urbanSTL

If they pick the Union Trust building, maybe they can build something over that surface lot behind it!

^ yeppers.... if not a tall addition, at least a multi-level structure for meeting rooms, etc. like the well-done Hilton @ Ballpark addition fronting Market a few years back.

Another key infill is on Olive and 6th (I believe across from RR Exchange and Metropolitan Buildings.... it would be cool to see a Tower OPOP-style building rise up there.

roger wyoming II wrote:

Gateway City wrote:Are all these new hotel openings necessary? Particularly if the Rams leave, I don't know if Downtown needs so many hotels. Will C+A+R and Ballpark village really draw that many more visitors here? What is bringing people to St. Louis that we need so many more hotels now?

Not sure how many new rooms are out there as some like the Magnolia are just rebranding/renovations. And while the old Ren Suites is coming back from closure the Millennium is closing. But to answer your question, both convention and tourism industries are picking up both here and nationwide.... room occupancy and rates here aren't superhot now but solid enough to entertain potential expansion. I suspect if The Peabody does come to town, it will be considerably smaller than its Memphis location with over 400 rooms. Also re: the Rams, I doubt very much they do anything for hotel nights that couldn't be replaced with other events taking over their 8-10 slots.

That's a good assessment in my opinion. I don't see a lot of growth in the St. Louis tourism or convention markets, but I don't see it going bust anytime soon either. I think there's still room for more competition at multiple price points. Or at least I'd like to see increased competition and the activation of now-dormant properties like the Railway Exchange, and let the chips fall where they may, because obviously the more quality options we have, the better.

Presbyterian wrote:I suspect some of these reccent hotel developments reflect changing product preferences by guests. Fewer people are looking for a generic product downtown. More customers are looking for a boutique feel, or high design, or something with more soul. The Millennium/Regal was a product fewer downtown guests wanted. The Peabody and Magnolia each will be a different product.

That was exactly what I was thinking, although you articulated it much better than I did. Travelers expect more, they research their options, and they want properties not just with as many amenities as possible, but also, character. Not every specialty or boutique hotel is priced like the Four Seasons- in other words- you can get a more unique, upscale experience for not much more money than you'd pay for your standard business-class hotel on any given highway (and sometimes it doesn't cost any more at all if you know where, when, and how to look). So I see the demise of the Millennium and the rise of specialty hotels in downtown and beyond as part of a larger trend in hospitality. And I think it's encouraging that Peabody is considering St. Louis for one of its future locations.

I know this may sound dorky corny tacky dumb or however you want to look at it. Instead of ducks since that's unique to Memphis perhaps maybe Penguins at the possible St.Louis peabody that will definitely be different and wouldn't take away from the Memphis Ducks.

That'll work and will surely stand out