SAN FRANCISCO—Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants announced it will expand its footprint in Texas with the management of a new four-star boutique hotel in Austin’s historic Rainey Street District.
Slated for an early 2015 opening, the new construction, 16-story hotel will feature 322 guestrooms, more than 12,000 square feet total event and meeting space, an individually concepted, chef-driven restaurant, lobby cafe, and an expansive pool deck and bar. Located in the heart of the Rainey District’s nightlife scene, the Hotel Van Zandt will be just minutes away from the convention center and other popular downtown Austin attractions. Interior designer Mark Zeff will oversee the interior design of the Hotel Van Zandt and its still-to-be-named restaurant.
Kimpton was selected for the management contract by hotel developer and owner, JMI Realty, the developers and former owners of Kimpton’s Hotel Solamar in San Diego.
“Austin is not just the state capitol and location of the University of Texas, but also the heart of a booming live music scene and the epicenter of a thriving technology sector. It’s a perfect fit for our guest-centric, fun and slightly irreverent brand, and a city we’ve been eager to enter with the right opportunity for a while,” said Kimpton CEO Mike Depatie. “We are thrilled to be teaming up with JMI Realty again on this Austin property that will reflect both the city’s historic roots and its current, modern vibe.”
For Kimpton, Austin represents an important expansion of the brand’s presence in Texas and the Southwest, joining two existing hotels in Dallas (Kimpton’s Hotel Lumen and its Hotel Palomar Dallas) and the much Roman and Williams-designed Pearl Hotel in San Antonio slated to open next year.
