Debuting December 2003: Houston’s Hotel ICON

August 2003 – There are pop icons, business icons and cultural icons, but upon its targeted completion of December 2003, there will be only one Hotel ICON: a next generation concept in personalized luxury hotels. An inspired composition of timeless sophistication, anticipatory service and best of breed amenities, Hotel ICON – a member of Preferred Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. – will not only serve as a landmark, center of social activity and source of pride for Houstonians, but it is also poised to become a destination of choice for the world’s most discerning travelers.

At the gateway to downtown’s thriving arts and entertainment district, the historic 1911 structure, originally designed for the Union National Bank by the renowned St. Louis architectural firm of Mauran, Russell & Crowell, has acted as a muse for the painstaking $35-million restoration and highly-anticipated rebirth of the property. In its first incarnation, the building, located at 220 Main and fittingly adorned with keystones depicting the Greek god of trade, commerce and good fortune, Hermes, was a symbol of the wildcatter eccentricities and unbridled glamour of Houston’s colorful past. As Hotel ICON, the gracious, 12-story, brick and Bedford limestone facade will invite discovery and set the stage for a guest experience that will engage the senses, while effortlessly expressing Houston’s evolution into a cosmopolitan hub of commerce and culture.

An intriguing alternative to mainstream four-star hotels and a departure from the boutique hotel concept, where function often mistakenly follows form, Hotel ICON will evoke the opulence and attention to detail evident in the grand hotels of the early 1900s, but on a more intimate scale. The interiors, created by the award-winning San Francisco firm of Candra Scott & Anderson, who specialize in the historic reinvention of landmark hotels, will deftly showcase the building’s irreplaceable period detail, while incorporating every possible modern convenience. Visitors will find themselves cocooned in luxury and surrounded by rich textures, plush fabrics and an eclectic collection of original European objects d’art, chosen specifically for the site.

First Impressions to Last a Lifetime: Lobby, Bar and Restaurant
As guests enter the breathtaking Colonnade lobby, they will be transported to another time and place. Almost ethereal in its beauty, the heart of Hotel ICON, with its towering, 30-foot Corinthian columns, expansive windows, ornate ironwork and intricately carved ceiling, is sure to take visitors by surprise, as so rarely are Americans able to experience an environment that precisely captures the glory of an earlier era. A discreet reception area, fashioned from the original teller arches and integrating the massive vault door as a backdrop, will ensure the sumptuous yet residential feel of the space, as will the numerous seating vignettes in warm, jewel tones.

Ideal for relaxing and socializing, the Colonnade will also incorporate a signature culinary experience by luminary chef, Jean-Georges Vongerichten, whose 12 New York, London, Hong Kong and Las Vegas eateries have earned him praise from critics and gourmands around the globe. For private dining engagements, the elegant Wine Vault will seat up to 30. And while the Hotel ICON is just steps from no less than 50 captivating dining and entertainment options, guests won’t have to leave the property to experience what is sure to be the premier boite for local and visiting glitterati. The Lobby Loft, which will be open to the Colonnade below, will be home to the first Texas venture for owner/operator Midnight Oil Company and Rande Gerber, whose Whiskey outposts are renowned for their celebrity clientele and starlet servers. Ever since the first Whiskey bar opened in New York in 1989, Rande Gerber’s Midnight Oil Company lounges have redefined the international nightlife scene with venues that epitomize chic. This stylish hideaway will be the perfect retreat for discerning individuals to meet in a cosmopolitan, yet decisively urban, atmosphere. The VIP area will cater to special guests and private parties that require the utmost in exclusivity.

Guestrooms That Leave No Stone or Sheet Unturned
A haven of sensory delights for the traveler, each of Hotel ICON’s 135 spectacular guestrooms will be reminiscent of a chic pied a terre, with a vivid color palette, average footprint of 400 square feet and a finish level of uncompromising quality and comfort. Balancing substance and style, the accommodations will be well suited to both rest and work, while offering an experience that will transcend the everyday. Visitors will also enjoy the pleasures of 24/7 valet laundry and twice-daily maid service, as well as in-room dining from the hotel’s signature restaurant and select spa services.

Created to envelop guests in regal splendor, no detail has been overlooked, from the inlaid pocket doors that will open to reveal a pass through window between the bedroom and bathroom, enabling one to watch television while soaking in the oversized jacuzzi tub, to the workspace with task lighting and ergonomic chair. And although the sleeping floors are entirely new, great care has been taken to incorporate exquisite millwork, hand-blocked wallpaper and hardware that are in keeping with the original construction of the building. One of nine signature suites, a three-story Penthouse will offer separate living, sleeping and reception areas, plus a private, 600-square-foot rooftop terrace with sweeping vistas of downtown. Smoking and non-smoking floors will be available.

Additional guestroom highlights will include panoramic views from operable windows, custom bed covers, down blankets, distinctive linens and premium bedding with a choice of three pillow types, armchairs, 27” flat screen televisions, refreshment centers, oversized personal safes, cordless telephones, Web TV with wireless keyboards, fax/copier/printer upon request and CD players with an extensive hotel catalog of offerings. The cavernous bathrooms will juxtapose marble vanities and delicate wall coverings with classic subway and hexagonal mosaic tile work. Independent garden tubs and enclosed showers, dressing and make-up areas, deluxe bathrobes and Moulton Brown savage products are among the other features.

Where Exemplary Service is the Standard
Dedicated to enlivening all five senses, Hotel ICON will pamper clients with truly personalized service by building an extensive history of guest preferences, geared to fostering long-term relationships. A variety of complimentary offerings, intended to provide an experience of added ease and convenience, will include local phone calls, in-room T-1 Internet access, overnight shoe shines, full-service business center, selection of daily newspapers and car service transportation within the surrounding area. The hotel’s most frequent visitors will also have the opportunity to check-in curbside and store a limited number of personal items such as a suit, cosmetics and workout gear for future visits.

Pampering Around Every Corner: Spa Services and Magical Events
The lower lobby level of Hotel ICON will house a treasure trove of delights. A well-appointed spa salon and comprehensive, around-the-clock executive fitness facility will promote health and wellness on the road and minimize interruption of routines with five treatment suites, outfitted to offer a complete range of services for both men and women to experience, plus an extensive stable of state-of-the-art workout equipment. The hotel can also coordinate guided runs along the nearby trails of Buffalo Bayou Park.

For larger meetings and social gatherings, Hotel ICON’s magnificent, full-floor function area is destined to host an array of remarkable and unforgettable events. Catering by the hotel’s signature restaurant, soaring ceilings, walls of windows, exceptional finishes and advanced audio and visual equipment will be the hallmarks of this one-of-a-kind setting, which will offer the experience of a lifetime for hosts and attendees alike. Encompassing more than 5,000 square feet, the venue will offer a dramatic, 2,400-square-foot ballroom (divisible into two smaller salons) with a 1,200-square-foot foyer and additional conference rooms, including a dedicated executive boardroom with 50” plasma screen and video conferencing.

Houston: A City That Beckons Discovery
A destination within a destination, Hotel ICON is ideally situated to experience the best of Houston, one of the world’s most diverse and vibrant cities. Fortune 500 companies, the George R. Brown Convention Center, the second highest concentration of theater seats in the country, art galleries, nationally acclaimed restaurants (Houston boasts more than 10,000), Minute Maid Park (home of the Astros baseball team) and a soon-to-be-completed basketball and concert venue are all within walking distance of the hotel. Beginning in early 2004, guests will also have immediate access to the city’s Metrorail with service to the Museum District (the world’s fourth largest), Rice University, Hermann Park, the Texas Medical Center and Reliant Center convention facility and sports complex. The hotel’s downtown location also places guests just minutes by car from the world-famous Galleria/Uptown shopping area and an easy drive to recreational areas such as Clear Lake, Lake Conroe and Galveston beaches.

About Hotel ICON
Engage your senses at Houston’s Hotel ICON, a next generation concept in personalized luxury hotels. Tantalize the taste buds with a signature culinary experience by world-renowned chef, Jean-Georges Vongerichten, and savor the stimulation of the city’s most exclusive gathering place, as envisioned by Rande Gerber and Midnight Oil Company. Indulge in a jacuzzi tub big enough for two and surrender to the heady aroma of premium Moulton Brown savage products. Let the music take you on a stairway to heaven, or hear the presentation of a lifetime, in a venue tailored for unforgettable small meetings and events. Let stress dissolve on contact as spa technicians pamper your every whim, or steal away to a bedroom that envelops with plush fabrics and rich textures. Watch the sun slip below the horizon from a private Penthouse terrace, or delight in architectural elements that evoke a bygone era. Whatever you choose, you’ll see Houston from an entirely new perspective. An inspired composition of timeless sophistication, anticipatory service and best of breed amenities, the 135-room Hotel ICON offers business and leisure travelers an intriguing option worthy of destination status.

Hotel ICON is the embodiment of Benchmark Hospitality’s more than twenty-five years of innovation and excellence in the operation and development of premium hotels, resorts and conference centers. Located at the gateway to downtown Houston’s thriving arts and entertainment district and within walking distance of Fortune 500 companies and the George R. Brown Convention Center, Hotel ICON makes doing business a pleasure. A member of Preferred Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., the property joins a select group of 110 of the globe’s finest independent hotels and resorts, located in 20 countries, in offering travelers unrivaled service, amenities and surroundings for guest experiences that continually exceed expectations. Begin your journey into the senses by calling 713-224-ICON.

SOURCE Preferred Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.