KCRag Forum

Wow, That looks AMAZING. I cannot wait to stay there.

If we didn't have that water main break the President would be open by now...

I can't wait to have a look around it! It's going to be great. The Drum Room sounds very exciting.

KansasCityCraka wrote: If we didn't have that water main break the President would be open by now...

i doubt it. during the tour we got, they were still way busy on guest rooms, some of the floors did not even have beds in the guest rooms yet, and several were awaiting some bathroom fixtures. i was a paid consultant in 1996 with omni, before i even worked for them, helping them get the omni kansas city open, now the radisson. and the hotel had only been closed for 3 years, yet it took them that long to reopen it. and they ended up 6 months late on the opening, and did not want to open in february of 97 when they did, but they were just having so many issues they had 2 choices, open, or pay thousands in relocating guests.

so, every time i read when jury thought he would get the president open, i just laughed. he is doing the right thing, waiting til january. because what is not being said, is he is opening during a soft occupancy month, and further, during the non catering season. catering in the kc area does not pick up til spring, and for him to open during peak catering season, december, he would have screwed himself. untrained staff, unacclamated staff, and confusion everywhere. this makes monumental sense, because now they have months to get trained, and used to business as usual. and catering, in hotels, makes almost as much money as the rooms side. the restaurants, no, restaurants are a loss leader. banquet and catering events, make millions annually. at the hyatt regency crown center, where i was for years, food and beverage generated close to half of the hotels revenue. and out of that, 87% came out of banquets and catering. and the hotel had 4 restaurants!!

trust me, this will help him a lot, to not jump in during the busy season.

I drove by tonight, Baltimore street is now open in front of the hotel.

It looks great, even just driving by.  I can't wait to go and check out the Drum Room...

We drove by the Drum Room last night. Looks very cool!

I take it the sign on top is on now?

The big electric "PRESIDENT" sign? Yeah, that's been on for a couple of weeks.

bahua wrote: The big electric "PRESIDENT" sign? Yeah, that's been on for a couple of weeks.

Cool.  It wasn't on the week before Christmas.

anybody go last night...we were going to go just check out the drum room.

KCPowercat wrote: anybody go last night...we were going to go just check out the drum room.

Go to what?

Ron Jury is supposed to be on the Walt Bodine show next week I believe.

USA Today ran a story yesterday about the reopening of the President Hotel.

Posted 1/5/2006 9:54 AM
 
Kansas City's Hilton President Hotel reopens after 25 years

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — After being closed for 25 years, Kansas City's historic Hilton President Hotel is reopening.

Following a $45 million renovation, the 213-room hotel is scheduled to host its first guests Jan. 11. The hotel's famed Drum Room nightclub, which once hosted performers like Frank Sinatra, Benny Goodman and Harry Houdini, will offer live Kansas City-style jazz and blues and other musical entertainment.

The President opened in 1926 and was the site of the 1928 Republican National Convention. It closed in 1980, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983, and remained vacant for years amid proposals to tear it down and protests to preserve it. Terrazzo floors and marble from the original building were restored as part of the renovation.




http://www.usatoday.com/travel/hotels/2 ... lton_x.htm

While I was on the Brigade website, I noticed that one of their sponsors is the Hilton President Hotel.

Other than the Drum Room, is there any word on what other restaurants and/or bars will be featured?

I'm excited to walk down Baltimore again, I had no idea how much the hotel had changed!

http://www.hotels.com/property.jsp?prop ... 6578608144

lock&load wrote: I'm excited to walk down Baltimore again, I had no idea how much the hotel had changed!

http://www.hotels.com/property.jsp?prop ... 6578608144

I knew the drum room was to be a featured attraction but I had no idea they were going to rebuild the entire hotel in the shape of a drum . 

Replacing the "President" sign with a nice red "Ramada" sign on top was a nice touch, I might add...

Anyone notice the sidewalks around the Prez?  Especially on the south.  I assume this is the general design for the entire P&L District?  Pavers with huge planting beds where trees and shrubs can actually put down some roots.