Savannah Hotels

[Guest donaltopablo]

Savannah tallest hotel (and might be the building period). Since across the river from DT Savannah next to the convention center. You can get to River St (main road of shops and resturants on the waterfront via a watertaxi. It's one of four, 4 diamond hotels in Savannah and appears to be the only full service (non bed and breakfast/small inn) 4 diamond hotel.

Wife and I got to spend a free weekend here a few years ago when it first opened. Very nice hotel, beautiful views out of the Savannah facing side.

[bobliocatt]

Its nice to see the city fix up that island. The last time I visited, a couple of years ago, it was nothing but industrial wastelands.

[wolfdawg54]

I do like the construction that has been going on but I would rather see that Savannah keep its old charm too!

[Guest donaltopablo]

I do like the construction that has been going on but I would rather see that Savannah keep its old charm too!

Well, one nice thing about this hotel is it was built across the river from the historic district. So luckily, this hotel does not hurt any of the charm of the city. There are, however, several chain hotels in DT Savannah that definitely do not seem to blend in the area. That is disappointing. However, a Hampton Inn built several years ago did maintain the character of the building it replaced (I believe they kept the original exterior), which at least shows some sense for the neighorhood.

[Spartan]

Yes, it is unfortunate that some hotels do not blend in at all. Particularly the ones you can see as you get off of I-516. I think they are on Liberty St... anyway, that new hotel accross the river is very nice to look at from River St as well. Savannah is really coming along. Broughton St is growing into an area that could eventually rival King St. in Charleston.

[wolfdawg54]

What about the Marriot in downtown Savannah? I think it is called the Marriot De Soto. It is in a beautiful building that they restored about three or four blocks from the river front. But the Westin hotel definately does not belong.

[Guest donaltopablo]

It's the Marriott Riverfront (does not appear to be a restored building), and the Hilton De Soto (right on the waterfront and river street). Neither appear to be truly historic buildings that were restored. The Hampton in across the street from the Hilton though is a very nicely restored building.

[wolfdawg54]

Are you sure that the Hitlon De Soto is not a restored building because when I went in there it looked like it was redone and it was a beautiful old building? Sorry for messing up the names!

[bobliocatt]

I think the Hilton Desoto is new construction and not a restored historic building.

[Spartan]

I think that its a Marriot that is right on the waterfront and it doesn't blen in very well at all.

[wolfdawg54]

I guess now that I look at it, it may be newer but it is old-looking. The Marriot does not blend in at all.

[SavannahGa]

The Hilton was built in the early 70's I believe, BUT look what it replaced! Very sad.

BTW, i'm zigzag from SSP.

[wolfdawg54]

I never knew that it replaced those buildings. That is pretty sad. One good thing though is what SCAD does to renovate old buildings and use them for the college.

[SavannahGa]

Yes SCAD has more than 50 buildings restored!

[wolfdawg54]

I am actually looking pretty hard at attending SCAD. I think it a beautiful campus even though there really is not a central location. It is a fabulous school.

[SavannahGa]

Savannah

[SavannahGa]

Planter's Inn Gets Multi-million Dollar Fix-up

A $3.2 million renovation of the historic Planter's Inn - the largest of several upgrades now under way on downtown hotels - should wrap up about the time international diplomatic delegations flood into Savannah for the G8 Summit this week.

Renovation plans for the inn, at 29 Abercorn St., were already "on the books," General Manager Marc Friday said, before last year's announcement that President Bush would host leaders of seven other countries June 8-10 at secluded Sea Island. But "G8 was part of the motivation" for the hotel's first major renovation in 18 years, Friday said. "We'll have all these international visitors."

Hundreds of delegation members from each G8 country,

along with a worldwide press corps projected at 3,000 or more journalists, are expected to overflow up the Georgia coast and make camp in Savannah hotels.

Another downtown hotel, the Day's Inn/Day's Suites/Historic Riverfront, 201 W. Bay St., just spent about $200,000 renovating its top floor, but that work was done for local corporate clients rather than as a G8 preparation, manager Dominique Audran said (renovation of rooms and suites on the hotel's other floors will take place after the tourism business tapers off in September).

The two-year-old Radisson Hotel Historic Savannah, 411 W. Bay St., is pegging some construction work to G8, but it's only one room, an 800-square-foot retail/storage area that's being upgraded to conference space. "It's our understanding that one of the delegations has expressed some interest in using it," said Whip Triplett, the hotel's vice president and general manager.

The Planter's Inn, whose 60 rooms place it somewhere between a full-sized hotel and a bed and breakfast, is getting a thorough refurbishment including new heating and air conditioning, repainting, new carpeting and tile. The inn also created new meeting space for up to 50 people.

Among final touches, the inn is working with Savannah Electric Co. to place historic-look lanterns outside.

J.T. Turner, general contractor for the inn renovation, did most of the work between October and March, Friday said. "We put Turner on a tight timetable. Given the time frame and scope of work, I think they did a fantastic job."

The seven-story inn building, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, dates to the late 1800s, he said, and has operated as an inn since the 1930s; it became Planter's Inn in 1987. John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, lived on the same lot during the 1700s, and a plaque on adjacent Reynolds Square commemorates his time here.

Renovation work, Friday said, should finish in early June, about the time that full G8 delegations start packing area hotels and motels. He expects hotels throughout downtown to be booked in early June, noting the tourism season started early this year, about mid-February. "Tourism is picking up," he said.

That's confirmed by the latest figures from the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce/Convention and Visitors Bureau: Savannah area hotels and motels reported 70.5 percent occupancy from January through March, an 8.8 percent increase over the same period in 2003.

The Hyatt Regency Savannah, another of downtown's large hotels, plans a major, $10 million renovation starting in August or September, after the G8 is over with and tourism starts to taper off

The G8 summit coincides with the normal peak of Savannah's tourist season, which could add up to a real space shortage this week. "We will be sold out," Day's Inn's Audran said.

[monsoon]