Hotels Get a Jump on Super Bowl Room Needs

A dual-branded Hampton Inn-Homewood Suites has just opened downtown.

HOUSTON—The 2017 Super Bowl will be a great boon to greater Houston, and with it, the need for more hotel rooms. In fact, as part of that preparation, some estimates indicate downtown will boast nearly 8,000 rooms before the end of this year. Hilton is doing its part, with the addition of three hotels since the beginning of the year. Its newest hotels, the dual-branded  Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton Houston Downtown and Homewood Suites by Hilton Houston Downtown , bring a total of 300 new rooms to downtown. Developed and owned by American Liberty Hospitality , the hotels located at 710 Crawford St. complement the city’s tourism, meetings and convention business. “This latest opening adds to the growing Hilton Worldwide portfolio and continues to provide unique lodging options for travelers,” said Phil Cordell , global head, focused service and Hampton Brand Management, Hilton Worldwide. “Opening in one of America’s largest cities, the dual-branded Hampton Inn & Suites and Homewood Suites, welcomes business and leisure travelers alike.” The dual-brand concept creates enhanced and larger communal areas than what would be standard at a stand-alone property, benefitting both business and leisure travelers.  The hotel has two distinct lobbies and dining areas–each catering to the needs of their respective guests–while sharing one registration desk, fitness center and roof-top pool. The hotel also offers 5,000 square feet of flexible meeting space that can accommodate up to 225 people. Both properties offer guests a central location and convenient access to local attractions such as the Houston Museum of Natural Science, Minute Maid Park, the Museum of Fine Arts and the Space Center Houston , which are just a short drive away. The hotel is also within walking distance from Fortune 500 corporations such as Hess, Waste Management, Chevron, Shell, Chase, Center Point Energy, Wells Fargo, Deloitte, Ernst & Young and PricewaterhouseCoopers . Adrian Kurre , global head of Homewood Suites and Home2, tells GlobeSt.com: “We are our customers’ home away from home and are ahead of our competition in terms of reading our customers. This translates to JD Powers awards for 12 of the last 15 years.” Hampton by Hilton provides guests a complimentary hot breakfast which includes eggs, oatmeal and waffles. In addition, the hotel provides Hampton’s breakfast bags, available Monday through Friday. Other amenities include free Wi-Fi, a 24-hour business center with complimentary printing and a 24-hour fitness center. Each guestroom includes high-definition television, refrigerator and coffeemaker. Homewood Suites by Hilton offers a combination of studio and one bedroom accommodations, featuring fully equipped kitchens, and separate living and sleeping areas. Guests are also afforded all the essentials they need for a comfortable and convenient stay–complimentary daily full-hot breakfast, evening social Monday through Thursday, Wi-Fi and grocery shopping service. Embassy Suites–The Woodlands at Hughes Landing opened in January 2016. The 205-suite, full service hotel located in the 66-acre mixed use development has a Lake Woodlands waterfront address. The Embassy Suites is the sole hotel in Hughes Landing to meet both business and leisure travelers’ needs. Amenities include a free made-to-order breakfast, a two-hour complimentary evening reception with snacks and drinks, and all-suite accommodations with two flat-screen high-definition televisions and wet bar fitted with a microwave and mini-fridge. The hotel features complimentary Wi-Fi throughout all guest rooms and public areas. The 24-hour fitness center features Precor equipment and a 24-hour business center. There is a 4,000-square-foot rooftop pool deck and infinity heated pool overlooking Lake Woodlands.