Oklahoma City Renaissance Hotel renovations set for April completion
The Journal Record
February 13, 2008

OKLAHOMA CITY – Several million dollars in renovations at the downtown Oklahoma City Renaissance Hotel are expected to be completed in April, John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts executives announced Tuesday.

The Springfield, Mo.-based hotelier has earmarked more than $44 million in property capital improvements nationwide for 2008. Company representatives said the 311-room Oklahoma City property and a sister hotel in Charlotte, N.C., will be extensively refurbished at a combined cost of $9 million, “to incorporate the inviting updated Renaissance brand look of sophisticated ambiance.”

Among the planned changes are 32-inch flat-screen televisions in guests’ rooms, digital thermostats, reconfiguration of the lobby to allow more socialization space, and a new décor color palette of gold, olive and rust. “The John Q. Hammons way is to invest in the care of properties as they require, versus the common industry practice of delaying property improvements during slow guest demand when cash flow is low,” said John Fulton, vice president of design and purchasing.

Fulton said the company also is increasing its investment in spa and workout space with more fitness equipment. Hammons has $1.5 billion of new development in the pipeline and more than $500 million in new construction already under way, the company said. The company is an independent builder, developer, owner and manager of upscale, full-service hotels, resorts and suites nationwide. Properties include Embassy Suites Hotels, Marriott, Radisson, Residence Inn, Homewood Suites by Hilton, Holiday Inn and Courtyard by Marriott brands.

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The Renaissance Hotel Tuesday in downtown Oklahoma City. (Photo by Jennifer Pitts)

Great news. I haven't been in a Renaissance guest room in some time, but these definitely sound like great improvements. Competition is fierce in the hotel industry these days (not necessarily in downtown OKC), and any amenities (such as flat-screen TVs or the like) you can add really do make a difference.

Glad to see that Hammons is keeping his properties in good condition, rather than waiting to make renovations until it's too late.

Hammons has proven himself a man of his word. As I recall, the promise of a luxury downtown hotel was initially agreed to on more or less a handshake deal between JQH and Ron Norick. Paperwork obviously came later.

I worked on their grand opening many years ago. It was always a beautiful hotel. These renovations will make it even nicer, especially given the recent renovations to the Sheraton, and the re-opening of the Colcord and Renaissance.

Now, if we could somehow get our local hoteliers to work with the CVB on their pricing. I still see too much convention business lost to Tulsa and other similar regional markets because our hotel rates are too high. And these aren't rinky-dink conventions, either.