AUSTIN, TX – September 10, 2021 – Historic and legendary Texas hotel, The Driskill, is thrilled to unveil the renovation of 14 guest suites on the historic side of the hotel, as part of an ongoing refresh of the entire property. A stylish testimony to modern Texas charm, the upgraded suites are now available to reserve.
Located in the heart of downtown Austin at 604 Brazos St and equipped with 189 total guest rooms and signature suites, The Driskill has provided elegant accommodations, unparalleled luxury, world-class mixology, award-winning cuisine and live music almost every night of the week to guests, including presidents, throughout its history. Now more than ever, the hotel evokes a sense of grand elegance and sophistication while still being a warm, welcoming and approachable oasis in the middle of the city. With Texas-based architecture firm Clayton Korte leading the design for the newly revitalized suites, this marks the first renovation of the iconic hotel’s rooms since 1998.
“Throughout history, The Driskill has been a legendary landmark in Texas hospitality,” said Chris Collins, General Manager of The Driskill. “We’re excited to invite Texans and visitors alike into the newly updated suites, which have been modernized for maximum comfort but still maintain the same historic charm with their own personality.”
Originally imagined and built by Colonel Jesse Driskill, a cattle baron, established businessman, and well-known civic leader, The Driskill was conceptualized to be a luxurious grand hotel and showpiece for the once frontier town of Austin, meant to rival the palaces of other big cities. The original cost is estimated at $400,000, the equivalent of $92 million in 2021. In 2013, the historic hotel was acquired as a part of the Unbound Collection by Hyatt with planned investments of $8 million in upgrades.
The full renovation of the 14 guest suites at The Driskill reinvigorates the custom-designed spaces, adding to the luxurious feel and vibrant character of the hotel while maintaining references to the property’s rich 135-year history. In conjunction with interior designers at Rottet Studio, award-winning architecture firm Clayton Korte altered the existing incongruous materials and fixture palette to bring forward the spaces and uncover architectural details that bring forth the unique personality of each space. In addition, redesigned bathroom layouts, new fixtures and finishes enhance guests’ experiences as they relax into a sleek luxury that is normally uncommon in historic hotels.
“We are honored to continue working at The Driskill with the Hyatt Unbound team and Rottet Studios,” said George Wilcox, AIA, Associate Partner. “We believe that our design involvement at this Austin icon should always be tempered with respect for the history of the hotel, with an eye towards keeping it as a relevant and current part of Austin’s ever-changing hospitality landscape.”
The renovation also served to enhance and accentuate the individual personalities of each of the unique 14 suites. While being careful to repurpose existing artwork and historic paintings, the focus was to elevate each room’s already whimsical characteristics while providing more functionality of each space. A tasteful redesign of the original floor plan of each suite ensured the one-of-a-kind boutique hotel experience that travelers have always trusted The Driskill to provide.
The Driskill has long been known for refined guest room amenities such as breathtaking, stained-glass bathrooms and sweeping balcony views of the city’s fine dining and music venues that line the lively 6th street. Some of The Driskill’s most popular suites are now upgraded for an even more luxurious and relaxing experience. Standing at 1200 square feet, amenities of the newly renovated Cattle Baron suite, for example, include a clawfoot soaking tub, walk-in shower, a spacious living and dining area with a private wet bar, and a separate bedroom with two matching queen beds, vanity area and ample closet space. Other amazing features for hotel guests include access to a collection of museum-quality artwork throughout the hotel, pet-friendly accommodations and Texas comfort food, a coffee bar and fresh pastries at 1886 Café & Bakery, and the famous Driskill bar.
Plans for the future hotel upgrades include a full guestroom renovation to all 175 rooms, which will begin in September 2022. Other hotel spaces and additional outlets, including The Driskill Bar, will also be refinished.
Currently, guests can take advantage of packages geared toward elevating their experience such as the new Suite Celebration Package, featuring a getaway in one of the newly renovated luxurious suites, along with a locally crafted truffle-filled Texas chocolate box, paired with a refreshing bottle of bubbly, and $50 food and beverage credit to use at one of The Driskill’s in-house eateries.
For more information, please visit https://driskillhotel.com/. Follow along on Instagram at @thedriskill.
