The Additions To Windsor Hospitality Group's Asheville Renaissance Raise The Hotel To A New Standard And Match The City's Traditions

ASHEVILLE, NC – Anyone who has recently been to the Asheville Renaissance owned and operated by Windsor Hospitality Group knows WHG has significantly upgraded the property. Some might call it a rebirth. After a year-long, $2.5 million campaign, this hotel is prepared for traveling families and corporate conferences alike. With an expanded and updated fitness center, a new indoor pool, an additional ballroom and some of the local artists' finest works on display, this hotel is impressive to say the least.

Herman Turk, general manager and WHG regional vice president, oversaw the entire process with his staff. "The reason we decided to make the additions were two-fold," he says. "First we had a commitment to Marriott Hotels as part of the hotel franchise agreement to upgrade our swimming facilities. Secondly, we came to understand that having an indoor swimming pool with an expanded fitness center would be an excellent addition to the amenities at the hotel."

Director of Sales Brenda Taylor adds, "We agreed to upgrade the pool and fitness center, but of course with WHG being as progressive as they are, it really grew into a full-scale addition…There were three phases with the entire project," she says. "Phase one was to upgrade the patio area, which we completed in May 2004. Phase two was to begin the construction of the Windsor Ballroom, which we opened in December. Phase three was the fitness center and indoor pool."

Turk and Taylor emphasize how as part of the hotel team's ongoing commitment to the Asheville community, they purposely selected a local architect and contractor to complete the project.

WHG's patio upgrades include building a glass-covered canopy with roll-down windscreens and new tiles on the floor. This effectively adds 1,500 square-feet of usable function space.

While the hotel has always entertained guests in its Grand Ballroom, the new 2,600 square-foot Windsor Ballroom increases the property's meeting and conference space by 20%. Taylor says, "With the Windsor Ballroom, we can provide much more easily for our guests' meeting needs, their exhibit needs and their banquet needs."

"We nearly doubled the fitness center in size," she says, "Its area is now more than 700 square- feet and we outfitted it with the latest cardiovascular and strength-training equipment. We included locker facilities and showers with a plan to make fitness center memberships available to local residents."

Throughout the improvement process, Turk and his property-level team describe how they went to great effort to make sure their guests were not disturbed and continued to receive all of the excellent service and amenities the property offers. Among those are high-speed internet access, a business center, laundry valet, a fitness center, in-room movies and refreshment centers.

Asheville Renaissance now features a new Club Level as well. "This is a special area of the hotel where guests have upgraded room amenities such as plush bathrobes," Turk says. "They have other privileges such as the Club lounge, where they have hors d'hoeuvres and cocktails available in the evening and a Continental breakfast in the morning, and access to the Club Level concierge."

The final improvement, and one that seems to mean a great deal to Turk, Taylor and their staff, is the new artwork throughout the hotel. "Asheville is such an artistic community that it has been a pleasure to bring new art into the hotel," says Taylor. "It is all from the Asheville area, done by local artisans. Part of it is paintings are of the statues you can see walking downtown. Part of it is paintings are of the Blue Ridge Mountains, lakes and waterfalls you see around North Carolina. It is nice to go out our doors and within a block you can see the inspirations for these pieces."

Turk explains, "Our artwork was specifically selected to reflect the Renaissance brand pillar of incorporating expressive design."

The budget for the entire project, from the structural additions to the amenities and aesthetic improvements was $2.5 million, which Turk believes adds substantial value to the hotel. "Approximately $100,000 of the investment was required by the Renaissance by Marriott improvement program," he says. "The balance of the $2.4 million was a decision by WHG to continue investing in the Asheville community."

"I had a guest the other day, a local resident, comment how impressed he has been about the ongoing improvements in both service and product here at the hotel," Turk reports. Apparently that is the general consensus among those who have taken part in the renaissance of this Asheville hotel.

About Windsor Hospitality Group
Windsor Hospitality Group is the hotel division of Windsor Capital Group, Inc., the California-based commercial real estate acquisition, development and management firm. WHG's owned and/or managed portfolio includes 24 brand name hotels in commercial and cultural hubs across North America. Visit: www.wcghotels.com for more information about the company.

WHG's Asheville Renaissance is at 1 Thomas Wolfe Plaza, Asheville, NC 28801. For reservations and questions about the property, call 828-252-8211.

Source: Windsor Hospitality Group