DESIGN : OMNI DALLAS HOTEL
TEXAS TAKES PRIDE IN DOING THINGS BIGGER AND BETTER , AND OMNI DALLAS HOTEL SETS OUT TO PROVE JUST THAT .
By Ann Bagel Storck , managing editor
Omni Dallas Hotel stands at the edge of the city ’ s skyline — seen here from the property ’ s pool deck — allowing it to both contribute to it and showcase it for guests .
AT first blush , the idea of a design-centric convention center hotel seems to be an oxymoron . Yet Omni Dallas Hotel — the 1,001-room , 1.2-million-sq-ft ( 111,484-sq-m ) newbuild property in the heart of Dallas , adjacent to the Dallas Convention Center — aspires to buck expectations of what a convention center hotel should be .
“ We knew what we wanted to achieve from the very beginning ,” says Reggi Nichols , principal and co-founding partner of Dallas-based Waldrop + Nichols Studio , the interior design firm behind the project . “ It gave us an opportunity to set the new standard for convention center hotels . It does feel so inviting , so cozy — yet so elegant and sophisticated . It is the perfect blend .” Nichols highlights the strategy of breaking large areas into smaller spaces , as with a fire ribbon running through the lobby lounge to create a more intimate living room . In the guestrooms , meanwhile , original pieces from local artists help create a homey feel , even as they blend with high-tech touches such as bathroom mirrors with embedded televisions . Also noteworthy for the property is its LEED Gold New Construction certification , making it the largest U . S . hotel outside of Las Vegas to receive such a “ green ” designation .
Paramount in this hotel , however , is the design of the meeting and event spaces , says Laurel Stone , studio director of Dallasbased 5G Studio Collaborative , the project ’ s design architect . In addition to two special entrances for event guests and a concealed back-of-house network that allows events to be serviced discreetly , Stone notes , “ The meeting spaces and ballrooms share a main circulation path on each level that doubles as open event space with uninterrupted views of the Dallas skyline .” Meetings and conventions currently drive 70 % of Omni Dallas Hotel ’ s business , says Director of Sales and Marketing Harold Queisser , and that percentage is projected to grow . The publicly financed hotel was planned to improve the city ’ s convention appeal , and some say it has done more than that . “ There is more activity now because of the hotel ,” Nichols says . “ It truly is the cornerstone of south Dallas .”
Omni sings the property ’ s praises as well . Queisser says it has achieved 60 % occupancy with an average rate of approximately US $ 155 so far . “ The hotel has topped early projections and exceeded financial obligations to the city of Dallas ,” he adds . “ Our guest scores and associate survey results rank in the top five in the Omni Hotels & Resorts portfolio .”
Nichols ’ hopes for the property are even loftier . “ I would hope guests take away what a diverse city Dallas is ,” she explains . “ I want them to leave the hotel better , calmer , happier and more invigorated than when they walked in .”
OMNI
DALLAS HOTEL
CONSTRUCTION START : SEPTEMBER 2009
OPENING DATE : NOVEMBER 11 , 2011
SIZE : 1,001 GUESTROOMS AND APPROXIMATELY 120,000 SQ FT ( 11,148 SQ M ) OF MEETING AND EVENT SPACE
LOCATION : 8 ACRES ( 3.2 HECTARES ) IN DOWNTOWN DALLAS ON A SITE THAT USED TO BE A PARKING LOT
COST : US $ 500 MILLION
MANAGING DIRECTOR : ED NETZHAMMER
OWNER : THE CITY OF DALLAS
DEVELOPMENT MANAGER : MATTHEWS SOUTHWEST , LEWISVILLE , TEXAS
ARCHITECT OF RECORD : BOKA POWELL , DALLAS
DESIGN ARCHITECT : 5G STUDIO COLLABORATIVE , DALLAS
INTERIOR DESIGNER : WALDROP + NICHOLS STUDIO , DALLAS
DESIGN AESTHETIC : A MERGING OF CONTRASTS BASED ON THE DICHOTOMY OF DALLAS ’ INDUSTRY AND GLAMOR
www . hotelsmag . com September 2012 HOTELS 37