Two of downtown Mobile’s largest hotels are set to reopen under Marriott’s Renaissance brand this year, marking a milestone in the city’s downtown revitalization effort led by the Retirement Systems of Alabama (RSA).
A Historic Reopening
The Battle House Hotel, an eight-story hotel that first opened in 1852, is scheduled to reopen as The Battle House, a Renaissance Hotel, in May 2007 after a renovation connecting the historic structure to the newly built RSA Battle House Tower, now the tallest building in Alabama and along the Gulf Coast. The combined project, estimated at $220 million, will give the hotel 238 rooms, including 31 suites, and roughly 40,000 square feet of meeting and event space anchored by the ornate Crystal Ballroom.
Nearby, the Riverview Plaza Hotel is undergoing a separate $32 million renovation and is expected to become the Renaissance Riverview Plaza Hotel by summer 2007. That property, connected to the Mobile Convention Center by skywalks, has 375 rooms and about 32,000 square feet of meeting space of its own.
Part of a Broader Downtown Push
Both hotels are owned by RSA, the pension fund for Alabama’s state employees and teachers, which has invested heavily in downtown Mobile’s redevelopment over the past decade, including construction of the RSA Battle House Tower. Marriott executives said the Renaissance brand affiliation reflects the scale of the renovations at both properties.
“Having seen plans for both properties, I can see great things are happening along Mobile Bay,” said Michael Murphy, vice president of sales and marketing for Renaissance Hotels, in announcing the brand switch.
The Battle House will offer dining options including the 100-seat Trellis Room and the Royal Street Lounge, while the Riverview Plaza will continue to operate its Riverview Cafe and Grill. Both hotels sit near the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail’s Magnolia Grove courses and are expected to serve as anchors for downtown Mobile’s convention and tourism business for years to come.