NEW YORK— The newly renovated Hamilton Crowne Plaza in Washington, D.C., is not finished renovating or reinventing itself just yet. After a complete guestroom overhaul, the hotel is now ready to tackle the lobby area. In addition, the property is now featuring a women’s only floor and wireless high-speed Internet access. The historic building, constructed in 1922, completed the renovation of its 318 deluxe rooms and 17 king corner suites this past year emphasizing a more residential style than its conservative past. It now sports seven-layer beds with colors featuring palates of gold, royal blues and dark woods. Now it is time to bring that look and atmosphere to the lobby, Ralph Polanec, GM, told HOTEL BUSINESS®. Construction on the new lobby is scheduled to begin next week and be completed in February of 2003, he said. “We want to pick up the colors and feel of our guestrooms,” Polanec said. “As soon as guests enter the hotel, we want them to feel the warmth of the rich blue and gold colors.” Currently, the lobby and style of the hotel is a bit too conservative, Polanec said. The new design features will help bring it up to the upper-upscale segment of the industry, he added. In addition, the Hamilton Crown Plaza is ready to start construction on an all women’s floor of the hotel to cater to the needs and safety concerns of the hotel’s female guests, Polanec said. “Because of what has happened in the world and industry lately, security is the number one priority we can provide for our guests,” he said, In fact, 38% of the hotel’s customers are women and the addition of an all-women’s floor secured with a special elevator key will hopefully increase that, and possibly attract some larger conference business, Polanec said. But in addition to providing added security, the special floor is meant to pamper female travelers as well. Special amenities will be provided in each guestroom in addition to an over-sized bathroom counter and mirrors specifically to appeal to female travelers. The room service and Franklin Exchange Restaurant menus have been created to include lighter, health-conscious meals. The restaurant also offers a “women’s community table” where female guests can mix with other female travelers instead of dining alone. Construction on the new women’s-only floor is scheduled to begin next week, according to Polanec. Further, the hotel is jumping on the technology bandwagon and just completed the deployment of a wireless high-speed Internet access solution, Polanec said. Beginning last week, the property now offers wireless HSIA in its top four floors and public spaces. Hard-wired HSIA is available in meeting rooms, he said. “It’s a must have, especially in meeting rooms,” Polanec said. If demand is there, the hotel will roll it out to all guestrooms in the future, he added.
New guestroom design of Hamilton Crowne Plaza