Brands Plant Flags Across the South

NATIONAL REPORT—Whether new-builds or rebrandings, hotels are opening all over the South. Here are the details on five:

Hilton Franklin Cool Springs in Tennessee

Chartwell Hospitality LLC has opened the 244-room Hilton Franklin Cool Springs, the area’s first full-service hotel built in nearly a decade, according to the company.

Hilton Franklin Cool Springs is located in Franklin’s Meridian Cool Springs Business District, a 60-acre mixed-use development featuring an abundance of office space and pedestrian-friendly retail and restaurant offerings.

Guests and visitors can dine at Härth, the hotel’s signature on-site restaurant serving locally sourced American fare. For a more casual experience, guests can unwind at the adjacent Härth Lounge, which offers an extensive small plates menu along with a wide-ranging list of wine, beer and craft cocktail options. The property also features indoor and outdoor event venues with more than 6,200 sq. ft. of flexible space and state-of-the art equipment.

In addition to developing the property and the adjacent parking structure, Chartwell will also manage the eight-story hotel.

The Draftsman, Autograph Collection in Charlottesville, VA

Charlottesville welcomed its newest hotel last week at the grand opening of The Draftsman, Autograph Collection at 1106 West Main St. The property developer, Carr Companies, and the hotel management company, Donohoe Hospitality Services, hosted the ribbon-cutting event attended by local business representatives, city government and project stakeholders.

The new hotel, designed by BBGM Architects and built by Donohoe Construction, has 11 stories, 150 guestrooms, more than 2,300 sq. ft. of dedicated event space, a penthouse fitness center, and a 4,000-sq.-ft. on-site farm-to-table restaurant, Renewal.

The Draftsman, named after three visionary Virginian’s (Thomas Jefferson, James Madison & James Monroe) has an architecture unique to Autograph Collection properties that has been artfully curated by Dash Design to create a contemporary feel with nods to our founding fathers and notably famous Virginians, according to the company.

Details of the property include the lobby focal point Jefferson alcove-style bed, drafting table-style guestroom desks and sliding rural Virginia barn doors in guestrooms and public spaces.

Hotel Indigo Birmingham Five Points S-UAB in Alabama

Marshall Hotels & Resorts has opened the 63-room Hotel Indigo Birmingham Five Points S-UAB in Alabama. The hotel completed a $5-million renovation to convert the property from the Hotel Highland Downtown, bringing it to “like-new” status.

“Having completed an extensive makeover to enhance guestrooms and public spaces, the Hotel Indigo Birmingham Five Points S-UAB has become the ‘newest’ InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) property to enter the market in recent years,” said Mike Marshall, president and CEO, Marshall Hotels & Resorts. “We went to great lengths to maintain the original building’s Art Deco architecture and medical arts history while adding a number of touches that today’s business and leisure travelers require, from high speed internet access in all areas to large public spaces perfect for gathering.”

Located in the Five Points South area, Birmingham’s arts, entertainment and dining district, the hotel is central to such attractions as Birmingham Botanical Gardens, McWane Science Center and the Birmingham Civil Rights Museum.

Sleep Inn & Suites Clarksville in Tennessee

Choice Hotels International Inc. has opened the 71-room Sleep Inn & Suites Clarksville in Clarksville, TN. Located at 230 Cracker Barrel Drive, the hotel was developed by a local management company, A & S Hospitality Management, and is its first Choice Hotels property.

The new Sleep Inn & Suites is located near several businesses and area employers, including Fort Campbell, Google Data Center, Hankook Tire, Trane and, soon, LG. The property is also a short distance from popular Clarksville attractions, such as Old Glory Distilling, Beachaven Vineyards & Winery, McGregor Park Riverwalk, and the City Forum.

Hyatt Centric Midtown Atlanta

Situated in the heart of Atlanta’s prominent business, residential and dining district, Hyatt Centric Midtown Atlanta was rebranded from Hyatt Midtown Atlanta and is the first Hyatt Centric hotel in Atlanta.

The four-­star midtown hotel, located on the corner of Peachtree St. and 10th St., offers redesigned guestrooms with floor­-to-­ceiling windows, oversized, ergonomic workspaces, and views of Piedmont Park or downtown Atlanta. The hotel also has 3,343 sq. ft. of flexible meeting and event space offering the perfect spaces for business meetings, weddings and social events.

Fork and Juniper is the hotel’s signature restaurant, serving seasonal menus that feature a modern take on traditional Southern cuisine. Juniper
Bar provides a casual, street­-side setting, offering a variety of premium spirits artfully mixed and small plates to pair.