National Report (Hotel Business) – There are 179 loft-inspired guestrooms, each with their own distinct look and layout ranging up to 423 sq. ft. Large-scale windows and nine-ft. loft-style ceilings complement the hotel’s airy ambiance, according to the brand. Guestrooms are outfitted with platform beds, free WiFi, 42-in. LCD TVs, signature coffee, custom bath amenities by Bliss Spa, walk-in showers, and more.
HRI Properties LLC in partnership with Realen Properties oversaw redevelopment of the historic Liberty Title & Trust Building into the new hotel. The interior renovations were spearheaded by design firm Stonehill & Taylor with Philadelphia-based firms Blackney Hayes Architects serving as the project architect and Powers & Company serving as the historic consultant.
The building, which had been vacant for two decades, now has a modern, free-flowing design while maintaining details from its 1925 construction, evident in the second-floor Re:mix lounge’s 27-ft.-high ceiling, 23-ft. arched windows, marble floors and original bank clock. Additional homage to the City of Brotherly Love’s history includes the depiction of the Liberty Bell on a floor medallion in the lounge, as well as the vintage safety deposit boxes that adorn the floor-to-ceiling bookshelf—a nod to Pennsylvania being home to the first public library in the U.S. A large balcony is flanked by two modern paintings by a local Philadelphia artist, capturing the city’s art scene.
In Aurora, OH, the historic Aurora Inn Hotel & Event Center, an Ascend Hotel Collection Member, will host its grand opening celebration on Oct. 13 in honor of its completed renovation coupled with its 90-year anniversary.
Designed and inspired by New-York based designer Genevieve Gorder, host of the Dear Genevieve show on HGTV, the three-year remodeling of the Western Reserve landmark property mix an earlier century with today’s modern finishes.
When it first opened in 1927, The Aurora Inn was an intimate refuge that became a gathering place for the local community and celebrities, hosting legends like Rosemary Clooney and Paul Newman, before losing its luster over time. The 66-room property, owned by Aurora Hotel Partners LLC and managed by Portfolio Hotels & Resorts, pays respect to its past while providing guests with the modern amenities of a luxury hotel.
Updates were applied to the Six Horses Tavern, The Cutting Board Restaurant, guestrooms, and event/banquet facilities. The lobby features the hotel’s original brick flooring and oversized fireplace, while ceiling beams, doors, frames and crown molding uncovered during the renovation have been restored. The inn’s design scheme captures shades of white, gray, black and off black, while providing pops of vibrant color for contrast. Fine craftsmanship and creative touches have been incorporated throughout the hotel, such as handmade wooden armoires made by local Amish carpenters and sliding barn door bathroom partitions.
