Hyatt Crown Center to become Sheraton

[pxswodniw]

Sheratons BLOW. They are so unpredictable. I would say on average, a Hyatt Place is nicer than a Sheraton.

And I still can not understand the closing of skies. No excuse for that Crown Center.

Congrats on the new conventions, but they would have came anyway. (before starwood controlled both CC hotels).

I agree that Sheraton is more "unpredictable" than Hyatt concerning the consistency of the quality of their hotels or how upscale they may be, but many of their big city downtown convention hotels are higher-end. For example, I stayed in the Sheraton Toronto Centre in 1974 which was a high-end property then, and to this day still gets AAA 4-diamond awards. The Crown Center property is certainly of this caliber. I don't think people need to be too concerned that this conversion was a "downgrade" as if it became a Motel 6.

[earthling]

The downtown Chicago Sheraton is nicer than the downtown Chicago Hyatt methinks (been a while since I've been to both so may have changed). However there is less consistently with Sheraton across the country. If the CC one is being upgraded, it very well could be nicer than most older Hyatts.

The CC Westin lobby is what really needs an upgrade. Feels like 1970 in there, and not in a nostalgic way.

[chingon]

The CC Westin lobby is what really needs an upgrade. Feels like 1970 in there, and not in a nostalgic way.

I think that would be a huge misstep.

[GRID]

The downtown Chicago Sheraton is nicer than the downtown Chicago Hyatt methinks (been a while since I've been to both so may have changed). However there is less consistently with Sheraton across the country. If the CC one is being upgraded, it very well could be nicer than most older Hyatts.

The CC Westin lobby is what really needs an upgrade. Feels like 1970 in there, and not in a nostalgic way.

There are a lot of nice Sheratons. I guess my point is there are a lot of real crappy ones too. I guess I just think the Hyatt should be returned to a first class hotel and that includes keeping the 45th floor revolving restaurant with one of the best views of a city anywhere in the country.

But things change I guess. KC still needs a new hotel. Sounds like the mayor is ready to make it happen.

[GRID]

The CC Westin lobby is what really needs an upgrade. Feels like 1970 in there, and not in a nostalgic way.

I think that would be a huge misstep.

I actually like the lobby of the westin with the waterfall etc. It could use some modern touches, but I would hate to see the water falled walled off or something.

[pstokely]

The downtown Chicago Sheraton is nicer than the downtown Chicago Hyatt methinks (been a while since I've been to both so may have changed). However there is less consistently with Sheraton across the country. If the CC one is being upgraded, it very well could be nicer than most older Hyatts.

The CC Westin lobby is what really needs an upgrade. Feels like 1970 in there, and not in a nostalgic way.

There are a lot of nice Sheratons. I guess my point is there are a lot of real crappy ones too. I guess I just think the Hyatt should be returned to a first class hotel and that includes keeping the 45th floor revolving restaurant with one of the best views of a city anywhere in the country.

But things change I guess. KC still needs a new hotel. Sounds like the mayor is ready to make it happen.

Doubt a new hotel will have revolving restaurant. Have they built any hotels with them in the last 20 years?

[mean]

KMBC Channel 9 had an interview with Bill Lucas from Crown Center on TV the other day, and Lucas said that Sheraton was upgrading its' image and that they were going to spend $20 million to renovate the Hyatt. Starwood also plans to renovate the Westin.

"Sheraton is a brand on the move -- on the uptick. There will be a big makeover. The look will change on almost everything to the furniture to the materials and hard goods," Lucas said.

http://www.kmbc.com/money/29900933/detail.html

This is what it came down to, I think. My understanding is that Hyatt wanted CCRC to spend a lot more than $20 million to renovate the property.

I'm skeptical that Sheraton is a brand "on the uptick", but we'll see.

[shinatoo]

I have never stayed at a Sheraton that I liked, and after being kicked out of the one in St. Louis I swore i would never stay at one again. They remind me of Adams Mark when it started it's downward spiral (at least the one in KC).

[coreyo]

When you talk Sheraton, you've got to talk Starwood. Overall Starwood has been focusing on its modern concept hotels with W Hotels and Alofts. Sheratons have been sort of on the back burner a bit. It seems to be swinging back towards Shertons.

[FangKC]

Starwood and Sheraton will donate to Hyatt disaster memorial

Article also includes rendering of lobby renovation.

http://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/n ... a=e_du_pub

[Midtownkid]

Eh, rendering looks alright. I kind of like the retro look interior, but I know I'm in the minority there.

Not sure if they are redoing the Westin, but I wish they would just do a restoration type project there. I like the modern, 70's look...it was designed by Harry Weese, who also did the DC metro. Crown Center should be true to its '70s opulent' roots!

those chairs are awesome!

[GRID]

I have never stayed at a Sheraton that I liked, and after being kicked out of the one in St. Louis I swore i would never stay at one again. They remind me of Adams Mark when it started it's downward spiral (at least the one in KC).

Kinda my take on it. I guess this is better for KC right now, but it still seems like a long term downgrade of the property, not lobby or not. That hotel needs 50-70 million worth of improvements. 13 million for a 45 story 1985 hotel is not going to do much.

[FangKC]

Hyatt donates $25,000 to skywalk disaster memorial

http://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/n ... a=e_du_pub

[KCMax]

http://www.kansascity.com/2012/01/04/33 ... ready.html

GM of the hotels discusses their future.

Q. Tell us about the transformations that are coming to the two Crown Center hotels, which are landmark buildings in Kansas City.

A. Most of the work this year will be at the Sheraton. Guest rooms are being updated now, including adding flat-screen LCD TVs, and last year we did work outdoors and in the lobby to improve the sense of arrival.

Q. Improve it how?

A. We’ve softened it up with more plantings and installed matching flagstone outdoors and indoors for greater continuity. The porte-cochère (portico) will change to create a new first impression. The exterior work is being done by 360 Architecture of Kansas City and the interior is being done by Barry Design Associates from Santa Monica, Calif. — that will be an incredible new look. Bob has done amazing work for hotels all over the world. The floors will be redone, the fountain will be replaced, there will be front desk pods instead of the long counter and new lighting.

Q. What is going to happen to Skies, the revolving restaurant that closed last year? That was a spectacular place to have a drink after work.

A. Half of it will be a concierge-level lounge, serving breakfast and late-afternoon hors d’oeuvres to (VIP) guests. The other half will be used for small, catered cocktail parties.

Q. Will it still turn?

A. No.

Q. Bummer.

[shaffe]

It sure is sad and a big loss for KC what Sheraton is doing to Skies.

[bobbyhawks]

It sure is sad and a big loss for KC what Sheraton is doing to Skies.

+1. It will be nice that you can rent it out, but it would be nicer if it was generally open to the public.

I'll add this to my list of things I would do if I won Powerball. Now that Skies is gone, I would somehow lease the top floor of 1-KC Place and make it into two different restaurants. I would also have a chair where I could drink scotch and laugh menacingly as I look at the buildings below.

[IraGlacialis]

It sure is sad and a big loss for KC what Sheraton is doing to Skies.

Yeah. It's not even worth demanding that it be a restaurant if it won't even turn anymore.

[taxi]

Right. Why would you rent it out if it didn't turn?
Someone should go to jail for this.

[mean]

On the bright side, if and when someone decides to pay to build a new convention hotel downtown, we can demand that it have a revolving restaurant on top to replace the one we lost. And it will arguably be in a better location!

[GRID]

This still really bothers me for some reason. I guess I just have so many memories of Skies. I still think their reasoning is bogus as high profile restaurants with awesome city views are still very popular in cities across the country and KC has (had) one the most dramatic.

But it's great to see the Hyatt/Sheraton get flat screens! Maybe now the rooms will be almost as nice as the Hyatt Place by KCI.

It's really sad that Crown Center has let that property fall into a lower tier and it's just terrible that both Skies and Benton's will be replaces with a few couches for the select few that will find the lounges or have an event there.