A Trio of Hotels in the Works

NATIONAL REPORT—From a waterfront property in Florida to a winery setting in Texas Hill Country, new hotels are being signed or underway. Here’s a look:

Ben West Palm Preps for Opening

The Ben West Palm is set to open February 13, 2020, and will be the only hotel on Florida’s downtown West Palm Beach waterfront. The 208-room property takes inspiration from the Ben Trovato Estate, which belonged to the Deweys—one of the first couples to settle in South Florida—and was a central point for socializing back in its day. The hotel will channel those roots and welcome visitors as downtown West Palm’s newest gathering spot for locals and modern travelers.

Planned as a design-forward property with eclectic elements throughout, the hotel will offer features like sliding bookcases that, when discovered, reveal a peek into the shower, as well as edgy fixtures, whimsical, modern portraits, and details intended to let guests’ imagination roam free.

F&B offerings will include Proper Grit, a ground-floor restaurant, open to hotel guests and the public for breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner daily. The venue will serve fresh, locally sourced fare. Spruzzo (the Italian word for Splash) will offer downtown West Palm Beach’s only water-facing rooftop lounge, a full bar and creative menus, focused on tapas and small bites with Mediterranean flair. The rooftop will also include a pool complete with private cabanas and a view of the Palm Harbor Marina.

Wyndham to Debut Dolce Hotel and Winery in Texas Hill Country

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts has signed a new-construction Dolce Hotels and Resorts by Wyndham hotel in Fredericksburg, TX.

The new hotel is owned by the Baxter Family, founders of Fiesta Winery, and will be managed by Wyndham’s management arm. The new-construction hotel will be situated on 70 acres adjacent to a Fiesta Winery and will offer 150 rooms with approximately 9,000 sq. ft. of event space, including a tasting room. Expected to break ground in early 2020, it will be the first Dolce by Wyndham hotel in Texas.

The brand is enhancing its portfolio for groups and meetings around the world with new hotels in Hanoi, Vietnam; Versailles, France; Akti, Greece; and Copenhagen and Arhaus, Denmark. Earlier this year, Dolce hotels around the world debuted a new signature amenity: Due by Dolce handcrafted biscotti, a recipe created by one of the brand’s chefs to inspire guests to savor every moment.

Raffles Boston Back Hotel & Residences Is Underway

Raffles Boston Back Hotel & Residences, which broke ground on September 26, 2019, is projected to open in early 2022. The 33-story, $400 million-plus project will be the first mixed-use property in North America for the hospitality brand.

Set to be located at 40 Trinity Place in Boston, accommodations will include 147 guestrooms, 146 branded residences and six food and beverage venues. The property joins Raffles’ collection of 14 properties located across the globe.

The project will provide more than $22 million in public benefits in total, including street and public realm improvements, seven on-site affordable housing units and a contribution of more than $13 million that will support additional affordable housing in Boston, according to the company.