappointed with the design; a 12 story stucco tower with oversized parapets is very 1995.

[byrde]

It is nice to see that old eye sore being taken care of. Can't wait for the hotel to be finished.

[cajun]

It's great to see that old eyesore finally revitalized, its has already changed the whole look of the bluebonnet corridor! However, I am still disappointed with the design; a 12 story stucco tower with oversized parapets is very 1995.

The design is dated.....but let's be honest. It will look a helluva lot better than that particular building looked in 1995

[Antrell Williams]

Does anyone know the status of the new Hampton Suites? Still going through TIF trouble?

[dan326]

I'm pretty sure it got through.

[Antrell Williams]

I could see it just going down the drain like the Summa tower.

[itsjustme3]

I could see it just going down the drain like the Summa tower.

Based on what?

[Antrell Williams]

Based on how anything can have an unfortunate event to cancel the project. Riverplace, Summa tower, etc

[itsjustme3]

Thats silly. You said "I can see it going down the drain" and I asked based on what.

[Antrell Williams]

?

[dan326]

"Downtown land deal for hotel completed

A land swap that clears the way for a Hampton Inn & Suites to be built downtown has been completed. Windsor/Aughtry Co. of Greenville, S.C., bought 22,000 square feet of land at the corner of Lafayette and Main streets from Gordon LeBlanc for $1.575 million in a deal that closed yesterday. LeBlanc then bought 14,000 square feet of land St. James Episcopal Church owns at Third and Florida streets for just over $1 million. And St. James closed the transactions by buying 16,384 square feet of property across the street from the church from Windsor/Aughtry Co. for just over $1 million. Windsor/Aughtry Co. will develop the 137-room hotel. LeBlanc says he is waiting for the financial markets to improve before developing his mixed-use project, which could involve commercial, retail and residential components. He may develop the project at the same time St. James does something with its property. St. James wanted the land across the street from the church for parking and future growth; LeBlanc says that parking could be used by his development, since the church would mainly need it on Sunday mornings."

businessreport.com

[itsjustme3]

"Downtown land deal for hotel completed

A land swap that clears the way for a Hampton Inn & Suites to be built downtown has been completed. Windsor/Aughtry Co. of Greenville, S.C., bought 22,000 square feet of land at the corner of Lafayette and Main streets from Gordon LeBlanc for $1.575 million in a deal that closed yesterday. LeBlanc then bought 14,000 square feet of land St. James Episcopal Church owns at Third and Florida streets for just over $1 million. And St. James closed the transactions by buying 16,384 square feet of property across the street from the church from Windsor/Aughtry Co. for just over $1 million. Windsor/Aughtry Co. will develop the 137-room hotel. LeBlanc says he is waiting for the financial markets to improve before developing his mixed-use project, which could involve commercial, retail and residential components. He may develop the project at the same time St. James does something with its property. St. James wanted the land across the street from the church for parking and future growth; LeBlanc says that parking could be used by his development, since the church would mainly need it on Sunday mornings."

businessreport.com

Why put a hotel right there??? It's away from the rivercenter and that area is a ghost town after 5 on weekdays and all weekend. Not to mention BRs downtown can't support a new hotel. Seems like a bad idea.

[richyb83]

I was suprised when this news of a Hampton Inn was going at this location; eventually the plan is to have an entertainment anchor on the other(northern) half of Third Street; get the Commerce Bldg up & running. The Kress & Levy bldg should get a boost. They were touting the hotel for State Capitol legislators, etc...the extra rooms will be handy for the 2012 National Bowling Tournament expected to bring tens of thousands of people...

[richyb83]

Renaissance hotel on track for September opening

The 256-room Renaissance Baton Rouge Hotel is on schedule for a September opening. The property is already booking events for later this fall, says Mike Wampold, who is developing the property. The Renaissance, a Marriott-affiliated brand, will have 12,000 square feet of meeting space, along with a spa, a fine-dining restaurant and a resort-style pool. "This will be as nice as any four-star hotel Atlanta or Dallas would have," says Wampold.

http://www.businessreport.com/archives/daily-report/latest/

[Antrell Williams]

It will look exactly like this? I guess I'll see the progress this weekend when I visit.

[itsjustme3]

They are making quick progress. It didn't hurt that they had the frame of the building there to work with.

[cajun]

Why put a hotel right there??? It's away from the rivercenter and that area is a ghost town after 5 on weekdays and all weekend. Not to mention BRs downtown can't support a new hotel. Seems like a bad idea.

When was the last time you went out downtown during the evening? I have actually been frustrated with finding a parking space down there when we go.

[Antrell Williams]

I saw the Renaissance the other day, it looked good back there, can't wait to see it lit up.

[itsjustme3]

I'm assuming you are looking for a parking meter? There aren't many. There are 3-4 public parking garages. I use those instead.

[dan326]

I was wondering when we would get one of these. I have a feeling being stuck behind that wall might have hurt them.

"B.R. hotel prepares to assume DoubleTree brand

A 127-room hotel on Constitution Avenue is set to be rebranded later this summer as a DoubleTree by Hilton property. Summit Properties, which owns the hotel, says it will change over to a DoubleTree, pending final approval of the deal. The hotel, which opened in late 2008, lost its Cambria Suites banner this spring due to a dispute between Summit and Choice Hotels, which owns the franchise right to the brand. The hotel is currently operating under the Aspen Suites banner. The Constitution hotel was one of 11 Summit properties affected by the dispute, but the only one in Louisiana. There are more than 200 DoubleTree hotels across the world."

businessreport.com

[itsjustme3]

Being behind that wall will hurt any hotel

[steve3n8]

Wampold buys second Bluebonnet hotel

Mike Wampold, who is developing the Renaissance Baton Rouge Hotel, has purchased a second hotel on Bluebonnet Boulevard. Wampold bought the Quality Suites Hotel near the Bluebonnet/Interstate 10 intersection for $2.35 million in a deal that was filed today. The 120-room Quality Suites is about a mile away from the Renaissance hotel, set to open in late September or early October. Wampold says both of the hotels are "located in what we consider to be the epicenter of the Baton Rouge growth corridor." Owning two hotels so close together allows for efficiencies of scale in operations and marketing, Wampold says. He envisions spending about the same amount on renovating the Quality Seats as he spent in buying the hotel, redesigning and refurbishing guest rooms and meeting space. "It's a pretty nice facility, but we're going to upgrade it," he says. Plans are to begin renovations of the Quality Suites within the next month and to finish the work by the first quarter of 2012. Adding rooms will also be studied, Wampold says.

businessreportcom