I am constantly asked by editors, travel journalists, meeting planners and industry colleagues, “Hey, what’s new this year in Newport County?”
My response usually relates to the latest and greatest new event, or new product development at one of the many attractions, a new chef or restaurant – or lately, thanks to the very productive and proactive R.I. Film & Television Office, all of the motion pictures being filmed in the area.
I took a mental inventory of destination Newport recently, and the common thread of “what’s new” was all about the renovations that are happening throughout the hotel world.
In the last year, the Newport Marriott Hotel completed a $14 million guest room renovation. Joan Ferraro, director of sales and marketing, said the rooms were upgraded to reflect “the eclectic, yet classically nautical look.”
The renovations included upgraded bathrooms and bath amenities, refrigerators, in-room safes and clock radios with CD/MP3 players. In addition, the hotel recently installed 32-inch plasma televisions in all 310 guest rooms and suites.
And there is more. In May, the Newport Marriott will be home to SpaVure, a full-service wellness spa offering a full line of skin health and spa services and run by Dr. Nomate Kpea, who also owns and operates spas in Johnston, Providence and Narragansett.
The Newport Harbor Hotel & Marina is temporarily closed so that phase two of its renovations may be completed – the installation of a new sprinkler system, new ceilings and new carpeting in all public areas.
But the hotel is scheduled to reopen March 2, with a completely renovated lobby and entrance and extensive landscaping detail to the property. The hotel also has made changes to the on-site restaurant, Pier 49 Seafood & Spirits, which now features a menu of New England seafood specialties.
Across the causeway, on Goat Island, the Hyatt Regency Newport Hotel & Spa will undergo a $23 million renovation project beginning in November. The project will be completed by April 30, 2008, and will include a redo of all 264 guest rooms and suites, meeting and event space, the Stillwater Spa, the restaurant and lounge areas, lobby and exterior projects including the pool area, landscaping and gardens.
Last, but not forgotten, is Newport’s first hotel, the Hotel Viking, which is in the midst of a $4.8 million design renovation and reconfiguration of the formerly 78-room Viking Wing.
The wing will reopen in early May with 53 completely redesigned upscale rooms and 12 luxury suites harkening back to the opulence and elegance of Newport’s historic mansion era (the hotel now will have a total of 209 rooms).
“The romantic suites will have separate intimate parlors to further enhance the feel of the days of The Gilded Age, and all floors will be adorned with custom European, hand-tied wool carpets,” said Marlen Scalzi, director of sales and marketing at the hotel.
(Scalzi actually grew up in the hotel, because her father was the general manager when she was a young child.) In addition to the Viking Wing renovation, the property has given all of its much sought-after meeting and banquet spaces a minor facelift.
And there is more to come: In Middletown, a new Marriott Residence Inn is under construction, which will complement the other limited-service hotels that are experiencing growing demand.
For the Newport County Convention & Visitors Bureau, all these renovations and additions provide an opportunity to promote and sell a fresh product. Along with the historic charm of the destination, the events and attractions, they make Newport County even more appealing as a meeting destination.
Kathryn Farrington is vice president of tourism marketing for the Newport County Convention & Visitors Center.
