Renaissance Hotels was founded asRamada Renaissance in 1981, as an upscale brand ofRamada Inns.Hong Kong–basedNew World Development (NWD) acquired Ramada in 1989 and re-launched Renaissance Hotels as a separate brand. The brand was acquired byMarriott International in 1997. As of January 31, 2023, it has over 170 hotels worldwide.[2]
Renaissance Hotels was founded in 1981 asRamada Renaissance, an upscale division ofRamada Inns.[1] The first property was located inAurora, Colorado, outsideDenver. Ramada's hotels and restaurants were sold to Hong Kong–basedNew World Development Ltd. in 1989 for $540 million. New World divided theRenaissance Hotels brand into a separate chain and developed Renaissance and Ramada as independent hotel brands. (the U.S. rights to the Ramada name were sold to Prime Hospitality), and the former Ramada Corp. was renamedAztar Corp.
In 1993, New World Development acquired the Stouffer Hotels & Resorts (40 Hotels) chain fromNestle for an estimated $1.5 billion,[3] New World Development licensed the Stouffer Hotels brand for three years and 28 U.S. Stouffer properties were reflagged as Stouffer Renaissance during a transitional period lasting until 1996.[4] The Stouffer Presidente hotels in Mexico became Inter-Continental hotels.[5]
On September 27, 1995,New World Development (NWD), took their management and franchising company public (listing on the New York Stock Exchange) and created a new company calledRenaissance Hotel Group N.V..[6] which operated the New World, Renaissance & Ramada International hotel brands. New World Development retained ownership of many of the individual hotel structures throughCTF Holdings, a private company owned by the Cheng family, the owner of NWD group.[7]
On February 18, 1997,Marriott International bought theRenaissance Hotel Group N.V. for US$1 billion from NWD. The deal dramatically expanded Marriott's presence in fast-growing Asian markets.[8] The Marriott announcement came only a few weeks afterRenaissance Hotel Group N.V., tentatively agreed to be sold to rapidly expanding Doubletree Corp. However, Marriott surpassedDoubletree's $890-million offer.[9] The Marriott acquisition did not include the Stouffer Hotels brand. The Ramada International brand was included in the acquisition.[10]
Renaissance Hotel Group N.V. operated and franchised 150 hotels with 35 based in the United States. Marriott had 1,035 hotels based in the U.S. and 75 additional hotels operating outside of the U.S. The acquisition of the Renaissance and Ramada portfolio by Marriott expanded its footprint globally.[11] In September 2004, Marriott sold the Ramada International brand to Cendant Corp., today known as Wyndham.
The Ramada Renaissance brand began with large hotels in major urban centers.[30] However, as Marriott has decided to expand their "lifestyle" collection, including the Renaissance brand, the hotels can be found in 176 locations globally.[2][31]
Chicago, United States: The historicBlackstone Hotel, known for hosting many U.S. presidents, was operated as the Renaissance Blackstone Hotel from 2008 to 2017, when it was transferred to theAutograph Collection brand.[33]
Cincinnati, United States: TheBartlett Building was once the tallest building in the state ofOhio when it was first built. It was repurposed as the Renaissance Cincinnati Downtown Hotel in 2014.[34]
Dallas, United States: TheRenaissance Dallas Hotel, notable for its elliptical and diagonal roofline, opened in 1983 as aWyndham, before Marriott assumed management as a Renaissance in 1997.[37]
TheIlikai Hotel & Luxury Suites was managed by Renaissance between 2000 and 2006. It is known for being the first luxury high rise hotel in Hawaii and for being seen in the opening credits of the TV seriesHawaiian Five-O.[38]
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: TheRenaissance Kuala Lumpur Hotel formerly consisted of two separate wings joined by a podium structure. In 2023, the East Wing was converted into a separate hotel, theFour Points by Sheraton Kuala Lumpur City Centre, with Renaissance retaining the West Wing.[39]
TheSt Pancras Renaissance London Hotel forms the frontispiece ofSt Pancras railway station. Opening in 2011, it occupies the former St Pancras Chambers railway offices, itself formerly a hotel called the Midland Great Hotel, which existed between 1873 and 1935.[40]
Miami Beach, United States: TheEden Roc Miami Beach Hotel was operated by Renaissance from 2005 to 2013, when disagreements between Marriott and the owners led to the former exiting the venture.[42]
TheBattle House Hotel is one of the earliest steel frame buildings in Alabama. The current structure dates back to 1908 following the destruction of the First Battle House Hotel, whose history can be traced back prior to theAmerican Civil War. After a two-year restoration, it was reflagged as The Battle House Renaissance Mobile Hotel & Spa in 2007.[43]
Nashville, United States: TheRenaissance Nashville Hotel was one of the Stouffer Hotels renamed to Renaissance following its purchase by New World Development.[44]
Newport Beach, United States: The Renaissance Newport Beach Hotel, originally opened as the Fairmont Newport Beach, is located adjacent toJohn Wayne Airport. It was rebranded as a Renaissance in 2017.[45][46]
Renaissance managed theStanford Court Hotel between 1993 and 2013, having inherited it from Stouffer Hotels.[51]
TheParc 55 San Francisco opened as a Ramada Renaissance in 1984.[52] It left the chain in 1989, joined Renaissance again in 1998, before leaving for good in 2007.
Schaumburg, United States: In July 2014, theRenaissance Schaumburg Convention Center Hotel gained notoriety for hosting theTumblr-inspiredDashCon convention, which had a number of issues between its organizers, attendees, and the alleged non-payment of the venue fee to the hotel.
St. Louis, United States: TheMarriott St. Louis Grand Hotel was previously branded the Renaissance St. Louis Grand Hotel from 2002 to 2009, when it was closed due to a non-payment dispute between the owners and bondholders.[57]
St. Petersburg, United States: The historicVinoy Hotel was branded a Renaissance following the New World Development purchase of Stouffer Hotels. It became anAutograph Collection hotel in 2023.[58]
Washington, D.C., United States: TheMayflower Hotel was inherited by New World Development following its purchase of Stouffer Hotels.[59] It was a branded a Renaissance from 1993 to 2015, when it was moved to theAutograph Collection.[60]
^"Management discussion and analysis of the group performance".1995 Annual Report(PDF). Hong Kong: New World Development. 1995. p. 21. Archived fromthe original(PDF) on October 27, 2021. RetrievedDecember 31, 2018.
^Piscia, Jason (August 26, 2005). "Renaissance cuts Marriott ties / New name will be President Abraham Lincoln Hotel and Conference Center".State Journal-Register.
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