New Westin hotels planned for Baltimore and San Jose, Calif. November saw announcements concerning two new Westins: one in Baltimore and one in San Jose, Calif.
The Westin Baltimore is a $124 million property being developed by Schulweis Realty Inc., with construction expected to begin during the first quarter of 1999. New York-based architectural firm Brennan Beer Gorman/Architects completed the schematic design in November for the 600-room hotel, which will be located on the Inner Harbor. Completion is slated for December 2000. RTKL is architect of record.
Westin Hotels & Resorts, Seattle, and Cristina & Hall Properties also announced in November the development of The Westin San Jose, a 350-room hotel located across the street from the San Jose McEnery Convention Center. The $60 million project is a joint venture between Cristina & Hall LLC and Vine Street Properties, the majority owners, and Westin's parent company, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc., which will hold a small equity position. Westin will manage the project, due for completion in January 2001.
Radisson hotel slated for site in Opus' Sierra Point property Opus West Corp., Pleasanton, Calif., sold a three-acre parcel to Stonebridge Cos. of Denver to build a Radisson Hotel at its Opus Center Sierra Point property in Brisbane, Calif. Groundbreaking is anticipated for the first quarter of 1999, with completion in the fourth quarter of 1999.
The eight-story, 210-room hotel will feature indoor pool and exercise facilities, meeting and banquet rooms and a restaurant and lounge. It will be the first Radisson by Stonebridge, which has developed hotels under the Hilton, Hampton, Marriott and Fairfield names.
At buildout, Opus Center Sierra Point will total 1.5 million sq. ft. of office and biotechnology space, along with hotels and restaurants.
Carlson Hospitality expands into lifestyle living, vacation club businesses and grows Regent chain MINNEAPOLIS - Carlson Hospitality Worldwide, Minneapolis, is growing again, this time extending its reach into two new business lines - lifestyle living and vacation clubs - and expanding its Regent International Hotel chain.
Carlson Lifestyle Living will combine the full-service hospitality of resorts and hotels with year-around residential housing in communities called Carlson Parks. The first lifestyle community is scheduled for a spring 1999 groundbreaking in San Antonio. The concept, which is targeted for people over age 55 with upper incomes, will be headed by Paul Wischermann, senior vice president of Carlson Lifestyle Living. International Consolidated Investors Corp. has agreed to build a total of 15 Carlson Park sites over the next 10 years.
Carlson Vacation Ownership Inc., a newly formed venture of Carlson Hospitality, has reached a partnership agreement with Tempus Resorts International, Orlando, Fla., to create the Carlson Vacation Club. The membership club will combine resort exchange services, global travel services and discounts on merchandise, travel and insurance exclusively for Tempus Resorts' owners. Under the agreement, Tempus Resorts is allowed to develop vacation ownership resorts under Carlson Hospitality hotel brands.
The new businesses seem a natural extension for the company, which already includes Radisson Hotels Worldwide, Regent International Hotels, Country Inns & Suites By Carlson, Radisson Seven Seas Cruises, Provisions (a global procurement company) and Carlson Restaurants Worldwide and is affiliated with Carlson Marketing Group, Carlson Leisure Group and Carlson Wagonlit Travel, through its parent, Carlson Cos. Inc.
Carlson also has plans to expand its luxury hotel and resort company, Regent International Hotels, with two new hotels and two new resorts in North America. The two new hotels are The Regent Vancouver in British Columbia, Canada, and The Regent Mexico City, Mexico. The two new resorts are The Regent Resort at Punta Maroma near Cancun and The Regent Resort Los Cabos, also in Mexico. With the expansion, eight new Regent hotels were announced in 1998, representing nearly 100% growth since Regent International Hotels was acquired by Carlson in November 1997.