Quick Tips: Preparing for Post-Pandemic

Per local newspaper reporting, more or less Lone Star State-wide, the hospitality industry will be mitigating the effects of COVID-19 for quite some time before thing begin to normalize.

Dozens of new hotels planned to add more than 4,000 rooms in San Antonio were either under construction or in the planning stage before the coronavirus struck in earnest, the San Antonio Express-News reported.
While some are expected to be completed before too long, those that were still to break ground are in the “uncertain” column.

The Arts Residences at the Thompson San Antonio Hotel, which started on construction in 2018, is still underway, though its opening has been pushed back to fall. Similarly, the Canopy by Hilton remained on track for its October opening.

The Express-News said there were more than 45 hotel projects in various stages of planning or construction as of May 2020. None had been deferred or canceled at press time.

Elsewhere in the state, the new Hyatt Regency Frisco in Dallas is still set to open this summer, its 18 stories adding 303 rooms to the city’s portfolio.
In Houston, the $10 million renovation of the historic La Colombe d’Or Hotel in Montrose was underway. The hotel, which was built in 1936, is getting upgrades that will showcase details of its era, including restoration of its original parquet floors and an expansion of its restaurant and bar. Once complete, guests will have 32 rooms to choose from across the property, including five suites ranging from 470 to 721 square feet.

Think Small for Gatherings

Is your association interested in putting some fuel in the tanks of the local Texas economy? We may be shy of annual convention planning, but smaller gatherings – board luncheons and the like – are a great way for colleagues to get face time while doing their part to help businesses regain a foothold. Listed below, a few restaurants are likely eager to host your 10-or-less gathering in their private dining rooms and a couple that would be happy to cater your affair, including delivery.

A “Seafood Diet” in Galveston

On the coast, local catch is the way to go and BLVD. Seafood’s private dining room seats 18 (that means smaller gatherings will have no problem sticking to social-distancing guidelines while enjoying fresh fishy fare. And for those less-than-enthused about seafood, I offer the positively “Presleyan” peanut butter and jalapeno slider, a burger surely fit for a King (just add banana)! blvdseafood.com

Cajun in Beaumont

Vautrot’s Cajun Cuisine is a favorite in Beaumont and will happily put together a feast for your fete for pickup curbside. Beef tips, fried pork chops, mac and cheese and a host of other rib-sticking family recipes offering up loads of carbs and comfort, two friendly foodie faces amid the ones that’ll be happy to see one another after such a long, strange time. vautrotscajuncuisine.com

“Meat” in Houston

There are some foods that fare well in the takeout box. Alas, steak is not one of them. For groups looking to get back to “meat” at meetings, the Butcher Shop at B&B was just about to enter the open-for-dine-in fray and will be welcoming back groups immediately. The Butcher Shop space is precisely that (and a deli) by day but in the evening can be artfully transformed into a lovely room with a 20-seat capacity. That’s lots of space for your guest to enjoy a steak the way it’s meant to be – on a warm plate, no waiting. bbbutchers.com/houston-private-events

Texas Tea Party

Pinkies up for charm at the Tea Kettle Café in the Woodlands-area town of Spring. Your group will enjoy a little bit of history and a lot of homemade goodies in quaint, intimate digs. Two tea party options – light and full afternoon tea – are available, featuring delights such as cucumber sandwiches, chef-crafted salads and more. Antique china and lovely linens help complete the picture. theteakettlecafe.com

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