Flying With Faber: New Hotel Discoveries
By Stuart J. Faber
Although I love historic hotels, I always look forward to experiencing newcomers to the hospitality industry. I never cease to be amazed at the innovative amenities I observe at the new hotels and resorts. Here are a few examples.
Courtesy Hyatt Regency Conroe
Hyatt Regency Conroe, 1001 Grand Central Parkway, Conroe, TX 77304, 936/ 444-4454. www.hyatt-regency-conroe.com
Reservations are now open for the Hyatt Regency Conroe. Located in historic east Texas about 40 miles north of Houston, the new 250-room hotel has officially opened its doors.
Guestrooms
Courtesy Hyatt Regency Conroe
Hyatt Regency Conroe has well-appointed guestrooms, including 13 suites and 11 accessible rooms, with complimentary Wi-Fi, modern bath amenities like Smart Mirror featuring ideal lighting and 65-inch flat screen televisions with streaming capabilities.
Dining
The new contemporary hotel features a variety of dining options reflecting local and fusion cuisine. Avenue A, the hotel’s lobby bar and lounge serves locally inspired cocktails and small plates including grilled black garlic chicken wings, crabcakes and parmesan truffle fries. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, Conroux, the hotel’s full-service restaurant celebrates Texas Gulf cuisine with touches of Vietnamese flavors. Menu items include crawfish fritters, corn chowder and pork belly banh mi. Conroux offers indoor and outdoor seating options as well as private and semi-private dining rooms for intimate events or special occasions. There is also a 24-hour market with a coffee shop tempting to-go selections of sandwiches, snacks, treats and bakery items.
This remarkable food and beverage program is led by Executive Chef Christian Brady with support from an experienced culinary team. Prior to joining Hyatt Regency Conroe, Chef Brady served in culinary positions at several other Hyatt properties, including Grand Hyatt Washington D.C., Miraval Arizona Resort & Spa and Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort & Spa.
Meetings and Events
With two ballrooms and six meeting rooms, Hyatt Regency Conroe is an ideal venue to host large-scale events and group meetings. With more than 30,000 square feet of flexible meeting and event space, the venue is designed to accommodate events of any size and scale. The hotel’s 14,000-square-foot Regency Ballroom can accommodate events for up to 1,000 attendees. Hyatt Regency Conroe provides a stress-free and seamless experience for conferences, wedding parties and receptions with outdoor reception areas and creative culinary offerings.
Recreation
Situated in Conroe’s Grand Central Park, guests can relax and refresh underneath the tall pines at the hotel’s beautifully landscaped outdoor pool. The hotel has a 24-hour fitness center and dog-friendly conveniences.
Hyatt Regency Conroe is located just south of historic downtown Conroe. This means easy access to Historic Crighton Theater, Lone Star Monument and Historic Flag Park, as well as local breweries, shops, restaurants and more. Located approximately 20 minutes from both Lake Conroe and Sam Houston National Forest, the hotel is an ideal destination for outdoor recreation enthusiasts. The hotel is just 30 minutes from (IAH) George Bush Intercontinental Airport. Closer by is Conroe North Houston Regional Airport (KCXO). Runway 14/32 is 7,500 feet long. R14 has an ILS/DME approach. Runway 1/19 is 500 feet long. The field has a variety of RNAV/GPS approaches. General Aviation Services, 123.30, 936/760-1717, has the best fuel process.
Poolside. Courtesy Omni Frisco PGA Resort
Omni PGA Frisco Resort, 4341 PGA Pkwy, Frisco, TX 75033
469/ 305-4500, OmniPGAFriscoResort.com
Omni Hotels & Resorts has announced the opening of Omni PGA Frisco Resort. Just 28 miles north of Dallas, sprawling across 660 acres in the flourishing city of Frisco and set against the breathtaking backdrop of lush fairways of Fields Ranch, the sweeping oasis offers experiences for guests of all ages.
Courtesy Omni Frisco PGA Resort
Two championship courses designed by acclaimed architects Gil Hanse and Beau Welling anchor the resort. Visitors of all skill levels will delight in unique courses, including a lighted 10-hole short course and two-acre putting course, the Lounge by Topgolf dining and simulation experience, state-of-the-art PGA Coaching Center, Ice House restaurant with hitting bays overlooking the Toptracer driving range, and more.
The resort has 500 luxurious guest rooms and suites; 13 diverse restaurant and bar concepts; a world-class destination Mokara Spa; four sparkling pools; retail, entertainment, and nearly 130,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor events space, along with 10 exclusive four-bedroom ranch houses.
“This first-of-its-kind resort marks an exciting milestone for Omni Hotels & Resorts,” said Jeff Smith, Vice President and Managing Director, Omni PGA Frisco Resort. “It’s an ambitious concept where we get to showcase the best of Texas while casting a spotlight on Frisco as a unique destination experience for visitors and locals alike.”
Among the resort’s unique accommodations are ten exclusive luxury residences, the Ranch Houses, nestled among the greens with panoramic views of Fields Ranch and beyond. Each four-bedroom retreat offers fully customizable VIP services for families, golf buddy trips, bridal parties, and other groups seeking more bespoke offerings tucked away from the buzz of the main resort.
Guest rooms provide a homey, tranquil retreat with traditional tartan prints and emerald-green tufted headboards. Guest rooms are designed with a unique layout giving rooms more livable square footage
The overall design features materials and fabrics that reflect Texas ranch houses and draws inspiration from golf culture. Custom designed oak beverage stations include coffee, water, and a signature Ranch Water Cocktail. King bedded rooms include a sofa USB and USBC charging at nightstands. Other amenities include a Keurig coffee maker, plush robes and an in-room safe. Accommodations feature a 55-inch flat screen TV with STAYCAST with streaming and on demand movies, Wi-Fi internet included in resort service charge and in-room energy management.
Let’s eat!
The resort offers 13 new dining options led by executive chefs Josh Hasho and Adam Solowitz. For those seeking an indulgent dinner experience, the resort’s signature restaurant, Trick Rider, is an upscale concept featuring in-house, dry-aged steaks and seafood.
Also inside the resort is an all-day restaurant, The Apron Kitchen + Bar, and The Lookout lobby bar; and Toast & Tee coffee shop. Bluestem poolside bars serve adult guests. Also, there is a specialty spa eatery, Green Cactus Cafe.
Outside the main building, the Monument Realty PGA District is a destination of its own where guests and the Frisco community can congregate day and night. An outdoor patio communal beer garden, Ice House, serves an impressive menu of local brews and traditional barbeque from its resident pitmaster. Margaret’s Cones & Cups offers coffee and artisanal ice cream, and a stand-alone clubhouse, Ryder Cup Grille – named for the PGA of America’s celebrated championship – serves American fare in a traditional country club atmosphere.
Bites are also available at the Lounge by Topgolf, a sports bar brimming with simulation experiences, and more, as well as at The Bunker and Fields Overlook where salads, sandwiches, and quick savory bites are on the menu to refuel during a round.
A world-class destination for golf
The new home of modern golf, created in partnership with the PGA of America and adjacent to its new headquarters, Omni PGA Frisco Resort is set to become a beacon for PGA major championship golf, instruction, and play for golfers of all abilities.
The Gil Hanse designed Fields Ranch East is an 18-hole, 72-par course that provides strategic variety while incorporating the natural beauty of the property. This is a championship-level course that will thrill and challenge the most seasoned golfers.
Designed by Beau Welling, Fields Ranch West is an alternative for those seeking a strategic golf test to develop their skills. The 18-hole, 72-par course offers expansive fairways that are 75 yards on average.
Those newer to the game will enjoy The Swing, a 10-hole, par-3 short course that is less formal and features music and lights for night play, giving the course an “urban golf park” vibe. Adding to the fun is a lighted 2-acre putting course, The Dance Floor, considered one of the largest natural-grass putting courses in the world. Golfers and non-golfers alike can gather with friends and family for more casual play.
The first Lounge by Topgolf location in North Texas brings its Swing Suite Technology to Frisco, with simulated gaming experiences that foster friendly competition. The state-of-the-art PGA Coaching Center will combine coaching, club fitting, and fitness elements to create personalized experiences that serve beginner golfers to elite players of all ages and backgrounds.
Unique meetings & event spaces
Omni PGA Frisco Resort features more than 127,000-square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting and event space, including a 22,000-square-foot Ryder Cup Ballroom, complemented by a 11,500-square-foot Wanamaker Ballroom for grand celebrations. Additionally, the resort offers the 5,000-square-foot Panther Creek Pavilion, an elegantly rustic setting, seamlessly integrated with an adjoining patio and event lawn.
A variety of wedding packages include deluxe overnight accommodations for newlyweds and parents of the bride and groom, a bridal suite for the wedding day, a complimentary first anniversary return visit to any Omni Hotels & Resort’s location in the United States, and more.
Courtesy Kā‘anapali Beach Hotel
Outrigger Kā‘anapali Beach Resort. 2661 Kekaa Dr, Lahaina, HI 96761, 808/661-0021
Although not a new resort, this great property has new owners. Premier beach resort company Outrigger Hospitality Group recently announced its plans to acquire Kā‘anapali Beach Hotel, a beachfront resort on the Island of Maui, renowned as “Hawaii’s Most Hawaiian Hotel.” It is located on the golden sands of world-famous Kā‘anapali Beach, which was recently ranked as the No. 1 Beach in the U.S. and No. 10 Beach in the World. The property spans 11-acres with 432 rooms. This transaction is expected to close in July 2023 at which time the property will be rebranded as Outrigger Kā‘anapali Beach Resort.
“From Maui to Maldives, Outrigger is bullish about our mission to be The Premier Beach Resort Company in the World, simultaneously elevating our current assets and strategically adding complementary resort products to our global portfolio,” said Jeff Wagoner, president and CEO of Outrigger Hospitality Group. “Outrigger’s investment in a full-service Maui resort underscores our confidence in this iconic destination and our commitment to its community.”
The global hospitality brand was founded in Hawaii 75 years ago and has deep expertise in this market; Outrigger currently owns and/or operates 26 resorts, hotels and vacation condos throughout the island chain – including seven condominium resorts on Maui. In the last two years alone, Outrigger added five premier beach resorts to its portfolio, including Outrigger Kona Resort & Spa on Hawaii Island, as well as three properties in Southern Thailand and a five-star resort in the Maldives.
The award-winning Kā‘anapali Beach Hotel recently completed a $75 million property-wide renovation, which spans two of the guestroom wings. The property offers a dozen Hawaiian cultural classes for guests alongside abundant ocean activities such as outrigger canoe paddling and snorkel tours. Additionally, Kā‘anapali Beach Hotel is employing several high-impact sustainability initiatives, including the installation of solar panels, charging stations for electric vehicles and water refill stations.
“With its pristine location along a three-mile stretch of sand, deep cultural connections and authentic Hawaiian hospitality, Kā‘anapali Beach Hotel has tremendous synergy with the Outrigger brand; we are honored for the opportunity to become stewards of this coveted property,” Wagoner added. “Our intention, once the sale is finalized, is to craft a thoughtful plan to further enhance the resort grounds while retaining unique attributes that guests have cherished for years.”