by Tammy Taylor
Staff Writer
By October, the Omni will have a new look to its lobby, corridors, fitness center and guest rooms thanks to a $4 million renovation project.
“We are delighted to offer our guests a new plush retreat,” said General Manager Bob White. “The new room upgrades and guest corridor appointments will continue to make the Omni the hotel of choice for business and leisure travelers in downtown Jacksonville.”
Karen Courtright, director of sales and marketing for the Omni, said it was time for the renovations.
“We are on a five-year cycle to change the rooms,” she said, “so we are right on schedule. It is just one of those things hotels have to do.”
The renovations will affect the guest rooms and hotel hallways. New furniture, window treatments, linens, carpet, artwork and improved lighting will be updated. The color scheme will include soft blues, rich cocoa and classics bullion gold.
The new guest baths will have large scale limestone-look porcelain tile, granite vanity tops, polished chrome faucets and fixtures, framed mirrors and original artwork.”
Wireless High Speed Internet access will be available in all rooms beginning this month, along with CD alarm clocks.
The improved fitness area will feature new aerobic equipment, free weights and renovated unisex bathrooms. Wallcovering, rubber flooring, Corina countertops and a streamlined glass entrance rounds out the gym upgrades.
The addition of a glass wall overlooking the pool area and downtown skyline will complete the list of renovations.
The improvements will not increase the cost to stay at the hotel or use its meeting facilities.
“The renovation costs were budgeted in,” said Courtright. “Prices can possibly increase a little bit, but that’s natural for businesses. We raise our prices every year for the cost of inflation. We wouldn’t raise our price for $50 a night just to cover the cost of improvements.”
Dallas design firm, AKA Design, Inc. is overseeing the renovations. Alisa Kraemer, who began the firm in 2000, has over 25 years of experience in the hotel design field. Kraemer boasts numerous awards for work in her field, including a national first place award from Interiors magazine for her work on the LTV Tower in Dallas.
“The corporate office chose Kraemer,” said Courtright. “There was a bid for several designers and her ideas fit our profile of design the Omni Hotel is accustomed to having. It’s a clean, classic design theme.”
The renovations are expected to be begin in June and be finished by October.