Destination: Texas Renovation Report

By Amy Drew Thompson

AA Dropping BB

That’s “big bucks,” in case you were wondering. Fort Worth giant American Airlines’ new campus is taking its HQ to the next level and plans include a $250 million hospitality center, part of which will be a 600-room hotel. Part of a training and conference center, the new property’s main purpose will be educating the company’s employees, but it will also include office and retail, dining and a 131,000-square-foot conference center. AA’s outdated, circa-1950s facilities will be razed to make way for the new development, which will double in size.

Live! in Arlington

Plans for Arlington’s new Loews property, part of the Live! brand – are coming together nicely. And by “nicely,” we mean the 14-story, 300-room and 23-suite hotel not only has plans for meeting and event space, an infinity pool, rooftop terrace and celebrity-chef dining venues, but bourbon, and lots of it.

In addition to a swanky pool bar and market with grab-and-go items, the property will boast high-end steakhouse Cut & Bourbon, featuring (of course!) Texas-sourced prime cuts, game, seafood and – you guessed it – amazing cocktails. Meanwhile, in the lobby lounge called Bar Bourbon, fans of this classic spirit will find a vast bourbon selection, along with private bourbon lockers for aging. Al fresco mixology haven, the Arlington Clover Club, will be the place for craft cocktails and a mix of American and international fare.

WaterWalk in Plano

Plano is among the 13 sites in the development crosshairs for WaterWalk International, an extended-stay brand that including business travelers in its target market demographic. Dallas-Las Colinas and Dallas-Richardson are also considered growth markets. The WaterWalk model is apartment-like living for its guests, but with all the services and amenities of a hotel.

Say “Hy!”

Fort Worth’s Alliance Town Center will have a new place for business travelers this fall. Its five-story, 130-room Hyatt Place Fort Worth/Alliance Town Center will include amenities like a 24-hour fitness center and options for eats, as well as more than 1,700 square feet of meeting and event space.

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