HILTON JACKSONVILLE RIVERFRONT TO BECOME CROWNE PLAZA JACKSONVILLE RIVERFRONT
Hotel Undergoes $3 Million Renovation in Preparation for Conversion
(Jacksonville, FL 3/6/06) Beginning March 31, 2006 a new flag will fly over the St. Johns River as the Hilton Jacksonville Riverfront becomes the Crowne Plaza Jacksonville Riverfront. The south bank hotel has completed a $3 million renovation in preparation for the conversion to Crowne Plaza, an InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) brand.
According to Michael Keeler, general manager of the Crowne Plaza Jacksonville Riverfront, "We are pleased to join the IHG family of hotels and are proud to introduce the Crowne Plaza as an upscale value-oriented alternative in Jacksonville's beautiful downtown riverfront."
"The Crowne Plaza name carries a great deal of respect within our industry," said John Reyes, President & CEO of the Jacksonville & the Beaches Convention and Visitors Bureau. "With their recognized quality of service and exciting new renovations, the property will make an excellent addition to the Jacksonville riverfront."
Recent renovations include new wall and floor coverings in all meeting rooms, improvements to the public areas of the hotel, and upgrades to guest room bedding. This follows close to $1 million worth of guest room renovations completed in 2005 that included new wall, window and floor coverings, vanity sinks and bathtubs. Additional upgrades to the building's exterior, construction of a new front entrance and reconfiguration of valet parking is currently underway.
The hotel is owned by MHI Hospitality Corporation, (Amex: MDH), which purchased the property in 2005 for $22.0 million. The Crowne Plaza Jacksonville will be managed by MHI Hotels Services LLC, which has managed the Hilton Jacksonville Riverfront since 1996, under a license agreement with a company in the InterContinental Hotels Group.
MHI Hospitality Corporation's Chief Executive Officer, Andrew Sims said, "We have made a significant investment in the property because we believe in Jacksonville's continued growth potential. The Crowne Plaza Jacksonville Riverfront is ideally positioned, both in terms of location and value, to take advantage of this growth."
Janice Dailey, director of sales & marketing for the Crowne Plaza Jacksonville Riverfront states, "We are excited about what the transition to a Crowne Plaza will mean for our business travelers and groups. Crowne Plaza is positioned as The Place to Meet and has innovative guest programs like Sleep Advantage® and Priority Club® Rewards that provide significant value to our guests."
The Sleep Advantage program encompasses the entire sleep experience, from training staff on how to create and maintain a restful environment to providing innovative products and services. Program components include triple-sheet-covered, pillow top mattresses, plush duvet covers and seven pillows in each room, guaranteed wake up calls, designated quiet zones, night lights, drape clips, a Sleep CD and relaxation tips developed by sleep expert Dr. Michael Breus, Ph.D., and amenities such as eye masks, ear plugs and lavender linen spray.
Consistent with the Crowne Plaza brand, the hotel offers a comprehensive meetings package consisting of three key components to ensure a seamless planning process and exceptional meeting experience: a two-hour response guarantee to planner's inquiries, Crowne Meetings Director, a Certified Meetings Planner on staff, and a meetings daily debrief including an itemization of all costs to help planners keep within budget.
Opened in 1964 as the Hilton Jacksonville Riverfront, the Crowne Plaza Jacksonville Riverfront is a 292-room property. All rooms offer a private walk-out balcony, many overlooking the St. Johns River.
The Crowne Plaza Jacksonville Riverfront offers two restaurants including Ruth's Chris Steak House and the American Grill, as well as a Starbucks kiosk, covered parking, a business center and gift shop. The hotel contains nearly 12,000 square feet of meeting space, a fitness center, and an outdoor pool and sundeck overlooking the river. The 80-foot Jacksonville Princess Yacht is docked just outside the hotel for public dinner and brunch cruises or private charter events.
The Crowne Plaza Jacksonville Riverfront participates in Priority Club Rewards, the world's first and most global loyalty program spanning more than 3,600 hotels in nearly 100 countries. Members earn their choice of points toward free hotel nights or merchandise, or earn frequent flyer miles with more than 40 domestic and international airline partners. Enrollment in Priority Club Rewards is free. Guests enroll online at www.priorityclub.com by calling 1-888-211-9874 or at the front desk of any Crowne Plaza hotel.
As part of the InterContinental Hotels Group global portfolio, Crowne Plaza Hotels & resorts has 235 hotels in 48 countries, and are located in major urban centers, gateway cities and resort destinations.
MHI Hospitality Corporation is a self-advised real estate investment trust (REIT) focused on the acquisition, redevelopment and management of midscale and upscale full service hotels in the mid-Atlantic and southeastern United States. The company currently owns seven properties for a total of 1,675 rooms.
