The Galleria may be home to another hotel on Post Oak between Westheimer and San Felipe as part of the second phase of a project that began with the development of a 22-story skyscraper, with BBVA as the main tenant.
The luxury hotel, to be operated by Redstone Companies Hospitality — a division of The Redstone Companies, will boast between 150-250 rooms including a spa, fitness facilities and meeting rooms. Like Redstone's nearby 18-acre Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa, the new building will have a similar level of indulgent services but with a modern/urban design. No renderings are available at this time as the concept is still in its infancy.
A 2013 ground-breaking is expected for the hotel project, depending on financing and market conditions.
A 2013 ground-breaking is expected for the hotel project, depending on financing and market conditions. The development is part of an effort to expand Redstone's hospitality services.
"The Galleria is a wonderful, vibrant area that's growing quickly," Kim Phillips, vice president of marketing and special projects at Redstone, said. "We are in the process of doing research that will enable us to come up with a price point and amenities that will complement, and not compete with, The Houstonian."
The facilities of the Houstonian have seen major renovations in the recent years, including a new resort style pool, tennis courts, parking garage structure, additional exercise studios and a children's area. According to a Houstonian representative, the hotel has been operating at a capacity expected given the current market conditions while club memberships have been on the rise.
"The hotel business has been doing great," Phillips added. "It has been picking up both for guests who travel for personal or business purposes."
The first phase of the multi-use complex, which recently broke ground as a joint venture between Redstone and Stream Realty Partners LP, points to BBVA's strategy to increase visibility in Houston. The bank is slated to nearly half of the 312,000 square-foot 22-story LEED gold certified corporate office building at 2200 Post Oak.
The building, scheduled to be completed in spring 2013, will have two sizable spaces — 15,000 square feet indoors and 4,000 square feet outdoors — for restaurants.
The six-acre area is owned by Redstone Real Estate and was acquired from Compass Bank in 2001. The original building was torn down in 2009 with the expectation that market conditions would improve, making it a prime real estate holding.
What do you think? Does Houston need another hotel in The Galleria? What restaurants would you like to see in this new complex?
The new BBVA flagship location will occupy 150,000 square feet of a 312,000 square-foot LEED gold certified corporate tower.
