Fairmont Austin Opens Its Doors as Largest Hotel In Central Texas
March 20, 2018
Fairmont Austin, the brand’s second largest property worldwide, opened its doors on Mar. 5 – just in time for the 2018 South by Southwest conference and festival.
The long-anticipated property, initially scheduled to open in June of last year, supersedes the J.W. Marriott Austin as the largest hotel in Central Texas. It is also now the largest Fairmont hotel in the U.S.
With 1,045 guest rooms, nearly 140,000 square feet of meeting space and direct access to the Austin Convention Center via an elevated walkway branded as “Red River Canopy Walk,” the hotel will appeal to many organizations looking to host events in Austin.
Each of the hotel’s guest rooms and suites offer views of the city and feature cool shades of blue, bright white and honey beige inspired by the Texas Hill Country landscape.
The meeting space consists of more than 20 breakout rooms and three divisible ballrooms with pre-function space, spread across four floors of the hotel. The Manchester ballroom can accommodate up to 3,000 guests, the Congressional Ballroom can seat up to 2,400 and the 650-person Palm Park features pre-function space that opens to the terrace and pool.
Guests have plenty of options for dining on-property, from Garrison, a modern American grill house to globally influenced Revue. Located in the main lobby, Fulton offers daily live music and libations. For those looking for a view to pair with their beverages, Rules & Regs overlooks Austin’s cityscape from the seventh floor. Good Things offers coffee, tea and other beverages and food items for those on the go.
For guests wishing to relax, Fairmont Austin offers the largest full-service spa and outdoor pool in downtown Austin.
“This project has truly been a labor of love, and it has shown in every team member’s passion and excitement leading up to opening,” said Tom Voss, managing director of Fairmont Austin.
He continued, “The city of Austin continues to grow, both in size and popularity, and we are elated to be bringing a new level of luxury and service standards to this already incredible community.”
Fairmont Gold, the brand’s exclusive lifestyle hotel experience, offers white-glove treatment. A Fairmont Gold stay includes private check-in and checkout; a stay in one of 131 rooms and suites located on the 32nd through 35th floors; complimentary deluxe breakfast and evening hors d’oeuvres in the Gold lounge, and a dedicated concierge team.
“With events such as South by Southwest and Austin City Limits growing in attendance year-over-year, new events popping up monthly, and groups targeting the burgeoning city for conferences and private events, Austin has a high demand for additional hotel rooms and event spaces,” said Kevin Frid, chief operating officer, North & Central America for AccorHotels.
He added, “Fairmont Austin will give the city the opportunity to host larger conferences and conventions, bringing more tourists and business travelers to the city, and employing more than 900 staff, continuing to bolster the Austin economy.”
Fairmont Austin is located in the city’s Central Business District, amid the greenery of Palm Park and Waller Creek.
For more information on Fairmont Austin, go HERE.
Partner Voices
Overview:
The award-winning Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) goes the extra mile to make every day extraordinary by offering customer service excellence and industry-leading partnerships. From their dedicated in-house Rigging team to their robust Exhibitor Services, The Center of Hospitality brings your imagination to life by helping you host unforgettable meetings and events. With more than 2 million square feet of exhibit space, world-class services and a dream destination, we are committed to making even the most ambitious conventions a reality.
In October 2023, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve allocating Tourist Development Tax funding for the $560 million Phase 5A completion of the OCCC. The Convention Way Grand Concourse project will include enhancements to the North-South Building, featuring an additional 60,000 square feet of meeting space, an 80,000- square-foot ballroom and new entry to the North-South Building along Convention Way.
“We are thrilled to begin work on completing our North-South Building which will allow us to meet the growing needs of our clients,” said OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester. “As an economic driver for the community, this project will provide the Center with connectivity and meeting space to host more events and continue to infuse the local economy with new money and expanding business opportunities.”
Amenities:
The Center of Hospitality goes above and beyond by offering world-class customer service and industry-leading partnerships. From the largest convention center Wi-Fi network to custom LAN/WAN design, the Center takes pride in enhancing exhibitor and customer experience.
The OCCC is the exclusive provider of electricity (24-hour power at no additional cost), aerial rigging and lighting, water, natural gas and propane, compressed air, and cable TV services. Convenience
The Center is at the epicenter of the destination, with an abundance of hotels, restaurants, and attractions within walking distance. Pedestrian bridges connect both buildings to more than 5,200 rooms and is within a 15-minute drive from the Orlando International Airport. The convenience of the location goes hand-in-hand with top notch service to help meet an event’s every need.
Gold Key Members
The OCCC’s Gold Key Members represent the best of the best when it comes to exceptional service and exclusive benefits for clients, exhibitors and guests. The Center’s Gold Key memberships with Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld Orlando and Walt Disney World greatly enhance meeting planner and attendee experiences offering world-renowned venues, immersive experiences and creative resources for their events.
OCCC Events:
This fiscal year, the OCCC is projected to host 168 events, 1.7 million attendees, and $2.9 billion in economic impact.
The Center’s top five events during their 2022-2023 fiscal year included:
AAU Jr. National Volleyball Championships 2023
200,000 Attendees
$257 Million in Economic Impact
MEGACON 2023
160,000 Attendees
$205 Million in Economic Impact
Open Championship Series 2023
69,500 Attendees
$89 Million in Economic Impact
Sunshine Classic 2023
42,000 Attendees
$54 Million in Economic Impact
Premiere Orlando 2023
42,000 Attendees
$108 Million in Economic Impact
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