The Providence Biltmore Hotel recently underwent a major, $13-million-plus renovation. The property is owned and operated by Boston-based Finard Properties, which acquired the hotel for $16 million in May of 2012. In 2013, Finard Properties entered into a joint venture with Angelo Gordon (AG), an investment firm based in New York City that made a capital investment, joining the owner/operator in restoring the historic character of the property. In 2014, Hilton Worldwide welcomed the New England hotel to its expanding Curio – A Collection by Hilton, a global collection of distinctive, upper-upscale and luxury hotels that are authentic to their destinations.
“Historically significant, locally revered and a leader in authentic hospitality, the Providence Biltmore exemplifies the core values behind our Curio collection,” said Diana Vaughan, global head, Curio – A Collection by Hilton. “Without sacrificing the hotel’s independent approach, which has proved successful for nearly a century, Curio will enhance the Providence Biltmore experience for both the hotel owners and guests.”
According to the owner, “The Hilton Curio connection has introduced the hotel to many travelers who simply were unaware of us,” said James Kappel, managing director, Finard Hotel Group, LLC. “Business people are often creatures of habit, so having them leave their current hotel to try the Biltmore has been a win-win—they are blown away, and we love taking great care of them and exceeding their needs. And, our weekend guests—long the backbone of our business—are able to convert HHonors points into free stays at the Biltmore.”
The landmark hotel is located in the heart of Rhode Island’s capital and, with its storied past, is part of the fabric and culture of the city. The building, originally constructed in 1922 by Warren and Wetmore, the same architects behind New York City’s Grand Central Station, is a member of the Historic Hotels of America program under the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
“The Biltmore predates every other hotel in Providence and, so, in many ways, it has set the market standard for elegant accommodations and service for decades,” said Kappel. “The decision to renovate, update and ‘make new’ again was easy, but our focus has also been on retaining the style associated with the hotel’s grand history. There is simply no other hotel in Providence and, for that matter, in the Northeast that competes directly with the Biltmore. The location is absolutely dead center in the city, adjacent to all of the amenities, restaurants, colleges and activities that make Providence unique.”
The iconic, V-shaped hotel has 294 guestrooms and suites, nearly 20,000 sq. ft. of function space, including 13 meeting and banquet rooms and the rooftop Grand Ballroom with panoramic views of the city, as well as The Spa at The Providence Biltmore (the only full hotel spa in Providence), and McCormick and Schmick’s Seafood & Steaks Restaurant and Starbucks in the lobby. Other amenities include a business center, a fully equipped fitness center, WiFi access, valet parking and a house car.
The renovation, intended to restore the historic hotel to its former glory complete with modern conveniences, included building new infrastructure and systems, a new roof, repair of exterior facade brickwork, and remodeling the ballrooms and meeting rooms, lobby, guestrooms and corridors. “The renovation was designed to parallel, and even expand on, the impeccable service platform at the hotel,” said Kappel. “We wanted new energy, comtemporized finishes and a really memorable design statement for our guests. And, if our guest comments are a good indicator, the designer delivered everything we wanted and more.”
Designed to bring back the authentic character of the hotel while adding contemporary amenities, design firm Parker-Torres transformed the guestrooms and corridor with a rich color palette, dark wood finishes and custom furnishings.
“Cues came from the owner because, for the first several years of the project, there was no brand associated with the hotel,” said Barbara Parker, principal, Parker-Torres Design Inc. “The owners were very interested in maintaining their existing local group client base (colleges/universities), and sponsored a focus group early on to get feedback. The owners were looking to honor the history, while bringing the hotel interiors into the 21st century, based on the strong responses of the early focus group.”
Added Miriam Torres, principal, Parker-Torres Design Inc., “We create custom designs for every hotel project. We believe that each property is unique: location, clientele and ownership. The design should bring all of these elements together into a beautiful solution.”
“In general, we were striving to create a traditional interior with a twist,” said Parker. “We wanted to be respectful of the historic nature of the hotel without it being ‘your grandmother’s traditional.’” The design program employs a mix of luxury and functionality. New features include the exclusive, custom-made, king-sized Biltmore Bed in every room. “The beautiful historic public-area interiors led us to design the guestrooms with a residential feel, utilizing classical elements but with a 21st-century interpretation,” said Parker. “In addition, we were inspired by the fact that Providence was the hub of jewelry-making in the 19th and 20th centuries.”
Added Torres, “We introduced various jewelry-like elements, such as starburst mirrors above the headboards; starburst light fixtures in the lobby; and little glimmers of gold throughout.”
But, the design was not without challenges. “The existing historic public areas were both a blessing and a challenge,” said Torres. “The lobby is a soaring space with a dramatic grand stair, but also features an awkward, non-functional glass elevator (circa 1980s) that dominates the lobby and had to be worked around.
“The ballrooms are spectacular,” she continued, “but have crumbling plaster moldings with dozens of layers of paint. The guestroom walls are old terra-cotta tile construction, which limits the relocation of electrical.” But, said Parker, “In the lobby, we were able to partially screen the elevator with new high-backed banquettes, and the ballrooms feature stunning carpets and drapery treatments.”
Appealing to business travelers, spacious executive suites—all with cityscape views and illuminated workstations—have been custom-designed. Recently updated meeting and conference areas filled with natural light and views of downtown Providence provide a backdrop for corporate meeting and function needs.
And, just this past May, the hotel welcomed seasoned hotelier Mark Gervais as general manager. The hotel prides itself not only on its historic roots and recent renovation, but on its staff service, a point underscored by Gervais, who said, upon joining the property, he is happy to have the opportunity “to lead the wonderful team at the iconic Providence Biltmore.” Gervais, who was chosen as Rhode Island’s Hotelier of the Year in 2009 and Man of the Year in 2012, joins the Biltmore from the Hotel Viking, where he led the property through two extensive renovations. Prior to that, he was the general manager of the Westin Waltham Boston.
“Guests rave about the myriad of beautifully done, oversized suites, the new meeting space, the stunning lobby, the fresh soundtrack and, ultimately, the very upbeat and engaging experience. Our sales levels are way ahead of our rather aggressive expectations, and guest satisfaction is just where we hoped it would be at this stage,” concluded Kappel.