Major Brands & Boutique Properties Pop Up While Existing Hotels Receive Exciting Renovations
PHILADELPHIA, June 27, 2018 – Big-name hotels are opening new properties in Philadelphia—Cambria, W, Element—while just-in-Philly properties are strengthening the city’s boutique cred. Altogether, the nine new hotels are unlocking 1,902 new rooms to meet visitor demand, which has increased at a rate of 86% over the past 20 years.
So, what’s coming? A sky-high Four Seasons, a dual-hotel complex housing a W and an Element, an extended-stay property (ROOST Apartment Hotel) and an “invisible service” model (Lokal Fishtown), plus several major renovations.
Here’s a look at Philadelphia’s new, soon-to-come and revamped hotels:
Just Opened:
Cambria Hotel Philadelphia Downtown Center City – Along the Avenue of the Arts, this 15-story addition to the hotel scene features a ground-floor restaurant, rooftop lounge, fitness center and pool. cambriaphiladelphia.com
- Completed: March 2018
- Developer: Pearlstein Properties
- Rooms: 223
- Location: Center City, 219 S. Broad Street
Coming In 2018 & Beyond:
Fairfield Inn & Suites Philadelphia Downtown/Center City – Housed in what was the iconic Parker Hotel, the Fairfield Inn & Suites offers fitness facilities and free hot breakfast, along with a super-convenient location. marriott.com/phlcc
- Completed: June 2018
- Developer: Mihir Wankawala
- Rooms: 119
- Location: Midtown Village/Gayborhood, 261 S. 13th Street
ROOST Apartment Hotel – The third Philadelphia location of this extended-stay brand will house studio, one-bedroom, two-bedroom and penthouse units on five floors of a new, 23-story building. myroost.com
- Expected Completion: Fall 2018
- Developer: National Real Estate Development
- Units: 60
- Location: Market East, 1199 Ludlow Street
Lokal Fishtown – Following the formula it established in the Old City neighborhood, the Fishtown outpost of this boutique hotel promises an “invisible service” model. Guests can count on highly customized concierge guidance without a front desk and other typical hotel amenities. The apartment-style one- and two-bedroom units invite visitors to live like locals. staylokal.com
- Expected Completion: Fall 2018
- Developer: Stay Lokal
- Units: 6
- Location: Fishtown, 1421 N. Front Street
Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia – The 60-story Comcast Technology Center—the tallest building in Philadelphia—will open in late fall with a luxury occupant: the Four Seasons. Guests arrive to the hotel’s sky lobby on the top floor, and then they can ease into their stay with a trip to the spa, fitness facility and infinity pool on the 57th floor. Restaurants helmed by award-winning chefs Jean-George Vongerichten and Greg Vernick will draw both local and visiting food lovers. fourseasons.com
- Expected Completion: Late fall 2018
- Developer: Comcast/Liberty Property Trust
- Rooms: 219
- Location: Center City, 1 N. 19th Street
MainStay Suites/Ascend Hotel Collection – Locally inspired artwork will bring the city inside the hotel, and guests who still want a workout after traversing the walkable downtown can pop into the fitness center. choicehotels.com/mainstay
- Expected Completion: Early 2019
- Developer: Landmark Property Group
- Rooms: 118
- Location: Chinatown, 917 Arch Street
W Philadelphia and Element Philadelphia – It took a full 24 hours to pour the concrete for each floor of this 52-story, dual-hotel complex. Each floor looks a little different than any of the others. hotel-development.marriott.com
- Expected Completion: Summer 2019
- Developer: Chestlen Development
- Rooms: 295 in the W Philadelphia; 460 in the Element Philadelphia (750 total)
- Location: Center City, 15th & Chestnut Streets
Pod Philly – The micro-hotel pioneer arrives in town via this efficient, modern, 11-story building just two blocks from Rittenhouse Square. There will be a coffee bar by Greg Root and Nick Kennedy of Root and a rooftop greenhouse bar with a retractable roof of its own. thepodhotel.com
- Expected Completion: September 2019
- Developer: Modus Hotels & Parkway Corporation
- Rooms: 252
- Location: Rittenhouse Square, 31 S. 19th Street
Hyatt Place Philadelphia Airport – Hyatt is expanding the footprint of its popular select-service brand with the opening of a Hyatt Place near Philadelphia International Airport. hyattplace.com
- Expected Completion: Late 2019
- Owner: Elpizo HP, LLC
- Operator: Crescent Hotels & Resorts
- Rooms: 150
- Location: Airport, 4521 Island Avenue
Recently Revamped:
Le Méridien Philadelphia – A $5.8 million renovation brought major upgrades to every aspect of this modern, French-inspired hotel housed in a 1907 building. The lobby, restaurant and guest rooms feature new furniture, flooring and artwork. lemeridienphiladelphia.com
- Completed: March 2018
- Designer: Blackdog Studio
- Location: Center City, 1421 Arch Street
Renaissance Philadelphia Downtown Hotel – Once The Franklin Hotel, this 13-floor property underwent a multi-million-dollar renovation and a rebranding. The common spaces and 152 guestrooms now sport a contemporary, urban design—think black-white-and-wood spaces with gold accents and local art—and the new bar and restaurant add a lively, welcoming vibe to the ground level. marriott.com/phlpr
- Completed: April 2018
- Developer: The Buccini/Pollin Group, Inc.
- Location: Old City, 401 Chestnut Street
Under Renovation:
The Rittenhouse – When completed, the current upgrades will mark the last phase in a complete renovation that has transformed the 118-room hotel over the last five years. This piece of the overhaul, which accounts for $10 million of the $20 million total, will take guestrooms from elegant to divine. rittenhousehotel.com
- Expected Completion: Late spring 2018
- Developer: Hersha Hospitality Trust
- Location: Rittenhouse Square, 210 W Rittenhouse Square
Courtyard Philadelphia Downtown/Autograph – A $23 million revamp will transform the 499-room Courtyard into The Notary, an Autograph Collection hotel. Guests of the property will enjoy an upscale experience. marriott.com/phldc
- Expected Completion: June 2019
- Developer: Braemar Hotels & Resorts
- Location: Center City, 21 N. Juniper Street
Sheraton Society Hill – With new owners at the helm, this hotel will get a new, to-be-announced name and a reimagined environment. The public and guest spaces—lobby, restaurant, rooms, indoor pool and event spaces—will welcome visitors to Historic Philadelphia. sheratonphiladelphiasocietyhill.com
- Expected Completion: To be announced
- Developer: The Buccini/Pollin Group, Inc.
- Location: Old City, 1 Dock Street
