Nov. 06–PORTSMOUTH — One of the most recognized fixtures along Portsmouth's waterfront is about to get a new look.
The Renaissance Hotel is scheduled to undergo renovations starting early next year. The building will get a new sign and a coat of slate-gray paint that will transform the exterior look. Inside, the hotel will be modernized to a cleaner, brighter look for the hotel, which was built in 2001.
Chester-based Shamin Hotels, the largest hotel management company in Virginia, bought the hotel in February 2017 from Ashford Hospitality Trust for $9.2 million. When the hotel first opened, it did so with an upfront public investment of about $39 million and a private investment of about $14 million in the hotel and a parking garage, according to a story in The Pilot.
Michael Sweeney, vice president of design and construction at Shamin, said the renovations are designed to "activate" the public spaces in the hotel, instead of having segmented and compartmentalized areas.
The lounges, bar areas and lobby will have a more open and united look with screen art replacing some of the walls. Artwork images will also be projected on the walls, and guests will be able to dine and lounge on an outdoor space next to the water.
One of the notable design elements of the building is a rounded corner of the hotel that has a view of the Elizabeth River but doesn't currently serve a specific purpose. Sweeney said it will be turned into a bar area.
"It's kind of a specialty cocktail space. It's a requirement of the (Marriott) brand," he said. " … Right now, it's a dead space and we'd like to activate it. It's got a fantastic view."
Even the reception desk is getting a new look.
Instead of the traditionally long reception desks, there will be several smaller check-in desks in a row. A map of Portsmouth will be on the wall behind the desks with large magnifying glass features that can be moved across the map.
Rooms will get new furniture, lighting and decor and the carpet will be replaced with hard-surface flooring and rugs. Bathtubs will be replaced with showers.
"It's quite an update from what it is," Sweeney said.
The dining room, ballroom and restaurant will also be given a modern look. But some of the original elements will remain. The arches and wood trim throughout its halls, for example, will be refinished.
The hotel's restaurant, Foggy Point Bar and Grill, may get a new menu and name.
"We haven't quite worked that out yet," Sweeney said. "We do have a direction we're going in but we haven't finalized it. "It will be different than what it is today. You can't give too much away."
A patio next to the building will be re-poured and possibly have a small stage for entertainment.
"We're still working through the design. These are just the concepts. So nothing's finalized yet," Sweeney said. "We are keeping the shell. We're not doing any major structural changes to it. It's really going to be updating what is there and giving it a cleaner, fresher more modern look."
Shamin is working on the final design with Marriott and expects approval later this month. The hotel will remain open and only one floor may be closed at a time during renovations that are expected to take a year or less
Sweeney said they were "not exactly sure just yet" how much is being spent on the work and couldn't disclose that, even if the figure was known. However, no tax or financial incentives are being provided for the renovations from the City of Portsmouth, according to City Treasurer Paige Cherry.
In a City Council meeting on Oct. 9, Shamin CEO Neil Amin offered only a general idea about renovation costs. "It could be seven digits. We haven't priced every single thing yet but it's very significant," he told council.
One thing that Amin was clear on: The hotel isn't being updated to be sold after renovations.
"We're not going to sell. I mean, trust me. We have no intention whatsoever," he told council. "We're buyers, not sellers."
