PORTLAND, Ore.—The Holiday Inn Portland Airport is sporting a new look after recently completing a $7 million makeover. At the core of the 284-room/suite hotel’s multi-stage, 22-month renovations is improved convenience for hotel guests, ensuring their enhanced ability to work and relax in a comfortable environment. In addition, the hotel debuts a new restaurant and lounge, Latitude 45°. Adjacent to the Columbia Conference Center, the Holiday Inn Portland Airport is operated by Springfield-based John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts.
The hotel’s newly designed lobby was doubled in size and the ceiling height extended to create an open, social concept. The communal space features modern décor with natural woods; modular furniture; whimsical fabric cubes; an artistic color palette of coral, gold and sage; extensive LED lighting; and media walls. A custom raw-wood table serves as a center piece for guests to congregate and recharge devices, while leveraging the common space’s free Wi-Fi access. Guests can enjoy the hotel’s new coffee bar and experience Stumptown Coffee Roasters, a local, upscale, specialty coffee.
According to Charles Holt, general manager of the Holiday Inn Portland Airport, the extensive property improvements appear to be resonating with travelers based on positive feedback and an upswing in business.
“Since our hotel renovations, we have seen a transformation in lobby life. Our new space is so inviting that guests are congregating more in the common areas,” Holt said. “We are also seeing a significant increase in business demand, as travelers are eager to experience the improvements first hand.”
In addition to the extensive lobby makeover, the hotel refreshed all guestrooms/suites with contemporary furniture, carpet, wall coverings, Holiday Inn bedding, and 37” flat screen televisions. Bathrooms received granite countertops and large framed mirrors. Black and white artwork throughout the hotel features local Portland scenes. The hotel’s exterior façade also received cosmetic improvements, including fresh paint, stonework, a protective glass-enclosed walkway, and eco-friendly landscaping.
Another significant component of the hotel’s recent capital improvements includes the installation of an enhanced wireless network tailored to the convention space and offering 24/7 tech support to convention-goers. The design allows tech support to dial into the specific meeting space’s IP address to reconcile any IT problems convention guests encounter and at no charge to attendees/planners. In addition, the hotel now has the ability to direct select bandwidth into a specific space, providing efficient and fast Internet access to convention attendees where and when they need it.
